A Luxury Travel Blog

Miami-based Desires Hotels has announced the latest international addition to their modern boutique collection, The Cliffs Ocean Resort, which is situated between Puerto Plata and Samana along the stunning north coast of the Dominican Republic. Opening in the Summer of 2011, room amenities will include large living areas and private terraces with unmatched views to the ocean and the mountains while being completely surrounded by a lush tropical landscape.

Built on 25 acres of ocean-side property, the resort will include a luxury spa featuring a wide array of Asian treatments that soothe the mind, body, and soul. For those wanting to relax poolside, there will be two salt-water infinity pools overlooking the Caribbean Sea along with a Beach Club that offers another form of respite in the bar and cigar lounge — the club also consists of a food and beverage outlet and area for teenagers. The resort has 24-hour room service, a Fitness Centre, helipad, and commercial shopping area. For those seeking a more active holiday there is golf practice facility, sports centre with tennis courts, and equestrian centre.

Ayana Resort and Spa Bali has re-opened Damar Terrace restaurant following extensive renovations by Yasuhiro Koichi, the acclaimed Japanese designer behind the Rock Bar.

Koichi, whose company Design Studio SPIN has created some of Asia’s most iconic bars and restaurants, combined comfort with modern Asian decor for relaxed all-day dining at Damar Terrace. His trademark style is reflected in the combination of traditional materials, motifs and colors, set off by cutting-edge lighting and clean modern lines softened by tranquil lotus ponds.

The restaurant’s menu has also been relaunched to feature more ‘small bite’ options and European dishes, to add to the range of Asian favorites.

When the beaming smiles of the doormen at Four Seasons Hotel Beirut dazzle their very first guests, the city will take another step forward in its renaissance as a 21st Century metropolis. After ten years in planning and five years under construction, the hotel opens as a gleaming statement of intent for visitors to enjoy warm, genuine Lebanese hospitality.

Nowhere is the city’s unique energy more intensely felt than through its own people – a proud culture with an indomitable spirit and an insatiable zest for life. The newest Four Seasons has filtered this energy down to its purest form, with over 300 local recruits amplifying the warm welcome found on the streets outside.

Throughout the hotel, the magic continues in the details, from a prime cut of Executive Chef Andrea Ossola’s Charolais beef on the The Grill Room’s marina-view terrace (try it with a glass of Domaine Wardy, Private Selection 2004, from Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley) to the heavenly homemade truffles that accompany coffees beneath The Bar’s dramatic red and gold chandelier. Large terraces are standard in all 230 guest rooms and suites. The Spa, a cool statement in white marble and gold mosaics, has a suede-panelled couple’s suite with private terrace and whirlpool. And the rooftop pool – a glittering 26th-floor oasis with 360-degree views – towers above the raucous cityscape like a suspended haven of tranquillity.

In October we had the pleasure of staying at the Blue Palace Resort & Spa near Elounda on the Greek island of Crete. Since we arrived quite late in the evening, it wasn’t until morning that we could appreciate the full beauty of the resort’s position with its stunning view of the island of Spinalonga, with its rich and varied history.

The hotel, a member of The Luxury Collection fromStarwood Hotels & Resorts, is perfectly situated close to the small seaside village of Plaka. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that this was going to be a wonderful place to relax. We occupied two interconnecting rooms; spacious and ideal for families with young children.

Both rooms came with balconies that provided us with a good overview of the resort, as did the rather handy resort map provided.  Blue Palace has its own stretch of private beach, numerous pools, its own watersports centre, conference facilities, a small boutique, tennis courts, a helipad and even a private chapel.

There are also multiple restaurants and bars here, including the traditional Blue Door restaurant. Close to the waters edge and enjoying a gentle sea breeze, Blue Door adopts the style of a typical Greek taverna its brightly painted tables and chairs overlooking a spectacular beachfront location.  It offered a themed fish night every Friday.

