Tuesday 31 May 2011

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15 Sexiest Hotels of the World

  • Tuesday 31 May 2011
  • Nadish Hussain

  • When making travel plans in today’s connected world, there are more decisions to make than ever before. Take a cruise or go on safari? Warm weather or cold? Explore and tour or kick back and chill? Some folks visit a travel agent to look through glossy brochures, but increasingly, more of us are making our choices after combing through the internet and discovering shows like Travelista TV, an online travel series hosted by sexy sisters Andrea and Teri. 

    Once you’ve decided on a budget, a destination, and your mode of travel, it’s time to zero in on where you want to stay. Resorts, hotels and lodges are becoming destinations in and of themselves, offering so much luxury and sexiness that you needn’t leave the property, or in some cases, your room. What makes a hotel sexy? One designer says it’s not being trendy, but timeless.

    When we are surrounded by beauty and excitement, we feel more beautiful and excited as well. We want to indulge and be indulged. So after all the airport scans, pat-downs and delays, you can enjoy the most tempting and tantalizing hotels in the world.

    1. Phulay Bay Ritz-Carlton Reserve – Krabi, Thailand
    The Phulay Bay Ritz is a hedonist’s paradise. Landscaped tropical gardens filled with nooks and crannies and zen-like courtyards lead to your villa’s enormous teak doors, colossal beds, enormous bathing areas with rainforest showers and erotic Thai art. Though Ritz-Carlton’s are known for classic style and high tech gadgets, this property offers a great deal of local character. Take a Thai cuisine cooking class or have your butler arrange a Champagne picnic on one of the little islands that are only a 10-minute speedboat ride away. Then watch a magnificent sunset from the spellbinding setting of the Chom-Tawan Lounge before retiring to your room. 

    2. Landmark Mandarin Oriental – Hong Kong, China If you find the hustle and bustle of a big metropolitan city sexy, you’ll love this hotel. The Oriental Spa at the Landmark is often rated one of Asia’s best. An oasis for couples, its Sanctuary Suite creates a special experience. With a private amethyst crystal steam-shower, vitality tub, dual massage beds and shared futon mattress, it is an indulgence in sensuality. Also on the list of concierge.com’s World’s Best Hotel Bathrooms, for $5,000, the staff will draw a bubbly bath with the house Champagne and surround the tub with flickering candles and 99 roses (you know, because 100 roses would be over-the-top). While bathing, you can enjoy a spread of Beluga caviar, Valrhona chocolate–covered strawberries, and… a bottle of 1959 Dom PĂ©rignon (champagne flute with edible gold leaf optional). A bit over the top for you? Then draw your own bath and sing in the shower, as the bathrooms are wired with an advanced entertainment system, including surround sound, dimmer lighting, and an HD LCD flat-panel television.

    3. Jade Mountain – St. Lucia, Caribbean The journey to your private sanctuary begins via a long suspended sky bridge. This property sits on top of a hill overlooking the spectacular Pitons. To better help you see them, and the ocean below, the fourth wall of each sanctuary is open to the elements while at the same time allowing for complete privacy. Each of the rooms’ private infinity pools is surfaced in iridescent glass tiles and illuminated with fiber-optic lighting. Jade Mountain also features a James Beard award-winning chef on the premises. You can dine in your sanctuary, on the Celestial Terrace or at the Jade Mountain Club.

    Should you decide to venture elsewhere, nestled just down the mountain below, you can enjoy all that Jade Mountain’s sister resort Anse Chastanet has to offer. This includes restaurants, bars, boutiques, art gallery, spa, scuba, bike and water sports facilities as well as two soft sand beaches available to Jade Mountain guests at all times.

    4. Mystique Resort – Santorini, Greece The mood at Mystique is one of laid-back luxury. Only one thing should be able to distract you from the tranquility of the sea and the breath-taking vistas of the caldera cliffs, and that’s your partner. The eighteen suites here are actually carved into the cliffs, and designed with romance in mind, each of them facing the sunset. The minimalist white interior decor has furniture fashioned from tree limbs and stone. Yes, this is ancient Greece, but amenities are thoroughly modern – from Wi-Fi to an infinity pool. Still, there’s something about being so of the Earth that encourages the most, shall we say, primitive, impulses.


    5. Aurelio Lech – Lech, Austria If your idea of sexy is hitting the slopes all day and returning to the comfort and warmth of a chalet at night, this is the place for you. The exterior charm of the chalet belies the luxury that awaits inside. Each suite is individually designed using natural French and African fabrics and dark woods, creating a sophisticated, contemporary haven. The spa includes a tranquil meditation center where you can relax in front of an open fire. You can dine on fine cuisine outdoors where you can enjoy amazing views of the slopes and the village of Lech. Hopefully you won’t be too exhausted from a full day to enjoy one more activity! 



