< PreviousPARK HYATT ABU DHABI HOTEL AND VILLAS ABU DHABI, UAE Nestled on the picturesque beach of Saadiyat Island, Hyatt knows it has something special with this location and as such is taking great care to preserve it. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified (LEED), they’ve reduced irrigation-water use by half and have a sand-dune protection programme that helps prevent beach erosion while also protecting the island’s hawksbill turtle habitat. Guests can learn more by joining in on lectures and beach patrols. And when it comes to the buildings, they are resource-efficient, minimising on greenhouse-gas emissions. Low-rise, they blend in with the surrounding coastal environment, with sandy-hued interiors that look out to the Arabian Gulf or gardens and, as expected for a Park Hyatt property, a decadent marble bathroom. The contemporary digs are set up around what is one of the largest pools in Abu Dhabi, so there’s always ample space to take a refreshing dip or sun-worship on a lounger. The Beach House, just steps from lapping waves, features a blissfully chilled- out vibe and style that would be at home in the Hamptons, while the menu looks to the Mediterranean for inspiration with fresh, family-style dishes like paella and crispy calamari. A spa, kids’ club and adjacent golf club round out the reasons this resort is a staycation regular. – Laurel Munshower Doubles from AED 660; 00971-2-407 1234, hyatt.com After the African bush comes beach, and North Island (doubles from AED 27,000; 0027-61-089 0462, north- island.com) in the Seychelles is a beach-breaker of hearts. And at its heart is a conservation and island- rehabilitation programme, with efforts even influencing the design of the guest spaces. Just 11 villas are set along a sensational lick of white-sand splendour; it set the new standard for what bespoke, barefoot hotel private islands could be when it opened and continues to thrill. – Fiona Kerr The Coppola clan’s cinematic vision really kicks in at the mangrove- encircled Turtle Inn (doubles from AED 1,850; 0050-1-523 3150, thefamilycoppolahideaways.com): thatched cottages are filled with hand-carved Balinese doors; an organic garden flavouring rustic- Italian dishes; and a private castaway island, Coral Caye, with hammocks for post-snorkel naps. Taking on roles as conservators, the family is dedicated to implementing sustainable tourism practices at the Inn, protecting the fragile and endangered native species in the area. – David Jeffreys Tuscan Borgo Santo Pietro (doubles from AED 2,310; 0039-05-7775 1222, borgosantopietro.com) has expanded from nine to 20 rooms since its 2008 opening, all done out in impeccable country style. Alongside a Michelin- starred restaurant that sources from a 270-acre organic farm and vineyards, the hotel also has its own natural skincare line. – Lee MarshallFebruary 2020 Condé Nast Traveller 101 JUMEIRAH AL NASEEM DUBAI, UAE The critically endangered hawksbill turtle is native to the Middle East, and with oceans and seas increasingly full of dangerous materials like plastic there’s a pressing need for protection. To the rescue comes the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project, located in the Madinat Jumeirah complex, where hawksbill turtles as well as about seven other species of turtle are rescued and rehabilitated, first spending time in the Burj Al Arab’s aquarium before being transferred to the Turtle Rehabilitation Sanctuary at Jumeirah Al Naseem. Run in collaboration with the emirate’s Wildlife Protection Office, serious care is provided to the marine creatures – but the sea-fed lagoon is also a wonderful, educational attraction for eco-conscious families staying at the cool, contemporary-styled beachfront hotel, with information available on boards and opportunities to learn more from experts and feed the turtles under supervision. Within the hotel, you’ll find a modern take on Arabian culture, with contemporary artworks – including in the guest rooms – and excellent dining with Nikkei cuisine at pop-up Kayto and fresh seafood at Rock Fish, with some of the best views of the Burj Al Arab and the waters beyond. – RS Doubles from AED 1,041; 00971-4-366 8888, jumeirah.com THE TEMPLE HOUSE CHENGDU, CHINA London-based Make Architects took a Qing dynasty building and turned it into this past-present amalgam in a city that has transcended its reputation for giant