Refinery 29 Dream Vacays

Friday 3 February 2012 | By Maria Boskovski |

Refinery 29 is an online global hub of fashion, beauty and shopping for trend-savvy individuals worldwide. This article by the R29 team is packed with inspiration for stylish travel-lovers. Four Refinery 29 Editors shared their dream escapes and divine packing lists so that readers can spend their holiday in style. These delightful stylish escapes are comprised so well, you'll want to follow them to a tee!

Here's a sneak peak:

Dream Vacay 1.: Belize

By: Christene Barberiche, Editor in Chief
Accommodation: Matachia Resort & Spa
She says: "I'm really not a beach vacation person, but Belize has been at the tippy-top of my dream vacations list for like, ever. Finally, this March, I'll be booking a week's escape at the (hopefully!) magical Matachica Resort & Spa. There's just something about tropical rainforests, quiet beaches, Mayan ruins, and a good hammock that seems to fit the bill right about now."
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Dream Vacay 2.: Mexico City

By: Piera Gelardi, Creative Director
Accommodation: Condesa DF
She says: "I'm not great at sitting still so I love me some city vacation! I've heard such amazing things about Mexico City in the past few years and I'm dying to go check out the melding of old and new in the city and the blossoming art and music scenes. I'm going to call Condesa DF home for the five days I'll be there in March. It's in the 'SoHo of MC."
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Dream Vacay 3.: Hokkaido, Japan

By: Connie Wang, Global Editor
Accommodation: Shikotsuko Daiichi Hotel Suizantei
She says: "When they say Japan has everything they really mean it. On the northern island of Hokkaido, you can go on a skiing session in the mountains, explore the hot springs in their many national parks, and get blitzed at a bar on Sapporo (in Sapporo, their capital city) all in the same day. Oh, also gorge on some of the best seafood in the world."
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Dream Vacay 4.: Courchevel, France

By: Kristian Laliberte, Senior Editor
Accommodation: Les Airelles
He says: "As much as I'd love to be on the beach, I want to get in some skiing this season. In Courchevel, I can still work on my tan and get some deep powder. It ain't VT — the Trois Vallées is one of the largest ski resorts in the world. Plus, the apres-ski scene isn't just hot cocoa — there are designer boutiques, glam creperies, and oui, even nightclubs."
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Bizarre Hotels from Around the Globe

Wednesday 1 February 2012 | By Maria Boskovski |

Are you seeking a holiday that promises a genuine escape from reality? Here's eight bizarre accommodation options that promise a truly out-of-this-world experience.

1. The Balancing Barn, England

This hotel was designed and built by Living Architecture, a holiday home company from the UK. Using modern architecture and high quality materials, and situated in the peaceful and beautiful Suffolk, it was designed to work on the connection between environment, architecture and happiness - a perfect balance in fact.

2. Wild Brown Bear Hotel, Finland

The incredible surroundings are the focal attraction of this hotel. A fairy tale setting for wildlife-lovers and nature-enthusiasts. It provides the opportunity to spy on bears and wolverines, kayak through the peaceful lakes and commune with Finland's natural side.

3. Hotel Saratoga, Cuba

Hotel Saratoga screams "ultimately cool"! Its rooftop pool overlooks some of the best views in town, and is high enough to diminish the noisy hustle and bustle of the city! If you're nearby Havana, this hotel is the place to stay.

4. Akköy Evleri Cave Hotel, Turkey

This rock-cut hotel is situated in Cappadocia. It comprises of fire boutique rooms designed as caves and built in ex-cave houses. This caveman style experience doesn't lack exceptional service either.

5. Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Tanzania

This amazing place is located on the edge of Ngorongoro volcano, promising superb views over the Savannah. The surrounding conservation area, protected by UNESCO, places hotel guests on the path of wild animals. Marvelous safaris await you with this truly African experience.

6. Adrère Amellal Ecolodge, Egypt

This resort is closely situated to the Sahara desert, allowing its guests to explore its freedom and unspoilt beauty. With no phone, no internet and no electricity, this true escape from reality is all about astonishing sunsets over the sand dunes with not a single distraction at all.

