Taj Omayma, an exclusive place

Discover Taj Omayma, a luxury boutique hotel located 15 minutes from Marrakech, in a beautiful area facing the Atlas mountains. This contemporary moroccan style hotel features in & out rooms and small lodges where you can choose between sleeping inside the room or on the upper deck, in a moon bed with a breathtaking view of the mountains. Each of the 180sf lodges has its own private garden with an outside bath. With its intimate and exclusive atmosphere, Taj Omayma is an ideal place for weddings, honeymoon, seminars, and weekend getaway.

Room in&out

In&out room with moon bed and tub

Breathtaking view of the Atlas mountains

Small lodge

Small lodge private garden

Exterior lodge

Courtesy Taj Omayma

A literary affair at Le Pavillon des Lettres, Paris

Moliere, Proust and iPads, you will find them all at Le Pavillon des Lettres..... The classic Hausmann townhouse, located in the posh neighborhood of the Elysee and Place Beauvau, in the 8th arrondissement,  has been transformed into a luxury boutique-hotel. As its name implies, Le Pavillon de Lettres is a homage to literature, with 26 rooms, one for each letter of the alphabet.
Its interiors designed by Didier Benderli, whose recent work includes Petrossian in Monaco and Kitsch in New York, are subtle, chic and peaceful. Lines from a poem, play or text are an integral part of the design in every room, where a Beaudelaire text is transcribed onto a hanging canvas above the bed.
There are no room numbers here, just a letter on the door, dedicated to a different writer: from A for Andersen Hans Christian to Zola Emile. The literary theme doesn't stop there. Every iPads in each room are loaded with books, playlists and daily newspapers.

Le Pavillon des Lettres - a chic retreat for anyone who loves art and literature - is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

Courtesy Le Pavillon des Lettres, Paris

Asia meets Paris elegance at Shangri-La Hotel, Paris

If you plan to spend the holidays in a big city, you might consider the Shangri-La Hotel in Paris. Set to open on December 17, the five-star hotel is part of the Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts group, one of the world's most respected hotel companies based in Hong Kong.
Built in 1896 as the private home of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte's grand-nephew, Prince Roland Bonaparte, Shangri-La Paris dedicated four years to meticulously restore Bonaparte's Palais Iena to its original splendour. Today, the palace at 10 avenue d'Iena has once again become an address for Paris' chic and culture set, just as it was more than a century ago. Nestled in the refined , residential 16th arrondissement between the Place des Etats-Unis, Place d'Iena and the iconic Trocadero high on Chaillot Hill, the hotel is located across the Seine river and steps away from several museums. The restored landmark retains its residential heritage and offers 81 rooms including 27 suites, making it the most intimate of all Shangri-La Hotels worldwide. Imperial insignias and ornate monograms of Prince Roland Bonaparte, subtly integrated into the architecture, are complemented by Asian influence in the decor and ambience of the hotel.

Architectural detail, a Ming Dynasty inspired vase in the entryway

Grand Salon

Restaurant La Bauhinia features an uncovered and restored glass cupola modeled after the Eiffel Tower

Duplex Suite

Luxury minimalist in the Penthouse Suite

Deluxe Room

Detail of the Suite Imperiale, which originally housed prince Roland's private rooms

Unobstructed views of the Eiffel Tower and the Seine river from the majority of rooms and suites

Courtesy Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts

Exotic and Sustainable Travel in the Philippines

Are you dreaming of bliss on an island, or should I say many tiny Islands, far far away... of white sand beaches, grass-thatched roofs and rare birds singing in the trees above your hammock...of snorkeling, kayaking or even rock climbing? If so, the El Nido Resorts in the Philippines might be your destination.  They are located on Lagen Island and Miniloc Island within the protected area of El Nido. The 45 islands and islets and the surrounding sea present endless opportunities for adventure, nature appreciation, and even just simple pleasures. El Nido itself is a municipality located at the northwestern tip of the province of Palawan. The Municipality of El Nido is composed of 18 barangays (villages) covering a total land area of 50,000 hectares. Its population of 27,000 people, is a mix of native Palaweños, with a heavy presence of migrants from other parts of the Philippines.

Lagen Island Resort has a total of 50 rooms with a variety of accommodation styles: 18 Water Cottages built on stilts, 9 Beachfront Cottages with a perfect view of the entire cove, 20 Forest Rooms and 3 Forest Suites built on the fringes of a tropical forest. All rooms have floors made of antique woods and furnishings made of old wood reclaimed from old houses. 

The air-conditioned Clubhouse serves as the main dining area. On the lower level are the boutique, game area, library, clinic, and a conference room that can accommodate up to 70 persons, depending on configuration. The 12 x 25-meter swimming pool, designed with an even depth of 4 feet so as not to touch the roots of  trees that lie underneath, is located in front of the clubhouse. Nearby is a poolside bar.

The sound of waves gently lapping at the beach accompanied by the ambient reflection of lights on the pool creates a memorable dining experience under the stars.  It is the scenic landscape, crystal clear waters, and relative isolation that fascinate and attract travelers to this special place.  The rooms aren't too shabby either!

 Each cottage, room, and suite is air conditioned and has a private toilet and shower with bath amenities , a mini-bar, stereo system with CD player, and IDD telephone.

At the back of the resort is a trail that passes through a forest and ends in a private cove.  If you decide to venture far from your hammock on that white sand beach, you will find many unique features. You may discover Vigan Island, also known as Snake Island, because of its winding white “snake’s tail” of sand.  If you enjoy history, visit  Cudugnon Cave,  one of El Nido’s stunning geological formations.  Archaeologists believe it was used as a burial site during Neolithic times. This ancient cave was formed by a million years of weathering action that hollowed out large portions of  emergent limestone layers.

