Last month we stayed at Heidelberg, one of Germany’s most beautiful and interesting cities. Its historic city centre is full of monuments, shops, bars, restaurants and… students, as this is one of the premier universities. On the outskirts towards Mannheim and the Rhine river you will find many industry, especially pharmaceutical, the reason that Heidelberg also attracts business travel. And the reason why a design hotel like the Arthotel is in business. The arthotel is located in the very heart of the old town, beneath the famous castle ruin, and is made up of a historic part and an avant-garde extension enclosing the atmospheric courtyard which offers a taste of both.

With only 24 rooms this is truly a boutique hotel. Rooms are either located in the old or new wing. Rooms in the old part have parquet floors and some offer fresco painted ceilings. The corner room on the first floor is the largest, size junior suite, and offers a romantic corner tower. All rooms offer today’s facilities, including airconditioning, WiFi (at a charge) and a free bottle of mineral water. There is no minibar, but guests can have a drink at the lobbybar or on the terrace in the courtyard. Our light and spacious room was overlooking the rooftop terrace with views over the Heidelberg rooftops and a glimpse of the castle hill. Fantastic beds and a wonderful spacious bathrooms including seperate bathtub and shower. Bathroom amenities by Rituals.

Though the Arthotel is a bit on the pricey side (you do pay for quality here), we were pleasantly surprised to see the menu at the restaurant was not all that expensive. Due to the warm summer weather we had dinner outside. The menu is a fusion of regional and Mediterranean specialties, very well presented and served by excellent staff. Some seasonal specialties (asparagus!) where thrown in for good measure.

All in all an excellent hotel: combining traditional German architecture with avantgarde decor. Everything in order: rooms, bar, dinner, breakfast. The staff needs an extra remark. First class hotels in Germany tend to be on the stuffy side. Here the staff was wonderfully relaxed, although very professional and with an eye for details. Bravo!

When coming by car, spend a few euro’s extra on the garage which is very convenient in this mostly pedestrian city centre. Speaking of cars: be sure to tour the Neckar river valley, a wonderfully green and beautiful area.

It seems pretty obvious based on this review why the Hansar Bangkok picked up “Best Boutique City Hotel” from Boutique Hotel Award last November….

One of the best boutique hotels in Asia! Great style, good service at an excellent location!, by Liang Tan.

The Hansar hotel in Bangkok truely is a fantastic hotel. The impressive design of the hotel starts with the arrival experience at the hotel. After the big glass doors are opened for the guest, you proceed to climb the stairs to the lobby on the mezannine level. The hotel has a warm and comfortable ambiance and in addition is very eco-friendly as all the hallways are open en cooled through a

natural breeze, resulting in significant energy savings. The locations is easy to reach and directly next to the BTS exit and right in the centre of Silom, opposite the Thai Royal Sporting Club. The room is suprising, as you enter and will see the garden through a glass wall. This stay was in the urban one bedroom suite, which has an ample living area and connecting desk. Minibar is included, which is a nice feature. The beds are fantastic, fluffy cushions and a lovely matrass. The bathroom design is exquisite and the shower and bathtub have nice features. The bathroom is combined with the walk-in and extra spacious. The room gives the feel of a New York soho apartment, well designed, good layout, spacious and well thought out. The interior design is in good harmony with the overall architecture! The pool is situated on the 11th floor and on the same floor you can go a spacious fitness centre. The same pool side has a nice bar. The other rooms in the Hansar are equally spectacular. Make sure to visit their website to check the different designs. I will come back again, that’s certain! What a lovely place!

A stylish hotel in the old heart of Jakarta, by Liang Tan.

Alila Jakarta is a mix between boutique and business. I stayed at the business level and the executive lounge is a perfect place to unwind from a busy business day. The staff very attentive, serving drinks throughout the day. In the afternoon tea is served and a cocktail hour around 6pm. The sleek design of the lobby entrance is spacious and pleasant. I checked in at the executive lounge into very spacious club suite. The bathroom is fantastic! This is great for couples to enjoy! The bed is very comfortable.

