Cupcake inspiration for the Diamond Jubilee

Today the crowning glory of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations around England. We have some sweet cup cake recipe for your kids and family to enjoy.

The combination of sweet icing and fluffy sponge in an irresistibly cute package is the perfect mouthful or two of pure indulgence.  

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With a long weekend ahead of fun, food and drink, we have the perfect sweet treat for you, irresistible and sure to impress: cupcakes! 



Get baking, get the kids involved, and enjoy the gorgeous delights afterwards. Sit back and relax enjoy a cup of tea!

Step by step how to make Coffee Vanilla Swirls Cupcakes

Quick to make and fun to decorate – a great one to get the kids involved in. They keep well in an air tight container for 3-4 days. 

Dish type: Dessert 
Makes 14-16 

You’ll need: 

For the cupcakes: 

- 150g unsalted butter 
- 150g golden caster sugar 
- Seeds from half a vanilla pod 
- 3 medium eggs, beaten 
- 150g self raising flour, sifted 

For the icing: 

- 150g unsalted butter, at room temperature 
- 350g icing sugar, sifted 
- 15ml Douwe Egberts Pure Gold granules dissolved in 30ml hot water 

What to do: 

Preheat the oven to 190C/Gas5 and line 16 paper cases into metal muffin tins. 

Cream the butter, sugar and vanilla together until pale and fluffy with either a wooden spoon of an electric hand whisk. 

Add the eggs a little at a time beating well between each addition. 

Fold in the flour with a metal spoon. 

Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown and risen, and place on a cooling tray. 

Meanwhile, beat the remaining butter, icing sugar and coffee together until smooth and it holds its shape. 

Decorate the cup cakes with swirls of butter cream by piping on with a small star nozzle. 

For further decoration add a few coffee beans, a little icing sugar or silver dragees. 

As Diamond Jubilee Nears, Brits Fly the Flag and Make Flag Suits

For a people with a deeply ingrained sense of ancient nationhood, the British are not great flag wavers. You seldom see, as you do in the U.S., the national flag flying alongside people’s homes. The upcoming diamond jubilee of Queen Elizabeth has, for the moment, changed that.

Union Jacks of every size, from those of imperial dimensions on government buildings to mini-flags atop pub tables are giving London an unusually vivid display of the national colors.

This may be more profound than it seems. It’s an expression, I believe, of loyalty not to a political head of state, nor even to the state itself, but to a resolutely nonpolitical and personalized image of Britishness—the Queen.

And the most stylish appearance of the flag I’ve seen was on an impeccably tailored jacket in the window of a small bespoke tailor on the Clerkenwell Road.

The long national holiday to celebrate Elizabeth’s 60 years on the throne, June 2 through 5, will be healthily nonpartisan and even the most die-hard republicans have surrendered to the idea of having a big party for the gentle matriarch. The kind of mindless jingoism that sent the brave and bold off to fight many a futile war is absent, this is a family affair including the whole country.

The jacket (pictured left) had been given an outer skin of paper, tailored as precisely as the underlying cloth, decorated with scores of hand-painted Union Jacks.

Susannah makes suits for men and women and told me that she can cater to visitors, too, if you allow for the fact that you will need two fittings before a suit is finished. Her suits and jackets are often in unusual colors—I was tempted by a moleskin jacket in a hue of what might be called strong Dijon mustard. Perhaps not me, after all. Union Jack socks, perhaps.

For a peek at all Susannah’s work including shirts, ties and many accessories, go to www.susannahhall.com.

The Best U.S. Beach Resorts

Well, God bless America. Our 2012 Gold List is filled with gorgeous beach resorts and hotels across the U.S.—and you have an entire summer to enjoy them all.

MOORINGS VILLAGE ISLAMORADA

Islamorada, Florida


On the site of a former coconut plantation midway between Miami and Key West, this 18-acre “Old Florida–style property” gets a perfect location score for its setting on 1,100 feet of private white-sand beach, amid bougainvillea and 700 coconut palms. “Very private cottages” range from one to three bedrooms in size, with kitchens and hardwood floors, and, in many cases, washers and dryers. Pierre’s Restaurant is a white two-story plantation house with blue shutters; diners can eat inside or out with views of Florida Bay sunsets. The spa offers massages, skin treatments, facials, yoga, and reflexology.

