Six Sun Soaked Antidotes

Six Sun Soaked Antidotes

 

As the axis of the Earth turns and casts its bone-chilling shadow upon the North, retreat to the warmth of the Southern Hemisphere. Design Hotels™ serves-up its top picks for snowbirds and sun-worshippers fleeing the winter freeze.

On a western coastline in India, where Portuguese colonial history fuses with Indian tradition, Alila Diwa Goa elevates contemporary Goan design while respecting the rich landscape of the area. With a seductive back-drop of Koh Samui's Chaweng Beach in Thailand, The Library's literary theme runs throughout. Set within two historic buildings in the heart of Sydney, QT Sydney brims with the eclectic energy of the surrounding area. deLMango Villa Estate in Seminyak sits among Bali's national treasures of volcanic stone, shimmering blue
pools and luscious greenery. Amidst the coconut palms and gently rolling slopes of Thailand's island of Phuket, The Surin Phuket offers a fresh take on traditional beach-side abodes. On a tranquil eastern beach between the sea and Bali's sacred Mount Agung, Alila Manggis' striking scenery and simple luxury welcomes with balanced contrasts. www.designhotels.com/hot_escapes

Alila Diwa Goa, India
Built with locally sourced materials, the resort and its 153 rooms ooze easy luxury with breezy spaces and stunning veranda views. Lounge languidly by the infinity pool and take in the astounding sights of emerald green rice paddies and the azure of the Arabian Sea, chilled Fenitini in-hand.

 

The Library, Koh Samui, Thailand
Understated and peaceful, the scattering of 26 discreet dwellings are set amongst the lush vegetation of the land. Minimal, clean design is the blank page for a utopian tale of palm-fringed beaches, a curated library and ample idleness.

QT Sydney, Australia
Art, fashion, cuisine and design fuse in the 200-room hotel while sandy beaches are well within reach. Late night lounge scenes and award-winning spa treatments top the bill of the one-time theatre and department store, while Sydney's many natural and architectural wonders are footsteps away.

deLMango Villa Estate, Seminyak, Bali
Twelve self contained villas showcase neo-Balinese design, blurring the lines and spaces of outdoor to indoor. Natural light floods the curved bamboo structure of the lobby while chlorine-free private pools and secluded sunning decks are ensconced by indigenous flora.

The Surin Phuket, Thailand
Along an unspoiled stretch of Phuket's finest white beach, 87 cottages and 16 suites reflect an organic aesthetic with custom-made design and earthy tones. With complementary contrast, dramatic lighting, fantastical gardens and a black anthracite-tiled pool incite other-worldy wonder.

Alila Manggis, Buitan Beach, Bali
A traditional thatched roof of grass and wood beams is offset by polished ivory and colored concrete floors. Fifty-five rooms and public areas illustrate a skillful cohesion of traditional and contemporary design. Enterprising opportunities abound with organic cooking from the garden, deep water fishing, or the simple pleasures of the pristine eastern coastline.