Explore more of the Caribbean with Seabourn
Seabourn’s small-ship cruises in what they call ‘the Uncommon Caribbean’, away from the most-visited islands, have been a huge hit with individual Travel Counsellors and our customers alike.
Stay at the resorts featured in BBC One's Life Beyond the Lobby
Everybody’s talking about Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby, and series five kicked off with its hosts Monica Galetti and Rob Rinder heading to two of our favourite properties for a peek behind the scenes of what it takes to operate some of the world’s most iconic hotels – fascinating stuff!
All properties picked are different and unique, but common features include awe-inspiring locations, lovely décor combined with innovative facilities and the latest tech, and fabulous food. We shared what makes the first two properties so special to us.
Week 1: Kasbah Tamadot, Marrakech
Bought by Sir Richard Branson during one of his ballooning expeditions, this award-winning property in a remote setting in the Atlas Mountains south of Marrakech has just 29 rooms and suites, 10 of which are luxury Berber tents (some with private plunge pools) – so it’s a real escape from the world.
As Monica and Rob discover when they temporarily join the hotel staff, everyone who works here comes from one of the surrounding villages (many of which you can see from the hotel). So, it’s only fitting that those who stay here get the chance to immerse themselves in local culture, in activities including everything from bread-baking and cooking lessons to trekking through the mountains. You can also visit the Eve Branson Foundation, which was spearheaded by Branson’s late mother to provide young people with artisanal skills training to preserve Moroccan and Berber crafts.
And this wouldn’t be Morocco without a spa with a hammam where your skin can be deeply cleansed, purified, and softened in the traditional way. And naturally, dining here is very special too, with Moroccan and global dishes based largely on produce from the kitchen garden, served alfresco on the terrace by the pool bar, on the rooftop terrace beneath the stars, in Kanoun restaurant, and in stunning private locations.
Week 2: JOALI and JOALI BEING, Maldives
Series five is the first in which the team visit a resort in the Maldivian archipelago – and what a resort it is! JOALI Maldives launched at the end of 2018 with a raft of sustainable initiatives and EarthCheck certification and was joined in 2021 by JOALI BEING, a 20-minute boat trip away – the Maldives’ first wellbeing-immersive destination, set on an eco-friendly island that has retained its wild forest. Indeed, one of the standouts of Joali is its Reef Restoration Project, allowing guests to join the in-house marine biologist in transplanting tiny coals onto the house reef to help it regenerate.
Another amazing feature is JOALI’s Joy of Caring programme, which benefits the local community via grant schemes, education around food and sustainability, women’s empowerment through education, training and work equality, and green farming on land and sea. Tying in with this, the amazing hotel team visits neighbouring islands to get a feel for the region and its communities.
Monica and Rob also look at the hotels’ dining scenes, which focus on earth-to-table, seasonal dishes from menus curated by world-renowned Michelin star chefs, and on the breathtaking accommodation. JOALI Maldives itself has 73 spacious beach villas, over-water villas and residences with private infinity pools, dedicated Jadugars – private butlers – and bicycles for whizzing your way around on. Similarly, JOALI BEING with its unique biophilic architecture has 68 villas and residences with private pools and butlers, as well as special inclusions such as customised mini-bars, meditative musical instruments, and wellbeing games. The largest has four bedrooms and sleeps up to 10 people.
To book your holiday at the Kasbah Tamadot or JOALI Maldives/JOALI BEING, or for more information about spectacular places to stay around the world, call your Travel Counsellor today.
Why you need to visit The Standard Maldives for your next getaway
The Standard group has quickly become an icon for its fun modern feel and the resort on Huruvalhi - its first island escape – is brilliant for everyone from stylish couples to families looking to spend some quality time together. We’re excited to announce that it has also just upgraded its benefits to make it more enticing than ever.
Get away together as a family with Celebrity Cruises
After fashion and lifestyle influencer Debbie Grainger’s father-in-law Trevor passed away suddenly, she realised that what her mother-in-law Amanda and the rest of the family needed more than anything else was some time together away from domestic routines and familiar places.