ESCAPE, YOUR WAY: RESETTING WITH JA RESORTS & HOTELS
Written By: Khansaa Houlbi
Some winters call for wool and firelight. Others ask for salt, air, and bare feet. Either way, the desire is the same: to escape the noise and reset on your own terms. JA Resorts & Hotels answers both.
When the days start shrinking and the air sharpens just enough to put everyone on edge, a familiar restlessness sets in. The sun feels like it’s clocking out early, the to-do list gets louder by the hour, and suddenly even the smallest decisions feel exhausting. But if there is one thing we can all agree on, it is this: a holiday is needed.
Winter, of course, comes with a very specific dilemma. We want escape, yes, but can’t quite figure out what kind of escape. There is something deeply comforting about a crisp breeze, about layering up, about finally letting that cashmere cardigan earn its keep. Especially in Dubai, where the notions of winter and traffic-free Sheikh Zayed Road remain a myth. Cold or warm. Cozy or tropical. Misty mornings or sun-drenched afternoons. It is a familiar tug-of-war, and one that JA Resorts & Hotels seems to have anticipated.
JA Mar Hall | Courtesy of JA Resorts & Hotels
With a portfolio of nine exceptional properties across the UAE, the Maldives, and the UK, JA Resorts & Hotels understands that modern luxury is about choice, not compromise. For this seasonal limbo, two destinations emerge as perfect opposites and equally convincing answers. One leans into mist, history, and fireside drama. The other trades in salt air, sunlight, and blissful seclusion. Together, they feel like the bookends of a very good escape fantasy.
JA Manafaru | Courtesy of JA Resorts & Hotels
JA Mar Hall | Courtesy of JA Resorts & Hotels
JA Mar Hall | Courtesy of JA Resorts & Hotels
JA Mar Hall | Courtesy of JA Resorts & Hotels
JA MAR HALL GOLF & SPA RESORT, SCOTLAND
You land in Glasgow, step into the cool air, and 10 minutes later you are pulling up to the grand façade of JA Mar Hall. Originally designed in 1828 by Sir Robert Smirke, the architect behind London’s British Museum, this historic five-star estate stretches across 240 acres along the River Clyde. The effect is immediate and impressive.
Fresh from May 2025’s extensive refurbishment and reopening, the hotel feels grand but never stuffy. There are 74 beautifully restored rooms and suites, two restaurants, two bars, and a collection of social spaces made for lingering. The Gallery, The Library, a 22-seat private cinema, a gaming room, and a billiards room all invite you to settle in and stay awhile.
Outside, the mood shifts from stately to adventurous. A championship 18-hole golf course, a full-service spa, falconry sessions, and guided 4×4 excursions add just enough adrenaline to offset the fireside calm. JA Mar Hall delivers winter at its most cinematic, complete with brisk air, soft layers, and every reason to settle in.
JA Mar Hall | Courtesy of JA Resorts & Hotels
JA Mar Hall | Courtesy of JA Resorts & Hotels
JA MANAFARU, MALDIVES
When the gray skies have had their moment and you are ready to swap wool for warm sand and salty waters, JA Manafaru waits patiently. Set in the serene Haa Alif Atoll at the northern end of the Maldives, this award-winning natural island retreat exists at its own pace, where 84 exclusive villas offer seclusion framed by wellbeing, cultural immersion, and a deep connection to nature.
Nightfall brings a shift in energy. Menus refresh, global flavors drift in, and dinner takes on a sense of occasion. For the lucky travelers in town until February, a limited pop-up brings together Italian chefs Manolo and Rossano Allochi, cocktails by celebrated mixologist Juan Lagos, and a Wine Cellar Dinner hosted by Ilaria Felluga, before the rest of the night follows suit.
If slowing down is the goal, the Calm Spa Sanctuary has it covered, with refreshed treatments and newly upgraded facilities. When restlessness strikes, the island answers back with a private yacht, refreshed watersports, a teen arcade, and NIKA, a treehouse dining experience rooted in a refined farm-to-table philosophy.
JA Manafaru | Courtesy of JA Resorts & Hotels
JA Manafaru | Courtesy of JA Resorts & Hotels
JA Manafaru | Courtesy of JA Resorts & Hotels
Cold or warm, misty or sunlit, JA Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort and JA Manafaru answer the same winter question in two very different ways. One restores through history, hearths, and dramatic landscapes. The other through ease, warmth, and the gentle rhythm of island life. Whichever you choose, the goal is the same: to step away from the noise and come back feeling like yourself again.
Discover more at www.jaresortshotels.com.
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