We’ve officially passed the winter solstice – which means there’s definitely some winter sunshine. Here, find the nine hotels the Vogue team hopes to check into in the coming months to get their much-needed vitamin D boost.
South Africa
A 20-minute drive from Stellenbosch favorite, Babylonstoren, Sterrekopje’s Room in 20 hectares of Eden – with vineyards There is also an orchard where guests can pick fruit daily at sunrise. (Even the spa products here are made with spices, herbs, and other wonders of the garden—think calming wildflower baths and olive-pit skin scrubs.) Created by Dutch partners Nicole Boekhoorn and Fleur Huijskens (who also happen to be Founded by a couple), it’s a place to reset without limits; you can hike up Mount Sterrekopje in the morning and end the day with a farm-to-table feast. Much has been written about the activities on offer here, and with good reason – everything from pottery classes to yoga and breathing exercises – but it’s the interiors that really win us over. A joint effort between founder Nicole and interior designer Greg Mello, each room is imbued with a personal touch; bringing antique pencil cases and stationery to each room encourages guests to journal during their stay. Even if you only check in for the minimum two-night “journey” Sterrekopje offers, you’ll leave feeling ten years younger.
BALI
If you want to reconnect with nature after months of being shut indoors Contact, please start from March, as the rainy season draws to a close, set your sights on Buahan, Banyan Tree. Mountainside huts or balés built entirely from reclaimed wood located 11 minutes north of Ubud The eco-resort has neither windows nor doors, meaning guests sleep on four pillars overlooking the forest canopy and soak in copper bathtubs while fireflies dance above them at dusk. (The hotel also has a dedicated “Hideaway” spot, where guests are encouraged to meditate amidst birdsong and frangipani.) The food on offer, meanwhile, is aimed at zero waste, with Balinese chef Eka Sunarya leading The Open Kitchen, A plant-based restaurant featuring produce from local farms: think nutritious moringa soup served in coconut husks, or vegetables wrapped in banana leaves and grilled over charcoal. As for the Toja Spa? It is spread over several bamboo pavilions, all of which overlook the Ayung River. Opt for a restorative scrub – made with rice and ginger – or meditate at the foot of a private waterfall.
