|
On WOWtraveler.net This Month Mary Gostelow's Top 10 hotels and resorts with fabulous spa experiences. Also, read exclusively Insider ideas from WOWtraveler's global concierge Alistair Graham, WOWtraveler's online travel consultant Stacy Small, plus Indian specialist Mary-Anne Denison-Pender and luxury trend specialist Andrew Sacks. Here, in WOWtraveler Confidential, below, you will find RIYADH - CHANDLERS CROSS UK - BARCELONA - AMSTERDAM - CHARLESTON SC - LISBON - KANDY - REYKJAVIK - HONG KONG - ISTANBUL.
  | |
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
I had several lovely surprises this last month - in Riyadh, Chandlers Cross and high above Barcelona.
No, you are not likely to go to the capital of Saudi Arabia and, traveling as a single woman, I was extremely lucky to get a visa. Quick bullet-point impressions: lovely friendly people - putting on my customised abaya (long black gown) on arrival, keeping it on until I flew out - fabulous hotels staffed by all-male employees, of whom at least 20% must be local - amazing array of juices to compensate for no alcohol - male-only gyms and pools unless you have access to those in residential compounds. I stayed at Rosewood's Al-Faisaliah, the Leading hotel next to a sensational 267 meter-high triangle designed by Norman Foster. Set into this, like a ball at the top of a Christmas tree, is the three-floor geodesic Globe, with stunning dining. I also visited the only other highrise in town, the nearby 302 meter-high Kingdom Centre, designed like a giant bottle opener, complete with hole. The 30-48 floors here are the Four Seasons Riyadh.
|
  | |
Chandlers Cross, UK
The Grove, a lovely surprise this last month.
You are a hundred times more likely, I admit, to visit The Grove, a Leading resort 20 minutes' drive from London's Heathrow airport. Here you have the stately home built for an 18th century Earl of Clarendon and its 300 acres of land, including Kyle Phillips golf, an ESPA with 22 metres indoor pool and an 11-station vitality pool. There are also 227 rooms - you choose between high-modern in the new wings or the 16 character suites, with working wood fires, in the original mansion (I loved the sexy four poster in suite 25). It is doing great business, including successful-20s seemingly spending their own money, and business groups spending others'.The Grove, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
|
 | |
Barcelona, Spain
Gran Hotel la Florida, and David Stein has joined the advisory board of WOWtraveler.net, this last month.
I would also spend my own money at Gran Hotel la Florida, a Leading Small hotel right next to the church at the top of Tibidabo mountain, 300 meters above Mediterranean-set city of Barcelona. From the terrace of suite 601, I was able to look far down, picking out Gaudi's Sagrada Familia on the way to the ocean. All this seemed like another world, and yet it is only 20 minutes by car - traffic permitting. Frankly I loved the hotel so much that if I had been weekending here I would have stayed put, and left touristy things for another visit (although they do offer an eight-hour tour of Gaudi sites in town).
Well, take suite 601, which in addition to that terrace, with hot tub that would be much used in summer, has stunning interiors by Rebecca Horn. Windows, with wood frames that allow scenic views down to the city, are set in putty-colored walls. I had a muted crimson unit holding the plasma television, between large bed and cream sofa. A large bathroom is completely marbled in dark green, with a 3 x 3-meter shower area with non-slip floor that turns to matching marble when wet. A cream egg-shape tub sat by one of the windows. Different designers are used throughout the 74-room hotel (the legendary Dale Keller has done a Japanese suite). In the stairwell around which an Art Nouveau wood staircase winds is a 27-meter tall optic light sculpture. In an outside atrium, there is a 27-meter tall metal spiral down which water trickles (both these are by Ben Jakober). What else is WOW, here? One of the biggest cheers goes to the heated pool, made of Danish stainless steel. All of 42 meters long, it starts inside, where one side wall has back-projected optic art that changes as you walk past, to outside, where it forms an infinity pool looking down that mountain... Oh yes, there is a four-room Kanebo spa with ice fountain and black slate hammam, and a Technogym, and the L'Orangerie restaurant with 21 giant Italian hand-painted fans on its ceiling (consultant is Gérard Ferry from its namesake L'Orangerie in Los Angeles). And there are stacks of today's newspapers, from around Europe, in the main lobby, which has working fireplaces and books to read. You can borrow mountain bikes, or, as I said, just stay put. I so loved it here I had to ask owner David Stein what inspired him to revive a six-floor hotel that had first opened in 1925 (later being used as a hospital during the Spanish Civil War and then deserted for several years before he reopened as a splendid Stein Group hotel in 2003)? Isn't it the perfect urban resort? replied this American entrepreneur, who, among other exploits, developed the Monarch Bay area in California, who still heads the Robert F Kennedy Foundation in Washington DC, and believes only in the best. I am thrilled to announce, incidentally, that David Stein has joined the advisory board of WOWtraveler.net.Gran Hotel La Florida, Barcelona, Spain
See other hotels in Barcelona (13)
|
 | |
Amsterdam, Holland
The Stein Group soon opens a second hotel in Amsterdam. It already has Dylan (until recently known as Blake's), on the site of a wood theater built in 1612. Now it will soon open the 40-room The College Hotel, a conversion of an 1895 school building, and what was the gym will be the restaurant. As well as its own-managed hotels, the Stein Group runs Luxury Lifestyles, a high glossy paper magazine covering best-of-the-best.
