Different Strokes for Different Folks: Out-of-the-Box To Do’s

If you have clients looking for “something different” for their next vacation, here are a handful of suggestions for out-of-the-box experiences and packages.

A Different Vibe

Boutique hotel The Londoner, located on Leicester Square, is looking beyond the traditional at The Retreat, its subterranean wellness center. The center now features a partnership with energy alchemist Amy Russell Taylor, offering Signature Sessions on select dates. The sessions blend sound healing, quantum energy work and crystal alignment. Summer treatments include the comprehensive Glow Up and the Express Summer Skin, both of which are available through September.

For culture enthusiasts, The Londoner has curated exclusive theater and stay packages. Current productions include “Punch” at the Apollo Theatre, “When We Are Married” at the Donmar Warehouse and “Othello” at Theatre Royal Haymarket. Your clients can also enjoy complimentary tickets to the Marie Antoinette Style Exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum with an overnight stay.

Foodies on your list will love Whitcomb’s refreshed Mediterranean-inspired menu, which includes vegan options. Joshua’s Tavern introduces botanical-infused cocktails paired with small plates. The Stage, a champagne-focused venue, now offers new breakfast options and afternoon tea pairings. 8 at The Londoner, the rooftop izakaya-style bar, presents chef-driven tasting menus and seasonal sushi creations, all served with a side of panoramic city views.

For more information, visit thelondoner.com.

Let Them Eat Cake at The Kensington…

The Marie Antoinette exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, briefly mentioned above, opens Sept. 20 and continues through March 22, 2026. Sponsored by Manolo Blahnik, this exceptional showcase provides an in-depth exploration of the iconic French queen’s life through her lavish wardrobe, featuring towering wigs, exquisite silk slippers, magnificent jewelry and decorative arts sourced directly from Versailles.

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In conjunction with this cultural experience, The Kensington hotel in South Kensington presents an exclusive Marie Antoinette Package. This specialized 1-night accommodation ensures guaranteed exhibition entry even during peak visitation periods and includes stays in elegantly appointed rooms or suites. Your clients will discover a curated selection of Parisian-inspired delicacies, including Debauve & Gallais pistoles and Nina’s Versailles-blend tea.

The experience culminates with the imaginative “Let Us Eat Cake” afternoon tea service. This sophisticated offering features artfully created pastel-hued pastries, delicate lemon shortbread cookies and savory pink brioche sandwiches, all presented on fine bone china. Guests can select from various beverage options, including traditional tea service, Champagne or the signature Queen’s Coupe cocktail.

For more information, visit doylecollection.com.

…Or Have a Tropical Cuppa at Anam Cam Ranh, Vietnam

The Anam Cam Ranh’s fine dining venue, The Colonial Restaurant, has introduced a new afternoon tea experience celebrating Cam Ranh’s renowned mangoes. Available daily from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., the Afternoon Tea Mango Symphony showcases the tropical fruit in both savory and sweet creations.

Set in an elegant space featuring an open kitchen, grand piano and a garden-view courtyard, the restaurant blends modern European and French cuisine with Vietnamese influences. The tea service features an array of mango-infused delicacies, including poached tiger prawns with mango salsa and Iberico Bellota slices paired with charred mango and whole-grain mustard dressing.

Sweet offerings feature mango scones served with homemade mango jam and clotted cream, alongside treats such as macarons with mango cream cheese filling and mango sago pudding with coconut panna cotta. The menu also includes a pavlova with diced mango and basil mango compote, as well as a mango, lemon and almond tart.

Guests can choose from a selection of Dammann teas, including Earl Grey, English breakfast, jasmine, peppermint and chamomile. Local green tea is also available.

For more information, visit thanam.com.

Auberge Resorts Collection

Auberge Resorts Collection Snaps

Making memories is a wonderful thing, but so is preserving them. These two properties offer immersive stays that will make your client’s Instagram more than worthy.

Domaine des Etangs

At Domaine des Etangs in Massignac, France, guests discover a 13th-century château nestled within 2,500 acres of pristine countryside. This Auberge Resorts Collection property transforms vacation photography through its specialized experience, The Secrets of the Domaine Through the Lens.

Participants learn professional techniques to elevate ordinary smartphone photos into striking images worthy of display. The program guides guests through the property’s diverse landscapes—from lakes and meadows to historic castle architecture and forest glades with artistic sculptures.

An expert photographer leads participants through composition principles, lighting techniques, and editing basics tailored to smartphone capabilities. The experience accommodates all skill levels, ensuring that everyone captures the natural beauty of the French countryside effectively.

Grace Hotel

Located on the cliffs of Imerovigli, Grace Hotel offers guests an exceptional photography experience through its Vintage Style Tour. Clients explore Santorini’s lesser-known areas in a classic Citroen 2CV, creating a distinctive sightseeing adventure that captures the island’s authentic character.

A local guide navigates narrow village streets and coastal paths while a professional photographer ensures clients are positioned at optimal angles to capture Santorini’s dramatic caldera views and whitewashed architecture. The experience offers flexibility with 2-hour tours covering two locations or 4-hour options exploring four distinct settings across the island.

Guests return with a carefully curated collection of professional photographs that document their journey through one of Greece’s most iconic destinations.

For more information, visit aubergeresorts.com.