Author: House & Hotel Magazine

Happy birthday Michelin star, happy 90! The brothers André and Édouard Michelin established the biggest tyre manufacturer in the world. Known everywhere as the company behind the “big boy with white rolls”, today Michelin is one of the world’s biggest brands. Naturally, achieving this success comes down to excellence in the company’s product range. However, there was another strategy: the Michelin Guide, with its food stars ranking system. My 3-star Aqua by Sven Everfeld experience in Wolfsburg. The Michelin founders were convinced that cars would…Continue Reading “90 birthday Michelin star” →

An ideal spring time destination – Euboea. Contributed by feature reporter Jens Hoffmann. I have a new secret hide away, and it has me. Arrival in Greece (Athens). Kalimera, sunny and lovely 20 degrees in March. I love it to be in Greece. The name of my hideaway is Euboea, island of Euboea. Just a 60 min drive away from Athens. The island has a big history and opened in former times new trade routes to Asia and the western world (Macedonia, Corfu e.g.) I…Continue Reading “My secret hideaway – Euboea / Greece” →

Destination Bordeaux. Contributed by Jens Hoffmann This is slightly a different hotel story, one without any wellness agenda and any restaurant tests. We checked in at Château Montlabert. The subject is love with wine & the history of the family Castel. Lets call it a Bordeaux “Saga Vinifera”, started in 1949, nine brothers and sisters create the Group Castel, based on a trade and distribution activity. A diversity and a complementarity which ensured a perfect knowledge of the vineyard and wines in the various regions…Continue Reading “The charms of Bordeaux – Château Montlabert – France” →

Living the high life London’s The Shard (310 metres) – Shangri-La Hotel – London. Contributed by Jens Hoffmann I enjoyed a fantastic hot spot for accomodation and food in London, visited “The Shard”. Whats this, just another new big “house” in London? No, rising a mighty 310 metros into the sky and towering above many London’s landmarks, The Shard makes an impression on the captlas skyline. “The Shard” is a architectural highlight. Furthermore one of the tallest buildings in Western Europe. The viwes are breathtaking…Continue Reading “Living the high life – London’s The Shard (310 metres) – Shangri-La Hotel – London.” →

Destination Barcelona. Contributed by Jens Hoffmann. Barcelona, me gusta. I am travelling since years to Barcelone and I still love the city and this wonderful hotel. As club culture gives way to hipster, bar culture and startups take root, the inhabitants take a new pride in their city as one of the most unique place in the world, a truly vibrant, hot, open and tolerant oasis in southern Europe. Today Barcelona is coming into its own as serious and funky tourist hotspot. We checked at…Continue Reading “3days+1 in Barcelona” →

From Athens via Pelepones to Crete. Text: Jens Hoffmann We landed at Athens International Airport, 30 kilometers away from Athens-City. The airport is named after Elefthérios Venizélos, a Cretan politican and former Prime Minister of Greece, who made a big contribution to the development of Greek aviation. We are invited by New Wines of Greece & Enterprise Greece, their aim is to promote greek wines and technology international. 28 degrees, lovely weather life is beautiful. Crisis, no way. We started just after arrival with a…Continue Reading “New wines of Greece – Athens / Greece” →

Travel to the North of Germany – Reichshof in Hamburg Contributed by Kathrin Sion. Once a year I must travel to Hamburg. I love this city where I began my career as a journalist. Furthermore I am back to the Reichshof Hotel which I have visited before. In former times it was a really old house, with charm but a bit rusty. Now I checked in – and what a surprise. It is renovated, very fine and with care. The hotel in the centre of…Continue Reading “Pillow talk – Reichshof-Hotel in Hamburg” →

Hotel Louis C. Jacob – Created for extraordinary moments. Contributed by Jens Hoffmann. Lovers of standard luxury will be disappointed. However, those in search of select moments in a unique jewel will find their travelling dreams come true at Louis C. Jacob. Hamburg offers a plethora of stunning views. But the breathtaking outlook on the Elbe from this 5-star hotel is truly unbeatable. Those who value the Hanseatic way of life will love the hotel. Arrival in Hamburg. We took a ICE from Berlin and…Continue Reading “Sophisticated style high above the river Elbe – Louis C. Jacob / Hamburg / Germany” →

Rise of the machines – Japan. Nagasaki, silence descends in the night. Humans are smarter than robots. While some robots might be better and quite intelligent they are still not so dominant, the simple reason is that our species has the pole position on earth. My first robot hotel experience I had in Japan. Not even the most optimistic of men could imagine the success of a “weird” hotel like this. We checked in at “Henn na”. A female robot at reception, a riding bell…Continue Reading “Rise of the machines – Robot Hotel – Henn na / Nagasaki / Japan” →

Destination Madrid. My “Me gusta” trip. Contributed by Jens Hoffmann. We landed at Madrid International Airport Barajas. The airport name derives from the adjacent district of Barajas, which has its own metro station on the same rail line serving the airport. Me gusta, I love it to be here in Madrid. Meliá had developed a new service concept for their hotels. They had compiled a young and higly nice team. The aim is to provide a standard of service that will out-class many other hotels…Continue Reading “Rest in boutique style – Hotel Meliá Avenida America / Spain” →

Sawasdee Thailand, smooth a silk my amusing Phuket. Contributed by Jens Hoffmann. I love it to be here. We landed on the International Airport Phuket. The taxi sent to collect us from the airport glides quietly over the tropical island. A tailor made refuge for a romantic stay, our smooth detox resort on Koh Yao Noi. White sandy beaches, a perfect and picturesque island in Thailand’s Phang Nga Bay – the unique natural environment setting. Six Senses Yao Noi boutique hotel is amazing. Swimming into…Continue Reading “Dreamland Yao Noi Six Senses / Thailand” →

Necker Island. Feature story by George Harris. We had a short stop in Miami before we flew to Necker. A stay in South Beach is truly fun. I just went to the beach. Miami can be whatever you want it to be — laid back, decked out, gay, straight, a family retreat. After that…Necker, Necker, Necker… Your private Island for just 30.000 Euro per day (minimum stay is 5 days). British Virgin Islands that means Caribbean flair, crystal clear water, deserted beaches and tropical vegetation….Continue Reading “Private paradise – Necker Island / British Virgin Islands” →