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ANGELINA VILLA-CLARKE

Freelance Travel & Lifestyle Journalist

Recent work

Forbes •

Nature’s Calling: JW Marriott Opens On The Island Of Crete

The Greek island of Crete is no stranger to outside influences. It was, perhaps most famously, home to the ancient Minoans (2600-1150 BC), considered one of the most important civilisations of the world, and has been occupied and ruled by many, including the Ottomans and the Venetians, with the island only formally joining Greece in 1913.
The latest arrival to set down roots is the American hospitality brand JW Marriott, which, this month, has opened the doors at its first address in the Mediter...
The Independent •

Sorry, Mr Bezos, it’s no wonder you’re not welcome in Venice in June

“If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax,” screamed an enormous Greenpeace banner covering the historic paving stones in Venice’s St Mark’s Square earlier this week. The sign is one of many which have dominated La Serenissima’s heritage buildings (and been quickly taken down by police) in protest against the Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos’s upcoming wedding to the media personality Lauren Sanchez – a three-day city takeover which kicks off today.From a pre-wedding foam party...
Forbes •

It’s Food For Thought At The Newt In Somerset

“The Newt is more than just a hotel, it’s a legacy,” says Arthur Cole, head of programming at The Newt in Somerset, as he rumbles across picturesque farmland in a mud-splattered 4x4.
Read any of the reviews of The Newt in Somerset, a Palladian house hotel, farm and garden, owned by hoteliers Karen Roos and her husband, Koos Bekker, (both also preside over Babylonstoren in South Africa), and you’ll come across a whole raft of superlatives to describe it: astonishing, magical, charming... All of t...
Wanderlust •

Authentic adventures: 8 ways to uncover the real Maldives - Wanderlust

Dotted within cerulean seas, like a haphazard collection of pearls on a necklace, the Maldives is made up of some 1,200 islands. These tiny, sandy outposts rarely rise more than six foot out of the sea, and are found scattered across a huge expanse of some 35,000 square miles.
Whether you stay in the Baa Atoll, to the north of the capital of Malé, or in the Laamu Atoll, to the south, it’s a mistake to think that this Indian Ocean region is simply all about the beach. Once you tou...
Wanderlust •

A world of Wonder Awaits - Wanderlust

Arrive in style by flying with Emirates. The award-winning airline flies to more than 140 destinations and connects to over 1,700 cities through its airline partners. So, wherever you want to go in 2025 and beyond, Emirates can get you there. Flying via Dubai? Be sure to make the most of your stopover too, as Emirates has made it easier than ever to explore Dubai either on the way to or back from your final destination.
Onboard, you can expect comfortable cabins and hospitable cr...
The Standard •

Think Dubai's hotels are gauche? This one might just prove you wrong

You’ll stay in one of 29 Arabian-style ‘summer houses’, with spacious rooms arranged around a pretty inner courtyard, a traditional majlis (or living room area) and private swimming pool (larger groups can book exclusive use of the villas). The new interiors by Sahar Al Yasser, the award-winning Dubai-based founder of La Bottega Interiors, feels refined and pretty. Textiles and surfaces are designed in a palette of shimmering silver, pearl and opal. There’s also sumptuous detailing with velvet o...
CN Traveller •

The best hotels in Barbados

Barbados may have its own laid-back Caribbean island charm, where languorous afternoons stretch out along white-sand beaches that slope into surreal turquoise bays, but there’s more to this coral island than sand and sea. UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bridgetown thrums with independent stores, markets showing off Bajan fruit and art and buildings steeped in history (and invariably, rum) such as St Nicolas Abbey. Community roadside rum shacks are as prolific here as tropical gardens – the Andromed...
Forbes •

Regent Seven Seas’ Immersive Overnights Appeals To Younger Travelers

In 2023, an estimated 31.7 million people cruised worldwide (according to Cruise Lines International), with forecasts predicting this number will grow to around 40 million cruise passengers by 2028.
But what is the enduring allure of the classic cruise? For many aficionados, it offers a step back to a bygone, golden era of travel: days spent at sea with nowhere to rush to; looked after by a fleet of staff, with elevated food and entertainment on tap. For many, however, it is all about the thrill...
Forbes •

