Category Archives: Hotel

Venice Belmond Hotel Cipriani – Ultimate VIP Experience

Posted on by

Spring fling found me in glorious Venice, gliding across the lagoon to perch at Belmond Hotel Cipriani. Our dear Belmond rep pampers our VIP Clients, including a few who make an annual September Pilgrimage. An ancient city of historic treasures and modern pleasure.. 

Swoon and savor the self-indulgent charm of The Cipriani in the finest suites. This is the only luxury hotel we recommend during a sizzling Venetian summer, a three-acre oasis, it is as timeless and glamorous as the day it opened in 1958 by Giuseppe Cipriani (founder of Harry’s Bar).  Cipriani’s Harry’s Bar, opened in 1931, sated Hemingway’s legendary thirst, as well the only slightly less legendary thirsts of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Noël Coward and Gertrude Stein. That is another time and another story.

Before you reach the lagoon or set eyes on the glorious hotel, the Cipriani VIP airport arrival sets the stage for your stay. Our clients know I am an obsessive about the arrival. Step off the plane and we are intercepted by a black suited tall Venetian, whisked past the lines of passport control, bags dropped into the sleek private launch across the lagoon, and away we go, a foamy salt spray whipping the sides of our classic wooden boat.

For a first-time traveler, the skyline of the five domes of Basilica di San Marco, the striking campaniles, the majestic gateway to the floating city is truly breathtaking.  Zip past the tightly packed palazzo and small shops, rising from the sea; under bridges and across the lagoon, glide up to the private hotel dock just across from San Marco Square. Service with a Capital S exudes from the moment you step onto the dock.

Exclusively built on an island, the hotel offers prime real estate for its 94 rooms, including 56 suites, located in the Cipriani building. Every room in the main building has a water or garden facing terrace.

An arch through the Casanova Gardens leads you to The Palazzo Vendramin. Formerly a 15th-century aristocratic residence, now a part of the Belmond Hotel Cipriani. Sixteen rooms and suites with private butler service, many enjoy the astonishing views of St. Mark’s Square across the lagoon. Oh my, the splendid suites, are swoon worthy!

As one of the most celebrated luxury hotels in Venice, every inch of this iconic hideaway is guaranteed to enchant. Exquisite antiques adorn rooms and public spaces, and with some of the best dining in Venice, including Michelin-starred cuisine. Blistering summer heat is alleviated by the only Olympic-inspired salt water pool in the city, the hotel grounds are surrounded by exquisite gardens overflowing with vines, blossoms, vegetables and herbs. Sumptuous spa, kiddo activities, a complimentary boat shuttle departing to and from the city every 10 minutes, art classes, custom touring, cooking classes- and paparazzi free! The Cipriani is picture-perfect!

Though not in the heart of Venice’s maze of tiny streets, the Belmond Cipriani’s location offers the best of both worlds from its exclusive spot at the eastern end of the Giudecca Island. The hotel’s setting overlooking the lagoon towards St Mark’s Square is a calm oasis where guests enjoy privacy and peace in vibrant Venice. The center of Venice is easily reached in minutes with the hotel’s complimentary private launch.

DWELLINGS FIT FOR A DOGE Several specialty suites are hidden away with their own private butler service in the Palazzo Vendramin annex.

The Dogaressa Suite is one the most palatial rooms in Venice. But who was the dogaressa? As the wife of the doge – meaning “duke”, the highest official in the Venetian Republic – the dogaressa was officially crowned at a lavish ceremony, with celebrations including banquets, fireworks and tournaments continuing for days. Wearing sumptuous golden and brocade robes and pearls, this “First Lady” of Venice was an elegant sight around the city.

The Dogaressa Suite features original artworks, exquisite Fortuny and Rubelli fabrics and an elegant pink marble bathroom. Separated from Hotel Cipriani by a floral path through the Casanova Gardens. The views of St Mark’s Square and Doge’s Palace are akin to a Canaletto painting.

Palladio Suite. Step into another world. A vast living room opens onto a lagoon-view balcony. Cool off in the plunge pool or on a private terrace, then pamper in two marble bathrooms.

  • Cip’s Club Venice
  • Cip’s Club Venice
  • Cip’s Club Venice
  • Cip’s Club Venice

Splendid sunset cocktails and dining at The Cip’s Club restaurant, perched on a floating pontoon, on the lagoon-side of the Giudecca canal. Front row seating provides stunning sunset views. Adored for its informal dining featuring Venetian specialties. Chef Roberto Gatto’s menu uses hyper-local produce to create fresh, unfussy and crowd-pleasing classics. Risotto clams and shrimps fresh from the sea perfumed by lemon and rucola, tuna tartare sprinkled with sundried tomatoes, capers, lemon and basil…

Fancy a more formal dining experience at the Michelin-starred Oro restaurant, designed by Adam D Tihany, is reserved for elegant dining. 

