After seeing Mrs O again two weekends ago in Newcastle I knew I had to get this write up finished. I started it back in January when it truly was the middle of winter! Now March and although the nights are slightly lighter and the bitter cold in Edinburgh is slightly less biting, I do still yearn for a more sunnier climate, but not quite as much as I did back in January.
Introducing Mrs O Around The World
Mrs O is the true queen of luxury travel blogging – with more air miles under her belt that anyone else I know, she definitely is the girl to listen to for advice on where to go and when to go. If you haven’t visited her website before then it is worth a visit. mrsoaroundtheworld.com
So the question we posed to Mrs is O is, “Where do you go to escape the cold winter climes of the UK?”
The Maldives
Maldives – only 12 hours from the UK (i.e no different than a flight to LA), paradise awaits. And you can even break up the trip with a stop over in an exciting Middle East location such as Abu Dhabi or Muscat in Oman. I visited the Maldives via Doha last year and really enjoyed the contrast.
Rio
Also within 12 hours from the UK, Rio de Janeiro is a great place to go. The carnival brings thousands to town this time of the year, but if you go just a couple of weeks later, this vibrant city is pretty much all yours I went in 2012 and loved it.
Val d’isere – France
Much closer to home, why not embrace the cold and do so in style? A skiing holiday is both adventurous or very relaxing. I have recently visited Val d’isere in France and was most impressed.
TLE Recommendations
I love Mrs O’s suggestions. I have always wanted to go to Rio and the Maldives, especially when the weather in the UK is miserable and my body is craving some of that essential vitamin D!
However, I thought I’d throw a couple more suggestions into the mix, so here are my favourite winter escapes.
Miami
Where do I start? There are so many things to do and see; shopping, bars, beach and sun sun sun! The city really has it all. I stayed in Southbeach at the The betsy hotel, which is slap bang in the best part of Miami beach. One of the things I liked most about the hotel is its size – it’s not a sprawling hotel that some of the others in Miami I stayed were like, it has it’s finger firmly on style and service. I stayed in a suite on the front which commanded views across the beachfront, but the smaller rooms are just as luxurious.
Hong Kong
I have been to Hong Kong about 8 times now and I never grow tired of it. UK wintertime is actually one of the best times of the year to go; the humidity in the city is low so you don’t end up feeling like you have been swimming after about ten minutes outside. Shopping in Hong Kong is unsurpassed and luxury accommodation is limitless. If you are staying Kowloon side then I love Langham Place their rooms are spacious (by Hong Kong standards) and the spa on the roof is a sanctuary that I looked forward to going back to each evening I stayed there.
If you stay island side there are hundreds of luxurious options, I visited a few recently that I would recommend. Try and stay around Sheung Wan or Central to be in walking distance of Soho and the Lang Khai Fong area.
So there we have it 5 fabulous spots to relax around the world. Where are your favourite places?
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