Behind The Reinvention Of The Palace, Madrid

From The Gritti Palace in Venice to The Savoy in London, some of the world’s most sought-after hotels date back many years. They may ooze heritage from their walls, yet they remain relevant in a modern climate due to their continual reinvention. One such hotel is The Palace in Madrid, recently metamorphosed as a Luxury Collection Hotel after a two-year renovation.
Dating back to 1912, The Palace is one of Spain’s most important hotels. Not only was it the first to have telephones in its rooms (y...
Forbes •

How The Lana Is Tapping Into Middle Eastern Wellness Trends

From The Lana’s rooftop pool, Dubai’s skyline shimmers in the cloudless sky. In the distance, towering over Downtown Dubai is the iconic Burj Khalifa, and down below, the city’s Marasai Marina gleams as the sunlight hits its pristine fleet of luxury yachts.
When The Lana, The Dorchester Collection’s first hotel in the Middle East, opened last year, it bought a new approach to hospitality in the region. Rather than shouting ‘luxury’, The Lana whispers it. The building—a bold, interlocking H-Shape...
Forbes •

How The Women Of Savile Row Are Tailoring Bespoke Fashion For A New Era

The great and the good of the tailoring world came together at Merchant Taylors’ Hall for the Golden Shears Awards last month. Known as the Oscars of the tailoring world, the biennial competition, which was founded in 1974, celebrates the next generation of U.K. tailoring and fashion talent, showcasing their creative vision and technical excellence.
From almost 90 entries, 25 finalists were selected to compete in the Golden Shears Final 2025. Competition was stiff with the exacting judges—includ...
Wanderlust •

9 ways to experience the best of the Dominican Republic  - Wanderlust

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Once Upon A Town Epsom •

Surrey Guide: Bounce your way into Spring

From hiking across Surrey’s countryside to cooking in the wild, Angelina Villa-Clarke discovers six ways to get your mojo back as we say hello to longer days ahead.


Fire Cookery Courses, Priory Farm Estate, Nutfield
Have you ever wanted to go back to our roots and learn how to cook over an open flame? The Salt Box’s open-fire cookery courses teach you the art of cooking with fire and smoke to create delicious meals in a relaxed and informative environment beneath the trees. The...
The Standard •

Midulting in the Middle East: An indulgent solo trip was the perfect de-stresser

I’m in the middle of the desert. It’s night-time – pitch-black – and from within the car, I can’t see a thing around me. Around an hour ago, the bumper-to-bumper traffic in Doha had fallen away, to leave the 4x4 I am travelling in the only vehicle on the road. Its headlights pick out strange shadows in the dense darkness. It is eerily quiet. Suddenly my phone rings, nearly making me jump out of my skin. It feels so remote, that I’m shocked I have service.I am en route to stay in the new Our Habi...
Wanderlust •

9 incredible experiences to soak up Barbados slowly - Wanderlust

Touch down in Barbados and you are instantly greeted by tropical trade winds that welcome you like a warm hug.
The Caribbean island is well known for its friendly face of tourism, with many visitors attracted primarily to the west coast, where luxury hotels hold court on icing-sugar sands and top-tier restaurants offer stellar dining experiences. Delve a little deeper, however, and you’ll find that this sun-drenched island boasts more than just pristine beaches and delicious rum...
The Standard •

Think all-inclusive is a dirty word? The Turkish resort leading the change

Welcome to Rixos Premium Belek, found close to Antalya on Türkiye’s Mediterranean coast, and one of the new breed of all-inclusive resorts that is redefining the ‘pre-paid’ hotel experience. Gone are cheap buffets and, instead, guests are able to dine in sophisticated restaurants offering authentic cuisine and locally-sourced ingredients. Out is bland, cookie-cutter design to be replaced by a polished aesthetic and sumptuous décor. While you might still find the odd water aerobics class, you’re...
The Standard •

Following your senses in Oman: the beauty of the Frankincense trail

Mohammed is 69-years-old and his family have been selling incense in the cobbled alleys for generations. “If you are looking for a true Omani delicacy, this is it,” he says. “Frankincense is something that is deeply rooted in our culture – we cook with it, we use it for remedies, we scent our homes with it – just like we have done for hundreds of years.”A short, 30-minute drive south, out of Oman’s capital city, is the stately Shangri-La Al Husn resort. The rambling coastal property, sat on dram...
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