48 Hours at the Aria Hotel Prague

Our party was divided into two groups. One stayed at the new and ultra chic Emblem Hotel, while we decided to stay at the more casual and more luxurious Aria Hotel. Never did we regret this simply amazing choice. Upon arrival we were greeted with a smile and a welcoming "Welcome to the Aria Prague!". I wouldn't say that probably this is the most personal front desk staff if I hadn't stayed at so many luxury hotels. Honestly this is the secret formula for a successful hotel - a place where also I will return many times. 

Our rooms were situated on the fourth floor meaning that our rooms are designed in the Classical colour scheme - well, the rooms are not as chic as at the Emblem, but they definitely are twice as comfortable and welcoming with lots of warm colours. The bathroom was large and the tub was huge as well. I also loved the huge shower head - honestly it reminded me of The Savoy in London, probably because the toiletries are from London, by Molton Brown!

The Apple TV is really really cool and we could even connect our iPads to the TV and could hear our Music through the excellent loundspeakers! There is also a turn-down service with chocolate, which was done normally between 4 and 5 pm - guess it could be a bit too early for some people! In contrary to the Emblem, the do not have boxspring beds, but therefore enormous King beds with a size of approximately 2m x 2 m. A very nice gesture when we arrived: a bottle of red wine and a fruit plate!

One of the nicest touches at this musical themed hotel is the afternoon tea, held daily between 4 and 5pm - fully complimentary for hotel guests. With sweets, finger food, hot tea and wine (during christmas time), we were completely in the mood for the christmas markets at the Prague castle, Venceslas Square and Old Town Square - the most wonderful I have seen in Prague!

After all these excellent reviews on Tripadvsior (and of course because we were extremely tired of our 5 hours drive ;-) ) we decided to eat at the Coda Restaurant. Again, an excellent choice! Our menu consisted of three courses and an accompanying house wine, which was incredible! Beginning this excellent evening with an Amuse Bouche, a slice of tuna, followed by Foie Gras - it was truly magificent. I was quite insecure if it is a good idea to take the "Papardelle with Truffle" in December. As you might guess, all my believes were incorrect! These papardelle were simply extraordinary - never had such excellent truffle dish outside the Piedmont or Italy before! For dessert we had the famous Valhrona chocolate cake, another fabulous choice! Honestly all our expectations were exceeded on all ways! Congratulations to the chef David!

Of course we discovered some of Pragues best cocktail bars before we headed back to our worldclass accomodation. At breakfast we were greeted with a smile once again and started the day with some scrambled eggs and omlettes, together with a real Capuccino!

Finally I can just assure that you won't regret to forget the Four Seasons or Mandarin Oriental and head therefore to this picturesque Boutique Hotel in the real heart of one of our Top favourite cities in the world. If you are looking for something really special, then book one of the few Suites overlooking the Vrtbovska Garden - one of the most wonderful baroque gardens in the world, accessible free of charge from the hotel. 

A special thanks to the team of the Aria for being so welcoming and kind!

Our stay at the Aria Hotel Prague was sponsored by Mr. Vostiar and we were guests of the hotel throughout the weekend. Our above written review is our personal opinion and hasn't been influenced.

Restaurant-Check - Innsbruck - Lucy Wang

Yesterday, we have been to Innsbruck's latest Restaurant addition - Lucy Wang - a completely new concept and extremely cool design in the capital of the Tyrolean Alps. Recently, many new restaurants opened in Innsbruck during this season (Ludwig's Burger, L'Osteria, Ebi's, just to mention the best ones), but after our experience at this extraordinary place, we are sure that this is by far the best place to be and to-be-seen in Tyrol. 

Upon entering the glamorous restaurant you are welcomed by an elegant smell - reminding us of a luxe London Restaurant in Knightsbridge - and a kind staff member who takes care of your jackets and accompany you to the main restaurant. We decided to take two non-alcoholic cocktails. One was a Mango Colada - excellently tasty with a taste of coconut - and the other was called Lipp Gloss, very refreshing with ginger and berries. 

