Browsing Category

Hotels

Americas Hotels Travels

Woke Up In The City That Never Sleeps.

Situated in the brink of the Upper East Side, The Plaza Hotel stands tall and brimming in its newly restored 19th century Beaux-Arts architecture. A Landmark and one of the world’s most iconic hotels, it has been famously said that “Nothing unimportant ever happens at The Plaza”. Particularly so, it’s bars have historically been the scene were deals were struck and history was made!

Coming to show how cocktail culture is about so much more than just drinks. To celebrate this prestigious element unique to the hotel, their best mixologists and bartenders (which have presided over these storied bars) have come together to create a new level of quality and craftsmanship in their “Classics. Perfected” launching this June!

Having started off the night at The Plaza’s Rose Club overlooking the hotel’s mesmerizing Fifth Ave Lobby , we were taken on a cocktail crawl through New York’s best cocktail bars to be inspired tasting and learning about the best of the best in the cocktail industry!

The resting four champion cocktail bars were Death & Company, Dante, Mace and Maison Premiere! All of them fantastic, I however must admit that my favourite was Mason Premiere because it transports you back to a New York Speakeasy in the 1920’s. Exquisite drinks, exciting ambiance, intricate details and a culturally enriching experience, four things I love!

Gastronomy is a work of art at The Plaza: Surrounded by the lushest greenery, the Palm Court offers timeless elegance serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner under the stunning stained-glass dome reminiscent of the original built in 1907. If you are visiting for brunch, I would suggest you try the brioche french toast if you have a sweet tooth, but my favourite I have to say was definitely The Plaza Eggs Benedict.

Europe Hotels Travels

An enchanted stay on the left bank: Hotel Lutetia


Located on the ‘Rive Gauche’ (left bank of the city) known as being the cradle of the french culture and literature the historical Hotel Lutetia has reborn in a brand new style maintaining at the same time all his iconic values.

The hotel was built by the founder of the famous department store ‘Le Bon Marché’, for their clientele coming to the capital and has welcomed guests like Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Pablo Picasso and Charles DeGaulle and many more (learn more about the history here: Hotel Lutetia ).

Hotel Lutetia has been closed for 4 years for a big renovation that reduced the number of the room and made them bigger.

Inside the rooms you can find art-deco chandeliers and bathroom entirely made of white marble, a perfectly mix between contemporary and history.

© Hotel Lutetia
  • © Hotel Lutetia
  • © Hotel Lutetia

Gastronomy is an excellence at Hotel Lutetia: Le Saint Germain offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner under a colourful glass roof reflected on each table.

In addition it offers a unique atmosphere with live music.

    The basement now has a pool and spa, filtering the natural light coming from outside.

    The Spa Akasha is a real “parenthèse enchantée” in the middle of the city, and it’s ideal to relax after (of before) a full day exploring the city. 

    • © Hotel Lutetia
      Europe Hotels Travels

      Woke up with the city of dreams at your feet: Hotel Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile

      When I first think about Paris dreamy views are the first thing that come up to my mind.

      And sleeping overlooking all the city is really possible if you are staying at the Hyatt Regency Étoile. The hotel is the only skyscraper hotel in Paris, offering breathtaking views over the city and its most famous monuments, from the Eiffel Tower to the Arc de Triomphe.

      Every window of each room seems a painting, but a real one, with the Eiffel Tower dominating all the landscape.

      The hotel is located at Porte Maillot and it offers 1000 rooms. It is pretty well linked with all the main spots of the city by 15/20 mins of metro.

      The Hyatt Etoile has been recently renovated, and after 2 years of works now every single detail is brand new.

      Couldn’t even explain you how it feels coming back to the hotel and once you open the door having this incredible view in front of you.

      If you’re not staying at the hotel or to start in the best way your Parisian night, the WINDO Bar is located on the 34th floor of the building and it offers delicious cocktails and a breathtaking view over the city. 

      The best time to enjoy your cockail in my opinion is during the “blue hour” just after the sunset and before the night arrives so you will see the Eiffel Towel brighten up the sky of the french capital.

      Asia Europe Hotels Travels

      Kempinski Hotel The Dome, Belek

       

      Kempinski Hotel The Dome, Belek

       

      Hello from Turkey! From Belek exactly. Do you know where is it?

      Belek is located on the coast half an hour by car from Antalya.

      And during my road trip to Turkey I’ve decided to take a break and relax a little bit (I’m always rushing while traveling) and I spent two amazing days in this little (big) paradise.

      The Kempiski The Dome Belek is located 30 km from Antalya.

      We were welcome with some typical Turkish tea, under the big colorful dome of the hotel.

      Our room had a view over the pool and the sea, with a small private balcony to relax after a loong day walking on the beach is spent by the pool.

      This area of Turkey is actually very hot, especially during the summer, but there are plenty of opportunities to refresh yourself in the structure: a big pool, a bath in the sea, a luxurious spa.. but there’s also my fave place where I used to chill during the day: the pool bar.

      The hotel offer during your stay the typical ‘all included’ formula, this means that breakfast, lunch and dinner are actually included in the room rate in the Lale Restaurant.

      But to satisfy all the desires there are 2 more restaurants where you can book lunch or dinner: the Palm Pavilion Restaurant & Grill is located close to the sea, here you can enjoy your lunch al fresco, or your romantic dinner with a view, while the Cilantro Restaurant is serving the finest regional Italian recipes.

