El Tablet Hotel del Día

Algodon Mansion : Buenos Aires, Argentina

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:01:28 GMT

De un tiempo a esta parte, en la zona porteña de Palermo parece abrirse un hotelito boutique rabiosamente moderno cada semana. Así es normal olvidarse de las demás zonas de Buenos Aires. Un poco hacia el este se encuentra la zona residencial de Recoleta, cuyas majestuosas construcciones de la belle époque (incluida la del Algodon Mansion) son uno de los principales motivos por los que Buenos Aires se considera la ciudad más europea del Nuevo Mundo. Si Palermo es el Clerkenwell porteño, Recoleta es el Belgravia o el Knightsbridge de la capital argentina, y si Palermo es el SoHo de Buenos Aires, Recoleta es su Upper East Side.

En lo que se refiere a los hoteles, la ubicación lo es prácticamente todo. El flamante Algodon Mansion —construido en la ciudad después que el Algodon Wine Estates de Mendoza— encaja perfectamente en el selecto entorno de Recoleta y ya forma parte de él. Sus diez suites son todas diferentes, con detalles arquitectónicos de época junto a comodidades modernas, y en ellas se respira un ambiente elegante a la par que distendido, más propio de un apartamento de lujo que de un hotel convencional. Hasta las suites más básicas ofrecen servicio de mayordomo y todo tipo de lujos, y las de mayor categoría son, con toda seguridad, las mejores de la ciudad, con sus pianos de media cola y sus chefs particulares.

El restaurante Chez Nous, además de una carta de influencia francesa, dispone de un patio acristalado, y en el Cognac Bar también se celebran eventos privados. Pero la zona común más extraordinaria del Mansion es, sin duda, la azotea, un espacio totalmente fuera de lo común en Buenos Aires, equipado con piscina, spa y, por la noche, el Sky Bar.

Sofitel Munich Bayerpost : Munich, Bavaria, Alemania

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:01:28 GMT

El Sofitel Munich Bayerpost es un microcosmos de la ciudad: a simple vista parece sumamente conservador y tradicional, pero en el fondo es increíblemente moderno e incluso innovador. Se ha conservado la fachada clásica del edificio de la antigua oficina de correos, que está situado a solo cien metros de la estación de trenes del centro, mientras que los interiores se han remodelado por completo. El resultado es un hotel de lujo extraordinariamente elegante y absolutamente contemporáneo.

La Baviera de las cervecerías y el Oktoberfest quedan muy lejos. Las zonas comunes del Sofitel están diseñadas con una modernidad que solo suele verse en los hoteles boutique más exclusivos. No cabe duda de que las habitaciones son lujosas, pero, además de unas bañeras de piedra enormes, lucen una discreta elegancia minimalista. En el alero de la octava planta se encuentran las «maisonette», unas suites muy particulares con techos inclinados y vistas a los tejados de Múnich o a los Alpes.

En un hotel como este no podía faltar un spa con una oferta de servicios completa, pero el Spa Lagune del Sofitel supera todas las expectativas: su mampostería elaborada y sus mosaicos de vidrio sirven de decorado para las cabinas de tratamiento, el gimnasio y la piscina cubierta. Al igual que los demás Sofitel, el de Múnich se centra en la gastronomía francesa, desde el restaurante exclusivo hasta el bistró informal.

Sivory Punta Cana : Punta Cana, República Dominicana

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:01:27 GMT

El principal encanto del Sivory Punta Cana no es su ubicación en la República Dominicana, sino su playa perdida en los confines de la Tierra. De hecho, la experiencia se centra tanto en la arena, las olas del mar y el horizonte que el hotel parece encontrarse en una isla desierta. Si busca un lugar para desconectar de todo, este es ideal.

Las habitaciones captan la esencia del paisaje: no son rabiosamente modernas ni típicamente isleñas, sino de una contemporaneidad relajante y un lujo discreto. Los artificios tecnológicos brillan por su ausencia; a cambio se ofrece una bañera honda de dos plazas, conexión inalámbrica a Internet en todo el hotel y un frigorífico solo para el vino, unos detalles nada desdeñables. Dispondrá de tanto espacio que no sabrá que hacer con él, y las vistas son extraordinarias, especialmente las de las suites situadas frente al mar.

Son tan lujosas que algunos huéspedes ni se molestan en salir. Algunos recién casados ni siquiera saben que hay un spa, aunque es bien grande. Los restaurantes tampoco se limitan al servicio de habitaciones ni mucho menos: el Sivory pone nada menos que tres restaurantes y una bodega con ocho mil botellas de vino a disposición de los ciento y pico huéspedes del hotel.

