Aloft London Excel

If you find yourself at the ExCeL International Convention Center and need a place to lay your head for a night or two, consider staying the conveniently located Aloft London Excel—the only hotel in ExCeL London directly connected to the convention center. Aloft sits next to the Prince Regent DLR station and just minutes from the London City Airport, Canary Wharf, and the O2 Arena.

This select-service hotel offers a sassy and refreshing accommodation alternative for both the super serious business traveler and the laid-back leisure vacationer. Aloft is urban-influenced and effortlessly chic providing guests the perfect blend of relaxation and entertaining amenities. Choose one of three room styles: Aloft Rooms, Urban Rooms, or Savvy Suites. Each room comes with guaranteed comfort and basic living necessities. Guests will find a variety of venues for various times of day. Get your sweat on in the large indoor pool or gym. Enroll your child (aged 2-12) in Camp Aloft to keep them busy and tuckered out. Mosey on down to the Docksider Restaurant or Re:mix Lounge when your tummy starts grumbling. Sip on an adult beverage while listening to some live music. Aloft has it all making leaving the hotel a hard choice, but you’ll want to check out and fully embrace the East London Scene.

Pack up the kids and the family pet and enjoy a getaway at Aloft.

Address: One Eastern Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London, EN, E16 1FR
Telephone: +44 20 3203 0700
Website

The Halkin Hotel

Claiming its stake in Belgravia—a picturesque Georgian neighborhood in London’s heart—The Halkin Hotel holds the title of one of the city’s best central luxury hotels. Belgravia is beside the life of Knightsbridge, Mayfair’s Regency squares, and St. James’s parks. Aside from the wonderful offerings within the Halkin, there are plenty of restaurants and glittering shops within walking distance to explore.

The Halkin boasts 41 rooms and suites designed to accommodate both relaxation and a working environment. The overall aesthetic is calm, cool, and contemporary making this boutique hotel a repeat stay among guests. In addition, the Halkin will assist guests to the best of their abilities. Whether it’s curating in-hotel needs or orchestrating a customized shopping trip or making dinner reservations or securing tickets to the hot show in town, the staff are there to help.

If the choice is to stay in, guests won’t be disappointed with the cuisine offerings. The new Basque restaurant Ametsa with Arzak Instructions specializes in Spanish gastronomy from not one but three acclaimed Michelin stars chefs. For coffee, relaxed lunches, afternoon teas, and cocktails, Halkin Bar is a popular spot for guests of all ages to find something to enjoy.

The Halkin truly encompasses the area and lives up to its continually rising reputation.

Address: Halkin Street, London, SW1X 7DJ
Telephone:  +44 20 7333 1000
Website

The Viceroy Riviera Maya

Imagine a place where the word ‘stress’ doesn’t exist, a place full of wonder and excitement, yet an unquestionable tranquility that can calm even the most active of minds. A place where the air soothes your body like a protective Mayan spirit guarding you from the hurdles of life. Well, such a place exists, so you need ‘imagine’ no more.

You arrive at the hidden village of Playa Xcalacoco just outside Playa del Carmen Mexico. Miles of beachfront hypnotize your eyes and that pleasant ocean scent of salt and seaweed floods your nostrils. You close your eyes and take a deep breath in as the calming sounds of lapping waves and chirping gulls block out all other chatter. The shoreline disappears into the surrounding enchanting Maya tropical forest just waiting for you to get lost and explore the natural world.

Your heart races at all the exciting possibilities of your stay at the romantic Caribbean hotel Riviera Maya, Viceroy. The luxurious, eco-conscious getaway is inspired by the encompassing environment with intimate and serene features that blend seamlessly into the dramatic and dense tropical foliage. Designed with the guests in mind, Riviera Maya welcomes you with a grand tour of the resort before leading you to your villa. The palapa-roofed villas are decorated with Maya aesthetics utilizing as many natural elements as possible: louvered-mahogany doors and windows, sisal rugs, and canopy beds with hand stitches Egyptian cotton linens. Each villa comes equipped with spacious indoor and outdoor shows so no sand gets dragged in.

When you’re not enjoying a beach day, a trip to Riviera Maya’s sunning spa, or embarking on a jungle expedition, make sure to take in the dining options and nightlife. Wrap your taste buds around the two dining experiences. Le Marea restaurant serves dinner with a backdrop of the Caribbean Sea’s blue expanse. Enjoy contemporary Mexican cuisine with Mediterranean influences alongside an array of daily specials and chef recommendations. The Coral Grill & Bar looks to serve guests all day with a focus on locally caught and responsibly fished seafood, local organic produce, and homemade wood-fired pizzas.