pandas and eye-wateringly piquant Sichuan cooking to become one of China’s coolest hubs. Following the leads of its siblings (The Upper House in Hong Kong and Beijing’s The Opposite House), the hotel is sleek and urban, but with modern nods to local design and history. Its three-dimensional woven façade channels the area’s rich brocade tradition, graphic wooden screens act as headboards while delineating bedrooms from bathrooms, and an undulating green space just beyond the entrances emulates Sichuan’s rice terraces. Throughout, the hotel is paperless and free of single- use plastics, placing it in tune with the stunning nature the region is known for. The food is the real coup, though, a relief given Temple House’s location in arguably China’s best eating city. The all-day Temple Café serves a fantastic breakfast with Paris- level pastries, although far better to order the spicy dandan noodles from the à la carte menu. And Jing Bar does a brilliantly original Sichuan Negroni, which starts floral before the peppercorns kick in. Like the rest of the hotel, it’s a smart update on tradition – and one more reason why Temple House has become a pulse point in on-the-up Chengdu. – Stephanie Wu Doubles from AED 890; 0086-28-6636 9999, thetemplehousehotel.com SIX SENSES ZIGHY BAY MUSANDAM, OMAN Just beyond the UAE border at Dibba, Six Senses brings its brand of eco-luxury to Oman in a major way. On property, plastic water bottles have been replaced by glass, all organic waste is converted to compost to reduce landfill waste by 80 per cent, there are regular beach and underwater clean-ups, and drinking water is produced and bottled on-site. Beyond the resort, an off-site farm features the sultanate’s first cheese factory, fresh fish is sourced directly from Zighy Bay fishermen and aid through teaching assistance and funding is shared with local schools to help empower students. With all this in mind, you can feel at ease when packing for a sumptuous getaway, knowing the philosophy behind all that luxury is admirable. Crossing over the apex of a mountaintop, the resort is laid out beneath you like a traditional seaside Omani village. Each of the 82 stone and timber villas are cool and relaxed, with plentiful outdoor space that includes a private plunge pool. Staying in and ordering a poolside barbecue is easy, but the restaurants – with ingredients sourced as much as possible locally and from their own farm – are excellent, with Spanish-inflected fare at the mountaintop restaurant and beach dining on Bedouin-style shua lamb that’s been slow-cooked underground. Add to that a decadent spa with two hammams and adventure-filled experiences to explore the peninsula and its waters, and you’ve got a stay that is style and substance. – LM Doubles from AED 2,750; 00968-2673 5555, sixsenses.comFebruary 2020 Condé Nast Traveller 103 TIERRA ATACAMA HOTEL & SPA ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE The Tierra brand has found a sweet spot creating otherworldly hotels in the middle of natural wonders, including rooms set alongside craggy mountains overlooking choppy bodies of water in Patagonia. But the Atacama property is undoubtedly the brand’s lodestar with its cowhide rugs, mud-brick walls, rattan daybeds and enormous windows framing the dramatic red rocks that jut from the earth and glass-like dunes cresting out of nowhere against a deep-blue, cloudless sky. Outdoor showers and four-poster beds with wooden roll- down blinds channel a Chilean-modernist vibe, as does the white-stone fireplace nook with a kidney-bean-shaped couch draped in regional textiles. It’s tempting to just want to stay by the lap pool overlooking the sometimes-smoking Licancabur volcano. But the excursions, led by the hotel’s incredibly well-informed guides, are the kind visitors won’t want to miss – whether that’s heading up to 4,320m pre-dawn to drink coca-leaf tea around natural geysers or stargazing with a local astronomer to see the Milky Way more clearly than anywhere else on the planet. They’re the ideal way to learn more about this destination that the property is working hard to protect through solar-powered electricity (it’s the first hotel in South America to do so), use of an on-site well for drinking and irrigation water that doesn’t tap into the townspeople’s supply, and a garden planted on recovered terrain. – Candice Rainey Doubles from AED 2,460, all inclusive (minimum two-night stay); 0056-23-252 5950, tierrahotels.com CEMPEDAK PRIVATE ISLAND RIAU ARCHIPELAGO, INDONESIA This breezy, open-to-the-elements, bamboo resort close to Singapore in the South China Sea is as sexy as it is environmentally conscious. On this adults-only island lodge, whisper sweet nothings to each other as you overlook jungle and ocean from your private pool – the only audience you are likely to have is a pair of hornbills. It’s but a short stumble to the restaurant by the water’s edge where the menu showcases ingredients from the retreat’s own farm. Plus you know that a percentage of your room rate is going toward The Island Foundation’s community-based projects that support education, healthcare and ethical practices. – Juliet Kinsman Doubles from AED 1,290; 0062-811- 700 8040, cempedak.com SONEVA JANI NOONU ATOLL, MALDIVES Smell fragrances free of chemicals; taste organic flavours lovingly cultivated by hand; touch furnishings crafted by artisans, not from a factory. Admire the star-filled skies from your bed through retractable roofs or from your over-the- water swing seat. Then salute the waste and water-filtration initiatives behind the scenes that ensure this is pure guilt-free luxury. Sonu Shivdasani’s three barefoot- luxury resorts win awards for their architecture and design, unrivalled guest experiences as well as all that they do to preserve their Maldivian and Thai environments. – JK Doubles from AED 11,530; 00960-656 6666, soneva.com/soneva-janiMELIÁ SERENGETI LODGE TANZANIA When the 50-key Meliá Serengeti Lodge opened two years ago, it did so as the Spanish brand’s first sustainability focussed property. It makes sense, of course, to protect the wondrous environment you find yourself in, in Serengeti National Park, home to the many fantastic creatures you’ll see on your morning and evening game drives – or on a hot-air balloon safari, which the hotel can arrange for. But here it’s not just about doing what’s right for the wildlife but also reducing the footprint of even existing in this space. At the lodge, solar panels help rely on more natural energy, the design of the rooms allows a breezy flow of air so that AC units aren’t needed (and indeed, not provided except in the suites), laundry is done on-site to avoid adding to transportation needs, kitchen waste is composted for distribution to local farmers and there’s a bottling facility so that both still and sparkling drinking water can be presented in refillable glass bottles rather than single-use plastic. Whether you’re enjoying a meal at Savannah or Boma, for which most of the produce comes from local farmers, you’ll notice that Maasai crafts have been woven into the experience – as bottle holders or place mats – and Maasai tribesmen are employed by the hotel, largely on the security force, bringing their local knowledge and culture with them. It’s a safari experience with its heart in all the right places. – RS Doubles from AED 3,455; 00255-746-81 0810, melia.com A private island with an abundance of green initiatives, from water and energy conservation to coastal clean- ups, wildlife protection and EcoReefs to help replenish coral, the Philippines’ El Nido Pangalusian Island (doubles from AED 2,950; 0063-2-902 5990, elnidoresorts.com/pangulasian-island) gives the local look an ever more eco touch. Accommodation, whether perched on stilts at the treetops or hidden away in a secluded cove, features fresh, contemporary Filipino style surrounded by pristine tropical nature that’s all yours. – LM Like Amanzoe, Costa Navarino has shone a light on an unsung corner of the Peloponnese. The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort (doubles from AED 1,240; 0030-272-309 6000, marriott.com), its polished marble flagship, feels deeply rooted in the local culture and has won awards for its environmentalism that includes sustainable water sourcing and solar- powered energy. Immersive experiences include philosophy walks in centuries-old olive groves and grape harvesting in the organic vineyard. – Rachel Howard The Andaman Islands are a dramatic pace change from much of the rest of India, a world away, closer to Thailand or Burma than the mainland. By far the loveliest place to stay here is Jalakara (doubles from AED 720; 0091-11-4051 3887, jalakara.info), a wild – and wildly beautiful – rainforest retreat created using natural and sustainable materials