From an environmentally friendly hotel on the Spanish coast to water beauty in Cologne and an opera-infused landmark in Zurich, Luxury Lifestyle Hotels & Resorts seeks out the must-visit locations for a relaxing autumn break
NEW MEMBERS’ GUIDE
SPAIN Costa Brava
GUITART GRAN HOTEL MONTERREY
Guitart Gran Hotel Monterrey is a recently renovated five-star hotel offering 197 cosy rooms and suites. Most rooms come with sea views or overlook the lush gardens. The hotel has three wonderful restaurants, all of which offer yet more stunning vistas. Here chefs Paula Casanovas and Flip Planas produce gastronomic delights based on traditional Catalan cuisine with a twist. For post-dinner entertainment, sample one of the hotel’s three bars or test your luck at the casino. Interestingly, the entire casino, designed by architect Fermín Vázquez, was one of the first in Spain to be realised using environmentally friendly materials.
www.llhotels.com/guitartmonterrey
SWITZERLAND Zurich
HOTEL AMBASSADOR À L’OPÉRA
The Hotel Ambassador à l’Opéra is located in an historic building and enjoys a prime location in the city centre of Zurich, directly opposite the worldfamous opera house and the lake. The hotel is ideally located for shoppers – it’s within walking distance of the famous Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich’s most fashionable shopping street – while a plethora of cultural hotspots are right on the doorstep. The hotel was recently refurbished and offers 45 rooms equipped with every modern convenience. This is the perfect place for those who appreciate the value and charm of a privately owned boutique hotel. Special mention must be made of Restaurant à l’Opéra, set in a space that has been described as a surrealist-baroque work of art. The design by artist Tatjana Tiziana is a tribute to the world of opera and classical music.
SPAIN Majorca
SHA WELLNESS CLINIC
The Sha Wellness Clinic in Mallorca combines a wellbeing centre and luxury hotel. The hotel is comprised of 93 fully equipped rooms and suites, but it’s the state-of-the-art wellness clinic that’s the big draw. Here guests can relax in the wonderful surroundings and enjoy friendly service, as well as indulge in the myriad of treatments at their disposal. These treatments, which are a blend of ancient eastern and modern western techniques, include slimming, anti-stress, detox, anti-smoking and many more. The clinic offers a variety of different programmes and rituals that range from seven to 21days.
GERMANY Cologne
PREMICON QUEEN
The Premicon Queen offers spectacular river journeys on the Danube and the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal, which joins the three great rivers. This floating luxury hotel winds along at a leisurely pace, meaning guests can enjoy ever-changing landscapes and a diverse range of cultural activities. This is true luxury with 45 sqm per passenger, meaning the Premicon Queen offers you more space than any other river cruiser in the world. Every last detail has been thought of, to enable you to make the most of those world-class views, including a glass-enclosed restaurant that opens out over the river on three sides. The five-star facilities include 53 modern suites equipped with marble bathrooms and a French balcony.
ITALY Venice
LOCANDA VIVALDI HOTEL
Once the home of famed composer Antonio Vivaldi, this landmark building has been transformed into a beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of romantic Venice. Located near the waters of the Venice Lagoon and only a short walk from St Mark’s Square, you couldn’t ask for a better Venetian getaway. All 27 rooms and five suites are decorated in traditional Viennese style and come with a cosy living room, bathroom with Jacuzzi and terraces overlooking the St Mark’s Basin, Rio dei Greci canal or the peaceful inner courtyard. It’s the perfect place for true romantics to lose themselves among the canals.
www.llhotels.com/locandavivaldi
SPAIN Barcelona
GRAN DERBY
For those looking to combine business and pleasure in Barcelona, look no further than Gran Derby. Situated in the heart of the city’s financial district, but near to the finest shopping and cultural centres, the hotel is ideally located for both work and leisure. Gran, by the way, does not refer to size: the Derby offers just 29 junior suites and 12 duplex suites. It is, however, big on comfort, service and design. Each individually decorated room is a tribute to a great Spanish painter such as Picasso or Dalí.
SPAIN Madrid
HOTEL VILLA REAL
For those who appreciate elegant surroundings and world-class service, the Villa Real is the ideal place to stay in Madrid. Melding traditional yet modern luxury, the hotel sits opposite the Parliament building in the heart of Madrid’s famed Golden Art Triangle, comprising the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums. The Villa Real offers 115 bedrooms including suites and duplex suites. The luxury suites include a spacious living area and bathrooms complete with Jacuzzi. From its privileged vantage point, the Villa Real has breathtaking views of the city and nearby Retiro Park.
SPAIN Majorca
GRAN HOTEL SON JULIA
Opened in 2006 to rave reviews, this boutique hotel, set in an impressive15th-century finca, has brought true luxury to Mallorca. Located just minutes from the excitement of Palma and the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean, Son Julia offers an oasis of tranquillity in the heart of Mallorca. The hotel boasts excellent attention to detail and friendly yet professional service, while the 25 spacious, elegantly furnished rooms are equipped with every modern comfort. The common areas alone are worth a visit with hand-blown glass pieces by Gordiola and a permanent exhibition of paintings by local artist Miquel Mesquida Sansó.
For information and reservations: www.llhotels.com – Toll-free number Europe 00 800 55 40 0000, Spain 902 450 459, North America 888 620 5547
