The New York Times
By PENELOPE GREEN
Published: March 29, 2009
MAJORCAN summers are infamous for the swells they attract: the billionaires on their megayachts, the movie stars at their mountain estates. Michael Douglas has a house in Deià, and in nearby Sóller, there is an outpost of the Ashram, Malibu’s answer to asceticism, at which studio heads pay thousands of dollars a week to eat like vegan hippies.
Then there’s that other summer crowd, the European lads who flood the developments that spread out from lovely, medieval Palma and make the beach scenes there cautionary tales of the evils of alcohol. During the off-season, which runs from fall to early summer, however, this mountainous, gnarled island is largely yours. Set yourself up with a rental car (there’s a lot of driving to be done on this island) and prepare to be hypnotized by ancient terraced landscapes with twisted olive trees, the tiny medieval villages and the extraordinary food and wine.
...
For a feel for the countryside, consider the sonorous, majestic Gran Hotel Son Net (Calle Castillo Sonnet s/n, Puigpunyent; 34-971-147-000; www.sonnet.es) in the village of Puigpunyent, just northwest of Palma, which is set in a 17th-century finca, or estate. With its stone walls, its Hockneys and Chagalls, and its velvet accouterments, it is solemnly luxurious, and takes itself very, very seriously. It is also alarmingly expensive: Rates range from 340 euros for a classic room (a perfectly adequate though dimly lighted room with two twin beds overlooking the front drive with a bathroom as big as the room itself, like all the Son Net bathrooms) to 1,050 euros for the royal suites, which are entire apartments with their own gardens.
FULL STORY
Friday, March 27, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Insider’s guide to cruising Europe
Advice, tips, tricks and, most importantly, lessons learned
By Carolyn Spencer Brown
MSNBC - updated 12:47 p.m. ET March 22, 2009
It's no secret that cruising is an exceptional way to see Europe. First of all, seeing Europe by cruise is cheaper than touring by land.
Cruise fares typically cover accommodations, meals in main dining venues, kids club activities and entertainment, from enrichment classes to theatrical performances (though it's important to note the extras, such as spa treatments, meals in boutique restaurants, fitness classes, casino gambling and cocktails and specialty drinks).
And don't forget, too, that cruise fares include the cost of transportation between ports. On any given voyage, you'll visit a variety of European cities (in some cases covering three or more countries). Some cruises combine two regions (such as Western Europe and the Baltic or the Eastern and Western Mediterranean). Most include what we classify as the “greatest hits” cities of Europe (such as Civitavecchia for Rome, Venice, Stockholm, Barcelona and Piraeus for Athens); some of these also offer tantalizing tastes of lesser-known places (including Tunisia's Tunis, Malta's Valletta and Estonia's Tallinn).
FULL STORY
By Carolyn Spencer Brown
MSNBC - updated 12:47 p.m. ET March 22, 2009
It's no secret that cruising is an exceptional way to see Europe. First of all, seeing Europe by cruise is cheaper than touring by land.
Cruise fares typically cover accommodations, meals in main dining venues, kids club activities and entertainment, from enrichment classes to theatrical performances (though it's important to note the extras, such as spa treatments, meals in boutique restaurants, fitness classes, casino gambling and cocktails and specialty drinks).
And don't forget, too, that cruise fares include the cost of transportation between ports. On any given voyage, you'll visit a variety of European cities (in some cases covering three or more countries). Some cruises combine two regions (such as Western Europe and the Baltic or the Eastern and Western Mediterranean). Most include what we classify as the “greatest hits” cities of Europe (such as Civitavecchia for Rome, Venice, Stockholm, Barcelona and Piraeus for Athens); some of these also offer tantalizing tastes of lesser-known places (including Tunisia's Tunis, Malta's Valletta and Estonia's Tallinn).
FULL STORY
Sunday, March 22, 2009
22 Affordable European Hotels
Travel + LeisureFrom April 2009
By Alexander Basek, Anya von Bremzen, David Farley, Catesby Holmes, Tina Isaac, Stirling Kelso, Soren Larson, Alexandra Marshall, Ralph Martin, Clark Mitchell, Shane Mitchell, Maria Shollenbarger, Bree Sposato, Valerie Waterhouse and Jennifer Welbel
When it comes to European hotels, the word value used to conjure up images of shoebox-sized spaces located depressingly near the train station. No longer. A new breed of affordable lodging has been popping up all around the Continent, and these ultra-modern digs offer plenty of comfort, stylishness, and amenities alongside their attractive price tags.
Desirable options exist even in notoriously expensive and popular destinations like London and Paris. At the London Bridge Hotel, you can set up a base near the Tate Modern and Borough Market while taking advantage of a plugged-in, 24-hour concierge—all for rates that start at a mere $144. Across the Channel, you’ll find a similarly convenient location in Paris—an easy walk from the Louvre—with the Hôtel Thérèse, where the quirky and charming rooms (starting at $200) are decorated with Parisian paintings from local flea markets.
