April 17, 2013
by Leslie Long
Stone. Glass. Steel. Dark oak. Calcutta marble. Colored mirrors. Sumptuous silks. Artfully-embroidered leather. Those are the materials that went into creating the spectacular new Hakkasan San Francisco: a 10,000-square-foot bastion of Chinese dining and contemporary Chinoiserie. Gilles & Boissier, an internationally – renowned Parisian design firm, created the rich, sensuous interior including a curved bar, two private dining rooms, 50-seat lounge and main dining room with latticed cage partitions and Chinese screens. Gilles & Boissier also curated the magical lighting. When creating the space, masculine and feminine appeal was considered — and the contrast between darkness and light resonates throughout.
Continue reading “Hakkasan San Francisco” »
Magical is a word oft-overused in the hotelier’s vocabulary, for there’s usually very little that’s actually magic in the hotel experience; it’s the sum of its parts, even the very best of hotels are a kind of scientific proposition – a mathematical formula that creates the optimum experience for its guests. Bleeding-edge design – check. Comfort, quality and service – check. Hip communal spaces that attract those who aren’t just bedding down at the hotel – check… you get the picture: formulaic, not magic – no matter how wonderful the experience.
Continue reading “Believe In The Magic of Areias do Seixo Charm Hotel” »
February 5, 2013
by Leslie Long
Pool Overview at Dusk – photo credit: Tim Street-Porter
To call The Saguaro colorful is surely an understatement and having just spent a weekend there, I can attest to the fact that the hotel’s 12 vibrant colors are a lot of fun to be around. Whether in my citrus-hued room, driving up to the eye-popping facade or lounging at the pool under lemony umbrellas, we loved being surrounded by all that color.
With bright blue skies, grass that’s greener than green, plus flowers and fruit trees galore, Palm Springs is one colorful place — but The Saguaro takes it to another level. The colors follow the light spectrum, creating different perspectives throughout the day. The tones were chosen because they’re found in native desert wildflowers.
Continue reading “The Saguaro Palm Springs” »
Cocooned by the jungle on a pristine stretch of the Caribbean coast, lies a raw-luxe camp with an urban spirit – a communal playground for a creative community seeking reconnection with nature and themselves. Together with Emilio Heredia, owner of the existing Papaya Playa Beach Bungalow Resort, Design Hotels has created a destination in paradise.
The 85 cabañas possess a rustic charm and celebrate the luxury of simplicity, with something to suit every need and budget – from Casitas with large private terraces, to modest shared Jungle Cabañas with bunk beds and a communal bathhouse. Right from the outdoor hammocks, guests will be immersed in the flora and fauna, swinging gently into the laid-back rhythm of life in Tulum.
Continue reading “Papaya Playa Project in Tulum, Mexico” »
The series of elegant minimalist white structures on the Chaweng Beach in Koh Samui already make The Library a “page-turner” in the area. And now two fresh chapters are going to make the property even more addictive: the new Drink Gallery restaurant and bar, and the Bookmark suite. Adding to the 26 suite/studio cabins, the Bookmark is the hotel’s largest and most luxurious accommodation. The Drink Gallery follows the property’s penchant for striking, unusual design with a heady mix of art, design, food and creative drinks.
Continue reading “New Chapters at The Library Hotel in Thailand” »
Papua New Guinea Tourism Authority has invited our readers to find out which Papuan tribe they most relate to with a chance to win a vacation to visit their tribe!
Papua New Guinea is home to over 700 distinct tribes, and through the new What Tribe Are You? website, you can take a quick seven-question quiz, based on interests and affinities, which will ultimately reveal which Papua New Guinea tribe you most associate with. Once their tribe is revealed, you’ll be automatically entered to win a trip to visit their respective tribe in Papua New Guinea!
In addition to the opportunity to discover their PNG ‘Wantok’ (Pidgin English for ‘One-Talk’ indicating one’s village family), www.WhatTribeAreYou.com also includes a fun Face Your Tribe photo widget in which users can upload a picture of themselves and adorn themselves in traditional Papuan headdresses. Users are then able to upload their new PNG avatar to Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest to share with family and friends in order to proclaim their tribal identity.
