A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER
Our collection of iconic hotels and travel adventures promises excitement and enrichment year-round. Discover our selection of recommendations.
RESERVATIONS
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May
Spring is in the air at Hotel Ritz, Madrid. Reserve your table in the hotel's gorgeous gardens, open for lunch, afternoon tea and romantic, al fresco dinners.
Stay at Hotel Splendido and head to the harbour in Portofino, Italy, for fishing trips and other nautical fun.
Guests of Hotel das Cataratas are privileged to experience the natural wonder of Iguassu Falls in the evening calm when the park is closed to other visitors. Expect clearer skies than at other times of year: perfect for viewing the lunar rainbow, visible on full moon nights.
June
1st June - A high point of the international art calendar; stay at Hotel Cipriani when the Venice Biennale engulfs the city in everything from eye-boggling installations to thought-provoking interactive events.
14th June - Ships ahoy at The Inn at Perry Cabin. More than 100 boats sail in to St Michaels, USA, for the great Annual Antique and Classic Boat Festival. Learn how to build a boat, go crabbing and cruise the bay.
24th June - Join in the fun with Hotel Monasterio and Palacio Nazarenas at Cuzco, Peru. Parades of colourful dancers and musicians celebrate Inti Raymi, the ancient Inca sun festival. Continue to Lima's Miraflores Park Hotel - for the Corpus Christi processions a few days later .
July
Now's the time to explore the Sacred Valley from Hotel Rio Sagrado and view ancient sites including Inca ruins, the salt pans of Maras and circular terraces of Moray.
Launching in July 2013 - Join our new river cruiser, Orcaella, to discover Myanmar's remoter regions. Be among the first to glide from Bagan and Mandalay to distant border towns such as Bhamo and along the Chindwin River.
Board the Hirondelle luxury barge for a Family Adventure: cruise through tunnels, explore a spectacular zoo and go tree climbing. Parents, meanwhile, can enjoy the great cuisine and wine en route.
August
Musical magic at Hotel Caruso. The Ravello Festival sees this Amalfi coast hill town in Italy filled with music, theatre and art events. Performances include the famous Dawn Concert in the Villa Rufolo gardens.
3rd & 17th August - Great weekend rail excursions are boarding now. These two-night luxury adventures on the Northern Belle feature destinations including York, Edinburgh, St Andrews and the Lake District.
14th & 28th August - Board the Road To Mandalay for a thrilling 11-night cruise on the Ayeyarwady River to Bhamo near the Chinese border. Pass through gorges, visit remote villages and join in local activities. Add on a stay at The Governor's Residence in Yangon.
September
The perfect season for outdoor concerts in the Greek Theatre in Taormina, Sicily, swimming in the warm Mediterranean and exploring the countryside around Grand Hotel Timeo and Villa Sant'Andrea.
The Madeira Wine Festival swings into action: stay at Reid's Palace and join in parades, folklore, grape treading and copious sampling of the wines.
Every Friday evening, al fresco Music in the Air concerts bring melodies to the Villa San Michele's Italian Gardens - the ideal accompaniment to a romantic dinner of harvest produce from the Chianti hills.
October
3rd, 4th & 5th October - Le Festival at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire, England, sees performances by international musicians blend with exceptional cuisine by Chef Patron Raymond Blanc.
Enjoy exceptional game viewing in Botswana throughout this month, with predators on the prowl, the annual catfish frenzy and the heronry aflutter with birds busy building nests.
The crowds have left and now's the perfect time to explore the Basque region and the Pyrenees from Hôtel du Palais in Biarritz, France. Discover country villages and nearby San Sebastian in Spain.
November
Spring arrives in Cape Town bringing swathes of flowers, both in the gardens at Mount Nelson Hotel and in the surrounding countryside. It's also a month of many festivals, celebrating everything from kites to sparkling wines.
16th November - The Water Festival marks the moment when the Tonle Sap River reverses its flow at the end of the monsoon rains. Cue fireworks, boat races and other events near La Résidence d'Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia.
27th November - Loy Krathong is a festival of pure magic and delight on Koh Samui, Thailand. Stay at Napasai and join the local people beneath the full moon as they float tiny candles on water to create a glimmering carpet of light.
December
Oh come, all ye faithful. On selected evenings throughout the month seasonal music by the Salvation Army band accompanies a special menu of Christmas classic dishes at '21', New York, USA.
25th December - Tequila punch on the beach? Celebrate Christmas down Mexico way with festivities and gala dining against a backdrop of sun and sand at Maroma Resort and Spa.
31st December - Ring in 2014 in unforgettable style with non-stop gala festivities as the Eastern & Oriental Express train travels through breathtaking Asian countryside.
January
Experience the Russia of Dr Zhivago; enjoy fabulous snowscapes and savour borsch and vodka in Grand Hotel Europe's glamorous Lobby Bar.
Join in the festivals that take place almost daily somewhere on Bali. This month sees the annual ceremony of Jimbaran Puri Bali's own temple. Access more events by booking a two-centre stay with Ubud Hanging Gardens at the island's heart.
Are you set to "shuck and slurp"? The Lowcountry Oyster Festival in South Carolina, USA, turns Boone Hall Plantation near Charleston Place into the world's largest oyster roast. Live music, folklore and more.
February
Feel the pulse of Rio rise as carnival approaches. Join all the fun at Copacabana Palace - the hotel that's "celebration central" - and view the samba school parades.
This beautiful time of year sees celebrations for Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, spill over into Laos. Stay at La Résidence Phou Vao, Luang Prabang and expect fireworks, feasting and fun.
14th February - Treat your loved one to a Valentine's Day stay at a hideaway such as La Residencia in Mallorca or aboard our glamorous British Pullman train. Flowers, champagne, fine dining - and limitless romance.
March
The celebrated Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train embarks on a new season of European journeys.
Spring is stirring at El Encanto, our beautiful resort in the hills at Santa Barbara, USA. Discover verdant gardens, ocean vistas, a spa and sensational cuisine.
Visit Hotel Monasterio in Cuzco and the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu as the rainy season is ending. Enjoy the lush, green surroundings with fewer visitors around. Travel to Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge aboard the Hiram Bingham train.
April
Spring flowers burst into bloom at La Residencia in Mallorca. For the week from Easter Monday up to "Angel Sunday" the island is in festive mood.
Let the good times roll at the St Martin carnival. Stay at La Samanna and prepare to party, with dancing, music making and parades.
The Royal Scotsman train's new season begins. Journeys lead from Edinburgh through the Highlands to some of Scotland's most dramatic sights.
The events described above may be subject to change at any time. We advise you to check with us, or the local organisers, before making a journey based on this information.
