The best hotels to book in Europe for quarantine-free holidays
With travel still haltingly opening up across Europe, more and more hotels are reopening, bringing hope not just for economic recovery across the continent but for some much-needed holidays. The UK currently has 25 travel corridors with other European nations and territories, meaning Britons can now fly off for a holiday on the Med or a stay in Alps without having to factor in weeks of self-isolation.
With this in mind, here are some of the best European hotels to have opened so far, eagerly waiting to welcome guests back with open arms (while maintaining at least a metre's gap at all times, of course).
If you are looking for key dates of UK hotel openings, see here.
Italy
A few eyebrows were raised when Italy reopened its borders on June 3, with many suggesting that it was too soon for one of the European nations hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic. Visitors from certain countries, including the UK, can already visit without having to go into quarantine. Bars and restaurants have reopened, but at reduced capacity and with plastic shields between tables. Some tourist sites are also welcoming visitors again, including the Colosseum, Pompeii and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Italian hotels have been steadily reopening for a few weeks now, with some new regulations to help contain any infection. Face masks need to be worn in common areas, and travellers or travelling groups must maintain at least a metre’s gap at all times.
Here are the best hotels in Italy that have now reopened
Aman Venice
The Clooneys celebrated their nuptials in this 16th-century Grand Canal palace. Yet there is much more to say about this incredible property, which balances contemporary décor with museum-quality treasures in 24 luxurious suites. The Alcova suite is the star with its 18th-century frescoes by Tiepolo.
Il Pellicano, Tuscany
Il Pellicano will welcome guests “as it was done in the 70s”, when the hotel, then more akin to a private club with just eight bedrooms, was the place to be and be seen for the jet set. This summer “Casa Pellicano”, as it’s been affectionately named, will operate only 25 rooms out of the hotel’s 52. There will be one, daily changing menu served across both of its restaurants. and its yellow-striped sunbeds by the pool – once photographed by Slim Aarons – will be spaced out appropriately.
Villa Lena, Tuscany
A hotel-meets-art-foundation set high up in the hills of Tuscany, with a 19th-century patrician villa at its core. Different artists take up residency each month alongside the guests, offering workshops and ultimately leaving behind a piece for the hotel, meaning it’s an ever-changing gallery.
J.K. Place Capri
This is a triumph of peerless refinement and Italian high design: an easy yet sophisticated hotel with sumptuous interiors, a gorgeous swimming pool terrace, relaxed wellness spa, magnificent sea views, and one of the island's most celebrated restaurants in the form of JKitchen.
Belmond Hotel Splendido, Portofino
Housed an in a 16th-century monastery building with fabulous views over the bay of Portofino, the luxurious Splendido is one of Italy’s Grande Dame hotels. With its excellent facilities, delicious food and exceptional service, you may never want to leave, but there’s lots to do in the area to tempt all the same.
Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como
Elegant, stylish and fashionable, the Grand Hotel Tremezzo stands majestically on the western shore, offering sophisticated interiors combining strong colours and classical details. Sun yourself by the floating pool, sip cocktails on the terrace or zip along the lake in one of the hotel’s chic water limousines.
Il Sereno, Lake Como
Il Sereno provides a breath of fresh air from Lake Como’s classically styled five-star hotels, with interiors made of wood, stone and plenty of glass, allowing for wonderful vistas. Sit back poolside with a cocktail in hand, unwind at the spa or tuck into creative dishes at the Michelin-starred restaurant.
Verdura Resort, Sicily
The best spa in Sicily sprawls across 4,000 modernist metres in this luxury hotel on the little-visited south coast. There are also two 18-hole golf courses. West of the charming baroque town of Sciacca, it’s ideally placed for visiting two of Sicily’s most impressive Greek temple complexes: Agrigento and Selinunte.
Four Seasons Hotel Firenze
Florence’s most lavish hotel is housed in a magnificent Renaissance palazzo and set in 11 acres of mature gardens. Well-removed from the tourist hordes, it offers superb resort facilities and the sort of polished service you would expect from the Four Seasons brand.
Hotel de Russie
Frequented by fashion and film people, well-heeled tourists and style-conscious business travellers, the Hotel de Russie is the entirely refurbished avatar of an earlier establishment popular with artists like Picasso and Jean Cocteau. The hotel melds the elegant classicism of Ancient Rome with a more contemporary idiom that nods to the Art Deco-influenced design of the interwar years.
Greece
The situation for UK holidaymakers with bookings in Greece is now a little complicated. The country was granted a travel corridor with the UK, but the quarantine exemption was partially revoked after "enhanced data" led the Government to determine that cases are were rising on seven Greek islands. English travellers must now self-isolate when returning from Lesvos, Tinos, Serifos, Mykonos, Crete, Santorini and Zante, but the Welsh and Scottish governments have imposed different restrictions. Those returning to Scotland from anywhere in Greece must now self-isoalte, while Wales has ordered quarantine for anyone travelling from Crete, Zante, Mykonos, Lesvos, Paros and Antiparos.
