January 11th, 2012
Photo courtesy of worldtennismagazine.com
It’s that time of the year again… time for lists. To-do’s, resolutions, and the New York Times 45 Places to Go in 2012, of course. So, if you’re resolved to travel more this year, use this to check a few things off your list. Here are some of our favorites!
#3 Myanmar – After the release of Aung San Suu Kyi from 15 years of house arrest and the lifting of the boycott against the authoritarian regime that kept the country isolated, Myanmar is ready to share cultural treasures and deserted beaches. Experience the remarkable beauty, romance, and mystery of Myanmar aboard the luxurious Orient-Express’ “Road to Mandalay” as it cruises down the Ayeyarwady River.
#4 London – Between the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Queen’s 60th year on the throne, the summer Olympic Games, and the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens, there is a bevy of reasons to visit London this year. For the ultimate posh location, we recommend the Metropolitan London with its incredible views of Hyde Park and award-winning Nobu restaurant. For a more sanctuary-like hotel, the 5-star Halkin in discreet Belgravia may be more up your alley.
#6 Tokyo – It’s no secret that Tokyo had a tough 2011, which is why there is no better time to travel there than 2012. Due to a decrease in tourism and business travel, rates are down without sacrificing luxury and attention to detail. Staying at the “Lost in Translation” Park Hyatt Tokyo is now better than ever.
#11 Moscow – For those who love history and art, this is the city to visit. Between the reopening of the extravagantly renovated Bolshoi Theater in October and the opening of the Russian Icon Museum, you will find no shortage of things to do here. Located just yards away from the Bolshoi Theater, the five-star Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow is in the prime location to explore this unique city.
#14 San Diego – If you’re looking for good times, good people, and great beer, San Diego should definitely be on your list of places to go this year. If you want to throw in a game of golf before or after your tastings, definitely stay at the Park Hyatt Aviara.
#27 Maldives – It seems that everyone is traveling to the Maldives now-a-days, and it’s no secret why. It’s necklace of 26 tropical atolls in the Indian Ocean make it a place where you can find something that everyone in the family wants to do – scuba dive, fish, surf, or just relax in the pristine sand. There are so many different resorts to choose from – here are our favorites: Park Hyatt Maldives, Anatara Dhigu Resorts & Spas, Anantara Veli Resorts & Spas, Anantara Kihavah Villas, Naladhu, and Cocoa Island.
If you like to “kill two birds with one stone”, you’ll need to check out Crystal Cruises. Their ships plan to drop anchor in each of these destinations in 2012: #1 Panama City; #22 Paraty, Brazil; and #36 Dubrovnik, Croatia.
September 27th, 2011
COMO Hotels and Resorts is giving back to the community with your help! In 2010, COMO partnered with MasterCard for the Purchase with Purpose program which helps raise funds for local community projects. Last year, the project raised $35,580 and COMO has decided to bring the program back for 2011!
For every transaction made with a MasterCard card at a COMO property between 1 October and 31 December 2011, MasterCard will donate $30 to a community project with which the COMO property is closely affiliated. The money raised goes to educational and wellbeing initiatives as well as to local schools to improve nutrition and sanitation. In 2010, the funds helped stock the libraries of Tirta Kumara Kindergarten in Bali and the Maafushi and Guraidhoo schools in the Maldives. The program also helped deliver sanitary essentials to the nuns of Kela Goemba in Bhutan and improve sanitation and cooking facilities in the Wat Bangploeng School in Thailand.
With this program, guests have the opportunity to make a real difference in the communities they visit. As if you needed a better reason to go on vacation!
July 26th, 2011
Want to spin where Kings of Leon have spun? Or slink into a dark booth where Kate Moss has partied away? Well here’s your chance! London’s famous Met Bar, a hangout for celebs and royals alike since its opening in 1997, will be undergoing a complete renovation and selling off every inch of the iconic original. All proceeds go to the “Teens Unite – Fighting Cancer,” the Met’s official charity partner. Turn a boring living room into a piece of history, all for a good cause. Everything is for sale including the famed private booths, the DJ decks used by renowned DJs and artists including Oasis, Roger Taylor, Boy George, and even Bruce Willis, and glassware, tables, chairs, and bar stools.
The bar officially closes on July 31 and is to reopen in September with a new sophistication and London-cool factor as well as the best mixologists, cocktails, and food in the city.
Sale ends August 1, 2011.
The Met Bar is located in the Metropolitan London, part of the COMO Hospitality Group.
June 1st, 2011
Executive Chef at the Metropolitan Nicola Ducceschi is whipping up a sizzling new menu just in time for BBQ season. Discovering his passion for cooking at an early age, Ducceschi has worked at such esteemed restaurants as The Dorchester and Michelin-starred restaurant Chez Bruce. After working in many restaurants and private homes in Italy, he moved back to London and started his career at the Metropolitan.
Lead by Chef Nicola, the Met’s menu is full of savory options. With creative dishes like popcorn and coriander coated prawns, barbecued lamb cutlets, crushed peas and fennel chutney, and deliciously sweet dessert options like Apricot, jasmine and peanut trifle, there’s no way to leave hungry!
