[Stockholm] Miss Clara Hotel

Miss Clara Hotel

Add: Sveavägen 48, 111 34 Stockholm, Sweden
Tel: +46 8 440 67 00
Website: www.missclarahotel.com

We spent our next two nights in Stockholm at Miss Clara, a stylish hotel renovated from a former private girls school originally built in 1900. Named after the headmistress, the building received a full makeover by Swedish architect Gert Wingardh, who kept the original art nouveau structure intact and filled its interior with modern furnishings, lighting, and artwork. The result is beautiful, as you will soon see from the photos below. Location-wise, the hotel is within a 10-minute walking distance from the central train station, and 20-some minutes to sights like Gamla Stan (old town) and Skeppsholmen (museum island) – not much to complain about.

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One of my favorite space within the building is the dining room: vaulted windows, leather banquettes, Lee Broom crystal bulbs…just gorgeous.

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Next door is The Ballerina Room, which features Max Modén’s ballerina portraits and Kaare Klint chairs.

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[Shanghai] The Ritz-Carlton Pudong: Checking In

The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong

Add: Shanghai IFC, 8 Century Avenue, near Lujiazui Huan Lu / 上海IFC,世紀大道8號,近陸家嘴環路
Tel: 2020 1888
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/ShanghaiPudong
Visited:  Jan 2012

The Ritz-Carlton Pudong, opened in June 2010, is located on the top 18 floors of Shanghai’s IFC Tower. It’s got 258 guest rooms, all in sleek and modern design with hints of Shanghai Art Deco from the 1930s, and I was able to see the inside of it for a birthday celebration!

After checking-in at the Club Lounge reception, we were shown to our Club Bund View Suite, a luxurious 807 square feet space. A combination of velvet fabrics in vivid colors and clear-cut geometric shapes, the design is simultaneously sharp and soft. As we entered the room, the curtains automatically opened to a sweeping view of the bund – an especially impressive welcome on a clear day.

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[Hong Kong] Island Shangri-La

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Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong

Address: Pacific Place, Supreme Court Road, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2877 3838
Website: www.shangri-la.com/en/property/hongkong/islandshangrila
Visited on: 2011-12-23

My stay at the Island Shangri-La Hong Kong was a short but sweet one. I was only there for one evening and didn’t have time to try any of the restaurants except for Cafe TOO for its breakfast buffet, but the experience was enough for me to understand why this hotel is ranked #5 out of 322 hotels in Hong Kong on Tripadvisor. Location-wise, it’s perfect – Island Shangri-La is at the heart of Central District, perched right above Pacific Place (one of my favorite shopping malls in Hong Kong) and near the Admiralty subway station. The decor is luxurious without being over the top, its warm vibe enhanced by the welcoming and attentive staff.

Island Shangri-La

Lobby area

Reception

Upon exiting the elevator on the 47th floor where our room was located, we were greeted with the world’s largest Chinese silk painting that spans 16 storeys in the atrium. Quite an impressive sight.

Atrium

The standard room is spacious and elegantly appointed with a mix of Asian and European furnishings. It of course comes with a view of the Victoria Harbour – no need to belabor the point.

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[Hong Kong] Grand Hyatt

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Grand Hyatt Hong Kong

Address: 1 Harbour Road, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2588 1234
Website: hongkong.grand.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels
Visited on: 2011-12-24

Grand Hyatt needs no introduction. There is nothing bedazzling about the hotel in terms of architectural design, but if you are looking for consistent quality and attentive service, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong would be it.

Christmas decoration 

Reception

Our Grand Deluxe Harbour View Room, furnished with a King bed with cozy duvet and feather pillows, also came with killer views of the Victoria Harbour. Business travelers would like the spacious workstation and the selection of magazines in the room – The Economist, Forbes, Newsweek, TIME…etc.

The room 

Work station


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[Hong Kong] Ritz-Carlton: Checking Out

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong

Address: International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon,  Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2263 2263
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/HongKong/
Visited on: 2011-12-23

Good morning Hong Kong! After we reluctantly wriggled out of our ultra comfortable bed, we made our way to the Club Lounge for breakfast. Floor-to-celing windows, soft velvety morning light, jazz in the air, and the sweet smell of fresh pastries and coffee – a fine way to wake up.

Note: for those not staying at the Club Lounge levels, breakfast is served at The Lounge & Bar on the 102nd floor. 

The buffet features a selection of cold cuts, fresh fruits, yogurt, pastries, hot dishes, fresh juices, and eggs made to order. I’m also guessing the kitchen can conjure up whatever you fancy at the moment, but I was very happy with what was already on the table.

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[Hong Kong] Ritz-Carlton: Checking In

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong

Address: International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon,  Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2263 2263
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/HongKong/
Visited on: 2011-12-22

The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, currently the world’s highest hotel, is quite literally taking luxury to new heights. Perched between levels 102 and 118 at the International Commerce Center (ICC) in Kowloon, the hotel sits majestically atop floors of bankers, a train/metro station that directly links to the airport, and an upscale shopping mall called Elements. Needless to say, it all comes with unrivaled views of Victoria Harbour and the iconic Hong Kong skyline as the backdrop.

The arrival lobby is located on the 9th floor, and from there we zoomed right up to the 103rd floor reception in a mere 53 seconds. That would be 9 meters per second. Pop!


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[Shanghai] Urbn Hotel

Urbn Hotel

Add: 183 Jiaozhou Lu, near Beijing Xi Lu 膠州路183號, 近北京西路
Tel: 5172 1300
Website: www.urbnhotels.com
Visited: Nov 2011

After lunch at Downstairs, I got a quick tour of the penthouse suite at the Urbn Hotel, a sustainable project developed from a renovated factory warehouse. The hotel’s interiors are made with 100% local sourced and recycled materials, and energy-efficient technologies and heating and cooling systems are installed throughout the establishment. Here are some snapshots, starting with the reception area:

The back wall is constructed from 25 suitcases, all collected from the Dongtai Lu antiques market. What’s the story behind each suitcase? Makes you wonder.


And the penthouse suite:

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