Stunning retreats where inspiration is bound to strike, for creatives and leisure-seekers alike.
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Writer’s block is all too real. It can effectively put a stop to the flow of words as you pen your upcoming memoir or shape your notes for your blog. What you need is a change of scenery, expert help and inspiration to awaken your inner muse ─ like these six writing retreats that evoke a sense of calm and peace until you are sure to get your creative juices flowing again. In fact, relaxing and serene as these resorts are, they’re perfect for any holidaymaker, be they a writer or not.
Tucked away in a forest reserve in Pangkor Island, Perak is a seven-acre boutique eco-resort called Tiger Rock. The jungle hideaway features eight guest rooms spread over several houses where you can luxuriate in the solitude provided by the wilderness to write away, or attend their three-day writing retreats with others held on certain dates of the year. The writing retreat package includes all meals, and features mentoring from a well-published author who will guide you on how to think, write, structure and market your content. It’s not all work and no play though. You can swim in their two salt water pools, or read all you want in their library. Tiger Rock also holds other programmes such as artist, yoga, drama and cooking retreats so there’s always something inspiring happening here.
How about enjoying rustic seclusion in a traditional Malaysian village set amongst waterfalls and creeks to help you focus on your project? For those looking for peace and quiet and pastoral beauty mixed with modern luxury, ēRYA by SURIA located by the rolling rainforests of Janda Baik, Pahang, offers the kind of ambience that is perfect for heightening concentration needed to complete what could be the next great Malaysian novel. This three-storey hill house resort with only 16 rooms prioritises privacy as well as super delicious Malaysian and Western cuisine served all day in the restaurant. For activities, you can explore the jungle riding the ATVs (All-Terrain Vehicle), fish, swim in the river and visit the resort’s orchard.
Offering five types of really unique accommodations such as dome suites, circular clay earthbag houses, timber-inspired individual and family bungalows as well as the four-bedroomed Casa Luna with its wrap-around balcony and hammocks, the rainforest lodge Finca Luna Nueva in Costa Rica allows guests to rest and relax while appreciating the beauty of nature. Aside from offering quiet, leafy landscapes and laid-back luxury, the resort holds all kinds of retreats such as yoga, meditation, healing, and writing retreats. There is Wi-Fi connectivity in most buildings, facilities for classrooms, a spa, jacuzzi, pool and a full service restaurant that caters to all meal plans.
Calling itself “a different alternative” to the usual hotel experience, Hotel XIXIM in Mexico is an ecological paradise that is inspired by the earthy values of the ancient Mesoamerican civilization. The resort is bordered by a beach, a dwarf palm plantation, indigenous vegetation, and peace and quiet all around thanks to the resort’s secluded location. Guests can stay in quaint thatched cabanas or can choose from exquisite junior and master suites. Meanwhile, the restaurant serves delectable seafood dishes as well as a diverse range of Western dishes. For activities, you can visit mangroves and salt flats, watch flamingos and swim in clear spring waters.
Tucked in a secluded hamlet between Tuscany and Umbria is this forested, medieval gem of a retreat called the Lemon Tree House Residency ─ the perfect village setting for quietude, inspiration and a little bit of mentoring from in-house writing instructors and international authors when ideas are needed. There’ll be loads of time for working on your book as you reside in your own Tuscan villa or apartment, as well as time to explore the surrounding courtyards, gardens, forests, vineyard and pools, or practice yoga and meditation in this quaint countryside filled with a church, a tower, a courthouse and two perfectly preserved Etruscan tombs.
Le Sirenuse is a stately 58-room resort that hugs the cliffside overlooking the bay of Positano and Italy’s famous Amalfi Coast. Called one of the most beautiful hotels in the world, it was opened in 1951 when four Neopolitan siblings decided to turn their summer home into a charming hotel. Today, it has evolved into the country’s leading seaside luxury resort and is renowned for its intimate atmosphere, cultured exclusivity, award-winning cuisine, breathtaking views and that wonderful peace and quiet necessary for some inspired writing. Le Sirenuse also holds regular fitness and detox retreats along with writing retreats and conferences, so it’s perfect for those looking for a holistic stay.
Certainly there are many peaceful and serene retreats around the world that can help stimulate that creativity needed for crafting a masterful piece. Some may be in exotic or glamorous locations around the world, while some might be right in your own backyard. Wherever the location, these restful resorts will surely provide some rejuvenation as well as inspiration, not just for writers but for anyone needing a break from the daily grind for a bit.
