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!
Super Spas
I began the year with such good intentions… my new trainers were fresh from the box and ready for my 4 gym sessions a week, the fridge was stacked to the brim with food that even Gillian McKeith would be proud of, I had a fresh notebook open and waiting for the best-selling novel I’ve always been meaning to write and “Sassy, Single and Satisfied” was going to become my new relationship bible.
Unfortunately 2012 didn’t quite kick off the way I had planned and now 4 weeks down the line I find myself coming back from yet another evening of decadent food, far too much red wine and company that goes against my ‘sassy and single’ New Year mantra – and needless to say the price-tag has yet to come off the trainers…
So I have decided that maybe a cupboard full of rabbit food and an Olympic-style workout programme isn’t quite right for me and maybe I need to January detox the old fashioned way, at a beautiful spa with all the latest quirky therapies and treatments that will buff and bronze me to perfection!
Whilst browsing the musings of one of my favourite spa bloggers last night, Spa Confidential, I noticed that she is currently visiting the classic Malaysian resort of Tanjong Jara (not too far from you Paul!)
and one treatment in particular caught my eye… It’s called Rendam-Rendam, and let’s just say it’s for tightening and firming ‘down there’! What a treatment!
Not sure I’m quite ready for such an alternative therapy just yet, but it did get me thinking about my favourite Super Spas, ideal for January detoxing (with no Wheatgrass shots allowed!) Does anyone have any suggestions?
Escape Christmas or Embrace Christmas?
Ah, to embrace or escape Christmas? The annual December dilemma. You could check out the seasonal offers for December live on slh.com – though with such an array of ideas from sunbathing to sleigh riding, it might serve to make the decision even trickier! If you are looking for the best of both worlds, I’d suggest a truly Christmassy UK break, somewhere that really embraces the festive spirit such as Cowley Manor in Gloucestershire,
followed by a more exotic New Year, spent somewhere remote like Bloomfield Lodge in Cairns, Australia. Personally, my ideal scenario would be sailing around Malaysia for the entire holiday, a million miles away from the tinsel, turkey and tv re-runs back home. I might pop into Pangkor Laut Resort off the west coast, where the exceptional Sea Villas and delicious cuisine are enough to draw me off the cat that I chartered.
I imagine your diary is already chocca block with Christmas engagements so you’ll have to fit your travels around the parties. I think it will be difficult to top the Square Mile Masked Ball, but no doubt you will try!! The charity season is just about finished now and I am glad to report to you, Mellisa, that SLH helped raise over $ 500,000 to some great causes around the world!! Take care now and have a fabulous Christmas and hope to catch up with you in the New Year .
PK
Slopes With The Most
Last week I attended a fabulous soiree, courtesy of the Val d’Isere tourist board. Their annual cocktail party at the Royal Automobile Club on Pall Mall is known for being a very classy affair and this year’s bash was no different. After sipping Champagne with the Val d’Isere team, champion skiers Chemmy Alcott and Ingrid Jacquemod, and all the movers and shakers in the travel media and ski worlds, I was more than ready to book my next ski trip!
I went to Val last season, and had an absolute blast. However, after a particularly wild night at Dick’s Tea Bar (the effects of which stayed with me for…a while), I think it’s time to head to a resort where everybody doesn’t know my name.
Austria is top of my list having never been skiing there – and I’ve just checked out these two SLH properties, both sound darling!
Jagdgut Wachelhof is a ski in ski out chalet style property in the Kitzbühel region – the architect Bönan not only designs hotels but also high-end boutiques, yachts and furniture so it’s a super stylist joint.
And Bentleys House, 
in the small, exclusive ski resort of Zurs, has just three individual chalets, private spa and well stocked wine cellar.
Or a more traditional but extremely homely feel at Kristiania Lech, how to choose?
And another dilemma – do I opt for the racoon fur headband from M Miller or Pringle’s cashmere beanie this season?
Perhaps you can help me decide?
MV
My Mayfair Dream
You are right Paul, my mum is in town for the weekend – doesn’t news travel fast when at home?!
Personally I feel that my spare room is the embodiment of cosiness and mum would be delighted to try out my new Egyptian-cotton 80 thread count Frette Linen sheets, but saying that, the four Louis Vuitton cases she takes everywhere might have caused a problem, so I took your advice and promptly checked us all into the new super-trendy Aria Suite at Flemings.
Flemings Hotel Mayfair definitely deserves to be part of the SLH family as it is certainly true five-star, boutique luxury at its best. Synonymous with its fantastic Mayfair location, Flemings is glamorous, decadent, chic and above all, incredibly elegant.
I love how all the rooms, suites and apartments are all individually and uniquely designed – some even have gold and silver leafed walls and a suite with its own private lift! The Aria suite is pure luxury; it boasts stylish Italian furniture and accessories and even has a fully equipped kitchen perfect for any impromptu dinner parties!
After spending our mornings trotting around Thomas Lyte, the decadent Martini afternoon tea was a very welcome treat. It’s served with Champagne, canapés and exquisite cupcakes.
The real indulgence for me was the special ‘Chocoholic Tea’ served with rich chocolate cake, chocolate chip scones with chocolate spread and petit fours; a real test in self-restraint which I failed miserably at. Oh well!
Paul’s suggestion for Melissa
Glad to see your lovely young man is treating you to a trip or two and the Park Hotel in Kenmare was no doubt right up your street, hope you tried their amazing malt-whisky though – incredible stuff, puts hairs on your chest that does! (So perhaps not ideal for you…) Anyway, the word around Sloane Square is that your charming mother is in town?
I hope you’re not putting her up in your tiny spare room, why not try out our latest new addition, the fantastic Flemings Hotel Mayfair? The cupcakes are amazing, or so I’m told…
Milano for Melissa
This was the first London Fashion Week I’ve missed in years! I must admit, I had to get a daily fix of catwalk news from Vogue TV whilst in the US. I particularly LOVED Issa London and Matthew Williamson.
The View at The Spanish Steps Rome, Italy
But I’m not too upset I had to rely on virtual updates…because I’m setting off for Milan to catch the shows in 2 hours time!
I’m meeting a tall, dark and handsome friend who lives in Rome (the type of Euro-stylish gent who wears his trousers rolled up just so and his pocket square folded to perfection) for a two night fashion fix. We’re booked into The Gray Hotel
The Gray Milan, Italy
– a gorgeous hideaway with a fab central location, right opposite Galleria Vittorio Emanuele shops.
Known for its sleek, creative design, The Gray is super-cool. I’m hoping for one of the rooms with a bed suspended in mid-air…might help me seduce the Italian! Here’s hoping for a molto bene Milan Fashion Week!
PK’s reply to Melissa
You did well to avoid London last week Melissa – schools starting back and London Fashion Week combined to clog up the roads and meant I wasn’t so much cruising down the King’s Road with the radio on and the windows down and more stuck in wall to wall traffic having a fall out with the Cabbie.
Your East Coast Road Trip sounds like fun – I’m impressed with the hot air ballooning! But it’s not like to you miss LFW, you’re normally first through the doors at the shows. Have you given up shopping in a bid to finally manage travelling with carry-on only?
PK