Your paradise awaits you full of adventure, relaxation, and delicious food.

My recent travels took me to this very hideaway resort deep within the Mayan territory of Playa del Carmen. Not your typical resort with hustle and bustle that is seen all too often in the Playa del Carmen and Cancun region. We’re talking about a cozy haven of luxury that flows through your mind and soul from the moment you enter the lobby to the very moment your head hits the pillow at night.

First and foremost the architectural design of this nirvana is simply incredible. From the candles that line the courtyards at dawn to the uniquely distinguished lighting and roofing thatched from palm leaves, your senses are elated, as indigenous charm becomes undeniable luxury. You are transported to a Mayan paradise, your very own isolated escape with a team that will gracefully look after your every need.

Embodying the true essence of Mexican culture throughout; the food and drink scene embraces local delicacies specific to this region. While the beach is spectacular and the focal point of any luxury beach resort getaway, what captured my attention even more so were the range of activities one can partake in.

From start to finish, every moment is special and each second that goes by is savored. This bespoke experience allows you to experience the Mayan culture in a completely unique way, from the picturesque sandy beach, to the gourmet food and unique drink scene – there is something for everyone.

Should you fancy learning more about the local culinary delights that grace your palate, immerse yourself in a cooking glass – from the simplest delicacies such as Mayan Guacamole to traditional main courses and desserts, the chefs arms are open as they take you under their wing and share their secrets.

If drinking is more your style, discover a new drinking sensation with the resident mixologist, Victor. From staple Mexican tequila cocktails to unknown Mezcal concoctions, this interactive journey through the world of the drink will bring forth a whole new level of drink exploration.

Viceroy is a complete gem, it’s a secluded paradise with so much charm and rustic tranquillity. Get ready to melt your stresses away and enter a world of complete peace and calmness.

Address: Playa Xcalacoco Frac 7, 77710 Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo Mexico
Telephone: +52 984 877 3000
Website

The Courthouse Hotel, Shoreditch

Right smack dab in the middle of the ever lively and bustling Central London sits The Courthouse. This is no place for practicing law rather The Courthouse is a five star luxury hotel located in the heart of vibrant Shoreditch, within mere walking distance from the finest shopping streets, tourist attractions, and just a short tube-ride from theatreland. The hotel itself is situated in an old Grand II Listed Magistrates Court. While still retaining much of its historic charm, The Courthouse does incorporate many modern updates to keep guests comfortable and happy.

With a total of 128 spacious bedrooms and suites, each room comes equipped with stylish décor in order to maximize relaxation. In the rooms you’ll find a writing desk, telephone, satellite TV with flat screen TV, high-speed data port, minibar, entertainment system, and safes to keep your valuables protected.

The Courthouse also boasts fabulous facilities. You’ll find their bespoke jail-themed bar in true Shoreditch fashion, teeming with art-deco and whimsical design elements. Late night bowling and cocktails? Not a problem. Check out the private 2-lane bowling alley situated in the basement floor, or perhaps the private members club will tickle your fancy? During summer months be sure to exclusively book and thoroughly enjoy a private BBQ on the roof terrace whilst overlooking the London skyline. Whether after a lovely meal, a hectic day of shopping, or an intensive meeting, head on down to the Spa to relax, rejuvenate, and regenerate your wellbeing.

The Courthouse has plenty to offer all types of travellers to help them fulfill their London visit fantasies.

Address: 19-21 Great Marlborough Street, London, W1F 7HL
Telephone: + 44 20 7297 5555
Website

The Grosvenor House Hotel London

Spend your London getaway right in the heart of historic Park Lane at the Grosvenor House Hotel. This iconic gem combines unique style with top-notch service to create storybook memories in one of the world’s most beautiful cities.

Rooms mesh contemporary design with luxury fittings and deluxe amenities giving a traditional and classic London feel. The newly refurbished suites unveil chic décor, elegant marble bathrooms and offer incredible views of the infamous Hyde Park.

Enjoy the finest cuts of meat at JW Steakhouse, sip an evening cocktail at the recently at the Park Room or explore a variety of other dining options like the infamous afternoon tea.As one of London’s leading bourbon specialists you can also finding yourself indulging in a couple of drams at The Bourbon Bar, one for the connoisseurs or just those who like to try something new.

