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The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth (Montreal, Canada)

July 20, 2006 By karin Leave a Comment

Montreal is a large, Canadian city with an undeniably unique character. Some describe it as “European”. Other appropriate adjectives may include “artistic,” “creative,” and “vibrant”. However one might describe Montreal, without a doubt, it is special. In part, it’s the stunning architecture in the Old Port, including the breathtaking Notre Dame Cathedral, that creates this impression. And the mingling of languages and ethnicities, including but certainly not limited to French and English. Unique neighborhoods alive with ethnic shops, art and cuisine – perhaps this is what helps to define Montreal. I’m sure that it’s all of the above, and more.

Certainly, Montreal felt to me more than the usual big city, particularly in the summer when we last visited . I’d been there before, in the dead of winter, and in the beginning of spring. And while these seasons showed the city in good form, it’s true that in summer Montreal truly comes alive. The restaurants opened their doors and windows, allowing eating and spirited conversation to spill out onto the streets. Festivals were so abundant, they overlapped one another in time and space. You could not turn around for all the outdoor entertainment and colorful parades. Creative expression was everywhere.

We stayed at the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth hotel, located in lively downtown. Though we discovered other boutique hotels especially in the Old Port with perhaps more in the way of character and ambience, The Queen Elizabeth was a luxurious, centralized placed to stay. A large, gracious hotel, The Queen Elizabteh is in walking distance from great shopping, restaurants, and the historic Old Port. It would certainly be an ideal location for guests year-round. Add to this its proximity to the world renowned festivals held in the summer, such as the famous Montreal Jazz Festival, The Queen Elizabeth is the ideal place to call home during your summer stay in this beautiful city. Certainly, our comfortably furnished, air conditioned room was a welcomed retreat from our time spent strolling about in the scorching July heat.

Though like us, you will likely want to step out of the hotel and explore the city, there are a few reasons to linger within the hotel walls. For one, there is The Queen Elizabeth’s famous restaurant, The Beaver Club – the definition of fine dining and wine, with a lovely tasting menu (and delectable pastry menu). We had a particularly good room-service experience – one of those evenings where a pizza and a bottle of wine is just what the day ordered! The Queen Elizabeth also sits atop the Via Rail and Amtrak train stations – this is notable not only for commuters, but for all guests at The Queen Elizabeth because of the convenient access to a network of underground shops and eateries it affords. (A good tip in case of a rainy day!)

Some of the palpable character of Montreal dissolves in this hotel, perhaps due to its size – surely the boutique hotels in the Old Port offer a more colorful or romanticized impression of the city. Still, you will not be disappointed in the comforts afforded, the level of service, and above all, the proximity to so much of what Montreal has to offer.

http://www.fairmont.com/queenelizabeth/Accommodations/

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

May 8, 2006 By karin Leave a Comment

Tulips in April. Three words that translate as “paradise” to a Canadian prairie dweller like ourselves. As soon as we glimpsed green rolling hills from the airplane windows, our hearts felt light. When we arrived at The Empress hotel in the heart of Victoria, surrounded by colorful tulips- in April!-perfection had been attained.

Victoria is a beautiful city – clean, quaint, relaxed, and renowned for the flower gardens in its public parks and in private yards, immaculately kept. The Fairmont Empress is a stately English manor rising from the harbour’s edge of this elegant city. With ivy covered walls, hidden courtyards, and flourishing flower beds, The Empress has a charming rather than imposing demeanor, but promises luxury nonetheless.

Our stay at The Empress was restful and rewarding. Our room was spacious and comfortable, appointed with furniture that suggested the elegance of the Victorian era. The hotel itself fulfills its outside appearances; you feel as though you are strolling through the interior of a sophisticated country manor. The main dining room, The Empress Room, is perhaps the most impressive space in the hotel. With beams and other details in rich, dark wood, walls covered in elaborately woven coverings, and a massive fire place, The Empress Room is opulent and at the same time, somehow cozy. We took most of our meals there, with the sense that we were dining in the middle of history.

