Hooray, you’re back Paul!

Your return is perfectly timed, I might add, as I want to pick your brains – I need some really good ideas for my next SLH “adventure”… so no disappearing please.

However… before I bombard you with ideas and questions, I’ve just got to say how FAB my luxury wintersports break was in Austria and Switzerland. I am just TOTALLY exhausted, but those gorgeous little hotels you sent me to were so relaxing and cosy after a day on the slopes. And don’t the Swiss and Austrians know exactly how to make cosy just so very COSY, if you know what I mean! All that pine and Gluvine – just up my street, or should I say down my slope!

Rightio… let’s get down to my ideas: I’ve been going click-mad on the Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ website, going through all the destinations around the world. I’m now pondering whether to lose myself in the winding alleyways of Marrakesh and stay in one of those intimate riads in the Old Medina with their secluded courtyards and rooftop terraces (goodness knows who I’d go there with, it sounds a bit romantic that!), or go and enjoy some Caribbean celebrity spotting and R&R in Barbados (love the sophisticated restaurants on the West Coast of Barbados) – my mother would adore that, she’d probably know half the celebs.

Quite fancy going on safari in Africa too – do you reckon Will & Kate are going to Kenya for their honeymoon? You’re not being naughty again and keeping any Royal secrets from me, are you Paul?? What interesting safari-mates they would make, can you just imagine what a kick I’d get out of that!

Of course I could go to India and learn how to become a Mahout I suppose, or go trekking in some rainforest or other in Latin America for a bit of excitement. Oh dear… decisions, decisions, decisions. Why do Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ make my life so difficult? There are just too many exclusive boutique hotels to choose from. I’m totally spoilt for choice.

HELP!

Pleadingly yours, Melissa

Hiya Paul

I’m back from skiing… no broken legs, lots of après ski; plenty of snow, cosy bars and Glühwein (a.k.a. Gluvine or hot mulled spiced wine). There’s a special je ne sais quoi about winter ski resorts, isn’t there? Everyone is so happy-go-lucky at having a fun getaway from months of working hard.

Lucky you, wandering around India (albeit on business) – I quite fancy doing that. Staying in a Maharaja’s palace would be pretty cool. Last night I checked out the fantastic luxury resorts in India you’ve been visiting. I knew I shouldn’t have gone on line to SLH.com opened that gorgeous SLH Directory again but I love clicking through the colourful pages. Hours later…..

I reckon I could get an Honours Degree in Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ – I spent the evening glued to the SLH Directory and found some tempting luxury ski and spa resorts which will suit my pampering-seeking mother down to the ground.

You don’t actually have to go skiing on a wintersports holiday either. I’ve discovered lots of exciting alternatives to skiing; I got all the info from the SLH dedicated Ski brochure. I’ve missed the Cartier Polo World Cup on Snow at St Moritz as that takes place in January, but just look at what fun alternative wintersports I’ve discovered. Loads of SLH hotels offer experiences, such as heli-skiing through shin-deep powder; guided snow-shoeing; snowmobiling (the last time I went, the person in front of me took an impressive catapult dive off hers!), ice skating, snow tubing, and husky sleigh rides (such a laugh… I was tipped out of a sleigh once when the huskies shot after a squirrel).

As for spas at SLH hotels…  there are massages with lovely oils, hammam, and even hot tubs for 12 people, not to mention maple mud wraps and intoxicating hay baths (the smell of hay, herbs and flowers is heavenly).  Then there are fruit Snapps and rum, warming Gluvine, and deliciously rich hot chocolate with rum. Oh! I could go on for ages…

But, thankfully for you, I won’t. On that happy tipple, I’ll just end by saying

Cheers!

Let’s catch up soon Paul.

Love Melissa

PS: Can’t wait to hear about everyone’s “alternative” wintersports holidays. Anyone tackled the snowmobile beast, gone trekking through deep snow on tennis-racquet look-alikes, or have any funny wintersports tales to tell?! Let me know.