The Leading Hotels of the World (LHW), with more than 400 independent luxury hotels in over 80 countries, is proud to announce that the Sustainability Leaders collection that launched in October 2023 has grown by more than 50% in only 6 months. Sustainable business standards, like community connections, preserving local cultures, and environmental conservation have always been deep-rooted in the DNA of The Leading Hotels of the World. The Sustainability Leaders collection was created to recognize Leading Hotels that are committed to preserving the environment and the cherished values and cultural heritage of their destinations.
There is no mistaking that Tenerife is an arid island – all volcanic peaks, lava and beaches covered mostly in black sand. You would be hard pressed, though, to notice this when staying at Bahia del Duque, the 5 hotel on the island's south-west coast. There are endless pools (I lost count but you can choose between heated or not, sea water or fresh) and ponds, lakes, fountains, streams (with black swans and massive koi carp) all linked with the lushest vegetation. There are dates palms and olives, cacti and rampant bougainvillea. Everywhere you seem to hear the sound of water mostly those plashing fountains but also, at times, the sound of the waves on the beach (not black here but the imported, golden kind). I say Bahia del Duque (literally the Bay of the Duke) is a hotel but really it's more like an entire village. The architecture is pleasingly Spanish colonial with steeply pitched tiled Canarian rooftops. It's painted in ochres and creams, pinks and russets and fe
I recently returned from an epic journey halfway around the planet. It sounds exotic and exciting, but the reality of crossing multiple time zones within 24 hours isn’t quite as romantic. After several nights of staring at the ceiling and days spent in a foggy stupor, I turned around and did it all again. Sadly, memories of any palm-strewn beaches and glittering oceans have all dissolved in a haze.
I recently returned from an epic journey halfway around the planet. It sounds exotic and exciting, but the reality of crossing multiple time zones within 24 hours isn’t quite as romantic. After several nights of staring at the ceiling and days spent in a foggy stupor, I turned around and did it all again. Sadly, memories of any palm-strewn beaches and glittering oceans have all dissolved in a haze.