Afternoon Tea at The Empress is an experience that you should not leave without. A famed tradition at The Empress Hotel for over a century, taking High Tea in the Tea Lobby of the hotel overlooking the harbour is worth the price tag. The tea itself, a “secret” blend made exclusively for the hotel, is indeed delicious. A refreshing fruit and cream dish follows. Then, the famous tiered tray of luscious finger sandwiches, scones, clotted cream, and various mouthwatering bite size desserts are served. A true parade of flavors ensued-cucumber, of course, but also the delightful carrot & ginger with cream cheese, and curry mango chicken salad. As for the delicate desserts, my heart is ever devoted to the delicious lemon curd tarts with glazed berries. Afternoon Tea was a highlight not only of our stay but of our vacation. I would recommend it to anyone staying in the Victoria area, not only guests of The Empress hotel.

Only a few detractions can be noted about The Empress. First, mornings at The Empress were incredibly noisy as the sound of the loading and unloading of massive metal cargo boxes boomed through our open window. Of course, this is the result of the otherwise convenient city location, but something to note nonetheless if you are looking for serene, lazy mornings. The lack of air conditioning in the building is also likely to be a concern in the hot summer months.

Despite these minor things, Victoria is a truly lovely city to visit, and The Empress is a stately and welcoming place to stay while you are there.

MGM Sky Lofts (Las Vegas, NV)

April 4, 2006 By admin Leave a Comment

The MGM Grand has the distinction of being the most sprawling of the hotels that have transformed the infamous Las Vegas “strip” in recent years. What doesn’t it have – there are luxurious rooms, food court style eateries and fine restaurants, shopping, live lions, a custom built Cirque de Soleil amphitheatre, and of course, a massive maze of a casino. Somehow, amidst all this stimulation and grandeur, the exclusive “Sky Lofts”–an impressive private wing of the hotel–provides quiet and rest.

The service at Skylofts was absolutely exquisite, beginning with our pick up at the airport for a chauffeured ride to the hotel. We were greeted by an extremely personable concierge who like a genuine, old friend knew just what to say and what not to say. He led us to a private elevator and escorted us to our suite, offering a tour of its luxurious amenities.

The stark, ultra modern design of the suite is impressive, to say the least. There are two floors dominated by a floor-to-ceiling window with an incredible view of the strip. Though the room is hardly cozy, its minimalist décor and uncluttered openness is definitely comfortable–it’s a place that didn’t attempt to be “home”, and for a brief vacation, this was perfect. This is pure fantasy, the ultimate jet-setting side of Vegas.

Lights, draperies, televisions, sound system–virtually everything is controlled by a state-of-the-art remote control system. The bathroom is a particularly decadent space. The massive glassed-in steam shower and deep jet-tub promise more aquatic refreshment than should be possible in the heart of the desert. A sound system pipes music throughout the suite with several pre-programmed collections of relaxing new age and world beat tunes.

Naturally, there is the expected suite service of the highest caliber. An attendant carefully unpacked all of our belongings upon our arrival and took a few moments to point out several amenities we may have missed, such as how to operate the espresso/cappuccino maker. The room was kept impeccably clean throughout our stay, and small touches like the perpetually refreshed dish of berries on the dining room table made us feel truly welcomed.

Outside of the room is an entire world of rest and play. We could easily have spent our whole vacation in this single hotel. There is the casino of course, who’s blinking lights and groovy noises are strangely captivating, even to the non-gambler. Casual dining, like the Rainforest Café, is fun for families and those who enjoy heaping plates of food while sitting under a jungle canopy with simulated monsoons and animatronic animal antics–you know the type. Then, by way of utter contrast, for the ultimate in gastronomy and sophistication, there is Joel Robuchon Restaurant, named for the world famous French chef at its helm, offering a menu of culinary art and astronomical prices.

Take in a show–whether it’s Barry Manilow, the comedian du jour, or Ka–Cirque du Soleil’s spectacular show with all the thrilling and physics-defying acrobatics Cirque is famous for.

