Hospes Lancaster

This is one Paris luxury hotel built for coziness, intimacy and the ultimate in luxury. Barely a hop and a skip away from the graceful Champs Elysees, is positioned the Hospes Lancaster distinguished for its impressive guest list including royalty and celebrities, especially from the art world and show business. Right from its gleaming façade to its glitzy courtyard, style and glamour captivate the visitor all the way.

For those with a feel for history and who like a touch of atmosphere the intimacy of this erstwhile mansion cannot but fail to charm.The regality of this luxury hotel is imbued with an old-world grace that has enticed celebrities like Marlene Dietrich, Grace Kelly, and Noel Coward.

The Hospes Lancaster is steeped in history going back as it does all the way back to the late 19^th century when it was built to match the accommodation standards of the Spanish nobility. It was later bought by the famous Parisian hotelier Emile Wolf who refurbished it and threw it open to the public as a modish hotel in 1930. To this day the hotel has maintained most of Wolfe’s antiques, not to mention his intriguing clock collection.

The visitor will be knocked over – actually – by Boris Pastoukff’s 1930 paintings. He’d paid his way through his paintings during his stay. After you’ve finished drinking in the glittering view proffered by knock-over façade you can only be even more impressed with its zen-like jardin.

An interesting post script to the hotel’s history is its final refurbishment in 1996 by ace designer and architect Grace Leo Andrieu.

The moment you step in, expect to be pampered. The staff at this luxury hotel is extremely courteous and amiable and strives to remember each face and idiosyncrasy. 

For an enriched dining experience do try the famed La Table du Lancaster. 

Taj Palace hotel Dubai

Just 10 minutes away from Dubai International Airport is the rather curiously L-shaped Taj Palace Hotel in Deira. This five star luxury hotel sets out to define style and comfort that can only be termed as truly grand. The grandeur of Taj spills over into all of its 249 guest rooms, spa, and restaurants. This is one luxury hotel that marries up leisure with high-life, designing opulence, with comfort, gastronomical splendor and lifestyle.

While it doesn’t remotely resemble the Taj Mahal in India, its high-ceilinged splendor, suspended lights and chandeliers and restrained mauve interiors heighten the magic and mystique of the world’s greatest man-made wonders. Stepping into its lobby is an awe-inspiring experience with its wide spaces, plush furnishings, and marble columns so deeply reminiscent of the Mughal era. Add to it a discreet and discerning staff and nothing can mar the picture.

Each of Taj’s executive rooms is beautifully decorated with design chic evident in every corner. Throw in sumptuous rugs, parquet flooring, and traditionally-styled furniture and the magic remains for even a longer time than intended.

Earnest gourmands will be able indulge their favorite gastronomic fantasies thanks to the dizzying spread available in the five star hotel’s five top-class restaurants. For typical Indian gourmet you should sample the fare available in Handi with its signature biryani and tandoor dishes.

But if you are in the mood for something truly Middle Eastern you should check out the Topkapi and for great Italian fare the Verdi.

Plus, there is so much you can do even without stepping out of the hotel. The 24-hour fitness center is designed to keep you in shape despite the delectables. And the spa makes your stay even more pleasurable with Far Eastern, Ayurvedic, and European treatments available along with a deeply knowledgeable and friendly staff. 

Whether it is swimming, shopping, or dining the Taj is geared to fulfill all your desires- practically. 

Sherry-Netherland, A timeless classic

Imminent in view across the exquisite Manhattan skyline is the luxury hotel non pareil hailed all over New York for its great personal services. Sherry-Netherland’s landmark appeal – its Gothic minaret looming up heavenwards adding drama in the skies – cannot be missed even by the most casual observer.

Check into any of the 20 luxury suites of this dreamlike five star hotel and you’ll be entranced by its vast sweeping spaces, its luxuriant vivacity and airiness in all of its 13500 square feet. The term ‘timeless classic’ describes it best perhaps with its soaring ceilings and sumptuous horizontal spaces. Each suite comes attached with a separate dining space, kitchen, and even a pantry in some cases.

The sophisticated elegance of this luxury hotel may be traced to its ‘jazz age’ genealogy, in the gleaming and handsome chandeliers constructed out of expensive crystal ware, decorative wooden fixtures, and other details.

Cheerful colors and fabrics serve to lighten up the mood and soothe the eye. A welcoming box of chocolates makes you feel… well, wanted and at home. Out-of-this-world artwork – some of them signed by original artists – high-speed internet, an exotic line-up of toiletries, and digital cable television set to premium channels are some of the other attractions of your luxury suite.

Throw open the gigantesque windows and you get treated to most spectacular views of Manhattan city. Hardly a stone’s throw away is the well-known Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. And if you are looking to indulge in some chic shopping fantasies there’s the Fifth Avenue shopping centre for some real cool, upscale shopping specked with redoubtable names like Saks, Gucci, and Barneys. The truly well-heeled can check out a testoni for high-class Italian footwear.

In the evening do sample the exotic dishes at any of the restaurants, be it Harry Cipriani, Aureole or Daniel. The experience, like the rest of your hotel stay, is nothing short of exquisite. 

Hotel Crowne Plaza

There are some spots in the world that invariably leave you gasping for more; places that you would want to visit again and again. The Hotel Crowne Plaza Paris Champs Elysées, the crème de la crème of luxury hotels, is one such.

This tres elegante five star hotel is the epitome of style and grace in terms of reconciling modernity with sophisticated antiquity. This charming luxury hotel is spread over three edifices, each an architectural delight and distinctly different.

The façade is distinctly Haussmanian and, therefore, functional, while the ambience of the reception region is a symphony in concrete and wood with somewhat austere outlines. Going past the doorway you cannot possibly miss the rather imposing Murano chandelier constructed purely from crystals, nor the ersatz Michel Angelo sketches. 

The rooms in Hotel Crowne Plaza, simply put, are an ode to luxury. The plush sleekness quite takes your breath away as you sink into its well-appointed bed or sofa. The six classic rooms come replete with air-conditioning, direct line telephone, LCD television sets, safe, minibar etc. But if you are looking for something that offers an optimal combination of old-world Parisian charm with contemporary modern-day efficiency, then the Suite Terrace is your best bet. 

Don’t forget to check out that king-sized bed, or the jocose bathroom with its outsized and old-style bathtub and separate shower. The impressive array of Hermés products will make your bathing experience all the more memorable.

After a quick shower (or a luxury-filled bath) you may prefer to have breakfast in your room or go down to the rendezvous area where you can dine in a relaxed and languid atmosphere.

Each floor is equipped with a restaurant compatible to every gastronomical yearning in the world. The restaurant staff is courteous and attentive treating each guest as special. Clearly, luxury brims over at Hotel Crowne Plaza!