BY THE SEA
Being by the sea has a natural calming effect on people. Hotels that are in proximity to water – be it the ocean, a lake or a river – are places to relax and calm down, to enjoy the closeness to water. Some hotels might be larger, a place to disappear, others smaller, almost like staying in someone’s home, but they are all excellent places to retreat from the world.
DEXAMENES SEASIDE HOTEL / KOUROUTA / GREECE
If Dexamenes Seaside Hotel didn’t exist, someone would have to invent it. Its clever transformation of old wine tanks on the Peloponnese beach into a minimalist, sustainable hotel.
PARCO DEI PRINCIPI / SORRENTO / ITALY
Perched on top of the steep cliffs just north of Sorrento, the hotel offers a spectacular view of the town, often referred to as “the gateway to the Amalfi coast”. Below the cliffs, the hotel has a private beach with a generous solarium.
VILLA FIORDALISO / LAKE GARDA / ITALY
Formerly a private villa, it has its place in history, as during the Italian Social Republic this was the home of Clara Petacci, Benito Mussolini’s mistress. Many come here not for the hotel but for the restaurant, run by chef Dino Colantuno, with one star in the Guide Michelin.
HÔTEL LA PONCHE / SAINT-TROPEZ / FRANCE
There is one hotel that more than any other is imbedded in French cinematic history: the mythical Hôtel La Ponche in Saint-Tropez. Housed in a cluster of charming 17th century houses, almost right on the Saint-Tropez beach, it is at the same time luxurious and informal.