My delight during a recent stay at the exquisite, and I use that adjective in the rarest of cases, Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur, India, was made all the greater when the bar staff... Read More
Parsley and pumpkin seed milkshakes are just one of Emma's surprising specialties at Zamzam Riad, luxury hotel and spa in Marrakesh. The Ugandan-born mother of one swears by the benefits of the drink, and if the effects on you are equal to what they seem to be... Read More
Even if you haven’t booked a room, there are ways to enjoy the five-star treatment at Florence’s finest hotels. Lunch and cocktails are two easy entrées to the luxury experience. Last spring the city’s longstanding landmark Grand Hotel was completely renovated and re-opened as the St. Regis Florence, further extending the legendary brand’s presence in Italy to accompany the St. Regis Rome.... Read More
A five-star hotel is no longer fit for a king when visiting Paris, bien sûr! In France, they have one-up on the hotel ratings called the Palace Distinction. It is earned after achieving the five star requirements, and then some. Le Meurice Hotel in Paris was the first to achieve the discerning distinction, although this emblematic avant-garde Parisian hotel seduced me in other ways.... Read More
What is more elegant than a convent that has been restored to contemporary beauty? The Sofitel Santa Clara Hotel's center courtyard was probably once a place for prostrating oneself on the stone floor in preparation for prayer or admission into the order, but it is now filled with palm trees, flowers, and... Read More
It may have just opened in 2008, but the five-star Four Seasons Hotel Firenze has much deeper ties to the history of the city of Florence. The opulent palace it occupies, Palazzo della Gherardesca, was the private residence of Florentine nobles, including a Pope, for five centuries before being transformed into a luxury hotel.... Read More
Finally some good news out of Greece, Amanresorts, the Singapore-based group behind several of the world’s top luxury hotels, has plans to open Amanzoe. This 38-suite resort will be located near Porto Heli on Greece's Peloponnese peninsula and is scheduled to open this summer. The group’s 25th property will be the third on the Mediterranean, joining Montenegro's Aman Sveti Stefan and Turkey's Amanruya. Amanresorts’ properties are known for their outstanding architecture, and the new addition to the portfolio, designed by renowned architect Ed Tuttle, is no exception. A luxurious Aman Spa incorporating Greek beauty rituals and local ingredients is being unveiled... Read More
The legendary Luxury Collection has two five-star properties in Spain that are getting major makeovers this spring: the Hotel Alfonso XIII (below) in Seville and the Hotel Maria Cristina (above) in San Sebastian. Ernest Hemingway, Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy and Sofia Loren were regulars at the Alfonso XIII, while the Maria Cristina played host to the likes of Coco Chanel, Bette Davis, Gregory Peck, Elizabeth Taylor, Lauren Bacall and more.... Read More
Perched high above the bright lights and over-the-top decadence of the Las Vegas strip, SKYLOFTS is a private sanctuary that has reached an unsurpassed level of refinement. Located atop MGM Grand, SKYLOFTS is an award-winning boutique hotel equipped to meet the demands of even the most discerning Las Vegas traveler.... Read More
When traveling to Scotland in style bon vivants make a beeline for the stately Balmoral Hotel, which has presided over Edinburgh with its noble clock tower since 1902.... Read More
Spa enthusiasts, slip off those shoes, throw on your plush white robe, close your eyes and unwind, you’re home. Bliss® Spa, inside the W Atlanta – Downtown, has Atlantans buzzing about its luxury services housed in the blue and white tones throughout the salon.... Read More
