Cruise & Travel

The Gramercy Park Hotel’s Haute Bohemian heritage has been honored and renewed in the transformation by Ian Schrager. It is still the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City but better! It represents a sensuous vision of artful diversity. Bohemia reinvented for the 21st century with an original combination of styles, with great pieces of furniture and art and the extraordinary use of color.

It is a balancing act which only Ian Schrager could pull off, as well as a fresh approach which represents a new departure for him. It brings together a number of creative forces, not chosen for their compatibility, but for their shared commitment to the modern lifestyle.

Located in a quiet tree-lined street near Madison Avenue, the hotel Lowell is in the heart of New York in one of the most exclusive neighborhoods is high side. With only 49 individually decorated suites and 23 deluxe rooms, the sumptuous hotel welcomes guests with personal service and attention to detail. Amid generous considerations and complimentary beverages upon arrival, Fiji water find, and a selection of them elegant amenities. Most suites have fireplaces, some with terraces, and almost all are equipped with kitchenettes.

Source: The Lowell website

New Yorkers are defined not just by the city they call home, but also by the neighborhoods in which they reside. These unique “districts” are worlds in and of themselves, and together they define an icon. The Distrikt Hotel New York City celebrates the individuality of these melting pots and the island of Manhattan itself through architecture, design, style and service.

Located in the heart of Manhattan on West 40th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues in Midtown Manhattan, Distrikt Hotel New York is steps away from The New York Times Building and Times Square. Part of the Ascend Collection, Distrikt Hotel New York offers a dedication to detail with impeccable service, cutting edge technology, comfortable yet luxurious guestrooms, four -star amenities, and fresh cuisine with locally grown ingredients. Each of the 155 guestrooms are designed for the comfort and needs of the guest to include relaxing Simmons Beauty Rest pillow top mattresses, decadent Frette bed and bath linen, a 37” LG flatscreen television, a business desk with ergonomic chair, Ecru New York soaps and amenities, and wireless internet in every room.

Source: Official website Distrikt Hotel

Fifth Avenue, Times Square, Bryant Park, Rockefeller Center … the excitement and bustle of the city vanishes into a sanctuary beautifully finished as an elegant private mansion. The front of the 1900 original limestone and copper carriage lamps that measure five feet, which surround the framework of the mahogany doors are a proper welcome to the European decor is inside.

The same luxurious detail is evident in the 113 rooms, recently remodeled to include every possible modern amenity. From the Frette linen, towels to Anichini Italian marble bathrooms, you will feel pampered. The amenities like wireless Internet and flat screen televisions 32 inch LG satisfy any need for modern convenience.

The award-winning cuisine and specialists in art mixed drinks tempt and delight your palate in Triomphe – the famous French restaurant in Midtown Manhattan. In regard to the city beyond our doors, the concierge will assist you plan your days and nights, advising on the most noted sites as well as little known sites that New Yorkers kept secret.

Source: Official website The Iroquois New York

Atlantis, the Palm is a resort at Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is a joint venture between Kerzner International Limited and Istithmar PSJC and was opened on 24 September 2008. The resort is modelled after the Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in Nassau, Bahamas.

The seven stars resort also includes a water Aquaventure theme park (160,000 square meters), a conference center, and 20,000 square feet (1,900 m2) of retail space. The resort also has a Dolphin Bay (45,000 square meters) in which guests can swim and interact with dolphins at Atlantis. The Palm Jumeirah itself is one part of a trilogy including the larger Palms Jebel Ali and Deira, which are still under construction.

Visit the official website of the hotel and knows its attractions closer: www.atlantisthepalm.com

Cape Sounio Hotel

Cape Sounio embodies a world of privacy and natural beauty basking in the glow of one of antiquity’s most celebrated monuments, The Temple of Poseidon. Arranged amphitheatrically to maximise the views of the Temple, elegant, terracotta villas with private gardens and pools rise along shaded, stone paths framed by olive trees and fragrant pines descending to two private beaches.

The location of the Cape at the tip of Attica – and similarly, as the Gateway to both Athens and the Aegean – made it a place of great strategic importance. The Cape also holds legendary significance as the place where the Aegean was named; it was here that Aegeus, the King of Athens, plunged to his death upon spying the dark sails of Theseus’s ship and mistakenly believing that his son had been slain by the Minotaur.

