A Luxury Travel Blog

Looking for somewhere really special to take your partner out for dinner? Tripadvisor have announced their 10 most romantic restaurants and for once there’s a good geographic spread with not one country represented more than once. Here’s the list they came up with, but please tell us your favourites that didn’t make the list but you feel should make the world’s top 10 most romantic.

1. The Library, Rome, Italy
2. Atmosphere Lounge Restaurant, Santorini, Greece
3. Bateaux Parisiens, Paris, France
4. La Veranda, Cozumel, Mexico
5. Orgasmic, Koh Samui, Thailand
6. Restaurant Couvert, Bruges, Belgium
7. Clos Maggiore, London, England
8. Bateaux Dubai, Dubai, UAE
9. Terasa u Zlate Studne, Prague, Czech Republic
10. Ambrai, Udaipur, India

I’m not sure what makes a hotel a ‘hidden gem’ as a considerable number in the list that follows are to be found in major European cities. That aside, here’s the top 10 hidden gem hotels according to Tripadvisor. (They don’t actually say ‘Europe’s top 10′ but since all of them are in Europe (in fact, they’re all in Western Europe), we assume that’s what they meant.)

1. Club Maritimo de Sotogrande, Sotogrande, Spain
2. Hotel Recamier, Paris, France
3. Residenza Del Moro, Florence, Italy
4. Hotel Geiger, Hopfen am See, Germany
5. Kreta Natur, Crete, Greece
6. Storfjord Hotel, More og Romsdal, Norway
7. Hotel Indigo London Tower Hill, London, England
8. The Old Convent, Clogheen, Ireland
9. Hotel Seven one Seven, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
10. Bonobo Apart Hotel, Bruges, Belgium

Antwerp is a lovely location to go to for a quick weekend getaway. Even though the city is relatively small and has no major landmarks, the small streets full of charm, the cool shopping boutiques and the wine and dine culture, all give us some good reasons why we should go and visit.

During your stay in Antwerp there are few things you will learn quickly about the locals: they like to enjoy life, they dress very fashionably and they are very nice and humble people. Unlike other European cities that are over-populated with tourists, here you won’t feel like you get ripped off with everything you purchased and you will not have the need to push people in order to go through the busy streets. You will also always feel welcome and well treated as the Belgian people like to have visitors in their country. Here are some tips on where you should go out at night, what is the best sushi restaurant in town and which clothing shop you simply cannot miss:

Birds Market
Theaterplein, Antwerp 2000

This is probably the number one attraction in Antwerp. Every Sunday this famous and extremely popular market takes place in the city center. All the local people love to go there and browse through the different stalls for unique things and also simple groceries. The reason for this bizarre name, (“The Birds Market”) is because this market was initially started in order to allow people buy not only birds, but also dogs, cats and more animals every Sunday. Today, (probably due to some animal rights protests) the market mainly offers different foods, cheap clothing and shoes, DVDs and toys. For those of you who are still interested to experience what the original market was like, just walk around till you reach the animal row where you will find chicken, birds and parrots for sale.

Appelmans Brasserie
Papenstraatje 1, 2000 Antwerpen, 03 226 20 22

This amazing restaurant is a highly recommended for every type of traveler: It is perfect for young people who want to eat and party right after, (thanks to its separate cocktails bar) it is pleasant and relaxed for couples and families, (during lunch time the place has a very chilled-out atmosphere) and it also nice for those of you who just want to have a coffee and cake in the afternoon, (their deserts are just amazing!). The delicious food and trendy design are not the only reasons why customers come back here time after time; the service in the Appelmans is the main factor why this place is so high standard. All the employees at Appelmans are not only super professional and nice; they are also helpful with giving tips on where to go and what to do, even after their working hours. Make sure to eat a lot during dinner as the cocktails in the bar are very strong!

Velvet Lounge
Luikstraat 6 , Antwerp, 2000, +32 3 237 39 78

After you have some shopping in the Birds Market and have had a lovely meal at the Appelmans Brasserie, it is time to party! Velvet Lounge is the perfect place for people who love good music, trendy vibe, quality drinks and beautiful crowd. This hot spot is the most popular club in Antwerp at the moment and from what is seems, it will manage to keep its title for a very long time. The velvet lounge is famous for its amazing finger food, groovy tunes and super stylish interior design. It is defiantly the place to see and be seen so pay attention on what you will be wearing before going out there. As you learned before, dressing up in Antwerp is something people love doing that is why you should respect the place and the culture and put on your best outfit!

Roji Sushi
Historisch Centrum, Oude Koornmarkt 26, 2000 Antwerpen, 03/296.61.33

Roji Sushi is located in what used to be old monastery from the 13th century. The place’s interior design is so amazing and romantic that it is worth coming here even if you don’t like sushi. The old stone walls, huge chandeliers, fire place in the middle of the restaurant and candles on every table, make a simple dining experience to be a totally unique and exciting one. Aside from the stunning decoration the Roji is also known as the best sushi place in town. If you wish to enjoy this luxury as well, you will need to book your table at least 3 weeks in advance. Aldo most of the chances you will not recognize the local celebrities sitting there, some of them are great artists, painters and musicians.

