Bangkok

The Hansar Bangkok Adds 94 Suites to The Land of Smile

The all-suite Hansar Bangkok promotes itself as "a return to bespoke luxury," and if there's anything that might get us to believe them it's that the above is a picture of the bathroom in the Vertigo Suite. Also, the Hansar is not new to how luxury should be done in Thailand: it opened the Hansar Samui just last June, in Bophut Bay.

Gallery: Hansar Bangkok Opens

Tags: bangkok, hansar, hansar bangkok, hansar hotels, hansar samui, thailand

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Asia's Best Design Hotels

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Architecture & Design

Modern architecture-loving travelers will love the destinations featured by our friends over at Departures . The magazine took a look at Asia's coolest design hotels, which are some of the most impressive properties in Shanghai, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Singapore. These properties are "sleek super towers and seemingly impossible, imagination-defying structures" according to the luxury magazine that is published by American Express publishing.

Today's Asian luxury hotels are influencing Western hotels, while once it was the opposite, according to Edwin Heathcote, architectural critic for the Financial Times. The most significant new hotels each have something that is memorable, the Departures piece explains. In some, it's the restaurant that's the most memorable; in others, it's a soaring sky bar or a penthouse suite. In others it is the structures themselves that are redefining skylines.

Hong Kong
According to Departures, Hong Kong has also opened itself up to a host of contemporary international architects who have put their stamp on the city, from Foster + Partners to Cesar Pelli to I. M. Pei. Recently, at the 117-room Upper House (from $425), local Andre Fu-known for doing the home of actress Michelle Yeoh-has created an ideal, almost spiritual, balance of uncluttered spaces. "The design is not Asian in a literal manner," Fu told Departures, "but it reflects a subtle Asian sensitivity." He has achieved this with pools of water, bamboo enclosures, natural timber, shoji glass, limestone and lacquered paper panels. Additional design highlights include the Sky Bridge on the 49th floor, which crosses a 130-foot-high atrium; the hotel's Bedonia stone façade (see photo above) by one of Britain's hottest architect-designers, Thomas Heatherwick; and freestanding bathtubs with panoramic harbor or island views.

Tags: architecture inspired clothing, art+deco+hotels+asia, artdecohotelsasia, Asia, asia+hotels, asiahotels, Bangkok, best+hotels+in+the+world+with+photos, besthotelsintheworldwithphotos, coolest+design+hotels, coolestdesignhotels, Departures, departures+design+hotel, departuresdesignhotel, design hotels, Hong Kong, hotel+designers, hoteldesigners, hotels, michelle+yeoh, michelleyeoh, modern+architecture, modernarchitecture, new+design+hotel+2011, newdesignhotel2011, Shanghai, Singapore

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lebua at State Tower Teaches Luxist You Can Live Well in Bangkok, Too...

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

When we left off with lebua we were trying to figure out a way to hide out at the company's New Zealand property, Lake Okareka Lodge. That didn't work out, part of the reason being that we were due at the company's other property in Bangkok, and it's difficult to be a stowaway when the commodore himself put you on the ship.

lebua at State Tower hotel in Bangkok is – akin to that of Thailand and New Zealand – an antipodean contrast to Lake Okareka Lodge. Whereas the latter is a grand and solitary lakefront estate, lebua at State Tower is set inside a 67-story concrete pillar, an occasional baobab shot up from the thick tangle of a metropolis usually not more than six stories high. Rotorua, New Zealand, is verdant serenity, Bangkok an assaulting sprawl that tirelessly expands the term "anything goes." We wondered how the same enterprise might deliver this other pole of luxury. Not only did they do it, we left wondering "How come we haven't heard of these people?"

Gallery: Luxist Visits lebua at State Tower

Tags: bangkok, Bangkok Thailand, hotel, lake okareka, lake okareka lodge, lebua, lebua at state tower, lebua state tower, resort

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lebua Hotel Introduces The Even Suite-r Life to New Zealand and Bangkok

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

Sometimes it's better to start at the bottom and work your way up. But what if, at the same time, you could start at the bottom and be at the top? lebua Hotel offers just that at its Lake Okareka Lodge, set on a private estate in New Zealand. And when we say private, we mean private -- the extent of the accommodations is three luxury suites that can house, all together, nine people. Total. Maximum. When you book, even if there is just your lonesome, you get the whole thing to yourself -- "yourself" being you, your private chef, and the attendants waiting to fulfill your wishes.

Each of the suites gets lake views, private balconies, Bvlgari amenities, and the services of the estate's private chef. Should you commandeer the executive suite, you'll step up to your own lounge, spa bath, private office and walk-in wardrobe. As for things to do, the suites are set in the countryside, next to a lake, on the North Island of what is arguably one of the most beautiful countries on the planet. Should you tire of the fishing, sailing, kayaking, jet skiing, hiking, or simply being, the lodge maintains a piano room, a fantastically stocked wine cellar, and a 24-hour concierge for those urgent, 3 a.m. requests.

lebua Hotel Bangkok has quarters for more guests, but the numbers don't spoil the treatment. Each room in the all-suite hotel in the State Tower, Silom district has views of the Chao Phraya River. Naturally, all-suite does not mean all the suites have been created equal: ranging from 66 to 266 square meters, opt for the premium digs and you'll sup on multi-course meals prepared by your own chef for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and that liquid meal known as "cocktails."

