Tag Archives: five star

The Langham Hotel, London

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The Langham is one of London’s most celebrated hotels. It is located on Regent Street, seconds away from fabulous flagship stores and beautiful boutiques.

Grandiose and imposing, the entrance filled me with excitement. I had heard ravishing rumours about this English institution but never visited before. On this calm Sunday night business guests were systematically checking in ready for big meetings the following morning, while leisure guests and tourists checked out, sad to be ending their sojourn. We happily handed over our heavy bags and went straight to the renowned cocktail bar to sample the concoctions.

Inside, the Langham is very civilised – visitors mill around in smart suits and stylish outfits. Our lavishly decorated suite was sumptuous and stunning, I spent at least ten minutes exploring every feature and marvelling at the fine detailing. The muted pink and cream traditional décor is uniform throughout the hotel and is elegant and attractive. Decorative artwork adds flourish and pattern to the walls, whilst the carpet bears an ornate design. The formal desk is business-like though the writing equipment is very floral!

The bathroom was regal and indulgent, marble everywhere polished and glinting in the light. There was a huge bath to soak and a powerful shower for a quick cleanse. I loved the Chuan Spa toiletries which are made specially for the hotel.

Thoughtful touches could be noticed elsewhere in the room too: fruit, macaroons and flowers all for our enjoyment. Everything is pretty and immaculate, but the Langham also ensure service and quality is of the highest quality. The bed was huge and blissfully comfortable and the towels soft enough to cuddle.

Breakfast is served downstairs, white tablecloths and fine cutlery dress the tables, small bunches of pink roses adding colour. Croissants were flaky and buttery and the coffee suitably strong. I was happy to stick to the buffet array though the cooked breakfasts smelt delicious as they wafted past to nearby tables.

Memorable and magnificent… the Langham is traditional but trendy, the management obviously feel it is their duty to provide every guest with the most luxurious stay London has to offer.

More information and book a room at The Langham: london.langhamhotels.co.uk

Royal Mansour, Marrakech

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“Between mountain and sea, before the imperial cities… Marrakech the sublime.” – Jean Pierre Chaumard

I’d like to say this is a home-away-from-home, but this heavenly property far exceeds my home comforts. At Royal Mansour no expense is spared, it is just how I imagine a palace to be. Every detail illustrates that this accommodation has been designed with the utmost elegance and style, luxurious materials are used inside and out… not just for show but with the sincerest belief in quality and beauty.

Located just inside the old city walls and moments away from the Medina Market, hidden behind a great gated entrance, what you find is the opposite of the chaotic dusty city centre. The property covers over eight acres and is enclosed by its own outer wall, making it feel like a private town itself. Royal Mansour comprises fifty-three private residences (Riads), traditional Moroccan houses with interior courtyards, of varying sizes and characters; no two are the same. Ranging from one to three bedrooms (or four for the extra special Riad d’Honneur), they are suitable for couples or families. I was astounded by the size of our one bedroom superior riad, it took some time to explore our temporary home, let alone observe all the details.

Where do I start describing our riad? It was utterly enchanting. From the imposing heavy door, you could never imagine what awaits you inside. First we passed through the open-air courtyard, tiled patterns beneath our feet, a trickling fountain to our right, and a floral, nostalgic scent in the air. Then to the rooms, of which there were too many to count. I’m sad to say we barely used the sitting room which was exquisitely ornate, with velvet galore and beautiful handcrafted furniture. Up the lantern lit stairs (several flights of them!) our lovely bedroom was waiting for us, thankfully not so huge and cosier in feel, and exuding Moroccan grandeur. Royal Mansour won’t deprive you of your modern necessities, but ensure they are discreetly hidden wherever possible.

We adored our ensuite bathroom, which comes complete with walk-in shower and giant marble bath. I was especially impressed with the marocMaroc toiletries, the first refined skin care line from Morocco. It was the first time in a hotel that I have used products this good. Smelling delicious, and ensuring super-soft skin and hair, they felt healthy and luxurious.

Carrying on up another stairway, we reached our final destination, perhaps the most exciting floor of all. Every riad includes a roof terrace with wonderful views of the city, the gardens or the Atlas Mountains, that allows guests to enjoy the sunshine and warmth from the comfort of their own private sanctuary. Each has its own plunge pool, sunbeds and fireplace, and the larger riads also feature outside dining areas and Moroccan tents. This is where most of the guests spend their time.

Despite the size, there is a charming intimacy and natural peace. The service was far beyond my expectations… with an underground network of tunnels, staff are not seen and not heard, but magically attend to your every need. With service doors on each floor of every riad, whatever you desire is delivered to you no matter where you are. Inspecting the tunnels, I could hardly believe how clever and well thought out the organisation is.

After spending a few hours enjoying all our riad had to offer, we ventured out to explore the rest of the property; we barely spied any other guests indicating just how exclusive Royal Mansour is. For further relaxing there is a spa and pool, with numerous treatment possibilities and relaxing facilities. When it comes to food, if you manage to resist the butler room service, there are several bars, lounges and restaurants to choose between. Open all day, La Table serves Mediterranean cuisine in an airy dining room or on a terrace al fresco. For something smarter, Royal Mansour’s two fine-dining restaurants sit together within their own building. There is French or traditional Moroccan to choose between, both supervised by renowned chef Yannick Alleno. The highlight of our dinner at La Grande Table Marocaine was the creative starters, the perfectly crisp pastillas are still a fond memory.

