The new
year just begun and I'm already scheduling the first travels and new exciting
opportunities for editorial travels. 2016 was a great year for me and a great
travel year too. In today's article I will share my 5 top favorite hotels in
2016, including photos and personal memories..
La Verda
Dubai
It was
around one year ago, beginning of February in Dubai, when I discovered the La
Verda Dubai Hotel, which just recently opened that time. The hotel features
villas and suites only. Everything about this hotel is focused on the good life
and a perfect holiday. Also for families this hotel is simply perfect, as one
has a complete fat, with a kitchen, washing machine and multiple bath - and
bedrooms.
What
impressed me most about the La Verda Dubai was the great service and the
excellent location. The La Verda Dubai is located in the center of Dubai, close
to a big shopping mall and the port.
A true
highlight is a rooftop pool and a huge gym, with a personal trainer, located in
the house. It was the last hotel I visited in Dubai and it was a perfect
closing.
Ritz Carlton Dubai financial district
Another one
from Dubai which truly wanted me to stay forever was the Ritz Carlton Dubai in
financial district. It was the first hotel I visited during my stay in Dubai. I
had the pleasure to stay in a suite with my best friend and photographer Esra,
who joined me for this editorial travel. Probably it was also convincing for
both of us, that the huge breakfast of the hotel included dragon fruits, which
is well known to be my favorite fruit.
Dubai was a
lot about food but there was even more. The hotel itself had a huge terrace,
which featured its own park to walk around. Also the hotel features to gyms,
various swimming pools and separated spa areas.
There's definitely
much to feature about the Ritz Carlton, with a bakery, bar and many more
exclusive hotspots inside the house but definitely one has to stay in the Ritz Carlton
Dubai financial district for an unforgettable stay.
Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas
A little
party never killed nobody. Las Vegas is a crazy city with a special vibe and
somehow out of the universe. It's clearly no surprise that a Mandarin Oriental
hotel is located in the sin city of Nevada, USA. The Mandarin Oriental hotels
have always been a place for great hospitality, exclusivity and the little
sparkle of magic that will provide fully satisfaction.
I visited
the hotel in summer '16 for a very short stay. I just came in from New York,
while I had to leave back to New York after 5 days. It was a tough run from A
to B and east to west and back.
My magical
moments in the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas were the brunch and the spa area.
After arriving from a night flight and 12 hours of travel I made it to the Mandarin
Oriental to enjoy their brunch. Different from an all you can eat menu it is a
multiple course menu.
I was very
surprised, as the Mandarin Oriental also featured a vegan and gluten free menu.
As it always was a wish of mine to be served with a bento box, you wouldn't
believe how happy and surprised I have been when I was served with one of the
boxes.
Also the
spa area has been a superb dream to come true. I was still training for my marathon
this time and the heat this week was fatal. It was more than 45C and after
running through the desert of Las Vegas it was just the sweetest thing on earth
to calm down at the pool of rest at the spa area with an overlook of the strip.
Grace Panama
A far
destination and a new input into my cultural inputs has been my travel to Panama
in October. My first stop of a two week travel was the Grace Panama. It was my
first time in South America and a true lesson I learned.
While it is
still hard for vegans to eat out in Panama there is a bunch of beautiful hotels
in Panama City. One of these hotels is definitely the Grace Panama, which is
also very centered from everything in Panama and around. There's not such a
long distance to the airport and sightseeing, so as the Panama Canal out from
the hotel.
The hotel
definitely features a great restaurant with a few delicious dishes that are
also possible to be prepared for vegans. Also the rooftop with gym, spa and
pool is epic, as one is extremely near the clouds.
Florida is
my favorite state in the USA. I love the heat and beside Miami I also adore
Orlando. I've been twice to Orlando, which most of you guys maybe know as the
home of amusement parks, like Universal Studios or the one and only Disney World.
However, the Hilton hotel Orlando is sized as an own park and offers as much
things to discover.
I have
never visited a hotel before to offer that much of entertainment as the Hilton
Hotel Orlando does. Not only it has an own tennis and gold park, it also
features a pool oasis and many more pool spots. From above I would say the
hotel looks like a water park, while it has a very elegant and luxury look from
inside.
I can't wait to discover more hotels this year and keep travelling around. Thank you everyone for your support in 2016. I hope you will also enjoy my travels in 2017.