The What Tribe Are You? sweepstakes launched this week and is waiting for you to visit whattribeareyou.com and FACE YOUR TRIBE!
The lobby of Argentario Resort
Visions of a Tuscan vacation often include time spent in a charming old stone farmhouse surrounded by grape vines and olive trees. The Argentario Golf Resort & Spa offers a sleeker, more modern way to visit this beautiful part of Italy.
The resort has a contemporary style that is quite unique in rustic Tuscany. The owner, Augusto Orsini, wanted to create something “new and fresh, that would show the region’s most progressive side.” The result is 73-room dragonfly-shaped structure that features a flaxen limestone façade. Guests check in through the stunning reception area, where a spiral staircase winds upwards into a glass dome. Guestrooms have an eclectic personality in keeping with the feel of the resort and were designed by Andrea Fogli.
It’s hot, slightly humid, and there’s a salty breeze coming off the Mediterranean. A skyline of stone-colored buildings leads the eye to a seemingly endless stretch of beach, dotted with towels, bathing suits, and umbrellas. Off in the distance, the ancient port city of Jaffa glints in the afternoon sun. Music spills out of cafés, where tables of twos and threes crowd around espresso, cold beers, and plates of crisp cucumbers and tomatoes, green olives, and tart Labne cheese. Leafy vines frame the streets here, palm trees pop up out of nowhere, and together with the occasional piece of graffiti they make up the visual rhythm of the city. Once the sun sets, the rhythm of the beat grows louder, signaling the start of parties that last all night. This is Tel Aviv.
Continue reading “Tel Aviv’s Chocolate Haven – Brown TLV” »
The innovative urban retreat The Mira Hong Kong, located in the heart of Tsimshatsui, provides guest with rooms dressed in shades of red, green, silver or purple, encouraging them to creatively select a color to suit their mood. The rooms can also be easily transformed into a personal office, with an ultra-smart infotainment system, a Bose sound system, and the unique “My Mobile” service, transforming the standard hotel-room telephone into a mobile phone so no calls are missed. The 18,000 square foot spa is a lavender-scented sanctuary for wellness, with state-of-the-art heated waterbeds in floatation lounges and 9 treatment rooms including an aura room in which traditional Asian hospitality and effective treatments blend. The hotel also provides guests with the Mira 24 flexible room package, with room availability for 24 hours from the check-in time, ensuring you miss nothing just because of a late-night or early-morning arrival or departure.
Continue reading “Hong Kong’s Urban Escape, The Mira Hong Kong” »
Hotel Kitzhof Mountain Design Resort
The pre-ski season is a fabulous time for a getaway to the mountains, with the crisp alpine air and sun sure to revitalize your spirit. Whether it be an adventurous getaway, a cozy pampering session, or just a simple trip to enjoy the dazzling landscapes, this roll call of Design Hotels mountain addresses will be sure to make for the ideal escape.
The alpine landscape surrounding Hotel Bachmair Weissach in Bavaria is awe-inspiring. The hotel’s superb views, as well as its classic Bavarian charm, lure guests to the Tegernsee Valley. Italy’s Matteo Thun designed eco-hideaway vigilius mountain resort is a comforting retreat in South Tyrol, where nature co-exists with aesthetics at 5000 feet above sea level. At Hotel Kitzhof Mountain Design Resort, guests will be treated to both contemporary and traditional Austrian craftsmanship in the heart of the Kitzbühel Alps. For those who have been meaning to visit the legendary Matterhorn, a visit to The Omnia in Switzerland offers the perfect opportunity, as its 30 rooms offer panoramic views. Devotees of wellness and healthy living will be spoiled with choices at Bergland Hotel Sölden. Not only is the hotel perfectly placed for sports enthusiasts to explore Austria’s ski slopes, cycle routes, and hiking trails, but they also specialize in offbeat adventures.
Continue reading “Five Of The Best Alpine Getaways” »
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