The list continues, having already covered the meat-eaters dream we turn our attention to the sea – as you can treat yourself to fresh seafood as well as seasonal produce at the Richard Corrigan award-winning Corrigan’s Mayfair, or start your morning off with a specialty coffee at Park Lane Market. The options are truly endless and there really is something for everyone to indulge in.

While food does sit at the epicenter of this central delight, as does an award-winning cocktail list, embodying some of Britain’s most iconic spirits. Imbibe delights such as Black Cow and Blackdown Distillery are just two of the spirits that add a unique local charm to the mix and trust me when I tell you you’ll experience one of the best Violet Martini’s you’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting. The newly installed Red Bar ads a beautiful contemporary feel to this highly regarded and bespoke gem.

The Grosvenor House has the looks, the location, and the amenities—what’s not to love about this local favorite?

Address: 86-90 Park Lane, London W1K 7TN
Telephone: +44 20 74996363
Website

Hotel Esencia, Cancún

It started with a blank canvas, an empty white page, a bare wall. Then came lines, words, walls and windows as the masters try to create a work of art – a piece, a story, a hotel that makes a statement.

When art collector and entrepreneur Kevin Wendle purchased the Hotel Esencia in 2014 he added eleven new accommodations and edited the design of the twenty-nine existing bedrooms and suites back to a nearly blank canvas. The surfaces shine a pure white that mirrors the way the hot sun overexposes the famed sand beaches of the Xpu Ha region of Mexico. The deep brown wood edges the doors and walls like the frame of a finished work. Wooden accent pieces are arranged around the room in a manner both aesthetic and functional. Spots of color create artistic splatters in the form of flower arrangements, unique local art pieces and abstract designs on pillows and duvets.

Fifty minutes south of the tourist section of Cancún, opposite the island of Cozumel, the Hotel Esencia sits on the eastern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula as the pinnacle of unpretentious refinement and luxury. From the private white sand beaches to the open yoga studio to its varied restaurants and bars, the hotel’s offerings reflect the cool yet classy vibe of the décor. Hotel Esencia’s Mistura restaurant serves up an authentic Mexican gastronomic experience through its use of seafood dishes and specialties from the grill whereas BeefBar Esencia offers a selection of exceptional meat cuts from Australian Black Onyx and Wx Wagyu beef, and Certified Japanese Kobe beef.

The lush green jungle and crystal blue Caribbean create the perfect backdrop for the newly expanded Hotel Esencia. The doors of the central hotel open to the garden paths that meander along the coast and through the trees, connecting the jungle and beach rooms and suites to the spa, gym, restaurants and bars. The hotel works in conjunction with nature from the minimally invasive construction techniques of the new structures to the locally sourced food featured on the many food and drink menus.

Hotel Esencia offers a variety of accommodations from single rooms to three bedroom villas either nestled under the canopy of trees or along the white sand beach. Guests are provided even more options when it comes to refreshments and activities. From fine dining at Mistura to the juice bar that transforms into a cocktail lounge as the sun makes its way access the sky, Hotel Esencia strives to provide traditional favorites with a global flare and offers an array of dishes to please a variety of appetites and provide guests the energy they need to enjoy the hotel’s many amusements. Within twenty minutes of the hotel are the Robert Trent Jones 27-hole golf course and the Mayan ruins of Tulum, or guests can experience the local wildlife by snorkeling the reef just outside the hotel or by hitting the swanky nightclubs on the Riviera.

Hotel Esencia’s crowning achievement is that it presents its guests with not only a blank canvas but also the tools and freedom to shape the holiday of their dreams.

Address: Carretera Cancún – Tulum km 265, Xpu-Ha, Quintana Roo 77750 Mexico
Telephone: + 52 984 873 4830
Website

Tasting Port in the Douro

Port. Or Port wine, as the Portuguese call it. A drink that is so quintessentially British, some people even presume it comes from the UK.  Colin Hampden-White visits the Douro to discover some of the Port region’s finest offerings.

Some will say that when visiting the Douro, Taylor’s is a must; others that the place not to be missed is Quinta do Noval.  There is a third: Quinta da Romaneira owned by Christian Seely of Noval fame, but has only been under his tenure for ten years. Recently, I spent some time in the Douro and visited the three port houses, uniquely different in their history and outlook.

 Quinta da Romaneira is not far from Noval; in fact Christian could see the estate as he worked at Noval and had in mind one day to acquire the estate. Ten years ago he managed this.  The estate boasts an exclusive hotel where the likes of Brangelina have stayed.  This idyll is also now Christian’s home and the estate thrives under his command.