London
London Bridge Hotel, $144
At the London Bridge Hotel, 400-thread-count sheets, Miller Harris bath products, and at-the-ready service mean that a stay next to the Tower Bridge will be cool and comfortable. The hotel is located in the small neighborhood of Southwark, just a quick walk from the Tate Modern, the Globe Theatre, and the epicenter of London’s locavore movement, Borough Market. The 24-hour concierge desk is worth a visit, too: veteran staffers, who come from such impeccable London properties as the InterContinental Park Lane and the Mayfair, are able to score coveted seats to Arsenal soccer games and tickets for concerts at the O2 arena.
Dublin
La Stampa Hotel & Mandala Spa, $195
Standing outside on orderly Dawson Street, you’d never imagine the Indo-Asian fantasy that lies behind the door of this Georgian manse. La Stampa Hotel & Mandala Spa is flamboyantly chic, its 37 rooms adorned with Balinese wall screens, teak furniture, potted palms, gold moldings, and mirrors. For dinner, it’s prawn toasts and pad thai in the glow of lanterns at Tiger Becs, one of the city’s most popular Thai restaurants.
Paris
Hôtel Amour, $140
What you know of the Ninth Arrondissement is still generally true—this boho district is no St.-Germain—but gentrification has struck, and the Hôtel Amour is an example of how much. Located on a slender corridor that feels more St.-Georges than Quartier Pigalle, the hotel is the brainchild of three nightlife aficionados who know their target audience well (think iPhone-toting media types) and chose their amenities accordingly. You’ll find cheeky framed photographs in the restaurant, rooms with toys from Kidrobot, and even a foosball table in the basement. Want more proof that the area is ready for travelers? Rue des Martyrs, around the corner from the hotel, has become the spot to shop for fine cheeses and groceries.
Paris
Hôtel Thérèse, $200
Hôtel Thérèse is set in an 18th-century town house on a quiet side street in the heart of the First Arrondissement. On the Right Bank, blocks from the Louvre, the Thérèse has 43 rooms that are on the petite side, but budding hotel doyenne Sylvie de Lattre (the woman behind another T+L favorite, the Hôtel Verneuil, in St.-Germain) has established an uncluttered aesthetic and filled the rooms with Parisian paintings garnered from local flea markets.
Lisbon
Fontana Park Hotel, $195
Portuguese architect Francisco Aires Mateus renovated a 1908 iron factory to create the Fontana Park Hotel. Keeping its exterior intact, he gutted the building to make way for Zen-like interiors. Open expanses, including the Bonsai restaurant and Fontana bar, are punctuated by sharply angled glass staircases and sheaths of hammered ironwork—homages to the building’s first life. The 139 simple black-and-white rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows that provide panoramic views of the city.
Read About All 22 Hotels
By Alexander Basek, Anya von Bremzen, David Farley, Catesby Holmes, Tina Isaac, Stirling Kelso, Soren Larson, Alexandra Marshall, Ralph Martin, Clark Mitchell, Shane Mitchell, Maria Shollenbarger, Bree Sposato, Valerie Waterhouse and Jennifer Welbel
When it comes to European hotels, the word value used to conjure up images of shoebox-sized spaces located depressingly near the train station. No longer. A new breed of affordable lodging has been popping up all around the Continent, and these ultra-modern digs offer plenty of comfort, stylishness, and amenities alongside their attractive price tags.
Desirable options exist even in notoriously expensive and popular destinations like London and Paris. At the London Bridge Hotel, you can set up a base near the Tate Modern and Borough Market while taking advantage of a plugged-in, 24-hour concierge—all for rates that start at a mere $144. Across the Channel, you’ll find a similarly convenient location in Paris—an easy walk from the Louvre—with the Hôtel Thérèse, where the quirky and charming rooms (starting at $200) are decorated with Parisian paintings from local flea markets.
London
London Bridge Hotel, $144
At the London Bridge Hotel, 400-thread-count sheets, Miller Harris bath products, and at-the-ready service mean that a stay next to the Tower Bridge will be cool and comfortable. The hotel is located in the small neighborhood of Southwark, just a quick walk from the Tate Modern, the Globe Theatre, and the epicenter of London’s locavore movement, Borough Market. The 24-hour concierge desk is worth a visit, too: veteran staffers, who come from such impeccable London properties as the InterContinental Park Lane and the Mayfair, are able to score coveted seats to Arsenal soccer games and tickets for concerts at the O2 arena.
Dublin
La Stampa Hotel & Mandala Spa, $195
Standing outside on orderly Dawson Street, you’d never imagine the Indo-Asian fantasy that lies behind the door of this Georgian manse. La Stampa Hotel & Mandala Spa is flamboyantly chic, its 37 rooms adorned with Balinese wall screens, teak furniture, potted palms, gold moldings, and mirrors. For dinner, it’s prawn toasts and pad thai in the glow of lanterns at Tiger Becs, one of the city’s most popular Thai restaurants.
