Sample Årticles
from 2004 –
2006
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For
your review here are sample
articles from previous newsletters
We raise our Champagne glass in a hearty toast
to Eos
Airlines,
currently celebrating their first anniversary of elevating the dismal
state of flying by bringing elegance, service and style back to air
travel. Let’s face it, why shouldn’t the same standards
apply to airlines that we demand from our hotels? Well, Eos is very
good news, indeed, an airline in a class by themselves. Eos has as
its goal to redefine the flying experience and make it memorable
and enjoyable again. We are happy to say they succeed admirably.
Eos is all you could ask for: complimentary limo service (at qualifying
fares) from your home or office to the airport (you may arrive 45
minutes prior to departure with no questions asked), uniformed, polite
staff to greet your car and escort you to the check-in desk, rapid,
expedited check-in by caring employees, well-appointed lounges (Emirates at
JFK) and happy, escorted service right to the plane moments before
take off. Things only get better once onboard: Eos has carefully
rethought the way space can be allocated inside an aircraft, providing
a massive 21 square feet for each passenger. A typical 757 has more
than 200 seats. On Eos, there are just 48 seats. And what seats—the
Eos seat is more like a suite with a flat 78-inch bed, your choice
of Tempur-Pedic foam or down full-size
pillows, cashmere blanket or duvet and high-quality linens. There
is a thoughtful extra seat for visitors, oodles of extra room for
additional baggage and a clear path to the aisle. Eos dining is beyond
very special. The superbly trained attendants (carefully selected
from leading hospitality and service industries and educated at the Culinary
Institute of America)
serve dinner in three separate courses if you want to dine leisurely.
Or there is an express service for those who desire a light and quick
meal. Many passengers elect to have a full-course meal with a fine
wine at the lounge before boarding. Wines, spirits and entrees are
of haute cuisine quality. The handsome in-flight amenity kit, and
this is one to keep and reuse, is by L’Occitaine.
Bose QuietComfort Acoustic Noise Canceling headsets are provided
and the selection of first-run films, classic television, music and
video games is extensive. Eos has redefined every element of flying
and that means they treat their clients with care as guests and not
just passengers. On arrival at London’s Stansted,
there are warm smiles of greeting from the Eos staff on the ground,
expedited treatment at customs and immigration and—voila—baggage
delivered as you reach the carousel. A limousine whisks you to your
destination. This is rewarding travel, too. Eos has a generous and
innovative rewards program redeemable for travel on Eos and other
airlines, golf, spas, high-end retailers and fine hotels. All Eos
guests have access to Quintessentially, a pre- and post-flight
concierge service, acknowledged as one of the best in the world.
We all know little things make a big difference when you fly. Eos
founder David
Spurlock, formerly
Director of Strategy at British Airways, conceived this airline for
those in search of a premium experience much like they would receive
on a private jet. If it is rest, total comfort and ultimate care
in intoxicating luxury with excellent food and drink you seek when
you fly (but without unnecessary gilt and useless trappings), book
now with Eos. Best of all, Eos fares are significantly lower than
Business Class prices on traditional carriers. Eos flys twice daily
to and from JFK and to and from convenient Stansted Airport, London.
Visit www.eosairlines.com or call (888)
357-3677.
October 2006
London is a superb hotel city, filled with places to stay that fit
all pocketbooks and tastes. We have always been drawn to the small,
elegant and detail-oriented hotel and we found all that and more
at The Egerton House Hotel in the heart of Knightsbridge. Just a
short walk from Harrods, here is a pleasantly secluded refuge of
charm and character overlooking two very pretty tree-lined garden
squares. Look for adjoining handsome red brick period townhouses
with topiary boxwood and blossoms in the windows. A roaring fire
welcomes guests in the drawing room on cool days. The Egerton has
been extensively restored and totally refurbished by the present
owners, Red Carnation, and they have done their usual signature and
extraordinary job of creating a highly refined residential atmosphere
using interesting antiques, Brussels weave carpets, Savoir beds,
fine museum-quality art and fabrics of the finest provenance. Here
you will find a wonderful, eclectic yet classical setting: original
old prints from the Illustrated London News, engravings and signed
lithographs (Braque and Picasso among them) alongside of masterful
paintings (one of parrots by Kim Brooks), an 18th-century clock hung
by a sunburst of a mirror. The mix of furniture styles and periods
from Biedermeier to Victoria adds tons of character. Orchids and
masses of fragrant fresh flowers are everywhere. The result is a
true jewel box. The hotel has an aura of understated elegance and
discreet good taste with 30 air-conditioned bedrooms on four floors,
all served by a small elevator. Each room is fully equipped, exacting
international high-tech standards with touches like flat- screen
TVs, Nano iPods and WiFi throughout. A small wood-paneled bar by
renowned Hallidays with whimsical caricatures by JAK and Sems and
staffed by one of London’s most beloved bartenders, Antonio,
serves light meals of quality. Top cuisine is served daily in a most
attractive dining room where one can be served a traditional English
or nutritious health breakfast. A solarium, sauna, Jacuzzi, and pool
await the more energetic. Arrangements on a complimentary basis can
be made at a nearby gym and health club, one of London’s best.
This jewel of a hotel has it all. General Manager Sandra
Anido keeps
it all ticking like a fine Patek Philippe aided by a staff that is
dedicated to satisfying each and every guest who walks through these
welcoming doors. A winner of ENTREE’s Golden E of Excellence
Award and a member of Preferred Boutique Hotels. Visit www.egertonhousehotel.com.
They have a sleek Bentley standing by for guests and invaluable personal
shopping contacts.
