Buenos Aires, Argentina:
Park Hyatt Buenos Aires
Palacio
Duhau
Avenida
Alvear 1661
T: 54 11
5171 1234
E:
buenosaires@hyattintl.com
The
newly renovated Beaux Arts style Duhau Palace has become a Park Hyatt of
outstanding quality. Located in one of the city’s most fashionable shopping
areas, it is a haven for glamorous Portenos and international visitors alike.
Fortunately for a hotel in such a densely populated urban centre, its garden is
very private and serene, perfect for a tea break after a day of shopping in the
exclusive boutiques within easy walking distance.
All of
the rooms are equipped with the latest gadgetry whilst retaining an allure of
sophisticated luxury. Bathrooms are spacious, kitted out with copious amounts
of marble, huge showers for two, enormous bathtubs, double basins, top-drawer
toiletries, thick dressing gowns and towels. Beds are king-sized and come with
a ‘pillow menu’. Thankfully the rooms are peacefully quiet, a necessity in this
most noisy of South American metropolises.
The
formal restaurant is an absolute must for any serious diner with exquisite food
and service, friendly yet professional. The adjoining wine bar and cheese room
is a wonderful introduction to the amazing array of Argentine produce
available. Do not miss the freshly shucked Patagonian oysters if they’re in
season! And do not miss out on its Argentine wine selection either—marvelous
Malbecs.
Unusually
for Buenos Aires’ restaurants, the Duhau fine diner also offers a non-smoking section.
Easy breathing is to be found at last in this hold out town for smoking
gaspers.
The
hotel also hosts a revolving modern Argentine arts exhibition. The basement
arcade that connects the older wing with the newer one is simply an extended
art gallery that displays a fascinating collection.
Credit
must be paid to the extremely attentive staff. Nothing is too much trouble. In
this often troubled megalopolis, the Park Hyatt Palacio Duhau is a pure
hassle-free zone.
Obviously,
very highly recommend.
Soho All Suites Hotel
Calle
Honduras 4762
Palermo
Soho, Buenos Aires
Last
minute deals through: expedia.com
Trendy
Palermo Soho is one of cool B.A.’s most desirable neighbourhoods. This
contemporary boutique hotel sits comfortably in prime territory. Apart from
location, location and location, the mostly white, sharply designed
too-cool-for-school looking suites also sport workable kitchens. If you’re
tired of checking out the innumerable cafes and restaurants that proliferate in
this part of town, the option of dining in the room and watching a film is
eminently feasible.
Most of
the suites are quite spacious. The two-bedroom configurations are the size of
most large city flats and comprise two bathrooms, a generously proportioned
sitting room, balconies and an entry hallway. Furnishings are plain but
comfortable. Decoration is minimal and though the bathrooms are okay they
aren’t luxurious.
The
ground floor café serves good coffee and snacks. A simple continental breakfast
is included. Local newspapers are provided too.
The
service personnel are friendly and mostly competent. Dining recommendations
proved to be reliable. Every effort is made to please.
For such
a convenient location the Soho All Suites offers very good value for money if a
longer stay in Buenos Aires is required.
Highly
recommended.
Pinhao, Portugal
Douro
River Valley:
Casa do Visconde de Chanceleiros
5085
Pinhao, Portugal
T: 00
351 254 730 190
E:
casavisconde@chanceleiros.com
www.chanceleiros.com
Imagine
sitting in a beautiful garden on a flagstone patio overlooking the deep,
intricately vineyard-terraced Douro Valley in the heart of the famed Port wine
district. The view is endlessly intriguing. Heat shimmers off the glassy Douro
hundreds of metres below. Tinkling bells ring from goats and donkeys lazily
grazing from the heights above. Vineyards stretch as far as the eyes can see.
Take a
refreshing dip in the huge pool. Open a bottle of chilled white wine from the
honour bar and sip it while the world seems to come to full-stop.
