UCityGuides.com Travel News Blog » design hotels

THE REBIRTH OF MARRAKECH’S “LA RENAISSANCE”

UCityGuides.com Editor — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 10:30:06 +0000

The name of Marrakech’s “Hotel La Renaissance” has never sounded so appropriate after its recent rebirth as an even more sophisticated design hotel.
As one of the tallest buildings in the city, it was already a very popular address in the 1950s and 60s, but is now more attractive than ever, and not just because of its views that go from the Medina to the Atlas Mountains. There is a spectacular rooftop swimming pool, a hot cocktail bar with live DJs, restaurants, and cool new contemporary interiors.
Each room has its own private balcony, and after a day of exploring the city guests can relax with a treatment in the Hammam.
Although this is the perfect place in which to escape from the stressful everyday life, you may be connected to the world through the free wi-fi available throughout the hotel.
To (re)discover La Renaissance, check out all the details here: La Renaissance Hotel, Marrackech

-See the complete Marrakech city guide.
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YOUR PERFECT ACCOMMODATION IN STOCKHOLM: HOTELS, HOSTELS AND APARTMENTS

UCityGuides.com Editor — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:28:44 +0000

After presenting the essential Stockholm sightseeing tips, we can also give you some advice on the best accommodation choices for every style and budget. Whether you’re looking for unique design hotels, extraordinary hostels, or prefer the conveniences of an apartment, these are the places to consider:

HOTELS

One of Sotckholm’s most popular tourist attractions is found inside the Nordic Sea Hotel. That’s the Absolut Ice Bar where everything from the walls to the glasses are at below-zero temperatures. In the hotel rooms everything is much warmer but equally attractive, with a simple contemporary look.
Alternatively, try the Nordic Light Hotel, with arguably the city’s most stylish interior. Its rooms were designed to please business and leisure travelers looking for a sophisticated ambience and wishing to stay in the heart of the city.

Another design option is the Skeppsholmen Hotel, centrally located but with rooms looking out to the waterfront and greenery. It’s the perfect choice for those who prefer tranquility and who wish to escape the bustle of city life.

Also found on the water’s edge is Hotel J. Although this is a design hotel, it has more of a rustic feel and not the typical cutting-edge décor.

Those looking for other charming options should consider Berns Hotel which offers two restaurants, sauna, and a popular concert hall and night club.

HOSTELS
Stockholm has two of the world’s most interesting hostels. One is Jumbo Stay, a Boeing 747 airplane turned into budget accommodation. It’s just a short walk from the airport, making it a fun way to end your visit to the city, and especially convenient if you have an early flight.
The second option for those looking for unique experiences is a stay in a former prison. Langholmen Hostel allows you to stay in the old cells, and offers much more than the typical hostel such as a restaurant, bar, laundry service, bike rental and free wireless internet.
Independent travelers and backpackers may also want to consider City Backpackers Hostel which has been voted one of the top 10 hostels in the world and offers something extra — a free sauna experience in the afternoon.
Alternatively, check out City Lodge Stockholm which is found right in the center of the city, or see all Stockholm hostels for more choices.

APARTMENTS
Stockholm is not known for its cheap accommodation, but those not wishing to stay at a hostel can also save by choosing an apartment. UCityGuides can recommend the Airbnb site, listing over two dozen apartments in the Swedish capital. A stay at the Best Part of Stockholm apartment will have the owner welcome you with sightseeing and city life tips, and an excellent location within walking distance to most of the city’s attractions. There are a couple of supermarkets down the street and a good café downstairs if you get hungry at any time of the day.

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MILAN’S HOTTEST NEW HOTEL: EXEDRA HOTEL

UCityGuides.com Editor — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 18:16:02 +0000

This months-old design hotel is already one of Milan’s hottest addresses, complete with a spa and three sophisticated restaurants. Located in a former bank of the 1920s in the city’s fashion district, the interior is all about elegant Italian style with a few futuristic features.