    6. Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat – Cote d’Azur, France This famous five-star hotel in the French Riviera is the grand-daddy of luxurious, romantic hotels. From Charlie Chaplin to Winston Churchill to Picasso to Paul McCartney, this storied hotel would be a once in a lifetime dream vacation for most people. First opened in the early 1900’s and undergoing massive renovations both after World War I and again in 2008-2009, its renovations include a new wing called the “Residence,” offering sixteen new rooms and eight exclusive suites with private plunge pools, as well as a spa. Book a sea view room with stunning views of the Mediterranean or a deluxe suite with a terrace allowing views from Cannes to Monaco. Sit poolside at Club Dauphin and its Olympic-sized, heated sea water pool. Dine on gourmet cuisine in the Restaurant du Cap, home of a Michelin-starred chef, or have it served in your room with a bottle from one of the most extensive wine collections in the world. If you’re not feeling in the mood here, you might want to check your pulse.


    7. One by the Five – Paris, France It is said that Paris, The City of Lights, is the most romantic city in the world. This story, however, is about sexy, and as hotel rooms go, Paris has got that too. The One by the Five is a one-suite boutique hotel in the Latin Quarter section of the city. The centerpiece of this almost ethereal room is the floating bed… yes, the bed and almost of all of the furniture is suspended, giving its occupants a floating feeling. The pale blue floors and ceiling with puffy clouds and tiny star-like lights add to the effect. Atop the television is an infrared webcam that allows you to watch whatever activity may be taking place. There’s also a mood-lit shower and a dressing table stocked with perfumes, as if the bed alone wasn’t enough to get you going. Breakfast is delivered the next morning from the One’s sister hotel across the street, the Five, a pretty sexy place in its own right!



    8. The Setai – South Beach, Miami, Florida In 2007, Forbes Traveler named the Setai the number one sexiest hotel in the U.S. Mixing the whole South Beach Art Deco vibe with Asian influences – including both a building for each – the former Dempsey Vanderbilt Hotel underwent a $200 million renovation to turn it into The Setai. Make no mistake, this one is all about the design – with rooms that are spacious, yet intimate and serene. After a long day of sunning and watching the tanned, toned bods South Beach is famous for, you’ll look forward to lounging on this property for the way it makes you feel. 



    9. Me Cabo Resort and Hotel – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico If you love a good beach vacation, but still want a nightlife that is muy caliente, ME Cabo is ALL party, ALL the time. Located on the Sea of Cortez and within walking distance of casinos and shopping, the hotel sits above the beach with terraces, gardens and freeform pools lined with cabanas, Balinese daybeds and lots of sunshine and Margaritas. With a lounge called Passion and a view across the bay to Lovers Beach, sexy is everywhere you turn. Visitors have included Kendra and Holly, and the Kardashian sisters. Go as a single to meet hot Latin Americans of the opposite sex, or if you’re already part of a couple try the One-on-One for Two package that includes a welcome champagne, couples massage, your choice of sensuous bed linen scents, and a do not disturb passion pack which is rumored to include massage oils, Kama Sutra cards, and other naughty goodies. 


    10. L’Albereta Erbusco – Lombardy, Italy This magical 38-room hotel sits among a beautiful natural landscape dotted with stunning Italian villas. Spa? Check. Superb fine dining? Check. Many of the rooms even have fireplaces. But sexy? Yes, for one major reason, The Cabriolet Suite. Sitting atop a tower facing Lake Isio and surrounded by vineyards, the suite has a four-poster bed dressed in fine linens. The country-style bathroom comes equipped with whirlpool, multi-head shower and sauna. After darkness falls, press a button and the roof above opens to the heavens. During the annual Perseid meteor shower (known here as the Tears of San Lorenzo… even that name is sexy), this suite is much sought after. And it is all topped off by breakfast in bed the following morning. La Dolce Vita!

    11. Blancaneaux Lodge – Belize 
    What could be a more sensual treat than skinny-dipping in the privacy of an exotic and lush rainforest locale? In the early 1980’s famed director Francis Ford Coppola visited the northernmost nation in Central America and fell in love with it. He found and purchased an abandoned lodge in the Maya Mountains, using it primarily as a family vacation home. Lovingly restored, he opened the twenty-room lodge to the public in 1993. Stay in a spacious village or an enchanted cottage. If you’re adventurous, swim in the hidden pools leading to the extraordinary beauty of Big Rock Falls. Take a horseback riding expedition. Dine in the Montagna Ristorante and enjoy pizzas made with herbs and vegetables grown in their own garden. Blancaneaux Lodge was named Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best 2009 & 2010 – #1 Best Resort in Central & South America.