September 2006
There is something totally magical and wondrous about finding a place
of great style, elegance, comfort and beauty in a remote corner of
the world. We first felt that way when we came upon the one-and-only
Explora Lodge in Patagonia. We found another oasis of luxury in a
remote part of Argentina near the Brazil and Paraguay borders, hard
by the majestic, thundering Iguazú Falls. The all-suite Iguazú Grand
Hotel Resort & Casino is set in a majestic natural location and
offers a first class spa, South America’s most important and
glamorous casino, warm hospitality and pampering indulgence. One
can have it all here and in an enchanting setting where you’d
least expect it. Family-owned and operated with passion, here is
a resort distinguished by its classic architecture and a museum-quality
art collection where guests are spoiled by a staff of smiling, multi-lingual
personnel. Proud of its glamorous casino, a business center, two
fine restaurants, the Paradise Spa (with massage, wraps, masks and
baths), a fully equipped state-of-the-art health club (with professional
trainers) overlooking the tropical gardens, three clay tennis courts
(lit at night), and three swimming pools (one heated), the resort’s
jungle-meets-cosmopolitan atmosphere is very hard to leave. The Iguazú Grand
presents diverse evening entertainment such as musicals, live tango
dances and other performances at the Le Bistro
Theater. Playland,
the resort’s unique recreation center for children, assures
parents that the young ones will be entertained and supervised in
a happy and safe environment with outdoor activities such as volleyball,
games and art programs. Golfers have access to a fine golf club just
minutes away. In addition to the attractions within the resort, the
breathtaking waterfalls are only ten minutes away. A day trip to
the falls will complete your unforgettable experience at the Iguazú Grand
Hotel. There are 107 very spacious and attractively decorated suites.
Visit www.casinoiguazu.com, a member of Leading
Small Hotels of the World. This is the only place to stay when you visit Iguazú,
a true paradise on earth.
July-August 2006
True virtuosity in hotelkeeping is very rare. Like a perfect symphony,
it manages to harmoniously combine so many elements into one effortlessly.
Thank goodness for Summer Lodge in beautiful Dorset, a pleasant three-hour
drive from London. Here is a symphony of the most extraordinary kind.
We discovered this idyllic spot last month and couldn’t wait
to tell you about it. Imagine, first of all, England’s most
beautiful countryside. No less a writer than Thomas Hardy, who lived
here and loved it, extolled the virtues of the green Dorset hills,
the Jurassic cliffs and coast, and the glistening sea in masterpieces
like TESS of the d’URBERVILLES. And here, in Summer Lodge,
is another Wessex masterpiece. Then there is the setting for Summer
Lodge: unspoiled countryside, jet d’eau, tumbling waterfalls,
fragrant fruit trees, magical footpaths, sculptures, ancient stone
walls, Japanese bridge, lily pond, and tranquil kitchen garden. Songbirds
serenade morning and night. Set in the tiny, picturesque village
of Evershot, Summer Lodge is actually a series of carriage houses
and handsome slate-roofed Georgian townhouses that hold just 26 rooms.
And what rooms! Heavenly decorated with miles of beautiful cottons,
linens, silks, soft flannels, priceless antiques and hand made custom
designed Brussels weave carpets. For those wanting ultimate privacy,
there is a charming cottage on the prettiest street in town with
a walled garden and a Jacuzzi. But we love the rooms in the Lodge,
especially spacious Number 1, with high ceilings, large windows that
invite the soft Dorset sun, fireplace, two comfortable baths and
a four-poster bed that discreetly hides a flat-screen television.
The decor at Summer Lodge is some of the most sophisticated in the
world with rare paintings, prints and objects on the walls, luxurious
linens, considerate placement of precious tables and chairs just
as an elegant-yet-very-stylish country Marchioness might have, and
fragrant fresh flowers everywhere. Total comfort and ultimate calm
have been the objective, and the owners have succeeded brilliantly.
All of this would make for the best in English country living, only
Summer Lodge goes further with a staff of caring young people that
appears and disappears like magic, catering to every wish—no,
seemingly anticipating every guest’s wish. Need an extra down
pillow or pashmina shawl? They have it. Want to play croquet? They
will fetch the mallets. Need a partner for tennis? One will happily
play with you on Summer Lodge’s court. Swimming pool? Right
this way. Relaxing and rejuvenating spa services are organized in
a moment at the lovely spa on the property. The dapper and aristocratic
Charles Lotter is General Manager here and he orchestrates all with
exacting yet relaxed standards of superb quality. Cuisine in the
British shires has long been hit-and-miss. Mostly miss. Such is the
cost of maintaining a serious restaurant in the English countryside.
Summer Lodge leads the way with a decided culinary upturn in the
form of Steven Titman, an accomplished chef who leads a team totally
dedicated to fine dining. Concentrating on locally-grown produce
enhanced by herbs from Summer Lodge’s garden, he manages to
create haute cuisine of exquisite refinement yet of straightforward
direction. There is no precociousness here, simply the best meats,
chicken, fish and vegetables carefully prepared with love. The cooking
has been acclaimed by critics from all over the world. Supporting
Chef Steven is a cadre of bright, enthusiastic and professional sommeliers,
waiters and barmen who are eager to please in a dining room of extraordinary
beauty. Prominent among them is super-knowledgeable Master Sommelier
Eric Zwiebel, who will go deep into Summer Lodge’s caves to
find you Romanee Conti or perhaps a special bottle of South
African Bouchard Finlayson. All wines at all price levels are there at Summer
Lodge. Zwiebel’s understudy, Ben, has an enchanting way about
him, and his knowledge of wines is also impressive. One could happily
occupy themselves just lazing on the manicured grass at Summer Lodge
in a chaise lounge, or pulling on the Wellingtons they have so thoughtfully
provided for guests for a hike, but many things await outside the
walls of this country house. Dorset is steeped in history: there
is Sherborne Castle and Athelhampton
House, plus antique shops, galleries,
museums, and restaurants galore to visit. But we prefer not to leave
the cossetting of Summer Lodge and their fine people. There is a
fine afternoon tea with delicious scones and clotted cream in the
afternoon, perhaps it’s time to plan a picnic, maybe we’ll
do some watercolors in the conservatory, or simply walk down the
main street to the historic Acorn Inn, for a cold beer and a salmon
sandwich. Or drop in on the enchanting country shop on the main street,
and peruse its wonderful selection of speciality foods, wines, cards
and gifts. With its spectacular setting, elegant restaurant, breathtaking
rooms, restorative spa and so many local attractions, this is a place
you must experience. We have known few places on this planet where
all is in perfect harmony, where man and nature join in an embrace
to produce the very best experience that makes you truly love life.
