Daily Tablet Hotel

Explora en Rapa Nui (Easter Island) : Easter Island, Chile

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:00:06 GMT

Striking modern hotels in far-flung, exotic locales are an Explora specialty. But there’s no more dramatic example of that tendency than their hotel on Rapa Nui — or, to give it its more familiar name, Easter Island. They’re calling it the Posada de Mike Rapu, after a diver and entrepreneur who’s a local partner on the project. But it’s obviously not exactly your ordinary posada.

First there’s the architecture: the building’s rounded forms are almost futuristic, but it’s brought down to earth by humble materials like raw concrete and unfinished wood. Open floor plans and wide windows maximize the sight-lines from anywhere in the room — and the view is, as always, a large part of the Explora’s appeal. The luxuriousness of the place is understated, but it’s undeniable, and mostly takes the form of thoughtful, friendly service.

The building, of course, is somewhat secondary. Like all the Explora hotels, it’s all about the tours. They’re conducted in small groups, expertly managed to avoid the peak traffic at the main destinations. You’ll see the island’s archaeological sites as well as all its natural gifts, on foot, by bike and by sea. And at the end of a couple of days you’ll know as much as just about anyone about the mystery that is Rapa Nui.

How to Get There

The hotel is located 3,700 kilometers (2,237 miles) from the American continent. From Santiago, Chile, take a connecting flight to Isla de Pascua (Easter Island or Rapa Nui), which lasts five hours. It is also possible to get a flight to Isla de Pascua from Tahiti (Papeete), which also takes five hours. From Mataveri airport, Isla de Pascua, the hotel provides transfers to Posada de Mike Rapu, a 5-minute trip.

Mount Kenya Safari Club : Nanyuki, Kenya

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:00:20 GMT

Once owned by William Holden, the Mount Kenya Safari Club retains much of the actor’s rugged, masculine charm, even as its acquisition by Fairmont guarantees a certain polish in the services and amenities. It’s become the starting point of choice for many of the area’s safari-goers — as well it should, as there’s nothing nearby that’s really on its level.

The huge property rises majestically from the grounds, so large that golf carts are the primary means of getting around. In-house naturalists will happily explain the many birds, lured in part by the landscaped ponds. Every room in the main building features a stone fireplace, excellent for warming muscles made sore by long treks around Mount Kenya or the nearby national parks and wildlife reserves. The private cottages are equally boast-worthy, with verandas and lounges. Both types of accommodation tend toward colonial style and gentle earth tones, with framed maps and animal statues as the primary decorative accents — the effect is comfortably staid.

Game shot by Holden and his fellow club members decorates the aptly named Trophy Lounge and other common spaces. But the animal orphanage founded by the actor also still exists, and guests are invited to spend time with the thousands of creatures rehabilitating there, including bongos (a type of antelope), elephants, leopards, and rhinos. And for those who prefer their animals a little less wild and a little more huggable, the hotel makes available two yellow labs for walks and playtime in the courtyard. Golf (with clubs provided) and the more than serviceable spa let guests get away from the four-legged world for a while. But going to Kenya and not interacting with animals is a bit like going to Italy and skipping the cuisine — doable, perhaps, but certainly inadvisable.

Louis Hotel : Munich

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:00:19 GMT

Anyone expecting today’s Munich to be heavy, gray and industrial is in for a pleasant surprise. These days Monocle has taken to calling it “Italy’s northernmost city,” and the contrast with the traditional picture of Germany — not just the weather, but the mood as well — couldn’t be clearer. It’s this new Munich for which the Louis is something of a symbol: it’s a German design hotel that swaps dark Teutonic drama for something warm, sunny, almost Mediterranean.

The rooms, especially, are lighter than the typical urban boutique fare, with spare, slightly bohemian furnishings in warm, earthy tones against a very plain background of white paint and wood floors. There’s more than a little bit of luxury about, but it’s discreet — you’ll notice the Paris-Métro bathroom tiles before you notice the underfloor heating.

Though the services are tightly edited, there’s a decided emphasis on the good life — not just physical, as in the gym and sauna, but spiritual as well, as on the rooftop where a terrace takes in a striking view of the city’s landmarks. Nowhere is this ethos more clear than in the restaurant, Emiko, where a team of Japanese chefs turn out inspired Japanese cuisine as well as European fare that’s even better than the real thing.

