Category Archives: Adventures

11 Great Hotels and Resorts You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

March 18, 2013Hotel Reviews, Land Adventures, Travel Journal/BlogBusiness Jet Traveler, Chateau de la Barre, Fearrington House Inn and Restaurant, Little Palm Resort and Spa, Palazzo Niccolini al Duomo, Viceroy Riviera MayaDebi Lander

Business Jet Traveler » February 2013

Business Jet Traveler Magazine, February 2013 — Business Jet Traveler Magazine
February 2013

To read the online version of this article as published by Business Jet Traveler please use this link: http://www.bjtonline.com/business-jet-news/11-great-hotels-and-resorts-you%E2%80%99ve-probably-never-heard-of.

Highlights

The February 2013 print magazine article begins:

We asked three of our favorite travel writers to describe the finest little-known hotels and resorts they’ve discovered. Some are off the beaten path or new or do not advertise. Others are just plain obscure. All are certified great by our panel of globetrotters. Happy traveling.

I was lucky enough to be one of those three travel writers!

The five hotel reviews I wrote are as follows:

Château de la Barre

Loire Valley, France

www.chateaudelabarre.com

A two-hour detour from Paris lands you in the Loire Valley, the site chosen by French kings and nobles for their châteaux. Most visitors tour the grand estates in day trips due to the scarcity of overnight lodging. However, you can sleep in a chateau instead of simply touring them.

Legendary Château de la Barre–which has been home to the Comte and Comtesse de Vanssay’s family since 1404–offers accommodations and fine dining. Each of five bedrooms in the manor house contains 18th century antiques, surrounded by bright and bold designer fabrics and wallpaper. En suite bathrooms are sleek and modern. Surprisingly, pets are allowed.

Hosts Guy and Marnie de Vanssay (Marnie is American) offer helpful, often intriguing suggestions for outings: a Renaissance lunch in Leonardo da Vinci’s home (June through September), driving a dream car around the famous nearby Le Mans racetrack, hot-air-balloon rides that depart directly from the château mornings and evenings. Other possibilities include bicycling, golfing at numerous courses, tennis and horseback riding.

Twice a week, the owners host a Grand Siècle Dinner in the 17th century dining room with family silver and crystal. On other nights, the evening meal is served in the billiard room. Daily afternoon tea is poured in the Salon Rose. Ask about gourmet picnics and wine tastings.
The château is near the tiny village of Conflans-sur-Anille in the Pays de la Loire region. The nearest airport is Tours, a one-hour drive. –Debi Lander

Little Palm Resort and Spa

Little Torch Key, Fla.

www.littlepalmisland.com

Little Palm Resort and Spa, Little Torch Key, FL

If you’re dreaming of Gauguin’s tropical paradise but lack time to visit Tahiti, Florida’s Little Palm Island Resort and Spa will fulfill your needs. Fly to Key West or Marathon Key and the resort staff will escort you via a 1930s-style wooden launch over to Little Torch Key. The five-acre private island is a rarely advertised secret and can be reached only by boat or seaplane.

Switch your shoes for flip-flops and relax in one of the 28 thatched-hut guest accommodations, each surrounded by lush greenery. They include secluded outdoor showers and full indoor baths, some with redwood tubs.
No children, no pets. Guests are asked to use their cell phones only in their bungalows, although the library maintains Internet and phone access.

The “Floribbean” three-meal plan offers the freshest of the fresh as the chef changes the menu selections daily. Sunsets are a big deal in the Keys, and Little Palm is home to an upscale Margaritaville-style cocktail hour. The resort caters to those celebrating special occasions and will artfully arrange candlelight dinners on a private beach.

Prior to 1988, the island thrived as a tiny fishing camp that President Harry Truman and other dignitaries visited. Today, Little Palm serves as a sanctuary where you can simply relax and do nothing. Snooze in one of the rope hammocks at the edge of the tranquil Gulf or on one of the chaise lounges scattered over the property. Feeling more active? Try kayaking, windsurfing or swimming in the freshwater pool.
Off-island options include diving Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, the only living coral reef in North America; deep-sea fishing; and pole fishing from the docks. –Debi Lander

Fearrington House Inn and Restaurant

Pittsboro, N.C.

www.fearrington.com/house

Chapel Hill, N.C., which has been called the “Southern part of heaven,” is well known for its mountaintop golf courses, tree-lined streets, acclaimed university and Tarheel’s basketball. Perhaps less well known but just as noteworthy is the nearby Fearrington House Inn and Restaurant.

