Great hotel finds « In My Footsteps Travelogue

Great hotel finds

Here are hotels I have stayed in that I can heartily recommend to you – I tell you a lot of these are worth the trip just to stay there. I am going to have to dig out details to complete the page so it is a work in progress. Basically these are the only places I’ve stayed that I think are worth recommending and that I can get excited about for one reason or another I want you to be excited about too:

Africa & the Middle East

Egypt
- Luxor Sonesta St George Hotel – Stayed here for a week over New year 07-08 and loved it. The New Years Eve gala dinner was an amazing evening of entertainment and a catering feat with 350 people fed with scrummy hot food with meat cooked to perfection which I am very fussy about. Best prizes in a tombola I have ever seen – every other prize was a week’s holiday. In my books the best place to stay having wandered in and out of the other hotels that are also central in Luxor. Wonderful staff, food mostly great especially breakfast which had a wide choice (but the cheeky egg chef’s jokes could get on your nerves), fab Nile views and easy walk to town centre. The Italian called Beban is the best eating place and there’s many local places to sample like Maximes. The pool side restaurant was sometimes amazing and other times poor – must depend who is cooking on what day. Steinberger (formerly Nile Palace) looked promising too but staff not as friendly as at St George. They are adding some floors to the top of the hotel so you do hear some noise but it doesn’t bother you – what might are the iron girders swinging past your balcony … oh and the first call to prayer of the day at 5am. Photo
Mauritius
- Ocean Beauty – had a week here in Pereybere at this small luxury boutique hotel. Not a great fan of Mauritius but hotel was really enjoyable especially their fab deal called the celebrate love package where you got showered with fantastic experiences like watching sunset from your own boat, dinner by the ocean, massage and so much more. As you hang by the pool the staff will bring you a surprise nibble or tasty drink. 115 Euros per night inc gourmet breakfast brought to your veranda. It’s cheap to hire your own taxi driver to visit the island including beautiful beaches on the South West coast and if you follow the beach to the right wading through the water you’ll find a stunning beach to walk on past lots of amazing homes. Restaurants were awful there so eat in the hotel when they do the dinners and the restaurant next door is okay too. Photos

Asia

Tjampuhan s Tjampuahn

Bali, Ubud
- Tjampuhan – this paradise on earth which does not cost the earth. I found it in a guide book when looking for a 3 night stop over in Bali. Then we had a room for £25 per night but now rooms start as £39 per night and it looks to have been refreshed in its decor in some rooms although my recollections of it were pretty magical anyway – well apart from the bats flying right behind me as sat on the balcony in the evening. There are lots of steps and you need to ready to encounter all sorts of wildlife but it is still an amazing experience. This was the home of Walter Spies, the German artist, who used to entertain the hoy poloy of the 1920s and even had Charlie Chaplin and the Woolworth’s heiress playing piano around the freshwater pool. From the other pool you look across the river gorge to a temple – simply divine! The food there is not great for dinner and it is not a full service luxury 5 star – remember what you are paying per night and then you will revel in the value of what you are getting in this outstandingly gorgeous corner of the world. In Ubud you don’t get hassle unlike wherever else we went on our day trip but I think these days it has changed a bit with guys offering you transport to the town which is an easy walk. It’s arty farty hippy chic guys. Their crafts on sale in shops are stunning rather than the usual tat youwant to bypass. When I stayed in the mid 90s there was no phone in your room (nor fridge or tv) so it really is back to basics old fashioned luxury. To get room service I had a wooden man hanging from the balcony. I had to remove his enormous wooden penis and hit him with it. Yes that got them running! Frommer’s info

