Mallorca in Organic Basics

A week in Mallorca in July. It’s hot. It’s sweaty. It’s incomprehensible to wear more than one thing layer of clothing. That’s why I spent the week in my Organic Basics cotton underwear. I’m always looking for an excuse to only wear my knickers, and I think 40 degree heat is a pretty good excuse.

Organic Basics are a sustainable bascis and activewear brand from Copenhagen. All good words in my mind. They kindly gifted me a bra and knickers set and a super comfy white t-shirt that goes with literally everything. They’ve also got an offer for you - 10% off any online purchase, simply use the code MADOLYNIRISOB.

We stayed at the stunning Ca Sa Tieta in Alaro, on the mid-west side of the glorious island. The traditional Mallorcan house had only 10 rooms and was stunning. Our very own Love Island Villa. The house felt like a home with a communal terrace, outdoor breakfast area and indoor lounge. Interiors were simple (but not basic), with lots of natural materials and neutral colours. Basically everything we look for in a hotel. Cannot recommend it enough if you are planning a visit to Mallorca.

Chiringuito Tulum, Mexico

We spent 3 days at Chiringuito Tulum at the end of a whirlwind trip to Mexico to escape London for some winter sun. I knew I was desperate to stay beach front and to enjoy great food, but I also wanted to take advantage of a private pool - something we rarely ever do on holidays but that I lust over when trawling booking.com. We had spent the first half of our trip over indulging in a resort further up the coast, but ending our trip at Chiringuito was perfect.

In an amalgamation of the stylistic whitewash stone villas of Greece and the wooden shades and monochromatic natives of Tulum, Chiringuito is a boutique hotel with only 13 rooms, half of which are two story offering rooftop terraces with blue and white woven lounges and private pools. We opted for the pool villa (obvs). It was really nice to spend the days moving casually from the white soft sandy beach to our terrace, and watching the sun set over the Mayan jungle in the evening. 

The restaurant encompasses the same med-inspired menu with fresh and healthy Tulum style breakfasts alongside grilled seafood, ceviches and paellas in the evening. 

Located on the south end of Tulum beach, Chiringuito is right beside hotels Sanara, Be Tulum, Nomade and Casa Malca which made for an easy sneak peak at the luxury neighbours. On the jungle side, the hotel is an easy walk to all of Tulum's favourite restaurant and bars; Raw Love, Hartwood, the Real Coconut, Matcha Mama, Casa Jaguar and Gitano.

Impulse Buy

My hotel wish list is a growing beast and I cannot tell you the number of times I have impulsively booked a stay at one of these lusty locations with no flight, no holiday plans and no clue only to sadly and begrudgingly cancel the booking before the end of the free cancellation period. So when tasked with writing about places I just can't get out of my head for this month's travel link up, I thought I may well share my top four wanderlust locations with you.

Casa Cook, Greece

The first dreamy resort on my bucket list came to me after a quick skim on Instagram, a speedy trawl on Pinterest, a flip through ES Mag and then I spotted it; Casa Cook Hotels. I'm not one for big hotel chains which is why the boutique hotel range instantly floored me. There are only two hotels in the group, and they are both utterly stunning. 

In both Kos and Rhodes the hotels encapsulate everything I love, minimalist modern design, natural materials and muted earthy tones - a pure vision of a nomadic way of life. 

Son Brull, Mallorca

I discovered Son Brull whilst working in Mallorca last summer. Our incredibly lucky event guests were staying there, sadly I did not. The swoon-worthy historic architectural details of this former 12th-century monastery in the foothills of the Serra de Tramuntana in Mallorca are a total dream!

This stunning restored historic site sits at the bottom of a hill called Puig de Maria. From the top there's incredible views of the countryside from the ruins of an old monastery. 

Masseria Potenti, Puglia

Lost among the olive groves and vineyards of the Puglian countryside, Masseria Potenti is a boutique hotel in a traditional fortified farmhouse. The original outhouses have been converted into chic rooms with their own fireplace, living room and private patio which overlook the lush gardens and swimming pool.

The restaurant at Masseria Potenti has a “field to fork” ethos, showcasing the best of Pugliese traditional cuisine. Guests gather around the shared dining table under the stars to enjoy a homemade meal of freshly harvested fruit and vegetables. There is no menu and the dishes cooked are based on what is in season on the farm. Literally, the dream! 

Les Roches Rouges, French Riviera 

Boutique hotel Les Roches Rouges is stooped on the edge of the blue Med, with sweeping views of the Sea, a natual, chic design aesthetic, a carefully-curated cocktail list and a photogenic stoned-lined pool by the ocean. The hotel has the sense of an effortless cool hideaway along the coast from Nice, on the edge of L’Esterel National Park. I found this glorious little hotel last summer, and it's been on my bucket list ever since. 

he topic for April is one we enjoyed in 2015 - and we fancied it again - 'Places we can’t get out of our heads'.(And, for those of you who've been around that long - has it changed for you? Link back to your old post in your new post, it's good for SEO!)

