A Luxury Travel Blog

Guests taking advantage of Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts Finest Clubs Package can now gain admission to top clubs. The first hotels in the international hotel chain to offer this exclusive package are Swissôtel Berlin, Swissôtel The Bosphorus in Istanbul and Swissôtel Grand Shanghai; other hotels are to follow shortly. The package was created especially for guests who enjoy clubbing and who seek entertainment in the pulsing great cities of the world.

The World’s Finest Clubs confers the World’s Finest Clubs Award on the world’s most exclusive clubs and includes them in the Finest Clubs Network. The clubs are distinguished by their unique architecture and stunning interiors, great atmosphere, exclusive admission criteria, and high VIP and entertainment standards for a discerning clientele.

Along with admission to a select club and a welcome drink, the package includes breakfast at all hours of the day or night, champagne or a cocktail at the hotel bar and the Finest Clubs magazine in guest rooms. Table reservations and limousine transfer to and from the club are also available for an additional charge. This offer is available until the end of December 2010.

Don’t you just hate it when you turn up somewhere, only to find someone else is wearing an identical garment?  I wonder how Rihanna felt when she emerged from the Hotel de Rome in Berlin today and found herself being upstaged by the doorman…

The Mövenpick Hotel Berlin is offering a particularly attractive package to coincide with the start of the 2009 anniversary year. “Berlin Changing Times”: two nights’ accommodation with a lot of extras for EUR 169 per person.  With 2009 marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the whole world is turning to the German capital. Countless venues and events have been organised to illustrate the way in which the capital has changed, with a multitude of attractions to appeal to visitors. The Mövenpick Hotel Berlin is located in the listed building complex of the former Siemenshöfe and features a particularly striking and impressive combination of historical ambience and modern design. It is situated in a prime location between the former East and West on Potsdamer Platz, making it the ideal starting point for a journey through time and the city’s impressive history.

The hotel’s tailor-made package, with all the trimmings: two nights’ accommodation in a spacious double room with generous breakfast buffet included, dinner at the Restaurant Hof zwei, buffet or three-course menu at the chef’s discretion, use of the Hotel’s very own fitness and sauna area, a Berlin City Tour Card (72 hours of free travel on all public transport in Berlin and surroundings, and discounts on admissions to many Berlin highlights). Guests will also receive a Berlin book with information on the historical changes the city has experienced. The offer is available on request and subject to availability, for the period from 2nd October to 30th December 2009.

At the Propeller Island City Lodge in Berlin, there’s a bed with a difference. Their “flying” bed can be found in one of the hotel’s many themed rooms.  The king size wooden bed is in fact suspended from the roof but a floor with a 15-degree incline helps to complete the illusion, as does other furniture in the room which has been specially adapted to take the slope into account. On the ceiling are painted the words ‘Distorted Room’. Other rooms at the hotel are similarly unusual, with beds ‘under the floorboards’, coffin beds and a bed surrounded by mirrored kaleidoscope walls.

Conde Nast Traveler has announced the results of its 2008 Readers’ Choice Awards, ranking the best cities, cruise lines, airlines, hotels and resorts worldwide. The awards will appear in the November issue of the magazine which is available from newsstands tomorrow. Below are results for the top three winners in each category:

Top Cities- United States:
1. San Francisco
2. Charleston, SC
3. New York City

Top Cities- Europe:
1. Florence, Italy
2. Rome, Italy
3. Tie: Salzburg, Austria and Venice, Italy

Top Cities- Asia:
1. Bangkok, Thailand
2. Chiang Mai, Thailand
3. Hong Kong

Top Cities- Africa/Middle East:
1. Cape Town, South Africa
2. Jerusalem, Israel
3. Damascus, Syria

Top Cities- The Americas
1. Buenos Aires, Argentina
2. Vancouver, British Columbia
3. Tie: Victoria, British Columbia and Quebec City, Quebec

Top Cities- Australia/Pacific:
1. Sydney, Australia
2. Melbourne, Australia
3. Queenstown, New Zealand

Top Hotels- Southern Europe:
1. Il Pellicano, Tuscany, Italy
2. Four Season George V, Paris, France
3. Il San Pietro di Positano, Positano, Italy