Ide Katt is Marketing Executive at EasyToBook.com.

If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

Tripadvisor has come up with its top 10 utterly unforgettable hotel rooms. Here we provide you with their somewhat Euro-centric list, links to each hotel where we can, and links to pictures of the rooms as shown on Tripadvisor’s site.

1. Utter Inn, Vasteras, Sweden – see the room
2. Abali Gran Sultanato, Palermo, Italy – see the room
3. Sarah Cruise, Venice, Italy – see the room
4. Shack Up Inn, Clarksdale, USA – see the room
5. La Balade des Gnomes, Durbuy, Belgium – see the room
6. Jumbo Stay, Stockholm, Sweden – see the room
7. Harlingen Harbour Crane / Crane Hotel, Harlingen, The Netherlands – see the room
8. The Underground Motel, Coober Pedy, Australia – see the room
9. The Old Railway Station, Petworth, England – see the room
10. Relais Cattedrale, Piedmont, Italy – see the room

Tripadvisor have contacted me with their list of the top 10 hotels in Europe. And it’s perhaps not the most obvious names that make the list. Here’s their top 10:

1. Golden Well (U Zlate Studne), Prague, Czech Republic
2. Anastasis Apartments, Imerovigli, Greece
3. Al Ponte Antico Hotel, Venice, Italy
4. La Villa Marbella – Charming Hotel, Marbella, Spain
5. Hotel Prinsenhof Bruges, Bruges, Belgium
6. Britania Hotel, Lisbon, Portugal
7. Hotel Albergaria Dias, Funchal, Portugal
8. Hotel Davanzati, Florence, Italy
9. Hotel Palazzo Zichy, Budapest, Hungary
10. Can Furios Hotel, Binibona, Spain

Which hotels would you put in your top 10 European hotels?

Looking for somewhere in Europe with distinctive charm?  Then take a look at this recently-published Tripadvisor list of the top 10 charming European towns and cities. Unlike many previous TA lists that we’ve published, this one isn’t overly-dominated by any one country but instead offers a good mix of options. Let us know what you think… are there any notable omissions, would you say?

1. Bruges, Belgium
2. Siena, Italy
3. Sitges, Spain
4. Dingle, Ireland
5. Mittenwald, Germany
6. Salisbury, England
7. Fontaine de Vaucluse, France
8. Cascais, Portugal
9. Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic
10. Kotor, Montenegro

Lonely Planet earlier this year produced a list of the top 10 cities to visit in 2011. It wasn’t just ‘yet another top 10 list’ – well, it was, but it at least gave some good reasons for why each place was worthy of visiting this year. Here’s their top 10 and, if you want to see the reasons behind the selection, click here.

1. New York
2. Tangier
3. Tel Aviv
4. Wellington
5. Valencia
6. Iquitos
7. Ghent
8. Delhi
9. Newcastle (Australia)
10. Chiang Mai

Are there any cities that would make your top 10 but they aren’t listed here? London, perhaps, to see the Royal Wedding? Whatever your selection, please let us know by posting a comment that names the city and the reason why it’s a great place to visit in 2011.

Just two weeks after The Luxury Travel Bible issued a press release with its top 10 sexiest hotels in the world for Valentine’s, I’ve been sent an email by Tripadvisor with their own top 10 sexy hotels.  Perhaps not surprisingly, there aren’t many that are common to both lists.   Here are the two lists:

Top 10 Sexiest Hotels in the World from The Luxury Travel Bible

Andaz San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
Crazy Bear Hotel, Beaconsfield, UK
Fleming House, Goldeneye, Jamaica
Hotel Amour, Paris, France
Hotel Sezz, Paris, France
Maison Moschino, Milan
Night New York, New York, USA
The Library Hotel, New York, USA
The Palms, Las Vegas, USA
The Seven Hotel, Paris, France

Top 10 Sexy Hotels from Tripadvisor

Palmer House South Beach, Miami Beach, USA
Iron Horse Hotel, Milwaukee, USA
ME Madrid Reina Victoria, Madrid, Spain
Night Hotel, New York City, USA
Le Meridien Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand
W Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA
Axel Hotel Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Buddha-Bar Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic
Gansevoort Turks + Caicos, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
be Manos, Brussels, Belgium

Congratulations to Night New York, the one hotel to make both lists.

Looking to go somewhere special this Valentines?  Then take a look at this list of the top 15 romantic Valentines hotels, as decreed by Tripadvisor. Bar a token entry for Bodrum in Turkey, they’re all in Europe, which seems a little odd, but perhaps subscribers from other parts of the world, are given a different list depending on their own locations.