It does mean that much of Greece is still a feasible holiday option (unless you're in Scotland), and the hotels in these places will be open for trade. While some changes are to be expected – heightened cleaning protocols, social distancing in restaurants – guests will not have to wear face coverings (although a good rule of thumb for post-coronavirus travel is that all rules are subject to change).
Here are the best hotels in Greece that have now reopened
Kókkini Porta Rossa, Rhodes
Originally a 14th-century knight's abode, Kókkini Porta Rossa is the most fascinating place to stay in Rhodes. If only the sandstone walls of this house could speak, they would convey stories from the era of the Knights of St John as well as the Turkish, Greek and Jewish families that, despite cultural differences, later lived harmoniously under the same roof.
Amanzoe, The Peloponnese
Amanzoe is an ultra-exclusive resort with an emphasis on health and wellbeing. There are just 38 freestanding pavilions, each with its own fragrant garden, large tiled terrace and private pool. The very stylish spa offers treatments based on the healing philosophy of Greek medicine and a range of holistic therapies, including Pilates, yoga and aquatic bodywork.
Elounda Peninsula, Crete
Nothing was left to chance in the reimagining of the legendary Miramare hotel, Ionian isle’s gold standard, which opened in 1962 and swiftly turned into a celebrity magnet. Greece’s Domes Resorts has meticulously fashioned a serene Mediterranean-chic seaside destination for couples that is hard to part with. Charismatic yet unpretentious, the spirit of former owners the Onassis family is palpable.
Elivi Skiathos
Pine-fringed beaches and panoramic sea views set the scene at this stylish boutique resort, set high above the tourist hub and nature reserve of Koukounaries on the island’s south-western peninsula. If you’re looking for elegant details, smooth service and seriously Instagrammable backdrops, you’ve come to the right place. The feel is stylish without being soulless, slick but serene.
Sani Beach Hotel, Halkidiki
A microcosm of Mediterranean luxury, Sani Resort comprises four hotels with child-friendly facilities, and a dizzying amount of restaurants. Sani Resort’s state-of-the-art sports centre includes six clay tennis courts, and there are two watersports stations (centres that can arrange activities such as waterskiing and sailing), plus a diving centre.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens
Greece’s first Four Seasons hotel is a triumphant revival of a modernist landmark, where guests can enjoy a beach holiday, destination spa and city break rolled into one glamorous, authentically Greek experience. It is set in Vouliagmeni, the most sought-after seaside suburb in Athens ever since the Astir Palace opened in the 1960s, and is where Onassis, Bardot and Sinatra all used to hang out.
Portugal
There was a sense of relief and joy when Portugal was finally added to the UK's 'green list', well over a month after the Government began handing out quarantine exemptions to some of our other European neighbours. But much of the country is now back on the 'red list' again after a spike in new infections saw case numbers rise above the 'safe' threshold of 20 per 100,000 people.
But Britons can still travel to and from the outlying islands of Madeira and the Azores, following the UK's introduction of regional air bridges to localities with lower infection rates. Turismo de Portugal, the national tourism body, has unveiled the 'Clean & Safe' certification , awarded to tourism businesses that can prove they are up to scratch on safety standards, so look for this quality mark when booking your hotel.
Here are the best hotels in Portugal that have now reopened
Estalagem Quinta da Casa Branca, Madeira
This acclaimed hotel, set back from the road within beautifully lush, botanical gardens, comprises a 20th-century manor house, with five luxury suites and a design-driven, glass and steel cube with 43 rooms. Amidst exotic banana trees and cascading bougainvillea lies an inviting swimming pool.
Dorisol Pousada dos Vinháticos, Madeira
Surrounded by Unesco-protected laurel trees, this cosy granite lodge sits more than 2,000 feet (660 metres) above sea level, with far-reaching views over the mountains and valley of Serra de Água. Originally a simple stop on the hiking trail, it now has 21 rooms and an excellent regional kitchen.
Belmond Reid's Palace
For over a century, Reid’s Palace has welcomed guests to its luxurious haven on the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Traditional interiors celebrating the hotel’s British heritage look onto lush subtropical gardens of honeysuckle and jade vine, the swimming pools, and the sea beyond.
Terra Nostra Garden Hotel, The Azores
Part of the historic Terra Nostra Garden, this hotel is situated in the perfect spot to enjoy some of the island of São Miguel’s natural geothermal wonders. Here you can step right out of your room and straight into the garden to relax in its bubbling hot springs. The hotel is sleek and modern, painted in pale yellow and green shades, and filled with natural light from its many windows.
