Monday, March 17, 2014

Summer is coming


How was your last summer? Mine was wonderful and unforgettable.

As you can see in my previous blog entries from the last summer, I have made a Road-Trip through the Southest of Italy: Naples, Amalfi, Calabria, Sicily, Basilicata, Apulia and back via the Marches - simply breath-taking. This was a trip of a lifetime for me!

The upcoming summer I will go to Southern France, more precisely to the Provence and to Côte d'Azur of course. A to-do-list is already planned but we will see afterwards if my schedule keeps what it promises.

Today I wanted to let you know that I updated the list of the Hotels & Resorts where I stayed and you can now see more hotel reviews on this blog by clicking here. I have added some interesting and luxurious hotels and places, which might be of interest to you.

In addition I have also published a new website of my company with lots of luxury hotels and destinations. I would be delighted to receive your enquiry soon!



Best regards and a wonderful week!




Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Restaurant Check - Innsbruck - Part VI

Dining at the "Sitzwohl"


Presented as Innsbrucks finest restaurant with the 15 points by Austrian based restaurant guide "Gault Millau", the Sitzwohl is the first address to have an elegant dinner or to celebrate a special occasion.



In fact it was my birthday and my friends and me had decided to choose this restaurant for this occasion. First we had a very special apertif, a Prosecco with a Sorbet of basil and Ginger Ale - tasty and refreshing, and of course very green! One of the girlies chose the foamy soup of rocket salad with an italian tramezzini on site. Our main courses were pork with mashed sweet potatoes (unfortunately not my taste) and an inovative "Sitzwohl" burger with duck breast instead of simple beef and french fries as well as Ananas-Ketchup.


Last but not least we had Panna Cotta with a rasberry macaron on top of it. It was nice, too but not more than that. We paid 24 euros for the pork and 23 for the "Sitzwohl" burger, which is on the expensive site for Tyrolean standards. The wines were adequate at rates from 25 up to 75 euros per bottle.

In total it was a funny evening, in an elegant and sophisticated atmosphere. The service was very kind and attentive, the food tasty but not better than our dinner at Lichtblick Restaurant on top of the Town Hall.


Friday, March 7, 2014

Skiing in the real Swiss Alps




Staying at The Chedi Andermatt

The best inspiration always comes when you are really relaxed! So am I at the stunning 35-meter indoor pool at The Chedi Spa in the exciting and world-famous Chedi Andermatt (according to the several international press releases).


Did you ever heard of Andermatt?

The hotel itself could not be anyhow more luxurious and more decadent, 2400 square meters large and Asian influenced Spa, 35 meter indoor pool, 7 meter high ceilings in the lobby, wine and cigar library, 200 gas cheminees, a Japanese Restaurant, a main Restaurant where a two-michelin starred chef is working, enormous rooms and even larger suites, as well as ski butlers, just to mention some details of this fascinating property. 


As The Chedi recently opened, in late December 2013 to be more exactely, there are some problems occuring. The worst problem for me was the Front Desk staff, which was not really able to work as perfect as the restaurant or the spa team. I ordered a newspaper to be delivered to the room every day and did receive it upon complaining after the third night! Furthermore there was a hole in the bed sheet on the sofa bed at the fourth evening. Again, after complaining at the front desk, the wrong sheet (a sheet and a duvet for a 2x2 meter bed) was delivered. This happened to me again when I called the front desk to clean the minibar as there was water running outside it, but nobody ever arrived to clean it. 


There is a lot to do at the Chedi Andermatt to be perfect, but if they unwind all these circumstances, this hotel might be sometime the best in Southern Switzerland. 


I would also like to mention that there are also good points when staying at the Chedi, like the excellent culinary experience at the Japanese Restaurant as well as at the Restaurant, managed by chef Mansour Memerian where there are 4 show kitchens. Furthermore Joel, the Assistant Restaurant Manager did everything that my birthday is unforgettable, so did the kind Concierge Riccardo! I got a very nice birthday cake and some very nice and personal presents from the staff members of the Chedi!


Did I already mention that the Spa is world-class? I had an excellent 60 minutes treatment (by Sandra) in one of their wonderful and maybe most spacious treatment rooms I have ever been! For all those to who the indoor pool appeals too cold, 27 degrees celsius, there are three different Hydrotherapy pools at the lower floor of the spa, at 32c, 36c and 42c. 


Our suite, a Deluxe Suite, is simply cool, luxurious, enormous and fully sound proofed. I love the surround sound system by Bose, you can feel every beat of the music. The beds are like heaven, if no hole in the sheet, and the bathroom is definitely my style: walk in shower, electronic toilet, double vanities, free standing bath tub in front of a stunning stone wall, and finally Acqua di Parma toiletries! 


