‘Tis the season of indulgence, so what better way to offset any festive extravagance than by nourishing with nature. Far from going back to basics, Design Hotels’ wide-ranging selection of nature retreats combine luxury with simplicity and captivating landscapes for a series of escapes that truly capture the essence of their locales. From mountain resorts to wine valleys, these modern getaways beckon with the best the great outdoors has to offer.
Sprawled across nine hectares, encompassing orange and olive groves, gardens and ponds, Vila Monte offers a snapshot of Portugal’s stunning coastal Algarve region. The area is known for its flowers, as well as a number of fruit groves that make for beautiful surroundings, and also includes the hills of Cerro de Cabeça and São Miguel. At Douro 41 Hotel & Spa, which lies on banks of the beautiful Douro River, stone-crafted masterwork, incomparable views, and a wine valley combine to great effect.
Aside from the property’s stunning modern yet minimalist aesthetic, the surrounding landscape takes centre stage, defined by the flowing river below. Nest Hotel on the South Korean island of Yeongjongdo, belies the rapid development of the area, with maximum views of pine trees, reed fields, and the calming Yellow Sea. Throw in a library café, mini-theater, spa, outdoor infinity pool, world-class dining, and this Asian escape is a true retreat worth staying in for.
Laax’s rocksresort continues this theme. Presenting a self-contained complex of buildings housing holiday apartments, shops, restaurants, and bars in a spot near the ski and freestyle pistes that are easily accessible from the property, the hotel allows guests to take true advantage of the local nature. Just two hours from Manhattan, and Troutbeck—a realisation of an Old World upcountry homestead—offers an unrivalled opportunity to recharge. Set in a revived and renewed manor house, the hotel is a naturalist’s dream, with skiing, hunting, shooting, fishing, and access to over 5,000 acres of wilderness.
Over at The Cambrian, situated deep in a valley in the Swiss Alpine village of Adelboden, sleek, modern design competes with an unmissable backdrop of soaring mountains for guests’ attention. Ski slopes and hiking trails abound, and visitors are coddled with a 750 square meter spa in which to soak off any post-activity aches. An authentic and intimate chalet experience is just one of plenty of wonders at Le Cerf Amoureux in the Alps of Cordon-Combloux-Megève, South-East France. With just 12 rooms, the cozy bolthole allows guests to take full charge of the natural delights in and around the locale.
The needs of skiers, snowboarders, bikers, and hikers are all satiated here, while the literal fruits of nature are presented by way of jams, marmalades, and honeys, all available to buy at the hotel’s in-house boutique. Lastly, Montana Lodge & Spa, in the Italian ski resort of La Thuile, matches the Aosta Valley surroundings with ‘wooded’ wallpaper, wood paneling, and local materials such as stone. With rooms and suites offering unrestricted vistas of the neighboring mountains—also viewable from the luxury spa—the hotel tangibly places nature at every guest’s fingertips.
