Daily Tablet Hotel

The Fortress : Galle, Sri Lanka

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:00:04 GMT

In recent memory Sri Lanka was a fairly obscure locale for a holiday. But now that seems a very long time ago. Today it’s an absolutely first-class luxury destination, especially the Dutch colonial town of Galle, on the island’s south coast. It’s home to a picturesque fortress, with battlements surrounding the old town, and now it’s home to a Fortress of another kind — this one a luxury resort by the Maldives-based Per Aquum group.

Many of its local competitors are mom-and-pop affairs, which are great for casual intimacy. The Fortress is bigger, just under fifty rooms, and feels a bit more like a resort, albeit a small one — there’s a full-service spa, for example, complete with yoga pavilion and fitness center, and amenities include round-the-clock room service and a pillow menu. Several dining venues serve everything from Sri Lankan cuisine to wood-fired pizza.

It’s still got plenty of personality, though, with the rooms outfitted in a striking and vaguely retro modernist style. Here raising the luxury stakes hasn’t compromised the experience at all — who could complain about Bose home theaters and in-room espresso machines, just a few steps away from the beach?

How to get there:

The Fortress is a four hour drive from Bandaranaike International Airport. Contact the hotel for airport transfer requests.

Hamak Hotel : Mugla, Turkey

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:00:38 GMT

If there’s any real reason why the Greek Isles should be synonymous with sun-soaked, idyllic escape and the Bodrum Peninsula should remain obscure, it’s certainly nothing to do with geography. This part of Turkey is as stunning as anything on the Mediterranean, and it provides a splendid backdrop for some very fine hotels, including the Hamak Hotel, in the seaside village of Gündoğan, just across the peninsula from Bodrum.

The owners previously opened the Sofa Hotel in Istanbul, and they’re not strangers to the genre of chic, design-conscious little boutique hotels. This sort of understated luxe is at a premium in Turkey, but the Hamak’s style is carried off confidently, the rooms a vision in light neutrals and dark wood, the public spaces in soft whites and organic textures.

With just 20 rooms and one suite, it’s intimate, and the atmosphere is mellow, even as DJs spin in the beach club and the restaurant. There’s a Pilates studio, for the fitness-minded, and all manner of water sports are available. And for guests who require more stimulation than this laid-back village can provide, it’s a short drive into Bodrum proper, where there’s no end of nightlife.

The Royal Phuket Yacht Club : Phuket, Thailand

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:00:21 GMT

Phuket has lately been one of Thailand's more popular destinations, and it was inevitable, really, that Westerners would eventually catch on to this tropical island idyll. The Royal Phuket Yacht Club predates most of the new development, and is in some sense the island's grand dame, still one of Phuket's most elegant and luxurious properties.

One gets the sense here that they are untroubled by the new kids on the block, and deliberately play up the old-world aspects of the resort — staffers seem to be dressed for a jungle expedition, rather than in black designer outfits, and the service is more formal than at some of the more style-conscious resorts. Rooms, though decorated in a traditional blend of Thai and Balinese styles, have all the modern appointments, such as satellite TV and internet access. And the hotel's facilities include everything once comes to Thailand for, from the pool, tennis courts and water sports to the Royal Spa.

But what makes this place special is the sense that guests here are somehow above the fray, isolated from the circus atmosphere of the big resorts. All of the rooms have large balconies or terraces with sublime views of the Andaman Sea, and many overlook the picturesque Nai Harn Bay or Promthep Cape. All in all, the perfect place to secret yourself away; and the next time you hear someone say Phuket is getting popular, you can truthfully say “Really? I hadn't noticed.”

Hotel Monasterio : Cusco, Peru

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:00:52 GMT

"Now with oxygen enriched rooms" - Hotel Monasterio

And at ten thousand feet above sea level, it certainly seems that piping oxygen into the guest rooms is an idea whose time has come. Cusco is the oldest living city in the Americas, and one of the highest. The city was once the capital, even the Mecca, of the Incan Empire.

The hotel itself was built as a Spanish colonial seminary more than 300 years ago - and the mix of Incan and Colonial cultures is what makes Cusco special. Not only is the landscape quite impressive, but it is surrounded by a wealth of architectural ruins, even within the city limits, and just a day trip away from Macchu Picchu. The explorer can arrange for a hiking and camping expedition along the Inca Trail.

The rooms and suites are a blend of modern and Spanish colonial style, befitting their heritage as, essentially, dormitories for Jesuit missionaries. No two are quite alike, in dimension or design, though all are rather charming and authentically "old-new world." Most, but not all, are oxygen-enriched. No, they are not joking about that. Altitude sickness is no walk in the park, and has, apparently, been a problem in the past.

