There are plenty of options for luxury travellers, and while requirements within the luxury travel sector are evolving, one desire remains constant: privacy.
Below are several holiday ideas for travelling in style while remaining discreet.
Enchanting Countrysides and Dazzling Cities
Since picturesque countrysides can be just as captivating as neighbouring cities, why not combine the two? Destination duo: Soho Farmhouse & London. Situated deep within the emerald hills of the Oxfordshire countryside is an 18th-century farmhouse converted into a 12-room, luxurious, privacy-assured boutique hotel. Trust us when we say you will fall in love with the interior where the farmhouses, using north-western American materials, are constructed following a contemporary Georgian-style framework. Despite there being so many activities available on the retreat, the cozy interior and mouth-watering condiments will keep you happily holed up. Privacy plays an important role on the farm: the deck of every farm hut provides full exposure to nature without being seen by neighbours; members cannot acquaint themselves with other members who wish to be left alone; and phone calls are forbidden in communal areas.
The countryside provides peace and privacy, and although “we can never have enough nature”, as Thoreau famously wrote, urban landscapes can be just as intoxicating. A two-hour drive from Soho Farmhouse will bring you to your next stop: London.
The most private London hotels are tucked away in unassuming Georgian townhouses or a courtyard mews, all of which offer discretion in sumptuous settings.
Set between Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square lies The Stafford, St James’s, Mayfair. It is one of the capital’s most historic hotels. Hidden in plain sight, this 17th-century hotel is so well-hidden, new guests frequently have trouble locating reception. The establishment counts 12 elegant mews that are continuously requested by habitués seeking complete privacy; situated in a cobbled courtyard, adjacent to the main hotel, accessible via the main entrance or a quiet alley off St James’s Street. The tranquil setting of the stable rooms can make you feel as though you never left the countryside – though right on your doorstep is the American Bar, named as such as US and Canadian service men stayed there during WW2. The top beverage program at the American Bar, as well as the intuitive service of the staff, keeps hotel guests – voluntarily – hostage.
Winter Tonics
When colours wane in the northern hemisphere, another part of the globe blooms. Those looking for a discreet yet charming summer destination, Cartagena, Columbia, is a wonderful choice.
Located on the Caribbean coast, this 16th-century city is a fusion of a modern thriving environment that has pristinely preserved its illustrious heritage. The gleaming skyscrapers of Bocagrande stand 5KM away from the UNESCO-listed Old Town. For total privacy and limitless style, boutique hotels built within restored colonial buildings near the Old Town are well worth the stay. Guests feel as though they have stepped into a time warp: there is the colourful architecture, ancient artefacts, and fairytale-style verandas.
Cartagena’s Old Town offers plenty visual stimulation and entertainment. Discerning travellers will only be noticed if they are more extravagant than their surroundings, which is close to impossible!
Accompanyu 