LODGE & CLUB, PONTE VEDRA

Ponte Vedra, Florida


This small property is “on the prettiest beach in Florida, with gorgeous views from every suite,” ergo the perfect location score. Twenty miles from historic St. Augustine, it was built to resemble a Mediterranean villa and has Spanish mission accents: a terra-cotta roof, stucco exterior, stone fountains, and wrought iron lampposts. Accommodations come with floral bedding and curtains and four-poster beds. Have lunch outdoors—fish tacos and ahi tuna salad—under beige and green umbrellas at the casual Oasis, then sit indoors at the Innlet for a more formal dinner of fresh seafood like bourbon-marinated Atlantic salmon or Cajun-seared mahimahi. Expect “phenomenal service.”

LAPLAYA BEACH & GOLF RESORT

Naples, Florida


This beachfront resort is a “classic Florida beauty filled with easy elegance.” Baleen serves dinner inside or outside by the ocean and has “delicious, well-prepared Gulf Coast food and service.” Staff are “attentive and willing to help in any situation that may arise.” The “impeccably kept grounds” include coconut palms, tiki torches, and a fire pit surrounded by Adirondack chairs. The Bob Cupp–designed golf course is “the best in Florida—and I have played many.” Choose a Gulf Tower room with a balcony to watch “the memorable sunsets.”

ELIZABETH POINTE LODGE

Amelia Island, Florida


This Nantucket Shingle lodge with sweeping rooflines and broad porches is in a “great location right on the beach”—”the place took me back to the Gatsby era.” The “incredible, awesome lodgings” include rooms in the Main House with period antiques and oversized tubs, and mini suites that exhibit West Indies decor and have oceanview decks facing the Atlantic. Wood floors, brass lighting, and a fireplace mark public areas. Enjoy breakfasts that “are better than Mom’s” each morning and wine and hors d’oeuvres during a social hour in the evening. “The innkeepers go out of their way to make you feel at home.”

LITTLE PALM ISLAND RESORT & SPA

Little Torch Key, Florida


Guests are welcomed with tropical rum punch and their names on wooden plaques on their rooms at this “very private and isolated resort,” accessible only by boat or seaplane. The crushed-seashell paths and the more than 250 Jamaican coconut palms make guests feel like they are “in the South Pacific.” Housing four-poster beds and outdoor showers, renovated thatched-roof bungalows in British colonial decor lack phones, televisions, or clocks, making them “wonderful places to relax and reconnect.” The “food is expensive but marvelous” at the restaurant, which serves French and pan-Latin dishes with the occasional wild card, hence Peking duck foie gras and yellowtail snapper seviche. “The staff are the best.”

RITZ-CARLTON, NAPLES

Naples, Florida


This U-shaped resort with two orange Mediterranean-style towers overlooks the Gulf of Mexico and is near the Naples Zoo. Antiques and artwork embellish interiors, as do Waterford chandeliers and Asian carpets. The resort’s daily interactive environmental programs for children include nature walks, microscope time in the kid-size lab, and field trips. Rooms in buttercream and light green have dark-wood furniture. Nibble on fresh nigiri rolls at the Sushi Bar; Gumbo Limbo’s bar is “the best place for a burger on the beach. I also love to drink something tall and cool, and order the Key lime pie there—it’s the best around—while watching the sun set!”

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL WAIKIKI BEACH

Honolulu, Hawaii


This 38-story hotel adjacent to Waikiki’s beaches, with views of the Ko‘olau Mountains, is “pure bliss.” “Elegant, quiet, and spotless,” guest rooms have Italian marble baths, full kitchens, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Pacific. “The staff here really know how to treat you right,” offering service that’s “as grand as you’d expect given the Trump name.” A terrace with a bar surrounds the sixth-floor infinity pool. Wai‘olu Ocean View Lounge’s Liquid Artistry menu offers cocktails with a Hawaiian flair—sip on a Green Flash (Azul tequila, Midori, fresh lemon juice, rock candy syrup, and basil) or an Island Slumber (Old Lahaina silver rum, mint, lavender syrup, and sugarcane) while taking in the Honolulu skyline at sunset. “This was absolutely the nicest hotel ever.”

