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» Learn more about RSSSticklers may be disappointed to learn that the Lodge at Doonbeg, a sprawling seaside manor in County Clare, is just a couple of years old, but it’s their loss, to be honest. Thankfully the question of provenance means quite a lot less in the hospitality world then in, say, antiquities, or the art world. That golf course is of recent Greg Norman vintage, and the whole house dates back only a few years. But it’s a stunning re-creation, and whatever it lacks in story it more than makes up for in function, which in the case of a golf resort means simply an excellent course and a very fine luxury hotel.
Doonbeg benefits greatly from a phenomenal location, on a relatively isolated stretch of coast. The hotel is laid out a bit like a village, with some rooms in the main lodge and others in outlying buildings and cottages. And despite the hotel’s youth, much attention was paid to the traditional interiors — even the thoroughly contemporary kitchens in the cottages and suites are furnished with antique-style pieces, and the manor-house atmosphere is never broken. The newness of the place shows mostly in the physical quality of the facilities; in-room comforts are up to the standard of any luxury hotel, the spa is as modern as they come, and the golf club is naturally state-of-the-art. All that’s missing is some made-up blarney about the castle’s centuries-old heritage, an omission that doesn’t bother us in the least.
Turkey’s got history, to put it mildly, but they’re not afraid of a little modernity either — they’ve taken to boutique hotels with zeal, turning out some of the world’s most stylish and surprising hotels. It’s high time some of the more design-centric names moved into Istanbul, and with the advent of the W Istanbul, it seems they have.
Though there are exceptions, Istanbul isn’t a high-rise town, so the W is a bit of a departure for the ordinarily high-flying chain. Instead of a tower it’s a row of converted townhouses, its 134 rooms tucked discreetly away behind their 19th-century facades. The real fireworks are hidden inside, from the baroque décor and dramatic lighting at the reception to the heavy boudoir romance of the guest rooms. Suites verge on excess, some with chandelier-lit living rooms, others with honeymoon-suite circular beds, but even the standard — sorry, Wonderful — rooms come with cleverly disguised 32-inch LCD televisions and king-size beds with 350-thread linens.
The location, in Besiktas, isn’t quite picturebook Istanbul, but what it is is fashionable and upscale — the shopping here is phenomenal, and you won’t mind being a taxi ride from the historical sites. In-house is a Spice Market as well as a couple of other excellent restaurants, as well as a full-service spa and fitness center — you won’t want to shut yourself in, not with vibrant Istanbul just outside, but if you had to, you could, and comfortably.
If you were measuring strictly by the number of quality hotels, you might conclude that the city of Bordeaux is little more than a backwater. For a city of a million, it’s a bit short on noteworthy hospitality experiences — which is why the re-opening of the city-center Grand Hôtel, just across from the Grand Théâtre, is such a big deal. This 18th-century grande dame is back in fighting trim, after a redesign at the hands of the well-known Parisian interior designer Jacques Garcia, and today it’s operating under the Regent banner, as the Regent Grand Hotel Bordeaux.
Garcia’s theatrical, historically conscious style is a good fit for a place like the Grand, which mixes modern elegance with classic decadence in generous helpings. The bedrooms are decidedly old-fashioned in style, but with an edge of contemporary glamour that makes them a lot more appealing than the garden-variety French antique hotel room.
In typical grand hotel style the Regent Grand features a fine dining restaurant, a separate brasserie, and a cocktail bar, this last named the Victor Bar, after two Victors: Victor Hugo, the writer, and Victor Louis, the architect responsible for Bordeaux’s Grand Théâtre. And soon, with the opening of the hotel’s spa, the Regent Grand Hotel will be Bordeaux’s de facto luxury hotel standard.
As close as it is to London — globally speaking at least — Birmingham’s hotel scene could scarcely be more different. Simply put, with neither the immense demand nor the astronomical real estate costs, England’s second city feels less pressure to innovate. However, there’s a lot more to hotels than novelty, and nowhere is that more true than at the high end, a space the Hyatt Regency Birmingham occupies with confidence. Though design trends come and go, and the concept of the boutique hotel is a relatively new invention, the basic notion of luxury is something much more timeless.
If you’ve been in a luxury hotel in the last couple of decades you will recognize the basic shape of the Hyatt Regency. As we said, that’s no criticism, and it certainly shouldn’t imply that the place looks dated — in fact the look is quite a bit more fresh and crisp than the average business hotel.
