Tag Archives: europe

Family Life, Top 10, Travel

Welcome Back, Euro Summer 2026, Exciting News and Much More!

Monaco Sunrise. All photos courtesy of NHYM 2026. This post may contain affiliate links.

Welcome back from the Summer Holidays! I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer, be it exciting, restful or adventurous. Mine was very, very hectic, travelling to over 6 countries and 8 cities/towns/villages. It was a LOT. But hopefully one day – when I have recovered – I will remember these core memories and my children (now full blown teens) will remember these days with fondness and happiness. In the meantime, I am exhausted and keep flitting from post-holiday blues, to post-holiday exhilaration.

Roquebrune Cap Martin NHYM 2026

Firstly, let’s talk Euro Summer 2026, which I realise is a flex in the US, but really a necessity for us Euros. The sunsets and the light are just incredible, and frankly unmatchable. There’s a reason Picasso, Matisse, Van Gogh, Fitzgerald and every other painter and writer came here for inspiration. It never ceases to inspire me and brings me back here year after year.

Cannes Sunset. NHYM 2026

A few friends have been asking about the Cannes/Cap D’Antibes/Juan area, which has had a serious revival recently: there have been so many new openings, it’s hard to keep track of them all, but it is one of the reason I love coming back. There are new restaurant and hotel openings every single year that I love to try out. Cannes has a new culinary scene with Zuma (yum), La Petite Maison (yum but expensive), Nammos (not yum, just expensive), and Il Grande (yum and expensive), and many new hotels have also popped up (see below, Mondrian, Belle Plages and more). It’s an exciting time, although I always recommend coming in May, June or September, outside of high season, which can really be unpleasant and ridiculously priced.

CANNES/CAP D’ANTIBES/MOUGINS HOTELS

Here’s a small list of hotel recommendations in the area, ranging from value-for-money hotels to boutique hotels, to ultra luxury hotels.

1.Three Stars Boutique: Hotel Le Sud, Antibes For a cozy, stylish, affordable boutique hotel in Antibes.

2. Four Stars Boutique: Hotel La Villa Cannes: Exceptional value and great location, if you want an affordable option in Cannes.

3. Four Stars: La Bastide de Mougins: For an inland, Provencal experience, it is 20 minutes from Cannes but 5 minutes away from the gorgeous medieval village of Mougins.

4. Five Stars Boutique: Hotel & Spa Belle Plage, Cannes My personal favourite, a stylish, design Cannes hotel with easy access to the beach and one of the best rooftops in Cannes. My hidden gem!

5. Five Stars: Le Mas Candille, Mougins: Also in Mougins, a new renovated provencal hotel with a Clarins spa and cool restaurants, it has already attracted George and Amal.

Zuma, Cannes. NHYM 2026

6. Five Stars/Boutique: Villa Mirae, Cap Antibes A new stylish boutique hotel in Cap D’antibes, it is a stone’s throw away from La Garoupe Beach. Plage Keller is currently closed and under refurbishment. Another gem that bites the dust…

7. Five Stars: Les Belles Rives, Cap D’Antibes: F Scott Fitzgerald’s old seaside retreat needs to feature in this list, but make sure you get a seaview – do NOT under any circumstance get a road view, as its pretty unattractive and therefore just not worth it. The restaurant by the beach is really wonderful, but keep in mind that even hotel guests have to pay for beach chairs so it is not a cheap option. It has old school furniture and decor, but that is part of its historic appeal.

8. Five Stars: Mondrian, Cannes: A new design hotel in the middle of Cannes, for the design conscious and a fresh Japanese restaurant, Nakomoto. Great seaviews.

9. Five Stars: Martinez Cannes For a Cannes stalwart, the Martinez has a great pool, but watch out for the pool hours for the kids. Seaview & Private beach.

10. Five Stars Boutique: Five Seas, Cannes This one was recommended to me by a Danish family that comes back year after year. It’s a smaller boutique hotel with a rooftop pool and part of the same hotel family as the Villa Mirae.

11. Luxury: Carlton, Cannes Recently refurbished and renovated, it aims to return to its former glory under the Regent brand, under the IHG umbrella. For those who want ultra luxury in the middle of Cannes. The Michelin star restaurant is worth it.

12. Ultra Luxury: Hotel du Cap Eden Roc Another favourite of mine, the Hotel du Cap is arguably one of the best hotels in France, which hosts everyone during the Cannes Film Festival and the Amfar gala. You have to book months (years) in advance, and even then, be careful not to get a ground floor, damp room, which friends have had to deal with. The ultimate Grande Dame of the Cote D’azur, it has everything you could ever ask for.

Other wonderful new hotels outside this area are Le Chateau de Theoule, Hotel du Couvent in Nice (one of my favourites), and Maybourne Riviera (Amazing Architecture and Views of Monaco) and Les Roches Rouges , which I will be reviewing very soon!

Bay of Cannes NHYM 2026

The downside to this new-found popularity is that many of my ‘hidden gems,’ are no longer hidden, which has had pretty unwelcome consequences. La Guerite, which used to be one of my favourite places to go to along the French Riviera, and where I had my 40th birthday party, has literally been ruined by Influencers. I have been going for the past 13 years, but unfortunately its success has changed it: gone are the spontaneous days where Elton John and Usher would literally stand up to sing in front of the Geurite crowds. Last year, Jeff Bezos and Lebron James were caught having a (metaphorical) fight there, and this year, it was full of influencers, attracted to the F1 drivers (not that I mind) and footballers (Mbape and Haaland) that all partied there this year. Previously, it was a hidden European gem, now social media has brought (so many) American influencers, Saudis and everyone and their mother (including mine, who loved dancing to ABBA).

La Guerite NHYM 2026

Another hidden gem not far from St Tropez has been run over by the Notting Hill crowd (I won’t mention where, else I will get boycotted). I couldn’t believe how many Londoners I ran into. It’s fine if you want to run into everyone you know, but for those who are looking to disconnect and relax, well it was impossible.

Vista Restaurant at Lily of the Valley. NHYM 2026

Finally, there are those places that have become astronomically expensive due to their fame: Chateau de La Messardiere, once one of my favourite hotels, has become completely out of reach since its White Lotus fame and its renovation by Les Airelles. Ditto La Guerite. Now, it has literally become the most expensive Beach Club in the world, where spending 500K in one afternoon is a sign of having ‘made it.’ I spoke to one of the staff I knew and asked what they thought of the change, (we silently agreed that it had changed so much), and his answer was that ‘it still remained full of love and fun.’ I would agree with that, I just felt like it completely lost its exclusivity and elegance. They added more tables this year and made it bigger than ever.

NHYM 2026

Each time a hidden gem has been found, I move on to the next, but this time, sorry guys I won’t tell you where my latest hidden gems are, I want to keep them hidden a little longer for myself and my friends….

My new hidden gem NHYM 2026

Well, this one isn’t that hidden: a very famous American Politician and Presidential candidate was having lunch next to us.

Another Hidden Gem NHYM 2026

Also, I have a lot of new collaborations to announce, from luxury luggage label, Level 8, to a really cool hotel, Les Roches Rouges, which I will be reviewing as an official travel writer. In addition, I have some exciting news that I will be sharing in the next few months, which has been in the making for the past 10 years. I will keep building the anticipation until it is time. Keep a lookout for updates!

