Hilarious: The Standard hotel in Miami had these great little replica’s of the famous Belgian bronze fountain sculptures– but this time they’re, well, in the spa.
While the micturating statue certainly imbues the spa with a sense of humor, it is more than just a tongue-in-cheek decoration.
The “Manneken Pis” — Dutch for “little man urinating” — is a replica of the famous Belgian bronze fountain sculpture, still a landmark in Brussels today. Made in 1388, legend has it that in the 14th century, Brussels was under siege by a foreign power. The city had held its ground for some time, so the attackers conceived of a plan to place explosive charges at the city walls. A little boy named Juliaanske happened to be spying on them as they were preparing. He urinated on the burning fuse and thus saved the city, for which a fountain was erected in his honor.
On my last night in Vancouver I had the opportunity (really, the pleasure) to stay at The Opus Hotel, located in the up-and-coming Yaletown district. I’ve stayed at hundreds of boutique hotels around the world and was really quite surprised with how well this property was put together and run.
The building itself is very well done and features 96 luxury guest rooms inside– each with all the top details and modern amusements you would come to expect. iPod docks, a great mini-bar (even with some oxygen if you’re feeling tired), comfortable modern furnishings, soaker tub in the bathroom, etc. And most importantly, a great bed! My room had a small but nice balcony that let in some fresh Canadian air.
Rooms are designed around five unique themes from modern and minimalist to daring and dramatic– with really everything in between. Each room corresponds with one of the personas from within their Lifestyle Concierge– a really great idea that gives you recommendations for your visit tailored to your personality and mood. The idea is fairly simple– 7 different personas that just about everyone can identify with. Into arts and culture and want to see what the city has to offer in those realms, check out Susan’s recommendations. Want to go off the beaten path? Billy’s the man, and so on.  Good for food, shopping, entertainment and so on.
I would definately give them a nod for an up and comer in the area, and a brand to keep your eyes on in the future. They’re even on Twitter!
If you’re seeking solace from news about bailouts and our tanking economy, look no further than the Recess Sessions. The project by the Morgans Hotel Group “seeks to capture the creative spirit and collaboration that drives independent musicians and filmmakers.” It shows artists performing on-site at Morgans properties in New York, London and L.A. Director Vincent Moon’s video of Brazilian singer/guitarist Curumin (and Au Revoir Simone) is calming and light, whereas Mark Wilkinson’s take on rockers Semi Precious Weapons at the Hudson is more raucous. Footage of Miho Hatori and Miss Derringer is said to be coming soon — as are user submissions, of course.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith aren’t just hot onscreen assassins who happened to be married to each other. They’re also an agency that specializes in showcasing sexy, couple-friendly boutique and luxury hotels with the rest of us via their guides. Whether you want to enjoy five wild nights in Amsterdam or a relaxing, sensual trip in the Berkshires, these know-it-alls can hook you up. And now, in addition to their indispensable online presence, they’ve published a gorgeous 360-page coffee-table book, The Global Shortlist, featuring their favorite spots to stay. The book comes with reviews of the world-class destinations from Dita Von Teese and Agent Provocateur’s creator. And for an added bonus: a one-year membership to the site. Rarr.
The Limelight Lodge in Aspen was pretty much off our radar for years despite its great location. Then some local friends suggested the newly rebuilt Limelight. Not a brick exists from the old hotel and the results are rather impressive. A spacious, upscale room awaited us that mixed Aspen “mountain” style with a fresh, clean twist. The facilities also included a large contemporary outdoor pool and hot tub area which was rocking on our second night — which happened to be opening night of Gay Ski Week, a raucous long-standing Aspen tradition. The Limelight Lodge, while in need of a little “soul” and some warmer lighting and treatments in the public areas, was very well put together and ready for prime time. That and the reasonable prices will assure our return.
On my recent trip through China, I was lucky enough to be a guest at The Luxe Manor hotel in Hong Kong. Even despite the typhoon, I had a very nice stay and would absolutely recommend this hotel to anyone visiting the city — if you want to get away from the main island and stay somewhere a little bit quirky. The hotel is located on Kimberley Road in the very busy Tsim Sha Tsui district in Kowloon, but it’s very much a breath of fresh air amidst the ruckus of shopping, etc on the streets below.
The Manor is a reinterpretation of a European mansion, with lots of mythical character and a very modern twist. It also has all the luxury you would expect, with wireless VoIP Telephones, WiFi, very impressive security keys, flat screens, HD on demand, and the like.
I stayed in a deluxe room (pictured above) and found it to be very comfortable– but the real gem of the hotel are the six themed suites on the top floor, which I was given a tour of. Some were more my style than others, but I applaud them for their creativity. My favorite was the Safari themed room (secret fantasy maybe), which has an intricate lighting system which allows you to lay back on the couch and see a faux sparkling night sky.
