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The Strand, Yangon
EDITORIAL Ovidio Guaita, International Editor-in-Chief
W
e are all influencers. Better still, travel influencers. Not because we promote companies or destinations or airlines – or, at least, not all of us or not directly. However, we are influencers simply for our authoritativeness. That authority that comes from having visited so many countries, challenging ourselves, experiencing, interacting, learning. Learning that we are “all foreigners”, as I wrote years ago - at least as long as we have the courage to get on the road. Daisann McLane, who wrote the Frugal Traveler column for the New York Times and Real Travel for the National Geographic Traveler for years, wrote in one of his articles: “when you travel to many different places and you see thousands of people living outside your little bubble of certainties, you will realize how ridiculous the very idea of security is. Empires rise and fall, personal fortunes are built and destroyed, rivers overflow and return to their beds, and people still go on. “ The unknown intrigues us; the doubt about what we will find reinforces us; our comfort zone bores us. We are sure when we discover things. The next time they ask you: “are you still traveling?” Keep looking towards the horizon. You will never reach it, but it will guide you. You are a great traveler.
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CONTENTS
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Grand Hotel Wien Vienna, Austria
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Alex Lake Zurich Thalwil, Switzerland
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Swiss Travel Pass Switzerland
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The Brando French Polynesia
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Bettoja Hotels Rome, Italy
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Four Seasons Hotel Beirut, Lebanon
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The Strand Yangon, Myanmar
Yangon
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D E S T I N A T I O N S
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2014
H otels &
HOTEL COLONIALI
R es o r t s Ov id io
a ait Gu
Ovidio Guaita
2020 PalidanoPress
Places to Stay in Florence & Nearby
HOTEL COLONIALI PP
T op I t a lia n Top Italian Hotels & Resorts
The best properties among hotels and resorts have been chosen - all of them visited and evaluated. Go beyond your expectations. Let yourself be led by your emotions for a stay that will never be more memorable.
This directory offers an annotated and up-todate instrument for the possible destinations for those who want to stay in the city or nearby. This because sometimes it is not only a question of price but rather attention to detail, passion and taste. Questa directory offre uno strumento aggiornato e ragionato sulle possibili destinazioni per chi vuole soggiornare in città o nelle vicinanze. Perché a volte non è solo questione di prezzo ma di attenzione al dettaglio, passione e gusto.
L’autore, Paolo Gerbaldo, è inviato di Resorts Magazine.
Le strutture migliori tra hotel e resort. Tutte visitate e valutate. Andate oltre le vostre aspettative, lasciatevi guidare dalle emozioni per un soggiorno che non potrà che essere memorabile.
Top 100
Top 100
Dal Settecento fino alla seconda guerra mondiale. Due secoli di lusso ai tropici, tra ventilatori a pale, verande, tè pomeridiani e stuoli di servitori. Molti in Asia ma anche nelle colonie africane e in Centro America. Una storia affascinante di lungimiranti investitori, pionieri e avventurieri costellata di nomi eccellenti come Raffles, Peninsula e Strand. Questa directory ci mostra i migliori esempi sopravvissuti dove sperimentare esperienze e atmosfere d’altri tempi.
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XIV, n. 89 2020 International Editor-in-Chief Ovidio Guaita Senior Editor Lawrence Taylor Contributors Elsa Bozzaotra, Riccardo Casano, Maria Coscarelli, Paola Di Girolamo, Paolo Gerbaldo, Alessandra Jovinelli, Pamela McCourt Francescone Translations Lawrence Taylor, Agnese Frullatori Photos Ovidio Guaita, Lawrence Taylor, Paolo Gerbaldo e hotel e resort pubblicati Video for iPad and iPhone app Roberto Sessoli Graphic Design Niccolò Angeli www.nican.me Layout Graphic Department Palidano Press Public Relations Daniela Libero Subscription Europa 300 € Resto del mondo 350 € Editore PalidanoPress Kemp House, 152 - 160 City Road London EC1V 2NX (UK) Palidano Press is a Trade Mark of Palidano LLC
2701 Centerville Rd. New Castle County Wilmington, Delaware 19808 (USA) © 2020 Palidano LLC ISSN 2043-6629 www.resorts.it
Cover: Grand Hotel Wien, Vienna. Right: The Brando, French Polynesia.
