Paul’s reply to Melissa
Hi Melissa,
That’s a shame that you missed the Condé Nast Traveller Hot List awards, I didn’t manage to get there myself either unfortunately. I’ve actually been travelling and checking out the newest hotels to join SLH. One that really caught my eye was Hotel Habita Monterrey in Mexico – it’s got the most amazing rooftop terrace and infinity pool looking out onto the stylish San Pedro Garza Garcia district. You would love it; add it to the list maybe?
I was very excited to hear you decided to head out to Singapore though and that you stayed at the legendary Naumi hotel, I’ve always wondered what were in the Ladies-Only rooms! You have answered years of questioning for me; the way to a woman’s heart is with a pair of hair straighteners and the latest copy of Vogue!
You actually just missed out seeing my son William represent SLH in the White Collar Boxing match in Singapore a few weeks ago in aid of the Children’s Surgical Centre in Cambodia. William is also the revenue account manager for SLH so was great for us to be able to help raise a huge amount of money for such a great cause.
Check out how ‘Billy the Kid Kerr’ got on here
I’m proud to say that SLH has now raised over $230,000 this year for charities world-wide including Cystic Fibrosis, Cancer Research UK, Save the Children, United Charity and Room to Read but we could always do more. As your little black book reads like a who’s-who from a Forbes Rich List, perhaps you could help with our next event or even point us to the top charity functions that SLH could get involved with? What’s happening in NYC at the moment?
I’d love to catch up with you when you’re back in London; I hear on the grape vine that you’re planning a big trip Stateside? I’ve got some great tips on places you should definitely check out whilst you’re there – top of your list should unquestionably be The Pillars Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. It’s one of the most hospitable places you’ll ever stay. You’ll have a blast with Caroline Bonnell, the General Manager, and she might even take you on a trip on Lake Sylvia aboard their 51 ft yacht!
Hot List 2012
News travels fast – as I made my way down Orchard Road for a spot of retail therapy (yes, I’m still in Singapore having settled in at Naumi exceedingly well) my iPhone was a-buzz with hotelier friends telling me all about a fabulous party I missed out on.
The occasion? Condé Nast Traveller’s annual Hot List awards, celebrating 2012’s hottest new hotels. Held at Belgraves last week, the movers and shakers of the travel world supped Tanqueray punch and swapped their travel tips for the year ahead. Did you make it Paul? I’m sad I missed the event, but delighted to see two of the newest SLH hotels listed in this year’s winners. Canal House, Amsterdam and Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa,Vietnam – congrats! I hope I can visit both before the year is over.
Love how Canal House grade their rooms to indicate exactly what you can expect – guests choose from Good Rooms, Better Rooms, Great Rooms, Exceptional Rooms and Best Room! Any guesses which one I’d go for? Although, their Good Rooms look pretty gorgeous to me –
Perfectly placed to enjoy a wander around the Nine Streets shopping district, the flower market and Dam Square, the hotel overlooks the Keisersgracht, one of the city’s major canals. I hear the bar serves amazing cocktails too.
The new Anantara Mui Ne Resort in Vietnam is another deserving winner – I hear it’s absolutely heavenly. I could gaze at the sunset here for days.
Their Vietnamese cooking classes sound fun too, although I have a feeling I would need to be peeled off my sun lounger or the massage table here, it looks SO relaxing. From the hotel there’s masses you can see and do, from exploring the nearby temples and pagodas, the sand dunes (white, yellow and red), jeep safaris, hiking through rain forests, mountains and red canyons, local fishing villages, cable car rides, bird watching…no wonder the folks at Condé Nast voted it one of 2012’s hottest hotels.
Pick up a copy of the May issue of Condé Nast Traveller, on shelves now, to see the full, delicious list.
It’s back to London for me this week to water the plants before I head stateside. More on that later. Perhaps we can catch up with dinner soon Paul, is the new restaurant open in Sloane Square yet? You know the one which used to be Oriels – heard it should be great. Looking forward to being in town for a while!
MV
Single Singapore Ladies
I must admit Paul; it really was painful tearing myself away from the magical NIYAMA – although getting mum to leave her pavilion with private butler (and new best-friend) Ali, was even harder!
I decided that perhaps it was time for mum to rejoin the real world before she eloped with a Maldivian waiter, so I packed her off back to London on the Solairus Aviation jet with a stash of traditional Indian Ocean essential oils and candles for me so I can try and recreate my NIYAMA experience at home.
Your tip to head to Asia on my way home couldn’t have come at a better time as my very dear friend Anita who’s now based in Singapore has been longing for me to visit for months and now that she is newly single I’m sure we’ll have a brilliant time.
She’s just gone through a very messy break-up and is definitely off men for a while, so as soon as I heard about the Ladies Only floor at the amazing all-suite Naumi hotel I booked us straight in.