KAHALA HOTEL & RESORT

Oahu, Hawaii


Opened in 1964 by Conrad Hilton, this ten-story property is in a residential area at the foot of Diamond Head. “You’re so close to Waikiki, but it feels like you’re on a private island.” Accommodations are done in ivory and coffee tones and have handwoven rugs, double- or four-poster beds, and tropical ceiling fans. “The room was beautiful, the view breathtaking.” Choose from the large breakfast buffet at Plumeria or dine on Asian-inspired specialties cooked in the show kitchen at Hoku’s. At the spa, treatments include a warm pohaku stone massage. “The peaceful ambience is enhanced by the exceptional service.”

RITZ-CARLTON, LAGUNA NIGUEL

Dana Point, California


Perched on a “gorgeous seaside bluff” between Los Angeles and San Diego, this Mediterranean-inspired four-story hotel has fountains and French doors that open onto private terraces. “I felt as if we were in the tropics.” Rooms have walk-in closets and are decorated in sea and sand tones. “Service was unmatched.” Raya serves pan-Latin coastal cuisine that focuses on sustainable seafood, local produce, and organic meat; the tasting room, Eno, provides selections of wine, cheese, and chocolate. “The views from this property are beautiful, and the grounds are perfectly maintained.”

The crowning jewels of the Cote d’Azur

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As the exclusive Cannes Film Festival rolls out its red carpet, the industry’s top celebrities will all be there. 


Visit the medieval village Eze, and take in breathtaking views at La Turbie. You can ride up to the Rock of Monaco to explore the old town and visit some of its famous places, including the Princess Grace Memorial and the Grand Prix circuit. 

Head inland for picturesque landscapes, such as the luxury villa in Saint-Jeannet with panoramic views of the Riviera. The road from here takes you to the towns of Le-Bar-sur Loupand Tourrettes-sur-Loup. The old village of Le Bar-sur-Loup is definitely worth a visit. It overlooks the Loup river valley and is lovingly restored, with the old houses clustered around the 13th-century chàteau and church.

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Along the Mediterranean coast in Monaco are a host of luxurious places to wine and dine. Le Grill, in the exquisite 19th century Hotel De Paris is a favourite for both tourists and locals. Le Vistamar, in the Hermitage Hotel, is another famous restaurant where the happy vibes of the 1920’s still exists. 

Another must for any traveller to the area is a visit to the old town to see the wall that still surrounds it – the entire town is reminiscent of Grace Kelly’s glamorous time in Montecarlo. A visit to the casino is also recommended, not just for gambling but also for the feeling of being in a real-life James Bond film. 

Catch a boat from Monaco to Nice, a distance of around 113 miles. The French Riviera Cruise organises 1-day excursions or, if you fancy some serious luxury, you can rent a private yacht. Once in the city of sun and glamour, you must visit the famous flower market.

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From Nice, head to Cannes, the essential for movie-lovers, glam and glitz. Every year, the world’s biggest International film festival is held here, and everyone in the industry makes sure they attend. 

Practical Guide 

How to get there
Fly to Nice. From there you can rent a car at the airport and drive the panoramic Grande Corniche road. Another option is to take a helicopter to Monaco, only 6 minutes from Nice, and land infront of the ocean. Find more information at Heli Air Monaco or Monacair. 

Where to eat and sleep 
There is a luxurious five star hotel, the Chateau Saint Jeannet. The Intercontinental Carlton, in Cannes, is a must, and another excellent choice is the Palais de Mediterranee. In Monaco, the Montecarlo Beach resort has a spa and a private beach. All have restaurants with exquisite food options. 