The Metropolitan’s luxurious private dining options are also sure to please. Chicly designed, the Met provides multiple dining options for any occasion. Whether choosing from the posh White Room, Met Space, and Met Boardroom, the Met also offers the more sought-after COMO Suite which is the perfect choice for a romantic dinner for two, or elegant dinner party!
May 17th, 2011
Ditch the stuffy hoopla of the Royal Wedding and embrace London’s punk rock history instead. From April 22-May 8, the Metropolitan London’s Met Bar will be offering an “An-Tea Establishment” afternoon tea just in time to save us from monarchy overload – a quintessential British tea with a funky Metropolitan twist, including ingredients that satisfy without a huge calorie intake. Cheeky dishes include the “Quiche a la Fergie” with chorizo and spinach on a thin pastry base, along with reimagined classics like no bread cucumber sandwiches with layers of cucumber jelly with a bread foam. Rhubarb and custard cupcakes will be topped with iconic slogans and images to capture the feeling of the era. If tea isn’t quite strong enough, try the Sex Pistol-inspired cocktail “God Save The Queen,” and do a little head banging to the punk rock playlist drifting from the speakers.
Dates: April 22-May 8, 2011, 3-6pm
Rate: £27 per person plus service
The menu will be available in the Met Bar from April 22 to May 8, 3-6pm Monday- Sunday. Priced at £27 per person + service. Reservations must be pre-booked by calling +44(0) 20 7447 4757.
December 1st, 2010
If the seasonal spirit and décor is calling you to London for a Christmas-Carol-esque holiday, The Halkin and the Metropolitan London have some treats to brighten your stay. Before a day at Harrod’s, take advantage of the Met’s complimentary breakfast to fortify you for your day of shopping. The Halkin is offering “Flights of Wine,” perfect for unwinding after a day of museum-exploration or strolling the Thames. This offer is valid from December 19-January 16 for online bookings.
Make sure to check out the festive lights in the West End when perusing the shops on Oxford and Regent streets.
November 5th, 2010
Celebrate the eponymous antihero’s foiled plot to blow up British Parliament to restore a Catholic monarch to the throne. Though Fawkes was executed for his treasonous act, he is celebrated each year with fireworks and bonfires. Tonight and tomorrow night, London has celebrations throughout the city for firework watching and general reveling. Guests at the Metropolitan London and the Halkin can pop over to nearby Hyde Park for an uninterrupted view of the sky. Here are some gatherings if you find yourself in London Town.
November 6
Roundwood Park. Gates open at 6:45 p.m. Show starts at 8. Free admission.
Ravenscourt Park. Gates open at 6 p.m. Bonfire lighted at 7:15. Children’s show at 7:30, main show at 8. Five years old and over, £6; under 5 free; tickets available online.
Battersea Park. Gates open at 6 p.m. Bonfire at 7:30; main show at 8. Since this will be one of the largest of the firework displays in London there are numerous gated entrances, some of which will not be open until late evening. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. tickets will be available at: Albert Gate, Chelsea Gate, Rosery Gate, and Sun Gate. Starting at 6 p.m. tickets can be purchased at: Albert Gate. Alexandra Gate, Beechmore Gate, Chelsea Gate, Ethelburga Gate, MacDuff Gate, Rosery Gate and Sun Gate. Adults, £6; under 10 years, £1.
Morden Park. Gates open at 5:15 p.m. Bonfires at 6:30 and 8:15; shows at 6:45 and 8:30. Sixteen years old and over, £7; under 16, £5; under 4, free; family ticket (two adults, two children), £20.
September 30th, 2010
Looking for something a little different for Halloween? Maybe a ghoulish puppy party or a tasty celebration of Dia de Muertos will do the trick. Go hunting for ghosts or carve a star pumpkin and get in the holiday spirit.
Washington, D.C.
Where: Park Hyatt Washington D.C.
What: Halloween Doggy Happy Hour
When: October 20, 2010
Why: Your tail will be waggin’ at the swanky DC hotel’s Halloween-themed pet costume party. Pooch-loving guests and visitors can strut their dressed dogs down the red carpet before mingling for doggy happy hour. Celebrate Halloween with your four-legged friend in comfort as part of their Paws at the Park package, available year round. (Above are images of Doggy Happy Hour; the first Halloween Doggy Happy Hour is happening October 20 with dressed up pooches.)
(more…)
July 27th, 2010
The Metropolitan London was named one of the top 10 party hotels by Sherman’s Travel. As a guest at the hotel, you get access to the members-only Met Bar and can rub elbows with the regular celebrity guests. Unleash your inner rock star with “rockaoke” (karaoke with a live band) or fill up on Michelin-starred sushi at Nobu.
July 2nd, 2010
Just this morning Iceland Express announced that summer and fall fares to London, Copenhagen, and Luxembourg are on sale for just $399 round trip! There are a limited amount of seats, so if you’ve been toying with the idea of a late summer trip to London to catch the festivals, or a fall getaway in a cozy English cottage, now is the ideal time to book.