When we finally rose from our comforting bed, we wandered down to have breakfast on the terrace. Overlooking the turquoise outdoor pool, we feasted on Parisian style breakfast, except that it tasted better than any morning meal I’ve had in Paris. The flakiest croissants, accompanied by the sweetest juice, and French toast that both looked and tasted truly incredible.

Though this palatial property is decorated with the most authentic Moroccan design and decor – this is certainly not a traditional hotel. I promise, there is nowhere quite like it on earth.

More information here.

www.royalmansour.com/

La Mamounia, Marrakech

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Everyone has heard of La Mamounia, its long established reputation impresses even the most jaded of journalists.

As the other Easyjet passengers lugged their bags up to passport control we were quietly ushered into a VIP waiting lounge whilst our landing cards and passports were checked for us. Instead of fighting in line, we sat in a blissfully air conditioned room cooling down with traditional Moroccan refreshments. La Mamounia ensures their guests feel well looked after from the moment you walk off the plane… and this preferential treatment was just the beginning.

A short pleasant taxi drive later and we were entering the crumbling walls of Marrakech old town and turning into a prestigious entrance. The first thing I noticed… everything inside the Mamounia territory appears brighter and more vibrant and special… you feel like you are entering a grand museum not a hotel. Men in elegant white outfits welcomed us into a lavish reception hall inundated with staff. They watch your every step as you walk up the central staircase… I felt bad I wasn’t someone more exciting to stare at… the list of celebrities that have graced this hotel with their presence is endless.

This year La Mamounia celebrates its 90 year anniversary and with the property’s recent full renovation, there has never been a better time to visit. Redesigned by the internationally acclaimed Jacques Garcia, this new improved palace has won too many awards to count. Garcia describes it as “reminiscent of a far away time and place, La Mamounia evokes a modern day fairytale.”

After admiring the beautiful grand hall we were taken up to our room by a friendly member of staff. He smiled as we excitedly examined every detail of our spectacular room. The rooms, though similar in style and mood, have their own character… the accommodation is split into four main categories: rooms, suites, signature suites and riads. We were staying in a lovely executive suite overlooking the perfect park of La Mamounia.

Our room was rich and decadent, dressed in fabulously heavy velvety materials with cream walls and deep red furniture. The light streamed in from the large balcony and gave the room a warm glow and yet the thick walls and precious materials are ideal for cooling it in the summer months. Fresh white roses added fragrance and life to the room and an array of wonderful Moroccan pastries and champagne provided the perfect afternoon treat. Traditional craftsmanship can be seen in every detail: the intricately carved plaster, the repetitively patterned tiles and highly decorative handmade metal tables. It is disconcerting when a hotel ignores its country’s heritage, it can disorientate me and waking up in the morning I can suddenly forget I’m even away from London… La Mamounia ensure this doesn’t happen with Moroccan culture and creativity visible in every aspect of the hotel.

Our bed and bathroom were made for relaxing… the very highest quality with every special touch you could desire. Each bathroom includes a stand alone bathtub, marble surfaces, a walk in rain shower, separate toilet and two sinks. It felt like a miniature spa, especially with the custom made Mamounia toiletries.

In the daytime there is plenty to entertain you in this haven. First you must explore the well kept, lush gardens, working up an appetite for the ice-cream and macaroon parlour. For those who crave sunshine, a stint by the Mamounia pool should tan you sufficiently, order a fresh pineapple juice from one of the attentive waiters to stay hydrated in the heat. The giant spa offers every imaginable treatment in a stunning setting, and for those in need, a hairdresser is also on site. The tennis courts are lovely if you can stand the soaring temperatures and professional coaches are on hand to give lessons.

When it is time to eat there are several options to choose from: for fine traditional Moroccan cuisine you must try Le Marocain – delicious pigeon pastillas, chicken with olives, preserved lemon tagine and succulent meat grill. I can also highly recommend the celebratory 90 year anniversary Icone red wine which enhances many of the menu choices. Those guests who are tired of tagine can choose to dine at the equally distinguished L’Italien or Le Francais showcasing the best of Italian and French cooking. After dinner pop into the Winston Churchill bar (as a homage to this famous regular visitor, the room was left in its original wacky style) for a cocktail and a touch of live jazz.

During the day more casual eateries provide lighter dishes and refreshing drinks, though after the buffet breakfast bonanza you shouldn’t need much more sustenance. Everything you could ever desire for your morning meal is here. I couldn’t resist the classic croissants and orange juice, though if I’d been more adventurous I definitely would have opted for a customised homemade omelette or an extravagant pile of waffles.

Those revisiting their favourite Moroccan hotel will never have expected such a spectacular reincarnation… those arriving for the first time will fall in love with the undeniable magic of the Mamounia masterpiece.

More information and book here.

www.mamounia.com/uk

Many thanks to Visit Morocco and Travellink Morocco.