This is one of those places. They have perfected the art of exceptional
hospitality here at Summer Lodge and you will be welcomed as family.
A proud member of Relais & Chateaux, visit www.summerlodgehotel.com.
May-June 2006
Sox appeal:
why do so many otherwise smartly dressed men fall victim to sartorial
amnesia when it comes to that key space between the bottom of their
trousers and the top of the shoes? We’re talking
socks here and how few gents pay proper attention to them. Maybe
it’s because there is a dearth of original, well-designed,
quality-made chaussettes out there. So let’s pop a bottle of
Champagne because a gentleman named Vivek Nagrani has
come to the rescue. Nagrani, who manages to resemble both Adrian
Brody and Andy Garcia at the same time, is a very talented 33-year-old
Indian-born, American-raised gentleman with exquisite taste. His
fanciful line of power (and powerful) socks are made by legendary
artisans in France and Italy. They are bright and colorful and wildly
patterned and now considered collector’s items by the cognoscenti.
You will not find them everywhere—only in the best stores like Fred
Segal and Stanley Korshak. We
must warn you, not every man can wear them. You’ve got to be
secure about your fashion sense. After all, pistachio and salmon
are not everyone’s colors. But, believe
us, they are heaven on the feet and at $30 a pair or $150 a dozen,
a bargain, sort of little artworks for the feet. One design even
wound up at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los
Angeles. Nagrani’s
socks are destined to be the best-dressed insider’s secret
like Lobb shoes and Charvet ties. These socks go so well with bespoke
suits or jeans, and, rest assured, there are never more than 312
pairs made per design. To appreciate those who love these socks,
Nagrani has founded his very own 21 Club.
He celebrates your 21st pair, when added to your wardrobe, by welcoming
you to an esteemed group of gentlemen who become privy to his future
works. These members define future collections one sock at a time,
as they are invited to experience prototypes and give their suggestions.
Check out Nagrani’s
company, Ovadafut, on the web at www.vknagrani.com,
and when next getting dressed, never forget what the great architect
Mies van der Rohe said: “God is in the details.”
April 2006
A quick getaway to Puerto Vallarta was recently in order
to restore our spirits, and we found a shining jewel in Hacienda
San Angel. This small colonial-style hotel is illustrative of what
the beauty of Mexico means to us when we dream of its possibilities.
A member of the prestigious Hoteles Boutique
de Mexico, we can highly
recommend Hacienda San Angel as the best and most stylish place to
stay in the area. Located above the soaring grace of the Cathedral
of Guadalupe, the Hacienda transports visitors to a time of colonial
elegance that is rarely seen today. With stunning terraced gardens,
breathtaking ocean and city views and a staff that deeply cares,
here are five creatively restored villas with fourteen superb suites
and bedrooms exquisitely filled with museum quality 18th- and 19th-century
oil paintings, hand-carved antique furnishings, tapestries, statuary,
and colorful painted tile work. Yet, the Hacienda is very up-to-date
with state-of-the-art purified tap water, remote-controlled air-conditioning,
cable television, DVD, and in-suite phone with complimentary local
calls. Guests have access to three heated swimming pools and an oversize
Jacuzzi on the rooftop sun deck with stunning views of Banderas Bay,
a perfect spot to watch the sunset. The tranquility here makes it
easy to forget that you are just a few minutes’ stroll from
downtown Puerto Vallarta, with its beaches, shopping and lively nightlife.
Built around a romantically landscaped central courtyard with flowing
fountains, winding paths and fragrant, blooming tropical flowers,
the Hacienda has happy and polite employees that treat their visitors
as if they were honored guests in a wealthy landowner’s private
home. Indeed, the core villa on the property was a Valentine’s
Day gift from Richard Burton to his wife and has since evolved carefully
into an enchanting maze of villas, suites, gardens, dining rooms,
terraces and private areas perfect for relaxing and reflecting. The
chefs here are an inspired bunch, and the Hacienda boasts a menu
of full à la carte lunches and dinners. The Hacienda San Angel
has some of the softest imported bed linens we’ve ever slept
in and all-natural bath amenities. The charming owner Janice
Chatterton deserves spirited applause for her fine taste and hard work in turning
the Hacienda into Puerto Vallarta’s loveliest address. The
delightful concierge Rocio can assist arranging tour services and
excursions. We loved the gratis high-speed Internet access and public
phone to make complimentary calls to the U.S. Reservations for Hacienda
San Angel may be made at www.haciendasanangel.com or by emailing
info@haciendasanangel.com. Phone (415)
738-8220 from the US, or 011-52-322-222-2692 from elsewhere. Rates in high season range from $250 per night for
some of the more secluded rooms to $425 and $475 for the prime-view
spaces. Prices include Continental breakfast and snacks during cocktail
hours, often with mariachi music. Choose a room, select a suite or
rent the entire Hacienda, this is the perfect place for total relaxation
in a setting of total beauty.
February-March 2006
Who among us has not dreamed of having a magic carpet upon
which we could be whisked off to the far reaches of the globe?
Well, ENTREE has found that magic carpet. It comes in the form
of The Leading Residences of the World,
an extraordinary risk-free destination club of unparalleled
quality. We’ve seen all the destination clubs in our
day, surrounded by all the hoopla, and none compares to this.
First of all, Leading Residences is backed by Cendant
Corporation, the blue chip travel and residential real
estate company. Unlike other clubs, Leading Residences insures
their memberships with a policy written by the best in the
business. Members receive a refund of 80% of their membership
deposit if they ever decide to resign. Secondly, all memberships
are equal—there are no tiers, everyone pays the same
and has the same preferred access. What we like a lot is Leading
Residences’ rotating priority reservation system, which
assures equal access to the club’s unmatched property
portfolio. This novel system safeguards all members’ investments
and addresses high-demand periods elegantly. What is best about
this club is their meticulous standards in keeping with their
affiliation with Leading Hotels of the
World. Now, for the magic carpet: members can use stunning
residences in beach, golf and ski resort destinations and in
the world’s greatest cities including New
York, Paris and London.
