Hotel of the week

Montpelier Plantation and Beach, Nevis

Judith Baker — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:34:37 +0100

Montpelier Plantation witnessed the marriage of Horatio Nelson to Frances "Fanny" Nisbet. In 1960 James Milnes-Gaskell bought this estate with the dream of converting the historic ruin into a hotel. In 2002, Montpelier was sold to the Hoffman family.

This AAA four-diamond property, a member of Relais & Chateaux, is six miles from the Charlestown beach, 750 feet above the Caribbean Sea in the foothills of Nevis Peak.

It is a short drive from local attractions such as the Botanical Garden and the History Museum and surrounded by 60 acres of tropical gardens and built around an original 18th century sugar plantation.

Accommodation comprises 19 contemporary plantation rooms, divided into five categories. The individually decorated rooms include Egyptian cotton linens and Elemis bath amenities.

The hotel features two restaurants and one unique dining experience. Restaurant 750, the fine dining option, offers light and modern cuisine. During the day, guests can dine poolside at Indigo, which offers a selection of salads and sandwiches.

At 5pm, Indigo shifts into a lounge bar with tapas-style menu featuring sharing platters, cocktails, fine wine and champagne.

For a memorable experience, choose to dine in the hotel's 300 year-old sugar mill, Mill Privée.

The original mill is intact with a well-trodden floor and hand-cut round stonewall. It also hosts tasting dinners with wine pairing chosen by the hotel's sommelier.

Montpelier guests enjoy exclusive access to the hotel's private beach. Located just a short drive in the hotel's shuttle, a full bar and private cabanas are available.

Rates: from £365 to £840

Tel: 1-869-469-3462

Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux & Spa

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:22:22 +0100

If you are going to visit Bordeaux, home to some of the world's finest wines, you may as well stay in the city's finest accommodation. The five-star Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux & Spa delivers on all fronts - an ideal central location, stunning 18th Century architecture and enough luxury facilities to make you dizzy.

Featuring 150 rooms, including 22 suites, it's bang opposite the almost mirror-image of the Grand Theatre.

The top three floors are given over to a spa, including a suspended indoor swimming pool offering counter-current swimming under a glass roof, which lets out on to a beautiful rooftop terrace with a bar, Jacuzzi and views across the World Heritage-listed city.

Rooms are sumptuous in a period way, well-equipped with high-tech goodies and terrific views across the Place de la Comedie, if you choose one at the front.

The under-floor heated marble bathrooms is a luxurious bonus.

There is a Michelin-starred restaurant, a more casual brasserie and a buffet breakfast.

Of key interest to lovers of the grape, the hotel has just inaugurated a Wine Concierge service, which caters to dunces and connoisseurs alike (and includes Cognac).

You tell them what you like and how deep your pockets are and they will arrange appropriate chateaux visits for you, including, if you are in the market, the "Big Five".

These are Chateaux Margaux, Haut-Brion, Lafite-Rothschild, Latour and Mouton-Rothschild.

They will facilitate all sorts of wine tastings, wine dinners and even delivery of purchases.

The price of the buffet breakfast is included within the room price, but where separated out, this usually costs 72 euros for two.

Rates: Superior rooms from €250.

Tel: +33 5 57 30 44 44

L’hotel de Toiras, Ile de Re, France

Lucy Daltroff — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:10:24 +0100

The "Ile de Re" is a holiday island with beautiful beaches and a microclimate, which provides warmth but not excessive heat, in the summer. Despite this it is largely a French secret, enjoyed by Parisians during July and August.

A stylish bridge links the island to the nearby city of La Rochelle - a place that's easy to reach from the UK, thanks to a number of no frills airlines. Arguably the most attractive harbour on the island is at St Martin de Re - a historic fortified village, and there, right by the water is the five star, L'Hotel de Toiras, perfect for a romantic short break.

The hotel was originally a 17th century ship-owner's house and guests enjoy luxurious decadence, because although small, it is elegant with a high ratio of staff to clientele. All 11 rooms and nine suites bear the names of historical personalities and have period furniture, yet modern facilities, and ridiculously comfortable double beds.

Some of the rooms overlook the picturesque harbour, while the others have views over the small garden. The "George Washington" is the largest suite dedicated to Nicolas Martiau, a French nobleman who was an ancestor of America's first President, and actually born on the Ile de Re. Facilities include the attractive dining room "La Table d'Olivia" and it is possible to eat here or alternatively at the many restaurants and cafes lining the harbour.

