When you travel with 360, no demand is too unrealistic. Whether you want to escape into a private world amongst the vivid colours of Mauritius or Saint Lucia, or reset amongst the quiet of a barely touched Thai island, your 360 Travel Designer will create a journey around exactly what you desire.
Six Extraordinary Winter Sun Destinations
Winter so often brings a seemingly endless grey cold. And while roaring fires and mulled wines may do a little to keep the seasonal melancholy at bay… there comes a time when escape to a sunnier climate is not only necessary, it’s inevitable.
With that in mind, we’ve collated six of what we think are the best winter sun destinations to replace the repetition of a dreary winter. Think underwater dining in the Maldives and hornbills above your pool in Thailand, the sandy beaches of Barbados’ Platinum Coast, and the lush green jungles of southern Vietnam.
The East Coast of Mauritius and A Private Island
At Shangri-La Le Touessrok, Mauritius
The east coast of Mauritius is wilder than the more frequented north and west coasts, with trade winds and crystal-clear Indian Ocean waters creating ideal sailing conditions in December, while long white-sand beaches backed by mangrove forests stretch along the coast. Around Trou d’Eau Douce, fishing boats sail out from the village harbour, while offshore lagoons and islands such as Île aux Cerfs invite languorous days on the water.
The Shangri-La Le Touessrok Experience
Shangri-La Le Touessrok’s setting on the quiet shores of Trou d’Eau Douce makes a compelling base for a winter escape. But the truly persuasive argument for booking Shangri-La Le Touessrok comes from Ilot Mangénie, a private white-sand island dotted with thatched parasols reserved exclusively for hotel guests. Spend the day in a butler-served beach cabana, pause for fresh seafood and a rum cocktail when the mood strikes, then return to the resort for dinner under the stars.
As for the rooms, we suggest taking full advantage of the location with the Hibiscus Signature Beachfront Suite for its direct beach access, or one of the villas, tucked away on a secluded beach, for guests who desire a little more privacy.
Classic Barefoot Luxe
at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
The Maldives is essentially a scattering of coral islands, lagoons and reefs spread across the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean — a perfect setting for some of the world’s most luxurious resorts. And here in the South Ari Atoll, the coral-rich waters reveal one of the Maldives’ great marine environments, home to whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, parrotfish and manta rays, while above them, a white-sand beach curves into an impossibly clear lagoon. It is the archetypal Maldivian experience.
The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Experience
Arrive via seaplane and you’ll have a splendid first view of the evocative thatched roofs of Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, which occupies two naturally formed islands in the South Ari Atoll, with villas dotted along white-sand beaches and atop the lagoon. This barefoot setting lends itself perfectly to escape: stepping straight from a villa into the sea, descending five metres beneath the surface into Ithaa, the world’s first underwater restaurant, or spending an afternoon hand-in-hand with a loved one walking a palm-shaded beach.
To lean into the underwater theme here, consider booking The Muraka, a two-level residence with a bedroom submerged beneath the sea, or for something more traditional, opt for an overwater villa with a view-laden pool and direct water access.
Retreat into Unspoiled Nature
At Amanoi, Vietnam
The crystal-clear waters of Vinh Hy Bay are backed by the stunning Nui Chua National Park — a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of coastal forests, coral-rich seas and semi-deserts. This is a hugely underexplored side of Vietnam, with rare wildlife including black-shanked douc langur and chevrotain on land, and green sea turtles and more than 350 coral varieties in the water. Amanoi sits amongst this sublime wilderness, combining access to nature with Aman’s impeccable resort facilities and world-class wellness options
The Amanoi Experience
With freestanding villas and dense jungle topography, Amanoi feels like a remote coastal village. Its villas are a contemporary vision of traditional Vietnamese village architecture meticulously integrated with ultra-luxury minimalism: dark woods and sumptuous fabrics. Pools are inky and generously proportioned, with in-water views of the sea, perfect for watching the fishing boats and their distinctive green lights as they leave to catch squid in the evenings. Destination dining is a speciality at Amanoi, a highlight being a private lunch for two on a beach hidden beyond a woodland trail and a starlit dinner on the main beach.