Top Hotels- United States:
1. The Peninsula, Chicago, Illinois
2. Elizabeth Pointe Lodge, Amelia Island, Florida
3. Stephanie Inn, Cannon Beach, Oregon

Top Hotels- Canada:
1. Hotel Grand Pacific, Victoria
2. Auberge Saint-Antoine, Quebec City
3. Sooke Harbour House, Sooke, Vancouver Island

Top Hotels- Asia:
1. Oberoi Udaivilas, Rajasthan
2. Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra
3. The Peninsula, Hong Kong

Top Hotels- Africa:
1. Cape Grace, Cape Town
2. Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa, Cape Town
3. Table Bay Hotel, Cape Town

Top Hotels- Caribbean/Atlantic:
1. Hotel Saint-Barth Isle de France, St. Barts
2. Tie: Eden Rock, St. Barts and Le Toiny, St. Barts
3. The Caves, Jamaica

Top Hotels- Middle East:
1. David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem
2. Four Seasons, Doha
3. Four Seasons, Amman

Top Hotels- Northern Europe:
1. Four Seasons Gresham Palace, Budapest
2. Ritz-Carlton, Berlin
3. Brenner’s Park-Hotel & Spa, Baden-Baden

Top Hotels- Mexico:
1. Casa Natalia, San Jose del Cabo
2. Hotel at Esperanza, Cabo San Lucas
3. Las Mananitas, Cuernavaca

Top Hotels- British Isles:
1. Milestone Hotel, London
2. Lower Slaughter Manor, Cotswolds
3. Chewton Glen, Hampshire

Top Hotels- Australia/Pacific:
1. Henry Jones Art Hotel, Hobart
2. Park Hyatt, Sydney
3. The Westin, Melbourne

Top Hotels- South America:
1. Hotel Monasterio, Cuzco
2. Four Seasons, Buenos Aires
3. Alvear Palace Hotel, Buenos Aires

Top Hotels- Central America
1. Casa Santo Domingo, Antigua
2. Lapa Rios Ecolodge, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
3. Porta Hotel Antigua, Guatemala

Top Islands- Caribbean/Atlantic:
1. Bermuda
2. St. John
3. St. Barts

Top Islands- Pacific:
1. Maui
2. Kauai
3. Bora Bora

Top Islands- Asia/Indian Ocean:
1. Maldives
2. Bali
3. Phuket

Top Islands- North America:
1. Vancouver Island
2. Kiawah, SC
3. Nantucket, MA

Top Islands- Europe:
1. Mykonos and the Cyclades
2. Capri
3. Sicily

Top Resorts- Asia:
1. Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, Chiang Rai
2. Oberoi Vanyavilas, Rajasthan
3. Four Seasons Bali at Sayan

Top Resorts- Mexico:
1. Tie: One & Only Palmilla, Los Cabos and The Tides, Riviera Maya
2. JW Marriott Resort & Spa, Cancun
3. Maroma Resort & Spa, Riviera Maya

Top Resorts- Africa:
1. Mombo and Little Mombo Camps, Moremi
2. Grande Roche, Paarl
3. Jao Camp, Okavango Delta

Top Resorts- Europe:
1. Penha Longa Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, Sintra
2. Ashford Castle, Co. Mayo
3. Tie: Convento do Espinheiro Hotel & Spa, Evora and The Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, Zermatt

Top Resorts- Hawaii:
1. Four Season Maui at Wailea
2. Four Season Hualalai, Big Island
3. Four Seasons Lana’i, The Lodge at Koele

Top Resorts- Atlantic Ocean:
1. One & Only Ocean Club, Bahamas
2. Pink Sands, Bahamas
3. The Reefs, Bermuda

Top Resorts- Middle East:
1. Burj Al Arab, Dubai
2. One & Only Royal Mirage, Dubai
3. Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai

Top Resorts- Australia/Pacific:
1. Hotel Bora Bora
2. Huka Lodge, Taupo, New Zealand
3. Le Meridien Bora Bora

