Now is the time when the call of the tropics is at its wildest. We present some delicious options plus, for those staying in Europe, reviews from the hotel industry’s heartland
Winter always creates that dilemma for holidays: are you a ski or a sun person? Or perhaps you’re both? With wintersports covered elsewhere this issue, for my news I have focussed on a few choice places to go to catch some proper rays. South America, Florida, South Africa and the Caribbean all have different virtues, and rare is the traveller who likes them equally: I suggest you try them all and see. Meanwhile there is a new philosophy to the following page, of hotel reviews: as well as giving a Lux rating, I have split each review into sections rating the different aspects of my experiences, rather like a miniature version of a hotel inspection. To kick off the new look reviews, I have focussed on a region you’re more likely to go to for work than play this season: the Germanspeaking part of Europe, from Zurich in the south through to Hamburg. The reason? It’s the traditional home of hotelling excellence. Bon voyage.
VILLA DREAMING
One of my favourite destinations in the northern winter is South Africa’s Cape: the weather is an exact match for the Cote d’Azur in July, and it’s a jetlag-free flight. The region is dotted with some wonderful houses, many of them in the Cape Dutch tradition, and you can now stay in one through the Villa Book, which has gathered together some stunning rental properties in the winelands and elsewhere. All have mountain views, most have pools, some have private cinemas, and you’re always a short drive away from wine estate visits, beaches or both. www.thevillabook.com
FASHION SANCTUARY
Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos Islands positively dribbles with exclusivity. And now you can play at being an A-lister by renting one of Donna Karan’s two houses on her estate, The Sanctuary, next to Christina Ong’s super-chic Parrot Cay resort (to which they have full access). Each house has four bedrooms – you’ll fight over who gets the master, with its own living area and 360 island view – and its own infinity pool and Jacuzzi. They are bedecked in the east-meets-west cool so beloved of the designer – Balinese teak furniture, floor to ceiling windows and white surfaces abound, and cost from US$8500 a night each. www.parrotcay.como.bz
HIP IN IPANEMA
For such an exotic destination, Rio has always had a shortage of cool luxury hotels. Now it’s gained an outpost of the slickest hotel in fashion-mad Sao Paulo, the Fasano. Rio’s Fasano, which opened a couple of months ago, is on the Copababana end of Ipanama beach – which to Riophiles means it offers a near-perfect location. If you get tired of bodysurfing (in both senses) on the sand, there’s a rooftop pool with a wonderful view of the city, and it’s rapidly become one of the hippest meeting spots in Rio. Just be careful of the caipirinhas. www.cazloyd.com
PALM BEACH TONIC
Why Europeans visit Florida in the summer months baffles me – it’s a cauldron. Far wiser to do like Americans have done for a century, which is to visit in winter, when the south Florida climate is mild and friendly. And there’s a new destination on the block this year: the contemporary-lux Resort at Singer Island, which takes Palm Beach chic and throws in an amount of informality. It’s in a stunning setting with its own barrier reef, all the rooms/suites are vast and dripping with amenities, and it has highend appeal for adults and children alike. www.luxurycollection.com
1 VIER JAHRESZEITEN, Hamburg
WELCOME: I was warmly and instantly greeted by the doorman, whisked efficiently through Reception and was in my room in no time.
THE ROOM: My suite comprised two rooms with delightful art-deco touches: curved corners, flourishing light-fittings, and high ceilings. The view was one of the prettiest, and certainly most underrated, in Europe: across the Alster lake to distant spires.
THE HOTEL: The Grande Dame of Hamburg, the VJ is a magnificent building with some wondrous art deco touches, including a restaurant clad entirely in walnut wood panelling; this playfulness lightens what would otherwise be quite a formal atmosphere. There is also a slick, and very modern, spa.
GASTRONOMY: The cuisine at the Michelin-starred Haerlin restaurant was perfectly executed, if slow in coming. I had a fabulous Pfalz Riesling to accompany.
DOWNSIDES: The ground floor bar is atmospheric but absolutely tiny; and parts of the hotel need a refurb.
www.fairmont.com
LUX RATING: 17.0/20
2 EXCELSIOR HOTEL ERNST, Cologne
WELCOME: As soon as you arrive you realise the Ernst is an exclusive place: at least three uniformed staff members saluted me as I made my way to reception, and they already knew my name.
THE ROOM: In a brand-new wing, the room was traditional luxury with a conservatively modern twist: lots of dark woods, light fabrics and marble everywhere that wasn’t covered in thick carpet or fine drapery. The huge bathroom felt like it had no expense spared on it.
THE HOTEL: There’s a spacious atrium area and a very pleasant cocktail bar, service is highly personal, and it’s right next to the magnificent cathedral (good) and the bustle of the train station (not so good).
GASTRONOMY: The Hanse Stube is a great restaurant room with spacious banquettes and oldfashioned service; the modern French food was high quality.
DOWNSIDES: My room had a view across a narrow street to an office.
www.excelsiorhotelernst.de
LUX RATING: 17.0/20
3 PARK HYATT, Zurich
WELCOME: The entrance was abuzz with bankers of all nationalities, but I was efficiently seen to and shown to reception.
THE ROOM: On a corner of this remarkable modern building, I had floor-to-ceiling windows and an extremely Zen bathroom with freestanding bath, huge walk-through shower and a kind of easternchic vibe. It all felt clean, modern and very spacious.
THE HOTEL: One of the jewels in the crown of the Park Hyatt group of Lost in Translation fame, it is bursting with expensive modern art and has a showpiece atrium where billion-dollar deals are concluded before breakfast.
GASTRONOMY: I only ate room service (perfect club sandwich, eye-watering price) but I loved the power scene at the spectacular bar, where the bartender made top-notch mojitos.
DOWNSIDES: The sound insulation in the rooms could be better.
www.parkhyatt.com
LUX RATING: 18.0/20
