Articles from August, 2011
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At Home in Marrakech: Riad Kniza
Instead of staying in a traditional hotel, experience a slice of Moroccan culture by staying in a riad, or small hotel converted from a traditional Moroccan home or palace centered around a courtyard or garden. Marrakech is bursting with stylish luxury riads, many of them European-owned. For a taste of something more authentic, check out Riad Kniza. This is one of the city’s most luxurious riads, which also happens to be Moroccan-owned.
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The Grand Hyatt Macau: A Luxurious Retreat on the Cotai Strip
The Grand Hyatt Macau is a luxurious haven of sunlight and glass set along the pearl river delta. A perfect retreat from the hustle of Macau island, the newly-opened Hyatt offers an elegant, secluded space to unwind in the midst of Macau’s next hot spot: the Cotai strip.
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Beijing Kitchen: Northern Chinese Cuisine at Macau’s Grand Hyatt
Enjoy a gourmet feast of Beijing (Peking) Duck cooked in traditional wood burning ovens, plus more sensational culinary treats at Beijing Kitchen in Macau.
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Seattle Trendsetter: Hotel Andra
How do you make a splash in a city that oozes culture? Try playing Scandinavian design elements off Pacific Northwest ambiance utilizing two elements central to Seattle’s core: wood and water. What do you get? Iconic fish tanks filled with neon tetras and guest rooms accented in cobalt blues. A contemporary lobby outfitted in sleek, minimalist furniture that includes tangerine Arne Jacobsen chairs, natural wood tables, and high ceilings that show off floor to ceiling wood bookshelves and hanging twin lanterns.
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Top Luxury Hotels in Macau
Seeking indulgence and pampering in Macau? Check out some of the following luxurious retreats…
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The Shangri-La Singapore: Timeless Elegance
The first thing one notices upon arriving at the Shangri-La is the service. It isn’t ingratiating. It isn’t over the top. It’s efficient and attentive, with genuinely helpful staff who all seem to be fluent in multiple languages.
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Riad Central: Marrakech’s Luxury Retreats
Marrakech is riad central, with hundreds of stylish luxury riads springing up everywhere in recent years, many of them European-owned. The best riads are decked out in traditional Moroccan furnishings with beautiful ceramic tile-work, mosaic fountains, carved wood accents and Moroccan art and crafts. In fact, for design aficionados, riads can be some of the best places in the country to sample traditional Moroccan craftsmanship, architecture, and interior design. They are also excellent places to enjoy world-class Moroccan cuisine.
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Nashville’s Union Station Hotel
The second you step into the historic Union Station Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, you feel the grandeur of this luxury hotel’s 65-foot stained glass ceilings, rich woodwork, and timeless beauty. Situated within walking distance of the bustling honky-tonks Music City is famous for, Union Station Hotel is the perfect place to rest your head after a night out on the town.
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Moroccan Design Spotlight: Sofitel Fes Palais Jamai
At Sofitel Fes Palais Jamai, Moroccan design meets modern luxury. The hotel is filled with corridors accented by colorful stained glass windows and Moroccan lanterns that give off dancing patterns of light. French-inspired chandeliers showcase high artisan-crafted ceilings, and much of the furniture features carved gold accents and deep jewel tones. Abundant tile and woodwork fill the halls of this distinguished hotel, which used to be a palace, dating back to 1879.