We all come into a new year full of hope and good intentions, but how long do these last? Well BBB is here to help you stay on track with your wellness regime and provide some beautiful travel inspiration along with it! Below are a selection of the partners we’re proud to work with, who offer something special in terms of health and wellness. So have a browse, and why not get in touch for more information and prices? Just contact Anna to discuss any questions or individual requirements you might have.
Anantara Al Jabal al Akhdar, Oman
At 2,000 metres above sea level, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar offers wellness retreats that invite you to detoxify in pure mountain air with high altitude health benefits. Reach new peaks of fitness hiking and biking along breathtaking mountain trails. Surrender stress to ancient holistic therapies at Anantara Spa, Oman’s highest spa retreat – these include group or private yoga sessions, hammam rituals, Himalayan salt stone massages and more. Unwind in the evening to a blissful Slumber Guru ritual in the comfort of your villa and nourish your body with carefully prepared cuisine and fresh juices from the Balance Wellness menu, for vitality that shines from the inside out.
The property itself is just 2 hours’ drive from Muscat, located on the fabled Green Mountain with dramatic canyon views as one of the world’s highest resorts. As well as yoga and relaxation, guests can also hike, climb, cycle and stargaze from the incredible viewing platform. This resort offers something truly special in one of the world’s most breathtaking settings.
Song Saa Private Island, Cambodia
Song Saa Private Island is a haven of sustainable luxury nestled in the undiscovered beauty of Cambodia’s Koh Rong Archipelago, with unique cuisine, stunning sunset views of the Gulf of Thailand and an array of spa and wellness treatments offering the ultimate indulgence for mind and body. Harmony, sustainability and barefoot luxury are the core principles that underpin the design of Song Saa. Experience yoga, meditation, fitness classes, hiking, paddle boarding, windsurfing and more on this paradise island.
Just a 1-hour flight from Ho Chi Minh or 45 mins by speedboat from Sihanoukville’s port, the island is easily accessible whilst feeling like a world away. For those seeking the ultimate luxury, private helicopter transfer is also available. Accommodation is a range of 1 and 2-bedroom Jungle, Overwater and Ocean View Villas. Nature lovers will delight in thedeserted oases of virgin rainforests, tropical reefs and glistening white beaches, as well as Cambodia’s first Marine Reserve. Guests can also connect to culture and community by visiting the Monk Blessing Island and Sala Song Saa village and taking part in environmental experiences, such as tree-planting and island clean-up.
COMO Point Yamu, Phuket, Thailand
COMO Point Yamu is a resort located at the tip of Cape Yamu, a peninsula on the coast of Phuket on the lesser known side of the island. The property overlooks the stunning Andaman Sea and the dramatic limestones of Phang Nga Bay. Accommodation is contemporary yet indigenous, a variety of rooms and suites, some with pools. Guests can head to the Shambhala wellness retreat and enjoy holistic treatments to improve mental quietude, physical wellbeing and mind-body balance. Traditional local therapies include Thai massage, with an extensive range of other Asian-inspired treatments. They have also crafted a daily schedule of activities to complement the wellness experience, including yoga and Pilates alongside a range of other wellness pursuits.
Activities and excursions include private boat trips from Marina Pier to the stunning nearby beaches and islands. Cultural activities such as Thai cooking classes and island tours of Phuket and its old town are also available to Point Yamu guests.
Mandarin Oriental, London
The new Spa at Mandarin Oriental, London offers the latest wellness and beauty facilities and exclusive partnerships with some of the most sought-after health and wellness experts in the world, providing the perfect ‘New Year, New You’ plan.
Guests can discover the powerful and effective Nescens treatments created by Professor Jacques Proust, a pioneer in the realm of biology cellular ageing and preventative medicine. Nescens draws on scientific and medical expertise from the Centre for the Prevention of Ageing at the Clinique de Genolier (Switzerland), and offers the very best solutions for a variety of modern day ailments. These include tools to manage stress, improve body shape, slow down the effects of time and regain a deep-seated sense of wellbeing, with the ultimate aim being to live better, for as long as possible.