It is owned by Olivia Le Calvez, who bought the building in 2002 and carried out extensive renovations.

It's named Toiras after the illustrious Marshal who defended the Ile de Re when the Duke of Buckingham and his troops besieged it, at the beginning of the 17th century.

In 2010 it became the first 5 star hotel in the whole of the Poitou-Charentes region.

Prices vary a great deal according to season, but a few days of luxury away from it all, is something to always cherish!

Rates: from 190 euros in low season

Tel: +33 (0)5 46 35 40 32

Hotel du Vin, Henley-On-Thames

Richard Burton — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:06:53 +0100

The dress code was simple: wear what you like. No ties, jacket not essential. You choose. And we all did.

Fortunately, a blend of position, reputation and tariff meant that those who did brave one of the coldest Friday nights of the year didn't let the side down.

And so it was a mix: we had the dinner suit lot on their way to a do, the smart casuals showing that you can get away with jeans if you have the figure for it, and the designer diners giving their blonde dates a Paul Smith cuff or two to hold on to.

I guess it's the sort of crowd you'd want if you're running a small hotel in a posh Thameside town, with its own French-style bistro boasting separate red and white wine stores.

And this was a pretty typical crowd, according to one dressed-to-be-seen couple in the corner of the delightfully dark and comfy pre-dinner-drinks area they call the snug. Also, so I was assured, a regular haunt for many of the non-residents that outnumbered we guests for dinner that night.

Not that I cared. I had a river-view suite to return to: a split-level one with its own terrace that overlooks a maze of red-tiled roofs to the Regatta Lawns.

It even had its own open-air tub for those balmy summer evenings when the only way to unwind is a soak under the stars. Well, given the opportunity…

The three-seater Chesterfield in what was essentially a bathroom was a nice touch, as was the TV you can watch from the bath, the espresso machine and the selection of current-issue magazines in both rooms.

Back to the bistro; very du Vin with its dark leather, polished wooden floors and busy, art-laden walls. You're led into it via a smart bar, again all zinc-topped and French. It's not a place I'd naturally see as a draw for young families but it catered effortlessly for the few there on the night; the pre-teen girls toasting grandad's birthday, the nearly newborn in its buggy, and the terror tot of a two-year-old who chirruped his way between drinkers and diners as staff side-stepped him and occasionally guided him on his way lest he strayed too far.

When the table was ready and the tot wasn't, the waiter simply made one up next to a sofa in the snug. Job done.

The hotel's position is as central as you get without taking to the river, in a side street yards from the Thames and a few oars' lengths away from the shopping streets. The town itself is bookshop-twee and art gallery-indulgent, a place to stroll and unwind without the car.

Which is just as well, as they whisk it away from you when you pull up in the courtyard drop-off area and pop it underground till you need it again.

Rates From £145 per night

Tel: 0845 365 4438

The Crown

Laura Ivill — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:54:24 +0000

In 1994, Hugh Grant found fame alongside Andie MacDowell in the ever so slightly posh film Four Weddings and a Funeral. The setting for the couple's first night together was this 17th-century coaching inn.

Back then, their suite attracted guests in search of romance, but now the floral bedspread and heavy four-poster have gone, as design guru Ilsa Crawford has been refreshing the maze of centuries-old rooms.

Her style is simple, even plain. Large Welsh blankets are a substitute for pictures, soft greys and white dominate, Roberts radios, rocking chairs, sheepskin throws.

The Crown takes pride of place in the centre of this old market town in the Chiltern Hills, an area offering strolls along Buckinghamshire's river valleys and beech woods.

The creaky, candle-lit charm of the hostelry speaks for itself. The comforts of a cosy 24-hour bar and simple restaurant were what olden-day travellers would have prized on the rough track that passed for the road to London.

On chunky wooden tables with farmhouse-style Ercol chairs, the restaurant serves cuts of steak as well as a couple of vegetarian dishes and fish; sides are extra.

The most sought-after accommodation is in the spacious courtyard rooms. The converted outbuildings have recently become roomy suites - high oak-beamed ceilings, under-floor heating, and an iPod dock housed in traditional-looking wood.

