Chic Locations

Spending the weekend in Majorca. Saw some super heritage boutique hotels in the old quarter of Palma, incredibly atmospheric.

Mallorca is really a fantastic island, totally misunderstood. Ok, it has it’s pockets of tourism excess, but the majority of the island is authentic and wonderfully scenic, especially on the west and north coasts. And Palma is absolutely charming.

Received in an email from British Airways.

British Airways will resume direct flights to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) from London (LHR) from 27th May 2015. British Airways last flew to the Malaysian capital in 2001.

 Key Points

· LHR-KUL-LHR daily overnight service from 27th May 2015

· Flights depart from LHR Terminal 5 and take 12hrs 45mins non-stop

· Operated by 777-200ER 4-cabin configuration (F/J/W/Y cabins)

· Flights now available for sale

Only surprise on this is that it has taken BA so long to think about returning to KL. It is just the type of route that appeals to most airlines – high year round demand, a good gateway city to other points, a healthy mix of both leisure and corporate travellers, with the premium cabins expected to be particularly popular. The Malaysian investment in London in particular is huge, especially construction, evidenced by the funding of the Battersea Power Station and adjacent Brewery development to name just two. I have little doubt this will be one of BA’s most profitable routes.

As you will have gathered, I really enjoy Barcelona. I like the contrasts, ultra-modern in places, quirky gothic in others, and wonderfully innovative on all levels. It is liberal and openly  rebellious, but that just adds to the appeal. It is part of Spain, but proudly Catalan. Having Welsh roots I find that rather attractive. Plus the port location, so when the city gets a little too busy, you can just chill out by the marina or even on the beach.   Here are just a few of the things I really enjoy, in no particular order:

Walking the City. I was told in Toledo last year the best way to get to know a city is to get lost – at least that is what I think the guide was telling me! Well Barcelona is a good city to discover by walking. It’s quite easy, just as long as you have a reasonable sense of direction. A map might help. To me, the culture here is on the streets, not hidden away in an art gallery.

The influence of Antoni Gaudi is everywhere, and the designs are incredible. There are 7 main Gaudi buildings in the city, but the most popular, and the most photographed are Sagrada Familia, which is the spire church that seems on the verge of completion (see if you agree with my theory that the Petronas Twin Towers in KL  were inspired by this) and La Pedera which is a merchant  house with an amazing façade. Equally impressive is the work of Domenech Montaner. Google him and you will be amazed at some of the buildings and the intricate wrought-iron. His work is even more prolific than Gaudi. Beautiful.

You have to stroll the Ramblas, one of the grand walking streets of Europe. Yes it is busy, very touristy, but is a must. Then continue down to the marina. If time allows, end up on the  rather surprising beach.

Discover the old Gothic quarter of Barcelona, with its maze of  alleyways and hidden squares. Take your time and be prepared to get lost. Wonderfully atmospheric.

Take a cable car from the marina up to Mount Juiic (The Jewish Mountain, as it has a Jewish cemetery, as well as being the base of the 1992 Olympics, which did much to regenerate the city). Fantastic city views en route and from the mountain top.

Visit St Josep market, also known as La Boqueira, just off the Ramblas. Colourful, and just the place to start off with a fresh fruit drink.

Be prepared to Shop. All the international brand names are here, as well as several  of the more individual designers from the Catalan region.

Eat local. So many options. From experience, avoid those on the main streets, particularly those with picture book menus and waiters whose command of Spanish and/or Catalan might be limited. 50 yards off the main street usually results in a better experience all round. Be adventurous in your selection.

For Football fans, a visit to the Barcelona FC Nou Camp stadium is an absolute  must. Easy to access by subway or tram from the city centre.

If time allows, travel by train south to the resort of Sitges with its café culture and beaches, or go north to the medieval city of Gerona. Just 30 minutes by high speed train. Both offer a glimpse of the attractions of the region.

Chose a hotel with a roof top pool. Apart from the views, a good way to start the day, or maybe relax after a heavy day exploring.

Hope you find this of interest. As you will gleam from this, I rather like the place!

I think these images show some of the contrasts and variety of Barcelona.

The market shots were taken in Saint Joseph which is located just off of the famous Ramblas walking street. Lively, and as you can see very colourful.

Then just a mile south you have the beach area, this image was taken just outside of the towering W Hotel, one of the properties featured by CHIC Locations.

This is the famous Gaudi House in Barcelona which, after the Sagrada Familia almost complete church, is the most photographed building in Barcelona.

It is incredible, it’s like looking at something futuristic combined with Alice in wonderland. You can see the influence of Gaudi throughout the city, so many of the buildings are just jaw dropping in their innovation, yet they were conceived over 100 years ago.

According to my son – and I have checked this out – Gaudi died when he stepped back to admire one of his works and was hit by a tram. Today he would probably be checking his emails! Same result.

After my initial displeasure with the food and service experienced, the last 2 days have been very good. You do need to go beyond the immediate tourists areas, but it is well worth it, both in quality and value.

It really is a great city break. Not exactly relaxing as so much to see and do, but to me one of the must visit cities in Europe.

