Daily Tablet Hotel

Hotel Croatia : Dubrovnik, Croatia

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:00:06 GMT

Landlocked Eastern Europeans longing for the sight of open water have long been acquainted with the seaside delights of Dubrovnik, and in recent years the rest of the world has been quickly catching up, as this historic city has become a major tourist destination. Many out-of-towners find accommodations situated within the massive walls of the Old Town the most desirable, but just down the coast in the village of Catvat is a quieter hotel; one plush enough to host discriminating clients like the late Prince Rainier of Monaco.

The Hotel Croatia, located less than 20 kilometers outside Dubrovnik, may have limited access to city attractions like cafés and theatres, but the natural beauty of an unobstructed view over the Adriatic Sea is, for some, a superior asset. The sprawling resort has undergone major restorations since opening its doors in 1973. The property retains its retro charm, however, with curvy minimalist furnishings and eye-poppingly bright colors on the walls throughout the public spaces and the kitschy cocktail bar.

The time-capsule decor is convincing enough that more than a few filmmakers have used the hotel as a movie set; the guest rooms, on the other hand, are less offbeat, and conform to contemporary standards. Neutral-hued rooms and suites are cozy and warmly lit, some with wireless internet access, terraces, and whirlpool bathtubs, while the view beckons guests off their beige sofas and onto the hotel’s private beaches.

Hotel Excelsior : Munich, Germany

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:00:17 GMT

Independent, family-owned, intimate, with the kind of gorgeous traditional interiors the big luxury chains would kill for — that’s the Hotel Excelsior in a nutshell. You can find anything you want in Munich, from grand hotels to design experiments, but this sort of thing is, and probably always will be, quite rare.

It’s largely a replica, as the building fell on difficult times during the last war, and the décor certainly isn’t authentically 19th-century vintage. But the style is faithfully recreated, and the relative newness of the materials only adds to the sparkle of the building’s old facade and the lush fabrics and woodwork of the guest rooms. After all, they didn’t have soundproofing like this a century ago, and nor did they have satellite TV. And more than the gadgetry, what matters is the personality — it’s hardly kitschily, stereotypically Bavarian, but there’s clearly some history here.

There’s a restaurant on site, the Vinothek, as well as a cocktail bar with a fine selection of Bavarian beers. And, as luck would have it, the Excelsior’s owners happen to be restaurateurs — they’re only too happy to direct you to their other offerings, the Michelin-starred Königshof and the more casual Anna.

Hotel del Casco : Buenos Aires, Argentina

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:00:09 GMT

In the last few years in Buenos Aires, boutique hotels have been popping up left and right. Some are perfectly stylish urban havens, while others are minimalist knockoffs that miss the mark. The Hotel del Casco, steeped in genteel history, doesn’t fit into either category. The palazzo was restored in 2003, but the building’s grand rooms, patios, and conservatory retain their original old-fashioned elegance.

The quiet hotel’s twenty guest rooms, many facing the central courtyard, are classically luxurious, featuring Egyptian cotton sheets, king beds and roll-top baths. But it’s the character of the historic building that makes the Hotel del Casco special: the exposed brick walls, high ceilings, intricate tapestries, and antique chandeliers are reminders of a gentler past. The freestanding Casa del Casco, a four-bedroom villa with its own swimming pool, is a splurge-worthy indulgence. Other guests have access to the hotel’s solarium, pool, spa area, and fitness center. Somewhat surprisingly, there is no in-house restaurant, though a continental breakfast is served in the conservatory — it would be a shame, at any rate, to stay holed up in the hotel when restaurants serving world-class steak and wine surround you.

It must be noted that the Hotel del Casco’s charm depends in no small part on its location in the leafy, moneyed neighborhood of San Isidro. This north-of-downtown suburb isn’t really in the city at all, and though cultural attractions can be easily reached in a taxi, the place is better suited to those seeking turn-of-the-century sophistication and repose rather than travelers on a tight sightseeing schedule.

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara : Hameem, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:00:08 GMT

Until recently the Anantara resorts were pretty much confined to the lush environs of Thailand, the Maldives and Indonesia; their move into the United Arab Emirates comes as something of a surprise. And we’re not even talking about a hotel on stilts off some island in the Gulf — the Anantara Resort & Spa Qasr Al Sarab is an oasis an hour and a half outside of Abu Dhabi, in the middle of the Liwa Desert, which is part of the Empty Quarter, the biggest stretch of bare sand in the world.

