i-escape’s 2017 travel wishlist

As you might expect, we i-escapers love to travel, and we never tire of searching out new places to recommend. As we head towards New Year, here are the places on our team’s travel wishlist for 2017.

Liz, Editor:
“I’m hoping to spend a week at Baoussala, near Essaouira in Morocco, with my husband and 3-year-old daughter. I love the sound of its remote feel, friendly vibe, beautiful grounds, exceptional slow cooking and authentic Berber décor. And its prices are amazing!”

Kate, Head of Bookings:
“I have a big birthday coming up next year and I’m not-so-secretly hoping that my husband will step up and organise a weekend away without the kids. As we’re limited to a few days I’m imagining a northern lights spectacular at Iceland’s stunning Ion Hotel, an indulgent weekend in Barcelona at cool Casa Bonay, or a perhaps a return trip to the idyllic Esplendido in Mallorca for a sea-view room and a bit of pampering in the spa.”

Ben R, Bookings Consultant:
“I’m scheming away for travels around Vietnam next year. We’ll probably cram in as many sights as possible, with Mango Bay as the carrot on a stick – the final flop before we head home. I love its eco style – rustic but comfy and laid-back. And the food… oh the food! I love Vietnamese cuisine, so I intend to do nothing but eat and swim on repeat. Yum.”

Abi C, Marketing Executive:
“After a lovely short break in Wales earlier this year, I’ve got another rural staycation in mind for 2017. A long as you’re not too unlucky with the weather, there’s nowhere better than our homegrown wilderness. I would love to head to The Boathouse at Knotts End for a few days of hiking, boat trips and alfresco dining in the Lakes.”

Mike, Editor-in-Chief:
“I’d choose Tierra Patagonia and Atacama for a once-in-a-lifetime combo of spectacular desert and semi-Arctic landscapes, staying in 2 of our most indulgent and visually striking hotels. Chile has been on my wishlist for years, and a recent guest came back so full of praise and bright-eyed enthusiasm that I thought: why leave it any longer?”

Abi D, Deputy Editor:
“I’m coveting a stay at stunning design hotel Aire de Bardenas, which sits in mirror-like cubes in northern Spain’s Bardenas Reales National Park. I’d love to spend a few days feasting in the restaurant, wallowing in an outdoor tub, and lounging in one of the window seats gazing out at desert dunes and windswept rock formations. Stylish and soul-restoring!”

Melissa, Assistant Editor:
“I’d love to visit Chena Huts in Sri Lanka. The setting looks spectacular, as does the luxe safari vibe – hello private plunge pool! Above all, the chance to see leopards and elephants in the wild sounds unmissable.”

Clair, Marketing Manager:
“Costa Rica is at the top of my travel wishlist for 2017 and The Harmony Hotel looks like a perfect chilled-out hideaway: it’s eco-friendly and set in tropical gardens with monkeys, hummingbirds and iguanas all year round – heaven. Plus it’s a few yards away from Costa Rica’s famous surfing beach, Playa Guicones, which will keep my surf-mad boyfriend quiet for a bit!”

Nadine, Kids Collection Editor:
“I’d love to visit beautiful Tuscan estate Borgo Pignano, which has idyllic grounds including a biodynamic garden, a waterfall and a sparkling pool set in a former limestone quarry. It sounds perfect for my children, who would be welcomed with Montessori-inspired activities such as sculpting with natural materials, creating dyes with flowers and exploring the woods and meadows. And they offer a babysitting service and separate kids’ meals, so my husband and I could dine together in the evenings.”

Anna, Marketing Executive:
“It’s so hard to pin down just one place! Our Head of Bookings Kate raves about Muxima in the Algarve and I can’t get it out of my head – it has everything my family loves: a relaxed vibe, a serene setting, lots of space for our toddler to run around in, toys to keep him occupied, nearby beaches, and an amazing natural pool.”

Emylou, Bookings Consultant:
“I’m dreaming of a stay at Apokryfo in Cyprus. To me this hotel epitomises rustic living: looking at the photos, I can almost feel my bare feet on the wooden floors and the sunshine on my shoulders. I can imagine lazy afternoons around the pool with a book, followed by home-cooked dinners with bottle after bottle of red wine. It just really reaches out to me.”