We’ve been to the two spectacular houses the club has
in Cabo San Lucas and can only
pronounce them out of this world. With a membership in Leading
Residences, members can go to Gleneagles,
the South of France, Steamboat
Springs, Hotel Hana in Hawaii,
Kiawah Island, Santa Fe, and The
Grenadines. Administering all this is a superior management
team, crackerjack concierges, and a support system that features
private jets, elite rental cars, Avis
President’s Club and special perks at Leading
Hotels of the World. The price? $325,000 and annual dues of
$15,000. For this you have continuous access for thirty years...and
then you are refunded 80% of your deposit and can continue
to use the benefits each year dues are paid. This is a fantastic
opportunity for those who love to travel and want to stay in
sublime accommodations at a fraction of the purchase price.
The Leading Residences of the World is the only destination
club ENTREE endorses or will ever endorse. For more information
on exploring your passion for the finest travels this way,
visit www.lrwclub.com or
call (866)
LRW-CLUB.
January 2006
Even the most passionate of traveler must come down
to earth every once in a while and head for home. That is why ENTREE
is continually on the lookout for splendid places to live. Santa
Barbara isn’t
too bad, but we think we’ve found a better place: Monterra.
Monterra is often called “the pinnacle of the Monterey Peninsula” and
it’s true: this exclusive, private community rises high above
the bright blue Pacific Ocean and is carefully protected and preserved
for eternity. Only 168 limited-edition homes will be built at Monterra,
each on generous acreage (two to 20 acres) blessed with majestic
ancient oaks, rolling meadows, canyons and brilliant wildflowers.
Monterra is an exclusive community providing property owners a welcome
alchemy of space, privacy and sociability. It’s just a nature
walk away from home to an afternoon of fitness, fine dining or a
friendly tennis match. Just beyond the guard-gated walls of Monterra
lies the prestigious Tehama Golf Club where
a membership awaits. Monterra is a place of extraordinary quality
offering the legendary allure and lifestyle of the gorgeous Carmel
Valley. Monterra is not inexpensive: homesites start at $1,500,000.
But, make no doubt about it: the quality is there and so are people
who appreciate it. And do not forget that besides a magnificent meeting
of land, sea and sky, Monterey’s and Carmel’s much-heralded
attractions of music, shopping, restaurants, parks, golf and trails
are at your doorstep. If you would like to learn more about this
rare opportunity to own a natural and beautiful piece of California
history to call home, telephone (866) 648-9080 or visit www.monterra.com.
December 2005
Robert Hancock went scouting for a pristine, untouched stretch of
beach on Mexico’s West
Coast, and found it two hours north of Puerto
Vallarta. And he found a lot more there: a gorgeous,
coconut-producing plantation, an 1,100-acre estuary teeming with
exotic birds and a turtle camp protecting the endangered olive ridleys.
Here, along the 11-mile beach, Hancock began building stylishly designed
villas for rent to vacationers or for sale at his Playa
Las Tortugas. They’re set back double the required
distance from the beach. And the American has wholeheartedly thrown
himself into the effort to help save the olive ridleys from extinction
by supporting the Turtle Camp, which, while sponsored by the Mexican
government, depends largely on donations. When the females crawl
up the beach to lay up to 100 eggs a night, predators are right behind
them: raccoons, dogs and worst of all, locals who sell the ping-pong
ball-sized eggs to bars, where locals eat them, falsely believing
them to have aphrodesiac qualities. But staffers and volunteers from
the Turtle Camp make nightly patrols to harvest the eggs first, store
them for incubation, then release the hatchlings into the sea. Even
then, the rate of survival to maturity is eight percent, at best.
Visitors at Playa Las Tortugas can go out on nightly turtle patrols
and also help with the release of hundreds of hatchlings, or paddle
out into the estuary to watch birds like the spectacular roseate
spoonbill as it flies over on flaming red wings. Villas can be rented
from $195 a night. Oceanview homes start at $275,000. Telephone (800)
320-7769 or visit www.playalastortugas.com.
November
2005
For Champagne aficionados, there’s nothing like the bubbly magic brewed
in the chalky hills of northeast France. Otherwise, you’re going to be
drinking mere sparkling wine produced elsewhere in the world—and don’t
call it Champagne. The French are very particular about this, saying that if
it isn’t produced in the highly regulated region of Champagne, you can’t
call it that. ENTREE visited Champagne for the annual September harvest, where
bunches of Chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier grapes were hand-picked by
a small army of workers, using nearly as much care with each cluster as though
they were handling a newborn baby. We found tourists swarming to the vineyards
as well, following the Route of Champagne between Reims and Epernay, visiting
the famous houses, tasting the bubbly and prowling the vast network of cool cellars
where the each precious bottle sleeps until its time is right. A word of caution:
Do your homework first. Some Champagne houses are not open to the public and
others are closed on weekends. Reims and Epernay are only slightly over an hour
by train from Paris, allowing for a day trip. But to really taste the region,
it’s best to drive or hire a car. Moet & Chandon
(www.moet.com), the
mega-producer, offers an excellent tour, as well as a pricey gift shop. In its
Epernay courtyard you’ll find a statue honoring Dom Perignon, the Benedictine
monk who, contrary to popular legend, did not “invent” Champagne
but did years of diligent work to help perfect the blending and intricate production
of the most famous wine in the world. If one is to drink well, one must eat well
too. One Champenois citadel dedicated to fine food as well as Champagne is the
Royal Champagne, F-51160 Champillon, RN 51, Bellevue,. telephone 33-03-26-52-87-11,
www.royalchampagne.com, a Relais & Chateaux hotel. Its restaurant boasts
a Michelin star, thanks to its young chef, Philippe
Augé. At night the
elegant dining room and guest rooms offer a spectacular view of the lights of
Epernay below, like bright gems flung from on high. ENTREE, however, dropped
our bags at Hostellerie La Briqueterie, 4 Route
de Sézanne, 51530 Vinay,
Epernay, telephone 33-03-26-59-99-99. (www.labriqueterie.fr.), a charming country
inn a few miles outside Epernay with a heated indoor pool and fine dining room.
