In the centre of the Eixample district, the former Vedruna palace, dating from the 19th century, is today home to the Claris hotel, one of the most beautiful hotels in this capital of Catalonia. It is ideally situated a few paces from the Passeig de Gracia, the longest and most luxurious avenue in Barcelona, and in the city’s liveliest district. The hotel is a gem of refinement, come from another…
Set in the heart of Paris, a few steps away from the Arc de Triomphe and a stone’s throw from the Champs-Elysées with its luxury boutiques and museums, the Maison Albar Hotels – Le Champs-Elysées is justly proud of its many advantages. Behind the magnificent Haussmann-Imperial facade of this 5-star boutique hotel is a world of luxury and refinement, where peace and a dash of mystery are blended with sensory…
In Rue Mayran, in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, the Hôtel Maison Mère is a unique establishment where lovers of the capital will find that “home away from home” feel that is so much in vogue, in an ambience that is both luxurious and fashionable. It’s a haven in the centre of Paris, a stone’s throw from the bustle of the Rue Lafayette. The decor in the hotel, which is…
La Maison Favart is one of the oldest and one of the most romantic hotels in Paris. It is located just by the great opera house, the Palais Garnier, in the very lively Opéra district. Its warm, and really so romantic, ambience transports us to the heart of 18th century elegance, reinterpreted by the standards of the 21st. When I entered the doors of the Maison Favart, I knew at…
Amongst the hotels I’ve had the opportunity, and the good luck, to stay at, I retain a particular fondness for the Walton Hotels Galata. This building, nearly a hundred years old, is located in the heart of the historic Galata district. A superb renovation in very contemporary taste does not at all detract from its historic charm; quite the reverse, in fact. If you prefer boutique hotels to the major…
Amongst the sumptuous hotels I’ve had the good fortune to stay in is the InterContinental of Ljubljana. It was in 2017 that the group opened the first five-star hotel in the Slovenian capital. Its glass front sparkles in the heart of a shopping district that is ideal for browsing. The hotel is located a few minutes on foot from the railway and coach station, and from the iconic sites of…
In the heart of Uçhisar, one of the loveliest villages in Cappadocia, the Taşkonaklar hotel is an exceptional establishment, far from noise and bustle. The hotel provides luxurious, welcoming accommodation. Here, the power of nature and the hand of man have combined to create sublime architecture that goes beyond the limits of imagination. The modern layout of the hotel’s bedrooms and reception rooms are the end-point of meticulous restoration of…
In September I went to Bozcaada. This delightful island in the northern Aegean is the favourite destination for Istanbul residents when they have a yen to embrace peace and nature. It is still (to some extent) a refuge from mass tourism. Traditionally, fishing and looking after the very ancient vineyards that cover the hills are the main activities. I had been dreaming for a long time of staying somewhere that…
It is in the prestigious village of Türkbükü, beside the Aegean Sea, that the Divan group has placed its jewel. The site alone is worth the journey, but you will marvel even more when you step through the hotel entrance. The planting has been superbly managed, with blocks of bougainvillea that highlight low walls and facades; and the staff are impeccably dressed in white, in the style of the Turkish…
You will find the Swissôtel Resort Bodrum Beach at the heart of the delightful seaside resort of Türgütreis, on the edge of the blue waters of the Aegean Sea. Here all is refinement and peace. In the reception area, where white is the dominant shade, an immense bay window frames palm trees and the sea, at the end of the avenue to the beach. In the large rooms filled with…