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Hotels and Resorts
Burj Al Arab in Dubai fears competition from Clyde Quay
If you are unique and world famous, it’s but natural that the (at least) some folks in the world are going to follow your footsteps and dare to bootleg you. It’s a matter of pride, I believe. But the world’s only ‘seven-star’ hotel, the Burj Al Arab in Dubai doesn’t believe so and have called in a team of top international lawyers to fire a warning shot at Millbay’s lead developers, the English Cities Fund. The issue is they feel that concept designs for Millbay’s iconic new tower, Clyde Quay, resemble too closely their sail-shaped Dubai landmark. However the folks at English Cities Fund don’t think so and they assert that they didn’t set out to rival the Burj Al Arab Hotel.
Yunessan, a Japanese theme park offers Ramen Bath
Folks in the land of rising sun come up with the most ludicrous ideas to market their business and what’s more amazing is that Japanese people accept it with open arms. Thank God I was not born in Japan as I cannot imagine myself indulging in such treats! We all know that over the past few years, health spas have introduced a number of beauty and health treatments. And exploring not so conventional methods, some spas have introduced beer baths, chocolate massages, red wine face masks and even diamond dust face masks as some skin and health treatments. The latest to join the list is the noodle bath offered by the Yunessan spa in Japan’s hot spring town of Hakone. Although the noodles are fake, but they’re been dipped in the soup which goes with the snack and then tipped in a spa.
A jungle hotel in the land of desert Dubai
Trust the folks in Dubai to come up with some of the most outlandish yet sophisticated architectural structures……which all of us can just gawk at. The most latest to join the list of them is a seven-star hotel that will cover a jungle too! Actually the hotel designed by Sybarite Architects would feature a two-storey jungle at the top of the 28-storey building. The US$350m (£173m) 28-floor Aperiron building would be 300m from the Dubai coast and accessible only by boat or helicopter. As well as 438 luxury suites, it would contain a spa, an art gallery, and an underwater restaurant with views into a surrounding lagoon. To top it off, the top two floors would house a temperature-controlled butterfly jungle with tropical species.
History Inspires New Age Luxury Spas
Most of the times history reveals the dark, murky secrets of the past that are best left buried. But sometimes the good parts do inspire modern-day living. There are host of luxury spas that have opened recently that are based on traditional beliefs and are located at places of historical interests. Drawing inspiration from its surroundings is one such hotel; The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg, Va., opened this May that offers treatments that are “modern-day interpretation of five centuries of wellness.” They offer treatments using hot stones, linen wraps and cool aromatherapy cloths, all that were inspired by a Powhatan Indian sweathouse ritual. The spa’s lavender baths, lemon verbena manicures and massage-oils containing cypress, juniper and rosemary all take inspiration from traditional remedies and ingredients.
Visit the luxurious Boutique Hotel and Spa in Paso Robles Wine Region.
I’m off to California for an exquisite experience in terms of hospitality and also to rejuvenate like nowhere else in their new luxury Boutique Hotel and Spa in Paso Robles Wine Region. What sets this place apart from the others is the opulent yet casual environment that best captures the area’s relaxed heritage and beauty. It’s not just the scenic surroundings that set this place apart but it is definitely one of a kind with Italian architectural elements with wood and glass textured entry doors, natural stone floors, oversized guestrooms, and suites with fireplaces, whirlpools and full kitchens. The gastronomes can eat to their hearts content at the Enoteca Restaurant & Bar and can revivify at the Spa at La Bellasera offers the latest in luxury in-room spa therapies or guests can attend the elegantly appointed spa treatment center.
Four Seasons Ocean Residences
The Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts had made news a few days ago for their very enchanting Suite, a part of the Four Seasons New York’s new Ty Warner Penthouse. Its now time for them to go aquatic after creating a lot of hullabaloo on land! On August 13, 2007, a limited (30 out of112 residences) and rather unusual showing of private residences will be take place in London for not just any commonplace open house, but for living quarters aboard a giant luxury ship. This belittles the very meaning of giant and luxury.
Chillout – a cool oasis in the middle of the desert!
After tasting icing-success at Minus5 in Australia and other places like New Zealand, it time for folks in the United Arab Emirates to get something similar at home town too. Chillout, the $3 million new Dubai bar and the Middle East’s first ice lounge, is the latest destination not only for locals but for tourists as well.
It took 40,000 tons of ice to build the decor of the 2,400-square-foot restaurant. Every item was designed, carved and cut at a studio freezer at Iceculture Inc. in Canada and then shipped to Dubai. Diffused lighting, from low-heat LED bulbs, constantly changes colors as it filters through the ice blocks. Sheepskin rugs cover the seats to give little warmth when seated. Cocktails, which are nonalcoholic in a nod to Muslim culture, are served in ice glasses that are later discarded.
Galactic Suite will open for business in 2012
Our readers will recollect the countdown of the futuristic hotels that we did a while ago. In that list at the number three spot was the Galactic Suite. News has it that this wonderful space hotel will start operations in 2012 and would allow guests to travel around the world in 80 minutes. The uber-rich will have to fork out $4 million for a three-day stay and the company has already identified 40,000 potential customers who can afford to stay in this lavish spaced-out suite! During the stay guests will be able to experience 15 sunrises in a day. Velcro suits will have to be worn to allow the guests to crawl around their pod rooms a la Spiderman.
Mr & Mrs Smith online offers Great Escapes and GoldSmith
Finding that perfect hotel for a romantic getaway is no easy job. With millions of choices and plenty of online offers, it just boils down to trust. At such times it’s a relief that there are people like Mr & Mrs Smith are around. This dedicated online site is rated in the top 50 travel websites’ (Observer February 2007). They promise to offer peace of mind, and that the hotels you choose are the best in class and you can be “rest assured that this is the most reliable site to book them through.” Mr & Mrs Smith also runs three exclusive membership schemes as well: BlackSmith, SilverSmith and GoldSmith. Mention the Smithcard when booking, and take advantage of the great offers available.
The Westin Excelsior, Rome is a monument to turn-of-the-century style
If Rome is your destination for this season’s holiday, then the Westin Excelsior, Rome should be your address for that period. Located on the Via Veneto, Rome’s most celebrated avenue, the 316-room Westin Excelsior is a monument to turn-of-the-century style, and is located approximately 19 miles from Fiumicino Airport. The hotel also features the largest suite in Europe, Villa La Cupola. Dining options include La Cupola, serving rich Mediterranean cuisine and Italian specialties, Gran Caffe Doney, a sidewalk cafe serving light food and snacks on the Via Veneto, and the Bar Excelsior, featuring live piano music every evening. Guest rooms feature cable TVs, Internet access, movies on-demand, climate controls, telephones, voicemail, minibars, wake-up service, bathrobes, toiletries, hairdryers, slippers, electronic door locks, alarm clocks, work desks, and room safes.
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