      On the beach you can find some cabanas where to spend the day or a pier located by the sea, with a bar serving cocktails and refreshing drinks all day long. The perfect place where to sip your drink overlooking the beautiful sea in front of you.

      Around 8pm 0’clock we experienced a sunsets that took our breath away, and right after this we had a sunset dinner by the beach, can’t stop thinking about it, the setting was just unreal.

      Oh and if you are a golf fan, or a golf player you have the rare privilege of a direct access to the golf court. The Antalya Golf Club is actually located at just 10 mins from the structure.

      Europe Hotels

      Where to stay in Paris: Hotel Bourg Tibourg

      The Hotel Bourg Tibourg is located in the fashionable Marais district, very close to the best banks of Seine – Ile de la Cité and St Louis.

      The thing I enjoyed the most is the mix between the colors, perfumes, lights  and music, that makes the atmosphere really romantic and magical.

      The bold colours and oriental design motifs are mixed with neo-gothic décor, and perfectly combined with pieces of antique furniture. The decor of the hotel also lends itself to the cosy neo-gothic oriental feeling of a home from home.

      From the main floor, closed to the hall, you can have access to a cute courtyard full of plants and a small fountain, the perfect place where to relax in the middle of the french capital.

      The bedroom has the typical “parisian charm”, meticulously curated in all the details. I had the opportunity to stay in a room located on the last floor of the building with a small balcony overlooking “le toits de Paris”.

      The breakfast is generally served in “a salon”, but I asked for the room service to taste it on my private balcony, amazing right?

       

      Europe Hotels Travels

      Where to Stay in Seville: Corral del Rey

      Corral del Rey is a boutique hotel located in the center of Seville just 3 minutes walking from the Cathedral.

      This boutique hotel is perfect to explore the city.

      The structure is made up by three different buildings: the main one has a beautiful terrace with the view over la Giralda and the cathedral, where you can request your  breakfast or your tapas dinner enjoying the view. And there is a small pool too, just in case you want to refresh a little bit.

      All the rooms are typical and unique and each one is different from the others.

      All the structure is decorated with a wooden roof, colorful cushions and there are always some fresh flowers that will wait for you.

      The thing I loved the most was the view from the room directly to the street of the city, I really felt part of it.

      Europe Hotels Travels

      Where to stay in Seville: Palacio Villapanes

      Palacio Villapanes is a five stars hotel part of Small Luxury Hotels of the world.

      Where modern meets tradition: the location is just awesome, an the building it’s an old palace of the 18th century that was transformed in a hotel.

      My favorite parts are the courtyard, pretty unique with a little tropical forest, and the terrace, with a breathtaking view over Seville.

      In summer the weather is perfect to enjoy the pool and sunbathing on the ‘top’ of the city, but in all the other periods you can still enjoy some drinks with the view.

      And for all those who wanted to take some free time and a little bit of relax there’s a spa too, to be cuddled a little bit.

       

       

      Europe Hotels

      Where to stay in London: The Kensington

      Last week it was the birthday of one of my team member and I decided to do her a surprise. The first thing I had to plan was making sure that she would believe that I was coming to London during a different week, and that part of the plan was successful from the start. Then I started to plan what to do during her birthday since I was looking for something unique and magical. After looking on Google for a while I found a majestic hotel called The Kensington and I immediately knew that it was the perfect place where to spend a perfect night.

      The Kensington is a five star hotel located, obviously, in the middle of Kensington. If you are a bit familiar with London, you already probably know that Kensington is one of the prettiest and luxurious neighborhood in the town and it’s also very close to Knightsbridge (Harrods anyone?).

      After a long day of wandering in London, it was easy to reach the hotel since it’s very close to the South Kensington Station (Piccadilly, Circle and District Line) and as soon as we got there, their amazing staff welcomed us in the best way possible. It was also very nice knowing that some of their staff is Italian since, as you may know, I’m Italian as well. We were also very lucky to come during November since the hotel was already full of Christmas decoration. You guys, you have no idea how magical was to just walk in into their amazing entrance it felt like I was at home the day before Christmas.

      After checking in we moved to our room which was incredibly amazing! The first thing that I noticed was the size of the room which was very big since London is also famous for hotels offering very small rooms. I still speechless about the bathroom, which was so luxurious and enormous and featured an amazingly designed bathtub.

      After a long bubbly bathtub it was time to go to dinner to their Town House restaurant and I could not contain my excitement. The dinner setting was so intimate and cozy, but the food is what made a difference. Everything in the menu seemed so delicious so it was really hard to choose, but the Maître was extremely helpful and we ended up eating one of the best dinner of our lives. Right next to the restaurant they also have the prettiest and most elegant bar ever, which is also open 24h (crazy right?!).

      The next morning, we woke up with the sound of knocking on our door which was announcing that our breakfast was here. Pancakes, açai bowl, croissant and one of the best avocado toast I ever tried made our waking up less painful since, honestly, who would have ever leave that extremely comfy bed?!

      After the delicious breakfast sadly it was time to leave, but the staff took care of us until we took the last step outside the hotel. What was left to do was visiting the city for one last day knowing that I manage to do the perfect surprise.

       

      I was welcomed by The Kensington as a guest but as always opinions are my own.