Sunset Monaco NHYM 2026

Finally, for those who, like me, start planning their next holiday as soon as their last holiday finishes, you can get some inspiration from my last few posts:

In the meantime, good luck for the back – to – school mania!
xx

NHYM

http://www.nottinghillyummymummy.com

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Family Life, food, Food & Dining, Reviews, Top 10, Travel

The Four Seasons in Venice: Top 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Venice & What to do in Venice

All Photos Copyright NHYM 2026

Venice has a special place in my heart, I knew it by heart way before Jeff Bezos and George Clooney entered the picture and had their weddings there. My first time was as a med student in my 20s, taking a £9 Ryanair flight and staying in a rental flat for the week with my uni friends. We roamed the streets during low season, buying groceries and capuccinos like local Venetians, and ended up in authentic Venetian bars at night for cicchetti and Barolo. Then came the romantic trip to the Danieli for my birthday with my now husband in my 30s, the trip with the kids in my 40s, and then the 40th and 50th birthday parties at Palazzos and the Aman. I have been to Venice for every reason and season of my life, and each time, came away with memories to last a lifetime.

1. Hotel Danieli, a Four Seasons Hotel: Best for Romance & Rooftops. For my romantic birthday weekend away, my fiance (now husband) whisked me away in a water taxi to the world famous Hotel Danieli. My father, who was still alive, approved. It is one of the oldest palaces in Venice, renowned for its old-school grandeur. It might not be the newest, most polished hotel, but it holds tons of history between its walls. The rooftop restaurant is one-of-a-kind with sprawling views of Venice. The management has recently been taken over by the Four Seasons, so it can only get better.

Venice Canal NHYM 2026

2. Hotel San Clemente Palace Kempinski: Best for Space and Kids. When we went to Venice with our kids for the first time, we knew they weren’t old enough to be sight-seeing all day long without whining, so we needed an alternate plan when the heat, the crowds and the sight-seeing would send them into full melt-downs. Enter the San Clemente Palace: the ultimate Venice Kids Palace Hotel on its own island and is a vast resort for the kids to run around once the sight-seeing was done. We found the perfect way to sight-see-with-kids: Our mornings were spent weaving through the canals on gondolas and shopping for masks, while the afternoons were spent around their fabulous swimming pool and its cabanas, eating pizza in its garden restaurant. This is my favourite hotel in Venice with kids, so I highly recommend it.

3. Hotel Cipriani:, a Belmond Hotel Best for Unlimited budget. If money is no object, the Cipriani Hotel has a similar premise to the San Clemente: it is on its own island and has water shuttles to take you to the center of Venice. It is a Belmond Hotel so has all the bells and whistles of the top hotels of the world. Its terrace and pool are beautiful and it is an oasis away from the bustling overcrowding, oppressive Venice in the Summer. Friends have taken their children, and raved about it.

Masquerade Ball Aman Venice NHYM 2022

4. Aman Venice Palazzo Papadopoli Hotel: Best for weddings and Birthday parties. When we were invited to a Masquerade Ball/Birthday Party at the Aman Venice, we thought, ‘if it’s good enough for Amal and George, it’s definitely good enough for us.’ and we weren’t wrong. The Aman is a special, beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of Venice that is hard to surpass. Everything about it is beautiful: its lobby, its garden, its ballroom and its rooms. We were treated to events in all of them: the garden for aperitivo, dinner in the ballroom and dancing in the lobby. Sitting under the painted frescoes of the grand ballroom with dancers surrounding us, was an experience to remember forever. Please excuse the blurry not-perfect pictures, clearly signs of a good party…

5. Gritti Palace: Best for Sunset drinks & Serious Luxury: The Gritti Palace needs no introduction. For the most wonderful sunset drinks on its terrace by the canal, the Gritti has to win hands down so even if you don’t stay at the Gritti, you can always stop by for a drink. With beautiful views and history, the Gritti has enthralled dignitaries and aristocrats for centuries. For that bucket list experience, the Gritti holds it own.

Aman Ballroom NHYM 2022

6. Hotel Nani Mocenigo Palace: Best for Value for a small Palazzo. When a Venetian friend of ours decided to throw his 50th birthday party, he chose the Nani Mocenigo Palazzo. It is more understated than the great big palaces of San Clemente and the Gritti, but for a cosy, boutique feel, and very reasonable prices, it is a hidden gem that only a Venetian would know about. It has a lovely courtyard in the back, a priceless commodity in Venice.

7. Palazzo Venart: Best for privacy and travellers in-the-know. A Leading Hotel of the World, Palazzo Venart is a private, beautiful retreat with private gardens and unique style in Venice. Unlike the sceney Gritti and Danieli, Palazzo Venart provides all the luxury amenities and service, while providing a private oasis in the middle of Venice. It’s like your own private Palazzo with your room to choose.

View from the Nani Mocenigo Palace NHYM 2024

8. Excelsior Venice Lido Resort: Best for a Venice Beach Resort. This hotel, 15 minutes away from central Venice, is right on a beach and has hosted the Venice Film Festival each year. Need I say more? It is an iconic hotel on a large stretch of beach and has more space than any other hotel in Venice: it has 4 restaurants and offers very spacious rooms. This is another great hotel for kids, and even has a kids club during high season.

9. Nolinski Venezia: Best for those looking for modern interiors in a historical exterior. A new hotel on the Venice scene, the Nolinski is truly unique in Venice. Its interiors are a mixture of Art Deco, contemporary and mid-century, which if you know me, is right up my interior-design alley. It’s perfect for those design/modern oriented visitors who don’t want the heavy drapes, gold-gilded rooms and frescoes. There is also a spa and rooftop pool, both a rarity in Venice.

10. Hotel Palazzo Stern: Best for its location on the Grand Canal. For those who want a historical experience, the Stern delivers. It was used in the 2003 movie ‘The Italian Job’ and some Netflix movies as well, so you can be sure it’s got a decor that impresses. With only 24 rooms it is cosy with a lovely terrace, perfect for those who can’t quite afford the Gritti but want a Grand Canalside experience.

Dancers at the Masquerade Ball NHYM 2022

WHAT TO DO WITH KIDS IN VENICE

  1. Mask Making
  2. Gondola Ride
  3. Treasure Hunt in DOGE’s PALACE
  4. Glass Factory Tour and Glass Blowing Workshop
  5. Pasta and Tiramisu Cooking Class
  6. Family Friendly Private Walking Tour

CHECK OUT OTHER ACTIVITIES WITH GET YOUR GUIDE:

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food, Food & Dining, Health & Wellness, Travel

The New Notting Hill ‘Wellness’ Scene

London is experiencing a full on ‘Well-naissance:’ long gone are the days of dancing on tables in dark corners of nightclubs, these days it’s all about drips and longevity. Even Tramp, the most louche, debaucherous nightclub I used to go to in my twenties, just launched a wellness members club: Tramp Health. The Arts Club already has a long-standing collaboration with Lanserhof, the medical retreat to the hard core wellness crowd (think, broth for dinner, crackers for lunch) and Annabel’s now even offers Sound Healing.

Cloud 12 Wellness After Dark

But the epicentre of Wellness in London has to be Notting Hill: it pops up more wellness-oriented businesses than anywhere in the capital: wellness memberships, exercise studios, restaurants (like the vegan Holy Carrot) and even food shops (a Whole Foods literally opened two weeks ago on Notting Hill Gate). Wellness Members Clubs are the hot new thing and I’ve already covered the new Six Senses Place members club, with access to the Six Senses Spa, gym and hotel facilities, which chose Notting Hill (well, Queensway) as their inaugural wellness club. An Australian friend looking for a good Acai bowl was bemoaning the lack of good Acai in South Kensington/Chelsea, reminding me that in Notting Hill, you can find Acai bowls on every street corner: Acai girls, Farm girl, Granger, Jusu Brothers, Oakberry, Jungle Berry etc…which is an indication of the demand and supply. But not all wellness fads survive, sadly Bodyism recently shut down, with a business model that was going to be hard to sustain, and is being replaced by an Alo store (another indicator of NH Wellness) and RePlace also closed recently.

