The Mr & Mrs Smith Guide to a Truly Relaxing Getaway
Sometimes, it takes a little effort to switch off on holiday and silence that to-do list in your head. Mr & Mrs Smith have finessed the art of hitting a leisurely stride and, below, Co-founder Tamara Lohan shares her tips for recharging to 100% once your out of office is on, whether you want spoiling, a little seclusion or to go off-grid…
- Get far away from the madding crowd
One of the best reasons to take a holiday is to truly escape for a little while – from work, your 6am alarm, delays on the District Line… pack a suitcase and hit the lesser-trodden path to somewhere far removed from the daily grind. Say, the Troll Peninsula – it’s a real place, I promise – one of Iceland’s magical expanses of nature, where luxurious, turf-roofed eco-lodge, Deplar Farm, has a breathtaking mountain backdrop. This remote hideaway sits in 3,000 acres of world-class heli-skiing terrain, and has a list of high-octane pursuits: snowmobiling through the fjords, whale-watching, helicopter rides to out-of-the-way fly-fishing spots or skiing to a private lodge for après-piste drinks. The fire-warmed lounge has the prettiest panoramas, and hit the (heated) open-air pool after sundown to watch the stars and maybe even spy the Northern Lights.
- Wine, dine, recline…
I was very taken with the French approach to wellness at finely matured Bordeaux stay Les Sources des Caudalie. This vineyard-set spa hotel is a retreat where wine-sipping and enjoying the good life takes precedence over working out. Here, you don’t just drink the house wine… In the Vinothérapie spa, you can relax with a wine-infused wrap, bathe in vats of vin, be scrubbed with cabernet grapes, and have premier cru cream gently massaged onto your skin. And, alongside its world-class wine list, the restaurant holds two Michelin stars.
- Get away little and often
A one- or two-night minibreak can be as refreshing as a power nap; something that real-estate billionaire Geoffrey Chan understands well. He recently opened his own hotel, the glamorous Georgian residence Heckfield Place, set in 400 acres of Hampshire greenery, encompassing woods, lakes and farmland. Chan has hired design doyenne Ilse Crawford’s protégé Ben Thompson, who dressed the house in hand-woven mats, Irish linens and untreated timber. Chef Skye Gyngell (of Petersham Nurseries fame) helms the two restaurants and the petite bothy spa uses all-natural Wildsmith products. You’re sure to check out with a clearer head.
- Power down
Whether it’s constantly checking your phone or toggling back to your inbox tab, going off-grid doesn’t seem an option for daily life—but it is possible to hit the off switch. Go on a luxurious Internet-purge with Magic Camps, who drive you deep into Oman’s desert for a peaceful night spent under the stars. These glamorous tents aren’t just privy to scenic dunes, they’re decorated with Berber handicrafts and have super-soft beds, and for the utmost privacy, you call the shots about where they’re pitched. Attentive staff will prepare banquets of mezze and grilled meats, or arrange camel rides, dune buggies or trips to hidden oases. Best of all, watching the sun set into the sands and the sky light up with stars, you won’t miss WiFi, which is just as well, because there’s no service out here anyway…