Ursula
and Kurt Peter Bocking operate their manor house with German efficiency
charmingly moderated with Lusitanian flavour. The food is pure Portuguese but
with added finesse. The wines are local and freely poured with lunch and
dinner. Local dining options are limited. Luckily the food at Chanceleiros was
so good that I didn’t miss driving the rather serpentine roads after another
bibulous Portuguese repast many kilometers away. You pay for the isolation
here; it’s worth savouring it. The four-course dinners and three-course lunches
were expertly prepared, served and enjoyed.
The
rooms are all individually appointed. Antiques and whimsical objets d’art are
scattered about but always of the finest taste. The beds are huge, the chaises
longues inviting, the reading material enticing, the bathrooms gratefully fully
functional in this country of narrow plumbing options, the verandahs off each
room a secluded shady nesting spot. The overall feeling is one of privacy and
space.
If you
can be bothered to rise up off the poolside lounge, there are: a tennis court,
a squash court, a boules pitch and mountain bikes for guest’s use.
Of
course the port Quintas are within easy striking distance, some just a few
minutes walk away. Ursula will gladly call ahead to advise them of your
arrival. Tastings are normally offered by prior arrangement only.
Very
highly recommended.
Christchurch, New Zealand:
Hotel Off The Square
115
Worcester Street
PO Box
13196
Christchurch,
New Zealand
T: 64 3
374 9980
E:
enquiries@offthesquare.com
If boxy
hotel room fatigue has set in, try this groovy refurbished boutique hotel in
the centre of normally sedate Christchurch. Everything of import is literally
within a ten minute’s walk of the hotel’s front door. The Avon River’s cafes
and restaurants are very close. The Cathedral Square is just outside the front
door. The pedestrian shopping streets are all steps away.
When
this trendy hotel was converted from a tram warehouse a couple of years ago,
Christchurch accommodation options were immediately upgraded.
No two
rooms are alike. Angled corners open to windows that look out to the Cathedral
or the glass roof covered tram depot and its fashionable shops and cafes.
Form
follows function here. Everything works and has a purpose. Nothing is too flash
or over-the-top. It’s commonsense utilitarian but strangely calm. A stark
flower arrangement looks exactly right. A bowl of green apples captures
attention when viewed from a certain place on the stairs leading to the rooms
on the three floors above.
The concierge
knows precisely where to suggest for dinner on a quiet Monday night.
The café
next door does great coffee and breakfast. Everyone smiles and says hello. If
Christchurch’s home away from home is off the square, this is it.
Highly
recommended.
Tasmania, Australia:
Pepper’s Calstock House
Highland
Lakes Road
Deloraine,
Tasmania 7304
T: 61 3
6362 2642
E:
calstock@peppers.com.au
Hosted
accommodation is occasionally a dice with the diabolically dire. Some hosts
never know when or how to make themselves scarce or they are just too scarce
when needed. Calstock House sets the standard for perfection in hosted
accommodation. Its many awards garnered over the years have been fairly given.
This is
more than a historically significant homestead set in heritage gardens. It is
also a gourmet’s destination of serious merit. I’ve never had such superb
breakfasts as I’ve eaten at Calstock House. Dinners are equally sublime. Choose
wines from the oenophile’s wine list from the gods or bring your own from a
nearby winery. The latter option is politely accepted.
Rarely
is country accommodation as fine as this anywhere in the world.
The
rooms are huge and lovingly decorated with antiques. The bathrooms are of
course no longer 19th century. Instead they are modern yet in
keeping with the elegant feel of gracious living enjoyed by the former
aristocratic owners. High ceilings, large windows that open on to the
wrap-around balcony and the gorgeous views to the countryside, wide corridors
and expansive common living areas all combine to engender a sense of space.
There are no close confines. No unwelcome host will pop in just to have a chat
or pass the time of day. Of course that may be arranged if it’s desired. Help
is always at hand but proffered with ultimate courtesy and a complete lack of
condescension.
At
Calstock House time may indeed stand still. Enjoy each and every moment of it.
Very
highly recommended.