More information
Monaco Tourist Office, Nice Tourist Office, Cannes Tourist Office, and the Cote d’Azur Tourist Office,

Our Favorite Caribbean Destinations Escape to paradise with our top picks for romance, adventure, seclusion, and local flavor in the Caribbean. The Most Romantic Escape The most seductive place in the Caribbean is just 16 miles long and circled by 33 mostly deserted beaches. Big cruise ships don’t visit, so it’s quiet and serene. With no casinos or tourist traps, there’s little to distract you from your sweetheart. While away your days on stretches of the softest sand you’ve ever wiggled your toes in on Shoal Bay, one of the Caribbean’s most picturesque beaches. When you’re not flirting with each other at the pool or clinking Champagne flutes by candlelight, you’ll love snorkling around the coral reefs or trying the island’s Greg Norman golf course. Where to Stay Couples Only: Cap Jaluca (pictured)Between your room, the beach, and the restaurant, you’ll have everything you need. From $425 to $1,595 (junior suite, high season); capjaluca.com.Super Spa: CuisinArt Golf Resort & SpaTry a massage with warmed seashells.From $400 to $1,020 (high season); cuisinartresort.com.Sexy & Serene: Viceroy AnguillaSophistication comes to shore in this Kelly Wearstler-designed beauty. From $995 (resort-view room, high season); viceroyanguilla.com.Euro Style: Malliouhana Hotel & SpaAtop a lush, terraced bluff, this lodging overlooks Meads Bay and Turtle Cove beaches on the island’s west end. From $430 to $1,120 (beachfront room); malliouhana.com. What to Eat An Italian Affair: Trattoria Tramonto Oasis Beach BarThis is the place for champagne cocktails, lobster, and tiramisu amid strains of Andrea Bocelli; 264/497-8819.Haute Cuisine: Blanchards RestaurantTry spicy dry-rubbed snapper with sautéed wild mushrooms, sweet potatoe puree, and ginger bok choy;blanchardsrestaurant.com.Amazing Seafood: Mango’sA perennial local fave with super-fresh seafood (lobster cakes, crayfish, snapper in sesame-soy tahini) overlooking the ocean; 264/497-6479.Best Beach Bar: Gwen’s Reggae GrillA perfect oceanside meal of grilled seafood on Shoal Bay, with hammocks for a post-lunch nap; 264/497-2120. St. Barts: Food Lover’s Paradise In St Barts it’s easy to fall in love with food. You sit in your white-canvas banquette, tan and radiant, with the sound of the Caribbean lapping softly in one ear and a handsome garçon speaking French in the other. The waiter tempts you with mahi mahi served en papillote, fresh ingredients imported from Bordeaux, and your heart’s desire of desserts, from flambéed crêpes suzette to chocolate mousse.While many of the meals here are haute-cuisine, you can also find amazing food at affordable prices. Try O’Corail for burgers and frites on the beach, Le Vietnam for noodles, Eddy’s for Creole specialties, and Nikki Beach for sushi. Where to Stay Most Privacy: Le ToinyEnjoy a bungalow with a private entrance and pool. Breakfast is included, and you can have it on your patio. From about $780 to $2,750 (high season); letoiny.com. Ultra Chic: Eden Rock HotelIt’s on the main drag in St. Jean, but the beach is private, and the quiet suites and villas welcome you with Caribbean-modern style. From about $730-$1,935 (ocean-view suite, high season); edenrockhotel.com.Best Beach Hotel: Hotel St. Barth Isle de FranceLounge by peaceful Flammands Bay or by the pool, large by St. Barts standards. Rooms have a soft-white, French country flair. From about $670-$1,652 (tropical villa, high seasons); isle-de-france.com. Where to Eat Romantic EleganceGaïac at Le Toiny resort; letoiny.com. The restaurant at Hotel St. Barth Isle de France; isle-de-france.com.Sexy SceneThe Sand Bar at Eden Rock Hotel;edenrockhotel.com. Le Ti St. Barth;letistbarth.com.Everybody’s Talking About …L’Isola. Italian fare in Gustavia;lisolastbarth.com.Best Beachside SeatingO’Corail; 011/59//029-3327.Great ValueEddy’s, in a walled-garden setting; 011/59/027-5417. Kiki-è Mo, a delish deli in St. Jean; 011/59/027-7047. Virgin Gorda: The Best Playcation Accessible only by helicopter or water, the eastern tip of this sliver of land may the world’s largest water sports playground. It’s sheltered by Virgin Gorda’s steep mountains on one side and a smattering of low-lying islands on the other—ideal conditions for sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, kiteboarding, and snorkeling. There are no large swells but plenty of wind, which means it’s calm enough for a beginner but still fun for the more skilled.Good to know: The U.S. dollar is the official currency on Virgin Gorda.More playcation islands: Little Cayman, Roatan, Bonaire Where to Stay Best for Families: Bitter End Yacht ClubFrom the upscale cabin-like accomodations to the nearly infinite range of day and night activities, it’s like summer camp. From $530 to $960 beach-front villas, high season); beyc.com.Easy Cruising: Biras Creek Resort (pictured)Perfect for couples looking for solitude in their own oceanfront villas and a chance to get out on the water. Staffers are available to resort guests for lessons and outings. Bonus: Guests get beach cruisers for exploring the property. From $700 to $1,150 (ocean suite, high season); biras.com. What to Do The Sailing School at Bitter EndCertification programs and private lessions; beyc.com.Blue Water ExcursionsMore than 15 trips a week to the best snorkeling spots around the island;beyc.com.Sunchaser ScubaCourses and expeditions to islands and wrecks; sunchaserscuba.com. Petit St. Vincent: Luxurious Seclusion On Petit St. Vincent, you can be completely, blissfully alone—just raise the red flag on your villa and no one will bother you. But a yellow flag quickly brings staff, eager to assist, whether to bring a piña colada to the beach or to schedule an afternoon seaside massage. There’s nothing but a resort on the 113-acre, privately-owned island, which is part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It’s just you, the staff, and the other guests staying in the 22 guest cottages tucked deep into the landscape, surrounded by white sandy beaches. You can dine in your villa, on remote beaches, or in the restaurant, which is about the only place you’ll see people.It’s a journey to reach Petit St. Vincent, but it’s worth it for the rejuvenating solitude. Most visitors fly to Barbados, then take a short flight to neaby Union Island, where they meet a boat for the brief trip to the resort.Good to know: Petit St. Vincent’s dock house offers guests sailboats, windsurfing boards, and glass-bottom kayaks at no extra cost.More islands for blissful solitude:Mustique, St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Andros Island, Bahamas; La Desirade, Guadeloupe Where to Stay Petit St. Vincent ResortFrom $675 to $1,020 per couple (high season); psvresort.com. High-res