AVISO:
POLÍTICA GENERAL DE HURACANES: Los huéspedes con reservas confirmadas desde el 1 de junio hasta 30 de noviembre podrán cancelar sin penalización alguna y se le ofrece el reembolso por completo de los depósitos cobrados, o se le permitirá modificar las fechas de sus vacaciones, con la misma tarifa de la habitación, si no pueden viajar a la propiedad debido a las condiciones del severo tiempo - sin daños de cancelación en el mismo hotel para reservas dentro de los próximos 12 meses. La sustitución se debe utilizar dentro de un año a partir de la fecha del huracán, y el reclamo debe hacerse dentro de los 90 días de las vacaciones original o una vez que la propiedad esté en funcionamiento. Los clientes que ya están en el hotel no serán penalizados por cualquier salida anticipada y cualquier porción de la estancia no utilizada del depósito del huésped será reembolsado. En el caso de que los clientes no pueden salir del hotel, debido a cierre de los aeropuertos o cancelación de vuelos de salida debido a una advertencia de huracán, los clientes recibirán un máximo de tres noches de alojamiento adicionales sin costo alguno. Cualquier noche adicional serán cobradas. Por favor envíenos al atencion_al_cliente@tablethoteles.com para asistencia.

No. 1 Pery Square : Limerick, Irlanda

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:01:09 GMT

A pesar de estar en la otra punta de Irlanda con respecto a Dublín, el hotel boutique No. 1 Pery Square bien podría ser el escenario de una película basada en la novela Los muertos de James Joyce. La casa, que fue construida en 1830, ha sido restaurada con gran precisión: la estética está muy lograda, desde la chimenea de mármol ricamente decorada hasta los espejos con marcos dorados. No llega ni a rayar el rococó, pero, si el estilo de época de las zonas comunes le cansa, sepa que quince de las veinte habitaciones han sido remozadas con un estilo más moderno y sofisticado.

No obstante, es difícil resistirse a las habitaciones de época, con sus ventanales de guillotina con vistas al jardín y su estilo refinado y elegante. A pesar de la oscuridad de la región, en las habitaciones se respira una frescura intensificada por la amplitud de espacios. La fascinante suite del ático está a caballo entre lo antiguo y lo nuevo, con varios televisores de pantalla plana, un bar privado y vistas a Limerick y a la zona montañosa de Clare.

El hotel realza las características de la antigua residencia urbana y brinda el trato personal de un bed and breakfast, en torno al que parece girar la vida de la zona; de ahí que en el restaurante Brasserie One se respire un ambiente exclusivo a la par que agradable. Las cenas degustación, los chefs invitados y las catas de vinos forman parte de la experiencia, y en el salón se sirve el clásico té. En el sótano se encuentra el spa, un spa propio de un hotel boutique: relajante, alumbrado con velas y con paredes de ladrillo a la vista.

Sofitel The Grand Amsterdam : Amsterdam, Los Países Bajos

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:00:57 GMT

“El antiguo Ayuntamiento ha sido convertido en un auténtico gran hotel sito en el mismo centro medieval de la ciudad, con sus modernas y lujosas habitaciones que, no obstante, reflejan la historia del edificio. En el interior los suelos de mármol y las alfombras orientales nos deslumbran con su brillo, y una fuente adorna el precioso patio del hotel. Su ubicación, en el mismo centro histórico de Ámsterdam, es idónea: situado entre dos pintorescos canales, como una piedra que hubiesen arrojado desde las principales instituciones financieras (el famoso Dam Square). Además, se encuentra a tan solo veinte minutos del Aeropuerto Internacional de Schiphol.

Sus 166 lujosas habitaciones y suites ofrecen un espacioso alojamiento decorado de forma personal, con vistas al canal o al patio interior. Todas las habitaciones tienen aire acondicionado individual, caja fuerte y un bar personal muy bien abastecido. Cada una de las habitaciones tiene un estilo propio, determinado en parte por la distribución original del edificio, que se ha respetado siempre que ha sido posible. Los elevados techos y los amplios ventanales se repiten en prácticamente todas las habitaciones, lo que proporciona una sensación añadida de luminosidad y espacio a las que ya de por sí son algunas de las habitaciones de hotel más grandes de Ámsterdam.

Todas las habitaciones, decoradas por Monique Roux en un elegante estilo anglo-francés con tonos salmón o azul y franjas de colores llamativos o estampados florales, cuentan con una preciosa y pesada pañería y muebles de madera clara incrustada hechos a medida. La fragancia del popurrí especialmente creado para el hotel invade cada una de las habitaciones con una aroma fresco y acogedor. Los elegantes y llamativos cuartos de baño del hotel, decorados en blanco y negro con estilo Art Deco, cuentan con un tocador de mármol negro en el que se pueden encontrar productos de Roger & Gallet. En ellos cuelgan unos amplios albornoces, estampados con el emblema del hotel, listos para ser usados. Un bar personal muy bien surtido le ofrecerá una amplia selección de bebidas. Todas las habitaciones disponen de aire acondicionado y caja fuerte individuales, televisión en color con canales por satélite entre los que se incluyen la CNN World News y cuatro canales de películas internos, tomas para fax y secador. Además, todas las mañanas le entregarán en su habitación el periódico que elija de forma gratuita.