With soaring 270-degree views out across the sea, a stay at Hotel Cipriani provides the only vistas spanning the Doge’s Palace to the church of St Giorgio and the islands beyond.

La Dolce Vita, Timeless Elegance. Our VIP Team Will Spoil You!

Highly Recommend!

Hola! Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina.

Posted on by

Mention Latin America and Colombia, and your first images might be dazzling mountain peaks, coffee farms, salsa music, a cathedral made of salt, sunshine and most likely, a history of crime. Colombia has all of these. Its people are stylish and sophisticated, few countries have managed the turnaround rebranding achieved by Colombia achieved in the last 15 years.

A welcome arrival at the Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina which is nestled in Zona G (Gourmet area), and is recognized as one of the finest luxury Hotels in Bogota, truly a monument of cultural interest.

The Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina entwines its 1940s colonial history with a splash of contemporary Colombia. A leafy suburban mansion set in the heart of the capital is an ideal retreat for those escaping the hustle and bustle of the city – settle down beside cozy fireplaces indoor and in the beautiful gardens. Designed by Colombian architect Santiago Medina Mejia, in the 1980’s the original hotel was doubled with the addition of a separate wing. Twin towers separate the hotel into two parts: the original 1940s house of the Medina family and an extension, built in the 1980s. At first glance both sections blend into one, but the 1940s area boasts original wood-paneling and unique handcrafted cedar wood doors. The room with the best original features is the one-bedroom suite 303, which has an entire wall of 1940s handcrafted panels.

Small details across the hotel pay homage to its founding architect, Santiago Medina, with stained-glass windows depicting a picture of birds and flowers – Medina’s passions. There are fireplaces in 16 of the 62 rooms, so be sure to request one, unless it’s summer!

Casa Medina is situated in the heart of Zona G, also known as the ‘gourmet zone’ of Bogotá.  Within a one-mile radius there are more than a dozen restaurants and bars of a medium – to high-quality, situated in a safe area which is easy to explore on foot. 

Bogota, the capital city of Colombia is known to be very cool, which is why the Four Seasons has built two hotels here. Half of the rooms are suites, which offer refined spacious living, huge bathrooms and walls of windows bring towering trees inside.

Castanyoles restaurant sits in a colonial courtyard with a glass roof, which gives an al fresco dining effect. The Mediterranean menu offers Spanish tapas alongside light Greek dishes and homemade pastas, cooked by the Italian chef. Starting with small bites of empanadas and my first cup of local Colombian coffee and of course, I tried the more traditional Cacao tea – which rendered me jittery.  Sunday brunch is buzzy with locals and live music – a fun place to sit and people watch.

Sitting in the ‘gourmet zone’ of Bogotá, the Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina is the perfect base from which to explore the sprawling capital of Colombia. The hotel is surrounded by dozen restaurants and bars, but the dining options at hotel are delightful!

This central location allows easy access to the amazing art community in Bogota, there are more than 100 art galleries in the city, many museums include the Botero Museum and the fascinating Gold Museum, definitely worth a visit. In 2000, Colombian artist Fernando Botero, made a significant contribution to the Botero museum. Donating 208 art pieces, 123 of which were his own work and 85 were from other international artists. This generous donation forms the core of the museum’s collection and is a testament to Botero’s personal commitment to promoting art and culture. The permanent collection features notable works by artists such as Balthus, Georges Braque, Marc Chagall, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, Sonia Delaunay, Claude Monet, and Henri Matisse.

One of the most striking art districts, primarily for its colorful and technical depictions is the Graffiti District, located in the industrial district of Puente Aranda, in the western part of the city. I enjoyed a guided tour of this now gentrified area, which was once the most dangerous neighborhood in the city. Graffiti in Bogota is so much more than just a pretty picture, it actually tells unique stories of the history, politics, and addresses current issues facing the city today. It’s more than just a painting and is something that many people in Bogota are proud to show off to tourists. It’s not actually “graffiti” but rather “street art.” The artists who paint these massive murals on the walls around Bogota are professionals and most are paid for their services. Art is a means to express feelings and spread a message to others without censorship from the government. This open-air gallery, one of the most important of its kind in South America, offers a large number of colorful murals created by more than 20 national and international artists.

Gold Museum, Bogota
Botero Museum, Bogota

Gracias Four Seasons for my lovely authentic visit!  Highly Recommend!