If you must go out, the bar and five restaurants under The Dome will reward you for the slipper-shod trek: Sirocco, 63 stories up, is the world's highest open air restaurant; the tables at Breeze sit on jutting balconies, where you can dine on modern Asian fare while descrying views of modern Asia; the Mezzaluna specializes in Italian and amore -- every proposal made there has been accepted; Café Mozu mashes up a DJ, a pool, and Italian, Lebanese, and Indian courses; and Distil is where you go to wash it all down... in moderation, of course.

What could be better than 5-star suites and food? Why, a party to celebrate their opening. lebua will be hosting a gala launch of the New Zealand property and the Tower Club addition to its Bangkok location in, of all places, Sydney, Australia. The soiree goes down in November, on a private yacht that will be moored in front of the Opera House, where lebua chefs will be on hand to tempt you to make the trip to those other points distant.

If one were tempted to wonder about flying to Australia to have a party for resorts in lands at least five hours away by plane, we must remember that ours is not to question why. Ours is only to ask, "Why not?" And then make reservations...

Gallery: lebua Hotel at Lake Okareka NZ and Bangkok

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Tags: australia, bangkok, hotel, journey, journeys, lebua, lebua hotel, LebuaHotel, new zealand, NewZealand, resort, spa, sydney, thailand

Luxe City Guides Offer Only the Best

by Sandy Maple (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Luxe City Guides are not your ordinary travel books. In fact, they aren't books at all. They are are beautiful, sleek, accordion-style guides that are small enough to fit in your pocket. These travel and style guides point the discerning traveler to only the best of the best in Asian, European and Australian cities.

From Bali to Tokyo, the guides are packed with personally researched information from city-insiders who know their way around the fashion, food and entertainment scenes. Luxe takes things a step further by including information on services, shops and secrets that you might never find on your own. With Luxe, you are a visitor, not a tourist.

Whether you are looking for the best martini in Istanbul, want to design your own handbags in Hanoi or desire a quiet moment in a secret garden in the heart of Bangkok, Luxe will take you there in style.

The guides are written in an opinionated and irreverent style and are beautiful to look at. With no paid advertising, the Luxe City Guides are updated twice each year with regular online updates.

Buy the guides individually for $9 each, or get a customized boxed set of twelve for $108.

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Tags: asia travel, AsiaTravel, austrtalia travel, AustrtaliaTravel, bali, bangkok, city guide, CityGuide, entertainment, european travel, EuropeanTravel, hanoi, istanbul, luxe travel guide, LuxeTravelGuide, style, tokyo, travel, travel guide, travel secrets, TravelGuide, TravelSecrets

Millennium Residence @ Sukhumvit

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Condo residences are really starting to take off in Thailand. We keep seeing more and more urban complexes. The latest to be announced is the Millennium Residence @ Sukhumvit, a set of four towers in Bangkok. The new condos are designed for both Thais and foreigners and have panoramic views of Bangkok's skyline. The four 51 to 53-story "orchid petal-shaped" towers have 604 units in total. Amenities include a clubhouse, swimming pool, tennis court, jogging track, gymnasium, a sauna and steam room, games room and a playground for the children. Prices range from 6.6 million Baht (around $173,000) to as much as 90 million Baht 9($2.37 million) for a penthouse. The project is expected to be completed by November 2009.

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Tags: bangkok, condo projects, development, thailand

Luxx Hotel

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

From the pictures, it looks like a modern boutique hotel in New York or Los Angles but Luxx is a new hotel in Bangkok. The tiny hotel of just 13 rooms offers chic and clean modern design to attract trendy travelers. It opened a few weeks ago and Luxx Hotel general manager, Dusadee Srishevachart says that they will be promoting the hotel to European and American guests. The hotel will also have a bar called Mess and is hosting their launch party on March 29, 2006 . Luxx is located on Decho Road in an area that offers plenty of nightlife, dining and shopping for tourists. They are offering opening specials as low as $70 per night.

[via HospitalityNet]

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Tags: bangkok, boutique hotel, luxx hotel, LuxxHotel, new hotels, thailand, tourism

Siam Paragon

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

WWD has an piece on the latest luxury shopping mecca, the Siam Paragon in Bangkok. The $365 million mall has a giant saltwater aquarium, marble floors, gourmet food and 250 stores to chose from. There is an 860,000 square foot Paragon department store and high-end retail like Armani, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Chloé, Bottega Veneta, Jimmy Choo and Bulgari. An entire floor of the Siam is the "World of Luxury" where high-end jewelers can be found and there is also a floor devoted to exotic car and yacht dealers. The shopping center is aimed at both rich Thai shoppers and tourists. Tourism is Thailand's top business and although most tourists are from Asia, the number of European and American tourists is rising. Other shopping destinations in the area include the Central Department Stores which spent $20 million adding to its Chidlom flagship to compete with the Siam Paragon and is planning to expand its Zen store; Gaysorn Plaza which also spent spent $60 million on a face-lift; the 215,000-square-foot Siam Discovery Center which is aimed at customers aged 25 and up, and the 430,000-square-foot Siam Centre complex next to Siam Paragon which is designed to lure preteens and teens. Pictures of the mall and the aquarium can be found on this website.

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Tags: bangkok, luxury shopping, thailand, tourism

Valentine's Day in Bangkok?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

Continuing our coverage of Valentine-themed getaways we take you to exotic Bangkok. The Vareena Spa in the Westin Grande Sukhumvit hotel offers the Romeo & Juliet package through the month of February. The package takes place in the Sky View Suite and includes a 30 minute soak in a Jacuzzi pool infused with a milk bath, followed by a body scrub and an hour-long aromatherapy massage. The experience ends with two glasses of red wine.

[via e-travel blackboard]

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Tags: bangkok, romance, spa, valentine's day, westin

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