So this one definitely isn’t lush. What it is, however, is plush: the most basic rooms are very big indeed, with oversized soaking tubs and stunning views of the dunes, while the suites and villas, it’s fair to say, remind you rather forcefully that you’re in the Emirates, a place that’s not shy about luxury. Space is absolutely not an issue, and the comforts go above and beyond anything you could rightly expect.

You don’t venture this far out into the desert unless you’re in search of some peace and quiet. The Anantara spa goes a long way towards scratching that particular itch, as does the infinity pool, and these are the sort of rooms and suites you could quite comfortably shut yourself in for days at a time.

Tomtom Suites : Istanbul, Turkey

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:37 GMT

In this enormous city the prevailing trend in hospitality seems, oddly enough, to be something along the lines of “smaller is better.” And who are we to argue? We’ve got nothing against the big boys, but when you can provide top-shelf service and world-class style in a smaller, more intimate hotel, you’re on to something good. Here, in the upscale residential and diplomatic district around Galata and Pera, is a perfect example, in the form of Tomtom Suites.

A former convent, Tomtom is still quiet enough — but it’s not about self-denial. The modern interiors are simple but rich, in earth tones and parquet floors, the look perhaps more residential than many hotels. Suites are visually subtle but lack for nothing in the area of luxury — massive marble bathrooms are standard, and butlers attend to guests’ every need.

There’s a charming and understated little bistro, and a rooftop terrace bar with a view of the city, as well as more meeting space than most 20-unit hotels can boast. It’s an excellent option for business travelers, but a worthy option for leisure as well — Taksim Square, just down the road, is one of Istanbul’s many centers, a dining and shopping district to match any in the world.

Vedema Resort : Santorini, Greece

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:01:30 GMT

Please note: Vedema Resort is closed for the winter season and will reopen May 1, 2010.

Some don’t bother with Santorini unless they’ve got a front-row cliffside view of the caldera — but visit in high season and you’ll soon find you’re very far from alone. There are alternatives, though, for escaping the crowds; the island is home to any number of family-run bed and breakfasts, and more than a few modestly sized guest houses or mansion hotels. If it’s five-star resort hospitality you’re after, though, Vedema is one of just a few worthy options.

Located in the medieval village of Megalohori, just outside the island’s capital of Fira, Vedema is a converted 15th-century winery, where gleaming white villas surround numerous courtyards and overlook the vineyards, the town, and that deep blue sea. The accommodations are spacious, and the traditional Greek décor falls neatly in line with what international travelers expect to see—white walls, smart, spare furnishings and generous sitting areas. Modern must-haves are accounted for as well, from satellite TV and DVD players to Egyptian cotton linens.

White and black sand beaches are there for the exploring, and the wine cellar is open for your perusal, including regular tastings. The main advantage of a resort like this, over a family-run hotel, is the wide array of facilities: two restaurants, a wine bar, a Cocoon spa and an open-air jacuzzi are among the offerings. Villa Vedema might not be at the nexus of Santorini’s traditional tourist destinations, but with accommodations so luxe, you’ll be tempted to stay in and just soak in the atmosphere.

The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street : Beijing, China

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:01:24 GMT

Most Ritz-Carltons look, from the lobby if not from the street, like something out of Revolutionary France; in 21st-century Beijing that would just be perverse. Here, in a modern glass skyscraper on Beijing’s very sensibly named Financial Street, is a new breed of Ritz-Carlton, one that departs in two ways: not only is it strikingly contemporary, ever so slightly on the minimalist side, but it’s also very identifiably Chinese.

Nowhere, though, do the visuals threaten to overwhelm the pure old-school luxury of the place. In the rooms the contemporary furnishings are more notable for their comfort than for their looks, and no expense has been spared in making these rooms the absolute state of the luxury art: everything’s totally wired and electronically controlled, and televisions include 37-inch LCD screens in the main room, 15-inch in the lavish marble bathrooms.

The main restaurant is upscale Chinese, showcasing the cuisines of seven different regions; secondary restaurants include a Northern Italian option and a “flexitarian” vegetables-and-seafood choice. The spa is as impressive as you’d expect it to be, and the fitness center is up to the highest standard — and here, as anywhere, the Ritz-Carlton is perhaps best known as a destination for a fine afternoon tea.

How to get there:

From Beijing Capital International Airport , 35 km - approximately 40 mins.

Please contact customerservice@tablethotels.com to arrange airport transfers.

