Mar 11, 2010 by Stephanie Johnnidis - comment
Stephanie Johnnidis delivers your weekly dose of the hottest hotel happenings. Check out her posts – for the latest updates, openings, tips, and deals – before you check in.
I recently spent a weekend at Togwotee Mountain Lodge, located in Wyoming’s serene Bridger-Teton National Forest – tucked away in the mountains, miles from modern civilization. After checking into this no-frills lodge, I opened the door to my private, rustic one-bedroom log cabin (there’s 54 in a cluster near the main building) and received a genuine, cordial welcome: a bag filled with Buffalo jerky, as well as hand and toe warmers.
The cozy cabin contained a living room with a wood-burning fireplace (there was spilt timber on the porch), and a reasonably sized bedroom. I found the mattress to be quite comfortable (with a headboard and bed frame made out of real wood, I thought I was going to be tossing and turning all night). In the living room was a small kitchenette, which – although convenient – had virtually no countertop space, so cooking meals could have been a challenge if I wasn’t dining at the lodge’s Grizzly Steakhouse.
Before ever stepping foot into the extravagant five-star boutique hotel, confirmed guests arriving at Red Carnation’s The Milestone, located across Kensington Palace and The Royal Gardens, are invited to fill out a detailed preference form.
Personalized questions such as “what are your hobbies/interests?” or “what is your favorite color?” allow Milestone staff to tailor one of their uniquely designed 57 luxury rooms and 6 apartments to suit your individual style. Handpicked antiques, original oil paintings, and intricately designed décor add to each room’s deluxe personality. Themes range from a Safari suite with animal prints and a colonial ceiling fan to the Mistinguett boudoir-styled room named and fashioned after the 20th-century French actress and her flamboyance with vivid splashes of red and plush fur. Read the rest of this post »
Looking for a place to stay on Sint Maarten (Saint Martin)? One of my favorite spots on the Dutch side of the island is Cupecoy, and I recently discovered an under-the-radar, classy condo-hotel there that’s worth the splurge. The Cliff at Cupecoy sits just above the craggy coast offering unobstructed views of the ocean. The high-rise has managed to stay somewhat of a secret because, well, most think it’s just a residential condo. And while, yes, all 71 units are owned (most, as second vacation homes), 25 of the bunch are included in the Cliff’s rental program so when the lucky owners are not in town, the units are available to rent on a short- to long-term basis (there is a 2-night minimum). What’s especially great about this place – aside from the privacy, the fantastic Christian Dior Spa, the curvy outdoor pool, the two-lane indoor lap pool, the fitness center with ocean views, and the indoor-outdoor restaurant and bar with ocean views – is that all accommodations are spacious apartments with full kitchens, luxury finishes, and, of course, dramatic ocean views (video room preview above). Accommodations range from 1- to 4-bedroom suites and penthouses. Décor varies from one unit to the next but you can expect marble floors, granite counter tops, and sizable balconies. Read the rest of this post »
When I arrived in Playa del Carmen last week, a stretch of sugar white shoreline nestled along Mexico’s famed Riviera Maya, I expected to find, well, the expected: a barrage of all-inclusive mega-resorts and pop-up American franchises interspersed with a cultural hotspot or two. Such is what Playa’s cousin, Cancun (a 45 minute drive north), has become known for. What I didn’t expect to find was an exciting new crop of oceanfront resorts not just embracing an eco-chic mantra, but successfully combining a seemingly incompatible ménage a trois of sustainability, luxury, and all-inclusivity. Blasting the belief that eco-luxury is a myth, these posh properties are not your average all-inclusives – providing Ritz-defying quality and green initiatives that go well beyond watered-down margaritas and suggested towel reuse. Read the rest of this post »
You may not have noticed the island across the water from Miami’s South Beach strip (there’s enough to keep your eyes occupied on the happening drag) but just across the way, a 7-minute ferry ride to be exact, sits Fisher Island, a private residential community home to some 216 acres, a slew of luxury condos, and the Fisher Island Hotel & Resort. Onetime home to the Vanderbilt family (William Vanderbilt acquired the island from Carl Fisher in a trade in 1925 – Vanderbilt’s 220-foot yacht for the island!), the hotel is centered around the Vanderbilt’s original 1926 mansion which now houses restaurants Garwood and Café Tangier. Recently renovated rooms and villas (villa room tour above) feature traditional furnishings like poster beds and slick bathrooms with a large tub and separate shower with wide rain-shower head. Villas also come with their own private patios with loungers and an outdoor Jacuzzi. All hotel guests get their own golf cart to drive around the island during their stay.