Thanks to large windows, the common areas are bright and inviting, although it’s the luxurious spa that can truly be described as a dream. If you find yourself in Milan this summer this spa is a perfect escape from the heat outside, with a swimming pool, sauna, and Turkish bath. When you do step away from the hotel, you’ll find the city’s most exclusive shopping streets like Via Montenapoleone nearby, as well as the landmark Duomo. The Duomo can in fact be seen from the hotel, from inside its conference rooms. Although “conference rooms” is usually synonymous with “business hotel,” this is not the case here. The Exedra is perfect for all kinds of travelers, with its 154 rooms and nine thematic suites featuring a stylish design.

Complete details and booking information here: Exedra Milan Hotel

-See the complete Milan city guide.
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THE NEW MAISON MOSCHINO HOTEL – STAYING IN MILAN IN STYLE

UCityGuides.com Editor — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:25:56 +0000

If you’ll be in Milan this month for the city’s design fair, here’s a stylish new place to check out. It’s the Maison Moschino Hotel which took over a 19th century neoclassical railway station. As the name indicates, this is a hotel from the Moschino fashion house and naturally, its creative team is responsible for everything you see.
Covering four floors, the hotel offers 65 rooms (63 guestrooms and 2 junior suites), a bar, restaurant, gym, and spa, all with a fantasy ambience relating to the fashion world. There are lampshades in the shape of dresses and gowns draping down from bedboards, with the looks varying from room to room, in a rather “Alice in Wonderland” atmosphere as illustrated in the photos below.
All of this added to the Moschino showroom at the entrance and the fact that you can hire personal shoppers and personalized tours (fashionable Corso Como Street is just a short walk away), give this hotel 2 U_Stars.
Complete hotel information and booking details: Maison Moschino Hotel, Milan

PARIS’ NEW, INTIMATE DESIGN HOTEL – HOTEL RECAMIER

UCityGuides.com Editor — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:47:54 +0000

Where to take all your shopping bags after browsing through the Paris shops in the last post? To Paris’ new design hotel. Recommended for travelers who look for unique spaces that feel like a home away from home, Hotel Recamier is located in the Saint Germain des Près district and offers two dozen rooms designed by Jean-Louis Deniot. Each floor has a special color theme, where a personal concierge can attend to your needs.
The décor is more classy-elegant-contemporary rather than edgy, even showing some eclectic touches inspired by 20th century trends. As expected in the more intimate Parisian hotels, the rooms are not huge, but are true Paris elegance. Get complete hotel information here: Hotel Recamier

-See the complete Paris city guide
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HIP ATHENS: THE NEW CLASSICAL 2 FASHION HOUSE HOTEL

UCityGuides.com Editor — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:27:04 +0000

Athens recently opened its most fashionable hotel. Fashion House has 115 fabulously designed rooms, a hip cafe, bar, and restaurant, as well as extra services such as personal shoppers, dog-walkers, and stylists. It’s located in the city’s main commercial district and is perfect for leisure or business travelers looking for a hotel with style. It includes a 24-hour business center and offers free wireless internet access throughout the entire space. It covers eight floors designed with a different fashion theme by Greek designers and artists, and that includes the cafe made to look and feel like a luxury private jet.
These photos illustrate what you’ll find, and for additional details and booking information see our special booking page: Classical 2 Fashion House Hotel

-See the complete Athens city guide.
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COPENHAGEN DESIGN DAYS AND NIGHTS

UCityGuides.com Editor — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:56:54 +0000

Copenhagen’s Design Week is happening right now in the Danish capital and you may catch the special design shows in the city until the 6th of this month. It’s the very first edition of the event which opened in the Danish Design Centre and introduced the Index Award recognizing excellence in design.
If you can’t make it to the city during this special event, you can always visit the Danish Design Centre throughout the year, which includes special guided tours and an attractive cafe and design shop.
Also be sure to browse Normann and Paustian, the city’s two best shops for Danish and international design, as recommended in UCityGuides’ Copenhagen shopping guide.
Travelers visiting Copenhagen with design in mind should check out Hotel TwentySeven and First Hotel Skt Petri. They’re the city’s top design accommodation choices, with both having been distinguished with a U_Star and combining comfort with the great Nordic design tradition.

