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Hotel heaven and hell

The Independent has an article that lists celebrities’ own highs and lows when it comes to hotels, as part of a pre-amble to a competition.   Here are the ‘high’ from the list: Kim Wilde, singer turned gardener:
If you want a really romantic setting, stay on the eighth floor at the Terrass Hotel in Montmartre, where there is an amazing room with a window across a whole wall which has the most breathtaking views across Paris. You can just hole up there for a fabulously sexy evening, with a bottle of Champagne, gazing at the lights on the Eiffel Tower all night. I really like the hotel because it is not terribly trendy, the staff are very friendly and the food is exquisite, obviously the work of an incredibly together chef. There’s also a lovely terrace restaurant. And they play birdsong in the lifts during the day, and jazz in the evening.
Samantha Bond, actress:
Ten years ago, our family followed some friends to celebrate New Years Eve in a tiny hotel 50 miles outside Paris – the Hotel l’Abbaye, in the wild hunting territory surrounding the village of Longport. It felt like we were walking into a big family home, with a roaring fire and a warm atmosphere. On the 31st, we all got dressed up for a seven-course meal, laid on by our hosts, and guests were serenaded by huntsmen trumpeteers. The next day we had a hearty roam in the Foret de Repz, and concluded that it was one of the best experiences of our lives. I’ve been back twice since.
Jonathan Coe, writer:
The most extraordinary hotel I’ve stayed at is the Atelier Sul Mare in Castel di Tusa, Sicily. Each room has been designed by an artist and is themed around a cultural figure. I stayed in the Pasolini room, where the entire bathroom is a shower. Guests put up with many discomforts (there is no furniture in some rooms) in order to respect the artists’ vision. Famously, one couple spent an entire weekend in a room in pitch darkness, believing it was themed around “blackness”. They mentioned this to owner Antonio Presti as they checked out and he was mortified: a fuse had blown…
Nicky Haslam, interior designer and columnist:
The best hotel in the world simply has to be Park Hyatt in Moscow, located close to the Kremlin and the famous Red Square. It’s fabulous in every respect: the food, which includes authentic Armenian specialities, is delightful, the staff are wondeful, the location is ideal, and the décor is inspirational; a splended sort of grand-modern style. It’s slightly suprising, eye-opening, and anything but minimal. Another attractive quality about the hotel is its proximity to the best restaurant in Russia, the Road Cafe. The food is sensational, with a menu that one might expect to find at a New York diner.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Daily Telegraph.

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