Furthermore, the Alila has an ample outfitted gym even equipped with hamam and sauna. For those who would like to go to the spa, there is also plenty of choices. Finally, the hotel has a roof top pool, which takes you away from the hustle and bustle. Alila is located on Pecenongan, which is known for its variety in food stalls. Close to the old city, Batavia as well as Glodok, there is plenty to see. Did I say that the staff are attentive and helpfull? If you are looking for a different kind of business hotel or simple comfortable, designed rooms, check-in to the executive level rooms.

Third and last in the triptych Copenhagen hotel reviews: the Radisson Blu Royal, also known as the SAS Royal Hotel. Earlier posts included STAY (November 15) and CPH Living (November 17).

The Royal Hotel in Copehagen, now Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, opened in 1960 completely according to the design of Arne Jacobsen, one of Denmark’s most prominent architects and designers. Jacobsen literally designed everything for the hotel: from door handle to china, and including the world famous “Egg” and “Swan” chairs. The Royal Hotel was a sensation, not only due to its overall modern design but also of its height. With twenty floors it still is one of Copenhagen’s city centre  tallest buildings. The Royal Hotel claims to be the world’s first design hotel.

A multifunctional building, the lower part housed the SAS (Scandinavian Airline Systems) city terminal where passengers could check in and where then brought by bus to Kastrup airport. Times change, passengers now take the train to the airport from the Central Station in front of the hotel. The terminal was changed into a supermarket and fitness centre. And although the partnership between SAS and Radisson Hotels ended, the SAS logo still proudly tops the tower (hotel) part of the building.

In the 80′s of the last century the hotel was completely overhauled, but just one room. The beautiful Egg and Swan chairs were sold close to nothing to hotel staff and the public. To be bought back twenty years later with another renovation multiple the price what they have cost originally in 1960. Jacobsen, who died in 1971, is ‘the’ man once again.

The room kept in the original state, “606” or “Arne Jacobsen suite” can be still booked a such. It is a favourite with architects and designers. All other rooms and suites have been renovated in an international style, which is less outspoken than Jacobsen’s designs. However, the Royal Club rooms which are located on the corners of floors 10 to twenty have a nice Jacobsen feel as well. They boast the original windows on two sides, including one in the bathroom giving a sensation of space. Not to mention the fabulous views. When I stayed at the Radisson Blu Royal I had a room on the 15th floor. Although on arrival Copenhagen was covered in mist, the next sunny morning brought views as far as the Swedish coast.

With its history you may come to expect a certain stuffiness. Not so: the Royal is still one of the prominent members of the Radisson Blu chain known for its innovations. The Royal is a first class hotel, popular with both business clients and individual travellers. The mentioned gym is huge, there is a business centre (which replaces the original glass covered winter garden), a classic hotel bar in the lounge, a street level restaurant and the 20th floor Alberto K restaurant. With all the rage of Danish cooking (Noma in Copenhagen billed as the best restaurant in the world) you will not be surprised that Alberto K specializes in Danish (seasonal) cooking. I don’t know if you will be gazing at your plate or out of the window, as every table is window site….

Two weeks ago I stayed three nights in Copenhagen at three different hotels listed on the stylehotelsweb website. Here’s the review of hotel #2: CPH Living.

Named as hip as STAY, but CPH Living is quite something different. Take its size: CPH Living is a small barge moored in Copenhagen’s harbour with just twelve rooms. It is of the houseboat kind you see in Amsterdam, but then with an added floor. The barge was ‘found’ in a German harbour, then taken to Poland where some extra metres were added and on to Tallinn, Estonia, where the 12 rooms where built in. The last journey over the Baltic Sea ended spring 2008 in Copenhagen’s harbour where the hotel was finished.

