18 LUXURY TRAVEL
STOPOVER-MAXXING WITH SHANGRI-LA HOTELS
INSPIRING TRAVELLERS TO DISCOVER TWO DESTINATIONS IN ONE GETAWAY
As luxury travellers increasingly seek to maximise their holidays, the traditional stopover is experiencing a reinvention.
LONDON
– A City Break Before the Long- Haul Escape
For UK travellers based outside of the capital, Shangri-La The Shard, London provides the opportunity for a city break before even leaving the country. Ideally located next to London Bridge station, providing an easy route to the city’ s various airports, and occupying the upper levels of one of London’ s most recognisable landmarks, guests are within easy reach of spots such as Borough Market, the Tate Modern and St Paul’ s Cathedral. Within the hotel, contemporary Asian cuisine at TĪNG, skyline cocktails at GŎNG and the Sky Pool and Sauna, located on Level 52, provide the perfect prep before a long flight.
Travelling onward, British travellers can take their pick of Shangri-La destinations globally, with London’ s six major airports reaching a total of 396 international destinations.
London
Once regarded as a necessary interruption to long-haul journeys, connecting cities are now seen as independent attractions and opportunities to discover additional cultures, cuisines and experiences within a single trip.
In line with a trend identified by luxury travel network Virtuoso as
‘ city-maxxing’, these trips string destinations together into longer, multi-city itineraries, often crossing international borders. From London and Paris to Istanbul, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Toronto, Shangri-La offers luxurious bases from which to explore some of the world’ s most exciting stopover cities.
ISTANBUL
- Where East Meets West
Straddling Europe and Asia, Istanbul is a compelling stopover for travellers seeking cultural experiences, with city highlights including the magnificent architecture of its mosques, the Grand Bazaar, and a vibrant culinary scene. Set along the Bosphorus, Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul invites guests to indulge in a traditional Turkish Hammam and immersive cultural experiences, from baklava-making to perfume workshops. Named
THE ART OF LUXURY ISSUE 79 2026