Vietnam wellness jungle retreat; luxe villas in north Bali

Park Hyatt Tokyo(above left, park-hyatt-tokyo) returned, pennants flying, end 2025 after a 19-month top-to-toe revamp. All 171 rooms have a fresh new look with Japanese art and accents. Also find an Alain Ducasse French diner, an upscale grill and gussied up wellness treatments at the 2,100sq m big-view Club on the Park. The pool is open to those above 16 years. A 'Welcome Home Opening Offer' (book by 30 April 2026) with a gourmet breakfast at Girandole by Alain Ducasse. JUST 15 minutes from Paro Airport the locally inspired wellness retreat Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary (above right, bhutanspiritsanctuary.com) is offering a six-day five-night 'Glimpses of Bhutan' package, an all-inclusive luxury escape blending restorative treatments and consultation with a traditional Bhutanese medicine practitioner with hikes and explorations. All meals, wellness and guided excursions are covered. This all inclusive deal starting at US$5,133 for two is available for stays until 31 December 2026.

Lake villas open Bali's far north

IN Bali's unruffled north a set of five tasteful lakeside villas perched at 1,300m in the cooler highlands. An intimate retreat, Buyan Lakeside (buyanlakesidevillas.com) has recently opened with lakeview villas, a cafe, and a heated pool. Expect stretch space from 80sq m with open views (the best panoramas from the one-bedroom Minang villa with kitchenette, hot water and daily housekeeping). Or try the alpine A-frame Ulun Danu (pictured above), also 80sq m, above the lake. The villas can accommodate two adults and one child. Expect fans, WiFi and modern bathrooms. The Pepper Lane cafe does savoury big breakfasts with carefully crafted small bites for children as well as broad-menu Asian-Chinese-Western lunch and dinner. The small estate is slowly taking shape and offers access to a less known part of Bali.