A Day Out Of London At The Grove

I love London. I love it so much that I almost never consider heading out of the city. Except to spend a day out at The Grove, a 5-star luxury countryside that is only 20 minutes away from Central London.

Who could resist?

The history of The Grove dates back to the 1500s when the first home for the bourgeois of the time was made. Fast forward to 2023, The Grove marks its 20th anniversary as a hotel, and it does it in pure style.

A luxurious destination for those in the know, this grand hotel has lots to offer: four excellent restaurants, a delicious spa and championship golf-course. Not to mention that during summer both hotel guests and visitors alike can go to a a Secret Cinema in its gardens.

To celebrate the British Summer (or lack thereof), the hotel has created a little experience near its golfing grounds. A culinary exploration in a hot air ballon! Fear not, you will be staying in the grounds, but it will resemble as if you were headed to the heaven.

We took advantage that our dinner was on a Sunday and arrived early to explore the hotel grounds. We had a cinema session over tea time, cocktail hour at the Library, dinner in our hotel balloons and a night cap by the piano in the lobby lounge.

The exclusive balloon experience extends through the duration of the summer season, offering you an exquisite dinner tasting menu. Attended by servers elegantly dressed in black tie attire, the impeccable service perfectly complements the overall aesthetic, promising a truly delightful and memorable indulgence.

The seven course meal included a whole lobster to share between two and concluded with a delicious lemon tart and petit fours. As the night was coming to an end, the balloon lights lit up, and we sipped our warm drinks to the starlit sky.

Before we knew, it was time to head home before our carriages turned pumpkins. What a fun day. Do not miss out!

TCB xx

Relax and Unwind: Gaya Island

If in need of a warm and short break somewhere far away, we’ve got THE best option for ya, it’s called Gaya Island. A biodiverse jungle and marine wonderland (tho Philippines still remains our favourite), this Borneo island is a little gem minutes away from mainland Kota Kinabalu, in Sabah. The island has no inhabitants other than those staying at the only two resorts in the island, and that’s the only way to access it.

Borneo is in many occasions overlooked by backpackers, who most of the times would be more tempted to vacation in other islands in Thailand or Indonesia. Fools! Malaysia has so much to offer.

We stayed 4 nights at Gaya Island Resort, and we felt like King & Queen. For starters, prices for a westerner are affordable here, but considering you are in a five-star resort, you are in for a treat. A 5-day holiday all-inclusive was about £700/ person.

Rooms are like suites, we had a bathroom with his and hers sinks, a bathtub that fitted at least 4 people (2 sitting next to each other) and a shower that fitted 10. Not to mention a walk-in closet and an extremely comfy extra-big bed…

Coffee could have been better and food at times could get repetitive considering there is nowhere else to go, but the resort has managed to create different atmospheres and you can indulge yourself into a BBQ night one day, immerse yourself into an izakaya evening or pretend you are at a fine dining restaurant on another night. There’s also delicious snack type food (hello fried calamari!) that you can indulge by the pool.

And the poo! An infinity pool overlooking a beautiful calm beach that you can reach straight away, just few steps from the pool. Could we ask for anything else?

There is wifi everywhere and a meeting room/ library and a gym, for those who can’t fully disconnect from the outside world.

In addition, there’s plenty of activities on offer. From snorkel and diving trips to mountain walks and early morning yoga, the options are vast. Not to mention a necessary #treatyoself day at their renowned luxury spa. Something worth your dollah, not to be missed.