I arrived at the AVANI Riverside Bangkok Hotel using valet parking and was promptly escorted to the hotel’s main lobby on the 11th floor. Check-in was quick and easy. All rooms in the hotel enjoy magnificent views of Bangkok’s famous Chao Praya River and the Bangkok city skyline. The standard rooms are on the smaller side, but are practical and furnished in light brown timber with minibar, kettle with coffee and tea, iron/ironing board, safe, hairdryer, free wifi, cable TV and alarm clock. The bathroom has a large shower with a rain shower type shower head. My room was located on the 25th floor near the AvaniSpa and AvaniFit spa and fitness facilities and was readily accessible to the rooftop swimming pool via an internal staircase.

The hotel has an infinity edge rooftop swimming pool which enjoys stunning views of the city. The Attitude bar and restaurant is located on the same level and is an amazing venue for drinks, bites and evening entertainment whilst enjoying the stunning city views. The crowd is young and hip. There is a sommelier who can help with wine selection, and there is a live DJ nightly. These offerings are unusual in the Bangkok hotel scene and add to the guest experience.

The hotel’s main lobby is located on the 11th floor and has great views over the river and the grounds of AVANI Riverside’s sister hotel, the Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort. The hotels have its own hydroponic farm which produces herbs and salads etc. which are used in the various outlets. This is an amazing initiative and I will follow up on its progress.

The AVANI Riverside has several F&B outlets, including Skyline restaurant which serves a nice breakfast and fresh, delicious bites all day. You can also a enjoy a coffee and a cake at the Pantry at AVANI designer deli, or a cocktail and tapas at the Long Bar. Free wifi and charging stations are available in the lobby.

The hotel has its own shopping plaza and a bridge leading to the sister Anantara Resort from where a complimentary shuttle boat will ferry hotel guests to and from the Sapan Taksin BTS station. Not only is this is a pleasant and novel way to travel, it enables guests to avoid Bangkok’s heavy traffic.

I greatly enjoyed my stay at this brand new addition to the AVANI hotel portfolio and can highly recommend it for any guests seeking a hotel with a contemporary urban chic ambiance.

 

http://www.minorhotels.com/en/avani/riverside-bangkok

 

 

 

 

I was cordially received at the Peninsula Manila on disembarking the hotel limousine which has picked me up at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Check-in was quickly done in the privacy of my deluxe suite which was 124 sq m in size and ideal for a short business trip with in-suite meetings or a small family stay.

The suite featured a oversized bedroom with a walk-in closet and a nicely sized bathroom with separate tub and shower. There was a huge living working room with comfortable sofa area and a 4-seat dining table. A separate work desk was available both in the living room and in the bedroom. A nespresso machine,  a minibar and 2 flat screen TV’s were also available. A separte toilet for guests was featured as well.

The Peninula Manila is ageing but has not lost anything of its elegance and charme.

The lobby is chic place to see and to be seen. People dress up for afternoon tea and it is always busy with its beautiful marble floor and unique ceiling.

The staff at the Peninsula Manila are extremly corteous and friendly.

The club lounge was temporary set up on the third floor where drinks, sandwiches and sweet items are available all day long. In the evening there is a choice of hot dishes  and savouries as well.

I had a very comfy stay at the Peninsula Manila enjoying the elegance and the superb service.

http://www.manila.pensinsula.com

 

 

 

 

 

I arrived in St.Moritz by train taking the scenic albula line. A very beautiful train ride indeed. I was picked up at the station by a Kempinski driver with a deluxe BMW.

My room was already prepared and check-in was swift. The rooms are unfussy and tidy, nothing more. Bathrooms nicely appointed and I had a balcony with a small coffee table and a chair, perfect for a little break outside.

The hotel features 3 restaurants, a gourmet restaurant called Cà d’oro serving mediterean cuisine, the Enoteca with modern regional dishes (both were closed on my visit) and the Restaurant Les Saisons which serves breakfast and and steaks and sushi in the evenings.

The large lobby bar is an enchanting place, great to see and to be seen.

On 2,800 sqm the Kempinski The Spa has four different saunas, a steam bath, a laconium, an indoor pool, Kneipp baths, a gym, a sun terrace and a separate ladies’ spa. It is highly impressive and I enjoyed it very much. I can only imagine how nice it would be to visit that marvelous alpine  spa in the winter time.

The hotel staff is professional and international.  I have overheard a few german guests to complain about finding it difficult to find a german-speaking staff.

