It’s a hotel restaurant, but you feel as though you’re stepping into a Thai village, simple, cool and spacious, a refuge from the mad bustle of Bangkok. Thiptara, which means ‘heaven on water’, is set beside the Chao Praya River, and is so utterly dreamy and romantic that if you’re not with someone you love, … Continued
The litmus test of a good scent is when both men and women say, Mmmn, you smell divine ! That’s what I’ve had since I turned to Jo Malone’s Grapefruit Cologne (100ml £61.00) beautifully bottled and so catchy that people turn round and notice. The entire grapefruit collection brings rays of sunshine and a zesty … Continued
In the steaming, electric atmosphere of Bangkok, one of the world’s most exciting cities, The Peninsula Hotel is a supercool, sophisticated refuge. Reaching up 37 floors, its panoramic views are the most breathtaking in the city. All the rooms in the W-shaped glass and steel tower overlook the meandering Chao Praya River and awesome sprawl … Continued
The Blue Haven Hotel in Tobago is a perfect place to stay and soak up the island’s lazy days, lush vegetation and glittering turquoise seas. It’s stylish, intimate and welcoming – with a perfect palm-fringed beach of soft sand.
Lara and I arrived in a state of typical mother, daughter edgy tension. But the moment we turned into Chewton Glen’s sweeping drive, past the rolling lawns and glistening lake, a sense of calm descended on us. The hotel, on the edge of the New Forest, just a short walk to the beach, blends seamlessly … Continued
As you step out onto the top of the building, with the sprawl of Bangkok below, it’s one of those moments you’ll always remember, a kind of wonder of the world. The 360 degree view from Vertigo Grill & Moon Bar, perched on the 61st floor of Bangkok’s Banyan Tree Hotel, is awe inspiring, especially … Continued
The moment you turn into Chewton Glen’s sweeping drive, past the rolling lawns and glistening lake, a sense of calm descends on you.The warm staff welcome was so heartening we couldn’t help smiling. And what with our car whisked away, coats taken, and before long even our dirty boots polished to perfection, we gave ourselves … Continued
The most elegant retreat in Bangkok is The Mandarin Oriental, not just one of the world’s most splendid hotels, but also a piece of history. Here Evelyn Waugh sat on the terrace writing Mad Dogs and Englishmen, John Le Carre finished The Honourable Schoolboy, and Somerset Maugham recovered from raging malaria in an airy bedroom. … Continued
