Raffles The Palm Dubai is opening doors next month

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands offers the ultimate entry in to Spring, with a week-long celebration to lift winter spirits and revel in unadulterated luxury. From 16 – 22 February, a multigenerational series of experiences at the Indian Ocean haven will explore taste, adventure, wellness and discovery, while plugging guests firmly in to nature. Whether awakening the senses on a gourmet trail, engaging new skills on land and ocean-deep, or re-balancing the mind and body, the ‘Spirit of Spring’ ensures a blissful transition from a season of Wintering.  Photo credits: The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands For families and friend groups, The Ritz-Carlton Estate will be the residence of choice to welcome in Spring. A design-masterpiece three-villa four-bedroom oasis by legendary architects Kerry Hill Studio, offers a private beach residence nestled within its own peninsula for up to 12 guests to enjoy. Imagined with celebration in mind, including a 19-metre infinity pool, outdoor entertainment pavilion, private chef, fire pit and direct beach access, this is the perfect base to enjoy the season’s upcoming programme, complemented by the exceptional service of the resort’s Aris Meeha butlers. Couples and smaller families will enjoy a sumptuous choice of the resort’s one or two-bedroom ocean and beach villas. Comforted by endless vistas of hypnotic ocean-blue, Spring experiences for body and mind will heal, nourish and revitalise. Sunrise yoga at the resort’s Mystique Garden will start the days right, Vinyasa flow will energise, while face yoga and gua sha massage masterclasses will add helpful tricks to guest’s wellness arsenal. ‘Boxing Burn’ and Tabata workouts on the beach will jump start Spring energy, and for those looking to hone their skills in the run up to tennis season, professional workshops on the resort’s state-of-the art court will ace it. At the iconic The Ritz-Carlton Spa – halo of happiness – guests will enjoy holistic treatments by Bamford and a Spring holiday 60-minute ‘Harmony Touch’ healing massage experience. Closing tranquil Maldivian days, sunset meditations on the recreation beach are not to be missed. On and beyond the resort’s culinary island, unforgettable gourmet indulgence is high on the Spring agenda. A chef’s table omakase dinner at IWAU honours innovative Japanese cuisine under the stars, while aromatic middle eastern flavours of the resort’s Arabesque restaurant are presented in the holiday’s Arabian family sharing dinner. The popular Beach Shack will mark the spot for both a Spring beach barbeque of smoky regional flavours and a twilight indulgent lobster feast. In the Ambassadors of the Environment program, by world-renowned oceanographic explorer and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau, education and exploration starts with its youngest guests. This Spring, workshops will investigate the vital role of every form of ocean life in our underwater ecosystems. Fun marine life sponge painting will engage tots, and young adventurers aged 12-16 will enjoy snorkelling the house reefs and oceanic GoPro expeditions. Junior guests are promised a spring in their step with a jamboree of activities at Ritz Kids, from treasure hunts, movies under the stars, cooking and crafting, to designing their dream surfboards. For the grown-ups, diving in to a life aquatic starts with discovery of the reefs and marine life surrounding the Fari Islands. Guided by the resort’s Dive Butlers, the holidays will offer mind-expanding shark snorkelling and an awe-inspiring twilight adventure in to the vibrant sub aqua world at dusk. The whole family will enjoy the coral regeneration programme with a chance to nurture the reef’s thriving coral nurseries.  As the days emerge mindfully, the resort’s Defining Moment serenades the sun as it sets each day. A tribute to the cycle of nature, the signature ritual hosted at the iconic Eau Bar channels hypnotic beats of Boduberu drumming and blowing of the Sangu shell. To be enjoyed with a sundown cocktail in hand!  For more information, visit ritzcarlton.com/Maldivesand for real-time updates follow the resort on Instagram and Facebook

Special offer includes a 2-night stay at Azerai La Residence, Hue or Azerai Ke Ga Bay  

Dusit Thani Kyoto, a luxury urban oasis operated by Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has built on its recent One Michelin Key recognition by earning a 2025 Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Award—further cementing its reputation as one of Kyoto’s most exceptional hotels. Photo credits: Dusit Thani Kyoto Founded in the United States in 1958, Forbes Travel Guide (formerly known as Mobil Travel Guide) is a globally respected authority in luxury hospitality, renowned for pioneering the five-star rating system in 1960. Its anonymous inspectors evaluate hotels based on more than 900 objective standards, ensuring a trusted benchmark of excellence in the travel industry.  The Four-Star rating is awarded to properties that demonstrate exceptional service and outstanding facilities. Dusit Thani Kyoto earned this distinction through rigorous, undercover assessments by Forbes Travel Guide’s inspectors, who experienced the hotel just as a typical guest would—paying their own way to ensure impartiality. Opened in September 2023, Dusit Thani Kyoto is set in the peaceful Hongwanji Monzen-machi district, just 850 metres from the city’s bustling Kyoto Station. Operating under Dusit’s luxury Dusit Thani brand, the hotel seamlessly blends Thai-inspired gracious hospitality with Japan’s deep-rooted culture of omotenashi (wholeheartedly looking after guests) and features 147 meticulously designed guest rooms that balance timeless elegance with contemporary comfort.  The hotel also serves as a hub of gourmet dining experiences. Guests can embark on an interactive omakase journey at Kōyō, which showcases Kyoto’s 24 micro-seasons through the finest ingredients. Den Kyoto elevates mixology with handcrafted cocktails infused with Thai herbs, while Ayatana, the hotel’s signature Thai fine-dining restaurant, delivers an exquisite celebration of Thai flavours and culinary artistry. Committed to sustainability, Ayatana sources premium seasonal ingredients from the Kansai region, including fresh herbs and vegetables from Ohara Farm and organic tea leaves from its own tea farm in Wazuka. Alongside versatile event spaces that accommodate up to 240 guests, the hotel also boasts a signature Devarana Wellness centre, where expert therapists blend ancient Thai massage therapies with traditional Japanese healing rituals, ensuring a truly restorative experience. “Receiving Forbes Travel Guide’s distinguished Four-Star Award just over a year after our opening is a remarkable achievement and a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence, heartfelt service, and creating truly memorable experiences for our guests,” said Makoto Yamashita, Cluster General Manager, Dusit Thani Kyoto and ASAI Kyoto Shijo. “Inspired by this accolade and our One Michelin Key status, we remain committed to raising the bar, delivering exceptional service, and ensuring our hotel continues to be a place of warmth, elegance, and meaningful connections for all who visit.” For more information about the hotel, please visit Dusit Thani Kyoto.