We primarily dined at the Isola Italian Restaurant and Olea (where breakfast is also served), but there are plenty of options including L’Orangerie, a two-time recipient of the Golden Toque Award (given to the best restaurants in Greece).  At Olea, you can experience a Greek night (Thursdays) and savour an authentic Greek dining experience.

At the heart of Blue Palace is The Elounda Spa & Thalassotherapy offering signature treatments, massages, facials and body wraps, with a swimming pool, saunas, Jacuzzis, steam baths, a hair salon and a well-equipped fitness centre.  Its received many prestigious awards including the Spa Finder Readers’ Award 2007 for The Best Spa in Greece.

For children there is ample to enjoy. The resort has its own kids club and a playground area where the little ones can enjoy everything from swings to climbing olive trees.  There’s also table tennis and of course the beach and the swimming pools which are two boys thoroughly enjoyed.  It’s worth noting that a kids’ menu was available in all the restaurants, so they are made to feel welcome throughout the resort.

In conclusion, nothing was too much trouble for the staff at Blue Palace and this is what sets it apart from many other places. With their Ultimate Guest Service, you can request whatever you want, be it a bath with candles, Champagne and strawberries, or a helicopter ride to Santorini.  When staff are eager to fulfil any and every request their guests throw at them, you know you are staying somewhere special.

Last summer we enjoyed a very relaxing week at the five star Gwel an Mor resort on the outskirts of Portreath in mid Cornwall. After a pleasant welcome, we settled into lodge number 40, also known as ‘Tehidy’.  All the lodges are named after the local area and Tehidy Country Park is a 250-acre estate not far away.

Despite there being just the four of us, our lodge could easily sleep six people and so presented us with more than ample space.  We enjoyed a sea view and comfortable accommodation that consisted of three bedrooms and a bathroom downstairs and an open plan kitchen, dining area and living room upstairs.

The lodges also have outdoor decking and balconies and some have hot tubs too.  Perched high above Portreath, the resort is well positioned for a variety of things to do whether it be spending time on the beaches, coastal walks, or visiting local attractions.  The Eden Project – home to the world’s largest greenhouse – is about an hour away.

And if you prefer not to venture too far away, facilities at the resort are good. There is the Terrace Restaurant & Bar (open to both residents and locals alike), serving far better fayre than your average pub but without being so stuffy that you would feel uncomfortable with children. Gwel an Mor is, afterall, a family friendly resort.

Also on site is a spa with views over the Atlantic, a gym and an indoor swimming pool.  All useful facilities but for us one of the big bonuses – and a unique selling point for Gwel an Mor – was the resort’s own resident wildlife expert, Gary Zammit.  We went rockpooling with him and it proved to be a great experience for the children.

Impressed, we headed straight for the site office to see what else was available. Although Gary looked to be ‘booked up’ for the remainder of the week, we made enquiries and he kindly squeezed in an additional wildlife tour for the four of us the following day.  If you stay and are faced with the same predicament, do make enquiries and they will try to accommodate you.

Gary is a very interesting person.  Not only has he taught an orphaned heron to fly but he also cares for a host of other animals. His wildlife experience was well-pitched so that it was both interesting to adults and engaging for youngsters. Our two boys – aged just 5 and 3 – enjoyed some wonderful opportunities: they hand-fed one of the foxes, flew Sly the Barn Owl, handled a grass snake and much more.

We really enjoyed our stay at Gwel an Mor and would recommend it for a great family holiday. Plans could be afoot to add more lodges to the resort. If this is to go ahead, hopefully it can be achieved without adversely affecting Gwel an Mor’s charm.

The Sheraton Suites Tampa Airport Westshore has completed its multimillion-dollar renovation and unveiled the Westshore district’s “newest” property. The 261-suite hotel has seen a facelift that has touched virtually every aspect of the hotel, including all of the two-room suites; the eight-story tropical atrium; the innovative, modern business lounge; the 12,000+ square feet of meeting space (including a 2,000 square foot expansion); the St. James Grill Restaurant and Bar; and the fitness centre and pool area. It also added such signature Sheraton amenities as the Sweet Sleeper Bed, the ‘Link @ Sheraton’ lobby, flat-panel HD televisions and hardwood flooring on select floors.

