Make a reservation at Four Seasons Florence

Four Seasons Florence, one of the most beautiful hotels in the world is located on the edge of the Florence and occupies two protected Renaissance palaces, the 15th century Palazzo della Gherardesca and the Conventino, a 16th century Palazzo, which was once a convent. Between them lie Florence’s largest private garden – the 11 acre Giardino della Gherardesca – one of the most beautiful and undiscovered green spaces.

The palace’s ornately painted and crafted interiors offer to view 15th – 19th century artworks in their original context. Frescoes, bas-reliefs, stuccoes and silk wallpapers have been carefully restored to reveal vivid detail. Original Florentine art and craftsmanship can also be found in several of the Hotel’s 117 bedrooms and suites.

Hotels main restaurant Il Palagio,offering traditional Tuscan cooking with local  ingredients. The two-storey spa features  natural products created by Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, one of the world’s oldest pharmacies, which continues to use natural ingredients and follow the traditional recipes of monks from the 13th century. The Hotel also has an outdoor pool..This is a dream hotel in a fairy tale city where you can also find traditional  Four Seasons service, what else do you want?

Make a reservation at Four Seasons Florence

Make a reservation at Villa d”‘Este

Set on the shores of Lake Como, Villa d’Este was built in 1568 as the summer residence of Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio. The property has 25 acres of gardens, whose statues and landscape have been photographed for centuries. The design of the lower part of the gardens is from the Renaissance period. The two most outstanding landmarks are the 500 year old plane tree and the 16th century Mosaic with its Nympheum

The favourite playground of an Empress, an English queen and aristocrats,  it was transformed into a luxury hotel in 1873.

Continuously renovated and updated, today  the legendary resort has  152 rooms, all different in decor.  The main house built in 1568 and known as the Cardinal’s building counts 125 rooms while the trompe l’oeil masterpiece known as the Queen’s Pavilion, inaugurated in 1860 has 27 rooms. In 1873 the two Villas combined into one property became Villa d’EsteVilla Malakoff and Villa Cima are available for short term tenancies with services ranging from housekeeping to full private butler and chef service.

A beautiful 18-hole golf  course  winds its way through chestnut, ash and pine trees sheltering golfers even from the intense summer heat.

Make a reservation at Villa d”‘Este

Make a reservation at Cap Ferrat

Housed in a white mansion, on the Côte D’Azur, on the tip of the peninsula of Cap-Ferrat, in 17 acres of lushly landscaped gardens with panoramic views of the Mediterranean, the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat has welcomed guests throughout the past 100 years.

The hotel opened in 2009 after an extensive expansion project by designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. The original Rotunda was designed and built by Gustave Eiffel in 1909 and is located adjacent to the main lobby with large bay windows overlooking the sea. The beautiful lobby features a crystal table by Lalique and a baroque chandelier made by Tisserant (whose other lighting projects include the Palace of Versailles) of crystal doves enclosed within a silver lantern that hangs from the ceiling and reflects light into the room from the rotunda.

A new sea-front wing, the Residence features eight new suites: each with its own private swimming pool and spacious terrace overlooking the sea and sixteen deluxe sea view rooms with private terraces.With the addition of this new wing the hotel now features 73 rooms and suites.Rooms are spacious, light and feature reproductions of artwork from French artists, many of whom were local to the area and regular guests at the Grand-Hotel, including Picasso, Cocteau, Matisse, Chagall, Modigliani and Rodin.

The pool at the Grand Hotel is synonymous with Pierre Gruneberg, resident swimming instructor, who has been teaching hotel guests to swim since 1950. Famous for his ‘salad bowl’ method, Pierre Gruneberg taught Charlie Chaplin’s children how to swim along with countless other hotel guests throughout the years. Grand Hotel guests Picasso and Jean Cocteau, while they did not take part in swimming lessons, sketched souvenir portraits of Pierre that he has saved in his book of Grand Hotel memoirs: “Le Livre D’Or”

Executive Chef Didier Aniès, oversees all three restaurants. Aniès’ cuisine is simple and delicious, unpretentious and elegant. He uses the best ingredients and his creations are inventive and influenced by the Provence region. Try the new La Véranda restaurant that offers creative and authentic Mediterranean cuisine views of the sea and surrounding gardens.

Make a reservation at Cap Ferrat

Make a reservation at La Residence

La Residence lies at the heart of a private 30-acre working farm, complete with vineyards, plum orchards, a dam and fragrant manicured gardens.The majestic mountains that surround the idyllic Franschhoek Valley, where this private hotel is and provide great views in every direction. La Residence  provides not only  luxurious accommodation but also fine dining and an all-round sensory indulgence.

