Dominating Rome’s Via Veneto, the leafy boulevard made famous in Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, the grand Westin Excelsior is (rather aptly) one of those elegant old-world hotels you see in old black and white movies – linger in the lobby to take it all in and you’ll be expecting to see Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly enter at any moment. With its grand rooms, polished marble floors, colossal floral arrangements, and chandeliers dripping from the ceilings, it’s certainly palatial, and it’s...

Lush Hip Hotel may not be as hip as it likes to think, yet this lovely boutique hotel is a much-needed addition to Taksim’s hotel scene, currently dominated by big bland four and five stars and dreary budget hotels. The biggest asset the hotel has going for it is its fabulous location, just a few minutes walk from Istakal Cadessi, Istanbul’s bustling shopping street and the hip neighbourhoods of Cihangir and Cukurcuma (see next post). And while it might not be the coolest hotel we’ve ever...

It seems our friend Charles the traditionalist was about to send out a good old-fashioned search party to track us down – although we’re not sure what he had in mind, swarthy men on horseback? A dashing James Bond-helicopter style rescue perhaps? – while tech-savvy Marie had already put the word out on the web that we were missing in action. Humble apologies to all but we’re here in Milan ensconced in a stylish loft-style apartment on the Navigli (pictured) which we’ve rented from the friendly...

Well, we stole that tasty little header from the W Istanbul website but if they didn’t think that one up surely we would have, right? The hip new W – just opened last week – is a very welcome addition to the Istanbul hotel scene indeed. Stunningly set in splendid restored Ottoman Row Houses, constructed by Sultan Abdulaziz in the 1870s, to house the Aghas (high ranking officers) from nearby Dolmabahce Palace, the building is now beautifully – and radically – refurbished so that it’s fit for the...

The sleek and very chic Londa Hotel was the first hotel we checked into in Cyprus and we were very pleased we had. Designed in a contemporary minimalist style in neutral shades, on first glance it could have been any boutique hotel anywhere were it not for the wonderful attention to detail, such as the striking use of organic materials, textured fabrics, and natural elements, including raw wood seats in the lounge and a tree branch ‘sculpture’ in the foyer. Add to that whimsical accents, such...

Having stayed at several of Dubai’s latest five-stars to open recently, we have to say that we’re very impressed with the sense of style and style of service that the new breed of luxury hotels are bringing to the city. They’ve really taken things up a notch or two. Both the InterContinental Dubai Festival City and Raffles Dubai (review coming soon) are the best of the breed of chic new sleeps. Let’s start with the InterContinental Dubai Festival City where we stayed during their soft launch....

We wondered what was up with the InterContinental Group when they gave up their old Deira Creek-side property. Why give up a prime location overlooking bustling Dubai Creek and the fascinating dhow wharves? Well, the brains behind the move to Dubai Festival City – where, in true Dubai style, the InterContinental group has opened not one but three properties! – demonstrated superb foresight indeed. Because Dubai Festival City is fast becoming one of the best locations in the city for a...

Abu Dhabi’s newest luxury hotel to open, the chic Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, may be more Arabian in design than Asian, but it certainly lives up to (if not surpasses) the exemplary standards of service and style of this elegant Eastern hotel brand. With a sumptuous, classical Mid East-colonial décor that exemplifies the plush modern Arabian style of hotels such as Dubai’s Al Qasr and Mina A’Salam properties, the Abu Dhabi Shangri-La is one very special resort indeed. Rooms are super-spacious...

Fit for a King (really), Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace is more palatial royal residence than luxurious hotel. There are high-security floors entirely devoted to dedicated suites for visiting dignitaries, including one set aside for a Saudi prince with its own barber shop (!), and the whole place is gilted in gold and dripping with Svaroski crystal chandeliers. So it made sense that we should check in for a night and make like a Sheikh and Sheikha (the Arabian version of a Princess) when we were...

The award-winning Banyan Tree Phuket is arguably one of Phuket’s most beautiful luxury resorts, and after staying in one of their pool suite villas we can’t argue with that. It’s sublime. In true Thai style, the elegant hotel has a wonderful tranquillity about it, largely due to its watery surroundings. The open sided entrance, lobby and reception area are all separated by courtyards of water, while the lovely restaurants have terraces looking out on to a lagoon – the Watercourt, just off the...