    12. The Amangani – Jackson Hole, Wyoming The panoramic views of the Grand Tetons snow-capped peaks alone could have been the reason that Conde Nast Traveler voted The Amangani (meaning peaceful home) the number one ski hotel in North America, but it is so much more. Even on the coldest winter nights you’ll be drawn to the 115 foot heated outdoor pool that connects to an intimate whirlpool, and nothing is sexier than a warm pool and a warm partner in this setting. The building’s exterior is reminiscent of a sandstone palace. The resort has 29 suites and several four-bedroom villas with soaring redwood ceilings and wood-burning fieldstone fireplaces. All are appointed with modern comforts reflecting the earthy tones and materials of the American West. You can watch moose and elk graze in the valley below. In the summer there is tennis, hiking trails and fly-fishing in the Snake River. The Amangani has a dining room, a lounge, a library where you can immerse yourself in cowboy culture, a gallery, and a health center and gym. Did we mention there’s skiing? 



    13. Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort – Abu Dhabi We’ve been to beaches. We’ve been to Europe. We’ve been to ski resorts, but what about the middle of the desert? Sexy? You bet! From the outside it looks like a Disney-esque magic kingdom sandcastle. It’s a stunning, sexy place with outstanding desert views that are a refreshing change from the others on this list. It has 209 earth tone rooms, 29 of which are one-bedroom villas with private plunge pools. While there, visit the hammam (a sort of Turkish bath) or the invigorating ice cave. Venture into the desert on a camel trek, or dine at a traditional Emirati banquet in an outdoor tent.

    14. W Montreal – Montreal, Canada Imagine you’re glancing at the room service menu and you see an item called “Aphrodisiac” which comes with truffles, chocolate sauce, strawberries, and whipped cream. Your mind starts to wonder. The motto at the W seems to be “Whatever, Whenever” served up with a big helping of discretion by the hotel’s staff. There are some sexy in-room features, including voyeur showers with blue glass and a “peek-a-boo window” bathroom (think no glass) that encourages guests to watch each other shower. The W is a reasonably priced, yet modern, upscale hotel near to almost all of the entertainment, shopping, galleries and museums that Montreal has to offer. Part of the W chain of boutique hotels, the ambiance is that of style, comfort and service – even if what you want is your bathtub filled with whipped cream and chocolate. 


    15. The Liberty Hotel – Boston, Massachusetts One more sexy place where your fantasies can come alive, this granite structure was a prison for 120 years. It took nearly a decade of painstaking restoration and renovations, but the Liberty Hill is now a masterpiece offering sweeping views of Beacon Hill and the Back Bay. Workers left the wrought iron bars on the windows and rebuilt the catwalks. It now houses 300 guest rooms including ten suites, with views of Boston’s Charles River, that are decorated in pale rose and taupe with rich mahogany and stainless steel accents. If you want to have fun while you’re doing time here, bring your own handcuffs.

    Jojo Balogh is something of a pop culture legend in her own mind, and those of her friends. She was number one on their lists of people to use as phone-a-friends on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. In addition to her now defunct personal blog, she also wrote training materials for recruiters and headhunters, as well as love letters, and emails to school teachers and administrators regarding her teenage son in an effort to encourage them not to charge him with truancy.


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    Thursday 26 May 2011

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    Best Hotel in the World | Burj al Arab, Dubai

  • Thursday 26 May 2011
  • Nadish Hussain

  • According to Wikipedia, the Burj Al Arab is a luxury hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The name is Arabic for "Tower of the Arabs". The Burj is managed by the Jumeirah Group and built by Said Khalil. It was designed by Tom Wright of WS Atkins PLC. At 321 metres (1,053 ft), it is the tallest building used exclusively as a hotel.

    However, the Rose Tower, also in Dubai, which has already topped Burj Al Arab's height, will take away this title upon its opening in April 2008. The Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 metres (919 ft) out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. The Burj is an iconic structure, designed to symbolize Dubai's urban transformation.

    According to Wikipedia, the Burj Al Arab is a luxury hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The name is Arabic for "Tower of the Arabs." The Burj manages the Jumeirah Group and built by Said Khalil. It was designed by Tom Wright of WAS Atkins PLC. The 321 meter (1053 feet), it is only the tallest building in the hotel.

    At the same time, the Rose Tower, Dubai, which has led the Burj Al Arab's height, it takes away the title after opening in April 2008. The Burj Al Arab is an artificial island 280 meters (919 feet) off Jumeirah Beach and is connected to the mainland by an arched bridge itself. The Burj an iconic structure, designed to symbolize Dubai urban transformation.

