There was a ‘real’ troubadour on the house party that opened EXPLORA III, sailing from Rome to Barcelona last week. The word is Occitan, composition, the heritage is 11th and 12th centuries, the wandering singing poets of western Europe. EXPLORA III’s troubadour of modern times, sometimes wearing a pie hat, always carries an outline-only electric guitar and a portable foot pad to pump more air. 

The godmother of Explora III is Cristina Ozores, the renowned marine educator, diving instructor and conservationist who co-founded Vellmarí in the Balearic Islands.

The winding driveway to Four Seasons Hampshire is at least a mile long. Low hills either side. Not a building in sight until you come to this three floor brick house, square topped, 18^th century on an estate that goes back to Domesday records

Well-being at Four Seasons, Hampshire can be taken for granted, as if ia matter of course. Look at the space. 580 acres of parkland.

Not everyone should do luxury hotels. Even the greatest vendors rarely have what it takes to succeed in the art of hospitality.

A unique arrival awaited at Maybourne Riviera, the 65-key palace that floats high above Monte Carlo.

Lunch at Maybourne Riviera’s Piscine, above, was a heavenly experience, under a cloud of white umbrellas.

As they did at The Emory in London, the folks at owners Maybourne have used several interior designers at Maybourne Riviera – even though the art is spectacular and the best picture of all is looking through all-wall windows, at seagulls whirling at this height (300m ASL), and looking down at that blue sea far below.

Girlahead went back to sea – with the crème de la crème of the hotel industry. Celebrating 22 years of existence, Global Hotel Alliance, GHA, wanted a ‘how amazing’ annual CEOs gathering.