A stiff drink and a view of Nelson’s Column. Lovely.

London may be suffering from bad weather today, but that doesn’t mean we can’t dream about the sunny days which (positivity, people) we’re sure will come along any day now.

And when they do come, we’ll be popping up to the new rooftop bar at the Trafalgar Hotel (Hilton’s first unbranded London property just off the side of Trafalgar Square), Vista, which opened last week.

There was a bar up there before (called The Trafalgar Roof Garden), but this one sounds pretty special – it was designed by the same people who did Whisky Mist (the superswanky, favorite-of-the-royals-and-their-hangers-on at the Hilton Park Lane) and the roof has been completely revamped to maximize the views and bring in a “relaxed atmosphere of Mediterranean chic”.

Talking of Mediterranean, the menu includes things like stuffed baby pepper with halloumi and herbs, platters of antipasti and a watermelon, tarragon and feta salad, while there will also be a cocktail menu of drinks made with English fruit and herbs grown on the roof.

The catch? There’s a £5 cover charge. Not good, but seeing as cocktails start at £10, it could be worse. Plus, at least this way, you should get a seat, no?

Juliab @ hotelchatter

Amalfi Coast — Ravello, Italy

Palazzo Sasso, rated as one of the world’s finest hotels, is a stunning five-star deluxe hotel on Italy’s famous Amalfi coast. The hotel is renowned for its two-star Michelin dining, breathtaking views and impeccable service.

Palazzo Sasso is a 12th century Italian villa tucked away in the hill top village of Ravello and perched high on the cliffs, 1,000 ft. above the sparkling Mediterranean. The 32 room and 11 suite hotel overlooks some of the coast’s most picturesque fishing villages. Palazzo Sasso’s beauty and tranquility, complimented by its world-class dining, offers a peaceful sanctuary to all distinguishing travelers.

About the hotel

Originally built in the 12th Century, Palazzo Sasso, like many other buildings along San Giovanni del Toro, was part of the aristocratic quarter of Ravello during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The Palazzo Sasso name originates from the prosperous Sasso family from Scala who settled in Ravello in about 1710.

In 1904, the Palazzo was converted into a hotel and its guests numbered Kings, Queens, aristocrats, poets and writers. In 1978, the Palazzo was closed for 19 years until 1997, when the Palazzo Sasso was fully restored.

Situated on the cliff-top of the Amalfi Coast, the Palazzo Sasso is located in Ravello, a seaside resort town with a sunny climate and exceptional natural beauty. The Palazzo Sasso, now one of the world’s finest deluxe hotels, boasts two-star Michelin dining and stunning views. The hotel’s exquisite architecture and sumptuously appointed rooms offers travelers a welcome sanctuary for rest and relaxation.

Located in an important historical and cultural center in Italy, the Palazzo Sasso presents travelers with many options, from listening to outdoor concerts to exploring the mountainous terrain and picturesque villages.

Location

Situated on a hill top in Ravello, Italy, Palazzo Sasso overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. Approximately 60 km from the Naples Airport and 300 km from the Rome Airport, Palazzo Sasso readily accommodates the travel needs of its clients.

Accommodations

Palazzo Sasso is open from March 20th to October 31st, 2008. The Hotel has 32 rooms and 11 suites and all rooms and suites are decorated with hand made Vietri tiles, antique carpets and furniture from the XVIII and XIX centuries. They include Frette linen and Bulgari amenities, satellite TV, safe, minibar, and internet access for the comfort of guests.

Catering to your needs takes on new meaning as Palazzo Sasso boasts a staff to guest ratio of 2 employees per room.

Dining

Rossellinis

Under the direction of Executive Chef Pino Lavarra, Rossellinis’ is a two Michelin stars restaurant, offering unique and delicious, unforgettable food. Rossellinis is open for dinner only. Enjoy a delectable meal at night, on one of the terraces, looking down on the fishing boats 1,000 feet below.

Caffé dell’Arte

At the Caffé dell’Arte have a peaceful and memorable time, either sipping a cocktail or tasting some delicious snacks, while looking at how sea and sky blend together through its arches. The pianist will play music during the great lazy evenings in a very romantic atmosphere. In summer unwind on the terraces and enjoy unique views not soon forgotten.

Terrazzo Belvedere

The Terrazza Belvedere serves an array of delicious snacks and “fresh pasta dishes”, refreshments and delicious cocktails for casual enjoyment while enjoying spectacular views.