Neeta Sharma of Grounded 1002

And then a few weeks ago, I was invited to a new concept launched by Cloud Twelve: ‘Wellness After Dark,’ which hosts weekly wellness sessions on Thursdays, with 50% off certain treatments and a ‘Wellness Social’ from 6:15pm-7pm. I was invited to try their new Infrared Sauna, which offers all kind of benefits from anti-ageing to weight loss and their ‘Wellness social,’ a rotating line-up of sessions given by guest practitioners. I attended the ‘Luxury of Knowing Yourself: Reset Through the Body,’ by Neeta Sharma of Grounded1002. Not knowing what to expect, I was welcomed with freshly foraged elderflower tea, a group of nice women, and an hour of connecting with one’s body with breathing, collective humming, tapping, body gua sha, and movement with Neeta’s guidance. I left feeling lighter, invigorated and in a better mood. I don’t know if it was the infrared sauna, the collective humming, or feeling part of a community, but it was a great way to spend a Thursday evening, prioritising myself and my wellbeing.

Neeta’s Gua Sha on sale on Grounded1002

There’s also the Method, which opened not one, but two studios in Notting Hill: first with the Nathalie Cafe on Westbourne Grove, where literally all the influencers go for their Matcha and Coffee, and their new studios on the intersection of Westbourne Grove and Pembridge Villas, in the flat-iron building, the Method Club, which offers ‘fun’ exercise classes with dancing and pilates involved. Two other gyms have opened, Third Space in The Whiteley and Form Studios across from it, all highlighting the current Wellness trend.

Finally, there are longevity clinics, popping up all over London, like Apogii, a Wellness and Longevity clinic in Notting Hill, which offers cryotherapy, infrared sauna and other longevity hacks, which was bought by Get-a-Drip, the iv clinic, which can top you up with anything from NAD+ to Vitamin C.

So, if you’re looking for a Wellness top-up, there’s nothing better than Notting Hill.

xx

NHYM

http://www.nottinghillyummymummy.com

Where to Stay in London:

  1. Best for Spa & Serenity: Six Senses Hotel
  2. Best for West London: The Kensington
  3. Best Romance & Rooftop Pool: The Berkeley
  4. Best in Old School Luxury in Mayfair: The Connaught
  5. Best in East London: Shoreditch House
  6. Best for sustainability: 1 Hotel Mayfair
  7. Best for Cool Central Covent Garden: Nomad
  8. Best for City Views and Sky High Restaurants: Shangri-La The Shard
  9. Best Boutique: Number 16 Hotel South Kensington
  10. Best for middle-of-the-action-Leicester Square: The Londoner

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Family Life, Reviews, Travel

Hotel Review: The Four Seasons, Astir Palace, Athens, Greece

NHYM 2025, Four Seasons Astir Palace

A friend recently asked me where to travel for Easter break and May half-term, which was not too far, had good weather for swimming, with a bit of culture but not too much that the kids would start complaining. I knew exactly where to send her. Last year, I finally made it to a hotel I have been eyeing since its opening during Easter break: The Four Seasons, Astir Palace on the Athenian Riviera, Greece. While technically not in Athens, it is only a cab ride away and offers the best of all worlds: a beautiful, seaside hotel, the best service around, plenty of excellent restaurants, things for the kids (pools, kids clubs and more), things for the adults (spa etc..), and plenty of culture within reach in Athens. And of course, all our children have been exposed to Greek mythology with the Percy books, so for any fans of Greek mythology, this is a great place to come.

The Pool. NHYM 2025

We came as a multi-generational family, and it has something to please everyone: sun and sea for the granny, pool and fun for the kids, boat days for me, good food for Mr. X, and culture, for well, everyone.

View from our room. NHYM 2025

The morning seaview was a pleasure to wake up to every day. The rooms are tastefully decorated, as is the whole hotel. There is a sophisticated luxury vibe, with added local touches of olive trees all around the property. With the Four Seasons, you always know what you’re going to get: a perfect combination of luxury and service. This Four Seasons manages to do this seamlessly: the lobby is filled with elaborate floral displays and the staff is friendly but professional, which is different to some hotels where the staff can be a little too uptight and cold. The facilities are excellent, from the spa to the restaurants to the pools to the gift shop, to the terraces. The restaurants include the main restaurant Pelago with beautiful seaviews, Beefbar (always yummy), Matsuhisa (beautiful views although a bit too expensive in my taste) and the water-side Greek taverna restaurant is also very good for a dose of Greek cuisine. There are multiple hotels on site, but we stayed in the main one, which suited us perfectly.

The Acropolis. NHYM 2025

For our hit of culture, we took the whole family for some sight-seeing in Athens with a tour guide, which is an absolute must. I am lucky enough to know people who live in cities all over the world, and love to meet them to get a real flavour of the place. I had dinner with one of our friends in Athens (well, friend of friend, but that still counts!) who invited us to a cool, trendy Athenian restaurant. There, he explained the difference between North Athenians vs the South Athenians. The Four Seasons is South of Athens and fits in where the new money is. North of Athens is old money, more traditional, with Ambassadors and old families and good schools.

Hydra. NHYM 2025

For me, a boat day is always a highlight of my trips, and this time, it was for my kids. We took a day trip to Spetses and Hydra, which are both beautiful islands accessible by boat, both with their unique personalities and fans. A question I learned to ask any Athenian: are you Spetses or are you Hydra? Spetses is for the old money aristocracy, and Hydra is more for the artists and writers (Leonard Cohen lived there). I loved both for different reasons, but I have to say that Hydra stole my heart with its charming Marina, although there were too many tourists. Spetses is quiet, off the beaten path, which people love because it doesn’t attract too many tourists. I have many friends who spend their summers on Spetses, so I’d love to go back in the summer.

Hydra Marina. NHYM 2025

For a quick weekend away or a multi-generational family trip, the Four Seasons Astir Palace is highly recommended. It won’t disappoint, and collects awards and accolades each year. In 2025, it was voted 17th best hotel in the world in the World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 and even the new Michelin Guide awarded it 3 Michelin keys. So for anyone looking for a perfect mix of sea, service, luxury and culture, easily accessible from London, it’s hard to beat.

View from Matsuhisa. NHYM 2025

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Food & Dining, Health & Wellness, Reviews, Travel

Six Senses London, Hotel & Spa

Six Senses Hotel Bar NHYM 2026

The Whiteley’s has had a complete, long awaited, transformation: for years, it lay in a desolate, destitute state that people avoided (except for Gymboree classes at the top floor, which is how I know it best) but now it has been transformed into a beautiful, architectural feat led by Foster + Partners Architects and project-managed by Valouran Partners. I have watched it slowly develop over the years, both as a local, but also as a friend of the masterminds behind the facade. I was more than excited when it opened last year, first as residences, and now the Six Senses London, Hotel & Spa, which officially just opened March 1st.

Courtesy of Instagram 2026

The Six Senses Hotel brand is known for its wellness, barefoot rustic chic approach to hospitality with hotels all over the world. I’ve been to the Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, which I loved for its remote location and gorgeous villas in the jungle and by the water, remniscent of the Soneva brand (I was first introduced to Six Senses Spa 20 years ago in the old Soneva Gili that had a Six Senses Spa). I’ve also been to Six Senses Ibiza with its fantastic spa and great food and view, while the Six Senses Lamuu and Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman are all time family favourites. So, when I heard a Six Senses was coming to London, I was already excited: a well-known luxury and wellness brand was coming to my neighborhood! It is the right location in London, right next to the epicentre of Wellness Central, Notting Hill (There are so many matcha shops and plenty of organic food stores from Acai girls to Daylesford Organic and Planet Organic, as well as vegan restaurants like the Holy Carrot). This crowd is seriously health conscious and wellness oriented, so I think the luxury + wellness clientele is definitely around here.

