Summer is the best time to dip your toes into a new, far-flung destination. Travellers don’t have to set foot in an airport to book their dream holiday — many of the world’s most-loved spots have opened up their doors to a growing number of budget-conscious travellers. With a shared kitchen, complimentary dining experiences and activities galore, here are seven of the most luxe escapes.
The Vatican City
For over 2000 years, the Vatican has served as a spiritual home to the world’s Catholics. To luxury escapes bucket list ideas for wanderlust jetsetters this day, its secret treasures remain, including St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. This extraordinary building is not even close to over; over the centuries it has changed shape, been enlarged, remodelled and, in the case of the Basilica itself, restored. For 2017 the Vatican has a fresh look, which includes a huge brand new Exhibition Galleries. You can take in Vatican exhibits in an atmospheric ‘dozo’ (stainless steel walkway) over the Vatican gardens, or you can tour the Vatican Museums.
With accessibility to all major tourist attractions, it’s the perfect spot for a once-in-a-lifetime holiday. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, guests can wander around in relative anonymity and explore some of the most iconic buildings of Christianity, the oldest surviving Christian church in the world, and the largest museum in the world.
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Where to stay: Accommodation is available in both the Apostolic Palace and the Pauline Chapel, and in nearby towns including Vatican City, Parco della Loggia and Trastevere. Enjoy its acclaimed and historic restaurants and bars, including the three-Michelin-star ‘Osteria Francescana’, before retiring for the night to the privacy of the Vatican gardens.
The Vatican Credit: getty
Where to eat: Follow the tourist crowds to Il Duomo in front of the Basilica to eat delicious pizza and pasta from the local restaurants around the piazza. Or visit Il Bacco Degli Arcimboldi – a new pop-up restaurant in a century-old warehouse.
