Tag Archives: four seasons

November 26, 2012 · 6:54 am

a different kind of castle – Four Seasons Prague

Email, RSS Follow

a palatial complex of its very own unique kind!

it’s no secret that i like the royal treatment. i have princess tastes that’s for sure. thankfully Prague has a gorgeous castle so it was a perfect place to begin my month-long Eurotour in regal style. having said that, the Prague Castle wasn’t my favorite grand property – Four Seasons Prague was!

i had the pleasure of touring the gorgeous Four Seasons while visiting Prague. located in the historical Old Town, Four Seasons is situated along side the Vltava River with the famous Charles Bridge nearby. what i loved best about this property, besides its STUNNING views, was the unique marriage of four different style buildings, each from different eras, brought together to create one luxurious hotel.

how did they accomplish this you may be wondering? well, along with careful restoration & preservation of the different original details of the buildings, the property was tied altogether by a modern building.  the styles of the older buildings are neo-Renaissance, neo-Classical and Baroque and, of course, the newest structure has a modern feel so as to allow each of the other buildings to retain its individual personality. BRILLIANT!

“The important focus throughout was the integrity of the design that ultimately blended the architectural styles harmoniously to reflect the character and elegance of Prague’s Old Town.” says Rene Beauchamp, General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Prague.

i’d say mission accomplished. during the tour, it was pointed out that this promise to have each structure reflect its own persona offers visitors the option of choosing between a Renaissance, Baroque, Neo-Classical or contemporary stay. i love this unique approach & its one that ensures this property will offer a special & memorable experience for its guests. perhaps one would be lucky enough to try each style on separate luxury holidays.

now a bit about these different styled buildings

The Neo-Renaissance House

built in 1883, the neo-Renaissance building has a richly embellished facade that was restored, including the grand entry foyer with its frescoed ceilings.

The Neo-Classical House

dating back to 1827, the neo-Classical building has many original features such as windows & fixtures.

The Baroque House

the oldest house of the complex was built in 1737 in the Baroque style. many architectural features were preserved & restored, including stone architraves and masonry vaults, wooden doors and hand-forged ironwork.

The Modern House

of course built in the 21st century, this structure’s interiors reflect the modern-day traveler with a more sleek look.

is this property lola approved? ABSOLUTELY!! Four Seasons Prague definitely accomplishes giving its guests the best of modern-day conveniences & comforts while retaining the city’s rich history all in one place. i liked the balance of old & new. even the interior decorating achieves this concept. as i’ve said before, i love the idea of keeping the old alive but breathing new life into it. my favorite style of the four houses was the Renaissance. here’s hoping this princess returns again soon to Prague & as a guest of the Four Seasons there!

 

 

23 Comments

Filed under czech republic, prague, swanky luxe stays, travel

Tagged as , , ,

July 11, 2012 · 1:51 pm

‘The Mikimoto’ at Beverly Wilshire

Email, RSS Follow

there’s a saying that “diamonds are a girls best friend” but did the girl ever meet Mikimoto?

it may come as NO surprise that the oh-so-luxe pearl jewelry experts, Mikimoto, have a store front in the posh Beverly Wilshire – Four Seasons. for those who don’t know, Mikimoto is the foremost producer of the finest quality cultured pearls. The Mikimoto name is synonymous with superior quality at every stage, from the selection of finest materials to expert workmanship to their customer service commitment. Mikimoto combines timeless elegance with sophisticated, modern design. let’s just say – VERY LOLA APPROVED!

however, only 1/3 of my Mikimoto story has to do with the gorgeous pearl jewelry outfitter.

another 1/3 has to do with a legendary cocktail that is the signature drink of Beverly Wilshire’s The Blvd. ‘The Mikimoto’ is a delicious concoction which was served for 50 days in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Four Seasons brand last year at the Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills. during my most recent stay with Beverly Wilshire, i requested to try the signature cocktail of the hotel. the lovely staff arranged for me to sample ‘The Mikimoto’ at The Blvd one afternoon with the dashing General Manager as my companion & tour guide to my cocktail tasting. well…i had NO idea what a treat was in store for me. i should have known as Four Seasons makes even the ordinary special! the brand prides itself on making your stay customized, unique & memorable if you allow them the opportunity. I SURE DID and they did not let me down.