Courtesy of Instagram 2026

The hotel, full of plants hanging and draped everywhere, reminds me of the 1Hotels ethos, ‘sustainable luxury hotel experience where nature inspires,’ which has done very well so far with its hotels in Mayfair, New York and Toronto. When you enter the Six Senses, an overwhelming sense of calm and peace envelops you; it is truly an oasis in grey London. It was a rainy, dreary day in early February when I visited for the first time before it opened, and it really felt like I was being transported to a holiday for a few hours. The entrance is framed by the original Whiteley’s staircase which was painstakingly moved from its original position to become the backdrop of the hotel lobby. The design, the furniture and the finishings are all soothing but luxurious, fitting with what the Six Senses brand trying to do in cities recently: a soothing urban oasis in the middle of the city.

There is nothing like this hotel in the immediate vicinity: most of the luxury hotels are in Knightsbridge or Mayfair and this is the first five star hotel in West London, covering Queensway, Bayswater, Notting Hill and West Kensington.It is an ambitious gamble to put it in Bayswater/Queensway, more known for its souvenir shops than its glamourous neighbours nearby, Notting Hill and Kensington but there is a commitment to redevelop the entire area, which I am really waiting eagerly, and so far the Everyman Cinema, Guillam Coffeshop, ThirdSpace and Nela are so far hitting the right notes. I will definitely be encouraging my friends and family to stay here.

Courtyard of the Whiteley NHYM 2026

Six Senses Spa

The piece de resistance of the hotel really is the Six Senses Spa: it is stunning. The entrance lobby of the spa below the hotel with its hanging chandelier and highest ceilings you can imagine is probably my favourite part of the whole hotel. The pool was still closed when I visited, but the rest of the spa really is one-of-a-kind in London. There is everything you could think of in a spa from pods to cryo, and there’s a biohacking recovery lounge, a magnesium pool, and a state of the art gym. There is even an Alchemy bar, but which was closed when I visited so can’t tell you much about it. So the next time I want to spa but don’t want to trek to the Bulgari Spa or the Corinthian, I will definitely be heading there. (FYI – the pool is still not open yet as of March 2026).

Six Senses Kitchen

Courtesy of a friend 2026

The Six Senses Kitchen is very good, better than expected, but with a luxury 5 star hotel, the food has to be on point. I had a delicious beetroot dip, Lamb koftas and green chard rolls as starters, which were all delicious. The mains, the stone bass and Red Suffolk pork, were both tasty and memorable. My friend who stayed overnight highly praised the Asian inspired breakfast and brunch. The bar is also quite stunning, served with a perfect caprinha cocktail, one of the best in Notting Hill, Mr. X said. The manager was absolutely lovely, which is essential for this type of hotel. It still feels like the hotel is in its soft opening stage, but it is a wonderful addition to the neighbourhood.

Six Senses Place

For those who don’t know yet, they have started a Six Senses Place Membership, which gives access to the gym, pool, spa, and the 1st floor of the hotel which has another restaurant and many other lounges and spaces. Here, it is all about wellness and wellbeing, and I am intrigued to see who they will attract. The owners of the Six Senses Residences and Whiteley’s Residences will get instant membership to the Six Senses Place, which is really an attractive proposition: there’s everything you could need under one giant Whiteleys roof.

The Whiteley’s has truly returned to its glory days, with beautiful residences, restaurants and a hotel and spa to attract the gliterrati. Queensway’s redevelopment has to follow, but I am really hopeful that it will match the grandeur and beauty of the Whiteley’s so far. I wish it all the best success and I’ll be back soon for the Spa and Sunday brunch!

xx

NHYM

http://www.nottinghillyummymummy.com

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Family Life, Top 10, Travel

Top 10 Best Luxury Hotels Ibiza: 10 Best Hotels, Villas and Agroturismos in Ibiza, Spain

If like me, you have had a dreadful January, you are not alone: everyone I have spoken to has had a pretty miserable January. The last few weeks have been dreary and depressing: it’s been dark, cold, and very, very wet but beyond that, we’ve recently witnessed two mass shootings (a friend’s son was stuck at Brown University during the shooting and other friends were on Bondi beach right before the shooting), then the fire in the nightclub in Crans Montana was shocking, with friends of friends who lost their child, but also because my kids are the age where they could have been there (and then the fire at the Roof Gardens a few nights ago, but thank god no one was hurt). The two shootings in the US left me horrified and speechless: people in the US are scared and do not feel safe. And let’s not mention Greenland. It all feels way too close to home, and right now it feels like we live in a twilight zone. So when I write my travel posts, it’s not because I ignore what’s going on in the world, but it is a way of using memories to dream of happier times. First up, Ibiza.

All Photos Copyright NHYM 2026

A few months ago, someone asked me to write a post about where to stay in Ibiza, particularly agroturismos, after I had been to a 50th birthday party and stayed at Atzaro. He had never heard of it- and agroturismos – before last year. What a lot of people don’t necessarily know about Ibiza is that it is multi-faceted; there is the trashy San Antonio crowd, the party drug-fuelled crowd, overlapped with the club people and the hippy crowd that came in the 70s. Then, finally, there are the inbetweeners, who love the clear waters of Formentera, the laid back vibe of the island, with a stop at Pacha once in a while, like me and my friends. I have been going to Ibiza for 30 years, the first time when I was 18 yo going to foam parties at Amnesia and going to the VIP section of Pacha to listen to David Guetta. I remember those days going to sleep at 10pm and waking up at 3am to go to clubs when they opened. Then, I discovered Formentera and Juan y Andrea in my 20s, when a friend of a friend literally bought a Sunseeker overnight and we spent endless days on the boat, mostly spending our time in Formentera. Then came the kids, and we rented gorgeous villas around the island with other friends with kids. Needless to say, I have wonderful memories of the island through the decades.

NHYM 2026

So, when a good friend invited me to her 50th birthday party last May, there was no way I was going to miss it. I had always wanted to stay at Atzaro, but somehow it never happened. Atzaro is one of the original luxury Agroturismos, in a part of the island that is still mostly undeveloped, which is Ibiza before Ibiza became Ibiza. Agroturismos are working farms that offer accommodation and dining to visitors and the spectrum runs from rural farms to very nice luxury hotels, which Atzaro is a prime example. They are very popular in Spain and Italy, especially in Ibiza, and shows an authentic side of Ibiza.

Atzaro is a thirteen hectare estate with beautiful bougainvillea covered buildings and terraces, ponds, gardens, restaurants, pavillions, orange groves and a vegetable garden. It was born from a 300 year old finca, and has been turned into one of the best hotels in Ibiza.

The interiors are typical finca style with terracotta tiles, littered with white fresh cotton sofas, wood materials, and low wood ceilings to keep the interiors cool in summer.

The pavillions are covered with climbing flowers and plants and inside are stylish rooms with teak four poster beds, and outside are private terraces and pools. The style of the hotel is understated yet luxurious, and has all the mod cons you can think of and every detail is thought of. Even their hotel shop has original Ibizan pieces that I couldn’t resist.

The outdoor restaurant is situated under grape vines and for breakfast is as magical as it could be.

Bougainvillea overflowing on the terraces.

The 43 meter freshwater Pool in the Spa.

There are day memberships available for guests staying outside the hotel, so my preference was the hotel pool, which is exclusive to hotel guests and has more privacy.

Spa with Balinese architecture surrounded by ponds, filled with singing frogs.

The gardens are wonderful for a wander and to get back to nature.

The event space is beautiful and if I were a die-hard Ibiza fan, this is where I would find any excuse to throw a party: wedding, anniversary, or a 30/40/50th birthday party. Or maybe I can renew my wedding vows like Brooklyn and Nicola.