The Mansion on Forsyth Park : Savannah, GA, USA

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:01:22 GMT

Quite a lot of the appeal of the American South lies in its attachment to history and tradition. But there’s room for a little creativity. While other Southern mansion hotels feel dry and airless, preserved in amber, the Mansion on Forsyth Park, in Savannah, Georgia, is a fantasy — behind the walls of this very authentic 19th-century Victorian mansion is a boutique hotel that’s more about contemporary Old South romance than it is about pure historical correctness.

There’s a thread of European sophistication about the place as well, and it’s practically overflowing with art from the owner’s private collection. The hundred-odd rooms are located not in the original house, but in an addition next door, one that adheres remarkably closely to the style of the red-brick mansion. As a result they’re spacious, and laid out like modern luxury boutique hotel rooms, oversized baths and all.

The slightly overstated opulence of the décor makes these bedrooms a good deal more seductive than you’d expect from a proper Southern mansion, and the same goes for the public spaces — from the spa to the pool deck to the 700 Drayton restaurant and especially Casimir’s, the rooftop lounge with a view of the picturesque Forsyth Park.

Titilaka : Puno, Peru

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:01:08 GMT

Split between Peru and Bolivia, the magnificent Lake Titicaca, considered by Incas to be the sacred birthplace of human civilization, is one of the largest, deepest, and highest bodies of water on the globe. Backpackers have long made the pilgrimage to the water’s edge; this, by contrast, is a high-end luxury boutique hotel that’s set to bring a whole new audience to these shores.

Despite the uncluttered design and contemporary amenities — heated floors, iPod docks, black-out curtains, and wireless internet — Titilaka isn’t a generic five-star. The simple structure, standing solitary on the grassy edge of the lake, is a forward-looking and eco-friendly hotel, with 18 plush suites decorated in earthy hues. The high-end linens, handcrafted bath products, and oversized tubs are pleasant, to be sure, but the real attraction is the jaw-dropping view of the deep blue water through the huge picture windows. It’s fitting, as nearly every activity at Titilaka centers around the lake — cocktail hour on the waterfront terrace, kayak excursions, gourmet dinners of freshly caught trout.

It’s worth noting that the indulgent service is half the fun: a private tour guide and driver meet guests at the airport, escorting you by Land Rover and speedboat to the secluded hotel. The star treatment continues during your stay, with personalized options ranging from breakfast in bed to customized archaeological tours of the region. It’s lavishly equipped, it’s contemporary, but at its heart, Titilaka is appealing in a down-to-earth way that’s faithful to its natural environment.

How to get there:

From the Juliaca airport or Puno Train Station, a Land Rover or similar transports guests for an hour and a half to a picturesque wharf, bypassing the congestion of Puno. The half hour approach via private speedboat is completely serene, a fitting beginning for an authentic Titicaca experience. Titilaka can also be reached in about five hours by car or train from Cusco, and six hours by car from Arequipa. It is also possible to arrive at Titilaka via Bolivia.

Please contact customerservice@tablethotels.com to arrange airport transfers.

Moonrise Hotel : St. Louis, MO, USA

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:00:11 GMT

One of the items on our global wish list is that every major city in America should have a hotel like this one. In a landscape dominated by cost-cutting chain hotels, there’s an advantage to be had by showing a little bit of personality, something that the Moonrise Hotel, in St. Louis, Missouri, has got in spades.

For a good start, it’s located in what’s probably the best neighborhood in town, the Loop. This is St. Louis’s nightlife and dining district, and it’s a much better spot for a mid-rise rooftop bar like the Moonrise’s than the city’s oversized downtown. Inside you’ll find it’s got a bit of a theme, and charmingly that theme is space. It lends itself to a bit of curvaceous mid-century modernism, and at the Moonrise, modernist design is fun again, rather than painfully fashionable. Suites pay homage to the city’s famous residents, and the rooms come with all the necessities, from plasma TVs to stylish modern bathrooms.

Fun is probably what separates the Moonrise, and other Midwestern boutique hotels, from their cousins on the coasts. Here you can’t help feeling that the style is meant to be inclusive, not exclusive, curiosity-provoking rather than alienating, right down to the little revolving replica moon atop the hotel’s roof.

The Dupont Hotel : Washington, DC, USA

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:00:09 GMT

In a town as traditional as Washington, a little bit of modern design goes a long way. The newly redesigned Dupont Hotel is, in its subtly stylish way, one of the hippest hotels in the nation’s capital. It’s the only hotel on Dupont Circle, in a neighborhood better known for dining, nightlife and entertainment than for monuments or institutions — which, provided you’re not here with your high school history class, is definitely a good thing.

