LIFESTYLEHOTELS – THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF TRAVEL
THEY ARE THE TREASURES AMONG HOTELS. EACH IS UNIQUE, RARE AND ALWAYS WORTH DISCOVERING.
W E WO U L D L OV E T O H E A R F ROM YO U.
BOOKING INFORMATION Schmiedgasse 38/1, 8010 Graz, Austria T. +43 316 83 88 88 F. +43 316 83 88 22 office@lifestylehotels.net www.lifestylehotels.net
Editorial
We are talking about the exclusive specimens among hotels. We call them LIFESTYLEHOTELS. They are not the easily replaceable products of the touristic market research. The soul of the proprietors is alive in LIFESTYLEHOTELS, and in many cases, the proprietors manage them personally as well.
A voyage of discovery Hotels may be buildings, but exceptional hotels are also much more: they have a soul, an aura. They do not merely fulfil a purpose, they are an experience in themselves. You will find just such exceptional hotels on the next 400 pages – around a hundred unique establishments in a dozen or more different countries. These hotels exist thanks to the creativity, imagination and love of those who run them. A love that extends to many wonderful and exciting details. A love that has created not simply individual hotels, but special hotels with special places just waiting to be discovered by their guests. Another feature of these LIFESTYLEHOTELS is that they do not stand alone: they are part of the landscape or cityscape around them. Rooted in their region, they share its rhythm and heartbeat with guests and immerse you in local lifestyle; they are often welcoming and popular places with the locals. In short, these hotels are meeting places. The 14th edition of “THE BOOK” is also special. Green and blue copies of “THE BOOK” are available, and this is a classic coffee table book – for quality content deserves a quality cover. Four to six pages of striking images and detailed descriptions are dedicated to each hotel, not forgetting the familiar “best room” tip for everyone looking for the very best place in the best hotels. You can of course also skim through to find a special hotel in a specific place, but we recommend going further. Why not travel within the book as well as with the book – and make new and unexpected discoveries that are definitely worth another trip. Between all the hotels you will also discover extraordinary reading material: essays by the internationally renowned author Franzobel, which he wrote exclusively for the magazine “The Stylemate”. Prepare for a very special journey as you explore the tantalising destinations in the 14th edition of “THE BOOK”.
THE BOOK
Thomas Holzleithner
Editors
Hardy Egger
Content
Content
AU S T R I A p. 8 – 173 Achenkirch
Das Kronthaler
8
Bramberg am Wildkogel
Wildkogel Resort
12
Fügen
Alpina Zillertal Family.Lifestyle.Kinderhotel
16
Gaschurn
Montafon Lodge Luxury Lodge Hotel
20
Geinberg Geinberg5 Private Spa Villas
24
Graz
28
Augarten Art Hotel
Lendhotel 32 NEW
Roomz Graz
38
Grossarl
Hotel Nesslerhof
42
Hallstatt
Hallstatt Hideaway
46
Innsbruck
Nala Individuellhotel
50
Innsbruck – Kühtai
Jagdschloss Kühtai
54
Ischgl/Kappl
Hotel Zhero Ischgl Kappl
58
Kals am Grossglockner
Gradonna Mountain Resort
62
Kaltenbach
Das Kaltenbach
66
Längenfeld
Naturhotel Waldklause
72
Lech am Arlberg
Berghotel Sonnblick
76
Pure Lermoos
Sölden
Bergland Hotel Sölden
158
Uderns im Zillertal
Sportresidenz Zillertal
162
Vienna City
Hollmann Beletage
166
Hotel Schani Wien
170
Kayumanis Nanjing Private Villas & Spa
174
Hotel Lemongarden
178
CHINA p. 174 – 177 Nanjing
C ROAT I A p. 178– 183 Brač
NEW
F RA N C E p. 184 –197
80
Paris
Hidden Hotel
184
Leogang Puradies
86
Hotel Felicien
190
Maria Alm
Hotel Eder
90
Hotel Odyssey
194
Mayrhofen
ElisabethHotel Premium Private Retreat
94
Mellau
Sonne Lifestyle Resort
Nauders
Aparthotel Arabella
102
Hotel The Crystal
106
Hotel Panorama Obertauern
110
Saalbach Hinterglemm
Alpin Juwel
116
Bayerisch Gmain
Der Klosterhof
198
Thomsn-Rock.Hotel 120
Garmisch Partenkirchen
Das Graseck
202
Salzburg City
Arthotel Blaue Gans
126
Husum an der Norsee
Thomas Hotel
206
Hotel & Villa Auersperg
130
Nuremberg
Art&Business Hotel
210
Schladming
Stadthotel Brunner
134
Sankt Englmar
Berghotel Maibrunn
214
See im Tal Paznaun
Hotel Weisses Lamm
138
Stuttgart
V8 Hotel Classic
218
Seefeld/Mösern
Nidum Casual Luxury Hotel
142
V8 Hotel
222
Serfaus – Fiss – Ladis
Alfa Hotel
146
Timmendorfer Strand
Sand
228
Alpslodge – Life.Style.Hotel.Fiss
150
SeeHuus 232
Hotel Gebhard
154
Lermoos
NEW
Obergurgl Obertauern
NEW
98
GERMANY p. 198 –235
NEW
Content
Content
G R E AT B R I TA I N
PORTUGAL
p. 236 –243
p. 342 – 353
London Sanderson
236
Albufeira
Vila Joya
342
240
Funchal
Quinta da Bela Vista
346
Lagos
Vila Valverde
350
St Martin’s Lane
H U NG A RY
S PA I N
p. 244 – 247 Budapest
Lanchid 19
244
I TA LY p. 250 – 341 Alta Badia
Hotel Tofana
Amalfi Coast
250
Casa Angelina
254
Relais Blu
258
Brixen
Hotel Pupp
264
Camaiore
Locanda al Colle
268
Dorf Tirol near Merano
Der Küglerhof
272
Florence
Home Hotel Florence
276
Gavorrano
Conti di San Bonifacio
280
NEW
Gsies
La Casies
284
Isola Capo Rizzuto
NEW
Praia Art Resort
288
Issengo/Falzes
NEW
Gourmet & Boutiquehotel Tanzer
294
Hotel Larice
300
Hotel Gitschberg
306
Livigno Meransen
NEW
p. 354 – 379 Mallorca
Convent de la Missio
354
Fontsanta Hotel Thermal Spa & Wellness
358
Hotel Can Simoneta
364
Hotel Tres
368
Hotel Zhero – Palma
372
Pleta de Mar
376
UTMT – Underneath the Mango Tree
380
S R I L A N KA p. 380 – 383 Dickwella South
SWITZERLAND p. 384 – 399
NEW Montefollonico Follonico
312
Adelboden
Parkhotel Bellevue & Spa
384
Rimini i-Suite
318
Lucerne
Hotel des Balances
388
Riva del Garda
NEW
Holiday IV Gardan
322
Samnaun
Alpinlodge & Spa
392
San Candido
NEW
Post Hotel – Tradition & Lifestyle
328
Zermatt
Hotel Matterhorn Focus
396
Sardinia
La Coluccia Hotel
334
Venice Lido
Hotel Villa Pannonia
338
DA S KRONTHALER
exclusive alpine 8
Das Kronthaler
9
Austria, Achenkirch
Located directly on the ski slopes in the Karwendel Alpine Park, the Alpine lifestyle hotel DAS KRONTHALER seamlessly integrates modern living into the incomparable landscape surrounding Achensee in Tyrol. With great attention to detail, DAS KRONTHALER offers a place to enjoy life and feel good – a place where you can forget the hectic pace of everyday life. Its 99 suites invite guests to stay a while and offer plenty of room to relax. Stylish design, fine cuisine and a luxurious wellness and spa area combined to create unmatched “hotel couture”. DAS KRONTHALER is also the ideal base camp for those in search of a sporting holiday. The brand new personal training outdoor course on the hotel’s
roof-top terrace with state-of-the-art fitness equipment really gets guests in the mood for exercise, as well as other kinds of activities such as yoga, archery, mountain biking, riding, climbing, skiing and much more. Best Room High above the rooftops and 1,000 metres above sea level up in the clouds, you’ll find plenty of space for inspiration and upscale living. The panoramic penthouses with an unparalleled view of the lake are an oasis of wellbeing; a place to relax and be amazed. With a private panoramic infrared cabin and innovative interior design, they are simply a dream come true.
DAS KRONTHALER seamlessly integrates modern living into the incomparable landscape surrounding Achensee.
DAS KRONTHALER Am Waldweg 105a 6215 Achenkirch Tyrol, Austria Room Rates 285 – € 850 Rooms / Suites
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Panorama Chalet
10
Das Kronthaler
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Austria, Achenkirch
village within a village W I L D KO G E L RESORTS
Surrounded by the untouched nature of the Oberpinzgau region in Salzburger Land, is the idyllic village of Bramberg with the Wildkogel Resort in the middle. Right next to the lift that takes skiers in the winter and hikers in the spring up to the captivating nature of the Hohe Tauern national park. Guests can find a totally unique world here and their luxurious private residence in the Alps. Whether it’s apartments, holiday home or chalet, everyone can find plenty of privacy over 80 to 380 square metres. In the largest chalet even up to 20 people.
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The apartments impress with stylish interior design consisting of elegant designer furniture, a fully fitted brand kitchen, own garden or terrace and depending on the size a wood-burning stove and private sauna. Extra services can also be booked on request, like a breakfast service, ordering menus from the restaurant or a chef to cook live in the apartment. You can totally chill out in the wellness complex with indoor and outdoor pool, SPA, fitness and sauna area, while the little ones are having fun in the Player’s Lounge.
Wildkogel Resorts
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Austria, Bramberg am Wildkogel
Best Room The penthouses are distinguished by their superb quality finish. Some are even equipped with their own sauna. The open fireplace complements the top-notch furnishing and ensures a cosy time on holiday.
Wildkogel Resorts Senninger Feld 35 5733 Bramberg Salzburg, Austria Apartment Rates € 100 – € 390 Apartments
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Penthouses
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Wildkogel Resorts
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Austria, Bramberg am Wildkogel
lifestyle for families ALPINA Z I L L E R TA L FA M I LY. LIFESTYLE. KINDERHOTEL
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Alpina Zillertal Family.Lifestyle.Kinderhotel
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Austria, Fügen
Warm colours, plenty of wood and modern furniture ensure that the entire family will feel like at home.
alpina zillertal family.lifestyle. kinderhotel Pankrazbergstraße 32 6263 Fügen Tyrol, Austria Room Rates € 224 – € 338 Rooms / Suites
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The alpina zillertal family.lifestyle. kinderhotel in the Zillertal valley perfectly combines family, wellness and lifestyle and is just the thing for families with children who are looking for a mix of style and child-friendly facilities. The hotel is made up of Junior Suites and spacious Family Suites from 50 m² to 105 m², which feature a separate children’s room. Warm colours, plenty of wood and modern furniture ensure that the entire family will feel like at home. The cuisine at the hotel spans a wide range of tastes, with special meals for young gourmets. On the top floor of
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the alpina family.lifestyle.hotel you’ll encounter not only a fantastic view of the mountains surrounding the Zillertal valley, but also the hotel’s absolute highlight – its amazing own adult spa area on the 5th floor with sky pool. Since December 2015, there are even more features for children on an activity area on a total of 4,000 sqm: The „Woody’s“ indoor and outdoor activity pool, water slide, family „clothes-on“ sauna, a child care and play area with gymnastics room, soft play area, climbing wall and trained care givers to look after the children.
Alpina Zillertal Family.Lifestyle.Kinderhotel
“65er” Family Suite
Best Room This luxurious Family Suite promises on 65 sqm room for all young and old. Children have their own room with up to three beds. From the balcony you can enjoy the stunning view into the valley or of the Tyrolean mountains. In
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addition, the suite offers a living area with comfortable sitting area as well as a bathroom with bathtub and separate luxury shower. more space.
Austria, Fügen
M O N TA F O N L O D G E L U X U RY LODGE HOTEL
authentic hotel experience 20
Montafon Lodge Luxury Lodge Hotel
21
Austria, Gaschurn
The Montafon Lodge luxury lodge hotel is 1,000 metres above sea level in the middle of the resort town of Gaschurn in the Montafon region, just a few minutes’ walk from the base station of Silvretta Montafon, the largest skiing and hiking area in Vorarlberg. The hotel combines tradition with a contemporary spirit. The 26 individually designed rooms have an alpine touch but are hip at the same time and provide one thing above all: a breath taking view of the mountain backdrop of the Montafon. Designer
pieces often made from local materials like oak or slate give the rooms their unique flair. The „Frieda“ gourmet restaurant in the Montafon Lodge luxury lodge hotel pampers its guests with its creative compositions of Austrian cuisine combining seasonal and regional products in a modern way to produce award-winning dining with 14 Gault Millau points. The hotel’s own spa offers every imaginable amenity from the hay saunarium to the waterfall, indoor pool and Kneipp course to the private spa.
Montafon Lodge Luxur Lodge Hotel Innere Gosta 19 6793 Gaschurn Tyrol, Austria
Best Room The Deluxe Room is an oasis of wellbeing where guests can relax and enjoy themselves. The room has a romantic bedroom and a separate living room, in some cases with a fireplace to keep things cosy. Unwind and indulge in the hotel’s wide array of services.
Room Rates € 200 – € 300 Rooms / Suites
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Design Deluxe Room
Designer pieces often made from local materials like oak or slate give the rooms their unique flair. 22
Montafon Lodge Luxury Lodge Hotel
23
Austria, Gaschurn
5 star privacy GEINBERG5 P R I VAT E S PA VILLAS
“Just private” – nestled amidst the hills of the Upper Austrian Innviertel, the Geinberg5 Private Spa Villas offer an exclusive refuge. The 21 private spa suites guarantee peace and intimacy. Every suite has its own private spa area and its own walkway leading to private bays in the pond. The 114- to 300-sqm suites offer a completely private spa experience, with a free-standing bathtub, Finnish sauna, steam bath, open fireplace and outdoor whirlpool. A butler service is also on offer – butlers bring drinks, dishes from the gourmet kitchen of the Aqarium
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restaurant and anything else guests need at any time of day or night. The Exclusiv SPA with its swimming areas as well as relaxation zones and a loungebar provide additional relaxation. The Oriental World has a hamam with a seraglio bath, a warm grotto, an Oriental tea bar, an inner courtyard and a rooftop garden with a sauna. Guests can also enjoy the entire World of Wellness at the Spa Resorts Therme Geinberg.
Geinberg5 Private Spa Villas
25
Austria, Geinberg
Best Room The Private Spa Villa encompasses 300 sqm and leaves nothing to be desired. Besides a 115 sqm terrace with a whirlpool, you can also enjoy an exclusive wellness area with over 40 sqm for your private wellness experience. After a calming sauna visit, you can take your personal walkway straight into your private bay. And if there is anything else you need, your personal butler will be more than happy to take care of it.
Private Spa Villa
26
Geinberg5 Private Spa Villas
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Geinberg 5 Private Spa Villas Thermenstraße 13 4943 Geinberg Upper Austria, Austria Room Rates € 530 – € 1,550 Suites
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Austria, Geinberg
art hotel in graz
AU G A R T E N ART HOTEL
28
Augarten Art Hotel
29
Austria, Graz
Contemporary art, furniture by A. Thaler and unique designer pieces by more than 200 artists await its guests.
Augarten Art Hotel Schönaugasse 53 8010 Graz Styria, Austria Room Rates € 110 – € 340 Rooms / Suites
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Art lovers tend to display an uncompromising dedication to individualism and the pursuit of a vision. The Augarten Art Hotel designed by star architect Günther Domenig is as surprising as it is unusual. Contemporary art, furniture by A. Thaler and unique designer pieces by more than 200 artists await its guests. The design hotel boasts 57 rooms all furnished with high quality works of art, including 5 spacious and
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fully furnished apartments, as well as a penthouse. Among the special features of this modern business hotel are the business corner and the 24-hour spa with a heated indoor pool, sauna, gym and relaxation area. At the same time, the Augarten Art Hotel offers a summer terrace with stunning views over the rooftops of Graz all the way to the Schlossberg.
Augarten Art Hotel
Penthouse 601
Best Room Penthouse 601 offers an indescribably beautiful, light-flooded 80 sqm apartment above the rooftops of Graz. Elegant interiors and contemporary art stand at eye level with the clock tower – the symbol of Graz.
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Austria, Graz
NEW MEMBER
LENDHOTEL
graz’ vibrant lend district With a combination of innovative concepts and a rich collection of modern art throughout the building, the Lendhotel in Graz offers guests a truly memorable stay. The art & design hotel is located in the richly creative and diverse district of Lend. Relaxation coupled with modern art is at the heart of the 53 comfortable rooms. Breakfast á la carte in the open, spacious restaurant gets your day off to a
NEW MEMBER
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refreshing start, with energising dishes made from the best ingredients from the local market. In the evening, why not visit the restaurant located in the Lobby for home-made Danish smørrebrød or quinoa bowls. 360-degree views out over the rooftops of Graz to the Schöckel mountain are to be had from the roof terrace of the design hotel. The city centre is within easy walking distance, so sightseeing could not be easier.
Lendhotel
33
Austria, Graz
Panorama Room
Best Room
32.5 m² of absolute comfort. The double room has a balcony and panoramic views of Graz’s unique roofscape. Enjoy this great sensation of space and freedom.
NEW MEMBER
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Lendhotel
35
Lendhotel Grüne Gasse 2 8020 Graz Styria, Austria Room Rates € 94 – € 124 Rooms / Suites
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Austria, Graz
NEW MEMBER
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Lendhotel
37
Austria, Graz
ROOMZ GRAZ
for people in motion 38
Roomz Graz
39
Austria, Graz
Even amidst imposing buildings such as the Graz Messe & Stadthalle conference centre venues, the striking aluminium façade of the roomz graz hotel catches the eye. The very exterior suggests space and energy, an impression confirmed inside with an exciting colour scheme and clever layout. The 131 rooms are decorated with a lot of flair and colourful accents – with a choice of green, magenta, blue or brown. The roomz graz hotel also has three flexible-use, ground-floor seminar rooms, the „atelier“ restaurant serving international cuisine, and a 24-hour bar. For city break and business guests, the budget design hotel offers not just a wonderful ambiance, but also excellent transport links and a great location: right
in Graz’s conference centre area. The airport is close and the Old Town just a stone’s throw away. Guests at roomz graz enjoy great prices, and all the benefits of staying in a completely neutralized and energized building. Best Room Interested in something more exclusive? The two rooftop apartments offer a living and dining area, a kitchen, an extra bedroom and a personal rooftop terrace. Those who love to get out into the fresh air will have a tough time choosing between the 80 sqm rooftop apartment with a 100 sqm rooftop terrace and the smaller 60 sqm living space with a 70 sqm rooftop terrace.
Roomz Graz Conrad von Hötzendorf-Straße 96 8010 Graz Styria, Austria
The very exterior suggests space and energy, an impression confirmed inside with an exciting colour scheme and clever layout.
