< Previous218 HarpersBazaarArabia.com October 2024 218 HarpersBazaarArabia.com October 2024 HBA-194_OCT-24_218-225_ESCAPES_13404964.indd 21830/09/2024 21:15France is always on our travel-to list, and as the climes get cooler, the Alps and the Coast are equally as inviting. Whether you are packing your Moncler or your Eres, a detour to the shores of Istanbul is always a good idea The French Alps this hoiiday season? Oui merci! HBA-194_OCT-24_218-225_ESCAPES_13404964.indd 21930/09/2024 21:15220 HarpersBazaarArabia.com October 2024 SKI IN, SPA OUT Why this is Courchevel’s ultimate ski resort for après relaxation Words by EMILY BAXTER-PRIEST IMAGES: SUPPLIED Elevating the concept of luxury mountain living, Six Senses Residences Courchevel takes guests from the slopes to the spa in unparalleled fashion. Th e hotel is plumped in the heart of the French Alps’ Trois Vallées, in Courchevel 1850, an area celebrated as much for its world-class skiing, as the hotel is for its prestigious six-star standard of hospitality. Its boutique collection of self-contained duplex penthouses and apartments can be purchased or rented, each bringing Six Senses’ world-renowned exclusivity to off -piste pursuits. Here, there’s the famous Six Senses Spa, a ski concierge service and the esteemed Sumosan restaurant serving skiers Courchevel’s fi nest sushi. Fresh from a day on the mountains, Six Senses guests and external visitors can continue their alpine adventure in the spa, which draws inspiration from the organic shapes of snow waves. Th e surrounding alpine landscape intuits the spa’s biophilic principles that help all those who enter feel energised and connected using the latest body hacks, results-driven facials, muscle-focused massages and sweat sessions in the sauna. Helmed by Spa Manager Nikos Papoutsakis, the wellness space follows a holistic approach, using traditional methods along with smart technology (and super-smart experts) to design programmes tailored to the individual. Th ere’s sound healing, which induces alpha and theta brainwave patterns to calm and regulate the nervous system; sleep-maintenance with tracking, snooze-friendly amenities and moisture-wicking linens to help you maximise REM time; and integrated wellness screenings and biohacking to optimise the body’s natural processes allowing you to recover quicker. Th ere’s also an Alchemy Bar, where you can blend spices, herbs and fruits to create your own natural cosmetics, scrubs, balms and sprays letting you continue your Six Senses Residences Courchevel health journey at home. If you want to take the exclusivity up a notch, the wellness space is also available for private hire, meaning you can relax, recuperate and enjoy your après ski in the comfort of your own company. But the real beauty is, that no matter how much or how hard you hit Courchevel’s legendary slopes, the spa will always be waiting for you. Did we mention there’s an outdoor hot tub too? Th e defi nition of an alpine adventure with a diff erence. sixsenses.com Courchevel Escapes to HBA-194_OCT-24_218-225_ESCAPES_13404964.indd 22030/09/2024 21:15221 HarpersBazaarArabia.com October 2024 V I S I T O R S C A N CO N T I N U E T H E I R A L P I N E A D V E N T U R E I N T H E S P A W H I C H D R A W S I N S P I R A T I O N F R O M T H E O R G A N I C S H A P E S O F T H E S N O W W A V E S A dip in the pool takes après-ski to a new level PARTNERSHIP HBA-194_OCT-24_218-225_ESCAPES_13404964.indd 22130/09/2024 21:15222 HarpersBazaarArabia.com October 2024 The ESCAPE A RIVIERA REVERIE Le Beauvallon’s star-studded past continues to entice today’s rich and famous to its (private) shores Words by NATASHA FARUQUE St Tropez Escapes to It has possibly the most perfect perch on the Bay of St Tropez; is it no wonder that Collette stayed here and F. Scott Fitzgerald was inspired to write Tender Is Th e Night while a resident at this “hot, sweet South of France” property. Set amid six hectares of landscaped gardens, dotted by mimosas and parasol pines, and punctuated by modern art monuments, Le Beauvallon has been a destination on the Cote D’Azur since it unveiled its grand Belle Époque exterior in 1914, welcoming the world’s rich and famous and luring Parisians keen to escape to the coast. And while once it was open to anyone who could aff ord a room at the hotel, it is now an even more exclusive aff air. Th e only way to be at home here? Reserve the private residence and estate out for a celebration. Th ere’s plenty of room for friends and family to join in, with 42 bedrooms to host. Other perks that come as part of the property? A 40-foot yacht, a pool, indoor and outdoor cinemas, a private beach complete with pontoon, plus a beach club (the owners bought the 2002 Serpentine Gallery Summer