With Father’s Day just around the corner, families are searching for something more meaningful than a tie or a toolset. 1

With Father’s Day just around the corner, families are searching for something more meaningful than a tie or a toolset.

For the golf enthusiast father: Vila Vita Parc Treat Dad to the ultimate Father’s Day getaway at

For the golf enthusiast father: Vila Vita Parc

With Father’s Day just around the corner, families are searching for something more meaningful than a tie or a toolset. 8
Treat Dad to the ultimate Father’s Day getaway at Vila Vita Parc, a luxurious, clifftop resort, part of Leading Hotels of The Word, nestled along the sun-drenched Algarve coast in Southern Portugal. Blending contemporary flair with traditional Portuguese charm, the guest rooms, suites and Masterpiece Villas boast panoramic sea or manicured garden views, perfect for unwinding in style.

Beyond its jaw-dropping sea views and lush gardens, the resort offers a golfer’s paradise: a 9-hole pitch and putt, 18-hole putting green, 18-hole mini-golf course, driving range, and state-of-the-art golf simulator.

Alongside the golf offerings, the resort boasts an extensive choice of other leisure facilities, including seven swimming pools, tennis courts, and two padel courts, a variety of 12 restaurants, including the two MICHELIN-starred Ocean restaurant and a spectacular vaulted Wine Cellar, housing Portugal’s largest private wine collection. After a long day in the Southern Portugal sun, Dad will undoubtedly want to pay a visit to the 17,250sq ft Vila Vita Spa by Sisley Paris – the first Sisley branded spa in Portugal – offering 14 treatment rooms, Chakra meditation, Pilates, the only HYPOXI* Studio in the country and much more.

Rooms start from £264 per night

With Father’s Day just around the corner, families are searching for something more meaningful than a tie or a toolset. 9

For the literature-lover– Flemings Mayfair

This Father’s Day, give the literature-loving dad in your life a stay steeped in literary legend. Nestled on London’s iconic Half Moon Street, once the stomping grounds of Oscar Wilde and other great literary minds, Flemings Mayfair draws inspiration from the rich literary history of the neighbourhood – perfect for the fathers who’d rather be thumbing through classics than scrolling their emails.

Fresh from a stunning refurbishment, the hotel’s three-bedroom Townhouse Suite is a bold yet elegant homage to Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, just steps from where the playwright lived and drew inspiration. Designed by Tully Filmer Ltd, the suite blends 18th-century charm with contemporary flair, filled with rich colours, literary touches, and a dash of bohemian spirit that pays homage to the neighbourhood’s storied past.

As 2025 sees a rise in “Paperback-Packers“, according to the British Airways Holidays Travel Trends Report, revealing that many leisure readers still buy books at the airport to seek literary escape whilst away. Flemings taps directly into this desire: guests receive a complimentary copy of Wilde’s play at turndown, connecting them to the suite’s literary past in the very neighbourhood that inspired it.

Townhouse rates start from £2,200 per night

With Father’s Day just around the corner, families are searching for something more meaningful than a tie or a toolset. 10

For the adventure loving dad – Castelfalfi

For the dad who’d rather learn how to survive in the woods than survive another Sunday lunch, Castelfalfi offer the ultimate Father’s Day treat. Whether he’s a seasoned outdoorsman or simply keen to tap into his inner Bear Grylls, Castelfalfi’s Survival Experiences at the on-site Adventure Park are designed to challenge and inspire

Over the course of this hands-on programme, suitable for both adults and children, Dad will learn the essential skills like building a shelter from natural materials, navigating without GPS and even starting a fire using tools found in the woods. It’s a unique way to step off the grid and gain new appreciation for self-sufficiency, all whilst surrounded by the beauty of the Tuscan countryside.