Interiors have both Scandinavian and boating design influences. Rooms are minimalistic decorated with the utmost needed. But they sure are not cold, due to the abundant use of wood for the floor, a desk/bench/baggage storage and a cupboard with sliding doors which hides the TV, DVD, and storage space. A desk chair by Fritz Hansen, an IKEA light, a small red metal night stand perfect for loading your cellphone with a socket right underneath it (there is no phone in the room by the way, like STAY no reception or room service to call).

Bathrooms are an example of Nordic effiency too. Completely tiled in glass mosaics, they just offer a shower, toilet and wash basin. No range of toiletries, just a simple dispenser for soap and shampoo. But the pressure of the hot shower is as it should be, and the gimmick of showering while overlooking the bedroom and water through the glass partition is quirky. Untill the partition gets fogged-up…

But if you don’t feel very private you can always close the floor-to-bottom blinds. However the main attraction of CPH Living is this amazing water view. You will see the water taxi pass by, rowers or a family of swans. In summer maybe even human swimmers, as the (sea)water here in central Copenhagen is clean enough to swim. You will find a public open water pool just at the other side of the bridge. All rooms have the same view, and it was wonderful to have the door open to let in the fresh air and gently swing on the waves. I seldom had such a good sleep at a hotel, bunkered up in the bunk bed. There is some noise from the bridge which is one of only two bridges spanning the harbour in central Copenhagen.

Apart from staring over the water, either from your own room or from the roof deck there is not much else to do at the CPH Living. There’s just a small lounge acting as reception, a place for vending machines selling soft drinks and snacks or free coffee and tea. You can also use the refrigerator to stall some of your things. Also, the ‘light’ breakfast is served here with a small, but good selection of rolls, cheese, meat, youghurt and ofcourse Danish!

Location is more than fine. Located on the quiet side of Copenhagen’s central harbour, you can walk to the Tivoli, Central Station and City Hall Square in about 10 to 15 minutes. At 10 minutes walking to the other side you will find the Christianshavn subway station, taking you in one stop to the Stroget shopping street or in the other direction to the Kastrup airport. Just beyond the subway station is Christiana, the ‘free state’ within Copenhagen.

If you do not mind not having all the facilities of a four star hotel, but just a cozy, tasteful retreat this is your place!

Two weeks ago I stayed three nights in Copenhagen at three different hotels listed on the stylehotelsweb website. Here’s the first review of hotel #1: STAY Copenhagen.

STAY actually isn’t really a hotel. Buit in the sixties of the last century as a wharehouse and office complex, in the eighties already moribund. In 2000 a new owner made plans to the turn the A shaped building into apartments. The neighbourhood where it’s located, Islands Brygge, was already burgeoning and slowly turning from industrial wasteland to Copenhagen’s hippest place to live. The building was temporarily used by artists between 2003 and 2007 and got quite a name in the Copenagen scene. However after a complete strip, with nothing left than the concrete skeleton, 2010 saw the opening of STAY.

The credit crisis also hit Denmarkt and the once booming real estate market (Copenhagen has some of the world’s most expensive real estate) collapsed leaving many of STAY apartments unsold. Thus came the idea renting out the apartments as short stay facilities. Now STAY is so succesful as a hotel, the owner only sells you one of these magnificent apartments at a premium price.

But you do not really need the cash to stay here. The hotel rates are very reasonable, especially considering the amount of space you’re getting for it. Not to mention the fabulous, cool, minimalistic Scandinavian design that goes with it. The smallest ‘studio’ is 65m2 (700 sq feet), the largest the Loft XL measures 154m2 (1650 sq feet). On checking in I got a Atelier XL Loft of 135m2 (1450 sq feet) (pictured). If you love minimalist, Scandinavian, design this is heaven. Interiors are by furniture maker HAY. Shiny white cast floors, white plastered walls, underfloor heating in the whole apartment including bathroom, a huge kitchen with built-in aplliances, everything is chic and sleek. In the bathroom you will find a rain shower and the kitchen cupboards hold a washing machine and drier. So you can move in right away!