Room Rates € 69 – € 259 Rooms / Apartments
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2 Roof Suites
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Roomz Graz
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Austria, Graz
haven of calm HOTEL NESSLERHOF
From host to “guest whisperer”: this is the philosophy of the Neudegger Family at Hotel Nesslerhof in the heart of the Großarl-Dorfgastein linked ski area. Experience genuine hospitality and wonderfully spacious interiors at this design hotel. Sixty-two rooms combine cosiness with Alpine charm: wood from local forests, loden, leather and breathtaking views of the Salzburg mountains create a welcoming and homey atmosphere. Amidst great excitement, Hotel Nesslerhof opened its “Zwangzigsechzehn” extension at the start of the 2016 winter season. The new build has even more room for exceptional holiday experiences with its pool and
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sauna facilities, quiet rooms and gyms. The 800 m² “Wasserwelt” (“waterworld”) has an indoor pool with panoramic view, an outdoor pool, a salt water outdoor pool and a natural swimming pond. Six different quiet rooms offer plenty of space for all guests. You can also enjoy your very own exclusive, personal culinary delights in six different restaurants with niches and window seats. Situated just a few metres from the Hochbrandbahn lift valley station, the design hotel is the perfect starting point for great sporting experiences in the Großarltal ski resort and hiking region.
Hotel Nesslerhof
43
Austria, Grossarl
Best Room Located on the very top floor, the 66 m² Suite Liebelei has lots of space for unforgettable holiday experiences. With a bedroom, a living area with a fireplace and an open bathroom with rain shower, bathtub and infrared/sauna cabin, the suite can accommodate up to four people. The highlight is the 22 m² south-facing loggia with breathtaking views of the Großarl mountains.
Hotel Nesslerhof Unterbergstraße 50 5611 Grossarl Salzburg, Austria Room Rates € 132 – € 369 Rooms / Suites
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Suite Liebelei
44
Hotel Nesslerhof
45
Austria, Grossarl
simply magic
H A L L S TAT T H I D E AWAY
46
Hallstatt Hideaway
47
Austria, Hallstatt
With five unique private suites to choose from, you are sure to find the perfect home away from home.
Hallstatt Hideaway Dr. Mortonweg 24 4830 Hallstatt Salzburg, Austria Room Rates € 280 – € 1200 Suites
5
Hallstatt Hideaway lies in the center of Hallstatt amidst of the Salzkammergut and is a haven of peace surrounded by mountains. With five unique private suites to choose from, you are sure to find the perfect home away from home. The „Holz“ suite is the oldest – dating back around 500 years. Baroque doors from the 18th century plus elements of modern design: this suite is a wonderful testimony to the history of the hotel. The house was built in 1740 by Empress Maria Theresia for her
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„Forstmeister“ (forest conservator). Guests today are spoiled for choice: a suite with an extensive terrace and modern architecture? Or with a library, fireplace and views of the lake and mountains, or the one with a unique stucco ceiling? Or 100m² of pure luxury with an outdoor whirlpool and breathtaking panoramic views? Discover the power of historical architecture beautifully and skilfully combined with modern design.
Hallstatt Hideaway
Penthouse Suite Salz
Best Room Enjoy magical views out over the rooftops of Hallstatt, the lake and the mountains from two floors of Penthouse Suite covering 100m². An unforgettable stay is guaranteed with the outdoor whirlpool
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and two terraces. Where better to relax than in the huge couch, or the tub for two in the marble bathroom. The suite also has a kitchenette with steamer.
Austria, Hallstatt
NALA INDIVIDUELLHOTEL
concept: indivduality 50
Nala Individuellhotel
51
Austria, Innsbruck
The Hotel Nala in the heart of Innsbruck is a fantastic combination of architectural and interior design. This is individual style at its impressive best. Art is reflected in every part of the hotel, sometimes surprising and sometimes inspiring, and always aesthetically functional. Almost every one of the 57 rooms is unique in layout, colours, patterns and materials. Nala’s team of architects, designers and artists has consciously created contrasts in style and innovatively re-interpreted traditional features – whilst planning rooms down to the last detail to offer guests maximum
comfort and relaxation. Speaking of relaxation, another great place to unwind is the extensive terrace: an idyllic spot with magical views of the surrounding mountains. Hotel Nala also has an excellent restaurant serving creative Italian cuisine in a stylish ambience. Best Room No two rooms are the same. Business rooms, oriental rooms, minimalist and meditative rooms, loft rooms... Nala has individual room types for individual needs. Discover your very own, personal „best room“.
Nala Individuellhotel Müllerstraße 15 6020 Innsbruckz Tyrol, Austria Room Rates € 85 – € 200 Rooms / Suites
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Individual
Art is reflected in every part of the hotel, sometimes surprising and sometimes inspiring, and always aesthetically functional. 52
Nala Individuellhotel
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Austria, Innsbruck
reinterpretation of imperial flair J AG D S C H L O S S K Ü H TA I
Jagdschloss Kühtai is located in Austria’s highest winter sports resort – around 2000 metres – and is just 30 minutes from Innsbruck. The historic hotel and former hunting lodge dates back to the 17th century, and still has an aristocratic flair today. Following careful renovation work, Jagdschloss Kühtai has now taken a brave step into the modern world with new design ideas. Guests can choose between 39 different bedrooms with traditional or modern design: the “Prince” rooms include furniture that once belonged to
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a baronial residence; the “Count” rooms offer an elegant transition in styles with gold-painted panelled ceilings, and the modern “Elisabeth” extension with its cosy sloping roof has wonderful portraits of Elisabeth, Empress of Austria. Soak in the fascinating views of the Ötztal mountains from the sun terrace, and enjoy all the sunshine of the southfacing slopes of Kühtai ski resort. The bar with its straight, clean lines and cosy fireside is the perfect place to relax and unwind.
Jagdschloss Kühtai
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Austria, Kühtai
Jagdschloss Kühtai
Best Room The “Prince“ rooms on the first floor of the Jagdschloss are cosy retreats with aristocratic charm. An elegant baronial interior and the pine panelling create a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere.
“Prince” Room
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Jagdschloss Kühtai
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Kühtai 1 6183 Kühtai/Tirol Tyrol, Austria Room Rates € 440 – € 970 Rooms / Suites
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Austria, Kühtai
H O T E L Z H E R O – ISCHGL / KAPPL
fascinating & stylish 58
Hotel Zhero – Ischgl / Kappl
59
Austria, Ischgl/Kappl
Just a few kilometres from Ischgl, guests at the stylish and popular 5* hotel Zhero can expect exciting design and impressive architecture and a wonderful, magical Alpine landscape. Glass, timber and stone form the breathtaking façade – which blends perfectly into the Alpine landscape. Inside, too, fittings and furnishings in wood, stone and warm natural materials create warmth and harmony. Each of the 79 bedrooms and suites is a masterpiece of design. Guests can relax and unwind after a day on the pistes in the extensive wellness area with sauna, steam bath, Kneipp pool and a 20m pool or in the SPA by La Prairie and enjoy exclusive treatments.
Other great facilities at this luxury hotel include the Open Grill restaurant, an inhouse boutique, a lounge with an open fire, a modern gym and a ski shop and ski hire. Guests can travel quickly and easily between Kappl and Ischgl with the free shuttle service. Best Room Four luxury penthouse suites ranging from 66sqm to 143sqm offer every creature comfort and all the space you need. Depending on size, a suite can include a private terrace, fireplace, whirlpool, kitchen and several bedrooms and bathrooms.
Hotel Zhero – Ischgl/Kappl
Glass, timber and stone form the breathtaking façade – which blends perfectly into the Alpine landscape.
Wiese 687 6555 Kappl/Tirol Tyrol, Austria Room Rates € 180 – € 3,750 Rooms / Suites
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Penthouse Suites
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Hotel Zhero – Ischgl / Kappl
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Austria, Ischgl/Kappl
natural alpine paradise GRADONNA M O U N TA I N RESORT
The Gradonna Mountain Resort Chalets and Hotel is located directly on the Kals slope in the Großglockner Kals-Matrei ski area. The designer alpine hotel at an elevation of 1,350 metres offers pure natural pleasure inside and outside. The wood shingle facade and the large window fronts allow the landscape to “flow” into the hotel. The materials and colours of nature define the interior down to the smallest detail. Local spruce, stone pine, linen and loden create a
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pleasant atmosphere. Kals marble and wood sculptures lend the resort an exclusive but down-to-earth flair. The 41 wooden chalets and twelve suites in the hotel tower offer a direct view of the Großglockner and 60 further 3,000-metre-plus peaks in the Hohe Tauern. The carfree resort with 3,000 sqm of wellness, bathing and sauna landscape and a kid’s club offers indoor and outdoor pools as well as a solarheated natural swimming pond that covers 700 sqm.
Gradonna Mountain Resort
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Austria, Kals am Grossglockner
Best Room The tower suite with 55 sqm of space is located on the seventh floor of the hotel tower. In addition to a separate bedroom and living room and a private spa with an infrared relaxation booth, the suite has a terrace with a breathtaking view of the Großglockner, the highest mountain in Austria.
Gradonna Mountain Resort Burg 24 9981 Kals am Grossglockner East Tyrol, Austria Room Rates € 190 – € 438 Rooms / Suites
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Tower Suite
64
Gradonna Mountain Resort
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Austria, Kals am Grossglockner
revitalise in zillertal
DA S K A LT E N B AC H
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Das Kaltenbach
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Austria, Kaltenbach
A perfect place to relax and re-energise is the exclusive spa area on the top two floors.
Das Kaltenbach Reisrachweg 18 6272 Kaltenbach Tyrol, Austria Room Rates € 110 – € 220 Apartments
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The Apart Hotel “Das Kaltenbach” blends into the surrounding countryside like a Tyrolean mountain village. Up on the mountain plateau at the edge of the Jungwald and Bergbach, it offers breathtaking panoramic views. The owners of this family-run hotel have combined nature, local flair and modern architecture so that visitors experience the full glory and revitalising power of nature. With 45 rooms in Arolla pine and oak, suites, apartments and chalets for up to 13 people, Das Kaltenbach
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offers the perfect holiday setting just for you – on your own, in a couple or with family or friends. A perfect place to relax and re-energise is the exclusive spa area on the top two floors. This wonderfully bright facility has a pool, saunas and magical views of the Tyrolean mountains. Another great feature of Das Kaltenbach is the location in the heart of the Zillertal valley: just 350 metres from the Hochzillertal valley station and a fiveminute drive to Zillertal golf course.
Das Kaltenbach
Kristallchalet Deluxe Large
Best Room The Kristallchalet Deluxe Large is an oasis of calm and relaxation for up to 13 people. Two stories high, the chalet looks out to the south-east and bathes in the morning sun. The spacious 160 m² facility has four separate bedrooms
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with double beds, a spacious living room, a well-equipped kitchen, extra beds, three bathrooms, a private spa with an infrared cabin, panoramic windows and a balcony.
Austria, Kaltenbach
essay by
franzobel
THE LAST ISLAND # 01
W
hat would you think if I gave you an island right here, right now? Would you like it? An island just for you? No, it’s no joke, and it’s not an island somewhere else, on a planet light years away. Promise.
Islands have no everyday routine. You are away from the normal routine of the system and that brings people together. Like on mountain peaks, you quickly become friends on an island. My last islands were Zakynthos, the Ile de Aix, Iceland, Sylt, Heligoland, Ponza, Goree, Brač, Waiheke Island, the museum island of Oslo and a number of others. There was always this insular feeling of being detached, liberated and yet protected. On the Ile de Aix, there are wonderful oysters, on Zakynthos tortoises, admittedly only to look at, and on Ponza, outstanding fish. And every island is a little bit different and a little bit peculiar.
Because, what is the greatest happiness on earth? Wealth? Love? Power? Health? Or the island? Happiness is fleeting like a prison escapee, volatile like a con artist and as predictable as an earthquake. In Vienna, they say that happiness is a bird, but one which does not stay long in the same nest, sitting on fragile eggs and dying as soon as you trap it in a cage. For some, the greatest happiness is a warm apple pie, or a wide-tyred sports car and for others, it’s a cosy get-together. But what do all the mega-rich do, those whose every pore flows with money? People, who have more than the gross national product of an emerging nation? Do they buy themselves a football club, a Lear jet with airport and then a yacht the size of a skyscraper as well? No, the really rich buy themselves an island.
If you believe in evolution, we all come from the water, developing from single-cell organisms and ancient fish. Perhaps this is why we love islands, because the sea (or a lake) reminds us of an archaic primitive state. Of amniotic fluid? Well, not everyone can bear the contemplative island life, some need the acoustic hullabaloo or need to demonstrate that they’ve cut the cord with water, by challenging the sun to a duel and frying until they pop like sausages.
Islands, if you’re not Napoleon, the Count of Monte Christo, Odysseus or Robinson Crusoe, are the greatest happiness, aspiration, paradise. Private places, not easily accessible and gently lapped by water – or tossed about by the storm.
Pardon? Am I getting side-tracked? Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten your island. You’ve had it for a long time already. No, not some island in the Caribbean, populated by meerkats, made of floating trees. And not some island of plastic refuge in the Pacific. It’s much closer than that. Invaluable and also not for sale. If you find repose, are at one with yourself, have craggy cliffs and soft sand dunes, then you yourself are an island – just like everyone. And this island, which you yourself are, this heavenly island – I want to give it to you. Discover yourself.
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natural spectacle
N AT U R H O T E L WA L D K L AU S E
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Naturhotel Waldklause
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Austria, Längenfeld
Enter a world in which nature is the primary feature.
Naturhotel Waldklause Unterlängenfeld 190 6444 Längenfeld Tyrol, Austria Room Rates € 330 – € 1,000 Rooms / Suites
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The Naturhotel Waldklause was built in the centre of the Tyrolean Ötztal. The harmonious construction of timber, glass and stone and its position in the middle of a beautiful forest make a visit to this design hotel a very special wellness experience. Enter a world in which nature is the primary feature. Local organic products determine culinary creations
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and reflect the hotel’s holistic philosophy. The newly opened 1,800 sqm wellness and natural spa facilities feature a tree house sauna, Finnish sauna, steam bath, heated outdoor pool, sole whirlpool with a view of the mountains, etc., and leave nothing to be desired. Massages and beauty treatments round out the list of indulgences.
Naturhotel Waldklause
Spa Suite Deluxe
Best Room The 120 sqm Spa Suite Deluxe is situated in a beautiful, south-facing location with mountain views. It comprises a private whirlpool and its own pine panoramic relaxation room with infrared lounger. What’s more, it consists of
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a living and sleeping area 85 sqm in size; a generously-sized, sheltered loggia; a relaxing daybed; 2 separate bedrooms with VI-spring box-spring beds; a walkin wardrobe; and a generously-sized bathroom with panorama shower.
Austria, Längenfeld
BERGHOTEL SONNBLICK
superlative arlberg 76
Berghotel Sonnblick
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Austria, Lech am Arlberg
The Berghotel Sonnblick lies in the heart of Lech am Arlberg, at about 1,400 m above sea level. The boutique hotel stands right at the centre of Austria’s largest continuous ski resort “Ski Arlberg” and offers a magnificent view of the unique mountain backdrop of the Arlberg. In the nine rooms flooded with light, seven of which are suites, natural materials, calm colours, and elegant design ensure comfort and relaxation. All fans of alpine huts and après ski will find the right atmosphere in Lech after a day of skiing. As an alternative, both body and soul can relax in the hotel’s SPA with sauna, steam bath, infrared cabins, adventure showers, fresh water ice fountains, and the
spacious relaxation room. Connoisseurs will enjoy selected specialities from domestic manufacturers and a wide range of fine wines at the hotel bar. Further, you can culinary indulge yourself at dinner time. Best Room The seven spacious family suites offer space for 2 to 5 people. All of the modern rooms were decorated using natural materials, calm colours, and elegant design elements. The box-spring beds, balcony and a separated kid’s room will make your holiday unforgettable and relaxed.
Berghotel Sonnblick
The Berghotel Sonnblick also offers a magnificent view of the unique mountain backdrop of the Arlberg.
Tannberg 165 6764 Lech am Arlberg Vorarlberg, Austria Room Rates € 160 – € 290 Rooms / Suites
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Family Suite
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Berghotel Sonnblick
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Austria, Lech am Arlberg
NEW MEMBER
PURE LERMOOS
pure freedom amidst a natural treasure Located in Lermoos, the Apart Hotel Pure is surrounded by picture-perfect vistas of the Zugspitz Arena. The Apart Hotel has been designed in such a way that as soon as you arrive, you can relax, unwind and simply enjoy. 18 exclusive apartments and chalets bask in the sun, each from 55 to 135m² in size and suitable for up to ten people. The design apartments are furnished with a living and dining room, kitchen, balcony or terrace and, depending on the size, also a garden, sauna or infrared cabin. The rustic charm of natural materials is expertly fused with the modern living comfort provided by chic interior design, NEW MEMBER
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meaning guests are welcomed into a warm and cosy atmosphere where they can feel at ease. After an action-packed day on the mountain, the wellness area awaits, with its pool, sauna, steam bath and relaxation area, all perfect for clearing your head and freeing your mind. Guests can indulge in first-class taste sensations in the Design Apart Hotel’s restaurant “180°” and in-house patisserie. Head chef and host Theo and his team provide our guests with both regional and international cuisine, with each dish being served up with a touch of finesse.
Apart Hotel Pure Lermoos
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Austria, Lermoos
Apart Hotel Pure Lermoos
Best Room
Six to eight people can spend the night in the Family Chalet with around 135m² of floor space. It provides first-class comfort with its own living room, kitchen, three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a terrace and even a garden. A particular highlight is that the chalet has its very own infrared cabin!
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Silbergasse 1 6631 Lermoos Tyrol Austria Room Rates € 140 – € 630 Apartments
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Apart Hotel Pure Lermoos
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Austria, Lermoos
NEW MEMBER
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Apart Hotel Pure Lermoos
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Austria, Lermoos
a little closer to heaven PURADIES
The new Hotel Puradies lies at the heart of the ski resort, Saalbach-HinterglemmLeogang-Fieberbrunn. Located right at the slopes, this hotel is a “ski-in ski-out” facility in winter. Enjoy an unbroken view of the Birnhorn and its surroundings from the sunniest hill in the Leogang mountains. Hotel Puradies and its chalets, rooms and suites offer unique, modern, alpine style with superb design and facilities. Simple and tasteful, the rooms are inspired by the
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natural surroundings and incorporate ideas from across the world in wood from the local forest. The spa facilities of the alpine design hotel are also unique and luxurious. Absolute relaxation is guaranteed in the “Innere Mitte” twostorey bathing facility with its 360° views, four saunas, modern feature showers and rest areas. Guests can enjoy gourmet delights from a range of restaurants, with dishes including produce from the hotel’s own organic farm.
Puradies
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Austria, Leogang
Best Room The two “Wolke 7” suites, each over 80m², truly live up to their name – “seventh heaven” – with an exclusive and stylish interior and their own roof terrace. The 35m² private spa area with Finnish sauna, infrared cabin, feature shower, tea and champagne bar and sundeck pool is the ideal retreat for spa lovers.
Puradies Rain 9 5771 Leogang Salzburg, Austria Room Rates € 95 – € 350 Rooms / Suites
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Private SPA Suite “Wolke 7”
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Puradies
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Austria, Leogang
king of the hochkรถnig
HOTEL EDER
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Hotel Eder
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Austria, Maria Alm
The design has been carefully extended and modernised by local skilled crafts and trades and is exciting, unique and refreshing.
