Tag: Africa Hotels
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Rumors Confirmed: Viceroy Cape Verde Is Coming
The beachy-cool Cape Verde region will see a Viceroy in 2017
A short while ago we mentioned a rumor that the Viceroy Hotel Group would be opening a resort in the Sambala region of Cape Verde, an island group off Africa's west coast.
At the time, when we asked VHG CEO Bill Walshe to confirm the tip, he was a bit coy, and wouldn't give a solid yes or no.
Well, that changed yesterday when we received official news that the Viceroy Cape Verde will open in 2017 on Santiago Island, in an area minutes from capital city, Praia. The plan is for a 150-room beachfront resort spread out over 12 square-kilometers, with three restaurants, a children’s club and a state-of-the-art water sports center.
The sports center is quite important as the island offers awesome scuba diving, big-game fishing, paragliding, and other water-focused activities. The interior mountain area is a birdwatchers paradise, thanks to the verdant forestry.
While 2017 seems to be lifetime away, it's uncanny how quickly construction can progress, so we're looking forward to seeing first renderings in the not-to-distant future.
[Photo: ArchipelagoCapeVerde.com]
Hotel Openings / Hotel News / Safari Hotels / Africa Hotels / Tanzania Hotels / → All Tags
Whoa! There's A Camp More Expensive Than The New Four Seasons Serengeti
Where: Lamai Triangle, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
The opening of the behemoth 77-room Four Seasons Serengeti dominated the African safari headlines yesterday, with much of the talk surrounding its three restaurants, wine bar, spa, fitness center, and outdoor infinity pool overlooking the wilderness.
The price? Expedia shows rooms for two starting at about $1,200 a night. When you add in the cost of the food and a few select African wines, you're probably looking at around $1,500 a night.
Albeit more quietly, the smaller six-tent Singita Mara River Tent Camp also recently opened for business in the Lamai Triangle, a six-tent East African safari camp run entirely on solar power. The cost of a night there? $1,200 per person. The rate is all-inclusive, but that still leaves a couple paying $2,400 a night. Now that's a lot of cash.
Hotel Crime / Hotel Woes / Africa Hotels / → All Tags
Next Time You're In Africa, Just Pay Your Hotel Bills
We have learned the lessons from Lindsay Lohan not paying hotel bills, but apparently some guys in Africa didn't get wind of the news.
A Central African Republic man decided that he would rack up about $15,000 worth of nights, meals and services at the Ledger Plaza and then do a runner, not paying his bill. Eventually, the man was questioned alongside the hotel manager —weird— and the police decided to lock up the hotel guest. The twist to the story is that the man is named Kevin Bozize and if you know anything about politics in Africa, you may know that his father is Francois Bozize, the President of CAR. The president didn't do any pardons here as he was the man that ordered his own son to head into lock up.
This comes on the heels of another man in Mozambique who has been locked up for 3 months after not stopping by reception at check-out. The South African man has not been formally charged, but is still detained for sneaking out on a bill that totaled around $611. Not huge numbers, but either way, it's not cool to stiff a hotel after you've taken advantage of their turn-down service.
Morocco Hotels / Marrakech Hotels / Boutique Hotels / Hotel Reviews / Africa Hotels / → All Tags
At Marrakech's Dar Ayniwen, Snag a Suite With a Private Terrace If You Can
Our series on Marrakech concludes with the grandest suite we saw during our four day jaunt to the Moroccan city.
Dar Ayniwen, like Jnane Tamsna, is located in La Palmeraie, providing a sea change in terms of environment when compared to the Medina. The estate-turned-hotel that doesn't shy away from pomp and circumstance: stately excess best describes its decor, from the textured Berber rugs layered and peppered throughout its interior, to walls plastered with vintage travel posters, to the plush gardens surrounding it, with a variety of bird species chirping a natural soundtrack for the villa.
Morocco Hotels / Marrakech Hotels / Boutique Hotels / Hotel Reviews / Africa Hotels / → All Tags
Organic Eating and Sunlit Garden Strolls at Marrakech's Jnane Tamsna
Removed from the frantic climes of Marrakech's Medina, Jnane Tamsna is located in the city's Palmeraie district, tucked away from other sizeable resorts in the area. We planned an afternoon sojourn to the grounds after learning about on-site cookery classes featuring staples of Moroccan cuisine. Fans of former Gourmet Editor-in-Chief Ruth Reichl may remember Jnane Tamsna's house chef, Bahija, featured on an episode of Adventures With Ruth.
Morocco Hotels / Marrakech Hotels / Boutique Hotels / Hotel Reviews / Africa Hotels / Hotel Service / → All Tags
Pancakes, a Fez and Babouche Slippers Took the (Birthday) Cake at Riad Joya
Yesterday we teased today's full review of Riad Joya, a boutique hotel planted squarely in the middle of Marrakech's Medina, the most ancient part of the city. Having made the claim that Joya provided us with the best service ever experienced, it's only fitting that we elaborate on such a bold statement.