Cape Sounio Room

Rising on the slopes of the bay, above Cape Sounio Grecotel Exclusive Resort, lies the Sounio National Park, revered for its scenic beauty and rich geological history. The ancient mines within the park are reputed to have supplied the marble for the building of the Temple of Poseidon.

One of the few Athens Riviera hotels, Cape Sounio The park and Resort overlooks the deep blue waters of Cape Sounio Bay – home to some of the cleanest and clearest waters in the Saronic Gulf. Protected from winds and rough seas, the crystal depths teem with life and are home to a thriving colony of Poseidonias Seaweed, one of the most important ocean biotypes in existence.

Double room prices range from US$ 380.00/night. For more information visit www.capesounio.com

Villa Antica Rosa - Private Pool

Mandola Rosa is a boutique hotel that occupies an exclusive stretch of one of the finest beaches in the Mediterranean. The Hotel lies at the centre of its own private estate within the Olympia Riviera Resort and comprises just 54 suites and villas, steeped in old world charm and effortless elegance.

In addition to benefiting from an abundance of resort activities, Mandola Rosa offers easy access to the world famous archaeological site of Ancient Olympia and the many other natural, historical and cultural attractions of the Western Peloponnese. VIP services and high security standards make the Hotel the perfect retreat for couples and families seeking quality time in an exclusive environment.

Elixir Thalasso

A Sanctuary for the Senses, a Balm for the Soul: Inspired by the Rotunda at Olympia nearby, ‘Elixir’ Thalassotherapy Center is designed like a complex of Greek temples. Illuminated in the evening, it harks back to the sanctuaries of Classical Greece. This luxury retreat combines the ages-old wisdom of the Greeks, who valued the healing properties of the sea, with modern wellness regimens to relax the body and rejuvenate the spirit.

The ‘Elixir’ Thalassotherapy Center has three wings. The central building is a rotunda, inspired by the temple Alexander the Great built at the sanctuary at nearby Ancient Olympia. A grand staircase sweeps up guests from the reception area into the spa’s inner sanctum – a suite of thirty elegantly-appointed private massage rooms, changing areas, showers, saunas, exercise rooms, steam rooms, and luxurious indoor and outdoor lounges where you relax between treatments.

Aqua Elixir Thalasso Pool

The sanctuary design is part of the escapism of this fantasy setting and it’s hard not to feel like a goddess when you’re seated in an open-air whirlpool under the dome of a small temple. Spoil yourself completely with an open-air massage on the temple porch, discreetly screened by billowing curtains of filmy voile. The spa’s showstopper is the Aqua Elixir Thalasso Pool – more opulent than the grandest Roman thermae. Simply Divine!

Double room prices range from US$ 200.00/night. A Villa Delo Private Pool price is US$ 990.00/night. For more information visit Mandola Rosa Suites and Villas.

Amirandes Hotel

Designed in keeping with the grand palaces of the Minoan kings, Amirandes is an exclusive beachside resort that epitomises Crete’s most inspiring features: beautiful architecture, warm hospitality, excellent cuisine and stunning land and seascapes. Just 20 minutes from Heraklion Airport, the Resort also offers good sea links and is just a short drive from attractions including the Palace of Knossos and Crete Golf Club.

Themed around the lagoons that swirl through its centre, the Resort’s 70,000 sq m expanse comprises six restaurants, private beaches, Elixir Spa with indoor pool, outdoor Olympic-size seawater pool, over 60 private pools and extensive children’s facilities. The 212 guestrooms feature indulgent details such as private gyms, home cinema and state-of-the-art bathrooms with colour-therapy and aromatherapy Jacuzzi bathtubs. Refined and considerate service mirrors the Resort’s meticulous attention to detail and utmost respect for the privacy of its guests.

Elixir Spa

Amirandes Room

Amirandes’ Elixir Spa offers a true sanctuary for the senses where simplicity is key. Six individually designed treatment and massage suites offer signature treatments and Ayurvedic therapies using organic plants and extracts from Crete’s rare, aromatic herbs.

The spa also contains an indoor pool, relaxation lounges serving complimentary tea and juices and separate men’s and women’s changing rooms with sauna and showers. Also contained within the spa is a state-of-the-art cardio-fitness gym and Beauty Centre with two manicure / pedicure rooms and hair salon. In-room treatments are available on request.