El 20 de mayo de 1992 tres antiguos alcaldes de Ámsterdam, Van Thijn, Polak y Samkalden, inauguraron tres de las mejores suites presidenciales bautizadas con sus nombres. También existen tres Suites Reales de dos camas con magníficas ventanas curvadas orientadas a los canales que rodean el hotel. Estas reciben el nombre de tres ilustres huéspedes que antaño solían frecuentar el hotel (Guillermo V, María de Medici y Guillermo de Orange) y disponen de una zona de vestidor independiente, cuartos de baño de mármol y una zona de comedor que puede dar cabida a entre cuatro y seis personas. Todos los apartamentos son únicos e individuales: algunos son dúplex, otros cuentan con terrazas privadas o comedor independiente. Estos pueden tener una, dos o tres camas, pero todos cuentan con unas vistas deliciosas al tranquilo patio de The Grand o al canal del siglo XVII contiguo. A pesar de que comparten las instalaciones del hotel (entre las que se cuentan el restaurante, las históricas salas de reunión y para la celebración de banquetes, y el precioso jardín), cada uno de los apartamentos dispone de un acceso privado desde el canal, lo que les confiere mayor intimidad. El edificio cuenta con su propio montacargas.

El Café Roux, un restaurante “à la carte” con aspecto de “brasserie” informal, desarrolla su actividad bajo la batuta del Maître Cuisinier francés Albert H. Roux. El centro de spa de The Grand cuenta con una piscina climatizada, ducha de vapor, sauna, baños turcos, gimnasio y servicios de masaje.”

- The Grand

Vila dos Orixas Boutique Hotel : Morro de São Paulo, Bahia, Brasil

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:00:57 GMT

No hace mucho tiempo, viajar a Brasil significaba tener que elegir entre Rio y São Paulo. Ahora, con el boom mundial de los hotelitos boutique, se ha dado a conocer una infinidad de lugares que ofrecen lo que el público demanda: unas pocas habitaciones y una playa. El estado brasileño de Bahia es uno de esos lugares. Su litoral interminable, que empieza un poco más al norte de los destinos habituales, ofrece unas playas naturales maravillosas y unos hotelitos preciosos, como el Vila das Orixás, que está situado a las afueras de Morro de São Paulo.

Los huéspedes se alojan en diez bungalós en dos niveles, rústicos por fuera y contemporáneos por dentro. La madera noble tradicional, la joya del diseño de interiores brasileño, convive con instalaciones y servicios modernos, desde lavabos sobre encimeras hasta televisores con pantalla LCD, pasando por bañeras de hidromasaje. La cocina se basa, claro está, en los productos del mar, que se encuentra a solo unos metros, y se elabora con productos autóctonos, sabores de Bahia y técnicas de la cocina mediterránea. La oferta de actividades se centra en sacar partido de este paraje remoto: pesca, vela, caminatas... La naturaleza cuasitropical de Brasil le ofrece una infinidad de diversiones.

Hotel Madero : Buenos Aires, Argentina

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:00:45 GMT

Comparado con su prominente vecino, el Faena, diseñado por Philippe Starck, el Hotel Madero es sobrio, tan solo un modesto hotel de negocios y no un “universo” o un programa completo de estilo de vida. Y no hay nada malo en ello. El mundo sería un lugar mejor si contáramos con más hoteles de negocios modestos que se aproximaran al estilo del Madero. Estamos ante un estilo de diseño moderno más sosegado. Un hotel con una concepción hábil y experta, con un diseño convincente, pero nunca escandaloso. De alguna manera es como comparar una película bien hecha con una producción de cine de autor New Wave de la vuelta de la esquina.

Las habitaciones derrochan frescura y estilo. Están equipadas con todo lo que puede desear el hombre de negocios moderno, desde el acceso inalámbrico a Internet y la caja de seguridad para el portátil, hasta elementos para el relax como los televisores de pantalla plana con televisión vía satélite y unas asombrosas vistas de la ciudad. El Madero no es un hotel con Spa, pero cuenta con una piscina al aire libre, así como masajes, sauna y un gimnasio bien equipado. Y aunque la vida nocturna no es una de las misiones del Hotel Madero, su restaurante contemporáneo de cocina francesa y argentina y sus bares Blue and White realizan una buena labor en este departamento, al igual que el barrio en el que se ubica el hotel, el elegante Puerto Madero a orillas del río, donde no faltan las opciones.

Indicaciones para llegar al hotel:

El hotel se encuentra a aproximadamente 20 minutos del aeropuerto domestico Jorge Newbery y a 40 minutos del aeropuerto Internacional Ezeiza.

Hotel Recamier : Paris, Francia

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 05:00:11 GMT

Advertencia: en determinados fines de semana del año, el hotel exige estancia mínima de dos (2) o tres (3) noches.

Si hay algo que la mayoría de los principales hoteles de París tienen en común es que todos —ya sean grandes hoteles de siglos de antigüedad o experimentos de diseño vanguardista— suelen anunciarse a bombo y platillo. Por eso tenemos debilidad por los discretos, por los hoteles parisinos que van contra corriente y no ofrecen una pasarela para lucirse, sino un rincón para descansar, hoteles como el recién renovado y reformado Recamier.

El hotel se encuentra en la pintoresca Place St. Sulpice, una de las zonas más agradables de la margen izquierda, en pleno St. Germain des Prés, donde hay una encantadora iglesia antigua y alguna que otra marca de lujo. Este hotel pequeño e íntimo, encaja perfectamente en la zona: las zonas comunes son escasas, y nunca hay aglomeraciones en el vestíbulo. El nuevo Recamier consiste simplemente en una sala de desayunos, una terraza y 24 habitaciones remodeladas con mucho estilo.