White, The Azores
True to its name, everything at this boutique hotel, from the walls and polished concrete floors to the stone terraces surrounding the pool, is brilliant white, warmed by raw wood furniture and tactile fabrics such as wool and linen. The terraces that run the length of the hotel and overlook the sea are spectacular, whether for early-morning yoga to the sound of the waves or a cocktail by the fire pit while you watch the sunset.
Santa Bárbara Eco-Beach Resort, The Azores
Set on the northern edge of São Miguel Island above a lovely beac, the resort’s open spaces – built with a mix of the island’s cryptomeria wood, microcement, bamboo, cork and local stone – allow the wide skies, neighbouring ocean, and green landscape to dominate. Décor is deliberately minimalist and simple, creating the feeling of a natural retreat set on the edge of the world.
Germany
The power to tighten or relax lockdown measures has been handed down from the national government to Germany’s 16 federal states, so rules can vary from region to region. Hotels have by and large been universally allowed to start accepting guests, although a recent spike in new infections could cause some states to backtrack on the easing process.
By extension, the various rules and regulations now being foisted on hotel owners differ across the country. Some states are allowing hotels to fill to capacity; others will have to limit guest numbers. Some will open up public areas; others will keep them closed off. Generally though, we can expect to see what are fast becoming the standard trappings of post-coronavirus hospitality: staff with face masks and gloves, restaurant tables spaced out, a zealous approach to wiping down surfaces, and, in some cases, plastic barriers to keep guests from bumping into one another while trying to dig out their key cards.
Here are the best hotels in Germany that have now reopened
Hotel de Rome, Berlin
Converted from a grand 19th-century bank, this Rocco Forte property enjoys a glamorous location on Unter den Linden's historic Bebelplatz. The interior combines original architectural features with impressive contemporary flair, and restrained but luxurious rooms, a classy restaurant and bar, and a refined spa.
Bayerischer Hof, Munich
Munich famously steers a path between the modern and traditional, and few places better reflect this than the outstanding Bayerischer Hof. The hotel will appeal to traditionalists, with its façade that looks distinctly 19th century and numerous history-focused rooms. It's housed in the incomparable Montgelas Palace, with classical furnishings and architecture, however there is a modern edge.
Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa, Baden Baden
The grande dame of this upmarket resort is set in a leafy central spot with a seriously large spa, calming gardens and three restaurants including Michelin-starred dining. Opened in 1872, this is a long-established luxury hotel with an imposing, cream-coloured façade, elegant interiors, luxurious rooms and slick, professional service, not to mention a sophisticated client list including royalty and the political elite.
Schlosshotel Kronberg, Hesse
There is something very special about the Schlosshotel Kronberg, a magnificent-looking English-style country mansion complete with gothic exterior, sumptuous interiors and extraordinary historic resonance. It was once the private residence of a German empress (and the daughter of Queen Victoria), and members of most of Europe’s royal families – Tsar Nicholas II and Edward VII among them – have walked these corridors.
Althoff Seehotel Überfahrt, Lake Tegernsee
With a Michelin-starred chef, lakeside location and high-class rooms and suites, Althoff Seehotel Überfahrt is one of the best places in the Bavarian Alps to spend a holiday. Steadily expanded in the last few decades, it is now a highly modern hotel, characterised by ubiquitous marble floorings and gold furnishings. There is an air of opulence here, in the manner of grand hotels, though rarely overdone.
Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin
Berlin’s most glamorous hotel address has hosted Michael Jackson and Her Majesty the Queen, among other luminaries. Overlooking the Brandenburg Gate, the hotel's prestigious location is matched to top-notch facilities (a two-floor spa, several restaurants) and flawless service.
Turkey
Turkey was among the first countries to establish an air bridge with the UK, and Britons have been flocking to holiday resorts on the Turquoise Coast all summer. There are concerns that the link could soon be severed, with the number of Turkish cases having risen a fair bit in the last few weeks. For now, however, it's hovering at around 14 daily new cases per 100,000, well below the UK's cut-off limit of 20.
It's worth bearing in mind that all arrivals in Turkey are subject to a medical evaluation at the airport, and anyone displaying symptoms of Covid-19 is required to undergo a PCR test on the spot – this will definitely lead to a period of quarantine (possibly a day or two while the results are being processed), and will extended to 14 days if it comes back positive.
Here are the best hotels in Turkey that have now reopened
D-Maris Bay, Marmaris
D Maris Bay’s fabulous setting, superb food and extensive facilities make it one of the best, if not the best, luxury resort on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast. Five white-sand beaches, a water ski school, indoor and outdoor pools, and a huge spa with 10 treatment rooms mean you're unlikely to be stuck for something to do.
