Waldorf Astoria Maldives
From a floating villa in the Maldives to a chicly-appointed riad in Marrakech, these are five secluded getaways we can’t wait to get away to.
It seems we are on day 17,442 of quarantine. No? It sure feels that way! As we work towards maintaining a beautiful (and maybe a little indulgent) life during these uncertain times, we find ourselves batching up our favorite “Quarantini” cocktails, streaming the best of ICONIC HOUR’s 2020 podcasts, pampering with at-home self-care rituals and staying healthy with plant-based and immune-boosting foods.
COMO Uma Canggu
As we make our way into longer summer days, we are feigning to travel again, and even though businesses begin to re-open, it’s important to wait until it is safe to travel before hopping on the next plane out of here. In the meantime, we want to honor the wanderlust that piques our curious minds when we think of places and cultures so different from our own. To do this, we garnered five breath-taking, and secluded, getaways around the world to give you something to look forward to post-quarantine, including overseas hotels, villas, and homesteads that are all taking necessary precautions during the COVID-19 crisis. They are following all hygiene protocols, limiting social interaction at the retreats to essential-only, providing safe places to store guests’ face masks during meals, creating sanitation stations and always encouraging hand-washing.
So, while it’s still important to practice mindful distancing from others when we do get the go-ahead to book our next trip, where better a place to do so than in a floating suite in the Maldives or a chic hideout on Europe’s Cote d’Azur? Let’s be honest, it’s safer to engage with the beauty of nature than with strangers anyways—at least for now.
Because you are surely craving a fresh new environment after quarantine, the hotel’s Japanese, Milanese and Asian-inspired elements of design offer a minimalist and elegant space perfect to unwind in.
COMO Uma Canggu
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COMO UMA CANGGU | Bali, Indonesia
Set on the sandy oasis above Echo Beach, one of Bali’s most popular beaches for surfing and seaside dining, is COMO Uma Canggu. Their breezy and sophisticated villas are set amongst silvery olive trees and a lush green jungle the island is known for, making Indonesia one of the best secluded getaways to station oneself after travel bans have been lifted. And because you are surely craving a fresh new environment after quarantine, the hotel’s Japanese, Milanese and Asian-inspired elements of design offer a minimalist and elegant space perfect to unwind in.
COMO Uma Canggu
If you’re traveling with your partner, be sure to book one of the COMO penthouses. These accommodations were created around the coastal landscape to offer sweeping lookouts of the Indian Ocean through an open-air ceiling cut away to reveal nothing but sky above. Modern and romantically-lit interiors cradle a plush bedroom and expansive bathroom all glancing out to a tranquil pool above the waters’ edge. Imagine listing one of your things to do while social distancing as taking a bubble bath, getting room service, and watching the sunset from your private Bali sanctuary?
COMO Uma Canggu
Their on-site Beach Club serves mouthwatering and nourishing cuisine sourced from across the archipelago, like freshly-caught fish and wood-fired entrees. And swing by their Glow Juice Bar to pick up a cold-pressed beverage to keep up your health while on vacay. To maintain distance to others, but still gain a cultural appreciation for the region, COMO can arrange a Purification Ceremony at the historic Tirta Empul or take guests to the Tanah Lot sea temples on Bali’s west coast.
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Journeying into nature may include spotting some of the hundreds of species of birds with their Swarovski binoculars, photographing the big five, including lions, leopards, and rhino’s, and sleepouts under the stars.
&Beyond Phinda Homestead
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&BEYOND PHINDA HOMESTEAD | South Africa
Seeking reprieve in a place far, far away? Check into a safari villa at &Beyond Phinda Homestead on a private game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The country is so dreamy and picturesque, we even listed it as one of our favorite places to say “I Do”. With a dedicated butler, chef, and of course, a ranger and tracker to help with wild animal sightings, every day is like an interactive course of Animal Planet. Their homestead is one of the best secluded getaways to jet-set to, and featuring contemporary amenities, stylized interiors worthy of an Architectural Digest photoshoot, and access to one of the world’s wildest habitat’s. With four bedrooms, a glittering pool stretching out over the bush, perfectly-appointed communal dining spaces, fire-side hideouts and bathrooms with glass-walled lookouts, there is enough to explore behind these homesteads alone.
