Make a reservation at Longitude 131

Longitude 131° lies at the gateway of the dual World Heritage listed wilderness of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, next to the hallowed Australian Aboriginal site of Uluru. One of just 15 such structures at the eco-friendly boutique resort, it’s named after William Christie Gosse, the first European to climb Uluru. At Longitude 131° you will find unprecedented solitude and serenity. The  luxurious tents are a private place to rest and relax. The tents are designed to remain cool in summer and warm in winter, you have reverse cycle air-conditioning for complete control over your personal climate.  

Table 131° is an unforgettable dining experience not to be missed. Dine out on sumptuous outback fare and discover the wonders of the southern night sky. Feast on three delicious courses complemented with the finest Australian wines at our outdoor dining venue under the stars. Longitude 131° offers guided tours of these natural treasures – by camel, Harley-Davidson, or helicopter. Cool down afterward with a private meal by the pool..

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Make a reservation at Palafitte

Palafitte is unique because it is the only five star hotel in Europe built on water, located on the lake of Neuchâtel.

The Hôtel Palafitte was built as a temporary structure for Expo 02, a Swiss exhibition that took place in 2002. It was financed by the Sandoz Family Foundation and designed by architect Kurt Hoffman. The goal was to create a state-of-the-art, 21st Century hotel using “sustainable architecture” that would allow the hotel’s components to be rebuilt or recycled after Expo.02. In the end, the hotel was such a hit that the Swiss government granted permission for it to stay open despite laws that normally forbid structures over public lakes.
Besides having an aquatic setting, the Hôtel Palafitte makes use of environmentally friendly features such as solar panels for hot water and electricity, heating with biogas from kitchen waste, and rainwater collection for toilet flushing.

The Palafitte has  forty luxury pavilions with breathtaking views of the lake and the Alps, twenty four of them are built directly on the lake. Each pavilion is 68m2 and is equipped with private terrace, with direct access to the lake. The ‘Le Colvert’ restaurant invites you on a marvelous culinary journey whilst ‘Le Bar’ is an elegant and cosy area where intimate conversations take over in a magic atmosphere around the fire.
For a Maldive-type experience on a Swiss lake…

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Make a reservation at Mystique

Santorini is one of the most romantic places in the world with its unique landscape and great views.  In Santorini nothing has much changed in the last 15 years, which is good and bad at the same time. You find the places, restaurants, beaches you visited before  exactly the same but the service and comfort you are expecting from a hotel has changed in 15 years. Finding a hotel that matches your expectations is not easy on this island except Mystique, that’s why it is The hotel in Santorini.

Mystique, is the latest addition to the Starwood Luxury Collection, located in Santorini, Greece. It is not only a stylish luxury boutique hotel but it also has the most exquisite setting on this island. Mystique is in the village of Oia, the most beautiful village of Santorini with most famous cliffs and sunsets  and dazzling views of clear blue equatorial waters towards the volcano and the Aegean Caldera.

Santorini island-style architecture of the hotel preserves the nature in a climate of unabashed luxury built in the beautiful scenery. The hotel’s unique cave-like interiors provide a genuinely romantic, cozy environment, for the many honeymoon couples that stay on Santorini. It features 18 villas, carved into the cliff, with panoramic private terraces and unrivaled views of  the ocean. The suites combine tradition with modern conveniences.
Mystique’s facilities include an outdoor infinity pool at the cliff’s edge, the Charisma gourmet restaurant, the poolside Aura bar which are perfect for a wedding ceremony.�
Hotels Secret Wine Cave has a dramatic 150 year old wine cellar, with a rare and local wine selection.

Sunsets are the perfect timing to experience this beautiful and romantic hotel..