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HISTORIC HOTEL | VIENNA
Grand Hotel Wien Vienna
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he historical dimension of the building, opened on 10 May 1870, and the modern range of services offered combine well in the legendary Grand Hotel Wien. The prestigious structure envelops its guests with numerous sensory stimuli. Walking through the large internal spaces until you reach the rooms and suites gives you the opportunity to savor the sensations transmitted by the luxurious environments that characterized the Belle Époque. The elegant rooms and suites are in classic Viennese style. A varied and seductive gastronomic offer is certainly among the pluses of the Grand Hotel Wien. Let’s start with the intimate atmosphere that welcomes us in the gourmet restaurant “Le Ciel by Toni Mörwald”. In a classy setting which, in the summer months, offers a view of Vienna - thanks to the roof terrace - with a look at French cuisine, chef Roland Huber proposes delicate combinations of flavors by designing a menu characterized by the right combinations of products.
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A corner of the Far East, instead, is the Japanese restaurant “Unkai”. Here the rooms recreate the appropriate atmosphere to enjoy the multifaceted art of Japanese cuisine. More informal is “Unkai Bar & Sushi”. The Viennese gastronomic tradition finds its place in the Grand Brasserie. For guests in search of the art of hospitality in its most successful forms, the Grand Hotel Wien conveys experiences that live up to its long history.
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GRAND HOTEL WIEN Vienna, Austria www.grandhotelwien.com Rooms & Suites 205 Villas 0 - Restaurants 5 Spa yes Children yes Chain JJW Hotels &Resorts Affiliation LHW Activities sightseeing Score 80 Environment 60 Design 85 Service 80 Cuisine 95 Health 71 Spa 80 Rooms 87
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LAKE HOTEL | ZURICH
Alex Lake Zurich
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h e h otel ful l y meet s t he needs of th ose wh o are se n s i t i ve to co ntemp o rar y design, qual it y mater ials, h ar mony o f col or s a n d t he essent ial it y o f deco rat ive elements. Loc ate d at t h e edg e o f Lake Zu r ich, t he Alex L ake Zur ic h , a Ca m p b e l l G ray ho tel in Thal w il, mixes s oph istic ated design w i t h t h e tou c h es o f hig h-l evel inter nat ion al h ospitalit y. Th e re s u lt i s a s u ccessfu l, ex t remel y chic, intimate, moder n an d d yn a m i c e nvi ro nment. Sp ecial ment io n for th e common areas w h i c h , op e n i n g o nto t he l ake, immediately invite on e to social l i fe.
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LAKE HOTEL | ZURICH
Th e b r i ght lo b by wel co mes g uest s, im mediately direc tin g th e i r g a ze towa rds t he Lake. St u dio s and penth ouses fully meet th e n e e d s of t h o se w ho are sensit ive to contemporar y design , q u a l i t y m ate r ial s, har mo ny o f co l o rs an d th e essentialit y of d e corat i ve e lement s. Al l designed to enh an ce spaces with a vi e w of L a k e Zu r ich. 32
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LAKE HOTEL | ZURICH
H owe ve r, Al ex Lake Zur ich is al so at te ntive to well-bein g, wi t h i t s we l com ing PureGray Sp a, as wel l as to offer in g or igin al p rop os a ls. Th e p o ssib il it y o f reaching t he center of Zur ich on b oa rd t h e Alex p r ivate b o at cer t ainl y fal ls into th is categor y : a com for t a b l e and excl usive ser vice. A gou r m e t b reak is al so a must at The B oat House R estaurant & Te r ra ce. Th e rest au rant, ro mant ic a n d tren dy, with an e le ga nt d i n i n g area o n t wo l evel s and over look in g th e lake, of fe r s a c a re f u l and b al anced seaso nal me n u th at accompan ies th e gu e s t on a p at h o f t aste at tent ive to a cuisin e with lake f i s h p la ce d a l o ng side l o cal and M editer ran ean suggestion s, i nte r wove n wit h co mp l exit y and finesse. 34
