24 Hours at the Principe di Savoia

This pure Italian Grand Hotel is discretely located on Piazza Repubblica and is one of Milan's biggest hotels. I was a bit scared when I heard that they have nearly 300 rooms but this feeling was gone when I arrived and a very kind bellman welcomed me towards the front desk! Check-in was very efficient and fast, and afterwards I was accompanied to my amazing Ambassador Junior Suite. Of course, I was immediately impressed of the whole interior style of the Principe di Savoia!

Upon entering my Suite I felt that this room is completely different than all other room and suite categories, because all walls were wooden and gave this room the charme of rather staying in a luxe castle then at a huge world class city hotel. Did I already mention that I was arraving at 1.20 pm and I did nit have to wait to get to my room? This was a real exception during my trip (where I also stayed at the Hermitage Monaco and the Majestic Barriere in Cannes and they did not have the room ready when I was arriving)!

Back to Milan, I immediately fell in love with my Junior Suite and continued discovering the gorgeous bedroom as well as the famous mosaic tiled bath heaven! I can imagine that the bath was way bigger then the bedroom but I am not sure!

They also have a shuttle which runs to the center, but unfortunately I did not catch the last limousine departing on 18:30 because I went to the rooftop pool and fell asleep! Some recent guests already mentioned on tripadvisor to extend the shuttle hours, I would also agree, because Milan and its Duomo gets even more impressive at night!

The Health Club on the rooftop is quite luxurious with a proper sized indoor pool at the perfect temperature and a hot jacuzzi ensuite! Normally I am not the work-out-type but this fitness center was so impressive that even I couldn't resist - who would not spot the amazing sunset over a orange sky in Milan?

When I came back from the Spa, which is quite amazing by the way, I found myself in the living room with the most impressive welcome amentites I've ever received! Thanks a lot to the whole team of the Principe di Savoia! Another remarkable thing at this hotel is that they offer Acqua di Parma toiletries in their guest bathrooms and shaving asseccoires by AdP at the Spa, too!

To be honest, the hotel was so stunning, that I just wanted to leave this place all day!
After a very heavenly night in one of the best beds, I was hungry again and had no better idea then to have breakfast at Alcanto Restaurant! The service was very friendly and efficient, the restaurant elegant and luxurious, and the breakfast not enormous but of highest quality!

Try to get a bed and breakfast rate as the breakfast is quite heavy at 45.00 Euros per person! Also the Wi-Fi is not included and charged for 24 Euros per night!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Hotel Principe di Savoia Milano for the generous invitation and I would like to express that all above written is my personal opinion and experience!

24 Hours at Le Mas Candille

This amazing little place of pure tranquility and romance is just on the hill above Cannes. When we left the train station of Cannes we were driven directly in a completely different world, through very narrow streets until we reached the municipal Mougins. A large gate opened and we were chaffeured to the main area of Le Mas Candille.

The arrival was smooth and pleasant although we felt a bit lost in the reception area as the staff is sitting and there are no seats for guests on the front desk. after check-in we got a short tour to the room, which was located in the newer building La Bastide. The room was very generous (I think it was a Deluxe room as it was overlooking the Grasse village) and we even had a huge terrace with an impressive view. Th bathroom is kind of the same style throughout the property, while each bedroom is designed in a different style - which makes the stay even more interesting.

A very nice gesture, and quite unusual to us, was the Cocktail reception on the main pool, where the General Manager, Mr. Silver (the owner) and the Sales Manager were welcoming the guests personally. Therefore we also had the pleasure to meet Mr. Silver personally, one of the most passionate and coolest hoteliers we have ever met. You really feel, when you are talking to him, that Le Mas Candille is a passion for him and that he is doing it with heart and soul. That's also what makes this hotel very different from the Grand Hotels on the Croisette.

Throughout the night we could hear simply nothing, which was also a great plus and the reason why we kept the window open all night. The beds were really heavenly, I feel that I have to mention that I will try to get the same blanket at home. The bathroom of our wonderful Room was very generous with separate shower and tub (what i really appreciate!!) and luxe Molton Brown toiletries AND an amazing view over Grasse as well.

To be honest, my absolute favourite place was the main pool in front of the summer restaurant, followed by the Hydrotherapy Pool at the Shiseido Spa. I think this is also a great opportunity to tell the hotel that we illegally used their Hydrotherapy pool at 10.00 pm, but we could not resist the beauty of the resort, the view and the fact of swimming under the stars.