Here in Barcelona for few days holiday.

I really enjoy the city. I know it reasonably well, in that I can get lost yet still find myself in the right place.

The buildings are amazing. Especially those Gaudi influenced. The shopping is fantastic and so easy to spend, as everything seems to be on rebate or rebaja as they say in Spanish. It has an incredible atmosphere with a living culture on the streets, rather than in an art gallery. Plus you have an extensive marina area and even some beaches. It does have its edgy bits, but to me that makes it all the more interesting.

It is not a cheap city to visit as the accommodation can be pricey, but average occupancy is the highest in Spain year round, so they take full commercial advantage of the popularity.

The only thing I have found disappointing is the food. I have eaten in some good places, but it is very hit and miss on service and cuisine. However last night we walked past several that looked inviting, so listed for trying in the next couple of days.

I think these images reflect the different moods of the city rather nicely.

Flew back yesterday from Toronto to London.

Travelled on British Airways 787 Dreamliner, first time for me. Impressed with aircraft. Bright and spacious interiors, very comfortable, even in my economy seat. Large windows, which give a much more relaxing atmosphere. And the service was superb. Only downside to me were the dividing arm rests could not fully retract, so if you had a spare seat next to you, it was difficult to spread out. But in other ways the seat comfort was good, and the inflight entertainment excellent, with a particularly innovative choice of music.

BA are using 787 Dreamliners on North American routes where they have a combination of leisure and business clients. I thought it would be good for some of the leisure destinations in the Caribbean as well, but was told the ‘beach fleet’ routes tend to be given the slightly older aircraft! This image is the new style of departure lounge at Toronto Pearson airport. Small tables for four, each seat having a personal iPad! Again, very stylish and relaxing, with adjacent bar and restaurant. Very well thought out concept.

These two images rather sum up Toronto in the summer.

It is a question I am frequently asked by clients who have heard about the rapid expansion of new hotels. So first of all some background.

I first visited Bali 30 years ago, when it attracted just a few Australian surf enthusiasts and hardly any Europeans. Gradually over the years, it increased its popularity, both regionally and internationally, and by the early 90’s, it was firmly established as one of the major destinations in Asia. Initially tourism was focused in the Sanur area, or for the younger surfing crowd, Kuta. Both are located in the southern point of the island, on opposite sides of the peninsular. Kuta then gradually expanded to include the much more upscale Seminyak area.

At the same time Jimbaran, which is still in my view the best swimming beach on the island, slowly expanded, but the main focus was in Nusa Dua, a purpose built manicured resort estate with many of the larger chain hotels, as well as some delightful off beach boutique resorts.

Ubud, located one hour drive inland, has grown from a resort with just a handful of hotels when I first visited to now well over 100 properties, but as land is limited – and expensive – most of the new hotels tended to be small, upscale and blended seamlessly into the incredible tropical scenery.

All of the aforementioned are in the southern part of the island, meaning the remaining coasts  have in reality seen very little serious development, the occasional flurry of small hotels, but nothing substantial.

I feel privileged to have seen Bali at what I consider to be its most attractive stage, but that is me making comparisons year on year. What I will say is that professionally I am not allowed favourite destinations – however if I were, Bali would  still be right up there. Yes it has its pockets of tourism excess, and Kuta is an acquired taste. Also the southern part of Nusa Dua has been earmarked for even more development. This started last year with the opening of The Mulia with 1000 plus rooms, and frankly not my style at all. Everything I dislike about  large hotels, but the room quality is good to be fair.

This is now the template for new developments and in the next 2 years you will have the openings of Ritz-Carlton, Kempinski, and I hear Shangri –La, Fairmont, Raffles – all mega luxury “monsters“  in a long line. The cranes have moved from Dubai to find a new home in South Nusa Dua!

So is Bali ruined because of this? Well, no…

Once you leave these areas, the island is still magical. Bali is blessed with its people, probably the most genuine smiles in the region, and its instant culture that exists alongside tourism. You still see national dress, but it is what they wear on a day to day basis, it not for a tourist Kodak moment. A girl taking offerings to the shrine in the hotel garden is what they do – it is not to impress you – but they are more than happy to share the occasion. And linguistically, they are talented, so even with the gardener you can have a pleasant and informative conversation.

The new motorway “Florida Everglades” type bridge linking the airport to the resorts of Sanur, Nusa Dua and Jimbaran is most impressive, and has reduced most of the journey time to a manageable 30 minutes.

So yes, in places the construction will be noticeable and, from a personal point of view, not in the best possible taste. But that is me preferring hotels that are smaller and maybe more individual. However, most of the island remains wonderfully magical and incredibly romantic on all levels. There are still many hide and chic retreats, some just minutes away from mass tourism but light-years in terms of appeal.

Final pointers – the beaches in Bali are generally OK, but  with the exception of Jimbaran, nothing to get  too excited about. Neighbouring Lombok has a much better selection. But for the culture, the people, the cuisine and the scenery, Bali remains an amazing destination.