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ALEX LAKE ZURICH Zurich, Switzerland www.campbellgrayhotels.com Rooms & Suites 44 Villas 0 - Restaurants 1 Spa yes Children yes Chain Campbell Gray Hotels Affiliation SLH Activities sightseeing Score 80 Environment 80 Design 82 Service 80 Cuisine 83 Health 74 Spa 76 Rooms 83
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LAKE HOTEL | ZURICH
Swiss Travel Pass
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h e q uiet and el eg ant Thal w il, like many fascin atin g p l a ce s i n Swi t zer l and, is easil y reachab l e usin g th e Swiss Travel Pa s s, wh i c h a ll ows yo u to u se al l t he p o ssibilities offered by th e re t i c u l a r integrated Sw iss Travel System: train s, boats, b u s e s a n d u r b an net wo r k vehicl es. w w w. s wi s s. co m
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VIP RESORT | FRENCH POLYNESIA
The Brando French Polynesia
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nce an enjoyab l e ret reat for M ar lon Bran do, t h i s e co - f r i e n d l y l u xu r y reso r t l o cated on th e pr ivate atoll o f Te t i a roa , i n French Po l ynesia, wel co mes its guests in an i d yl l i c s e t t i n g, p amp er ing t hem w it h a high - class all-in c lusive h os p i t a li t y fo r mu l a and unco mp ro mis in g ser vices. I t is a cce s s i b le on l y by air and is t he ideal d estin ation for th ose w h o wa nt to l ive an excl usive st ay, in th e n ame of disc reet a n d gre e n lu x ur y. The ato l l is, in fac t, so isolated th at absolute p r i va c y re i gn s t here. Th i s ye a r t h e reso r t was awarded t he For bes Travel Guide Fi ve - St a r H otel award, t he renow ned ratin g of luxur y h otels, re s t a u ra nt s a nd sp as aro u nd t he wo r l d an d in c luded in th e n e w f i ve - s t a r h o tel g u ide.
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VIP RESORT | FRENCH POLYNESIA
The Brando is not only luxury and exclusivity but also a source of attention for the environment. In fact, it is the first property in French Polynesia to obtain the LEED Platinum environmental certification from the United States Green Building Council. It has developed several aspects of sustainable tourism including the use of innovative technologies to mitigate carbon emissions; the use of an innovative air conditioning system obtained from the sea depths (SWAC - Sea Water Air Conditioning); the use of solar energy for 70% of the resort’s needs. 40
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THE BRANDO Tetiaroa, French Polynesia www.thebrando.com
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CITY HOTEL | ROME
Bettoja Hotels Rome
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omEntic Rome: a special weekend, with a personalized photo shoot among the beauties of the Eternal City. A couple’s trip to the Eternal City - so called because, whatever happens, it will continue to thrive - is the ideal metaphor for the “per fect relationship”. Discovering the cultural and gourmet treasures of Rome vis à vis and staying in a historic hotel with original Déco furnishings from the 1940s, protected by the Fine Arts, then falling in love with the City and those around you on a weekend, is possible thanks to the “RomEntic Rome” experience - a package signed by Bettoja Hotels.
