For quiet time away from where the focus is on you, consider a child-free holiday that promises lazy mornings, relaxing romantic dinners and as many sneaky cocktails as you please.
Vana, Himalayas, India
All technology off? Negativity at the door? Organic pajamas on? Welcome to Vana retreat in India, a world leader when it comes to mindfulness and self-reconnection, so it’s a no-brainer that it’s a child-free zone. On arrival, guests have prescribed a personal wellness plan based on Ayurveda, Chinese and Tibetan medicine. Days are spent enjoying ancient spa treatments, yoga, meditation, movement, and delicious healthy cuisine. Hiking and tennis are also available for those wishing to dispel more energy, although remaining supine is big on the schedule with guests encouraged to focus on quiet introspection.
Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California
Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, California may be an adults-only escape, but once there you’ll be hard-pressed to bump into another human of any age. Wonderfully secluded by the natural splendor of dramatic forest and wildflowers, you can totally disconnect in gorgeous recycled redwood rooms where the TV has been swapped for vistas of the sparkling ocean. Relax by the three heated pools, rejuvenate with an in-room massage or go whale watching. Dining here is tailored to be romantic and à deux. Sierra Mar restaurant sits atop the cliffs and offers exquisite local dishes and an award-winning wine cellar. The best bit? You won’t be woken up early by little people, so go ahead and enjoy that extra glass.
Qualia, Whitsundays, Australia
Occupying its own peninsula on Hamilton Island in Australia’s Whitsunday Islands, about halfway down the Great Barrier Reef, Qualia is quite simply for adult-eyes only. The lush surroundings of the nearby beach, ocean and jungle scream escapism, and everything has been designed to blend in with the environment (the “elegant resort wear” dress-code encourages guests to do the same). Pebble Beach’s pool deck is the daytime hub with its watersports, library, and spa. Come evening, there are two on-site restaurants and any of Hamilton Island’s nine restaurants can be room-charged. Retreat to your pavilion with a free-standing tub for some non-interrupted pre-bedtime bathing.
Monastero Santa Rosa, Italy
Due to Monastero Santa Rosa’s jaw-dropping position overhanging a cliff on Italy’s Amalfi Coast, it only welcomes those aged from 16 years old and above. One of the snazziest hotels in the region, the moment you step inside you’re greeted with sophistication and grown-up glamour. Everything about this vast 17th-century clifftop monastery feels utterly fabulous: a heated infinity pool looking over the coast; terraced gardens with private corners; an outdoor gym with a view; and unbeatable cuisine. The 20 bedrooms have been converted from the vaulted nuns’ cells and are spacious and sultry, and the spa is a destination in its own right with a Finnish sauna, steam room, and ice fountain.
Likuliku Lagoon Resort, Malolo Island, Fiji
Expect serious seduction at Fiji’s Likuliku Lagoon Resort, where the country’s only overwater bungalows, beachfront bures and sea views have been created for couples to switch off from reality. Apart from assuming the horizontal position on your lounger-strewn deck, guests can snorkel the Likuliku lagoon, visit local villages (on Sundays you can hear the church choirs), go island-hopping or take part in a traditional kava ceremony. Likuliku also has a strong commitment to conservation, embodied by a small breeding population of endangered iguanas. Head out to learn about the efforts being made to save them from extinction – although be warned – they’re so super-cute that they might make you miss your own brood …
Note:This story was originally published on SCMP & has been republished on this website.