The design as a apartment building has it flaws looking upon them as hotel rooms. You will not find a minibar, but you have a full sized refrigerator built-in the kitchen. There’s loads of space in the bathroom to put all the toiletries in the cupboards you did not bring anyway. But no hook to hang a wet towel. There is no phone to call roomservice (which there isn’t anyway) or reception. In case you have to you can always use your own cell phone. Or use your laptop while the free WiFi is working perfectly. You should also be familiar with the Danish mentality on privacy. My Atelier XL Loft had floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, and neighbours on two. Maybe you should opt for one of the river overlooking apartments, the riverside being non built untill this moment. Or simply close the sexy black curtains.

So if you can do without the regular first class hotel service and do not mind being on your own and living the hip Danish life, you’ll be more than fine here. STAY is located a 25/30 minute walk from Copenhagen’s city centre. On the way there you will see some fine examples of urban renewal. Though there is a bus stop in front of the hotel and a subway stop 10 minutes walk (nonstop to the Stroget shopping street and one stopover for the airport).

STAY serves a breakfast but you can also opt to buy groceries at the eco-supermarket downstairs or freshly baked bread at the bakery. There’s enough space to host a dinner party at your own apartment or dine at the Italian restaurant also located in the complex. Plus, STAY has a fitness studio and a gigantic roof terrace (Copenhagen’s biggest) which is sometimes used for events.

STAYed here? Share with us & leave a review at the website!

A small, funky hotel on Ann Siang Hill

The Club Hotel staff is very courteous and hospitable. They all did a wonderful job in making me feel at home. The 22 room hotel has been designed Ministry of Design, was only opened in May of 2010. The rooms are spacious and the bathrooms are great! There are interesting lighting features and light dimmers to be discovered everywhere. Especially the signature on the third floor (303) gives a sea of space! The location of this hotel is very convenient located near Chinatown CBD and walking distance to the MRT, aside from being smack in the middle of the nightlife of Ann Siang Hill and Club street! Prices are amazingly affordable for the quality and location of the hotel. The only minus is the material that was used for the room floors, an industrial material that does not really fit the atmosphere. A great place to hang out is the Chocolate café. Overall I had a great experience staying at this funky place! Certainly will come back again!

By: Liang Tan

Living right up to its expectations being a five star hotel (member of Starwood’s Luxury Collection) and promoting its local roots the Convento do Espinheiro is one of the best hotels I stayed in in Portugal. If you’re looking for the ‘real’ Portugal in comfort and luxury, head right up to the Alentejo, Portugal’s southern province, just an hour and half from Lisbon and slightly longer from the Algarve beaches. Welcomed with a local liquor at check-in, things couldn’t go wrong from here. Wonderful friendly -and professional- staff. Caiprinha and sunshine at the outdoor pool. Spacious and stylish design room in the newest part of the hotel. Free WiFi. Herb garden, cloisters, amazing renovated church. A free wine tasting (Alentejo is home to fantastic, not so well known wines -yet- ). Super breakfast. Can go on and on. Only stayed one night and did not even enjoy things like the spa, restaurant and outdoor activities. Hope to return soon and stay a little longer. Highly recommended!

Goldman 25 hours Hotel Quirky!

Spend a hot sunday night in this quirky hotel. With no airco and a fan not working, sleeping with the windows open on this busy street a good night’s rest was not going to be. However, the cheerful receptionist brought a working fan up in just a minute, problem solved. Maybe it was the theme of the room I was staying translated “little luck”? For the rest this was a hassle free stay and the hotel has a relaxed vibe about it. Definitely not for lovers of minimal design. Rooms are themed around a colour (every floor has another colour) and a local. Sadly the book with all 49 stories is in German only, too bad as it shows there’s more to Frankfurt then banks and insurance. Restaurant was not open during my stay, but I was suprised to find a menu from the Italian restaurant/pizzeria opposite the hotel delivering, with some realistic pricing. The hotel itself is definitely value-for-money. Free WiFi, free SkyTV including sports and sex channels, though the Beate Uhse channel is more comedy then arousing The area is what they say “up and coming”, a mix of car dealers, supermarkets, flashy offices, trendy restaurants and local bars (including some wurst accross the street) and the occasional “lofts with riverviews for sale” billboards. The new European Central Bank headquarters is built within a five minute walk, which will help push up gentrification. And should you require airconditioning and sleek interiors, the Motel One is just opposite. 