Cada planta luce una discreta temática, desde un estilo monocromático moderno hasta uno de influencia africana en tonos más terrosos. Todas las habitaciones son contemporáneas a la par que sobrias y, sobre todo, exquisitamente íntimas. La tranquilidad es un lujo muy exclusivo en París: no lo deje escapar. Por eso no hay ningún restaurante en el hotel, pero ya sabe que es imposible quedarse con hambre en París.

Villa Paola : Tropea, Calabria, Italia

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:00:13 GMT

Please note: Villa Paola is open seasonally, April through October. Children under 12 are not permitted.

There’s no place on Italy’s Tyrrhenian coast that’s hard on the eyes, exactly, but the sixteenth-century sisters who founded the St. Francesco of Paola convent chose their location with an eye worthy of a twenty-first-century property developer. One imagines that thanks to their duties they didn’t spend an inordinate amount of time basking in the views, but present-day visitors are under no such constraint; anyone unlucky enough to miss out on a sea view from their guest quarters (read: anyone on the ground floor) will find no shortage of postcard-perfect vistas from Villa Paola’s patios and gardens.

You’ll want to spend some time looking at what’s inside as well. In Italy, like perhaps nowhere else, they’re comfortable spanning centuries in architecture and design. Here clean-lined contemporary Italian furniture blends seamlessly into sixteenth-century spaces, with modern conveniences included as a matter of course. For while the house represents its era well, it hardly shows its age; the hotel conversion included a very thorough restoration, and it’s doubtful whether it’s ever looked fresher. The village of Tropea makes for a pleasant stroll, if a quiet one — just be back at Villa Paola by sunset for a cocktail on the terrace or by the poolside.

Hotel Beaux Arts Miami : Miami, FL, USA

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:14 GMT

One of the joys of the job is finding extraordinary hotels in unexpected places. Of course downtown Miami shouldn’t count as an unexpected place — some quirk of the novelty-driven travel press leads it to lavish attention on Miami Beach at the expense of its mainland neighbor. But in this case we’re also talking about finding a hotel inside of another hotel. For it’s within (or more precisely, atop) the already very fine JW Marriott Marquis that you’ll find the Hotel Beaux Arts Miami, a “private hotel” occupying the top floors of this high-rise tower, with access to the parent hotel’s five-star services and facilities but with its own private reception and lounge, and accommodations that are, incredible as it may seem, a generous cut above what’s offered downstairs.

Of course, in a more perfect world, this might be what all of Downtown’s luxury hotels look like — clean-lined minimalist rooms, modernist furniture, impressive views through full-length windows and a full complement of thoughtful conveniences, from Bang & Olufsen entertainment systems to Illy espresso machines (the product of which is complimentary), and an iPad issued to every room. The beds are enormous, the materials are rich, and the bath products are Molton Brown. All this and access to the JW Marriott Marquis too — this means access to the spa, the gym, Daniel Boulud’s db Bistro Moderne restaurant and even a golf school by Jim McLean, should your swing require a brush-up. And the rates include a wealth of extras, from breakfast to cocktails to hors d’oeuvres; if you’ve had Club Level treatment at any of Asia’s top luxury hotels you’re familiar with the drill.

As for the location, it’s not really meant to be a substitute for the hedonism of South Beach. Downtown is the home of Miami’s design district, and it’s the center of quite a bit of the city’s local life, a world apart from the tourists-only vibe on offer elsewhere. Where Miami Beach traffics in fantasy (with varying degrees of success), downtown is reality — and if the Beaux Arts is any guide, it’s a pretty appealing reality at that.

Hotel Beaux Arts Miami : Miami, FL, USA

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:11 GMT

Le Caméléon Hotel : Puerto Viejo, Limón, Costa Rica

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:24 GMT

Location isn’t everything when it comes to hotels, but it’s not nothing either. In some countries Le Caméléon’s crisp, contemporary monochrome look might signal little more than membership in the local boutique-hotel scene. In Costa Rica, land of natural-finish eco-lodges and thatched-hut villas, its modern interiors and glossy white-on-white color scheme is something of a statement — a statement to the effect that while the Caribbean coast is all about the beaches, the water, the jungle, there’s no reason why you can’t live in the urbane, sophisticated style to which you’re accustomed.

These rooms are about more than just looks, with comforts that begin to edge into luxury-hotel territory: plasma TVs, iPod docks, some with king beds and private balconies or terraces. Die-hard luxury junkies will have to admit they’ve seen rooms that are bigger and plusher, but in these environs, anything more would be incongruous. Suffice it to say the physical charms are every bit the equal of the visual ones, and taking the natural environment into account, it’s essentially paradise. There’s a stylish pool deck for the moments when you don’t feel like venturing all the way to the beach, there’s a full-service spa, and the Numu restaurant and bar are stylish spaces, accentuating, perhaps, the contrast between Costa Rica’s Caribbean and Pacific coasts.

