A Review of fine hotels and luxury resorts
I finally made time to visit the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center. It’s a quaint and rustic center that is filled with charm and character.
The stables are open to the public and you can take forest or beach trail rides…or just stop by and visit the horses.
Continue reading “Pebble Beach Stables”I will fully admit it’s hard not to become a little spoiled when you have the opportunity to stay at some of the most luxurious hotels in the United States and beyond. With each trip I take, I find a new, indulgent feature that finds its way onto my fantasy list for, what I would consider, the makings of the Ultimate Luxury Hotel.
Sure there are the no-compromise standards for me such as:
Service*Service*Service: My saying is that just as location, location, location is to real estate, so is service, service, service to the luxury hotel industry: in my book ~ No. Compromises. Ever. Good service is the first and foremost attribute that defines any luxury hotel ~ bar none.
Decadent Beds: This is a must for me because a big part of a vacation is being able to relax and sleep well in order to rejuvenate yourself ~ which is what a vacation is all about, right? Many hotels are very aware that this is a growing request among their guests and are now going to extreme lengths to provide this luxury. The Four Seasons Hotel brand has gone as far as to implement custom-designed beds for their guests’ comfort, Travel and Leisure printed an interesting Battle-of-the Beds article on this trend, and hotel beds are now even making “Top 25” lists. Great news for all of us!
Aside from the expected standard-of-excellence at a luxury hotel, I relish in the fine details and the little extras that many places offer. These touches are what can make or break a hotel. Throughout my travels, I have accumulated a fantasy list of what I wish every resort would offer, so here are some of the top items on my list:
A Great Welcome: I love arriving at a resort and having the staff greet me by name. Sometimes I’m not even sure how they know it but it certainly makes me feel special. I also love a nice Welcome Amenity. There is something about walking into an unfamiliar room and finding a little treat awaiting you with a welcome note that immediately makes you feel special and at home. It’s a small gesture that goes a long way. The Rosewood Mayakoba is memorable to me in that the staff have a stealth way of communicating with one another throughout the property, ensuring that you are always greeted by name. The Rosewood Mayakoba also offered me one of the best welcome amenities, when upon my arrival, I was presented with a custom-monogrammed napkin with a welcome drink, as well as monogrammed pillow cases, a tote bag, a tequila set and a baseball hat placed in my room…talk about feeling special!
Breakfast Included: I know this might seem basic but I find this a nice perk as breakfast is my favorite meal of the day….and not any ol’ breakfast, let’s make this a gourmet breakfast! The Post Ranch Inn offers one of the most delicious breakfast meals I’ve ever had, not to mentioned it’s served in their Sierra Mar restaurant with stunning views of the Pacific. At Chateau du Sureau, a Relais & Chateaux property, I was awakened as the aroma of breakfast cooking seeped in through the floor boards and engulfed my room. It doesn’t get any better than that and obviously made for a memorable experience.
Outdoor Shower: I’m no exhibitionist but I adore an outdoor shower. There is something so invigorating about taking a shower outdoors in the fresh air. This has become one of my favorite amenities. Calistoga Ranch offers wonderful outdoor showers located under the beautiful mighty oaks on their property. It’s exotically rustic and decadent at the same time.
Luxury Car Program: Many luxury resorts offer a house driver that will usually take you anywhere within a few miles radius which is an extremely convenient service ~ and let me tell you, nothing feels more celebrity-like then when a place like the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills picks you and your besties up at the hottest restaurant in town in their stunning Rolls Royce.
But what is even more fun, is when a hotel offers a luxury car loaner program that allows you to complementarily use the car for the day. I’ve done this at many resorts but one of my favorite memories is when I rented a convertible Mercedes at Solage Calistoga and spent a gorgeous California day driving through the beautiful vineyards in Napa’s Wine Country. I can still feel the wind blowing through my hair!
Pool Amenties: Pool time is always a priority for me on my trips. So for that reason, I absolutely love pool amenities. Not just the water buckets, Evian spritzers, or occasional popsicles ~ although nothing wrong with any of those…but I’m talking about complimentary cabanas, having my sunglasses cleaned, my neck massaged, and yes, even a Margarita bar rolled over my way. To me, there is nothing more luxuriously self-indulgent than pampering pool amenities.
Valet Closet: Many of you may not even know what this is, and it’s probably not what you’re thinking, but it is one of my very favorite features and I wish that every hotel I stayed at had one these. This is a small pass-thru cabinet with a door opening from the hotel hallway and then another door opening from inside the hotel room that allows room service or other personnel to slip items into the cabinet and then you can retrieve the item from your room without having to open the main door to hotel personnel. Brilliant!! How many times have you been in your room relaxing, not appropriately dressed and someone knocks on the door with something for you? Too many times for me to count, so I really appreciate this privacy feature that allows me to remain in complete comfort when my room service order is delivered. The Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas is one of the few hotels that I have been to that has this feature ~ other resorts please take note!
This is just the tip of the iceberg of what I would like to see at my Ultimate Luxury Hotel…complimentary minibars, Club Level perks, downloadable hotel apps, resort bikes are just a few others that come to mind as well. How about you? What defines your Ultimate Luxury Hotel? I would love to know.
