Team Fabulous are revealing their secret holiday hideouts
Wales
Abersoch (Abersoch.co.uk)
Acting Lifestyle Editor, Carly Hobbs
“I’ve been caravanning in Abersoch since I was six weeks old, and still love it. To me, it is the ultimate UK seaside spot. And it’s all the better because it’s nowhere near as busy as other beach resorts. Abersoch in north Wales is a tiny coastal village that boasts two pubs, a swanky wine bar with great harbour views and a spicily good Mexican. The area even has its own summer festival, Wakestock, which takes place during July (Wakestock.co.uk). But it’s the beaches that will steal your heart. The Warren and Hut Beach are perfect for any kind of water sport or just admiring the buff beach boys doing their thing. Or hang out at Porth Ceiriad, Porth Neigwl and Morfa Nefyn (which has a pub right on the sand, FYI), a short drive away.”
Dubai
Barasti Beach (Barastibeach.com)
Picture Assistant, Antoinette Cumberbatch
“If socialising with people from every corner of the world is your idea of fun, you’ll love Barasti Beach bar. Sip a cocktail in the 40ºC heat, but the party really hots up once the sun goes down.”
Ibiza
Pura Vida (Puravida-ibiza.com)
Deputy Chief Sub-Editor, Jennifer Woods-Blee
“Playa Niu Blau beach in Es Cana, Ibiza, is a picture-perfect slice of paradise. It’s a gorgeous little cove that’s hardly ever busy, which is hard to find on the island that never sleeps. It’s also home to one of the best restaurants on the island, Pura Vida. This eatery is pure Ibizan style – wooden decking, chill-out sofas, chic champagne bar and views to die for. I love it so much, I got married there last August!”
Honduras
Bay Islands, Utila (Aboututila.com)
Entertainment Writer, Laura Bond
“Fancy a secret diving hot spot off Honduras? Head to tiny island Utila where there are no cars and a few rudimentary bars. It’s incredible for spying on underwater life – I spotted whale sharks when I took a dip.”
Thailand
River Kwai Resotel (Riverkwairesotel.net)
Chief Sub-Editor, Kirsty Spence
“Escape reality at the secluded River Kwai Resotel in Kanchanaburi. You can only access it via long boats down the River Kwai, so it feels like you’re in the middle of the jungle, but with the bonus of an in-house spa. Bliss.”
Paris
Candelaria (Candelariaparis.com)
Editor, Rachel Richardson
“Candelaria in Paris is worth the price of your Eurostar ticket alone. Four stools at the brightly lit counter are for those unfortunate enough to miss out on the only table in this dingy eatery in the Marais, where you can feast on scrummy Mexican tapas and sip on a chilli flake-spiked frozen margarita. The chic-and-cheap food is worth the visit, but the big prize comes after you’ve scoffed your last tortilla. Push through the scuffed door to find an iron staircase leading to a candlelit cocktail bar in the cellar. The hip crowd inside will make you feel like you’ve been invited to the coolest party in town.”
Cornwall
The Shepherd’s Hut (Moylesfarm.co.uk)
Sub-Editor, Helen Nianias
“The Shepherd’s Hut on Moyles Farm, 1.5 miles from the beach in Polzeath, is a little out of the way if you don’t have a car, but walks through lush, winding lanes by the farm totally make up for any inconvenience. Crammed inside the seaside-themed wooden cabin there’s a king-size bed, hob and TV. In the evenings, sit in front of the hut with a sundowner and watch the Cornish skies turn dark.”
Nice
Le Festival De La Moule (Lefestivaldelamoule.com)
Acting Deputy Picture Editor, Jenny Hodges
“Nice can be pricey so Le Festival De La Moule restaurant is a real gem. It’s nothing special to look at, but for €12.99 (around £10) you can eat as many mussels as you can manage. They taste like they’ve just been pulled out of the sea, because they probably have.”
Palma
Palma Hotel Bon Sol (Hotelbonsol.es)
Features Writer, Claie Wilson
“Just outside Palma, Mallorca, you’ll find the dreamy Hotel Bon Sol in Illetas, where I honeymooned. It has its own private beach, is built into a cliff top and has the swishiest spa, leaving you with no option but to zone out. It’s run by a lovely couple, and the food’s delish too – patatas bravas all round!”
New York
The Back Room (102 Norfolk St, 10002)
Assistant Editor, Beth Neil
“There’s no sign on the door and you have to go down a back alley to access it, but the Back Room in New York’s Lower East Side is well worth hunting down. Booze is served in teacups – a throwback to drinking during prohibition, a time when alcohol sales were banned. And with the period-perfect chandeliers, tin ceilings and candlestick phone, you feel like you’ve fallen down a magical rabbit hole.”
