Sometime, just sometimes, you don’t want to walk. On those, oh so days of ease, you need to fly in, fly out, no time for overheating tubes or worn heels, you need a helicopter. You need Verta by VonEssen – the hotel for the flying kinda guy and gal. Located on the Thames, the far […]
Lough Eske Castle, Gone Fishin’ Instead of Just A-Wishin’
Eske means ‘fish’ in Irish. Apt then, that Lough Eske Castle has its own ‘Char’ fish, an almost unique local delicacy. You may need to wait until the start of November for the fishing mayhem to begin, but when the Char rise for about four weeks of the year, there are only a few lakes […]
Abu Dhabi’s Palatial Luxury, Bedouin Brillance
Experience the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, just a 60 minute drive from Dubai, it’s easy to reach. The enormity of its size stuns as you arrive; a grand arch, not unlike the Arc de Triomphe, sits proud at the entrance. However this entrance is only for Heads of State and VIP’s so swiftly by-pass […]
Midnight In Paris, Breakfast… Hotel Le Bristol
Woody Allen decided on Italy for his latest movie, but maybe he should consider France again. It was Allen’s Midnight In Paris, a truly romantic film, which became his most successful box office hit in 25 years. Maybe it’s just that Paris scores in the title, or maybe it has a little stardust from one […]
The Lowry Hotel, Manchester – A Perfect Seven
Manchester, David Beckham and the number seven, brand perfection we think. So when the free-kick king named his fourth child, Harper Seven – her middle name, was presumed to be in homage to the red shirt that brought him fame and fortune – it looks like brand extension, right? Surprisingly, not. “Seven” said sage Becks: […]
Kick Back At The Kempinski, St. Moritz
Though funky, the Kempinski doesn’t forget its past; a chandelier in the entrance is from 1864; alabaster lustres in the bar and the smoking room; and the original library, has a beer painted ceiling. The Lady’s’ Salon has an old tradition of inviting its guests to sign their empty wine bottle to be displayed for […]
Rebalance Your Life, Retreat To The Obsidian
Anxiety can lead to stress, can lead to weight gain, which leads to illness; the vicious circle. Life’s treadmill rarely stops, and unless we’re in control of its pace, we inevitability come crashing off, at speed, a bit like Jen. Just as your manicured finger hovers over the emergency ‘STOP!’ button, the Obsidian Retreat emerges […]
Under A Sheltering Sky, The Desert Dream, The Mirage
‘Visionaries’ Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, The Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Khalifa, President of the UAE have constructed a true oasis. The short journey from the Dubai Airport to the Jumeriah Beach resort is just long enough to shake off desert dust and contemplate the luxurious balm, the calm that is the ‘One […]
The Slieve Donard Hotel, Sweeping Down To The Sea
Feast on Ardglass king prawns, Fivemiletown goats’ cheese, Lissara Duck or Hereford steak from Joel Meekes’ Farm in Strangford. I doubt that the mangos for the mango and mint cheesecake were produced locally, but I’m glad they made it to the table. From the Slieve Donard Hotel’s Oak Restaurant, the views over Dundrum Bay are […]
Zurich’s Zenith, The Dolder Grand Hotel
Switzerland, land of milk and honey; its foresight in deciding not to join the European Union could be seen as an attribute contributing to its enduring calm. Instead of a mountain of debt, Switzerland has the Alps, fondue and a lesser known secret; great wine, which they quite rightly refuse to export. One entry point […]