Top Resorts- Mainland U.S.:
1. Kenwood Inn & Spa, Sonoma
2. Inn at Thorn Hill & Spa, Jackson, NH
3. Sanctuary at Kiawah Island

Top Resorts- Canada:
1. King Pacific Lodge, Princess Royal Island
2. Wickaninnish Inn, Tofino, Vancouver Island
3. Long Beach Lodge Resort, Tofino, Vancouver Island

Top Resorts- Caribbean:
1. Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
2. Curtain Bluff, Antigua
3. Petit St. Vincent Resort, Grenadines

Top Resorts- Central/South America:
1. Hotel Punta Islita, Guanacaste
2. Hotel Salto Chico, Patagonia
3. Four Seasons Resort Carmelo, Uruguay

Top Cruise Lines- Large Ships:
1. Crystal
2. Regent Seven Seas
3. Disney

Top Cruise Lines- Small Ships:
1. Seabourn
2. Regent Seven Seas
3. SeaDream Yacht Club

Top Airlines- International Routes:
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Emirates
3. Virgin Atlantic

Top Airlines- Domestic Routes:
1. Virgin America
2. JetBlue Airways
3. Midwest Airlines

Top Airlines- Foreign-Only Routes:
1. SilkAir
2. Jet Airways
3. Air Iceland

Top Car Rental Agencies:
1. Hertz
2. Enterprise
3. Avis

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.

Earlier this year I met an accommodation provider whose property had a four-star grading, and probably a good four star at that. When I quizzed him as to whether he would be pursuing a fifth star, he was a little hesitant. He said that he probably wouldn’t, arguing that it would make his business less profitable.  His argument was that guests staying in 5-star accommodation understandably expected the very best.  Modest wear and tear on furnishings wouldn’t be acceptable and so he would have to continually invest and replace and improve anything that wasn’t completely up to scratch.

More recently I read about how some top-rated hotels in France and Germany were looking to shed a star from their ratings in order to improve business.  Hotels in Berlin belive they are losing business from the pharmaceutical industry if they carry the top ratings, whilst 3-star hotels in France have been known to decline an additional star because it takes them into a new tax bracket.  Interesting stuff.

Are you aware of other instances where hotels don’t strive for the highest grading possible?

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!

Since reunification in 1990, Berlin has evolved into a dynamic, sexy and creative city where a surprising lightheartedness lurks beneath an austere exterior. It has emerged as Europe’s avant-garde cultural hub, and New York architect Tony Chi has embodied the spirit of the city in this wonderful hotel. Grand Hyatt Berlin Hotel anchors the newly built heart of Berlin at Potsdamer Platz with powerful architecture and innovative interior design that encompasses an exceptional, modern art concept throughout the hotel. Grand Hyatt is conveniently located within walking distance of the Berlin Tiergarten, the Mitte district, the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate, making guests’ stay in the city a truly authentic experience.

The Great Hotels Organisation is unveiling a new hotel booking engine at next week’s ITB in Berlin. G-wiz Xtra will be an extension to the G-wiz booking engine they launched a year ago, designed to address the fact many hotel chain websites are currently unable to offer multi-property availability searches, according to the company. Keep a look-out for it!

The full list of winners of the World Travel Awards which I mentioned in an earlier post have now been published on their site.  The worldwide winners (as opposed to those winners for specific continents, regions or categories) are as follows:

World’s Leading Airline – British Airways 
World’s Leading Airline – Alliance Oneworld 
World’s Leading Airline Inflight Meal Service – Qatar Airways 
World’s Leading Airport – Singapore Changi Airport 
World’s Leading Airport Lounge – Virgin Atlantic Airways 
World’s Leading All Suite Hotel & Spa Hotel – Les Ottomans 
World’s Leading All-Inclusive Company – Sandals Resorts International 
World’s Leading All-Suite Hotel – The Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh 
World’s Leading Attraction – Pyramids, Egypt 
World’s Leading Beach – Grace Bay Beach (Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands) 
World’s Leading Beach Resort – Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai 
World’s Leading Boutique Hotel – Saxon Boutique Hotel & Spa, South Africa 
World’s Leading Boutique Resort – Vila Joya 
World’s Leading Budget / No Frills Airline – Air Berlin 
World’s Leading Business Car Rental Company – Avis 
World’s Leading Business Class Airline – Qatar Airways 
World’s Leading Business Class Only Airline – EOS Airlines 
World’s Leading Business Hotel – Pan Pacific Singapore 
World’s Leading Casino Resort – Genting Highland Resort, Malaysia 
World’s Leading Charter Airline – XL Airways 
World’s Leading Chauffeur Limousine Company – Brunel Carriage 
World’s Leading Conference & Convention Centre – Internationales Congress Centrum Berlin (ICC Berlin), Germany 
World’s Leading Conference Hotel – Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi 
World’s Leading Conservation Company – Shamwari Game Reserve 
World’s Leading Credit Card – Visa 
World’s Leading Cruise Brand – Carnival Corporation 
World’s Leading Cruise Destination – Jamaica 
World’s Leading Cruise Line – Royal Caribbean International 
World’s Leading Cruise Operator – Star Clippers 
World’s Leading Design Hotel – Adam & Eve at Belek, Turkey 
World’s Leading Destination – London, England 
World’s Leading Destination Marketing Campaign – Incredible India 
World’s Leading Dive Destination – Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt 
World’s Leading Diving Resort – The Royal Savoy Sharm El Sheikh 
World’s Leading Economy Class – American Airlines 
World’s Leading Exhibition Centre – Dubai World Trade Centre 
World’s Leading Family All-Inclusive – Beaches Resorts 
World’s Leading Family Luxury Resort – Madinat Jumeirah 
World’s Leading Family Resort – Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort & Spa 
World’s Leading Ferry Operator – P&O Ferries 
World’s Leading First Class Airline – Cathay Pacific Airways 
World’s Leading Flat Bed Seat – Etihad Airways 
World’s Leading Golf Resort – Casa de Campo 
World’s Leading Heritage Hotel – The Raj Palace 
World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination – St. Lucia 
World’s Leading Hotel – Burj Al Arab, Dubai
World’s Leading Hotel Brand – Marriott Hotels Resorts & Suites 
World’s Leading Hotel Serviced Apartment – The Grosvenor House Dubai 
World’s Leading Leisure Car Rental Company – Europcar 
World’s Leading Luxury Cruise Line – Silversea Cruises 
World’s Leading Luxury Hotel Brand – Jumeirah 
World’s Leading Luxury Specialist Tour Operator – ITC Classics 
World’s Leading Luxury Train – Pride of Africa – Rovos Rail 
World’s Leading New Airline – Oasis Hong Kong Airlines 
World’s Leading New Destination – Abu Dhabi 
World’s Leading New Resort – The Venetian Macau 
World’s Leading Private Jet Charter – Royal Jet Group 
World’s Leading Rail Service – Eurostar 
World’s Leading Resort – Forte Village Resort, Italy 
World’s Leading Safari & Game Reserve – Shamwari Game Reserve 
World’s Leading Ski Destination – St. Moritz 
World’s Leading Ski Resort – The Fairmont Chateau Whistler, British Columbia, Canada 
World’s Leading Spa Resort – Aldemar Olympian Village, Greece 
World’s Leading Sports Resort – Casa de Campo 
World’s Leading Suite – Palace Suite, Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi 
World’s Leading Thalasso & Spa Resort – Aldemar Royal Mare Village 
World’s Leading Theme Park/Attraction – Disney World, Florida 
World’s Leading Tour Operator – Kuoni 
World’s Leading Tourism Development Project – Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)
World’s Leading Tourism Property Development Company – Nakheel 
World’s Leading Tourist & Convention Bureau Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. (Orlando CVB) 
World’s Leading Tourist Information Website – South African Tourism www.southafrica.net 
World’s Leading Travel Agency – Regency Travel & Tours, Qatar 
World’s Leading Travel Company – Carlson-Wagonlit 
World’s Leading Travel Destination Television Commercial – One Northeast, England 
World’s Leading Travel Exhibition – ITB, Berlin 
World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train – Vancouver – Banff, GoldLeaf Service, Rocky Mountaineer Vacations, Canada 
World’s Leading Travel Television Commercial – Etihad Airways 
World’s Leading TV Channel for Travellers – BBC World 
World’s Leading Villa – Round Hill Hotel & Villas 
World’s Most Romantic Destination - Maldives 
World’s Most Romantic Resort - Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa

A very big ‘well done’ to all of the above!

