Cool Places to Vacation

Mallorca|Seville|French Polynesia|St Vincent|South Africa|French West Indies

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How do you define cool places to vacation? In this article cool places to vacation are small top class hotels where you might see someone famous. Our definition and yours may be different but the selection will be interesting.

For more information follow the blue links in each article.

Our first of the cool places to vacation is in Mallorca in the Mediterranean

Gran Hotel Son Net. Tucked away in the countryside, nestled in its own lovely park , this totally modernised 18th century coral-coloured villa is only 15 minutes from Palma Mallorca, but it seems a lifetime away from the mass of people and the noise. The Son Net  is absolutely enchanting, still having many of the original features. The kind of people who stay here want peace and quiet, and an escape from all the pressures of life in the 21st century. The kind of people who are accustomed to absolutely top class service delivered without fuss. People who appreciate beautiful surroundings, well maintained gardens, and who demand food that is exceptional, and are more than happy to pay top dollar for that. Majorca is hot, yet still beautiful, and the views from the hotel are absolutely enchanting. You will get opulent suites with marble bathrooms, fine Mallorcan Spanish decorated rooms,and the peace and quiet that you crave. By the way you should book the best room you can afford, the standard rooms are on the small side, and you will need a car because hidden away means that, and there isn’t much within walking distance. You can choose your lifestyle here, with a lovely swimming pool to relax beside especially if this is a honeymoon, and all you need is rest. On the other hand there is a golf course, tennis courts and a spa to fill your day. Sometimes there will even be a private music concert in the gardens, and then of course there is the fine restaurant to look forward to in the evenings. You can choose from the A La Carte or Tasting  Menu, and you will not be disappointed. For more information about the Gran Hotel Son Net CLICK HERE

We stay in Europe but this time for the next of our cool places to vacation we go to a hilltop village near Seville in Spain

Casa Palacio Casa de Carmona is about 20 minutes from Seville and is situated in the beautiful walled hilltop town of Carmona where you will find this gem of a hotel, rated amongst the most elegant in Spain. In fact staying here is like going back in time and being the guest of a Spanish nobleman because the building is a former palace dating from the sixteenth century. The building has been lovingly restored, and is quite unlike any modern hotel. It is a maze of courtyards, patios, formal gardens, and is so quiet and peaceful, you are at once removed from 21st century madness. It has a swimming pool fed by five fountains in one of the exquisite formal gardens, where the water gurgling mixes with birdsong to produce a most romantic ambience. Imagine all of this stuffed with antiques, even a chess room and a library where there is a bar to help yourself from. The rooms, and indeed the hotel may have a slightly faded air but this just adds to the ambience. You will enjoy the restaurant, the helpful staff, but most of all if you are the kind of person who just wants to relax in the shade in one of the courtyards, read a book, smell the scent of jasmine and forget the world for a brief time. Carmona is just perfect as part of a honeymoon package or time away for two lovers. For more information about the Casa Palacio Casa de Carmona CLICK HERE

For the third of our cool places to vacation we are travelling to French Polynesia

Vahine Private Island Resort. If your dream is a pristine blue lagoon in French Polynesia with legendary views of Bora Bora then Vahine Island needs to be checked out. From Tahita International Airport to Vahine is a short 35 minute flight and a 25 minute speedboat ride. It is an amazing place to stay but not for people who want to lie by a pool or need air conditioned rooms. Vahine Island is rustic, with touches of luxury. It has been kept small deliberately, so there are only three bungalows on stilts over the water and six beach bungalows, and three beach bungalow suites. Everything is made with local wood and bamboo and the beach bungalows are almost submerged in brightly coloured hibiscus and bougainvillea. There is no air conditioning so the overwater bungalows might be a sensible option for the sea breezes. You will find no swimming pool but with a warm clear sea down a few steps from your bungalow it is hardly needed. One of the outstanding features of Vahine is the food, and you will eat world class French cuisine all mixed up with local seafood and exotic flavours. This is the perfect honeymoon spot, especially for people who appreciate a spectacular setting, good food, and not forgetting the white sand beaches. For more information about Vahine Private Island Resort CLICK HERE

For the fourth of our cool places to vacation we go to St Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean

Petit St Vincent Resort. 40 miles to the south of St Vincent in the Grenadines with only 22 recently refurbished cottages the five star Petit St Vincent sits on its own 113 acre island, surrounded by 2 miles of white sand beaches, well away from tourists, and would make a perfect choice for a romantic vacation or a honeymoon. This is very laid back, and very private with no televisions, no airport no formal check in. The accommodation cottages are almost all just a few paces from the beach made from local stone with huge French windows and a large sundeck, a living room, a dressing room and at least one bathroom, with everything you need from fluffy towels to top toiletries. Petit St Vincent is famous for its flag system, enabling room service to be brought when you raise a yellow flag, but if you don’t want to be disturbed you raise a red flag. By the way you get a very quick response by golf cart when you raise the yellow. This enables you to literally hide away if you choose, which is why guests who demand a high level of privacy love it here.You can enjoy every non motorised activity on and off the water that you can think of, including tennis at no extra cost. Petit St Vincent is perfect for a very private Caribbean Honeymoon Vacation.  The sun will shine, the food and it is all inclusive, is excellent, and the service outstanding, and you will love it.For more information about the Petit St Vincent Resort CLICK HERE 

From the Caribbean we travel to Africa for the fifth of our cool places to vacation

Honeyguide Tented Safari Camps in Manyeleti Game Reserve. The Honeyguide Tented Safari Camps are in  large Manyeleti Game Reserve next to  Kruger National Park, is just a five hour scenic drive from Johannesburg or a short flight followed by a 30 minute drive. Honeyguide Camps are on the list because of what they offer compared to other Safari Camps in Africa. Not only do you get an amazing wildlife experience you also get immaculate and personal service and importantly absolutely top class cuisine. There are two camps, the first  Honeyguide Mantobeni Camp does not accept children under the age of twelve. Game drives take place morning and evening in open vehicles so you can get up close and personal in complete safety with the Big Five, and you won’t have to wait long to do this. You can go on foot with very experienced guides and see the real magic of where you are and what life is like here. Mantobeni Camp sits on the bank of a riverbed, and has a delightful swimming pool, and from it you can watch elephant families visiting the nearby waterhole. Be aware that the camp is open and so you may even come upon unexpected visitors, all of which adds to the reality of where you are. The tents of course are not what we understand as tents, because they include quite sophisticated ensuite facilities with running water showers and baths. Just remember this isn’t five star luxury, you will have insects in your tent, but what you won’t have is dozens of other vehicles watching the same wildlife as you are. That is so nice. The food, wine, and evening gatherings just make this a wonderful place to be. For more information about the Honeyguide Tented Safari Camps CLICK HERE

For our final cool places to vacation we go to the Frech West Indies

Eden Rock Hotel St Barthelemy. A St Barts vacation staying at the Eden Rock Hotel  which sits on a rock that sticks out into St Jean Bay and has 33 rooms and suites, of which 20 are on the rock and eight suites and five houses stand on the white sand beach next door, is just about very best vacation that you could have..What is so special about staying at the Eden Rock Hotel, is really best summed up by fine cuisine, lots of activity, and the fact that it is incredibly French. The food is out of this world, and without any doubt at all the best on St Barts. You will not find anything comparable, from the breakfast buffet  to the spectacular food in the evening either in the Sand Bar, or the On the Rocks restaurant. Not only will the food surpass your expectations you will be very impressed by the attention to detail and the sheer quality of the staff. When it comes to accommodation, then the hotel’s main building which has the style of a French farmhouse has the most luxurious accommodation and the best and most stunning views. The cottages on the beach also have great views from their private terraces. The rooms are cleaned twice every day, and the quality of the furnishings and even the sheets is of the very best. There is no hotel pool as such at Eden Rock, only pools included with certain suites, although it is great fun swimming to the free floating Eden Rock docks. You will find that the staff are extremely good at what they do, kind attentive and yet unobtrusive. The beachside staff bring you buckets of water, fruit and sorbets just when you have got to the point of really fancying something!! Be prepared for your St Barts vacation to be different. This isn’t a typical Caribbean Island, so no reggae. This is just France in the tropics, absolutely gorgeous with incredible views, narrow roads, hairpin bends and tiny cars. You will love it if you can afford it, and if you can afford it stay at Eden Rock.For more information about Eden Rock Hotel St Barthelemy CLICK HERE

 Whilst not expecting you to agree with our cool places to vacation, we hope it has at least given you some ideas. In any case, just check out

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