That’s not to say it’s isolated. It’s surrounded by embassies, and it’s a safe bet that quite a few of its guests are international travelers. As such they probably feel more or less at home in the Dupont’s contemporary, urbane interiors. Rooms lack for no comfort, and they’re not just stylish but functional as well, with full-sized work desks and Eames Management chairs. And there’s an ultra-high-end hotel within the hotel: Level Nine is a floor of enormous, lavish suites, served by its own private elevator.

The neighborhood certainly isn’t short on restaurants, bars and cafés, but the Dupont offers its own very worthy options: there’s a modern French restaurant, a nod to D.C.’s Francophile roots, with a swanky cocktail bar attached. Proof positive that this town is loosening up.

Kempinski Hotel Taschenbergpalais : Dresden, Germany

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:00:03 GMT

If you know your local history then you’ll know why a reconstruction of an 18th-century Baroque palace is just as big a point of local pride as an authentic, unreconstructed 18th-century Baroque palace. Either way, today the Taschenbergpalais is Dresden’s top luxury hotel, with the Kempinski flag flying over its 200-odd rooms and suites.

It’s the perfect location for something like this, in the heart of Dresden’s historic city center, surrounded by sights including the opera house and the Zwinger palace. And while the exterior’s reconstruction was painstaking in its historical correctness, the interiors, by the Swedish firm Living Design, are actually somewhat contemporary. Additionally the rooms benefit from some of the advantages of modern building: they lack for none of the modern comforts, including underfloor heating in the marble bathrooms, a healthy complement of high-tech gadgetry and plenty of space to stretch out.

Completing the package are a couple of fine restaurants, a completely modern spa and wellness center, and all the meeting space you could possibly need. It’s perhaps an exaggeration to say it’ll have you feeling like 19th-century aristocracy, but not much of one — there’s definitely something to be said for occupying a room at a city’s most prestigious address.

The Nines : Portland, OR, USA

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:00:17 GMT

Portland may be better known for its homespun, folksy charm, its artisanal espresso and one-speed bicycles — but with The Nines, there’s finally a chic luxury option. The name is no accident: “dressed to the nines” isn’t a phrase you hear often enough around Oregon, but it certainly applies here.

The location is classic city-luxe, not some rehabbed warehouse space, but atop a historic building overlooking Portland’s surprisingly elegant downtown square. And if your business isn’t right on Pioneer Square, you’ll find Portland a compact and easily navigated city — you can easily get from baggage claim to the hotel via light rail in under an hour.

With over three hundred rooms it isn’t small, but the rooms have personality, classic meeting modern in brilliant colors. All the luxury trappings are included, from electronics to down duvets to rain showers, and the service is professional — this is a Starwood Luxury Collection property, which should help high-maintenance guests sleep a little easier.

So the standard features are all in place, including a 24-hour gym and a fine restaurant, Urban Farmer, a steakhouse with an upscale take on rustic Oregonian produce in an exceedingly well-dressed environment. Better still is the library, featuring cocktails and billiards in a cozy, clubby space, furnished with thousands of books from Powell’s, the West Coast’s last, biggest and greatest independent bookshop.

Hotel Missoni Edinburgh : Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:00:05 GMT

We’ve seen fashion hotels before. In some ways the parallel between fashion design and hotel design seems apt — if an outfit is a temporary personality, then a hotel is a temporary lifestyle, and there’s an element of fantasy to both. If there’s anything really unusual about the Hotel Missoni, it’s probably the location, in Edinburgh. But just as you never know when you might need, say, a tweed jacket, you never know when you might find yourself in need of a bit of modern style in the Scottish capital.

The building is certainly a bit of a fashion statement, a daring modern work by the Milanese architect Matteo Thun, which can’t help but stand out against the backdrop of the Royal Mile, some of whose buildings date back seven or eight centuries. Inside it’s no less bold: bright colors and eye-popping prints will quickly purge the very idea of tartan from your mind.

As in the best fashion hotels the Missoni is exceedingly comfortable, but stops just short of outright pampering. This is a hotel for people with places to go and things to do. There’s still plenty of time for a bit of Italian style in the Cucina & Bar — café by day, cocktail bar by night. And if you think Edinburgh is a bit of a curveball, the next Missoni Hotel is already set to open — in Kuwait City.

Lanson Place : Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:00:05 GMT

You can’t really get any closer to the middle of it all, at least in Hong Kong, than Causeway Bay — rents in this teeming commercial district rival those on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, and the shops, bars and restaurants are tightly packed. Best, then, to escape to a hotel that’s a bit more private than the typical vast, crowded chain hotel. Which, naturally, is where the Lanson Place comes in.