Make a reservation at Mystique

Make a reservation at Sirenuse

Le Sirenuse, a luxurious 18th-century Villa is in Positano on the Italian Amalfi Coast. The hotel  opened in 1951, when the Sersale family decided to turn their summer house in Positano into a small elegant . Fifty years later the hotel has 62 rooms with all the comforts of a five star luxury hotel without losing the atmosphere of a family home. The Sersale family still owns and manages the hotel with that special touch.
Sirenuse is on top of a  hillside over the town of Positano overlooking the blue sea and the Island of the Sirens
Most rooms have their own balcony or terrace, decorated in a subtle, comfortable style with antiques collected over the years by the family. Plants, flowers, tiles, white walls and big windows give the hotel a wonderfully bright and natural feeling,  From the terrace, or the swimming pool the town of Positano and the harbour are breathtaking.

Make a reservation at Sirenuse

Make a reservation at JK Capri

Almost opposite the former Hotel Grotte Bleue, is located the JK Capri, once called Hotel Continental, managed by Giuseppe Maldacena 13th. The first plant of the Hotel Continental was a private house named Villa Bovaro, which was built before 1878 and turned into a hotel before 1885

The hotel is situated in the island of Capri, near the Marina Grande, the main harbor. It is reachable from Naples harbor by hydrofoil in about 45 minutes.In the late ‘80s, during the renovation works carried out at the Hotel Métropole, which has been renamed Hotel Palatium since that period, some important fragments and archaeological finds dating back to the Roman time were found. In fact the building is located on some Roman cisterns and on the first stretch of a road taking to the harbor, always dating back to the Roman period, which lies just below the hotel.

The JK Capri features interiors by Michele Bonan classic, urbane,  in soft pastels and patterned wallpapers. Some rooms have small balconies facing the sea,.

JK Place is one of the only hotels in Capri that’s right on the ocean, on a cliff overlooking the harbor.

Make a reservation at JK Capri

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 Katikies

Perched on the Caldera cliffs, 300 feet above the azure waters of the Aegean, Katikies The Hotel in Oia Santorini had many great characteristics. Awe inspiring Caldera views, beautiful  Santorini sunsets and perfectly manicured pink bougainvilleas provide the magnificent backdrop for this hotel that spills down the cliffs of the magical Caldera.

With a history as spectacular as its free form fantasy architectural formation of stairs, bridges, cubist cottages, infinity pools and Caldera views, Katikies rooms  are both pristine and welcoming where magical private terraces hover over the most unforgettable of views. Infinity pools with caldera views that continue down into the azure waters of the Aegean Sea. Cascading down the rim of the Caldera, each of the 27 Santorini rooms and Oia suites provide luxury accommodation and personalized hotel services. If you are on honeymoon, stay in the particular Honeymoon suite with white curtains billowing seductively with sweet sea breezes for a great romance.

Make a reservation at Katikies

Make a reservation at Capri Palace

Set in Anacapri, the most exclusive and unspoiled part of the island, Capri Palace Hotel & Spa offers breathtaking views over the Bay of Naples and the islands of Ischia and Procida. A recent refurbishment program has lent the hotel the classical grace of an ancient palazzo caprese. Columns, arches, and vaulted ceilings blend appealingly with Louis XVI period furniture.

With its imposing arches, vaults and columns, the hotel reminds the ancient Neapolitan palaces of the 18th Century, together with the white architectures typical of the Mediterranean sea.
The design of the suites, some of them with private swimming pool, brings your mind back to the charm and glamour of the myths: Callas, Hepburn, Monroe,  In the others, paintings and pictures are a tribute to the experimental art of the Great Masters of Modern Art: Kandinsky, Mirò, Mondrian, Calder.

The L’Olivo restaurant, the only restaurant on Capri which boasts a Michelin star, serves Mediterranean cuisine interpreted with great originality by brilliant young chef Oliver Glowig.

Make a reservation at Capri Palace

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

Make a reservation at Crosby Street

Crosby Street,  the first New York hotel of Firmdale group,  is located on a quiet cobbled street (Crosby)  in the heart of  vibrant SoHo neighborhood. The most striking is the hotels lobby, that is light and bright with soaring glass windows and striking original artworks. It looks through to a tranquil private leafy courtyard garden.