The Illary Restaurant, adjacent to the main courtyard, is the modern luxury hotel restaurant, featuring Peruvian and International Orient Express cuisine. The El Tupuay Restaurant, housed in what was once the monastery's refectory, is the more traditional Peruvian restaurant, open for breakfast and for Saturday's Inca Dinner.

Fitness options within the hotel are severely limited. Then again, at 3,300 meters above sea level, a brisk walk is an aerobic workout, and merely sitting up in bed might be considered exercise. However, for the truly irrepressible, there are more strenuous options available outdoors, including mountain biking and whitewater rafting.

A tip from the concierge for those who may prefer a hike outdoors - the Sacsayhuamán ruins, just north of the city, are much closer and more extensive (therefore possibly quite a bit more appealing) than those at Macchu Picchu. And the Spanish culture has of course left its mark - there are a number of fantastic churches and cathedrals scattered about town.

How to get there:

Hotel Monasterio is a 10 minute drive from Cusco-Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport. Hotel Monasterio can provide a car transfer service from the airport to the Hotel Monasterio for approx. $20-30 USD. Please contact customerservice@tablethotels.com to arrange airport transfers.

Portrait Suites : Rome, Italy

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:00:52 GMT

The flagship Ferragamo store at the foot of the Spanish Steps would already be something of a holy place, if you’re into that sort of thing. Less well known, but possibly more exciting, is what’s upstairs, in the top floors of this 19th-century townhouse: the Portrait Suites, the newest in a string of chic city boutique hotels by Lungarno, the Ferragamo family’s hospitality concern.

As you’d expect from that kind of pedigree, the Portrait Suites have style to spare. The designer is the same Michele Bonan who’s responsible for the rest of the Lungarno hotels, and he’s in fine form here, turning out interiors that are elegant, understated, and above all richer than rich, from the silk curtains to the elevator, lined not just in leather but in ultra-luxe boarskin leather.

Simpler pleasures abound as well — many rooms come with petite balconies overlooking the action on the streets below, and the hotel’s finest detail has to be the rooftop lounge, serving cocktails by the fireplace with a view of the Spanish Steps. You can’t stay on this world-famous shopper’s boulevard without being prepared to drop some cash, but if money is truly no object then try the penthouse, with its own kitchen, sauna, and private terrace — there’s possibly no more princely lodging in all of Rome.

Il Salviatino : Florence, Tuscany, Italy

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:00:28 GMT

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 just opened — then you’ll be rewarded with the chance to help decide whether the hotel will earn a place on Tablet Hotels.

You can have your design hotels. This fifteenth-century villa, on the Fiesole hillside overlooking Florence, has undergone a thorough renovation for the purpose of converting it into a modern boutique hotel — but a look around the place will confirm that it was more a restoration than a redesign. It’s not all Renaissance splendor, though that’s a part of it — Il Salviatino’s influences are drawn from every era of its existence, including frescoes from the nineteenth century and furnishings from the early twentieth, as well as some well-chosen contemporary design pieces.

This is a town that’s sometimes a bit too backwards-looking, but Il Salviatino is proof that modern living and classic style aren’t mutually exclusive. Imagine a carefully edited minimalist take on a classic Tuscan palazzo and you’re most of the way there — one that’s highly theatrical, more romantic than baroque, and in terms of luxury, more plush than opulent.

A place like Il Salviatino is much more about atmosphere than about services and facilities, and a little goes quite a long way. Dinner on the terrace looking down at the rooftops of Florence is an experience that won’t soon be forgotten. Before long, though, the spa will be open for business — we expect to hear a few reports of travelers who never found time for a look at the Florentine galleries.

Il Salviatino : Florence, Tuscany, Italy

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:00:27 GMT

Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa : Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:00:05 GMT

The transition from civilization to wilderness is perhaps more abrupt in Australia than most anywhere else. Just three hours’ drive from Sydney, from city traffic to rough-and-tumble dirt roads, the Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa is about as close to the outback as most of us will ever need to get.

It’s not exactly the hardscrabble ranch life, however; Wolgan Valley is part of Emirates’ new hospitality project, and the Dubai-based air carrier typically tends towards the more luxurious end of things. The resort centers around an extensively renovated 19th-century farmhouse, while the 40 villas are sparkling new, and as comfortable and luxe as any accommodations in Australia.

Of course state-of-the-art living quarters are only part of the story. You don’t drive three hours for a nice hotel room, you do it for the Wolgan Valley itself, and for the nearby Blue Mountains. The unspoiled landscape is just stark enough to cross over to sublime from merely beautiful. And there’s no guilt involved. You might not expect to hear it from a Dubai-based airline, of all things, but the Wolgan Valley Resort is a thoroughly green operation.

