The good and bad of all inclusive

Posted by Staff in Luxury Monday, Mexico

Mexico is one country where luxury can be found on a budget; the downside is that what might look like a fabulous resort via the Internet can turn out to be a dump in real life.  I thought this was going to be the case when I booked a four-day all inclusive package trip for my husband and I to the Riviera Maya in Mexico, for only $700, including the flight. Our destination was the Occidental Grand Xcaret Resort…it looked fabulous, but at this price there was no way it could actually be as nice as the website portrayed.

Arriving in Cancun and seeing the rows of hotels piled on top of each other I was glad I made the decision to journey an hour south along the Mexican coastline…once in the taxi though I started to wonder if I had done the right thing.  The drive down to the Riviera Maya is sprinkled with dilapidated resort entrances that looked as though hurricane Wilma had just flown by a few days earlier; every once in a while there would be one that seemed okay to enter…I figured at the price I paid I would be entering one of the more rickety entrances.  But to my surprise our taxi turned the corner into a plush beautiful entrance that led to a gorgeous open-air lobby filled with singing parrots and overlooking a coastline of jungle and sea.

Luxury in Mammoth

Posted by Staff in California, Luxury Monday

On December 15th of last year, Mammoth Lakes went from a 5-hour drive from LA to a 65-minute commercial flight (via Horizon Air)…ushering in a new era for this once sleepy ski town. 

If room service and luxury hotels are your thing, then Mammoth used to be a resort to skip over…but now with the new Westin Monache (pronounced “moh-ah-she”), luxe-lovers will feel right at home.

The Resort, which opened at the end of 2007, is located in The Village at Mammoth complex, adjacent to the express village gondola…providing a short ride to the ski resort’s Canyon Lodge.

This four-star condo hotel brings a sense of chic sophistication to this area that was previously unheard of. With a bellman, modern architecture and a breathtaking display of pillar candles…you will think you have entered a Manhattan hotel.  But with a quick glance around at all the guests in ski gear and the relaxed vibe of the staff, the charm of Mammoth is not lost.

Although the hotel is made up of individually owned condos, they are all uniformly decorated and maintained…so that when you book you know what you are getting no matter which unit you stay in.  The modern décor extends into the units that consist of studios, one bedroom and two bedrooms. 

While there I stayed in a studio, which was the perfect combination of a hotel room and condo. It was nice to have hotel amenities like valet parking, room service and turn down service, but at the same time feel at home with a full kitchen and enough room to spread out. Other amenities found in the hotel include a full service restaurant, Whitebark, a shuttle service and the usual pool, Jacuzzi and workout facilities.  

My one qualm with this hotel is that although it is located next to the Gondola, it is up the hill from the loading station and involves walking up/down tons of steps…which in ski boots is quite a challenge.  The hotel does offer a shuttle from the lobby to the gondola loading station, but at times it is frustrating being so close to your hotel and having to wait for the shuttle up the hill.  That said…it was nice coming back after a hard day on the mountain and having the choice to be lazy and order room service…hotel amenities like these and the gorgeous hill top view made up for the monster hike.

Rooms start at $300 and more information can be found at www.westin.com/mammoth

Have art…need food

Posted by Staff in France, Luxury Monday

Long ago an aspiring artist, Paul Roux, was the innkeeper of a quaint inn and restaurant called La Colombe d’Or (the golden dove), in the South of France. An aspiring artist himself, he found it hard to turn away starving artists that could not afford a meal or a nights stay…so he would have his guests trade art for food. The starving artists eventually blossomed into well known figures like…Picasso, Chagall, Miró, and Calder to name a few. Word got out about his generosity and his collection of art grew…as the collection grew, the notoriety grew…eventually making the restaurant a popular enclave for the who’s who in art. 

Set in the picturesque medieval town of Saint Paul de Vence, a short drive from the Côte d’Azur…this Inn spews romance and as does the town. Perched on a hill and filled with storybook cobblestone passageways, it is easy to see how this town inspired some of the worlds most famous artists.

The Inn itself was once a 16th century house. The accommodations are rustic, not grandiose…but the art collection is what gives this place the luxury touch.  Where else can you lounge by a pool with a Calder mobile flying above your head?

As for the restaurant, rumor has it that the menu has never changed.  The focus is traditional Provencal food, so those looking for gourmet-experimentalism should look elsewhere…but something has to be said for sitting at Renoir’s favorite table and eating Picasso’s favorite dish!

The average room price is around $350 per night, and dinner starts at $50 per person.  For more info visit www.la-colombe-dor.com

Afloat in paradise

Posted by Staff in Italy, Luxury Monday

If you have some cash burning a hole in your pocket and an itch to see Italy, I have the perfect place for you…Villa d’Este on Lake Como. Set on 25 acres of manicured gardens and comprised of 3 villas, this hotel is what luxury is all about…period furniture, oil paintings, silk brocade drapes, walk-in closets and a staff that makes any wish a reality.

Originally built in 1568 as the residence for Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio, this villa was a popular romping ground for royalty and aristocrats.  The main villa was transformed into a luxury hotel in 1873 and is still considered to be the place where the who’s who of Europe plays.

The hotel consists of 152 guest rooms that are all uniquely decorated in a classic manner, but still provide all the modern luxuries that the 21st century traveler has grown accustomed to…high-speed internet, satellite TV…you get the picture. If you are feeling that the main hotel is not intimate enough for you, then consider renting out one of the two private villas on the property, which come with a full staff to cater to the prince/princess in you.

The most stunning aspect of the hotel, other than the gorgeous views of the lake, is the magnificent floating pool. Since luxe-lovers can’t bear to face the chilly waters of Lake Como, the hotel has built a heated swimming 

Closed for the winter, the hotel will reopen on February 28th.  Rooms start at a hefty $1,500 per night. Visit www.villadeste.it for more info