If you’ve ever wanted to add the fancy term “Hotelier” to your business card but lack the capital to actually open a hotel, here’s your chance. Our Planet Retreats, an eco-friendly company aimed at providing truly unique accommodations, is relying on donations from people just like you to get their project off the ground. For a scant $30 donation you can become a shareholder, creating a rare travel experiences for eco-tourists while boosting the local economy. Each retreat consists of 12 rooms that are more or less spheres in trees that house four people apiece, giving travelers an incomparable connection to their surroundings. Each retreat location comes with activities tailored to their environment: whale shark diving, bird watching, turtle conservation projects, or surfing, among others. The current goal is to set up four locations in Vanuatu, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea within the year. Maybe it’s time you got in on the ground floor.
Most motels across the country are unique reminders of an era in roadside elegance long gone. Their rooms are adorned by Bob Ross-esque landscape paintings and beds that vibrate for the small fee of a nickel. The Presidio Motel seeks to bring the American travel outpost up to date. Each of the recently relaunched Santa Barbara, California motel’s rooms break the cookie-cutter mold with distinct vinyl sticker art installations courtesy of Kat Trajano and Stephanie Mansolf, as well as stylish modern furnishings, adding 21st-century appeal to a mid 20th-century staple. If you happen to drive by on your way to San Francisco you may want to stop in for a stay.
During a recent trip to Boston, I made it a priority to stay in the Liberty Hotel. Perhaps Boston’s most notable new luxury hotel, I had read some convincing reviews about it… its supposedly top notch service, historic ambiance, and in-hotel food options all led me to the front door.
Bottom line: this is a hotel for hotel connoisseurs, and for those of you out there who don’t yet know that you’re a hotel connoisseur, the Liberty may just clarify that question for you. I’ve decided to include an image of what the Liberty was in this post, because the hotel’s past is a major reason it is truly unique and worthy of praise. The Charles Street Jail, perhaps the best example out there of the “Boston Granite Style,” was built in 1851 in the Beacon Hill area of Boston. Over the years (until its closing in, I believe, 1990), it housed infamous as well as “pop” prisoners– Johnny Cash and Jane Fonda immediately come to mind. The Liberty retains the important character of its penal predecessor, somehow keeping the ‘wow factor’ but dispensing of that gritty and erie Alcatraz vibe.
With “ambience” quickly checked off my list, I turned to the service factor, or should I say, it turned to me. From the time I put the car in ‘park’ outside the hotel, I was assisted by the staff as if I were the only guest on the premises. Without ever feeling over-coddled, my bags were quickly whisked up to my room, and at the front desk, the check in process was streamlined with complimentary glasses of Vueve Clicquot. Later that evening, I discovered Clink, the in-hotel restaurant which sports ever-changing seasonal menus and has proved to be a legitimate Boston hot-spot, not just a convenient place to eat for hotel guests. The servers were as knowledgeable about the historical jail architecture retained in the hotel as they were about the menu. And the next day, when I inquired as to whether I could leave my luggage and valet-parked car at the hotel well past my check out time so I could walk around the city before my flight, they happily accommodated me.
Unyielding service is something we’ve all come to expect in luxury hotels, but the Liberty simply stands by itself in the way it pairs exemplary service with such a refined resurrection of a historic Boston jail.
One of the first spots I stayed at on my recent trip to Bali was a boutique resort called The Elysian, a set of 26 private villas — a treat to myself that turned out to be a great start to the trip. In all honesty, I hadn’t ever spoken to anyone who stayed there as it is quite new, but saw it show up on Tablet Hotels and figured, how bad could 26 private villas on the beach really be? It’s located in Seminyak, far enough away from Kuta to avoid the nonsense of commercialized island living, but close enough to civilization to find some great shops, incredible restaurants and feel like I was “in” the mix so to speak.
Each villa is decorated very comfortably, clean lines, lots of light stones and local woods; all feature very comfortable beds and ample space to spread out. My brothers and I had no problem “squeezing” in, as traveling in threes is always interesting. The best aspect of the villa was really the private pool that ran along one side the structure. Awesome for early morning, mid-day and midnight dunks. The restaurant offers a mix of local food and fresh fish dishes and was also set on a 25-meter pool, an amazing sight each day in its own right. The hotel was a little farther from the beach than I would have anticipated, a 8 minute walk, but still quite easy and not worth complaining about. If you’re looking for luxury, but won’t spring for an Aman resort and want to keep things interesting, this is a solid spot certainly worth checking out.