-See the complete Copenhagen city guide.
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CHEAP & HIP SEVILLE ACCOMMODATION

UCityGuides.com Editor — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:15:56 +0000

Seville doesn’t get the same buzz as other Spanish cities like Bilbao or Valencia, not to mention that of big Madrid and Barcelona. But that southern Iberian city is a must-go not just in a trip to Spain but in a tour of all of Europe — it has some of the continent’s best Mediterranean beaches nearby, as well as the architectural masterpieces that are Granada’s Alhambra and Cordoba’s Great Mosque. The best time to visit is of course the summer and the upcoming months are a perfect time to go, now that the city is no longer just a romantic monument to the past — UCityGuides.com has already highlighted its coolest new restaurant Abades Triana with a special Uward, and now we tell you which are the hottest accommodation choices, whether you’re looking to go cheap or want to splurge a little (but not a lot):

EME FUSION HOTEL
This hip hotel opened last year in the historic center of the city. It’s right next to the ancient cathedral, but the interior is all 21st century. It’s a design hotel with a fabulous rooftop swimming pool where you can overlook the city and enjoy a cocktail before a meal at one of the four gourmet restaurants. At the end of the day you may also recover from hours of sightseeing at the spa or go for a workout at the gym. Rooms come in different sizes but are all stylishly designed. Best of all are the reasonable prices for this type of accommodation. You may book it here: EME Fusion Hotel, Seville

OASIS BACKPACKERS HOSTEL
Budget travelers have a fantastic hostel waiting for them in Seville. It is found in the center of the city in a renovated building to which it moved from its original location. Guests are welcomed by contemporary decor and a wide range of free services, including breakfast, internet, coffee, and tea. Best of all are the city views from the rooftop terrace and the pool to escape the typical Seville summer heat! It’s the best place in the city to meet other young travelers, and staff will point you in the right direction if you need sightseeing information. Check availability and book it here: Oasis Backpackers Hostel, Seville.

-See the complete Seville city guide.
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THE STRANGEST, MOST UNUSUAL DESIGN HOTEL IN THE WORLD

UCityGuides.com Editor — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:39:31 +0000

Before you start thinking that all design hotels are starting to look very much the same (minimalist spaces, Starck furnishings, all-white interiors), there is one that proves that hotel design can really come in all shapes, colors, and forms. It is of course found in one of the most avant-garde cities in the world — Berlin. The Propeller Island City Lodge Hotel shares space with an art gallery in a former apartment building and could double as an art exhibition which you can sleep on. The rooms are like installations, each one very different from the next, which has led guests to return just to experience all the different concepts and atmospheres.
You can choose the upside-down room, the one with coffins for beds, the room with a floating bed, or any of the other 30 unusual spaces created by German artist Lars Stroschen. All of the objects and furnishings you see were custom-made, there is an abundance of colors, and imagination and creativity is present in every corner as you can see in the photos below.
If you’d like to spend a night in one of these spaces, you can book it here: Propeller Island City Lodge Hotel

-See the complete Berlin city guide.
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BUENOS NOCHES: FAENA & UNIVERSE – THE HOTTEST HOTEL IN BUENOS AIRES

UCityGuides.com Editor — Mon, 25 May 2009 08:17:25 +0000

It opened in 2004 and is still the hottest hotel in the city. That’s because it’s hard to surpass the quality of the services and the design of such an extraordinary place. Awarded the maximum 3 U_Stars, Buenos Aires’ Faena Hotel and Universe is worth going to the Argentinean capital just to experience it. Philippe Starck collaborated in the design of the space, but this is nothing like any of his other or other designers’ hotels. Here, rooms and public areas are theatrical spaces with hot colors, mirrors, velvet, and marble, creating a stunning, romantic hotel unlike any other. It makes sense that the man behind it is a fashion designer, as it is obvious that style and refinement was taken very seriously. What was a brick warehouse has been converted into a grand urban retreat offering spacious rooms, a spa, pool with poolside bar, an art gallery, a gourmet market, two restaurants, and a cabaret-style music hall. Take a look at the photo gallery below and get to know Faena’s fabulous universe.

-See the complete Buenos Aires city guide.
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