There's tons of hotel news flying around this week and we don't have time to give each and every story the love and attention it may deserve, so you will have to settle for some news briefs.
· Canada Day: Apologies to our neighbors to the North for not noticing it was Canada Day until just now. In case you need a room, the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver has a deal for $141 a night. It's good until July 6.
· James Bond Hotel: A bank that was used as the setting for the James Bond movie, Goldfinger, will be turned into London's first six-star hotel. It will be largely unaffordable to everyone but please please please make it a James Bond theme hotel. [UK Press]
· Killer Pool at the Best Western: And we don't mean killer as is awesome. The pool at this Best Western in Whitehall, MI had too many guests using pool, causing a computer to overcompensate and add too much chlorine. 120 guests had to seek treatment from the strong chlorine fumes. [WZZM13]
We are suckers for a room with a killer view. We find that we are even more likely to forgive some minor hotel inconveniences if we can stare out the window at something pretty--yeah we are that shallow. Let's help out our fellow hotel mavens by uploading rooms with killer views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. We will feature our favorites in this space from time to time. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number of the hot view.
We were quite keen to visit the Conrad Miami to "uncork our passion"-- that's the name of their February wine tasting package--but now we are also interested to check out the views we could have from this hotel.
In fact there are lots of killer views from the Conrad Miami, all of them involving water. Whether you have a view across the sea or if you're concentrating on looking down to one of these neat views of the long, inviting pool, you have to admit you're getting that relaxed feel wherever you look. This picture tempts us to dive right in, but it's probably a bit dangerous from such a great height, so don't do what we do--just enjoy the view.
Some three and a half years after the Conrad Miami was bought by a local Florida company, there are still changes and improvements going on. This time it's the opening of their Level 25 lounge and restaurant as well as the Wine Attic, a wine tasting room where you can sample over 40 different wines.
To celebrate these new additions, and to coincide with the South Beach Food and Wine Festival, the Conrad Miami is offering a special wine lovers package for the last week in February. The deal comes with a pretty corny name, the "Uncork Your Passion Package", but is better than it sounds.
For $399, you'll get accommodation upgraded to the next room category plus a bottle of wine of your choice from the extensive wine list; if you stay multiple nights, you can sample a different kind every evening. The hotel says it will deliver the bottle to wherever you want: to the poolside bar (pictured), in your room or in the new Level 25 restaurant and lounge area.
The extra good news is that if you go overboard on trying out new wines, there is a coffee maker in every room, and a separate bath tub so you can soak the day away while your other half takes a cold shower. And then you'll be ready for another evening and another wine. You can book this deal now but it's only valid from February 21 to 29.
Giuseppe Cipriani is bringing his famous restaurant to Miami and turning it into a hotel and condo where the old Saxony Hotel used to stand.
Travel + Leisure reported last month that the Cipriani Ocean Resort & Club Residences will have 209-rooms, with one, two, and three-bedroom condo units mixed in. These "suites" are for grabs starting at $700,000 a piece. There's word that a tower will be constructed next door to house another 65 private residences. And the decor will stay in la famiglia as Michele Bonan, the interior designer for the Ferragamo hotels in Italy, is slated to do Cipriani's design.
The NY Post reported back in December that the project will also sport a spa, fitness center, outdoor bar and grill, beach cabana and three pools, including one just for residents. However, while Cipriani could sell this place based on name alone, the Post says the building actually has something more powerful than that:
But what really sells the buildings are the views. Because the property sits on a topographical curve, every residence and all but two of the condo hotel units have water views.
Of course, expect a signature Cipriani restaurant in place as well. If everything goes as planned, the joint will open in Spring 2009.
Travel writer Michael de Zayas is in Miami on an assignment--30 Miami
hotels in 30 Miami nights. You will be able to find his detailed travel
musings in Miami and Miami Beach books later this year.
HotelChatter asked Michael to let us know his minute-by-minute thoughts on
the Miami hotel scene during his guide book mission, which he will be doing
over the next two weeks. During the fortnight, Michael will share with us
every bed, maid, drink, pool, henhouse and outhouse that comprise the Grove, Gables, Sunny Isles, North Beach, South Beach and the Key Biscayne hotel scene in 2007. If you wish to ask him a question during
his jaunt, shoot it our way.
Today I was lolligagging on the wide red porch swing in front of the Townhouse hotel when Ricky Martin waltzed by. I had just come out of the hotel's hip sushi restaurant Bond St. Lounge downstairs, and Ricky was heading in. That's when it hit me - Townhouse was some kind of cross between Loca Ricky and Fun Beach Boys pop - Living Life Lite.
Let me get this out of the way: I love Townhouse. I will highly recommend it in my guidebook. It's light and fun and memorable. It's not too expensive. And while it's not on the beach, it's right next to it (about 20 yards to the sand, closer even than the Ocean Drive hotels).
Swank spills over from its immediate neighbors the Shore Club and the Setai. Figure that these two are among the most remarkable hotels in all the world - daunting company - so it speaks volumes that Townhouse establishes a definitive niche, and creates a distinct voice, if necessarily less ariatic.
Travel writer Michael de Zayas is in Miami on an assignment--30 Miami
hotels in 30 Miami nights. You will be able to find his detailed travel
musings in Miami and Miami Beach books later this year.
HotelChatter asked Michael to let us know his minute-by-minute thoughts on
the Miami hotel scene during his guide book mission, which he will be doing
over the next two weeks. During the fortnight, Michael will share with us
every bed, maid, drink, pool, henhouse and outhouse that comprise the Grove, Gables, Sunny Isles, North Beach, South Beach and the Key Biscayne hotel scene in 2007. If you wish to ask him a question during
his jaunt, shoot it our way.
Sanctuary rooms live a little like upscale NYC-size one-bedroom apartments. They compact a lot of chic per square foot, and offer a fun, trim base to be fabulous. On South Beach, the Sanctuary does it relatively cheaply, at $300 a night per suite.
Still think that's a lot of dough? Well, for this price you get to play at exclusive chic, and there aren't many cheaper ways to pay to play at that game here and feel authentic in the process. Perhaps it's because the hotel takes itself seriously. (Townhouse, where I'm staying tomorrow, for instance, likens itself to be more fun Lifeguard than the lording Buddha who presides over the premises here.)
Looking a bit like an underweight model, Sanctuary's narrow space folds around an open air inner courtyard of small fountains edged in bamboo, and the aforementioned Buddha. It might feel claustrophobic despite the intended tranquility of the svelte courtyard, were it not for the rooftop. The courtyard is split into two sections: to the south is the small bar open to a lively scene on weekends, and a few wide and comfy cabanas. To the north is the pool. Please don't dive in it - it's two feet deep and 10-feet long. But this attractive folly sets the stage for chaise longues where one or two or three beautiful people sun during the day.
Art Basel 2006 is a thing of the past now, but we're still getting tips about the crazy parties that went down. As we told you, artist Steven Keene was featured at the Budweiser Select Porch Project party at the Marlin Hotel. Also on hand was the rapper Noreaga who dutifully posed holding some Budweiser Select bottles.
But lest we forget that Art Basel is actually about art, a great pic of the artist Steven Keene at work is after the jump.
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by juliana