How to get there:
Le Cameleon is 136 miles (3h30m) from the Juan Santamaria Airport. Airport transfer can be arranged for USD287.50 per way. Please contact CustomerService@TabletHotels.com for assistance with airport transfers.

Eagles Palace : Halkidiki , Grecia

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:24 GMT

Please note: Eagles Palace is open seasonally, April through October.

As the sister hotel to the Excelsior, a city boutique in Thessaloniki, Eagles Palace is the opposite of an urban hotel. This part of Greece, on the peninsula just short of the remote Eastern Orthodox holy site of Mount Athos, was more or less entirely unsettled before the hotel broke ground. Fresh off a 2008 renovation, Eagles Palace is looking quite up to date — and while it’s not quite as secluded as the monks’ refuge at Athos, this part of Halkidiki is still quiet, relatively untouched by development, especially when compared with some of Greece’s better-known destinations.

The rooms start out comfortably enough, with views of the garden or the sea, their solid, unfinished furnishings taking some inspiration from the monastic setting. The suites begin to pile on the luxuries, with balconies or terraces and, in some cases, Jacuzzis. It’s in the sea view bungalows, though, that Eagles Palace really starts feeling palatial — space, obviously, is no concern, and each one comes with its own private plunge pool.

Like its city cousin, Eagles Palace comes equipped with an Elemis spa and a handful of fine restaurants, some featuring sea views from the outdoor terraces. And while you’re seemingly worlds away from it all, it’s no less stunning a natural setting than most of Greece’s island destinations. A private beach and a PADI dive center make the most of the seaside location, and a number of watercraft are available for excursions to the nearby islands and inlets.

How to get there:
Eagles Palace is a 90 minute drive from Thessaloniki, which can be reached by air or train from several European cities. Please contact CustomerService@TabletHotels.com for assistance with airport transfers.

Southern Ocean Lodge : Kangaroo Island, Australia

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:12 GMT

Bringing crisp minimal design out of the city and into the wild, Southern Ocean Lodge is a shining example of very modern and very Australian architecture: clean open spaces, neutral tones and tons of glass wrapped in an environmentally-friendly package. Located on Kangaroo Island just off the South Australian coast, Southern Ocean Lodge is unexpectedly hip for such a remote and rugged locale, sporting a cool, unlabored vibe that doesn’t interfere with its beautiful coastal surrounds.

Comprising 21 sea-facing rooms, the SOL hovers over the mallee scrub, offering wide views of ocean, sky and whatever fauna happens to venture past: expect anything from kangaroos to echidnas to native birds. Inside, paintings by local artists complement pure white walls, with bespoke furniture and Ecosmart fireplaces creating the type of relaxed, uncluttered feeling one vows to recreate at home.

Tuning out is the main past time at the SOL (only the Family rooms have TVs) and guests can choose to do this on their private terrace, in their sunken lounge, or on one of a long list of nature tours. The surrounding national parkland offers so much by way of exploration — sea lion-spotting, kangaroo-meeting and hiking included — that the lodge provides each guest with a custom itinerary. Of course, some may opt to do nothing more demanding than enjoy the property’s gourmet meals and open bar, including a walk-in cellar stocked with locally-produced and imported wines, all included in the tariff.

Daily sunset drinks in the lodge’s Great Room allow guests to swap travel stories while taking in views of the Southern Ocean. An onsite spa with floor-to-ceiling windows offers a further chance to unwind while watching — and being watched by, presumably — the local wildlife.

How to get there:

Connect through Adelaide for flights to Kangaroo Island, or drive to Cape Jervis to board the ferry for the island.

Terre Resort and Spa : Marrakech, Marruecos

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:14 GMT

El concepto de hotel típico marroquí es el riad: por lo general, suelen ser mansiones enclavadas en la antigua medina de la ciudad, hoteles pequeños e íntimos que representan un tipo de hostelería algo extravagante. El Terre Resort, el primer complejo hotelero del grupo norteamericano Octogone, exporta este concepto a la Palmeraïe, un oasis en medio del desierto, a quince minutos de la ciudad de Marrakech propiamente dicha, y lo reproduce a una escala mayor y más lujosa.

El Terre se compone de veinte pequeños riads octogonales, con 52 suites cada uno, y saca el máximo partido de su entorno diáfano extendiéndose en un terreno de más de cinco hectáreas, en el que hay un spa y hammam completo, una inmensa piscina principal (que complementa las piscinas privadas y los jacuzzis de las suites) y un complejo de ocio, con restaurante, salón y biblioteca.

Los tipos de alojamiento son grandiosos y están pensados para un público que viaja por placer y por todo lo alto. Las villas y las suites son, ante todo, espaciosas y contemporáneas, y sus cuartos de baño rayan en lo extravagante. A pesar de encontrarse en el desierto, el Terre, con su pista de tenis de tierra batida, su campo de minigolf y su cercanía a la gran selección de campos de golf de la Palmeraïe, ofrece un amplio abanico de actividades.

El Terre compensa con creces la falta de sabor local (el sello distintivo de los riads de la medina) con un lujo de líneas bien definidas. Aún es demasiado pronto para poder decirlo, pero, si todo va bien, el Terre será el primero de los ocho hoteles que Octogone tiene previsto abrir en Marruecos.