MGM Sky Lofts is all you could hope for in Vegas–luxurious, spacious, filled with amenities, away from the din but close enough to it when you actually want to embrace that signature Vegas insanity.

Overall Experience
We give the Skylofts at MGM Grand 5 Stars- Outstanding!

The Skylofts at MGM Grand are located at 3799 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. For hotel reservations call 1877-646-5638 or contact [email protected] Visit www.mgmgrand.com for more information.

Four Seasons Resort Whistler (Whistler, British Columbia)

October 25, 2004 By karin Leave a Comment

The Olympics are coming to Vancouver / Whistler B.C. in 2010. Even as you drive to the Rocky Mountain ski resort town of Whistler, you can feel the buzz. First, there is the massive construction endeavor underway to transform the slow, treacherous, two-way meandering Sea-to-Sky highway from Vancouver to Whistler into a much safer, much faster route. Then, there is the town itself. Large hotels and convention centers are popping up everywhere on this prime land at the feet of majestic Blackcomb and Whistler mountains. But what’s most exciting about this expansion in preparation to welcome the world is how much care has been put into maintaining a certain elegant coziness. Landscape has been duly considered and worked with so that even a truly massive hotel like the brand new Four Seasons has the effect of “nestling into” its surroundings.

We stayed at the Four Seasons Whistler in October, 2004 and had the pleasure of getting to know it and its gorgeous mountain town inside and out. Though Whistler is known for two seasons – winter for its word class downhill skiing, and summer for hiking, camping, bear watching – we enjoyed the slower pace of the off-season. First, the hotel had an intimate, deserted feel which suited our mood perfectly. Strange as it may seem when you are talking about a resort acres large, we actually had trouble finding the hotel at first. Signage was poor and the ongoing construction projects all over town, including an expansion of the Four Seasons itself, made it a bit difficult to figure out where to go. When we did pull up to deliver our car to the valet, it was friendly, professional service from then onward.

The lobby is like the great room of a glorious log cabin dominated of course by an incredible fireplace. It appears thus far unused as the Four Seasons Whistler has not yet lived through a ski season. In fact, it’s as though there is a huge “new hotel scent” tag hanging somewhere over this grand place – everything is pristine, from the richly coloured carpets, to the cozy luxury “cottage” furnishings, to the intriguing artwork on the walls. Though elegant, the lobby is very inviting and even homey with plenty of plushy seating areas, including a den-like room just off the grand fireplace with classic games and a myriad of leather bound books.

On our way up to our room, we looked forward to the coziness of a gas fireplace and mountain view. We were not disappointed – and in fact, we were upgraded to an amazing suite that went on and on and on. Yes, it had a mountain view from a huge balcony, although you could not see the mountain initially for all the fog. And we had two fireplaces – one in the main room, a living room with a full dining room area, and one in the bedroom, which came equipped with its own balcony. The suite included a large, luxurious marble-floored master bathroom with a deep soaker tub and separate glass-doored shower as well as another spacious bathroom closer to the living room. Our trip itinerary included three nights in Whistler, and then three more in Vancouver. From the moment we stepped into our suite at the Four Seasons, we were mulling over the idea of remaining there the entire trip – plus another week or so!

The room made an impression on us not only due to its size and its obvious newness, but also in the tasteful and interesting décor. Colours were muted and neutral, and the furnishings were solid and inviting. Nothing, from the furnishings, lamps, and accessories appeared to belong to a cookie cutter set; rather, everything appeared chosen with the care one (with good design sense) would put into making a home attractive and comfortable. Perhaps that’s why, despite the many things to do and sights to see in Whistler, we were drawn back to lazy hours stretching out and reading by the fire. With our package, we had the option of taking breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant or in our room. Needless to say, we chose our room where we could spread out in comfort in the dining area, and then take our steaming mugs of coffee onto our balcony to watch the fog drift over the mountains.

