Lifestyle and Adventure

Review of Santorini traditionalism – ikies hotel review

Some believe the Caldera Island may have been one of the possible locations of the fabled island of Atlantis. Another legend has it, Euphemus, son of Poseidon, created the island following a dream where he made love to a nymph. Certainly explaining the island’s tendency of a romantic nature; one does not find a more beautiful view of the Mediterranean sea than from this Greek island, and the sunsets are the most photographed in the world. Ikies Traditional Houses is a special type of boutique hotel; a five-star complex of dug-out cave houses, it’s elegant design comprising of honeymoon suites, maisonettes, and studios located at the edge and facing the picturesque village of Oia, which guests can watch as the sun rises and sets on the private terrace. The staff are incredibly helpful - attentive but inconspicuous, which only adds to the privacy of the hotel.

Featuring The iconic Marbella Club launches a clubhouse just in...

Drawing inspiration from the hotel’s bohemian beginnings in the Fifties as a purposefully low-key hangout for Prince Alfonso and his glittering A-list friends, from Brigitte Bardot to Cary Grant, this reimagining of the hotel’s original Clubhouse champions the best things in life – food and drink, fun, nature, friendship and family. Guests can take advantage of several new additions: El Patio restaurant, the beating heart of the resort, overseen by the Marbella Club’s newly appointed head chef, Sergio Arconada; Rudi’s bar, a fitting tribute to Count Rudi, the hotel’s first GM – who, at eighty-odd years old, still casts a watchful eye over proceedings; La Bodega, scene of wine tastings with head sommelier, Ángel González; bespoke private dining spaces; and an inviting central patio flanked by a hair & beauty salon, hair spa, barber, florist, gift shop, and flexible spaces for art exhibitions and pop up collaborations.

The Maldives edition – an intimate Q&A with Finolhu’s GM...

Since the Seaside Management took over, what were some of the changes made to the resort?  Interesting point is that Finolhu has always been colorful in personality and I think when we opened, the management company that was involved then never wanted it to be known as a party island but they opened with a huge party and then six months later, Cara Delevigne took over the whole resort, I think for her 21st birthday. That was a huge party as well and by the time I arrived, which was two weeks after Cara’s birthday, it was already regarded as the party island of the Maldives. The management company that was involved didn’t ever want us to be known as a party island but it evolved from that, and I think the greatest lesson to be learnt today about media is that no longer can we control our PR, it is controlled by the public and we’ve got to be very careful in how we present ourselves and how we communicate because they will interpret it as the way they like. 

Vakkaru - A Luxurious Maldivian Paradise

As most parents know, children grow up so quickly and that time together when they are young is something that should be treasured. Long haul flights aren’t fun with two children under the age of four in tow, but for me it’s 10 hours worth enduring for the end results. Pristine beaches, tropical temperatures and a top class resort.  

Review of Hop into Easter with the cutest alternative Easter gifts

Review of The Maldives edition – Paradise of your dreams at JOALI

“The best part of beauty is that which no picture can express” - Francis Bacon. Like it has taken our imagination for a ride and brought us to a destination one can only dream of - a true paradise located in the Raa Atoll, the northern part of the Maldives. One has to see it to truly understand how such beauty is able to captivate the heart so much so that even we have to admit, we’ve left our hearts in JOALI. We are certain that if you come here, that same feeling will apply to you.  It is the best combination of contemporary art, absolute attention to design and detail, that feminine touch, aesthetic uniformity with of course the lush tropical vegetation and blossoming flowers and the stunning crystal clear waters at your immediate reach that you’re here and you know it’s worth it. It is not something which you need to think twice about - you’ll be catered for and looked after here, but more than that you won’t tire of the beauty and the absolute comfort you receive during your stay.

Review of Globe Trotter - Luxury travel essentials

What you have by your side and what you choose to trundle is vital for the image and if you want to give the right impression. ''Travelware-upmanship'' is a game all travellers play. Travellers are brand conscious. They are as loyal to their luggage brand as the car they choose to drive and airline they choose to fly by.  It matters what wheels they choose to have under them.   “My seat in Business Class on a plane to a very important meeting is waiting”,  “I am on my way to an extended and very luxurious vacation that few people could ever afford”  and “ I buy my carry on in Mayfair” are impressions we all like to create.  It starts in the airport car park when we take longer than necessary unpacking so everyone can admire our super lightweight, bought from London’s Burlington Arcade  Globe Trotter four-wheel spinner grey/caramel  new  check-in case which screams “ Just out!”