My friend’s 50th birthday party was equally beautiful at another Agroturismo, Can Curreu, where the speeches were tear inducing, both from their sentimentality as well as from laughter. It was a wonderful weekend surrounded by old friends and new friends, and we danced and partied like we were 18 years old. More wonderful memories to add to my Ibiza Memory Box.

There are now so many accommodation options in Ibiza that it’s hard to know what to choose from, but here are my and my friends’ favourite places to stay in Ibiza:

  1. Six Senses: The Six Senses landed in Ibiza a few years ago, and it is in a beautiful spot with gorgeous views and an amazing spa. Here it’s all about wellness, healthy living, Mediterranean food, and a superb spa. Perfect for a wellness break. The service can be hit or miss, but I would happily go with a few girlfriends for a weekend away.
  2. Nobu Hotel : For a more modern hotel, Nobu Ibiza is the one to go for. Clean white lines and sea views make this one an easy pick.
  3. Villas: Mi Casa Su Casa: I love all their villas, rustic chic and luxurious, but the one we rented was one of the most beautiful villas in Ibiza with an Olympic sized pool (well, almost) and a breathtaking sea view.
  4. Petunia Ibiza: A Beaumier property and sister hotel to Les Roches Rouges in France, it’s a beautiful boutique hotel near Es Vedra.
  5. Es Cucons: This rural, rustic chic hotel is inland and away from the crazy Ibiza nightlife. So if you want peace and quiet and nature, this one is great. I stayed years ago, and it’s still as good as it was 20 years ago.
  6. Can Curreu: This is where the 50th birthday was, so although I have never stayed there, my friends loved it enough to host a party there and most of their guests stayed here. And it comes with very reasonable prices.
  7. Can Jaume: Another lovely Agroturismo rural hotel, with orange groves and farmlands, it’s still close to Ibiza town, but with a slower paced Ibiza life.
  8. Dynamic Lives Villas: Friends of friends who go to Ibiza every summer rent villas from this villa rental company. It specialises in villas in Mallorca, Ibiza and Mykonos and they highly recommend it.
  9. Les Terrasses Agroturismo: Another Agroturismo, which like it names says, is full of terraces, and is a family friendly, intimate hotel that friends return to year after year. They have a lovely restaurant in their garden, and you’d never guess you were in Ibiza.
  10. Soho Farmhouse and Mondrian Ibiza are new openings in Ibiza. I haven’t been yet, so let me know what they’re like!

xx

NHYM

http://www.nottinghillyummymummy.com

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Family Life, Top 10, Travel

The Top 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Paris, What To Do & Where to Eat

View from the Cheval Blanc Rooftop with the Tour Eiffel. NHYM 2025.

Last Christmas, I found the perfect Christmas gift for Mr. X: a romantic weekend away to Paris. It ticked all the boxes: what he loves (Paris), what I love (travel), something memorable (I often give him memories and experiences instead of material goods), and gave us a perfect excuse to spend time together (sans kids!) So, I asked my most glamourous Parisiennes friends where to stay. Both answered with the same exact response: Le Cheval Blanc, Paris. ‘It’s best hotel we’ve ever stayed in! Six stars!’ ‘Cheval Blanc just opened in La Samaritaine. It’s the new place to go.’ It’s already in the World’s 50 Top Hotels of the world, coming in at number 20, and received a global recognition award, so after oohing and ahhing about going (the price is a drawback), I decided to surprise Mr. X.

Cheval Blanc at Dusk. NHYM 2025

1. Hotel Review: Cheval Blanc Hotel, Paris

Best for the Best of the Best

Rating: 10/10

What to like: Everything.

Biggest downside: You just won’t want to leave it. Well, that and the price tag.

We arrived late afternoon and went straight to their fabulous rooftop for a hot chocolate (me) and Champagne and patisseries (him). The view cannot really get better than this: on the left is Notre Dame (which had just been renovated and unveiled) and on the right is the Eiffel Tower, both with expansive views of Paris and the Seine. This view really is unbeatable.

Rooms: The rooms are all you can ask for with views of the Seine or Paris streets, but my favourite part was all the goodies they give you. I know, it’s really childlike, but I didn’t even need to go shopping after that! I was so excited to open all my goodie bags: there were Cheval Blanc keyrings, pens, toiletry bags, and Dior everything in the bathroom (eye cream, serums and more). We were literally fighting over all of the goodies that came with the room.

Food: The food selection is really excellent: La Langosteria upstairs on the roof with night-time views of the Eiffel Tower is delicious and very sexy. On the first floor, 3 star Michelin restaurant Plenitude made it to 13th best restaurant in the world in the World Restaurant Awards 2025. Need I say more? And the breakfast is really divine, their pastries incredible, which made it hell for me, given I am allergic to gluten and dairy, although I gave in to temptation and still ate their croissant. It was so good, it was worth the stomachache.

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Spa: Dior. Lovely.

Crowd: We came right before Fashion Week, and everyone was oh so fashionably cool. The Asians, the fashionistas and the super rich. So just for three days, we actually thought we were one of them. Pharell Williams was staying at the same time as us, and we saw him in full head-to-toe Louis Vuitton gear. Of course. He was just appointed Men’s Creative Director line for Louis Vuitton. Is there anything this guy can’t do?

LVMH has really hit a homerun here (with Lauren Sanchez staying here for her Bachelorette party). I loved it and so did Mr. X. It showcased Paris in its most beautiful light, from its rooftop to its restaurants. The only problem, was that each time we stepped out of the hotel, we just wanted to go back ‘home.’ Yes, it felt like it was our home for a few days, and the biggest problem, is we never wanted to leave.

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View from the Cheval Blanc. NHYM 2025

2. Raffles Royal Monceau

Best for Luxury meets Cool

Rating: 9/10

The Royal Monceau is definitely my kind of hotel, designed by Philippe Stark and is equally as cool as luxurious. The rooms are very stylish yet came with every luxury you could ask for, and the food always good: there’s a Matsuhisa which we loved, even though we were given a seat at the bar. For breakfast, we sat next to Sting and Trudy, which confirmed its coolness factor.

Book the Royal Monceau here

3. The Peninsula

Best for Ultimate Luxury

Rating: 9/10

For ultimate luxury, the Peninsula can’t be beat. It’s well known to offer the ultimate luxurious experience, with everything including Japanese style toilets. Every details is top of the range and expensive. The top floor restaurant is very elegant and grown up, with beautiful views, so this one is for those looking for modern luxury. Olivia Palermo was also staying there during Fashion Week, riding the elevator with us.

Book The Peninsula Paris here

Notre Dame, Newly renovated, NHYM 2025

4. Four Seasons George V

Best for Perfect Service

Rating: 8.5/10

I was once invited – years ago – to Paris before the Lehman meltdown and the Credit Crunch, when banks and private equity shops and hedge funds were splashing their cash to impress clients. Well, somehow I was part of the clientele, and stayed at the George V, Four Seasons. As with all Four Seasons, it was a great, know-what-to-expect stay. At the time, it hadn’t been renovated so I found the rooms a bit on the heavily-draped side, but as expected, the service was top notch.

Book the Four Seasons Hotel George V here

5. Hotel Costes

Best for the Cool, Trendy Crowd

Rating: 8/10

Of course I could continue with a list of other ultra luxury hotels like the Plaza Athenee and The Ritz and the Crillon, but these are a little old school for me. They are beautiful – don’t get me wrong – and the ice rink at the Plaza Athenee looks so cute at Christmas (it just opened Nov 27th), but I feel like I am visiting my grandmother when I go there. So, if you like the old Paris, don’t hesitate to go! But for those wanting something a little cooler, Hotel Costes is an old stalwart for the cool crowd. The bar and restaurant and its playlist reminds me of the 90s and summers in Paris, and its location is conveniently located next to the Louvre and Le Fumoir, one of my favourite places in Paris. It is dark and broody, so don’t expect light and brightness, but it does add mystery to the whole place and is apparently known for being a ‘den of opulence’ on Wikipedia.