For more information, contact the Office of Champagne USA, Washington DC, (www.champagne.us).
October 2005
Forget Prada binges. Forget dining at Grand Vefour.
Forget yachting in Croatia. The biggest trend in international
travel seems
to have
sprung from a less material source, Dan Brown’s novel,
The Da Vinci Code. International travelers are coming to Europe
in
droves to follow in the gumshoes of the art world detective who
cracked
the mysteries of the Mona Lisa. While Da Vinci Code tours are
the rage, ENTREE loves the style, artistry and sense of cool Geneva's unparalleled
Hotel d'Angleterre (since 1872) has blended into their Looking
for Mona Lisa package. A two-night minimum stay
in the pristine confines of the d’Angleterre’s grand
quarters includes an indulgent daily breakfast buffet, sauna
and gym access
and a make-up session with Clarins to look your loveliest while sitting
with Swiss portrait artist Dominique Cornaglia.
Master of a wide range of mediums from oils and acrylics to watercolor
and pencil,
Cornaglia will paint a classic portrait of each guest with all
the romance and precision of a Renaissance master. Mona Lisa
guests will
also receive a Da Vinci cocktail in the sexy confines of the
hotel’s
classic Leopard Lounge,
purring over a potentially lethal combination of Tequila, Campari,
Cointreau and lemon. We’re not sure Mona
Lisa herself knocked back a lot of tequila, but still we adore you,
Mona. The Looking for Mona Lisa package starts at $1,070, depending
on accommodations and choice of medium used in your portrait, and
is one of very few to leave you with such a permanent, personal keepsake.
Who knows? In 600 years, crazed tourists might be cramming into The
Louvre to wonder what was on your mind. Let’s hope it wasn’t
leaving the door unlocked back home. Geneva’s elegant five-star
luxury Hotel d’Angleterre is found in the heart of the
city, romantically perched over Lake Geneva. The hotel is legendary
for
high-profile guests and perfectly-managed grandeur. For more
information or reservations, please visit www.dangleterrehotel.com or call +41
(0) 22 906 5555.
September 2005
One of West Hollywood’s best-kept secrets: The Tower
Bar, the
snazzy new restaurant in the landmark Argyle Hotel, currently being
renovated by the talented owner, Jeff Klein. Wunderkind Piero
Morovich is in the kitchen, the gracious Dimitri
Dimitrov is at the maitre
d’ stand, and the distinguished Page Cavanaugh lovingly tickles
the 88s. The Tower Bar, 8358 West Sunset Blvd., (323) 654-7100. Almost
forgot to name drop: we saw the lithe and lovely Nicole Kidman, here
sitting under the photo of Zazu Pitts.
July-August 2005
The Pierre has been one of New
York’s finest hotels for over
70 years. Some things never change. The Pierre is now a Taj
Hotel.
Fifth Avenue at its door, Central Park just across the avenue, The
Pierre, with its neoclassic spire and distinctive copper roof, has
been a landmark among New York landmarks since 1930. And even more
of a landmark is the effortless grace that, along with ever-attentive
service, has made The Pierre New York a home away from home for international
travelers. We know and respect Taj Hotels greatly, not only because
the elegant hotelier Raymond Bickson confidently
heads the company with great professionalism. Established in 1903,
Taj Hotels Resorts
and Palaces is one of Asia’s largest and finest group of
hotels, with 56 hotels in 39 locations across India with an additional
17
international hotels in the Maldives, Mauritius, Malaysia,
Seychelles, U.K., Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa and the Middle
East. As treasured
historical landmarks, Taj Hotels have become destinations in themselves.
They share a mutual culture, which places a premium on distinctive
service while retaining the unique appeal of each hotel. This can
be seen clearly throughout the Taj Palace hotels in India where
the group understands the importance of protecting the heritage
of the
properties, while offering unrivaled luxury. This knowledge will
only help them to become conscientious guardians of The Pierre’s
legacy, as the Taj guides it into the future. Taj Hotels Resorts
and Palaces will ensure that The Pierre continues to symbolize
uncompromised luxury, not only in New York, but also around the
world. For more
information and instant online reservations at The Pierre visit www.tajhotels.com/Pierre.
Or call (212) 838-8000. News flash: the gracious General Manager
of The Lowell Hotel in New
York, Heiko Kuenstle, has been selected
to run The Pierre. This is a stroke of genius: the gracious Mr. Kuenstle
is one of the best in the business, a razor-sharp General Manager
with a great sense of style.
May-June
2005
There was a time when ENTREE considered the French the
world’s
greatest hoteliers with the best hotels. That was in the 1980s.
They
still have some spectacular men and women running some breath-taking
hotels like the Four Seasons George
V, Crillon, Plaza-Athenee and Bristol in
Paris. In the ’90s
we gravitated to England and
fell in love with London hotels and the talented professionals
who orchestrate them.
London still has world class properties like The
Lanesborough, Milestone and
The Dorchester and
we are looking for terrific things from Claridge’s,
The Connaught and The
Berkeley now that they are rebranded as the Maybourne
Hotel Group.
But this
is the 21st century, and the news is we have just returned from
India and can
pronounce Indian hospitality without peer on the planet. We were
in the loving
hands of Taj Hotels and Oberoi on
this trip. India is
a land steeped with noble heritage, picturesque with exquisite
architecture, imbued with
a heroic and
romantic past. Every step in India is a walk through history.