As starter we had excellent Sushi with salmon on top, lobster, spinach, avocado and wasabi in the inside. It might not sound tasty at first but it was gorgeous! Simply the best sushi I have tasted outside Japan. It was also very fresh, not like we were used to at Sushi Shop in France, where we had good Sushi, too. 

Our next course was probably one of the most expensive dishes in Innsbruck at this time: US Rib Eye with mashed potatoes, vegetables and a excellent red butter jus. The presentation of the dish was completely different from how we imagined, but therefore the taste exceeded by far our expectations - we were impressed! On the other side, I would say it was exactly what should be expected for 28 Euros per dish.

One of our favorite things at this marvelous place is of course the design, the color scheme as well as the atmosphere and the smell. All guests of this restaurant made the impression to be really wealthy and belong to the upperclass of Innsbruck. The whole restaurant goes a heartwarming feeling and you think like dining in a In-Restaurant in Central London or New York City. We believe that this restaurant fits perfectly into the Alpine landscape of Tyrol and we are sure that this place can make it to the Top place of the Best restaurants in Innsbruck.

All in all, 90 euros for two courses with water and cocktails is a lot of money. If you take a bottle of wine and a dessert you will be spending 150 euros for the two of you! Well, not something for the everyday life, but really a place to be when you are seeking for something sophisticated and very elegant in Innsbruck.

Our test dinner at Lucy Wang was not sponsored by anyone. We paid for the food and beverages by ourselfs. Our above written review is our personal opinion and hasn't been influenced.

Happy New Year!

Goodbye 2013 - Welcome 2014! 

2013 was a year full of new experiences and a lot of fun. Besides discovering new places I met new people and learned a lot of new things.

What about your travel plans for this year?Will you be going this summer? Asia, Australia, Africa, America or to Europe? Côte d’Azur, Costa Brava, Amalfi Coast or Santorin? 

Normally I am the person who does an extensive research, before choosing the right holiday destination, but sometimes even I have to act fast. So I did, when booking my ski holiday for 2014 in the newly Chedi Andermatt. 


At this time I do not have any concrete plans for the summer 2014. I am thinking about spending some days on the Côte d’Azur, Amalfi Coast, Capri or on the island of Vulcano (as I reported in recent posts). I know that there a beautiful places in Spain, Turkey or Greece, but I do not want to miss the undoubtedly excellent service, you can expect of a world-class hotel in Italy or France. Further interesting places such as Marrakech or Beirut, are not as safe as they have been a few years ago, due to terror attacks and political problems. 

The weather could not be better in Austria, so there should be no day without being on the slopes of a vast ski resort. My favourite place to ski is the ski resort of "Obergurgl-Hochgurgl" which got more crowded over the last three years, but due to the enormous scale of the resort there is no need to worry about tons of people.

I would like to thank you for reading my posts and your interest in my Luxury Travel Blog.

Last but not least I wish you all a happy and successful New Year 2014, may all your wishes come true!

Insider's Getaway - Prague Summary

My last seven weeks in one of Europe's most beautiful city were great! As you should always quit when it isbest, I will leave Prague this Friday to go back to Austria.

During my time in Prague I tested some of Prague's best restaurants and places and I also showed them to you on my last two Restaurant-Checks. Today, I will present you my absolute favourite places in Prague - a small Summary so to say!

1. Cotto Crudo (the following three pictures)
First of all my new favourite restaurant is the new CottoCrudo at the Four Seasons Hotel. Of course that may sound strange, but it is not so much more expensive than other mid-range italian restaurants in Prague. I had excellent Vitello Tonnato (also better than in some Restaurants in Italy) and afterwards Saffron Risotto at its finest. I had no space for any dessert, but I got some housemade Cantuccis free of charge. The service? Four Seasons! Do I really have to say more? It could not be better. At nearly 1000 CZK for Dinner-for-one not cheap but well worth.
If you have reserved in advance or you're only lucky, get some tables with castle view!!
http://www.cottocrudo.cz/