Designed like a French Country Château Space each of the eleven vast suite is complemented by a palatial en-suite bathroom and mountain and vineyard views . Large bedrooms and bathrooms open onto generous sunny balconies and verandas, which offer the perfect place to relax, admire the view, .  Each of the suites decorated different from an exotic Tibetan  with oriental antiques and hand-painted screens to French boudoirs with Provencal antiques and mirrored dressers. The fabrics throughout the hotel and rooms include superlative silks and textures, handpicked to match each interior. The dining and living areas resemble an elegant manor hall. Communal areas lead onto country terraces where roses and fountains make for serene summer evenings

If you are planning a perfect wedding, La Residence with its  courtyard,  and breath-taking mountain views, is the perfect venue for it.

Make a reservation at La Residence

Delaire, one of South Africa’s finest vineyards in Stellenbosch was acquired by Graff in 2003 in order to make it one of South Africa’s ultra premier wineries and prominent restaurant and hotel destination. Delaire’s unique location on the crest of the panoramic Helshoogte Mountain Pass is noted for its high altitude vineyards, excellent soils and cooling sea breezes and breathtaking views.

With new addition of a  Hotel and Spa  there is a unique experience of sleeping amongst the vines. The exclusive hotel will have 10-suites  Each of the ten lodges is completely private, with curved hedges of Camellia and Coffee Jasmine providing natural seclusion. The decor combines indigenous African Architectural influences with some of the local Cape Dutch Style.

Sustainability is more than just an abstract concept here, with special care being taken to minimize electrical consumption and save water; whilst opting for natural renewable materials like stone and wood throughout.

Artworks throughout the estate represent some of South Africa’s finest contemporary artists and have been selected by Laurence Graff, a major collector
of contemporary art.
Walking through the vineyards and garden of the estate  one is privileged to spend time amongt the collection of South African paintings and sculptures.

Make a reservation at Cap Estel

Cap Estel is located  in Eze,at the heart of the Côte d’azur on a private peninsula of about 5 acres between Nice and Monte Carlo. Sheltered from eyes Cap Estel is more like a  “private mansion with a guest-house ” combining luxury and a congenial atmosphere. Being in a 5-acre park, Cap Estel’s terraced gardens with their Mediterranean trees  and its private beach facing the blue waters of Mediterranean have long been a real oasis for the guests. Its fascinating pool and its jacuzzi melt into the infinity of the deep blue sea..

Cap Estel was founded by Frank Harris, an Irish journalist and his close friend Oscar Wilde, at the turn of the 19th Century, when they decided to turn a pig farm into a high class ‘resort’.

Steeped in history this stunning hotel has passed from the famous Russian Stroganoff family, to Greek ship owners and even a racing car driver,  before finally falling into the loving hands of its current owners, whose finishing touches to the property were finalized in early 2009 . Over the years Greta Garbo, The Beatles, Sir Laurence Olivier, and Robert de Niro have been guests of Cap Estel.

Cap Estel has  14 suites and 4 guest-rooms shared out in the estate’s 4 different sites : le Cap, la Mer, la Corniche et le Parc which are glamorous and contemporary  The light and open view of the sea and gardens serve as common denominators for all the rooms. Under the supervision of the Chef Nicolas Vie, “la table du Cap Estel” offers a range of Mediterranean dishes with emphasis on quality of the products and their enhancement.

Don’t leave without having a massage in a private gazebo on the property’s private beach.

Make a reservation at Cap Estel

Make a reservation at Mamounia

La Mamounia as a tranquil haven in the heart of Marrakech.  Located on the edge of the walls of the old city of Marrakech, La Mamounia is named after its legendary 200-year-old gardens, originally given as an 18th century wedding gift to Prince Moulay Mamoun.  Today the gardens at La Mamounia cover almost 20 acres with an enviable variety of flora and fauna. The hotel originally opened in 1923 and since has been symbolic of traditional Moroccan hospitality and a classic example of the great age of grand hotels.�
For more than 85 years, La Mamounia has been a  destination for travelers from around the globe, including royals, heads of state, film makers, musicians, actors and fashion designers like  Sir Winston Churchill,Franklin D. Roosevelt Charlie Chaplin, Marlene Dietrich, Kirk Douglas, Charlton Heston, Princess Caroline of Monaco Nelson Mandela, Jacques Chirac, The Rolling Stones,  Nicole Kidman, Kate Winslet, Yves Saint Laurent.  Alfred Hitchcock chose La Mamounia as the site to film The Man Who Knew Too Much with James Stewart and Doris Day.

