Tag: Luxury Hotels
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Inside a Deluxe Room at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore
Okay, so we've already raved about something as simple as the bedside tables at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore, but what of the rest of the room? Well, first let us say that it is completely worth it to opt for the marina-side, because the view is half the luxury.
The Ritz-Carlton Millenia sits closest to the famous curving pedestrian bridge over to the Marina Bay Sands, and its location means crazy awesome vistas of downtown, the marina and more hotels one way, and the Singapore Flyer ferris wheel the other way. As lovely as the rooms are (and they are lovely), you'll likely spend at least half the time entranced by the metropolis, staring out the room's nearly floor-to-ceiling windows.
Speaking of, the windows include a massive octagonal portal found, in most rooms, above the bathtub. There'll be no missing out on the nighttime marina laser show if you'd like to have a soak.
Josh Flagg / Four Seasons Hotels / Paris Hotels / Luxury Hotels / → All Tags
Josh Flagg Updates Us on the Status of the Four Seasons George V (Sorta)
Once again, our favorite celebrity hotel hopper, Josh Flagg is back from yet another whirlwind of hotel adventures. First up, he reports on the renovations happening at Four Seasons George V in Paris. Except, he actually stayed in a far nicer room.
I must say, I was extremely delighted when I stayed at the George V this Christmas. The hotel has started the floor by floor renovation of its guestrooms and suites and they are even better than the last renovation in 2000. The rooms have got a new fluff with brand new modern amenities and have maintained all that was already so great about these rooms.
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.
Photo Gallery / HotelChatter Reviews / Shangri-La Hotels / Sweet Suites / Videos / Singapore Hotels / Luxury Hotels / → All Tags
Inside a Deluxe Suite in the Valley Wing of the Shangri-La Singapore
Did you know...that the Shangri-La Singapore is the original of the Shangri-La chain of properties? Did you also know that it is a hotel with three distinct wings, each with a different feel and luxury level? Serious hotel geeks will have answered yes to both, but it's no matter because right now, we're taking you inside the a Deluxe Suite in the Valley Wing, a one-bedroom abode with butler service, signature Shangri-La orchids all over the place, and—joy of joys—free champagne and decadent nibbles.
You can't get much fancier than this at the Shangri-La Singapore; there's only two room categories higher than the Deluxe (a 2-bedroom and the Shangri-La Suite), and its location in the Valley Wing means a separate, more private entrance and lobby, complimentary breakfast in the formal Summit Room, and round-the-clock extras (like afternoon tea or mini dessert cakes) at a lobby bar. This is where you'll find the complimentary, free-flowing champagne...and wine...and everything else. Pour your own Perrier? Pssh! In the evening, there's a proper attendant—starched shirt and welcoming smile—to do all that bothersome cap-twisting for you.
Hotel Openings / HotelChatter Reviews / London Hotels / Thompson Hotels / Luxury Hotels / Hotel News / → All Tags
Inside The Belgraves: Thompson Hotels Cross The Pond
The holy day finally came! Yesterday, Thompson Hotels opened their first property outside the US: the Belgraves, in the heart of London's poshest nabe, Belgravia.
We were first (OK, technically seventh) through the doors last night, and emerged this morning. Details of our sleepover to come (let's just say it was both eventful and emotional), but today, we're letting you make up your own minds about the decor.
First, the public spaces. Belgraves is relatively small, with a lobby and Hix restaurant to seat 80 on the ground floor, and Mark's Bar on the mezzanine overhead. In a weird positioning, through a side door off the bar is the gym.
Hotel Helicopters / Hotel Helipads / Bangkok Hotels / Peninsula Hotels / Luxury Hotels / → All Tags
A Chinese New Year Resolution: Fly in a Hotel Helicopter
Happy Chinese New Year! As we turn from the tame Year of the Rabbit to the aggressive Year of the Dragon, we've got Asian hotels on the mind. To be more specific, Peninsula Hotels and their badass heliports. If you're in the habit of making resolutions for the New Year—which one—then "setting off from a Peninsula heliport" needs to be one of them.
To get you in the mood to drop some dough on a flight worthy of James Bond, we've now got three exclusive looks inside different Peninsula helilounges:
· China Clipper Helilounge at The Peninsula Hong Kong
· The Seven Seas Pacific Aviation Helilounge at The Peninsula Tokyo
· Paribatra Helilounge at The Peninsula Bangkok
Hotel Cocktails / Hotel Bars / Hotel Drinks / London Hotels / Fairmont Hotels / Luxury Hotels / → All Tags
Drinking Required A Paper Bag On The Savoy's Prohibition Night
January 17 1920 might not be one of those dates that’s rammed into your memory, possibly because most people like drinking and prefer to forget the bad times – but anyway, it’s the date that the Prohibition 18th Amendment was ratified.