Our Favorite Caribbean Destinations

Escape to paradise with our top picks for romance, adventure, seclusion, and local flavor in the Caribbean.

The Most Romantic Escape

The most seductive place in the Caribbean is just 16 miles long and circled by 33 mostly deserted beaches. Big cruise ships don’t visit, so it’s quiet and serene. With no casinos or tourist traps, there’s little to distract you from your sweetheart. While away your days on stretches of the softest sand you’ve ever wiggled your toes in on Shoal Bay, one of the Caribbean’s most picturesque beaches. When you’re not flirting with each other at the pool or clinking Champagne flutes by candlelight, you’ll love snorkling around the coral reefs or trying the island’s Greg Norman golf course.

Where to Stay

Couples Only: Cap Jaluca (pictured)
Between your room, the beach, and the restaurant, you’ll have everything you need. From $425 to $1,595 (junior suite, high season); capjaluca.com.

Super Spa: CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa
Try a massage with warmed seashells.From $400 to $1,020 (high season); cuisinartresort.com.

Sexy & Serene: Viceroy Anguilla
Sophistication comes to shore in this Kelly Wearstler-designed beauty. From $995 (resort-view room, high season); viceroyanguilla.com.

Euro Style: Malliouhana Hotel & Spa
Atop a lush, terraced bluff, this lodging overlooks Meads Bay and Turtle Cove beaches on the island’s west end. From $430 to $1,120 (beachfront room); malliouhana.com.

What to Eat

An Italian Affair: Trattoria Tramonto Oasis Beach Bar
This is the place for champagne cocktails, lobster, and tiramisu amid strains of Andrea Bocelli; 264/497-8819.