Located in the village of Fearrington–10 minutes from Chapel Hill and 30 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport–the English-inspired 32-room lodge boasts impressive credentials. Both the restaurant and inn have earned the coveted AAA Five-Diamond rating. Moreover, Forbes Travel Guide recently ranked Fearrington No. 1 on its list of the top 10 luxury hotels in the U.S. for weddings, while Conde Nast Traveler named it the No. 2 best small hotel in the South and Departures called it a “World’s Best Foodie Destination.”

One visit should be sufficient to explain all the accolades. The charming antiques-furnished property offers a splendid country atmosphere, exquisite gardens, a spa, world-class dining and proximity to 12 golf courses and one of the South’s best-known independent bookstores.
Consult the Fearrington House calendar for wine dinners and cooking lessons taught by executive chef Colin Bedford. Come hungry to fully appreciate his seasonal tasting menu, which is served in the restored mansion house. A noted wine sommelier will assist you with a choice from the 800-bottle list. Overnight guests are treated to handmade truffles at turndown and full gourmet breakfasts. Afternoons at Fearrington always feature a proper tea. –Debi Lander

Palazzo Niccolini al Duomo

Florence, Italy

www.Niccolinidomepalace.com

Why not stay above Donatello’s workshop when visiting the art treasures of Florence? Discover lodging so close to the Duomo, Brunelleschi’s famous cathedral dome, that special permission is necessary to drive into the restricted historic district. Palazzo Niccolini al Duomo is a 16th century palace that has been renovated into an exquisite small hotel known mainly through word-of-mouth testimonials.

Leaving the courtyard, take a tiny lift to the second-floor reception area to enter what looks like an elegant patrician home. Then slip into the warm, luxurious drawing room, which bursts with brilliant fresco, carved wooden ceilings, tromp l’oeil paintings and comfortably arranged sofas. Book a private wine tasting of Tuscan reds in the lobby.

Palazzo Niccolini has just two large suites, one junior suite and five double bedrooms. The oversized, airy rooms feature king-size canopied beds among antique and reproduction furniture, oriental rugs and original art. The ceilings are so high, you’d have to erect scaffolding to repaint them.

Florence is a walking city and this hotel sits within easy distance of all the famous museums, churches, palazzos and shops. Spend your days strolling the Ponte Vecchio, gazing at Michelangelo’s David and Italian art, then return to rest your feet.
The Dome Suite on the top floor presents an extraordinary view of the Duomo, likely the best in the entire city. Overnight stays include a bountiful continental breakfast and aperitifs. –Debi Lander

Viceroy Riviera Maya

Near Playa del Carmen, Mexico

www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/rivieramaya

Riviera Maya developed some of the world’s most lavish all-inclusive resorts–gorgeous facilities that cater to upscale conventioneers. But move beyond those huge properties and bustling streets of Playa del Carmen to the small village of Playa Xcalacoco. Here, 40 miles south of Cancun International Airport, the Viceroy Riviera Maya showcases 41 palapa-roofed villas with heated private plunge pools and outdoor rain showers. Guests are enveloped within an eco-sensitive jungle-like property and enjoy beachfront or ocean views.

Maya-inspired ceremonies welcome you to the residential compound. The staff is known for prompt service and extras such as presenting iced face towels at the pool. Dine at the first-rate La Marea or the Coral Grill by the beach. Request Mayordomo (butler) service for breakfast or whenever you desire it.

The Viceroy includes seven miles of white sand beach, cabanas and daybeds by the water. The site is perfect for honeymooners, who should request a jungle villa for ultimate privacy or private romantic dining.
On-site activities include ceviche and tequila tasting, mixology and cooking classes and yoga. Those wanting to detox can experience the Temazcal steam cave treatment or other Maya-inspired spa ritual. Nearby you’ll find cenote and reef diving and snorkeling, golf, sailing and windsurfing. Plan to visit the Yucatan’s archeological ruins at Tulum, Coba, where you can still climb the ancient 140-foot pyramid, and World Heritage Chichen Itza. –Debi Lander

