HotelChatter - Tag: Italy Hotels

Best Western's European Deal is Good But Not Great

juliab — 2009-11-16T10:25:46-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/21888/mondial.jpg" class="top"> Winter citybreaks in Europe are our absolute favourite type of shopping-and-culture trips. Hotels are cheap, flights are half empty, the monuments are queue-free and the shops are full of Christmas cheer. Plus, eating loads is obligatory to stave off the demon cold. So <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Best%20Western%20Hotels">Best Westerns</a> Two Day Promotion really tickled our fancy. The deal is this: 400 BW hotels in Europe and Egypt are offering rates starting at a peasly (for Europe) 49 (£43/$72) up to 79 (£70/$118) over December, January and February (most have backout days around Christmas and New Year, but other than that you have pretty much a free run at it check the website for individual hotel details). To secure the

Cernobbio, Lombardy: This Week In Hotel Lust: Villa D'Este, Lake Como

Heidi Atwal — 2009-11-06T15:10:03-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/32083/villadeeste.jpg" class="top"> Views of the lake and villa If <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bernanke-declares-the-recession-over-2009-09-15">comments</a> made in recent months by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke are to be believed, then "the recession is very likely over." Most of us continue to scoff in disbelief, and inversely, there are others that may have missed the memo that the economy was in upheaval at all. We're talking about the well-monied types that have continued to swipe their Black AmEx cards with reckless abandonon Michelin-rated dinners, sports cars, and certainly pricey vacations and hotel suites. Even for those of us sans trust funds or Swiss bank accounts, reading about what's luxe in the hotel world proves to be endlessly entertaining. It could inspire fantasies about staying

Florence: The Westin Excelsior in Florence Unveils New Rooftop Terrace With Killer Views

Jennifer Kester — 2009-08-26T09:09:41-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/sestoview.jpg" class="top"> <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Westin+Excelsior%2C+Florence/ian/141203">The Westin Excelsior, Florence</a> used to attract a who's-who of the film industry to its Roof Garden, the top-floor terrace, with such VIPs like Franco Zeffirelli, Sophia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida, Orson Welles, Leonard Bernstein, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. But it's been a while since some of those folks have stopped by. (Yes, we know a few of them are no longer alive.) But the hotel is now looking to reclaim its glamorous glory by reopening the rooftop terrace with the (awkward) new moniker SE.STO on Arno in late September. After a $4 million renovation, the rooftop is reopening as a bar, restaurant and lounge. A curved, upholstered wall marks the entrance to the bar and

Venice: Fairy-Tale Destination, Fairy-Tale Deal for Italian Getaway

Heidi Atwal — 2009-08-20T13:32:11-05:00

It's no one-cent weekend, but this travel package, which includes stays in both Tuscany and Venice, is one of the most reasonable, all-inclusive deals we've seen in a while. We concede that the base price of $799 (airfare included) is slightly unbelievable—and, if you get into the nitty-gritty fine print, it truly is, depending on where you're flying from and when you travel. Yet it's still a solid deal, and there are ways to stay within a bargain basement range if you're willing to be a little flexible (and isn't that the caveat of similar deals, anyway?).

Porto Cervo: Craig David and Donna Summer Bring 'Hot Stuff' To Cala di Volpe

juliab — 2009-06-30T11:10:20-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/21888/caladivolpe.jpg" class="top"> Be still, our beating hearts. You know how Craig Davids been off the scene for what seems like eons? Well hes coming back in style by hitting Sardinia to sing his little heart out this summer. Not just him, either; the posh <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Lc+Hotel+Cala+Di+Volpe/ian/141201">Hotel Cala di Volpe</a> on the Costa Smeralda is also throwing a concert with Donna Summer on July 25 (Craigs is on August 13, by the way). It sounds like a pretty fly setting: around the biggest outdoor seawater pool in Europe, overlooking the sea itself. Starwood, who own the hotel, is calling the summer series a soundtrack exuding dynamic energy and cool. Sounds like hot stuff ; were telling ourselves we were