Gidleigh Park : Devon, ENG, Devon, England, UK

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 04:00:15 GMT

Though the typical English country house hotel is certainly nothing to complain about, Gidleigh Park is something a little bit different. Not many houses can boast of a location in the heart of Devon’s Dartmoor National Park; and of them only one is the proud owner of two Michelin stars. Even the style is a departure — the exterior is Tudor, the interior Arts and Crafts, and so carefully has the building been restored that it’s nearly impossible to tell where the original house ends and where the recent (and substantial) renovation begins.

Gidleigh Park has hitherto been perhaps best known for its restaurant, under the direction of Michael Caines, a Devon native. It’s a reputation fairly earned, to be sure. But today the hotel is held in equally high regard — it takes more than a kitchen to win Hotel of the Year.

The twenty-four bedrooms were rebuilt from the inside out, and now seamlessly marry classic style with modern functionality — extravagant marble bathrooms, high-definition televisions. It’s got all the positive character of a proper old house with none of the faulty wiring, overtaxed plumbing, or chaotic climate control. Here you’ll eat well, sleep well, and get outside whenever possible; the grounds offer croquet, tennis, a putting green and plenty of gardens, and beyond is Dartmoor, home to some of the South’s wildest landscapes.

How to get there:

Gidleigh Park is thirty to forty minutes from either Exeter St. David train station or Exeter International Airport (EXT). Please contact customerservice@tablethotels.com to arrange airport transfers. Helicopter landing facilities are also available.

Hotel ÜberFluss : Bremen, Germany

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 04:00:15 GMT

High-design boutique hotels are not exactly new, but there’s still a little thrill in coming across one in an unexpected place, like the Hanseatic port city of Bremen. Here, quite literally on the banks of the Weser, is the Hotel ÜberFluss, an exercise in historical contrast: it’s a modern building grafted onto an old merchant’s residence, which is in turn built atop the ruins of the old city wall.

That’s the exterior — the interior is one hundred per cent contemporary, the sort of chic and cheeky stylishness that’s big business in Hamburg, in Berlin, in Amsterdam (and it’s the work of a Dutch design firm, incidentally). The color scheme is heavily monochrome in places, earthy in neutral in others, and decorated with classic modernist furnishings and oversized black-and-white photo prints. Creature comforts aren’t forgotten either; the bathrooms, particularly, border on decadence, many of them open to the bedroom.

The same can be said for the spa, which swaps the usual tired Zen clichés for a darker, more dramatic, underground sort of vibe. The restaurant, FreudenHaus, serves a contemporary take on regional North German fare, and the associated lounge is the hotel’s point of interface with the local nightlife scene.

Hotel ÜberFluss : Bremen, Germany

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 04:00:12 GMT

Gidleigh Park : Devon, ENG, Devon, England, UK

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 04:00:08 GMT

How to get there:

Hotel Ocean Drive, Ibiza : Ibiza, Islas Baleares, Spain

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 04:00:16 GMT

One look at the exterior of this place and it’s clear the name Ocean Drive is hardly a coincidence. It’s pure Miami Art Deco, right down to the lettering on the side of the building. Which makes the views from the balconies — of Ibiza’s hills and rooftops, or the yachts in the marina on the Mediterranean — all the more delightfully incongruous.

The two cities do have a bit in common. Ibiza is still known primarily for its club scene, as it’s one of the dance-music (consumption, not production) capitals of the world. Just as Miami is to American East Coasters, Ibiza is one of a few favored destinations for Europeans in search of a party. And with the advent of the Ocean Drive, it’s easier than ever for them to do so in the design-conscious boutique-hotel style to which they’ve become accustomed.

This means chic minimalist rooms in earthy tones, furnished with mid-century design classics. The roof terrace is home to the Ocean Drive’s “chill-out bar,” an absolute necessity in this town. And that’s not the only concession made to the late-nighters who populate this place: the rooms are heavily soundproofed, which means sleeping is indeed possible, and breakfast is served until 4 in the afternoon, avoiding that bleary-eyed 10:55 rush.