The end result is perhaps less a spiritually charged walkabout than a bit of high-luxury unplugging. Ownership aside, Wolgan Valley is quintessentially Australian — and as accessible as it is, this feels about as far “away from it all” as you can get without stranding yourself on a desert island. Just do yourself a favor and choose something rugged at the airport rental desk.

The Elandra Mission Beach : Mission Beach, Far North Queensland, Australia

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:00:33 GMT

Queensland is often unfairly regarded as the uncultured cousin of its southerly neighbors, those edgy urban nests of Sydney and Melbourne. Put it down to the Australian competitive spirit, since any claim of The Elandra as being anything less than cosmopolitan, luxurious or refined is nonsense, evident as soon as one enters its lavish fusion of styles.

Wooden walkways connect the Elandra’s buildings, leaving the rich ecology of local flora and fauna undisturbed. Happily, the opposite isn’t always true — human guests are quite often visited by curious locals; cassowary families are known to stroll casually through back patios on their morning walks, while butterflies, frogs and various fuzzy marsupials are all part of the scenery as well.

Remodeled in 2007 by ex–stage actress Katrina Knowles, the Elandra’s inner spaces reflect Knowles’s considerable travels, and the design is a dramatic mix of global influences. Tribal totems, Moorish lamps and African artifacts give the property’s shiny white interiors an overriding exotic appeal — something that defies all Australian resort conventions; there’s not a dolphin portrait, shell sketching or dried starfish to be found on the entire premises.

The centerpiece of The Elandra — and the thing to which most guests will feel helplessly drawn — is its sizable pool. Skirted by designer loungers and Moroccan-style day beds to which gourmet food and beverages can be summoned, hours here magically turn into days, guests tuning out to the hush of the ocean and the silhouette of swaying palms against pastel skies. If only The Elandra were home.

SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills : Los Angeles, CA, USA

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:00:45 GMT

Comparable properties in this tony section of town love to broadcast their celeb-cred: Marilyn once slept here, Sinatra’s Rat Pack used to party over there. This one prefers 21st-century iconography to Old Hollywood glamour. Indeed, the SLS at Beverly Hills, funded by nightclub mogul Sam Nazarian, boasts a few bold-faced names of its own.

The legendary Philippe Starck masterminded the furnishing of all 297 rooms and suites. These days he claims to be more interested in a good night’s sleep than in visual fireworks, and it shows. But don’t be fooled by the monogrammed linens, personalized pillow menu, or even the way the low light offsets the minimalist décor in blues, creams, and earth tones: activity abounds, especially on the weekends. Or, in the case of the seven fitness centers, any time you want.

James Beard–winner José Andrés brings the molecular gastronomy–inflected formula that’s proven so successful in his Washington, DC–area restaurants to the aptly named Bazaar. Instead of a staid set-off dining room, the in-lobby space actually consists of several separate entities. The colorful, funky Patisserie traffics in high teas and sweets, Roja offers traditional tapas, and Blanca serves modern small plates. Cocktails at Bar Centro demonstrate the same playfulness as Andres’s food; both use emulsifiers and chemicals like liquid nitrogen to de- and re-construct familiar tastes in new ways. Think “olive brine air” and cotton candy that dissolves when doused with alcohol.

No high-end Los Angeles hotel would be complete without a pool, or, in the case of the SLS, two pools. The deck on the sixth floor features expansive views and a pair of rectangular reflecting pools. And for those who’d rather see than be seen, there are six private cabanas with built-in entertainment systems.

Hotel Erwin : Venice Beach, CA, USA

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:00:45 GMT

The very eclectic San Francisco–based Joie de Vivre group has been setting up shop in Southern California, most recently in Venice Beach, itself quite possibly the most laid-back place in the United States. And the Hotel Erwin does its level best to fit in — with a restaurant called Hash and a rooftop lounge called High, it’s obviously taking its cues from Venice’s notoriously weird vibes.

Venice, and especially the funky old boardwalk, is no place for white-glove luxury, and the Erwin is suitably budget-conscious — though you’d never guess it from the décor, with its bold, cheery colors and its stylish modern furniture. The better rooms have sea views, but even the ones that look out over the town of Venice come with private balconies and HDTVs.

The name of the rooftop bar, High, is a bit more literal than you might think; it’s the highest rooftop lounge in Venice Beach, and the views range up and down the coast and far out to sea. And Hash, predictably, serves a fine home-style breakfast, as well as a slightly upscale bistro-style dinner. With the beach just steps from the door, and the boardwalk even closer, it’s the quintessential Venice experience — which is a different animal entirely from the typical Southern California beachfront hotel.