As you will have noticed I visit Asia rather frequently. Of all the countries within, Thailand probably has the most innovation in terms of product and is never stale. I always find new resorts, and because of fierce competition, even existing hotels have to constantly reinvent themselves just to stay fresh and relevant.

Some areas are now highly developed, but that usually results on improved air service and infrastructure. However, if you are adventurous and prepared to travel a little of the beaten track you can find some delightful hide and chic retreats.

On my last trip to Thailand, it was good to experience the Hua Chang Heritage hotel in Bangkok (http://buff.ly/1lNNLnm) – I really liked the unique style, and the excellent location for shopping.

In Koh Samui, delighted to have discovered Vana Belle (http://buff.ly/1lNNUad), top class accommodation and a real plus, located on a superb beach. Also good to see the Zazen (http://buff.ly/1ru7fg8) once again. A brilliantly managed and truly boutique hotel. Also worth mentioning that Samui enjoys its best weather June to October.

I think Phuket needs to reinvent itself, and the north of the island – the setting of the more luxurious hotels – needs to distance itself from the more mass market appeal of the south where the raucous Patong area seems to dominate the image, maybe unfairly. As a result we are seeing Khao Lak, just one hour drive north of Phuket airport, growing in popularity, and I see hotels like Le Meridien (http://buff.ly/1ru7FTP), Sarojin (http://buff.ly/1ru81JS) and The Wanakarn Beach Resort (http://buff.ly/1ru8CeB) all growing in popularity, especially in the winter season.

I already miss the charm and colour of Thailand and look forward to my return, where I am sure to discover some more hidden gems. For now, I shall have to content myself with the pictures I took of Thailand and Indonesia.

View the images here: http://bit.ly/1mj9Adm

We would like to say a big thank you to those who have taken the time to follow us on Tumblr. Our numbers are slowly increasing and that encourages us to keep sharing our little travel gems and updates. If there is anything that you would like to see or hear from us, please let us know. We would love your feedback.

It is our desire to help people like you to discover some truly Chic Locations from around the world, and we hope that we are succeeding in that area.

The Anazoe Spa is one of the most acclaimed and award winning spas in the region. Beautifully designed and instantly relaxing. A particular feature is the use of olive oil – allegedly discovered in the nearby Palace of Nestor – an ingredient of many of the unique treatments. A list of treatments can be found here: anazoespa.com

This year the Anazoe Spa won “Best International Family-Friendly Spa” and “Best International New / Refurbished Spa”, chosen by Spa Traveller’s readers – http://buff.ly/1np2z8z

The spa is perfectly placed between two fantastic sister hotels in Costa Navarino, Greece:

The Westin Resort (http://buff.ly/1irbEAr) – A super family friendly resort, with many restaurant options and an abundance of activities.

The Romanos (http://buff.ly/1np3lT0) – Classic simplicity and luxury. More upscale style than the Westin. Particularly suggested for couples or those with younger children or infants.

So if you are feeling a bit stressed, this just might be the best way to relax and let it all go…

We spoke about Andreas Franke’s Phantasy Fairytale underwater art exhibition in the Maldives awhile back. These are some great videos giving you a behind the scenes look at the artist and the installation of his work. http://vimeo.com/98270116

Don’t forget to check out the two fantastic hotels that showcased his work under the amazingly beautiful waters of the Maldives.

Huvafen Fushi Maldives – http://buff.ly/1iKCbDE

DK describes Huvafen as “The epitome of chic – cool, classic, ultra-contemporary and stylish, one of the most iconic of all the hotels in the region.”

Niyama Resort Maldives – http://buff.ly/1iKCmib

Description and Location

Contemporary Thai style, with traditional flourishes. The exterior rather resembles a grand colonial mansion – although it was only opened as a hotel in 2013 – whilst the interiors are bright, spacious, with art deco furnishings. Located on Phayathai Road in the Pathuman district, just a few minutes walk from a skytrain station and some of the famous shopping malls of central Bangkok.

Accommodation

80 rooms, in three different grades. The Deluxe are the entry level, bright and spacious whilst the Premier deluxe are larger and are particularly suggested for longer stays – see the Chic locations special offer. Then you have a selection of one bedroom suites with separate living room.

Chic Check – Very different and will appeal to those looking for individuality & boutique style, with a Thai flavour.

If you like to discover something unique, Hua Chang will certainly appeal.

Nightly Rates from £40, Per Person

Like most airports, Bangkok Airport is designed to entice the last baht from your credit card.

All the brand names are here, plus King Power, who are one of the largest retailers in the region and seem to have numerous outlets within the airport. As many of you will know, they also own Leicester City football club, so of course you have a shop selling shirts, etc. Makes a change to the Man U / Chelsea domination you find everywhere else.

If you are claiming a VAT refund allow at least an extra 30 minutes, as you will require your form to be stamped after you have checked in. You then get the actual cash in Baht once you have cleared immigration. The cynic in me might think the positioning of the two offices, at extreme ends of the terminal, might be done deliberately.

This statue which is in the central section of the departures lounge is rather impressive and is depicts the fight between good and evil.