There is one more thing I learned while staying for 5 nights at this picturesque property:
The more you appreciate the staff members and the more you socialize with them, the friendlier and more personal they are! They will keep you in mind as a nice and convenient guest, which is always welcome! Extra amenities or special requests are never impossible for these sort of guests!






Sunday, March 2, 2014

New 5-Star Hotel in Tyrol sheduled to open in Mösern!


After a decade, a new 5-star hotel in the Tyrol is finally sceduled to open soon. 

As the fourth hotel in the surrounding of Seefeld in Tyrol, the new "For Friends" - a simple name as well - is the only one with breath-taking views over the main valley of Tyrol - the "Inntal".


I am really excited about the opening ceremony and about the ongoing operations. We will soon see if they keep the prices as high as they are now entered in the system or if they will fall when the opening date is coming sooner. To be honest, it really looks great on the first pictures and normally I am not wrong with my expecations. 


The lobby and the pool area remembers me of the recently opened InterContinental in Davos, which is as sleek and stylish as the soon to be opened "for Friends" Resort. 

Be sure that I will test this place after it has opened and of course me or one of my colleagues will report immediately, as always!

Have a great weekend,

Daniel


Sunday, February 23, 2014

My trip to Paris - Part 4

A CULINARY TOUR THROUGH PARIS  II

Dinner at Le Chateaubriand, Paris

"The World's 50 Best Restaurants" by San Pellegrino & Acqua Panna:
No. 18
LAST YEAR'S POSITION 15
YEARS ON THE LIST 5
Le Chateaubriand may be a forerunner of the Parisian neo-bistrot movement, but it’s also traditional, buzzy, egalitarian and brilliant. The daily-changing menu features ingredients chef Inaki Aizpitarte and his young passionate kitchen team have managed to get their hands on that day and springs surprises, with techniques ranging from French to Asian and South American. For unconventional, unpretentious fare, it’s hard to beat.















Friday, February 21, 2014

My Trip to Paris - Part 3




After leaving the Fouquet's Barierre we had the pleasure to check in at a very special hotel, the Le Meurice on Rue Rivoli in front of the Tuileries Gardens.

Due to the ongoing renovations at the three Top Hotels in Paris (Ritz, Plaza Athenee and the Crillon), the Le Meurice is the first address to stay in the 1iere arrondisement of Paris! 



From the moment we arrived to our departure we were treated Iike Kings and Queens. The interior is completely how you are treated - like a real French Palace, with lots of attention to the details and modern touches, designed by Philippe Starck. 


Before you enter your room you have to walk through the elegant and good smelling hallways, which reminded me of those in the Titanic movie. Our Junior Suite was very spacious with an open living- and bedroom, as well as an oversized bathroom. I really appreciated the small Penhaligon's toiletries, the vast rain shower and the separate and deep bath tub. The doors in the shower and toilet did not fully close which occurred a small flooding next to the shower. Furthermore there were only two large towels. When we tried to turn on the light at 2 am, we had to look for the master buttom at the entrance to turn on the light again as the light switch beside the bed did not work. 


We would have enjoyed free wifi access, which is actually 24€ for 24 hours. We did not use it, as we could live without internet for a night! If you would stay there for a week or a few days, even wi-fi can get more expensive than a night at other Paris hotels.



Let's continue with the breakfast! Yes, in fact it is names as "Paris best breakfast", also because it's served in the award-winning and 99th Best Restaurant of the World (according to San Pellegrino 50 Best Restaurants Worldwide) - Alain Ducasse at Le Meurice! 
With a proud price of 58,00€/per person it is very expensive - even for Paris standards, and to be honest we did miss some things, like fresh strawberries, ham and cheese plate, salmon, a choice of sweets (cakes, pastries, etc.), as well as a glass of champagne or any other sparkling wine. All in all the service was excellent, the atmosphere upscale and the idea of an a la carte service takes away all stress in the early hours.


The concierge was very helpful and kind concerning all our requests before and during our stay. So did the reception staff and we would like to thank Tatiana for the welcoming tour to our room!0

I would like to thank the Le Meurice for the generous invitation to stay at this glamorous Parisian Hotel.







Tuesday, February 18, 2014

My Trip to Paris - Part 2

A CULINARY TOUR THROUGH PARIS

Lunch at Café de Flore in Saint Germain des Prés 

Lunch at Café de Flore in Saint Germain des Prés

Sometimes it's the best to stroll in a typical "Boulangerie"
Their Eclair was far better than the one at Ladurée! :-)

Of course, Galeries Lafayette - and they still had Winter Sale!

How can you leave Paris without even walking along the
Champs-Élysées at night?
The Tenderloin Steak at Jean George Vongerichten's Market Restaurant

An excellent Burger at Jean George Vongerichten's Market Restaurant

A Quartett of Crème Brûlée (!!)  at Vongerichten's Market Restaurant :-))

A very cool and fashionable atmosphere at the Market Restaurant

Walk-in kitchen at Vongerichten's Market Restaurant