 2. The Café Savoy (the next three pictures)
Wow, this was my place to relax in the evenings and to wake-up in the mornings. I had nearly every weekend breakfast at this place. The Savoy breakfast is not only very good by Prague standards it is also cheap - at about 150 CZK per person. The fresh orange juice is seperte at 88 CZK. If you are here, try the famous "Dort Savoy" - the Savoy Cake - you won't be disappointed. It is definitely one of the best cakes, I've ever had. The Café Savoy is also a place to have a late-night drink with friends. Just go there whenever you like and whenever you are in this area. http://cafesavoy.ambi.cz/cz/

3. Cantinetta Fiorentina (picture below)
I always went to this place when I was seeking for holidays. Whenever I was sitting inside or on the glamerous Pariska street, this nice restaurant reminded me of a real Fiorentine Cantinetta, like it can be found in rural Tuscany. This restaurant is not just look-alike-fake. No, it also offers the best bread and olive oil in an italian restaurant in Prague. If we talk about the bill, I have to be honest and I should mention that the Pariska street is simply THE most expensive part in town, so are the prices and of course the guests! http://www.cantinetta.cz/

Last but not least my favourite place to hang around and spend the lazy Sundays:

4. Boscolo Wellness & Spa Prague
When the life of being a single really sucked, I went there to sleep this lazy day away! I was clever enough not to pay these high prices for the average treatments, so I booked a special offer through my Special City Concierge Lime & Tonic, and I immediately got the treatments for at least 30-40% cheaper. The staff is very attentive and very kind. They greet you warmely and you feel welcome from the first moment. The pool is the largest I've seen in a Hotel Spa in Prague and is not cold at 28°. http://prague.boscolohotels.com/spa-and-wellness/

If you want to have more tips or hints of if you want to know anything about Prague, please do not hesitate to contact me: travel.executive@yahoo.de

Restaurant-Check Prague - Part 2

Duck breast with baked mashed potatoes

4.) U Modré Kachnicky (Blue Duckling)

If you pass by the glamerous Mandarin Oriental Hotel and then turn right, you will read the sign of the restaurant. Despite the really bad look from outside, do not pass by at this restaurant - be man enough to open the door! One of Prague's finest restaurants will await you behind the door. We had some great duck breast which was flambé in front of us, as a side dish we chose baked mashed potatoes, which were quite excellent. The dessert was expensive as hell - 8 Euros for a Blackforest Cake - to be honest -  fully worth each Penny. 

Starters from 8-19 euros, main courses from 16-30 Euros. 

http://www.umodrekachnicky.cz/en/original/welcome

Duck breast "flamé en salle"

5.) La Bottega di Finestra

Last but not least my top favourite place for a fast and convenient dinner or late lunch. This casual atmosphere is perfect in my opinion. You can not only have a great meal there - no, you can also buy the best italian products in the whole Czech Republic. The prices? Not bad, I would say. When I was there the last time I paid about 500 CZK for Beef tartar, Lasagne and a housemade lime lemonade - which I highly recommend to try - there is a choice between Lime, Orange, Melon, Grapefruit and some berries.

Starters from 5-8 euros, main courses from 10-22 Euros. 

http://www.labottega.cz/

Restaurant-Check Prague - Part 1

Prague. During the next weeks, I will present some of my favourite hot-spots in my hometown for June, July and half of August 2013. There are several options for having a great evening - the best ones will follow up on my blog during the next 5 weeks. Although Prague has many Italian restaurants, and of course no bad ones (!), you should definitely try typical Czech cuisine. 

1.) Kogo Slovansky dum (picture above)

My absolute favouirite place to have a business lunch or fancy dinner! Cool italian restaurant with probably one of the best fish dishes in Prague. The Pizzas and Pastas are great as well. Vitello Tonnato should not be missed, as one Dolci for a great end of the evening. The location is great as well, next to the Municipal House and the Powder Tower, perfectly situated in a green oasis.