6.Book Plaza Athenee here: Best for the Courtyard and outdoor ice-skating rink in winter.

7. Book Le Crillon here: Best for Old School luxury

8. Hotel Shangri – La: Best for Eiffel Tower Views

9. Hotel Bauchaumont: Best for Affordable Luxury

10. La Reserve: Best for Spa and Pool

La Fondation Louis Vuitton, Parc d’Acclimation, NHYM 2025

WHAT TO DO IN PARIS WITH KIDS:

There is so much to do in Paris, that most people already know the big sights they want to see. But if you’ve already seen the big sights, or are worried your kids might be bored, these are some family-friendly options, like family friendly Louvre tour or golf cart tours, that will get them going around Paris. I’ve tried to include a few off-radar options that you might not have heard of.

  1. Private Tour with Kids: Notre Dame, Ile St Louis, La Seine
  2. Bateaux Mouches River Seine Cruise
  3. Bike Tour in Versailles
  4. Le Louvre with Kids
  5. Musee d’Orsay Family Friendly Tour
  6. Arc de Triomphe Rooftop Tickets & Champs Elysees
  7. La Tour Eiffel
  8. Jardin D’acclimation & Fondation Louis Vuitton
  9. Aquarium
  10. Macaron Baking Class for families and kids
  11. Golf Cart Tour of Paris
  12. Mini Perfume Workshop
  13. Catacombs
  14. Jardin des Plantes: Menagerie (lille animal zoo) and the Gallery of Evolution
  15. Eurodisney for the Day
  16. Montmarte Escape Game
  17. Parc Asterix: An amusement park 40 minutes from Paris, this is more manageable that Eurodisney, so it’s my choice over Eurodisney any day.
  18. Shopping: Galeries Lafayette FAO Schwarz and Patisserie Jellycat Store & Macaron making workshop at Galeries Lafayette .Shopping for teens: Galerie Lafayettes, Le Marais (Rue des Francs Bourgeois, Rue des Rosiers and Rue Vieille du Temple), Monoprix at Forum des Halles Westfield. Kilo Shop and La Guerrisol for thrifting. Brandy Melville & Subdued on Rue de Rennes.
  19. Atelier des Lumieres: Le Petit Prince
  20. Chocolate Making Workshop

Where to Eat:

Here are some of my favourite places to eat, many of them for the view or the atmosphere:

  1. Chez L’ami Louis
  2. Loulou
  3. Giraffe
  4. Cafe de Flor
  5. Cafe Marly
  6. Le Fumoir
  7. Le Grand Vefour
  8. La Perruche
  9. Langosteria
  10. Kong

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Top 10 Best Luxury Ski Resorts in Europe

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Ski Season is upon us! The temperatures have dropped overnight and London had its first snow of the year this morning, so it is making me think of Ski Holidays! Years ago, an American friend who just moved to London asked me about where to go skiing in Europe and I realised that there are so many great places, depending on what you’re looking for. What she really wanted was to understand every European ski resort’s own distinct personality and reasons to go: ski area, snow quality, apres-ski and party scene, restaurants, luxury hotels, non-ski activities, the charm of the village etc… so here are my Top 10 Best Luxury Ski Resorts in a Snapshot:

  1. Chamonix: Best for the hard-core skiers and snowboarders looking for a challenge, glacier and off piste skiing. The highlight is to ski down the infamous, La Vallee Blanche, right off the Mont Blanc Massif, with a 2700m vertical descent, which can take you all day to ski down. Just walking off the ski lift to the top of the Vallee Blanche is already a challenge: there is a tiny path with ropes literally keeping you for slipping down a vertical drop. The glacier skiing with a private guide is spectacular, taking you places with no other skiers have been before and exploring gorgeous ice formations. Even I can do it, so it’s not only for the super advanced heli-skiers. Here, it’s all about the skiing, so if you’re not too bothered about five star luxury, Chamonix will definite offer plenty on the slopes. Where to Stay: Hotel Mont Blanc Chamonix, Heliopic Hotel & Spa.
  2. Courchevel: Best for glitz, glamour and ultimate luxury, and the most ultra-luxury five star hotels in the Alps, Courchevel is the place to go. I learned to ski in Courchevel and I am filled with nostalgia when I go there. It was my father’s favourite ski resort and it is Mr. X’s favourite ski resort too. It really has the best-of-the-best of everything: hotels, restaurants, skiing, shopping and nightlife. From the Les Caves night club, to Cap Horn, there is plenty of partying to be had. It is used to be a high end luxury resort catered to the French, but I have witnessed it change over the years, first attracting the Russian billionaires, and now the Chinese, Middle Eastern and Indian billionaires too. There is plenty to do as non-skiers too: shopping, cafes, restaurants and dog sledding. The biggest downside now is how expensive it has gotten: friends tell me that a coffee is now 25 euros on the slopes, so this is best for those not looking at prices. Even though it is the victim of its own success, the slopes are still great, and the restaurants too, if you don’t mind paying for it. Where to Stay: With unlimited funds, there are so many high end, ultra luxury options from K2 Palace or L’Apogee, to Hotel Barriere Les Neiges, Six Senses. The Rosewood is landing in 2026. For more reasonable hotels: La Sivoliere or Les Sherpas.
  3. Gstaad: Best for old school charm and a royal favourite. Friends with titles and royal affiliations love this resort. They come at any time of year, winter and summer, and some even settled down here permanently to stay out of the public’s eye so their kids can attend Le Rosey, one of the most exclusive international schools in the world, fit-for-royals. Celebrities and jet-setters have been going here for years, from Roger Moore (who used to live there), to Madonna, to Anne Hathaway to Brigitte Bardot. You don’t really go there to ski, it’s more for those uber wealthy but who want privacy. You just need to look up @thegstaadguy on Instagram to get the gist. Where to stay: Gstaad Palace, The Alpina.
  4. Kitzbuhel: Best for its very cute pedestrian town centre, it’s great for good skiers and non-skiers. There’s plenty to like in Kitzbuhel, a cute pedestrian town centre with pastel coloured houses, shopping, and a great ski area for beginners, intermediate and advanced skiers. They now have a Zuma, so you know it is firmly on the modern ski map. It is very easy to get to: Munich is 2 hours away and Salzburg only 1.5 hours away. The only downside is its low altitude so there is a chance of little snow at times and for the die hard skiiers, the skiing might not be challenging enough. Where to Stay: Kitzhof for a modern hotel, Weisses Rossl to be in town. Stanglwirt Hotel is ridiculously cool for kids, I haven’t stayed, but many of my friends have, with its own children’s farm and children’s water world.
  5. Lech: Best for a world-class skiing area, luxury accommodation, and an understated, sophisticated family friendly vibe. Many of my friends go to Lech, which scores a lot of points; excellent skiing, excellent food, family friendly, and plenty of luxury hotels but is discrete and sophisticated. Princess Di brought the boys here if that describes it in a sentence. It doesn’t have a big party scene, so skip it and go to Verbier if that’s what you’re looking for. It has very good snow throughout the year, so that’s another positive point for it. Where to stay: Hotel Aurelio and Hotel Arlberg.
  6. Megeve: Best for foodies and its picture-perfect historical village centre, with horse drawn carriage and cobblestone streets. Mevege’s village centre is absolutely gorgeous: it is a traffic free medieval area with cobbled streets and is full of fairytale charm. In addition, it has so many excellent restaurants, including many Michelin starred restaurants like Flocons de Sel, and the mountain restaurants are all fun, proper, sit down restaurants than fast food canteens like L’ideal 1850, Super Megeve, Le Refuge etc… It is easily accessible from Geneva so a quick-hop from the airport. The downside is that it often lacks snow, given its low altitude and there is very little ski-in, ski-out accomodation. Where to Stay: Four Seasons Megeve, Les Fermes de Marie, L’Alpaga.
  7. St Mortiz: Best for old world class and timeless elegance. St. Moritz is glamourous, but old school glamourous, (unlike the newer Courchevel), where heavy draped ski hotels are still par excellence. Its life revolves around the Hotel Kulm, the first five star hotel in St. Moritz and whose Kulm Country Club re-opened, and Badrutt’s Palace, both Grande Dame hotels of St Moritz. I was once invited by Lehman Brothers for a ‘Closing Weekend in St Moritz’ when I was 27 years old (possibly why Lehman went bankrupt), when I stayed at the Hotel Kulm and where history reverberates in every room of this hotel. I had an amazing weekend of skiing, paragliding, and partying at the Dracula Club. Of course, St Moritz is where the Snow Polo World Cup is and remnants of the Winter Olympics can be found on the ice skating rink and bobsleigh track. For the real jet-setters, there is a private jet airport right there, and taking off from it is really a one in a lifetime experience, otherwise, you can fly into Milan and drive from there. Where to Stay: Badrutt’s Palace, Hotel Kulm.
  8. Val D’Isere: Best for a combination of high altitude skiing, affordable and luxury hotels, and partying at the original Folie Douce. Val D’Isere is where the French have spilled over to since they were priced out of Courchevel, and new hotels have followed. Val D’Isere is well known for its party scene, with the first Folie Douce created in 1974. The village still fulfills the ‘cute Alpine village’ feel with traditional chalets and charming streets. There’s great high altitude and off piste skiing, and a variety of hotel options, ranging from luxury (Les Airelles), to affordably cool (Experimental Chalet) to lots of more affordable boutique hotels (Hotel Mont Blanc, Hotel Yule). This one is good for people looking for all price ranges, snow-sure conditions and a party vibe. There is also the highest hotel in the Alps, Le Refuge de Solaise, for a completely unique experience: you can only access it via gondola, so you don’t want to miss the last one! Where to stay: Les Airelles for luxury, Le Blizzard for mid luxury, a friend recommends Maison de Famille Les Cinq Freres for a more reasonable bill (but needs to be booked a year in advance) and the Experimental Chalet for a stylish stay.
  9. Verbier: Best for Sloaney-ponies looking for English style apres-ski and advanced ski slopes. It’s been called ‘Sloane Square on Slopes’ and ‘London in the Alps.’ Oh the Brits love Verbier in Switzerland and it is really like a London ski outpost. It has everything a Brit could love: great skiing (not for beginners), plenty of Brit loving apres ski, close to Geneva, and the Farm Club, the quintissential iconic club, which really hasn’t changed much since the 70s and, yes, it is where Prince Andrew used to go to. James Blunt lives there and even has a chair lift named after him. The Farinet apres ski is still as popular as ever, and there are plenty of nice mountain restaurants but it is not the ‘fur-wearing’ set or too chi-chi crowd, which appeals to the Brits. Where to Stay: The W hotel if you want the ultimate modern hotel experience, which is often named best ski hotel in the world, although I prefer La Cordee des Alpes, which is a boutique, chalet-style hotel with yummy restaurants. For private luxury chalets and apartments, contact The Luxury Chalet Company, who has access to top chalets and rental apartments, as well as great local knowledge.
  10. Zermatt: Best for serious skiers looking for snow-sure conditions and for its car-free village and picturesque train ride. It’s also known for the Matterhorn mountain and the highest gondola in the world (3883m). Someone told me it’s not for beginner skiers but caters to intermediates very ell, and for serious skiers who want absolute snow-certainty. The village is cute and there are plenty of nice restaurants on the slopes, as well as plenty of apres-ski for the partiers. We know people who go there every year who like the combo of beauty, year round skiing, and challenging off piste, without all the chi-chi of some of the other resorts. Its biggest draw-back is the limited ski-in, ski-out options, which for me, is not an option but a necessity. Where to stay: Omnia, Mont Cervin Palace Hotel, BeauSite hotel.