Be Tulum : Tulum, Mexico

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 04:00:16 GMT

Mexico’s prodigious natural gifts are, in some ways, a mixed blessing. So stunning are its miles and miles of raw, idyllic coastline that its hotels have historically found themselves quite able to get by on little more than location alone. That’s changing now, of course; a new generation of impeccably conceived and designed boutique hotels is changing the face of the Mexican hospitality scene — hotels like Be Tulum, to take a not entirely random example. The location, you may have guessed, is Tulum, a small town at the southern end of the Mayan Riviera, on the shores of the Caribbean near Cancún. It’s as heavenly as you’d expect it to be. What’s different here is that the suites are pretty close to heaven themselves. Five “modules,” each containing four suites, are spread throughout the property’s gardens and palms. The most desirable are the ocean-facing suites in the two waterfront modules, looking out to sea from their private balconies and terraces — but there’s really not a poor seat in the house, as there are worse fates than being forced to bask in a jacuzzi or a plunge pool, watching the palms gently sway. There’s a beach club and a poolside lounge, both of which offer ample opportunity for socializing. And of course the rest of the Riviera Maya is not exactly short on nightlife. But Be Tulum can be as quiet as you want it to be. It all borders on the national park of Sian Ka’an, a coastal reserve that’s a world heritage site and an ecological conservation project at once — a long way indeed from the bustle of the big all-inclusive resorts. How to get there: Be Tulum is located approximately 70 miles south of Cancun International Airport (CUN). Please contact customerservice@tablethotels.com to arrange airport transfers.

Hotel Ocean Drive, Ibiza : Ibiza, Islas Baleares, Spain

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 04:00:11 GMT

Hotel Ocean Drive, Ibiza : Ibiza, Islas Baleares, Spain

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 04:00:09 GMT

Estancia Peuma Hue : San Carlos de Bariloche, Rio Negro - Nahuel Huapi National Park, Argentina

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:23 GMT

Please note: Estancia Peuma Hue is closed during the month of June.

Even in urbane, sophisticated Argentina there’s no end of places to lose yourself. One minute you’re in the European-accented capital and the next you’re at the Estancia Peuma Hue, in the Lake District of Patagonia, facing out over Lake Gutiérrez and backed up against a dramatic mountain peak. This is gaucho country — you’re not far from San Carlos de Bariloche, even closer to the Mt. Cathedral ski resort, and yet still you’re remote enough to feel a bit of the romance of exploration.

The social life centers around the main lodge, but the accommodations all occupy outlying buildings; three houses are located on the grounds near the lodge, while the Mountain Cabin, the smallest and most private of the lot, is some distance up a wooded slope. Though not unattractive they’re hardly designer fare — these interiors are rustic through and through, with rough-hewn wood furniture, and a fireplace at the heart of every house.

Organic local cuisine is the order of the day, and you’ll need to fuel up — the estancia’s activities take full advantage of the rugged landscape, with everything from birdwatching on up to sailing, mountain trekking and climbing on a possible agenda. It’s luxe ecotourism meets high-end adventure travel, in a setting that’s second to none.

How to get there:

Estancia Peuma Hue is 45 minutes from San Carlos de Bariloche International Airport (BRC). Please contact customerservice@tablethotels.com to arrange airport transfers.

Estancia Peuma Hue : San Carlos de Bariloche, Rio Negro - Nahuel Huapi National Park, Argentina

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:23 GMT

Please note: Estancia Peuma Hue is closed during the month of June.

How to get there:

Estancia Peuma Hue is 45 minutes from San Carlos de Bariloche International Airport (BRC). Please contact customerservice@tablethotels.com to arrange airport transfers.

Estancia Peuma Hue : San Carlos de Bariloche, Rio Negro - Nahuel Huapi National Park, Argentina

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:00:19 GMT

Please note: Estancia Peuma Hue is closed during the month of June.

How to get there:

Estancia Peuma Hue is 45 minutes from San Carlos de Bariloche International Airport (BRC). Please contact customerservice@tablethotels.com to arrange airport transfers.

Westin Dublin : Dublin 2, Ireland

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 04:00:10 GMT

Though it’s a relative newcomer, the Westin Dublin boasts one of the most prized locations in town: just opposite Trinity College lie three 19th-century buildings, their historic forms wedded together into this most functionally modern of hotels. One of the three was a bank, and it contributes more than just its stately facade — the lobby, with its columns, is suitably grand, and the cellar bar, with its vaulted ceilings, recalls nothing so much as, well, a vault.

The Westin’s interiors have had a pretty thorough going-over, but the rooms bear the stylistic signature — and the relatively modest square footage — of the 19th century. It’s beneath the surface that much of the work has been done, with all the modern necessities in place, both high-tech and low, including Westin’s trademark Heavenly Bed. The best views are of the extremely photogenic college, which is everything you’d want to see in an ancient university.

Central Dublin is nothing if not walkable. You’re close enough — but not too close — to Temple Bar and its overflowing nightlife, as well as most of Dublin’s best dining and shopping. And this location makes the Westin feel like an instant classic — as though it had always existed, just at the edge of the city center.

