Nippon’s sublime amber nectar: Why is Japanese whisky gaining so many global plaudits? February 1, 2015 Kampai!’ says my effusive barman, as I lift the highball glass to my lips. I’m in a narrow, low-lit, eight-seater bar called Hanare, just a few minutes’ walk from Gion-Shijo station, in the heart of Kyoto’s entertainment district, and about to try my first taste of Japanese whisky. It’s an apposite time to do so, [...]
48 hours in… Boston February 1, 2015 WHERE TO STAY Situated in the Back Bay area, Boston’s family-owned Lenox Hotel combines historical charm with modern luxury. The Lenox has been a Boston landmark ever since it opened for business in 1900. Now it’s known for its friendly, personalised service. Rooms start at $195, lenoxhotel.com WHERE TO GO Protopunk legends The Modern Lovers [...]
Samoens and Morillon: Is this the ideal family ski holiday destination? January 25, 2015 The ski villages of Samoens and Morillon may not have the extreme slopes of its neighbours, but they’re perfect for enthusiastic amateurs The village of Samoens in the French Alps is a 600 year old ski secret. The name actually dates back to 1167 but the focal point of the village square – a giant [...]
48 hours in… Brooklyn January 25, 2015 WHERE TO STAY Stay in this meticulously restored 1860s mansion if you like your hotels cute and characterful. Nestled in a tree-lined avenue home to some of the city’s finest brownstone architecture, Akwaaba Mansion is boho Brooklyn perfection. Rooms start at $195 per night, akwaaba.com WHERE TO GO It may sound morbid, but Green-Wood Cemetery [...]
Burns Night 2015: Head to Scotland for a luxury getaway January 18, 2015 Travel northwards this weekend to help our Caledonian brothers and sisters celebrate their very own Bard. Here’s our top five luxury Burns getaways… FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS Luxury hotelier Fairmont offers a number of holiday packages so you get what you want out of a trip north of the border, encompassing Hogmanay, Valentines, “Babymoons”, and even [...]
Chateau Gütsch: Journey to Lucerne, the ticking heart of watchmaking January 11, 2015 Overlooking Lucerne, Chateau Gütsch is a belle-epoque retreat with a horological secret. As a writer with a particular penchant for Swiss watchmaking, I probably use the term “chocolate box” far too frequently. Hard not to when describing a springtime visit to an atelier nestled in the verdant Jura foothills, surrounded by cows and their clanking [...]
The Exhibitionist is the boutique hotel in Kensington that doubles up as an art gallery January 11, 2015 WHAT IS IT? A new Kensington hotel with a focus on art. The Exhibitionist sells itself as a boutique hotel, which is something London is still rather lacking. With rooms starting at £225, it’s affordable, making it a viable possibility for commuters planning a night at the theatre or an early morning at the nearby [...]
48 hours in… Lima January 11, 2015 WHERE TO DRINK As one of the few waterside drinking spots in Lima, Cala is well-known and popular among locals. Sample modern Peruvian cuisine and sip an authentic pisco sour on its terrace overlooking the ocean. calarestaurante.com WHERE TO STAY In a country with virtually no boutique hotels, Hotel B certainly stands out. The communal [...]
New Year weight loss holidays: These getaways prove the January detox doesn’t always have to be depressing January 4, 2015 Forget crash diets and spin-classes. From running in Tallinn to blissing out in Sri Lanka, this is how to work off that festive flubber in style. Overindulged this Christmas? Did making merry take its toll on your belly? These travel tips combine the nations’ favourite January past times, detoxing and booking holidays, so you can [...]
Reach for the Isle of Skye for a bracing winter weekend away December 21, 2014 The island off the west coast of Scotland has a rugged charm during the colder months – and the food is first class. My heart is yearning to thee, O Skye! Dearest of Islands! There first the sunshine gladdened my eye, On the sea sparkling”. So wrote Scottish poet Alexander Nicolson about the largest [...]