Summertime for the northern hemisphere means dreaming of sunshine and relaxation. From the ultimate idyllic hideaway in the Maldives to simple cedar cabins in England’s Lake District, classically inspired villas hidden by olive groves in Greece or a luxury spa on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, our Luxury Defined editors present an exclusive selection of elite retreats, just right for right now.
Gili Lankanfushi's The Private Reserve is huge, covering 15,069 square feet, and is the resort's most private villa, accessible only by boat. Banner: Relax and unwind at Gili Lankanfushi in the Maldives. Banner photograph: Sakis Papadopoulos
Anchored in a glittering aquamarine lagoon, 1,600 feet from the main resort, Gili Lankanfushi‘s The Private Reserve is the Maldives’ ultimate idyllic hideaway. Here, five separate buildings – all made from natural wood and glass – are linked by pinewood walkways to make up what’s reputed to be the world’s largest over-water villa. Designed to promote harmony, balance, and the natural flow of air, the resort is almost literally breathtaking, with the beautifully appointed living space of the main villa cleverly merging into a huge over-sea terrace.
There’s a dazzling freshwater infinity-edge pool, as well as enclosed plunge pools, a waterslide, and plenty of options to bathe in the lagoon itself. Surrounded by water, from some rooms there are 360-degree views of the Indian Ocean. And although the main residence sleeps up to 10 adults (as well as six children), privacy is never compromised. There are secluded spots for private evening drinks as well as expansive spaces for friends and family to gather together, whether to enjoy a specially prepared meal made from organic herbs and vegetables from the chef’s own kitchen garden using sustainably caught local seafood, or a movie – complete with popcorn – in the villa’s star-canopied open-air cinema.
The Private Reserve also has its own spa with sauna and steam room, and bespoke Meera Spa treatments can be tailored to guests’ individual needs. Here, your every wish is attended to, and anything is made possible by the highly trained international team who are as unobtrusive as they are attentive.
It’s the perfect place to gather with friends and family for special celebrations, and previous guests have included Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin and his family. As Aldrin says: “This resort is the perfect setting. You’re far away from distractions and you get to enjoy the perfect setting. There are not enough days like this when I can have perfect relaxation.”
The resort’s completely private location – along with the fact that Gili can provide female butlers and chefs – make it perfect for all-female groups seeking total luxury, privacy, and exclusivity.
The peaceful Mediterranean wellness retreat: Amanzoe, Greece
Amanzoe is an oasis of calm within easy reach of social hub Porto Heli. Accommodation features spacious villas and pavilions.
Overlooking the Aegean, on an isolated hilltop in Argolis, Greece, Amanzoe is a new resort surrounded by olive groves, yet a mere 10-minute drive from the buzzy Porto Heli. The isles of Spetses and Hydra are also within easy reach, as are ancient Greek ruins. Accommodation at Amanzoe (the resort’s name is derived from the Sanskrit for “peace” and the Greek for “life”) is a mix of spacious, classically inspired villas (including a just-launched nine-bedroom option), and pavilions – each opening on to terraces with private plunge pools. The resort also has a gym and yoga sessions, and a 30,000-square-foot spa, where guests can enjoy facials, manicures, and body treatments such as the “Zoe,” which includes a eucalyptus-infused steam bath, followed by a full body scrub of pure olive oil and sea salt, and an olive oil massage.
Enjoy new cedar-clad spa lodges at the Gilpin Hotel in the UK’s beautiful Lake District.
How do you like your hotel accommodation? If the words “private” and with “en suite spa” feature in your answer, you need to book yourself one of the five new spa lodges at the Gilpin Hotel, in the UK’s Lake District. Each cedar-clad lodge has all the facilities you’d expect (king-size bed, mood lighting, state-of-the-art music system) along with a private en suite spa and treatment area with steam room, Rainmaker shower, freestanding oval stone bath, outdoor sauna, and hydrotherapy hot tub, all surrounded by a walled garden for total privacy.
The Cenote Spa at Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Resort features extensive relaxation and hydrotherapy areas.
Inspired by local cenotes – natural swimming holes found on the Yucatán Peninsula – the recently unveiled Cenote Spa at Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Resort, on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, spans 5,000 square feet and offers a range of indulgent treats. Among the star treatments is the Mayan Head Massage, which combines cocoa and tequila oils, or the Hot Stone Massage, which uses locally sourced opal – noted for the positive energies the Mayans believed the gem possesses. The spa features extensive relaxation and hydrotherapy areas along with an 82-foot outdoor lap pool and a state-of-the-art fitness suite.
The “something for everyone” stay: Amanjena, Morocco
For an experience that's a little different, there's the chance for guests at Amanjena to take part in the annual argan nut harvest. Photograph: Alamy
Just outside of Marrakech, Amanjena is a resort that offers several kinds of break. Active vacationers can play a round of golf on the resort’s course, visit the gym, or enjoy a game of tennis, while those seeking R&R can luxuriate in Amanjena’s spa, home to not one but two hammams. Foodies should visit between June and September when they can take part in the annual argan nut harvest – guests are transported to a local farm to meet farmers and learn about, as well as help with, the harvest before enjoying a traditional Moroccan lunch, featuring freshly harvested oil. Accommodation comprises 32 pavilions and seven maisons, some with private pools, all set beneath stuc vénitien domes with arched entrances, vaulted ceilings, and garden courtyards.