Central and South America

Argentina (doing this holiday in March 2008 so will add hotels after experiencing them)
- Bariloche Lake District
- Buenos Aires
- Iguazu Falls /Brazilian border
- Patagonia
- Perito Moreno Glacier
- Tierra Del Fuego / Ushuaia
Chile
- Puerto Natales / Torres Del Paines
Costa Rica photos of my best ever holiday
- Arenal Paraiso for lava watching from the hot springs and zip lining through the rain forest in their back yard To see the lava being spewed out from Arenal all night was one of the best holiday experiences I’ve had, especially sat in one of the hot springs going up the mountain on the opposite side amid pretty tropical foliage. Andrew went zip lining too but my vertigo got me. Room was basic but a good size. Everything worked as it should including the rocking chair on our porch with volcano views.
- Mal Pais’s Casa Chameleon If it is good enough for Leonardo Di Caprio and Mel Gibson, then it is good enough for me. What a find! Well with Tatler Travel Guide voting this to be one of the world’s top 101 hotels we didn’t need much persuading to try it after finding it in TripAdvisor.com with 5 star average rating. This hotel played a large part in making this my best ever holiday. This is a true getaway if you crave relaxation and privacy. Breakfast is amazing – when you wake up just order it by walkie talkie. Huge balcony with hammock from where you might see the monkeys going past about their business. Two villas sharing one pool (each $225 per night plus tax but exc breakfast) and a more expensive villa down the hill with its own pool. From the shower you look out over rain forest to the sea. You definitely need a 4wD to get up the hill to the place and to go out to explore places to eat or the surrounding beaches which are what paradise dreams conjure up. Lots of great places to go eat. You can have a private chef which we opted for by the pool on Valentine’s but our guy Matt, who used to be in the film business, used the same marinade on everything and it was not as good as expected. We didn’t feel we were getting a meal from a chef but a keen cook. Other chefs have pleased customers much more. Still this ladies and gentlemen is heaven and the best honeymoon destination you’ll find.
Cuba photos
- Havana’s Hotel Raquel is exquisite if you like high ceilings and stained glass. Simple rooms nicely furnished.Best feature was the roof top garden.
- Varadero – this is a don’t do it recommendation. Stayed at Hotel Melia and paid an exorbitant price, more than I’ve ever paid in my life per night, and it was rubbish value. We really felt ripped off. More like a 3 star with flaws. If you wanted ice cream they’d say “Okay, it’ll be 2 hours”. Buffet had musicians non stop which if you were feeling fragile as I was from food poisoning was a dreadful torture. If you want the beach holiday I would advise staying in Mexico and just doing a few days trip over to Havana.

Europe (UK listed separately at the end)

Italy
- When in Rome relax at Hotel Villa San Pio in Aventino. Yes I love cities but come the evening I want to escape from the hustle and bustle, then wake up in the morning and walk amid trees to my next sight to behold. Aventino a swanky residential area offers up the equally swank Hotel Villa San Pio. Elegant marble bathroom including jacuzzi bath and fairly small room with high ceilings. The new year’s dinner was amazing – all nine courses of it! photos
- Venice top tip is Hotel Sant Elena. This stunning modern hotel is nestled amid the trees and calm of Sant Elena, a residential island with a very pleasant 20-25 minute walk along the waterfront to St Marks. A fine breakfast buffet and excellent service. carnival photos

Poland
- Hotel Wit Stwosz, Krakow – a lovely hotel with simple but clean rooms right in Krakow’s centre.

Spain
- Majorca, Santa Ponsa, Jardin del Sol Suites and Spa Great location with spectacular views across the mouth of this bay. Wonderful food in the evening buffet. Nice rooms boasting that fab view and what’s more … you can enjoy it while sat in a jacuzzi bath. Mallorca holidays: photos June 2006 photos March 2005 (not staying in Santa Ponsa)
- Seville Area, Casa De Carmona – set in a picturesque village outside of Seville this is an old palace converted to a hotel. Cheaper rooms can be small but it oozes charm and sophistication. It’s bit like a film set. The Moorish courtyards are sublime and one has a pool for you to cool off in. Their dinners are out of this world but when I stayed it took all evening – I think we waited 45 minutes to get the bill! Dinner is a posh affair so dress up. Reception had a video library for your entertainment. There was another upmarket hotel in the village so you had another dinner choice too and it was lovely to wander around the village expecting Don Quixote to ride in.