Terre Resort & Spa queda aproximadamente a unos 20 minutos en coche del Aeropuerto de Marrakech-Menara y a 10km del centro de Marrakech. Si desea organizar un traslado al hotel, contacte con reservas@tablethoteles.com

Secret de Paris : Paris, Francia

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:01:05 GMT

After years of pining for more contemporary hotels in Paris, we’re finally getting what we wished for. Suddenly the place is awash in design-oriented boutique hotels. And not half measures, either. The Hotel Secret de Paris, for example, isn’t content with just one vibrant, contemporary look — not when it can have six of them, each one patterned after a stylized version of a different view of Paris.

There’s the Musée d’Orsay, with its famous clock face, the Tour Eiffel with its iron beams, the ballet-themed Opéra Garnier and the art deco Trocadéro. Moulin Rouge is suitably saucy, and the Atelier d’Artiste, all in white (with judicious splatters of paint), is a rather luxe interpretation of the classic artist’s garret. Suffice it to say you’re reminded at every turn that you’re in Paris.

A gym, sauna, hammam and massage room are there to keep the Secret’s guests feeling fit, and in typical Parisian style you’re left at the city’s mercy when it comes time for a meal — a blessing, in this town, not a curse. For the city’s minimalist clientele, perhaps not, but anyone who’s found Parisian hotels a bit drab is bound to love it.

Armani Hotel Milano : Milan, Italia

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:01:05 GMT

Some hotels need to be seen to be properly understood. Other hotel concepts, though, more or less speak for themselves. Simply at the mention of the Armani Hotel Milan one knows what one’s going to get: a bold and tasteful elegance, a certain richness in texture and materials, and of course an imposing silhouette — and one, incidentally, that’s suitable both for business and for pleasure.

In one sense it’s almost a living showroom for the Armani Casa shop across the road. But it’s more than that — a hotel, for a fashion chain, is a showroom for an entire lifestyle, and these interiors, modern Milanese to a tee, will have you checking yourself in the mirror to make sure you’re measuring up. And like the best in fashion, they’re more than surface deep, with a remarkable amount of attention paid to the physical luxuries that don’t show up on film.

Ninety-five rooms isn’t enormous, but without question the Armani joins the Milanese big league, competing directly against the town’s top luxury hotels. The spa and the restaurants see to these high-flying guests’ needs in the manner to which they’re accustomed, and the location is tough to beat, with walking access to what’s arguably the world’s finest shopping district. As branding, it’s a stroke of genius — and it’s no less impressive as a hotel.

Secret de Paris : Paris, Francia

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:01:04 GMT

Secret de Paris : Paris, Francia

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:01:03 GMT

Secret de Paris : Paris, Francia

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:08 GMT

Casa del Horno : Panama, Panamá

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:04 GMT

It’s not necessarily the owners’ Italian heritage per se that makes Casa del Horno one of Panama’s top boutique hotels. The house is an architectural treasure in its own right, dating back to the French colonial days, and its rough-hewn stone provides the backdrop against which its sleeker, more contemporary elements are allowed to stand out. But in the end it’s the keenness of that contemporary eye which elevates a charming house into an extraordinary hotel.

And it’s in the design that the owners’ influence shows through most distinctly. At the moment there’s nothing quite like Italian design for blending modernist visual impact with top-notch tactile luxury, and Casa del Horno’s interiors fit that description to a tee. Imported pieces mesh with local craftsmanship and antique details, and the result is a hotel with a character all its own — and in boutique hotels, that’s at least half the battle.

The other half, of course, is the nuts and bolts: the LCD televisions and iPod docks, the Old Town location with its picturesque views, the in-room massage service, the thoughtful concierge and the generally high level of service. It’s safe to say there’s nothing else quite like it anywhere else in town.

How to get there:
Casa dal Horno is 33.5km away from Tocumen International Airport (30-40 min) or 3.5km from Marcos A Gelabert Airport. Transfers can be organized for USD35 for 2 guests, each way and USD10 per additional guest. Please contact CustomerService@TabletHotels.com for assistance with airport transfers.

Locanda Rossa : Capalbio, Italia

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:00:05 GMT

Please note: Locanda Rossa is open annually April through December. Three night minimum required for stays in June, July and August. Two night minimum required for all other dates.

The Maremma, the coastal region where Tuscany meets Lazio, is a bit of a Johnny-come-lately as a holiday destination, though you’d never know it from looking at it today — here a once-impoverished agricultural region has been transformed into, well, a not-at-all-impoverished agricultural region, and one that’s as well known for tourism as for produce. And this fame is due in no small part to a wealth of independent hotels, places like Capalbio’s Locanda Rossa.

Locanda Rossa’s original structure has undergone a modern expansion, but the seams don’t show a bit. Contemporary interiors meet farmhouse architecture in the rooms and suites, which, if not for the half-timbered ceilings and the views of the farm, could easily pass for modern urban apartments. Then again those views of the olive groves, not to mention the gardens and the pool deck, are why you’re here and not in a modern urban apartment in the first place.