It’s around this time of year that both Condé Nast and Travel+Leisure publish their annual awards (see CondéNast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2007 and Travel+Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2007). Among other categories, both awards churn out a top 100 hotels/resorts list and I’m often intrigued by the distinct lack of repetition between the two top 100 lists.  This year only 37 hotels and resorts are common to both lists.  I thought it would be interesting to collate the two lists, so I’ve taken those 37 and rather crudely added the two scores together and divided by two, to produce A Luxury Travel Blog’s ‘best of the best’!  The results are rather interesting: Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts is by far the best represented in the list with 12 of its hotels featured, followed by The Peninsula with 4. Also worthy of a mention is Oberoi Hotels & Resorts with 3, but all of those 3 notably feature within the top 6. Here’s the final list:

1. Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India 99.6 (CN); 94.36 (T+L); score: 96.98
2. Singita Sabi Sand, South Africa 95.7 (CN); 94.3 (T+L); score: 95.0
3. Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra, India 97.3 (CN); 92.56 (T+L); score: 94.93
4. The Oriental, Bangkok, Thailand 95.4 (CN); 94.23 = 94.815
5. Four Seasons Gresham Palace, Budapest 96.3 (CN); 92.15 (T+L); score: 94.225
6. Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur, India 95.9 (CN); 92.5 (T+L); score: 94.2
7. Mombo and Little Mombo Camps, Botswana 96.3 (CN); 92.08 (T+L); score: 94.19
8. Four Seasons George V, Paris, France 97.1 (CN); 91.05 (T+L); score: 94.075
9. The Peninsula, Hong Kong, China 97.5 (CN); 90.37 (T+L); score: 93.935
10. The Peninsula, Bangkok, Thailand 95.1 (CN); 92.41 (T+L); score: 93.755
11. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Big Island 94.1 (CN); 92.65 (T+L); score: 93.375
12. Milestone Hotel, London, England 93.3 (CN); 93.06 (T+L); score: 93.18
13. Cape Grace, Cape Town, South Africa 94.7 (CN); 91.52 (T+L); score: 93.11
14. Table Bay Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa 96.8 (CN); 89.23 (T+L); score: 93.015
15. Le Sirenuse, Positano, Italy 94.6 (CN); 91.18 (T+L); score: 92.89
16. Four Seasons Maui at Wailea, Maui 96.0 (CN); 89.72 (T+L); score: 92.86
17. Huka Lodge, Taupo, New Zealand 95.9 (CN); 89.38 (T+L); score: 92.64
18. Il San Pietro di Positano, Positano, Italy 96.2 (CN); 88.82 (T+L); score: 92.51
19. Four Seasons Cairo at Nile Plaza, Cairo 93.0 (CN); 92.00 (T+L); score: 92.5
20. Four Seasons, Amman, Jordan 93.9 (CN); 90.95 (T+L); score: 92.425
21. Four Seasons, Prague, Czech Republic 93.6 (CN); 91.07 (T+L); score: 92.355
22. Ritz-Carlton, Berlin, Germany 96.3 (CN); 88.17 (T+L); score: 92.235
23. One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos, Mexico 95.9 (CN); 88.32 (T+L); score: 92.11
24. The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, SC, USA 93.5 (CN); 90.07 (T+L); score: 91.785
25. The Peninsula, Chicago, Illinois 95.1 (CN); 88.38 (T+L); score: 91.74
26. Four Seasons, Jackson Hole, Wyoming 93.6 (CN); 89.50 (T+L); score: 91.55
27. Four Seasons, Buenos Aires, Argentina 92.8 (CN); 90.12 (T+L); score: 91.46
28. Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand 94.6 (CN); 88.28 (T+L); score: 91.44
29. The Peninsula, Beverly Hills, California 92.8 (CN); 89.99 (T+L); score: 91.395
30. Bernardus Lodge, Carmel Valley, California 93.9 (CN); 88.37 (T+L); score: 91.135
31. Four Seasons Bali at Jimbaran Bay, Bali 93.3 (CN); 88.83 (T+L); score: 91.065
32. Auberge Saint-Antoine, Quebec, Canada 93.6 (CN); 88.52 (T+L); score: 91.06
33. Four Seasons Lodge At Koele, Lanai, Hawaii 92.6 (CN); 89.29 (T+L); score: 90.945
34. Hotel Villa Cipriani, Asolo, Italy 93.3 (CN); 88.27 (T+L); score: 90.785
35. Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder, Scotland 93.3 (CN); 88.18 (T+L); score: 90.74
36. Eden Rock, St. Barths, France 92.7 (CN); 88.70 (T+L); score: 90.7
37. Four Seasons, Chicago, Illinois 93.2 (CN); 88.03 (T+L); score: 90.615