The Kempinski Grand hotel des bains is a truly gem in the alps. There are some great offers available for off season deals but keep in mind that the hotels closes twice a year during low season.

https://kempinski.com/en/st-moritz/grand-hotel-des-bains

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We stayed there in the middle of a peak season. Hotel was easy to find with the GPS of the rental car and they provide valet garage parking.

The welcome was very friendly and charming and the receptionist told us a little bit about the location and the facilities. The hotel has high ceilings and is beautiful decorated in the typical tuscany style with lots of art. Old, but yet modern with all high tech features that you might need. The deluxe room was very spacious with an enormous bathroom, plenty of towels and amenities. The bed was heavenly indeed. A/C worked well and the room was quiet so we had a wonderful sleep.

Breakfast is wonderful and offers everything that you might want to wish for. A cute lobby bar with delicious appetizers or small finger food is also available until late night.

One of the best things about the Westin Excelsior is the roof top restaurant. A fantastic modern open air bar/restaurant which offers a wonderful view all over the city and the river. We had afternoon drinks there with a great sunset view, as well as a delicious dinner at night.

Staff are friendly everywhere and make you feel very welcome. Location is great, everything is just a few steps away and in walking distance. A wonderful hotel, which I would visit again anytime.

http://www.westinflorence.com

 

 

 

Presidental suite:

 

Restaurant pix (internet)

 

A prestigious hotel with a proud history
There are many tales to tell about Les Trois Rois. The guest book reads like a “Who’s who” of world history. Napoleon, Elizabeth II, Pablo Picasso, Thomas Mann and many other leading figures have enjoyed the hotel’s legendary hospitality. And this will remain so as long as the Three Kings adorn the facade: Basel’s Grand Hotel will continue to be a home from home for many famous guests.

Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois (English: Hotel of the Three Kings) in Basel, until 1986 usually identified by its German-language name, Hotel drei Könige, is sometimes cited as one of Switzerland’s oldest hotels. It is located on the left bank of the Rhine, a few paces downstream of the city’s first bridge across the river.

Long tradition and much luxury distinguish this hotel. From the moment you arrive and your car is valet-parked to the moment you leave you always feel pampered. Check-in was extremly fast and by the time we arrived at the room the bags were already put in the room. (within less than 4 minutes). A great view over the rhine river and all most modern features are available. There is a floor heater in the chic bathroom, all high-tech B&O music and TV equipment, a free minibar, free internet and much more. The bar was voted to Basel’s most popular bar in 2015.

There are 2 restaurants, the Brasserie which offers a wide choice of swiss and french food with a great view (14 gaut-millau points) suits all tastes. The Cheval Blanc with Chef Peter Knogl just reached it’s 3rd Michelin Star as well as 19 gaut-millau points is probably the best french haute cuisine restaurants in Basel. A enormous wine selection and a cigar lounge are also available.

The Les Trois Rois Grand Hotel in Basel is the finest hotel the city has to offer with world class service, fantasic staff and a beautiful view day and night.

I can highly recomend the hotel for a wonderful stay in Basel. (Prepare to book early during the watch fairs)

 

http://www.lestroisrois.com

 

 

 

 

The Dolder Grand (formerly known as Grand Hotel Dolder) is a 5 star superior hotel in Zürich. Built in 1899, the hotel is located on Adlisberg hill, spreading out over 40’000 m². The hotel offers 173 rooms and suites, two restaurants, a bar, 13 conference rooms and a 4’000 m² Spa.

The hotel is connected to central Zurich by road, and by the Dolderbahn rack railway, which has its upper terminus next to the hotel complex.

The Hotel was closed from 2004-2008 for an extensive renovation which cost about 440 Mio swiss francs according to the owner himself. Famous architect Norman Foster was leading the project.

The rooms are all very modern with top notch features, a great view of the city, the golf course, lake of zurich and the alps. The marble bathrooms are generously sized and feature towel and bathroob heating facilites which I found kind of fancy and liked it very much.

The state-of-the-art spa is a huge and holistic venue, probably one of the biggest hotel spa’s that I have ever seen. There is everything you might be looking for including a very quiet and nice meditation room.

The hotel restaurants are excellent, garden restaurant is famous for sunday brunch and “THE RESTAURANT” just got his 2nd Michelin star.

Definately the hotel in Zurich with the most magnificent view. If you have time and not need to stay downtown the Dolder Grand Hotel is “the” place to stay. I can only highly recommend it to all sofisticated travelers outhere.

https://www.thedoldergrand.com/en.html