Design Hotels

Beijing is the capital of China. In Chinese, it means “capital in the north”. Each and every year, this great city has attracted millions of visitors from all over the world to enjoy and experience its rich culture, history and fabulous scenery.

If you are coming to Beijing, looking for the right hotel with the right budget is not an easy task especially for first-time traveller. Beijing has so many different types of hotels to offer, ranging from low-cost budget hotels to very expensive luxury hotels. The choice of hotels really depends on the traveller.

Generally, I would think that the Beijing International Hotel fits the bill for most travellers. This 4-Star hotel is located at Chanan Street, a very famous and busy business area in Beijing. The hotel is about 28 km from the airport and is near the Forbidden City, also known as the Imperial Palace. Other interesting places of interest near the hotel are the COFCO Plaza, the Herderson Centre and the Bright China Chanan Mansion. This hotel is always the first choice for both business travellers and general travellers because of the location, the quiet environment and the reasonable price.

The hotel building has 916 fully equipped and furnished guest rooms. You will find beautiful ponds and fountains in front of the hotel. The building has a car-park that is big enough to accommodate more than 300 cars.

At the large and spacious outer court, you will find an elegant Four Season Lounge, the Shanghai Pavilion and the Starlight Revolving Restaurant for your dining options. The restaurant offers a variety of food including Japanese and Cantonese food. If you prefer to dine at your room, there is a 24 hours room service available at your command. (more…)

Being an international metropolis and business hub, Hong Kong is no short of uber-swanky hotels, where you can rub shoulders with the world’s rich and famous. But there is more to Hong Kong’s luxury hotels than just glitz and glamour… As a matter of fact, the combination of British colonialism, Chinese traditions and other Asian and international influences has created a hotel-culture that is quite unique to this vibrant city.

This article will take you through the “creme de la creme” of Hong Kong’s hotels, and even if you don’t plan to spend the kind of money it takes to stay in them, having a cup of coffee in some of these luxury hotels is also a worthy experience…

1) The Peninsula
An article about Hong Kong’s luxury hotels has to start with the Peninsula – one of the city’s best-known landmarks.

Alongside the Raffles in Singapore, the Waldorf Astoria in New York and the Savoy in London, the Peninsula is considered as one of the world’s most classic hotels and has long become one of Hong Kong’s most prominent icons.

Founded by members of the Jewish Kadoorie family, this famous hotel opened in 1928, with the idea that it would become “the finest hotel east of the Suez canal”… and indeed, from the moment the Peninsula opened its doors to the first guest, its name has been synonymous with welcoming the rich and the famous to a place of unmatched luxury and service…

The guestrooms are among the most spacious in Hong Kong and are all beautifully decked out, combining classical European elegance with fine Oriental motifs…
Guests have a choice of rooms and suites in either the grand, Original Building or at the more contemporary Peninsula Tower, with commanding views of the harbor and the city.

The restaurants at the Peninsula are among the best in Hong Kong: Gaddi’s is regarded as one of Hong Kong’s finest and most elegant French restaurants, Felix bar-restaurant, on the 28th floor, offers an unforgettable dining experience, accompanied by some stunning harbor views, and the classic Lobby Lounge is serving traditional English-style high tea, reminiscent of Hong Kong’s colonial era.

The hotel is also famous for its fleet of Rolls-Royce cars, which are painted in a distinctive shade of green, known as the “Peninsula green”.

2) Mandarin Oriental
Although the 1950s style cube-shaped building of the Mandarin Oriental might look slightly uninspiring compared to the glitzy and modern skyscrapers around it, this internationally known hotel is a Hong Kong legend.

Located right at the heart of Hong Kong’s business district, the hotel’s interior décor combines European elements with Chinese touches, resulting in a stylish elegance that revives old-days charm…

As expected, the Mandarin Oriental’s amenities are simply superb and include a stat-of-the-art fitness centre, a world class spa and a heated indoor pool at the hotel’s top floor, just to name a few… (more…)

Paris is the luxury empire of the world. No one knows luxury better than the Parisians. For the traveler with a yearning for a taste of luxury, there are plenty of hotels to choose from in Paris. This article will discuss the top five luxury Paris hotels.

The Hotel de Crillon is one of the top luxury hotels in Paris. This hotel consistently receives five stars from ranking committees around the world. One can expect to have crystal chandeliers, extravagant room service, and silk bed sheets in this sort of hotel. The interior of a super luxury suite in this hotel is absolutely stunning. Gold statues and mirrors adorn the room. There is even a spacious breakfast room with a beautiful view of the city of Paris.

Another fabulous luxury hotel in Paris is the Sofitel Paris Arc de Triomphe. The Sofitel is also consistently given a five star ranking by the Five Star Alliance. This is a great luxury hotel for those businessmen that may have meetings arranged in Paris. The ballroom of the Sofitel in Paris is one of the most exquisite ballrooms in Paris and it is the center of many elite social functions. Many rooms in this hotel are equipped with a bar that is simply divine.

Le Royal Monceau is another exquisite hotel that Paris has to offer. Le Royal Monceau is located in Raffles, Paris. This is another hotel known for hosting elite social events in Paris. Many royals attend functions at Le Royal Monceau. Many avante garde artists host artshows at Le Royal Monceau, making it a true beacon of culture in Paris. There is no shortage of interesting art to be seen at Le Royal Monceau.

Hotel Plaza Athenee is another five star luxury hotel that is popular in Paris. The furniture in the private rooms of this hotel is simply stunning. In addition, the exterior of this hotel is also breathtaking. The hotel places fresh flowers every day on the outside of each room. The red flowers give this hotel a unique look that shows just how luxurious this hotel is.

For those that appreciate modern luxury, Le Burgundy Paris is the perfect accommodation. This hotel offers sophisticated living for travelers. Rooms are designed with simple furniture for those that appreciate a minimalist approach to things in life. (more…)