When it’s time to swap forest floors for five-star comfort, Castelfalfi delivers with world class amenities:

  • An exclusive RAKxa Wellness Spa, launching this spring, with 1,500sqm of serene wellness spaces, including treatment rooms, saunas, a steam room, relaxation area, salon and granite-lined indoor/outdoor heated infinity pool.
  • Guest accommodation comprising 115 rooms in the main building and the 31 rooms in the historic tobacco warehouse and seven villas scattered across the estate.
  • Six restaurants and bars, helmed by Executive Chef Davide De Simone. All founded on a farm-to-table ethos and creative, contemporary menus using the finest Tuscan and seasonal produce.

From €600 (approx. £510) for a Deluxe Room, including breakfast and taxes

With Father’s Day just around the corner, families are searching for something more meaningful than a tie or a toolset. 11

For the wine-lover – Louma

Give the gift every father dreams of with a weekend in the country, sipping locally vinified wines at Louma’s charming 17-key boutique country hotel set within 100 acres of rolling farmland, 33 of which are dedicated to a flourishing vineyard.

Set in the heart of Dorset’s Marshwood Vale, Louma offers an immersive countryside experience with sweeping views over the Jurassic Coast. Easily accessible via direct train from London to Axminster, it’s an easy journey for Dad to expeirnece fresh farm-to-fork dining, alongside a sanctuary of great wellbeing and activities to reconnect with nature and unwind in rural luxury.

Whether it’s a vineyard tour and tasting led by in-house experts, a guided farm walk with animal feeding, stargazing beside the vines, or yoga atop the Cow Barn with panoramic estate views, Dad won’t be disappointed.

Rates:
Main House: From £949.90 for 2 nights, based on two adults sharing
Stone Barn: From £908.60 for 2 nights, based on two adults sharing
All rates inclusive of breakfast, lunch and dinner – 2 nights minimum stay required

 

With Father’s Day just around the corner, families are searching for something more meaningful than a tie or a toolset. 12

For the Francophile Father – Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle

This year, whisk Dad off to a destination fit for a king, Le Grand Contrôle, an extraordinary hotel set within the grounds of the iconic Château de Versailles. Originally designed in 1681 by Louis XIV’s favourite architect, the hotel has since been meticulously restored, bringing centuries of French grandeur back to life with impeccable style. With just 13 regal rooms and suites, Le Grand Contrôle offers intimacy, Michelin-starred cuisine by Alain Ducasse, and pure indulgence at the Valmont Spa, complete with a 15m indoor swimming pool.

For history-loving Francophile fathers, this is the ultimate cultural escape. With exclusive after-hours access to Versailles’ opulent halls and vast 2,000-acre gardens, guests can walk in the footsteps of royalty without the crowds.

For a dose of fresh air and French countryside charm, dads can also take the wheel of a 1960s Jaguar MK2 for a scenic drive through the Chevreuse Valley, visiting the Château de la Madeleine and stopping for a gourmet lunch en route to Montfort L’Amaury.

Rates from €2,200 per night for Deluxe Rooms and €3,600 for Suites. During high season, rates from €2,530 for Deluxe Rooms and €4,140 for Suites.

With Father’s Day just around the corner, families are searching for something more meaningful than a tie or a toolset. 13

For the football-loving Father: Baur au Lac – Zurich

Located in the heart of the city, the Baur au Lac hotel is an elegant hideaway welcoming guests for nearly 180 years. Set in a private park on the edge of Lake Zurich and just steps from the city’s renowned landmarks and best cultural attractions, the hotel offers the perfect setting for a Father’s Day break.

Now that the football season is over, keep the love of the game alive with a city break and a visit to the nearby FIFA Museum, the home of football’s global history. Along with the original FIFA World Cup Trophy, the Museum displays over 1,000 items of exclusive memorabilia and apparel such as the national football shirts of all the FIFA member association.

Back at the hotel, enjoy elegant, contemporary rooms, immaculate service and a range of delectable dining options including Marguita – the hotel’s newest Mediterranean-inspired restaurant.

Rates from CHF 695 (approx. £623) per night, based on two adults sharing a Deluxe Double room on a room-only basis.