Tag: vacation

Lost in the Beauty of Kakheti: My Stay at Lopota Lake Resort & Spa

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By Shereen Shabnam

Some places impress you with their architecture. Others win you over with impeccable service, wonderful food or luxurious rooms. And then there are destinations that simply make you feel good from the moment you arrive. Lopota Lake Resort & Spa in Georgia was one of those places for me.

Hidden away in the beautiful Kakheti region of eastern Georgia, around 115 kilometres from Tbilisi, Lopota feels like a small paradise tucked into its own valley. Surrounded by the ridges of the Caucasus Mountains, vineyards and an abundance of greenery, the resort is centred around a tranquil lake that very quickly became my favourite part of the entire experience.

I have travelled to many beautiful destinations over the years, but I am still happiest when a place allows me to connect with nature. At Lopota, that connection happens almost immediately.

My favourite time of day was early morning. There was something quite magical about waking up surrounded by nature, stepping outside into the fresh air and going for a walk around the lake. No traffic, no city rush and no pressure to be anywhere. Just the water, the trees, birds and mountains in the distance.

I found myself slowing down naturally. Walking around the lake became one of those simple travel pleasures that stays with you long after you return home. For someone who spends much of the year moving between airports, hotels, events and new destinations, having nowhere to rush to felt wonderfully indulgent. That, for me, is one of Lopota’s greatest strengths. It gives you space.

Breakfast Without the Rush at Lopota was lovely. I enjoyed being able to take my time over the generous selection before heading back outdoors and enjoying the rhythm of resort life. Coffee tastes somehow better when you know there is a lake and a mountain walk waiting outside.

Food plays an important role throughout the Lopota experience, with several restaurants offering everything from Georgian flavours to Italian and Asian cuisine.  For travellers interested in food and locally produced beverages, it adds another reason to spend a few days here rather than treating Lopota simply as an overnight stop.

One thing that surprised me was the scale of Lopota. Although it feels wonderfully secluded, this is far more than a small countryside hotel. The resort stretches across an expansive natural setting with accommodation spread throughout the property, allowing guests to enjoy a feeling of privacy and space.

There are indoor and outdoor swimming pools, spa and wellness experiences, tennis, horseback riding, fishing and quad-bike adventures, alongside plenty of areas where doing absolutely nothing is equally acceptable.

The Forest Spa – Valmont adds another layer to the experience, particularly for guests who arrive wanting to switch off completely. Surrounded by nature, wellness feels very much at home here rather than something added to the resort as an afterthought.

Lopota also makes a wonderful introduction to Kakheti. Georgia had already fascinated me with its history, culture and hospitality, but leaving Tbilisi behind and travelling into the countryside revealed another side of the country altogether.

Kakheti is Georgia’s has a landscape of vineyards, monasteries, villages and dramatic mountain scenery. There is a sense of generosity to the experience. Generous landscapes, generous breakfasts, plenty of activities and, perhaps most importantly, room to breathe. As a travel writer, I am fortunate to experience many beautiful hotels and resorts. Naturally, I notice the rooms, restaurants, spas and facilities, but increasingly I find that my strongest memories of a destination are often the simplest ones.

At Lopota, I remember the mornings. I remember opening the door and seeing all that greenery. I remember walking beside the lake with the Caucasus landscape around me. I remember leisurely breakfasts and having the luxury of deciding that perhaps I didn’t need to do very much that day after all. And I remember feeling genuinely happy to be there.

Lopota Lake Resort & Spa has all the ingredients we associate with a holiday. Beautiful accommodation, restaurants, wellness and activities and a great setting. It felt deeply restorative being surrounded by water, mountains and nature. All I needed was fresh mountain air, a lovely breakfast, comfortable shoes and a beautiful lake to walk around to rejuvenate my senses. I left the resort with a need to return to Georgia just to experience this resort again.

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The Rise of the Solo Journey

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Why personalised itineraries and independent travel are redefining modern exploration

Shereen Shabnam

As a travel and lifestyle journalist, I have come to realise that some of the most memorable journeys rarely happen according to plan. My work often takes me across continents, from reviewing luxury hotels and test driving performance cars across challenging terrains to discovering hidden culinary gems between business meetings. Yet it is often the moments in between the schedules, launches, and itineraries that leave the strongest impression.

A recommendation from a local restaurateur in Malaysia can lead to an unforgettable street food experience in Penang, while a spontaneous detour through the winding coastal roads of Spain can transform a simple road trip into something cinematic. In Switzerland, driving through alpine passes and remote mountain villages offers a rare connection to nature and adventure, while the serenity of the Maldives provides the perfect counterbalance, a place where wellness, stillness, and reflection become part of the journey itself.

Then there is Paris, a city that remains timeless not because of its landmarks alone, but because of its atmosphere, café culture, effortless elegance, and the simple joy of wandering without purpose. Increasingly, these experiences are shaping the rise of personalised and solo travel, where the freedom to move independently allows travellers to connect more deeply with destinations, cultures, and ultimately themselves.

There was a time when solo travel was often viewed as an unconventional choice, reserved for gap-year students, or those simply unable to find company for a trip. Today, it has evolved into one of the most significant shifts in modern tourism. Across luxury travel, wellness escapes, and even corporate journeys, personalised itineraries and independent exploration are becoming deeply desirable experiences for travellers seeking something more meaningful than traditional sightseeing.

What is driving this movement is not isolation, but freedom. Travellers increasingly want the ability to shape journeys around their own interests, pace, and emotional needs rather than compromise within a group dynamic. The modern traveller is no longer simply chasing destinations; they are pursuing experiences that feel personal, immersive, and transformative.