Hotel Eder Am Dorfplatz 5 5761 Maria Alm Salzburg, Austria Room Rates € 142 – € 372 Rooms / Suites
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Hotel Eder in the centre of the picturesque village of Maria Alm offers the perfect conditions for anyone who loves the high alpine life: the sporting adventure starts right behind the hotel in the ski and hiking region Hochkönig. The design hotel Eder has been carefully extended and modernised by local skilled crafts and trades and is exciting, unique and refreshing. Its newly designed spa with 25m pool, steam bath, bio sauna, massages and more leaves nothing to be desired. The 74 rooms and suites are
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modern equipped with lots of wood, stone and Loden, resulting in a homely atmosphere. The hotel is committed to a long tradition of Austrian hospitality, friendly cosiness, good food and rural conviviality. As the village restaurant it has been serving guests with Pinzgau delicacies and international cuisine for 50 years. The hotel Eder is located directly in the village center, surrounded by the stunning natural scenery of the Hochkönig.
Hotel Eder
Suite “Berg Relax”
Best Room A new, stylish double room with private infrared sauna by Luis Trenker, a cozy sitting area, refrigerator, large bathroom with rain shower and stone washbasin, and a sun terrace.
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Austria, Maria Alm
ELISABETHHOTEL P R E M I U M P R I VAT E R E T R E AT
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ElisabethHotel Premium Private Retreat
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Austria, Mayrhofen
The family-run ElisabethHotel is situated at the very centre of Mayrhofen in the Tyrol. Just a few minutes from the oasis at the foot of the Zillertal Alpine divide, the design hotel is the ideal base for sports. Alpine style meets elegance and modernity at the heart of the Zillertal: the main building with gable, balconies and carvings fuses with the sweeping lines of the modern new build. “Premium Private Retreat” is the philosophy of the ElisabethHotel and is designed to reflect the high standards of hospitality and relaxation. The hotel is also the first in the Zillertal to cater for adults only. An open and spacious layout, large windows, natural materials such as wood, natural stone and sheep’s wool and colourcoordinated features throughout the
hotel and in the 70 bedrooms create the perfect ambiance for relaxing and unwinding. Rest and relaxation are also to be had in the 1400 m² “Elisense” spa with its indoor pool, whirlpool, saunas and range of indoor and outdoor quiet areas. Best Room The 120m² Heaven Penthouse Suite is the highlight of the hotel. The suite has a spacious living area, two bedrooms with a steam shower and a freestanding bath, as well as a private spa. The Heaven Penthouse Suite is on the top floor of the hotel and has wonderful views of the magnificent mountain panorama of the Zillertal.
ElisabethHotel Premium Private Retreat
Alpine style meets elegance and modernity at the heart of the Zillertal – adults only.
Einfahrt Mitte 432 6290 Mayrhofen Tyrol, Austria Room Rates € 256 – € 1,344 Rooms / Suites
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Heaven Penthouse Suite
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ElisabethHotel Premium Private Retreat
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Austria, Mayrhofen
spa oasis amidst the mountains SONNE LIFESTYLE RESORT
A mere 30 kilometres from Bregenz, amidst mountains, forests, alpine pastures and lakes, a symbiosis of new and old has arisen. An ultramodern annex was built onto the long-established Sonne Inn to create a new lifestyle resort. The new part of the Sonne Lifestyle Resort is also very down to earth, but only as far as the materials are concerned. Otherwise, clarity and modernity drive the design. 2 designer Comfort Rooms, 36
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designer Superior Rooms and 8 designer Penthouse Rooms meet even the highest of demands. The restaurant spoils guests with regional and international dishes in a five-course gourmet dinner. The 1,500 sqm spa with various steam baths, saunas, massage tables and rest areas also offers a beauty spa where only the best Austrian products are applied for excellent treatments.
Sonne Lifestyle Resort
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Austria, Mellau
Best Room The Designer Penthouse Room is a lavish 45 sqm and is furnished with an open bathroom. The exclusive Penthouse Room offers a private steam bath to residents for unlimited relaxation. The generous balcony invites to enjoy the picturesque Alpine scenery.
Sonne Lifestyle Resort Übermellen 65 6881 Mellau Vorarlberg, Austria Room Rates € 200 – € 340 Rooms / Suites
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Design Penthouse Room
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Sonne Lifestyle Resort
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Austria, Mellau
absolute freedom
A PA R T H O T E L ARABELLA
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Aparthotel Arabella
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Austria, Nauders
It is the personal touch that makes the 20 apartments so exclusive.
Aparthotel Arabella Unterdorfstraße 355 6543 Nauders Tyrol, Austria Apartment Rates € 77 – € 399 Apartments
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The individual Aparthotel Arabella is the perfect way to discover the very best of Nauders, Tyrol, where the borders of Austria, Italy and Switzerland meet. Close to the town centre, enjoying a picturesque panorama and with access to the pistes at the Reschen Pass and a great network of hiking trails, every guest will soon feel at home in Arabella and in the region. It is the personal touch that makes the 20 apartments so exclusive: natural materials such as local timber from the surrounding forests, furniture
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in Swiss stone pine in the bedrooms, oak flooring, artisan furniture and large windows that open out onto the surrounding mountains create a cosy atmosphere in sustainable Alpine style. The 800 m² spa facility with an exclusive spa, the AraVita sauna area, a quiet room, the Sky Sauna, a whirlpool, a large pool, a massage studio and the unique rooftop lounge are the perfect places to unwind. You can also relax in the innovative bar & lounge.
Aparthotel Arabella
Penthouse Lebensluxus XL
Best Room In the spacious Penthouse Lebensluxus XL, luxury is spread over two floors and gives you a unique penthouse feeling with grandiose views. On 66 sqm the penthouse offers space for four to six people. It is equipped with a kitchen with
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dining area, a combined living-bedroom, two bedrooms with double bed and two bathrooms with large shower. The roof terrace offers a unique panoramic view.
Austria, Nauders
HOTEL T H E C RY S TA L
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Hotel The Crystal
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Austria, Obergurgl
The Crystal Hotel is located right on the ski slopes and provides direct access to the elite Obergurgl ski area. Clear lines and cubic design are striking features of modern architecture. This style is carried over into the hotel’s interior and its 102 guest rooms. Sleek, simple shapes, exclusive furniture and warm wooden surfaces set the tone. Large windows afford an unobstructed view of the snowcovered mountains, and each room has its own balcony where guests can savour the excitement of getting out onto the
slopes. The 2,000 sqm spa area at The Crystal is made up of three pools, a sauna area, a fitness studio and a beauty spa, leaving nothing to be desired. Best Room The 105 sqm Penthouse Suite has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open fireplace and a south-facing terrace that provides a spectacular view over the Ötztal Alps.
Hotel The Crystal
Clear lines and cubic design are striking features of modern architecture.
Gurglerstraße 90 6456 Obergurgl Tyrol, Austria Room Rates € 238 – € 1,600 Rooms / Suites
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Penthouse Suite
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Hotel The Crystal
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Austria, Obergurgl
NEW MEMBER
PA N O R A M A O B E R TAU E R N
alpine chic with panoramic view The alpine, modern and elegant Hotel Panorama Obertauern welcomes its guest to the famous Salzburg winter sports resort of the same name. Situated right next to the Gamsleiten ski lift, the hotel offers ski-in and ski-out for winter sports fans. The family-run boutique hotel is the smallest four-star superior hotel in Obertauern, which is why personal and bespoke service is given top priority. The 46 alpine and yet elegant style rooms and suites are unparalleled beautiful havens. The roughly 1,000 sqm wellness area
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over two floors with pool, whirlpool, herb bath and much more offers high-end relaxation. The wellness oasis’ ultimate highlight is the panorama sauna complex that reveals a uniquely beautiful view over Obertauern’s snowy mountain tops. Another highlight at the Hotel Panorama Obertauern is the award-winning à la carte restaurant. Pure indulgence is on the menu here, as traditional dishes are magically turned into modern gourmet treats using the best ingredients.
Panorama Obertauern
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Austria, Obertauern
Blu Notte Suite
Best Room
The roughly 42 sqm Kuschelsuite Deluxe is perfect for cosy time alone together. The suite invites you to relax with its comfortable box spring bed, freestanding bath, spacious bathroom and balcony. Elegant timber and light knotty oak give the room its distinctive alpine style. The large windows and balcony bring the magical mountains right into your room. NEW MEMBER
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Panorama Obertauern
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Panorama Obertauern Brettsteinstraße 1 5562 Obertauern Salzburg, Austria Room Rates € 204 – € 759 Rooms / Suites
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Austria, Obertauern
NEW MEMBER
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Panorama Obertauern
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Austria, Obertauern
shines like a diamond ALPIN JUWEL
The family-run lifestyle hotel Alpin Juwel sets itself a side through a unique scenic location directly at a ski slope and comprises a perfect blend of modern and traditional Austrian architecture. The hotel offers two restaurants, three cosy traditional “Stuben”, two bars and a wine cellar where guests are able to enjoy a wide variety of Austrian specialties. An “over the edge” panorama pool is one of the highlights located at the 800 sqm sun bathing rooftop, which also has a new
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Après Ski bar to offer. For relaxation the AJ-Veda Spa offers different services such as Ayurveda massages, natural cosmetics and power sleeping rooms. ”Exclusive, individual, different“ are the cornerstone concepts of the hotel’s motto and are reflected throughout every point of its offering. Alpin Juwel promises exclusive living, healthy Austrian cuisine and a unique sleeping experience within a scenic location overlooking the valley.
Alpin Juwel
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Austria, Saalbach Hinterglemm
Best Room The Alpin Juwel follows a healthy living concept based on the five elements. All of the “jewel” rooms and suites are primarily made with spruce and Swiss pine. These natural building materials create a unique atmosphere of relaxation, wellbeing and energy. In the Jewel Alm Suite, you’ll discover cosy, luxurious living spaces with unique panoramic views, own sauna and hotpot.
Alpin Juwel Haidweg 357 5754 SaalbachHinterglemm Salzburg, Austria Room Rates € 160 – € 640 Rooms / Apartments
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Jewel Alm Suite
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Alpin Juwel
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Austria, Saalbach Hinterglemm
rock’n’roll & good vibes
THOMSN-ROCK. HOTEL
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Thomsn-Rock.Hotel
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Austria, Saalbach Hinterglemm
Double Room Superior
A fresh, young design with a hint of retro and some unique vintage items make it the perfect backdrop to a cool holiday.
Thomsn-Rock. Hotel Dorfstraße 212 5754 Hinterglemm Salzburg, Austria Room Rates € 110 – € 260 Rooms / Suites
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In the heart of Saalbach Hinterglemm, just 5 minutes from the ski lift and mountain bike trails, you can find the Thomsn-Rock.Hotel. Here, rock is more than just music: it is a lifestyle – cool and relaxed. Each of the 27 trendy rooms has its very own character. A fresh, young design with a hint of retro and some unique vintage items make it the perfect backdrop to a cool holiday. High-quality designer beds guarantee a heavenly
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night’s rest after an eventful day, and Thomsn’s stylish spa oasis with sauna and relaxation zone is the perfect place to unwind. The cool and casual American way of life is also reflected in the hotel restaurant: enjoy juicy burgers, hearty steaks and original Italian pizzas made with the very best products including some great rock music in a cosy atmosphere.
Thomsn-Rock.Hotel
Best Room Ranging from 35 to 40m², these rooms are spacious, cosy havens of peace and relaxation. The rooms have a separate living area with a comfy sofa, and with designer wooden floors, beds from Letti & Cervasoni and premium-quality mattresses, guests have all they need for pleasant and refreshing dreams.
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Austria, Saalbach Hinterglemm
essay by
franzobel
T HAT EXTRA SOMETHING In defence of genuine luxury. # 02
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O
n the outskirts of Dakar, Senegal, Mohammed proudly showed me his new home: an unplastered house beside the motorway with a tap for a bathroom, a sagging bed with wire mesh, a concrete floor, far too small a kitchen and plastic flowers on the living room table. A dump by western standards, but to Mohammed, a long-cherished dream. Compare this to a Viennese lawyer’s threestorey penthouse in the city centre: complete with an open-air whirlpool, pictures worth millions on the walls, a Chevrolet Equinox and Aston Martin Vulcan in the garage, stocks of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the wine cellar and a high-tech alarm system. He is always afraid, lives off luxury microwave meals, drinks the most expensive red wine chilled, and is completely incapable of enjoying his life. Who is happier? Mohammed or the lawyer? What is the greatest treasure in life? The treasure we all strive for? A fancy villa on Long Island? A stretch limo full of happy partying people? A yacht in the Caribbean? Diamond necklaces? A handbag from Hermès? A gold smartphone? A Nautilus Titanium from Patek Philippe? No, the greatest treasure in life is calmness and contentment; being at one with oneself and the universe. Luxuries that we acquire only to impress others will not satisfy us. They will only inspire envy and leave a bitter taste in the mouth. “Tante Jolesch” (“Aunt Jolesch”), the eponymous figure in Friedrich Torberg’s collection of real and apocryphal anecdotes, put it like this: “Everything that makes a man better than a monkey is luxury” (“Alles, was der Mann schöner ist als ein Aff, ist Luxus”). Luxury is in other words the extra, the superfluous. All the same, we no longer sleep on cave floors or live off sorrel and unseasoned barley
porridge. The search for luxury, for that extra something, is a product of our civilisation: culture. There are also creatures in the animal kingdom that show off changing rainbow colours, sing beautiful songs or build ostentatious nests, but all that is part of the reproduction process. And for people? For more than a few of the super rich, a sex life is something belonging to a bygone millennium and luxury is at best a substitute for a faded memory. Yet luxury is there for everyone. Humans are the only creatures that strive for luxury, for l’art pour l’art, out of a pleasure in materials, shapes and beauty. We have wonderfully designed furniture, jewellery as delicate as a butterfly’s legs, cars like spaceships from another galaxy, fantastic flavours from culinary artists who work with the precision of an apothecary, magical outfits, and the list goes on. Things that bring us joy because they are wonderful. They are as necessary as that which makes us better than apes. You can be happy with boiled potatoes and butter. A glass of beer often tastes better that a five hundredeuro wine, and a bursting bank account by no means prevents sleepless nights. What is important is enjoyment, and being happy with what you have. If you do manage to treat yourself, you will find so many special things and see the beauty in – and love – life. Contentment and the ability to enjoy is all that we need. But a little luxury does no harm. You don’t need to make a monkey of yourself.
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ARTHOTEL B L AU E G A N S
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Arthotel Blaue Gans
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Austria, Salzburg
The Blaue Gans art hotel is the oldest inn in the city and is situated on the famous Getreidegasse in the heart of the historic centre and only a short walk from Mozart’s birthplace. In one historic building it uniquely combines contemporary art, inspiring design and the utmost refinement. Around 100 original works by renowned artists act as powerful accents. The hotel’s individually styled rooms and suites are uncluttered but comfortable and feature a wide range of modern amenities. Winding corridors, romantic vaulted and old joist ceilings lend the hotel a unique character that is artfully contrasted with contemporary
design elements. The restaurant with its historic barrel vault, wall murals, wood panelling and traditional Austrian cuisine is an insider’s tip in Salzburg. Best Room The Maisonette Suite offers 115 m² of space on two levels. The bedroom is located directly below the historical roof truss. On the lower level with its living area, bathroom, study and dressing room, the contrast between the old timber floors and ceilings and the modern furnishings sets the tone.
In one historic building it uniquely combines contemporary art, inspiring design and the utmost refinement.
Arthotel Blaue Gans Getreidegasse 41-43 5020 Salzburg Salzburg, Austria Room Rates € 145 – € 499 Rooms / Suites
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Suite “Maisonette”
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Arthotel Blaue Gans
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Austria, Salzburg
charming boutique hotel with garden HOTEL & VILLA AU E R S P E R G
Meticulous attention to detail and highly personal service contribute to the unique charm of this privately managed boutique hotel. Guests at the are treated to the best of both worlds – they can enjoy the hustle of being downtown, but can also completely unwind. The hotel with idyllic garden and rooftop spa is only a few minutes on foot from the city centre of Salzburg. Inside, new and old blend together in perfect harmony. The Baroque tabernacle cupboard, standing directly next to the modern
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leather fauteuils in the lobby, is just one example of this symbiosis. The hotel & villa house 55 tastefully decorated rooms. The hotel bar offers delicious toasted sandwiches, homemade soups, Austrian antipasti specialities and cakes. A small city spa is located on the hotel’s rooftop, featuring a sauna, a steam bath and a sun terrace that has an amazing view of the city’s roofscape. Here, guests will also be offered yoga courses and massages, or can hire hotel bicycles to explore the city.
Hotel & Villa Auersperg
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Austria, Salzburg
Best Room The generous superior double rooms with 30 sqm have been completely redesigned to meet even the highest of standards. The historical upholstery fabrics “Zuckermandl” and “Pfauenauge”, which have been reissued by Backhausen, as well as a classic Eames chair, Treca de Paris mattresses and a lighting design by Philippe Stark, ensure a stylish mix of classic and modern.
Hotel & Villa Auersperg Auerspergstraße 61 5020 Salzburg Salzburg, Austria Room Rates € 129 – € 325 Rooms / Suites
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Superior Double Room
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Hotel & Villa Auersperg
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Austria, Salzburg
urban style & simple elegance
S TA D T H O T E L BRUNNER
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Stadthotel Brunner
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Austria, Schladming
Stadthotel brunner’s architecture, complete with glittering façade, make the building a real eye-catcher in the region. “Chocolate” Suite
Stadthotel brunner Hauptplatz 14 8970 Schladming Styria, Austria Room Rates € 145 – € 278 Rooms / Suites
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Take a 500 year-old house, add stylish architecture and Asian influence and what do you have? A comfortable, accessible design hotel with 24 rooms. This is urban style in the heart of Schladming ski resort – not Alpine kitsch, but simple elegance. Stadthotel brunner’s architecture, complete with glittering façade, make the building a real eyecatcher in the region. Sustainability is the theme running throughout the hotel, with materials from the region and local, Ayurvedic and alkaline cuisine
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in the adjoining à la carte restaurant with bar and wine cellar. Enjoy the sauna, massage, yoga or meditation or patronise the tea house at the SPA up above the rooftops of Schladming. Guests can also sample the hotel’s great cultural programme and use the nearby Klangfilmtheater venue – on offer is everything from talks on diet and cookery courses to film nights, musical events and art exhibitions. A place to find yourself, to learn, and to enjoy music and art. Stadthotel Brunner
Best Room The comfortable „Chocolate“ Suite (34 m²) has a panoramic view of the main square of Schladming and the surrounding area. You can enjoy the prospect from the spacious window seats. All rooms have genuine walnut furniture, free highspeed WiFi, flat screen TV, Nespresso coffee makers and much more.
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Austria, Schladming
HOTEL WEISSES LAMM
naturalness & creativity 138
Hotel Weisses Lamm
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Austria, See im Tal Paznaun
Tyrolean flair in harmonious symbiosis with contemporary design guarantees special holiday experiences at the alpine Balance Hotel Weisses Lamm. Located in the middle of the idyllic Tyrolean mountain village See in the Paznaun Valley and surrounded by one of the world’s top 10 skiing areas, this 4-star hotel pampers guests with naturalness, creativity and quality as well as with an extra portion of Tyrolean zest for life. Well-being in all areas is the top priority in the family-managed Hotel Weisses Lamm. The authentic and innovative cuisine features a mastery of all types of cooking that entail good taste, from down-to-earth to international. The
enchanting rooms and suites appear modern, bright and airy, and thanks to a fine sense of detail they have an individual and extremely pleasant charisma. The exclusive SPA area with its many relaxation opportunities as well as a select offer of massages and beauty treatments also guarantees profound relaxation for body and soul. Best Room 45 and 60 sqm in a new, modern-alpine wood look with two or three separate rooms, bathroom with double sinks, 2 balconies, 3 flatscreen satellite TV’s and more, leave nothing to be desired.
