hip destinations

Short Break: Valencia's Renaissance

Valencia on Spain's eastern coast is experiencing a renaissance. Not only will Valencia host the 2007 America's Cup, the first held in Europe, it has caught up with other hip cities in Europe. The skyline has been embellished with everything from an impressive contemporary art museum to the sprawling Ciutat de les Arts i de les Cienes, Santiago Calatrava's swooping collection of white, organically contoured museums and theaters. The special charm of Valencia is a mix of Seville with its crowded cafes and tree-shaded plazas, the Moorish traces and ancient monuments of Granada as well as the tumultuous nightlife of Madrid. Yet this old city by the sea also has an identity all its own, as just one spin around town will attest.
Where to stay There are a few new upmarket desinger hotels that signals Valencia's change in fortunes. We recommend the Palau de la Mar, housed in a adjoning pair of eleganat 19th-century mansions, mingles grand marble entryways and staricases with 66 sleek rooms. The white walls, chocolate-brown floors, and antique tubs provide a tranquil respite from the glamourous streets.

Just back from Marrakech . . .

Do you want to experience something different? Fly to Marrakech and indulge yourself in the fascination of this bustling city. Stay at the Riad El Fenn and enjoy a luxurious oasis. Carefully designed - this place makes you forget that you are in the middle of the Medina. The food, served on the rooftop terrace with a spectacular view of the high atlas, is home grown and organic, tastefully arranged by the skillful chef.

Short Breaks: City or Beach? Enjoy both: Barcelona

City or Beach? There is no need to decide - Barcelona offers both. Barcelona is the ideal city for a loooong weekend. Here are three hotels we recommend: Hotel Pulitzer is a new design hotel built right in the heart of Barcelona, located at Plaza Catalunya, the main cultural, historical, business and shopping area. Try to get a room with a private roof terrace. In the Gothic Quarter, also close to Plaza Catalunya, you find the Hotel Neri, a small boutique hotel in an old, gothic house. We especially recommend the high-tech rooms and the exquisite restaurant. The hotel is so small that the staff treats you like you're the owner of the house. If you are looking for an unusual, luxury experience, try Gran Hotel La Florida located on Mount Tibidabo. Twenty minutes from the sweltering masses at Gaudí's Sagrada Familia cathedral and the teeming Ramblas promenade, this unique hotel isn't exactly in Barcelona; rather, it hovers above it. Everything about this place is deluxe - the views of the town are spectacular and it features an indoor/outdoor pool that literally overlooks the entire city.

Short Breaks: The Villa Dar Zina - A quiet haven in bustling Marrakesh

Just a few minutes from the hustle and bustle of the famous Djamaa El Fna place, is the quite legendary Targa palm plantation where the Villa Dar Zina stands. Combining contemporary comfort and oriental refinement, you will live in an enchanting environment. The exceptional Villa Dar Zina is located in the heart of a luxurious garden, where bougainvilleas, palm trees, jasmin, citrus trees and orange trees grow and give off rich appeasing fragrances that delight your senses. You can rent the whole villa (including the ten staff members) or just one of the four suites and four double rooms. The Villa Dar Zina has a very special charm when the sun sets and the lamps are lit in the garden.

City Hotel: Zurich's Hotel Baur au Lac in new glamour

Zurich's Hotel Baur au Lac is a top address in the middle of the city, ideally located at the shore of Lake Zurich (and close to the luxurious Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich's premier shopping address). A perfect place to get some rest and relax in the busy City. The hotel has recently, under the pressure of the new Park Hyatt Hotel and the Grand Hotel Dolder which will re-open in early 2007, undergone a major renovation. The guestrooms have been newly decorated and the bathrooms have been completely redone and are now finally meeting international standard. Don't miss the small but well equipped fitness room on the roof-top of the building. The spectacular view of Lake Zurich and the Swiss Alps is worth the sweat of your work-out.
Best thing: The magnificent garden, a real oasis next to the Lake.
There is also a small restaurant ideally for a lunch or just for relaxing with a drink and enjoying the wonderful atmosphere.
Worst thing: The dreadful plastic chairs on the guest room's private balconies. Didn't the interior designer who was responsible for the refurnishing of the guest rooms see them?