There’s a spa for those tough cases who need even more relaxation, and the Osteria Wine Bar is more than a wine bar, serving sophisticated local fare, much of it made from the estate’s own produce. Meanwhile the beaches are minutes away, and the splendid Maremma countryside surrounds — all less than two hours’ drive from Rome.

How to get there:
Train: Rome to Capalbio, approximately 2 hours. Transfers from the train station can be arranged with the hotel.
Driving Directions from Rome: Take Strada Statale 1 Aurelia in the direction of Livorno. Exit at Chiarone 124 km then turn left towards Pescia Fiorentina. After 2.5 km, take mandatory left turn to Capalbio. After 3 km you will find the red entrance to Locanda Rossa on your right. Approximate driving time from Rome is 1.30 hours.

Please contact CustomerService@TabletHotels.com for assistance with directions.

Aditya : Galle, Sri Lanka

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:00:18 GMT

There are places whose appeal waxes and wanes with the trend-chasing crowds — and then there’s the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. The boom in Sri Lankan hospitality doesn’t seem to have much to do with the changing fashions, and one imagines a place like Aditya, though recently opened, is in it for the long haul, as its splendid beachfront location and its low-key, friendly approach to service are unlikely to see substantial revision any time in the near future.

Most every boutique hotel thinks of its design sense as “eclectic,” but Aditya presents a stronger case than most, its starkly modernist beds, furniture and bathrooms sharing time with antique pieces and traditional architectural details. Five suites are nestled into private gardens, six of them face out to sea, and the Grand Surya Suite, a two-story villa, has a private terrace with a plunge pool and a prime view of the Indian Ocean sunset.

The activities on offer are suitably low-key, from spa treatments to cooking classes to coastal explorations, whether that means the old fort at Galle or dolphin-watching at Mirissa. The beach occupies its fair share of guests’ daytime hours, as does the pool. And while there’s no nightlife to speak of, it’s hard not to imagine that that’s just how Aditya’s guests like it.

How to get there:
Aditya is located on a secluded beach 10 minutes north of Galle (on the SW coast of Sri Lanka). The hotel is 2.5 hours south of Colombo. Transfers can be arranged from/to the Bandaranaike International Airport (135 km away) in Colombo. Train service is also available from Colombo to Galle (where a taxi can be arranged to pick you up). Please contact CustomerService@TabletHotels.com for further questions or assistance with airport transfers.

Aditya : Galle, Sri Lanka

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:00:14 GMT

1864 The Sea Captain's House : Santorini, Cyclades, Grecia

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:00:12 GMT

Please note: 1864 The Sea Captain's House is open seasonally, March through mid-December.

In Santorini, the location does almost all of the work; most hotels just do their best not to spoil the view. Any hotel that can actually add something to the natural experience very quickly crosses over into the extraordinary — and the reason we’re here, as you might have imagined, is that the delightfully named 1864 The Sea Captain’s House is one of this rare breed.

First of all, even on Santorini, there are locations, and then there are locations. Oia, at the top of the inner crescent, is probably the island’s most picturesque town, its terraced residences cascading precipitously down the cliffside. The Sea Captain’s House joins them — with just four suites (and no reception or other common space), it’s scarcely a hotel at all, presenting what’s essentially an idealized, luxe version of Oian village life.

That means jacuzzis in every suite, for one, and an approach to decorating that goes beyond the stripped-down Greek-island norm — there are hints of the baroque in these bedrooms, with their antique woodwork and gilded mirrors. It’s all in the name of character, though, rather than pure flash; the scale of the place prevents it ever feeling over-opulent. Dine in, if you’re in the mood for some privacy, or book a table at one of the owners’ two village restaurants, if you prefer a more sociable stay.

How to get there:
Santorini (Thira) can be easily reached by plane or ferry. Flight time from Athens is approximately 45 minutes.

Ferries from Athens' Pireaus port to Thira take approximately 3 hours. For more information about ferry schedules, and to purchase tickets in advance of your trip, we recommend the following website: Paleologos

Please contact CustomerService@TabletHotels.com for assistance with transfers to the hotel.

137 Pillars House : Chiang Mai, Tailandia

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:13 GMT

Thai boutique hotels tend to stick to a couple of themes; think beach villas in the coastal regions, or ultramodern design in Bangkok. More suited to the old northern capital of Chiang Mai, however, is 137 Pillars House, a luxury boutique that’s more elegant than funky, more traditional than outré, a natural stylistic evolution from the old house’s former use as the headquarters of the East Borneo Company.

So well kept is 137 Pillars, however, that the result is more a trad-luxe fantasy than an outright preservation job. Much of the construction, however classic in style, is in fact a painstaking contemporary reconstruction, giving the lie to the notion that “they don’t make them like they used to.” In fact they make them better; these century-old suites are only improved by the addition of modern electronics, plumbing and climate control, and the 19th-century atmosphere suffers not a bit.

The common spaces are equally genteel in aspect, from the Library Bar to the Parlor Lounge, from the dark and romantic Dining Room to the casual show kitchen, which mounts demonstrations and cooking classes. The gym, spa and pool keep guests in fighting trim, and outside, rather than some generic entertainment district, is Old Chiang Mai, home to any number of temples, monuments and cultural attractions.