Hotel Weisses Lamm Gries 5 6553 See im Tal Paznaun Tyrol, Austria
The 4-star hotel pampers guests with naturalness, creativity and quality as well as with an extra portion of Tyrolean zest for life.
Room Rates € 156 – € 248 Rooms / Suites
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Suite Alpine I & II
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Hotel Weisses Lamm
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Austria, See im Tal Paznaun
casual luxury NIDUM HOTEL
High above the rooftops of the Inn Valley in Tyrol sits the Nidum Casual Luxury Hotel, the perfect place for a generation of travellers hungry for life. Staying here is an absolute pleasure: designer furniture in red wood and accessories in soft natural tones from beige to lime green create a relaxing, cosy ambience. The 57 spacious bedrooms all face the sunny south and combine fresh style with luxury fittings and furnishings.
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A top-of-the range establishment, but one that puts guests at their ease: this is “casual luxury”, the design hotel’s philosophy. To round off the relaxed atmosphere there is a 1500 m² luxury spa facility with an infinity pool, saunas, whirlpool and quiet rooms. Gourmets and gourmands will love the three different restaurant areas – after enjoying an aperitif on the sunny “Apero Terrace” or at the chilled-out champagne bar.
Nidum Hotel
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Austria, Mösern/Seefeld
Best Room Discover luxury and absolute wellbeing in the 72 m² Wow Suite. With two bedrooms, two bathrooms and its very own sauna, the suite can accommodate up to four guests. The sunny south-facing balcony offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountain panorama.
Nidum Hotel Am Wiesenhang 1 6100 Mösern Tyrol, Austria Room Rates € 290 – € 1490 Rooms / Suites
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Wow Suite
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Nidum Hotel
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Austria, Mösern/Seefeld
alpine pleasure
A L FA HOTEL
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Alfa Hotel
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Austria, Serfaus
The rooms of the gourmet and design hotel set themselves apart with clear, linear structures and natural materials. Superiore Double Room
Alfa Hotel Dorfbahnstraße 63 6534 Serfaus Tyrol, Austria Room Rates € 200 – € 500 Rooms / Suites
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The Alfa hotel redefines modern, Alpine flair – it is contemporary yet timeless. The hotel offers a symbiosis of architecture and 21st century lifestyle. The rooms of the gourmet and design hotel set themselves apart with clear, linear structures and natural materials. The use of light and colours gives the hotel a modern ambience. Regardless of whether you come in for breakfast, an afternoon snack or a five-course gourmet dinner, you will be treated to culinary
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excellence in the hotel’s restaurant, which features a cool atmosphere. The incontro hotel bar boasts a connected sun terrace and invites guests to linger and spend time together. The wellness area offers a 7x7 metre indoor pool with a whirl bench, a bio sauna, a Finnish sauna, an infrared cabin, a steam bath, a brine steam bath and a solarium.
Alfa Hotel
Best Room The hotel’s superiore double rooms not only offer you an extremely central location in Serfaus, but will also make you feel like you’re on top of the world! The panoramic view from the top floor will evoke that superior feeling. And
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you’ll experience it all in modern, open rooms featuring a light and airy design with 30 sqm of space.
Austria, Serfaus
ALPSLODGE LIFE.STYLE. HOTEL.FISS
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Alpslodge Life.Style.Hotel.Fiss
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Austria, Fiss
The Alpslodge is in a dream location on the sunny plateau in Serfaus Fiss Ladis with direct access to the slopes and trails – the ideal option for guests, who can ski right up to the hotel door. The boutique hotel lures guests also with its straight lines and use of authentic and Alpine materials. Floor to ceiling windows open up the building to the full and ever-changing beauty of the Tyrolean mountain landscape and every one of the 25 high-quality suites and rooms offers panoramic views. The hotel exudes an exceptional wellness ambiance which assures guests of a stylish stay: The panoramic roof terrace with Zen Garden and the Sky Relax Zone with sauna and steam bath are a great place to unwind
and concentrate on the good things in life. In the trendy alpslounge life.style. bar.fiss with fireplace lounge guests can end the day in a relaxed atmosphere. The Alpslodge is the perfect place for a life style holiday with Tyrolean charm. Best Room This 42 sqm penthouse suite is an exclusive safe haven. A sleeping area with canopy bed, fireplace in the room, as well as a free-standing bathtub and shower are all waiting to be discovered. To encourage relaxation, one level contains an infrared sauna with a “chill out” lounge area. The suite is completed with a large panoramic terrace offering a spectacular view of Tyrol’s alpine world.
alpslodge Life.Style. Hotel.Fiss Kelleweg 5 6533 Fiss Tyrol, Austria
The boutique hotel lures guests also with its straight lines and use of authentic and Alpine materials.
Room Rates € 70 – € 180 Rooms / Suites
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Penthouse Suite
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Alpslodge Life.Style.Hotel.Fiss
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Austria, Fiss
elegant & cosy warm HOTEL GEBHARD
The Hotel in the town of Fiss impresses guests with its fantastic location in the Tyrolean Alps. With over 2,000 hours of sunshine a year and a breathtaking view into the valley, this is where holiday dreams come true. The hotel’s rooms and suites are decorated in a variety of colour schemes and offer simple elegance and cosy warmth. Oak painted with organic varnish, real wood flooring and lots of “healthy details” create a natural indoor climate. The hotel’s head chef prepares exquisite meals that are
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fresh, light and creative, with a special emphasis on quality, care and a rich variety of ingredients. Multi-faceted relaxation: Take a hike or go skiing in the great outdoors and then have a soak in the whirlpool. Take advantage of the exclusive options at the hotel’s health oasis. Exclusive services from massages and classic „Kneipp“ foot baths to invigorating steam baths and infrared therapies are offered the Hotel Gebhard.
Hotel Gebhard
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Austria, Fiss
Best Room The newly built Maisonette Suite features modern Tyrolean country house style. It has two storeys and its own south-facing balcony with an amazing view.
Hotel Gebhard Via Claudia Augusta 36 6533 Fiss Tyrol, Austria Room Rates € 118 – € 680 Rooms / Suites
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Maisonett Suite
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Hotel Gebhard
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Austria, Fiss
active relaxation & enjoyment BERGLAND HOTEL Sร LDEN
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Bergland Hotel Sรถlden
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Austria, Sรถlden
The Bergland Hotel is the ideal place for “active relaxation and enjoyment”. Suite “Wellness”
Bergland Hotel Sölden Dorfstraße 114 6450 Sölden Tyrol, Austria Room Rates € 286 – € 628 Rooms / Suites
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In the vibrant centre of FIS World Cup host town Sölden, at the heart of the beautiful Ötztal valley, the Bergland Hotel is the ideal place for “active relaxation and enjoyment”, which is the hotel philosophy. A philosophy that is reflected throughout the Bergland and all of its 86 bedrooms and suites. You can enjoy moments of quiet and relaxation in the 1700 m² SKY SPA in the 5th floor, with its pool, saunas and steam baths, and get active with the extensive range of sports on offer at the hotel. The design hotel also follows the lifestyle trend
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“slow aging”, working for the wellbeing of its guests with a special spa, beauty and exercise programme. The hotel restaurant conjures up culinary delights from local produce for everything from breakfast and afternoon snacks to 5-course set meals and themed buffets in the evening. Actor Daniel Craig is just one of the guests to have enjoyed the hotel’s excellent service and overall facilities: he stayed at the Bergland during the filming of the James Bond blockbuster “Spectre”.
Bergland Hotel Sölden
Best Room The Wellness Suite on the third floor is very spacious, spanning 85 sqm. It offers an exclusive ambience with a balcony, living and bed rooms provided with panoramic view, a freestanding bathtub in the bedroom, a spacious bathroom
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with a double washbasin, a private sauna, a separate living area with a couch for relaxing on, a water bed, an extremely comfortable rocking chair and wall bars.
Austria, Sölden
SPORTRESIDENZ Z I L L E R TA L
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Sportresidenz Zillertal
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Austria, Uderns
The Sportresidenz Zillertal has a direct access to the “Leading Golf Courses“ championship golf course of the Golfclub Zillertal Uderns – a 65-hectare, 18 hole facility for both beginners and professionals. The course is characterized by gently inclining landscapes with fruit trees, wonderful pond sceneries, many bunkers and well-tended fairways with wavy greens. Guests in the 23 exclusive and elegantly furnished rooms of the boutique hotel can enjoy unrestricted views over the fantastic golf course and Zillertal mountains from every single room. Rest, culinary enjoyment with finest award-winning cuisine and sportive pleasure are top of the agenda at the Sportresidenz Zillertal. Tired souls can relax and revitalise in the exclusive
750 sqm “Cloud 7” spa area with a heated infinity pool on the roof, sun terrace, winter garden, private-spa with Matteo Thun design, saunas and steam bath. Ligne St. Barth cosmetics with special massages and treatments for even more wellbeing round off the range of offers. Best Room Relax in penthouse suite’s „panoramic sauna“ with magnificent views of the Tyrolean mountain landscape. The spacious, 70 sqm suite has modern and luxurious design to satisfy even the most demanding guests. Simply forget the world around you and lose yourself in the mountain or valley panorama in the relaxation zone.
Sportresidenz Zillertal Golfstraße 1 6271 Uderns Tyrol, Austria
In the 23 exclusive and elegantly furnished rooms one can enjoy unrestricted views over the fantastic golf course.
Room Rates € 117 – € 259 Rooms / Suites
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Penthouse Suite
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Sportresidenz Zillertal
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Austria, Uderns
authentic viennese HOLLMANN B E L E TAG E
At the Hollmann Beletage you feel more like you’re visiting a close acquaintance than staying at a hotel. 26 rooms furnished with lovely details are arranged around a lounge-like lobby with piano, fireplace, sofa and library on the piano nobile of a turn of the century house. In the large to very large rooms and suites, guests will find all modern comforts, contemporary design and surprising details. A small hotel cinema with eight restored cinema chairs brings you closer to the Austrian and Viennese film scene.
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The garden terrace and the sauna area on the piano nobile offer a retreat from the hustle and bustle of the big city. The owner of the establishment, Robert Hollmann, is not only a hotelier and chef, but also an actor, who also runs a Lifestyle Hotel in Sri Lanka, the UTMT Underneath the Mango Tree hotel. Guests at his hotels receive innovative accommodation that goes beyond the conventional hotel experience – comfort and exclusive service second to none.
Hollmann Beletage
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Austria, Vienna
Best Room The 35 sqm mezzanin XL guest rooms are very spacious and open. A glass-enclosed shower and a washbasin in the middle of the room create a modern bathroom and living room in one. The warm colour scheme featuring various shades of brown and vibrant orange accents intensifies guests’ sense of wellbeing – as does the modern interpretation of a canopy bed.
Hollmann Beletage Köllnerhofgasse 6 1010 Vienna Vienna, Austria Room Rates € 150 – € 490 Rooms / Suites
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Mezzanin XL
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Hollmann Beletage
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Austria, Vienna
vienna’s coworking hotel HOTEL SCHANI WIEN
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Hotel Schani Wien
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Austria, Vienna
Traditional elements of Viennese culture are an integral part of the hotel.
Hotel Schani Wien Karl-Popper-Straße 22 1100 Vienna Vienna, Austria Room Rates € 74 – € 159 Rooms / Suites
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The Quartier Belvedere is a 25,000 m² new district of Vienna. Right beside the main railway station, modern offices and flats, is the first coworking hotel. The name – Hotel Schani Wien, from the old Viennese term „Schanigarten“ – is not the only link between the traditional and the modern. Coworking in the lobby, events and exhibitions in the hotel, trendy modern interiors in the 135 rooms and smart maisonettes, and smartphones
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as room keys and for checking in and out: guests here will experience a truly modern Vienna. Yet Hotel Schani Wien has not forgotten its roots. Traditional elements of Viennese culture are an integral part of the hotel. Take the façade, for example, which incorporate a traditional Viennese woven seat design, and the „Schanigarten“ outside seating in the green hotel courtyard.
Hotel Schani Wien
Smart Maisonette
Best Room Ten smart maisonettes provide all the comfort of a standard room plus even more space to work and relax – thanks to high ceilings, loft beds, sofas and extra storage space.
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Austria, Vienna
K AY U M A N I S N A N J I N G P R I VAT E V I L L A S & S PA
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Kayumanis Nanjing Private Villas & Spa
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China, Nanjing
During the Ming Dynasty, Nanjing was the capital of China. More and more travellers to the Yangtze River Delta are being drawn there by its healing springs and multitude of sightseeing attractions. In the Kayumanis Private Villas there is now accommodation for even the most discerning guest. Each 300+sqm villa offers stylish interior design with high quality wood furniture and floorto-ceiling windows, a private pool and personal hot spring in the garden and an unparalleled view of nature. Restaurant Nine serves Chinese cuisine prepared with Western influences. In the spa you’ll be convinced of the healing power of Chinese herbs and then spoiled with Balinese massage.
Best Room The 700 sqm, 2-bedroom Residence Villa offers plenty of room to feel at ease. The furnishings will surpass all your expectations surprise you with their delightful added touches. The Residence Villa’s cosiness and privacy cannot be outdone; it is nestled in a tropical garden and offers a beautiful view of the mountain landscape.
Kayumanis Nanjing Private Spa Villas Sizhuang Village, No.12 Hotspring Rd, Tangshan Town 211131 Nanjing China
In the Kayumanis Private Villas there is now accommodation for even the most discerning guest.
Room Rates € 385 – € 615 Rooms / Suites
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Residence Villa
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Kayumanis Nanjing Private Villas & Spa
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China, Nanjing
NEW MEMBER
HOTEL LEMONGARDEN
hideaway with a paradise garden The Hotel Lemongarden is located amidst the picturesque fishing village Sutivan on the north-west coast of the island of Brac. The boutique hotel exudes unparalleled charm, not least because of its three almost 300-year-old stone buildings. It was from three protected buildings that a harmonious unit was created in the course of the renovation, where only the best materials from the island were used. Slowing down, relaxation and enjoyment is the hideaway’s motto today. 23 suites and 12 rooms overall in timeless design, and the colour concept of the south invites you to feel at ease. The interplay of colours in nature plays an important role inside as well as outside: NEW MEMBER
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at the pool you can enjoy the fragrance of the lemon trees and the magnificent colours of the surrounding paradise garden. Guests can expect even more relaxation and comfort in the exclusive wellness pavilion with sauna, steam room and adventure showers. Another highlight is the private Lemongarden beach, which is a 10-minute walk away. Situated in a natural bay with an area of 3,000m² and surrounded by pine woods, it invites guests to exclusive days on the beach. Authentic, genuine and simply Mediterranean is the kitchen in the hotel’s own restaurant, which invites you to take a break and rest with a view over the harbour.
Hotel Lemongarden
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Croatia, Brač
Hotel Lemongarden
Best Room
Covering an area of 46 to 71m², the Luxury Suites are Mediterranean dreams of high comfort. Consisting of two bedrooms, they provide room for up to four people. The suites feature furniture made by carpenters from local wood, Brač marble and timeless design. The highlight of each of these suites is the spacious terrace with a view over the courtyard or the garden.
Perića Kala 1 21403 Sutivan Brač, Croatia Room Rates € 300 – € 1,300 Rooms / Suites
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Luxury Suite
NEW MEMBER
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Hotel Lemongarden
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Croatia, Brač
NEW MEMBER
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Hotel Lemongarden
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Croatia, BraÄ?
ethno style HIDDEN HOTEL
The Hidden Hotel is located in a very calm side street in the 17th arrondissement, not far from the Arc de Triomphe and just a few minutes’ walk to the Champs Élysées. Environmentally friendly, ethnic and modern influences combine to create a harmonious design concept. The materials used are kept in their natural state whenever possible and are of the highest quality. The rooms are
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very tastefully furnished and match the same interior design concept as the rest of the hotel. When the weather is nice, guests can enjoy breakfast on the small, idyllic patio. The bar serves excellent cocktails in a cosy atmosphere. The design hotel also has a seminar room that can be specially arranged to meet guests’ needs. The perfect place for business dinners, meetings or a private party.
Hidden Hotel
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France, Paris
Best Room The Sensation Rooms ranging from 18 to 24 sqm in size are spread out over six storeys and offer an elegant, intimate ambience with diverse, contrasting furnishings. The sleeping area is separated from the rest of the room by transparent linen-voile curtains, turning it into an exquisite, secret alcove. The bathrooms are dominated by slate and marble and feature carved stone sinks, creating a loft-like atmosphere.
Hidden Hotel 28, rue de l’Arc de Triomphe Paris 75017 Paris, France Room Rates € 189 – € 549 Rooms / Suites
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Sensation Rooms
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Hidden Hotel
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France, Paris
essay by
franzobel
GODS AND FOOD OF THE GODS On the rarely perfect pleasure and the unadulterated anticipation of it. # 03
T
he ancient Greeks and Romans had gods for almost everything: for the night, death, ecstasy, beauty, agriculture, son, moon and sea, for fertility, dawn and fruit trees; there was even one for entrances and exits. But not for the pleasure. Although, enjoyment is perhaps the most important challenge for a satisfying life, if also the most difficult. With the Greeks, as a gourmet, one had to line up with the Hedonists who, as we like to forget today, also pleaded for moderation. The Romans had the senator and general Lucius Licinius Lucullus, whose symposia were not nearly as excessive as his name – they were supposed to have been subtle events. But neither the Greeks nor the Romans had a god or goddess of pleasure. Europa has been tortured with a long tradition of the demonisation of pleasure. In the Middle Ages, gluttony counted as a deadly sin, and today, crazes for fitness or thinness or medical reprimands convince us that pleasure is a sin. Either the cholesterol is threatening us, the abdominal girth extends beyond two arm lengths, or the hunger in the third world, animal suffering or a threatening tooth decay are disruptions. Satisfaction is a form of power and all possible institutions claim to have a monopoly on it, be it religion, art, politics, gastronomy, capitalism or esotericism. All of them promise happiness and satisfaction, but only with them. No one really likes to see it if someone is simply happy, enjoys the fresh air, water or a piece of buttered bread with an apple. Maybe that’s why it is so difficult for us to just revel in the wave of contentment? How could a goddess – I prefer to think of a female – of pleasure look like? Sumptuous, with an apron and wooden clogs? A rural Kim Kardashian with large breasts? Or ethereal, elegant? A glass of milk sprinkled with cinnamon, like Botticelli’s
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Venus? In any case, she – Passionata of Delight, is an ephemeral being, untouchable, light. In addition, she definitely has a child-like, uncivilised disposition. My wife, who is beautiful and never says no to pleasure, but is not a goddess, always gets really worked up if I already want to know what we will have for lunch or dinner when I wake up. “You only think about eating!” she then scolds me. For a long time, I also had the suspicion of being a degenerate glutton, greedy for pleasure, but then I came across a passage by Georges Simenons, whose detective Maigret justified the same question with the fact that in doing so, he has something that he can look forward to all day. And that’s what it’s all about!