The next time you find yourself near the Wawona Hotel in Yosemite, take a moment to seek out the little hidden gem tucked in the nearby woods ~ Pioneer Village.
This quaint area was created from structures that were located throughout the park over different eras and they were moved together to create this history center to honor the past. The grounds are gorgeous and the structures are beautifully preserved.
Enjoy a quick winter stroll through Pioneer Village.
Click on any image to enlarge and start a slide show.
Continue reading “Pioneer Village | Yosemite, CA”
I originally visited Chateau du Sureau, a member of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux family, in the Fall of 2014 and was very impressed with this luxurious property (see review here). When I had the opportunity to visit the property again, a few months later in December, I didn’t hesitate to make my reservation.
Located in the Northern Califorinia Sierra Foothills, it was a little chillier on this visit but the property took on a magical feel as it was fully adorned for the holidays.
As I entered the chateau living room, I was greeted by a roaring fire with stockings hanging from the mantel like something out of a storybook. I almost expected to see my name embroidered on one of them.
A 15′ Christmas tree was placed in the elevated alcove, jeweled with a bevy of shiny ornaments. The tree standing tall next to the piano felt like an invitation to come up and sing Christmas carols. A beautiful photograph of Ms. Erna Kubin-Clanin, the chateau owner, and her mother add a personal touch.
I had the good fortune of staying in one the most requested rooms, the Elderberry room. This second-story, corner room has a small balcony overlooking the beautiful foothills, pool and Erna’s Elderberry House Restaurant.
The room is romantic with a stunning European antique canopy bed draped with rich fabric panels. As with my last visit, I was so impressed with the cleanliness of the room and the crisp white, fresh linens that just beg for you to jump into bed.
With a chill in the air, I immediately lit a fire, turned on the built-in sound system and played the chateau’s custom classical CD as I cozied up in one of the chairs in front of the fireplace with the afternoon tea and snacks that were delivered to the room.
The room offers a spacious en-suite bathroom with luxurious robes, a soaking tub and L’Occitane amenities.
The lovely chateau is a complete luxurious experience on its own but a very integrated part of this experience here is the option of an exquisite dinner at Erna’s Elderberry House Restaurant.
Erna’s career began as a chef so the restaurant is a very important aspect to her when it comes to the experience at the Estates at the Elderberries. Erna no longer is the main chef but Chef Jonathan Perkins is doing an amazing job in coming up with creative menus and executing the dishes to perfection.
The atmosphere in the restaurant is elegant and sophisticated. The pre-fixe menu changes daily and is a “foodies” delight. The option of a wine pairing is offered with each meal.
One of my favorite memories from my first visit was being woken up by the delicious aroma of breakfast cooking, and this visit was no different. A generous breakfast of a cooked egg dish along with a cereal bar and fruits and cheese platter is included daily.
I can can honestly say that I was as impressed, if not more, on my second stay at Chateau du Sureau. This is an exquisite property perfect for a romantic getaway, a birthday celebration, a small family reunion and/or a fairytale wedding.
If you would like more information on this property or would like me to help you arrange a stay here, please feel free to contact me so we can create your fairytale story
On a recent visit to the Gold Rush country in Northern California, I visited a few quaint towns and thought I would share the charm of this historic area.
Murphys is a tiny town being called “the next Napa” due to all the vineyards and wineries that have infiltrated this area.
The quaint main street has become a trendy spot with restaurants offering sophisticated cuisine such as Grounds, unique boutique stores, and of course all of the many wine tasting rooms. On any given weekend, you will find a crowd of people walking up and down the sidewalk enjoying all the town has to offer.
The iconic structure in town is the historic Murphys Hotel, established in 1856. The hotel has been host to many notable guests such as Mark Twain, J.P. Morgan, President Ulysses S. Grant and many more distinguished figures.
The hotel, in my opinion, is in need of some TLC (it’s actually a secret dream of mine to buy a historic hotel like this and turn it into a five star property – I love the juxtaposition of a historic structure with a really high-end interior) but it still holds its own in town and draws a crowd to the bar. Gordon Ramsay featured this hotel on his show Hotel Hell and gave the owners advice on how to improve the property so I hope they bring this beauty back to its full glory.
Angels Camp is the home of the Jumping Frog, the inspiration for Mark Twain’s short story “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”.
The town is a little larger than Murphys and offers many shops and restaurants. It has also maintained its historic charm, however, it has not become as “trendy” as Murphys.
These two towns are only the tip of the iceberg in this Gold Rush area. There are so many interesting little towns that it could take you a month or more to get around to them all…but it’s a great reason to come back.
For many more images on these two towns and the surrounding area, see the slide show below. Click on any image above to enlarge.
Mendocino Written by Susan Edel
Fade in:
Int. Downtown Mendocino on a picture perfect day
SUSAN
(strolling the sidewalk window shopping)
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Ok, ok…that might be the closest I ever get to a Hollywood script but Mendocino certainly is no stranger to the limelight of Hollywood. Many movies have been filmed in and around this charming town such as The Karate Kid, Overboard, Dying Young, Summer of ’42 and so many more, with the iconic movie filmed here being East of Eden starring James Dean.
