We’d rather not swallow salt if we have to sleep in a sandy bed afterwards. Yes to sun, sea, sand, and salt, but in vacation mode. Hotel Alaia is an intimate and sustainable resort in Punta de Lobos, Chile. There are constant, sometimes powerful, left-breaking waves here. It is one of the few places in the world designated a World Surfing Reserve by the Save the Waves Coalition—cool!

The rooms are beautiful and all situated by the sea, and the kitchen focuses on local ingredients, largely sourced from the on-site greenhouse and garden. In addition to surfing, there is a skatepark with a concrete bowl that mimics the waves, Pilates classes, and a climbing wall for days when the ocean takes a break.

Hotel Alaia, Chile

Wellness at its finest. This resort on the Aegean coast is self-care at its best. Here you will find one of the largest spas we have ever seen, featuring biohacking, hammams, ice rooms, and a meditation cave, plus personal training and tailored health programs. The dream place for anyone who truly wants to reset.

But you can also let loose outside the spa: hikes past ancient ruins, yoga with a sea view, swimming in beautiful bays, and food straight from the hotel's own vegetable garden. Everything in that Six Senses style: barefoot luxury, sustainable, and wonderfully serene. Bring sneakers for the workouts, heels for an evening under the stars among the olive trees. On the bucket list!

View and/or book Six Senses Kaplankaya

Hotel Chalet Mirabell, high above South Tyrol's Merano, is another dream destination for those looking to combine sport and luxury. You see, the mountain regions are simply excellent, and South Tyrol is, of course, top-notch… In winter, you are situated right next to the Meran 2000 ski area. There is also plenty to do off the slopes, from tobogganing and winter walks to cross-country skiing in the crisp mountain air. As soon as the snow melts, the surroundings transform into a paradise for hikers and mountain bikers, with routes such as the Haflinger High Trail and trails through the mountains.

After an active day (or before, or if you skip the active part, you do you), there is the 6.000 m² spa with heated indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, and relaxation areas (often in South Tyrolean style, so no swimwear). And man… The food here: elaborate lunches, multi-course dinners that are absolutely fantastic.

Hotel Chalet Mirabell

High on the bucket list, the Barcelona marathon. And 42km is tough (a half counts too!), but even tougher is the thought that we might sleep in a bad bed afterwards. Or that the breakfast buffet is disappointing. Ugh no. When we train for so long, we want to reward ourselves, too.

Nobu normally already has bottles of water for after the run when you stay there, but during the marathon, the entire hotel focuses on that. And Nobu has an amazing spa, inspired by Japan's combination of tradition and modernism, with three treatment rooms, a sauna, a steam bath, and great massages.

Nobu Hotel claims to be a 'urban sanctuaryAnd the day after the marathon, we hang out on the 23rd floor, because that's where the sushi bar is. Nobu is located in Sants, around the corner from one of the city's largest train stations. It's a neighborhood that is still very much under development, but you can get to the center in no time by public transport. You can also walk quite a distance, as it isn't *that* far. You even have a view of the Sagrada Familia. On the other side lies Montjuïc, a green neighborhood situated on and around a hill of the same name. It's a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city center.

Nobu Hotel

Pickleball in the heart of Paris, duh. Just a few steps from the Arc de Triomphe ligt Hôtel Barrière Fouquet's ParisHidden in a courtyard, you will find a bright red pickleball court. Not necessarily what you expect in this classic city, but that is precisely what makes it so fun.

From May through September, hotel guests hit a few balls here. Naturally, in an intimate, mirrored room with characteristic Fouquet's red details. Not a guest? You can simply book the course (maximum four players), although that does come with a price tag of around €180 per hour, but then again, you are playing at one of the most unique spots in Paris.

And afterwards, you move on to the hotel's rooftop garden for cocktails and a view of the Parisian skyline.

Anyone who thinks wellness is all about juices and slow yoga needs to be told about Amanpuri. This is luxury and top-level sport, on a tropical peninsula no less. You come here to recharge, but certainly also to push yourself. We would book just for the gym with its sea view and trainers who really push you. You come here for Muay Thai in a professional ring, and there are intensive PT sessions, Pilates, and yoga: everything revolves around getting stronger, fitter, and sharper.

The Wellness Immersions are great: multi-day programs where training, nutrition, and recovery come together. Work purposefully on your fitness or strength, complemented by ice baths, massages, and medical guidance that completely reset your body. And of course, it is an Aman hotel. So after all that sweating, you effortlessly transition to long lunches by the sea and stay in serene villas. Everything is taken care of impeccably.

amanpuri