Cool places

Amazing place to meditate

Exploring the Angkor Wat temples in Cambodia is nothing but a humbling experience. The magestic ruins, dating back to the 12th century, are proof of how even the biggest empires can fall.

Thousands of tourists visit the UNESCO World Heritage site every year but, despite the crowds, there are still many parts of the ruins that spread over 500 acres where you can be alone and meditate.

Take a flight to Phnom Penh and transfer to Siem Reap by bus or taxi. Most hotels provide temple tour packages. I loved staying at The Shining Angkor.

A rustic yet very chic place for tapas and wine in Penang

Early 20th century shophouses on Stewart Lane, in Georgetown, Penang, have been restored into a gorgeous cafe, guest house and art gallery.

There's no doubt about it, you'll feel like James Bond sipping on martinis watching the world go by from Coffee Atelier, which is located in the central part of the UNESCO World Heritage site.

French country style retreat in a beautiful wine region

If the sights of Carcassonne leave you wanting a taste of traditional accommodation, Chateau de Siran, which lies among the vineyards of the regional park of Haut Languedoc, is a 16th century country house with oodles of elegance.

It has vaulted walls, high ceilings and a remarkable renaissance sandstone staircase.

The rooms are light and airy with frescoes in Tuscan style paintings as well as mod cons. The hotel also holds wine workshops that take guests through the best wines of the region.

To book visit Chateau De Siran x

An outdoor gym overlooking the countryside

Could this be the coolest lifestyle centre ever?

Pedalling away on the exercise bikes while gazing at the view of the French countryside certainly beat going my local gym!

Le Mas Candille is a  five star French estate that spreads across 4.5 hectares in the hills of Mougins.

It offers the kind of privacy that is much sought after by the rich and famous - Penelope Cruz and Kirsten Dunst have stayed here.

 

 

 The Black Eye Peas have dined here. Expect rich French delicacies. This is a place to indulge.

Michelin starred executive chef Serge Gouloumes is at the helm.

I enjoyed a menu of foie gras tatin with Armagnac followed by wild sea bass served with fried rice and a vinaigrette of ginger and seaweed and a yuzu foam.

Monsieur Gouloumes is an artist in his kitchen, marrying delicate flavours, building textures and sculpting dishes that are masterpieces in their own right.

It's well worth booking on a culinary course with him. It starts with a visit to the famous Forville Market in Cannes to buy local produce and then you head to his kitchen to learn how to prepare his recipes.

This hotel is a place where the stars go to get away from the craziness of the Cannes film Festival or the Monaco Grand Prix both held in May, and the staff are very discreet. 

It feels like you are smack bang in the middle of the French countryside yet you are on the doorstep of the playground that is the French Riviera. Cannes is only 15 minutes away, Monaco is 45 minutes and St Tropez is an hour, by car.

 

Visit Le Mas Candille  to make a booking x

The mirror tree room for your garden

I can't get over how fantastic this is!

Treehotel has launched Mirrorcube – for sale now.

Treehotel was founded in 2010 and offers a completely unique hotel experience by treerooms with contemporary design in the middle of unspoiled nature. Five exclusive treerooms, designed by a selection of Scandinavia’s foremost architects have been mounted in the tall pines of Harads with a breathtaking view of the Lule river valley. Treehotel has attracted visitors from all over the world. Guests are approximately 70% international with the most part from Great Britain and other parts of Europe. Book at http://www.treehotel.se/

But now...  The flagship treeroom from Treehotel, Harads has become available for sale because its makers are responding to the demand from collectors, enthusiasts and investors from around the world.

The country break in the centre of the capital's business district

Horse riding, antiquing and boat trips are not exactly the first things that spring to mind as things to do in the London Docklands area.

The area can be pretty manic. Thousands of business people march along making urgent calls made into smartphones and tube announcements to get on the train, get off the train and mind the gap, constantly ring in your ears.

The fact is, The Dockalnds is also a major tourist destination where it is possible to mimic a country break and relax.

Just four stops away  from Canary Wharf on the DLR is Mudchute, which is home to Mudchute Farm. Here the only sound to break the peace was a cock crowing. At 32-acres, Mudchute is the largest of the capital's 15 city farms and offers riding lessons in its arena and surrounding countryside.

