When it comes to holidays there are two types of traveller: those who know exactly what they want from their holiday – how to secure their preferred room in their favourite resort and where they will be dining on day three. Then there are us Sybarites, who seek excitement and new experiences…
If you want to stand out from the crowd this summer and ensure full holiday bragging rights, a hotel yacht – akin to a floating five star hotel – could be the way to go. Here’s the low-down on five of our favourite ‘yotels’….
Are you ready to set sail?
Situated in Royal Victoria Dock, the 394ft, four star, five storey Sunborn Yacht – aka Britain’s first super yacht hotel -– is, to date, the Capital’s only floating hotel. The property features a spa, fine-dining restaurant, terraces offering arresting vistas over the towers of Canary Wharf and 138 rooms. However we recommend splashing out on one of the royal suites – boasting as they do their own spacious lounges and bathrooms replete with a sauna and sunken Jacuzzi, in which to wallow like a hippo half submerged in an African river.
Fans of The Wellesley who fancy having a bed above water, will love the MY The Wellesley – a 56m yacht that was launched by the Knightsbridge hotel earlier this summer. Standout amenities include an outdoor cinema and Jacuzzi and every conceivable water toy: we’re talking water-skis, jet skis, diving apparel et al). But If MY The Wellesley sounds a little overwhelming, look to its smaller sibling MY The Wellesley 11. Both of The Wellesley’s yachts are positioned in the Med and furnished in the hotel’s signature art-deco style.
Sybarites seeking a deluxe island cruise with a difference, should step aboard the Four Seasons Resorts Maldives’ stunning Four Seasons Explorer. Sybarites can use the 39m yacht as a dedicated dive, surf or leisure vessel, to visit hideaway island villages and meet secluded communities, or to host Instagram-worthy yacht parties in some of the most pristine and remote surroundings on earth. Accommodation consists of 10 state rooms and, the icing on the cake, a 45sqm Explorer suite. Beyond the bedrooms, there’s two bars, a dining room, lounge, library and two sun decks on which to top up your tan.
Sustainable luxury resort operator, Soneva, has taken to the water with Soneva Fushi – a gorgeous boat villa which combines all the benefits of its flagship resort, Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, with the freedom and exclusivity associated with a private boat charter. The two-cabin yacht features a spacious main cabin with – get excited – a glass bottom spa and a second cabin equipped with a king-sized bed and en-suite facilities. Other highlights include an external raised sun and dining deck, a lower level bar and dining area plus daybeds, lounge seating and a bow jacuzzi. As you would expect from Soneva, engines have been built to the highest specification with regards to fuel saving efficiency.
If you’re of the opinion that big is better, than D-Hotel Maris’ three super-sized yachts are for you. At 44m Ubi Bene, with its light and bright interior, is the largest while stylish Alia Open Seas boasts a top speed of 38 knots. However here at Sybarite HQ we have a soft spot for D-Hotel Maris’ beautiful custom-made 30m sailing yacht Pasa. Accommodating eight guests in two master cabins and two twin cabins, it’s the perfect vessel in which to explore Turkey’s stunning Datca Peninsula.