Les Mars Hotel : Healdsburg, CA, USA

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 05:00:14 GMT

There’s a school of thought which seems to subscribe to the idea that the only appropriate architectural styles in the Northern California wine country are Tuscan, Provençal, and in a pinch, some sort of Spanish-villa thing. When you’re talking about a gas station or a chain motel, it’s a bit much. But when a hotelier goes so far as to build a painstakingly authentic 18th-century-style French country house, just off Healdsburg Avenue, you’ve got to give credit where it’s due.

It’s so convincing that if you arrived blindfolded, you might spend some time wondering when the French developed such convincing American accents. The sixteen rooms are formal in style, and incredibly detailed, right down to the fabrics, the rugs, the woodwork — four-poster beds, Louis XVI chairs, the whole kit and caboodle.

The restaurant, Cyrus, is a cut above the usual hotel eatery; in this part of California the food is at least as highly-regarded as the wine. Just like the hotel it calls home, Cyrus is distinctly French — and it’s the owner of two of the wine country’s thirteen Michelin stars. You could argue that Les Mars is, on some level, a folly, architecturally at least; but it works, and the guests certainly aren’t complaining.

Scapes : Miura-gun, Kanagawa, Japan

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:00:14 GMT

If we have a mission when it comes to these rural Japanese escapes, it’s this: to make the classic ryokan-style country inn every bit as familiar an image, in foreigners’ minds, as the iconic Western-style luxury hotels or the only-in-Japan capsule hotels and love hotels. All the Japanese hoteliers need to do, in order to hold up their end of the bargain, is go on creating places as stunning, as memorably luxurious, as Scapes.

It may seem a world apart, but Scapes is particularly convenient to Tokyo; the seaside location in Hayama is about an hour from Tokyo, by train or by car. If it feels remote, it’s the size — just four rooms — and the setting, with ocean views that might put you in mind of the Mediterranean or the Aegean. And the design is endlessly calming in itself, without resorting to tired international minimalism or easy Zen clichés — the polished hardwoods and earth-tone modernist furnishings may feel slightly retro, but never dated.

There’s just enough to do. The rooms invite late sleeping, with plush bedding, spa-like bathrooms and views of the sea. Reserve the jacuzzi room for a soak, spend a quiet hour in the library, or pop in to the chapel to take care of the spiritual side. There are sights to be seen on the Kanagawa seaside, but the first order of business here is simply to escape.

Riyad El Mezouar : Marrakech, Morocco

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:00:34 GMT

Your first clue comes by way of the letter Y — Riyad El Mezouar’s slightly archaic spelling hints at the atmosphere of the place, which, while not exactly antique, is about as classic as they come in the world of Marrakech medina riad hotels.

Of course classic doesn’t just happen by accident. El Mezouar’s owners, a pair of French architects and designers, clearly put some effort into crafting its interiors. They were fortunate to begin with a grand and well-preserved 18th-century mansion, and many of the original architectural details are intact — but the presence of details from as far off as X shows that there was more to it than simply brushing off a coat of dust.

In the end it’s all about the personality, and how well the sensibility matches your taste. With just five rooms there’s no crowd to speak of, and the interior courtyard and the roof terrace (with its view over the medina’s rooftops out towards the Atlas mountains) are pretty much the extent of the public spaces. It’s more or less the sweet spot, a riad hotel that’s neither too modern nor too old-fashioned, but pretty much just right.

Hyatt Regency Kiev : Kiev, Ukraine

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:00:15 GMT

There are a few more historic and more atmospheric hotels in town than the Hyatt Regency Kiev, but there are arguably none so luxurious. And if the gleaming glass structure seems incongruously modern, there’s a reason, which is readily apparent from inside — the views from behind that wall of glass manage to take in the whole of Kiev’s low-slung old town, including the city’s monumental gold-topped Ukrainian Orthodox churches.

Rooms are remarkably crisp and contemporary in style, with all the functional i’s dotted and t’s crossed — as Kiev evolves into a global city, this kind of proper high-end business/luxury hotel is a must. There are king beds and Frette linens for comfort, as well as full-size work spaces for efficiency, and the room service and concierge service are on duty around the clock.

Space is plentiful here, which means there’s room for not just a full-service spa and fitness center, but a 23-meter indoor swimming pool as well. The main restaurant, Grill Asia, is open-plan, with the kitchen’s wood-burning oven clearly visible. And no fewer than three bars keep patrons hydrated and lubricated, from the 8th-floor cocktail bar to the lobby lounge to the wine bar, Brunello, serving Italian cuisine alongside a wide selection of vintages.

Hotel Frank : San Francisco, CA, USA

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:00:13 GMT

San Francisco, already America’s highest-occupancy hotel town, has lately been upgrading its stock, and the Personality Hotels group has been at the front lines. Hotel Frank is a fine example of the new guard of stylish hotels around Union Square; though the classic building is pure historic San Francisco, the interiors, by Thomas Schoos, are all maximalist 21st-century modern-retro chic.

