Jeremy Samuleson, via House Beautiful

Jeremy Samuleson, via House Beautiful

Jeremy Samuleson, via House Beautiful

Jeremy Samuleson, via House Beautiful

Jeremy Samuleson, via House Beautiful

Jeremy Samuleson, via House Beautiful

The New York Palace

My fellow hunter Ella poses the question in this excellent blog post. And I’ve asked my self the same question during the past weeks: does luxury and quality go hand in hand or do we assume that something is quality because the price reflects luxury and what you think is high standard?

In my blog post about The Bristol Hotel in Warsaw I was completely astounded over the quality and the level of service at the hotel. I decided that I would find something similar in Budapest. A hotel with a history that could deliver this kind of World Class service for a price that was affordable. I decided to go with The New York Palace.

The New York Palace

The building dates back to the 1894 and in 2001 it was bought by the Italian luxury hotel chain Boscolo Hotels and after five years of restoration it opened to guests in 2006. On their webpage, Boscolo Hotels claim to have kept the art nouveau style and the Belle époque atmosphere of the hotel. That might be true for the adjacent New York Café, but for the hotel some tacky Italian design has found its way into the interior.

Golden Sockets

Silver Mirrors

I think the advice here is 'less is more'

But the interior is actually not the important thing here. What is most important is the service, friendliness and that little extra that makes you feel like you’ve spend your money well by choosing to stay in that particular place.

1. Service. You can certainly get a high level of service at The New York Palace. If you pay for it that is. Everything costs extra. There wasn’t even a water boiler in the room to make tea or coffee as in most 3-4 star hotels, but room service was happy to swing some tea by your room for about 4 Euros.
2. Friendliness. When I check in at a hotel I expect a smile and a warm welcome. Maybe I wasn’t wearing an Armani suit, but I’m still a customer. I felt a rather arrogant attitude from almost everyone at the reception. Sure they we’re helpful and answered questions, but apart from a few of them, they all seemed like I was bothering them, when I turned up at the desk with new requests or questions.
3. There were virtually no extras included and there was even an extra charge for Internet, which I just don’t get. It seems as if the budget-midrange hotels offer Internet complimentary, but the top end hotels charge for it. It just doesn’t make sense to me. The more you pay for a hotel the more complimentary things should be included, in my opinion.

I will never stay at this hotel again for the simple reason, that I paid for much more than I got. Sure I had a big bed and a huge bath tub, but at the end of the day that’s not quality, that’s just things.

Spend Valentine’s Day With Your Sweetheart in Luxury

Es Saadi Palace & Villas:
Come and escape this Valentine’s day to the exotic Moroccan gardens at Es Saadi Palace & Villas, an eight hectare park right in the heart of Marrakesh. With their Valentine’s Day Weekend Package, this two night stay in their gorgeous junior Palace suite includes a romantic candlelit dinner at their exclusive restaurant La Cour des Lions under the stars. And after a wonderful evening, wake up and indulge with their Oriental spa offering a traditional couples massage for the two of you.

Talbott Hotel Chicago:
Set in the heart of Chicago’s beautiful and effervescent Gold Coast, the Talbott Hotel is a luxury European-style boutique hotel, perfect for an elegant Valentine’s day celebration. This year, Talbott Hotel is celebrating this special day with its Personally Yours Romance Package which offers you your own personal Concierge to plan and exciting romantic rendezvous in Chicago. After a night on the town you can rest in your upgraded suite adorned with rose petals and wake up to a breakfast for two from Bice Bistro. You and your loved one will also get personally embroidered signature Talbott Hotel luxurious bathrobes and late checkout up till 5pm so you can stay in bed as long as you want.

Fairmont Battery Wharf:
A fabulous romantic dinner is always a must when it comes to celebrating Valentine’s Day and at the Fairmont Batter Wharf in Boston’s North End is making sure you have the best dining experience imaginable with their Valentine’s Day at Sensing offer. Presenting a four course prix fixe menu featuring an extraordinary array of culinary delights, they are also offering an extraordinary desert treat. With dinner when you and your loved one order a bottle of Dom Perignon the Fairmont Battery Wharf will give you a room for only $10! With views of the Boston waterfront, contemporary décor and an intimate setting, this is sure to be an ideal night out.

Saint Sulpice- Montreal:
Surrounded by cathedrals and some of Montreal’s oldest architecture, Hotel le Saint-Sulpice is offering a special one-night stay Valentine’s Day package for couples. Guests can expect a stay in one of the hotel’s elegant suites, continental breakfast, half a bottle of champagne upon arrival, a six-course Valentine’s dinner, two gift vouchers for the spa and late checkout.

