“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” A quote that is often attributed to John Lennon (he used those words in his 1980 song Beautiful Boy), its origins seem to stretch further back in time, with no definitive person to attribute. But the philosophy still remains — and it is one that, while certainly applicable to the great adventure of life, is also a very apt mantra for travel.
Even the best, most rigorously planned vacations can encounter a few hiccups. Sometimes these hiccups can turn into a wonderful memory — a detour to a new destination, a last-minute flight to somewhere unexpected, or even a spontaneous day trip.
This is why it’s all the more important to know you are in the safest of hands when you arrive at your destination, that any last-minute changes can be dealt with. The hotels, resorts and spas within this issue are certainly up to any task. Featuring some of the finest in the world, our expert, in-depth reviews cover slick city hotels in bustling cities (such as Home House, a seriously fun member’s club in London), eco-friendly lodges out in the bush (find andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge in the vast Namib Desert) and serene beachfront abodes (like at the Four Seasons Mauritius).
But sometimes, travel plans can be hindered by forces beyond our control — like those caused by Mother Nature. Toby Louch found this out firsthand as he embarked on an exciting voyage to Greenland with Lindblad Expeditions: “In the polar regions, plans change, perhaps due to adverse weather — or maybe there’s something the expedition leader wants to check out. It’s in these moments, when a Lindblad expedition transforms into true exploration, that the drama of travel reveals itself once again.”
Elsewhere in this issue, Alex Martin visits The Glenturret Distillery, the oldest working distillery in Scotland, to look at its latest release. Imbibed a bit too much? A visit to bucolic Heckfield Place and its bliss-inducing spa will surely help, as Thea Halstead discovers.
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This article appears in the 29 Nov 2023 issue of the New Statesman, Hotels, Resorts & Spas 2024