The look is more fantasy than fashion, and that’s a good thing. Depending where you look you could be reminded of anything from Beaux Arts to Art Deco to Jetsons-era retro-futurism. Though it’s not quite in the high-luxury league, the Frank is comfortable, the rooms spacious enough, with thoughtful little touches like iPod docks and in-room refrigerators.

As for location, the Frank is just about as central as it gets, just off Union Square, where San Francisco’s shops and restaurants are at their highest concentration — and a fine compromise between the palaces up on Nob Hill and the convention-friendly lodgings south of Market. Services inside the hotel can thus be kept a bit light; the gym is a separate establishment nearby, and there’s no need for a high-concept hotel restaurant with so much excellent food so close at hand.

The Aubrey : Santiago, Chile

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:00:13 GMT

Settled comfortably at the base of Santiago’s Cerro San Cristóbal, and overseen by the giant Virgin Mary statue at the summit, the Aubrey embodies the contrast of old and new that the specialty-lodging aficionado lives for. In a past life the Aubrey was a stately home for a prominent political family. As a hotel, however, the scale is decidedly intimate. The combination of the tudor-revival style house and the tropical urban flora of Santiago is a delightfully odd one, and this unorthodoxy is embraced by the hotel’s interior design, fresh off a multi-year renovation.

The property is stepped into the topography, making for some surprising views, unexpected nooks, and a charming swimming pool terrace — the uphill Parque Metropolitano seems to devour the building with its palms and vines. Some rooms are borderline palatial with heavy and imposing wood detailing, others are tucked into the angles of the roof and finished with taut, contemporary refinement. Many of them come with private terraces, and all enjoy a unique vista upon the fanciful surroundings.

Beyond the Aubrey’s perimeter lies Santiago’s most verdant and aristocratic district of Providencia. The sub-neighborhood of Bellavista is a perfect fit for the Aubrey’s boho airs; for instance the Fundación Pablo Neruda is right around the corner, one of many institutes here upholding Chilean culture. There are plenty of bars and cafés to enjoy late into the night, although one might be just as happy to stay in, dining and imbibing at Aubrey’s own Restaurant Pasta e Vino, which adds Italian cuisine to the mélange of themes. Also very nearby is the Funicular Sociedad Anonima, which stands ready to whisk you up that Cerro, just in case you feel compelled to pay Mary an up-close visit, or just take in a view of the Aubrey from above.

Castle Hill Inn and Resort : Newport, RI, USA

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:00:07 GMT

Stuck out on a promontory in the middle of Narragansett Bay, the old Agassiz Mansion’s location was ideal for its original owner, a Harvard marine biologist. Which means it’s equally well suited for its present purpose, as the Castle Hill Inn and Resort. A short drive from Newport, it’s possibly the most impressive location on the Rhode Island coast. Which, by the transitive property of real estate, means the Castle Hill is one of the coast’s top lodgings.

It spreads out over forty acres of land along a private beach, overlooking the picturesque waters of the bay. The bedrooms in the 19th-century main house are the most atmospheric, but the outlying beach houses and cottages are scarcely less stylish, with a bit more space thrown in in the bargain. In all rooms you’ll find crisp, well-maintained classic New England style, and a full complement of contemporary comforts.

As with most historical properties in New England, the ultimate result is somewhere between the quirky charm of a family-owned bed and breakfast and the smooth polish of a modern luxury hotel, incorporating elements of both. Fine food and top-notch service ensure that the experience is anything but rough, while the Northeastern nautical atmosphere contributes an air of romance that the dull corporate hotels can’t hope to match.

Hotel Haven : Helsinki, Finland

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:21 GMT

Outsiders often expect interiors in this part of the world to look chilly and minimalist, in the sort of hybrid retro-futuristic style that’s lazily labeled “Scandinavian.” But it turns out this perception is a bit dated. Leaving aside the fact that Finland isn’t in Scandinavia at all, that sort of thing is really more mid-century than 21st-century. What looks most contemporary in today’s Nordic countries is the new cozy classicism, a look that’s very much on display in Helsinki’s Hotel Haven.

It’s usually best to ignore the names a hotel gives its room categories, with their empty promises and their inflating superlatives. But here they do a handy bit of summing up: Comfort, Style and Lux. The Haven is seventy-seven rooms of exactly those things, a grown-up and dignified take on the contemporary luxury boutique. Beds are massive and plush, bathrooms are well-equipped and indulgent, and the little things are up to date, from the espresso machines to the Bang & Olufsen entertainment centers.

You could criticize it for a lack of flash, but you’d be missing the point. It’s a haven, not a nightclub — and with a fine little restaurant and bar and a Siluetti spa, it’s in a category of its own for Helsinki.