Osthoff’s Aspira Spa Ranks High

February 27, 2013Hotel Reviews, Land Adventures, Travel Journal/BlogAspira Spa, award winning spa, Conde Nast Traveler, Elkhart Lake, Osthoff Resort, WisconsinDebi Lander

Candles and flickering fire light the Aspira Spa — Candles and flickering fires light the Aspira Spa

I wrote the story below for CityRoomStories.com over a year ago, but wanted to add it to my own website after seeing a 2013 spa report. Conde Nast Traveler magazine ranked the Osthoff Resort as the third best spa in the United States. In fact, Aspira scored in the hundredth percentile for staff knowledge and service. Pretty incredible to have an award winning spa at Elkhard Lake, a tiny town in Wisconsin.

Aspira: On the Banks of Elkhart Lake

Aspira means ‘infused with spirit’ and there’s no better way to describe the holistic, healing spa at the Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. As soon as you walk in, you detect palpable energy while simultaneously sensing calm. The 20,000 square-foot spa was created as a place to take one’s journey – a place to move forward in nature and peace.

Lola Roeh, General Manager of the resort, was the force behind its creation and she is truly one of those special people who radiate enthusiasm, yet display elegance and dignity. She quietly explained, “Aspira was borne on the banks of our lake, considered sacred by the Native Americans who lived here. Shaped like an elk’s heart, the lake bestows its powerful natural energy upon all who encounter it. Our logo, a three-spiral symbol from the ancient Uighur civilization, identifies this as a mind, body and spiritual journey.”

In my travels, I have been fortunate to receive treatments in a number of top ranked spas, but honestly Aspira reigns. The meditation sanctuary, designed with concentric circles and the elements earth, wind, fire and water, anchors the facility and evokes contemplation. Guests are invited to stay in the serene environment, the heart of the spa, as long as they wish.

Walk down the hall and your feet notice a softness that ebbs from the hand scraped wooden planks on the floor. Pass ancient fossils, tribal ornaments, symbolic artwork and trickling fountains before entering rooms that inspire an aura of self- care. I subconsciencously perceived my upcoming massage as an opportunity to heal instead of thinking it self-indulgent.

I began by entering the therapeutic chromatub which contains 260 underwater air jets and colored lights. Sound vibrations filled the air and reverberated through the water. I was soon overcome with a feeling of bliss, soaking away my worries and muscular aches. I also received a deep tissue hydro-massage through a special pressurized hose. Next, I proceeded to a room with an adjustable massage table arranged beside a fireplace of glowing embers. My therapist placed hot deerskin bags filled with water drawn from Elkhard Lake on my chakra points. These remained in place while she gave me a soothing full-body rubdown. This, the signature Sacred Waters treatment, was repeated when I turned over. By the time my therapist was finished, I was profoundly relaxed, just a bowl of mush.

The next morning I returned to Aspira for an Elderberry facial. This special service incorporated macerated wild elderberries that were gathered from the hillsides and woods near the lake. My skin was gently scrubbed, exfoliated, treated with a nourishing mask and then infused with moisturizers. While the aroma-soaked mask penetrated my face and neck, I received hand, foot and scalp massage. Aahh, these services are truly stress reducing.

Aspira professionals offer Reiki healing treatments, myofascial release, energy work, lymphatic treatments, chakra balancing and an array of other massages and facials. They introduced the concept of a SpaSuite: an all-encompassing spa experience with changing rooms, treatments room, showers and relaxation area in one large private suite.

Guests may also receive salon services such as manicures, pedicures, waxing and hair styling. Yoga classes are schedule throughout the day within the confines of the tranquil spa.

Aspira lies almost hidden within the vast Osthoff Resort complex, but it shouldn’t be. The spa is a world-class facility drawing local treatments from the surrounding land and lake, well worth a visit.

The Blue Bar and other activities at Gleneagles, Scotland

February 23, 2013Hotel Reviews, Land Adventures, Travel Journal/BlogBlue Bar, falconry, fine dining, Gleneagles, golf, gun dog, Johnnie Walker Blue Label, resorts, Scotland, spa, whiskey, whiskyDebi Lander

Gleneagles Golf Resort and Spa ~ A Hotel Review

Four major fault lines run across Scotland; a geographical condition that created a country with contrasting landscapes. You’ll discover rugged coastline, Highland mountains, lowland valleys, numerous lochs and rivers and 787 islands. Along with dramatic scenery , legendary history, castles, clans, bagpipes and brouges make a worthy and memorable destination.