After years long extensive restoration  led by  interior designer, Jacques Garcia La Mamounia,  re-opened its doors in 2009.  This legendary hotel,  has expanded with 136 stylish guest rooms, 71 Suites and three Riads each with three bedrooms, private terraces, Moroccan salons and a private swimming pool.   Strong use of light and color, marble columns,  vivid fabrics, soft furnishings and colorful wood, combined with theatrical perspectives.  Two 2-Michelin Star chefs, Alfonso Iaccarino and Jean-Pierre Vigato leading two of its signature restaurants.  L’Italien by Alfonso Iaccarino features modern Italian specialties, while Le Francais by Jean-Pierre Vigato specializes in French contemporary cuisine.  In addition, the 27,000 sq ft La Mamounia Spa is a must visit place.

Wake up early and stroll in the gardens before the city starts its busy day..

Make a reservation at Mamounia

Make a reservation at Cellars Hohenort

The Cellars-Hohenort is located in the Constantia Valley, Cape Town. Situated in the heart of the Constantia Valley Cellars-Hohenort is a haven of peace and tranquility unifying two great traditions, the restoration of the 18th Century Klaasenbosch wine cellars and the  Manor House of the Hohenort, previously owned by the Spilhaus family.

On the eastern slopes of Cape Town’s Table Mountain and neighboring Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, this  hotel boasts accommodation in individually decorated 53 rooms and suites with varied views of the breathtaking 9 acres of world renowned hotel gardens and vineyard.

Having one of the best wine lists in South Africa, the dining choices are endless in this hotel. Dining in either The Greenhouse Restaurant and Bistro with the emphasis on the organic and the fresh or The Cape Malay restaurant serving traditional authentic Cape Town cuisine  is a real treat. The Martini Bar is the place to be seen where you can sample the bar’s signature drink from one of the longest Martini lists in the world.

Make a reservation at Cellars Hohenort

Mount Nelson Hotel  is the most iconic hotel in Cape Town situated within a  lush garden estate in the heart of the city’s vibrant cultural center. Set at the foot of Table Mountain,  Mount Nelson Hotel is perfectly positioned  to experience the historic city center and the neighborhood people refer to as the ‘new Cape Town’ – the trendy areas of Kloof and Long Street. Mount Nelson Hotel opened in 1899 as the first hotel in South Africa to offer hot and cold running water. Since opening the Hotel has been  of choice for well-heeled travelers. From politicians and royalty, to actors and actresses, to models and religious leaders  -  celebrity guests like Agatha Christie, Marlene Dietrich, Winston Churchill,  Al Gore,  David Bowie, Margaret Thatcher,  Bono, John Malkovich,  Nelson Mandela,  the Dalai Lama,   have been spotted here for years.

The hotel has  two heated swimming pools within its  lush ‘urban oasis’ garden setting,  For golfers there is an on-site golf practice net, and seven world class golf courses are located within twenty minutes of the hotel. The Hotel boasts six individual accommodation wings, each with its own unique character, private gardens and facilities. The 201 spacious rooms & suites are individually decorated with old-world charm, complemented by modern luxury. Fine dining has long been a tradition at the Mount Nelson Hotel. Hotels Cape Colony restaurant   is one of the best in South Africa. The stylish bar, Planet, provides the perfect setting for sipping champagne and cocktails under the African night sky. Do not miss the famous traditional  afternoon ‘High Tea” that is served daily in the Lounge.

Make a reservation at Oberoi Udaivilas

Udaipur is the capital of the erstwhile kingdom of Mewar, one of the oldest surviving dynasties in the world on Lake Pichola, against the dramatic backdrop of the Aravalli Hills.  The Oberoi Udaivilas, conceived as a Mewari palace is in this tranquil setting, recreating the romance of the past and yet completely in keeping with the 21st century, The hotel is spread over an expanse of 30 acres on the banks of Lake Pichola.Rambling elegantly around courtyards and walkway, gentle rippling fountains and reflecting pools and verdant gardens, The Oberoi Udaivilas is instilled with an overall serenity.