The rooms are spacious and look out across the city from full-length windows, and the details are all correct: plasma televisions, high-speed wireless, and the little things, like plush robes and soft slippers. There’s a full-service spa, complete with 24-hour gym and swimming pool, and the city-center, canal-side location means tea in the lobby after a day at the shops is a snap.
On cold, dark days, most of us likely dream of white sand, blue sky, and bluer water. We dream, perhaps unknowingly, of Fiji — these islands in the South Pacific are the stuff of fantasies, and so is the Royal Davui Island Resort. The 16 guest “vales” dot the adults-only, 10-acre private island, offering complete seclusion. Each comes with a personal plunge pool, all meals, and some beverages, in addition to many of the area’s activities, such as snorkeling, sea kayaking, and village tours. The hotel’s marine staff will gladly assist you on a catamaran sail into Beqa Lagoon. And just a mile or so off shore, the Pacific Ocean drops thousands of feet, guaranteeing a diverse array of sea creatures, should you prefer that the marine staff take you diving instead — with or without sharks.
Picnic lunches are available for daily delivery to one of the island’s three beaches, for those more interested in being than in doing. The resort’s location ensures the freshness and seasonality of the seafood and fruit that constitute the majority of meals at the Banyan Restaurant, named for the giant banyan tree that grows in its center. Each couple is given one night of private dining in a secluded gazebo. Pack a bathing suit and a few cover-ups — everything else can stay behind, waiting for you to wake and return from your reverie.
How to Get There
The hotel will provide transfers from Nadi to the island and back. Please contact customerservice@tablethotels.com for help with these arrangements.
It may come as some surprise that there’s skiing at all in Spain, a country that’s far better known for sunshine and balmy climes. Check it on a map if you like, but we assure you, the Val d’Aran, in the Catalonian Pyrenées, is a bona fide Spanish ski resort — and the AC Baqueira is a rarity for the Spanish AC group, a bona fide ski hotel.
Despite the pitched roofs and the generally alpine backdrop, this is very obviously not the Alps; and despite the timbered ceilings, these rooms look far more Spanish than Swiss. Colors are extremely muted, with white sheets against black leather headboards and plenty of natural wood and stone. The restaurant is a fairly traditional, elegant affair, the better perhaps to showcase the famously innovative modern-Spanish cuisine.
Of course the ski season is quite a bit shorter here than in more northern climes, and the Baqueira has to function equally well during the warmer seasons. In the spa the weather doesn’t matter, and the Turkish bath and Scottish shower work well at any temperature. Spa treatments are state-of-the-art, as is the fitness center — this place, like any decent mountain resort, is geared toward the active guest.
Imagine lying in a supremely comfortable bed, gazing out at a world class city skyline over a beckoningly deep soaking tub, and wondering how the people of Africa settled the farther reaches of the earth. If you’re staying at the St. Regis San Francisco, you could wander down to the Museum of the African Diaspora (MOAD), which happens to be housed in the same building. Just think, if you were staying elsewhere, you’d be out of luck.
It’s not as strange a combination as it sounds. MOAD is a very good museum, St. Regis is a very good hotel, and architecturally the entire composition gets a big gold star. Along with MOAD, the St. Regis melds an unapologetically modern tower and a converted historic San Francisco building, topped by one of the better roof terraces in town.
The hotel’s main restaurant, AME, serves up new American fare in a slick setting with high marks. There’s a full-service spa and a rare indoor pool. Rooms are no-nonsense crisp and elegant — perhaps a bit muted, but very current and quite indulgent, right down to the flat screens in the bathrooms. Location-wise, St. Regis could not be better endowed. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is right next door, and across the street are the Yerba Buena arts complex and gardens and the City’s convention center. Downtown is a few steps north, and the nightlife and swank restaurants of SOMA just a few to the south.
East meets West along the Bosphorus. Secularists walk alongside devout believers. And old-world buildings have been outfitted with ultra-modern comforts. Modeled down to the details on the eighteenth-century mansion that originally stood there, Les Ottomans has just ten suites, each with sumptuous fabrics and specially selected color palettes, and views of either the verdant garden or boat-busy river. Guests who run their own empires, like the pasha who once lived in the mansion, will appreciate the in-room fax machines, laptops, and Wi-Fi.