3 Nagas by Alila : Luang Prabang, Laos

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:00:09 GMT

What with the name and all you might be expecting something French-colonial in style, but the 3 Nagas is classic Lao, a former royal residence from the end of the 19th century, a pair of buildings that have traveled on a winding path: from mansion to ice-cream factory to now, finally, a stylish and contemporary boutique hotel, one that just happens to be run by a little company called Alila.

It’s an interesting choice for the company that’s pretty much writing the book on modernist villa resorts in Indonesia and Indochina. But Les 3 Nagas shows they’re not unduly constrained by the task of taking on a historical building or two. The style is necessarily a bit less stark and sleek, a bit more classic, but it’s certainly no less chic, and the comforts are very much up to the prevailing Alila standard, which is somewhere short of “grand hotel” but well above “design boutique.”

And after all this it’s probably just as well known for its restaurant as for its rooms, which says something about the quality of the cuisine. The only real question mark is whether Alila devotees will mind that there’s no beach, no pool, no lavish modern spa — here’s hoping the classic charms of Luang Prabang prove an adequate substitute.

Oak House No. 1 : Gloucestershire, UK

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:00:28 GMT

Some of our readers no doubt reflexively cringe at the mention of the phrase “bed and breakfast.” It’s not an uncommon affliction. But the apocalypse of chintz and lace that the phrase so often conjures is nowhere in evidence at Oak House No. 1, in the Cotswolds village of Tetbury. Instead it’s a bed and breakfast for the post-boutique-hotel era. It’s chock full of antiques, true, a result of the fact that Tetbury is a veritable antiquing hotbed. But it’s chock full of plenty else as well, from Warhol prints to design pieces to contemporary luxury-hotel fittings — clearly not an inch of its décor has gone un-ruminated-over.

The Oak House’s owners are designers in their own right, and while the result may be panic-inducing for die-hard minimalists, for anyone who wants a bit of character in a country getaway it’s the perfect tonic. The three suites and one bedroom are all different, from the classic Cavalier and Prince’s suites to the Library Bedroom, whose bath looks like something out of a Japanese luxury hotel. You’re two hours outside London, but in England that’s a world of difference — let your hosts pack you a picnic lunch for a day out and you’ll get all the fine wine and seasonal produce you can handle.

Casa Camper Berlin : Berlin, Germany

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:00:28 GMT

For some of us, the name is all the description this one needs. But for those of you who demand a little more explanation than simply Casa Camper Berlin, we’ll elaborate. It’s a sequel to the Casa Camper in Barcelona, owned by the Spanish footwear brand, and it brings the same youthful irreverence and unpretentious artiness to Berlin, which for all the differences between the two cities is probably the most logical choice if it’s young cosmopolitan creative types you’re after.

The rooms and suites are stylish in a remarkably original way. That Camper brick red color is everywhere in evidence, and the modern-utilitarian design comes off humble rather than bombastic. Guests expecting white-glove luxury should look elsewhere, but most of us will find it more than comfortable enough — here some of the weight is carried by inspiring visuals and clever design rather than acres of marble and handmade horsehair beds.

With a location right in the middle of Berlin Mitte the Casa Camper is anything but isolated. Inevitably there are times when you’ll want to stay in, though, and the hotel offers one remarkable enticement: the Dos Palillos restaurant serves Asian tapas under the direction of Albert Raurich, formerly the chef de cuisine at Ferran Adrià’s El Bulli.

W Dallas - Victory : Dallas, TX, USA

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:00:21 GMT

If you still think Dallas is a cowtown, you’ve got another think coming. It’s an urbane and relatively cosmopolitan city, with enough style-seekers and design addicts to keep a W Hotel in business. And it’s not just any W — the W Dallas – Victory (it’s one of the anchors of a massive multi-use development called Victory Park) is the first to include condo residences, as well as the first to include a rooftop heliport.

You don’t have to feel bad about arriving by car, though. To be honest this glass and limestone tower looks most impressive from below, and otherwise you’d miss the typically over-the-top entry, and the dramatic lighting on the grand staircase. The W is a hotel to be seen in, and there’s nothing wrong with that — in fact if socializing is what’s on your mind, you’ll love Ghostbar, the 33rd-floor lounge, the kind of Vegas-style club that makes a typical hotel bar look sleepy by comparison.

The W Dallas is a hotel first. Even the most basic rooms start with 32-inch LCD televisions, wireless internet, and bath amenities from the Bliss spa. Views are impressive from the bedrooms and from the 16th-floor open-air pool, and they’re at their best from the Ghostbar, which looks out over the well-lit Dallas skyline. A lobby lounge and a fine restaurant round out the selection — the latter is an outpost of Craft, the New York restaurant by James Beard award-winner (and Top Chef cast member) Tom Colicchio.

