Tag Archives: hotel

RAAS Jodhpur

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There is something instantly alluring about Jodhpur. Known as ‘the blue city’ because of the numerous azure painted houses, it is a colourful maze of cobbled alleys and stall-lined streets. In this city I can’t imagine staying anywhere other than RAAS Jodhpur, a beautifully authentic, historic property at the foot of the famous Mehrangarh Fort. Here, within the walls of the old city, you will be immersed in the real Rajasthan, woken in the morning by the call to prayer and relaxing after lunch in the shadows of the city’s sites.


RAAS is Jodhpur’s first boutique hotel, opening in 2009 after three years of intensive renovating and building work. The property once belonged to a local noble family before it was taken over by the hotel group. The RAAS owners have kept the four old buildings intact and built three new modern structures which complement the style of the original design. Red sand stone unites the old and new, and adds a comforting warmth to the place. Almost all the rooms offer views of the magnificent Fort, which is equally impressive come day or night.


There are 39 rooms across 4 categories. We were very at home in room 134, a duplex suite with beautiful balcony views. Downstairs, the bedroom and living space was divinely luxurious, decorated in simple pale hues with vintage furniture and minimalist detailing. The marble white bathroom was fresh and indulgent, equipped with a walk-in rain shower and KAMA Ayurvedic toiletries from south India. Upstairs a more decorative living area and decadent bathtub was the perfect place to unwind with a book. Though I loved our room, for a particularly atmospheric stay I would recommend booking one of the heritage suites housed within the original buildings.

I was disappointed to not find many exciting eateries in the city of Jodhpur, so though I wouldn’t usually recommend staying inside the hotel for mealtimes, in this city RAAS’ fine food selection is definitely the best you will find. Enjoy rich and indulgent Indian cuisine or opt for International fare in the hotel’s only restaurant. The company have recently acquired the next door 800 year old step well, a truly magnificent heritage site which took months to clean. Enjoy the daunting views from above whilst devoured an assortment of Indian delicacies in the new Stepwell cafe. I was in great admiration of the chef’s fresh and vibrant creations, from addictively tasty Sev Puri (a Mumbai snack) to Aromatic Aloo Gobi Adraki (cauliflower and potato curry).

After lying by the stunning pool for the afternoon I took the opportunity to try the idyllic Ila spa, the first location for the beauty brand in India. Housed in the sacred historic building the spa feels instantly calm and reflective. The signature RAAS treatment is a brilliant massage which uses different techniques to sooth and rejuvenate the body. My therapist, Sonam, had magical healing hands and used hot stones and Argon oil to release uncomfortable knots and relieve tired muscles. After a day exploring the dusty town of Jodhpur there is nothing more refreshing than a trip to this heavenly spa.

The approachable staff are happy to help organise day trips or tour guides to help you get the most out of this unique destination. Before you leave the hotel don’t forget to take a ride in their very own sky-blue tuk tuk. A knowledgeable guide will take you on a whirlwind 45-minute tour of the city, which is complimentary with your stay.

This romantic hideaway offers a retreat within the chaotic but captivating city of Jodhpur. RAAS celebrate the local heritage of the place whilst offering a luxurious place to escape from it all. With the recent takeover of Devi Garh in Udaipur and plans to open a winter property in the Himalayas, it seems to be just the beginning for the RAAS brand.

More information and book a stay at RAAS Jodhpur here.

The Nam Hai, Hoi An

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Of all the destinations I visited in Vietnam, Hoi An was without doubt the most charming and memorable. This Unesco World Heritage city offers many beautiful historic sites and is home to the country’s famous tailoring industry. Wandering down the glowing lantern-filled streets is enchanting, like a trip back in time.

I recommend avoiding the touristy accommodation in the centre and heading instead to the paradisical Nam Hai, a modern luxurious retreat with a private stretch of beach. Despite the close proximity to Hoi An (a ten minute drive), the spacious hotel feels blissfully isolated encouraging you to immediately relax.

The all-villa, 35 hectare resort can host up to 300 guests. There are 100 villas in total, 40 of which have their own private pool and personal butler. Many of the other 60 villas offer access to the beach, with beautiful views across the ocean. After admiring the spectacular tiered infinity pools, we were driven by buggy to our villa. Nestling among the foliage was our divine sanctuary. The decor is uniform across all villas; sleek contemporary design with cool calming colours. The central elevated area of our bedroom had elegant light drapes surrounding it which were drawn at night to give the room a cosy feel. The regal bed was topped with a voluptuous duvet and bouncy pillows for maximum comfort and decadence. Behind the bed a huge stone bath was wonderful for evening soaks. The room also included a writing desk and lounge area complete with authentic Vietnamese ornaments and artwork.

Breakfast was my favourite meal of the day at The Nam Hai. Every morning there is an endless array of Eastern and Western favourites, with an open kitchen for hot a la carte dishes, champagne on ice and a variety of tropical fruits and juices. Needless to say I saw it as my duty to sample the full menu, enjoying long lazy brunches every day, which embarrassingly began to feel like the norm. Highlights included the fluffy pancakes with berry compote, and the deliciously creamy omelettes. Coffee was rich and flavoursome and the freshly squeezed orange juice was amazingly sweet.