The Drawing Room is a sumptuous and colorful residents lounge with fireplaces, deep sofas and original art that leads onto a spacious leafy courtyard garden. The Crosby bar at the other end of the lobby has a long pewter bar and tall windows facing a leafy garden.

There are 86 bedrooms and suites over 11 floors. Each has high ceilings and full length windows, overlooking downtown views.  Each room is individually designed by Kit Kemp using a clever  combination of colour and texture, modern and antique furniture and original art.  In this hotel you will feel like you are at your home but also you are only one block away from Soho shops and eateries like Balthazar.

Make a reservation at Crosby Street

Make a reservation at Le Quartier Francais

Le Quartier Français (the French Quarter) is a small, privately owned hotel situated in the French Huguenot valley of Franschhoek, in the Cape Winelands .  Franschhoek is the gourmet capital of South Africa so is the Le Quartier with world known restaurants Tasting Room and Ici and its chef one of the worlds best, Margot Janse.

The owner of the hotel likes to keep things simple, but exceptional giving emphasis on ultimate luxury and romantic charm, combined with  privacy, tucked away in the centre of the village.

The hotel has different suites and rooms: The Four Quarters  feature four sumptuous generously sized suites overlooking a central courtyard and lap pool. The auberge Suites has been home of the owners converted into 2 very comfortable suites with private pools in walled gardens. The 10 luxury auberge  rooms built around a central pool and surrounded by scented white and blue gardens. Each spacious room is individually decorated and offers the comfort of home with extra little touches that make the difference.
A relaxed, café-style restaurant / street side bistro called iCi,  takes care of breakfast, lunch, casual dinners and anything in between from a glass of wine to good coffees. Do not miss to eat in Tasting Room, that is among the top 50 best restaurants in the world.

Make a reservation at Le Quartier Francais

Make a reservation at Villa Massa

In the heart of Tuscany,Villa La Massa is a fascinating Medici dwelling of the 16th century on the outskirts of Florence.

The 16th Century sits on the banks of the Arno River, on 20 acres full of lemon trees and olive groves that surround the property.  Villa La Massa is within  22 acres of gardens that surround it, full of paths that lead  to the Arno River and from which you can only see the beautiful panorama of the Chianti Rufina hills that surround it.  

Two Villas dating back to the days of the Medici (16th century): the Noble Villa (Villa Nobile), the Old Mill (Vecchio Mulino) and the more recent little Villa (Villino) are the highlights of Villa La Massa which, from an ancient dwelling of the aristocracy, was turned into a hotel in 1948. The hotel offers its guests 37 rooms, all different from one another, and all recently refurbished in the traditional Florentine style. The spacious and airy rooms are decorated with antique furniture, fabrics woven at the historic Florentine textile mills, wrought iron and woodwork from the famous old-time Florence cabinet makers. Most have windows framing the beautiful Tuscan landscape.

Under the direction of Executive Chef Andrea Quagliarella, menus include both Tuscan regional and Mediterranean specialities The sommeliers have chosen 300 labels among those best representing the Italian wine culture, with a special focus on Tuscan wines. A limited number of precious olive oil bottles is produced every year from the olive groves that surround the property.

Make a reservation at Villa Massa

De Pisis located in Bauer Il Palazzo, with the exquisite nature of terrace seating along one of the most spectacular sites in the world; a terrace overlooking Venice’s Grand Canal, with a view of the famous Chiesa di Santa Maria della Salute in the distance..And for those who prefer the intimacy of interiors, the dining room is elaborately furnished in a style reminiscent of Venice’s past.

Chef Giovanni Ciresa offers an original cuisine based on international cooking and enriched by local. He remains true to his Italian roots and locale and serves the freshest finds enhancing their distinct flavors with Mediterranean essences and a dash of Asian influence without giving up on experimentation. Romance…fine dining…exceptional seating…and a view!!

Make a reservation at Bab Al Shams

Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa is an elegant retreat in a traditional Arabic setting. Only 45 minutes from Dubai the resort is rising among the desert sand dunes like a mirage.