How to get there:

From Dallas Love Field Airport, 11.76 km - approximately 12 mins.

From Dallas Executive Airport, 20.82 km - approximatly 15 mins.

Please contact customerservice@tablethotels.com to arrange airport transfers or to get directions.

El Silencio Lodge : Costa Rica

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:00:12 GMT

Costa Rica was doing ecotourism before anyone else was, so it’s no surprise that this most socially-minded of tropical paradises would be among the first to update the industry to fit the very current trend of green-luxury fusion. El Silencio Lodge, deep in the country’s mountainous jungle region, is luxury travel for the “Inconvenient Truth” generation.

It’s environmentalism gone high-end, not the other way around. Guests are expected to appreciate the use of natural cleaning products and low-consumption light bulbs along with the high-thread count sheets and the private hot tub. And if simply patronizing such a worthy establishment feels inadequate, the resort also offers the option of offsetting the carbon generated by air travel to Costa Rica, or even a year’s worth of driving, by contributing to the resort’s efforts to preserve the cloud forest.

As ecotourism is best experienced outside of one’s hotel room, El Silencio is designed to help visitors explore the tropical forest via foot, horse, river raft, mountain bike or even zip-line. An “eco-concierge” is always on hand to coordinate various jungle expeditions and to make recommendations based on visitors’ personal interests. When it’s time to unwind, the spa offers a range of treatments, from a simple massage to an hour in the mysterious Conical room, which, we are told, channels the healing powers of the lush jungle setting — and there’s a lovely open-air yoga studio available as well.

The restaurant serves a variety of Costa Rican-inspired international dishes, and the unifying theme is El Silencio’s favorite concept: “wellness.” This extends to the dinner as well as the diner: rest assured that your chicken once roamed happily on a nearby farm, and that your salad greens were allowed to grow blissfully free of chemical pesticides. There’s no red meat on the menu, but if you find that a long day exploring the cloud forest requires nothing less than a steak, the resort won’t judge you; they’ll present you with a voucher for a nearby restaurant.

Roomers : Frankfurt , Germany

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:00:19 GMT

We expect big things from German design and Roomers doesn’t disappoint. Oana Rosen, a leader of Frankfurt’s new wave of repurposing old work spaces into cozy living spaces, has transformed this abandoned office building into a monument of elegant modern hospitality design.

Stepping into the lobby it feels less like a workplace and more like a futuristic zeppelin, filled with dark leather upholstery and bright, glossy metalwork. Inside you’ll find a five-story 24-hour bar and restaurant, the fully equipped Biorhythm fitness and wellness center, and, hidden away in the three bright white ultra-modern conference rooms beneath the white concrete bubble atop the hotel, an absolutely classic view of bustling Frankfurt and the river Main.

The guest rooms are palpably high-end, the luxury suites downright opulent, but all stay true to the building’s sleek minimal style. All the amenities you’d expect are present: comfortable and very functional bathrooms, flat-screen satellite television, and wireless internet.

Each of the bargain-priced 106 guest rooms and 11 luxury suites are ornate without losing their classic minimalist style and offer all the amenities you’d expect from a five-star hotel: opulent bathrooms and bedrooms, satellite, flat-screen TV, and Wi-Fi. Meanwhile you’re right in the heart of Frankfurt’s financial district, and close by to the opera house and the central train station, for connections to the rest of Germany and all of Europe.

Torre di Moravola : Perugia, Italy

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:00:19 GMT

Italy isn’t exactly hurting for impressive small hotels, but Torre di Moravola stands out all the same. Frankly, they had us at “thousand-year-old Umbrian hilltop watchtower converted into a seven-room boutique hotel,” and that was before we ever saw inside. For while the exterior may be a thousand years old, the interiors are as modern as they come.

It may have a little something to do with the owners. Christopher Chong is an architect, a former Norman Foster associate, and his wife, Seonaid Mackenzie, is a designer. And what they’ve done is more than a renovation. Within the outer shell of the tower they’ve constructed an entirely new inner structure, with seven strikingly modern suites arranged around a central stair.

This turns out to be a surprisingly green way to build. The old stone walls keep temperatures stable, and the central stair gives rise to convection currents which ventilate as well as any air conditioning system. And the suites, with their stone walls and sunken baths, stay remarkably comfortable, despite their minimalism.

Most unexpected, perhaps, is the rooftop infinity pool, with obviously wide-ranging views of the tower’s surroundings. The restaurant follows the slow food philosophy, and you’re minutes from the ancient town of Montone, which offers other options, none of them particularly fast. As Italian countryside getaways go, it’s hard to do much better — and as a design pilgrimage it’s practically a religious experience.

