While many travelers treat the hotel as simply a spot to sleep while vacationing, some of us enjoy a one-stop shop that has everything from award-winning restaurants and daytime entertainment to a great location and comfortable accommodations. For those who prefer an all-encompassing hotel, the members and editors of travel website VirtualTourist.com have found "The Top 5 Hotels You Don't Need to Leave."
W South Beach, Miami, Florida
When you're located in the middle of prime South Beach real estate, only six blocks from the pedestrian mecca of Lincoln Road, it may be hard to stay inside all day. The hotel's two restaurants are excellent: Mr. Chow serves its Chinese cuisine in a see-and-be-seen venue, while The Dutch, a modern take on the oyster bar, serves delicious comfort food. In addition to a nightclub on the premises, the hotel's communal spaces are creatively allocated leaving many dark corners and comfy couches for lounging and drinking. The hotel also features a heated outdoor pool, a Bliss Spa and a full fitness center. 1-305-938-3000, www.wsouthbeach.com.
Faena Hotel & Universe, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Designed by Philippe Starck, the hotel has both rooms and residences, fostering a sense of community as well as a great variety of venues and spaces throughout the complex. Food is served at El Mercado, the hotel's traditional restaurant, as well as the Bistro, which serves a mix of European and Argentinean dishes. The hotel's second floor features Spa Hammam and Gym, offering daily yoga lessons, crystal and stone energy work, and more traditional spa therapies. 011-54-11-4010-90-00, www.faena.com.
Casa Camper, Berlin, Germany
On the top floor of the hotel, Tentempié offers views and dining that are only accessible to hotel guests – food, coffee, and alcoholic beverages are available 24 hours a day and are free. The ground floor of the hotel hosts dos palillos, a restaurant serving Asian tapas by Albert Raurich, former head chef of el Bulli. The restaurant is set up with an entirely open kitchen in the middle of the space, allowing a direct dialogue between the 10 chefs and 30 diners. After this spectacle, guests may want to unwind in the spacious co-ed sauna or burn off some calories on the multiple cardio machines in the fitness center, both complementary to all guests and open 24 hours a day. 011-49-30-2000-34-10, www.casacamper.com.
The Istanbul Edition, Istanbul, Turkey
The primary restaurant is Cipriani, an offshoot of the Venetian original, and the first floor bar, Gold Bar, includes a twenty-foot aquarium and low built-in sofas. An exclusive nightclub, Billionaire, can also be found in the hotel for those who wish to take the revelry into the later hours. The ESPA spa encompasses 20,000 square feet and three floors of the hotel. In addition to the traditional sauna and steam room, the spa also has a snow room, essentially a walk-in freezer with snow. The hotel's other unique spaces include a drawing room with modern raised fireplaces and a state-of-the-art screening room. 011-90-212-317-77-00, www.editionhotels.com.
Namale Resort, Savusavu, Fiji
The Namale Resort, the renowned all-inclusive resort and spa in Fiji, is a special combination of remote yet flawless luxury. The all-inclusive amenities include daily champagne breakfast, three-course lunches, and five-course dinners, with no limitations on alcoholic beverages. All activities are included, from guided hikes to any number of water-centric sports. One activity not to miss is spotting spinner dolphins in nearby Natewa Bay – an early morning boat ride will take you to watch the dolphins feed after which you can snorkel the coral reef and spot the bay's variety of tropical fish. 1-800-727-3454, www.fiji-savusavu.com/namale.htm.
Source: ajc