The Amanoi spa, with a lake coloured by lotus flowers and a yoga pavilion floating above the water, evokes the serenity of the Vietnamese countryside. And for guests looking for a dedicated wellness holiday, the two Wellness Pool Villas, with extensive private spa facilities, are truly extraordinary.
An Island Detox Between Phuket and Krabi
At Six Senses Yao Noi
Koh Yao Noi feels entirely removed from its neighbours in Thailand’s karst-punctuated Phang Nga Bay. Instead of the usual beach parties, Koh Yao Noi is home to traditional fishing villages, rubber plantations, and white-sand beaches with incredible island views, all barely touched by tourism. Wildlife is a major draw, with butterflies in kaleidoscopic colours dancing between trees within the resort, Asian Water Monitors slipping into lush mangroves, and charming hornbills that thrive across the island.
The Six Senses Yao Noi Experience
360’s Travel Designers suggest taking one of the hilltop Ocean Deluxe Pool Villas with views out over the ocean. The villas have elevated viewing platforms with panoramas of Phang Nga Bay, which can double as a dining area should you wish. Descend the stairs, and you’ll find your private pool waiting, as well as a generous deck and the main villa behind it, finished in heavy dark woods, a deep bathtub, and an outdoor shower hidden under the treeline. Rest on the sunloungers, and you’ll almost certainly see a flash of white, black and yellow as a hornbill swoops down to perch amongst the vegetation.
A Caribbean Classic
At Sandy Lane, Barbados
Calm Caribbean water, almost impossibly blue, lapping the soft sands of the Platinum Coast, provides an intensely beautiful setting for Barbados’ Sandy Lane. Nearby, a string of old sugar estates, coral-stone churches and grand houses runs inland while Holetown is a lively pocket of restaurants, boutiques and bars.
The Sandy Lane Experience
Sandy Lane has been part of this stretch of St James since 1961, occupying an ancient mahogany grove with a 1,000-foot crescent of coral sand, designed in a classical Neo-Palladian style. Something of a local institution, the resort is home to three golf courses, including Tom Fazio’s Green Monkey carved out of an old limestone quarry, along with a 47,000-square-foot spa and five restaurants, with Bajan cooking at Bajan Blue and an impressive wine cellar of more than 12,000 bottles.
As for the rooms, the two-bedroom Luxury Dolphin Suites with sea-facing terraces and Luxury Orchid Suites, with private verandas overlooking the gardens, provide plenty of space, but for large groups or families, The Villa at Sandy Lane has five en-suite bedrooms, a private pool and a private butler and chef.
The Pitons for Families and Hikers
At Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, Saint Lucia
There are few Caribbean landscapes as dramatic as St Lucia and its iconic volcanic spires, the Pitons. And Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort sits directly beneath the spires, with perfect views of the mossy slopes and subtropical wet forests, towering over the landscape. The resort’s beach is calm, with soft white sands and sublime turquoise waters occasionally punctuated by the sail of a yacht, and the Pitons are within easy reach for hikers, with the slopes of Petit Piton directly bordering the resort.
The Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, Saint Lucia Experience
Accommodation at Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort ranges from sugar mill rooms and beachfront bungalows to multi-bedroom villas and residences, including the nine-bedroom Spice of Life Residence, ideal for discreet multi-generational family trips, with dedicated staff and an immersive and thoughtful design that brings the best of the resort into the privacy of the residence: Piton views, large dining room overlooking the sea, and a chic infinity pool.
For families, we can arrange excursions to the Diamond Falls Botanical Garden and the Tet Paul Nature Trail. Dining options are superb, with the Bonte Restaurant serving Caribbean delicacies in the evening, along with a beach BBQ at the Jalousie Grill every week. The Rainforest Spa is one of the Caribbean’s finest, with treatment rooms tucked into the rainforest beneath Petit Piton, as well as a traditional Temazcal steam dome.
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