&Beyond Phinda Homestead
Journeying into nature may include spotting some of the hundreds of species of birds with their Swarovski binoculars, photographing the big five, including lions, leopards, and rhino’s, and sleepouts under the stars. For those who can’t make the trip to South Africa, tune in to &Beyond’s livestream “Wild Watch” to witness the wilderness from your seat at home.
Royal Mansour Grand Riad
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ROYAL MANSOUR’S GRAND RIAD | Marrakech
Staying safe during these unprecedented times means seeking things to do while social distancing, but in exceptional places. ICONIC has already taken you on a whirlwind 36-hour trip through Marrakech, so this time we are settling down in a glamorous riad, post-quarantine. This Moroccan city is regarded for its striking mosques, chaotic street markets (souks) and the Medina donning its famous pink walls, but we recommend sequestering yourselves behind closed doors at the decadent, and easily one of the best secluded getaways, that is Royal Mansour’s Grand Riad in Marrakech.
Royal Mansour Grand Riad
The arresting interiors at this retreat are a dynamic scene of ornate textiles, silk fabrics and stucco lace, carved cedarwood and flowing curtains. The privacy of the marble inlaid Grand Riad makes this an idyllic choice for those who are celebrating with friends and family (safely, of course) and seeking an oasis to connect—perhaps poolside where garden views abound. The 19,375-square-foot residence is a hotel within a hotel, housing a library, cinema, hammam, and a glass-enclosed split-level terrace. Socializing with your guests, being served traditional dishes by the butlers and sipping on custom cocktails are just about the only thing you’ll have to worry about here.
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Perhaps the most accurate expression of social distancing is the floating Stella Maris Ocean Villa, set in true isolation in the small island nation of the Maldives.
Waldorf Astoria Maldives
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WALDORF ASTORIA’S STELLA MARIS VILLA | Maldives
Perhaps the most accurate expression of social distancing is the floating Stella Maris Ocean Villa, set in true isolation in the small island nation of the Maldives. Escapism is manifested here where white sands and tranquil waters host the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi resort. This is one of the best secluded getaways to add to your list after quarantine ends, due to its private and tropical surroundings that cater to a refreshing vacation all within an expansive oasis over the sea. The accommodation has outdoor living spaces aplenty, a swimming pool tipping over the ocean, a hot-tub, state-of-the-art audio and visual entertainment as well as an elevated upper deck for unrivaled views of the Maldives. Guests can also enjoy the variety of dining venues and a world-class spa sanctuary at the resort.
Waldorf Astoria Maldives
Known for its clear, turquoise waters, the region has some of the most memorable scuba diving where you can potentially spot manta rays and hammerhead sharks. Other water sports include parasailing,Stand-up paddleboarding, and windsurfing across the pristine waters. Afterwards, you can watch the stars flicker across the night sky from the duplex’s swaying over-water hammocks.
The exclusive accommodation is truly an intimate tête-à-tête with nature and offers abundant things to do while social distancing, like lounging by the fragrant gardens to enhance your tan or watching the sun dip beyond the iconic Cote d'Azur.
La Réserve Ramatuelle
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LA RÉSERVE RAMATUELLE | French Riviera
If you have had your sights on a European destination during these quiet months of no travel, then La Réserve Ramatuelle along the French Riviera may be the best secluded getaway for you. Located near Saint Tropez, the high-design hotel is home to abundant floral gardens, striking vistas of the Mediterranean Sea and villas architecturally designed with elegance. Donning ochre and white tones, the interiors are flooded with natural light, furnished with chic décor, sandy-hued linens and private infinity pools for a Mediterranean-vibe done the right way.
La Réserve Ramatuelle
Venturing out of the room may take you tableside to savor gastronomical delights at the hotels’ restaurant; including classically-inspired Provençal dishes by Chef Eric Canino and a selection of cocktails enjoyed by the breezy outdoor pool. The exclusive accommodation is truly an intimate tête-à-tête with nature and offers abundant things to do while social distancing, like lounging by the fragrant gardens to enhance your tan or watching the sun dip beyond the iconic Cote d’Azur. Need we say more?
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