The August Hideaway Report follows Andrew Harper's two-week journey through the northwest of Spain, from Vigo on the coast of Galicia to the great cathedral cities of Santiago de Compostela, Burgos and León, as well as the Rioja wine country. Mr. Harper also discovers new, imaginative properties in the Caribbean.
Santiago de Compostela, Spain
A Quinta da Auga is an intimate family-owned hotel set in an 18th-century former paper mill on the River Sar, three miles west of downtown Santiago de Compostela. Stylish common areas furnished with framed family photographs and an interesting collection of 19th-century oil paintings are welcoming and comfortable. Fine Filigrana Restaurant, overseen by chef Federico López Arcay, serves traditional Galician dishes. A Quinta da Auga's verdant two-and-a-half-acre estate includes a swimming pool and spa offering a range of facilities for hydrotherapy treatments, including a Dead Sea “flotarium.”
La Rioja, Spain
The contemporary 33-room Hotel Viura created by architect-owners Joseba and Xabier Aramburu features an avant-garde design of modern, superimposed concrete cubes clumped in fanciful disarray. Its superb restaurant serves Riojan and Basque cuisine. Other amenities at Hotel Viura include an atmospheric wine bar, small spa, complimentary bicycles and access to the fitness center and adjacent swimming pool.
Ribera del Duero, Spain
Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine, a magnificent 1,730-acre property down the road from the famous Vega Sicilia vineyard, reopened in 2012 after a multimillion-dollar renovation. Two restaurant options include a casual wine-oriented bistro and the Michelin-starred Refectorio for elaborate tasting menus. It also offers an outdoor swimming pool, horseback riding, golf and a 10,000-square-foot spa specializing in vinotherapy treatments.
Baiona, Spain
The historic Parador de Baiona hotel, contained within the crenellated medieval walls of the Castelo de Monterreal, is in a spectacular setting in the southern Rías Baixas region with magnificent sea views. The fine restaurant specializes in seafood sourced from the region and offers outdoor seating in summer. Other amenities include a large outdoor pool and Jacuzzi.
##Belle Mont Farm Kittitian Hill, St. Kitts
Unique Belle Mont Farm is a boutique eco-resort on Kittitian Hill surrounded by 400 acres of tropical forest and organic farmland. The 84 one-bedroom Guesthouses feature high ceilings, spacious terraces with daybeds, private pools and baths with rainfall showers and freestanding tubs. The main restaurant, The Kitchen, primarily sources its ingredients from the on-site organic gardens. There are also two seasonal dining options and the atmospheric Mill Bar for cocktails.
This hotel previously debuted in the June 2016 Harper Collection update.
Ottley's Village, St. Kitts
Ottley’s Plantation Inn is a tranquil family-owned hotel with 23 lodgings in a dramatic 18th-century yellow plantation house with broad verandas that overlook the 35-acre estate. The bar and romantic Royal Palm restaurant are located in former sugar factory. Other amenities include a 65-foot spring-fed swimming pool, illuminated tennis court and full spa; daily shuttle service is provided to nearby white-sand beaches. Ottley’s is not a luxury resort but rather a serene hideaway.
Dominican Republic
Amanera, the 29th Aman resort, is set atop a cliff in a remote part of the Dominican Republic, in keeping with the company’s long-established preference for pristine, out-of-the-way locations. The chosen site is a superb tract of land that encompasses 2,170 acres of untouched rain forest bordering Playa Grande, one of the most spectacular beaches in the Caribbean. Twenty-four minimalist casitas feature glass walls with unobstructed ocean views, high ceilings and large shaded terraces; many include private swimming pools.
This hotel previously debuted in the June 2016 Harper Collection update.
Andrew Harper members have access to full travel-planning services through Andrew Harper Travel.
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