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Our 15 Seconds Of Fame..
I can easily say I never thought that I would be included in a book written by the President of the United States of America.
Well, as of January 20, 2017 that will change. You can see my 15 seconds of fame from Think Like A Billionaire below. In reading this newsletter, I hope you agree with President-Elect Trump’s assessment.
In the rest of this issue, we give you 15 more top suites from leading cities from around-the-world. We once again visited the winners’ list of Conde Nast Traveler’s Reader Choice Awards and pinpointed for you the best suites at those hotels. You can find the previous 15 from our issue two weeks ago by clicking here.
PS — We keep all past issues on an easy to access website DG Amazing Experiences where you can find both newsletters and special reports.
Thanks for reading. I hope all your trips are amazing experiences!
All the best,
Founder/Editor-in-Chief DG Amazing Experiences Please Note - DG Amazing Experiences is not commercially affiliated with any of the resorts we profile or travel advisors we reference
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In This Issue:
1. Chicago - Virgin Hotel
2. Washington D.C. - The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner
3. Boston - XV Beacon
4. Sao Paolo - Hotel Unique
5. Buenos Aires - Alvear Palace
6. Mexico City - Los Alcobes
7. Johannesburg - The Saxon
8. Cape Town - Ellerman House
9. Taipei - Mandarin Oriental
10. Shanghai - Fairmont Peace Hotel
11. Beijing - Rosewood
12. Jakarta - Raffles
13. Bangkok - The Peninsula
14. Melbourne - The Langham
15. Hyderabad - Taj Falaknuma
Our Security Reports (Links Below):
Should you drive a car in Cuba?
How to survive a terrorism attack
7 easy ways your flight crew can improve security
Recommended Reading (Links Below):
25 Hot New Hotels Opening Soon
More CEOs Join NBAA No Plane No Gain Campaign
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Part 2: More Top Suites In Global Capitals…
Conde Nast Traveler each year polls its readers for their favorite things travel from airlines to cities to hotels. The U.S. edition claims over 300,000 votes, and needless to say there are always surprises. For the end product, readers get dozens of lists with a numerical ranked listing. In my opinion, a 95 vs. a 94 doesn’t tell you much.
To make the data useful to you, we added information on the best suite at the winning hotels. Two weeks ago we covered 15 cities and you really liked it so we’ve added 15 more, which you will find below.
1. Chicago – Virgin Hotel
Conde Nast Traveler’s take: “Don’t take it on faith that all hotels
in the Windy City are primed and polished in the art of service: Instead, head
to Virgin Hotel Chicago, one of billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson’s
latest endeavors, to see for yourself. Guests are especially complimentary of
amenities like free Wi-Fi, well-stocked mini-bars that don’t break the bank,
and mod rooms that sport separate areas for primping and sleeping, as well as
the brunch options at Miss Ricky’s—don’t leave without trying the french toast.”
There are two penthouses: Richard’s Flat (pictured above) and the Rockstar Suite, both offer a vibe of British aristocracy mixed with Chicago cool. Richard’s Flat is 750 sq.ft., with north facing and slight river views. The Rockstar Suite is 770 sq.ft. and is southwest facing. They have the same amenities and are essentially the same - a living room area, expansive bathroom, wet bar and bedroom - but the Rockstar Suite is slightly bigger because it is ADA compliant. The patented Lounge Bed designed with Rockwell Group Europe is for those who like to work as well as sleep in bed. Custom sensors illuminate when you get out of bed in the middle of the night leading the way to the bathroom.
2. Washington D.C. – The Ritz-Carlton Tysons
Corne
Conde
Nast writes, “If you thought upscale options were not
to be seen beyond the narrow borders of Washington, D.C., you thought wrong.
This Ritz-Carlton outpost in Northern Virginia sits adjacent to the Tysons
Galleria, a luxury shopping mall, and offers first-rate amenities like a
full-service Day Spa (Sparkling Champagne massage, anyone?) and a José
Andrés-helmed tavern. It may not be around all the action—but if you’re looking
for something a little more low-key, or planning a wedding, then this should be
at the top of your list.”
We say at stay in 1,836 sq.ft. Ritz-Carlton Suite
with full kitchen and separate dining area with seating for eight, living room
with fireplace, connecting to a Deluxe Double to sleep up to eight guests.
There are two marble bathrooms in master bedroom
and a powder room in foyer. You also get full access to the Club Lounge which
includes the Club Concierge.
3. Boston – XV Beacon
“The chic, intimate modernist interiors of this
hotel in Beacon Hill may contrast with its exterior, a turn-of-the-century,
ten-story Beaux Arts building of iron, limestone, and brick—but it all adds up
to part of the charm,” says Conde Nast,
continuing, “The lobby has an original cage elevator, while individually
designed rooms in taupe, creams, and espressos come with fireplaces, mahogany
built-in cupboards, and contemporary canopied beds. Order up a prime piece of
meat at Mooo—and if you can score a seat in the restaurant’s vaulted-ceilinged
private dining room in the wine cellar, even better.”