A half hour horseback tour of the land, which is home to llamas, Gloucester Old Spot pigs, cows, goats and other farm animals, is an ideal way to begin a country break.

Lessons are in the mornings and evenings and costs £25 per  adult for an hour's group session. Booking in advance is essential because they are popular.

Yes it's true you can buy vintage anywhere in London and easily picnic in the Royal Parks, but Greenwich village, a waterside escape with Georgian buildings, is wonderfully twee. There are loads of designers, riverside cafes and a chilled out vibe.

Greenwich Market has about 100 designer makers selling original clothes, art, accessories and gifts.

The weekend Clock Tower Market specialises in all things vintage. You can even get arty yourself painting plates at Biscuit Ceramic Cafe, on Nelson Road.

Take a peek in National Maritime Museum, walk up to Royal Observatory and have ice cream in the park.

Stay at:

The Radisson Edwardian New Providence Wharf is ideal for a massage and dinner.

The 169-room tower luxury hotel in the usual wharf architectural style has a sleek interior and no chintz in sight.

It is an ideal place to stay because it has mod cons – Bang & Olufsen stereos, entertainment systems, bathroom television and Wifi.

It's East River Spa has five treatment rooms, steam, sauna, rain showers and ice, all top quality with intense heat with twinkly lights.

The Thai-style relaxation room has heated loungers where you can sip chamomile and gaze at the panoramic view of the O2.

Plenty to do:

There's continental cafe culture at St Katherine's Dock marina, water sports and speed boat rides on the river, theatre, shows and stars at The O2 arena and green spaces for sunbathing.

Plus:

A £40 million project to install cycle docking stations in the Docklands had been given the green light. By 2012, hiring a bike will be as easy as swiping a debit card in the nearest cycle docking station, which of course you will be able to pinpoint by an app on your smartphones.

 

Get in touch

www.radissonedwardian.co.uk

www.mudcute.org

 

Bath overlooking The Thames

The deluxe rooms at The Radisson Edwardian New Providence Wharf Hotel, in London, overlook the O2 and River Thames.

Relax in the bath with a glass of champagne and take in the views, which are romantic at night.

Spa with a view of the O2

The nighttime view of London's O2, from the relaxation room of the East River Spa in the Radisson Edwardian New Providence Wharf Hotel, is breathtaking.

Lounge on heated beds while sipping herbal tea and take in the panoramic view of the Thames and O2. At night the dome's antennas and illuminated advertising displays reflect on the inky black waters to create a mesmerising sight.

 

Mountain springs in the French Pyrenees

The Midi-Pyrenees is the fourth region in France for balneology. The mountains, which separate France and Spain, have an abundance of sulphur rich springs dotted over them. The springs attract many visitors in the summer time and are well known for their healing properties. Like I mentioned, they are sulphur so you have to get used to the slight egg odour but that didn’t stop me loving it.

I noticed candle wax on the rocks -  obviously someone had a romantic evening here.

How to get there

Fly into Toulouse:

From London Heathrow Airport with bmi baby, British Airways

From London Gatwick with Easyjet.

From Leeds, Newscastle, Edinburgh and Belfast with Jet2

Driving from Toulouse to Ariège

From the airport or outskirts of the city, follow signs for TOULOUSE until you see signs for FOIX-TARBES or TARBES-LOURDES. (Because the first Foix-Tarbes sign you see is placed immediately after a turn-off you may think you've just gone past the exit. Ignore the minor surge of panic and carry on.) From centre city, head south toward TOUTES DIRECTIONS until you see signs for FOIX-TARBES. Follow FOIX to go to Pamiers, Foix, Tarascon, Ax via the N20.

The A66 motorway, completed in 2002, has shortened the journey from Toulouse to Pamiers and Foix. Take the A61 toward Narbonne. The A66 is the first exit after toll (péage), direction Andorre and rejoins the N20 at Pamiers. The toll for the A66 is 3.90 euros.

Follow TARBES to go to St Girons via the motorway (A64). Take exit 20 onto the N117 which will lead you straight there

It’s easy to find these wonderful little spots in Ariege. There are cable cars, roads, cycling routes and walking paths up into the mountains, which dominate the landscape.

Find more info at France Guide