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REVEWS CHECKING OUT
HOTEL PARK TOWER – BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
BY STEVE HARTRIDGE THE BACKGROUND: The five-star 23-floor hotel is a member of the Starwood Group's Luxury Collection. Elegant touches abound – the lobby has a genuine 17th century treasure: a French tapestry depicting Alexander the Great.
THE LOCATION: In the district of Retiro, close to upcoming Puerto Madera and fashionable San Telmo, the hotel is within walking distance of central areas but a 15-minute taxi ride from the trendy shops, restaurants and bars of Palermo Soho and Palermo Veijo. Buenos Aires International Airport is a 40-minute cab ride away.
THE CHECK-IN: A small desk in a grandiose lobby was manned by two English-speaking staff who took rather longer than necessary to complete our registration details and make copies of our passports.
THE ROOM: My 14th-floor guest room, which apparently had a Biedermeier-style (18th century German) theme, was large and bright with views of a city landmark, English Tower, and the central train station. Features included a 42-inch LCD TV with
pay movies and a good choice of satellite channeles and high-speed broadband.
KEY FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES: The Neptune Pool and fitness centre has two swimming pools, a gym, wet and dry saunas, two lighted tennis courts and a putting green. There's also an in-hotel shopping arcade providing everything from manicures to jewellery to gift-boxed expensive bottles of Argentinian wine. An excursion desk arranges activities, such as a day trip to an estancia (ranch) for a gaucho show and BBQ lunch.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS: St Regis is the hotel's main restaurant and seems to attract a lot of non-residents – always a good sign. Our set dinner menu featured a wide choice of steaks (Argentina has a long coastline but it's the turf not the surf that is usually the highlight of eating out). Breakfast is a substantial buffet with a variety of order-from-the-kitchen options. The large but non-atmospheric Lobby lounge mixes cocktails and glasses of Malbec with live harp and piano music – against an Asian-influenced backdrop that includes an antique Chinese folding screen.
HOTEL HOTEL CHOCOLAT – ST LUCIA
BY SALLY PARKER THE BACKGROUND: There are now 55 Hotel Chocolat shops in the UK but the first Chocolat hotel only started welcoming guests in March last year when a property opened on the Rabot estate in Saint Lucia. It was an obvious choice: the site is where much of the chocolate that's exported is cultivated and produced. Accommodation consists of six ‘Cocoa Pods’, cottage-style rooms set around a terrace and water feature, and a further eight ‘Cocoa Pods luxe’, high on the hill with their own verandas. All of the rooms have amazing views of The Pitons.
THE CHECK-IN: We were invited to relax in the restaurant while we filled in our details while sipping a welcome cocktail.
THE ROOM: Very much open to the outside, with window shutters and floor boards with gaps between them to see down to the decorative rocks below. At night the local wildlife gets very noisy as the tree frogs, crickets and nocturnal birds wake up. The hotel provides ear plugs and eye masks but I enjoyed hearing all the sounds. The room has a rustic feel – the
stone walls are painted white – with dark brown furnishings. It is divided into a bedroom and living area with a Queen-size four-poster bed, ceiling fan, wardrobe, dressing table and cabinet with a fridge/ room bar, daily ice service, complimentary mineral water, an assortment of Jing teas, a cafetiere with ground coffee and a delicious selection of chocolate treats beautifully presented and replenished daily. Guests receive a complimentary hessian
Rabot estate bag and Hotel Chocolat Prosecco. There is an iPod with a selection of play lists. The large bathroom has a double sink, on dark polished granite as well as a semi-outdoor ‘rain shower’.
KEY FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES: Club Boucan is the swimming pool area with sun loungers, a bar and an infinity pool overlooking the Piton Mountains. There is a free beach shuttle service to Jalousie Plantation and Anse Chastanet. Guests can also enjoy cocoa and nature walks around the estate and a ‘Tree to Bar experience’ where they create their own chocolate. The Cocoa Juvenate Spa offers massages, facials, manicures and pedicures, body wraps and exfoliates.
THE HIGHLIGHT: This would, I suspect, have been the daily 'high tea' featuring finely-cut sandwiches, apple pie, Belgian chocolate cakes and Chinese teas – if only we'd had the time to sample it.
THE RATES: From $270 for a deluxe guest room, mid-week in February 2012. The rate is the same midweek in June 2012.
THE DETAILS: Avenida Leandro N. Alem 1193, Buenos Aires, 1001, Argentina; Tel: + 52 11 4318 9100; email:
reservs.bue@luxurycollection.com;
www.starwoodhotels.com
The Verdict
It's easy to see why this conveniently-located and classy hotel attracts its fair share of celebrities. Stylish and comfortable without being over- fussy – and rooms with views.
EXCEPTIONAL LOVED IT! PASS FARCE
THE RESTAURANT: For an extra $90 a day (including a $20 bar/drinks credit) guests can stay full-board ($70 for half-board) and enjoy a two-course lunch and three-course dinner in the award-winning restaurant, Boucan (which means cocoa-drying facility).
THE HIGHLIGHT: The restaurant and eating huge amounts of chocolate!
THE RATES: From around $550 per room per night, including breakfast.
THE DETAILS:
www.thehotelchocolat.com
The Verdict
Anyone who has enjoyed a Hotel Chocolat chocolate will be intrigued by the idea of staying at the hotel – and they will certainly love the restaurant.! No kids under 12.
EXCEPTIONAL LOVED IT! PASS FARCE
www.sellinglonghaul.com • January 2012 47
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