it was a like a scene from Pretty Woman. no, i’m not claiming to be any Julia Roberts. let’s not get carried away. BUT this IS my Pretty Woman moment.

so, there i am at the Reg. Bev. Wil. and the GM escorted me out to a coveted sidewalk table with staff waiting on us hand & foot. he had the menu at the ready for me to view. then, as they brought me the drink – well, it was delivered in the MOST GORGEOUS crystal glass i’ve ever seen. here’s the final 1/3 of the story. the Beverly Wilshire worked with Swarovski Crystal to have a special glass for their signature ‘The Mikimoto’ drink. i can’t decide what was more heavenly?! the cocktail, the glass or the fabulous pearl designer it was all named after.

OH, and did i fail to mention Mikimoto created a signature bracelet to go along with this special anniversary? well, i was able to test drive one of these beauties and i think i’m now in LOVE.

‘The Mikimoto’ cocktail is a combination of watermelon, mandarin & pineapple infused ultimat vodka, along with cointreau & finished with a lychee garnish shaped like none other than a pearl! all of this deliciousness can be yours for $19.

if you were lucky enough to be a patron during the anniversary celebration you could have your ‘The Mikimoto’ served in the stunning Swarovski Crystal glass to take home to the tune of $500. and if your date was a BIG spender then you could have the divine cocktail, crystal glass & bracelet all for $2500. to me, this is the best value! the Trifecta…a case where three isn’t a difficult number.

i was sold. BUT where was my sugar daddy?! just kidding – the experience was reenacted for me and this was good enough for lola – for now! 🙂

thank you Beverly Wilshire for making me feel like a Pretty Woman sipping my own gorgeous ‘The Mikimoto’. you certainly did make my visit a most memorable one!

28 Comments

Filed under california, los angeles, swanky luxe stays, travel

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

March 5, 2012 · 7:43 am

hollywood or hollywon’t?!

Email, RSS Follow

welcome to Hollywood! what’s your dream?

the boa in the city of angels

i’m going Holly’would’ ALL the WAY, baby! 😉

lola quite enjoyed her time in Beverly Hills.  let me just say, if you have the choice, choose this! OMG, i don’t love LA but i could live in Beverly Hills quite happily. i’ll start with the Beverly Wilshire. it’s old school Hollywood glamorous! the building itself is gorgeous and a landmark worth visiting just to see it. the staff was amazing – waiting on me hand & foot – making sure i was satisfied. you know how lola loves the great customer service and attention!!

the beautiful Beverly Wilshire hotel

the whole “hood” of Beverly Hills is spectacular. who couldn’t be wooed by Rodeo Drive and all the beautiful boutique stores? or the expensive, fancy, fast cars parked along the palm-tree-lined streets? everything is perfectly groomed and very clean. it is sooo posh – i could have just died and gone to heaven!

super swanky Rodeo Drive

Beverly Hills Bugatti – the most pricey car in the world

i quite enjoyed my little LA tour complete with a visit to Grauman’s Chinese & Kodak theaters. it may be totally touristy but it was fun to find some of my favorite stars hand and foot prints in the cement as well as their stars on the side walk of Hollywood Boulevard. the whole area seemed to be buzzing about the Oscars happening just one week after my visit.