7. Palacio de Sal, Bolivia

From the walls and floors to the beds and chairs, everything here is made entirely from rock salt. This unique hotel is located on a vast expanse of white salt on the Eastern shores of the Great Salar de Uyuni. Enjoy the great night views of the stars, light shows on the salt lake, relaxing salt spas or the salty golf course.

8. Great Orme Lighthouse, Wales

This old lighthouse was built in 1862 and was used as a warning for ships up until 1985. Today it comprises of a beautiful history and a 180 degree view over the cliffs of north Wales and the Irish Sea - for those who like a room with a view!
 

Click here to enquire about or book your own out-of-this-world experience >>

10 Must-See Destinations for Beach Lovers

Monday 30 January 2012 | By Maria Boskovski |

Whether it’s for the marine life, wild parties, skinny dipping or soothing time in the sun, beaches make for a satisfying escape from reality. The diversity of experience from beach to beach is astonishing. Here’s a handful of the world’s most incredible beaches - must see destinations for beach-lovers!

A Nudist’s Paradise:
Paradise Beach, Rab, Croatia

The Croatian island of Rab has claimed its title as the birthplace of modern skinny dipping. Permission was granted in 1936 from city authorities to bathe naked in the inlet of Kandalora, and people from all over the world have been doing just that ever since.

Sandy Hot Tubs:
Hot Water Beach, Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand

At Hot Water Beach in New Zealand, you can dig up your very own man-made hot tub. Nearby volcanos on the edge of New Zealand’s North Island develop large underground reservoirs of extremely hot water. The water cools slightly as it escapes to the surface, emerging at temperatures as hot as 64 C.

Short and Sweet:
Lover’s Beach, Baja California Sur, Mexico

This semi-hidden cove sits on the tip of the Baja California Peninsula where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean. The beach is small and the sea can get rough, so these dramatic landscapes are best enjoyed via a quick boat cruise. Short, and very sweet.

The Beach of the Bohemian:
Byron Bay, Australia

Byron Bay has a unique appeal for travelers, with pubs, cafes, bookshops and buskers lining the streets. With a lingering scent of the flower power generation, many artists, musicians and and beach-bums call this slice of paradise ‘home’.

Party, Party, Party:
Las Salinas, Ibiza, Spain

This 1,600 meter-long crescent of sand in the island’s southernmost tip, is the most happening beach of them all. With music blasting from Las Salinas’ beach bars from morning till night, this is the place to be for beach-goers that love to party.

Action and Activity:
Cape Maclear, Malawi

Cape Maclear sits on the edge of Lake Malawi; a lake so large it feels like an ocean. The huge abundance of fish species and marine life - and the absence of brine, sharks and jellyfish - have labelled this destination heaven for divers and snorkelers.

Luxury on the Water:
Sun Island Beach, Maldives

Considered by many to be the world’s best beach, this treasure in the middle of the Indian Ocean is a luxury-lovers’ favourite. Many are drawn by thought of sleeping on the water, literally. Nearby coral reefs attract thousands of tropical fish, snorkelers and divers too.

A Penguin’s Paradise:
Boulders Beach, Cape Town

Here you’ll discover one of the the scenes that South Africa is most famous for - penguins on a beach. Boulders Beach is home to a colony of 3,000 jackass penguins that can be easily spotted waddling in and out of the water.

“The Beach”:
Maya Bay, Ko Phi Phi, Thailand

Well-known for it’s role in the movie “The Beach” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, this picture perfect beach attracts thousands of visitors each day. The white-sandy shores are hugged by steep limestone cliffs. Coral reefs make it an excellent spot for snorkeling too.

A Dreamy Escape:
Matira Beach, Bora Bora, Tahiti

With the softest sands and calm waters, Bora Bora is the ideal destination for true beach lovers. Embrace the tourist spirit and feed the sharks, hunt for pearls or look through World War II memorabilia while your there.