St. Regis- San Francisco:
Get away without actually going away if you’re lucky enough to be living in San Francisco! The St. Regis San Francisco is having a “Valentine’s Day indulgence day package” that’s perfect for both couples and family members. Spend the day relaxing at the spa and enjoy a gourmet brunch prepared by Vitrine restaurant’s very own Chef Romuald Feger.

Jumeirah Carlton Tower:
One of London’s most luxurious hotels, Jumeirah Carlton Tower, is offering a “Just the Two of Us” Valentines Day package. Among other things, guests will receive a chilled bottle of Champagne, chocolate-dipped fresh strawberries and beautiful fresh flowers when they arrive. Also, couples will receive a 30 minute massage, breakfast, late check-out a goody bag from the spa and more!

The Connaught:
Another stunning hotel in London, the Connaught, will be offering a package called “Truly Madly Deeply” for Valentine’s Day. Couples will enjoy a luxurious English breakfast for two, a bottle of Laurent-Perrier Rose upon their arrival, romantic rose petal turndown, two personalized bathrobes and late check-out! The package last for the entire month of February – so if you’re busy on the 14th with less romantic plans, this is a great way to keep the romance alive on a different day.

World's Luxury iStahNa

The Mediterranean coast around Antalya has long lured visitors to Turkey’s “Riviera.” Sun-worshippers and history buffs alike flock to this ancient coast, dotted with Roman and Ottoman sites. Needless to say, this shore is brimming with luxury resorts, and the new Mardan Palace promises to outdo them all with over-the-top luxury and facilities fit for a king.

Think four aquariums, a 900-seat amphitheater, an artificial “Swim Reef” packed with fish, and one of the biggest swimming pools in the world. Did we mention the nighttime laser show in front of the waterfront lagoon pool? The spa has it all– from Hot Stone Massages to Thalasso Treatments. We hear you can even get botox treatments. Rooms are decadently designed with gold leaf and exclusive Hermès amenities. Each guest of the Mardan Palace will be pampered with personal butler service.

The White House

United States President's residence, in the United States to Washington, is a two-storey building with white.

Founded in 1792, from 1800 years later became the residence of the Presidents of the United States in 1902 the first to use the White House, President Roosevelt. The United States Government after becoming a surrogate.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace

United Kingdom Royal Palace, in the United Kingdom, London.

1703, Buckingham Palace Jue was founded, Queen Victoria in 1837 the throne, officially became the Royal Palace. Palace Deluxe, a banquet hall, concert hall, 600 more room, Palace Square in front of a statue of Queen Victoria Centre. Palace before 10 am and 12 pm, to be held between the Royal Guard and changing of the ceremony, attract visitors.

Kremlin

Kremlin

In Russia, Moscow City Centre, the Moscow Principality and the 18th century former Tsar Palace, after the victory of the October revolution, became the leading cadres of the resident.

1156, founded after repeated by extension, to an ancient buildings, mainly in the great Kremlin Palace, the Virgin Mary Ascension Church, government buildings, Ivan the great Bell Tower, etc. Intrauterine Tower is equipped with a pentagonal Ruby star. It is also used as surrogate of the Government of Russia.

Versailles palace

Versailles palace

Versailles palace is a feudal monarch of France's Palace, in the southwest of the city of Versailles in Paris.

Founded in the 16th century, after repeated formation by expanding existing scale. Including the Palace Gardens, palaces and radial road three parts. Body symmetry, East-West axis shape. Intrauterine decoration very luxurious, wall hanging tapestry, paintings, sculpture, the famous sculptor Hall displays or marble statue of bronze, enjoying high reputation of the Palace of art. In 1919 the Versailles peace treaty signed in this.

Top Capri Palace

Top Capri Palace

In the Bosphorus and Golden Horn Bay and Marmara Sea meeting point there is a splendid building, this is from the 15th century to the 19th century at the Centre of the Ottoman Empire; mdash mdash; top Capri Palace, which culminated in the maze of luxury, is a former sultans Office place.

Outside the Palace is a lush green wood of the first courtyard, was originally the Palace dining room of the second courtyard, now become empires of Crystal, silver and China Chinaware Tibetan Museum. The left is the Sultan's Palace, various conspiracy took place here. In the third courtyard has the audience room, library, costume jewellery Museum (you can see the world's second largest diamond) and priceless medieval painting books. Palaces of Central is a relic of the Saint.

Belloeil Palace

Belloeil Palace

Istanbul's famous palaces, there are 19 century Sultan Abu are in Graz in Bosphorus Asian coast with white marble as raw material, a city full of Magnolia, courtyards as dreaming mdash mdash; of the Palace; Baylor Bey Palace, past the Sudanese summer villas and foreign guests of the hostel.