Anantara Kihavah, Madives
Surrounded by nothing but turquoise lagoon that melts into sapphire blue, the island of Kihavah and its pure white sands rise up out of the ocean like a mirage. For centuries, Arab traders en route to the Far East took shelter on the island, a lush paradise blessed by coconut, papaya and mango trees. Navigating archipelago to archipelago by the stars, the seafarers were also drawn by the riches of the ocean surrounding the island – where a prehistoric volcano sank back into the depths, leaving blooming corals and a wealth of lagoon fish.
Wishing to keep the pristine nature of the island intact, not one tree has been moved – as evidenced by the villas growing up around them. The design pays homage to the seafarers of old, fusing Indian Ocean, Arab and Portuguese motifs with indigenous materials. Located on the Baa Atoll in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas invites you to imagine your own paradise. Snorkel with mantas and Hawksbill sea turtles. Stargaze into the night. Dine on a deserted sandbank or beneath the ocean’s surface at this luxury resort in the Maldives.
Embrace health and wellness at Anantara Kihavah with their resident expert Sharath Ram. After many years training and learning the traditions and technicalities of healing and well, Sharath’s extensive knowledge has been tailored into a fabulous Ayurvedic programme adapted to suit each individual guest. Sharath is a big believer in the power of medicated oils to relax and re-energise and his signature Abhyanga massage releases daily toxins and restores the flow of vital energy, or prana, while a deeply relaxing Shirodhara treatment with a warm flow of aromatic oil above the third eye restores psychosomatic balance.
Monkey Island, Bray, Berkshire
Moored on the banks of the fish-tail shaped Monkey Island in Bray, a refuge of Georgian elegance, forest and seclusion in the middle of the River Thames, this luxury spa near London is the first of its kind. The Floating Spa offers 3 treatment cabins on board a specially designed Dutch barge. Taking inspiration from its riverine surrounds, past inhabitants in the form of royalty, liturgy and literary stars, as well as elegant architecture, it is both a celebration of the power of water and the finest of boating retreats. In a nod to the Monks who resided on the island in the 12th Century, the signature treatment is The Monks Elixir which starts with a tasting of ancient herbal tonics, a message and herbal packs to relieve stiff joints. Both the hotel and spa open 14 February 2019, why not be one of the first to experience the magic of this wonderful new place?
For all enquiries and for further information on any of these properties, or anything else travel-related, please contact Anna.
New Year’s Eve – BBB’s hot tips!
Go Beatnik!
Red Rooster in Shoreditch, the cult chicken restaurant from Marcus Samuelsson at the Curtain Hotel, will transform for one night only into ‘Beat Easy,’ a speakeasy inspired by the Beatniks and 1950’s NYC. A 3-course dinner is served with plenty of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut NV and followed by dancing into the wee hours to both live music and DJ’s.
Swing into 2019 Blitz style
Infamous 1940’s event The Blitz Party are taking over Village Underground for a night of 1940’s themed dancing, drinking and style. Live bands, DJ’s and cocktails ensure this will be a night to remember! Your swing moves aren’t up to scratch? Don’t panic, there’s even a dance lesson before the action starts, to get you brushed up and ready!
Summer Travel Inspiration
Located in the stunning region of Chianti, famous for its impressive vineyards and less than an hour’s drive from Florence airport, the impressive villas are very private, spacious and yet just a short walk away from Panzano village. After 4 years of careful restoration, keeping many original features and with new furnishings from all over Italy, the villas are not only beautiful but make use of geothermal and solar energy, to protect the environment.
Andalusian luxury in southern Spain…
Located in rolling foothills, the award-winning Finca Cortesin sits in luxurious seclusion between Marbella and Sotogrande. Set on a 215-hectare estate and surrounded by undisturbed nature, the property offer stylish accommodation, excellent facilities and first class service.
The hotel’s 67 beautifully designed suites and 10 villas have been inspired by traditional Andalusian architecture. The spacious, light-filled and exquisitely designed suites all feature impressive 4m-high ceilings. The villas, perfect for family groups or parties, are situated in a cluster just steps away from the main part of the hotel. Boasting one of Spain’s best 18-hole golf courses, a Michelin star restaurant, magnificent Beach Club, four pools, a luxurious spa, perfectly manicured gardens and two tennis courts, Finca Cortesin is a wonderful destination in its own right.