How to get there:
137 Pillars House is located 10 minutes from Chiang Mai Airport. Please contact CustomerService@TabletHotels.com for assistance with airport transfers.

137 Pillars House : Chiang Mai, Tailandia

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:12 GMT

How to get there:
137 Pillars House is located 10 minutes from Chiang Mai Airport. Please contact CustomerService@TabletHotels.com for assistance with airport transfers.

Infinity Residences & Resort Koh Samui : Koh Samui, Tailandia

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:01:02 GMT

Chances are, the “infinity” in Infinity Residences & Resort refers to the seemingly endless views out into the Gulf of Thailand. But it could equally refer to how far this corner of northwestern Koh Samui feels from the rest of the island’s booming tourist business. If you’re feeling social you’re a short drive away from Bophut Bay and Chaweng Beach, but from these wooded hillsides you don’t even have to know they exist — and if you’re a frequent Tablet reader you know that in Koh Samui there’s no greater luxury than that.

Infinity’s residences range from one to four bedrooms, and while the space and equipment necessarily vary a bit, there are some constants: king beds, sea views, full open kitchens, modern electronics, and massive bathrooms. Some have private lap pools, others hot tubs or plunge pools, and in the very worst case you’ll share a pool with the other half of your duplex — life is pretty good when that’s the worst case.

The gym, spa, pool and restaurant, naturally, are up to the same general level as the accommodations, and there’s an astonishing view from just about every corner of the place. If there’s anything to grouse about, perhaps it’s the location, which might feel slightly out of the way in comparison with the rest of the island’s high-end properties — but if remoteness feels like a disadvantage, then we humbly suggest that you just might have your priorities the wrong way round.

How to get there:
Infinity Residences & Resort is located 20 km from the Koh Samui airport. Please contact CustomerService@TabletHotels.com for assistance with airport transfers.

Hotel de la Paix, Luang Prabang : Luang Prabang, Laos

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:01:01 GMT

Luang Prabang is one of those destinations where you hardly need an extraordinary hotel to have an extraordinary experience — which makes the fact that there are several of them feel almost gratuitous. Not that we’re complaining. In the case of the Hotel de la Paix it means a rare conjunction of historical architecture and modern design, and a chance to inhabit an ancient place in an atmosphere of the utmost contemporary luxury.

The architect, Duangrit Bunnag, is responsible for some very fine modernist beach hotels in Thailand, and here he’s wedded a handful of original French Colonial structures (including the old governor’s mansion) to a number of new buildings, heavily influenced in turn by traditional Lao architecture. The result is a strangely timeless blend, especially in the guest suites, which feel not just sequestered in space but somehow lost in time as well.

Only some of them come with private pools, but all are indulgent in their own way, with private gardens and spa-like bathrooms. Of course there’s a proper spa as well, for when “spa-like” isn’t quite enough, and a main pool for a more serious approach to swimming. Add a fine restaurant and lounge, as well as a cooking school, and the culinary angle is more than covered — especially when you add the restaurants at 3 Nagas, the sister hotel, just a few minutes down the road.

How to get there:
Hotel de la Paix is conveniently located just 5 minutes from the central area of town and a 15-minute drive from the Luang Prabang Airport. Please contact CustomerService@TabletHotels.com for assistance with airport transfers.

Altapura : Val Thorens, Francia

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:01:01 GMT

Val Thorens makes much of its status as the Alps’ highest ski resort; more practically, it makes much of its status as its largest, at least in terms of terrain. But from our hospitality-centric viewpoint, a French ski town isn’t really on the map until the Sibuets have opened a hotel there. Altapura, like its sisters in Megève, answers a number of perennial ski-hotel complaints — it’s modern in style without sacrificing a sense of place, it’s comfortable without lapsing into kitsch, and it’s proof positive that a stylish social scene and a family-friendly vibe need not be mutually exclusive.

The look of the place is often described as Scandinavian, but if you look beyond the blond wood you’ll see what’s essentially a post-modern take on a very French alpine lodge. The heavy timbers, it seems, have been hauled down and made into furniture, into patchwork tiles, or into latticed screens; even the traditional taxidermy is present, though largely in stylized carved wood.

In a ski lodge, however, the tactile pleasures often take precedence over the visual ones. Here Altapura doesn’t disappoint. The rooms, however striking, are never stark, and that modern furniture lacks for nothing in terms of comfort — and the less tangible conveniences include Apple iPads alongside pervasive wi-fi and satellite television.

The three restaurants inhabit equally contemporary spaces, but vary in atmosphere, from the ultra-cozy La Laiterie to the rather more adult Les Enfants Terribles. Meanwhile the Pure Altitude spa, with its seven treatment rooms and heated indoor pool, is a viable alternative to a day on the slopes. And last but not least, Altapura benefits from ski-in ski-out access, as well as a ski shop in partnership with Goitschel.

How to get there:
Altapura is located 30 km from the Courchevel Airport (CVF). This is approximately 1 hour by car. Please contact CustomerService@TabletHotels.com for assistance with airport transfers.