 Quinta da Romaneira stretches for about two miles along the river Douro with 400 hectares of land, of which 300 hectares are grade A vineyards. Much of the land is now planted, but there is still ample space for expansion. As well as the production of traditional port, fabulous red wines have also been created over the last ten years, alongside a crisp white and a wonderfully balance, aromatic and delicate rosé.

 Back in Porto, I was welcomed through the doors of Villa de Gaia on the opposite bank of the river from Porto, for a sojourn at the Yeatman Hotel. It’s a recently-built hotel that feels as if the city had specially reserved just the right space for it, overlooking the river with a magnificent view of the Unesco protected old town of Porto.

 The hotel makes a fantastic base for visiting the Douro offering the only Michelin star restaurant in Porto, a luxurious spa, conference facilities and space to land your helicopter.  Try the revolving bed in the Bacchus suite so you can switch between TV and magnificent view.  between TV and magnificent view. This hotel is all about wine; each bedroom is sponsored and themed by a winery or port house and corridors educate guests about cork production and the history of wine in the Douro. The cellars (which can be visited) have an extensive list of Portuguese wines alongside other old and new world wines.

 An old-fashioned train ride is the best way to experience the spectacular views of the Douro, following the river, winding up the valley, a new view around every corner. Traditional white villages nestle among the vines or are poised on the shore edge as if about to take a dip.

 Passing through tiny stations with their colourful tiles Quinta Vargellas had its own station where I was greeted by Alistair and Gillyane Robertson, 4th generation of the Taylor’s family, we walked up the cobbled roads to the Quinta. Quinta Vargellas is a country home for the Robertsons who return at harvest, hosting lucky guests and immersing them in the world of port. A folly, built for Alistair and Jilly’s 40th wedding anniversary, overlooks all the differing types of planting style of vines - traditional walled terraces, mound terraces and linear arrangements. These patterns in the hillside start to give the idea of how much love and care is put into the land to create the ports. Watching the sun go down over the vines with a glass of Chip Dry Taylor’s white port mixed with tonic and a little mint was the perfect journey’s end.

Port comes in many differing styles; Ruby is a blend of vintages,  LBV (late bottled vintage) is kept in barrel longer than vintage port before bottling to create a port which can be drunk immediately.  Tawnies are aged even longer in barrel and released after 10, 20, 30 and 40 years. The single vintage expression of a Tawny is known as a Colheita and can be much older than the aged expressions. Finally there is vintage port; this can be a blend of various Quintas (or farms) giving an overall house expression such as Taylor’s Vintage Port, or can be released as single Quinta vintage ports, such as Quinta Vergellas for Taylor’s, or Quinta do Noval, a single estate owned by AXA Milliseme.

Supper on the terrace, to the rhythm of the cicadas, was all about port.  From vibrant and refreshing gaspatcho soup, subtly enhanced by a dash of white port, to delicate fruit pudding with 20 year-old Tawny; cheese was accompanied by a rare 1991 Quinta Vargellas vintage port.

 As though attending a late-night party, we joined harvest workers in the lagard, reminiscent of a small, shallow swimming pool, to tread the grapes.  Purple-stained legs danced to tunes from an organ. To round the night off, we sat by the pool with 20 year-old Tawnies from both Taylors and Fonseca to appreciate the differing house styles.

The Nogueira winery is Taylor’s main winery in the Douro and is just 45 minutes’ drive from any of the quintas from which they receive grapes to ensure perfect conditions for vinification.  It’s next to Quinta da Roêda of Croft, another Taylor’s brand, acquired in 2001. Much work has been accomplished in the vineyards since Taylor’s ownership; close inspection of the vines at Quinta da Roêda showed how the differing grape varieties need discrete positioning and spacing.  This creates a lattice of green across the hills which is like no other wine region.

 Croft has improved a great deal.  David Guimaraens, the great-great-great grandson of the founder of Fonseca, Manuel Pedro, has been the head winemaker since 1994.  An inveterate story-teller; he oversees the winemaking and blending for all four Taylor Fladgate Port houses.  He’s most proud of making the Croft 2003 as the conditions were difficult to control and the year very hot, yet he managed to produce a wonderful wine.