For the first time, the international hotel chain Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts is to open a Swissôtel in India. The new deluxe hotel will be in Kolkata, the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal and a city that is home to the country’s second-largest stock exchange, the Calcutta Stock Exchange (CSE). It will be in part of the City Centre – New Town shopping mall with shops, restaurants and a multiplex cinema, and has 147 rooms, each at least 32m² in size. Three restaurants, including a speciality restaurant and an open-air restaurant, a lobby bar and a poolside bar will be available to guests. Facilities will also include conference rooms offering 1261m² of space, a fitness centre and a rooftop swimming pool. The hotel is due to open in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The Pierre, the iconic hotel on New York’s Central Park at Fifth Avenue and 61st Street that is the U.S. flagship for Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, has re-opened following completion of the final phase of its meticulous $100 million overhaul. With the re-opening comes 11 Grand Suites including the Presidential Suite. In total there are now 189 redesigned residential-style guest rooms, including 49 suites, all featuring the most modern of comforts and a feeling of quiet luxury in new guest room and bath interiors by James Park Associates.

The Tata Suite (the Presidential Suite) offers unrivalled views of Central Park from its commanding location on the 39th floor. Rich gold, silver and porcelain tones embrace an inviting living room, two bedrooms and a gracious dining room with service pantry. Its 1,980-square-foot interior also showcases a photographic essay of the history of the House of Tata and hand-crafted artworks by artisans from Paramparik Karigar, an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting India’s artistic heritage and supported by Taj Hotels.

First floor public areas have been reconfigured to accommodate a graciously welcoming reception area; Two E, the hotel’s new destination lounge and bar that serves light plates, afternoon tea and classic cocktails in what was the original reading room now transformed by Champalimaud; a new restaurant, Le Caprice, the first location outside of London for this celebrated UK favourite that will serve long-standing modern European favourites within a specially designed New York menu, opens its dining room designed by Martin Brudnizki next month.

Borgo Egnazia, the Mediterranean’s newest luxury resort will open this Autumn, with a soft opening next month followed by an official launch in Spring 2010. Created by the owners of Masseria San Domenico, Borgo Egnazia is positioned to become one of the leading luxury family, spa and golf resorts in the Mediterranean, featuring a luxury hotel, a traditional Apulian village and 28 private villas across 20 hectares on the coast of Southern Italy.

The main hotel will feature 63 guest rooms and suites; a variety of restaurants and bars; two outdoor and one indoor swimming pool; a grand ballroom and several meeting rooms; plus a 2,000 m² Raison d’Etre spa, designed to be one of the best in Europe, featuring a modern-day interpretation of a Roman bath house.  There will also be 28 villas which will represent the most exclusive accommodation at the Resort; each with three bedrooms, a private garden and a swimming pool, wrap-around balconies and roof terraces.

The most spectacular part of the Resort will be the Village inspired by the nearby hillside towns. A total of 72 Apulian townhouses surround the central piazza, hosting 91 beautiful one and two-bedroom suites along with private Arab gardens, balconies and roof terraces overlooking the sea. The Village will include an array of bars and restaurants as well as a swimming pool, children’s facilities and a cooking school.

In addition to the 18-hole championship San Domenico Golf course, the Resort features tennis courts, a private beach club with an additional bar/restaurant and an array of water sports. Special activities can be arranged (maximum 10 minutes drive from the resort) including sailing, wind and kite surfing, horse riding, soccer and kart-racing.

