Kampala: Haunting specters, charming smiles

The specter of Idi Amin’s dictatorial regime kept looming as Sue and I alighted at the Entebbe Airport, the site of a dramatic hostage rescue operation by Israeli forces so many years ago. I half-shuddered as I made my way to the taxi stand to get to Kampala from Entebbe. Sue, who was silent up to this point, must have been mulling over the same things. By and by, however, we began to lose our edginess as the warmth of the place; the people reached out and clinched us with calming reassurance. We were propositioned by several motorcycle taxi drivers. These motorcycle taxis are called boda bodas and look extremely dangerous. So we simply shook our heads in polite refusal.

We finally booked a taxi to take us to the hotel Sheena had booked for us, the Kampala Sheraton Hotel. As the towers of the hotel loomed up in the horizon both Sue and I felt immediately reassured. Set in a sultry, seductive tropical background it is an oasis – mainly owing to its magnificent gardens – inside a bustling city. The hotel has cafes, bars, a beauty salon, in fact the works.

We had a late lunch and being a tad too tired, went off to sleep. In the evening Sue and I went across to the Rock Garden, a rather cool night club in the midst of the city. We weren’t charged anything to be admitted and had some great Tusker beer while listening to some rollicking numbers mostly from Uganda and India. We were also treated to a lot of ABBA hits, a thing that bombards your senses wherever you, we realized. The country appears to be quite ABBA-struck.

The next morning we woke up early and stepped out of the hotel and could help marveling at the landscape that Kampala offers. Set out on seven hills, it is the site of the verdant and resplendent views I have seen during my travels. We took a stroll up to the Naksero Market with a zesty medley of shops and restaurants. Such brilliant colors and such bright smiles! I felt sorry when it was time to leave.

Bucharest: Some kind of mix

Sue found it charming while I was slightly uneasy around the uncompromising grey buildings, old remnants of communism… that’s right, the place I am referring is the Romanian capital, Bucharest. A mix of trendy, traditional, and drab is what we got here on our last visit. Sheena, our travel agent, had us booked in at the Ramada Majestic Bucharest Hotel. With its 111 guest rooms, beauty salon, large conference center., fitness center, and swimming pool, it is truly majestic with a great trendy façade. Some tourists staying here mentioned that the Ramada had the cleanest swimming pool in Bucharest.

One of our friends traveling with us on business dropped us off at the Revolution Square on the afternoon of our arrival. He dropped us right opposite the Administrative Complex, also referred to as the Senate. Constructed in 1940, it used to be the headquarters of the Communist Party and the site of the Romanian Revolution of 1989. From where we stood we were able to see the spot from where the infamous dictator Ceausescu relayed his last speech before departing in his helicopter only to be captured and shot a few hours later. Quite chilling.

We also saw the Parliament Palace,a mammoth building and second only to the Pentagon in size. It was the last building to be built under Communist dictatorship. Started sometime in the 1980s, the colossus was finished only in 1997, well after the death of its corrupt owner. Over 330,000 square this giant has 12 floors with rooms that are 84 meters high.

The interiors are characterized by luxury that is vulgar to behold. Both sue and I exited the place with double quickness. From the Parliament Palace we walked down to the Unirii Avenue towards the Antim Monastery, a lovely tribute to the ruler of that name. Such a relief after those concrete communist buildings we had just passed. Well, that’s essentially Bucharest, a mix that can get uncomfortable at times.

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.

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.  

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. 

Whenever there is a discussion about the New York Luxury Hotels, we begin to image the beautiful environment they might have. Such is the persona that the luxury hotels in New York carry.

Nevertheless, the first time visitor to the city must have appropriate information regarding the status of these luxury hotels so that they match up satisfactorily to your requirements. Now-a-days, luxury hotels in New York also offer economical packages to their prospective customers so the price issue doesn’t remain a bone of contention at all. You can choose from a variety of options available.

Luxury hotels in New York also provide the services of online booking so that reservation can be made from any part of the world. They endow their customers with maximum ease by means of quality services plus warm greeting.

New York is also known for its towering buildings that serve as an amazing tourist attraction.  New York luxury hotels are available in 3 to 5 star categories with minimum of difference in their services. Every type of munchies and yummy foodstuff is available there. 

Some of the reputed New York luxury hotels are Biltmore Hotel, Palace Hotel, Loews hotel, Gramercy Park Hotel, New Rochelle, and Grand Union Hotel. Besides these if you wish to choose a 4-star hotel then Hotel Blue Moon and NY Hotel empire are the best bet. The best five star luxury hotels in New York are Mark NY, 4 seasons, Grand Hyatt are familiar sights among regular tourists.

Inside the lavish luxury hotels, you’ll get various kinds of facilities such as new range of plasma television, AC, good quality internet connection in your room, electrical gate, Movie on demand, telephonic services and a lot more than you can imagine. Even the guests can avail of different recreational facilities available in the New York Luxury hotels. 

What could be more stimulating than to immerse yourself in the Yucatan Peninsula’s tropical abundance?

The New Year has just started and you cannot stand the winter any longer? The cold is getting into your bones and spring seems ages away? Who wants the snow! If it is the sun you are in quest of, ever think that it is not far off? A luxury holiday resort is waiting just round the corner from you, offering you a luxury vacation at great prices.

 So hop on the plane and take route toward the luscious and luxurious Yucatan Peninsula, land in Cancun and head towards the destination of your choice, be it Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos, Akumal, Playa Maroma, Tulum or Cozumel or even the Luxury resort of Cancun itself. The Yucatan Peninsula has a diversity of settings to offer the traveler, from the relaxed atmosphere of the luxury hotels on the beach to the luxury Nature Resorts immersed in the luscious Mexican jungle, on to those with the backdrop of the Mayan or Aztec ruins.

 If you are a nature lover Mexico offers a perfect opportunity to witness a unique and enchanting spectacle. Offer yourself a luxury encounter with the world’s largest existing fish, the whale; here is a rare occasion to swim in the company of this gentle giant suspended in the turquoise, warm waters of the Mexican Gulf.

 You are more into history and culture, then head out from your luxury hotel right into the past amongst the Mayan ruins of Tulum. This magnificent ancient city hangs over the cliffs that plunge into the azure Mexican waters, dominating in its ancient splendor, a unique example of Mayan dominion. Treat yourself to the luxury of the natural Mexican pools and cool down after exploring the ruins and plunge into a ‘cenote’, a deep blue freshwater natural pool, that obtains its source water from the world’s largest underground cavern system.

The luxury hotels and resorts are just waiting to pamper you with their Mexican hospitality in first class luxury amenities.