Lanson Place strikes a balance just about midway between the typical boutique (difficult furniture, hip lobby bar, much architectural grandstanding) and the buttoned-up business hotel (do we really have to describe it?). Behind a classic facade it’s pared-down and modernist, in stylish whites and neutrals, but packed with practicalities from wi-fi access and work desks to generously equipped kitchenettes. It’s perhaps too conservative for scene-makers, and probably a bit edgy for real old-guard salarymen; for anyone else, however, it’ll more than do.

In this neighborhood, after all, shutting yourself in a five-star cocoon would be missing out. Thoughtful though they may be, it’s hard to imagine those kitchenettes seeing much use — in Causeway Bay an almost dizzying selection of restaurants is never more than a minute or two away.

The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort : Kiawah Island, SC, USA

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:00:05 GMT

Three cheers for stylistically sensitive development. A brand-new American golf resort too often means a bland and faceless building full of identical L-shaped bedrooms, but the Sanctuary at Kiawah Island just isn’t that sort of place. Instead imagine a resort with all the comforts and luxuries of a modern five-star hotel, but with an architectural style transplanted from the antebellum mansions of old South Carolina.

Of course with 255 rooms and suites this is no plantation house. But big resorts have advantages that smaller hotels often can’t match, especially in facilities. Not many boutique operations can operate a full-service spa, much less a tennis clinic, a 65-foot swimming pool, or five (five!) golf courses designed by the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye.

Even the activity-agnostic will find plenty to like about the Sanctuary, not least the ten miles of Atlantic beachfront. Most of the rooms and suites face the sea, and they’re quite worthy of holing up in — beds are plush, the décor is soothing, and the bathrooms are so lavishly outfitted you might entirely forget about the spa. A generous handful of restaurants and bars completes the package, and this place is a natural wedding venue, with gorgeous outdoor spaces and no end of function rooms.

Grand Hyatt Seoul : Seoul, Korea

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:00:10 GMT

Those who haven’t traveled in Asia might blanch at the thought of checking in with one of the big Western chains. But they do things a bit differently over there. Anyone who’s seen Lost in Translation can tell you that the Park Hyatt Tokyo, for one, is something more than just your ordinary high-end business hotel — and much the same can be said of this one, the Grand Hyatt Seoul.

For one thing, you haven’t known luxury hotel service until you’ve seen the Far East version. The rooms, though visually understated, are state-of-the-art, containing everything you’d expect from a modern hotel room. Full-length windows take in panoramic views of the city or the mountains, and bathrooms are universally plush, with tubs in every one. Absolute design addicts might be left a bit cold, but for most of us comfort is as important as style.

And as ever it’s not just the quality, but the quantity of the services and facilities as well. The Grand Hyatt Seoul is home to no fewer than nine separate dining and entertainment venues, and along with the spa there’s not just a gym and pool, but the city’s most massive 24-hour fitness complex, Club Olympus, with its indoor and outdoor pools, squash and tennis courts, and even an outdoor ice rink, when weather permits.

Ibiza Gran Hotel : Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:00:07 GMT

For a long time in Ibiza the hotel situation lagged some way behind the legendary nightlife. We’ve seen the odd boutique here and there making an effort to remedy the situation, but nothing on the scale of the Ibiza Gran Hotel. One look at the place and you can see it doesn’t suffer from any lack of ambition: with an exterior like a cruise ship and an interior like an art museum, it’s anything but retiring.

It’s all suites, which is always a good start. All are clean-lined and contemporary, in blond wood and modern furniture, and many of them look out at views of the sea and the old town. Whirlpool tubs are universal; the junior suites have them right there in the bedroom, while others find them out on the terrace or in the bathroom, made from marble.

The spa and the fitness center are suitably vast and suitably stylish, and the heart of the place is probably the pool deck, where the guests and even the building itself seem to angle towards the sun. And though it’s a complete enough experience, and a remarkably upscale one, it’s not meant to be entirely self-contained — many of Ibiza’s most famous clubs are within easy shouting distance.

Riad AnaYela : Marrakech, Morocco

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:00:14 GMT

When you’re shopping for a riad hotel you can go for the pared-down and unpretentious, just a mellow slice of Moroccan life. Or you can go all-out epic Marrakech romance, and book in at AnaYela. There are probably places you can go if you want a bit of humble, down-to-earth traditional Moroccan experience — this, thrillingly, is not one of them.