Starters from 5-15 euros, main courses from 13-23 Euros. 

http://www.kogo.cz/en/kogo-slovansky-dum/kogo-slovansky-dum/

2.) Cestr Steak Restaurant (picture above and below)

Top-Secret Hot-Spot far away off the beaten tourist track, but still not too far for Prague's Food Lovers, or those enjoying a great evening with friends. Great steaks from Czech cattle, you can choose from which part you want your steak and of course how long it should be grilled on charcoal. The beer is served in nice cans and the menu consists of a personal envelope which can be taken home. The dessert was great as well. There is also a terrace with a more cool atmosphere. 

The best steak (Tenderloin) and therefore the most expensive course -  is around 23 Euros. 

http://cestr.ambi.cz/en/

The best steak in town - altough it is from Czech Republic!

3.) Marina Grosseto Ristorante (picture above and below)

Not on my favourite's list, but still a great venue for a nice dinner, especially for those not having enough time in Prague to see everything. The view to the castle and the Charles Bridge comes up to nearly everything - that's also the reason why I come again to this restaurant. The service is not everywhere the same - some servers are great and some are definitely not! Food is good and pizza is also above average. Although the location is exceptional, the prices are average - not too high for the quality offered. 

Starters from 6 euros, pizza/pasta from 6 euros and main courses are starting at 14 Euros.

Following you can find some dishes we had during our evening.

http://www.grosseto.cz/en/marina

Restaurant-Check Innsbruck - Part 1

It is not very hard to find a restaurant with a varied lunch menu, but restaurants with a good value are very difficult to find. Here are some of my favourite spots in the capital of the Austrian Alps:

1.) Die Pizzerei

My absolute favouirite place to have lunch or dinner! New restaurant with small lunch menu and huge choice of all kinds of Pizza for lunch and dinner. Although the restaurant isn't on the small side, getting a table on-site is nearly impossible. Make sure to reserve a table in advance when you are going to Innsbruck! Open for lunch from 11.30-14.00 and for dinner from 17.30-1.00. Closed on Sundays. http://www.diepizzerei.at

2.) Café Sacher

My favourite spot for All-day dining! A top notch Cafe with exclusive dishes and a Michelin Starred Restaurant open for dinner only. This is one of four Café Sacher in Austria while the main property with the Hotel Sacher is located in Vienna. If you do want to dine in tradition, then treat yourself with a piece of an original "Sachertorte" for 4,70 € (!!). My favourite dessert: the "Sacher Würfel" for 2 € only. This is the perfect spot to have a late lunch, in case you missed lunchtime in Innsbruck! Open daily from 8.30 am till midnight. Café Sacher Innsbruck

3.) Das Schindler Restaurant

Dazzling restaurant with a weekly changing lunch menu. Prices are average for lunch, while they increase bout 30 percent for dinner. The location is perfect for all shoppers, as it can be found next to the main entrance of the "Kaufhaus Tyrol". This is also my favourite spot for a lavish à la carte breakfast whenever I am in Innsbruck at the morning! Open for breakfast: 8.00-11.30 am, lunch 11.30-14.00 and dinner from 18.00-22.00. Closed on Sunday and bank holidays.

 Das Schindler 

Travel Diary - Part 2: Get your Bargain in Veneto

After shopping at the Factory Outlet of Aeronautia Militare, we were hungry and went to a local bar.

We had excellent pasta and fabolous buffola mozzerella from Campania! The prosecco was as good as the delicious desserts! We paid about 7 Euros for one dish and 2,20€ for an excellent glass of prosecco!

Afterwards we were on the way to the next factory outlet of another renowned fashion brand!

Before we arrived in the town Trebaseleghe, we passed by Bassano del Grappa with its pretty city center!

Pictures of the following factory outlet are less impressive than reality. This is a real hidden gem under the outlets with savings of up to 50%:

Can you guess the brand? Well, as I can keep a secret, you'll have to be patient!

Now we're on the way to our exciting accommodation in Vicenza! The sun goes down and the sky over the Veneto and the city of Padova (picture) turns orange! Simply stunning!

Have a nice evening!