The Gilbert Stuart Suite is 1,400 sq.ft. two
Studio Rooms combined with a separate Parlor Room which has a dining/boardroom
table that accommodates up to 12 people. All three rooms have marble
bathrooms with a rainforest shower and whirlpool tub. Another feature is all
three rooms have an entrance from the hallway. View is of Beacon Street. You
may also like the gas fireplaces.
4. Sao Paolo – Hotel Unique
Conde
Nast says, “This São Paolo pad really is one of a
kind, from its crazy crescent shape (it looks like the hull of a ship,
portholes and all), to the towel-warming racks in its bathrooms, to its
champagne check-ins. The décor is decidedly modern—think high ceilings, clean
lines, and immense, floor-to-ceiling windows that allow for maximum natural
light—but its quirky touches, like angular, magenta chaises, and gray cameo
carpeting, plus a killer rooftop bar, are what really set it apart.”
The Champs Élysées Suite has views of Jardins
neighborhood and Ibirapuera Park. It seats sevenpeople in the living room, making
it good for business meetings. Located on the 7th floor it has a
connecting room option.
5. Buenos Aires – Alvear Palace Hotel
“When you get right down to it, this Belle Epoque
Buenos Aires landmark is all about opulence. Its dining room smacks of
old-world charm, with high ceilings, twinkling chandeliers, marble floors, and
a delicately appointed glass bar, and its rooms, designed in the style of Louis
XIV and Louis XVI (think heavy silk drapes and ornate, Empire-style furniture)
are guaranteed to make you feel like royalty. Enjoy the white-glove service and
French classics at La Bourgogne,” Conde
Nast readers recommend.
The 1,936 sq.ft. Royal Suite features décor of a
Parisian apartment, with a reception area, living room, dining room for 8
guests, study, large bedroom, and two bathrooms with Italian Botticino marble,
and equipped with hydro-massage, sauna and LCD TV. Decoration includes French
fabrics, crystal and bronze chandeliers, and Slavonian oak flooring. There is a
small kitchen.
6. Mexico City - Los Alcobas
“In the ritzy Polanco district,
home to high-end boutiques and some of the city’s best restaurants, Las Alcobas
has plugged the gap between the high-end chains (St. Regis, Four Seasons) and
the hipper-than-thou independents (Condesa DF), with slick service and an
unusual, refined look that draws on Mexico’s heritage,” says Conde Nast. It adds, “The 35 guest rooms
blend luxe materials in a range of earthy colors with motifs that recall the
country’s Aztec and Mayan sites—suede headboards and walls are animated with
subtle graphic imprints.”
The Pasaje Penthouse features a master
bedroom with large full marble spa bathroom, rain shower and steam, bathtub and
a walk-in closet. The living room provides space for dining for six people. There
is a butler kitchen An indoor/outdoor fireplace bridges a large terrace that
includes a garden with views of the neighborhood.
7. Johannesburg – The Saxon
“This former private home of an insurance magnate
is where Nelson Mandela worked on his book Long Walk to Freedom. The
luxurious hotel is decorated with contemporary African art, brown-latticed
shutters, large bay windows, and shams with local motifs. Take a walk around
the six acres of gardens with a koi pond, try the sound therapy at the spa, or
take a dip in the heated pool with underwater music,” says Conde Nast.
Enter the 4,305 sq.ft. Nelson Mandela Platinum
Suite via a glass-enclosed elevator.
There is a guest bathroom, guest suite, separate
lounge, dining room and business area with business desk and iPod docking
station. The master bedroom has a king size four-poster bed, separate bathroom
with Jacuzzi bath, walk-in shower and steam room. There is a butler’s kitchen
and 24-hour butler service. The suite offers views of the gardens and pool
terrace.
8. Cape Town – Ellerman House
“Head to this Edwardian-era mansion for an inside
look at a fabulous private art collection, and breathtakingly beautiful views from
your room’s private balcony,” writes Conde
Nast.
Villa One (7,492 sq.ft.) features minimalist décor
and original art. There is a formal lounge, TV lounge, dining room, and study, large
outdoor deck area and an infinity pool. Upstairs, there are three bedrooms with
spacious bathrooms and private terraces, and a small reading room. It can be
booked either as a 3-bedroom villa or as a 5-bedroom villa with the addition of
the two deluxe spa bedrooms on the spa level.
9. Taipei – Mandarin Oriental
“Grand and glitzy, the 256-room Mandarin Oriental Taipei easily became the most
luxurious hotel in the city since it opened last year. It's all about decadent
accents (acres of marble and silk), a stunning art collection...and a big
lineup of dining options, ranging from Italian to Cantonese to French,” says Conde Nast.
The 4,046 sq.ft. Presidential Suite offers views
of Taipei's of Taipei 101. There is a large entrance vestibule leading to the
suite's a large living room with a carved Fireplace. The private dining room includes
a kitchen. There is a study. The grand master bedroom has a dressing room and walk-in
wardrobe. The marble bathroom also has views of Taipei 101. There is a steam
shower, good after you use the suite’s own private gym. There is also a
connecting room option.