For an authentic desert experience, the resort is the best choice for a romantic experience with its  unimaginable peace of the dunes and magnificent night skies.

All 113 rooms and suites are delightfully decorated in traditional Gulf decor and offer both authenticity and all modern comfort. The authentic open-air Arabic restaurant and a superb range of recreational facilities makes Bab Al Shams very attractive.

Make a reservation at Bab Al Shams

Make a reservation at Bulgari Resort

Bulgari Bali, 160-meter above the Indian Ocean is in a breathtaking natural location. 59 villa property is one of the world’s most exclusive and exotic destinations. The Bulgari Resort is located near the village of Pecatu and the stunning clifftop site of the Pura Luhur Uluwatu Temple, on the island’s far southwestern tip.Nestled between the cliff and the ocean, a 1.5 kilometer long beach is accessible only through the resort’s inclined elevator.

Designed by architects Antonio Citterio and Partners, the resort reflects a contemporary interpretation of the traditional Balinese design while conveying the distinctive Bulgari Italian style. The layout and overall design also incorporates the culture and natural elements of the location. The hotel has been built and furnished using hand-cut volcanic stones, rich exotic woods and refined fabrics.Natural lava and palimanan stone are used for the garden and interior walls, refined bangkiray hardwood in the villas, natural green colored sukabumi stone to clad outdoor showers, plunge and swimming pools. A collection of exquisite Balinese antiques and exotic art pieces, including more than 90 examples, adorn the entire resort.

Beside its setting,  the resort also boasts sophisticated facilities, such as the Italian and Indonesian restaurants, a very romantic lounge bar, the Spa and the cliff-edge pool..An impressive Hindu Temple rises on the highest point of the property, designated as a place of worship in accordance with the Balinese tradition, while, further inside, the imposing arrival pavilion with its magnificent proportions and masterful design welcomes guests.. Start sipping cocktails late afternoon at the bar looking to tranquil waters while sun is going down.

Photos courtesy of Bulgari and Ozlem Avcioglu

Make a reservation at Al Maha

Al Maha, is just a short 65km drive from Dubai is in the centre of Dubai’s heritage and conservation. The resort  lies nestled within a green and verdant oasis amongst some of Arabia’s most impressive dune and desert landscapes, resembling an ancient Bedouin encampment.

The place took its name from the proudest of all dune dwellers – the Arabian Oryx. Herds of these spear-horned antelope would appear out of the heat haze – nomadic bands seeking this place of shelter and respite. The people named the oasis after them, and ‘Al Maha’ came to be known far and wide.

With access denied to non-residents, you’ll be welcomed into a private sanctuary, offering seclusion, tranquillity and luxury, from the minute you enter our peaceful reserve until you leave, the richer for your desert experience.

There are 37 Bedouin Suites, each enjoying their own private space amidst the quiet resort surroundings. The interiors scattered with regional antiques and artifacts. Each private swimming pool spills out into a never ending vista of dramatic desert and mountain views whilst the private deck provides a secluded area for spending relaxing time alone or as an intimate spot for a personalised dining experience..For a real desert experience, don’t miss to stay at Al Maha while you are visiting Dubai.

Make a reservation at Al Maha

Make a reservation at Bauer

Make a reservation at Il Palazzo

Bauer Palazzo and Hotel is one of the best places to expereince the magic and and romance of the city Venice. An intimate hotel within the heart of Venice, Bauer Il Palazzo is a truly authentic, Venetian-style palazzo overlooking the Grand Canal. More like a sophisticated home than a hotel, it is both elegant and luxurious, with its stunning Gothic facade.  With its own private boat dock on the Grand Canal, guests arriving at Il Palazzo are greeted by the hotel’s sumptuous lobby, decorated in wood panelling and antique Venetian panels. Behind the arched lancet windows and Gothic facade are the 82 rooms of the privileged. These rooms preside over the heart of the city overlooking the flow of the Grand Canal as it combines with the Giudecca Canal and St. Mark’s Basin offering unsurpassed views and the ultimate in refined relaxation.