Pleasure itself is seldom perfect. Either your dining partner farts and you think that a half-decaying cow is lying in the room, or the child has to go to the bathroom exactly when the Norwegian wild salmon with crab ravioli in saffron curry foam is served. The Jehovah’s Witnesses ring the doorbell when you are digging into the Salzburger dumplings on wild blueberries, your spouse is huffy or one insect or another is circling your ear like a siren. Sometimes the wine is too cold and then, again, you burn your taste buds with the first bite. There’s almost always a disturbance. Only the anticipation is unadulterated. Therefore, we at least enjoy that, we pray to Passionata, that she doesn’t ruin it and abide to her motto, “carpe diem”, which is not just translated as “carp today” for fish lovers – and which, properly prepared, can be godly: in a salt crust on a bed of chili, pear and Swiss chard, with osso buco after that, profiteroles, a glass of good wine... You only think about food, my wife bugs me. She has already been looking forward to something totally different for a long time.
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a jewel in couture
HOTEL FELICIEN
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Hotel Felicien
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France, Paris
The different colours, materials and styles create an incomparable atmosphere in which fashion and design become one. White Suite Creation
Hotel Felicien 21, Rue Félicien David 75016 Paris Paris, France Room Rates € 179 – € 639 Rooms / Suites
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In Paris’ 16th Arrondissement, just a 15-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower and the Roland Garros Stadium lies a special jewel: Hôtel Félicien. The couture-style boutique hotel was designed by Olivier Lapidus. The French couture designer whisks guests away through all six floors of his fascinating and bewitching world of elegance and charm, in which every detail epitomizes glamour and sensuality. The hotel has 32 rooms and
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also two suites which generously feature a terrace and a jacuzzi. The different colours, materials and styles create an incomparable atmosphere in which fashion and design become one. The spa area comes equipped with an indoor pool, a sauna, a hammam and a fitness room. The lighting in the hotel’s own Black Bar is kept in black tones and the accompanying lounge features unique accents.
Hotel Felicien
Best Room The 36 sqm White Suite Création can be found on the Sky Floor, the highest storey in the building. The sunlightflooded suite was designed in the style of designer Olivier Lapidus and offers a separate living room with a desk as
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well as a bedroom and a bathroom with bathtub. A staircase leads you from the suite to your own rooftop terrace with loungers and a jacuzzi.
France, Paris
HOTEL O DY S S E Y
innovation design 194
Hotel Odyssey
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France, Paris
Created by designer Ora-ïto, Hotel Odyssey lies in Paris’ 1st Arrondissement, between the districts of Les Halles and the Louvre Museum. One can find numerous restaurants, points of interest and the most famous museums in the city only a few steps away. The boutique hotel provides a novel and sensual experience in a contemporary and harmonious atmosphere. The 29 rooms are featured in different colours and overlaid with wood, glass, felt and Corian. The purposeful and innovative design is a source of inspiration. The focal point of the design concept is the Bar’O, a
popular meeting point for cosmopolitans. Evening fashion, music and art events occur regularly and reflect the fascinating atmosphere of this metropolis on the Seine. Best Room Small, but oh my! French designer Oraïto is responsible for having designed the Galileo Room. The 14 sqm futuristic room features brand new furnishings, a roomy double bed and a Rainshower.
Hotel Odyssey 19, Rue Hérold 75001 Paris Paris, France
The boutique hotel provides a novel and sensual experience in a contemporary and harmonious atmosphere.
Room Rates € 149 – € 328 Rooms / Suites
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Galileo Rooms
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Hotel Odyssey
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France, Paris
art & pleasure for all senses DER KLOSTERHOF
Immersed in the untouched nature of the Berchtesgadener Land, Der Klosterhof in Bayerisch Gmain is an exclusive place of retreat. The Premium Hotel & Health Resort opened its doors again in the summer of 2016 after a long period of reconstruction and expansion. In the traditional structure and in the modern extension guests can find peace and relaxation in the 65 rooms with a clear view of the breathtaking mountain scenery. The rooms feature clear architecture, natural materials such as
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pine and apple wood, warm colour tones and a modern touch. The philosophy of the design hotel “Artemacur” (Latin for “art of healing”) can be found above all in the 1,500m² Artemacur Spa. Alongside the indoor and outdoor pool, the saunas and the hamam, a particular highlight of the hotel is the modern health centre. Moments of indulgence from domestic culinary culture await the guests in the hotel’s own restaurant, where innovative dishes are created from ingredients of the region.
Der Klosterhof
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Germany, Bayerisch Gmain
Best Room Enjoy the last word in comfort in the 70m² Loft Suite covering two floors: Furnished with a lounge and a bedroom flooded with light in solid apple wood, a spacious bathroom and a large southfacing balcony. The highlights of the Suite are the large spa gallery with its own whirlpool, infra-red cabins and a spa ritual area, as well as a clear view of the mountain scenery.
Der Klosterhof – Premium Hotel & Health Resort Steilhofweg 19 83457 Bayerisch Gmain Bavaria, Germany Room Rates € 152- € 450 Rooms / Suites
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Spa Loft Suite
200
Der Klosterhof
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Germany, Bayerisch Gmain
check-up on holiday
DA S GRASECK
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Das Graseck
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Germany, Garmisch-Partenkirchen
The spa is a treat for body and mind, with its biosauna, steam „grotto“ and quiet room. Loft Suite
Das Graseck Graseck 4 82467 GarmischPartenkirchen Bavaria, Germany Room Rates € 195 – € 460 Rooms / Suites
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Das Graseck, a former forester’s lodge, looks down over Garmisch-Partenkirchen from a sun-kissed mountainside location. The exclusive boutique hotel has 30 bedrooms and suites in modern Alpine elegance, with breathtaking views of the Upper Bavarian Alps. Das Graseck certainly lives up to its slogan „my mountain hideaway“: It is the perfect retreat, only accessible with the hotel’s own cable car or, in exceptional cases, with the hotel shuttle. One highlight is the Gap Prevent preventive medicine
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centre which adjoins the hotel. The centre provides a complete range of check-up and preventive medicine services. Quite apart from the centre, Das Graseck is committed to its guests’ health. The spa is a treat for body and mind, with its biosauna, steam „grotto“ and different quiet rooms. Guests can also sample the delicious, healthy, natural cuisine at the hotel’s two restaurants and a great mix of sport and relaxation out of doors.
Das Graseck
Best Room Enjoy the last word in comfort in the 90sqm Loft Suite: a hall with cloakroom on the second floor, large comfortable bed, two flatscreen TVs, a spacious accessible bath and a separate lounge with a minibar. The large balcony has sensational panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
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Germany, Garmisch-Partenkirchen
THOMAS H O T E L S PA & LIFESTYLE
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Thomas Hotel Spa & Lifestyle
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Germany, Husum an der Nordsee
The Thomas Hotel Spa & Lifestyle is situated on the North Sea coast in the harbour town of Husum. With its endless dunes, sandy beaches and the legendary Wadden Sea UNESCO Natural Heritage Site the town is full of North Frisian charm. The family-run boutique hotel welcomes globetrotters and cosmopolitans with 56 rooms, a bar and a lounge. The simple colour scheme of silver, beige, black and pure white is stylish, purist and yet intimate. A little different, individual and stylish with modern accents combined with pure understatement – an understatement in which the focus is on the guest. The
Thomas Hotel is an ideal starting point for shopaholics, sports enthusiasts and golf lovers. After an active day, unwind in the spa with its Finnish sauna, bio-sauna, steam sauna and fireplace lounge or relax with a massage or beauty treatment. Best Room The panorama windows in the Junior Suite Horizon enable guests to enjoy a unique and unforgettable view over Husum, its idyllic harbour and the magnificent North Sea from the comfort of their room.
Thomas Hotel Spa & Lifestyle Zingel 7-9 25813 Husum North Sea, Germany
The simple colour scheme of silver, beige, black and pure white is stylish, purist and yet intimate.
Room Rates € 169 – € 199 Rooms / Suites
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Junior Suite
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Thomas Hotel Spa & Lifestyle
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Germany, Husum an der Nordsee
art & business in the heart town ART & BUSINESSHOTEL
The art & business hotel is situated in the heart of the city and right at the entrance to the historic old town. The state theatre and the state opera are in close proximity, as well as museums and points of interest. Even the historic castle is only a few minutes by foot. Nuremberg Airport and the Convention Centre are a mere 10 minutes by tube. The central train station and its multi- storey car park are only 2 walking minutes away. This family-run, tasteful and nobly designed hotel is a perfect base-camp
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for the design-conscious guest. All common areas, as well as the 45 rooms and 4 Superior rooms of the design hotel are unique and fitted with original pictures, sculptures and other art works by contemporary Frankish artists. The art bar and lounge offer connoisseurs a wide selection of whiskeys and rums as well as wines and Champagnes. On summer days, you are invited to have breakfast in the inner courtyard’s art grove, or you can improve your game on the small putting green.
Art & Business Hotel
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Germany, Nuremberg
Best Room The spacious Superior Rooms are modern and stylish and in addition to having extra-long beds and bathtubs, offer a relaxing view of the colourful art grove.
Art & Business Hotel Gleißbühlstraße 15 90402 Nuremberg Bavaria, Germany Room Rates € 60 – € 145 Rooms / Suites
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Superior Room
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Art & Business Hotel
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Germany, Nuremberg
designoriented tradition
BERGHOTEL MAIBRUNN
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Berghotel Maibrunn
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Germany, Sankt Englmar
The hotel combines traditional design elements and contemporary charm with it’s original Lower Bavarian façade outside and cosy, Bavarian design touch inside. Lifestyle Room
Berghotel Maibrunn Maibrunn 1 94379 Sankt Englmar Bavaria, Germany Room Rates € 140 – € 200 Rooms / Suites
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The Berghotel Maibrunn is located in the heart of the Bavarian Forest, in a unique panoramic setting with its very own ski lift just outside the door. With its original Lower Bavarian façade outside and cosy, Bavarian design with a sporting touch inside, the hotel successfully combines traditional design elements with contemporary charm. Design lovers are in for a real treat at the innovative Berghotel – whether they are admirers of Charles Eames, Arne Jacobsen, le Corbusier, Philippe Starck,
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Gunther-Lambert or Designers Guild. The design hotel’s 52 high-quality rooms, each with their own design, are modern but not fashionable. They all have plenty of atmosphere and are in tune with nature – but are not rustical. Relaxation is guaranteed in the Spa Mountain Oasis, which in addition to an indoor pool with a panorama view and chill-out areas with waterbeds, also offers a tanning island and a tea lounge, as well as a sandy beach with wicker beach chairs.
Berghotel Maibrunn
Best Room Enjoy the sun and a magnificent view of the Bayerwald Mountains the minute you get out of bed! The 40 sqm Lifestyle Rooms offer plenty of space for personal relaxation. Tasteful wood panelling, niches for indirect lighting and decorative fabrics ensure the ultimate in comfortable living.
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Germany, Sankt Englmar
V8 HOTEL CLASSIC
for automobile lovers 218
V8 Hotel Classic
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Germany, Stuttgart
The V8 Hotel Classic at the Motorworld Region Stuttgart is without a doubt a place where the automobile takes centre stage. Thanks to the great attention to detail here, the atmosphere at the hotel will make any car enthusiast’s heart skip a beat. Guests will find 25,000 sqm of space to admire gorgeous antique cars, sporty new models and exclusive rarities. The design hotel’s 23 rooms focus on originality and quality. And there are 10 themed rooms with original parts from the automotive world. Each of these rooms is dedicated to a different theme, such as the drive-in cinema, V8 camp or service garage. Enjoy your stay in 4 different restaurants. Choose between
the regional kitchen in the „Check Inn“ restaurant, the Steak House Tower 66, the Italian fine dining Da Signora or the house-brewery in the Motorworld. Best Room At 120 sqm, the Tower Suite is the highlight of the hotel and boasts four floors and a generous terrace. In the 3rd floor you will find an impressive sleeping area furnished with original backdrops. In the 2nd floor panorama bath you are invited to relax in this new suit’s features including a private sauna and freestanding bathtub. From here, guests can see Motorworld in its entirety.
V8 Hotel Classic Graf-Zeppelin-Platz 1 71034 Böblingen Stuttgart, Germany
Thanks to the great attention to detail here, the atmosphere at the hotel will make any car enthusiast’s heart skip a beat.
Room Rates € 140 – € 650 Rooms / Suites
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Penthouse Suite
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V8 Hotel Classic
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Germany, Stuttgart
NEW MEMBER
V8 HOTEL
for lovers of cars and design Opening in December 2017: the V8 Hotel in Motorworld Region Stuttgart. The new design hotel with its clear, modern architecture fits perfectly with the style of the Motorworld. Thanks to a direct connection to the existing V8 Hotel Classic and the Legendenhalle venue, guests can step out of the design hotel and into the automotive experience at Böblingen airfield. The V8 Hotel has 153 rooms, including 16 new themed bedrooms and seven spacious apartments. The rooms and suites are modern in style with large windows,
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genuine wood parquet floors and designer interiors. The 16 individual themed rooms are beautifully furnished down to the last detail – perfect for real car-lovers. Relax and soak in wonderful views in the SPA with panorama sauna, gym and extensive terrace. Enjoy an informal but stylish combination of retro and modern architecture in the hotel restaurant, the bar and the lobby. They serve regional dishes with the best seasonal local ingredients.
V8 Hotel
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Germany, Stuttgart
Themed Room
Best Room
Individual and different – these are the 16 themed rooms in the V8 Hotel. You can find these unique, designed rooms at both ends of this designer hotel, V8 Hotel whereby each room is dedicated to a Charles-Lindbergh-Platz 1 71034 Böblingen Stuttgart, Germany different theme. From Vive la France Room Rates to motorsports and Forza Italia, € 129 – € 319 there’s something here for every car Rooms / Suites and motorsports fan. 153
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V8 Hotel
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Germany, Stuttgart
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V8 Hotel
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Germany, Stuttgart
lifestyle at the baltic sea SAND
Along the seven kilometres Timmendorfer Strand sandy beach in LĂźbeck Bay you can find the Baltic Sea lifestyle hotel, the Sand. The boutiqe hotel is only 50 m from the beach with numerous beach bars and the Sea Life Centre situated in the direct vicinity. The name of the hotel stands for Sand Aspires Natural Design and defines the natural nature of the hotel: Individuality, the very highest quality, sustainability and closeness to nature is reflected in every area of the hotel from the interior to the kitchen. The furnishings in the 77 rooms
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and 3 suites are made of recycled teak, the bedding of pure natural materials, in combination with clear colours and fine design, the rooms thus create a unique atmosphere for moments of relaxation. The hotel restaurant offers fresh and regional delicacies and energy is produced by the environmentallyfriendly use of the sun and combined heat and power plants. This natural atmosphere makes it easy for guests to relax and enjoy their holiday to the full.
Sand
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Germany, Timmendorfer Strand
Best Room The AndMore Suite offers its guests a stylish, purist atmosphere on 31-35 sqm. Lean back and experience that certain something – the design hotel opens the doors to a place where natural quality and contemporary lifestyle meet. The wonderful view of the Baltic Sea from the suites on the higher floors rounds off the superior level of comfort at the hotel.
Sand Strandallee 168 23669 Timmendorfer Strand Baltic Sea, Germany Room Rates € 75 – € 210 Rooms / Suites
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AndMore Suite
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Sand
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Germany, Timmendorfer Strand
modern maritime
SEEHUUS
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SeeHuus
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Germany, Timmendorfer Strand
Lifestyle meets warmth; wood, light sand tones and fresh ocean colours givethe SeeHuus its individual modern maritime flair. Junior Suite
SeeHuus Strandstraße 69 23669 Timmendorfer Strand/Niendorf Baltic Sea, Germany Room Rates € 118 – € 378 Rooms / Suites
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The SeeHuus on the Timmendorfer Beach/ Niendorf offers high-quality furnishings and a gorgeous location by the sea. Here, lifestyle meets warmth; wood, light sand tones and fresh ocean colours give the SeeHuus its individual modern maritime flair. Guests are offered a selection of two restaurants, a conference room, an underground carpark, a lavish lobby with bar and a large outdoor terrace overlooking the sea. All 67 rooms and 7 suites are
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equipped with balconies – sea view is optional – as well as comfortable seating and a rainshower. The hotel wellness area comes equipped with a pool, massages and beauty treatments, a fitness studio, steam bath, Finnish sauna, sanarium and relaxation room. The many golf courses nearby provide an alternative to wellness and relaxation. A day of sightseeing at the nearby Hanseatic City of Lübeck can embrace the luxury of browsing the shops of individual character.
SeeHuus
Best Room The beautifully furnished, 47 sqm Junior Suite Seaside is the pinnacle of comfort. The spacious room comes with a modern rainshower and bathtub, a flat screen TV, an iPod docking station, mini bar and even more amenities. A comfortable
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seating area invites guests to relax and a breathtaking view of the Baltic Sea awaits them on the balcony.
Germany, Timmendorfer Strand
SANDERSON
urban spa in london’s west end 236
Sanderson
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Great Britain, London
Located in the heart of London’s West End, Sanderson offers a retreat from the bustle of the city into a world of fantasy and wellbeing. The landmarked 50s building has been transformed by Philippe Starck into a surreal Cocteau like dream world, epitomizing a new luxury that is smart, pared down, and tempered with a healthy dose of wit and irony. Reimagined by Tim Andreas of Banjo, the design hotel’s 150 striking newly renovated rooms maintain the ingenious design touches and whimsical aesthetic of the original vision imaginatively blurring the line between baroque and modern, structure and space, extravagance and simplicity. A hedonist’s delight, the 10,000 square-foot agua spa provides pampering, spiritual relief,
and tranquillity to all who enter. With its miles of diaphanous white curtains, 14 all-white treatment rooms, chill-out zone, agua has a peaceful, dreamy and almost cloud-like ambiance. Sanderson
Best Room This striking room is inspired by decorative baroque motifs from the 17th century, including plaster trophy design and elaborate wood oak carvings, reflecting the serenity and comfort of an English Manor House. Soft furnishings such as the “Tchin Tchin” banquette chair create a sensually modern experience, that carries through to your own private terrace area, offering views over London from the 6th floor.
50 Berners Street London, W1T 3NG London, Great Britain
Sanderson offers a retreat from the bustle of the city into a world of fantasy and wellbeing.
Room Rates € 280 – € 1,800 Rooms / Suites
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Loft Suite Terrace
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Sanderson
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Great Britain, London
smart, witty & sophisticated ST MARTINS LANE
From its dazzling location at the hub of London’s Covent Garden, West End theatres and Trafalgar Square, St Martins Lane is a dramatic and daring reinvention of the urban resort. Philippe Starck’s design is a brilliant collision of influences – from the modern to the baroque – that suffuses the hotel with energy, vitality and magic. Starck presents a visually stunning play on scale, with oversized columns and angled niches painted a deep fluorescent yellow,
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complemented by Portuguese limestone floors. Framing sweeping views of London, the newly designed rooms by Tim Andreas of Banjo evoke a sense of spaciousness and luxury by using a mix of both naturally inspired and modern materials. The floor-to- ceiling windows in the design hotel’s 204 rooms offer a dramatic perspective on the energetic city below. One-of-a-kind interactive light installations allow you to personalize the space and to express every mood.
St Martins Lane
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Great Britain, London
Best Room Tim Andreas uses the 2 walls of expansive floor-to-ceiling windows as a unique backdrop to low and simple furnishings to create the feeling that guests are floating over the city. Linen drapery, polished aluminium, teardrop lighting fixtures and pale leopard print carpets soften the space, while the updated iconic interactive light feature allows guests to elevate their mood selecting from a spectrum of colours.
