Author: House & Hotel Magazine

Bucharest 2015. Text: Jens Hoffmann Bucharest, Romania’s largest city and capital, always had a reputation for the high life and even earned the nickname “Paris of the East”. It’s a bustling metropolis known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards and beautiful Belle Époque buildings. For me it is truly a special destination. It’s not one of the most popular destinations in the world, but it attracs with culture, warm hospitality and nice food. We landed at Bucharest’s Henri Coandă International Airport and checked in at the…Continue Reading “Paris of the East @ Angelo Airporthotel Bucharest / Romania” →

Stockholm. Contributed by Francois Jobard. The Swedish Vikings who walked east were such splendid physical specimens that many people fall in love with such tall guys, perfect bodies, big as palm trees. Besides that they set a capital city as stunning as they look. Stockholm is a cluster of jewel-like islands, and its long, light-filled days make summer the ideal time for your raid. We enjoyed Stockholm, checked in at a new hotel in Stockholm’s city center. It’s called Hotel Kungsträdgården and has opened its…Continue Reading “My favourite hotel in Stockholm is Hotel Kungsträdgården / Sweden” →

A perfect honeymoon. Contributed by Till Brunecker. The Pacuare lodge is an oasis for all of the senses. We thought that our honeymoon should be something unique. After all, you do not marry every day. Costa Rica has always been on our travel wish list. So the round trip with honeymoon highlight afterwards was our favourite. We discovered the lodge at edeltrotter.com. Before the beginning of our journey we had already read everything about the Pacuare Lodge, but the reality was even more spectacular. Only…Continue Reading “A perfect honeymoon – Pacuare Lodge Costa Rica” →

Contributed by Kathrin Sion. A Dusseldorf-based travel expert has tips and articles for House & Hotel Magazine for three years. She also travels, eats and write for a new luxury brand edeltrotter Luxusreisen GmbH, D’Dorf. Let’s say. The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” It was Aurelius Augustinus, bishop and philosopher, who once said these worlds. And it’s still the truth. But you have to leave the touristic trails advertised by those major tour operators behind and…Continue Reading “By air, by land – looking for luxury hideaways” →

Luxury Hotel Awards 2015 – The Fortress Resort & Spa. Text: Jens Hoffmann. About my vote: The Fortress echoes its strong architecture with immense gates, white washed walls and extensive courtyard. The courtyard is the focal point of the resort, here you’ll also find the spa, famed for its range of Ayurvedic treatments and water therapies. Beautiful. When it comes to dining, there are two restaurants to choose from, one specialising in innovative Sri Lankan cuisine, whilst the other offers informal al fresco dining overlooking…Continue Reading “The Fortress / Sri Lanka – Luxury Hotel Awards 2015” →

The Ritz-Carlton – Sophisticated style in Beijing. Text & photos of my colleague Britt Freyberg My colleague Britt Freyberg was impressed by the charm of the Ritz Carlton /Beijing, here is her lovely report. I took the high-speed train from Shanghai to Beijing and arrived in the afternoon at “Beijing South”. Five relaxed hours and 1,300 kilometers behind me. A lovely travel companion -with a slight British accent- said to me. “Oh, I know your hotel, I live nearby. I would not take the Metro,…Continue Reading “Sophisticated style in Beijing – The Ritz-Carlton” →

Destination Paris. Text by Jens Hoffmann. When you arrive in Paris the feeling to be in the city of love and to be happy starts. Tourist facts, Pont des Arts: Paris-City removes the world famous ‘love locks”. What a pity. The Pont des Arts is famously known for symbol act of affection and eternal love. Its a pity, but doesn’t matter. There can be a lot of more fun pressure to make an romatic evening out in Paris. Finding the perfect restaurant is a particularly…Continue Reading “Mon amour – A week-end in Paris / France” →

A special experience in Schwerin. Contributed by Kathrin Sion. Schwerin, what a beautiful city. I checked in at the 4-star Best Western Seehotel Frankenhorst. In glorious idyll lakeside you will find a combination of nature and culture. Nestled in a quiet park on the Ziegelaußensee in Schwerin it offers a great spa with a oudoor sauna. The element of water is always present: in the swimming area, on the dock with pedal boats, in the lake sauna on a floating pontoon, for the subsequent cooling…Continue Reading “Beautiful stay at Seehotel Frankenhorst – Schwerin / Germany” →

Girona 2015. The Rocca brothers are again the #1. Girona is on the world map because of the Rocca brothers. The collective genius of the Roca brothers is well documented. The holy trinity of head chef Joan’s thoughtful but original cooking, pastry chef Jordi’s imagination-defying desserts and sommelier Josep’s beautifully considered wine pairings already adds up to significantly more than the sum of its parts, before you add in a vibrant family dynamic and a deep sense of hospitality. The 55-seat contemporary Catalan restaurant is…Continue Reading “Back on the top – El Celler de Can Roca” →

Contributed by Jens Hoffmann. Arrival at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport. 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, Madrid. Our hotel – the 5 star Westin Palace is located within the city limits northeast of the Puerta del Sol in Madrid’s historic centre. On the way, our taxidriver told me that the Westin Palace Madrid is the “homebase” of Bayern Munich’ soccer stars when they are in…Continue Reading “Luxury stay in Madrid – The Westin Palace / Spain” →

Northern Greece by Kathrin Sion. Yassou! A big wow for a wonderful getaway: Sani Resort in Greece Shortly after landing in Thessaloniki Germany is forgotten. The city has always been known between Greeks for its vibrant city culture, including having the most cafe‘s and bars per-capita than any other city in Europe; and as having some of the best nightlife and entertainment in the country, thanks to its large student population and multicultural feel. Thessaloniki has several central city gardens and for us it was…Continue Reading “Yassou! Sani Resort – Aegean Sea – a real dream destination /Greece” →

London 2015. Contributed by Kathrin Sion. Finally I found besides all the lovely Shangri La, Mandarin Oriental, Cadogan, My Fair eg. hotels the right one for me. The wonderful Brown’s hotel in “my city”. Their doors opened on Albemarle Street in 1837. Since then, Rudyard Kipling, Agatha Christie and Winston Churchill have come to eat, sleep and write here. Teddy Roosevelt came by to prepare for his wedding day, and it was from the hotel reception that Graham Bell made Britain’s first telephone call. The…Continue Reading “London calling – The Brown’s / London / UK” →