The Hotel has 109 rooms some overlooking to the Grand Canal.and its main enterance  is on Campo San Moisè, just two-minute walk from St Mark’s Square and the most elegant shops. Since first opening its doors in 1880, the Bauer Hotel has always been at the centre of Venetian life. The hotel has been lovingly revitalized as a living link between ancient art and the innovative blend of contemporary European art from the past and present.  The blend of both new and old, Venetian-crafted flourishes create a passion and spirit alive with the romance and style of a grand and noble Venetian experience.

 The Bauer’s 1940’s facade was added to emulate a docking ship in both a tribute to Venice’s renowned maritime history as well as a contemporary contrast to the Baroque architecture of S. Moisè Church. The tale continues as you enter its hallowed halls, walked by royalty, legends and luminaries, and see for yourself an intriguing mix of interior dècor. Ancient Venetian art in the form of a wall sketching, Murano glass chandeliers, sconces and sculpture, world-famous Venetian fabrics from the houses of Rubelli and Bevilacqua are all blended with European-style Art Deco furniture and accents as well as contemporary art by both local and international artists for a fresh atmosphere to engage in the culture, intellect, and glamour of Venice.

Make a reservation at Bauer

Make a reservation at Il Palazzo

Make a reservation at Amankila

Amankila is on an impressive setting, with spectacular views and seaside seclusion, to mountains and valleys rich with Bali’s diverse culture.  The fabled Mount Agung, a volcano revered as a home of the gods by the Balinese, rears 3,142m above sea level, providing a dramatic backdrop to the 34 timeless-styled-villas.

Being on the coast near the village of Manggis in East Bali, Amankila has a private beach, incredible views of the Lombok Strait and cliff-side grounds around the three-tiered pool. Surrounded by frangipani trees, the lobby affords exceptional ocean views, as well as views of the resort’s signature three-tiered pool. Down below the resort, set back from the private beach in a coconut grove, is the Beach Club which offers another pool, as well as casual dining.  The Beach Club is located at the base of the cliff, a five minutes’ walk below the main resort. The beach is ideal for surfing, boogie boards and kayaks rather than swimming.

The 34 stilted free-standing suites are tucked into the lush vegetation around the resort, and all have outstanding sea views.They reflect the lines and flow of their East Bali surroundings, in particular the royal water palace just outside Amlapura, the district capital.

Amankila is the ideal base from which to explore the cultural diversity and rich history of East Bali, a place of temples, palaces, rice paddies and ruins, of villages where crafts lost to the rest of the island are still practiced, and where religion is an intrinsic part of everyday life, seen both in colorful festivals and in simple daily offerings to the gods.

Make a reservation at Amankila

Photos: courtesy of Aman and Ozlem Avcioglu

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

Ca Maria Adele is one of the most charming and romantic hotels  in Venice, the city of romance..The hotel is within the walls of an historic 16th Century palazzo, now completely renovated by its owners Alessio and Nicola Campa.  Separated from magnificent  Santa Maria della Salute church by a narrow canal Ca Maria Adele is in Venice’s one of the most exclusive, charming and tranquil quarter Dorsoduro.

Majestic chandeliers in Murano glass, shads of lights, essential and minimalist lines combine to complement furnishings from diverse period of history presenting new design combinations, unique within the lagoon city

The hotel, decorated and run by Campa’s and combines the fusion of diverse styles combining the typical style of the fabrics called ‘damaschi’ with the linearity of the African wood furnishings cetacean harmonious effect. Out of the 12, 5 are special concept rooms each is different from the other. Especially the Moorish room is very romantic and has the best view.

The hotel has no restaurant but serves a great breakfast in the room with a gian Murano chandelier or in its terrace, decorated like a Moroccon house.

You feel in the hotel that the Campana’s paid attention to every detail. Even the room service is a ceremony…The hotel ensures that each guest is attended with great service. If you really want to spend very romantic time in the most romantic city in the world, Ca Maria Adele is the perfect spot

Make a reservation at Ca Maria Adele