Paris
Hôtel Amour, $140
What you know of the Ninth Arrondissement is still generally true—this boho district is no St.-Germain—but gentrification has struck, and the Hôtel Amour is an example of how much. Located on a slender corridor that feels more St.-Georges than Quartier Pigalle, the hotel is the brainchild of three nightlife aficionados who know their target audience well (think iPhone-toting media types) and chose their amenities accordingly. You’ll find cheeky framed photographs in the restaurant, rooms with toys from Kidrobot, and even a foosball table in the basement. Want more proof that the area is ready for travelers? Rue des Martyrs, around the corner from the hotel, has become the spot to shop for fine cheeses and groceries.
Paris
Hôtel Thérèse, $200
Hôtel Thérèse is set in an 18th-century town house on a quiet side street in the heart of the First Arrondissement. On the Right Bank, blocks from the Louvre, the Thérèse has 43 rooms that are on the petite side, but budding hotel doyenne Sylvie de Lattre (the woman behind another T+L favorite, the Hôtel Verneuil, in St.-Germain) has established an uncluttered aesthetic and filled the rooms with Parisian paintings garnered from local flea markets.
Lisbon
Fontana Park Hotel, $195
Portuguese architect Francisco Aires Mateus renovated a 1908 iron factory to create the Fontana Park Hotel. Keeping its exterior intact, he gutted the building to make way for Zen-like interiors. Open expanses, including the Bonsai restaurant and Fontana bar, are punctuated by sharply angled glass staircases and sheaths of hammered ironwork—homages to the building’s first life. The 139 simple black-and-white rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows that provide panoramic views of the city.
Read About All 22 Hotels
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
11 Money-Saving European Travel Tips
New air routes, hotels, and booking strategies make European travel almost as cheap as staying home.
Travel + Leisure Articles
April 2009
Book New Plane Routes
Before last year’s Open Skies agreement, an air-transport pact that cleared the way for more flights between the United States and Europe, American Airlines (aa.com) and United Airlines (united.com) were the only domestic carriers flying into London Heathrow from the U.S. Today, Continental (continental.com), Delta (delta.com), Northwest (nwa.com), and US Airways (usairways.com) all have daily flights into Heathrow. In addition, a few international airlines have established links from European hubs other than their own to the U.S.; Air France (airfrance.com) will begin a Heathrow-to-JFK flight this summer. And thanks to these additional routes, analysts expect prices to become more competitive. Smaller airports are also benefiting from the treaty. Next month, US Airways will be adding three routes: from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Paris, and from Philadelphia to Oslo and Birmingham, England. In June, Delta is planning to introduce flights from Pittsburgh to Paris and Detroit to Rome.
Fly With Low-Cost Airlines
As travelers become more budget-conscious, discount European carriers are expanding their networks to meet the demand. Ryanair (ryanair.com) is leading the way with 179 new routes in 2009, including flights from Edinburgh to Malta and Oslo to Bologna. Rival EasyJet (easyjet.com) plans to add at least 30 new itineraries this year—among them London Gatwick to Copenhagen and Berlin to Dubrovnik. We found summer fares for the new Berlin-to-Dubrovnik flight for as low as $40 one-way, and the deals should continue through the fall.
Check Out New, Affordable Airlines
This past February, Lufthansa launched Lufthansa Italia (lufthansa.com). The carrier offers nonstop connections between Milan Malpensa and eight European destinations, including Barcelona and Madrid, making travel between Italy and neighboring countries more accessible after Alitalia reduced its service from Malpensa last year. At press time, we found a round-trip ticket from Milan to Barcelona for $112.
Read The Rest
Travel + Leisure Articles
April 2009
Book New Plane Routes
Before last year’s Open Skies agreement, an air-transport pact that cleared the way for more flights between the United States and Europe, American Airlines (aa.com) and United Airlines (united.com) were the only domestic carriers flying into London Heathrow from the U.S. Today, Continental (continental.com), Delta (delta.com), Northwest (nwa.com), and US Airways (usairways.com) all have daily flights into Heathrow. In addition, a few international airlines have established links from European hubs other than their own to the U.S.; Air France (airfrance.com) will begin a Heathrow-to-JFK flight this summer. And thanks to these additional routes, analysts expect prices to become more competitive. Smaller airports are also benefiting from the treaty. Next month, US Airways will be adding three routes: from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Paris, and from Philadelphia to Oslo and Birmingham, England. In June, Delta is planning to introduce flights from Pittsburgh to Paris and Detroit to Rome.
Fly With Low-Cost Airlines
As travelers become more budget-conscious, discount European carriers are expanding their networks to meet the demand. Ryanair (ryanair.com) is leading the way with 179 new routes in 2009, including flights from Edinburgh to Malta and Oslo to Bologna. Rival EasyJet (easyjet.com) plans to add at least 30 new itineraries this year—among them London Gatwick to Copenhagen and Berlin to Dubrovnik. We found summer fares for the new Berlin-to-Dubrovnik flight for as low as $40 one-way, and the deals should continue through the fall.
Check Out New, Affordable Airlines
This past February, Lufthansa launched Lufthansa Italia (lufthansa.com). The carrier offers nonstop connections between Milan Malpensa and eight European destinations, including Barcelona and Madrid, making travel between Italy and neighboring countries more accessible after Alitalia reduced its service from Malpensa last year. At press time, we found a round-trip ticket from Milan to Barcelona for $112.
Read The Rest
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