Million Air Winter 2022

etr li at ve eler WINTER 2022/23 41

Welcome

Another year, another journey around the world to compile our Top 1 00 Suites. Last year, we laser-focused on the most sustainable suites. And while the suites you fi nd this year still have the underpinning of strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) values, you’ll fi nd the suites categorized by your

Elite Traveler around the world For daily updates, follow us on Twitter @elite_traveler and on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest @elitetraveler

vacation preference in this issue. Traveling with family? Look at Soneva Fushi and its seriously fun water slide villa. Looking to recharge and refresh? A wellness mecca in Iceland with a private geothermal lagoon will more than su ffi ce. You will also fi nd a selection of the most exciting new openings from the last year. Speaking of which, one of the most talked-about new hotel openings of 2022, Aman New York, has had tongues wagging since it opened its doors in the summer. Elite Traveler ’s Irenie Forshaw speaks to the man behind all the glorious details — famed designer Jean-Michel Gathy — about capturing the essence of New York for the lofty project. With the festive season comes eating, drinking and general merriment, and — of course — gifts. If you’re seeking inspiration for loved ones, look no further than our Gift Guide, where you’ll fi nd a unique and wonderful curation of goodies. If you happen to receive a bottle of fi ne wine as a gift (or as a gift to yourself, no judgment here) then consider the optimum storage conditions. Victoria Daskal heads underground into an old mine-turned-expert-wine storage-space with Octavian. Elsewhere in this issue, we go in search of some winter sun. Becca Hensley touches down in Barbados and revels in all that the colorful island has to o ff er, from the friendly food trucks to the rum experiences (this is the liquor’s birthplace, after all). Alexandra Cheney goes against the grain in New Zealand at the lesser-visited North Island — the best way to take in the striking landscape is by road, as there are some 650 miles of roads that connect tip to tip. And as Alexandra summarizes, “every route is a scenic one.” The road trip theme continues with this issue’s Hot List. I spent a week behind the wheel of a Porsche Taycan Gran Turismo, exploring the mythical fjords of Norway and the incredibly spectacular landscape; many an unplanned stop was made to brave the cold waters with a quick dip. And Oli Smith ventures into the Scottish Highlands to test out a Bentley Bentayga.

Photographer Mitch Payne behind the scenes at our Gift Guide photo shoot

Samantha Coles heads to Norway to drive the fjords behind the wheel of a Porsche Taycan Gran Turismo

The Elite Traveler team conducted vital research for the Top 100 Suites — pictured here is the swimming pool of the Three bedroom Royal Mountain Villa at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort

Samantha Coles Editor samantha.coles@elitetraveler.com