Melissa from Milan to Ireland
After long days running around Milan and meeting up with all my favourite fashion friends, there was nowhere better to rest my tired, Manolo-beaten feet than at The Gray Hotel.
The city’s most stylish and creative hideaway; it’s all steel, glass, ebony, silk and vibrant animal prints. Milan was a whirlwind of shopping, parties and celeb FROW spotting – so much so I was exhausted and Mr Italian had to treat me to a spa break to recharge.
I think someone had been checking out my copy of the new Tatler Spa Guide as I was whisked off to one of my favourite countryside SLH hotels, the gorgeous Park Hotel Kenmare in Ireland – one of Tatler magazine’s top ‘Long-Weekend Wonderlands.’ 
(Big congrats also to the fabulous Les Sources de Caudalie and Cowley Manor who also topped the Tatler lists recently!)
I’ve only visited the Park Hotel in Kenmare once before when I was younger and my father was obsessed with their 16-year old malt whisky which he insisted was the best in Ireland. I’m glad to say that our long-weekend focussed much more on SÁMAS, the hotel’s deluxe destination spa than the local tipple.
The spa is a delightfully unexpected juxtaposition from the antique furnishings and oil paintings found around this grand 19th century building. The spa itself sits in a wild-grass-covered Scandinavian-style eco-lodge and absolutely exudes modern glamour. The sparkling interiors offer thermal suites, tropical showers and Mr Italian’s highlight, a 40°C pool open to the elements.
After three luxurious days of dining on classic and modern Irish cuisine, trying my hand at their 18-hole golf course (which only proved to further demonstrate my horrendous hand-eye coordination) and allowing the SÁMAS therapists to buff my skin to new-born quality with their gorgeous new Sisley treatments – the Park Hotel Kenmare definitely exceeded my expectations as more than just a haven for Irish whisky-lovers.
Classically Italian, Grand Hotel Principe Di Piemonte
We recently visited the super duper Grand Hotel Principe Di Piemonte in Italy. This delightful hotel overlooks the beach at Viareggio, a classic Italian seaside resort, pristine water for a dip in the sea. It’s a popular holiday choice amongst Italians…which will certainly add a colourful flavour to your holiday.
A funky corridor with purple light
Principe di Piemonte hotel simply oozes class. Its grand public rooms with high ceilings still give a very informal and friendly atmosphere. Each floor of this magnificent hotel interestingly reflects a different era. Rooms and suites are beautifully decorated in international, Art Deco, Colonial, Empire and modern styles. You can take your pick of different hotel rooms – so if you are a regular visitor you can have a different experience every time!
For food lovers, the breakfast buffet is superb, as is the Michelin star restaurant on the top floor. In summer, the tables actually surround the roof top pool – very romantic and a great view of the town and Tyrrhenian Sea. The hotel has very friendly staff and valet car parking. This is also a spa hotel which includes a wellness centre with sauna, massage and aesthetic treatments, Jacuzzi, and waterfall.
Very close to the hotel is the city park which must have one of the best children’s playgrounds in Italy. Viareggio has very easy access to the Tuscan ‘greats’ of Pisa, Lucca, Siena and Florence – all reachable within an hour and a half. So the hotel is a great location for families combining beach and culture. The weather is usually great, being on the same latitude as Monte Carlo.
Delicious gourmet dishes at the Michelin Star Restaurant
If you didn’t want a beach hotel, you could try the equally fabulous Albergo Pietrasanta a few miles away in Pietrasanta, which is a smaller hotel in a charming Tuscan town but minutes to the beach, or indeed the Relais Dell Orologio right in the heart of Pisa. All are part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
Overall this is a must-stay hotel if you love beaches and culture in one.
Have you been to Grand Hotel Principe Di Piemonte?
Share your experiences; we’d love to hear from you!