Guests in search of a break from business are catered to as well. The Caudalie Vinothérapie spa offers the renowned crushed cabernet scrub and the pulp friction sculpting massage, which also relies on the restorative power of grapes. A different form of the fruit is served at Les Ottomans 29 Bar. The in-house restaurant specializes in Italian cuisine. During the winter, the restaurant and bar occupy an interior space; they shift outdoors during the warmer months, taking advantage of the vast riverfront vistas and Ottoman architecture.
For those interested in the city’s other delights, the hotel’s location on the European side, the livelier bank of the river, means chic bars and cafés are close by. If you’d rather ride, ask the concierge to arrange a trip on the hotel’s speedboat, tour boat, or yacht. Yes, yacht: the Ma Biche is available for special trips to Aegean or the Mediterranean.
Let’s face it, the riad hotel is not a genre that thrives on novelty. Most of what there is to say about any individual riad is subsumed within the definition of the word. They’re all townhouse mansions, wrapping around quiet little courtyards, their inner opulence shielded from the city streets by anonymous-looking outer walls. Riad Kaïss satisfies all these conditions; if there’s anything to recommend it in particular, it’s something somewhat intangible — sometimes what makes the difference is finding a riad whose aesthetic sense is in tune with your own.
At Riad Kaïss the design is an especially noteworthy strong point. This classic mansion was redesigned by Christian Ferre, a well-known French interior architect, and his take on the traditional Moroccan riad is at once authentic and fantastic. The operations are handled by the team behind Dar Les Cigognes, another of Marrakech’s top flight of riad hotels, and the combination of the breathtaking setting and the perfectly staged hospitality make for a first-class example of the design-riad specialty. Expect the usual riad offerings — spa, hammam, a small pool, and a highly personalized culinary experience, complete with cooking classes, if you wish — all raised to an exceedingly high level.
There was a time when Poland’s second city would have been little more than a tourism punchline. These days Kraków is rapidly emerging as an alternative to well-trod paths like Prague: its historical beauty is still drawing new crowds, it’s a surprisingly lively city, and it’s cheap. Thus you can’t really judge the Hotel Copernicus by its nightly rate — it’s a first-rate boutique hotel, and its relative affordability only makes it more attractive.
Here’s what it’s not: the Copernicus is not the typical luxury hotel. With just twenty-nine rooms it’s more personal than that. The beds are heavy and serious, with not just headboards but footboards as well, and the furnishings and décor maintain a sober Renaissance atmosphere. Contemporary comforts are present as well: the marble-tiled bathrooms are swanky and modern, many with tubs, some with whirlpool baths.
It’s in the suites that the Copernicus crosses over into luxury territory: the junior suites have views up the hill towards Wawel Castle, and the luxury suites are essentially Renaissance apartments. There’s a modern-Polish restaurant, and a rooftop bar with a view, and the cellar vaults are home to a small spa and wellness center — definitely above and beyond for a hotel of just 29 rooms.
Just past La Jolla, north of San Diego, is the upscale seaside village of Del Mar — and fresh off a brief closure and a massive renovation is the town’s top lodging, L’Auberge Del Mar. If Southern California makes you think beaches and bare feet, you’re certainly not wrong, but the Auberge belongs to a more elegant vision of the Pacific Coast.
It’s the Auberge, after all, not the Surf Shack, and the design, by near-local Barclay Butera, is stylish but never gimmicky — sexier than most luxury hotels and more refined than most boutiques. In terms of comfort it’s as plush as anything around, with the obligatory marble bathrooms and 42-inch plasma screens, and the rooms feel lived-in in a way that’s tough for most hotels to match.
The spa occupies a separate villa on the grounds, there’s a fitness center and a pair of lighted tennis courts, and the restaurant serves impeccable Californian fare on the terrace with a view of the Pacific. The chef is a James Beard award winner, and this isn’t just hotel convenience cooking — L’Auberge Del Mar is one of the town’s favorite dining venues, and one that was much missed in its absence.
Though the Victoria countryside, about an hour from Melbourne, may seem an unusual spot for something calling itself a chateau, this 1854 heritage homestead radiates old-world class. Chateau Yering’s luxe period style — less common in the Commonwealth than in old Europe — is the result of meticulous restoration, combining original fittings with sumptuous additions like claw-foot bathtubs and hefty canopy beds.
Adjacent to the Yarra Valley, this is famed wine country. The 250 acres on which the house sits has long been lauded for its grapes. The cellar here dates from the 1840s, and the vineyards have been winning awards since 1861. To fully capitalize on its situation – and its wines – Chateau Yering boasts its own restaurant, Eleanor’s, the recipient of a Chef’s Hat, the Australian equivalent of a Michelin star.