The guestrooms are very spacious and all of them are with private terraces, large marble bathrooms with separate shower stalls and freestanding Victorian bathtubs that overlook private walled courtyards. Restaurants serve traditional Rajasthani, Indian and International cuisine. The outdoor swimming pool of the spa is the most charming place of the hotel, overlooking to the City Palace and two 17th-century island palaces on the lake – Jag Mandir and Jag Nivas. With its location, service,architecture, amenities and serenity Oberoi Udaivilas is for sure one of the greatest hotels in the world

Do not forget to make an afternoon excursion with hotels traditional rowboat on the lake Pichola.

Make a reservation at Oberoi Udaivilas

Make a reservation at Imperial, Delhi

The Imperial is a legend that offers a unique experience embracing facets of India’s history, and stands witness to the birth of the capital city of New Delhi. Built in 1931 by Blomfield; one of Sir Edwin Lutyen’s associates and inaugurated by Lord Willingdon in 1936, the Hotel is known for its contemporary colonial style. As New Delhi’s landmark Hotel, it is located on Janpath, the erstwhile Queensway, steps away from the renowned shopping district and major attractions of the city.

It is a marvelous mélange of victorian, colonial and art deco styles in its interiors. The spacious high ceiling guest rooms, stunning crystal chandeliers, sparkling marble floors, large mahogany tables along with the impressive wealth of original 18th and 19th century art collection that adorns the corridors of the hotel, are a constant reminder of the elegance of the colonial era. India’s great personalities have walked the corridors of the hotel and shared the most daring ideas over a cup of tea in its restaurant and lounges.

The Imperial has 190 spacious guest rooms and an impressive collection of 43 suites, with high ceilings and thematic décor.

Make a reservation at Imperial, Delhi

Make a reservation at One&Only Royal Mirage

As the most stylish resort on Jumeirah Beach, One&Only Royal Mirage pays tribute to Arabian architecture and hospitality. It comprises three equally distinctive properties – The Palace, Arabian Court and Residence & Spa.

The Palace featuring 250 guest rooms sits on a private beach offering rich leisure facilities. Temperature-controlled swimming pools, water-sports center, tennis courts, golf putting green, children’s care center and most importantly, a tranquil haven for rest and relaxation. With four restaurants, The Palace offers an array of stylish dining venues.

Arabian Court at One&Only Royal Mirage is illusive and mysterious, an ancient dwelling that is distinguished behind a sheltered oasis..The property is crafted in the spirit of the orient with dramatic architecture creating symmetry, amidst a landscape of fountains, walkways and lush gardens.  The entrance leads to the impressive grand gallery, the vertebrae of the hotel that links the two wings of the property and guides guests towards the 162 charismatic guest rooms and 10 elaborately-styled suites, all of which have a sea-facing, private balcony or terrace.

The three restaurants include a journey from the grand kitchens of the past, to a modern voyage through the eclectics and vibrancy of the Near East and beyond.

Residence & Spa  is an intimate sanctuary for those who wish to languish in the comfort of prosperity. Charming and enticing, this haven is linked to a discreet reception leading to a private dining room and bar lounge exclusive reserved for guests for the guest of the Residence. The Arabian-styled private residences, each cared for by a specifically-selected, dedicated team, house a retreat of 1 Garden Villa, 16 Suites and 32 Prestige Rooms. Spacious and created with the finest detailing, all are sea facing with private balcony or terrace, and the elegant Garden Villa also provides a luxurious and ornate environment within the most exclusive part of the resort.

Make a reservation at One&Only Royal Mirage

Make a reservation at One and Only Ocean Club

One&Only Ocean Club, is the most elegant resort of The Bahamas.. The club was once the exclusive private estate of Huntington Hartford, who developed Paradise Island in the Bahamas.
What we like most in One&Only Ocean Club is the imported 12th-century Augustinian Cloisters and exquisite Versailles Gardens. The 35 acres of garden face out into the beautiful, green Bahamian Sea.
The stone remains of a 12th-century French monastery traveled a long road to end up in Bahamas. Newspaperman William Randolph Hearst imported the dismantled stones to the US in the 1920s, but they remained just random pieces of a giant puzzle until Huntington Hartford purchased them in the ’60s and had them reassembled (without plans) on his oceanfront Ocean Club estate which turned to One&Only Ocean Club

The Club is on the magnificent Cabbage Beach’s quietest stretch, eastern end of the Paradise Island, the most civilized in all of The Bahamas. The Club is very private and intimate although it is minutes apart from another Kerzner property  The Atlantis,  a mini-VegasOcean Clubs 105 luxurious spacious colonial-style rooms include Beachfront and Garden View Rooms and Suites, Garden Cottage and three private villas with round-the-clock butler service and luxurious touches

Created exclusively for the luxury resort market each One&Only has a restaurant with a  world known celebrity chef. Ocean Club’s signature restaurant, Dune, is the creation of uber-chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten who has virtually redefined fine dining in the tropics and the well known French architect  Christian Liaigre . In Dune you can dine on in tasteful surroundings on the best French Colonial cuisine. The menu blends French-Asian flavors with Bahamian fresh fish and herbs.