On a recent visit, I passed through peaceful rolling hills as I approached the famous golf resort of Gleneagles. The renown estate, home of three championship links courses, the 2005 G-8 Summit, and vacation getaway, enveloped me in warmth and wealth. Every detail from spit polished brass railings to my room’s electric tea kettle and selection of shortbread spelled top of the line quality and five-star bend over backwards service.

My group arrived at the main entrance: an impressive French chateau looking structure. Stepping inside I found aristocratic touches: marble staircases, hand-carved wood paneling, mica chandeliers and a bevy of uniformed staff. The Gleneagles brochure aptly describes the 1924 hotel as “the palace in the glens which continues to attract those in search of rest, relaxation and exhilaration.”

Gleneagles sprawls over 850 acres, offers 232 guest rooms including 26 luxury suites. Overnight visitors choose between traditional Scottish decor rooms in the main building or more modern ones in the wings. My renovated room had a cozy gas fireplace at the foot of a massive and extremely comfy bed. A very romantic touch except I was alone. The wall of windows and patio allowed full views of the glorious countryside.

Golf is a huge draw, at least according to the Ryder Cup committee who chose Gleneages as their venue for 2014. The grounds comprise the PGA Centenary Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, the King’s Course, the Queen’s Course and the nine-hole PGA National Academy Course, used for instruction.

However, the resort offers a long list of recreational activities for non-golfers. First, there’s the highly acclaimed spa, but I regretfully had no time for treatments. I was surprised by the number of families and grandchildren participating in gun dog classes, falconry, off road driving courses or fishing, riding and hiking. Day trips are easily arranged for wildlife sightseeing, as well as castle tours and visits to whisky distillers.

I chose to attend my first ever gun-dog class learning how dogs are trained for obedience, agility and hunting. The class starred two amusing black labs who had simply performed the drills so many times, they began to anticipate and tease with the commands. I took a turn working with a dog named Debbie. She ran to fetch on command and then sat still. This Debi couldn’t coax Debbie to return until her official handler called her; an act I thought was adorable, but he did not.

Following that class, I investigated the falconry mews. Falconry has long been regarded as the Sport of Kings, and birds of prey were traditionally flown by royals. Gleneageles added their Falconry School in 1992 which offers extraordinary introductory through advanced level programs on the grounds.

Having previously worked with hawks, I was very eager to try the sport again. The feeling of commanding a bird back to your hand is one of sheer delight. Seems the majestic free flying creatures return to please the falconer, but the truth is they fly for the food you present.

The temperature felt rather chilly, especially for a Floridian, and I was ready for a wee dram — as is the Scottish custom. But, my wee dram would not be any ordinary whisky. I was invited to The Blue Bar at the Dormy Clubhouse (and one must be invited to visit). I would sip velvety smooth Johnnie Walker Blue Label whisky on a heated leather sofa around a large circular firepit.

Although not much of a scotch drinker, my first taste of the superior blend was heavenly, no harsh alcohol burn down my throat. I was instructed to take three sips with water on the side. The first was to sample the flavor, the second to smell the peat and feel some heat, and the third to experience the harmony of the whisky’s fresh orange, smoke and spices. I admit I savored the precious elixir and would enjoy it at home if the cost didn’t run approximately $200 a bottle. I will have to settle for one of Johnnie’s less famous but more economical lines like the Green or Gold Label, around $55-$75 per bottle.

The outdoor Blue Bar also includes a cigar menu with brands like Bolivars, Cohibas, Cuabas, H. Upmanns, Montecristos and Partagás, and some pre-embargo Cubans. Those, I could easily skip.

My evening would not include dining at Gleneagles finest: Andrew Fairlie, ranked as Scotland’s only two Michelin star restaurant. Instead I attended an elegant banquet complete with a tartan decorated table. Following cocktails, we feasted on a goat’s cheese panna cotta decorated with apple blossom and pomegranates. Then, a loin of slow cooked lamb, followed by warm chocolate fondant with sour cherries. Quite impressive, I’d say. My visit to Scotland was off to a magnificent start and Gleneagles surely lived up to it’s glamorous reputation.

Visit gleneagles.com.

ByLanderSea Travel Tales

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