Europe and Middle East

Exclusive guide to the best holiday destinations in Europe and Middle East. independent reviews from award-winning travel writers

NH Collection Palazzo Cinquecento Hotel

05/05/2016 by .
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It’s not every day you can boast you’ve sat on a 3,000 year old piece of history, but I’m not ashamed to say I did just that on the front garden of Rome’s brand new NH Collection Palazzo Cinquecento Hotel

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Quinta do Furao

26/04/2016 by .
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The word Quinta in Portuguese means a piece of land to farm on or a rustic property, however these days, in Portugal and Madeira, a Quinta means luxury colonial manor house. The added bonus for me is, Quinta do Furao on Madeira’s north east coast, also happens to be a pretty productive vineyard, so pretty much a win win scenario all round.

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Hotel Botanico Tenerife

25/04/2016 by .
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I was fully expecting to encounter Agatha Christie or the aristocratic ladies of Downton Abbey, transported by time capsule here to the 5* Hotel Botanico’ elegant terraces sipping afternoon tea, nibbling on finger sandwiches or snooping among the sumptuous gardens of the Grand Dame Hotel.of Tenerife

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The Hilton Metropole. The Edgware Road has never looked so good.

23/04/2016 by .

The Windmill Hotel. Clapham’s super stylish pub with rooms.

28/03/2016 by .

Waldhaus Sils. Living the Grand Hotel Experience

29/02/2016 by .
Waldhaus Winter

What I like about the Waldhaus Sils is that, although it’s just 7 miles from St. Moritz, it’s in the heart of the countryside, surrounded by nature, perfect for relaxation. It also helps that it’s been owned by the same family since it was built in 1908, and they’re very much in evidence around the hotel.

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Villa Rose Boutique Hotel

02/02/2016 by .
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The good people of Samoens, a charming little village tucked away in France’s alpine Savoie Mont Blanc region, have been doing daily life the same way for centuries, whether it be stonemasonry, cheese making  or skiing. So when the local taxi driver is at a lost to find Villa Rose, the town’s new luxury boutique hotel,  I’m not really surprised. New things clearly take a while to register here in Samoens.

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Northcote

27/01/2016 by .
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You don’t have to be a foodie to stay at Northcote, but the chances are it will be your tastebuds which draw you to this slightly off the beaten track country hotel. Chef-patron Nigel Haworth did, after all, put Lancashire on the map as a dining destination 20 years ago, and the place, which perches unassumingly on the corner of the main road to Preston, is now drawing celebrated guest chefs and those who like to follow them from all over the world.

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PLAZA ATHENEE

26/01/2016 by .
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Eat your heart out, stylish boutique hotels of Paris – the fashionistas are still going for the resolutely period decor of the eternally glamorous Plaza Athenee.   For a start, it’s right in their territory on the avenue Montaigne, close to Dior, Louis Vuitton and Valentino, and for another thing, they are used to divas and fulfilling their every demand.   For me, they found a Nespresso machine so I could brew up in 30 seconds on the day I needed to leave my fabulous room at 5am, and tracked down the Left Bank butcher from whom I needed to buy a Bresse chicken to take home.

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L’Hotel Du Chateau. Carcassonne

26/01/2016 by .