How to link up your post

Just pop your post up, add it to the below or on the blogs of Adventures of a London Kiwi, SilverSpoon London, Follow Your Sunshine and The Travels of Mrs B.

There are no rules – basically all we ask is that you check out some of the other cool bloggers that are involved in that months travel link up; make a few comments here and there and tweet a few of the posts out to your followers that you think they will love. It’s a great way to meet some new travel bloggers and share some blogging love!

The Travel Link Up is open to all bloggers – as long as the post is relevant!

Pablo Escobar's Tulum mansion, now a luxury hotel

Pablo Escobar, you know the one, took over this mid-century beachfront mansion in the 1980s at the height of his reign as an infamous Colombian drug lord, making the luxurious location his playground. Abandoned after his death, the villa was rediscovered in 2003 and was returned to its original owner before being put up for sale only to be snatched up by New York art collector and gallery owner, Lio Malca in 2014.

Casa Malca, the now five-star boutique design hotel sits along one of the most desired oceanfront stretches in Tulum and is filled with pieces from Malca's own art collection, including works by Keith Haring, KAWS, and Marion Peck.

Casa Malca is a work of art in itself, set in a natural wonderland surrounded by the lush Mayan jungle. The entrance is over the top with suspended arm chairs and a sofa swinging from heavy draped curtains, restaurant stylized with the ornate antique furniture and creepy old toys, and to best showcase it all, a rooftop bar with 360-degree views to take in Tulum's sunsets. 

The Ultimate Tulum Hotel Guide

Tulum on Mexico's east coast truly is a life changing place. Once a hippy backpacker hangout with dirt roads and no electricity, Tulum (while still sporadically lacking electricity) is now a tranquil nomadic town for those craving hedonism and balance all in a design led luxury spot on the Maya Riviera cost.

While Tulum is easy to get around, selecting from the abundance of incredible ecological hotels  can be difficult, so to help you on your way below is the ultimate guide to some of the best hotels right on the beach.

THE EXTRAVAGANT

Be Tulum
Be Tulum is thought of as one of the most high end hotel on Tulum beach. Wandering in off the beach you’ll find a village villas stacked like boxes with private pools immersed in jungle surroundings, natural sea worn wood furnishings, cowhide rugs, leather butterfly chairs and stand-alone bath tubs. While a standard room starts at £400, splashing out on the Aire Suite with a private rooftop pool offering a sea view will set you back £850per night. 

Sanara
White wash rooms with pristine monochrome furnishings and slick great concrete floors, Sanara is not only a beautiful hotel it’s also home to the most Instagramable yoga studio in Tulum and the best gluten free, dairy free, grain free and refined sugar free restaurant on the beach, The Real Coconut.  A delux double room with lush outdoor bath comes at around £700 per night.

Azulik Eco Resort and Mayan Spa
Genuinely unlike any hotel I have experienced, Azulik is an eco-resort built on stilts right above the Mayan Jungle. There are 48 wooden treehouses handmade exclusively from Mexican wood, each offering mosquito nets, custom made bath tubs, private decks with day beds and hammocks above the tree canopy. There is zero electricity, no phone and certainly no tv. With the opportunity to escape fully, the resort offers more than just a stay, to enhance the experience take an excursion to local villages and communes in the surrounding jungle, by the sea and to the lagoons and cenotes. While a night in a tree with no electricity from £400 - £3000 per night may seem steep, you can pay a visit to this utterly dreamy unique retreat to enjoy an avant garde tasting menu in the tree-top restaurant Kin Toh.

THE LUXURIOUS

Nomade
Nomade is the ecological little sister of Be Tulum, sharing the same design led and back to nature ethos. Nomade offers a luxury glamping spa retreat alongside standard rooms with outdoor showers. The two restaurants are famed by a vegan led, wholesome and holistic menu and the influx of hedonistic celebrities and influencers. The glamping option in a delux tent comes at £200 per night, or a standard with an actual roof over your head will cost around £300 per night.

Chiringuito Tulum
In an amalgamation of the stylistic whitewash stone villas of Greece and the wooden shades and monochromatic natives of Tulum, Chiringuito is a boutique hotel with only 13 rooms, half of which are two story offering rooftop terraces with blue and white woven lounges and private pools. The restaurant encompasses the same med-inspired menu with fresh Tulum style breakfasts alongside grilled seafood, ceviches and paellas in the evening. We spent two amazing nights in a jungle view room with private pool for around £300 per night. You can read my full review of Chiringuito here.

THE ECO FRIENDLY

Nativus Glamping

Nativus is a glamping retreat with luxury Berber tents, luxurious facilities, outdoor bathrooms and a private pier over a natural Cenote. A delux tent comes at around £80 per night making glamping one of the best options for travellers visiting Tulum on a budget.

For more hotel recommendations in Tulum, which quite frankly couldn't fit in this post, check out the full review of where we stayed, Chiringuito Tulum. 