This is a land of
pomp and pageantry, of dust and dung, of marigolds and monsoons,
love and
valor, snow—a place where sand, smoke, ash, and blinding
colors all coalesce in
an ineffable sweetness. The people will open their hearts and
minds to you. You
must see India and see it with Taj Hotels and Oberoi. We’ll
say more about
India in future issues. For now, hold this image of a vast country
of endless
gods, swamis, jungle, desert, oasis, elephants, Bollywood, crushing
poverty and
untold wealth, a place we hold a deep love for, thanks to the
men and women of
Taj and Oberoi who, in their graceful, thoughtful and sincere
fashion, made us feel
both at home and like maharajahs. India is all of our history,
India is the past,
present and future. Go now, go while you are young, or if you
are old. Go if you
are bored or if you are excited by life. India has the capability
to dissolve your
notions of what it means to be alive. Start by visiting www.tajhotels.com and www.oberoihotels.com.
Fly Malaysia Airlines to
India, www.malaysiaairlines.com.
April 2005
It
is rare when a new hotel knocks our socks off. But ZaZa in Dallas did
just that. We thought we had seen it all. But dramatic and intimate ZaZa
trumps most. ZaZa is the hottest hotel in the country—a four-storey
sunny yellow chateau filled with surprises at each and every turn. We have
always defined great Dallas hotels by the standards of The Mansion and
Crescent. We still do. But they must make room now for ZaZa, a banquet for
the senses with a style that blends together urban Dallas at its best with sexy
Mediterranean elegance. ZaZa is sensual and full of fun—a compelling escape—with
impeccable attention to detail. But ZaZa is not a great hotel just on the surface.
Beneath the “Phantom of the Opera meets South of France villa” décor
is a commitment to outstanding hotel keeping, thanks to the eagle eye direction
of General Manager Matt Greene and his splendid young and well-groomed
staff. True credit for ZaZa’s electricity must be given to owner Charlie
Givens,
the creative genius behind the hotel. Nothing seems a problem for ZaZa’s
happy
employees who always are at the ready to gracefully meet any challenge. There
are 145 guest rooms that are rich in color and texture, yet state-of-the-art
equipped. Thirteen large and extravagant concept suites, each with experiential
differences, like the Out of Africa Suite, the Far East Suite and the Bohemia
Suite, allow guests to revel in another world. Our personal favorite is the ZaZa
Suite, 1500 square feet of well-bred calm with jaw-dropping views of the
skyline, imported antiques, full kitchen, large balcony and whirlpool bathtub.
ZaZa’s Dragonfly Restaurant and Lounge attracts Dallas’s prettiest
women and
dashing men each evening. Created in collaboration with well known chef
Stephan Pyles, the restaurant crisply serves exquisite Mediterranean cuisine
with Asian influences in an atmosphere of whimsy, with energetic music and
romantic lighting. We guarantee you’ll see Prada bags and Stetson hats,
Tiffany
baubles and Tony Lama boots. ZaZa is all about playfulness and a sense of
humor. It is also the ideal place for business meetings. But after work, a pool
awaits, as does the 4000-square-foot ZaSpa for relaxing massages, pedicures and
facials. It is almost as if Mr. Greene, his owners and staff took a close look
at
every aspect of the hotel experience and agreed to evolve it to a higher, more
creative level. Hence, the bikini underwear for sale in the candlelit lobby and
washable transfer tattoos for all. Everywhere one turns there is inspiration:
Helmut Newton photos, Frette linens, snack-stock pantries on each floor. To
sum it up, ZaZa is trendy, ZaZa is wildly popular, ZaZa is excellently located,
ZaZa is chic. More than that, ZaZa, underneath all the cool, is a hard-working
hotel, anticipating your every need and every bit the masterpiece of fine hospitality
as any Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton. Hotel ZaZa, 2332 Leonard Street,
Dallas, (214) 468-8399, www.hotelzaza.com. As we went to press, we learned of
ZaZa’s seven new ultra-luxury suites—The Magnificent Seven—decadent
villas
with private access, endless extras, gourmet kitchens, rainforest showers,
oversized beds, 42-inch plasma screen televisions, sky-high ceilings, reserved
parking, Whirlpool spas, advanced music systems—and stylish comfort of
the
highest level. Need we go on? Who could resist a suite named “Crouching
Tiger” or “Red Shoes” or “Dangerous Beauty”? Not
us, surely.
February-March 2005
One of our favorite spas is surely the esteemed Golden Door in
Escondido, California, north of San Diego. The happy weeks at this
destination spa run from Sunday to Sunday. Most weeks are for
women only and limited to 40, with a large, caring staff and lovely
Japanese gardens for atmosphere. Hiking and every type of aerobics
are offered,
as well as a full schedule of yoga and Tai Chi. All guests are given
a personal
trainer to help them achieve their goals. One of the best parts is
the daily
routine of massages in your room, with facials and nail care in the
beauty
compound. The Golden Door is not resting on its laurels, and has
started
upgrades galore. They are replacing the 1960s parquet flooring with
bamboo and
re-doing all the bathrooms and draperies, making the rooms (all of
which open
onto courtyards) even more charming for relaxation. The newest addition
is a
small pool house with a very warm pool, built above the Japanese
gardens for
in-water massages. We didn’t try this but we heard many rave
reviews. At The
Door, one makes new friendships, hears interesting evening lectures
and experi-
ences valuable cooking classes to stay healthy. How great is it that,
along with mind, body and spiritual renewal, personal laundry is
done and sweats are
provided. Pack your troubles and shoes and find all the peace of
mind you
could hope for in one week. Reward yourself: Golden Door weeks are
$6500, all
included, except for a few à la carte services. P.O.
Box 463077, Escondido, CA
92046, (800) 424-0777; www.goldendoor.com.
January 2005
The Mosaic Hotel is
just what all of us are looking for: a well-run, attractive hotel in Beverly
Hills that will not require mortgaging the Bentley.
