Swide Magazine by Dolce&Gabbana

Still undecided about where to spend your Christmas Holidays? Here are (warm) Swide’s picks…

‘Tis the Season, again.

And you still haven’t made up your mind about where to go spend Christmas Holidays with your family or your significant one. How about chasing the sun? Here are Swide’s 5 hot destinations that are only a (short or long haul, you pick) flight away…

-  St.Barth’s, French West Indies  

Saint-Barthélemy, often abbreviated St. Barts (also, St. Barth's) in English, is an overseas collectivity of France. It is situated among the Leeward Islands in the northeastern Carribean (they include the French West Indies, along with Guadeloupe, Martinique and Saint Martin). Indigenous people called the Island Ouanalao. Temperatures here vary very little through the year, from 20°C/68°F to 33°C/91,4°F. Average temperatures in December are 25°5°C/77,9°F. Don’t miss the Grand Saline beach, Colombier beach, St. Jean beach. If we haven’t convinced you yet, check out Le Sereno St. Barth Hotel where you will enjoy the beautiful sunshine in a 5 stars design setting. 

Le Sereno St.Barth’s, Grand Cul-de-Sac, St.Barth, West Indies (+59 (05) 90298300)

 Silk chiffon leopard print dress and Miss Sicily mix&match bag 

-  Rajasthan, India

If you are not a beach person anyway, we suggest a trip different to any other: a safari. No, not the usual Africa destinations, but India. The land of Rajasthan is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India and encompasses most of the area of the Great Indian Desert (Thar Desert). Eastern Rajasthan has the world famous Keoladeo National Park near Bharatpur, a world Heritage site known for its bird life. It also has two national tiger riserve (Ranthambore and Sariska Tiger Riserve). Winter is the perfect time to visit Rajasthan, since it’s not monsoon season. Winter here extends from December to March and winter temperatures vary between 8ºC to 28ºC. You will be able to reserve with your hotel special tour in the Desert or in the Parks. Looking for a special place to stay? Pick evocative Serai Hotel (Sujan Luxury Hotel): the Suites have private walled-in garden with a sunken pool and the Royal Suite even have a private Spa.

The Serai, Jaisalmer, Bherwa, Chandan, District Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India (+91 (11) 4606 7608)

 Safari-style jumpsuit. Animal print brogues

-  Madeira, Portugal

You don’t like to flight long hours but you still want to escape winter. Portugal is a perfect place to do so: Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean. The island of Madeira is at the top of a massive shield volcano that rises about 6 km (3.7 mi) from the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, on the Tore underwater mountain range. A year-round destination, its temperatures stay mild all year: in December the average is of 20 °C (68 °F). Enjoy the sunshine, the local delicious wine named after the archipelago and stay at quintas – local guest houses – for a real Portuguese experience. One of the coolest one is Quintas das Vistas with Chandra Spa, that offer reflexology, stone theraphy, aromatheraphy and reiki. 

Quintas das Vistas, Caminho de Santo Antonio 52, Funchal, Madeira (+351 291 724 234)

 Grey jersey T-Shirt and satin trousers in new peony print. Wooden platform sandals

-  Broome, Australia

Broome is a pearling and tourist town in the Kimberly Region of Western Australia, North of Perth. You can chose among many beaches, but the most famous one is Cable Beach, named in honour of the Java-to-Australia undersea telegraph cable which reaches shore here. It is 22.5 km (14.0 mi) long with beautiful white sand and crystal clear water. Maximum temperatures in december reach 35 °C (95 °F). If technically this would not be the season (as it is the wet season, opposed to the dry one), Broome has a tropical climate with mild temperatures year-round so the weather is still hot and you can enjoy the sunshine. Being “off season”, also, you won’t be bothered by ords of tourists. What’s not to love? Stay at The Pearle at Cable beach, to relax properly, surrounded by architecturally designed pavilions, oversized recycled teak courtyard door and tropical gardens.

The Pearle, 14 Millington Road Cable Beach, Broome, Western Australia (+61 9194 0900)

 Leopard maxi skirt and bikini

-  Buenos Aires, Argentina

More of a city person, but still want to walk under the sun? Then the perfect get-away for you it’s Buenos Aires, the capital and largest city of Argentina. Winter here are temperate: in December temperatures average 25 C, so feel free to stroll around this beautiful city that has a lot to offer. Strongly influenced by European Culture, Buenos Aires is sometimes referred to as the "Paris of South America". Visit its museums (like the National Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of the Tango National Academy) and monuments, like Teatro Colòn, an internationally rated opera house (many are the concerts you can go to), Nuestra Señora del Pilar, one of the oldest churches of the city or the Recoleta cemetery. Stay at Hotel Boutique Purobaires, in the heart of Palermo Sohoneighborhood, with a beautiful design and a swimming pool on the roof.

Purobaires, Niceto Vega 4788, Palermo Soho, Buenos Aires, Argentina (5411) 4139-0100

 Jersey printed T-Shirt, wedge sandals

Dolce&Gabbana Spring/Summer 2012 Collection 

Styled by: Yuri Ahn  

Written by: Elisa della Barba

Credits: Dolce&Gabbana  

 

 

 

 

 

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