Firmdale Hotels Whimsy at The Warren New York

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I’ll never forget my first stay at the vibrant Crosby Street Hotel in New York. In the 80’s and 90’s, SoHo enjoyed a definitive urban renewal phase, still a bit industrial gritty, but utterly charming and convenient for wandering the hip fashion boutiques and trendy restaurants, before chain stores and street vendors.

Crosby Street New York

SoHo is known for its elegant cast-iron-facades and wide cobblestone streets; the neighborhood is also an atmospheric locale for fashionable crowds clustering at high-end restaurants and nightlife hotspots. Crosby Street opened in 2009, the son of my NY friends was graduating from private school and after I had stayed with them so many times in NY, it was the perfect venue to host the family in the magnificent whimsical drawing room at Crosby Street. I felt so like a New Yorker!

The Kemp family has followed a playful pattern of successful ultra charming hotels. Oozing in bold colors and pattern heavy interior design by Kit Kemp, each hotel reflects a fresh, contemporary style. I’ve stayed in almost all of them, and we’ve reserved most as well!  Picture a Champagne sunset in New York from a wide terrace, brilliant glistening glass reflecting the sun as it drops between skyscrapers. Firmdale Groupies, yes, we certainly are of that Persuasion!

  • Firmdale New York
  • Firmdale New York
  • Firmdale New York
  • Firmdale New York
  • Firmdale New York

One repeated component of the imaginative hotels is floor to ceiling metal paned windows in the bedrooms, a trademark look, allowing tons of natural light and views of the neighborhood. Some bedrooms lead to small terraces, I’ve hosted Sunset champagne gatherings at The Whitby in New York! In the heart of midtown, what better location?

I’m known for taking months long sojourns performing site inspections, long wanderings around London and Scotland. Blurring time zones and cities. I awoke one morning, rolled over to look out the metal paned windows and thought I was at Crosby Street, but I was in London – the windows are exact – and the brick warehouse in the distance appeared to be SoHo…There is a Firmdale Hotel for every taste in London a Caribbean hideaway in St. James, Barbados and now a new property in Manhattan.

I’m looking forward to a stay at the newest Firmdale offering Warren Street in New York – enroute to Milano for a conference. Situated in the vibrant and creative Tribeca neighborhood,

Warren Stret Rooftop New York

Warren Street Hotel is a celebration of contemporary art and design, with every inch joyfully infused with Kit Kemp’s sense of fun and love of storytelling.

Each of the hotel’s 69 bedrooms, suites and residences are individually designed, some with beautifully landscaped private terrace gardens and spectacular skyscraper views of lower Manhattan and the Hudson River.

Since opening in February, the hotel has been awarded One Michelin Key, joining a small handful of hotels across the U.S. with this unique stamp of approval. Warren Street Hotel is in Tribeca, a vibrant neighborhood that’s a joy to explore. Head out from the hotel and you’ll find cobbled streets, restored red brick warehouses, artists’ studios, small galleries, independent shops and locally loved restaurants in New York’s Financial District.

My stay will be at the first days of another six-week sojourn, so there should be no confusion as to where I am when I wake up!

  • Firmdale
  • Firmdale

Firmdale Hotles offer delicious dining and cocktail bars, guest only screening rooms, and in London, a bowling alley at Ham Yard, the Croc. The Croc houses an original 1950’s bowling alley, stylish lounge, bar and dance floor. Back-lit bowling balls, vintage bowling shoes and bowling pin lamps sit alongside two large scale Howard Hodgkin artworks. The silver baby grand piano and South African made sofas give a lounge feel. Bowler’s bowl into a suspended brick wall with flickering lights and can choose to have UV pins and shoelaces.

Committed to the arts in each destination, enjoy a Private Art Walk in New York, with Willow Kemp in Spring 2025. Join Firmdale Hotels’ Art Ambassador & Design Director on a tour of the hotel’s impressive art collection and visit exciting local galleries, followed by afternoon tea in The Orangery.

Whimsy and colorful décor in bustling city locations, a collection of eleven five-star properties, we love them all. Personal service, stylish suites abound, luxury from a brand that doesn’t take itself too seriously!

Highly Recommend All Firmdale Hotels!

The Sahara – Luxury Tent Camp. Do Camels Really Spit?

