Nothing lifts the spirits in winter like a sunshine-filled holiday add an element of luxury and you’ll be on cloud nine.
Here at Millionaire Escapes we present our ultimate luxury winter sun escapes...
In the bohemian, sun trap surf town of Byron Bay, the long, broad beach is lapped by royal blue, white-tipped waves and has a lighthouse on one end that marks Australia’s easternmost tip. As such a naturally beautiful place, there are strict rules against building anything high rise, so the fact that this villa’s rooftop infinity pool seems to tower over the treetops and neighbouring houses makes it a rare find. Wrap-around wooden decking provides 360-degree views of rainforest and volcanic hinterland in one direction, and the curved, golden bay – which is only a few minutes’ walk away – in the other. Watch the sunset with a cocktail while reclining on the poolside cabana before enjoying some of the best stargazing in the southern hemisphere.
At Chobe Water Villas, it’s tricky to tell where the teal-coloured infinity pool ends and Namibia’s Chobe River begins, so seamlessly does it blend into the landscape. The individual villas exude a luxury that seems surreal given the remoteness of the property; private sundecks above the water even have their own telescope so that you can watch the elephants, buffalo and other wildlife roam the plains. Beyond the villas, you can go on game drives into the Chobe National Park where you’ll likely spot hippos, crocodiles and exotic birdlife, too.
Set in the Los Cabos region at the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, Las Ventanas Al Paraiso is a palatial hotel set right on a beach of powder-fine white sand. Each suite is decked out in Mexican artisanry such as mosaiced headboards and carved cedar wood screens. Feast on a Mexican breakfast spread on your private garden terrace, visit the state-of-the-art spa and be spoiled by the flawless service; staff jump to bring you iced water, fresh fruit and other treats at any hour of the day.
Enveloped by the brightest hue of blue sea and sky, the island of Mauritius enjoys blazing sunshine during a northern hemisphere winter. Enjoy a five-star experience under a traditional Mauritian thatched roof at the Oberoi, where beachside pavilions are draped in embroidered fabrics, artwork and native flora. Wake up to views of the Indian Ocean and blindingly-white sandy beaches, before snorkelling the coral reefs and relaxing by your private pool, surrounded by landscaped tropical gardens.
Perched on a cliff above a secluded beach on Sri Lanka’s south coast, Ani Villas boasts a truly special location. But that’s not all; you’ll also enjoy ocean-facing suites that open up to private pools, a tennis court bordered by pencil-thin palm trees, a spa with blissful massage treatments, a superb chef and a smiley staff that goes above and beyond what’s expected. Soak up some winter sun while snoozing by the infinity pool, broken up by yoga classes in the Villa Monara pavilion and bowls of fresh papaya and mango.