that’s free of plastic water bottles. It’s a place to disconnect and reset, properly off-grid and Wi-Fi-free. – Sarah KhanFebruary 2020 Condé Nast Traveller 105 EMIRATES ONE&ONLY WOLGAN VALLEY NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA Darwin stopped off at this pine-shrouded valley, three hours west of Sydney, on his journey through Australia in the early 1800s. Today, as you sit on a rocking chair on one of the hotel’s verandas, it’s obvious why: the steep cliffs, lush forests and waterfalls, and countless Aussie critters are thoroughly captivating. Kangaroos dart into view constantly, unconcerned by the hum of human activity on this eco- retreat’s 7,000 acres. The homestead where Darwin stayed is now a museum, spotlighting the area’s extraordinary biodiversity. For the rest of the custom-built property, fallen eucalyptus trees were upcycled into furniture, while rainwater feeds the showers in the 40 villas. The hotel’s own juniper spirit, 1832 Wolgan, is runner-up to all that nature. It’s best drunk veranda-side in a G&T, in which the classic juniper notes are boosted with a herby dose of local tea tree. From here, plot how to explore the reserve the next day: hiking, mountain biking, horse-riding. And keep an eye out for a grove of trees that even Darwin didn’t notice. It’s home to Wollemi pines, long considered extinct and known only from fossils until a bushwalker chanced upon a cluster in the national park in the Nineties. The hotel has since nurtured new plantings – this place was eco-conscious from inception. – Mark Ellwood Doubles from AED 5,375; 0061-26-350 1800, oneandonlyresorts.com MÖVENPICK RESORT & SPA DEAD SEA SWEIMEH, JORDAN Winding through the hotel’s grounds, charmingly set up like a traditional old Arabian village, you begin to feel the inherently relaxing atmosphere of this property before even making it to the shores of the saline-rich Dead Sea. Then you sink into the waters, only to pop right back up to float with ease, your stresses and worries swept away in the gentle current. The below- sea-level lake is known for its rejuvenating properties and Mövenpick makes the most of this natural wonder with the 6,000sqm Zara Spa. This award-winning wellness haven puts a sophisticated and high-tech turn on the area’s ancient healing qualities, with a Dead Sea pool, tropical-scent showers, a hammam and 31 treatment rooms where spa-goers can choose from some 70 treatments, some of which include purifying mud from the sea that benefits the skin while relaxing muscles and improving circulation. In the spirit of good health, the resort is also listed as a Green Globe hotel, meaning that it complies with criteria for preserving the environment and local culture. The first property in the Middle East to feature solar-powered club cars, it’s just one in a long list of eco-conscious actions the resort takes, including sourcing from sustainable suppliers and local farms that are environment-friendly and organic, and using recycled materials wherever possible. – LM Doubles from AED 300; 00962-5-356 1111, movenpick.com THE WICKANINNISH INN TOFINO, CANADA Tofino is like the Pacific Northwest’s older teenage cousin – loud, a little dangerous and always up for an adventure. The rugged cliffs and dense forests of Oregon and Washington to the south seem almost quaint compared to those of this remote district on Vancouver Island, off Canada’s west coast, where storm watching is a sport and cedars live to be 1,000 years old. In 1996, a decade before the area became a destination for outdoorsy professionals in Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans – the former fishing town’s popularity has risen in direct proportion to improved wetsuit technology – the Wick opened its hand-carved wooden doors overlooking Chesterman Beach. Preserving the natural integrity of the site it sits on, trees were thoughtfully considered when the hotel’s structures were placed, and the vegetation and underbrush that had to be cleared out now forms the textured walls of the lobby, café and library, while furnishings and décor have been created from reclaimed timber. When one of those gales is blowing, it’s tempting to hunker down, pulling up a cloud-like duvet and watching the ocean rage, settling fireside with a bowl of chowder and an inch of Macallan, or sampling regional cooking at the restaurant (excellent, although the beachfront summertime