Hotel Plaza Athenee: Gracious Luxury

Sandwiched between the tres elegante Avenue Montaigne and the Eiffel Tower, Hotel Plaza Athenee happens to be a jewel amongst luxury hotels. The brochure states that I am in the best shopping area in the world. I have also been told by well-meaning friends and acquaintances that this king of five star hotels houses as many as five elegant restaurants. Walking past its swiveling doors, I catch the aroma of amber and beautiful, state-of-the-art lighting. The graciousness of the staff already makes me feel at home.

I walk into the Superior Suite Room refusing to hand my luggage over to the porter. It is a symphony in flame! The lovely corded curtains draping themselves elegantly over the large French window, the pillow covers, bed spread and the classical furnishings spill over with a warmth that I can only describe as evocative. One of the windows looks out into a tranquil courtyard. The noise of traffic or of TV from other rooms does not infiltrate here. It also makes me relaxed and meditative. There is a separate living room. I have some friends in Paris. I now want to invite them over, yeah… why not?

Wait! Didn’t they also inform me, while I was headed here at the epitome five star hotels, that it contains a luxury spa of the highest order? I glance at my watch, it’s only 8 am. Time enough for a shower and breakfast and then, a little later I’ll check out the spa.

Downing coffee and a cheese sandwich at Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée and basking in its magic and poetry I head out to the Dior Spa into its treatment room. The treatment is called ‘Just in time’, so the beautician informs me while going to work on my face. Later, I relax in the lounge room rather dreamily. Heaven sent, is what I call this king of luxury hotels.

Eco Friendly Luxury Hotels

Let's face it, luxury hotels put a lot of strain on our already deteriorating environment. The heat or air is left on continuously, even when the room is unoccupied. Filling pools, hot tubs, laundering sheets daily, you get the idea? The water and energy usage from one establishment can be incredible. Luckily , some luxury hotels have recognized the problem and are taking steps to become more Eco friendly.

The Hotel Metro in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is taking steps to conserve energy without compromising the level of comfort that they offer. Recently the hotel had the Telkonet SmartEnergy management system installed. Upon arrival to their suite guests will see a red arrow on the thermostat that indicates that the heating system can be set to the preference of the guest.

The blue arrow is for cooling. The system will remember the specific settings and detect when the room is unoccupied and allow the setting s to drift within a specific range. Once the guests return to their suite the heating or cooling will return to the setting that had been selected previously within 10 minutes. This helps to decrease energy usage and most guests don't even realize the difference.

Hyatt Regency is another luxury hotel chain that is striving to be more environmentally friendly. Energy efficient light bulbs have replaced ordinary bulbs through out the hotel. Paper recycling bins have been placed in strategic locations with emphasis being placed on the meeting areas. Water preservation is also important to Hyatt Regency. Water conserving shower heads and low flow toilets have decreased the amount of water the establishment is using.

Several other hotels in the industry are also taking steps to conserve our resources, such as encouraging guests to reuse towels, and giving them the option of not having the sheets changed daily. All of these things are helping to ensure that we impacting the environment as little as possible.

The Peninsula- 2

This is one luxury hotel that sweeps you off your feet, literally, from the moment you take in its glittering exterior on the confluence of the 55th Street and Fifth Avenue, next to the throbbing New York business district. The Peninsula New York saw light of day way back in 1905 and represents one of the hoary landmarks of the city. This New York luxury hotel is sprinkled with graceful retro elements, all reminiscent of the Beaux Arts architectural form.

Here you will see the old blend with the new in a seamless artistic fluid movement with absolutely no jarring jerks anywhere. Soaring above the teeming cityscape in all its 23-story glory, it houses as many as 185 guest rooms and 54 luxury-steeped suites, all of them voluminous and beautifully appointed.

After having checked in, do yourself a favor and check out the luxury spa at the Peninsula. Even by the highest standards it is absolutely huge at 35,000 square feet and has as many twelve treatment rooms luxuriously spread out over three floors. The thermal suites come attached with steam rooms steeped in aromatherapy, ice fountains, saunas and the works.

After a lush sauna bath if you wish to relax with an afternoon cup of tea, you may like to try the Gotham Lounge. If you want something even more stimulating you might like to relax, cocktail in hand, at the or The Pen Top Bar and Terrace while taking in breathtaking views of this extraordinary, bustling city.

And if you choose to relax inside your room, rest assured you will not be bored, not with the cable TV, high speed internet and the news daily. Mini bars are available in your well-appointed room. There is also a Silver Spoon service that includes backstage entry to Broadway shows.

The Peninsula certainly deserves a hi-five!

Sherry Netherland

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 Plaza Athenee: Gracious Luxury

Sandwiched between the tres elegante Avenue Montaigne and the Eiffel Tower, Hotel Plaza Athenee happens to be a jewel amongst luxury hotels. The brochure states that I am in the best shopping area in the world. I have also been told by well-meaning friends and acquaintances that this king of five star hotels houses as many as five elegant restaurants. Walking past its swiveling doors, I catch the aroma of amber and beautiful, state-of-the-art lighting. The graciousness of the staff already makes me feel at home.

I walk into the Superior Suite Room refusing to hand my luggage over to the porter. It is a symphony in flame! The lovely corded curtains draping themselves elegantly over the large French window, the pillow covers, bed spread and the classical furnishings spill over with a warmth that I can only describe as evocative. One of the windows looks out into a tranquil courtyard. The noise of traffic or of TV from other rooms does not infiltrate here. It also makes me relaxed and meditative. There is a separate living room. I have some friends in Paris. I now want to invite them over, yeah… why not?

Wait! Didn’t they also inform me, while I was headed here at the epitome five star hotels, that it contains a luxury spa of the highest order? I glance at my watch, it’s only 8 am. Time enough for a shower and breakfast and then, a little later I’ll check out the spa.

Downing coffee and a cheese sandwich at Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée and basking in its magic and poetry I head out to the Dior Spa into its treatment room. The treatment is called ‘Just in time’, so the beautician informs me while going to work on my face. Later, I relax in the lounge room rather dreamily. Heaven sent, is what I call this king of luxury hotels.