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In case you visit London this spring, don’t miss the latest offer Hop into Spring from Maybourne Hotel Group. A hotel stay at Claridge’s or The Berkeley will definitely not disappoint.
If you prefer design hotels, check out Morgan Hotel Group’s Spring Has Sprung. Their St Martins Lane hotel in the heart of Covent Garden has the friendliest staff I have ever met, stylish minimalist rooms and delicious food at the Asia de Cuba restaurant.
In November 2007, Design Hotels released its 2008 edition of the Design HotelsTM Yearbook featuring almost 40 new members. The 15 years anniversary issue includes over 650 pages of outstanding photography and comprehensive articles on design and architecture. The theme “Looking Forward” mirrors the company’s objective to encourage a new time in hotel design. Nine selected hoteliers and designers share their ideas for the future.
Design HotelsTM portfolio is improved with a selection of some of the best newly built design hotels in the world. Below, you can see the member hotels opening in 2008.
Europe
Belgium-Genk: Carbon Hotel - April
Germany-Frankfurt: Roomers - September
Germany-Hamburg: The George - August
Hungary-Budapest: Hotel Rosslyn - November
Norway-Oslo: Grims Grenka - January
Switzerland-Laax: The Rocks - February
UK-London: The Franklin Hotel - February
UK-London: Sanctum Soho Hotel - May
UK-Southport: Vincent - March
Asia/Pacific
Indonesia-Bali: Alila Villas Uluwatu - June
Maldives-South Male: Alila Villas Hadahaa - June
Maldives-South Male: Alila Villas Lonudhua - June
Apart from in selected member hotels and retailers, The Design HotelsTM Yearbook 08 is available online at www.designhotels.com/shop at a cost of 39 Euros.
The latest opened member hotel was Alila Cha-Am, a modern beachside resort only two hours south of Bangkok.
Design HotelsTM member hotels are united by a dedication to individualism and progressive design. The company has its headquarter in Berlin and branches in London, Barcelona, New York, Singapore, Bali and Tokyo.
The Dominican in Brussels, Belgium’s first member of Design Hotels, opens in the end of October. The hotel with interior by the Dutch duo FG Stijl is located behind La Monnaie, a well-known theatre and opera house. Apart from 150 individually designed guestrooms and suites, a gym with a Turkish steam bath and a Finnish sauna, the Dominican boasts a stylish Lounge Bar and The Grand Lounge restaurant.
The Dominican is owned by Carlton Hotel Collection including nine luxury hotels in United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
Click here to read the whole press release.
Design hotels, can you do anything else than love them? A company that gives them the attention they deserve is design hotels AG who represents and markets more than 150 top-quality hotels in over 40 countries.
The ultimate choice for a comforting New York stay is the elegant CHAMBERS, at 56th Street near Fifth Avenue, whilst the quiet Zen-influenced THE SETAI just off Ocean’s Drive appeals to Miami visitors.
Three popular picks among Asia travelers are PARK HOTEL TOKYO in Japan, THE LIBRARY on Koh Samui and UNITED HOTEL in Tapei, Tawain.
For tourists and business travelers in Scandinavia I can recommend the Swedish NORDIC LIGHT HOTEL in Stockholm, HOTEL SKT PETRI in Copenhagen, KLAUS K in Helsinki and GRIMS GRENKA in Oslo, Norway.
Thailand’s capital boasts several top-notch hotels. One of the most desirable is The Sukhothai at 13/3 South Sathorn Road in the heart of Bangkok not far from Lumpini Park. This residence offers comfort accommodation ranging from over 100 Superior Rooms to the elegant Sukhothai suite. Facilities include a 25-metre swimming pool, a Health Club and a luxurious Spa with various beauty and massage treatments. The Sukhothai also features the chic Pool Terrace Café & Bar, Lobby Salons with afternoon tea, a private dining room, the stylish The Bar, and three restaurants serving Thai, Italian and Japanese cuisine.