Raffles Istanbul
Unlike the majority of luxury hotels in Istanbul, Raffles does not pay homage to the city’s bygone Byzantine and Ottoman eras, but stands instead as a symbol of a modern, self-confident Turkey. The beautifully designed tower block, saved from blandness by the irregularly shaped balconies, belies an interior that is is quite a different beast, its public spaces adorned with an eclectic mix of Turkish and international art.
Hotel Villa Mahal, Kalkan
One of the very best boutique hotels in this beautiful corner of southwestern Turkey, understated luxury is the key-note to Villa Mahal’s success. Small, friendly, extremely stylish and superbly run, it’s the ideal place for a relaxing romantic break or as the base for exploring the fabulous ancient sites, gorgeously indented coastline and mountainous hinterland of Lycia.
Georges Hotel Galata, Istanbul
The epitome of the new wave of hip boutique hotels to open in the city's old European quarter, Georges makes the most of the beautiful, 19th-century apartment building from which it is fashioned, yet knows exactly what its discerning clientele want from their accommodation in this vibrant city. It offers a range of typically individual services, including in-room yoga and massage sessions, and guided city tours.
Likya Yolu Palas, Kapakl
A traditionally built property with just five bedrooms, Likya Yolu Palas is an intimate place to stay with a spectacular, south-facing position on a rocky hillside high above the sea, with good views of the eastern end of Kekova Island. Restrained elegance is the key attribute of each individually furnished room, with plain walls and traditional Turkish rugs on the gleaming wooden floors.
Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet
This luxurious hotel is actually fashioned from a late-Ottoman era prison once used to incarcerate writers, artists and other dissidents, though it has been so brilliantly converted you'd never guess. The focal point of the hotel is very much the courtyard, once the exercise yard for inmates, today a beautifully landscaped garden area. Its location in the heart of the city means it's a stone's throw from many of Istanbul's most famous sights.
Sweden
From the beginning of the pandemic, Sweden went its own way by refusing to implement stringent lockdown rules. Case numbers subsequently went through the roof, and as Europe's governments began discussing the reopening of borders, the Swedish found themselves well and truly outside the conversation, even among its Nordic neighbours.
The infection rate has since fallen substantially, and following the UK government's update to the quarantine list, you can now travel from Sweden without having to self-isolate. Swedish hotels, by and large, have introduced the standard safety measures to be expected post-coronavirus: social distancing in restaurants, enhanced cleaning, but you're not as likely to find more 'intrusive' protocols, such as temperature checks on arrival.
Here are the best hotels in Sweden that have now reopened
Ett Hem, Stockholm
Ett Hem has redefined the notion of a luxury hotel in Stockholm. The interior is truly remarkable and everything, down to the special scent that greets you on arrival, has been thought through. Expect lots of wood, marble, leather and velvet, with details such as custom-made wooden stools in the bathrooms and handblown water glasses by Ingegerd Råman.
Wanås Restaurant Hotel, Skåne
The Wanås Estate is in the rural heart of Skåne, Sweden’s 'Castle County', a 90-minute train ride from Malmö or Copenhagen. Wanås Hotel’s pared-back and sophisticated interiors are a microcosm of Nordic style. While 800-year-old oak trees host contemporary artworks in the parkland, inside textured walls and floors provide a rustic backdrop for the excellent restaurant.
Treehotel, Lapland
A UFO, a bird’s nest, a ‘mirrorcube’ – the range of accommodation at Treehotel is as eclectic as it sounds. The seven treehouses are situated in Swedish Lapland, in the heavily forested area surrounding Harads, and adopt the now well-known Scandi approach to comfort: minimalist in décor, but warm and snug where it counts. Naturally, the Northern Lights are a major draw, but don’t miss the dog-sledding, ice-fishing and moose safaris.
Grand Hôtel, Stockholm
Set right across from the Royal Palace and the harbour Strömkajen, Grand Hôtel brags of the ideal location in central Stockholm. World-class museums such as The Modern Museum, high-end shopping such as fashion district Bibliotekstan and beautiful walks across Stockholm's many bridges are right on the doorstep. With a rich heritage dating back to 1874, the style remains classic, yet with a modern touch in the choice of colour scheme and furniture pieces.
Ruin Retreat, Kummelnäs
This boutique hotel comes complete with a pool, sauna and spectacular views of the Stockholm inlet. A modern black villa rises in between the eponymous 'ruins' (follies dating from the 1890s), with windows facing the pool as well as the ocean and beautiful woodland. The stylish interior and modern architecture really make this place stand out, and worth the trek out of Stockholm proper.
Arctic Bath, Lapland
Floating or frozen in Sweden’s Lule River, this daring spa hotel is a design masterpiece. Cold therapy is central to the property, with saunas circling a bath filled with pure river water. From meditative spa therapies to sustainably sourced dinner menus, there’s an emphasis on wellbeing, and staff aim to guide each guest through their personal journey.