In terms of dining, the main restaurant is the Fifty Two 80 Bistro, whose name derives from the elevation of Whistler’s Blackcomb mountain. The menu is centered upon seafood creatively prepared and served, although the non-seafood lover has a choice of many delicious items as well. The restaurant is, like the rest of the hotel, attractive in its newness and up-to-the-moment design. A large lounge area with fireplace opens onto the main dining area; it looked strangely empty in October, but we could just imagine the life and revelry here of après ski. There is a unique, entirely open stone fireplace at the heart of the restaurant as well. This and the soft lighting of Fifty-Two 80 make it a relaxing, end of the day destination.

When we were not lazing about in our magnificent room, we were strolling. Walking around the hotel grounds is a pleasant turnabout in itself taking in the large pool area with a main pool and several hot tubs, and manicured shrubbery weaving artfully hear and there. Just across the road is the head of a well-paved hiking trail that leads the short way to Lost Lake, a mountain lake that is a haven for fly fishing, or picnicking on the adjacent grassy lawn. The trail leads to several scenic views, and offers paths marked for different levels of difficulty. In keeping with our mood of relaxation, we took the easy path, crossing footbridges over babbling mountain brooks and walking breezily beside one of Whistler’s several stunning golf courses, even to the non-golfer.

Of course, most people come to Whistler to ski. One issue we’ve heard voiced about the Four Seasons at Whistler is that, unlike its equally large cousin neighbouring hotel, Fairmont’s Chateau Whistler, you don’t not have “backdoor” access to the slopes – there is a bit of a journey involved to the skiing action. With your cold weather gear and skis in tow, this may be a consideration. We must say though that, in our view, a room at the Four Seasons would be an ideal place to “come home to” after a day on the slopes.

The wonderful part of visiting a town like Whistler is that its natural beauty is more than enough to stir the heart. Pair that with a hotel stay as remarkable as our own at the Four Seasons, and you are well on your way to perfection.

The Four Seasons Whistler is located at 4591 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, British Columbia V0N 1B4. For more information, call (604) 935-3400.

George V (Paris, France)

September 2, 2004 By karin Leave a Comment

The Four Seasons George V, lauded in books and films for decades, meets and surpasses the imagination. From its stunning lobby, richly and elegantly appointed rooms, and unparalled service, George V ensures that the romance of Paris is rendered indelible. Located in Paris’ prestigious 8th arrondissement amid some of the world’s finest shops and restaurants, George V lives up to its reputation of luxury and elegance from the moment you step through the revolving doors.

The lobby is immaculate, with floors of highly polished marble decorated gorgeously with huge arrangements of exotic flowers. Magnificent stone sculptures here and there add to the sense of history permeating the hotel. The reception desk and concierge desk face each other on either side of the room so that your first view is of flowers and the lushly-landscaped courtyard restaurant just beyond the lobby. You are immediately transported from the busy Paris streets just beyond into a world of high-class serenity.

A Suite at the Four Seasons George V Hotel in Paris France

Though many guests stay at George V, there is a sense of openness and spaciousness about the hotel. High ceilings and elegant yet never fussy decorative details add to this feeling. Our particular room had a large balcony overlooking the verdant courtyard. Though you never feel away from city life, the hotel spares no effort to make the city a luxurious experience for their guests.

Just outside the hotel doors are some of the world’s most luxurious shops. Designer names that almost anyone would recognize – Hermès, Versace, Armani, Louis Vuitton – are mere footsteps away. And at George V, you are in the very heart of the Paris the whole world imagines. The Champs Elysées is mere moments away, and you can easily walk to many of Paris’ most renowned attractions including the Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre. As for navigating Paris from George V by foot, metro and train, we had very few problems if any, thanks in great part to the superb map supplied by the concierge.

As for our particular accomodations at the hotel, there is no doubt in my mind that Louis XIV never had it so good. In fact, all I wanted to do while day-tripping at hot, sticky, overly ornate, stuffy Versailles was get back to our soothingly coloured, perfectly acclimatized, tastefully decorated room with its massive bathroom, and pillow-soft bed with gazillion-thread- count sheets. Our room was absolutely gorgeous with the best of everything, including a huge bathroom outfitted mostly in marble and providing deliciously scented designer bath products from Italy.