Compass is a major hotel operator with properties in Thailand (Bangkok, Hua Hin, Pattaya and Koh Samui), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Langkawi) and Singapore. Inez, our reporter, recently visited three Compass properties in Bangkok featured on stylehotelsweb.

Citrus Sukhumvit 22 Hotel

When I was in my twenties and even in my early thirties, I used to love the Khao San area in Bangkok with all it’s links to the happy hippie way of life. Still I can enjoy it, but only for a few hours. Been there, done that. And please: no more (wannabe) hippies! I started to look for alternatives and found Citrus Sukhumvit 22 in the Sukhumvit area, what a treat! The price range may be a little bit higher, but still to European and American standards the rates are very reasonable (between 50 and 80 € for a room) and you’ll get great value for money: a trendy hotel, modern design, comfortable, spacious room (excellent use of space), a very well equiped bathroom, a swimming pool on the roof and last but not least: a hip lounge with even hipper cocktails. The staff is friendly, polite and relaxed. The whole atmosphere is one of relaxation. Extra: Since the owner of the hotel is a cigarre lover, there is a special cigar room; they have a collection of cigars to choose from. It’s not in the center of Bankok, but who cares when a taxi (by meter) brings you there for around 100 – 150 baht and even better, takes you out of it when you’re done with the crowds.Or take the nearby skytrain. The food has is of original, old fashioned Thai quality, the flavours are excellent, but the way it is presentented is totally now. Citrus brings Bangkok really into the 2010′s. This is a new standard to beat!

Kingston Suites

For those who like to stay in touch with Europe when they stay in Bangkok, there is a place now: the Kingston Suites in the Sukhumvit area. It is a hotel with a classic-but-contemporary design, spacious rooms, friendly staff and a huge shower! The rooms are very comfortable: fridge, flat screen tv, very comfortable bed for a good night’s sleep. The hotel has its own tuktuk service, wifi and for those not traveling with their own lap top there are two in the lobby for guests to use. Before I reported about the Citrus Hotel in the same area with is more edgy and modern; the Kingston is great for those who are a bit more traditional and just like the more ‘classic’ feel of being in a comfortable hotel with good old fashioned service. Are there any downsites? Well, it takes a little longer perhaps to get to the central area of Bangkok, but there are taxi’s everywhere in front of the hotel; just be aware of those who want you to take to places where they get commission (happened to us) and report that back to the hotel. The Kingston itself is a perfect alternative for travelers with a bit more to spend and who like to have everything very well arranged. The building reminded me of Paris in a way. The Kingston: A little piece of Europe in Bangkok!

ON8 Sukhumvit

I did several reviews during my last trip to Thailand, saw a lot of hotels. I went to all kinds of places: simple places (no reviews here and to the more luxurious ones. I have to admit that one of my favourites was ON8 (refering to Soi 8 where it is located at Sukhumvit road) in Bangkok. I asked myself what it was that gave such a good feeling? The spacious room (there are only 40) with a minimalistic design? The modern photography on the walls everywhere? The stylish cafe, hip design with Thai elements (tasty dishes and very good value for money) or was it simply the colour orange everywhere that made me (being Dutch) remind of the Dutch royals -and home- ? It felt hip and it felt good. An advantage of this place is the location next to station Nana of the skytrain from Bangkok. This train will take you in no time to places like the Chatuchak weekend market in the north of Bangkok: Huge! The biggest to find in Thailand I think. The staff of On8 gave us a skytrain map and pointed out this place to us. Most tourists do their shopping in Khoa San, but believe me: Much better deals here. Overall this hotel has it all: Modern, all comfort, good location, helpfull staff, delicious food, very interesting offers (rooms from 35 euro up). What could anyone wish for more?