Borgo Egnazia cradles the ancient city of Egnazia, nestled between the foothills of the Appenines and the azure Adriatic. This is a landscape drenched in ancient olive groves, rosemary, bougainvillea and jasmine, where the green fairways of one of the finest golf courses in Southern Italy provide a horizon down to the traditional fishing village of Savelletri. The views from the Resort have a rich history dating back before Christ. The ancient Roman city of Egnazia is open for all to see …‘Carpe Diem’ could not be more apt here, famously penned by Horace who is believed to have passed by using the still-preserved tracks of Via Traiana. Guests can follow in his footsteps as this ancient road to Rome runs through the Resort and is clearly visible at the front gates.

Being located in central Puglia, the Resort is an ideal base to explore the entire region, from Lecce’s unique baroque architecture to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Alberobello. Festivals and food markets throughout the year offer visitors a glimpse into the past, present and future of Southern Italy, where locals demonstrate their proud Medieval heritage, their distinct cuisine and unique identity in all its vibrant colour.

The W brand’s 33rd hotel, W Santiago is the cornerstone of a larger, mixed-use complex, Isidora 3000, which includes a convention center, boutique office space, and high-end retail shops in addition to the W Hotel and W-branded residences. Developed by the Territoria Group, W Santiago is located in the heart of the fashionable El Golf district of the Chilean capital city and surrounded by the magnificent peaks of the Andes.

For W Santiago, renowned New York designer Tony Chi partnered with native Chilean designer Sergio Echeverria and his studio Echeverria Edwards & CIA to create cutting edge interiors for the hotel and residences that are a cool, contemporary take on the varied Chilean landscape. Their interior design approach sets the stage for W’s signature programming, including Whiskey Blue, an amped-up hotspot on the fourth floor of the hotel, Red2 One, a breathtaking rooftop bar, and W Lounge (W’s take on the traditional hotel lobby), all from famed nightlife entrepreneurs Rande and Scott Gerber of the Gerber Group; Osaka, the Zen-inspired restaurant featuring Peruvian-Asian cuisine by Chef Ciro Watanabe; NoSo and Terraza, two Modern French restaurants by renowned chef Jean-Paul Bondoux; an intimate Tea Library, managed by the talented French chef Sebastien Fontes; a lively Wine Bar; and W Hotels The Store, W’s twist on the hotel gift shop. In addition, hotel guests have access to the adjacent O2 Balance & Wellness Club, which offers 2,000 square meters of high-end equipment for physical training and spa treatment rooms.

The iconic Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island will open its doors shortly. The 428-room contemporary hotel is located along the new Links Championship Golf Course and is within five minutes walking distance of the latest Formula 1 Yas Marina Circuit.

This latest addition to IHG’s Crowne Plaza estate is situated on one of the country’s most exciting developments, Yas Island. The hotel’s close proximity to the airport and 35 minute drive from Abu Dhabi City Centre makes this a prime location for both business & leisure travellers alike.

All guest rooms and suites are stylishly decorated and include free wireless internet access, with a spacious working area.  The hotel’s leisure facilities include a part-shaded 25 metre outdoor pool and state-of-the art gym complete with sauna, steam rooms and squash court.  For the discerning business traveller Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island has everything you need to make your trip hassle free. It has a 24 hour Business Centre, 10 meeting rooms that cater for up to 600 people featuring the latest audio-visual equipment complete with natural lighting and outdoor terraces.

The all-day dining restaurant, Jing Asia offers a mouth watering array of local and international cuisine. Guests can savour Europe at its best in the unique Stills brasserie or enjoy more regional flavours in the beautiful Lebanese restaurant, Barouk. Views, the relaxing lobby lounge offers stunning views of the golf course and mangroves, our chic wine bar, Vino, serves a wide variety of beverages and the chilled out Sundowner pool bar is the perfect place to unwind while watching the sun set. All dining options feature outdoor terrace seating to be taken advantage of during the cooler times of the year.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. plans to open a new St. Regis hotel in Bermuda, marking a debut for the St Regis brand on the exclusive island. Scheduled to open in 2013, The St. Regis Bermuda and The Residences at The St. Regis Bermuda will be located in the heart of downtown Hamilton, Bermuda’s picturesque seaside capital and bustling international business hub. The first major luxury hotel to open in downtown Hamilton in more than 50 years, The St. Regis Bermuda will feature approximately 140 exquisitely appointed guest rooms and suites, approximately 80 exclusive, serviced residences, a Remède Spa, signature restaurant, a wine bar, library, and a rooftop conservatory.