Business travel, interestingly, has become one of the strongest catalysts for this change. Corporate trips today often extend beyond conference rooms and hotel lobbies. Spending time with local clients, colleagues, and industry professionals introduces travellers to a more authentic side of a destination. A recommendation from a local often becomes more memorable than anything in a guidebook. These interactions create a richer cultural connection and encourage travellers to explore independently during downtime, transforming work trips into deeply personal experiences.

Solo leisure travel carries a different, yet equally powerful appeal. Travelling alone cultivates confidence in ways few experiences can. Navigating unfamiliar cities, embarking on long scenic drives, and making spontaneous decisions encourage self-reliance and adaptability. Many travellers describe returning from solo journeys feeling more capable, focused, and emotionally recharged. In a world increasingly dominated by digital noise and rigid schedules, solo travel offers something increasingly rare: uninterrupted personal space.

The travel industry has recognised this shift. Luxury operators, boutique agencies, and wellness brands are now curating highly personalised solo itineraries that combine independence with comfort and security, that includes gastronomy, wellness, adventure, art, sustainability, or culture.

My favourite road trip was in Spain, particularly great for driving enthusiasts who view driving as part of the experience. From the dramatic mountain routes of Andalusia to the coastal highways stretching along the Mediterranean, Spain offers the perfect balance of scenery, culture, and spontaneity. Malaysia continues to attract independent travellers for its extraordinary culinary diversity and accessibility. I lived there for 9 years and love the refined dining in Kuala Lumpur to hawker stalls in Penang.

For those seeking tranquility and restoration, Maldives has evolved far beyond the traditional honeymoon narrative. Many luxury resorts now cater to independent wellness travellers with private villas, spa immersions, meditation programmes, marine experiences, and personalised wellbeing journeys designed around mindfulness. Adventure seekers continue to gravitate toward Switzerland, where nature and precision coexist effortlessly. Scenic rail journeys, alpine hikes, mountain drives, and pristine lakes create a sense of calm while still satisfying the desire for exploration.

Meanwhile, Paris remains one of the world’s most rewarding cities to experience alone. Its beauty lies not only in its iconic landmarks, but in its rhythm, mornings spent at quiet cafés, afternoons wandering galleries, evenings discovering intimate bistros hidden within historic streets. It is a city that invites travellers to slow down and simply absorb its atmosphere. Then there is Singapore, as one of the safest and most seamless gateways into solo travel. Efficient transport, exceptional hospitality, world-class dining, and a cosmopolitan energy allow travellers to move confidently while still experiencing cultural depth and diversity.

Ultimately, the rise of personalised solo travel reflects a broader evolution in how people define luxury and fulfilment. Modern travellers are placing greater value on authenticity, emotional wellbeing, flexibility, and meaningful experiences over rigid itineraries or crowded group tours and solo travel has become a powerful expression of curiosity and confidence.

Azimut’s New Grande 30M Brings Italian Superyacht Elegance to Asian Waters

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Natasha Dury

There are yachts designed to impress at first glance, and then there are yachts designed to completely redefine life at sea. The new Azimut Grande 30M belongs firmly to the latter category. Making its Asian debut in Hong Kong, the flagship model arrives not simply as another addition to the superyacht landscape, but as a statement of how contemporary luxury yachting is evolving toward more fluid, social and experience-driven living.

The Grande 30M has established itself as one of the most architecturally ambitious yachts in its segment. Designed externally by Alberto Mancini with interiors by acclaimed Italian studio m2atelier, the yacht balances sculptural Italian styling with a deeply lifestyle-oriented approach to onboard living.

What distinguishes the Grande 30M most is the way it reimagines space. Central to the design is the innovative “All-Day” upper deck, a fully walkaround social environment anchored by a panoramic lounge enclosed by floor-to-ceiling windows that open on three sides. The result is an atmosphere that feels less confined than traditional yacht layouts and more akin to a luxury waterfront residence floating at sea.

Designed with multi-generational living and entertaining in mind, the layout allows guests to move effortlessly between indoor and outdoor spaces while maintaining moments of privacy and intimacy. Whether hosting extended family gatherings, sunset dining or quiet retreats during long coastal journeys, the Grande 30M adapts fluidly to different rhythms of onboard life without ever sacrificing openness or connection to the sea.

Equally transformative is the yacht’s extraordinary Deck2Deck™ Terrace at the stern. By elevating the transom structure, Azimut has created a remarkable 25-square-metre overwater terrace that seamlessly extends the cockpit into the surrounding horizon. The architectural effect is dramatic yet elegant, blurring the boundary between yacht and ocean while creating one of the most immersive alfresco spaces currently available in this category.

Beyond aesthetics, the Grande 30M also reflects Azimut’s broader philosophy of merging technological innovation with refined Italian craftsmanship. Every detail feels considered, from the natural flow of circulation onboard to the careful interplay of materials, textures and light throughout the interiors.

The Hong Kong showcase also highlighted the wider strength of the Azimut range, with models including the Fly 78, Fly 62 and Magellano 60 reinforcing the brand’s ability to cater to vastly different owner lifestyles. Yet it was the Grande 30M that unquestionably commanded attention, particularly as the world’s first delivered unit officially arrived in Asia.

As luxury yachting increasingly shifts toward immersive lifestyle experiences rather than pure status symbolism, the Grande 30M feels perfectly aligned with the new generation of owners seeking design sophistication, versatility and emotional connection to the sea. More than simply a superyacht, it represents a floating expression of contemporary Italian living which is elegant, social and unapologetically experiential.