THE JOURNAL
SHA Wellness, Mexico. Photograph courtesy of SHA Wellness
Summer diaries often fill up fast with social plans, group excursions and family vacations, which might leave you longing for a little time alone. For when you’re craving a solo reset, here are five hotels you’ll be glad to enjoy all by yourself.
01. SHA Wellness, Mexico
Photograph courtesy of SHA Wellness
Photograph courtesy of SHA Wellness
Globally renowned for its high-tech, holistic signature SHA Method of wellbeing and longevity, the SHA portfolio – with properties in Spain’s Alicante, Mexico’s Riviera Maya and, soon, the Emirates – offers the ultimate in self-care, rejuvenation, switch-off and reset. On the shores of the Caribbean Sea, amid lush mangroves, guests lay their heads in ultra-luxe suites and residences, soothe themselves in infinity pools and Zen gardens, enjoy beautifully prepared, nutritious haute cuisine, all while partaking in bespoke wellness programmes tailored to individual health and goals.
02. The Brecon, Switzerland
Photographs courtesy of The Brecon
As a 22-room, adults-only alpine hideaway, The Brecon is designed to feel more like staying in the home of a particularly stylish friend than a hotel. Effortlessly enveloping interiors give way to staggering vistas of the Swiss Alps. It’s the most luxurious kind of all-inclusive, from sumptuous breakfasts and stacked afternoon teas to fine-wine-pairing dinners at the chef’s table. Situated in the mountain village of Adelboden – just two hours from both Genoa and Zurich – it is perfectly situated to get out for hiking and mountain biking in the surrounding pine forests and meadows (rock climbing and paragliding for the more adrenaline-fuelled), or to unwind in the spa and capacious outdoor pool, breathing in the mountain air.
03. The Oberoi Beach Resort, Lombok
Photograph courtesy of Oberoi Hotels
For those who prefer their luxuriating solitude with a side of thrill-seeking adventure, The Oberoi in Lombok serves up the best of both worlds. The surrounds may make for a popular spot for honeymooners and proposals, but they are majestically soothing for a solo retreat, too. The jaw-droppingly paradisal setting of Medana Bay and the close-by idyllic Gili Islands encompass warm waters packed with coral reefs and marine life for diving, snorkelling and water sports, sweeping pristine beaches for unwinding and breadths of tropical gardens for sun-drenched strolls, backdropped by Bali’s sacred Mount Agung.
04. AlmaLusa Alfama, Lisbon
Photograph courtesy of AlmaLusa Alfama
Photograph courtesy of AlmaLusa Alfama
There is something remarkably freeing about doing a city break solo – writing your own itinerary each day and just seeing where your feet take you. Lisbon is a great place for an unaccompanied jaunt, where you can soak up the pulsating, welcoming atmosphere and explore the brilliant culinary and cultural scene. In the heart of the city, and one of the oldest and most quintessential Lisboa neighbourhoods, AlmaLusa Alfama is a boutique hotel born from a 12th-century building, with just 25 bedrooms, including sleek, well-equipped single rooms, right up to deluxe suites with views of the Tagus River. The hotel’s Delfina Café is a popular spot to sample Portuguese tapas (and wines) and the concierge is always on call for expert recommendations.
05. Our Habitas Caravan Agafay, Morocco
Photographs courtesy of Our Habitas
A 45-minute drive from the downtown delights of Marrakech, through lunar landscapes and the towering Atlas Mountains, Caravan Agafay is a laid-back desert retreat made up of luxuriously minimalist tents and lodges. Set in an ethereal, secluded escape, this is a place primed for nomadic adventure – dune buggies, camelback riding, stargazing, getting out for guided mountain excursions and even desert-survival-skills workshops. All of which provide the perfect opportunity for adventure, self-reflection and expression, but also collective experience. The ethos of Our Habitas is rooted in human connection, so soak it all up in this otherworldly playground.