St Martins Lane 45 St. Martin’s Lane London, WC2N 4HX London, Great Britain Room Rates € 235 – € 1,800 Rooms / Suites
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Corner Suite
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St Martins Lane
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Great Britain, London
close to buda castle
LANCHID 19 DESIGN HOTEL
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Lánchíd 19 Design Hotel
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Hungary, Budapest
This design hotel offers a superb view of Budapest’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites; a unique visual experience. 3 Panorama Suites
Lánchíd 19 Design Hotel Lánchíd u. 19 1013 Budapest Budapest, Hungary Room Rates € 70 – € 353 Rooms / Suites
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The centrally-located Lánchíd 19 at the foot of the royal Buda Castle was named after the famous Chain Bridge and is a contemporary highlight in an environment that is dominated by 19th century architecture. This contrast also reflects the position of Budapest between past and future. This design hotel on the banks of the Danube offers a superb view of Budapest’s UNESCO World Heritage
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Sites; a unique visual experience. The 48 rooms are individually furnished and grant a one-of-a-kind view of the Pest riverside or the Buda castle. Guests in the restaurant can expect upscale Hungarian and international cuisine. The quiet and lush courtyard invites guests to enjoy quiet moments in the Danube metropolis.
Lánchíd 19 Design Hotel
Best Room The three 60 sqm Panorama Suites with floor-to-ceiling windows provide a glorious view of the Danube or the castle. All those needing even more inspiration can stroll onto the suite’s private terrace which features an incomparable panoramic view in the evenings.
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Hungary, Budapest
essay by
franzobel
S C H WA N H I L D E AND BREAD AND CHEESE The special need not be the most unusual. # 04
I
have a great respect for inventive people. Inventions do not just mean letters, numbers and the wheel, but also alcohol, the coffee maker and the smartphone. Soon there will be quantum computers, driverless cars, self-regenerating organs and implantable knowledge, and completely new dietary and living concepts. But is all that necessarily a good thing? As an unknown young artist, I attempted to put my supposed brilliance on ostentatious display: by dying my hair and wearing weird and wonderful clothes and flashy jewellery. Now that I am almost world-famous in Austria, I try to blend in as much as possible. The same is true for many artists: the attention seekers sporting loud caps or bird’snest hairstyles have usually yet to be discovered; those who have made it often look like hedge fund managers or headteachers. But does that not apply to all professions? Today, there are no givens: billionaires dress like storekeepers or forestry students, while bank clerks, lawyers and teachers can favour the most original style. You could take a supermarket cashier for the lead singer of a punk band, and not a few nursery teachers for Hollywood starlets. Each person is special, and different from everyone else, and everyone should have the right to look the way they want to. Problems do not arise until that desire for the unusual is immortalised in your children’s names. I recently heard a mother at children’s play park call “Schwanhilde, you mucky pig, get over here now!” The chubby-cheeked girl playing in the sandpit did not respond.
Of course the special, the unusual, is fascinating and exciting. However, you can overdo it – and not just with names. In Japan, for example, trying particularly weird dishes is now trendy. Wasp
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crackers, deep-fried bee larvae, fish guts fermented in their own juice and octopus ice cream are among the more common foods on offer. This trend is spreading to Europe: soon, specialist restaurants will be serving deep-fried nightingale tongues, raw duck embryos or drinks with whale milk. Everyone is searching for the special, the unusual: for kicks. Everything is getting crazier and more extreme. Ninety-year-olds climbing Mount Everest, teenagers sailing the Atlantic – soon, we will all be expected to run marathons. In their obsessive search for originality, some architects are completely forgetting comfort. They install transparent shower cabinets in the middle of bedrooms, or toilets on the balcony. As I said, it is always exciting so see someone try to break with convention and come up with something new. That is how Copernicus left the Middle Ages behind, and what boots up the personal computers of the modern era, but we can overdo the quest for the original. Sometimes, it is the familiar that has genuine charm – just as genuinely successful people do not need to demonstrate who they are. There are times when I just want a dish of Austrian lentils with dumplings (probably highly exotic to the Japanese), sausages with “Gulaschsaft” sauce or bread and cheese. Sometimes, all you need is the simple, honest and authentic. The special need not be the most unusual. In our era of rationalised mass production, everything that is produced with love and passion, with care and enthusiasm, is special. We must be able to value the genuinely simple if we are to enjoy the unusual. Then, the unusual can of course be a little crazy – it can even be called Schwanhilde.
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HOTEL T O FA N A
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Hotel Tofana
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Italy, Alta Badia
The newly built Hotel Tofana Explorer’s Home lies in the centre of San Cassiano in a unique panoramic location in the heart of the Dolomites. The Dolomites are the theme that runs through the hotel, and all aspects of the architecture are inspired by the mountains. For example, the hotel’s silhouette is shaped like a mountain peak, the bar symbolises the campfire, and at the ice-capped summit, guests will find an exclusive spa area: the Sky Spa with jacuzzi, saunas, feature showers and an extensive panoramic relaxation room. The rooms in this design hotel are cosy but elegant and symbolize your “base camp” in the heart of nature. Ladin, Tyrolean, Mediterranean and vegan
cuisine is served in the hotel restaurant. “Go out and play” is the Hotel Tofana slogan, and the Dolomites are the perfect “playground”: skiing, mountain biking, yoga, pilates and spa facilities are all on offer. Best Room The Senior View Dolomites Plus Suite with its floor-to-ceiling window brings the South Tyrol mountains into your bedroom. This 30m² suite offers guests a gentle, modern ambience with wooden flooring, swing seat and an open-plan bathroom with separate toilet. Guests can also enjoy panoramic views of the Dolomites from the 14m² terrace.
Hotel Tofana Str. Micurà de Rü 63 39036 San Cassiano South Tyrol, Italy Room Rates € 180 – € 370 Rooms / Suites
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Dolomites Plus Suite
The hotel’s silhouette is shaped like a mountain peak, the bar symbolises the campfire and at the ice-capped summit. 252
Hotel Tofana
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Italy, Alta Badia
dazzling white azure blue CASA ANGELINA LIFESTYLE
Casa Angelina is located in the authentic little town of Praiano, at the heart of the beautiful Amalfi Coast and offers breathtaking sea views to the charming town of Positano and beyond along the shoreline to Capri. The clear and sleek lines of the boutique hotel form both a contrast to and a framework for the captivating panorama. The 43 bright and predominantly white rooms seem almost transparent yet extremely elegant.
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Culinary dreams are made reality during a private dinner on the snow-white, panoramic restaurant terrace “Un Piano nel Cielo�. Bring the evening to a close in style with a cocktail at the Marrakech Bar. The SPA area with the heated indoor pool with hydro massage, the outdoor pool with a sun terrace, the gym with a personal trainer and the private beach provide relaxing moments in an unparalleled setting.
Casa Angelina Lifestyle
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Italy, Amalfi Coast
Best Room The 60 sqm Junior Suite features the Casa Angelina at its very best: the quiet suite offers a spacious bedroom with a king-sized bed, a large bathroom and separate bathtub and shower. Each room boasts a stunning panoramic view over the Gulf of Salerno, Positano and the Isle of Capri. The 30 sqm terrace is ideal for sunbathing or a romantic dinner for two.
Casa Angelina Lifestyle Via Capriglione 147 84010 Praiano Amalfi Coast, Italy Room Rates € 450 – € 2,400 Rooms / Suites
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Junior Suite
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Casa Angelina Lifestyle
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Italy, Amalfi Coast
NEW MEMBER
RELAIS BLU
pure elegance & panoramic view The Relais Blue boutique hotel lies nestled between the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento Peninsula in the small town of Termini. Surrounded by Mediterranean gardens, the hotel is a premium hideaway in a class of its own, with a panoramic view across the crystal-clear Mediterranean Sea, as well as the island of Capri. Guests are welcomed into one of the 11 exclusive luxury suites at the Relais Blu, each having been elegantly furnished with great attention to detail. Each room has its own individual highlight: a large window with a panoramic view across the
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Mediterranean Sea, a balcony or a garden with a sea view. At Relais Blu, you can discover exclusive places of retreat where you can relax in peaceful surroundings: the infinity pool with its view over the island of Capri, the garden planted with olive trees and Mediterranean plants, not to mention the terrace, where you can enjoy an incredible view across the surrounding countryside. Pure indulgence awaits guests in the in-house gourmet restaurant which has been awarded with a Michelin star.
Relais Blu
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Italy, Amalfi Coast
Relais Blu
Best Room
The Special Sea View suites are in a class of their own: Sit back and relax in the bathtub with a view across the sea and the island of Capri in one room, whilst in another you can awaken with a breath-taking panoramic view across the surrounding countryside.
Via Roncato 60 80061 Massa Lubrense Amalfi Coast, Italy Room Rates € 245 – € 650 Rooms / Suites
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Special Sea View Suite
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Relais Blu
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Italy, Amalfi Coast
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Relais Blu
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Italy, Amalfi Coast
small luxury
HOTEL PUPP
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Hotel Pupp
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Italy, Brixen
Every suite is the perfect, individual retreat. Smart Maisonette
Hotel Pupp Altenmarktgasse 36 39042 Brixen/Bressanone South Tyrol, Italy Room Rates € 188 – € 318 Rooms / Suites
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In the heart of the historic town of Brixen, Hotel Pupp with its 11 suites offers an oasis of calm and absolute privacy. Each suite is uniqe. Fittings and features include couches, a separate garden and whirlpool, a private courtyard and sun loungers or a balcony, and wonderful views of Brixen’s historic winding lanes. But there are some things that all suites have in common: elegant design, wonderful service and a great ambience. Every suite is the perfect,
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individual retreat. The hotel’s roof terrace with a heated whirlpool, minibar and sun loungers looks out over the rooftops of Brixen to the town and the mountains. Enjoy the perfect start to the day with the hotel’ s excellent breakfast. All products are sourced locally, and the fresh baking comes from the hotel’s own pastry shop „Pupp“ just opposite. In this warm and stylish ambience, your every need is catered for.
Hotel Pupp
Best Room These are the very pick of Hotel Pupp’s stylish suites. Discover stylish 35 sqm suites and enjoy the 40 – 70 sqm private garden with its own whirlpool, heated all year round. The perfect place to relax and unwind.
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Italy, Brixen
L O C A N DA AL COLLE
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Locanda al Colle
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Italy, Camaiore
The boutique hotel Locanda al Colle is in the Northern coastal part of Tuscany, on a sunny hill just outside of Camaiore. After an extensive renovation, the building, which was once a farmhouse, has blossomed into a sophisticated and modern hotel. There are a total of 12 stylistically confident and tasteful rooms on three floors. Elaborate details, selected individual pieces and vintage design classics give the nine double rooms and three suites their distinctive character. Due to the boutique hotel’s hillside location, situated between olive trees, lavender, rosemary and sage, visitors enjoy a breath-taking view of the Tuscan coast and landscape from the panorama terrace. Quiet and stylish places of retreat are the hotel’s own heated saltwater pool,
surrounded by olives and fragrant herbal plants, as well as the private pavilion in the nearby beach club, just a ten-minute drive away from the hotel. When entering the Locanda al Colle, you can already sense a relaxed environment, which makes it a one-of-a-kind location for hospitality, harmony and warmth. Best Room The generous Colle Suite represents pure privacy. In addition to the bedroom, with a canopy bed, living room and two separate baths, the private terrace invites you to linger. Here, you can enjoy the view of the one-of-a-kind Tuscan landscape, with a fresh sea breeze and the scent of red currants and juniper.
Locanda al Colle
After an extensive renovation, the building, which was once a farmhouse, has blossomed into a sophisticated and modern hotel.
Via la Stretta 231 55041 Camaiore Tuscany, Italy Room Rates € 165 – € 595 Rooms / Suites
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Colle Suite
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Locanda al Colle
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Italy, Camaiore
lodge in a dream location DER KÜGLERHOF
Der Küglerhof, furnished and designed in the style of a lodge, has large windows, rooms flooded with daylight and elegant materials. The location is a dream that never ends: the hotel is situated at 700 metres altitude in a unique panoramic location close to the Texel Group nature reserve and far away from any through roads – totally quiet and surrounded by natural pastures. The view from the hotel is one of the most impressive in the entire region, totally unobstructed over the whole Adige valley the neighbouring valleys, villages, city of Meran and surrounding mountain peaks. The
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wellness area is designed totally in keeping with the style of the hotel with wood, natural stones and glass. It has a Finnish sauna, steam bath, bio hay sauna, a herbal sauna, Kneipp water treading course and a whirlpool that is refilled for every guest. The kitchen and cooking is pretty impressive as well: South Tyrolean dishes are individually refined and combined with the lightness and flavours of Italian cuisine. Der Küglerhof is the perfect starting point for hikes, bike tours and other activities in beautiful South Tyrol.
Der Küglerhof
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Italy, Dorf Tirol near Merano
Best Room The junior suites are the most comfortable and largest rooms at 55 sqm. They all feature a balcony over the valley, are bright and modern furnished and equipped with a spacious bathroom. A glass desk at the window offers a great workplace with marvellous view. A pullout couch in the living area makes this suite also perfect for families.
Der Küglerhof Haslach Straße 82 39019 Dorf Tirol near Merano South Tyrol, Italy Room Rates € 270 – € 510 Rooms / Suites
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Junior Suite with Balcony
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Der Küglerhof
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Italy, Dorf Tirol near Merano
white and gold
HOTEL HOME FLORENCE
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Hotel Home Florence
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Italy, Florence
Modern and elegant, the hotel combines clean, simple lines with the beautiful details of a historical Florentine palace. Junior Suite
Hotel Home Florence Piazza Piave 3 50122 Firenze Tuscany, Italy Room Rates € 96 – € 385 Rooms / Suites
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Hotel Home Florence is situated in the heart of Florence, very close to the Arno River. Not far from the Basilica di Santa Croce and the Ponte Vecchio, this boutique hotel offers unique and refined design. Modern and elegant, the hotel combines clean, simple lines with the beautiful details of a historical Florentine palace. White and gold fittings and decorations are the trademark of Hotel Home. The 39 exclusive rooms are all in white, and their elegant, minimalist design is a celebration of the hotel’s
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unique charm. Guests will feel at home no matter what room they choose. The hotel’s roof terrace has wonderful views across the city and is available for private hire – the perfect setting for a romantic evening under the Florentine sky. Guests can enjoy the finest patisserie in the breakfast room in the morning, and sample great aperitifs in the evening. The Hotel Home is the ideal base for exploring the wonderful sights and art of Florence and soaking in the Italian atmosphere. Hotel Home Florence
Best Room The 38m² Junior Suite perfectly reflects the romantic ambience of this city of art. With a king-size bed, an openplan bathroom, a living area and a private terrace with views over the city, the suite offers absolute privacy in exclusive surroundings.
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Italy, Florence
CONTI D I S A N B O N I FAC I O
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Conti di San Bonifacio
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Italy, Gavorrano
On a hillside in Gavorrano in the heart of southern Tuscany lies the Conti di San Bonifacio Wine Resort, steeped in the unique magic of central Italy. The Wine Resort land with its vines, olive groves and woods extends for over 125 hectares in the centre of the Maremma. Seven exclusive rooms in traditional Tuscan style give you the space to relax and unwind. The exclusivity is in the detail: chestnut wood, Carrara marble, terracotta, rustic design features and a breathtaking view of the Tuscan landscape give the bedrooms and suites their unique ambience. Rest and relax in the outdoor pool or on the extensive terrace with panoramic views of the Maremma. Enjoy a genuine Tuscan experience in the Wine Resort restaurant.
Working exclusively with local ingredients including the Resort’s very own wine and olive oil, the restaurant puts an innovative gourmet spin on traditional dishes. Guests at the boutique hotel will discover a little corner of paradise – in the hospitable hands of the noble di San Bonifacio Family. Best Room Enjoy 60 sqm of sheer romance. With a large four-poster bed, a comfortable living area and a spacious bathroom in Carrara marble, the suite is perfect for honeymoons, engagements and anniversaries. Six windows in total and the private terrace look out onto the breathtaking Tuscan countryside.
Conti di San Bonifacio Località Casteani 1 58023 Gavorrano South Tyrol, Italy
The exclusivity is in the detail: chestnut wood, Carrara marble, terracotta, rustic design features and a breathtaking view of the Tuscan landscape.
Room Rates € 260 – € 790 Rooms / Suites
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Conti di San Bonfacio Suite with terrace
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Conti di San Bonifacio
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Italy, Gavorrano
mountain living in south tyrol LA CASIES
The Mountain Living Hotel La Casies in South Tyrol draws its inspiration from the unspoilt countryside of the surrounding Gsies Valley. For the family who run La Casies, the focus is on nature – and that is reflected in all areas of the hotel. Local Alpine materials, lots of timber andlots of light: this boutique hotel with its 32 bedrooms and panoramic terrace is in perfect harmony with the wild and beautiful landscape of
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the Gsies Valley. And the architecture is not all, with authentic nature and Alpine spa remedies forming a central part of life at La Casies. Premium local products and herbs from South Tyrol are used in culinary delights from the kitchen, while the natural spa guarantees absolute rest and relaxation. Long rambles to the hotel’s own „mountain pasture“ – the Alm – are the perfect way to enjoy nature and soak in the healthy Alpine air.
La Casies
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Italy, Gsies Valley
Best Room The 60 sqm deluxe suite on two floors offers absolute comfort and wonderful views of the Hochstein and the Dolomites. With a beautiful wood interior, this suite gives guests the perfect natural living experience – and if desired also radiation-free.
La Casies St.Magdalena 39030 Casies South Tyrol Room Rates € 115 – € 260 Rooms / Suites
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Suite Deluxe
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La Casies
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Italy, Gsies Valley
NEW MEMBER
PRAIA ART RESORT
the secret destination calabria The Secret Destination in Calabria: This is probably the most apt description for the Praia Art Resort. The luxurious resort is located in the village of Isola di Capo Rizzuto, nestled in the uniquely beautiful landscape of Calabria. Surrounded by Mediterranean flora and the scent of myrtle bushes and mastic trees, guests are welcomed here with a dazzling panoramic view over the Ionian Sea. In 30 authentic rooms, all with a view of the sea and their own terrace, the focus is on the natural, with a hint of luxury. Furnished with warm materials such as wood and terracotta, and with great
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attention to detail, feel-good moments are guaranteed. Pure relaxation awaits guests in the small but very fine SPA area, with a pool surrounded by pine trees, a relaxation area, and massage room. The in-house restaurant Pietramare Natural Food has been awarded with a Michelin-star and invites its guests to try culinary temptations in a class of their own, created from the best ingredients throughout the region. It is an authentic culinary journey that the gourmet restaurant invites its guests to embark on, profound and intense.
Praia Art Resort
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Italy, Isola di Capo Rizzuto
Praia Art Resort
Best Room
At around 42m² in size, the Deluxe Suites at the Praia Art Resort are in a class of their own: A large, open living and sleeping area, equipped with a high-quality interior, invites you to relax and linger a while. A highlight here is the private whirlpool, as well as the individual terrace with a sea view.