Suite name: Royal Residence
Hotel: Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai
Size of accommodation: 6,890 sq ft
Cost per night: 230,000 Baht, plus taxes and service charge
Who’s stayed there? Prime Minister, Head of State and several VIPs
What makes it special? Unique design which inspired by a mix of northern Thai palace and Royal Lanna architecture with six private pavilions featuring three king size beds and three twin bedrooms, three swimming pools, as well as a number of sitting and dining rooms, open-air salas (Thai Pavilion) and even a lounge with a grand piano and bar.

A stay in the Royal Residence is the ultimate experience offering guests a vast, private retreat compound at the heart of the resort. Situated behind high walls, the Royal Residence is completely self-contained with six private Lanna-style pavilions featuring three king size beds and three twin bedrooms, as well a number of sitting and dining rooms, open-air salas and even a lounge with a grand piano and bar.

The Royal Residence is the ideal choice for discerning travelers, celebrities and visiting royalty who wish to preserve their privacy while they indulge in style.  It is also perfect for groups of friends traveling together or extended families. In addition to its individual sleeping pavilions, the residence boasts three luxurious swimming pools, private Jacuzzis and saunas, all set right on the edge of the compound’s own free-form lotus pond between a number of towering Rain Trees and fragrant Frangipanis. 

The design of the Royal Residence was inspired by the mythical Himmaphan Forest of Buddhist legend, a heavenly realm of lush flowers and foliage inhabited by celestial beings and otherworldly animals. Each of the residence’s elegant teak pavilions is intricately crafted, showcasing the woodcarving traditions that northern Thailand is famous for. Interiors and exteriors are decorated with apsaras, elephants, Kinnarees, exotic birds, fish and flowers carved in wood and plaster throughout.

Brick walkways connect each unit through their poolside gardens and an enormous wall of life-size elephant sculptures drawn from Chiang Mai’s oldest temple, Wat Chiang Man, provides a dramatic focal point for the entire complex. Each pavilion is unique in style and design, inspired by a mix of northern Thai palace and Royal Lanna architecture. Color schemes vary from one pavilion to the next, ranging from rich red and gold to cream and pink to black and silver. High ceilings and handcrafted details abound while sumptuous silks, plush furnishings, and a selection of rare antiques contribute to the residence’s atmosphere of lavish luxury.

A large dining room with floor to ceiling windows and pantry allow guests to entertain family and friends in the unique setting of their own ancient Lanna palace.

Rocco Forte Hotels celebrated its 10-year anniversary this year. Ten years on, the luxury collection consists of ten hotels in ten key cities across Europe, with two new hotels due to open this summer (The Charles Hotel in Munich and Le Richemond in Geneva). Here are some quirky facts about the group’s ten hotels:

The Balmoral, Edinburgh

• J.K. Rowling finished writing her latest novel, ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’, the seventh and final instalment in the series at the hotel. To mark the occasion, the author signed an antique bust in the room in which she stayed.
• Since opening in 1902, the hotel’s historic clock tower has been set three minutes early to avoid people missing their trains (the hotel is located next to Waverley Train Station). The only day the clock runs on time is 31 December.
• In the 1970s, the Queen Mother was a regular visitor to the hotel where she liked to dine on plain roast lamb for lunch.

