Set against the backdrop of a deep blue sea and sky

Boasting an ideal location on the golden sandy beach of Megali Ammos, Mykonos Grand Hotel is a 5-star, boutique accommodation designed in style, promises you a memorable holiday and lavish hospitality. Location: Mykonos, the Cyclades, just 10 minutes by car from Mykonos Town and 5 km from Mykonos Island National Airport. 

Mykonos Grand Hotel & Resort is designed for your optimal comfort and ultimate seclusion. Offer a magnificent panoramic view of the blue Aegean Sea and the famous windmills, suites at Mykonos Grand combine the cube-shaped Cycladic architecture with the restful interior décor. The rooms are equipped with a satellite LCD TV, DVD player, iPod docking station, free Wi-Fi, Jacuzzi and steam cabin. The suites come with private swimming pools.  Hotel Rooms: 95 and 12 suites.

Things to enjoy: Althea Spa offers a wide variety of natural treatments based on traditional Greek techniques, a beautiful swimming pool, tennis courts, a state-of-the-art gym, movie nights, yoga Pilates, hotel beach with candlelit private dining, yacht hire, ATVs with picnic baskets, a spectacular outdoor amphitheatre for social events. Guests can enjoy fresh seafood, grilled specialities and other Mediterranean flavours either at the open-air dining room or by the pool offering panoramic sea views.

An enchanting traditional hotel

Located in the greenest region of Galicia, Spain, Hotel Lugar do Cotariño is a perfect spot for relaxation. Lies at the heart of La Costa da Morte, about 50 km away from Santiago, this traditional building welcomes everyone who feel overwhelmed by the daily routine. 

Likes more a house than a hotel, the Hotel Lugar do Cotariño has been restored by the two owners. Surrounded by trees and close to the sea, the interior mixes stone walls with stylish furniture. Offering only seven guest rooms, Lugar do Cotariño is a small, but very cozy and tranquil place to spend your vacation, disconnected from the routine. All rooms have flat-screen TV and hydro-massage bath.

The restaurant offers traditional dishes using local produce such as fish and seafood. The lounge of the Lugar Do Cotariño has an open fire, and the recreation room has internet access. Precious wooden beams, perceived as authentic details of décor and fantastic precision in execution. The large gardens, with a stream running through them, make a great place to relax. Photos by: www.yatzer.com

Thaba Khaya Game Lodge

Just over an hour and a half drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria is a unique and intimate retreat called Thaba Khaya Game Lodge situated within Sable Ranch National Natural Heritage Site,South Africa. With an abundance of game spread out over 4,000 hectares, the lodge offer an interactive safari experience where highly qualified field guides will educate you on the natural surroundings. Experience a magnificent variety of wildlife ranging from hippos to eagles, from tiny tortoises to wild leopard and you will forget you are just outside of the city. 

Thaba Khaya means house on a rock which is an accurate description as the lodge sits on top of a granite outcrop. The elevated bar and pool deck offer breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, as well as a watering hole where animals often come to drink. Guests can also relax in the comfortable lounge area and decks which create a relaxed social setting.

Thaba Khaya Game Lodge has a maximum capacity of 16 persons, in order to ensure guests experience personal service from their friendly staff. The three Luxury Suites situated just off the Main Lodge area feature private balconies, televisions and air-conditioning, while the three Standard Suites located in the Main Lodge area are both stylish and comfortably designed. The lodge also accommodates family travellers, with a family unit consisting of two en-suite bedrooms, one double and one twin room. All rooms provide for privacy and an enjoyable retreat.

Whether you want to lounge by the pool and listen to the wide variety of bird calls or if you’re adventurous and want to go on a guided walking safari, Thaba Khaya Lodge is the ideal travel destination.

Rockydrift Private Nature Reserve

Located 290 km from Johannesburg on the Waterval Boven, this is Rocky Drift Private Nature Reserve. This reserve is composed of an enclosed valley of approximately 257 hectares and some of the most beautiful mountain country to be found in the Waterval Boven district. The region has a typical climate with summer rainfall areas with winter and summer mean temperatures of between six degrees in winter and 34 degrees in summer to be expected. 

Provided by the Joubert spruit tributary of the Elands river, the natural water supply is fountain fed from the mountain tops and it is of the highest quality. At no stage during the past 60 years has the stream ever dried up. Rockydrift Private Nature Reserve is also a home to many species of fauna such as bush buck, baboon, klipspringer, duiker, steenbok, vaal reed buck, vervet monkeys, leopard, genet, rooikat and rock pythons to name a few. There is also an abundance of bird life, including black eagle, steppe buzzard as well as various kites and falcons.

Because of its richness of  kloofs and slopes, once the valley housed President Paul Kruger’s commandos during the period of his escape to exile via Lourenco Marques, now Maputo. Circular rock encampments with old Martini Henry rifle shells and enamel mugs used by the Boer soldiers and Scouts are sometimes unearthed on the property.

The nature reserve also features a wide range of facilities to make your stay a pleasant experience. Facilities like pets allowed, car parks, lodges and guesthouses are available for you to enjoy. For instance some of the guestrooms there are fitted with all the amenities you need for a good night’s sleep, including bathtub, television, in room safe, balcony/terrace, coffee/tea maker. For reliable service and professional staff, Rockydrift Private Nature Reserve caters to your needs.

Ruboni Community Camp

Ruboni Community Camp is a situated at the main barrier of Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon in western Uganda. The camp is sitted on the hill side with spectacular views over the mountains, especially on a full moon. All the chalets have an own private terrace to maximize the views. It is simply the best way to interact with the local people and enjoy the natural heritage of western Uganda. 

The owner of the Ruboni Community Camp is the Ruboni Community to offset the direct community pressure on the Rwenzori Mountain National Park, which is a world heritage site. All of the finacial gains are donated the local community, in order to support conservation and community development. In Uganda, the tourism is used as a vehicle for sustainable community development and conservation. Fortunately, the country boasts with a great successes because you can both learn from and contribute to during your stay.

Ruboni Community Camp offers authentic experiences with community involvement including hill climb, forest walks, village walks, traditional dance, home stays and handicrafts purchases. One can choose to camp, within the community to catch a glimpse of the highest margarita peak without paying park entrance fees. Ruboni Community Camp has secured an indigenous forest area by the park edges which is used for nature walks; and is like walking inside the park itself.

Other activities include Rwenzori Mountain climbing, which is the best way to see the gorillas. You can also do game drives in the Queen Elizabeth National Park; and chimp-tracking in Kibale Forest National Park