Ice Palaces, Lake Islands, Mountainside Abodes, and Overwater Terraces – Which Is Your Dream Resort?

by Jan Mauer | Oct 27, 2017 | European Travel, Luxury Destinations, Luxury Travel, Romance Travel and Honeymoons | 0 comments

Travel is meant to transport you — to other destinations, certainly, but also sometimes to other times, other worlds, and other possibilities.

These four utterly unique hotels are full of the magic, mystery, and wonder that travel embodies. These are places that will, without a doubt, remain locked in your heart and mind forever.

Lily pond at the Lake Palace – by Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces (Taj images) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

The Taj Lake Palace Resort, Lake Pichola, Rajasthan, India is an exquisite luxury hotel for the traveler who has ever wondered what it was like to see the world in the Golden Age of travel. This is the place (or palace) to get a glimpse of what it feels like to be royalty.

Built in the middle of a lake as a winter palace in the mid-18th century, this huge marble resort features opulent 1930s rooms with intricately carved archways and windows draped in sumptuous fabrics. Gardens, pillared terraces, fountains, and columns line the resort’s lavish courtyards. You can dine al fresco with a view of the surrounding mountains and the warm lights of the shoreline, and then hop on a traditional sunset boat ride with your own personal oarsman.

The Nawelpi Lodge, located in the middle of the forest at the Huilo-Huilo Resort, is a place to relax and connect with nature.

If you’re a dedicated nature lover who also appreciates indulgence when traveling the world, then staying at one of the luxurious lodges on the Huilo-Huilo Biological Reserve in southern Chile will ignite your passion for the great outdoors in a whole new way. Located in the mountainous jungles of Chile, not far from the Argentinian border, Huilo-Huilo features four main lodges on the property that are all an intimate part of their gorgeous natural surroundings. Indeed, these bespoke accommodations are an ode to sustainable tourism, with one that is built right into a mountainside. Spacious rooms look out over lush green canopies, pristine rivers, and the bright, elaborate ecosystem of the Patagonia rainforest. Take advantage of spa facilities after a day of hiking and exploring, and enjoy 5-star meals that draw their inspiration from the surrounding jungle. Best of all, you get to be part of a sustainable tourist destination that’s committed to preservation and conservation of the world it inhabits.

At the Ice Hotel, guests can enjoy the Northern Lights, sleep on stunning, hand-sculpted artworks, and dine on award-winning meals.

The Ice Hotel® in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, is a gorgeous, temporary palace of ice, located north of the Arctic Circle, where visitors have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live like snow kings and queens. Each year, the hotel commissions artists to create original masterwork rooms using snow and ice. Giant sculptures and huge vaulted rooms of carved snow surround luxurious fur-covered beds. Each room serves as a canvas for designers from all over the world. Get married in a church made entirely of ice, or spend a night watching the breathtaking aurora borealis from your room. Visitors can choose to stay in a “cold” room, forged almost entirely from stunningly-carved ice, or a “warm” room in the traditional Scandinavian style of an Arctic Chalet. But don’t wait too long: each spring, the Ice Hotel® disappears.

Encircled with powder white sand, the carefree, understated luxury experience at Cocoa Island by COMO includes holistic wellness treatments, South Indian-influenced cuisine and worldclass diving.

If cold weather isn’t your predilection, and your heart yearns for sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, then your dream resort might just be Cocoa Island by COMO in the Maldives. This is a private island resort with 33 “overwater” suites. What that means is that you can literally walk out the door of your private villa and just slip into a warm turquoise lagoon for a swim. Each room has a personal terrace suspended over the sea, offering choice views of the sugar-white beaches nearby. Indulge in the holistic wellness treatments at the spa, take an incredible diving tour, and enjoy top-tier food prepared with a nod to the South Indian culinary influences.

Does one of these destinations call to you? If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind resort or hotel, I can help find a place that will fully transport you, offering you an experience that you will remember forever. When you’re ready to dive in, you can get in touch with me by clicking here.

Jan Mauer

With professionalism and her consistent ability to curate exceptional travel experiences for her clients, Jan Mauer of Exciting Vacations has built her reputation as a Travel Agent who specializes in luxury. Jan has spent more than three decades as trusted advisor to those who require both opulence and exoticism during their world travels. Her expertise about international culture and 5-star getaways ensures that every travel adventure of which you partake is a bespoke experience fulfilling your unique requirements for both luxury and authenticity. Call Jan at (732) 613-8640 or email her here for one-on-one guidance from one of luxury travel's foremost experts.