Locanda in Tuscany is a luxury country retreat in Val d’Orcia (Tuscany), a UNESCO protected area, filled with tiny hamlets and medieval villages, atmospheric churches and castles. Guests at Locanda in Tuscany are guaranteed a quiet, exclusive stay in a Tuscan country house with stunning views over the landscape. There are only nine rooms and […]
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Le Couvent des Minimes Hotel and Spa in Provence
April 18, 2016 by
Le Couvent des Minimes Hotel and Spa L’Occitane is located in an ancient renovated convent founded in 1613 in Mane, a small village, close to Forcalquier, in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. This Relais & Chateaux hotel opened in 2008 and has 46 rooms and suites, all of which are decorated in a modern, elegant style: walls are painted in […]
Kyoto shopping recommendations 2015
May 28, 2015 by
Just back from Japan with the latest Kyoto shopping recommendations! Here’s where to shop in Kyoto for Imabari towels, makeup brushes, organic skin care, tea, incense and room wear. (1) Iori for Imabari towels Once you have used Imabari towels, you’ll never go back to your old towels. I was converted to the famous towels […]
Why Uber succeeds: taxis, breach of trust and democracy
March 30, 2015 by
I started using Uber only this year, after becoming so fed up with taxis in many cities I’ve lived in and visited around the world. Let me explain my conversion as simply as I can. When I get into a taxi, I expect all of the following: (1) clean passenger seats with functioning seat belts; […]
The Nadler Soho: still my London favorite
March 28, 2015 by
The Nadler Soho remains my favorite hotel in London. I wrote about The Nadler in 2013 and on a visit to London two weeks ago, I had a chance to reevaluate my earlier review. The good news is The Nadler Soho is even better this time around. I found the staff more attentive and helpful. The […]
Mekong Riverview Hotel: oasis of peace in Luang Prabang
February 10, 2015 by
This is a review of the Mekong Riverview Hotel in Luang Prabang, Laos, where I stayed in January 2015. This is the hotel I would come back to if I find myself in Luang Prabang again. Here are the reasons why I love this hotel: (1) It is located on the quietest, most secluded part of […]
Top ski hotels in Switzerland
December 19, 2014 by
Mapplr’s selection of top ski hotels in Switzerland Riffelalp Resort: luxury hotel high up in the Swiss Alps (Zermatt) Hotel Bellevue des Alpes in Kleine Scheidegg: grand hotel in the shadow of the Eiger The Lodge: Sir Richard Branson’s mountain retreat in Verbier, Switzerland (the ultimate in ski lodge luxury) Hotel Matthiol: cozy modern luxury […]
