If spending a night under the stars excites you, but pitching canvas does not, experience Northern Ireland’s lush landscape from a Bubble Dome. The sphere’s transparent walls and ceiling offer 180-degree views of the surrounding forest, making you feel like you’re in your own world.
As darkness falls, sink into your four-poster bed or kick back in a lounge chair by the fireplace and, if the weather gods are on your side, turn your eyes skyward to marvel at the Milky Way. For the ultimate stargazing experience, enjoy a glass of bubbly while soaking in a luxe stone bathtub in the Premium Bubble Dome.
Bring out your inner Viking with an adventure deep in a Swedish spruce forest. Twelve tiny charcoal huts, covered with earth to protect them from the elements, each house two single beds covered with animal skins, an open fireplace and candles for light (there’s no electricity or running water). Spartan? Yes. But that’s part of the joy. The rest is found in the activities: wilderness hikes, a moose safari, swims in the lake followed by time in the floating sauna, trout fishing and snowshoeing in the winter. You chop your own wood and cook your own meals, so it’s pretty much the perfect destination for anyone wanting to get back to basics. You still can, of course, bring chocolate and wine.
Spectre, the latest instalment in the James Bond franchise, offered Daniel Craig a license to chill. Sky-high restaurant ice Q has some of the best views ever seen from an architecturally inspired glass box, but for the Sam Mendes-directed movie it transformed from haute cuisine hot spot into the mountaintop lair of Christoph Waltz’s villain Blofeld. Situated more than 3000 metres up on the summit of Gaislachkogl in the Austrian resort town of Sölden, the neighbouring snow-covered peaks and glacial tunnel also played host to one of the film’s main action scenes – no spoilers intended. But now that Hollywood has packed up and gone home, hitting the slopes on skis or a board, followed by drinks overlooking Ötztal Alps, is definitely not to be missed.
Want to escape the city’s hustle and bustle and commune with nature, but can’t be bothered with tent pegs and sleeping bags? Otro Mundo is your answer. Located in the hills of the Sierra del Segura in Spain’s south, these two eco-friendly pods – one for a couple, the other for a family of up to five – look a little like igloos with hip retro-inspired interiors.
Around the camp, there’s a natural swimming pool overlooked by hammocks, fruit trees where you can pick a snack and loads of hiking trails. Take to two wheels to make the most of the 2000 kilometres of mountain bike trails or wander to isolated waterfalls. Experience this wild part of Spain for yourself because, after all, there’s no place like dome.
What was originally a family home is now an extraordinary estate in the heart of Provence known as Domaine Des Andeols. Surrounded by lavender fields, cypress trees and olive groves are 10 separate guesthouses. Although each boasts contemporary design and art and antiquities chosen by the owners, they are completely different. There’s one decked out like a safari lodge, and another with a high-gloss floor the colour of the Mediterranean sky and provocative photography on display.
On a sunny day, the meals created at the restaurant, using locally grown fruit, vegetables and olive oil, are served on a deck beneath a centuries-old plane tree. Find a lounger by the pool or book a relaxing massage at the spa.
If you’re looking to escape the crowds, sun and everything green, why not head underground? The single suite at Sala Silvermine is located 155 metres below the surface in a former silver mine out in the Swedish countryside. Guests are given a guided tour of the caverns, on arrival – winter woolies are a necessity because the temperature hovers at around 2ºC – before being escorted to the suite to enjoy the peace and complete silence.
The accommodation is surprisingly plush for an underground suite. There’s a bed tucked into one chamber and a dining area where wine, cheese and fruit await. The space is appropriately decked out in silver-hued furniture and candlelight adds a touch of romance. There are a couple of down sides: no mobile reception, although there’s an intercom to communicate with the world above; and the loo is down a dark tunnel (plumbing is a bit of an issue this far underground).
After a day spent splashing about in the sparkling water of a beautiful cove on the Makarska Riviera between Split and Dubrovnik, head to Club Deep, set in a natural cave formation that also served time as a weapons depot during WWII.
There’s a great sun terrace outside – perfect for catching those last rays while enjoying an ice-cold Karlovacko – but things get started much later in the evening (usually at about 11pm) when local and international DJs turn up the volume on the latest R&B and house beats. Be warned: when this place is crowded – and since it’s popular with cruises on this part of the coast it often is – it gets really hot. Luckily, no one seems to be too bothered about dress codes.
Sometimes, the thought of visiting yet another dry museum makes us want to pluck at our eyes, but EPIC Ireland makes us pretty excited about learning about the past.
This dramatic new experience showcases the global movement of the Irish people, telling the authentic story of 10 million journeys and the roots of 70 million people. These stories just might link with your friends’ pasts, if not your own.
Following a path through 20 high-technology interactive galleries, you’ll delve into the journey of a people, told like never before. To get there, head into the beautiful vaults of the iconic CHQ building, situated on Custom House Quay in the centre of Dublin.
It’s a great first port of call for visitors to Ireland, and will colour your understanding of the entire country. Who would have thought history could look this cool?
Marvel at mounted whale weenies measuring more than a metre long, ogle the embalmed member of a 600-kilogram polar bear, and snicker at a lampshade fashioned from 10 sheep scrotums at the Icelandic Phallological Museum.
There are 215 penises in total – representing every mammal found in Iceland, as well as a few foreigners – in this celebration of male virility, alongside various phallus-themed artefacts.
Gents beware: a serious loss of confidence can often follow a visit. If this is your type of exhibition, then the William P Didusch Center for Urologic History in Washington DC is worth investigating too.
Hitting the slopes may be well and good, but we all know the best part of the day takes place when you unclip your equipment. Take to the powder, work up a thirst and then head to a bar for a cracking party. Here’s our pick for some of the best après going around.
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