Well Being

Palazzo Sasso offers a peaceful sanctuary overlooking the sea. Enjoy the spa with hydro pool, a Turkish steam bath, beauty treatments or fitness in the open air. Swim in the heated pool that overlooks the picturesque coast or laze in the solarium with Jacuzzi pools. Whichever you choose, you are sure to bask in the serene comfort of your surroundings.

Extra Details

Palazzo Sasso will attend to guest’s needs, such as limousine and helicopter service, boat trips, excursions, restaurant reservations, cooking classes, concert tickets and any other requirements.

Palazzo Sasso offers a meeting room with natural light and separate access for up to 70 people. Special parties or events can also be arranged in one of the terraces or in the private restaurant.

Palazzo Sasso can also accommodate small exclusive parties for lunch, such as weddings or other special events, up to a maximum of 70 people to ensure a truly unique experience.

About Istanbul

Everyone needs to see Turkey at least once: it’s Europe, it’s Asia, it’s intoxicatingly exotic and -considering all the sultan palaces around – geared for opulent comforts. Best is Istanbul, where wandering past spice shops in backlanes or under the minarets of 1500-year old mosques is like hitting a travel “refresh” button that gets even those who think they’ve seen it all wide-eyed. Many of the best hotels and sights (the famed bazaar) cluster in the more touristy Sultanahmet. But you have to cross the Golden Horn Bay to hilly Beyoglu to find where Istanbul parties. Start by walking downhill from Taksim Square on the mile-long pedestrian strip Istiklal Street, where jaw-dropping numbers of locals in headscarves or Armani stop into festive fish restaurants and alley bars and clubs (such as Babylon and Roxy). Rejuvenate yourself in steamy “Turkish baths” that date centuries, then sleep like a sultan, literally,in luxurious hotels throughout Istanbul, such as Çiragan Palace – a one-time sultan residence on the Bosphorus River. Much of Turkey’s finest sights are a quick flight away. Start with Bodrum, a lush seaside port bougainvillea-covered villas that looks something like a French Riviera town on the Aegean. Here you’ll find the tomb of the Persian king Mausolus, whose resting place “Mausoleum” is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – and the name behind fancy resting places worldwide. The top draw, however, is taking a day- or week-long private cruise to nearby coves, pebble beaches and fishing villages on motorized gulet boats. Trips are easily arranged and come with a captain and a cook who prepare fresh seafood as you laze on teak decks or in the air-conditioned cabins. Back on land, find your way to some of the Mediterranean’s best preserved ancient cities. The most popular is Ephesus, half way between Istanbul and Bodrum, where you can wander the 2000-year-old site, with ancient amphitheaters, libraries and rows of stone toilets – ! – still in tact. Past worlds meet seemingly alien worlds at Cappadocia, a couple hours inland by air. The mountainous region – a refuge of persecuted Christians 1800 years ago -is a lunar-like landscape of volcanic “cave” churches and homes that stand like phallic mushroom-topped outcrops of rock.

Transportation

Getting around Istanbul and Turkey can be tricky. Whether it’s the tons of traffic in the bustling city of Istanbul or the winding mountainous roads of Turkbuku, driving is difficult. Genuine Access can arrange a private car service (limo’s, Navigators, Mercedes, luxury buses). Private bodyguards are also available daily or just at night. We also offer exotic car rentals, along with motorcycle rentals in beach towns.

Genuine Access can arrange yacht and boat rentals to tour the coast of Turkey. We offer basic Gulets and world class yachts with a full crew, available for daily and weekly rentals.

Restaurants & Nightlife

If you love amazing nightlife and top notch restaurants, Istanbul is the place to be. Genuine Access will take care of all your restaurant and nightclub reservations. We make sure you always sit at a VIP table and never wait at in a line at the hottest club. Whether you desire an authentic Turkish meal at Hamdi Restaurant or amazing sushi at The Vogue overlooking the city, you will not be disappointed. Istanbul’s nightlife and clubs are constantly increasing. Don’t miss the beautiful Reina, Anjelique, or Sortie, all located outdoors, on the river. Your group should not miss Cahide Supper Club with extraordinary food and a Vaudeville show. Istanbul’s clubs tend to get very crowded and tough to enter. Genuine Access will make sure you are escorted past the lines, and sat at the best tables in the club.