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Family Life, Travel

10 Best Luxury Hotels in Rome With Kids: Where to Stay & What to Do

All Photos Courtesy of NHYM 2024

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Recommended age: 8 years and upwards

When the kids were younger, I dreaded taking them on city trips for 3 reasons: 1) Tantrums and museums do not mix 2) Their attention spans and boredom just didn’t make it worth it 3) They were going to forget it all anyway and leave me traumatised. So, now that they are older and can actually appreciate the joys of city trips, I have been taking them (dragging them) to all the major cities I once avoided. Last year, my kids were learning about the Roman empire in school, so this was an opportune time for them to visit Rome in the fall, when the crowds weren’t as dense and the summer heat had gone.

I had last been in Rome when I was 20 backpacking across Europe with my uni friends. I know, you’ll say, ‘You? Backpacking? I can’t imagine that!’ Well, it was even mentioned in my bridesmaids wedding speech, so yes you should believe it. In any case, all I remember from Rome was a blur of stracciatella gelato, being turned away from the Vatican for our skirts being too short, and getting pink-eye from a cockroach falling onto my pillow from our not-so-luxury hotel. This may be why I am now obsessed with luxury hotels!

So my memories of Rome were – literally – blinded and blurry so, this time around, I asked a friend from Rome for tips for a perfect Roman Holiday.

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Where to Stay:

1. Splurge: Hotel de Russie

If you have endless zeros in your bank account and want this to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Hotel de Russie really would be my number one choice: right in the middle of all the attractions, shopping nearby, and that gorgeous courtyard and terrace, there’s no other hotel in Rome quite like it.

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2. Family Friendly near the Vatican: Villa Aggripina, The Leading Hotels of the World

We chose to stay at the Villa Aggripina, which combined historical elements of a former palazzo, as well as a swimming pool when the kids were bored of sight-seeing. It is an oasis just a 15 minute walk across the river to all the sights, but offers a swimming pool, and tons of outdoor gardens and space for the kids, this one is perfect during the sweltering summer.

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Villa Aggripina Swimming Pool NHYM 2024

My friend also recommended these hotels:

3. Boutique hotel:Hotel Locarno for its location and rooftop terrace.

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4. Hip: Soho House Rome. Other friends who were in Rome at the same time as us stayed at the Soho House, for a stylish yet reasonably priced hotel stay.

5. Palazzo Luxury: Anantara Palazzo Naiadi made it in the Conde Nast Reader’s Choice Awards 2025 Rome list, so you can be sure it’s going to be good. It’s big, bold, beautiful and has all the five star trappings you could ask for without spending a whole month’s salary on it. BOOK HERE FOR ANANTARA PALAZZO NAIADI, A LEADING HOTEL OF THE WORLD

Other Hotels that friends have been to:

  1. Hotel Hassler: For ultra-luxe, very high maintence friends stayed at the Hotel Hassler and it lived up to its expectations.
  2. Glam Hotel: A reasonably priced boutique hotel, it’s an all around good hotel.
  3. Six Senses Rome: Don’t expect historical hotel, this is for a serene, spa hotel for those who want an escape of the city.
  4. Hotel Eden: For the fans of ‘Emily in Paris,’ this Dorchester Collection hotel will make you live out your Emily dreams.
  5. Palazzo Ripetta: A beautiful independent boutique hotel, it’s one of the last remaining independent hotels. It’s very elegant and tastefully decorated.