crab cookouts of whole Dungeness and corn-on-the-cob are even better). But that’s missing the point of the place, which is all for getting visitors outdoors, as the hurricane lantern and bright-yellow rain gear in every room attest. The weather changes in a blink, and the last thing guests need to worry about when hiking the Big Tree Trail on nearby Meares Island – or hiding behind a blackberry bush to spy on a black bear foraging for starfish at low tide – is wet socks. – Rebecca Misner Doubles from AED 1,080; 001-250-725 3100, wickinn.com PHOTOS: JEREMY KORESKI, 1 HOTEL BROOKLYN BRIDGE, JOHN ATHIMARITISFebruary 2020 Condé Nast Traveller 107 SIX SENSES DOURO VALLEY LAMEGO, PORTUGAL The European debut of the Asia-centric Six Senses group caused a sensation when it opened in northern Portugal in 2015, its particular brand of wellness cleverly seen through the prism of this world-class grape region. It’s set in a 19th-century manor house among vines that roll down to the wide Douro River and a protected 10-acre woodland; part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the property is committed to protecting the area’s 3,500 botanical species. Inside, Irish-American designer Clodagh created a more contemporary minimalist vibe, and now a new wing has rooftop and vineyard rooms, each with private hot tubs. Naturally, there is a strong emphasis on local grape: tastings in the grape library; an enomatic machine operated by room key-cards (try the elegant Guru white). Beneath it all lies a huge pool, framed by gardens abundant with ripe fruit, including peaches that will be grilled and served with burrata, and lemons that are squeezed into scrubs in the spa’s potion-whipping Alchemy Bar. The spa is one of Portugal’s most serious, with programmes to help improve sleep and age more holistically. From design to outlook, Six Senses has given the grape-country hotel a thoroughly 21st-century update. – Mary Lussiana Doubles from AED 1,160; 00351-254-660 600, sixsenses.com 1 HOTEL BROOKLYN BRIDGE NEW YORK CITY, USA City hotels usually struggle to hold their heads up high when it comes to bragging about eco creds. But this glossy new chain does lots to earn its swagger. Helping them fly that green flag by Brooklyn Bridge Park is a seven-metre living wall of figs and ferns in the lobby, reclaimed materials that dominate the interiors and wind-powered electricity. Touches such as an in-room triple-filtered drinking-water tap and wittily labelled wooden amenities will woo suckers for sustainability, but the East River views and poster-perfect panoramas of that iconic iron bridge – particularly from the pool- enhanced 11th-floor rooftop – has even the least eco-conscious racing to stay. – JK Doubles from AED 1,060; 001-347-696 2500, 1hotels.com/brooklyn-bridge THE BRANDO TETIAROA, FRENCH POLYNESIA It’s rare desert island retreats manage to be so ridiculously spoiling and sybaritic and yet so sensitive to sustainability. No wonder the A-listers love it. It may be the panoramas of the lagoon here, north-east of Tahiti, that are likely to have you swooning, but the scientific smarts of the hotel’s air- conditioning system are also seductive. At this paradise private-island resort, the 35 carbon-neutral beachfront villas flaunt The Brando’s own seawater-cooled invention – powered by sun rays and coconut oil, SWAC is their cunning AC system. – JK Doubles from AED 13,340 for two nights; 0068-94-086 6300, thebrando.comBAWAH RESERVE RIAU ARCHIPELIGO, INDONESIA It’s rare to get excited about a bumpy, tight-quartered seaplane journey, but you’ll feel a delighted thrill when packs of dense tropical forest and endless shades of blue water come into sight: the first glimpse of the Riau Archipelago where Bawah Reserve is nestled. Designed based on a “minimal impact” approach – only clearing what was needed along the shore of the main island – building materials were locally sourced, the jetty was built asymmetrically to avoid damaging coral reefs and a water-recycling system conserves rainwater to be reused in the reserve. Surrounded by blue lagoons and coral reefs, the previously uninhabited marine conservation site is an adventurer’s paradise with snorkelling, sailing and forest trekking. For a low-key break try intimate picnics and authentic cooking classes. This is the perfect mix of wild and leisure. – Helena Devincenti Doubles from AED 6,530; 0062-778-416 