Tag: Hotel Pools
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Everything Takes a Bit Longer in Miami, Including the Opening of Element
If there's one thing that Miami and hotel openings have in common it's that they both make you wait longer than you'd like. Especially when you need to get permits from City officials to open your doors.
Which is all to say: we're not surprised that Element Miami is still a few weeks away and not already open as we thought it might be by now.
The hotel's website is saying Opening February 16--but taking reservations from March 1. A rep for Element tells us it's safe to say it will be open in 'late February.' And the earliest night we could find a room is March 11, for $159 a night.
Photo Gallery / HotelChatter Reviews / Shangri-La Hotels / Sweet Suites / Hotel Pools / Singapore Hotels / Luxury Hotels / → All Tags
Two Lobbies Fit for Hotel Geeks at the Shangri-La Singapore
Reception at the Tower Wing (left) and reception at the Valley Wing (right)
It's really a tale of two lobbies, the Shangri-La Singapore. There's the original, red and gold grand lobby of the Tower Wing, opened in the early 1970s. Then, there's the white marble and gold of the modern Valley Wing next door. While the Valley Wing has its exclusivity and free champagne and fancy breakfast in the Summit Room, the Tower Wing has that classic appeal plus many mega chandeliers and the many decades of afternoon tea enjoyed on the Rose Veranda.
Yes, you already know what major hotel geeks we are—heck, you are reading this on HotelChatter.com, but please let us stress the appeal of the main Shangri-La lobby to those who really appreciate these things. It's a proper grand dame lobby, but with the added intricacies of Asian feng shui and luck-influenced interior design.
Hotel Pools / Fairmont Hotels / Jasper Hotels / Canada Hotels / Ski Hotels / Hotel Snapshot / → All Tags
A Hotel Pool You Can Swim In When It's Below Zero
Many parts of the U.S. are having mild winters but that doesn't mean it's hotel pool weather everywhere. Up in the snowy mountains of Alberta, Canada, you can swim all winter long--even if it's minus 40 outside.
We were skeptical when we first spotted this outdoor pool at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge last week. It is heated, of course, but look at those mountains! And the snow surrounding the pool edge!
Lucky for us, it wasn't minus 40 as it has been recently in Jasper, but the temp was still hovering in the mid-30s. Of course, curiosity got the better of us and we dragged ourselves out of our snow boots and parka and into a swimsuit.
Miami Hotel Mambo / Guess The Hotel / Kimpton Hotels / Hotel Rebrandings / Hotel Design / Hotel Pools / → All Tags
A Look at The Kimpton Surfcomber's Beefed Up Decor and Pool Scene
How did you go with our last Guess The Hotel game? Did you identify the home of those cow statues by the pool as The Surfcomber? If not, you're dead wrong!
We took a peek at the new Kimpton-on-the-beach the other day, and found a spacious lobby with lots of designy quirks and an awesome pool deck with cabanas a-go-go and plenty of space to stretch out on regular ol' daybeds and outdoor beanbags in the sand, too.
According to a Kimpton press release,
Surfcomber’s new design-driven spaces marry the eclectic style of European Bohemia with a down home American front porch appeal. The design creates an inviting and comfortable atmosphere, with elements of surprise throughout. Combined with Kimpton’s warm and welcoming service, the hotel offers guests a retro, breezy atmosphere and a distinctive South Beach experience that is as cool as it is friendly, and as sexy as it is fun.
Guess The Hotel / Hotel Pools / → All Tags
Guess The Hotel With the Cows Peering Into the Pool
Yes, we know. Our last Guess The Hotel was a pool as well. But when we saw these cow statues peering down into the water as we strolled by this hotel pool, we couldn't resist putting you to the test yet again.
To help you figure out the home of these curious bovine, here are some clues.
· This hotel was recently renovated and reopened under a new brand umbrella.
· It's located in a sunny spot where you will rarely need an umbrella.
· The new brand home of this hotel likes pets, wine and free WiFi if you join their loyalty program.
· This is now the second hotel from said brand in this particular city--although the other one is not (ahem) by the beach like this one.
Miami Hotel Mambo / Hotel Pools / Hotel Renovations / → All Tags
The Pool is Now Open at Hotel Breakwater
Last year, Ocean Drive got a revamped Deco hotel with a SoBe scene vibe in Hotel Breakwater. Now, at last, the hotel has unveiled its pool, making it one of the few hotels on Ocean to have one--especially one facing the actual ocean across the street.
As you can see, it's not very big, but we do admire its modern look and simplicity. We imagine the beauty of taking a dip here has more to do with the hangover cure qualities of the water and the view than with anything as athletic as swimming laps.
Guess the Hotel / Conrad Hotels / Hong Kong Hotels / Hotel Pools / → All Tags
Peeping In On The Conrad Hong Kong
Yes, Jetsetcd, it was indeed the heated outdoor swimming pool at The Conrad that we spied on last month during our trip to Hong Kong.
The hotel is attached to Pacific Place, one of many luxury shopping malls in the city. It's also across the way (via an indoor walkway) from the Island Shangri-La Hotel, another traditional luxury hotel.