Les Deux Tours : Marrakech, Morocco

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 04:00:07 GMT

Set in three acres of manicured garden in Marrakech’s Palmeraïe, Les Deux Tours is nothing if not an escape. Though your proximity to the old city means you’re anything but isolated, you won’t exactly feel the hum of the medina’s busy streets. Instead you’ll exult in the quiet that surrounds the resort, itself comprising half a dozen individual riads, available for rent either room by room or in their entirety.

There are thirty-five rooms in total, and it’s clear they’re made more with an eye towards atmosphere than fashion. Though not untouched by contemporary design, Les Deux Tours is a classic at heart, drawing its stylistic inspiration from an era when the phrase “boutique hotel” hadn’t yet been invented. The standard rooms are spacious and, when desired, full of light — and the suites are downright majestic, especially those with access to private plunge pools.

Here there’s room for a central dining room, to cap off a day that began with an en-suite breakfast. By day all the charms of Marrakech are accessible, though the grounds and gardens of Les Deux Tours tempt many a guest to stay in. And of course it just wouldn’t be Morocco without the hammam.

Mandarin Oriental Barcelona : Barcelona, Spain

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 04:00:10 GMT

Some gleaming, towering modernist glass monolith just wouldn’t play in lovely, historic Barcelona. That’s why the Mandarin Oriental Barcelona makes its home where it does, in a classic bank building that’s the better part of a century old. The stately facade blends well with its tony Eixample surroundings, on the Passeig de Gràcia — and it’s not until you’re inside that you enter another world entirely.

The central atrium, which you cross on a very dramatic walkway, is something out of the original Star Wars, a deep white void lined with interior windows. The lobby and restaurant are lined with patterned screens that suggest a 22nd-century version of traditional Islamic architecture. The spa is pure moody futurism, a darker sort of sci-fi, more Ridley Scott than George Lucas. And on the rooftop you’re brought back to the present, on a pool deck with a panoramic view of the surrounding Barcelona skyline.

After all that, the rooms would have to be very impressive indeed if they’re going to compete. They are and they do. Hardwoods and muted masculine tones feel distinctly European — the only vestige of Asian influence, usually a Mandarin standard, is the general simplicity of the clean-lined open-plan spaces. And you’ll sleep the sleep of the just in these expertly soundproofed rooms — they’re so quiet you’ll wonder if that’s the real Barcelona out there or just a silent replica.

Mandarin Oriental Barcelona : Barcelona, Spain

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 04:00:10 GMT

The Margi : Vouliagmeni, Athens, Greece

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 04:00:04 GMT

When you think of a Greek seaside getaway it’s only natural to think of the Aegean islands. But lately there’s beachfront bliss to be had around the capital as well. This is Vouliagmeni, the heart of the new Athenian Riviera, a newly upscale seaside district just south of Athens proper. And it’s home to, among others, The Margi, an 88-room hotel that’s as clear an exemplar of the luxury-boutique genre as you’re likely to find on these shores or any other.

The rooms and suites are somewhat conservative in their stylishness — antique furnishings and artworks attempt to draw you into their history rather than dazzle you with their modernity. They don’t skimp on the luxury, however; every room and suite is equipped with a modern entertainment center, a private balcony or patio, and a bathroom stocked with the obligatory (in these parts, anyway) Korres bath products.

There’s plenty to do on site, from the restaurant, bar and lounge to the swimming pool and the fitness suite. But there’s also plenty to tempt you to wander — not just the coastal bike and jogging path, but the coast itself, including Vouliagmeni’s chic little beach, the yacht marina, even the local golf and tennis club. It’s another side of Athens, to be sure — though only a few miles away, the chaos of the bustling capital is left far behind.

Qasr Al Sharq : Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:00:38 GMT

Imagine the Saudi Arabian equivalent of the Waldorf-Astoria and you’re well on your way to understanding what sort of place is the Qasr Al Sharq. In fact there’s a good reason for the comparison — it just so happens it’s part of the Waldorf-Astoria collection. Of course this being Jeddah, rather than New York, you’ll find certain concessions made to the locality; the style, obviously, is more suited to the gateway to Mecca than the gateway to the Upper East Side.

In terms of scale as well it’s a bit different from its distant Manhattan cousin. While the typical seven-star hotel (if there is such a thing) spreads hundreds of rooms over dozens of floors, the Qasr Al Sharq holds just forty-six very lavish suites, some of them quite beyond what’s normally considered presidential — rather strengthening the case for its boast that it’s more palace than hotel. We could go on and on enumerating the amenities and the extravagances, but suffice it to say the Qasr Al Sharq has a legitimate claim at being one of the most luxurious hotels in the world.

