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This is a feature from Issue 18 of Charitable Traveller. Click to read more from this issue.
Formentera is known as the Balearic Riviera. Seen as one of the last spots of remote paradise in the Mediterranean, on this beautiful and protected island sits the Gecko Hotel & Beach Club, created for like-minded individuals to unwind, connect with themselves and nature, and above all celebrate life. As well as impeccably taking care of their guests, the owners care for the island, working with local suppliers to reduce gas emissions, creating jobs and supporting the Save Posidonia Project, which raises funds for the conservation and regeneration of the sea beds that provide the Med with its beautiful turquoise colour. For each contribution made by their guests, they double it.
Set on a 12-hectare private estate, Pure House Ibiza is a small slice of island paradise, created harmoniously with its natural surrounds. The daily soundtrack is the sweet sounds of tree tops rustling and birds singing and yet the buzz of Ibiza town, the vibrancy of the island’s most beautiful beaches and the fun of the most-loved cosmopolitan beach clubs is just a few kilometres away. Awarded Agroturismo status in 2015 thanks to its fragrant orange groves, functional olive trees and bountiful apricot, mango and fig trees, the Pure House’s land is attentively farmed and all the fruit and vegetables that arrive on your plate are organic.
Created in a 16th century palace in the historic centre of Ciutadella (Menorca’s other port city), Faustino Gran offers more than simply a grandiose hotel. Hidden gardens bloom behind its high white-washed walls, but guests also have access to two other historic mansions, a rural country club and a trio of boats to explore the coast. The highlight is Casa de Pau in the middle of a Biosphere Reserve, from where ingredients for a healthy and delicious vegetarian meal are presented on your plate within minutes of leaving the ground.
Built with the gracious old bones of a 19th century finca set on 30 hectares of land, Menorca Experimental is designed in the spirit of an artist’s holiday cottage and carefully blends into the natural beauty of its surroundings. Guests staying in its nine private villas or hotel bedrooms are encouraged to support local businesses, with a range of family-friendly activities on offer, including cooking paella, learning to be a horse trainer, and going on an archaeological adventure.
Beautifully converted from a traditional Menorcan finca into a luxury boutique hotel, Torralbenc Menorca stands on a small hill, close to the village of Alaior on the south coast and surrounded by farmland and vineyards. From its cluster of white-washed farm buildings there are views across to the Med, and this tranquil, rural retreat has retained its heritage charm with guest rooms furnished with local materials. The rustic restaurant, transformed from a former storeroom for grapes and wine barrels, has a menu of locally sourced ingredients and during warm summer evenings dinner can be enjoyed al fresco under the pergola on the terrace, or in the delightful garden.
At Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay they don’t take for granted the privilege of calling this beautiful island their home. They’re building a sustainable and inclusive culture, fully integrated with the local community with fulfilling jobs where people feel appreciated. Rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and open terraces so guests wake to the scent of wild jasmine and fall asleep to the sound of the waves. With a whole range of activities that can be arranged from e-bikes to hiking, sunrise kayak tours to tapas walking tours of the Old Town, there is plenty to immerse you in the beauty and culture of Ibiza.
Alongside the sea and just a few steps away from Santo Tomás Beach, Villa Le Blanc by Gran Meliá is a highly energy efficient and environmentally responsible hotel (the brand’s first carbon neutral hotel). Near all the top cultural attractions and coves with crystal-clear waters, the hotel reflects the traditions of local architecture – abundant natural light floods its spaces through large arches and the white stone construction allows it to blend perfectly with its natural environment.
At this adults-only hotel every guest room is a suite with sea views. Located in a peaceful area of Santa Ponsa Bay on the Mediterranean shore, the ambiance affords a relaxing and romantic stay as you gaze over the Costa de la Calma from your terrace and enjoy bay views over dinner. All the restaurant food is sourced locally, and Iberostar supports responsible fishing as well as other sustainable initiatives. Guests can also enjoy cooking workshops, hiking along the coast with expert local guides, and bike tours with Philipps Bike Team, Mallorca’s premium bike rental company.
Recognised as the most environmentally friendly boutique hotel in Ibiza, Aguas de Ibiza is a smart building with automated systems for saving water and energy, and advocates working with suppliers that share its eco-luxury philosophy. Designed under Feng Shui principles, the interiors feature natural elements and its restaurants combine a mix of classic Mediterranean ingredients with avant-garde cuisine.
It’s taken over 20 years to get the planning permissions to meticulously restore and convert this stunning 16th century historic finca on the 1,300-acre Son Bunyola estate into a small luxury boutique hotel and it now joins the three existing beautiful villas within the grounds. Set in Mallorca’s Tramuntana mountains, each of the 26 beautifully designed rooms and suites have their own unique character, charm, and soaring views. Much of the produce served in the two restaurants is grown in the estate’s gardens and orchards, and there is an abundance of activities to enjoy from hiking, cycling and sailing to art and photography classes, and even a perfume workshop to create your own scent to remind you of your stay for years to come.
Click here to visit our World of Luxury, or call Lizzi, our Luxury Travel Concierge, on 020 3092 2558
This is a feature from Issue 18 of Charitable Traveller.
Fundraising Futures Community Interest Company, Contingent Works, Broadway Buildings,
Elmfield Road, Bromley, Kent,
BR1 1LW. England
Putting our profit to work supporting the work of charitable causes
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