Hotel Savoy, Florence

• On 9 June 2003, rock legend Bruce Springsteen greeted his fans, who covered the entire Piazza della Repubblica, from the balcony of the hotel’s Repubblica Suite.
• Hotel Savoy is reported to be novelist John Grisham’s favourite hotel in Italy and he wrote on of his recent novels at the hotel during an extended stay.
• The hotel’s Brunelleschi and Signoria suites both have their own exclusive state-of-the-art steam rooms, complete with chromatherapy facilities.

Hotel Astoria, St Petersburg

• The hotel was home to the headquarters of the British Intelligence in 1914.
• Lenin was a guest at the hotel and gave a speech to his supporters from the balcony of room 211 shortly after the revolution.
• Adolf Hitler is reported to have planned a victory banquet in the hotel’s Winter Garden after the defeat of the Russian army, which of course never happened.

The St David’s Hotel & Spa, Cardiff

• The hotel has featured in hit BBC sci-fi series Dr Who and Torchwood.
• It was Wales’ first five star hotel.
• For those with a taste for the high life, the hotel can be hired out in its entirety for the day at a cost of £75,000.

Hotel Amigo, Brussels

• The hotel is housed in a former prison. The Spanish rulers mistook the Flemish for prison to mean friend and translated it into their own language as ‘amigo’.
• Valuable historical artefacts and antiques are on display in the hotel including paintings from famous Dutch artists such as Courtens, Dansaert and Wagemans and an original 18th century tapestry from Aubusson, made from silk and wool, hangs in the Ambassador meeting room.
• Famous guests who have stayed at Hotel Amigo include David Bowie, Fifty Cent, Harrison Ford, Hugh Grant, Jane Birkin, Robbie Williams and the cast of Casino Royale.

Hotel de Russie, Rome

• The cast of Ocean’s 12 stayed at the hotel during filming and George Clooney had a huge plasma screen installed for his stay in the Popolo suite.
• It is the only hotel in Rome with a secret garden and World Wildlife Fund protected butterfly oasis.
• The hotel once housed the headquarters of Italian TV channel RAI.

The Lowry Hotel, Manchester

• To date, staff at The Lowry Hotel have welcomed over half a million guests, served over 37,000 bottles of Champagne, provided 9,000 massages and the housekeeping staff have walked approximately 8,000 miles.
• The hotel has the longest sun terrace in Manchester.
• The hotel was built on the site of the former Dandy and Beano warehouse.

Brown’s Hotel, London

• The hotel has strong literary links, Rudyard Kipling wrote The Jungle Book there; Agatha Christie’s ‘At Bertram’s Hotel’ was based on the hotel and Stephen King wrote ‘Misery’ while staying at Brown’s Hotel.
• Alexander Graham Bell made the first ever telephone call from the hotel.
• Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt honeymooned at Brown’s Hotel.

Villa Kennedy, Frankfurt

• The hotel is named after Kennedyallee, the road on which it is situated, which was renamed in honour of President Kennedy who visited the city and passed along the road in 1963.
• The hotel has the largest presidential suite in Germany, The Georg Speyer Suite, measuring 326 sqm.
• Celebrity guests have included Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, Cher, Joseph Fiennes and Liza Minelli.

Hotel de Rome, Berlin

• It is the oldest building in Berlin with a hotel and was the former headquarters of the Dresdner Bank.
• The hotel spa is located in the old bank vault where the original safe door has been preserved. The 20 metre swimming pool is housed in the bank’s Jewellery Room and is decorated with brilliant gold mosaic tiles to represent the many jewels that were once stored there.
• Hollywood stars Sharon Stone and Matt Damon stayed at the hotel at the recent Berlinale Film Festival.

In a review of the new business hotels that have debuted in 2006, Forbes’ Sophia Banay gives her pick of the best:

• Hilton London Canary Wharf
• Hotel de Rome, Berlin
• InterContinental Boston
• The James Chicago Hotel
• The London NYC
• Mandarin Oriental, Prague
• Palacio Duhau-Park Hyatt Buenos Aires
• The Ritz-Carlton Beijing Financial Street
• Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
• W Dallas Victory Hotel & Residences