The Trevi Fountain NHYM 2024

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What to Do:

Explore Top Attractions with an exclusive Golf Cart Tour: Our friend’s suggestion and our favourite activity of our Roman adventure had to be the Golf Cart Tour. The golf cart agilely weaved its way around the city and monuments where cars couldn’t pass and gave us a whirlwind tour of all of the most important sights in Rome. It’s perfect when you don’t have a lot of time in Rome and can be adjusted to fit your itinerary, spending time at sights you want to see, and whizzing by those with too many tourists. We hit all the major sights: the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Colloseum, Spanish Steps etc…

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Sunset at the Colosseum: During the day, the crowds abound at the Colosseum, so my recommendation is to do this sunset tour, when the crowds have gone back to their hotels and you can see it in its sunset splendour.

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The Pantheon NHYM 2024

Gladiator school: This one is unbeatable for the boys, 2 hours of gladiator schools to get rid of all their energy and frustrations. BOOK GLADIATOR SCHOOL HERE

Percy Jackson Tour for Kids at the Capitoline Museum: Of course, for the Percy Jackson fans, this tour has been made specifically for them in mind. Friends did it and loved it, my Roman friend told me.

Colosseum Walking Tour: Skip the lines with this guided tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. BOOK YOUR COLOSSEUM WALKING TOUR HERE

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Breakfast tour of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel: Go to the Vatican early in the morning to avoid the crowds and make sure to book their breakfast there. It can book up months in advance so make sure to book ahead of time. BOOK YOUR BREAKFAST, TOUR THE VATICAN AND SISTINE CHAPEL HERE

The Spanish Steps NHYM 2024

Shopping: Our golf cart tour ended at the Spanish steps, which was a perfect place to go shopping at all my kids’ favourite Italian stores: Subdued, Brandy Melville etc… This was the perfect end to a morning of sight-seeing.

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Where to Eat:

Truffle Pasta at Hotel de Russie Terrace NHYM 2024

Of course a trip to Rome wouldn’t be a trip to Rome without eating out. Here’s a few recommendations:

Il Marchese Restaurant: I loved Il Marchese, which serves typical Roman cuisine, it is cozy and local for a true Roman experience.

Pier Luigi Restaurant: More gastronomic, this one serves delicious seafood to everyone from Bezos to Leonardo di Caprio. The tables outside are prime spots for watching life go by in Rome.

Roscioli: Amazing bakery, where you can get delicious pizza on the go, or book a table for lunch.

Hotel de Russie Terrace & Courtyard for Aperitivo: Even if you aren’t staying at Hotel de Russie, you can always enjoy its terrace for Aperitivo or its gardens for lunch. One of my favourite meals in Rome.

Pier Luigi Rome. NHYM 2024

This trip to Rome completely exceeded my expectations and I loved everything about it: the hotel, the food, the shopping and the sightseeing. Everywhere you turn, there are ruins and remnants of Roman history which continues to fascinate us today. I can’t wait to go back!

xx

NHYM

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Hotel/Estate Review: The Newt in Somerset & Its Dragon Bonfire & Apple Day

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All photos courtesy of NHYM 2022

A few years ago, our family had to go to Somerset for some reason or other during the October break, and of course Babington House was fully booked, so that’s how I discovered The Newt in Somerset. How had I not known about the Newt before?! The Newt is the creative brainchild of South African Billionaire Koos Bekker and Karen Roos, who developed Hadspen house, an 18th Century Georgian Manor house, and its 800 acre estate into a luxury hotel and extensive gardens, restaurants, cider orchards, beezantium, and much, much more. It opened in 2019 and is so much more than a hotel and that’s what keeps it being awarded the UK’s best hotel in the Conde Nast Readers Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.

Bonfire Night NHYM 2022

We were there right around Bonfire night and we saw the biggest and most sculpturally complex bonfire we had ever seen: it was in the shape of a dragon and you can compare the gardener for size comparison in the photo. It was huge! And how did they manage to create this? Cranes? Drones? Ladders? It was so captivating that I was just sad they were going to burn it and it would disappear after bonfire night: with all the effort put into it, I wanted it to be kept as a permanent fixture.

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In the front fields of the Manor house were sheep munching on grass and on the far side of the Manor house, landscaped gardens a la francaise were for walking around and enjoying their beauty. Beyond the gardens and grounds right around the main house, you can take buggies to explore the rest of the vast estate, which I can assure you, was one of my kids’ highlights and are free to be driven around to see the apple orchards, vegetable and fruit gardens, the Farmyard and more. Luckily enough, I didn’t crash it (unlike a friend visiting Fisher island who famously crashed a golf buggy while slightly intoxicated, you know who you are!!)

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The beauty of the manicured gardens against the rolling hills of Somerset really are aesthetically perfect in my eyes; both elegant and wild, they include fountains, paths and mazes.

The Garden Cafe at the Newt & the Apple Festival Fountain NHYM 2022

There are multiple restaurants that use the estate’s produce and put it at the forefront of each of their dishes. The staff tell us that they are aiming to be fully estate-to-plate in the future, for now everything is locally sourced, with all the produce grown on the estate. They hope to turn the estate into a fully sustainable endeavour in the future and the waiters know exactly the origins of everything on the plates served: the vegetables were from the vegetable patch, the beef from some of their cows in the pastures across the road, and the pork from the pigs at a farm next door. The enthusiasm of the staff was a testament to what kind of estate it is trying to be: sustainable, local and community oriented.

The Newt Spa 2022

The Spa was serene and had an inside/outside pool which my children loved. For once, kids were allowed in the spa, so that scored big points for them. The hotel rooms were nice, my favourite being the family two bedrooms in the main house, and although there were a few service glitches around slow breakfasts and appliances that didn’t work, it didn’t take away from the whole experience. All the staff were locals, who were very excited to be part of this vision and very eager to please.

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APPLE DAY!

Apple Festival at The Newt 2022

NHYM 2022

But one of the most exciting parts of our trip was that we were there – coincidentally – for their annual Apple Festival. It really made our trip go from a nice country weekend away in a luxury hotel, to a unique, fun, engaging, and unforgettable festival getaway. On display, there were every kind of apple grown on the estate. Who knew there were so many kinds of apples?

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The best part of the festival was that we were able to make our own apple juice: one of the fountains was filled with hundreds of apples that you could fill a bucket with and then turn into apple juice with a hand press. After collecting the apples, we did a lot of squishing, turning and pressing, making our own apple juice, which we funneled into glass bottles and were given to take home with us. It was so fun and it felt so productive and satisfying making our own juice. The juice was so fresh and without any additives; it was as natural as it could be. Who knew I would be so happy to become an apple farmer for the day?

NHYM 2022

NHYM 2022

Not only did they have apple pressing, but every kind of possible apple games galore you can imagine: apple toss, apple skittles, apple bowling, and toffee apples and roasted pork & apples to taste. We were amazingly lucky with the weather, and the whole experience was unbeatable (friends who went when it was pouring rain another time, did say they were disappointed with their Newt stay, so check the weather ahead of time to make the most out of your trip).

NHYM 2022 Apple Skittles

We loved the whole experience. My children were at the right age to fully engage and enjoy all the games, food and estate exploration. There are also multitudes of events throughout the year for members: woodland tours, garden tours, Christmas trails, a Beezantium, cider tastings, Bee safaris, Roman Villa tours etc etc etc. Need I say more? We didn’t even get a chance to see the whole estate in one weekend and even if you don’t stay at the Newt, you can always book tickets to explore this magical estate and the annual memberships are really reasonably priced, especially to support what they are trying to create.

This is a really special place indeed, created and conceived to glorify all things gardening, apples, cider, woodlands, farmlands with sustainability in mind. Finally, what I loved the most, was that behind all this ‘Billionaire fantasy estate’ talk, was a place that was giving back to its community: the events sell out quickly and you can see how much it is not just about creating a luxury hotel that only a few can enjoy, but creating a place that welcomes the whole community, providing jobs, food and special events for the whole community throughout the year, that is loved by all.

xx

NHYM

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Hanging squash NHYM 2022

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