Le Gardez Palace to a series of pavilions and mosque, one of the most magnificent elegance to summer base is sultans lifestyle, entertainment, is a luxury extremely, Garden world flower, wooden, its scenery is known as the most outstanding of the Bosphorus. Visitors can also watch the Guo goksu Palace, El na Le. Kavak summer Pavilion, Maslak Pavilion, etc.

Les Nim Palace

Located in the United Kingdom in Oxfordshire.

Palace of the four corner has a square Tower, the central axis of the lobby and lobby is high or low, forming a decrepit skyline. Four towers with Baroque and unconstrained, Central colonnade is rigorous classical Collins, in contrast to straighten out. Palace Tower and roof of the Tower of the spires, lobby upper triangular bosses on the walls and roof railings of the statue with a romantic and mysterious atmosphere. Today this outstanding Palace building is included in the list of world cultural heritage of the United Nations.

Louvre

Louvre

luxury private villas

This luxury private villas located nearby the holy Pura Uluwatu, one of Bali’s nine mother temples, the site’s spiritual energy is experienced as a feeling of complete serenity.

The Istana resides on a southwestern tip of Bali, Indonesia, in an area named The Bukit. This five suite estate overlooks white sand beaches and a lagoon abundant with sea life and coral, and at night, magical sunsets. When the trade winds blow, a massive swell crashes onto the surrounding reef, crafting waves that attract worldwide surfing attention; the breaks are rated fifth best in the world. Uluwatu beach is only a ten minute walk from the villa.

The elements of The Istana are uniquely blended to worship the heritage of it’s powerful and awe-inspiring location. The house unifies modern and antique, European influence with an Oriental focus on style, serenity and detail. The abundant use of earthy materials such as rich teak and ironwood compliment this mix and merge the building with the landscape, lush flora and transcendent view. The artwork represents a mixture of Indonesian primitive art and antiques to highlight the tradition and feel of the villa’s aura.

The main house hosts a living space, dining room, entertainment area (the Dotcom room), and four identical bedroom suites. A separate guest house comprises the master suite. Both buildings are single-story and open-air, inspiring a natural ambiance while accentuating the breathtaking view. With an extensive staff providing a level of service unrivaled outside of a luxury hotel, restaurant standard food, a full time manager, butlers and chauffeur – all devoted to facilitating intimate service amongst private splendor – there is no parallel. (source)

World's Luxury iStahNa

Luxury hotel the Taj Mahal Palace has re-opened its palace wing following a two-year restoration.

The hotel, which is member of prestigious global accommodation group The Leading Hotels of the World, is an iconic building in Mumbai and first opened its doors to the most discerning guests back in 1903.

Since then, it has hosted princes, maharajas, presidents and world leaders, the hotel group said.

"It offers guests an unforgettable experience that encapsulates a slice of history, legend and romance," it commented.

The makeover of the Palace wing, which is the hotel's most luxurious spot, sees the rooms there fitted with interactive multimedia and many of the suites now boast original art on the walls.

Guests can also relax in the Palace Lounge, where they can enjoy afternoon tea and cocktails before being taken to the airport by private Jaguar or Bentley.

Those taking cheap flights to India keen on visiting the hotel should make sure they take time to see its namesake, the Taj Mahal temple, one of the seven original wonders of the world.

Written by Alex Cochrane

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The Palace of the Lost City in Sun City near Rustenburg ranks as one of the world’s most extraordinary hotels. The fairytale palace residence is built with unbelievable attention to detail and forms a luxurious fantasy world of Africa’s jungles, cliff-tumbling gardens, streams and waterfalls.

Legend has it that the Palace of the Lost City was built as the royal residence of an ancient civilization of South Africa, but was destroyed by an earthquake.
The interior features exquisite mosaics, frescoes and hand-painted ceilings depicting South Africa’s wildlife and culture. Even the huge swimming pool outside the main entrance is decorated with mosaics and sculptures.

The luxury hotel offers 338 rooms including four suites. The King, Royal, African and Desert Suites feature a sauna and jacuzzi bath and are available upon request. All standard rooms consist of an entrance foyer, en-suite bathroom, lounge, a seating area, minibar and butler station.

The restaurants at the Palace of the Lost City are yet another highlight. The Villa del Palazzo overlooks the pool and serves Italian food, while Crystal Court’s cuisine is strongly influenced by the cuisine of South Africa. Furthermore the Palace of the Lost City offers several lounges and bars.

The Palace of the Lost City in the artificial city Sun City is a breathtaking building that allows you to soak in the energy and fascination of long gone days.

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