HOTELS, RESORTS & SPAS SWIM-UP SUITES DESTINATIONS


We’ve all heard of swim-up bars, but swim-up suites that take you straight to the door? Now that’s novel. From lazy rivers winding


their way through the grounds to infinity pools leading right up to the room, they’re making something of a splash. Here, we round up 10 of the


best from across the globe to help you sell them to clients seeking a little luxury – wherever they fall on the budget spectrum.


1


VICTORIA BEACHCOMBER RESORT & SPA, MAURITIUS Set on the island’s


west coast between Grand Baie and capital Port Louis, Beachcomber’s Victoria outpost will be bringing the first swim-up suites to the Indian Ocean when they open in January 2018. The 17 rooms, each stretching


across 50sq m, will allow guests to step straight into an 800sq m pool, opening on to the ocean with a private beach. It’s part of a wider renovation that will add another 23 beachfront suites to the mix, alongside a new steak restaurant and pool bar, all being targeted at couples under its new ‘Victoria for Two’ concept – expanding the net for this family- friendly, kids’ club-loving resort. Book it: Seven nights’ half-board in a Swim-Up Pool Room starts at £1,565 per person, based on two sharing. The price includes flights and hotel transfers. beachcombertours.uk


2


CALABASH COVE, SAINT LUCIA Over in Saint Lucia, the peaceful, secluded


Calabash Cove takes things up a


notch with four Swim Up Junior Suites leading to the hotel’s infinity-edge pool, which blends into a strip of opal ocean. The suites are pleasingly


close to the in-pool bar, where signature cocktails are whizzed up with flair during happy hour, and they all have their own Jacuzzi. Coconut palms, bougainvillea and hibiscus line the grounds making for verdant surroundings, and for those after added intimacy, there are Balinese-style Water’s Edge Cottages with private plunge pools, outdoor rain showers and hammocks to lounge around in. Book it: Seven nights’ B&B at Calabash Cove costs from £1,985 with Caribtours, based on two adults sharing a Swim Up Junior Suite. The price includes flights, private transfers and the use of an airport lounge in the UK. The offer is valid for bookings made by August 31, for travel between October 1 and December 23. caribtours.co.uk


3


DREAMS DOMINICUS LA ROMANA,


DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AMResorts does pretty


well on the swim-up suite front, and among the cream of its crop is the brand-new, five-star Dreams Dominicus La Romana, where Preferred Club Deluxe Swim-Up Rooms open on to a petite private pool. Decked out in Italian-inspired


architecture, the suites come with either a terrace or balcony overlooking tropical gardens, and sleep up to four guests. That makes them especially suited to families, as well as older groups looking to make the most of the Preferred Club amenities,


which include access to a private lounge and beach area, and a special concierge service. Book it: Funway Holidays offers a week’s all-inclusive in a Preferred Club Swim-out Suite from £1,444 per person, including flights, departing on October 14. funway4agents.co.uk


4


ALIATHON HOLIDAY VILLAGE, CYPRUS Swim-up luxury doesn’t necessarily have to mean


trotting over to the other side of the globe and spending the earth to get there. For customers with time or budget constraints, recommend Aliathon Holiday Village in Paphos, where swim-up suites are available exclusively to First Choice customers. Guests can jump straight from their doorstep into a long, shared pool, where a swim-up bar with stools in the water awaits those looking to quench their thirst with a cocktail or three. Rooms sleep up to four,


featuring a double bed, sofa bed and terrace with sun loungers. On the upper level, there’s a selection of family suites offering one and two bedrooms. A mini kids’ splash area, meanwhile, adds further appeal for those with little ’uns. Book it: Seven nights’ all-inclusive at the four-star Holiday Village Aliathon starts at £706 per person with First Choice, based on two adults sharing. The price includes transfers and flights from Gatwick on September 7. firstchoice.co.uk


5


ANANTARA THE PALM, DUBAI Anantara The Palm is all about the extravagance,


and its Lagoon Access Rooms –


each featuring steps descending from the terrace to the pool – are no exception. There are three categories,


ranging from 47sq m Premier rooms to 65sq m Deluxe Family Suites, complete with a king- sized and twin beds on two separate floors. They’re all inspired by Asian design – there’s even a mixologist doing the rounds on a floating, market- style boat to provide signature tipples. That makes not moving for a week entirely acceptable, but if families do fancy venturing out, then Aquaventure, Mall of the Emirates, Ski Dubai and Dubai Marina are all within easy reach. Book it: Five nights’ B&B with the Inspiring Travel Company starts at £795 per person, based on two adults sharing a Lagoon Access Room. The price includes BA flights from Heathrow and private transfers. inspiringtravel.co.uk


6 SANTHIYA KOH


PHANGAN, THAILAND For an exquisitely designed, eco-friendly


hideaway offering a unique swim-up experience, Gold Medal recommends the four- star Santhiya Koh Phangan in Thailand. Rebecca Turner, senior


product manager for Asia and Australia, says: “The Supreme Deluxe Pool Access Rooms are lined with ornate carved-wood panels, with a sliding door opening on to a private veranda that leads straight into the swimming pool.” Most special are the wooden sun loungers, which are designed in the shape of boats floating on the water and offer


17 August 2017 travelweekly.co.uk 45


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