Donnerstag, 6. Januar 2005

Hotel Matchmaking. So get this: you answer a few questions asked by Yvette, the badly-dressed virtual travel agent, and she matches you to your ideal hotel - or at least your ideal match in the Joie de Vivre collection of hotels in and around San Francisco. Yvette had three choices for me: The Hotel Bijou was at number one, and is indeed bijou and kitch; Hotel Drisco was an excellent second choice, and is in fact one my favourite places. But while God knows I'm happy to get on a plane to stay in a great hotel almost regardless of location, few things on Earth could tempt me to Silicon Valley. Yevette really dropped the ball there, but then, I don't think it's wise to take travel advice from a woman wearing snowmen on her blouse. [Wanda Lust] 4:45:04 PM    comment []

W Mexico City: Best Hotel Design 2004. For its first birthday, the W Mexico City - aka the South American outpost of the uber-hip W brand of style hotels - has won an award. "Ahh," I thought, "I didn't know there was a category for Interior Design Abortion of the Year." And indeed there is not (or at least, not that I know of); the W Mexico City has won the Best Hotel Design award at a ceremony sponsored by Interior Design magazine and HOTELS magazine. While having a hammock in your shower is very trend-setting and all that, the fact is that your shower is in your bathroom, which is attached your bedroom which is off a hallway. And therein lies the problem, because the rooms are hideous and the hallways are a thousand times worse. The entire hotel, in fact, is like being trapped in a multi-coloured plexiglass fishbowl, breathing LSD-infused oxygen through a stylish crack-laced regulator. One can only hope the judges were breathing the same. [Wanda Lust] 4:42:43 PM    comment []

Branson Stocks a Kasbah. Continuing on with today's accidental Marrakech theme, punters will no doubt be lining up to stay in Richard Branson's latest digs, the Kasbah Tamadot - one of the exclusive Virgin Limited Edition properties. Opening early in 2005, just in time for the hight season, when rooms start at £215 per night per couple, and run up to £685 for a very swanky three bedroom suite. While it's not exactly bargain basement, the interiors are truly stunning and the setting is gorgeous as well. [Wanda Lust] 4:41:28 PM    comment []

Tourists Return After Tsunami. European tour operators are resuming holiday schedules in many areas affected by the recent devastating tsunami. Holiday comapnies in many countries including the UK are restarting operations in the Maldives and areas of Thailand, and hoping to resume tours to other affected regions shortly. According to Rene-Marc Chikli, president of the French Association of Tour Operators, "This is the best way to show our solidarity. It's more useful than humanitarian aid." Which is, obviously, an insensitive comment, though not an inaccurate notion - long term, rebuilding tourism in dependent economies is indeed what will bring employment, trade and stability to these areas. Meanwhile, though, tour operators are still searching for missing holiday makers, even as new ones arrive. [Wanda Lust] 4:39:45 PM    comment []

Hawthorn Karaca Resort. Hawthorn Hotels has announced that a new property in the seaside town of Bodrum, Turkey is currently under construction. Bodrum is the site of the ancient city of Halicarnassus and is full of archaeological treasures. The Hawthorn Karaca Resort will be a luxury hotel with views of the Aegean Sea. The top spot will be the [base "]Sultan[base ']s Suite[per thou] which includes a splash pool and terrace. Amenities include high speed Internet, plasma TV with international programming, hot breakfast buffet daily, outdoor pool and Turkish bath as well as two restaurants and a piano lounge. The resort is set to open next summer. Hawthorn in the States is nothing special but hopefully the new hotel will be an asset to beautiful Bodrum. [Luxist] 4:36:33 PM    comment []