Loc. Praialonga S.S. 106 Isola di Capo Rizzuto Calabria, Italy Room Rates € 380 – € 750 Rooms / Suites
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Suites Deluxe
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Praia Art Resort
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Italy, Isola di Capo Rizzuto
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Praia Art Resort
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Italy, Isola di Capo Rizzuto
NEW MEMBER
GOURMET & BOUTIQUE H O T E L TA N Z E R
gourmet cuisine with heart “The Tanzer”, as the family-run gourmet and boutique hotel likes to call itself, is situated in the idyllic centre of Issengo in South Tyrol’s Puster Valley. The clear, light and modern architecture of the boutique hotel’s façade are a welcome and an invitation to all. “Small and beautiful” is the hotel’s philosophy: The hosts, the Baumgartner Family, are strong believers in detail, and their eye for the special is reflected throughout the hotel in a great mix of tradition and modernity. The 21
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bedrooms are light and furnished in natural materials with modern features. Guests will find a haven of peace and rest in the spa oasis with its sauna, infrared cabin and large quiet relaxation room with water beds. Absolute gourmet delights with award-winning dishes are served in the hotel’s own restaurant. On fine days, guests can even enjoy their meals on Kirchplatzl Terrace against the breathtaking backdrop of the Dolomites.
Gourmet & Boutique Hotel Tanzer
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Italy, Issengo/Falzes
Roof Garden Suite
Best Room
The spacious Roof Garden Suite has wonderful views of the Astjoch and the Sarntal Alps. The c. 50 m² suite has space for two Gourmet & Boutique people. Wooden flooring, a bright Hotel Tanzer Via del Paese 1 interior, natural linen bedclothes 39030 Falzes/Issengo South Tyrol, Italy and a free-standing bathtub make Room Rates for a cosy atmosphere. The highlight € 180 – € 352 of the suite is the west-facing private Rooms / Suites panoramic roof garden. 21
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Gourmet & Boutique Hotel Tanzer
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Italy, Issengo/Falzes
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Gourmet & Boutique Hotel Tanzer
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Italy, Issengo/Falzes
natural design HOTEL LARICE
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Hotel Larice
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Italy, Livigno
One notable feature of this Alpine-style hotel is its gentle impact on nature. Junior Suite
Hotel Larice Via Botarel 40 23030 Livigno Lombardy, Italy Room Rates € 120 – € 408 Rooms / Suites
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In the centre of Livigno, Hotel Larice is a small paradise in the middle of the Alps, nestled in Stelvio National Park. One notable feature of this Alpine-style hotel is its gentle impact on nature. The hotel’s modern and environmentally friendly architecture guarantees a unique stay. Its cosy atmosphere is highlighted by the sleek and high-quality design. Natural and environmentally sustainable materials like larch wood, wool and stone adorn the 13 rooms and
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suites. The culinary style of this boutique hotel also stays true to its natural roots. High quality food is the focal point in the gourmet breakfast as well as in the restaurant specializing in Mediterranean and Japanese cuisine. Relaxation is catered for in each suite’s private sauna as well as in the wellness area complete with sauna, pool, Jacuzzi and private spa, just 150 meters from the hotel and complimentary for guests to use.
Hotel Larice
Best Room The 36 sqm Junior Suite is located in the 3rd floor and provides guests with a spectacular view of the Alpine world. Features such as a private sauna, Flaminia bathtub, a generously-sized shower and a large panoramic terrace with relax-loungers leave nothing to be desired.
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Italy, Livigno
essay by
franzobel
SE C R E T L O C AT ION S : STRANGER THAN PA RA D I S E # 05
B
ob Dylan, a master of all classes, has never spoken at either the Nobel Prize award ceremony nor at the presentation of any other award. Even at concerts, they say, he does not speak to the public, yes, not even to his musicians, who only every time find out what they’re playing next shortly before they start. Perhaps, the master no longer speaks at all, an idea that makes his mind into an extremely mysterious place. Is there only a gelatinous mass there now, destroyed by drugs, like you see with Ozzy Osbourne or some braindamaged boxer? Or does a highly sophisticated circus of nerve cells play under the pavilion roof of the Zimmermann skullcap. There are lots of secret locations, but that’s not saying that you would want to get to know them all. For example, the secret locations of the body? The pubococcygeus muscle may very well be sexually stimulating, but you don’t need to know of the adductors, much less feel them. Or the pineal gland, which some philosophers consider to be the hub of the soul? Not to mention the periodontal pockets, heart valves, kidney shadows – all kinds of secret places, strange and far away planets.
Even the world outside your body is full of undiscovered places; even in Manhattan, a place which has been documented on film millions of times, there are still corners that hardly anyone knows of. The same applies for Venice when you head off the beaten track – by the way, late autumn is not a bad time to visit either city. Recently,
I was in Salzkammergut and found an idyllic path to the lake in Traunkirchen, with a fantastic steak restaurant. How long did I have to explore Vienna to find the Wotruba Church? Or St. Marx Cemetery and the Narrenturm Museum? This year, I saw Retz, a town straight out of “Vicky the Viking”, the Nock Mountains and the salt mines in Altaussee for the first time. In Tyrol, I liked the mystical Hall Valley. There are alpine lakes that make your jaw drop; enchanted alleys of wine cellars, where your dropped jaw has a silver lining. The world is wonderful, it changes and there is always something new to discover. You just have to be curious. As soon as something is secret, then people want to know about it. Children still earnestly believe that pirates from the Indian Ocean have buried their treasures in their grandparents’ garden, in a workers’ settlement in Leoben, on a farm in Sankt Georgen or next to a fire-fighting pond in Probstdorf. For adults, this naive hope is often jaded, but it is this curiosity that is responsible for the progress of mankind. Mathematicians look for secret places in numbers, physicists search for particles or dark masses and medics for the gene to make us live longer. On the other hand, my search for idyllic places, good restaurants and new words seems trivial, but the childish passion for discovery is the same. It is important not to lose it. And perhaps Bob Dylan will say something again one day too?
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HOTEL GITSCHBERG
1,400 meters above everyday life Just like a box seat, the quiet and sunny Gitschberg blends in with the gentle mountainous landscape of Meransen. A hotel with the sustainable label “KlimaHotel”, deeply rooted in the tradition and nature of South Tyrol and facing the unique backdrop of the Dolomites. The architecture resembles the rustic hay barns of the alpine and ski region Gitschberg Jochtal – while the interior impresses with its modernity: Clear lines, a lot of light, warm colours and natural materials form a harmonious symbiosis. Guests can find peace and
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strength in 38 rooms and suites. A boutique hotel in the mountains, small enough for you to feel at home, yet big enough to enjoy all the perks of your holiday. Focused entirely on nature, the Fenilia Spa amazes with the Panorama Pool, saunas and a naturopathically inspired massage and beauty programme. At the Gitschberg, the cuisine is also in harmony with nature: Ingredients from South Tyrolean agriculture as well as mountain and wild herbs provide for an unforgettable flavour experience.
Hotel Gitschberg
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Italy, Meransen
Hotel Gitschberg
Best Room
On an area of 43 m², the Gassla Spa Suite invites guests to exclusive living and private wellness pleasure. Guests are welcomed with the wonderful fragrance of larch wood, and interiors impress with precious silver quartzite and fine woollen fabrics. A highlight is the private Spa Loggia with its own Swiss stone pine mountain sauna, fragrant aromas and barefoot parkour.
Endereckerstraße 2 39037 Meransen South Tyrol, Italy Room Rates € 103 – € 187 Rooms / Suites
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Gassla Spa Suite
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Hotel Gitschberg
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Italy, Meransen
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Hotel Gitschberg
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Italy, Meransen
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FOLLONICO
the heart of tuscany In the heart of the dreamy landscape of Tuscany, surrounding by vineyards in the province of Siena, you will find the boutique hotel of Follonico in the little town of Montefollonico. The hosts, Suzanne and Fabio, have created a cosy hideaway from an ancient farmhouse, following a long, laborious but passionate renovation of the property. The sophisticated bed & breakfast’s four suites and two standard rooms are waiting to welcome guests. Modern elements combined with traditional Tuscan style create a homely atmosphere.
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You can also enjoy pure privacy at the Follonico: Each of the suites has its own entrance as well as direct access to the generous gardens full of fragrant flowers, olive trees and vine. The hotel’s “slow”sophy prevails throughout the entire hideaway. Guests are invited to escape stress and surrender themselves completely to Tuscany with its seasons. This philosophy is also experienced by the fact that guests enjoy only the best products from the region for breakfast.
Follonico
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Italy, Montefollonico
Blu Notte Suite
Best Room
The Blu Notte Suite can be accessed via an elegant staircase, which leads from a panoramic loggia to the first floor of the former farmhouse. The approx. Follonico Località Casale 2 48m² room is split into a bedroom 53049 Montefollonico Tuscany, Italy and living area by a round arch. An Room Rates open fire and private balcony with a € 190 – € 350 view over the San Biagio church are Rooms / Suites perfect for romantic evenings. 6
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Follonico
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Italy, Montefollonico
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Follonico
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Italy, Montefollonico
I-SUITE
pure relaxation with sea view 318
i-Suite
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Italy, Rimini
The first all-suite hotel on the Rimini Riviera is right at the heart of the action, directly on Rimini’s beach promenade. Guests are welcomed into a spacious lobby that is dominated by brilliant whites and features a cosy fireplace. The bar is surrounded by mirrored walls while bright green artificial trees are scattered throughout the room. The hotel’s own i-FAME restaurant, where the chef Daniele Succi also likes to create futuristic dishes using regional products, promises unforgettable culinary highlights. The challenge in doing so is the hotel’s ”zero food miles” concept: the food may only have covered a few kilometres from the producer’s to the guest at the restaurant to keep the
ecological footprint as small as possible. The i-FEEL GOOD spa also leaves nothing to be desired: on the top floor of the hotel it’s not just the heated infinity pool that offers a magical view over the sea but also two saunas, a Turkish bath, a Thalassotherapy pool, sensory showers, an ice room and a relaxation area with fireplace.
i-Suite
The first all-suite hotel on the Rimini Riviera is right at the heart of the action, directly on Rimini’s beach promenade.
Viale Regina Elena 28 47921 Rimini Emilia-Romagna, Italy Room Rates € 150 – € 600
Best Suite Located on the fifth floor, the Penthouse Suite is bigger, more stylish, more sophisticated and cooler. This suite has a huge round bed to enjoy the 360° sea view. In the room there is a private Turkish bath enriched with a chromo-therapy system.
Rooms / Suites
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Penthouse Suite
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i-Suite
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Italy, Rimini
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H O L I DAY I V G A R DA N
the serendipity hotel at lake garda Blue waters, dreamy beaches, Alpine peaks, a mild climate & picturesque little towns – all of these things make up the beautiful Lake Garda, where the Hotel Holiday IV Gardan is also to be found. The modern boutique hotel opened its doors in summer 2017 in the lively centre of the town Riva del Garda. With its philosophy “finding something good without looking for it”, the Holiday IV Gardan is truly a lucky find for its guests in Garda Trentino. Guests are received in 17
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imaginative, designed rooms which have been constructed with great attention to detail. Each of the four room categories stands alone: In the “Fantasy” rooms, no limits are set to the imagination; clear lines dominate in the “Design” rooms; the modern-style “Panorama” rooms are equipped with designer furniture and their own balconies; and in the generously-sized “Serendipity” rooms, guests can enjoy an unobstructed view of the sky above Lake Garda.
Holiday IV Gardan
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Italy, Riva del Garda
Holiday IV Gardan
Best Room
At around 33m² in size, the Serendipity Suite offers a particularly large amount of space in which to relax. Warm colours and a unique style create an atmosphere of well-being. Thanks to its location on the upper-most floor of the hotel, guests can enjoy an indescribable view of the sky.
Viale Martiri XVIII Giugno 4 38066 Riva del Garda Lake Garda, Italy Room Rates € 70 – € 200 Rooms / Suites
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Serendipity Suite
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Holiday IV Gardan
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Italy, Riva del Garda
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Holiday IV Gardan
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Italy, Riva del Garda
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POST HOTEL TRADITION & LIFESTYLE
feel-good moments Located in the scenic mountain village of San Candido (Italy), the Post Hotel lies nestled in the heart of the Dolomites. After being completely renovated in 2014, the formerly small guest house has flourished into a unique boutique hotel specialising in wellness holidays for adults. The hotel owners, the Wachtler family, have skillfully created a fusion of traditional South Tyrolean culture and the modernities of present-day life, adding the finishing touches with just a hint of the luxurious. In 41 rooms
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and suites elegant, modern interiors are combined with hints of traditional culture and spectacular views over the roofs of the mountain village all the way to the Alta Pusteria. Guests can sit back, relax and enjoy feel-good moments in the Vita Alpina Wellness-Oasis with indoor pool, saunas and relaxation zones. In the hotel-own restaurant guests can savour the sophisticated flavours of a contemporary and masterful fusion of South Tyrolean and Italian cuisine created by the team of chefs.
Post Hotel – Tradition & Lifestyle
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Italy, San Candido
Best Room
The La Nuvola suite stretches out over two floors, offering a total of 70 m² for guests to relax and discover a sense of well-being. The spacious living area and bathroom are located on the ground floor. However, guests can find the real highlights on the upper floor, where they can while away the hours snuggling up in the floating bed suspended from the ceiling or relaxing in the free-standing bathtub.
Post Hotel Tradition & Lifestyle Benediktinerstraße 10/c 39038 Innichen South Tyrol, Italy Room Rates € 214 – € 398 Rooms / Suites
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La Nuvola
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Post Hotel – Tradition & Lifestyle
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Italy, San Candido
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Post Hotel – Tradition & Lifestyle
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Italy, San Candido
elegance & exclusiveness LA COLUCCIA HOTEL
The La Coluccia Hotel & Beach Club is located close to Santa Teresa di Gallura, on the northern coast of Sardinia, 54 km from Porto Cervo. The pinetree filled garden leads to the sandy beach surrounded by granite rocks with a view of the Island of Spargi in the Maddalena Archipelago, located just off the coast. The boutique hotel’s contemporary design creates an elegant and exclusive atmosphere. Its 48 rooms
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are confidently styled and offer state-ofthe-art amenities. Relax in the beauty centre with a massage or a Turkish bath. The restaurant offers excellent local and international dishes. Dinner on the poolside terrace with a view of the sea is especially atmospheric. The La Coluccia hotel is also a perfect location for weddings with its unique and elegant ambience.
La Coluccia Hotel
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Italy, Sardinia
La Coluccia Hotel
Best Room The Junior Suite with terrace feature an amazing view over the sea and garden. It offers maximum comfort and space, is cozy and equipped with amenities to make your stay incredibly enjoyable.
Località Conca Verde 07028 Santa Teresa Gallura Sardinia, Italy Room Rates € 250 – € 660 Rooms / Suites
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Junior Suite
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La Coluccia Hotel
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Italy, Sardinia
art & design on the venice lido HOTEL VILLA PA N N O N I A
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Hotel Villa Pannonia
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Italy, Venice Lido
Discover sheer elegance, modernity and an avant-garde atmosphere.
Hotel Villa Pannonia Via Doge Michiel 48 30126 Venezia Lido Venice, Italy Room Rates € 150 – € 240 Rooms / Suites
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Beautifully situated on the Lido di Venezia, the Villa Pannonia Hotel has wonderful views of Venice and the Adriatic. The hotel was built in the early 20th century as the summer residence of eastern European nobility, and now combines Venetian tradition and modern design. Its façade in classic Venetian red, and an eclectic style with curved archways and numerous windows, is still testimony to this era today. Discover sheer elegance, modernity and an avantgarde atmosphere in the 30 bedrooms
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of this boutique hotel – interiors created by leading designers offer every creature comfort. One of the highlights of the Villa Pannonia Hotel is the exhibition room: come and admire works of modern art in a unique ambiance. Rest and relaxation await in the historical garden, the perfect place to enjoy breakfast or the mild summer evenings. Those looking to explore the heart of Venice can reach the city centre in just a few minutes in classic Venetian style: by water taxi.
Hotel Villa Pannonia
Best Room The 32 sqm suites echo the elegant and romantic atmosphere of Venice. The bedroom and separate living area are minimalist in style, in wenge wood and white leather. Absolute comfort guaranteed.
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Italy, Venice Lido
V I L A J OYA H O M E , R E S TAU R A N T & S PA
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Vila Joya Home, Restaurant & Spa
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Portugal, Albufeira
A Garden of Eden in the Algarve! Vila Joya is located directly on a sandy beach, bordered by cliffs that are typical for the Algarve and surrounded by bizarre rock formations, grottos and tropical palms, cypresses and agaves. With its Moorish architecture style, this charming family owned boutique hotel is reminiscent of a small oriental palazzo. Each of the 22 rooms is unique in its size and interior decoration and offers breathtaking views of the sea from its terrace or balcony. Most of the bathrooms are artistically designed with traditional Portuguese azulejos, others are more modern with slate and state-of-the-art design. The exquisite 2 star Michelin Restaurant is
the jewel of the house and completes your holiday feeling: Welcome to Paradise. Best Room The unique Royal Suite Alegria meets even the highest expectations: Located on the ground floor, it offers a private garden and heated pool for relaxing and romantic evenings. Enjoy a wonderful view of the sea from the spacious living room with dining area. The master bedroom has a king-size bed and the bathroom is another highlight of the suite – with free-standing bathtub and breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Vila Joya Home, Restaurant & Spa
With its Moorish architecture style, this charming family owned boutique hotel is reminiscent of a small oriental palazzo.
Estrada da Galé 820-927 Albufeira Algarve, Portugal Room Rates € 390 – € 2,300 Rooms / Suites
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Royal Suite Alegria
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Vila Joya Home, Restaurant & Spa
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Portugal, Albufeira
luxury hotel in a family mansion Q U I N TA DA B E L A V I S TA
Quinta da Bela Vista promises a wonderful view over Funchal. The more than 160-year old pretty family-owned castle was turned into a luxury hotel and provides a view over the surrounding gardens, coast and the Atlantic. The hotel is not just impressive outside but inside too: The hotel is surrounded by a lush 25,000 sqm garden full of exotic plants and filled with valuable antique furniture and artistic treasures. The 89 elegantly
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furnished rooms and suites are equipped with a luxurious marble bathtub and a balcony with a panoramic view of the surrounding botanical gardens, the Bay of Funchal and the alpine landscape. The restaurant serves local and international dishes in a cosy wood-filled atmosphere complete with fireplace and marble floors. An ideal location for travellers who appreciate tradition and are seeking a peaceful atmosphere.
Quinta da Bela Vista
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Portugal, Funchal
Best Room The Penthouse, which has accommodated many European queens, princesses and princes, entices with its elegance and its abundance of character. The 175 sqm suite includes an open fireplace, precious antiques and gorgeous decor. The view looks onto the Bay of Funchal and onto the amphitheatre, as well as the Atlantic.
Quinta da Bela Vista Caminho do Avista Navios 4 9000-129 Funchal Madeira, Portugal Room Rates € 202 – € 448 Rooms / Suites
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Penthouse
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Quinta da Bela Vista
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Portugal, Funchal
for individualists
VILA VA LV E R D E
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Vila Valverde
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Portugal, Lagos
This former 19th century country estate has been fully restored, expanded, and with great devotion to detail turned into a small design hotel. 15 First Class Rooms
Vila Valverde Estrada da Praia da Luz – Valverde 8600-209 Lagos Algarve, Portugal Room Rates € 99 – € 229 Rooms / Suites
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Vila Valverde is located in gloriously peaceful surroundings at the edge of town with a view of the bay of Praia da Luz. This former 19th century country estate has been fully restored, expanded, and with great devotion to detail turned into a small 5 star design and country hotel. The soft coloured interior of the 15 rooms underscores the tranquillity and homeliness of the boutique hotel.
