Elizabeth Bennett

From culinary safaris to celestial cruises, these 10 luxury trips offer travellers one-of-a-kind
experiences guided by some of the world’s most inspiring minds

Whether it’s a floor-to-ceiling chimney breast clad in zellige tiles, a dining nook wrapped in a bucolic tiled mural or perhaps a statement bedside table, tiles are increasingly turning up outside their traditional habitat of the bathroom or kitchen.

When planning a holiday, it’s often the case of too many options, not enough time. Sometimes, a certain event can help hone your search and for treasure hunting fans, one of Europe’s many antique fairs and flea markets could be just that.

A tiny island off the Tuscan coast in the Tyrrhenian Sea, just five per cent of Giglio is inhabited. Although numbers swell in summer, Giglio remains wild: its oak forests and vineyards lead to dramatic granite cliffs, rocky coves and sandy beaches.

A country club for city folk, it has the setting and serenity of a typical agriturismo, while the details and mood are much more urban members' club. It's a winning combination and unsurprising, considering it was masterminded by the Experimental Group, originally of cocktail-bar fame.

Madrid’s Gran Via is not synonymous with a sense of calm, but venture beyond the flashing billboards and crowds of shoppers - into a Philippe Starck-designed haven - and you’ll surely find it.

When it comes to visitors, Barcelona has long suffered from too much of a good thing. However, with the conversation around tourism intensifying of late and a recent rise in the daily tourist tax, it’s giving other Spanish cities a moment in the spotlight. Case in point, it’s southerly neighbor: Valencia.

The Catalan capital is a hive of independent enterprise, conscious design and vintage finds

Downward dogs and detox juices have long led the retreat. But suddenly, they're sharper and more curiously charged. Pottery in Puglia, sketching in Tangier, ink-making in Tokyo – led by artists, designers, and tastemakers who open up their homes and black book of favourite places along the way. This is travel for the creatively wired.

A brilliant vehicle for pattern in even the most minimal of spaces.

The superb coastline, gastronomy and historic cities of Spain take most of its travel headlines, while less is made of another great facet of life in the country: its high-speed rail network, the most extensive in Europe (and second only to China worldwide) with more than 2,400 miles of tracks whizzing travellers across the country at up to 193mph.

Our writers make the most of warm weather, smaller crowds and off-peak prices to visit their favourite spots, from the Baltic to the Bosphorus

A meal masterminded by the Roca brothers of El Celler fame – twice named world’s best restaurant – might be the initial draw at this contemporary hotel just outside Girona but its spectacular hilltop position, spacious suites and outdoor pool will keep travellers coming back for more than just the gastronomy.

Detour from the beach to visit Goa’s laid-back capital, a charming heritage town that’s been buoyed in recent years by an influx of new residents.

Sandwiched between Montjuïc, the large hillside park that hugs the south of the city, and the avenue of Parallel, the neighborhood of Poble-Sec feels distinct to its neighbours across this wide street. This largely residential pocket of central Barcelona is defined by its narrow upward sloping streets and noticeable feeling of calm compared to its noisier busier counterparts.