From the moment you pass through the doors it feels like a Hollywood fantasy of a riad, come vividly to life — everything’s meticulously restored, finely crafted down to the last detail. Fittingly, it’s run by a management team and a local staff who are almost too lovely to be real, and you could say the same about the myth that ties the place together, a love story about a young girl named Yela, to whom you’ll find references hidden all through the house.

Down to brass tacks: three rooms and two suites, none of them overly large but all of them exquisitely comfortable, and all of them admirably free of phones and TVs, the better to immerse you in the romance of the place. This kind of theater is best maintained with impeccable service, and AnaYela has that base quite well covered. The obligatory rooftop deck is fine enough, but for a truly unique experience, there’s an observation tower with a panoramic view of the medina — spend a moment or two up there and the whole Yela romance starts to make a little more sense.

Hotel St. Augustine : Miami Beach, FL, USA

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:00:14 GMT

In Miami’s bid to maintain its reputation as America’s sexiest destination, South Beach is its red carpet. With hotels, bars and clubs like glittering starlets flashing canned smiles to the cameras, SoBe’s exhibitionistic brand of luxury sometimes borders on sensory overload. So while its hot-list neighbors peddle the lifestyles of the rich and famous, the Hotel St. Augustine instead offers a refreshing dose of modesty, set in a 1937 Art Deco landmark in the burgeoning South of Fifth district.

With only 24 rooms, the St. Augustine functions more as a guest house than a full-service hotel. It’s not unheard-of to have only one staff-person on-hand, hopping back and forth from reception duties to tending the small in-lobby bar (which also doubles as a breakfast lounge). The unassumingly hip décor keeps it simple, with the requisite Scandinavian clean lines, light woods and chromatic minimalism.

Designed around the concept of bringing the spa experience to the individual level, the bathrooms are by far the highlight of the hotel, and its primary claim to bragging rights amongst South Beach’s indulgent properties. While the main quarters of the rooms run on the smallish side, the bathrooms are expansive, featuring multi-head European steam showers and a spa-bar of products for self-pampering.

And that may be the key to this place: self-pampering. Prima-donna tendencies and celebutante fantasies are better played out elsewhere, but set only two blocks from the beach and minutes from the velvet-ropes, the Hotel St. Augustine is a perfect refuge from SoBe’s more ostentatious glamour.

The Citizen Hotel : Sacramento, CA, USA

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:00:28 GMT

Though it’s the capital of California, a state with an economy bigger than those of about 180 countries, Sacramento doesn’t get much respect — it’s often overshadowed by nearby San Francisco, much as Albany plays second fiddle to New York City. But in the Citizen Hotel, Sacramento might finally have the hotel it deserves.

It’s by any definition a modern boutique hotel, conceived by the California-based Joie de Vivre group. But stylistically it’s far from the modern-design standard. Instead the Citizen is full of historical references, with an atmosphere that recalls the 19th century — think gold mining, railroad barons, the Wild West struck rich and grown up.

By the time you get to the rooms, the retro atmosphere is fairly subtle — some guests, in town on official government business, might not pay it a second thought. Bedrooms are not quite haute luxury, but more than comfortable enough, with all the necessities: HD televisions, iPod stereos, fine Italian linens and efficient work spaces.

Grange, the restaurant, showcases modern Californian cuisine — organic, local and seasonal — in a genteel throwback atmosphere, and the Scandal Bar feels like the sort of place where back-room deals are made (sans cigar smoke). In fact they probably are, given the Citizen’s central location, close by to the courthouse and the Capitol.

AVIA Savannah : Savannah, GA, USA

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:00:11 GMT

Savannah is a historical city, but that doesn’t mean it’s stuck in the past — it’s an art-school town as well, and there’s some appetite here for a bit of experimentation. So a contemporary-style boutique hotel like the Avia is certainly not out of the question.

You’re a short walk away from the plantation houses and tree-lined boulevards you might expect from Savannah, but the Avia is a remarkably urban experience, a well-kept loft building just off the river walk. Rooms are cool and contemporary, but not at all minimal — there’s plenty of color, and the eye can’t help but be drawn to the occasional scarlet or leopard-print chair or sofa.

Good as it looks, design isn’t the point of this place. Savannah, and by extension the Avia, is about the good life — the rooms lack for no comfort, and food and drink are central to the experience, with daily wine tastings, custom-roasted coffee, and a fine introduction to modern Southern cooking at the Avia Kitchen. And the town itself is the other half of the equation, with Paula Deen’s restaurant, for example, just down the street; your concierge will see to it that by the time you leave, you know Savannah inside and out.

