Where To Find Winter Sun In 2024

Where To Find Winter Sun In 2024

We share the places on our radar for a sun-drenched jaunt this winter — from an Indian adventure in Rajasthan to South Africa’s wine country and the sandy islands of the Caribbean.

/ By 84 Rooms Team

Rajasthan, India

This winter, we have our sights set on Rajasthan for an adventure that takes in the beauty of Jaipur as well as a pocket of its surrounding countryside that is firmly off the beaten track. Check in at The Johri in the Pink City to get your bearings in the most stylish way possible. Located in the jewelers’ bazaar in a 19th-century merchant’s haveli, its five suites are vast and elegantly dressed with antiques and custom-made textiles. As well as impeccable interiors, the food is fabulous too.

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After exploring the city, head an hour northeast to Anopura, a tiny, farm-led corner of paradise in the foothills of the Aravalli Mountains that is scented by lemon groves and frangipani. Stays here are all about personalization, whether that’s organizing experiences such as leopard safaris or block painting classes with local women; or creating menus (Ayurvedic or otherwise) tailored to each guest — powered by its own five-acre farm. This year, it will launch seven new suites, a shared infinity pool, and a yoga deck.

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Sri Lanka

After enduring a turbulent few seasons, Sri Lanka is more than ready to receive visitors with open arms. A trio of beautiful new hotels has sprung up in recent years near the surf spot of Ahangama on its wave-whipped southern coast Kurulu Bay is located on the shores of Koggala Lake, immersed in tranquility, with minimalist cottages, treehouses and garden rooms strewn across its private jungle estate.

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Nearby, atop an organic tea estate, is Tekanda Lodge, an intimate guesthouse with beautiful views that also hosts a range of retreats.

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And, finally, Trebartha East, a roundhouse built on a working cinnamon plantation, is one for architecture lovers who like mingling with fellow guests over an evening G&T.

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Cape Winelands, South Africa

Sun-drenched days, endless wineries, and farm-to-table restaurants make South Africa’s winelands a tempting option for some vitamin D — especially when you are in the mood for something more than a beach break. Fly into Cape Town, and from there, it is an easy drive to some of our favorite hotels. Your first stop should be Sterrekopje a biodiverse farm hotel that opened last year in the foothills of the Franschhoek mountains, and is exactly the right kind of luxurious. Designed to regenerate earth, body, and soul, you can opt to stay for one of its 2, 3, 5, or 7-night ‘journeys’.

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Next, make your way to Montagu and the Jonkmanshof country estate, where days are spent dipping in the pool, relaxing in the citrus garden and wine tasting at the Montagu vineyard.

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Eleuthera, Bahamas

For a low-key but super chic Bahamas experience, skip over Harbour Island in favor of its under-the-radar neighbor Eleuthera, which is just a seven-minute boat ride away. Stay at The Other Side, Ben Simmons’ solar-powered hideaway (and sister property to Ocean View on Harbour Island) where guests sleep in glamorous tented villas with just pristine white sands and swaying palms for company. There is a striking pool that juts out over the ocean, paddleboards to keep up with the turtles, and other gentle activities to pass your days, like yoga sessions. It is all about going slow here.

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Costa Careyes, Pacific Coast of Mexico

On a remote and raw stretch of virgin coast between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo lies Mexico’s most closely guarded secret: Costa Careyes. A private retreat for cool creatives and spiritualists, it was founded by an Italian artist and financier in the 1960s and remains one of Mexico’s most magical destinations. The place to stay is Cuixmala, a luxurious eco-resort and private estate set on 5 km of beach and surrounded by a 30,000-acre nature reserve. It is dominated by a domed fairytale-esque yellow castle, which has 40 rooms and panoramic views over the Pacific Ocean, while there are various villas and casitas peppered through the grounds. Pop to the hotel’s private beach, Caleta Blanca, for fish tacos and ceviche.

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St. Barths, Caribbean

The diminutive, French fancy island of St Barths will always be one of our go-to spots in the Caribbean. We love the boutique and kaleidoscopic Villa Marie St Barths, which overlooks one of the island’s most spectacular and secluded beaches, Flamand Bay. Set in beautiful tropical gardens, this hotel is intimate, exotic, and pure bliss. Its bungalow rooms afford its guests some much-needed space and privacy, but if you want a real showstopper, opt for one of the four villas with their own private pools. Since it launched its Gyp Sea Beach Club in 2021, you don’t even need to leave the hotel in search of a vibe.

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Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

For those looking for a destination hotel, where you can safely never leave the grounds and never feel bored, it has to be Palm Heights. When it opened in 2019, it put Grand Cayman on the map. Set on a dreamy stretch of Seven Mile Beach and the island’s only boutique hotel, it brings back more than a dash of old Caribbean glamor with its 70s mansion style and vibes. Since then, Palm Heights has opened its Garden Club Spa, a 60,000 sq ft open-air wellbeing hub that takes its inspiration from the gardens of the ancient world. There is an outdoor hammam, hot and cold plunge pools, and an Athletics Club, among many other features.

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For more travel inspiration, follow @eightyfourrooms on Instagram.

84 Rooms recommends: 10 Under The Radar Hotels Perfect For A Minimoon, and The Most Festive Hotels In London For Christmas.