Women who launch – Sylvia Wong of The Roundtree

—let alone for a first-time entrepreneur—and if you throw in the fact that this new business is in the hospitality industry, well, it almost sounds like an impossible feat. But none of those obstacles stopped Sylvia Wong, founder of The Roundtree, from following her dreams of opening the luxury boutique hotel. “When I set out on this journey, I had no idea that we would be dealing with a pandemic. The purchase took several months, and that was the easy part!” explains Wong. The East Hampton hotel is situated by the beach over two acres of sprawling land. Wong envisioned an elegant hideaway that kept the historic features of the property but with modernised interiors. The result is a home-away-from-home luxury escape with five cottages, ten additional rooms and suites, and a newly-renovated three-bedroom beach house set just a short walk from the water. 

The Luxury Gent recommends: Sam Harris’ Making Sense podcast

The consumption of media is changing around us at an unbelievable rate. Podcasting is a phenomenon, and Sam Harris is one of its juggernauts. The beauty of the format to its makers, is that they can't be de-platformed, they control their own production, and distribution is de-centralised, effectively granting them complete autonomy over their content. And with no scheduling windows, or network timeslots to fit into, they can spend hours giving complex subjects the time and air they deserve. As listeners, we've embraced the flexibility of the content; it can be consumed in pieces, or wholesale, in often otherwise "dead-time," commutes & gym sessions for example, as well as on the sofa.

Featuring Perfect your smile at Smile Architect dentists on 111...

With so many stories of botched cosmetic procedures and dodgy dental work, it’s important that you know that you are getting the best treatment out there. For the past year I have been a patient at Smile Architect in Harley Street, a private practice owned and run by Dr Adam Slade. Adam is a very experienced dental surgeon and has extensive experience in Prosthodontics and implant placement. He was awarded Master of Clinical Dentistry (Prosthodontics) in 2004 from London University having studied at Guy’s King’s and St Thomas’ Dental Institute to add to his other dental qualifications. I first met Adam when I was working on a documentary series which saw patients who had medical treatment disasters corrected. Adam was the resident dental expert correcting their smiles. It was then that I watched some of his more invasive and technically skilled work first-hand. Our case studies would arrive with very complicated issues, many needing all their teeth removed.

Featuring The Brando: a world apart

Unbelievably less half the price of one South London garage which recently sold for £550,000. But economics aside, this was an investment that would give Brando peace and fulfillment in his later years and is now seen as the ultimate holiday destination for the world’s rich and famous. Tetiaroa is a stunning atoll (for those not au fait with tropical island terminology, an atoll is a ring shaped coral reef or series of islands) located 30 miles north of Tahiti in the South Pacific. Tetiaroa has always been seen as a mystical place, with stars guiding people there from Southeast Asia 4,000 years ago. It was also a favored retreat for the Tahitian royalty who would take part in archery tournaments as their wives were fanned under nearby coconut trees. And then came Brando. Having first visited Tetiaroa while filming Mutiny on the Bounty, the actor fell hard for its natural beauty, tranquility, cultural richness as well as for his Tahitian leading lady Tarita, with whom he later had children. It became his personal sanctuary and then his home when he bought Onetahi, one of the 12 smaller islands that make up Tetiaroa, and named it Brando.

Roberto Grilli: The mastermind lighting up Formula E

Recently appointed to manage the Formula E - Diriyah ePrix in Saudi Arabia, Roberto tells The Sybarite how he got into the motorsports and lighting industry, the changes he has had to make during the recent pandemic, and what the appointment to the Formula E race means to him.  Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background. As DZ Engineering’s General Manager, I am currently responsible for both commercial and business development in integrated solutions for race track circuits, sports venue lighting, museums and architectural lighting. Prior to this, I had pursued automation and software engineering with the vision that I, one day, will be building the first real Mecha, a Japanese giant anime robot. Shortly after joining this, I realised that I would not have been able to survive coding for that long - I would be, in fact, bored to death. When I had the opportunity to switch professions, I grabbed on to something more exciting and here I am now, with over 15 years of experience in across both motorsports and lighting industries