Another sought-after hotel on South Sathorn Road is The Metropolitan Bangkok. Its funky east meets west interiour creates a peaceful atmosphere enticing business travellers and tourists alike. All the Oriental inspired rooms and suites provide modern tech as broadband and wireless Internet access. In Como Shambhala, guests unwind with calming treatments, private yoga lessons or a few laps in the outdoor pool. During the evening, the nutritious food at Glow and Cy´an’s Mediterranean influenced menu ensure an excellent gourmet experience.
Row of Sun Palapas on a sandy beach in Mexico.
Residing in a design hotel with a hip ambience and a sophisticated feel will give you a remarkable vacation experience. These six coveted Mexican hotels are a safe bet.
ESENCIA
A sumptuous heaven set at the tropical Caribbean seaside on the Yucatan Peninsula. Wake up for a cooling swim in the pool, a session of yoga, an organic Spa treatment or an ocean dive with skilled scuba instructors. If needed, multilingual nannies can provide baby-sitting. This laid-back hotel has 29 rooms, 17 suites and two cottages for $525-$2,800 a night, including breakfast. As it darkens outside, relish the chef Alejandro Rojas’ Meso-American cuisine at the hotel’s restaurant Sal y Fuego, sip an Esencia Carbena in the chill-out lounge or stroll to the beach and watch the sunset.
Location: Carretera Cancun Tulum, Pedio Rustico Xpu-Ha Lote 18, Quintana Roo
IKA DEL MAR
Living in one of the 30 villas boasting their own private pool and outdoor terrace with beds and hammocks costs $585-$2,500 a night, including breakfasts. To ensure peace and quiet, cell phones are prohibited on Ika del Mar’s premises and no children under 16 are allowed. Available activities include hatha yoga, snorkelling, scuba diving, sailing and horse-riding. End the day with Azul Restaurant’s international and domestic gourmet cuisine.
Location: Playa Xcalacoco Frac 7, Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo
CONDESA DF
Javier Sanche’s architectural gem stands along a Jacaranda-lined avenue in the trendy Condesa district, 30 minutes from the international airport. The Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes has listed the building as cultural heritage. A tranquil site filled with funky simplicity and glamorous cool, especially the central patio devoted to relaxation, dining, and people watching. The 40 rooms and suites have an airy feel, chocolate brown tones and functional furnishing. Don’t miss the club in the basement or a sushi at La Terazza bar offering views to neighbouring Parque de Espana and the Castillo de Chapultepec.
Location: Avenida Veracruz 102, Mexico City
HABITA
Mexican architects Bernardo Gomes-Pimienta and Enrique Norten teamed up with hotel keepers Carlos Couturier and Moises Micha for a 2000 premiere. The result? A contemporary designed five storey hotel with 32 rooms and four suites in the fashionable Polanco neighbourhood, near Chapultepec Park in the city’s business centre. Enjoy the aesthetic rooms, admire the view from the rooftop bar - almost a must in a design hotel - and savour Aura Restaurant’s modern cuisine.
Location: Av. Presidente Masaryk 201, Col. Polanco C.P, Mexico City
DESEO
Situated in a charming fishing village 35 minutes drive south from Cancun International Airport, Deseo is one of the hottest spots on the Mayan Riviera. The 15 rooms and suites - some with ocean view - have a plain feel with natural colours and white marble floors. The hip hotel pool terrace offers king-size beds and pillows for optimal relaxation.
Location: 5th Av and 12th St, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo
AZUCAR
According to hotelier Carlos Couturier, the elegant Azucar hotel is a tribute to the sugar industry, the Cuban salsa singer Celia Cruz who dedicated a song to the sugar cane and items special for Mexico: the huarache (Mexican sandal), the machete (Mexican cutting knife), and the sombrero (Mexican hat). The 20 spacious bungalows with thatched roofs, white colours and cotton attire all have a private terrace facing the Gulf of Mexico.
Location: Km 83.5 Carretera Poza Rica - Nautla, Loocalidad Montegordo Veracruz
I don’t mind staying in hostels and sharing room with other travelers, but once in a while (when I can afford it) I don’t think there’s anything wrong with design hotels either.
Condé Nast Traveller USA and UK recently announced their annual hot list of original design hotels. Click here to see the nine chosen hotels.
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