The Grand Opening of Bilila Lodge Kempinski was celebrated last week in the presence of His Excellency, The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, distinguished national and international guests and dignitaries. The opening represents the first Luxury Lodge for Kempinski Hotels in the renowned Serengeti National Park, an UNESCO World Heritage site.

The much anticipated property comprises 74 exclusive guestrooms and suites including a Presidential Villa, featuring 2 bedrooms with butler service and measuring 320 square meters. All guestrooms overlook the plains of the Serengeti, and include luxury en-suite bathrooms, walking closets, and a sun deck for relaxation with personal telescope for watching game, whilst the suites feature their own private plunge pool.

It is located in the Central North, approximately 45 minutes drive from the Seronera airstrip, which in turn is a 50 minutes flight from Arusha. Located against a dramatic backdrop of Africa’s wilderness, the hotel provides private game drives, hot air balloon rides, bush walks and Champagne breakfasts in the African savannah. It has an Anantara Spa with 6 couple treatment rooms and 3 Thai massage rooms, a 24 metre infinity fresh-water swimming pool overlooking the waterhole, a restaurant with show kitchen, a bar, lounge, wine cellar, boma, library, game room, fitness centre, art gallery and gift shop, as well as conference and meeting facilities. Furthermore, experienced game rangers introduce you to the ultimate wildlife of the Serengeti.

A Vegas-style gambling experience is Hungary bound. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hungary, a stylish and modern world-class resort, will open in 2012, close to Vienna, Austria, Bratislava, Slovakia and Budapest. Amenities will include a pool and deck for lounging and entertainment, a Rock Spa for relaxing and detoxing, and a Rock Shop, where guests can check out Hard Rock’s authentic rock ‘n’ roll gear and merchandise. Signature restaurants and bars, a convention center, concert venue, nightclub, and high-end retail shopping will be among the many highlights for guests of this one-of-a-kind resort.

To co-incide with the Wimbledon tennis championship which began yesterday, Park Plaza Hotels has come up with a limited edition, tennis-themed cocktail menu.

Four cocktails pay homage to the famous grass courts at SW19 and some of the finest players to hold aloft the trophy at the All England Club.  Celebrating the winner of the most ladies’ singles titles, the Martini Navratilova is a strawberry flavoured martini made from frambroise liqueur, fresh strawberry and vodka, topped with cream. The Mai Tie Break is an uplifting blend of Bacardi, lemon, strawberries and sparkling wine, guaranteed to re-energise spectators hoping for a fifth set epic match to rival last year’s Federer-Nadal men’s singles final. The refreshing Wimbledon Iced Tea – a mix of Bacardi, gin, vodka, tequila and Cointreau, shaken with lime and topped with sparkling wine – echoes the sophisticated splendour of a summer afternoon in the sun (or rain) at Wimbledon. And with images of some of the hottest sportspeople in the world set to invade television screens over the next fortnight, cool yourself down with a Sex on the Court cocktail, a cheeky blend of peach schnapps, vodka and cranberry and orange juices.

All cocktails cost £6.95 and are available at Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes in Baker Street, Park Plaza County Hall, Park Plaza Victoria London and Park Plaza Riverbank on Albert Embankment for the duration of the Championships. Ingredients may vary slightly depending on location and the cocktails may be subject to availability.

Hotel Londra Palace in Venice has just completed an extensive restoration project which sees the preservation of its historical essence and the careful balance between tradition and modernity. The design concept centres very much on the careful use of light, making the most of the wonderful spaces within the hotel – from the Gallery Wine Bar, Ristorante Do Leoni, the Piano Bar to the lounge-library.