Grauman

Ms. Paltrow

my Hollywood crush – Johnny Depp

i got a kick out of getting close up to the Hollywood sign too. boy, driving up those winding roads was something else! it was interesting to learn the history of the sign (it was just an advertisement for land being sold to build homes) and how Hugh Hefner saved the sign by recently buying up all the land where the sign sits so that it cannot be developed. awww, that Hef is such a softie!

you can find every food imaginable at the farmers market

i also discovered some yummy foodie places and the 3rd & Fairfax Farmers Market – nom, nom, nom for eyes, nose, ears &  belly! in Bev Hills, i recommend Taberna for delicious Mexican (and that’s coming from a native Texan) 😉 AND The Farm of Beverly Hills was fantastic for breakfast (it didn’t hurt to have a star sighting of David Spade while eating my omelette)!

lola loves Beverly Hills!

to be honest with you, there really wasn’t anything that was hollywon’t. well…maybe the terrible LA traffic on the way to the airport but that’s it. looking forward to returning in May, Beverly Wilshire in the ritzy Beverly Hills, it’s the only way to stay! definitely ‘Lola Approved’!!

4 Comments

Filed under california, los angeles, swanky luxe stays, travel

Tagged as , , , , ,

February 16, 2012 · 12:40 pm

staying fancy pants in France

Email, RSS Follow

Four Seasons Provence at Terre Blanche: a little slice of heaven in the South of France

Four Seasons Provence at Terre Blanche

Four Seasons Provence at Terre Blanche is situated amongst beautiful scenery in the village of Tourrettes just 45 minutes from Nice. this hidden part of Provence has always attracted artists and Four Seasons Provence at Terre Blanche is no different as it offers a haven of peace surrounded by pure, wild nature. all of the property’s 115 suites cling to the slopes of the hill the same as the homes in view from surrounding mountain top villages. it’s absolutely lovely. so is it’s gorgeous spa. total luxury! BUT that is not the story I want to share…

stunning pool of FS Provence

i began communicating with Four Seasons Provence through twitter and email. they were extremely responsive and made booking my stay a piece of cake sending me a link for the room & rate i requested. next, when i began to inquire about restaurants & wine tastings, the reservations department put the concierge in touch with me. this is when it gets really impressive. the options were so nicely organized by local cuisine or gastronomic dining experiences. i requested to try one of each and for the concierge to choose his favorites. not only did he choose, but went straight on to make the reservation for me. his choices were perfect! (more on this in my eating post) i also challenged this sweet man to finding me a beret to don upon arrival in Provence. he was unwavering in his efforts! (you know this if you read my raspberry beret post) the above & beyond effort is my favorite trip memory and for this, i will always adore both him and Four Seasons Provence.

upon arrival, i was personally welcomed by the travel industry sales manager and a very gracious and eager staff. it’s low season in Provence and the property was very quiet with only 8 rooms booked Friday and 12 on Saturday. it might seem that perhaps this is why i got such exceptional service but in retrospect i believe this is just how they do it at the Four Seasons Provence. they take extreme pride in doing their job perfectly – what a joy!

other perks from the stay:

An upgrade to a nicer room

watercolor notecard of Four Seasons Provence with a message from the General Manager

A birthday cake to welcome me, a handwritten note from the General Manager, plus 2 bottles of the region’s wines, gratis

A smiley staff willing to drive me to and fro at a moment’s notice

one of my happy drivers

A portfolio pre-made for me with details of dinners & wine tastings (including marked & highlighted maps)

A warmed car with driving directions when i was dropped to the car for dinner

i kid you not - the BEST

An inclusive breakfast with the BEST bacon i have ever had (America – adopt this European tradition, si vous plait)

A bartender who kept the bar open for one last drink although no one else was there

meet Jimmy bartender extraordinaire

A reception staff that knew who i was – greeting me by name each and every encounter AND did everything to ensure i was happy (including giving me a delicious Four Seasons Terre Blanche candle at check out)

AND a head of concierge that planned my visit better than i could have hoped and got me my treasured pink beret

what a cute pink beret!

i don’t believe Four Seasons Provence would have denied me anything. it was as if they anticipated my every wish and thought. it’s worth every penny when you receive this kind of exceptional service, i must say. i may be ruined now because i was spoiled so much. it truly was the VERY BEST service i have ever experienced.

