As I climb into the aluminium and stainless steel tube, I thank my lucky stars that I am not claustrophobic. It is about the same diameter as a water slide, so not oppressively narrow, but my toes almost touch one end while my head is only a few inches from the other. Bright white and lit from the inside with a blue glow, it makes me feel as if I am going to be cryogenically frozen for a long space flight or, less glamorously, as if I am in a tanning salon. As the spa attendant slides the heavy polycarbonate lid shut and bolts it tight, I lie back and close my eyes. Even with headphones on I can hear the unmistakeable hissing sound of gas being released from a pipe above my head and soon the pressure inside my tin can has built to the point where my ears pop.

A week on the Yoff Beach in the north of Dakar, the capital of Senegal, was a fine start to a recent six-month trip that encompassed Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and The Gambia. For those unfamiliar with travel in Africa, Senegal can represent a useful introduction to time spent on the west coast. It is one of the more economically stable sub-Saharan countries. It had a relatively clean transition from French colonial rule and has not seen a post-colonial coup. This predominantly Muslim country is peaceful. It also has those SEO-grabbing qualities that people look for in a travel destination, wherever it may be.

Heading to Paris this winter? For opulent interiors that are steeped in lore and glamour, check into the Ritz. If it’s effortless sophistication and second-to-none service you’re after, try Le Bristol. That’s not to mention the palatial setting of the Hôtel de Crillon, the museum-level art collection of the Royal Monceau, nor the world-class wellness amenities of the newly opened, LVMH-owned Cheval Blanc. In short, the city’s expansive avenues and boulevards are brimming with larger-than-life luxury hotels that leave those with a taste for the finer things, and deep pockets to match, spoilt for choice.

A getaway means different things to us all. For some, it’s a brief city break; for others, the year-long adventure of a lifetime. The common denominator for all holiday plans? The hope of escape from it all, in some way or another. It’s little wonder then, that even as travel trends change, being cocooned in the reassuring luxury of an all-inclusive, exclusive resort remains an irresistible proposition. With this in mind, and an eye to the shiniest new offerings, we found ourselves on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, an area that excels at this sort of thing. It’s partly to do with the setting, which, with its Lycian ruins, dramatic clifftops and majestic beaches, is the perfect location to escape day-to-day reality.

As I climb into the aluminium and stainless steel tube, I thank my lucky stars that I am not claustrophobic. It is about the same diameter as a water slide, so not oppressively narrow, but my toes almost touch one end while my head is only a few inches from the other. Bright white and lit from the inside with a blue glow, it makes me feel as if I am going to be cryogenically frozen for a long space flight or, less glamorously, as if I am in a tanning salon. As the spa attendant slides the heavy polycarbonate lid shut and bolts it tight, I lie back and close my eyes. Even with headphones on I can hear the unmistakeable hissing sound of gas being released from a pipe above my head and soon the pressure inside my tin can has built to the point where my ears pop.

A week on the Yoff Beach in the north of Dakar, the capital of Senegal, was a fine start to a recent six-month trip that encompassed Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and The Gambia. For those unfamiliar with travel in Africa, Senegal can represent a useful introduction to time spent on the west coast. It is one of the more economically stable sub-Saharan countries. It had a relatively clean transition from French colonial rule and has not seen a post-colonial coup. This predominantly Muslim country is peaceful. It also has those SEO-grabbing qualities that people look for in a travel destination, wherever it may be.