A most memorable of tasting at Taylor’s office included not only the complete range of ports from three of the houses owned by Taylors, but also some very old colheitas from the newly acquired Kohn port house. Incredibly rich and complex, these dated back to 1863 and showed how good port of that age can be. The tasting concluded with the magnificent and other-worldly Taylor’s Scion Tawny from 1855.  It has everything from zesty orange peel to deep dark bitter chocolate and a massive range of dried fruits including prunes, figs and dates.  This is not just an interesting old wine, but a hedonist’s dream, creamy in texture, balanced beautifully with the acidity, leaving the palate clean and eager for more.

Porto is littered with port lodges; each port house has a lodge where the wine is stored in huge vats before shipping and Taylor’s is one of the most impressive with vats varying in size from a few hundred litres to 100,000 litres. Here we had lunch with the present CEO Adrian Bridge whose wife, Natasha, is the 5th generation of the family.

The second half of my trip took a very different turn. From the huge warehouses of Taylors to a single quinta estate of Quinta do Noval. Sitting amongst the vines a few miles outside Pinhoa in the heart of the Douro, the quinta nestles on an outcrop overlooking the Pinhoa and Douro rivers.

Quinta do Noval is owned by AXA millesimes, an offshoot of the French insurance company, which also owns Pichon-Baron in Bordeaux. The quinta has been sympathetically restored and modernised.  It’s tasting room overlooks vats of the new wine but the buildings retain a romantic feel: picturesque tiles line the dining room walls, narrow passageways with stained glass between the buildings lead to the vines, it all feels like a bygone era.

Only 200 - 300 cases a year are produced of legendary vintage Noval National, created from non-grafted pre-pheloxora vines grown on a tiny 2 hectare plot next to the quinta. Chatting with Christian Seeley, MD of of Axa Millesimes, at a tasting in London of Nacional vintages dating back to 1963 confirmed this amazing estate on the itinerary.  The tiny Nacional plot even has its own pigs to provide fertiliser, and when individual vines eventually die, the same variety vines are planted back into the ground to keep the plot free of grafted vines. The rows are tended by a mule and his human companion; mechanisation can not penetrate here.

Quinta do Noval has a Ruby port which has been re-branded as Noval Black, aimed at introducing port to a younger market.  They also produce excellent 10 – 40 year old tawny ports, a 2000 Colheita, LBV 2007 and the new vintage port of 2011, the final port showing again how good the vintage ports of 2011 are. The 2011 vintage is so good that individual house styles are easily distinguishable, that of Quinta do Noval being lush, juicy and red fruit style in its youth.

For dinner the quinta’s table wines were served with the cook’s speciality of goat, before a delicious 1976 Colheita and finally a 1994 Noval National, this last wine has such purity and density of fruit, balance and elegant you’ll never want the bottle to end.

The next day I spent in the vineyards with my host Catia, learning about the viticulture of the estate and meeting some of the harvest workers. There was rain forecast and the best of the grapes where hurriedly being harvested before this crop damaging event took place.

In the afternoon a visit to the warehouse showed the wines ageing in old wood, which is simply meant as a vessel for the wine as it ages. As we wound through the barrels and vats we met José Gouveia who at 84 years old was still mending vats having worked on the estate for well over sixty years. Far from tired, he was engrossed in his work, his face animated as he kept the precious liquid safe in their surroundings. 

During the evening, the weather closed in and by the morning the rain was coming down hard. Even in these adverse conditions the hills of the Douro have a mystical feel as hillsides disappear behind clouds, reappearing looking like great whales breaking the surface. The sound of the rain drumming on the vine leaves has the same enchantment as sitting under a tropical forest canopy in a storm. I could have stayed there quite happily, letting time do its stuff, waiting for the next great vintage to emerge.

The Wellesley Knightsbridge Hotel

For the past seven years, The Wellesley Knightsbridge Hotel in London has offered its guests a sanctuary decorated by classic adornments with chic and modern twist. Its extravagance and classic décor has wowed London’s elite since first opening its doors back in 2012. The Wellesley features beautiful rooms and amenities worthy of high praise, with attractions like live jazz music, a world class cigar selection, dedicated Rolls Royce chauffeur service for guests and (of course) the best of the best in customer service. It is no wonder that the Wellesley has catapulted itself into the stratosphere of luxury lodging.

Amongst all of these remarkable attractions however, there is one in particular that we are particularly enamoured with: their awe-inspiring crystal bar. This breathtaking lounge area features a marvellous 1920’s décor style. The speakeasy type of atmosphere, coupled with an impressive crystal display of some of the finest spirits this world has seen, makes for a awe-inspiring lounge area that calls for pure celebration.

Address: 11 Knightsbridge, London  SW1X 7LY United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 20 7235 3535
Website