North America (you can’t beat their National Parks)

USA (if I get any of the states wrong feel free to email to correct me. Contact details are in about page)

Arizona
- Sedona, Enchantment Resort – expensive, luxurious & great red rock surroundings. Looked like a fab spa but silly us were only staying one night so no time to use the facilities.
California
- Anza Borrego State Park, Borrego Valley Inn – a great retreat and a great drive from San Diego to get here … well the last part of it through mountains and desert. This village is where Hollywood stars like Monroe came to hide from the paparazzi. Lovely style of rooms complete with back garden and gate opening up into the desert. Something spooky happens in the mornings here. The sunrise sets the desert mountains on fire and you are driven out their in your pyjamas attached to your camera – every single morning. I stayed there prior to getting web in Las Vegas and got but of a tan by the pool in complete peace and quiet except a visit from a road runner. Most guests are out walking so you get the pool to yourself if you time it right. It’s also one of those places that gives milk and cookies in the afternoon. Close by is a walk to the largest palm oasis in the UK. A great place to relax but finding somewhere good to eat was not so easy.
- Desert Hot Springs Spa Hotel is a simple hotel with huge rooms. Best bit are the relaxing hot springs, lying back and watching the moon over the desert mountains.
Florida
- Miami beach, Clinton Hotel Southbeach – minimalist swanky boutique hotel. A little clinical but an enjoyable stay. If you are with a close close friend don’t draw the curtains and wave from the bathroom through the window into the room.
Georgia
- Savannah’s Mansion on Forsyth Park is bit of a treat. Rooms are very appropriate for a sexy getaway. Your bath is in the room behind curtains. Is this a theme in my hotel choice – bathrooms and curtains concealing them from the hotel room? The service sadly can fail to live up to expectations even down to no hot water for bath-time but having complained they gave us a free night’s stay which saved our bacon on the way back to the airport from being in Florida because we’d been robbed inc our credit cards. Second time around everything was tip top. The complimentary chocolate piano also provided dinner as we had no credit cards to pay for a dinner either. So in the end they totally redeemed themselves and the next email was a huge thank you.
Illinois
- Chicago’s House of Blues Hotel was a real favourite of mine in a city I adore. Stayed there twice all by myself and had a ball. Alas it has changed hands and is now Hotel Sax Chicago so same great location by the marina opposite House of Blues and still swanky looking but cannot vouch for it. Probably worth a shot though. I do miss the blue tiger print walls etc.
Nevada
- Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay Hotel – stayed here first time I came to Vegas and it is still my favourite. Even chose my wedding date to coincide with rooms being only $129 per night but they can be $399. Sky high glistening gold tower with a beach below and a lazy river ride. Great facilities, great vibe, great rooms and love the Rum Jungle restaurant there with walls of water and walls of fire. Eat from the fire pit and stick around until it turns into a night club. Plenty more great restaurants and easy to get around the strip although this is at the Luxor end.

UK (because it is important to see the beautiful and interesting places on your doorstep too)

England

Cornwall and Devon
- Lizard Point, Landewednack House – a luxury BnB on the Cornish coast. Charming rooms and now a pool and self catering option too. I stayed in the room overlooking the church which was very nice – it had a private corridor in between the room and long bathroom. Bread was home made.
- St Ives and Penzance, in St Just you will find the Boscean Country Hotel which is one of the cosiest weekend getaways I’ve had in the UK. I recall wandering around without my shoes I felt so at home and the dinner in the evening was homely and yummy like visiting mom.
Isle of wight photos
- Ventnor, Ocean View House – if only all accommodation was like this. Only a few rooms beautifully furnished and with outstanding views. Good value price. I’d love to go back. Isle of Wight is such a relaxing place too with its own sleepy landscape style.