1. Whitley Hall Hotel, Sheffield, England
2. Hotel Palazzo Barbarigo Sul Canal Grande, Venice, Italy
3. Strozzi Palace Boutique Suites, Gloucestershire, England
4. Villa Cicolina, Montepulciano, Italy
5. Hotel Villa Marstall, Heidelberg, Germany
6. Prestonfield, Edinburgh, Scotland
7. Hotel Montanus, Bruges, Belgium
8. Apostrophe Hotel, Paris, France
9. Hotel Gotisches Haus, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
10. Kilronan Castle Hotel & Spa, Roscommon, Ireland
11. Kirini Suites & Spa, Santorini, Greece
12. Hidden Hotel, Paris, France
13. Ardanaiseig Hotel by Loch Awe, Kilchrenan, Scotland
14. Buddha-Bar Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic
15. El Vino Hotel, Bodrum, Turkey

The trend towards luxury train travel appears to be increasing for travellers who enjoy a relaxing time watching the world go by in sumptuous surroundings, whilst also knowing exactly how their budget is being spent (being that many such journeys include most meals and drinks). And travellers should be pleased to know that short European breaks are now an option with the ultra-luxury holiday train The Danube Express.

The launch of the Bohemian Short Break adventure – a 5-day fully escorted trip from Budapest to Brussels – means that those with a penchant for luxury rail travel can enjoy a scenic voyage through the changing landscapes of the heart of Europe. The break begins with two nights in Budapest before joining the Danube Express at Budapest Nyugati station, where passengers will begin with a Champagne reception for the journey through Europe to Brussels, via Vienna, Prague and Carlsbad. Arriving in Brussels at the end of the holiday, guests will say farewell to the Danube Express to board the Eurostar for journey’s end – London St Pancras.

The Danube Express offers the Bohemian Short Break from £1,890 per person, including two nights’ half board hotel accommodation in Budapest, two nights’ full board with wine, beer and soft drinks onboard the Danube Express, outbound BA flight London-Budapest, Eurostar Brussels-London in Leisure Select, transfers, full sightseeing programme and the services of a Tour Manager. The trip departs 2nd September 2009.

Andrea Wren is a freelance journalist and owner of Wren Elite Travel.

Tripadvisor sent me an email yesterday, outlining their top 10 European luxury hotels.   In numerical order, they are as follows:

1. The Ritz-Carlton Berlin, Germany  
2. Mykonos Grand Hotel & Resort, Greece
3. Hotel Le Palais, Czech Republic  
4. The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel, England  
5. Hotel Prinsenhof, Belgium  
6. Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal, Hungary  
7. Rudding Park Hotel, England  
8. Swissotel Berlin, Germany  
9. Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris, France  
10. Riverside Hotel, Czech Republic

No doubt you’ve been to a hotel that you think ought to be in the list, but isn’t.   Tell us by clicking on the comments link.

How important is a really good quality bed to you?   It’s an issue that I’ve paid attention to more and more in recent times (my wife had a slipped disc that required surgery, just over 12 months ago) and so I was interested to hear that the Vi Spring is the bed of choice for the Beckhams.  Theirs retails in Harrods for £24,275. And it’s also the bed of choice for many leading hotels around Europe, including the Palais Coburg Residence, Hotel Ravenstein, Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin, Langshott Manor, Villa Trompenberg and The Zetter  to name just some.   But it’s by no means the most expensive bed out there.   That dubious honour no doubt goes to the $1.5 million (yes, you read that right) floating bed designed by Janjaap Ruijssenaars.

What’s the best bed you’ve ever slept in?   Or – if you work in the luxury hotel industry – where do you get your beds?

• The Ritz-Carlton Berlin – Berlin, Germany
• Mykonos Grand Hotel & Resort – Mykonos, Greece
• Hotel Le Palais – Prague, Czech Republic
• The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel – London, England
• Hotel Prinsenhof – Brugge, Belgium
• Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal – Budapest, Hungary
• Rudding Park Hotel – Harrogate, England
• Swissotel Berlin – Berlin, Germany
• Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris – Paris, France
• Riverside Hotel – Prague, Czech Republic

Come back tomorrow for  the best in Asia!

I read recently about a curious  attempt to break the world record for the largest ever Champagne fountain. It was being held at a shopping centre near Antwerp.   Whilst there seems to be a lot of blog posts about the attempt, I can’t seem to find anything that tells us whether they were successful.   Anyone out there know?

Eurostar began its 186 mph service from London’s St. Pancras station to France yesterday. St. Pancras station has been through an amazing $1.6 billion refurbishment over a 7 year period  and is now a station that can rival the likes of New York’s Grand Central Terminal; it  can  even lay claim to the title of having Europe’s longest Champagne bar, at 300 feet long.   (They served 4,500 glasses of Champagne on the first day!)  The front portion of the station won’t open until 2009 but will be home to a development from St. Pancras Chambers consisting of a five star hotel and 67 luxury flats which were sold off-plan back in 2005 (and have already risen by about 60% in value). Eurostar are offering  up to 17 connecting trains a day to Paris (takes just over 2 hours), and 11 to Brussels (takes just under 2 hours), with fares set to compete with regional airlines.

To celebrate the first birthday of its Etihad Guest loyalty programme, Etihad Airways is running a series of promotions throughout mid-September 2007. Register for various online drawings and you could win a trip to the Italian Grand Prix, to Formula 1 races in Belgium, to Thailand, or various other prizes from travel to diamonds. Membership in Etihad Guest, or registering (free) for the loyalty program, is required.