The hotel looks super stylish with a rooftop infinity pool, sundeck and incredible restaurant and bar with the most amazing Poltona Frau armchairs! Anita will love Naumi as they seem to really know how to look after their female guests. Our suite on the Ladies Floor has extra privacy and comes fully equipped with all those little essentials such as the latest copy of Vogue, hair straighteners and a steam room to make sure our LBDs are 100% crease-free. What more could a girl ask for?!
Watch out Singapore, the single ladies are on their way!
Maldivian Style Comes To Sloane Square
Melissa – you might not want to relocate to the Maldives permanently, but you could always take a bit of the Indian Ocean ethos home with you.
On my last trip I met Mohamed Faruhaadh, Housekeeper at Baros Maldives, and he shared with me his tips to give my bedroom a Maldivian makeover in the style of the Baros resort, after I raved about the great night’s sleep I had there.
He said “Choose soothing colours and warm tones to ground you, then add colourful accents with flowers and cushions. Check lighting is soft, and complement with candles. Keep a small collection of essential oils at home – starting with lavender – so you have one for every mood. And before going to sleep, wind down with relaxing music and a cup of mint tea.” I know you’re not usually a quiet-night-in kind of girl, with underwater nightclubs being more your thing, but it might just remind you of your Maldivian paradise.
When you go back to sample the club, can I suggest you spend some time in Asia en route home?
I’m just back from a whirlwind trip to Bangkok, Beijing and Singapore and let me tell you, there are some cracking properties here to check out.
Talking of a great night’s sleep – the beds at the Hansar Bangkok are like sleeping on a cloud.
I would recommend you visit Singapore, staying at the super Naumi hotel in the heart of the city. Check out the amazing rooftop views from the hotel before cycling the length of the beach – the perfect way to work up an appetite before heading to the famous Raffles for their famous brunch. I seem to remember you have an old pal there too, what was her name?
From Singapore you can take the train to Bangkok– and check out our new hotel there, the Siam, set to open this summer. I had a sneak peek and it’s going to be fantastic. One of the slickest arrivals on the Bangkok scene, its suites are huge and super stylish.
And if you have time on your tour of Asia, head toBeijing to see another brand new hotel, the Éclat Beijing, also pinned to open this summer and part of the architecturally striking Parkview Green in the Chaoyang district.
For a taste of traditional China, you could also stay at the tranquil Han’s Royal Garden Hotel.
This boutique hotel will offer an amazing personal packing service courtesy of its excellent butlers – making heading home or to your next destination a breeze. I’m sure my Russian friend Stacey at the hotel would love to take you cycling around the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square!
Just a thought – it would be right up your street.
PK
Relocation, Relocation
It’s official…I want to live in the Indian Ocean. The tropical jungle, pristine barefoot beaches, outdoor living and swishy white curtained architecture could be my idea of relaxation heaven. Not to mention THAT turquoise water. Unfortunately, the Maldivesare a little too far from SW1 and Harvey Nics to become my permanent residence – I can but dream.
Mummy and I are super excited to get a first peek at the hottest new hotel in the area – NIYAMA. We checked into our over-water pavilion and admired our sophisticated surroundings and the picture-perfect location. All shiny and new, NIYAMA has barely been open 2 weeks so we really are test driving the resort. My favourite part of the holiday so far has been a snorkelling trip of a lifetime…you can rent a traditional dhoni boat and sail to tiny Valla Island for truly incredible swimming and snorkelling. And Mummy’s highlight? Adopting a coral!
The resort’s coral regeneration programme allows guests to literally adopt a baby coral and contribute to the longevity of the surrounding reef. The “parent” then receives images and updates on the coral’s progress following their stay. Mum will be delighted to hear this – I know how she likes to keep tabs on her offspring!
I can’t wait to return to NIYAMA for the opening night of Sub 6, the resort’s underwater nightclub, set to open in the coming months. With glass walls and submerged at 6 metres below sea level it’s set to become a destination in it’s own right.
Come Fly With Me
Thanks for the heads up Paul, about Niyama and about mum! I have been a bad daughter recently so thought I would splash out on a belated Mother’s Day treat and after days of wandering around the sandy souks, a tropical paradise sounds perfect.
I’ve decided to make this trip even more special by flying the only way a true travelista should – on a Solairus Aviation private jet! They are absolutely wonderful with luxury leather interiors, a gorgeous bathroom, plenty of space for my Louis Vuitton cases and state-of-the-art technology to make even the longest flights fly by.
We leave in 2 days and I’m already counting down the hours till mum and I can jump on board without the hassle of airport queues and delayed flights – bliss! I’ve also been reading up about Niyama on the new SLH iPad app and just discovered about the floating restaurant, art studio and 24 hour spa! This really is going to be a trip of a lifetime – don’t I have a very lucky mummy?!
Can’t wait to tell you all about it… watch this space!