As for Jeddah, it’s not just a business destination, or a waystation on a pilgrimage. The Saudi second city is a popular holiday destination, with a seaside setting that offers some relief from the furnace-like heat of Riyadh and other inland capitals. As such the Qasr Al Sharq offers some serious leisure opportunities, including a women-only spa, a rare thing indeed in this part of the world. It’s probably not a value proposition, and it’s certainly not for the budget-minded, but for pure richness of experience it’s in a high class indeed.

Qasr Al Sharq : Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:00:38 GMT

Qasr Al Sharq : Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:00:38 GMT

Qasr Al Sharq : Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:00:36 GMT

Qasr Al Sharq : Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:00:34 GMT

Qasr Al Sharq : Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:00:29 GMT

Qasr Al Sharq : Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:00:29 GMT

Palazzina Grassi : Venice, Italy

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:00:26 GMT

If ever there were a city that needed a bit of the old Philippe Starck treatment it was Venice. Here a little design goes a long way — not that you could accuse the Palazzina Grassi of being just a little bit designed. Here Starck is at full strength: masks on the bedside lamps, comically exaggerated chandeliers, mirrors on every surface. It’s a classic Venetian palazzo filtered through the mind of a dedicated anti-classicist, and the result was always going to be memorable.

In a Starck hotel the bedrooms feel less like a refuge and more like some kind of provocation. Enough of the bones of the old structure remain to firmly remind you you’re in Venice, and there’s a bit of fun to be had with the city’s famed glasswork. Meanwhile just outside is the original Venice, which is somehow made fresher and more vibrant by contrast with the Palazzina Grassi’s inventive interiors; you’ve never seen the Grand Canal quite like this.

The hotel’s Krug Lounge is open only to hotel guests and local members, ensuring a well-curated crowd. There’s no reception desk, and meals are served at any time in any place within the hotel, dispensing with the traditional restaurant dining room. It’s hard to believe this is the same Venice from the postcards your grandparents used to send — and that, thankfully, is entirely the point.

AlmaSevilla - Hotel Palacio de Villapanes : Seville, Andalucia, Spain

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:00:26 GMT

Hospitality is a tough game, but when you start with a building as stunning as this one, it’s a bit like being born on second base. The AlmaHotels group managed to acquire an 18th-century mansion in Seville’s Santa Cruz district, and with a few bold design strokes they’ve turned it into the Palacio de Villapanés, one of the city’s most fashionable boutique hotels.

It’s not simply a case of style over substance — this is, after all, a palace — but the style is what’s probably most immediately arresting. The building is a classic exemplar of the Mudéjar style, a Moorish interpretation of the influences of the day. And wherever possible, the building has been left intact — some chic modern furnishings and the occasional splash of pure color go a long way.

Historical authenticity meets contemporary style, not just in the fifty guest rooms but in the restaurant as well, where local ingredients and traditional Andalusian specialties are crafted into suitably inventive modern dishes. You’re in the center of contemporary Seville, and on the fringes of the old town, which means it’s a fair compromise on convenience for just about any purpose. And the Alma group’s ambitions extend beyond Seville — we’ll keep an eye out as they spread out across Spain.

Palazzina Grassi : Venice, Italy

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:00:25 GMT

Stonehurst Place : Atlanta, GA, USA

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:00:24 GMT

We’ve nothing against bed and breakfasts per se; they’re not simply small hotels, but something else entirely. Occasionally, though, we come across one that’s extraordinary enough that we’re forced to take notice, and this is one of those times. Atlanta in general does oversized nouveau riche as well as anyone, but Stonehurst Place is proof that they’ve still got a flair for the classic as well.

With a gorgeous setting in a 19th-century mansion in Midtown, a charming urban neighborhood, Stonehurst gets off very much on the right foot. And though the recently renovated house is impeccably preserved, a careful look will reveal that it’s kept pace with the times. Not only are the amenities up to date — especially the oversized bathrooms and the high-end electronics — but a fair bit of the furnishing is modern as well, if subtly so.

The five suites are spacious and airy, with restored period woodwork and well-chosen antiques. Though the service and amenities are first-rate the appeal of Stonehurst Place comes down to atmosphere — this is an elegant and romantic side of Atlanta that’s hard to come by in the newer outlying areas. The pity, as far as Atlanta’s hospitality scene is concerned, is that there’s only one of this place.