Located in the heart of Beverly Hills, steps from Rodeo Drive,
this 47-room
gem has style and ambiance and is an oasis of elegance, warmth
and peerless service in a very calm and private setting. All
rooms and suites have free DSL, two phones, CD player and luscious
robes. There is an efficient concierge, fitness center and outdoor
heated pool at The Mosaic. Best of all, a full-service restaurant
serves excellent food with an international flair, and the small
bar off the dining room buzzes with smart and attractive locals,
especially the young Creative Artists crowd. Rich
Wood is the chef performing all the magic in the kitchen. Brendan
Carlin
is the friendly General Manager who directs his eager
staff with true talent. Rooms start at $242. The Mosaic is at 125
S. Spalding Drive, (310) 278-0303.
Blakes was London’s first
boutique hotel and we recently decided to go back to see how it has
matured. The good news is that
it still remains among the best of chic London nests. It is an elegant,
seductive and, some say, pleasantly decadent hotel with design elements
from the East, Europe and England. The talented Anouska
Hempel assembled
Blakes’ exotic and mysterious atmosphere from her far-flung
travels, and a more romantic setting would be hard to find. Rooms
are richly done up and imaginative. Blakes has a seriously dramatic
restaurant with inspired cooking. It is hard to capture the essence
of Blakes, but if you can imagine old Vuitton trunks, orange salmon
sashimi, exotic fans made of Brazilian bird feathers, black lacquer
trays, slipper orchids, a white gravel courtyard and a can-do-anything
concierge, you’ll begin to understand this highly polished
gem. Room rates begin at about $290. Oh, and there is oxygen in
the mini-bars. Blakes, 33 Roland Gardens, telephone 020-737-06701.
November-December
2004
A total transformation has occurred at the
manor house in the Dorset village
of Evershot, England.
Originally built circa 1788, writer Thomas
Hardy was the architect when it was extended
in 1893. In recent years the home was turned into a hotel with
a perfectly ghastly interior that rendered its Relais & Châteaux membership
a mystery. The R&C membership not only continues—it
finally makes sense. Using her finest creative instincts, hotelier
Bea Tollman has carefully restored the formerly mundane guest
house into Summer Lodge Country
House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa. Surrounded
by beautiful countryside, this wonderfully enhanced Georgian
manor is now a unique addition to Mrs. Tollman’s collection
of Red Carnation Hotels.
Under the watchful eye of General Manager Charles
Lötter, Summer Lodge is running very smoothly—an
elegant getaway, a unique business retreat with state-of-the-art
facilities and a renowned address for fine dining. The friendly
staff caters beautifully to all, ensuring that guests enjoy
the country house lifestyle. Even the young are treated kindly
as adults. The teddy bear in each unique bedroom, however,
is for both young and older alike—a welcoming and amusing
touch. Summer Lodge has the coziest of duvet-covered beds,
which ensure a blissful night’s sleep. Accommodations
are sophisticated yet warm and comfortable. The extensive accessories
in the baths and bedrooms, the fabrics and overall décor
are of lush quality, all of them selected with the talented
eye of Mrs. Tollman. The dining room offers food that can rarely
be faulted. Taste and presentation are superb. Local guests
hold celebrations by feasting here while others hail from all
parts of the continent and beyond. The ambiance influences
the behavior of any child present. We were charmed to see that
backs were straightened, voices lowered. One young but very
grown-up fellow quietly enjoyed a game of “I Spy With
My Little Eye” with his family while awaiting his chocolate
soufflé. This dining room hums with the quiet conversations
of families and the whispers of couples on romantic anniversary
getaways—or were they lovers’ trysts? Or, after
an intense day in the Lodge’s high-tech conference room,
business executives can also enjoy the excellent wine list
and relax over epicurean delights. Executive Chef Steve
Titman should be most proud of his following
of all ages, nationalities and vocations. Mrs. Tollman’s
horticultural flair is in evidence everywhere. Displays of
boxwood topiary line the driveway, and orchids abound throughout
the residential and public areas. Her love of dogs is also
clearly shown in the clubby bar: very Ralph Lauren, with antique
canine paintings on all available walls. The family dogs—two
unusually long long-haired dachshunds—can be seen cavorting
around the grounds or shadowing their mistress during her frequent
personal visits to this relaxing haven. Now that the spa is
about to open and the new conservatory to cover the heated
swimming pool is almost complete, we wonder how one can be
tempted away to visit all the scenic delights Dorset has to
offer. Summer Lodge,
telephone 011 44 1935 48 2000,
visit www.summerlodgehotel.com.
October
2004
The bustling streets of Taipei are in turns rewarding and overwhelming, with
thousands of mopeds screaming in every direction, street markets teeming with
fun seekers, and flavors both tasty and strange coming from every direction.
The Grand Formosa Regent Taipei is its best hotel, offering comfortable sanctuary
and indulgent luxury in a prime neighborhood. When foreign leaders and international
stars like Elton John and Michael Jordan land in Taipei, the Grand Formosa
is their first stop. They are whisked through the sexy glass and marble lobby
to plush and restorative rooms. The 19th floor Tai Pan Residences and Club
redefine hotel luxury with rooms that resemble executive offices filled with
business technology and first-class amenities to help weary travelers stay
in touch with their homeland and their sanity. From giant flatscreen TVs to
a pillow menu to the wide city views that include a glimpse of Taipei 101 (currently
the world’s tallest building), The Tai Pan Residences are seductive and
complete, with butler service; a massive, fully stocked lounge overseen by
attentive, friendly concierges; meeting rooms and the same delicious Chinese
and Western food found in the Grand Formosa’s cherished and acclaimed
restaurants that include Robin’s Grill for steaks and the elegant Lan
Ting for Shanghai cuisine. The Grand Formosa also boasts the gorgeous Wellspring
Spa for traditional Swedish, Thai and Balinese massage therapies, as well as
the latest in beauty trends on the floor beneath a rooftop pool. A great basement
gym is popular with local members and is available almost 24 hours a day for
guests. The Grand Formosa sits atop some of the world’s best shopping,
and has plans to construct a fashion center, strengthening its position as
the premier stop for jewelry and couture in Taiwan. Completing the perfect
experience at the Grand Formosa are the vigilant and friendly staff, who are
always charming in a genuine way and never intrusive or obsequious. The Grand
Formosa Regent is another gem in the Four Seasons crown, head and shoulders
above any other hotel in Taipei, a city of thousands of hotels catering to
business and tourist needs. General Manager Rudy Scherb has entered our pantheon
of great Four Seasons managers. The Grand Formosa Regent
Taipei can be reached
at 886-2-2523-8000. Visit www.grandformosa.com.tw. Room rates range from $147-$2363.