Spring Sunshine: Paul’s reply to Melissa
I’m so glad you chose to visit La Sultana Marrakech, Morocco is one of my all-time favourite destinations and I know how much you crave your Vitamin D. I hope you and Serena sampled plenty of their amazing traditional Moroccan food, the head chef is a good friend of mine and his tagines are legendary!
Another one of my favourite spots if you’re still on the hunt for sun is the wonderful Maldives.
There’s always something new and exciting happening, word on the street is that the new Niyama is now open!
Apparently it’s a real showstopper with the world’s first underwater nightclub – now that’s not really my scene anymore, not since disco balls and flares went out of style.
I think it needs someone with some young blood to check it out and why not take your lovely mother? She’s been moping around Harrods for days since you left!
Spring Sunshine
After all my glowing praise for UK hotels recently, I’ll admit it: I’m dying for some proper sunshine! OK, this perky spring weather has been a total treat, but it’s still rather nippy out – a recent Melissa Odabash bikini-clad outing on the roof terrace lasted approximately 15 minutes before more layers were called for!
From my position under my cashmere, I got to thinking…where to go for spring sunshine? Somewhere I’ve always heard is best to visit in the spring is the buzzing shopper’s paradise of Marrakech. It’s the ideal time to explore the souks and night markets when the weather is pleasant without being stiflingly sticky, and still warm enough to catch the rays by your hotel pool.
La Sultana Marrakech is without doubt reputedly one of the most stunning places to stay in Marrakech.
A collection of five riads in the heart of the Kasbah, there’s an exotic ambiance – think hanging gardens, fountains, high vaulted ceilings decorated in precious woods, marble and copper, sumptuous fabrics, ornate tiles and views of theAtlas Mountains from the roof terrace.
There’s a gorgeous hammam, excellent Moroccan-Mediterranean dining and tranquil swimming pool for when the heady excitement of the world just outside the walls gets too much. It totally caught my eye when browsing on the SLH App and before I knew it I was booked in for 4 nights next week with my New York-based friend Serena remember her? – she needs to escape NYC for a while after a particularly raucous 5th avenue dinner party ended with her sloshing a bottle of Napa’s finest Pinot Noir over the host’s pristine and entirely white apartment.
Not that you need any further reason to visit than this divine hotel – but The House in Marrakech is also well worth checking out…I’ve been ogling this lovely blog full of beautiful images of daily life, architecture and home décor in Marrakech for a while now – simply gorgeous!
MV
Home is Where the English Heart Is
What can I say Paul, I’m a city girl through and through but Sally’s blog certainly did open my eyes to the extent of wonderful places we have in the UK that are just crying out to be explored. So I took heed of your advice and decided to face my fear of muddy fields, rogue farm animals and no wi-fi and drove my glistening new Range Rover Evoque off into the British wilderness.
First on my list for a quintessentially British experience had to be The Arden Hotel in beautifulStratford-Upon-Avon, once home to the legendary William Shakespeare whose name lives on with the wonderful Royal Shakespeare Company. I took advantage of the Arden’s hugely popular RSC Theatre package and enjoyed a luxurious night in one of their unique ‘Feature Rooms’ before trotting off to see the classic ‘Taming of the Shrew’ (and I almost understood every word!)
Although the Arden was absolutely divine I did feel like I cheated on your task slightly Paul, particularly as my diamante-encrusted Hunter wellies were still in pristine condition, so for my second British jaunt I headed to Lainston House Hotel in Hampshire.
Lainston House is set in 63 acres of lush parkland with clay pigeon shooting and falconry being their most. After a full day of wandering through gardens and woodland, I have to admit I loved every minute of it. popular activities. I even impressed myself as I trekked along their astonishing avenue of lime trees and discovered an enchanting 12th-century chapel on the way.
Although I especially loved coming back to a fabulous meal prepared by award-winning executive chef, Andy MacKenzie – turns out you can get good food outside the M25!
This little exploration has been the perfect antidote to my crazy city life – although I did hear DVF is having an end of season sale tomorrow which I might just need to pop back to the bright lights for!
Let me know if there’s anywhere in the UK that you think is really special and might even tempt me away again.
Paul’s Reply to Melissa:British countryside
Many congratulations to all the properties featured in the Conde Nast Traveller Spa Awards, extremely well deserved and a great accolade. No denying that a good spa sesh does wonders for the skin and soul but my recommendation for you MV is to get out-and-about into the great British countryside, enjoy some fresh air and see what’s beyond this London metropolis – it will do marvels for that fresh, youthful look that seems to be all the rage at the moment. Whilst we have some of the best hotels in the world here in the capital, some of my favourites are away from the bright lights and tucked away in the heart of the British countryside.
Now, not that I was cheating on your blog MV (you know you’re my number 1!) but I was checking out another favourite of mine, Sally Shalam’s Britain – it’s full to the brim of top tips for exploring all that is Great about Britain. Go and check it out and you might be inspired!