• Pearl
• 360
• Banyan Seaside
• Sappire Bosphorus

Accommodations

Istanbul offers a wide variety of unique hotels, which are some of the best in world. Whether it’s the trendy Sofa in the Nesantasi district or the famous Kepinski Palace on the Bosphorus, Istanbul has it all. The discerning traveler should also visit The Four Seasons, which was once an old prison. No one will ever forget Midnight Express, which occurred at this prison. Turkbuku, dubbed the new St. Tropez, also offers a wide variety of quant boutique hotels. Don’t miss The Ada Hotel, Bianca, Ev Hotel, Mavi Suites, or the celebrity filled Maca Kizi. Genuine Access will arrange the best rooms in all of these hotels.

Activities

Istanbul offers a wide variety of activities for your group to enjoy. One of Istanbul’s biggest attractions is a tour of the old city. Rich in history and culture, our private tour guides will escort you VIP style into the main attractions. This include Topkapi, the sumptuous palace of the Ottoman sultans overlooking the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus; the delicately decorated Blue Mosque, the only mosque in the world with six minarets; the vast dome of Aya Sophia, built in 536 as a Byzantine cathedral, later a mosque and now a museum and, underground, the Yerebatan Sarayi, a vast Byzantine cistern supported by 336 Corinthian columns. Nearby, the commercial heart of the city, the Grand Bazaar, is still a captivating sight for shoppers and window-shoppers alike. Our guides will make sure you visit the best places in the Grand Bazaar, based on your shopping requests. Other activities include a Bosphorus boat tour, exotic car racing, helicopter tours, and fishing.

Turkbuku also offers a wide variety of activities, besides lounging at your private cabana at a beach club. Don’t miss a day trip on your own private Gulet (Boat), Day Parties at Amazing Clubs Like Bianca, Fishing, Water-Skiing, Jet Skiing, Hiking, or Wind Surfing.

An exclusive resort in Platja de Fenals, one of the most beautiful and landscaped beaches in the heart of Costa Brava. The resort is an ideal location for visiting Barcelona and Girona, the Dali Museum in Figueres, beautiful local fishing villages, and nearby ancient ruins as well as preserved medieval countryside towns.

About the Resort

Alva Park Resort is in Platja de Fenals, making excursions to different areas of Barcelona and Girona a breeze. With amenities like an Indian Princess bath featuring salt water and underwater music, however, you might not make it very far from the resort.

The Alva Park Spa (Molton Brown Spa) features decor like river stones and Buddha sculptures, making it a very zen destination for those seeking to connect with their spiritual sides – or just enjoy world class pampering.

The Alva Park Resort has 88 suites, each of which includes a lounge area with “an Oriental art gallery with Mongolian pottery and reproductions of Han Dynasty statues and ancient Chinese coins,” according to The Leading Hotels of the World. Factor in the 300-yarn fine Egyptian cotton sheets and top notch electronics (but who would want to flick on a Bang & Olufsen TV with the world’s best scenery outside the door?) and you’ve got a paradise for even the most discerning of jet setters.

The Costa Brava may lack the long history and the pure natural charm of Spain’s more southerly coastal destinations, but this is the sort of fantastically high-end boutique-sized luxury resort that quickly renders moot any concerns about exactly which Costa you’re on. About an hour’s drive up from Barcelona, near Girona, lies the Alva Park Resort & Spa, a “destination hotel” in the truest sense — the hotel is the main attraction, the stunning setting almost just a backdrop.

It’s not that the design is so revolutionary — it’s quite competently done, a restrained and grown-up look, very “contemporary luxury.” What matters more is the physical comfort of it all: mattresses hand-made in France, eight pillows to a bed, a full complement of automated electronic gadgetry, and hydromassage tubs in the massive, decadent bathrooms. Plush robes, plus kimonos for dressing, and private terraces for lounging, the better ones with views of the sea.

The bedrooms aren’t the end of it either. The outdoor pool has half-submerged sunbeds, as well as loungers on dry land, restaurants include Spanish options as well as American and Japanese, and the spa is as well-equipped as any we’ve seen, with an indoor salt water soaking pool and a golf simulator in addition to the usual treatments and fitness room. The hotel even has a fleet of SMART cars available for short trips.