It's a blending of old and new, a mix that works.

Rates: Doubles from £139

Tel: 01494 721541

Calcot Manor, Gloucestershire

Stephen Pollard — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:00:40 +0000

It’s always fascinated me how one’s horizon’s change when you have kids.

Ask me four years ago to define paradise and I would not have come up with the idea of a hotel in the Cotswolds, let alone one that caters primarily for families. Ask me now, and I’ll give you two words: Calcot Manor.

The Pollards have been on a three year quest to find the perfect family hotel. I am here to tell you that at Calcot Manor I found it.

Whoever first had the idea of setting up a luxury country house hotel designed specifically for people with young children — which viewed them not as uncouth horrors but as part of their core clientele — deserves not just the profits that come their way but also a huge thank you.

From the moment you enter Calcot Manor’s grounds you are enveloped in relaxation. The fact that this is a hotel for children as well as adults does not mean that service is — as in some of Calcott’s supposed competition — less attentive and slick than it might be.

Quite the opposite: every need is anticipated and the whole shebang is structured around the needs of families with young children.

Our cottage-style suite had every conceivable amenity, and the walk to the main building was through beautiful gardens. There are 220 acres to explore — and a spa in which to be pampered. The Ofsted-registered crèche, the Playzone, is as good as they get.

Meals were a joy, from the delicious fresh lunch and kids’ dinner in the Gumstool Inn, Calcot’s own pub (with fantastically friendly staff) to more adventurous food in the Conservatory Restaurant for Mrs P and I after the children had gone down.

We stayed for two nights. Two weeks would not have exhausted Calcot’s powers of relaxation.

Rates: Standard room from £280 per night. Includes bed and breakfast based on two sharing
Tel: 01666 890391

Knock Castle Crieff, Scotland

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 14:56:08 +0000

It took a six-hour train ride from London to Perth and a half-hour drive to Crieff for my first sight of Knock Castle, but it was worth it. With its enchanting turrets and fairytale character, the castle has a magic that glows through the drizzle.

And when you meet the head chef and general manager, Jason Henderson — who along with his father features in the current Channel 4 hotel review series Four In A Bed — you can see where the magic comes from. In five years his family’s energy has transformed the castle from a health spa run by the Seventh Day Adventist Church into a luxury hotel and spa.

And the first change Jason made? An alcohol licence.

The wine, like the rest of the menu, is excellent and great value. Dinner is hearty, with choices from staple beer-battered fish and chips to more innovative creations such as pear and stilton soufflé. And you can’t beat Arbroath smokies for breakfast.

The staff strike just the right balance of formality and warmth, and the hotel feels at once homely and majestic. The decor – largely tartan – is traditional and tasteful, with cosy lounges and bars, a pool, gym, cinema, and reasonably-priced spa treatments delivered by a charming therapist.

And if you fancy seeing a bit more of Scotland, you can do it in style, with a ride in the Henderson helicopter to Edinburgh for £400.

Renovations are ongoing, which may account for the occasional slip. My bathroom was exquisite, with black marble steps leading to a sunken bath set into the turret – it doesn’t get more fairytale than that. But while the monogrammed sheets felt luxurious, the chintzy nylon bedspread had holes in it. As Jason says, there’s always room for improvement. But nonetheless, I found myself falling under the spell of Knock Castle, with its beautiful views, eccentric quirks, and the Hendersons’ peculiar brand of Scottish chutzpah.

RATES: Doubles from £72.50 based on two sharing with breakfast
Tel: 01764 650088
www.knockcastle.com

Le Chardon Mountain Lodge, Val D’isere, France

Sharron Livingston — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 13:46:18 +0000

After a day skiing on Val d’Isère’s slopes. I admit to imbibing more than a soupçon of apres-ski sustenance, yet I was still cold. As activities levels and temperatures dropped well below freezing, by the time I got back to Le Chardon chalet (one of five that comprise the Chardon Mountain Lodges) I just wanted to thaw quickly.

Skis and ski shoes were deposited in the ski room and complimentary slippers donned, and then it was up to the sitting room to join other guests (when fully occupied this can take up to 20), for tea and cake by a crackling fire.

The chalet is located in the secluded hamlet of La Legettaz on the Solaise Mountain. By 6pm I was warmed and sated but as a newbie skier, I hadn’t quite anticipated how much my legs would ache. So during my three-day stay I took full advantage of the masseuse, the hot tub and the sauna.