Since rooms go for about $573 a night here, we made do with peeping in on some of the other parts of the hotel. Sadly, we didn't get inside a room but you can always study those here.
Miami Hotel Mambo / Hotel Renovations / Hotel Pools / Hotel Restaurants / Historic Hotels / → All Tags
The National Hotel Miami is Getting a Little Work Done
** UPDATE: We hear from the National's PR reps that the Airstream is no longer part of the renovation plans. Sounds like the Preservation Board nixed those plans after all. But the backyard kitchen is getting a reno--with a new sundeck for daybeds on top--so that's something.
As you can see from our snapshot, Miami's National Hotel is getting a little top-work done. Perhaps in an effort to keep up with the Joneses--or, on this stretch of Collins Ave, with next-door neighbor Delano, the newly glammed-up Shelborne and the soon-to-open SLS South Beach?
As an historic property, the National has to adhere to restoration preservation guidelines and it's from the Miami Beach Preservation Board's minutes that we found out a little more about the spit-and-polish going on here.
Back in November, the National got approval for the partial demolition, renovation and restoration of the existing hotel-- including design modifications to the interiors and exteriors, construction of a new entrance canopy and construction of a new single-story building at the pool deck. That beachfront area out back will also get spruced up in the landscaping department, and it sounds like there will be additional roof deck space for guests to get their sun on.
Caribbean Hotels / Rosewood Hotels / Hotel Pools / Hotel Spas / BVI Hotels / → All Tags
If The Main Pool is Noisy, Head to the Spa at Little Dix Bay
Dreaming of lounging by a pool at a Caribbean resort this winter? We'd recommend the Rosewood Little Dix Bay, a British Virgin Islands resort with breezy cabins and no locks on the doors ("there are no keys in paradise!"). If you like luxury without pretense, this is your place.
But that whole "popular with families" thing? It almost ruined the poolside afternoon we planned for ourselves on a recent visit. As soon as we saw the large group of kids playing "Marco Polo" and splashing about, we knew we needed a Plan B.
And we found it--up the hill at Sense, a Rosewood Spa. But instead of a candle-lit relaxation room, this spa is open-air, set atop a cliff overlooking insanely blue ocean. There's a two-tier infinity pool and a little jacuzzi tucked away behind palm fronds.
Hotel Pools / Chicago Hotels / Swissotels / Killer View / → All Tags
The Swissotel Chicago's Hottub on High Has a Navy Pier View
Did you know? The Swissôtel Chicago is the only not just in the United States, but in North America? If you're not in the Windy City and want to stay at a Swissôtel somewhere in the Americas, then we're afraid your only other options are in Quito, Ecuador and Lima, Peru. Of course, Europe and Asia are just peppered with them, but we get the short end of the stick.
Today at that single Swissôtel in Chicago, a $10 million renovation of public spaces is beginning, which will completely revamp and modernize the lobby and cafe and introduce a whole new media room. We'll go further into depth with this tomorrow since we only just came out from behind the construction caution tape, but first a view that few rarely see: the vista from the hotel's hottub is Navy Pier.
You see, the hotel's pool and hottub sit higher than the rest of the fitness club, affording it enviable views on two sides of the triangular building. One way just happens to be the expanse of the lake, with Navy Pier at pride of place in the center. Since Swissôtel is all about hospitality in the Swiss tradition, and we know how much the Swiss love their spas, we wouldn't have expected anything less.
[Photo: HotelChatter]
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Inside and All Around the Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica
Less than an hour's drive from the little Liberia Airport near Costa Rica's west coast sits the exotic oasis of the Peninsula Papagayo. It is an exclusive area, mostly dedicated to upscale resorts, vacation condos and the pristine beaches they face. Alas, there's also an Arnold Palmer golf course in the middle of the action, owned and operated by the Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica.
What this means is the area is extraordinarily lush; just a drive down the hill to the entrance of the resort yielded us surprise spottings of white-faced monkeys, howler monkeys, a family of Coatis (omg baby Coatis!), and an iguana here and there. Once you've entered the lobby and checked in, however, the Four Seasons is a definite playground for more than just its natural environment.
Hotel Spas / San Diego Hotels / Hotel Services / Hotel Pools / → All Tags
The Outdoor Treatment Casita Makes All the Difference at the Spa at Rancho Bernardo Inn
When we last left off with the Rancho Bernardo Inn and Spa, we told you that we got out of the room (like they wanted) and headed down to the spa for a little R&R.
The Rancho Bernardo Inn (RBI as it's known to the local folks) is a sprawling resort where the lobby, reception, the Bizcocho restaurant and the Granada cafe are housed in one Spanish rancho-style building while the guestrooms are divided amongst several others. The Spa at Rancho Bernardo Inn, however, is set up a little differently.
Seated near the bottom of a hill below the guestrooms and overlooking the golf course, the spa entrance is housed in a casita overlooking the spa guests-only saline pool while the locker rooms, some treatment rooms and relaxation lounge are in another casita across the way. And it's behind this building where bliss begins.
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