The powdery sands of Grace Bay Beach in Provo, Turks & Caicos, are backed by a string of new high-end resorts (The Gansevoort Turks & Caicos, Seven Stars, The Veranda Resort & Residences) but I recently checked into the 5-year-old Regent Palms and it didn’t disappoint.
I recently had the pleasure of overnighting on St. Barts to review its jewel-box hotel, Eden Rock. (Ah, yes, I love my job.) While it’s hard to go wrong with accommodations on St. Barts – the island is filled with glitzy boutique hotels polished to perfection – the Eden Rock stands out from the gang for a few reasons.
After 10 years in business, Boston’s acclaimed boutique hotel XV Beacon hasn’t stopped turning heads. I recently enjoyed a scrumptious lunch at the property’s upscale steakhouse Mooo…. and was blown away by the three-course prix fixe menu for $20.09, now a permanent fixture thanks to its success during restaurant week. The discount price definitely does not translate to smaller portions. To get the most of the bargain, I recommend the steamed mussels and chorizo appetizer, 12-ounce New York sirloin with truffle fries, and the lemon pound cake (just enough dessert after two filling courses).
During my visit, I also had a chance to check out some of the upgrades XV Beacon rolled out for its 10th anniversary. Each of the 60 rooms now features 42” flatscreen TVs and new furniture and linens. There are also two new Lexus courtesy cars to chauffeur guests anywhere they want to go. And the anniversary celebration doesn’t stop there – the hotel is offering a few deals to keep the spirit going through 2010. Read the rest of this post »
There are five Aman resorts in Indonesia: One in Java, three in Bali, and one on Moyo Island, 150 miles east of Bali on the Flores Sea. Which you choose should depend on what you want, but if you can’t decide various packages (with names like “Aman Bali Experience” or “Aman Temples & Reef Journey”) make combining two or more easier.
Start in Bali at Amanusa, just 15 minutes from the Denpasar airport; you’ll already have flown long enough and there’s no reason why your vacation shouldn’t start straightaway (Aman’s included Indonesian Concierge Service will help with this, and you’ll smile as you skirt the listless visa and custom lines). Spend the day and night at Amanusa’s stately soccer-field-sized-pool, or at its Beach Club, or spa. Amanusa’s in “new Bali,” so this is also your chance to visit the ex-pat friendly towns of Kuta, Seminyak, Sanur and Legian. Or even play a round of golf. Read the rest of this post »
Fort Lauderdale is home to some of the most fabulous displays of private real-estate wealth in the country, but its reputation has been primarily defined, until recently, by tides of spring breakers – a playground for the riff raff, rather than the rich. That’s all changed over the last few years, as millions of dollars in development projects have poured in, quickly washing away the popular port city’s party past and elevating it to tony status as the Gold Coast’s newest “it” town. Luxury hotels bearing prestigious names like Ritz, Hilton, and Trump are sprouting up all over – with dozens of newbies opening (such as the first beachfront W in late April) and old favorites, like the landmark Yankee Clipper (known for its live mermaid shows), getting extensive facelifts. Last weekend, I checked into the Westin Beach Resort to check out the hotel’s recent multi-million dollar rebirth.