La Pause, Marrakech

I manage and style events for a living so I tend to look at most life events as an elaborate production too. As fortunate or unfortunate as this may be I couldn't help but look at my looming 30th birthday as life's biggest project yet. The brief was clear; the location should be abroad, somewhere exotic, hot and where I could be with all my friends... oh and there was no way I'd be turning 30 without being a Sex and the City level of fabulous.

The venue which filled the brief perfectly was La Pause in the Agafy desert in Morocco. It was Sex and the City 2. Ok friends, keep your judgments of the film aside, you can't deny the scene of the four girls strutting through the desert is fierce.

La Pause is located around 40 minutes from Marrakech and a transfer can be arranged directly from the city with any booking. Don't try to find it yourself, it's an impossible mission. The drive is unassuming and it's only when passing over a hill that the lush greenery of the oasis becomes visible. The eco retreat has been rebuilt from a ruined house discovered at the boarder of a river. It is completely tranquil, there is no phone reception and electricity comes only in the form of some solar panels to power the fridges, the distribution of the water and  gas.

While the retreat offers a handful of guest houses and sleeping, nay glamping, tents which can be booked for one, two or three nights, adventurers can explore La Pause by visiting for just lunch in a private Berber tent, or dinner by the light of oil lanterns and rows and rows of candles, traditional dancers and fire breathers.

The decor is a nomadic dream. The Berber tents are beautiful and luxurious, laid with traditional furniture, embroidered cushions  and handwoven rugs. The meal of vegetarian and meat tagines was provided family style and the local wine was cold and free-flowing.

There is a pool on site surrounded by olive trees and hammocks and of course the endless dramatic landscape of the vast Moroccan wilderness to explore by food, quad bike or on horseback.

Beldi Country Club

The Beldi Country Club is a an oasis 40 minutes away from the chaos of Marrakech. A welcomed haven offering a much needed break from the trapped heat and intense smells and sounds of the souks.

The luxury country club has guest rooms, but is also open to day visitors looking to explore its beautiful cactus gardens, Berber decorated green houses, rose gardens, pools and restaurants. We visited as a group for a day by the pool, with a 3 course lunch included for a measly €30.

We spent the day sipping on cocktails, sunning ourselves on the day beds and taking laps in the two luxurious black bottomed pools. The girls also managed to sneak away early in the afternoon for a Hamman and massage.

Ever the lover of a cactus, I was in heaven as we explored the grounds offering what must be the most instagramable door cactus combinations I've ever seen.

In a city that I have a somewhat love/hate relationship with, an escape to the breathtaking Beldi is a must.

Ham Yard Hotel

Ham Yard is one of my favourite hidden escapes in London. The bar is a stylish, hidden gem moments away from the madness of Picadilly Circus.

The Ham Yard Hotel, part of the Firmdale family is sibling to a list of impressive addresses including The Soho Hotel and Covent Garden Hotel, both home of the resting heads of many celebs when they visit town.

Ham Yard Hotel has an urban village vibe. The hotel revolves around a tree-filled garden with a bronze sculpture centrepiece by Tony Cragg. Alongside the hotel's 91 individually designed bedrooms and suites are 24 apartments, 13 independent stores and a restaurant and bar. 

There is a rooftop garden, a drawing room and library, a professionally equipped gym with a hypoxic chamber for altitude training - a thrilling new workout fad, don’t you know - and of course, the Ham Yard Restaurant and Bar. Dishes range from house-glazed Ham Yard ham and hand rolled pasta to chilli beans on toast and ice cream sandwiches. The bar offers a selection of small plates including truffled mascarpone and ham melts, pulled pork sliders with chipotle and parsley and barbequed octopus with pickled white cabbage, lime, chili and mint. 

There is also an imported 1950s bowling alley straight from Texas.. how’s that for cool. 

The Hoxton, Holborn Hotel

The Hoxton, Holborn is a chip off the Shoreditch block in the heart of London. The chic hotel offer the epitome of style for anyone from Millennials and media types, to the budding tourist looking for a one stop shop that’s right on trend.  The Hoxton, Holborn is a place for people to sleep, eat, work and play.  There are 174 bedrooms that come in four different categories; Shoebox that’s the smallest and Roomy that’s the biggest. 

Each of the rooms are cleverly designed so that you have everything you need and nothing that you don't. No matter how big (or small), each one comes with free Wi-Fi, phone calls, fresh milk, tea and coffee, water and a daily breakfast bag drop. That's a bag filled with OJ, granola pot and a banana.

The best bit, there’s amazing nosh options right on your doorstep. London Shmondon, you’ll never have to leave the hotel! There’s Hubbard & Bell, the Brooklyn-style grill serving up grub from breakfast to supper. In the basement there’s Chicken Shop dishing out rotisserie chicken and sides, and lastly there’s Holborn Grind serving creamy cappuccinos and strong espressos to the masses.   

You’re on holidays, so pamper yourself. Head to the Cheeky Parlour on the ground floor, a new hangout for the fashion forward looking for an instant beauty and nail fix.

Still not satisfied, there is a fully loaded events programme with everything from music gigs to yoga. We weren't joking when we said you wouldn't need to leave the hotel!