Interiors at Chateau Yering no doubt surpass the standard of luxury its original inhabitants imagined for it. Suites are large and richly textured with brocades, tapestries and delicate objets d’art. Original open fireplaces and balconies were retained, while all rooms come with mod cons like air-conditioning, Internet access, TVs and DVD players, and 24-hour room service.
There’s a tennis court and swimming pool for those able to force themselves off the sofa, and for those who aren’t, cheese platters and wines — both locally produced — are available whenever the mood strikes. For something in between, the rose-dotted hills and gardens of Chateau Yering make for a salubrious walk: a brisk turn around the vineyards sure to put the color back into any city slicker’s cheeks.
If we were writing a TV ad we’d say it’s Milan Fashion Week style at Zara prices; if we were proper travel writers we’d make some kind of pun in the headline. Hopefully we would think of something better than Right Nhow. (As it is, we get to write the pun and blame someone else.) And anyway, you get the idea — this city has always had some very stylish hotel options, but they’re typically priced in the luxury bracket.
Nhow manages to be quite a bit more affordable, by making a couple of compromises. It’s more a design hotel than a lavish luxury hotel, and it’s located a bit outside the city center, in Via Tortona, a repurposed industrial park that’s newly gentrifying into a southern arts and commercial center.
With a design by Matteo Thun the good looks are pretty much effortless. The rooms are minimal, slightly retro-futuristic — much closer to Sixties swank than Renaissance opulence. There’s a stylish little restaurant, and more events space than you probably need, and that’s about it. If you’re the caviar-and-butler-service type, you probably know where else to look — but for an affordable foothold ten minutes from central Milan, book Nhow. Sorry, couldn’t help ourselves.
Sometimes it’s hard to tell one Thai beach resort from another. Soneva Kiri is far from overexposed, however, as the island on which it is located — Koh Kood — is so secret many Thais haven’t even heard of it. There are no roads there. You’re flown in the resort’s private plane from Bangkok’s international airport to its private airstrip, from which point you are taken to the resort via speedboat, and then driven to your bungalow in an eco-buggy. Patong Beach this is not.
Run by the Six Senses crew, who have resorts in Hua Hin and various other idyllic spots around Thailand, Soneva Kiri is proof that Thailand will never get old. The resort doesn’t reinvent the wheel in terms of luxe beach bungalows, but its pale timber salas, personal infinity pools and open air bathrooms create an effortless and organic type of luxury that seems to just grow up out of the ground.
Where the resort sets itself apart is with its common spaces. Robinson Crusoe dining pods are perched in the trees above the mangroves like nests, giving diners a bird’s-eye view of white sands and sunsets. Then there’s the Den, a hut-like structure where younger guests are entertained and supervised while their parents enjoy some adult time.
The crowning achievement of Soneva Kiri, however, is not its observatory, nor its chocolate room, nor its bewildering choice of spa therapies, it’s the Eco Villa. The entire resort aims to keep its environmental impact at a minimum, but the Eco Villa is specially engineered to have zero carbon footprint. A hobbit house of clay and rubber plants, its approach to renewable energy is so advanced it’s on display to visiting guests and locals as a model of sustainable living.
How to Get There
The hotel will meet guests upon arrival at Bangkok’s airport and transferred to the resort’s own airplane for the one-hour flight to the Soneva Kiri airfield. For help with transfers please contract customerservice@tablethotels.com.
Chances are, in the Cayman Islands neither you nor your money are looking for unpredictability. It’s not exactly the adventure tourism capital of the world, but an impossibly tranquil island idyll that’s frankly much better suited to the luxury operators of the world — so it was only a matter of time before we saw something like the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman.
Locations don’t get much more prime than this Ritz-Carlton’s, occupying 144 acres along Seven Mile Beach, between the ocean and the lagoon. With 370-odd rooms, it’s no use trying to keep a low profile — this place is unapologetically luxe, but without lapsing into ostentatiousness. Which is admirable, as they’d have plenty to crow about: the pools, the tennis courts, the spa, all brand new and top-of-the-line.
It’s not just banking that the Caymans are famous for, but the diving as well, and the Ritz-Carlton makes the most of it with an environmental education program by Jean-Michel Cousteau. There’s also a Greg Norman golf course, if that’s more your brand of outdoor activity, and a Nick Bollettieri tennis program. And with Blue, a restaurant by Eric Ripert, the parade of big names continues — it’s clear Ritz-Carlton takes the Caymans seriously enough to field the full first team.
