Travel Inspiration

Luxe Trains, Japanese Retreats & Aegean Escapes: July Openings & Offers

Advisor - Nicole Freedman

Travel Advisor

Nicole Freedman

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aerial view of a white cliffside hotel in Greece

Image courtesy of Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection

Summer is awash with special collaborations, openings and VIP promotions. If you were looking for a sign to get away, this is it.

Reach out to plan and book your dream trip — and to take advantage of some special debuts and offers.

Book soon: L'Observatoire Carriage, an exclusive JR-designed sleeper carriage on Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Elegant but bold decor fills a compartment on Belmond's Venice train

Image courtesy of Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, Europe

And just when you thought Belmond’s ultra-luxe train experience couldn’t get any more luxurious, the brand enlisted the world-renowned artist JR to design a one-of-a-kind carriage suite. JR drew inspiration from astronomical observatories and “cabinets of curiosity” of yore. The whimsical carriage is filled with delightful surprises, plus its own double bed (the carriage sleeps two), lounge area, library, bathroom and hidden tearoom. The booking window opens this month, for 2025 journeys. There’s never been a more glamorous way to travel across Europe. 

Fine print: available to book from July 2024 on all Venice Simplon-Orient-Express journeys in 2025 (except trips with limited capacity). I'll give you more details on first access to book.

Reopening under Proper Hospitality & exclusive perks: Montauk Yacht Club

aerial view of a marina filled with yachts

Image courtesy of Montauk Yacht Club

It's officially Hamptons season, and if you need a chic place to stay, Montauk Yacht Club is it. Proper Hospitality has brought its keen eye for design and modern-luxe aesthetic to the property, which sits on 16 acres overlooking Lake Montauk. Expect padel and tennis courts, daily harbor cruises, bicycle rides through town and a pervasive coastal breeziness. Also don't miss the on-site Ocean Club, which serves freshly caught seafood and wood-fired seasonal, local produce.

Fora Perks:

  • $100 food / beverage credit, $60 daily breakfast credit, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.

New opening: Rosewood Schloss Fuschl

a stately bedroom with a curved blue sofa and large windows overlooking a mountain landscape

Image courtesy of Rosewood Schloss Fuschl

Austria's idyllic Salzkammergut region, between Salzburg and Hallstatt, is the idyllic alpine setting for this fairytale retreat. The lakeside castle opens July 1. You can stay in elegant rooms and suites, or in one of the cozy houses and chalets that dot the property. Immersive activities include alpine hikes followed by high tea and strudel, interactions with the area's top artisans, wandering the charming streets of Salzburg, lakeside jogs and so much more.

Fora Perks:

  • €100 food / beverage or spa credit, a welcome amenity, complimentary access to Asaya Spa and See Club, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.

New opening: The Montenotte's Woodland Suite Experience

an airy modern suite with luxe furniture and pale wood floors

Image courtesy of The Montenotte

On August 1, The Montenotte, an independent hotel housed in an 18th-century residence in Cork, will open up its Woodland and River Suites. The sustainably minded accommodations are essentially luxe tree houses. They're perched amid greenery and feel blissfully private, but, like The Montenotte proper, they're still in the heart of Cork. In other words, you get the best of both worlds: a nature retreat steps from a thriving, cultural urban center.

Fora Perks:

  • Complimentary valet parking, a glass of Champagne on arrival, welcome amenities, breakfast daily & daily evening drinks.

New opening: Château de Curzay

This 350-acre French, newly renovated countryside estate is from the same team behind Hotel Esencia, one of the best boutique hotels in Mexico. The castle sleeps a mere 12 people, and the entire experience is blissfully exclusive and personalized. When you’re not relaxing in your tastefully ornate suite (the château was once known as Petit Versailles, after all), play tennis on a cedar tree-flanked court, wander around the onsite garden, kayak on the Vonne or meander among the property's enchanting woods.