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CITY HOTEL | ROME
With its 3 hotels in the center of Rome - location for film sets such as The Young Pope - Bettoja Hotels offers the experience of capturing the special moments of a couple’s journey in an evocative setting and the best panoramic spots in the heart of the City. A team of professional photographers accompanies guests in a real professional shooting around the Monti district, via Urbana, the Bettoja Hotel Mediterraneo and the Colosseum, capturing the personalized tour in an album of 30 photographs. 44
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BETTOJA HOTELS Rome, Italy www.bettojahotels.it
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CITY HOTEL | BEIRUT
Four Seasons Hotel Beirut
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he rebirth of cosmopolitan and lively Beirut, of the infinite nights and the extensive bank account continues. The centre grows frenetically rife with new edifices and others are restored to their former fascination. The international l’hôtellerie boasts its jewels. From the high 26th floor, the city appears punctuated with an infinity of lights that spreads across Mount Lebanon. It recalls a carpet of coloured points that remains perfectly recognisible even when the sky is dark, similar to this moonless night, cooled by a pleasant breeze. The chaises longues around the pool soon disappear and in their place appear tables, sofas and plants. Then the evening begins. We are in one of the most glamorous lounges in Beirut. Attentive dj, perfect cocktails, beautiful people of various nationalities along with many locals. But above all, tapas with an Asian flair created by the Italian executive chef Giancarlo Gottardo abound happily irreverent, where the tradition is no longer a hostage of nostalgia but rather goes hand in hand with new flavours, many of which taste of Asia, ginger and spices. The Four Seasons in Beirut was inaugurated a few years ago, but it is already well known in the Middle East. Contemporary architecture, refined
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CITY HOTEL | BEIRUT
dĂŠcor with Middle Eastern influences. Copious amounts of wood, bright and vibrant fabrics along with generous spaces. The gym overlooks the sea promenade, right by the spa, whose menu offers both traditional Oriental treatments and also a few of Mediterranean inspiration based on the properties of olive oil. In the end, Beirut deserves another visit, for a cocktail on the terrace or an evening in the lounge. They are worth a return to Four Seasons Hotel Beirut. 48
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FOUR SEASONS HOTEL BEIRUT Beirut, Lebanon www.fourseasons.com/beirut
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DESTINATION | MYANMAR
Yangon classic
DESTINATION | MIANMAR
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DESTINATION | MIANMAR
The Strand
Yangon
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he most refined hotel east of the Suez Canal. Thus, back in 1911, the British publisher and traveler John Murray described The Strand Yangon, and still today this heritage property, which is part of the prestigious The Leading Hotels of the World, is the most celebrated and iconic hotel in the former Burmese capital. Located in front of the Yangon river - hence the name Strand - the imposing building has a columned facade, and was acquired in the early 1900s by the Armenian Sarkies brothers who had recently built another historic hotel: Raffles in Singapore. The Strand immediately became the symbol of that era when Yangon - then known as Rangoon - was the most sophisticated and prosperous city in Southeast Asia.
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DESTINATION | MIANMAR
Twelve months ago the white marble and teak in the suites, like all the interiors, were restored to new splendour, while new outdoor areas were created for verdant gardens and a splendid swimming pool with the symbol of the chinthe, the mythological guardian lion of Myanmar’s golden temples. The airy lobby is an apotheosis of refinement with white marble columns, ceiling fans, comfortable sofas and elegant high-backed black rattan armchairs. On the two upper floors butlers take care of the guests and the 31 Superior, Executive and Deluxe suites, furnished with period pieces and antiques, have marble bathrooms. The Strand Suite, where countless celebrities have stayed from George Orwell to Mick Jagger and from Ernest Hemingway to Somerset Maugham, has a master bedroom and a living room with a table for ten guests. The spa and the fitness center, which overlook the pool while the Strand Cafe, with fiery red rattan seating and large windows overlooking the Strand Road, is an oasis of tranquility where breakfast, lunch, afternoon teas and dinner are served. In the famous Sarkies Bar the barman mixes ambrosial cocktails, and, in the exclusive and refined The Strand Restaurant, the sophisticated specialties of haute cuisine created by Executive Chef Patrick Périé are culinary masterpieces that lend new lustre to the legendary grand dame of Yangon. 58
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INFO HOTEL
THE STRAND Yangon, Myanmar www.hotelthestrand.com Rooms & Suites 32 Villas 0 - Restaurants 2 Spa yes Children yes Chain none Affiliation LHW Activities sightseeing Score 86 Environment 89 Design 89 Service 90 Cuisine 92 Health 67 Spa 87 Rooms 86
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ura Pro scans all types of documents, especially thick books, with ease. It scans flat single pages as well as bound books and documents simply and easily. Its revolutionary “Book Curve Flattening” technology solves the problem of having to unbind books before scanning. Fast, efficient, just 2 seconds per page (continuously), ultra-fast scanning speed from Aura’s high configuration software. Only 2 seconds a page for both single sheets and double page books. Scan anything up to A3 in Size, from documents, drawings, contracts and notes to newspapers, books and photos. A preview screen ensures that the image to be scanned is within the scanning frame. It can also be used as table lamp. www.czur.com
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