As the heat of summer draws to an end, I cast my thoughts on winter and how I love to spend my time. There are two winter options - cold and warm. I adore both and try to get a good fill of each through the winter. After a dreary spell in London, I crave the sun. My favourite hot spots are Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, Nihiwatu in Indonesia, and Dubai.
Coming out of steamy Hong Kong, I can't wait to hit the ski slopes of Zurs, Austria, Niseko, Japan and Aspen, USA. Niseko, an easy jaunt from Hong Kong, offers the world's best powder. The skiing is on dormant volcanoes with views across the sea to the Siberian Peninsula. For those not skiers, the powder in Japan is the world's lightest, and avid skiers flock from around the world. In the states, they call it Japow, and January is the season to find most powder hounds hitting Niseko. Great snow mixed with unforgettable Japanese cuisine is hard to beat.
Thousands of miles away in Aspen, Colorado, I tuck into western food and some fun Rocky Mountain skiing. Aspen has four mountains to choose from for skiing. Ajax descends directly into town with a variety of different level skiing, amazing bumps and off-piste chutes. I love to ski Ajax as it has a 16-minute gondola ride for those of us that feel the cold and like to socialise. Aspen Highlands is a ten-minute drive away and offers the famous Highland Bowl to climb and ski. Not for the faint-hearted, you boot pack up to the top of the bowl at 12,000. It takes a 30-minute climb before arriving at a wildly steep ski descent. I love to do the bowl whenever I ski Highlands. Aspen has excellent food options ranging from top-notch vegan to Michelin cuisine to local offerings of great BBQ ribs and pitchers of beer.
For the past few decades, my family has loved congregating on holiday at the Zurserhof hotel in Austria. It is nestled up the road from Lech in a sleepy town called Zurs. The European ski experience spread across many small villages is unique. I enjoy the dramatic vistas dotted with family-owned alpine restaurants. I often hike from Zurs to Lech to work off my fill of fondue and raclette and hit the great shops.
Skiing is not for everyone; we all need a place to de-thaw. One of my recent discoveries during the pandemic is the magical Emirates of Dubai. While many countries shut down during the pandemic, Dubai remained a vibrant oasis. The Emirate has something for everyone, but my first love in this incredible place is galloping through the desert on Arabian horses. Dubai is safe, clean and has world-class dining. Light shows and water fountains are everywhere, creating striking visuals for kids and adults. Sheikh Mohammed is a true visionary who has built this vibrant desert metropolis out of sand.
Taking it down a notch, my favourite place in the Maldives is Soneva Fushi. The Maldives are dotted with too many 5-star resorts to count, but nothing compares to the luxury barefoot vibe of Soneva. The food is incomparable, whether Indian, Japanese, or upscale island. The diving run by Thomas Wälchli and his wife Elisabetta Benini is world-class. I was constantly surrounded by manta rays, turtles and other tropical creatures. An avid tennis player, this is one of the only resorts offering top-notch tennis with a pro. I loved learning to kite surf, even if I was dragged across the sand on my bum.
Heading back to Asia, my favourite Luxury eco-resort is Nihiwatu on the island of Sumba, Indonesia. There is nothing like it in the world. Known for its world-famous left-hand surf break, the resort mixes the ultimate eco-luxury with a relaxed surfer vibe. Nothing beats ice-cold beers with the instructors and staff at the surf bar during sunset. My biggest takeaway from Nihiwatu was the experiences. Among the most memorable are the weekly local horse races on the beach where we gambled on the ponies over cocktails, stand-up paddling down a local river, and visiting an original Sumba village where people live the same way their ancestors did 400 years ago. The resort itself has an incredible local philanthropical aspect, which is infectious- my daughter spent a day at one of the local schools learning to give back.
With the world finally opening up again, I can't wait to revisit some of my favourite destinations this winter and reconnect with these unique places and people.
Also see: Annabelle Bond on the physical and mental benefits of hiking