And while a 92nd anniversary may be an odd one to celebrate, if there’s booze involved, it’s never too odd. So says the Savoy London, which turned its dark ‘n’ sexy Beaufort Bar into a Prohibition speakeasy for the night on Tuesday.
At the door, we were greeted by a lovely lady, Gemma, in a 1920s fascinator over her Savoy uniform. Once we gave her the password (Kaspar, if you please), she swept us past the velvet rope and into a booth paved with 48 karat gold. For realsies.
Instead of the normal menu, we got a gorgeous little Prohibition menu, offering six cocktails, three of which had been invented for Prohibition night, and another off-menu rum-based one that’s currently in the running for a competition to be the face of Bacardi.
The rules of the night: bottles would come in paper bags (our neighbors had champagne delivered like this), champagne would be served in special fluted goblets, and other cocktails would be poured into a tea cup from a proper tea pot. To experience as many set ups as possible (ahem), we tried four.
Retro Hotels / Hotel Postcards / Vintage NYC Hotels / Luxury Hotels / Rosewood Hotels / → All Tags
A Time When The Carlyle Offered 'Transient and Residential Accommodations'
The Carlyle Hotel in Manhattan is one of our favorite "old luxury" hotels and today we stumbled upon something from its heyday--a postcard. You know, the kind that hotels used to stash in the desks so that you could send your friends smarmy "Wish You Were Here" notes?
Sure, lots of hotels are still doing the postcard and stationary thing--probably even the Carlyle still--but in these green days where hotels are eliminating paper waste at every turn (even check-in and check-out!), hotel postcards are a dying breed.
And we're pretty sure that today's modern postcards don't say things like, "Transient and Residential Accommodations" and "Telex" numbers. (For the record, the Carlyle still takes transients, aka hotel guests, and very well-to-do folks still live there.)
Also missing? A website address. These days, that's how you know something is retro.
Click "MORE" to see the back of the Carlyle's old-timey postcard!
Hotel Spas / Maldives Hotels / Hotel News / Luxury Hotels / Hotel Woes / → All Tags
Hotel Massages are Under Attack in The Maldives
Update, 1.6.12: The ban has been lifted! If you've got an upcoming trip scheduled to the Maldives, you may have to rethink your massage options.
The Tourism Ministry in the country has ordered all hotels and resorts to close their spas immediately after a conservative Islam party staged a protest accusing the spas of being brothels and a front for prostitution.
As with all extreme measures, there are some politics behind this decision. Apparently, several members of the opposition party own hotels and resorts so closing their spas is sort of a way to "stick it to them."
But the hotels and resorts aren't having it.
Hong Kong Hotels / Luxury Hotels / Swire Hotels / → All Tags
How to Make The Upper House Your House in Hong Kong
You don't have to be a paying hotel guest to enjoy the swank luxury of The Upper House in Hong Kong which sits atop the J.W. Marriott at Pacific Place (There's no connection between the two hotels, just FYI.)
Here's how you can fake it and enjoy some of the best public hotel spaces Hong Kong has to offer while saving yourself about $515 a night:
1. Lay Out on The Lawn: Up on Level 6 (just after you ride escalators up to the elevator bank), there's a rooftop lounge with real grass, a rarity for Hong Kong. Here you can order coffee or cocktails, read the paper, flip through a magazine or check your email using the hotel's free WiFi. No room key necessary!
Christmas Hotels / Holiday Hotels / Hotel Restaurants / London Hotels / Luxury Hotels / → All Tags
There's Turducken On The Christmas Menu At Dukes London
If you’re in London today, you’ll have noticed that not many other people are. You may also have noticed that most of the shops have sold out of food like we’re about to have an apocalypse. Two things that might make you venture over to Dukes for Christmas dinner.
Because this isn’t just any Christmas dinner. The restaurant, 36, is doing an eight bird roast - in the words of the hotel:
a turkey stuffed with a goose, stuffed with a pheasant, stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a guinea fowl and so on!
Or as we outside of the five star hotel business say, a turducken.
Hotel Woes / Hotel Fraud / Hotel Criminals / Cannes Hotels / France Hotels / Luxury Hotels / → All Tags
This Will Make You Think Twice Before Paying Cash For Your Next Hotel Stay
Ah, the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. Its very name conjures images of sailboats on the French Riviera, pristine terry cloth robes, and Leonardo DiCaprio sunning himself by the infinity pool. One thing the idyllic hotel does not usually get associated with is fraud.
According to the Daily Mail, Jean-Claude Irondelle is being accused of "misappropriating" over EUR 740,000 euros—and that's just between 2003-2006. In total, it is unknown how much Irondelle may or may not have slipped into a separate account for himself during his 50-year run.
But a big piece of the puzzle lies in the fact that Irondelle frequently accepted payments in cash directly from the big A-listers that stayed the hotel, seeking VIP treatment. Well, at least we know someone benefited from that money...
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