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Fascinated for years by rugged movies featuring the Sahara Deseret as a backdrop, I only wish I had begun exploring the Sahara at a younger age…although the luxury tent camps provide the perfect base for me. I wish I had the stamina for days of an authentic Camel Caravan, off-piste! Romantic notions inspired by films: George Lucas and his world-famous Star Wars saga. The English Patient, The Sheltering Sky. March or Die, The Wind & The Lion, and never forget Lawrence of Arabia with Peter O’Toole, who won an Academy Award for Best Actor. Swoon!

Anṣuf is Welcome by the Berber people.

My first luxury Sahara Desert client request was 18 years ago, it became the ‘talk’ of Silicon Valley peeps – an Over The Top family experience for a client big birthday. Random encounters meeting someone, one would say, Oh I know who you are – me, no I’m flattered, but I think you’ve made a mistake… No, you created the amazing desert experience for …Family, oh yes, that is me!  

A Journey that is well remembered by many. The father wanted to recreate a college memory of driving through Algiers – despite the heat, we designed a Journey in June. Beginning in Marrakesh, staying at the stunning three-bedroom riad at La Mamounia with its own pool and gorgeous gardens. Enjoying the city of souks and snake charmers for a few days we then moved them to the desert. Whisking the family from Marrakesh by helicopter to the Sahara Desert flying over the dramatic snowcapped High Atlas Mountains – sweeping over vast valleys dotted with colorful Berber villages. Skimming low along the Draa valley to land at an ancient, fortified village and nomadic museum. They enjoyed lunch with a local family. The teenage children shared life experiences and learned regional customs of the village children. A soccer ball always helps to break the ice! Imagine a 4-wheel drive adventure through sandy trails, blooming acacia and tamarisk trees to the dunes, reaching the most elaborate and important kasbahs in the Dades Valley.

Sahara Desert, Morocco
Sahara Desert, Morocco
Sahara Desert, Morocco
Sahara Desert, Morocco

You’ve seen these valleys and vistas shared by movie makers for years including Lawrence of Arabia and Jesus of Nazareth – one of the most dramatic sights in this barren region.

Meet your camels at end of day for a ride to the highest dunes climbing to the peaks for a spectacular sunset over the Sahara Desert. A leisurely ride back to their private luxury desert tent erected in the middle of the desert.

Imagine the quiet and the vastness of looking as far as you can see – the wide horizon seems to never end. In the evening, local nomadic Tuareg joined the family for dinner and taught everyone traditional drumming.

Sitting beneath an endless blanket of twinkling stars, an astronomer pointed out distant galaxies and identifies the stars, originally named by ancient Arabs who navigated these sands. Camped in the historic and legendary Caravan Route from Marrakesh to Timbuktu, dreams of exotic adventures are guaranteed. Sunrise – a dawn camel trek, of course!

Private plane to Fes for additional sightseeing in the fabled city, the kids were happy to reach a swimming pool again in the early summer heat. But this adventure still draws interest and is well remembered by family friends as well.

Camels in the Sahara dunes

I’ve stayed at a few Sahara camps and have now found a modern and comfortable luxury camp worth returning to next year. Merzouga Desert offers comfortable air-conditioned tents, running showers and comfort at the highest level. It demands nothing much of you, but to relax and gaze at the ever-changing colors of the desert landscape.

Situated in the quiet and idyllic sand dunes of Erg Chebbi, it’s the perfect location for travelers seeking uncompromising privacy and solitude in the desert dunes.  

Using our private driver, or if you prefer, helicopters, we can still design the private OTT experience, but the Merzuga Camp is an extremely comfortable alternative, located an hour and half drive from Erfoud.

Sunset Camel rides through the dunes on seemingly friendly camels – after an Egyptian camel tour with a growling camel, I broke up with Camels! On my last visit to this camp, the blue garbed men assured me they only have friendly camels, I was happy to sit with a glass of bubbly at the edge of the dune for sunset. I’m visiting again in April and will make Camel friends for a few desert treks.

Wakey Wakey Sunrise Sahara Desert
Wakey Wakey Sunrise Sahara Desert

I’m enchanted by the immense quiet and inky black skies, blanketed by millions of stars. A luxury Tent Camp, Glamping like a true Berber Nomad with modern day comforts, includes authentic Moroccan dinners with local musicians.

Our second day will include an off-road buggy excursion through the dunes.  Look for me in early spring, my Nomadic cravings for Morocco will again be realized. Always on the move, just as a desert camel roams.

Highly Recommend Sahara Luxury Desert Camp