Haute Cuisine: Blanchards Restaurant
Try spicy dry-rubbed snapper with sautéed wild mushrooms, sweet potatoe puree, and ginger bok choy;blanchardsrestaurant.com.

Amazing Seafood: Mango’s
A perennial local fave with super-fresh seafood (lobster cakes, crayfish, snapper in sesame-soy tahini) overlooking the ocean; 264/497-6479.

Best Beach Bar: Gwen’s Reggae Grill
A perfect oceanside meal of grilled seafood on Shoal Bay, with hammocks for a post-lunch nap; 264/497-2120.

St. Barts: Food Lover’s Paradise

In St Barts it’s easy to fall in love with food. You sit in your white-canvas banquette, tan and radiant, with the sound of the Caribbean lapping softly in one ear and a handsome garçon speaking French in the other. The waiter tempts you with mahi mahi served en papillote, fresh ingredients imported from Bordeaux, and your heart’s desire of desserts, from flambéed crêpes suzette to chocolate mousse.

While many of the meals here are haute-cuisine, you can also find amazing food at affordable prices. Try O’Corail for burgers and frites on the beach, Le Vietnam for noodles, Eddy’s for Creole specialties, and Nikki Beach for sushi.

Where to Stay

Most Privacy: Le Toiny
Enjoy a bungalow with a private entrance and pool. Breakfast is included, and you can have it on your patio. From about $780 to $2,750 (high season); letoiny.com. 

Ultra Chic: Eden Rock Hotel
It’s on the main drag in St. Jean, but the beach is private, and the quiet suites and villas welcome you with Caribbean-modern style. From about $730-$1,935 (ocean-view suite, high season); edenrockhotel.com.

Best Beach Hotel: Hotel St. Barth Isle de France
Lounge by peaceful Flammands Bay or by the pool, large by St. Barts standards. Rooms have a soft-white, French country flair. From about $670-$1,652 (tropical villa, high seasons); isle-de-france.com.

Where to Eat

Romantic Elegance
Gaïac at Le Toiny resort; letoiny.com. The restaurant at Hotel St. Barth Isle de France; isle-de-france.com.

Sexy Scene
The Sand Bar at Eden Rock Hotel;edenrockhotel.com. Le Ti St. Barth;letistbarth.com.

Everybody’s Talking About …
L’Isola. Italian fare in Gustavia;lisolastbarth.com.

Best Beachside Seating
O’Corail; 011/59//029-3327.

Great Value
Eddy’s, in a walled-garden setting; 011/59/027-5417. Kiki-è Mo, a delish deli in St. Jean; 011/59/027-7047.

Virgin Gorda: The Best Playcation

Accessible only by helicopter or water, the eastern tip of this sliver of land may the world’s largest water sports playground. It’s sheltered by Virgin Gorda’s steep mountains on one side and a smattering of low-lying islands on the other—ideal conditions for sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, kiteboarding, and snorkeling. There are no large swells but plenty of wind, which means it’s calm enough for a beginner but still fun for the more skilled.

Good to know: The U.S. dollar is the official currency on Virgin Gorda.

More playcation islands: Little Cayman, Roatan, Bonaire

Where to Stay

Best for Families: Bitter End Yacht Club
From the upscale cabin-like accomodations to the nearly infinite range of day and night activities, it’s like summer camp. From $530 to $960 beach-front villas, high season); beyc.com.

Easy Cruising: Biras Creek Resort (pictured)
Perfect for couples looking for solitude in their own oceanfront villas and a chance to get out on the water. Staffers are available to resort guests for lessons and outings. Bonus: Guests get beach cruisers for exploring the property. From $700 to $1,150 (ocean suite, high season); biras.com.

What to Do

The Sailing School at Bitter End
Certification programs and private lessions; beyc.com.

Blue Water Excursions
More than 15 trips a week to the best snorkeling spots around the island;beyc.com.

Sunchaser Scuba
Courses and expeditions to islands and wrecks; sunchaserscuba.com.