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Guests have at their disposal an indoor and outdoor pool, a sauna, a large terrace and a 5 hectare garden with its population of old trees, an orange grove and its very own spring. Beautiful design with particular emphasis on aesthetics, functionality and comfort make the Vila Valverde an exclusive destination for individualists.
Vila Valverde
Best Room In the Vila Valverde you will find 15 individually decorated 29-55 sqm rooms with first class comfort and modern design as well as a balcony or terrace.
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Portugal, Lagos
CONVENT DE LA MISSIO
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Convent de la Missio
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Spain, Mallorca
In Palma’s old town, surrounded by alleyways and blooming courtyards, lies the Convent de la Missió Hotel. Built in the 1700s for missionaries in training, it underwent extensive restoration into an exclusive boutique hotel. Art is pervasive in each room. The talent and vision of each artist is expressed in each remarkable work of art. The 27 individually rooms combine spaciousness, calmness and luxury. The Michelin star Marc Fosh restaurant features a large terrace and the renowned chef Marc Fosh presents a delicious and appetizing Mediterranean menu full of originality and creativity. Formerly it was the refectory of the convent. Today, it is a multifunctional space: an exhibition hall and bar, a space for discovering
art, and a very special place to share the excellence of a good drink or cocktail. On the artistic side, the Art Bar house works by contemporary artists from multiple disciplines: photography, painting, ceramics and sculpture. Along with the Urban Spa’s sauna, and whirlpool the sun terrace contains an outside pool and relax sunbeths . Best Room The 75 sqm LuxurySuite, furnished with very special flair, is an ideal combination of spaciousness and calm, luxury and aesthetics, with its private terrace & whirpool and dampfbad. Like the other rooms in the hotel, the suite exhibits exceptional and unique works.
Convent de la Missio Carrer de la Missió, 7A 07003 Palma de Mallorca Mallorca, Spain
Art is pervasive in each room. The talent and vision of each artist is expressed in each remarkable work of art.
Room Rates € 225 – € 365 Rooms / Suites
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LuxurySuite
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Convent de la Missio
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Spain, Mallorca
mediterranean relaxation F O N T S A N TA HOTEL THERMAL S PA & W E L L N E S S
The Hotel Fontsanta, next to Es Trenc beach, is located in the southern part of Mallorca. It is much more than just an exclusive hotel in that it has the only natural thermal waters in the Balearic Islands, making the Fontsanta an oasis of wellbeing. What is special is that this underground spring supplies the swimming pool, the Jacuzzis and the Vichy showers with water rich in
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minerals. Most of the 37 stylish rooms offer a private terrace with a stunning view over the Es Trenc conservation area. Discover exclusive and healthy gastronomic innovations in a secluded spot or on the communal terrace in the hotel’s own restaurant. Pamper yourself with a spa treatment or improve your game at the nearby Maioris Golf Club.
Fontsanta Hotel Termal Spa & Wellness
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Spain, Mallorca
Best Room Superb villa located a few meters from Es Trenc Natural Park, ideal to relax and enjoy nature. It has 160 m2 over two floors. On the ground floor there is a bedroom with a walk in closet; a bathroom with a bath, a shower and an outdoor shower; the dining and living room and a large terrace (30m2) with amazing views. The terrace connects the house with the garden and the private 30m2 pool. On the first floor there is an independent suite with a 16m2 terrace with direct views over Es Trenc Natural park. The villa also has a private parking.
Fontsanta Hotel Thermal Spa & Wellness Crta Campos – Colonia de Sant Jordi, km8 07630 Campos Mallorca, Spain Room Rates € 320 – € 1,400 Rooms / Suites / Villa
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Luxury Villa with pool
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Fontsanta Hotel Termal Spa & Wellness
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Spain, Mallorca
essay by
franzobel
THE PERFECT GUEST # 06
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y wife, this wonderful being, never orders what is on the menu. She wants salad instead of mashed potato, the burger should come without the chips, and the meat must be medium-cooked, the Quattro Stagioni should have some more artichokes instead of mushrooms, the icing sugar on the Esterházy torta distresses her and the apple juice must be please mixed with still water. When ordering Asian food, she always asks for an extra hot sauce if the dish is indicated with three chillies, and in the country guesthouse she orders the mixed dumpling plate with hash instead of bacon dumplings and without the sauerkraut. Practically all of her orders have some kind of additional instruction. Why in kitchen God’s name do you need that special treatment? Why can’t a person order what is on the menu? Does it have to do with loss of control? With maintaining a touch of personal responsibility for what we eat? Or Susan Sontag: the famous American essayist always wanted another hotel room, as I was told by a woman in charge of book tour supervision. Not even two minutes after checking in, that is, she would go back to reception, complain about something and demand a room change. Always! This is also a form of artistic attention-grabbing. But the buzz word among all restaurateurs is food intolerance. Recently, a hotelier told me that a guest had tormented him for two weeks with special requests: there should be no cream in his celery soup, no egg in his schnitzel breading, and in any case wheat flour was poison and cow milk was suicide. Well, allergies are a serious issue. People, exposed to ever stronger environmental conditions, burdened by artificial supermarket food, surrounded by pollutants and electric smog, are becoming
sensitive and are reacting. The results of ignoring an intolerance can be awful. This is all very true, and the hotelier and his chef went to a lot of trouble to meet all their guest’s wishes. But when, after days of scrupulous hassling, he suddenly stowed away two portions of Salzburger Nockerl with vanilla sauce, and justified himself to the utterly perplexed hotelier by saying that he was perfectly allowed to make an exception once a week, the restaurateur was totally confused. Guests are, according to his findings, more and more difficult. There are so many stories you could write a book. But who would want to read something like that? The guest is king, but this shouldn’t mean that you should behave like a tyrant, regarding the bathrobe, the silverware and the art prints on the walls as your own property. And smashing the inventory, as used to be the custom for rockstars, does not go down well. From the point of view of most hoteliers and restaurateurs, the perfect guest simply enjoys and praises. He should not have any extra requests or have any issues, to the point that, as an introverted guest, you sometimes think: next time I’ll just send the money and stay at home. Mass tourism increases alienation. For tourism professionals, guests become replaceable, while tourists’ brazenness grows. Only when you treat people with decency, respect and humility, and are understanding of the other side, does eating and travelling become what it should be: a wonderful experience. And if there are any extra requests here and there, people can take care of them, as long as they don’t become a habit. But tell that to my wife.
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coastal pleasure
HOTEL C A N S I M O N TA
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Hotel Can Simoneta
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Spain, Mallorca
Vast gardens surround the finca hotel’s buildings, including the Beach House right on Canyamel beach. Grand Suite Neptuno
Hotel Can Simoneta Crta Artà-Canyamel Km 8 07580 Canyamel Capdepera Mallorca, Spain Room Rates € 185 – € 1,700 Rooms / Suites
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The Hotel Can Simoneta is situated on the north-eastern coast of Mallorca, only 2 Minutes from the village Canyamel and the beach. Its privileged location on a cliff offers an amazing sea view and makes it an ideal location for those travelling in search of tranquillity. Vast gardens surround the finca hotel’s buildings, including the Beach House right on Canyamel beach. Each room in the Can Simoneta is individually and exclusively
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furnished. The restaurant with exquisite cooking and even some home-grown products also has a magical view over the Bay of Canyamel. Enjoy the spa services, the sauna, the Turkish bath and the outdoor pool. Besides tranquillity and harmony, Can Simoneta also offers its guests lots of sporting opportunities, there are several golf courses and a tennis court in the near vicinity.
Hotel Can Simoneta
Best Room The Grand Suite Neptuno is a little cottage with a private swimming pool, private terraces and private garden, directly facing the sea. It’s one of a kind!
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Spain, Mallorca
HOTEL TRES
16 century palace th
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Hotel Tres
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Spain, Mallorca
Hotel Tres is situated in a superb location, right in the heart of the old town of Palma just a few steps away from the elegant Passeig des Born shopping street. This design hotel combines rustic Mallorcan style with contemporary design to create a unique space for comfort and relaxation. The building blends old and new and pairs a modern structure with the remains of a 16th century palace. The 41 rooms are between 22 and 25 sqm and feature a king-size bed and the Tres signature design rollaway table. This table is as wide as a bed and can be rolled anywhere, so even dining ”in bed” is fun. The Superior Rooms are located in the restored part of the palace’s boutique hotel and are perfect
for travellers in search of something more. Relax in the Tres Bar and Lounge, or on the rooftop terrace where a sauna, a splash pool, a sun deck and cool drinks await you, while enjoying a wonderful view over the sea, mountains and famous cathedral. Best Room The 70 sqm suite puts a living room and two bathrooms at your disposal. In addition, enjoy a private rooftop terrace with whirlpool, shower and sun beds above the city’s roofscape. Did we mention that gorgeous mid-century cathedral as your backdrop or the room service ready to fulfil all of your wishes?
This design hotel combines rustic Mallorcan style with contemporary design to create a unique space for comfort and relaxation. Hotel Tres Calle Apuntadores 3 07012 Palma Mallorca, Spain Room Rates € 230 – € 315 Rooms / Suites
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Tres Suite
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Hotel Tres
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Spain, Mallorca
design, fashion & glamour H O T E L Z H E R O – PA L M A
The Hotel Zhero – Palma in Cas Catalá is just seven kilometres from Palma de Mallorca and a two minute walk from the beach. Lounge aesthetes at the hotel can look forward to the Fresh Zhero Bar with its exclusive indoor lounge and terraces with chill out ambiance. The 39 exquisite rooms and suites are tastefully furnished in minimalist design and
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offer either a view of the turquoise sea or the hotel pool. White loungers, blue water and lounge music – you can dream yourself into another world beside the 100 sqm pool. The Zhero Beach Club will tempt you with health food and sushi, its own pool and access to the sea and is without a doubt yet another Mallorcan highlight.
Hotel Zhero – Palma
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Spain, Mallorca
Best Room The junior suite offers the best sea view and a pleasant, quiet night even for noise-sensitive guests due to the new triple glazed windows. On 32 sqm you will find a king-size bed, an extra-large terrace, a 50-inch flat-screen TV with DVD player and a minibar.
Hotel Zhero – Palma Crta. Palma Andratx,Km 6 07181 Cas Català Mallorca , Spain Room Rates € 107 – € 295 Rooms / Suites
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Junior Suite
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Hotel Zhero – Palma
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Spain, Mallorca
luxury by nature
P L E TA D E MAR
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Pleta de Mar
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Spain, Mallorca
The hotel and its elegant style blends into the landscape perfectly, offering a wonderful view of the Canyamel bay. Grand Suite
Pleta de Mar Via de les cales s/n, Canyamel 07580 Capdepera Mallorca, Spain Room Rates € 515 – € 1,950 Rooms / Suites
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Located on Canyamel beach on Mallorca’s north coast, the 5-star boutique hotel, Pleta de Mar, opened in Spring 2017. Surrounded by Mallorca’s nature and looking out onto the sea on top of the steep coast, the hotel and its elegant style blends into the landscape perfectly, offering a wonderful view of the Canyamel bay with direct access to the sea. The Pleta de Mar’s 30 suites offer
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pure elegance and luxury with their stylish interior and décor. The highlight of each suite is its private jacuzzi. The relaxation area offers two infinity-pools, a sun terrace with oceanview and selected massage and beauty treatments. Guests can also enjoy culinary delicacies with the best seasonal ingredients at the hotel restaurant “Asador de Mar”.
Pleta de Mar
Best Room With elegant interiors and its own outdoor pool, the “Grand Suite” is a unique suite offering the best possible comfort and luxury. The “Grand Suite” has a private area measuring 90m2 with two bedrooms, a large living area and much more.
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Spain, Mallorca
U T M T – U N D E R N E AT H THE MANGO TREE
winding down with ayurveda 380
UTMT – Underneath the Mango Tree
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Sri Lanka, Dickwella South
7,504 km from the Hollmann Beletage in Vienna, Robert Hollmann created a unique refuge in Dickwella South. In an elevated palm grove surrounded by 273 coconut trees, it was the many mango trees which were the namesake for the UTMT – Underneath the Mango Tree – Beach and Spa Resort. The most southern beach hotel in Sri Lanka is an unconventional interpretation of Sinhalese architecture and combines modern design with customary structure and materials. Those seeking calm can expect 13 rooms, and 9 villas – lavish, unique and above all luxurious. UTMT’s restaurant seduces you with its unbelievable view of the Indian Ocean and sweeps you away into the mysterious world of Sinhalese cuisine. Along with
a 25 m pool, the Ayurveda Spa offers professional guidance, in combining yoga and meditation with Ayurvedic teachings. Also ask for ayurveda panchakarma cures and yoga retreat weeks. The 200 m long private beach dotted with coconut trees and mango groves ensures pure seclusion. Best Room The 65 sqm Ocean View Villa is an ideal haven for those seeking rest and relaxation. The private pool with garden and terrace offers pure rejuvenation and the living room with kitchen and eating area as well the separate sleeping quarters with luxurious bathroom grant plenty of space to relax.
The UTMT is an unconventional interpretation of Sinhalese architecture.
UTMT – Underneath the Mango Tree Tangalle Road 81200 Dickwella South, Batheegama West Matara, Sri Lank Room Rates € 151 – € 444 Rooms / Suites
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Ocean View Villa
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UTMT – Underneath the Mango Tree
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Sri Lanka, Dickwella South
timeless elegance PA R K H O T E L BELLEVUE & S PA
The Parkhotel Bellevue & Spa found its place more than 100 years ago on a sunny plateau in the Bernese Oberland, slightly elevated above the village centre. The classically modern, snow-white building from the 1930s radiates a timeless elegance inside and outside. The boutique designer hotel pursues a balance between tradition and modernity – vintage look is combined with modern influences and timeless classics, which is also presented in the 50 spacious rooms and suites. The
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1,700 m², sensually modern spa “pour” is located in the middle of the garden and is a place of relaxation with an indoor pool, an outdoor saltwater bath, saunas, steam baths and a fitness area. Delicacies can be expected in the hotel’s own restaurant: the creative dishes with a French flair, made using regional products, were recognised by Gault-Millau with 14 points. The hotel meets its a high standards of service and hospitality in every aspect.
Parkhotel Bellevue & Spa
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Switzerland, Adelboden
Best Room For those who don’t want to miss out on the mountain view, the sun flooded Classic Junior Suites (40 m²) are the perfect choice. These newly-renovated rooms are defined by high-quality materials and mid-century vintage furniture. Large windows bring the expansive view of the mountains right into the room. With a living area and a separate sleeping area, this suite is also suitable as a family room for three to four people.
Parkhotel Bellevue &Spa Bellevuestraße 15 3715 Adelboden Bernese Oberland, Switzerland Room Rates € 210 – € 595 Rooms / Suites
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Junior Suite Classic Süd
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Parkhotel Bellevue & Spa
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Switzerland, Adelboden
venetian flair
HOTEL DES BALANCES
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Hotel des Balances
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Switzerland, Lucerne
The hotel offers not just historic flair but also elegant, modern design and warm but stylish furnishings. Suites
Hotel des Balances Weinmarkt 6004 Lucerne Lucerne, Switzerland Room Rates € 145 – € 725 Rooms / Suites
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The wonderful Hotel des Balances, a place steeped in history, lies in the heart of Lucerne’s old town right on the banks of the River Reuss. Unique façade frescoes give the hotel the air of a Venetian palace, and the Venetian feel continues on the restaurant terrace of this design hotel where diners can enjoy magical views of the river and of the mountains beyond. The Hotel des Balances dates back to the 12th century. Now, the hotel
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offers not just historic flair but also elegant, modern design and warm but stylish furnishings in each of the 56 rooms. Culinary delights are guaranteed from the creative Restaurant Balances kitchen – this establishment with lounge, bar and terrace boasts 14 Gault Millau points. The design hotel’s prime location makes it the perfect starting point for shopping and sightseeing expeditions.
Hotel des Balances
Best Room The five suites are sure to delight even the most demanding guests. Modern design and subtle elegance define these spacious suites with separate living space and bedrooms. Some also have a whirlpool and balcony, and all have magical views of the River Reuss and the wonderful Alpine panorama.
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Switzerland, Lucerne
ALPINLODGE & S PA
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Alpinlodge & Spa
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Switzerland, Samnaun-Ravaisch
The 5-star lodge surrounded by the magnificent Engadine mountains in the Swiss Samnauntal valley invites you to enjoy first-class luxury. The extravagant and stylish ambience created by architect Hansjörg Kolednik and his wife Claudia focuses on the power of contrasts. Natural materials from the surrounding area were turned into innovative design for the spacious elegant interior of the three luxury apartments for two to six people. The alpinSpa with its infinity panorama natural stone swimming pool, the Swiss stone pine sauna and the high emotion steam bath creates an ambience where even extremely stressed people find it really easy to relax in the water and warmth. The apartments are located in a setting that could not be any more
magical: a unique panoramic view over the Alpine peaks, rich mountain pastures in the summer and snow-covered fields in the winter. Best Room This spacious suite offers on 80 sqm space for 2-4 people: massive Swiss stone pine furniture and a specially manufactured luxury boxspring bed, open bathroom, spacious south facing terrace with lounge furniture to chill out and much more guarantee a unique holiday atmosphere with fantastic views of the surrounding mountains.mountain or valley panorama in the relaxation zone.
Alpinlodge & Spa
First class luxury surrounded by the Engadine Mountains.
Pezzastrasse 10 7563 Samnaun-Ravaisch Samnaun/Ischgl, Switzerland Room Rates € 210 – € 762 Rooms / Suites
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Alpinsuite “Adler”
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Alpinlodge & Spa
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Switzerland, Samnaun-Ravaisch
young, charming & special HOTEL M AT T E R H O R N FOCUS
The Hotel Matterhorn Focus is situated on the outskirts of Zermatt, in a prime location right at the „MatterhornExpress“ base station. The hotel blends perfectly with its natural surroundings and has wonderful view of the magnificent Matterhorn and Zermatt mountain panorama. Guests at the design hotel can choose from 30 rooms and suites, each with a balcony or terrace, in three connected buildings. Enjoy modern architecture and art and
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design from the famous artist Heinz Julen – at one with nature; young, bold and innovative. Relax and unwind in a charming atmosphere and beautiful surroundings down to the last detail. The spa area with its mystical flair and smart design offers an oasis of calm after a long day’s hiking or skiing. Indoor pool, outdoor whirlpool, salt bath, caldarium and sauna... What more could you want? Hotel Matterhorn Focus: cool design and luxury in a relaxed, private ambience.
Hotel Matterhorn Focus
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Switzerland, Zermatt
Best Room Breathtaking views of the Matterhorn are just one of the treats in store in the Royal Suite. This spacious suite with balcony/ terrace in the designer’s unique style and combination of materials will satisfy the most demanding guests. A 70 sqm suite with living room, bedroom, free-standing bath, separate bathroom, coffee machine and much more.
Hotel Matterhorn Focus Schluhmattstrasse 131 3920 Zermatt Matterhorn, Switzerland Room Rates € 150 – € 490 Rooms / Suites
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Royal Suite
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Hotel Matterhorn Focus
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Switzerland, Zermatt
Imprint
Copyright & Responsible for Contents / Thomas Holzleithner Graphic Concept / VON K Brand Design Production Team / DI (FH) Christin Maier-Erlach, Pia Unger BA., Thomas Holzleithner Photo Credits / In-House / Private Print / Medienfabrik Graz 2018 ISBN 978-3-200-05720-3
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