The Cyclades Greek Edit. Discover Kea, Santorini, Folegandros and Mykonos

Wise, etched by life, endearing, warm, familiar and simply enchanting, everyone should meet a Maria. There is always a special relationship kindled on a trip to the Cyclades, each island packed with charismatic locals, each with their own folktale, fabled gods and rooted culture.  We pinned a few images that sort of got us all yearning for a return trip before the season ends.

The Cyclades sit pretty much at the centre of the blue Aegean whilst being comfortably close to each another, they harbour a very distinguishing tone.

A perfect holiday bolthole into mid October with some late blasts of summer.
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Korcula Baroque Festival adds a cultural note to this very stylish Croatian island

Croatia – The Korkyra/Korcula Baroque Festival is a new annual international event hosted on this historic island, which will be launched from 7th to 16th September 2012 in collaboration with the Conde Nast hot-listed Lesic Dimitri Palace Hotel – a tres chic boutique holiday hideaway housed in a former palace.

The festival will showcase a selection of the world’s leading ensembles and soloists specialized in Baroque music, including the Academy of Ancient Music (Great Britain), Laurence Cummings (Great Britain), Le Parlament de Musique (France), Currende & Eric Van Nevel (Belgium), La Venexiana (Italy), Red Priest (Great Britain), the Croatian Baroque Ensemble (Croatia) along with others.
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Ampersand Hotel South Kensington, London nears completion.

London’s South Kensington hotel landscape is about to be joined by the luxurious Ampersand Hotel at number 10 Harrington Road in SW7.  As the scaffolding comes down, we took a few photos.

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Miramonti Boutique Hotel in South Tyrol, a boutique hideaway perched hillside up

The Dolomites have long been an insider’s haunt; the Alto Adige as such is all about Alpine living with an accent of Italian Dolce Vita, this is South Tyrol.

Miramonti Boutique Hotel in Hafling (famous stud farming territory) is our newest cosy find suitably perched within a 30 acres forest estate with exhilarating bird’s eyes views overlooking Merano and Vigiljoch beyond.

The loved up owners have taken a traditional choc box Alpine retreat and created a modern, sleek boutique hotel that adopts a quite sophisticated tone rather than ueber design. Elegant natural interiors are fused with elements of the woodlands that surround; it has flavours of country living married with smart urban prose.

The vibe is decidedly relaxed with an eclectic crowd, some here to chill, others seeking to tank up on the Alpine activities.  Food is a big part of being in the area and you won’t be disappointed with the region being a firm favourite with the foodies.

Miramonti Boutique Hotel is part of the creative network – White Line Hotels, some 40+ boltholes that define modern luxury – including some great little Alpine Hotels that fit like a glove to this place.