Although Le Petit Hôtel may be petit in size, it’s grand in luxury, in a style that evokes a lost bohemia of nineteenth-century Europe. The Antonopoulos Group have made a habit out of carving modern boutique hotels out of Vieux Montréal’s historic buildings, most notably the Nelligan and the Auberge du Vieux Port. And with Le Petit Hôtel, located in the center of the historic district, you’ll feel like a Montreal local, surrounded by hidden clubs, bars, shops and galleries.
The first thing you’ll notice when you enter is the scent of artisan baked goods from an old-world style bistro — the café also quaintly serves as the front desk. As night falls, the café lights dim and the space transforms into a hipster lounge ready for mingling. The twenty-four rooms with their exposed brick, contemporary stonework and hardwood floors combined with the cozy, mod furniture give the impression you’re staying in friend’s urban loft rather than a hotel at all.
While they’re packed with old European architecture and atmosphere, each room delivers on all the modern amenities, from internet access (wired and wi-fi), in-room iPod docking stations, widescreen LCD TVs to ultra-plush bathrooms and living spaces. And at relatively modest prices, both leisure and business travelers will be well served — laptop rentals are available upon request, and its small size notwithstanding, Le Petit even comes with its own little spa.
You might expect a place like Cannes to be crowded with excellent hotels, but in a place with guaranteed high occupancy, there’s little incentive to excel, and standards do occasionally slip. So when one of the old guard undergoes a facelift, one hopes for the best — and when a fairly average hotel on the marina is re-invented as the 1835 White Palm Hotel, that hope turns out to be well-founded.
The interiors are tastefully contemporary, cosmopolitan in style, less overtly Mediterranean than simply clean-lined boutique-modern. The redesign clearly went more than skin-deep — all the fixtures are modern and the electronics are state-of-the-art. Rooms look out to sea or over the old port, a benefit of the location on the marina rather than the usual strip of La Croisette.
Views from the rooftop terrace restaurant are even better, taking in a 360-degree panorama, from the old town to the hills, out to sea and back towards the Croisette. All in all it’s a stylish little hotel, in an unexpectedly fine location that’ll have you wondering what exactly would be the point of staying farther eastward. And perhaps most unexpected of all are the thermal baths, which add an extra dimension to the usual spa and beauty treatments.
In Hollywood the line between history and kitsch is so fine as to be practically non-existent. But one way or another the Sunset Tower manages to land on the right side of the line. In the latter years of the golden age this Art Deco apartment tower was home to the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra; and while today the mid-century atmosphere is still in place, it’s no museum — there’s nothing faded about the newly renovated Sunset Tower’s sober, earth-toned interiors, and it’s not collectors or autograph hounds but bona fide Hollywood players who frequent its halls today.
The décor is seemingly tailor-made for the golden afternoon sunlight that brought the film business to LA in the first place. It’s not quite high luxury, but it’s pleasantly upscale, with high-end Egyptian linens and Kiehl’s bath products. And if there’s any incongruity, it’s between the classic elegance of the Sunset Tower and the very modern inelegance of the Sunset Strip. It’s a locale that’s best enjoyed with a raised eyebrow, and then escaped, with a trip to the Sunset Tower’s day spa or to the Tower Bar and Restaurant, a clubby, classic eatery on the site of what used to be the apartment belonging to the gangster Bugsy Siegel.
The hotel is accepting reservations as of March 1, 2010.
Our Tablet Spy program offers the chance to get early looks at the most promising new hotels. If you’re willing to take the risks associated with staying in a hotel that’s newly opened, then you’ll be rewarded with the chance to help decide whether the hotel will earn a place on Tablet Hotels.
If golf isn’t quite the first thing you think of when you think of Sicily, you’re not alone. But don’t let that fact count against the Verdura Golf & Spa Resort; after all, if they’re successful, it’ll soon seem like the most natural association in the world. And while the olive country of Mediterranean Italy may not immediately recall the links at St. Andrews, it is a stunning setting for a boutique-style luxury resort, especially one by Rocco Forte.
We generally don’t place much stock in brand-name hotels, but Mr. Forte’s name has so far exhibited a pretty strong correlation with a certain tastefully decadent luxury, as well as a visual style that’s at once classic and modern, thanks to the Forte family’s Director of Design, Olga Polizzi. Here on both counts Verdura is no exception. It’s built on a slightly larger scale than some of his urban properties, with 203 rooms and suites set on a mile-long stretch of southwestern Sicilian coastline, with two 18-hole golf courses and a spa complex that’s itself the size of some boutique hotels.