Apart from the acclaimed restaurant, the resort has also world-class golf and spa and of course, waters – the elixir of Bahamian life.
The One&Only Spa features a fusion of ancient Asian holistic philosophies with uniquely Bahamian hospitality while the championship 18-hole Ocean Club Golf Course designed by Tom Weiskopf.
Make a reservation at One and Only Ocean Club

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All pictures are courtesy of One&Only

Les Crayers is not only the best place to stay in Champagne region, it has one of the best service in the world. The Chateau is a luxurious gourmet retreat in Reims, where guests can relax in their great rooms or superb garden and savour the cuisine and champagne…

Les Crayeres is located in a seven hectares park and was the private residence of the Polignac Family. The Xavier Gardinier family, who owns Château Phélan Ségur in Saint-Estèphe as well  bought this internationally-famous place in 2001. The restaurant of Château Les Crayeres, located in the heart of Champagne area, is an important place of the French traditional gastronomy.

Didier Elena, the chef has worked for more than fifteen years with Alain Ducasse who gave him, at the opening, the responsibility of the Essex House’s kitchens. The menu is designed according to its Champagne menu, which is one of the bests..Apart from Champagne you could also taste great Pinot Noirs from the region.

The most important is that the service  remains always high and one of the highlights of the stay.

photos courtesy of Les Crayeres and Ozlem Avcioglu

Make a reservation at One and Only Palmilla

One&Only Palmilla is a very good reason to travel to Los Cabos. The charming resort  is located on the Baja Peninsula where the ocean merges with the Sea of Cortez; at the southernmost point of Baja California along the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez within the Los Cabos Corridor, a 21-mile stretch between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.
Los Cabos Corridor is well known with its 360 days sun..Only 5 days you may get the rain.. This makes this location very unique.

The resort was built in 1956 as a 15-room luxury hideaway by Don Abelardo Rodriguez, son of the President of Mexico.  It was a tropical hideaway hot spot for people like Ernest Hemingway, John Wayne, Bing Crosby, Dwight D. Eisenhower and was accessible only by yacht or private plane.
Following the construction of the Transpeninsular Highway in 1970, the resort became increasingly popular and grew to 50 rooms by 1984. In 1991, the Palmilla Golf Club opened, and in 1996, the property was again expanded to 115 rooms. The glamorous flavor and ambiance of the original resort were carefully preserved in legendary One&Only Palmilla, for the new generation of travelers and  opened in February 2004 by Kerzner group. The new resorts became an attraction point for Hollywood celebrities and people who want to have an unforgettable wedding.

The resort features expansive ocean-facing, spacious and elegant rooms, each with veranda, balcony, sun beds, and indulgent amenities. All 172 guestrooms allow optimum privacy and 24-hour butler service assures every wish and whim is fulfilled. The service and attention to detail were exceptional. From the moment they pick you up at the airport every moment of your vacation is first class.

Michelin stared chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten presents a unique dining concept in resort’s restaurant Market, his first outpost South of the Border.  His signature style blended with Mexican overtones using traditional ingredients. Guests will be invited to enjoy ‘couture cuisine’ allowing them to customize their meal through a choice of cooking techniques Market,  designed, by Adam D. Tihany, evokes understated elegance using warm natural colors and a collection of original

One&Only Palmillas spa  is in a village within the resort , consisting of individual charming spa houses. Ancient and modern, Mexican and Asian healing techniques bring body and spirit in harmony with nature..A complete sanctuary we loved so much..

With its historic chapel exuding an aura of romance One&Only Palmilla is a heavenly location for a wedding. Located on a hill overlooking the resort’s tropical grounds and beaches, the chapel is in traditional Mexican style, whitewashed with arched doorways and windows.
The resort also boasts the 27-hole Palmilla Golf Club,  designed by Jack Nicklaus in a very local nature.

Make a reservation at One and Only Palmilla

Pictures by Ozlem Avcioglu and courtesy of One&Only