Double room prices range from US$ 200.00/night. For more information visit www.amirandes.com

Bellagio Hotel

Bellagio is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. It is owned by MGM Mirage. Inspired by the Lake Como resort of Bellagio in Italy, Bellagio is famed for its elegance. One of its most notable features is an 8 acre (32,000 m²) artificial lake between the building and the Strip. The fountain shows on the lake are a major free attraction and provide a romantic ambiance for couples walking along the strip.

Hand Blown Glass Display by Dale ChihulyInside Bellagio, Dale Chihuly’s Fiori di Como, composed of over 2,000 hand-blown glass flowers, covers 2,000 square feet (610 m²) of the lobby ceiling. The hotel also contains a Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Bellagio was conceived by Steve Wynn and built by his company, Mirage Resorts, Inc. following the purchase and demolition of the legendary Dunes hotel and casino in 1993. Bellagio was designed by Marnell Corrao Associates and Jon Jerde. Bellagio is home to Cirque du Soleil’s aquatic production of “O”, only the second permanent production show for the world-renowned troupe.

The Bellagio employs approximately 10,000 people. In the fall of 2006, the casino floor was remodeled and new uniforms were issued, changing the original color scheme to a more contemporary blue tone.

Film history

Bellagio was featured prominently in the film Ocean’s Eleven (2001). The curved staircase that Tess Ocean (played by Julia Roberts) so impressively descended was removed during a 2006 remodel to accommodate the entrance pathway from a newly built hotel tower, called The Spa Tower. New shops and restaurants fill the space. The vault for the three casinos that were robbed (MGM Grand, Mirage, and Bellagio) owned by Terry Benedict (played by Andy Garcia) was located beneath the Bellagio. There is no confirmation whether in fact the vault exists as portrayed in the movie.

Poker Room

Bellagio's Restaurant

Many professional poker players prefer to play at the Bellagio poker room, calling it their home base due to the high table limits. Poker professionals refer to the high-limit table as The Big Game. Bellagio has also partnered with the World Poker Tour to host several of their tournaments.

Fountains

The Fountains of Bellagio attraction consists of an intricate water fountain display set to light and music. The display takes place in front of the Bellagio hotel and can be viewed from the Strip. The fountain show takes place every 30 minutes in the afternoons and early evenings, and every 15 minutes from 8 pm to midnight. Exceptions: a single or string of shows may be withheld when winds prevail; a single show may be skipped to avoid interference with a planned event.

The Fountains were created by WET Design, who specializes in creating intricate water shows. The design incorporates an array of underwater pipes with over 1,000 nozzles that makes it possible to stage fountain displays coordinated with over 4,000 lights and music.

Burj al-Arab

The Burj al-Arab is a luxury hotel in Dubai, the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates, and was briefly marketed as “the world’s first seven-star hotel”. It was designed by Tom Wright of WS Atkins PLC. At 321 m (1053 feet), it is the tallest building used exclusively as a hotel. It stands on an artificial island 280 m (919 feet) out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. It is an iconic structure, designed to symbolize Dubai’s urban transformation.

Rooms and Prices

Despite its size, the Burj al-Arab holds only 28 double-storey floors which accommodate 202 bedroom suites. The smallest suite occupies an area of 169 square meters (1,819 square feet), and the largest one covers 780 square meters (8,396 square feet). It is one of the most expensive hotels in the world to stay in. The cost of staying in a suite begins at $1,000 per night and increases to over $15,000 per night; the Royal Suite is the most expensive, at $28,000 per night.[10] Suites are around the same size as average houses, ranging in floor space from 1800 to 8400 square feet.

Suites feature design details that juxtapose east and west. White Tuscan columns and a spiral staircase covered in marble with a wrought-iron gold leaf railing show influence from classicism and art nouveau. Spa-like bathrooms are accented by mosaic tile patterns on the floors and walls, with Arabian-influenced geometries, which are also found elsewhere in the building.

Restaurants

Room

One of its restaurants, Al Muntaha (Arabic meaning “Highest” or “Ultimate”), is located 200 metres above the Persian Gulf, offering a view of Dubai. It is supported by a full cantilever that extends 27 metres from either side of the mast, and is accessed by a panoramic elevator.

Another restaurant, the Al Mahara (Arabic “The Oyster”), which is accessed via a simulated submarine voyage, features a large seawater aquarium, holding roughly 35,000 cubic feet (over one million liters) of water. The tank, made of acrylic glass in order to reduce the magnification effect, is about 18 cm (7.5 inches) thick. The restaurant was also voted among the top ten best restaurants of the world by Condé Nast Traveler.