Four restaurants keep guests comfortably fed, and for such a stylish place, it’s remarkably family-friendly — there’s a separate pool and children’s club, and even menu accommodations for picky eaters. In a way it's the classic Forte luxury boutique, grown up and moved to the seaside — a confident first step indeed.
Hong Kong’s upscale hotels scale dizzying heights of luxury, and lately its more adventurous boutiques have been setting the bar high for style. And now there are hotels that do a bit of both: the Upper House, with over a hundred rooms, is bigger than a boutique hotel, and its crisp-edged Chinese modernist look, courtesy of designer Andre Fu, is quite a lot more sober than some of the whimsical little designers’ hotels.
It’s less like a compromise and more like the best of both worlds. It’s a skyscraper-top hotel in the contemporary Asian luxury mold, with all the trappings: spacious bedrooms and enormous bathrooms, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering views from everywhere, whether the king beds or the free-standing limestone-clad bathtubs. And while you might expect a look that’s a bit middle-of-the-road, the Upper House has a surprisingly strong point of view, if a sleek and minimal one.
Technology pervades the entire experience, from the airport transfer via hybrid Lexus to the rooms controlled not by some clunky LCD but by an iPod Touch. Of course not all the charms are high-tech: the restaurant and bar on the 49th floor offer widescreen views of Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong skyline — and down on the sixth floor there’s an open-air lawn, a rare and welcome bit of green space in a very urban town.
By now you know everything there is to know about the south of France — from the farmhouses and vineyards of Provence to the waterfront glamour of the Côte d’Azur. Less storied, perhaps, though no less worthwhile, is this bit of the Languedoc countryside just outside of Montpellier, a place where the estates are still French, and some of them are quite contemporary. Look around the Domaine de Verchant, for example — were it not for the acres of parkland and Southern vegetation outside the windows, it could almost be mistaken for a chic little city boutique.
That’s no coincidence. The designer, Raymond Morel, is no stranger to modern hotel interiors, and these sixteen rooms and suites are effortlessly chic, not just pleasing to the eye but as comfortable as any country-house hotel room. Space is plentiful, beds are massive, and the bathrooms are impeccably equipped. It’s the complete country-escape package, with a full-service spa and a restaurant that serves light and healthy fare alongside richer, more traditional dishes. And the surroundings are hard to top — from the pool and sundeck to the vineyards and the gardens, which feature a variety of breeds of roses, it’s a little slice of country heaven.
Nothing against the chocolate-box chalets, but we’re glad to see more and more Swiss hotels embracing modern architecture and design. There’s something satisfying about the way a crisp modernist interior amplifies the drama of the high Alpine landscape. So there’s plenty to love about the Cambrian’s thoroughly contemporary look, from the rich oiled hardwoods to the custom-made furnishings to the views from the balconies, which are near-universal.
The location is the Alpine resort village of Adelboden — what it lacks in name recognition it makes up for in proximity to Berne (under an hour) and general euphoniousness. In fact its relative obscurity is one of its strengths: there’s more real Swiss life here than in some of the glossier resorts.
Which makes for a slightly more relaxed scene at the Cambrian, a hotel that’s swanky enough to fit in just about anywhere. It’s no less chic than its competitors anywhere else in Switzerland but it’s anything but pompous. The hotel has the ski-resort basics covered, from ski facilities to pools to the stylish little spa, and the Italian restaurant is an appealing après-ski venue. And the skiing itself is world-class — again, it’s not as famous as some more glamorous destinations, but one gets the impression they’d prefer to keep it that way.
How to get there:
Solis Cambrian is approximately a 1 hour 25 minute drive from Flugplatz Airport. Please contact customerservice@tablethotels.com to arrange airport transfers.
There’s history, and then there’s history; there are old hotels, and then there are old hotels. Few, though, are quite as old as Les Trois Rois (or the Drei Könige, if you prefer), which has stood by the banks of the Rhine since the year 1026. The building, happily, isn’t quite that old, dating back only about a century and a half, an opulent palace of a hotel with a prime location on the Blumenrain, Basel’s riverside drive.
The interiors have none of that trendy “modern-design” business. Flat-screen televisions, yes, but integrated into a décor scheme that’s utterly traditional — not quite 1026 traditional, but still. Incredibly it doesn’t really show its age, its 19th-century furnishings looking as new as the day they were made — functionally modern but aesthetically old-fashioned means the best of both worlds, when it comes to the great European grand hotels.