10. Shanghai – Fairmont Peace Hotel
Rated by Conde Nast No. 1 in China, Fairmont Peace
Hotel is a “resplendent Art Deco hotel.” After a $64 million renovation, “the
1929 landmark at the base of Nanjing Road East has staged a truly auspicious
unveiling, hewing closely—almost too closely, given the building’s heavy Gothic
feel—to the original decor. With the help of Shanghai architectural historian
Peter Hibbard, builders restored the lobby’s stained glass skylight, long
hidden by a false ceiling, and brought the ornate ballroom (with its famous
sprung-wooden dance floor) and kitsch Dragon Phoenix restaurant back to life.”
Check into the 2,885 sq.ft. Sassoon Presidential
Suite which occupies the entire 10th floor where the hotel’s creator and former
owner, Victor Sassoon, once lived. The suite features a spacious bedroom
and a large living room, both overlooking the Bund, the Huangpu River and
Pudong Skyline. Amenities include a study room and dining for up to 10.
11. Beijing – Rosewood
“In Beijing’s booming Chaoyang District,
Rosewood’s first property in Asia offers lofty service and breathtaking views
of the city, including Rem Koolhaas’s famed CCTV Tower just across the Third
Ring Road. There are six restaurants and bars, a world-class spa with an indoor
pool; and the Manor Club, a plush executive lounge that looks and feels like a
posh private clubhouse,” Conde Nast
says.
Beijing House is the hotel’s largest suite at
1,947 sq.ft. with a grand foyer entrance, kitchen, guest bathroom, walk-in
closet, and study office with a large screen TV. It also features a
separate dining room that seats up to 10, a fireplace with an overhead TV, and
a living room with three sofas, making it good for entertaining.
12. Jakarta – Raffles
“Sitting in Jakarta’s golden triangle, a monument- and memorial-laden area at
the southern tip of the city center, (Raffles Jakarta) hugs the upscale Lotte
Shopping Avenue and the Ciputra Artpreneur Center, an art gallery and theater
complex that fronts the best of the country’s cultural goods…Rooms sport
floor-to-ceiling windows, and an equally sumptuous approach to décor. Other
standouts include the Writers Bar—a spinoff of the hotel’s famous Singapore
outpost—which celebrates Jakarta’s distinct art, literature, and history.”
The 2-bedroom Raffles Suite is 4,290 sq.ft. with
its own private gym, private spa room, steam room, a grand piano, den and the
option to attach to a third guest room.
13. Bangkok – The Peninsula
In a city with some of the world’s best hotels,
Conde Nast notes of The Peninsula, “This geometric tower on the west bank of
the Chao Phraya was designed so that all rooms have river views. Accommodations
have silk-upholstered furnishings and marble bathrooms with a TV above the tub…The
three-tiered pool is amid lush landscaping…The spa is in a three-story
colonial-style building with reflecting pools lined with silk lanterns.
The 34th floor Peninsula Suite features
city and river views, Thai silks, antiques, Oriental carpets, crystal
chandeliers and teakwood floors. You can arrive on the roof by helicopter. The suite
has master and guest bedrooms, walk-in closets and a butler's room. The dining
room seats up to 10 people and an expansive landscaped terrace is good for
entertaining.
14. Melbourne - The Langham
“Built on the banks of the Yarra River on the
famous Southbank Promenade, The Langham is one of Melbourne's most beautiful
and elegant hotels, both in location and aesthetic,” says Conde Nast. The magazine adds, “Upon entrance, guests are greeted
by a grand marble staircase, cascading fountains and magnificent crystal
chandeliers. Its 386 rooms are classically elegant, outfitted with plush
carpets and settees, silk drapes, handcrafted wood furnishings and ornate light
fixtures.”
The 2-bedroom, 1,734 sq.ft. Presidential Suite
offers views of the river and city with a living room and dining area, seating 6
for meals.
15. Hyderabad – Taj Falaknuma Palace
Hyderabad is more and more on the global CEO circuit, and Taj Falaknuma
is a “palatial 32-acre hilltop estate with fragrant gardens and views of Old
Hyderabad,” say Conde Nast, noting, “Because cars aren’t permitted beyond the
front gate, visitors arrive at reception in a golf cart or, for VIPs, a horse
carriage. In lieu of a formal check-in desk, a standard bearer greets guests by
militarily clicking his heels before leading them under a shower of rose petals
and into the former ruler of Hyderabad’s neo-Palladian palace. The
museum-quality reception rooms are furnished in late-Victorian style, gleaming
with burnished wood and leather, glittering with chandeliers.”
The 1,938 sq.ft. duplex Nizam Suite
features your own private pool. There is also an oversize bathtub in the Cararra
marble bathroom. High ceilings and city views make this a place you will want
to stay for more than one night.
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DG Amazing Experiences
is by luxury expert Doug Gollan
My name is Doug Gollan. I am a strong advocate of the private aviation industry. You can read my frequent coverage of private jets and luxury travel at Forbes.com.
I've chosen you to receive DG Amazing Experiences because I believe you share my passion for both business aviation and the best travel and luxury experiences in the world.
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