Royal Palm Hotel : Isla Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:00:21 GMT

If we tell you there’s a resort you’ve got to see in the Galápagos Islands you’d probably imagine some kind of bare-bones eco-resort, or a bit of sailing on some latter-day HMS Beagle. What you might not expect is an inland luxury resort hidden away in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island — but that’s exactly what the Royal Palm is.

Bare-bones it isn’t, but an eco-resort it certainly still is, at least in the sense that you’re immersed in the Ecuadoran rainforest from beginning to end. The Royal Palm spreads out over 500 acres of lush garden, all for just ten villas, eight studios and three suites. Within any one of them you’ll lead a pampered existence, with all the pleasures of a modern luxury hotel — plus, of course, the added pleasure of your surroundings in one of the world’s last great wildernesses.

It may make for an uneasy balance for anyone who equates environmental friendliness with spartan self-denial; but here you’ve got the lagoons, the tortoises and the Charles Darwin research station peacefully co-existing with spa treatments and casual modern cuisine. Use it as a base from which to explore the Galápagos, or just a place to hide yourself away.

How to Get There: Travel via Quito or Guayaquil airports to Baltra airport in the Galapagos. At Baltra airport, guests must pay $100 park services entry fee for the Galapagos Islands. Transportation from Baltra airport to the hotel, via boat and van, takes about 40 minutes. Please contact customerservice@tablethotels.com for help arranging your transfer.

Villa del Sogno : Gardone Riviera, Lombardia, Italy

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:00:18 GMT

There was a time, back before the invention of air travel, when the lakes of northern Italy were the favored destination for Europeans of means. And even now, the fact that the flight to the Maldives is quicker than the coach ride from Vienna to Lake Garda has done nothing to diminish the intrinsic charms of the Gardone Riviera, still on display at the Hotel Villa del Sogno.

The villa itself stands on a terraced hillside above the shores of Lake Garda, and looks out over the lake and the surrounding valley, with stunning views from many of its 31 rooms and suites, and an incomparable one from the hotel’s terrace lounge. Inside the style is classic, fitting Lake Garda’s status as an old-world destination — you can get modern design in a million places in Italy, and there’s no need for it here.

Some of the better rooms and a couple of suites have their own private terraces, but they’re not a necessity — you can’t escape the view, and you’ll find yourself outside soaking in it much of the time. That is, when you’re not soaking in something else — either the Villa del Sogno’s swimming pool, or the whirlpool down in the lavish spa and wellness center.

Sivory Punta Cana : Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:00:09 GMT

It’s not about the Dominican Republic so much as it is about a beach at the end of the earth. Sivory Punta Cana may as well be on its own desert island, so focused is it on the sand, the surf, and the horizon. And if you wanted to get away from everything else, it’s hard to imagine a more gorgeous place to do it.

The accommodations are almost equal to the setting. Neither aggressively modern nor patronizingly island-kitsch, they’re soothing, contemporary, and subtly quite luxe. You won’t be blown away by bachelor-pad gadgetry, but you also certainly won’t mind the deep two-person soaking tub, the all-pervasive wireless internet, or the dedicated wine fridge. There’s more space than you’ll know what to do with, and the views are extraordinary, especially in the waterfront suites — it’s like living inside a postcard.

They’re more than luxurious enough to hole up in, and some do. Honeymooners might not even know about the spa, expansive though it is, and the restaurants go far beyond the odd bit of room service — for just a hundred-odd guests the Sivory provides no fewer than three restaurants, and, in the cellar, eight thousand bottles of wine.

968 Park Hotel : South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:00:18 GMT

Lake Tahoe is known for a lot of things — chiefly water sports, skiing, and other outdoor pursuits — but inventive small hotels are typically not among them. Development here has tended toward the utilitarian, to put it kindly. Which makes the 968 Park Hotel all the more special.

For one thing, it’s a renovation, not a new build, and given the amount of empty space around here, that’s something that requires uncommon restraint. But what’s most impressive about the development process is that the 968 was a zero-waste renovation: though they stripped it to its studs, they salvaged what they could, and found homes for everything else.

The finished version of the 968 Park is about as green as it gets, which is still surprisingly uncommon even in California. The stylish, contemporary interiors stand out as well, especially given the state of the competition. There are some notable comforts, especially the spa, which comes in handy in recovering from a day spent on the slopes. But in the end the 968, like all Tahoe resorts, is about the location: the lake, the casinos, and above all the ski resorts. With Heavenly Village just across the road you’ve got all the trappings of a ski town, from chair lifts to shops and restaurants and even an ice rink, all within a few minutes’ walk.