You may want to paddle your way to nature’s wonders, using the special sea kayaks, and regular kayaks available at the Marine Sports Center.  El Nido ("nido" in Spanish means "nest") is named after the edible nests of Swiftlets (Collocalia Fuciphaga) found in the crevices of its limestone cliffs.  These nests are the main ingredient for the gourmet nido soup.  Considered  a showcase of Palawan’s geology and diverse wildlife, El Nido's majestic limestone cliffs stand guard over clear waters, with hundreds of species of tropical fishes and corals, and three species of endangered sea turtles.  

The resort offers a wide range of activities, from soft adventure sports to more leisurely pursuits. The more adventurous can even do some rock jumping!

Facilities at the Miniloc Island Resort are equally attractive.  They include an open-air restaurant located at the clubhouse, a boutique, game area, beach bar, and a conference room that can accommodate up to 40 persons.  Snorkeling areas, dive sites, lagoons, secluded beaches and picnic sites are all within easy reach of both resorts. There are over 100 private beach locations readily accessible from both resorts.

Miniloc Island Resort features grass-thatched roofs on 50 rooms with a variety of accommodation styles: 5 Water Cottages, 2 Waterside Cottages, 5 Seaview Rooms and 10 Deluxe Seaview Rooms built on stilts, 13 Garden Cottages surrounded by tropical plants, 3 Cliff Cottages nestled high in the hillside, and 12 Beachside Rooms.

All of the 50 rooms are made of local and natural materials and are equipped with an air-conditioning unit, mini bar, hair dryer, private toilet, shower facilities, and private verandas that offer views of the cove and nearby islands.

At Miniloc’s very doorstep, off the long dock, guests can snorkel alongside 3-foot-long Jackfish and hundreds of Sergeant Majors, Damsel fish, Fusiliers, and other multi-colored tropical fishes.  You can be adventurous and explore them on your own, or be accompanied by a Marine Sports Guides.  A complete line of snorkeling equipment is available free on a  first come first serve basis.

The forests of El Nido are host to more than 100 species of birds, a large number of which are endemic to Palawan. If you take an invigorating walk amongst the giant trees and lush rainforest, you might see a monkey, Palawan Hornbill and other wondrous flora and fauna. If you end up at a beautiful cove on the west coast of the island, you may choose a 15-minute kayak paddle back to the resort. It's a great aerobic workout!

AND it's SUSTAINABLE...The El Nido Resorts  strive to operate with minimal impact on the environment. They believe in respecting our natural resources through responsible tourism. The resorts work closely with the community in the prevention of illegal fishing, promotion of coastal clean-ups, environmental education campaigns, monitoring of snorkeling and dive sites, and installation and maintenance of mooring buoys. Both properties have desalinating plants to reduce the sourcing of water from watersheds in mainland El Nido. Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) ensure that resort sewage is non-damaging to the environment, and recycled water from STP is used for flushing and irrigation. Residual waste is sun-dried and used to fertilize plants in the gardens.   The resorts also make significant annual donations to a Conservation Trust Fund for future environmental projects.

LIVING LIKE MOVIE STARS: HEARST CASTLE

John and I were the lucky guests of a good friend of ours who is quite the philanthropist. She  recently gave a  generous donation to Planned Parenthood , which resulted in a private tour of Hearst Castle  followed by a swim in the Neptune Pool and Roman Pool at the Castle! 

Hearst Castle is part fantasy, part folly.  Its fanciful towers dance up a hillside above San Simeon--a palace perched on a most unlikely site. www.hearstcastle.org Its eccentric and energetic founder and creator, William Randolph Hearst, was a powerful businessman and  icon of the early 20th century. 

Photo Credit: Claire Turner

Hearst's taste for art was developed on a trip to the Louvre in the 1870's as a child, where he asked his wealthy mom, Phoebe, if she would buy the museum for him!  That was the beginning of a lifetime of collecting art and creating venues for his ever-expanding collection.  From the sublime to the bizarre, the collection amassed and stored at Hearst Castle is truly impressive.

It seems  implausible that someone as prolific a collector and builder could actually do any other work in their lifetime, but the Hearst media empire was one of the largest of the media conglomerates of the 20th century, spanning film to newspapers.

Hearst castle, the 100,000 square foot self-sustaining city that was erected in the 1920s on this hilltop,  was a favorite camping spot of the Hearst family when WR was a child.  Hearst contracted with the amazing Julia Morgan, a muse and architect of great accomplishment, to create the magnificent folly at San Simeon he called his "ranch." 

Today, Hearst Castle happens to be the most visited state park in the California State Park system, but the stories that one could imagine occurring on that hillside in the 1920s and 1930s with every luminary from Winston Churchill to Louis B Mayer, from Mary Pickford to Errol Flynn, must have been magic!  It seems that through actress,  Marion Davies,' longterm relationship with both  WR Hearst and "the bottle," spirits were limited to 2 cocktails per day during ones stay at the "ranch."  Like most things in Hearst's life, everything was tightly controlled.

Our swim was followed by a private dinner for 6 poolside in the Roman Baths.  To have access to the seldom-visited areas of the Castle where no tours go, and to access  archives filled with volumes of  original plans, notes and artifacts that filled this museum of a home, was a treat.

Our tour was guided by the director and curator of the collection. We were shown the archive vault where all of the correspondence and architectural drawings between Julia Morgan and Mr. Hearst are safely stored. It was fascinating to witness the "intellectual affair" these two were having over the design and construction of Hearst Castle.

Photo: Claire Turner      John's jumping into the Roman Pool from the beautiful dive platform was an experience.  But, the best part of the day was to share it with friends and to have the house all to ourselves, just we six, taking  a step back in time.  Here we were, living like movie stars! Thank you Cyndee!