As spring-breakers across the pond get ready to party, we’ve created a ‘spring break’ collection with a sophisticated twist: stylish, adult-only hideaways near the UK, ideal for grown-up spring-time getaways to the sun.
From hidden hillside escapes on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast to lavish country estates in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, the collection spans Europe and North Africa and offers plenty of sun, sea and R&R.
A hillside haven – Prima Donna, Kalkan, Turkey
Hidden in pine forest above sweeping Patara Beach is Prima Donna – a small yet perfectly formed couples’ retreat that’s brand-new to i-escape. Inspired by the prima donnas of the silver screen, the décor is wonderfully unique, with homely cedar furniture, fireplaces and sink-into sofas alongside antique radios and posters of Hollywood’s grandes dames. With just 5 suites and a laid-back restaurant, the hotel is incredibly intimate, and its glorious isolation offers serious relaxation. Each suite has a private terrace and hot tub where you can watch some of the best sunsets in Turkey, and there’s a free shuttle down to the sand.
Prices start from £225 per room per night, based on 2 sharing a Superior Suite on a B&B basis. This includes afternoon tea and cake, a 20-minute quad bike session per guest, use of mountain bikes, a shuttle to Patara Beach, and reserved daybeds on the sand.
A blissful sanctuary – BanSala, Peloponnese, Greece
Beachside escapes don’t come much more serene than this – a collection of 5 simple yet chic cottages for 2, perched above a secluded cove in the Southern Peloponnese. Having lived in Sri Lanka and Thailand, owner Lyn has created a unique Aegean-meets-Oriental vibe, with each cottage offering light and airy interiors, a compact yet well-equipped kitchen and a terrace that gazes down to the sea. Days here are best spent relaxing by the pool, snoozing in the beautiful gardens, strolling down to the sandy cove, and enjoying a chilled white wine with nothing but the gentle buzz of cicadas to disturb the peace.
Prices start £99 per cottage per night, based on 2 sharing a cottage on an accommodation-only basis. This includes a meze in your fridge on arrival.
A bijou bolthole near the Costa Brava – L’Hort de Sant Cebria, Catalonia, Spain
Boutique hotels don’t come much more elegant than this – a petite hideaway in the medieval village of Torroella de Fluvia, just 4km from a stunning beach. The unassuming stone building houses 5 beautiful rooms, each adorned with billowing linens, calming colours and French antiques that give the feel of a classy Provençal retreat. Outside, a wisteria-covered terrace, alfresco lounge and saltwater pool provide perfect spots for undisturbed relaxation, and the distant chimes of church bells create a soothing soundtrack for sundowners before you head out to sample some of the fantastic restaurants nearby.
Prices start from £84 per room per night, based on 2 sharing a Standard Room on a B&B basis.
A gourmet getaway – Font Santa Hotel, Campos, Mallorca
Set against the backdrop of Mallorca’s most famous beach, Es Trenc, is the ultra-chic Font Santa Hotel – a calm oasis of white décor, billowing fabrics and incredible food. The lavender-lined gardens and sparkling pool have manicured good looks, and the 25 rooms are equipped with huge beds (some four-poster), swish bathrooms and private outdoor space. The modern Mediterranean cuisine in the restaurant is sublime, and the thermal spa (whose waters are drawn from Mallorca’s only natural hot springs) is blissfully relaxing.
Prices start from £162 per room per night, based on 2 sharing a Double Room with Patio on a B&B basis. This includes use of the spa facilities.
A lavish country estate – The Capaldi, Lalla Takerkoust, Morocco
Set on a 4-hectare former olive farm in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, The Capaldi offers accessible luxury and breath-taking views. The 23 rooms all house super-kingsize beds and fireplaces, and are decorated in a chic minimalist style with traditional Moroccan splashes (think silk pillows, killim rugs and tadelakt walls). There are 2 cooling pools, a spa and a lantern-lit terrace for lazy days and romantic evenings, and the incredible French-Moroccan food draws visitors from miles around. If you want to venture out, you can trek to nearby Lake Lalla Takerkoust, cycle through local villages or head into Marrakech’s buzzing medina, safe in the knowledge that you have an oasis of calm to return to.
Prices start from £125 per room per night, based on 2 sharing a Farmhouse Room on a B&B basis.