Spitz Hotel : Linz, Austria

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:00:16 GMT

Having a bit less high-culture history to weigh it down than Vienna or Salzburg do, Austria’s third city of Linz gets on with the business of modern life — some of which happens to take place in a very modern hotel called the Spitz. It’s right in the heart of the city, across from the new town hall and around the corner from the Ars Electronica Center, the technology museum that’s set to re-open in January of 2009. The ideal place for a modern-style design hotel, especially one which, like the Spitz, is relatively easy on the wallet.

It’s an upgrade from the 1980s chain hotel that used to occupy this space, taken over by a private owner and redesigned by the architect Isa Stein. The new-look Spitz ranges across several categories of hospitality, from standard rooms and studios to long-stay rooms and apartments. It’s still more design hotel than luxury hotel, full of contemporary works by local artists and video installations by Ars Electronica, but it doesn’t lack for comfort — guest rooms come with flat-screen televisions and the public spaces in particular are striking, with their clean white backgrounds and asymmetrical red leather seats.

The St. Regis Singapore : Singapore, Singapore

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:00:13 GMT

You may think you know about luxury hotels, but until you’ve seen the Asian version, you haven’t seen anything yet. And don’t let the sleek glass tower fool you — the St. Regis Singapore, despite its contemporary sheen, is a luxury hotel of the old school, the sort of place where, if you’ll let them, they’ll pick you up at the airport in one of a fleet of Bentleys.

Once inside you’re assigned a butler, and seen to your room, which is all old-world opulence, though it may contain such modern interventions as multiple LCD televisions and pervasive wi-fi. Sun streams in through full-length windows, lending a cheery aspect to the bright reds and golds of the décor, and the bathrooms are arguably the centerpieces of the rooms, with rain showers, deep freestanding tubs, and in-mirror flat-screens.

Bars and lounges include a New York–style cocktail bar, a genteel drawing room, and a chic wine bar, which is arranged more like a wine library than a traditional lounge. Three restaurants cater to various tastes: an upscale French brasserie, a pan-Mediterranean option, and Yan Ting, an artful high-end Cantonese restaurant. And just outside central Singapore awaits — the shopping district of Orchard Road is a short walk away.

Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena : Bansko, Bulgaria

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:00:12 GMT

Nobody is about to mistake Bansko, Bulgaria for St. Moritz. But it’s certainly not without its charms. You can actually afford to ski here, for one thing; and if you’re having an increasingly difficult time telling one Alpine resort from another, you’ll find Bansko has an almost comical abundance of character. And the affordability extends to the hotels as well — here’s a top-end luxury hotel, the Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena, which is located literally right at the bottom of the gondola, charging a nightly rate that might not even get you through the door of the worst hotel in Gstaad.

One look at the Grand Arena’s distinctive exterior and you can tell you’re not in the Alps anymore. The rooms may be a bit on the mild side, but you don’t come to a ski resort to admire the furniture. There’s plenty of character out in the streets as well — this has only been a ski resort for a little more than a decade, so the old town is perhaps quainter than most. Of course, if you’re used to Courchevel or Park City or Whistler, you’ll find the slopes themselves a bit quaint; but that’s sort of the point. Bulgaria is still lovably bizarre, the Grand Arena rolls out the red carpet for cheap, and the ratio of experience to cost is at an all-time high.

The Regent Esplanade Hotel Zagreb : Zagreb, Croatia

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:00:17 GMT

Surely it won’t be long before the contemporary-design boutique hotels move in to Zagreb, but there’ll never be anything in the Croatian capital to match the historic appeal of the Regent Esplanade. It dates back to the Twenties, to the heyday of the Orient Express, and its Art Deco interiors have been renovated, but not updated — just looking around these rooms (and ignoring the satellite television) you could easily convince yourself it’s still 1924.

Of course those old-fashioned good looks are compatible with modern luxury-hotel comforts. Goose down pillows and duvets on the beds, oversized towels in the modern marble bathrooms, and above all plenty of space, always a luxury in a city-center grand hotel.

Elegance in the guest rooms is certainly nice, but in a classic luxury hotel like the Regent Esplanade, it’s the public spaces that really shine. The lobby is stylish, in the same gorgeous and impeccably maintained Art Deco style as the rest of the hotel, and the cocktail lounge and the French bistro have atmosphere to spare. But it’s the fine dining restaurant and the grand ballroom that are truly monumental — the Regent is the European grand hotel at its best.