Morocco Hotels / Marrakech Hotels / Boutique Hotels / Hotel Reviews / Africa Hotels / → All Tags
Why Hotels Should Take a Cue From Marrakech's Riad Joya
Mint tea and fresh Moroccan pastries: now that's a check-in greeting
Though London's winter has been comparatively mild to previous chillblain-inducing, blustering holiday seasons of years prior, us local Hotel Chatter-ers found ourselves craving a mid-season warm weather getaway nonetheless. Marrakech, Morocco won out over other similarly balmy cities for its proximity to the U.K. capital (it's just a three hour flight away) and the promise of tangines peppered with Ras el Hanout and preserved lemons.
Glamping / Tanzania Hotels / Africa Hotels / → All Tags
Only While Glamping Can You See Lions and Get Spa Treatments
If you've always wanted to go on an African safari, but aren't really that into roughing it, the Bilila Lodge Kempinski in Tanzania can help you out with a three-night glamping package that will let you see the animals in the Serengeti and get pampered at the same time.
As part of the Beauty and the Beast package, you get to stay in a room—no tents here—overlooking the plains of the national park, giving you a chance to observe the wildlife from your sun deck. Your days will be spent out in the bush, alongside veteran guides on game drives in search of the elusive Big Five—lions, leopards, rhinos, buffaloes and elephants—or floating overhead in a hot air balloon.
Celebrity Scoop / Madonna / Africa Hotels / Bad Celebrity Behavior / → All Tags
Madonna Uses a Malawi Hotel to Store Her Gym Equipment
Madonna is now facing criticism for squandering money while she neglected to pay up the millions she pledged to Malawi, the homeland of her adopted children, David and Mercy James.
The money was supposed to fund schools, orphanages and hospitals, but Madge has been instead using her loot to store gym equipment in a hotel in the African country.
According to Daily Mail, the Material Girl's staff had to book two rooms in Malawi's most upscale hotel to store all of her fitness equipment for three years, just in case she ever returned to the country.
Glamping / HotelChatter Guides / Africa Hotels / Safari Hotels / → All Tags
Places to Get Your Glamp On: Sanctuary Zebra Plains Walking Safari Camp, Zambia
Where: South Luangwa, Zambia
Last year, we told you about the hottest (and hautest) new trend in travel: glamping. That’s right, glamorous camping- that most ridiculous, and ridiculously awesome, of adventures that let travelers experience the glories of nature in five-star luxury settings (and sometimes with Campfire Butlers).
This week, we’re going to give you a little glamping update, as HotelChatter contributor Eric Rosen tells us about some of the most exciting new experiences out there. So pack your limited edition hiking boots and your diamond-infused sunscreen, because we’re going glamping!
Let's start our global perambulation in the birthplace of both mankind and the luxury camping trend itself - Africa - and the newest adventure from one of our favorite safari outfitters, Sanctuary Retreats. On June 1, they're opening Sanctuary Zebra Plains Walking Safari Camp, a first-of-its-kind walking safari in the pristine wilderness of South Luangwa, Zambia. Guests will spend their days doing things like wandering along riverbanks, observing elephants at their toilette, and then canoeing over to an island where they’ll get to spy on game such as buffalo, zebras and hippos, before returning for sunset cocktails, canapés and then dinner on the Luangwa River. It's designed to be part of a larger safari experience, with a recommended three day stay. Here's the lowdown.
Glamping / HotelChatter Guides / Africa Hotels / Movie Set Hotels / → All Tags
HotelChatter's Guide to Glamping: Out of Africa-Style
Let’s be honest, we’re not outdoorsy people here at HotelChatter; we spend all day at our computers dorking out about hotel properties around the world.
The only way you’ll get us into a tent (apart from one that morphs into a jacket) is if it has WiFi, a deep soaking tub, chilled champagne, and, okay, maybe a few artfully arranged animal prints. Lucky for us, these sorts of luxury tent digs actually do exist, thanks to the "Glamping" trend. Yes, Glamping--glamorous camping.
All this week, we’ll be trekking across the globe on a trendspotting tour of the more intriguing properties we’ve come across where those in the know will be "roughing it," starting with Africa.
However, we must warn you that our version of glamping is far more toned-down that fashion designer's Dsquared. There will be no see-through rain coats with hot-pink piping here or ballgowns paired with fishermen hats. Of course, you could always pack them in your suitcase if you like.
Hotel News / NH Hotels / Cape Town Hotels / Africa Hotels / → All Tags
Striking BA Flight Attendants Party It Up at a Hotel's '19th Hole'
All publicity is good publicity, right? Erm, maybe not for the British Airways staff who were caught carousing in a posh Cape Town hotel just before they started their strike. No word on whether it was the same group who earned the airline the nickname British Bareways last month.
But this may be some good publicity for the hotel in question, the Lord Charles, outside of Cape Town in wine country, since the Telegraph had the mind to tell us that there are two swimming pools, “multiple sun decks and seven acres of manicured lawns should one opt for a midnight stroll” (presumably you can also stroll in the daytime).
The Lord Charles is an NH Hotel, and although we’re not always fans of their dodgy marketing emails, hotel-wise, they’re normally a pretty good, stylish chain choice.