Despite some of Taiwan’s other pitfalls as a noisy, humid and sometimes overbearing metropolis, they seem to have one thing down — hotels. On my last trip out to Taipei I spent a few nights at Les Suites Taipei and it turned out to be one of the best-valued luxury boutiques I’d ever stayed in. This trip rather than stay in what I know, I figured I’d try something different, this time it was the newly-opened Tango Hotel in the busy commercial area of Zhong Xiaio road. Point blank: This place rocks. The room is huge (42 square meters) with an incredibly comfortable king sized bed and goose down bedding. In addition to the usual amenities, each room has a 42″Pioneer Plasma and a 5 speaker surround sound system, a sunken jacuzzi tub (with another flat screen) and a glass panel that separates the bathroom from the bedroom. The whole room was tricked out with a remote control; to say that Asians love their electronics would be a gross understatement. What’s really remarkable though is the price, which falls between $120 and $200 per night per room depending on size. I can’t seem to get in anywhere in NYC decent for even three times that. If you find yourself in Taipei, check The Tango Hotel out, it’s well worth experiencing.
I’m not dead. Actually, if this is what dying feels like– consider me a goner. This place is like heaven on earth! While I apologize for the radio silence (the internet is terrible on this side of the world), this has been an incredibly rejuvenating time away from the blogosphere. It’s so great to see the site in such great shape– kudos to the whole team for working overtime in my absence. When I arrived, I spent a few days in Bali, both in Kuta on the beach and then traveled into Ubud where I was exploring villages and artist communities on an eco-cyling tour, as well as the sacred monkey forest (it makes a zoo look pitiful, pictures coming soon). I just arrived a hop, skip and a jump away from Bali in Java– the place where my Father setup relief camps literally this time last year, after the massive earthquakes rocked this otherwise incredibly peaceful region. Tomorrow we rise at dawn to visit Borobudur, and then go for a long drive into the middle of the jungle to Bantul, near the epicenter of the recent earthquakes, to play games with the children and check the progress of my father’s past relief work. My brothers and I are spending our two nights here at Amanjiwo– easily the nicest home away from home I have ever seen. Zagat gave it the highest honors with second in the world for an overall ‘extraordinary to perfection’ rating– this place makes The Four Seasons look like a Marriot– full review and pictures to come when I get to solid-internet ground. I’ve got lots to report on, great gems I’ve discovered and more when I’m back stateside!
While Josh gets nomadic on our asses (read: jet-sets) to Taiwan to see that part of the world in person, the rest of us are doing the best we can to see the sights the old-fashioned ‘internet way.’ Today I’d like to give a nod to the sustainable, Chinese Songjiang Hotel. It looks like something out of a Star Wars movie, or maybe off of an episode of “When the Earth Melts into a Molten Puddle of Shit and We Move to Another Planet,” but supposedly it’s going to become a reality on our own planet Earth. Sci-fi aesthetics aside, this Atkins designed hotel will be built in a huge quarry in the Songjiang District near Shanghai by (reportedly) 2009 (FYI: Atkins also designed Tianjin’s Pile of Boxes and Bahrain’s World Trade Center). The quarry setting allows for the incorporation of a wealth of Green features like reuse of an already exploited site, geothermal energy for electricity and heat, a green roof, and the shelter and natural cooling properties of the quarry itself; oh, and lest we forget… bungee jumping!
Tomorrow evening in San Francisco will be the opening of the Last Painted Rooms Art Show at the Hotel Des Arts. Artists have been painting up those rooms for about two years now, and this show will mark the end of that process. If you’re in the Bay Area, head over tomorrow evening from 7-11pm to see people like Shepard Fairey, Sugarluxe, and Jeremyville’s contributions to this incredible hotel customization. In addition to the ten new painted rooms being unveiled tomorrow night, the halls of the hotel will be filled with hundreds of affordable pieces of art available for purchase.
Last Fall, a good friend of mine pointed me to artwork of Jeremy Fish, a super-talented artist and designer out of San Francisco. I hadn’t spent much time on his memorable website for quite awhile until yesterday, when I heard his name flying around Installation (Boulder’s best sneaker gallery), and decided it was time for a little update on what this awesome guy’s been up to. While Jeremy’s been “one to watch” for about five years now (with gallery openings in around the world and an intense list of collaborations), where to focus the watching has certainly evolved as Fish’s work has ventured into new areas like cartoon drawing and sneaker design. I’ve always been turned on to his illustrations and skate decks (especially the “Dead Rapper” series), but I’m freshly stoked on the room he painted in 2005 at the Hotel Des Arts in San Francisco and the possibilty of some upcoming cartoon work for Disney. So far, Jeremy’s been a great example of how to keep a career in art alive through re-directing his talent into diverse areas- I can’t wait to see what comes form this guy next.
Tomorrow evening in San Francisco will be the opening of the 