Petit St. Vincent: Luxurious Seclusion

On Petit St. Vincent, you can be completely, blissfully alone—just raise the red flag on your villa and no one will bother you. But a yellow flag quickly brings staff, eager to assist, whether to bring a piña colada to the beach or to schedule an afternoon seaside massage. There’s nothing but a resort on the 113-acre, privately-owned island, which is part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It’s just you, the staff, and the other guests staying in the 22 guest cottages tucked deep into the landscape, surrounded by white sandy beaches. You can dine in your villa, on remote beaches, or in the restaurant, which is about the only place you’ll see people.

It’s a journey to reach Petit St. Vincent, but it’s worth it for the rejuvenating solitude. Most visitors fly to Barbados, then take a short flight to neaby Union Island, where they meet a boat for the brief trip to the resort.

Good to know: Petit St. Vincent’s dock house offers guests sailboats, windsurfing boards, and glass-bottom kayaks at no extra cost.

More islands for blissful solitude:Mustique, St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Andros Island, Bahamas; La Desirade, Guadeloupe

Where to Stay

Petit St. Vincent Resort
From $675 to $1,020 per couple (high season); psvresort.com.

25 CLASSIC EUROPEAN HOTELS WE LOVE There’s nothing like a timeless escape where the scenery is to die for and no detail overlooked. Crisply pressed linen sheets; sunlight streaming through gauzy sheers; and the impression you get, with the arrival of your breakfast tray, that you’ve died and gone to heaven—is there anything more sublime than a good night’s sleep in a classic grand hotel? The best combine a sense of place with a Continental brand of service. They’re formal without being pompous, courteous without being fawning, traditional without being stuffy. Here, our very favorites. CITIES Hotel Ritz Madrid Madrid, Spain Claridge’s London, England Hôtel de Crillon Paris France Hotel Cipriani Venice, Italy Grand Hotel Europe St. Petersburg, Russia MOUNTAINS Grand Hôtel des Alpes Chamonix, France Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa Baden-Baden, Germany Badrutt’s Palace Hotel St. Moritz, Switzerland Rosa Alpina San Cassiano, Italy Hotel Tennerhof Kitzbühel, Austria COUNTRYSIDE Tivoli Palácio de Seteais Sintra, Portugal Park Hotel Kenmare County Kerry, Ireland Chewton Glen Hampshire, England Oustau de Baumanière Les Baux-de-Provence, France Villa d’Este Lake Como, Italy SEASIDE Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc Cap d’Antibes, France Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat, France Cap Estel Èze-Bord-de-Mer, France Il Pellicano Porto Ercole, Italy Hotel Palumbo Ravello, Italy Ballymaloe House County Cork, Ireland Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons Oxfordshire, England Les Crayères Reims, France La Colombe d’Or St-Paul de Vence, FRANCE Grand Hôtel Stockholm, Sweden High-res

25 CLASSIC EUROPEAN HOTELS WE LOVE

There’s nothing like a timeless escape where the scenery is to die for and no detail overlooked. Crisply pressed linen sheets; sunlight streaming through gauzy sheers; and the impression you get, with the arrival of your breakfast tray, that you’ve died and gone to heaven—is there anything more sublime than a good night’s sleep in a classic grand hotel? The best combine a sense of place with a Continental brand of service. They’re formal without being pompous, courteous without being fawning, traditional without being stuffy.

Here, our very favorites.

CITIES Hotel Ritz Madrid Madrid, Spain

Claridge’s London, England

Hôtel de Crillon Paris

France Hotel Cipriani Venice, Italy

Grand Hotel Europe St. Petersburg, Russia

MOUNTAINS Grand Hôtel des Alpes Chamonix, France

Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa Baden-Baden, Germany

Badrutt’s Palace Hotel St. Moritz, Switzerland

Rosa Alpina San Cassiano, Italy

Hotel Tennerhof Kitzbühel, Austria

COUNTRYSIDE Tivoli Palácio de Seteais Sintra, Portugal

Park Hotel Kenmare County Kerry, Ireland

Chewton Glen Hampshire, England

Oustau de Baumanière Les Baux-de-Provence, France

Villa d’Este Lake Como, Italy

SEASIDE Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc Cap d’Antibes, France

Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat, France

Cap Estel Èze-Bord-de-Mer, France

Il Pellicano Porto Ercole, Italy

Hotel Palumbo Ravello, Italy

Ballymaloe House County Cork, Ireland

Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons Oxfordshire, England

Les Crayères Reims, France

La Colombe d’Or St-Paul de Vence, FRANCE

Grand Hôtel Stockholm, Sweden

10 Luxurious Travel Essentials Dreaming of sunny climates? These 10 travel essentials are a must for anyone planning to whiz through the airport in comfort and style, and will keep you organized while your at your tropical destination too. Protect your favourite electronics with a stylish case (everyone is making iPad and iPhone cases including Miu Miu, Yves Saint Laurent, Jimmy Choo and more) and impress the passport inspector with a sleek passport holder that can house your all-important ticket too. (via 10 Luxurious Travel Essentials | The Front Row View)

10 Luxurious Travel Essentials

Dreaming of sunny climates? These 10 travel essentials are a must for anyone planning to whiz through the airport in comfort and style, and will keep you organized while your at your tropical destination too. Protect your favourite electronics with a stylish case (everyone is making iPad and iPhone cases including Miu Miu, Yves Saint Laurent, Jimmy Choo and more) and impress the passport inspector with a sleek passport holder that can house your all-important ticket too.

(via 10 Luxurious Travel Essentials | The Front Row View)

Tangier: Morocco’s New Hot Spot Marrakech might have been Morocco’s main magnet for years, but it is Tangier’s turn again. The louche, expat glamour of the mid twentieth century still clings to every café, shop, and souk, and it is being buffed now by a fresh cavalcade of A-listers attracted to the famed city’s laid-back cosmopolitanism. Photos by Norbert Shoerner Though much of Tangier looks more Mediterranean than Moroccan—it has Deco buildings from the 1930s and blocky white Spanish-style villas—the 1860s-era Hôtel Continental is ornamented with the mosaic tile work and carved mahogany you’d expect to find in North Africa. Pop in for a prosecco at the lobby bar, which has a terrace overlooking the harbor. Perched above a rocky grotto on a beach twenty-five minutes west of town, Le Mirage has views such as this, from room 32, where guests are lulled to sleep by waves crashing on the long, wide shore; Morocco’s beaches are famously vast, and Le Mirage’s is a case in point. Many examples of Tangier’s largest industry—textiles—decorate the interiors of the Hôtel Continental, and designers from Europe and the United States often find inspiration (and great buys) in the rug and fabric shops around the rue de la Liberté. Downtown Tangier’s most stylish hotel, the Nord Pinus is built into an eighteenth-century pasha’s palace; the exteriors are predictably grand, and the interiors balance old Moroccan styles—carved chests, chandeliers—with contemporary furnishings. High-res

Tangier: Morocco’s New Hot Spot

Marrakech might have been Morocco’s main magnet for years, but it is Tangier’s turn again. The louche, expat glamour of the mid twentieth century still clings to every café, shop, and souk, and it is being buffed now by a fresh cavalcade of A-listers attracted to the famed city’s laid-back cosmopolitanism. Photos by Norbert Shoerner

Though much of Tangier looks more Mediterranean than Moroccan—it has Deco buildings from the 1930s and blocky white Spanish-style villas—the 1860s-era Hôtel Continental is ornamented with the mosaic tile work and carved mahogany you’d expect to find in North Africa. Pop in for a prosecco at the lobby bar, which has a terrace overlooking the harbor.

Perched above a rocky grotto on a beach twenty-five minutes west of town, Le Mirage has views such as this, from room 32, where guests are lulled to sleep by waves crashing on the long, wide shore; Morocco’s beaches are famously vast, and Le Mirage’s is a case in point.

Many examples of Tangier’s largest industry—textiles—decorate the interiors of the Hôtel Continental, and designers from Europe and the United States often find inspiration (and great buys) in the rug and fabric shops around the rue de la Liberté.

Downtown Tangier’s most stylish hotel, the Nord Pinus is built into an eighteenth-century pasha’s palace; the exteriors are predictably grand, and the interiors balance old Moroccan styles—carved chests, chandeliers—with contemporary furnishings.