33% off a 3-night stay at Six Senses Kyoto

a luxe Japanese bathroom with stone sinks and bamboo dividers

Image courtesy of Six Senses Kyoto

Kyoto is where you go to really immerse yourself in the country’s traditional culture. The recently opened Six Senses Kyoto makes this easy, bringing the brand’s signature hyperlocalism and penchant for holistic sustainability to Japan’s ancient capital. Learn how to make the perfect dashi, master the art of Japanese calligraphy or participate in the ritual cleansing of the gardens alongside the abbot at the Ryosokuin Temple. Refuel with sustainable, locally sourced nourishment at the all-day Sekki3.

Fora Perks:

  • Access to the hotel’s traditional Japanese hot bath, sauna, swimming pool & fitness facilities.

Fine print: Offer available for travel now until December 31, 2024

€100 resort credit for suites & Fora-exclusive cocktail masterclass for 2 at Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection

a circular daybed on a white balcony overlooking the ocean

Image courtesy of Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection

This cliffside boutique hotel in Santorini combines five-star luxury with a quintessentially Greek breeziness. The sophisticated rooms and suites are stylishly restrained and serene, with muted colors and outdoor terraces overlooking the Aegean. Guests can even choose their own fragrance to be diffused throughout their accommodations. 

Dine on fresh Mediterranean cuisine crafted by a Michelin-Starred Greek chef and sip cocktails made from local spirits at 363 Bar. Book an in-room olive oil massage after an expert-led Pilates session. Kayak, try a jet-ski safari, fish like a local or take a traditional pottery class. Whatever you decide, Grace Hotel more than delivers. 

Fora Perks:

  • €100 hotel / resort credit & a Fora-exclusive cocktail masterclass for two.

Fine print: Offer valid for travel now through October 31, 2024 

4th night free at Almanac X Alcron Prague

two red chairs in front of a wooden desk in a colorful hotel lobby

Image courtesy of Almanac X Alcron Prague

Prague is having a moment, and this hip, modern lifestyle hotel is the perfect place to stay in the fairytale-like city. It’s nearby Old Town Square and makes a perfect homebase for exploring. When you need to recharge, grab a coffee from the hotel’s Café Elias or linger a little longer over a meal of the best Czech products at its stylish brasserie. Don’t miss the boutique, filled with local and sustainably minded brands, nor the sauna, reserved exclusively for hotel guests. 

Fora Perks:

  • A welcome drink & breakfast daily.

Fine print: book now through July 26, 2024, for bookings now through September 2, 2024.

Exclusive savings for 4+ nights at Round Hill Hotel & Villas

a white beachfront hotel with green-and-white striped awning

Image courtesy of Round Hill Hotel & Villas

This Montego Bay estate feels like a secret — and one you really want to hold closely, lest the rest of the world get in on its magic. Ralph Lauren is behind the breezy, tropical sophistication of the rooms, suites and villas. Dining is locally sourced, and features ingredients plucked from the onsite organic garden. Clay tennis and pickleball courts beckon, as does the spa, whose treatments can be enjoyed by the beach, by the pool, in the garden or in the heavily spa proper. 

Fora Perks:

  • $100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.

Fine print: book before October 27, for travel now through October 31, 2024. Blackout dates, including the 4th of July holiday, apply.

4th night free at The Lanesborough London

white longe chairs overlook an indoor pool in a sleek, white-washed space

Image courtesy of The Lanesborough London

Oetker knows a thing or two about understated glamor, and The Lanesborough, a luxe mansion just off Hyde Park, is no exception. The hotel’s health club is legendary, and many savvy locals take advantage of its sprawling gym and wellness facilities (hydrotherapy pool et.al.). Rooms are polished and posh, as is the hotel’s signature restaurant, The Lanesborough Grill, which serves elevated British classics using seasonal ingredients. If you love cocktails, you’ll love the handsome Library Bar, which boasts an impressive liquor collection, including 18th-century cognacs. 

Fora Perks:

  • Welcome amenities, personalized business cards and stationary, complimentary spa access & dedicated 24-hour butler service.

Fine print: valid for select room categories, for travel now through the end of the year. Blackout dates may apply.

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