Unfortunately we oversleept breakfast at their 1 Michelin starred restaurant, which is kind of sad, but another reason to come back to my "little peace of pure Heaven". I guess that this small hideaway is an excellent alternative to the Terre Blanche resort, which I will test in one week. The view really exceeds all expectations at Le Mas Candille.

We would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Silver for the generous invitation to test the "Le Mas Candille". Our stay was completely sponsored by the owners. Our above written review is our personal opinion and hasn't been influenced.

48 Hours at The Augustine Hotel Prague

As the newest high-end five-star hotel addition to Prague, I really felt in best mood when arriving. The check-in was smooth and we got a welcome drink, what I found a nice touch. Afterwards we got a tour through the public areas, followed by an inspection of the room. We were lucky and got a parking space in their courtyard, otherwise when you prefer parking in a garage, they park your car in the garage of the nearby Aria Hotel.

The room itself was spacious, the bathroom on the other side not – with a bath-tub-combination (I normally hate this most in a hotel). As the toiletries were upscale ones and filled up every day, I was not that discerning. Just to let you know: they do have rooms in the standard category with larger bathrooms and even separate showers as well. The bed was very comfortable as the whole room. Unfortunately we did not have a view over the Castle Hill, but therefore we overlooked a church and a courtyard. One afternoon there was a wedding going on in this courtyard but happily for the hotel they finished in the early evening. Otherwise it could have ended like at the Grand Hotel Stockholm – see previous blog posts.

Breakfast Buffet was on the small side, although everything can be ordered from your table and will be prepared in the kitchen at your disposal. The scrambled eggs were really good and in my opinion everything else was of good quality, too. The service was perfect and very attentive, we felt very welcomed.

The bar is also a nice place to relax in the afternoon, as the Augustine Spa is: A small spa indeed with a sauna, hamam, steam bath and relaxation room with experience showers. The products were really good – Kerstin Florian, Ila and Ex Voto are predicted to be world-class.

All in all, I like this hotel because of the generous layout combined with the chic italian style, the location and the wonderful ambience of staying in an old monastery.

24 Hours at the Hotel Bristol Vienna

The old grand-dame Hotel of Vienna was originally predicted to be mentally dead, but since the Sacher family took over the ownership, a lot changed and a completely fresh wind breezes now through the elegantly styled hallways.

After a glamorous arrival in the 1^st class with the new Czech Railjet, we were chauffeured by our private driver of Uber, to the luxurious Hotel Bristol on Kärtnerring 1. The check-in was smooth and our Bristol Suite was already available at 11.30 which was a great plus. Upon entering the heavy door of our Suite, a completely different world opened to be discovered. Through the bright and airy entrée we got a first sight of the size of this little piece of pure heaven.

A huge living room with two light-brown sofas, a comfortable armchair, a writing desk with seating arrangements and a TV shelf with a built-in fireplace welcomed one of its first guests. In addition to this impressive area we found our bedroom that we entered through two very elegant sliding doors with gold handles. Everything did not only look so expensive, it really was of high quality. As the antiques, the deco vases and the lamps.

Back to the facts, the bedroom: The bed was extremely comfortable and the curtains did black-out extremely well. Beside the bed there was the entrance to the bathroom, a heaven for all bath-lovers: A separated toilet area with bidet, double vanities, a deep bath tub, and finally – an enormous walk-in shower at 1,5x1,5 meters. Last but not least I have to mention the world’s best bathroom amenities, at least they are the most expensive ones – by famous perfumer Roja Dove.

Although the city is amazing, we did not want to leave our heavenly bed. Fortunately breakfast was predicted to be world-class, so that’s why we headed down to Bristol Lounge and it really was worth the way. I would call it a very selective offer but of really high quality: bread is served in the main area, while all other products, including the cooking place are located in a separated room which is perfectly cooled for the fresh products.

The staff was always helpful and they even gave us a complimentary late check-out until 4 pm without any discussion. So we could enjoy the luxury of our huge Bristol Suite on a lazy Sunday afternoon before we headed back to Prague.

The Bristol proofed once again that it want to compete with the other high class properties such as the Imperial, the Ritz Carlton and the Park Hyatt. We can gladly say, YES! It is our new favourite hotel in Vienna.

Our stay in a new Bristol Suite at the Hotel Bristol Vienna was completely sponsored by the hotel. 

Our above written review is our personal opinion and hasn't been influenced.