As for dining there’s the formal Cheval Blanc, proud owner of a Michelin star, as well as a Piedmontese restaurant and a traditional French brasserie, all with views from terraces by the riverside — from top to bottom Les Trois Rois is a luxury-hotel classic, the kind they just don’t make anymore.
Our Tablet Spy program offers the chance to get early looks at the most promising new hotels. If you’re willing to take the risks associated with staying in a hotel that’s not officially open yet — unfinished spaces, noisy construction, inexperienced service — then you’ll be rewarded with the chance to help decide whether the finished hotel will earn a place on Tablet Hotels.
When it comes to hotels Boston is a bit of a puzzle. For whatever reason, there just aren’t as many stylish and innovative options as there ought to be — compare New York, where you’re absolutely spoiled for choice. Here to add one more to the scant supply of well-designed boutique hotels is the Morgans group, who’ve taken over a historic building in downtown Boston proper and installed the Ames.
The exterior is historic as ever, this landmark building showing every one of its hundred-plus years, its stately brickwork contrasting sharply with the new glass towers of the surrounding district. Once inside, though, it’s a different story, a dark and moody look that’s not just a departure for Boston but for Morgans as well. While their new Mondrian in Miami boasts a design by the outrageous Marcel Wanders, the Ames exhibits a fashionable sobriety in the person of David Rockwell, whose buildings and interiors tend to be more swanky than splashy.
The restaurant, Woodward, is named after the Ames family’s old pub, and should, in typical Morgans style, contribute to a bit of a re-alignment of the local nightlife scene. We’re only surprised something like this didn’t happen in Boston sooner.
We’ll spare you the comparisons with Prague and simply say that Krakow combines picturesque good looks with affordability and livability in the manner of the best Eastern European destinations. And Hotel Stary is the kind of hotel you expect to see a bit later in a city’s tourism development — not that we’re complaining. Right in the heart of the old town, this centuries-old apartment house has been given the full boutique-luxury treatment, its grand old rooms converted into fifty-three bedrooms and suites.
The contrast between old and new is striking: modern fixtures mix with antique furniture and period finishes — in one suite a sleek white modern tub stands free in the bedroom, against a backdrop of frescoes and wood-paneled walls. Space is plentiful, and there’s no shortage of atmosphere — contemporary interventions are well-chosen and relatively scarce.
An old cellar, arched brick doorways and all, makes for a fairly inspired setting for the well-equipped fitness center, and the wellness center’s pools form waterways that wind through brickwork tunnels. Add a restaurant, a café and a cocktail bar and you’ve got a self-contained destination hotel, and proof that Krakow’s hospitality scene is ready to progress to another level entirely.
The numerically-minded Italian proprietors of the small and luxurious Riad 72 are back with something of a sequel, Riad Due. And despite the name’s thirty-sixfold reduction — due being Italian for two, of course — it’s nearly identical in size, just four exceedingly stylish little suites in a traditional Marrakech courtyard mansion.
Its location, right by the medina’s central souk, places you right in the thick of it all. But the whole point of a riad hotel is that when you’re within its walls, the rest of the world is reduced to atmosphere — you’ll hear the call to prayer, and take in a bit of view from the rooftop terrace, but the prevailing sensation is one of chic, urbane luxury. This place is as stylish as you’d expect from its Milanese owners, always tasteful and completely free of kitsch.
With a guide or a some good directions you’re within walking distance of an endless variety of dining options — but if you’re in the mood to stay in, the hotel kitchen is happy to whip up a private meal, with a bit of advance notice. They’re not re-inventing the riad wheel here, just doing it more or less exactly right.
When we talk about the California wine country we’re generally talking about the Napa and Sonoma valleys, just north of San Francisco. But the more southerly region from Paso Robles to San Luis Obispo, midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, shouldn’t be overlooked. And while central California’s lodging options may be fewer, it doesn’t mean there’s any compromise in quality; the Hotel Cheval in Paso Robles is proof positive of that.
It’s a new build, which means that each of its sixteen rooms has plenty of space to spread out, and all the necessities are built in: many feature gas fireplaces, deep tubs, and/or outdoor patios or sun decks. The look is contemporary-luxe, and it’s not without personality — there’s a bit of stable-house ruggedness and some well-chosen splashes of color.
