Estelle Manor, England
Estelle Manor is the very exquisite country house hotel and members’ club in Oxfordshire created by Sharan Pasricha, who also owns Gleneagles and heads up the Ennismore group.
Opened in 2023, in the Muse, which is curated by his wife Eiesha, has one of the very best hotel boutiques in Britain (although you might also come for the 30,000 square meter Roman-inspired spa, outdoor swimming pool and 60 acres filled with croquet lawns, archery and axe-throwing plus three restaurants and bedrooms that balance heritage with delightful dollops of modernity). This year, Estelle Manor has launched a collaboration with New York-based Lingua Franca, and this hand-stitched Lady of the Manor (£675) cashmere cardigan, generously oversized, will make any mother rightly feel that they rule the roost.
Byblos, France
In the 1970s, the hotel Byblos became the motherlode of St Tropez cool and its maintained epic levels of panache since.. Just off Avenue Foch, it mixes a still-legendary nightclub, the Caves du Roy and a particularly nice beach club on the Pampelonne and 88 personality-filled rooms and suites (the hotel is named after the place where Aphrodite and Adonis became lovers and yes, this is a hotel that dispenses romance). This year, as well as a new rooftop Skybar, its shop sees a collaboration with Pinel et Pinel, the very desirable, very discreet Paris-based trunkmaker. The Colette XL tote bag ($2,290) has a canvas exterior but is lined in calfskin, resulting in a casual elegance that is both tres St Tropez and Byblos.
Villa d’Este, Italy
Standing sentinel on Lake Como, Villa d’Este is one of Italy’s most beautiful and famous hotels, with a guest list that includes royalty, film stars and literary giants, including Mark Twain and Joseph Heller. The Villa d’Este La Boutique also celebrates Italian design. These hand-painted sandals ($352) celebrate the hotel’s 16th-century architecture, with a blue suede insole and bring a sense of dolce vita to this Mother’s Day.
Bequia Beach Hotel, St Vincent & The Grenadines
The island of Bequia is old-style Caribbean, and, owned by the Mortstedt family, Bequia Beach Hotel fits is a perfect fit for this vibe. Perched on Friendship Beach, guests reach it by the hotel’s own private plane from Barbados or St Lucia and then just relax at the beach bar, explore the island and relax around its rooms and suites. Bequia Beach Bums was founded by Elinor Mortstedt and draws inspiration from Bequia – swimsuits have built-in UV protection, while the cover-ups (£95) will take you from the pool and beach to sundowners and beyond.
Arev, France
The Cote d’Azur is having a proper moment at the moment and one of the reasons is this new hotel which brings a new design perspective to the heart of St Tropez. The 35-room hotel, designed by Luis Bustamante, features nautical-themed décor with navy and white stripes and red accents. It has also launched a collaboration with cult London fashion company Paper with three carefully curated capsules: on the padel court, by the pool, and at the bar, including beach wear and sports clothing.
Hotel Caruso, A Belmond Hotel, Italy
All the Belmond hotels, which in Italy include the revered Hotel Cipriani in Venice and the Splendido in Portofino, are a reflection of their environment, which naturally includes the local cuisine. The Belmond group has started to create a series of travelogues with Apartamento. The third, Campagnia: Recipes & Wanderings Across Italy’s Polychromatic Coast (49 euros) features photography by Lea Colombo and classic recipes, including many taken from the kitchens of the Hotel Caruso, previously an 11th-century palace perched on the highest peak of the Amalfi Coast
Fife Arms, Scotland
Some hotels are great at championing local artisans. One particularly strong example is the Fife Arms in Braemar in Scotland. It has partnered with leading silversmith Malcolm Appleby who has a workshop in nearby Aberfeldy. With a career that spans 50 years, he has created a range of jewellery that takes inspiration from the Highland landscape. This bangle (£555) is in fully-hallmarked silver and measures 19 x 2 x 2.5cm and depicts the otters that play in the waters around the hotel.
La Reserve Hotel, Switzerland
Now encompassing 14 hotels and resorts – primarily in Switzerland but also in France and London, Michel Reybier has joined together a series of hotels that incorporate both grand dames hotels such as Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel and Spa and newer ones, including L’Oscar. All of them have an elephant in their design, thanks to Reybier’s vineyard Cos d’Estournel, which has historic links with India. This Silver Elephant Ring Holder ($160.00) is a very appropriate gift for a mother who appreciates the finer things in life.