My bedroom, called the Arday, featured yards of walnut wood, and had a great view over the Alps. The ensuite comes with a bath, a shower and two sinks and a wonderfully heated-tiled floor that feel superb on bare feet. A large spongy bed with huge pillows was delightful to slip into every night, but not too early, and certainly not before dinner was served.

Residents are encouraged, but not compelled, to dine together in one of two dining rooms, both of which have floor-to-ceiling windows to take advantage of the spectacular alpine views.

It was a social event that centred on fine food and wine and kosher meals are available on request.
Though Le Chardon is probably the largest chalet in Val d’Isère, it is spread over four floors with private terraces and it has the ambience of a large family home, especially true when coffee is served to you in bed.

RATES: £1250 per person for 7 nights
TEL: 0 131 209 7969

SHARRON LIVINGSTON

Le Petit Hotel, Montreal, Canada

Andy Mossack — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 17:38:13 +0000

If we are being honest, it is a boutique hotel. It’s just that my room was actually very big. Maybe the hotel should be renamed Le Petit Hotel Avec Grand Chambre?

Right in the historic heart of Old Montreal, among much elegance and finery on Rue Saint-Paul, this hotel is chic, very (although the building dates back to the 1800’s) but with 24 beautifully turned out rooms across four floors. A little hip hideaway in Old Montreal that oozes charm and elegance.

My room was spacious and the few steps I had to negotiate to enter together with the rustic wooden beams and exposed brick made it feel almost loft like. Everything else was high-end finery, even down to the multi-jet massage shower in the bathroom. I loved the iPod docking station, the hardwood floor, the free wireless hi-speed internet, the platform bed with goose down pillows, and the designer chairs.

The cafe lobby serves probably the finest espresso I have tasted, and it was free to residents. It was like one of those Sunday morning cafes — you know, with newspapers and magazines available to browse through while listening to a little soft jazz and sipping coffee.

The room rate also includes a very French-style continental breakfast with freshly baked croissants and pain au chocolat and plenty of hearty shots of that incredible coffee.

The whole atmosphere was one of relaxed sophistication, but enthusiastic help when you needed it.
Le Petit Hotel (with large rooms) is a highly recommended place to stay if you want to be close to the historic heart of Montreal. It’s where you’ll find plenty of live music and restaurants and be right on the St Lawrence waterfront.

RATES: Double from CAD $209
TEL: +1 514 940 0360

Hotel Miramar

Jessica Elgot — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:08:00 +0000

Barcelona is a hectic city — swelteringly hot in summer, heaving with crowds, stall owners yelling, brightly coloured building, thumping flamenco.

But at the Hotel Miramar, you could be on another planet. On a hill above the city, but easily accessible by the Montjuic cable car which perches just in front of the hotel, the breathtakingly serene scenes of the city and the sea makes you forget the stress that lies below. Close by, in surrounding Montjuic, visitors can explore the Miro museum and botanical gardens, if you can tear your eyes away from the view.

The building is glossy art deco style, built in 1929 by King Alfonso XIII, with a cascading waterfall coming down as you enter the monochrome lobby.

The hotel’s spa facilities are one of its major plus points. Spacious sun-loungers are scattered around a deep turquoise H-shaped pool, where you can sip sangria and admire the panorama down the slope. But inside, guests are spoilt with a large fitness centre, jacuzzis, saunas, a huge indoor pool and a Turkish bath.

The 75 rooms are modern and open plan, with an enormous freestanding bath behind dark grey iron chain-mail curtains. The interior is earthy, with deep-pile chocolate rugs, buff leather sofas and dark woods. All have private balconies or terraces, with wicker chairs to lounge or read the pile of design magazines or plug your i-Pod into the room’s sound system.

A typical Spanish breakfast is served in a rectangular dining room or on the terrace, manchego cheese, tortilla, tomatoes and toast.

Those looking to spend the evening watching twilight set in across the city can book a place at the hotel’s Forestier restaurant, which serves up reliably good Spanish cuisine, compared to the many hit-and-miss tourist tapas and paella joints in the city below.

Rates: from €150 per night
Tel: 00 34 93 281 16 00
JESSICA ELGOT