The resort’s privileged location means that Marbella, the capital of the Costa del Sol, as well as two of the most important marinas on the Mediterranean coast, Puerto Banús and Sotogrande, are just a short drive away. And, to make things even easier, the journey time to Malaga airport is just 50 minutes, whilst Gibraltar can be reached in just 15 minutes.
Conde Nast Traveller says “This is certainly one of Europe’s smartest places to escape to” – why not put it to the test yourself?
Sparkling waters of magical Mykonos…
Nestled into the hillside above Elia Bay, the 5-star Myconian Villa Collection is a unique and luxurious resort concept. The essence of Myconian beauty and lifestyle runs like a blue thread through a constellation of exceptionally spacious suites and rooms, while superb villas offer the discreet yet unbounded opulence of a private house on Mykonos, all complemented by personalised 5-star service around the clock.
Leaning into the mountain, the terraced villas have uninterrupted views of the Aegean, culminating in a 360-degree panorama on the vast entertainment deck with its cool bar, epicurean restaurant and saltwater infinity pool. Magnificent interiors offset the local vernacular with contemporary design, investing sophistication and comfort in every detail. Service of the highest standard affords a sense of effortless luxury and ease, as you move from the unparalleled comforts of your room to poolside pleasures, the world-class Thalasso spa, or simply venture down to the fine sand beach where parasols stand to attention over private loungers.
Perhaps charter a yacht on the Mediterranean…
For the ultimate in exclusivity, luxury and style, there is no better way than to arrive by private yacht. Whether you seek adventure, relaxation or simply want to see the world as few have, BBB can make your dreams come true. No holiday on earth compares to one that floats on water!
Yacht charters allow access to a wide range of vessels from 20 metre sport yachts to 70+ metre mega yachts, equipped with the latest entertainment, gym and spa facilities. This variety of yachts allows us to create the perfect escape, meeting your budget and requirements.
Apart from the wealth of onboard activities to entertain you, it is the Captain and crew that make a yacht truly unique. Their skills are exemplary, from highly trained Chefs who will cater to your every desire, to the Hostesses, Stewards and Deckhands who will make your charter seemingly effortless. Many yachts offer Silver service creating fantastic culinary affairs in unrivalled surroundings.
Let us help tailor make an experience just for you that will exceed your expectations…
Or for the more adventurous…
Escape to the furthest reaches of the earth in the Arctic North to experience an untouched wilderness and unique wildlife in a setting both rugged and fragile. More polar bears than people live here among snowy peaks, gleaming glaciers, vast ice fields and blue-tinged icebergs, ever lit by the midnight sun during summer. This is a Summer holiday with a difference!
Wake up to a world of blue and white. Watch polar bears hunt for seals. Cruise bays backdropped by glaciers. Spot Arctic foxes, seabirds and reindeer from the decks of your luxury expedition Yacht. Take Zodiac safaris around icebergs.
This is a unique opportunity to enjoy a circumnavigation of Svalbard on either a luxury Expedition Yacht or Oyster Sail Yacht in June/July 2018. For the first time, you will able to charter a cabin (or multiple) through BBB rather than taking the whole yacht!
Classic glamour in the South of France
The Château Saint-Martin & Spa is a 5-star luxury sanctuary where historic Provence charm has been restyled for the most elegant contemporary lifestyle. Set amid picturesque rocky hills and olive groves, this inspirational hotel is distinguished by spectacular panoramic views. Perched up in the Vence hills, just 20 km from both Nice and Antibes, Chateau Saint Martin is the perfect retreat from the bustle of the Cote d Azur, yet close enough that you can pop down for dinner at a moment’s notice!
All the guestrooms and suites at Château Saint-Martin & Spa have new interior designs, while fresh air and sunlight come naturally to this spectacular setting overlooking the Côte d’Azur. Six private bastide-style villas are also secluded on the hillside, each with one, two or three bedrooms.
Superb facilities also include Michelin-starred dining, an exclusive wine cellar, a kids club, luxury spa, fitness centre, tennis courts and a stunning infinity pool.
For more information about any of these, or to discuss other Summer travel ideas you may have, please contact Anna at anna@thebbbook.com