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Hotel Reviews Archives — Page 3 of 5 — A TO ZA’ATAR

Category Archives: Hotel Reviews

Sydney is a city ubiquitous with a range of hotels, from well-recognized brands to smaller properties, and just about everything in between.  For the start of our trip, we booked into the Langham Sydney, a boutique property with under 100 keys.  With the street closures of Vivid, getting to the hotel was a slight effort, but in the end, I’m glad we were located so close to the action.  The Langham represents what I would consider an ‘old Hollywood’ style.  Given the majority of my stays are in modern, less than 10-year-old properties in the Middle East, it was interesting to take a turn in a different location. Pros Location is everything.  If you’re looking for something that’s both quiet and within walking distance of the Rocks, Sydney Harbor Bridge, and a number of other tourist destinations in the city, the Langham is a fantastic fit.  While I suppose there…

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The Old Clare Hotel

To finish our trip in Australia, I had been looking forward to our stay at The Old Clare Hotel in Sydney.  Located near the central train station (less than 5 minutes walking distance) and just at the top of stylish Kensington Street, not to mention the nearby (and totally useful) Central Park mall — this was the perfect spot to end our stay.  With a unique historic background, artwork of the former building is prominently displayed through the current hotel.  And if that wasn’t enough history… “The Old Clare Hotel rests on a parcel of land that is rich in history, its earliest recorded inhabitants being the Eora people. In 1810, Major George Druitt was granted 8 acres of land wherein Old Clare now stands – at that time, the area was the outskirts of Sydney. Major Druitt sold a large portion of this to John Tooth in 1834, who…

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Even though I’m just back from what felt like a month of hotels that I still need to write about, sometimes we need a vacation from our holiday, do we not?  In this instance, a quick getaway to nearby Ajman fit the bill.  While I’ve now conquered visited most of the Fairmont properties in the UAE (Fujairah, SZR, and my favorite weekend visit Abu Dhabi), I had not yet visited the Ajman venue (and don’t worry, The Palm — I have plans for you).  Also, if we’re being honest, in my ten years in the GCC, I really haven’t had a reason to specifically visit the emirate of Ajman. Things I loved: Sweet suite.  The layout of the junior suite was one of the best I’ve come across.  With a generous amount of space, including an easily divided bedroom and sitting area (with an expanded ‘office,’ large terrace, and two televisions),…

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In a toe-curling cliffside location (complete with a one of a kind driveway), just past Positano on the Amalfi Coast, Casa Angelina is a bastion of urban style done in chic, reflective white.  Service is highly attentive and begins prior to guests ever stepping foot inside the property via a welcoming e-mail.  Given the slightly isolated location, this Design Hotel is a welcome retreat from the crowds – a place to relax, unwind, and reconnect. Compared to nearby Positano (with its restaurants, shops, and bustling beach scene), Praiano is a bit of a sleepy village.  Adventurous travelers in search of a convenient base to explore the region will find it here, but night owls and activity-seekers are in for a bit of a disappointment.  This hotel is a good fit for individuals and romantics in their 30s and 40s seeking a vacation wherein reading a thick novel, writing postcards (or…

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Spoiler alert, I’ve lived in the UAE for ten years, and while I’ve driven through Al Ain a few times, I’ve never actually stayed overnight.  As Hubs did quite a bit of work in the city circa 2009 (including the wildlife park), I was happy to accept an invitation to revisit this slower paced desert city.  A relatively quick and easy 1:20-minute drive from Dubai, other than the lack of signage to actually get into the hotel (you’ll need to detour around the stadium), the exterior of the Aloft Al Ain matches the interior — modern and low-key.  The lobby is an expansive, open plan space, complete with a pool table, entrance to the W XYZ bar, and a grab and go deli counter (the Emirates need more of these, TBH). What I liked: So modern!  This is the first time in a long time that I’ve stepped into a hotel…

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Wondering exactly what we had in store for our planned visit to the Iridium Spa (the onsite spa for the St. Regis Maldives), Zoe and I jumped on a golf cart and headed through the lush forest to the opposite side of the island where the spa is located.  From above, it has the appearance of a crustacean of some form and up close I loved the beachy color palate and amount of private space.  Overall, I felt there was something dreamy about the concept of a spa set over the water (made even more real by the clear glass floors set throughout the space). After a quick tour of the facilities (which include private bungalows for treatments, a small store with high-end products, also shower, sauna, and steam room facilities), we were escorted to the deck where the hydrotherapy pool was located. Quickly receiving a glass of refreshing ginger iced tea,…

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The Maldives are a dream destination often spoken of, and for those of us lucky enough to live within an easy flight’s distance, an attainable holiday location.  But how to decide which resort is the right one?  With plenty of high-end options, how do you ensure your holiday dollars (or dirhams) will be spent correctly?  All things being equal, I’ll place the newly opened St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort near the very top of the list. With only 77 rooms, this is a private, luxury location to disconnect from everything (well, only if you want to — the wifi connectivity on the island is entirely comprehensive).  Unlike other properties, the world class service starts upon landing at Velana International Airport.  Guests are greeted directly from their incoming flight by a St. Regis airport butler and escorted first to check in their luggage to the seaplane charter and then onwards (via…

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As an author of a book taking place entirely in a hotel, there is literally nothing I love more than visiting a new hotel.  I love lobbies and people watching.  I love clean sheets and breathtaking views.  I love luxury toiletries and staying in bed for hours.  Fortunately, the Viceroy Palm Jumeirah delivers on the new hotel ideal in spades.  I’ll start by disclosing that while the hotel was caught off guard over Easter weekend, they seem to be taking the TripAdvisor feedback quite seriously and from my interactions at the hotel, are well on their way to providing professional service and hospitality. All the Yes While I thought the Fairmont Fujairah had my favorite designed room in the UAE, I now realize the Viceroy’s effortlessly Art Deco-esque vibe is something I would love to recreate in a future home.  My love of the room extends so much that today…

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For our second night before joining up with friends to explore other fun destinations in the country, my decision of where to stay in Franschhoek was more or less made for me.  With reservations at The Tasting Room (which is located on the property of Le Quartier Francais), after reviewing the room and suite options available, I didn’t bother looking much further.  While Franschhoek is literally spoiled for choice when it comes to boutique properties, knowing we were going to have a 3+ hour dinner, I didn’t want to bother with driving or walking home.  Turns out I made an excellent decision! Pros Stunning grounds.  Although the entrance is a bit strange (guests park cars in the rear of the hotel, off quieter back streets, but can still enter from the main street on foot as well), once inside, there is immaculate planting, allowing for a genuinely intimate experience (the…

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