3937, bawahreserve.com At Nihi Sumba (doubles from AED 3,980; 0062-361-75 7149, nihi.com), an hour’s flight from Bali, solitude – 33 villas are spread across 550 acres of forest – is more prized than pomp. As is adventure; the hotel opens on to God’s Left, one of the world’s top private waves. With a rustic surfer ethos and ties to the local community through the Sumba Foundation that provides aid to villages, Nihi has managed the near impossible: to be five-star and cool. – RM There was relief in 2018 when Malaysia’s The Datai Langkawi (doubles from AED 2,000; 0060-4-950 0500, thedatai.com), with its nature- luxe architecture by the late Kerry Hill, emerged from an AED 240mn overhaul as fantastically wild as ever. It works in harmony with the coastline and jungle, and trees that were felled became part of the resort’s construction. There are new rainforest villas and a nature centre, but the best thing to do is still to scope out dusky leaf monkeys on the walk to the Andaman Sea. – RM Earth is home to some of the most powerful sources of energy known to mankind and QO Amsterdam (doubles from AED 440; 0031-20-220 5650, qo-amsterdam.com) embodies just that, harnessing the power of energy through innovative design elements like a living rooftop greenhouse and an energy-enhancing room. This Green Globe-certified property is an antidote to the traditional one-use mould of hospitality, favouring a more circular approach that ensures all energy on the property is used wisely. – HDFebruary 2020 Condé Nast Traveller 109 FOUR SEASONS RESORT SEYCHELLES MAHÉ, SEYCHELLES Now entering its second decade, Four Seasons’ property on the Seychelles’ main island is just as tempting as it was when it landed in 2009, and it’s easy to see why. The location on Petite Anse plays a big part, its 170 acres sitting snugly on hills that slope down to the horseshoe-shaped bay, making it just about as private as you can get on this island where, by law, no beach can be claimed for exclusive use. At the top of the hill lies a spa with locally inspired remedies, and scattered down its slopes are five restaurants and bars, an infinity pool and 67 stilted accommodations. These are sumptuous colonial-tropical abodes with cool tones and flashes of Indian Ocean blues and jungle hues alongside gauzy bed curtains fluttering in the wind wafting from a terrace with bay and forest vistas. It’s a view that Four Seasons finds worth protecting – and guests will invariably agree – making the added EUR 1 fee to room rates, donated to WiseOceans marine conservation and education company, a small price to pay to help protect it. Working with and promoting the Seychellois culture through activities like Creole cooking classes, as well as investing in greener water and waste management, has also helped it gain a Seychelles Sustainable Tourism Label (SSTL) certification, so guests can obtain a greater understanding and appreciation for the destination while helping it remain a natural paradise. – LM Doubles from AED 2,820; 00248-439 3000, fourseasons.com/seychelles LE MÉRIDIEN AL AQAH BEACH RESORT FUJAIRAH, UAE Seventeen years after launching, this Fujairah resort is innovating in a quest to be ever more environmentally friendly; last summer, it upgraded its light posts to be solar powered. It’s been Green Key certified for some time but not sitting on its laurels; in the future the aim is to get rid of all single-use plastics and produce drinking water on-site. With clean waters and a soft, sandy beach, the resort is a haven for water babies: there’s a healthy coral reef just offshore where you may glimpse sea turtles, and the on-site Al Boom Dive Centre makes it easy to explore with diving and snorkelling excursions, as well as other water sports. Inside, the biodiverse Gulf of Oman is never far as each of the 218 guest rooms – done up in airy, contemporary style – boast views of the water. With kids’ and teen’s clubs, Clarins treatments at Spa Al Aqah and eight restaurants and bars, from Italian to Thai, the hotel offers romance, family fun and the chance to explore the best of the region’s marine world. Just be sure to carve out enough time to grab a seat at seafront Gonu Bar & Grill, where a lazy lunch that leads to sunset is often the best way to get the first taste of this quieter side of the Emirates. – LM Doubles from AED 305, 00971-9-244 9000, marriott.com PHOTO: KEN SEET/FOUR SEASONSNext >