The signature restaurant serves fusion cuisine with a strong Indian influence and the more casual beach restaurant offers light lunches in the daytime and Vietnamese classics accompanied by traditional music in the evenings. After ten days of Vietnamese food it was strange to be eating Indian inspired dishes at The Nam Hai. Considering the warm climate, I found the curries heavy and opted instead for one of the international dishes. Pressed terrine of vine ripened tomatoes with whipped mozzarella, basil oil and leaves from the hotel’s organic garden was a stylish and unique take on a classic salad. The tomatoes were brilliantly sweet and red and the leaves had a vibrant aromatic flavour. The Punjabi lamb kebab with beetroot yoghurt, cucumber was also delicious, a spiced caramelised kebab with a complementing yoghurt dressing.

The Nam Hai spa is one of the hotel’s greatest assets. There are eight treatment pavilions which sit serenely overlooking the lotus flower covered lagoon. It is a fairytale setting which makes the treatments here feel extra special. After a refreshing rose water foot soak I was treated to a Vietnamese massage. The highly trained therapist kneaded my weary muscles using a fragrant pine, lemon, cedarwood and orange oil. While I felt my skin being rejuvenated, I could hear the sounds of nature outside the pavilion. This destination spa is a miraculously beautiful place and should definitely be part of your Nam Hai itinerary.

When you feel the need to work off some of those deceptively calorific Vietnamese spring rolls there are plenty of active options at the resort. Swimming in the glistening turquoise pools is a must, the view they offer is second to none. There is also a small gym, bikes to ride, a tennis court and complementary daily yoga classes.

The hotel staff are on hand to help make any excursions as close to perfect as possible. They provide free shuttle bus transfers to and from Hoi An throughout the day, so guests can visit the culturally rich city as often as they wish. There is also the option of day trips to the Marble Mountains or Hue, a sacred and historic town.

Hoi An is not an easy place to reach from the UK, travellers need to get an international flight to one of the major cities before transferring onto a local flight to Da Nang. Despite this The Nam Hai is a very popular option for English and European jetsetters and after spending a few days here I can see why. This immaculately stylish hotel has faultless facilities and stand-out service, all just moments away from Vietnam’s most captivating city.

More information and book a stay at The Nam Hai here.

The Leela Palace, New Delhi

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Delhi can be a daunting destination for travellers, a chaotic and dusty introduction to India. The Leela Palace New Delhi will alleviate all possible stress, ensuring your time in the capital is luxurious and exotic from the moment you step off the plane. We were picked up by one of the hotel’s smart white BMW’s and whisked away to the palatial property.

The Leela Palace New Delhi opened in April 2011 following the success of the brand’s other venues across India. The hotel is located in the prestigious diplomatic area of town and the magnificent building fits in perfectly amongst its grand surroundings. Though designed to feel and look like a traditional Indian palace, there are unique and thoughtful touches throughout the hotel, all specially commissioned and inspired by local arts.

I was staying in room 615, a standard room that was small but carefully arranged to give the impression of more space. There are 254 guestrooms in total making the hotel popular with business groups, however the wonderful facilities also make it a good choice for leisure guests. Our room was sumptuous and decadent, with a plush king-size bed and a beautiful marble bathroom complete with bath and power shower.


Whilst staying at The Leela Palace we enjoyed a lavish dinner at Jamavar, the hotel’s signature Indian restaurant. The menu includes secret recipes of the Maharaja as well as classic regional Indian dishes. It was a feast for all the senses, beautiful plates of food that smelt and tasted divine. Particularly memorable was the Bharwan tandoori broccoli stuffed with corn, cheese and fresh pomegranate and the gloriously creamy Paneer spring onion masala curry.

I highly recommend trying the Indian fare at Leela Palace but for those who desire something more international there is plenty on offer. The Qube is open for global all-day dining, and is used every morning for the breakfast buffet. Legendary American restaurant Le Cirque has an outpost on the 10th floor of the hotel offering innovative French-Italian cuisine. Or for a fresh and healthy meal guests can enjoy modern Japanese food at Megu restaurant.

I was amazed by the art collection and flower presentations at The Leela Palace. There are 14,000 fresh flowers displayed around the property everyday, which are then recycled, dried and used as natural dye. The hotel are very proud of their Indian art that is displayed around the property, this showcases upcoming artists work as well as creations by famous artists and historic artefacts. I loved the giant sculpture amalgamating three goddesses in the garden, and the fine intricate paintings in the spa.

The Leela Palace has the only Espa spa in Delhi, which is also open to non-guests. Spread over two floors, the sophisticated spa houses eight treatment rooms, an award-winning healthy café, and a relaxation room and fitness suite. On the rooftop a spectacular temperature-controlled swimming pool overlooks the city and offers a blissful haven for sunbathing and swimming.

I was sad to only be spending one day at the lovely Leela Palace New Delhi, but even in this short period of time I got a taste of the hotel’s refined Indian offering.

More information and book a room at Leela Palace New Delhi here.