Oriental Hotel Hiroshima : Hiroshima, Chugoku Region, Japan

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:00:14 GMT

When it comes to attracting foreign travelers it’s certainly not quite in the same league as Tokyo and Kyoto, but Hiroshima, on the west end of Japan’s main island of Honshu, is a cultural attraction in its own right. So there’s clearly a need for a first-class luxury hotel, and even if it’s not quite the life-changing experience that a couple of notable Tokyo hotels are, the Oriental Hotel Hiroshima is proof that the Japanese expertise in high-end hospitality extends to the farthest reaches of the country.

The location is just about as central as it gets, overlooking Heiwa Odori, Hiroshima’s main drag. It’s a high-rise hotel with few high-rise neighbors, making for far-ranging views over the city. The bedrooms aren’t overly large — this country has never been known for enormous living spaces — but they’re well-appointed, with efficient modern bathrooms, some with corner views from their bathtubs.

In terms of style it’s contemporary but not exactly modern, identifiably Japanese but not straining the point. Restaurants include Japanese, French and Italian options, as well as a New York–style jazz bar, and the surrounding area is not short of options. All in all it’s not one for fireworks, necessarily, but one whose subtle charms you might find growing on you.

Lanchid 19 : Budapest, Hungary

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:00:03 GMT

There are plenty of hotels out there that are taking risks in interior design, but to be honest relatively few that are doing anything really attention-grabbing with the building itself. Lánchíd 19, in Budapest, is the exception, directing your attention not to a witty piece of lobby furniture but outside, where its facade is covered with an array of glass panels that somehow manage to shift and undulate in time with the currents of the Danube.

Not bad. Of course most of what matters about a hotel takes place inside — public spaces are sleek and modern, and the rooms are stylish in a grown-up minimalist sort of way. And while the basic ones are, well, basic, there are luxurious options as well, including suites with corner bathtubs and plentiful outdoor terrace space.

You’re just across the river from the city center, with easy access to options beyond the Lánchíd 19 restaurant and bar. One thing you won’t find elsewhere, though, is a set of authentic Roman ruins — they’re carefully preserved below the lobby. At a time when too many so-called design hotels end up looking very much the same, this is one with a personality all its own.

The Table Bay Hotel : Cape Town, South Africa

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 05:00:17 GMT

Set on the picturesque Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, the Table Bay Hotel espouses a wholly traditional brand of luxury. Inspired by the ocean liners of yesteryear, it matches Victorian leanings with a contemporary maritime aesthetic, its glass façade offering extraordinary views of the titular Table Mountain.

Neither overweeningly posh nor overtly modern, luxury here is less stuffy and in-your-face than you might expect, manifesting largely in comfort, service and fine detail. Interiors are classy and, most importantly, comfortable, featuring deep sofas, deeper beds, rich fabrics and dark hardwood furniture. Extras like fresh flower arrangements and delicate high-tea cakes add to the feeling of old-world luxury.

Free wifi is available throughout the hotel and facilities cover all bases — outdoor pool, gym, spa and well-appointed business center included. Room views obviously depend on where in the hotel you’re staying, suffice to say they’re all impressive — some vistas take in the city and the mountain while some frame the Atlantic Ocean.

In terms of location, guests don’t need to break a sweat to avail themselves of Cape Town’s best shopping and dining. The V&A shopping complex is annexed to the hotel, plus the waterfront is home to some of the city’s top bars and restaurants. During the day, a visit to Robben Island and Table Mountain are obvious inclusions on the itinerary, while for something more sedate, just watching the ships dock or strolling the harborside is entertainment enough.

Hotel Majestic Cannes Barriere : Cannes, France

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 05:00:27 GMT

No hotel market is immune to change. But the scene in Cannes along La Croisette has looked more or less like it does now for the better part of a century. And among the grand old luxury hotels along the beachfront promenade, the Majestic is one of the most celebrated. This Art Deco palace dates back to the Twenties, and in the present day it’s under the Lucien Barrière umbrella, hence its full name: the Hôtel Majestic Cannes Barrière.

With a location at the west end of the Croisette, practically next door to the Palais des Festivals, the Majestic is understandably a film-festival favorite. But there’s a certain atmosphere of glamour about the place all the year round. The rooms are classically French, in rich fabrics and antique-style furnishings, and they face out over the bay, admitting a healthy dose of sunshine.

Meanwhile the public spaces, especially the Fouquet’s restaurant, offer mighty resistance to the tackiness that elsewhere threatens to overtake Cannes. There’s a private beach club, as well as a casino, for those who don’t fancy the short walk to the Festival Hall. Perhaps it’s not the place to go for an unfussy little getaway, but if you like your hospitality with a bit of pomp, the Majestic fits the bill.