September
2004
The reports are true, there is currently no nightlife neighborhood as bustling
and glamorous as the Meat Packing District on the far West Side of New
York around 14th Street. We saw the streets teeming with groups of good-looking,
sharply-dressed partygoers having a ball among the numerous hip nightclubs,
bars, restaurants and lounges to be found amid its charming streets. In many
ways, the Meat Packing District obliterates the grungy scenes of the East Village
and Lower East Side, allowing New Yorkers the chance to be dapper and elegant
again. The area’s best place to stay and usually the best place to go
is The Hotel Gansevoort. The Gansevoort resembles the eternally cool beachside
hotels of Miami with a sexy, glass, color-changing façade and unlimited
style. The rooms are spacious and chic, but retain the intimacy of the best
boutiques. Flat-screen TVs, dark wood, granite balconies, sleek bathrooms,
featherbeds and comfortable, ergonomic furnishings are the standards among
plenty of surprises the Gansevoort reveals. Whether visiting or local, everyone’s
favorite destination appears to be the hotel’s rooftop. During the day,
a refreshing outdoor pool on the roof keeps guests occupied when not taking
in the stunning views of the Hudson and city over breakfast or cocktails; at
night the balconies and lounges fill with fashionable and fun cliques of revelers.
Still, the roof does not feel crowded, but rather like attending a soiree at
a Gothamite’s multi-million-dollar apartment. Plans for a second floor
Japanese restaurant are currently being carried out. The Gansevoort brings
added cool and credibility under the expertise of owner Henry Kallan to this
latest neighborhood to become a red-hot party zone. The Hotel
Gansevoort is
found at 18 Ninth Avenue and can be reached at (877) 426-7386.
August
2004
Women are taking over Paris, including some of its most famous institutions.
It began with Grace Leo-Andrieu’s creation of the chic Hôtel
Montalembert and subsequent redesign of the five-star Lancaster. Then chefs like Hèléne
Darroze broke through what was not so much a glass ceiling as a crystalline
fortress of male domination a century in the making. But what has rocked the
French hospitality industry is the appointment of Mme. Franka Holtmann as general
manager of the Hotel de Crillon. With its site on the Place de la Concorde
at the foot of the Champs Elysèes, the Crillon is one of the grandest
and most historic of the capital’s palace hotels. This is where presidents
entertain in the Salon Marie Antoinette, and heros are accommodated in the
magnificent Leonard Bernstein Suite, where the old rogue’s baby grand
is kept in tune pending a ghostly reappearance. It is not that the glamorous
Mme. Holtmann is unknown—she was number two at the divine Plaza
Athenée,
having been commerical director of the incomparable Paris Ritz. Rather it is
the distinctive feminine touch that has caused an institution many found intimidating
to loosen its stays. The miracle is that nothing of its atmosphere has been
lost in the process. Staff smiles and service is imaginative with original
touches. On the day of departure, for example, our room was made up as thoroughly
as if we had been staying on—a practice not encountered often in 40 years
traveling. Guest accommodations have been redecorated throughout with a subtle
hand, resulting in rooms that are lighter and airier, yet still quintessentially
Parisien, with no two the same in layout or decor. Unlike many new hotels,
in-room broadband Internet access is simply a matter of plugging in the ethernet
cable on a desk upon which Napoleon could have accepted surrenders. Paris has
been hard hit by the reluctance of Americans to visit in the wake of you-know-what.
The lateral thinking Taittinger Champagne family, who own the Crillon, along
with Cannes’ definitive Martinez, took a risk in appointing a female
general manager, with dreams of making the hotel appeal to a younger clientele—in
France you tinker with national monuments at your peril. But that is what has
happened, and other grand hoteliers are still agog at the boldness of the experiment.
Happily, we found guests devoid of the fashionista pretension abounding around
Avenue Montaigne, but not lacking in chic. Indeed, the gorgeous young couple
locked in embrace upon a sofa in the bar restored our faith in Paris as THE
city of romance. Other recent guests include Catherine Deneuve, fashion mandarin
David Tang, Lance Armstrong, and the Dalai Lama. Naturally, none of this comes
cheap, but not shatteringly expensive either. With Faubourg St. Honoré shopping
a few paces from the side entrance, it looks like a bargain. The other reason
to visit the Crillon is Les Ambassadeurs, hitherto a marble and mirrored museum
of gastronomy. Not any more. One of Mme. Holtmann’s calculated risks
was to bring in Alain Ducasse’s 34-year-old protégé, Jean
Francois Piege from the Drôme (geographic origins counting for much in
a country of regional cuisines). Piege, a droll man who describes cooking under
the eye of the master as like driving with your family in the car, seems to
be enjoying navigating solo, although supported by a gifted 25-year-old pastry
chef and youthful brigade. His cooking has exploded in Les Ambassadeurs like
a carnival in a mausoleum. Dishes froth and foam, flavors illuminate the tastebuds—and
tease. Three Michelin stars are expected as the dynamic Jean-Luc Naret sets
to awaken that somnolent guide to the arrival of the 21st century. And of women
chefs and hoteliers. One feels Maurice Chevalier, if not Leonard Bernstein,
would approve. Hotel de Crillon, 40 Place de la Concorde, 75008 Paris,
France +33 144 74 15 00; www.crillon.com. From 390 euros double occupancy, including
tax and service. Restaurant Hèléne Darroze 4, rue d’Assas,
Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris, +33 1 42 22 00 11; www.relaischateaux.com.
From $120 for two with wine, including tax and service.
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