There’s no spa per se, but massages and treatments are available in-room. And if there’s no restaurant, it’s just a further enticement to sample the burgeoning Paso Robles culinary scene. It’s roughly the same drill as in any wine-producing region: winery tours, gourmet meals, and when all is said and done, a small, tranquil and luxurious hotel to act as a home base for a weekend of wining and dining.
At times we’re a bit ambivalent about the big corporate chain hotels, preferring to take our chances with the small and the unique. But how quickly, in a town like Orlando, we go running for the comforting consistency of the Ritz-Carlton.
For if Orlando isn’t exactly the town that Walt built, it’s his (and Disney’s) by annexation — and along with Disney World there’s Sea World and the Universal Orlando Resort. Presumably there’s also a proper city, where some kind of city business gets done; the lion’s share of travelers to Orlando, though, are there on holiday, and many of them with kids.
The Ritz-Carlton is the obvious choice for anyone wishing for an escape from the theme parks — it towers over a park of its own, the Grand Lakes resort, a vast estate strewn with orange groves, complete with a Greg Norman-designed golf course. And there’s nary a costumed mascot in sight.
As for the hotel itself, it sticks to the tried-and-true Ritz-Carlton formula: big opulent rooms, Mediterranean palazzo style, old-fashioned professional service, and amenities to embarrass lesser hotels. All rooms have balconies overlooking the resort’s parklands, but the top-floor Club Level has the best views (plus even more attentive service). The spa complex is vast, the golf facilities first-rate, the pool in the adjoining JW Marriott is enormous, and Norman’s restaurant (named for James Beard winner Norman Van Aken, not for Greg the golf pro) is worth every one of its AAA diamonds. It’s just about enough to make you forget about the theme parks entirely.
In a city filled with opulent manors and gleaming white columns, the Ritz-Carlton has found the ideal setting for its own tried-and-true formula for classic luxury. Don’t expect any funky twists on the chain’s standards, like the black terrazzo floors at the South Beach branch or the minimalist decor at the downtown Manhattan location — this Ritz-Carlton plays by the book.
Occupying a plum spot on Canal Street in the French Quarter, the hotel resembles one of the Garden District’s mansions from the outside, and works hard to emulate the same grandeur throughout the spacious interiors. High ceilings, fresh bouquets, and rosy-hued overstuffed furniture characterize the lobby and ballrooms. The design is far from cutting-edge or contemporary; rather, the public spaces seem fit to host a traditional wedding reception at any hour of the day. The hotel’s high standards and various luxuries, however, are above reproach, from expected amenities like feather beds, marble baths, afternoon tea, and turndown service to pleasing extras like rainforest showerheads, Bulgari White Tea bath products, pet-friendly provisions, and no fewer than four upscale restaurants onsite.
The antique On Trois lounge is the refined setting for daily tea with harpsichord accompaniment, while the richly hued Library Lounge provides a dark, comfortable space for brandy or a glass of wine by the fireplace. Those preferring to linger at the hotel rather than venture out to more casual dining venues in the French Quarter can order Cajun-inspired gourmet cuisine at the third-floor Mélange. The pale candlelit spa, recently renovated, is the hotel’s latest draw. This Ritz-Carlton may not redefine the genre, but it effortlessly exudes the graciousness of the Big Easy itself.
All of us are familiar with the caricature of Argentina: Buenos Aires, some cattle ranches, maybe Patagonia if we’re feeling outdoorsy. Too often forgotten is the wine country, and the Andes-side city of Mendoza — not a major metropolis by any means but a city that’s big enough to have at least one world-class hotel. This imposing 19th-century Spanish Colonial facade still bears the legend “Plaza-Hotel” over its colonnaded entryway, but make no mistake: inside it’s a completely up-to-date Park Hyatt.
Rooms vary in size, of course, on up to the truly decadent suites, but even the most basic rooms are spacious and extremely well-appointed: down duvets, white marble bathrooms, separate baths and showers.
The Park Hyatt Mendoza is of course more than just a place to sleep and bathe. One restaurant, two cafes and a couple of bars showcase the local cuisine and the Mendocino wines. There’s a full-service spa with a pool and a well-equipped fitness center if you’re interested in taking care of yourself, and a casino if you’re not — additionally a number of outdoor excursions can be arranged, as well as tours of what’s probably the Mendoza province’s main attraction: the vineyards.
How to get there:
Park Hyatt Mendoza is approximately a 15 minute drive from El Plumerillo International Airport.
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