Amenities

Featuring 88 suites, each with 300-yarn fine Egyptian cotton sheets and a variety of eight pillows per bed. The suites also feature Bang & Olufsen TV, CD, DVD player, radio and portable telephone. All bathrooms have Molton Brown amenities, a hydro massage bath tub, separate shower cabin, flat screen TV, separate WC with telephone and a reading light. Each bathroom has a separate WC cabin with phone and reading lighting. Dressing rooms have automatic trousers, Swiss yarn kimonos, a safe with biometric fingerprint reader, inside light and outlet for hand computers or mobile phone recharging. Entertaining areas feature an oriental art gallery, Mongolian pottery, Han dynasty statues and ancient Chinese coin display, mini-bar, office with a water area and induction plate, a choice of Fortnum & Mason teas, Spiegelau crystal glasses, working table and phone.

As well as the exclusive Molton Brown Spa, facilities include garden and a pool side cabana for open air massage, external swimming pool with submerged sunbeds, the Indian princess bath with warm salted water, children’s pool, fitness with a personal training system, a relax area with steam bath, sauna, spa and ice cave, indoor golf with Full swing golf simulators, golf tutorials, Callaway ladies and gentlemen clubs (right and left handed) and a comfortable area for companions with a snack service.

Dining

Fine gastronomic delights await guests at A Flor d´Aigua. Sushi and other delicious cuisine are served at Minamo, a Japanese dream over the water in a private and intimate atmosphere with just three tables. Ginko Terrace serving Continental and American cuisines. Lanai lounge with a cocktail bar with light fare.

Especially for children from 3 to 12 years, they can join the Kid’s Club which includes a welcome gift, kid’s cinema, daily activities and meals.

The Alva Park Resort & Spa

Overview

Here in Europe’s last-settled country, ‘ice’ means co-o-ol, not cold. Iceland’s winters are usually warmer than Chicago’s or New York’s, summer days stretch past 20 hours, and all year Reykjavik’s runtur (weekend pub crawl) fills sidewalks ’til morning. Surprisingly trendy nightclubs are filled with locals who live longer, on average, than anyone on earth-despite all their partying. Visitors to Iceland-founded by Vikings and Celtic slaves 1,200 years ago-are more likely to see gooey lava spills and hardened lava fields than an iceberg. Boutique or business-styled hotels in the cute, but expensive, capital Reykjavik is a good place to base yourself. Go atop the 250-foot tower of the central Hallgrímskirkja church for city views, take tours of waterfalls or see whales offshore (best in spring and summer). Ferry to Vloey island for hiking trails on a volcanic-formed island and a meal in a 19th-century sheriff’s stone home, or to the nearby harbor town Hafnarfjörour for sprawling Viking-styled banquet feasts (including sheep’s head and squashed ram’s testies on an open-face sandwich-yum!). A bit easier on the system are irresistible dips in waters heated by volcanoes, found at nearby beaches or geothermal Jacuzzi-styled pools. The best is the surreal Blue Lagoon, a 1.2-acre steaming pool outside the capital where you can laze over cocktails and eye local beauties in skimpy swimsuits. When energized, hit the dozen snowboarding sites-even open in summer. Iceland may be as close to the North Pole as London, but it can feel more Mediterranean in its sense of (night)life-and it’s only five-and-a-half hours by flight from New York. This is a guys’ paradise to say the least!

Transportation

Since activities around Iceland are rather spread out, we would strongly suggest having a car-otherwise taxis can quickly add up. We offer the following:

Cars with hired drivers (which also double as a guide)
Luxury rental Cars

Restaurants & Nightlife

In Iceland, there are only a handful of upscale restaurants and nightclubs. Genuine Access will make sure that all your group’s lunch and dinner reservations are taken care of throughout your stay. We will also have you work with our VIP host to ensure immediate access to the best nightclubs on the best nights. If desired, we will book you a table, which will always be the VIP and include your personal security for the night. Your VIP host can take your group from club to club without the hassle of waiting on any lines and can also arrange for you to be taken care of at one of the strip Clubs Iceland has to offer.

Accommodations

Although Iceland is a very European city, there are not a large amount of luxury hotels, which can make it difficult to get a room in the best hotels. Genuine Access has relationships with all of them and will ensure that you stay in one of these luxury abodes.

Activities

There are so many extraordinary activities to do in Iceland, you cannot go wrong! We suggest the following:

Snowmobiling (all year round)
ATVing
White water rafting (spring-summer)
Blokarting
Horseback riding
Ice climbing
Golfing (spring-summer)
Deep Sea fishing
Dog Sledding
Whale Watching
Sight Seeing tours of the waterfalls
Helicopter rides
Blue Lagoon (This is a natural geothermal spa surrounded by lava field and black sandy beaches)
Hunting
Spa