Comfortable furniture welcomed us for an afternoon of reading and relaxing. An elegant writing table served as an inspiration for scrawling memoirs and “wish you could see this” postcards. There was even a miniature library of books either about or written at George V – a fine touch for the literary connoisseur. And that portrait of Gene Kelly beside our bed? Could it mean that the most famous “American in Paris” stayed here? Perhaps or perhaps not… imagination is enouraged by the romance of the room’s surroundings.

Service is, not surprisingly, second to none at this world-class five star hotel. It is said that almost no wish is impossible to fulfill at George V, and you can believe it from the thoughtful, first-class treatment you receive. Your needs are all anticipated, even the ones you didn’t know you had. Service is prompt and expertly executed, whether you need one-hour laundry service, an elaborate in-room meal, tickets to any of Paris’ many attractions, even (so we’ve heard and can readily believe) a pet puppy to commemorate your stay! Housekeeping visits your room twice a day with turn down service, refreshing and replenishing your linens and designer amenities daily.

During our stay, I enjoyed a wonderful manicure at George V’s beautiful spa. The main reception area overlooks the hotel’s indoor pool which is flanked by cozy, comfy lounge chairs and walled by a “trompe d’oeil” garden scene. My aesthetician was friendly and very professional; alternately talkative and silent when I wanted to be. All treatments are performed in private rooms, which I very much appreciated. Soft, glowing lighting and soothing music created a relaxing atmosphere.

Treatments are, not surprisingly, quite expensive here. The emphasis on privacy, relaxation and the use of very high end products does go a long way, however, in justifying the price.English was spoken by all of the friendly staff that I encountered. My only negative comment is that while the spa staff will attempt to accommodate any request, I did find it difficult to secure an appointment at the time of my choice. If you know that you will want to visit the spa during your stay, I would recommend booking any treatments as far ahead as possible to avoid disappointment.

And now, to business. If Paris is the epicenter of food and wine, then George V and its neighborhood is the epicenter of the epicenter. Le Cinq is the shining culinary light of the hotel, having earned three prestigious Michelin stars. The menu, which combines traditional French cuisine with contemporary dishes and influences, is exquisite and accompanied by an encyclopedic wine list. Renowned establishments like Taillevent, a restaurant that has inspired novels as well as palettes, are also close by. Excellent, if more casual, dining can be had on the Champs Elysees as well. What could be more delightfully Parisian than an al fresco dinner and bottle of wine in the shadow of the Arc de Triomphe? Be aware that many restaurants and shops do close for several weeks in the summer (particularly August). Tourists may converge on Paris in summertime, but Parisians need their holidays,too!

Our hotel package included the option of having breakfast in our room or in the restaurant. Our first morning, we chose the restaurant. If truth be told, this was our only disappointment with the hotel – our orders were incorrect, and service was slow and surprisingly inattentive. We chose to dine in our room for the other mornings of our stay, and enjoyed this immensely. The beautiful spread is brought to you and laid out by a thoughtful attendant, who is in and out as quickly as possible. Breakfast is anything but just functional when served with crisp white table linens, plates covered with gleaming silver domes, and your own personal attendant to prepare a comfortable eating space and then whisk it all away.

We took advantage of the In-Room dining menu one evening for a fine dinner of French onion soup and lamb with vegetables Provencale style, and sipped wine on our outdoor terrace. The meal was wonderful, although we were rather surprised at the somewhat limited menu offerings. Likely, you can get whatever you request, but we were surprised at the apparent dearth of choice on the menu.

Overall, our experience at George V more than exceeded our highest expectations. The service and luxury were so tremendous, our time in Paris seems almost to be a dream. One that we would not mind having again and again…

Overall Experience
We give George V 5 Stars- Outstanding!

Four Seasons George V is located at 31 avenue George V, 75008 Paris, France. For hotel reservations, call 33 (1) 49 52 70 00. For more information, call 33 (1) 49 52 70 00 , fax 33 (0) 1 49 52 70 10 or visit www.fourseasons.com