AND since then, i have received follow-up emails from Andrea Ramseyer – Travel Industry Sales Manager, Jean-Jacques Yonnet – Head Concierge (who made all my dreams come true) and Mauro Governato – General Manager of Four Seasons Provence at Terre Blanche, all expressing the wish that i enjoyed my stay, thanking me for my patronage plus inviting me back as soon as possible.

merci beaucoup, i will be back – you can count on that!

Villa Gallici: a hidden treasure in Aix en Provence

the charming Villa Gallici

the Villa Gallici in Aix en Provence has existed for two centuries before becoming a hotel devoted to the French art de vivre 20 years ago. the property has 22 gorgeous, individually decorated rooms as well as some fabulous common areas to enjoy. it is just as the Baglioni/Relais & Chateaux families desire – comme a la maison “just like at home”. it’s no wonder Villa Gallici has been named one of the best 500 hotels in the world by Travel & Leisure and has an impressive standing on the 2011 Conde Nast Traveller list. when you are at the Villa Gallici it’s as if time has stopped and all of life is enjoyed at a slower pace. there’s a simple ease in your time spent there that’s divine in this day and age of lightening-speed life. i wish i could bottle up that feeling and sip it every now and then!

so very true

similar to FS Provence, i began communicating with Villa Gallici about dinner reservations while staying there. they, too, were very responsive and recommended & booked a fantastic restaurant for my one evening in Aix en Provence. (also to be reviewed in my eating post)

beautiful blue room

i prompted Villa Gallici as well that it was my birthday and upon arrival, after an easy check in (with an upgraded room!), i was brought yummy little sweet treats and some veuve clicquot champagne along with a handwritten note from the Managing Director welcoming me. the French know how to do it right!! kinda makes me wish i had a birthday more often!

birthday champagne - sante

Villa Gallici made sure i had a well-marked map and directions to all of my evening’s destinations. after a fun night out, i came back to Villa Gallici to find rose petals scattered about in my turned down sheets. how lovely. i was well attended to but left to enjoy Villa Gallici at my leisure. my only regret is that i didn’t have more time at this special place but i had to get onto Monaco.

TRIP TIP

if i’ve said it once, i’ll say it again. DO NOT hesistate to let the hotel know you are there for a special occasion (that is, of course, if you are)! it’s a very competitive business and i find that hotels across the board want your loyalty so it’s important to make you feel special.  the concierge is there to help you – so take advantage of that too. i haven’t asked for anything in my travels that i haven’t gotten or received help with. so ASK and YE SHALL RECEIVE!

2 Comments

Filed under france, swanky luxe stays, travel

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

February 13, 2012 · 1:09 pm

she wore a raspberry beret!

Email, RSS Follow

ooh lala lola

if you read my blog often enough you know that my trips are usually quick jaunts here & there. my getaway to France and Monaco was no different. you probably also know that lola likes her props…ie “the boa”.

when i started putting together my trip plans for France i decided i would need a beret (and hopefully a pink one) in order to really get into the French spirit. BUT i didn’t have time to go search this out. i needed to hit the ground running. plus, i thought it would be a fun exercise to see how much i could get the Four Seasons Provence concierge to do for me in advance of my arrival. BOY did they ever rise to the challenge! here’s what happened:

i asked via email about getting a beret to which i was told a nearby village had a store where i could get one. since this was the very same village where i’d be having dinner my first night in Provence, i figured it would be easy enough to pick up myself. next, the Four Seasons Provence concierge followed up with the store and apparently they were no longer carrying “proper berets”. this put the concierge on a mission to search high and low to find the nearest beret store and did indeed find one in Cannes (about 30 or so minutes from the resort). obviously, this wasn’t really convenient for me to obtain so the concierge personally went and fetched it for me and i had it perched on my little head less then 30 minutes after arriving at the Four Season Provence. how is that for service and making this girl’s French dreams come true?! 

MERCI BEAUCOUP, jean-jacques yonnet, for all of your effort!!! i love my beret AND, as it turns out, Provence was unseasonably cold so i needed it and wore it faithfully every day!

3 Comments

Filed under france, travel

Tagged as , , , ,