|
 | |
Charleston, SC, USA
Charleston Place, a WOW Hotel:
In Charleston, South Carolina, Charleston Place is running Gone with the Wind sweetheart packages. This includes a gourmet picnic set with linens and fine silver at one of the city's top ten most romantic rendezvous spots, as chosen by local celebrities. Staying at this Orient-Express hotel, I would opt for a room handy for the Club lounge on the 8th floor. I would also ask General Manager Paul Stracey if I could borrow an Inspired Artist Kit (a portable easel, paper and charcoal) to make lasting memories.
|
 | |
Lisbon, Portugal
There are some frequent cruisers who really like repositioning voyages, those that go, say, east across the Atlantic in spring, and back again in the Fall. You obviously have more days at sea on such an itinerary. Seabourn Pride is repositioning on its Passage to Portugal cruise, leaving Fort Lauderdale on March 15th and arriving in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, 12 days later.
|
 | |
Kandy, Sri Lanka
For a really unusual vacation, consider Ceylon Tea Trails, staying in one-floor bungalows high in the hills near Kandy. All the bungalows, which are managed by Malik Fernando, were formerly homes of plantation managers working for the Fernando family's quality company Dilmah Tea. All meals are included, as are tours of the working tea estates. Tientsin bungalow has six suites, and offers tennis and a spa specialising in tea wraps and massages (best suite here is the Irwin Stewart). Norwood bungalow, where Hazel suite is the favorite, has an outdoor pool, croquet lawn and a library. Castlereagh, where Tate and Palmer suites have best lake views, has pool and croquet. Summerville, where I would choose the Shuttleworth suite, has private sunbathing. All bungalows have access to golf and trekking.
|
 | |
Reykjavik, Iceland
Talking of trekking, Toronto-based Butterfield & Robinson plans eight-day treks in Iceland between June and August this year. Meeting up in Reykjavik, you take in the crater of the Hverfjall volcano, Lake Myvatn, glacial lagoons, Skaftafell National park, Snaefellsnes Peninsula and the Blue Lagoon geyser lake, finishing at the art-filled - if idiosyncratic - Hotel Holt. My own memories of Iceland include swimming in that steaming hot Blue Lagoon, snow all around, and drinking Scotch with ice hewn from millennia-old glaciers.
|
 | |
Hong Kong, China
The Peninsula Hong Kong, a WOW Hotel
If you are in Hong Kong before March 15th, every evening at 6:15pm The Peninsula is chartering The Star Ferry's double-deck veteran Shining Star ferry for a 45-minute sightseeing cruise around Victoria Harbour. The evening also includes the Peninsula's own-label champagne, and a three-course set dinner with Peninsula wine in the lobby. (It is most convenient, of course, if you are actually staying there - my favorites are the corner suites in the - 15 series, high as possible for great views across to the Island).The Peninsula Hong Kong, Hong Kong, S.A.R., China
See other hotels in Hong Kong, S.A.R. (10)
|
 | |
Istanbul, Turkey
If you ever thought Turkey was expensive - it is no longer! As of January 1st, forget the millions. Instead of a glass of wine costing 10,000,000 it is now merely 10 YTL (yeni, which means new, Turkish lire). Old notes can be used through the end of this year.
|
 | |
On WOWtraveler.net Next Month
February 2005 Edition Mary Gostelow's Top 10 Places to
Pop the Question
WOW Insiders:
- Mark Murphy, publisher of WOWtraveler's partner trade magazines Modern Agent and Agent at Home
- Bernie Jenneskens, Moscow-based travel consultant
- Gerhard Petrowitsch, publisher of eHotelier.com information service
- Rudi Steele, Dallas-based travel professional
Regards from Mary:
Happy & Healthy New Year Everyone!
| |
| | | | Sign up for the Free WOW Confidential Newsletter |  |
Advertisement | |
BACK