    The Burj Dubai has become the international symbol. Tom Wright, the architect, said: "The client wanted a building that would become an iconic or symbolic statement of Dubai, this is very similar to the Sydney Opera House on their own or the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It is a building which had become synonymous with the name of the the country. "

    Construction of Burj Al Arab began in 1994. Built to resemble the sail of the Dhow, a kind of Arabian vessel. Two "wings" spread in a V-shape in a vast "mast", while the space between is locked in a huge atrium.

    The architect and engineering consultant to the project, Atkins, the UK's largest multidisciplinary consultancy. The hotel was built in the South African construction contractor Murray & Roberts. The hotel cost $ 650,000,000 to build.

    The Burj is a member of Leading Hotels of the World

    There are 202 apartments, each with its own concierge and butler. Prices starting at $ 2000 USD per night, and go up to $ 7000 + per night!

    The Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, a large city in the United Arab Emirates near the Strait of Hormuz

    - It costs $ 150 U.S. just to get through the gate to look at this place!
    - The Burj is built on an island accessible only by bridge from the mainland.
    - The cost is estimated at more than 80 million Americans

    - The entrance to the water park complex on land.
    - It took 18 months to build
    - The Burj was planning a top 5 architects in Europe.
    - The hotel opened in June 2003 for tourists.
    - That's a good look at the design and detail is unbelievable!

    Hotels: Burj Al Arab has no room, however it has 202 suites, each one arranged on two floors. Ranging from a spacious 169 square meters in a staggering 780 sq mts size, floor to ceiling glass window, is simply breathtaking views of the Arabian Gulf.

    Decorated with lavish textures and rich colors, each suite with sumptuous living and dining room, state of the art entertainment system and office equipment. The sheer opulence in every tiny detail is supported by technology that can not control everything, the 42-inch plasma TV, to close the curtain.

    Equipment: In addition to a dining room and living room, each suite has an office area complete laptop, internet access, private fax, printer and copier. Hidden network of advanced technology - lighting, curtains and air-conditioning in the press of a button.

    42-inch plasma screen, video on demand, DVD, and several cable channels.

    Recreational Facilities: Surrounded by white sandy beaches and blue waters of the Arabian Gulf, you can choose different activities during their stay in the Burj Al Arab. Relax in the superb outdoor pool or enjoy the rays on the private beach for your exclusive use. Alternatively, take time out in the spacious airy gymnasium boasting the most modern equipment and personal trainers on hand.

    Explore new boundaries and enjoy unlimited complimentary access to Wild Wadi Water Park.

    The park is centered around the story of Sinbad the Sailor Juha companion. There are 24 interconnecting rides, ranging from calm to wild. Lifeguards on duty for all swimming pool and horse riding areas.

    The Assawan Spa & Health Club is located 18 floor, with magnificent views over the Gulf. The treatment rooms, hydrotherapy baths, oriental massage, stand-up solarium, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi, two swimming pools, squash court, two fully equipped fitness studios and aerobics floor.

    (Rick Archer's Note: In August 2004 SSQQ Instructor Mona Nashed visited the Burj Al Arab. Mona, who was born in Egypt, went back to Egypt to visit her mother. While she was in the area, she took a side trip to see her cousin who lives in Dubai. Mona and her cousin spent the entire day at the water park across the water from the Burj.

    -----Original Message-----
    From: mona nashed
    Sent: Sunday, September 19, 2004 9:44 PM
    To: Rick Archer
    Subject: Burj Al Arab

    Rick, you asked about the building shaped like a staircase. The “Jumeira Hotel” is part of the water park across the water. You will need another tutoring lesson to help you pronounce it correctly! The Jumeira is another very exquisite hotel, but not the same as the Burj.

    By the way, Mona brought back a puzzle for you. Look at this picture and see if you can guess what the platform is used for in addition to helicopters. Answer at the bottom of the page!


    That is Tiger Woods, the famous pro golfer, practicing his tee shot.  Think he can hit it all the way to the mainland??  That's a long shot, even for Tiger!
    Apparently the helipad atop the Burj can be used for all sorts of things.

    Wouldn't it be fun to be a guest of the rich and famous?

    I think we will have to be content with admiring it from a distance. Mona said it was $150 just to visit the place.

    She and her cousin decided to "pass".

    (Editor's Note: The golf pictures were contributed by Judy Walsh.  The Tennis pictures were contributed by Gary Richardson)


    In our next set of pictures, now we have two of the most famous tennis players in history playing on a tennis court laid atop the same helipad. 

    That's Andre Agassi and Roger Federer

    My guess is that they don't chase the balls.  Too bad they probably can't afford to buy a mesh to enclose the court.  Maybe the tennis balls float and they fetch them from the water below.
    Does anyone besides me feel it is vaguely decadent to keep wasting golf balls and tennis balls by plunking them into the Persian Gulf?






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