Pavilion and relocated it here) and dance studio – all guaranteed to ensure you’ll be the hostess with the mostest. Th ere’s even a play room packed with toys and distractions for younger guests. Th e historic coral exterior – this is after all one of the original palaces on the Riviera – has immediate impact thanks to its open terraces and impressive frontage. And once you step insider the wonder goes up a notch. Contemporary art installations, sculptures and original paintings bring the space alive – entirely fi tting given the property’s continuous, close ties to the creative realm. Looking to catch DJ Jack E at Le Cave Du Roy or savour crudités and champagne at Club 55? St Tropez Village and Pampelonne beach are a fi fteen-minute ride away on the one-of-a-kind Fjord 40 Cruiser, with Cannes’ charms half an hour on the other side. Whether you’re looking for the perfect backdrop to host a wedding – fi reworks across the bay will make an arresting fi nale – or aiming to gather loved ones for a milestone birthday, or maybe just a memorable week away, drift towards Le Beauvallon, and add your chapter to its already illustrious story. lebeauvallon.com IMAGES: SANDRA ABERG, BKT FILMS HBA-194_OCT-24_218-225_ESCAPES_13404964.indd 22230/09/2024 21:15The property is perched on a dramatic incline (above left), off ering spectacular vistas, whether you are in the salon (far left), or by the pool O N E O F T H E OR IG I N A L P A L A C E S O N T H E R I V I E R A HBA-194_OCT-24_218-225_ESCAPES_13404964.indd 22330/09/2024 21:15224 HarpersBazaarArabia.com October 2024 A ROYAL RETREAT The aptly named Çırağan Palace Kempinski gives you an opulent base from which to explore this evocative city Words by NATASHA FARUQUE There are a few hotels around the world that have cemented their position not just as a place to stay at, but as a destination and symbol of the city in their own right. And if you are going to Istanbul, and are a discerning traveller, then alongside a stop at the Grand Bazaar, Topkapi museum and Hagia Sophia, on your must-do list will be a trip to the Çırağan Palace Kempinski. Unless, of course, you are lucky enough to be checking in to stay there. Th is property has major bragging rights; it is the only Ottoman imperial palace that remains on the majestic Bosphorus – and has remained a major Istanbul landmark since the 17th century. Celebrity guests? Th ere’s a crowded Wall of Fame off the grand foyer, with images of fans as diverse as Oprah, Naomi Campbell, Madonna and Justin Timberlake who’ve checked into the sprawling 310-room hotel. Th ey all no doubt opted for one of the 11 suites in the palace section – the Royal Ottoman Suite has its own private hammam – discretely set apart from the rest of the The impressive palace is a lauded landmark in the city Istanbul Escapes to HBA-194_OCT-24_218-225_ESCAPES_13404964.indd 22430/09/2024 21:15225 HarpersBazaarArabia.com October 2024 The ESCAPE rooms. Th ey probably took advantage of helicopter transfers that bypass any traffi c en route to the airport. And there’s the option of a boat to head out on too. Istanbul is a city of contrasts and the Çırağan epitomises and celebrates this dichotomy. First of all its location on the strait; you are literally at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. Secondly, through its embrace of modernity – you’ll fi nd every creature comfort you’d expect at a super-luxury property that’s just undergone a major facelift – while the site’s heritage and history is also preserved meticulously, and made a real feature of. Gastronomy is high on the agenda here too; Tugra lives up to the grandeur of yesteryear, with chandeliers and tail- coated waiters fi tting in with the space that screams of celebrations. Bellini off ers favourites from the Italian portfolio of signature dishes, Akdeniz has a local accent, while all-day dining Gazebo sits alongside the lobby and overlooks the grounds. It’s worth venturing out. Th e hustle and bustle of Beşiktaş is just outside, with Ortakoy, fi lled with bohemian boutiques and speciality restaurants, just a short stroll away. But you would of course be forgiven for luxuriating inside – after all, you’re in the primest position anyway. kempinski.com IS T A N B U L IS A C I TY O F CO N T R A S T S A N D T H E Ç I R A Ğ A N E P I T O M IS E S A N D C E L E B R A T E S T H IS D I C H O T O M Y HBA-194_OCT-24_218-225_ESCAPES_13404964.indd 22530/09/2024 21:16OCTOBER 24-26, DIFCJoin us for a weekend of great taste VISIT GAULTMILLAUAE.COM TODAY FOR FULL DETAILS GRÉGOIRE BERGER HIMANSHU SAINI HISAO UEDA KELVIN CHEUNG MOHAMAD, OMAR & WASSIM ORFALI REIF OTHMAN ROBERTO TORRE RUBEN GUERRERO SAVERIO SBARAGLI TAKASHI NAMEKATA TOM ALLEN LIVE KITCHENS LIVE BEVERAGE PAIRING LIVE JAZZNext >