The hospitality chain all over Asia is likely to be the most benchmarked in the world. The level of discreet sophistication and attention to details are premises of which they proudly master. Quality is always taken to the top and comes with a surprise touch: from wonderful and unexpected amenities to delicate although impactful decor or incomparable food flavours.
"Nordestinos are all the same: they come to São Paulo, picturing a better life in this huge capital city, but they are always yearning to go back", said Walter Bolinha, as he referred to his fellows’ northeastern citizens known in Brazil as "nordestinos". He is the driving force for more than 20 years at Baretto - the fancy bar of the international acclaimed Hotel Fasano.
After visiting Amsterdam for a few years and staying in Airbnb flats to be closer to locals and absorb their culture as much as possible, I began to explore different types of hotels. Partly because my previous work as a 20-year Public Relations required me to take every traveling opportunity to learn more about my area of interest.
The city of Assmanshauen is so tiny that there is no driving force to keep restaurants running independently. That is, almost all restaurants belong to hotels. On the other hand, Rüdesheim am Rhein is more touristy, and it offers more restaurants that are not necessarily installed in hotels. I particularly point out two great places to eat.
For those who rather stay in smaller and boutique type hotels that generally offer closer service to clientele, I suggest three great options whose concept are very different one from the other besides being located in different areas - which can influence a lot the whole travel experience.
Despite being a small city, Maastricht has a good range of hotels. Especially those "boutique" ones, which are supposed to have less rooms, careful service, low profile approach towards guests. There is something charming about these hotels, some of them called Bed&Breakfast. Here is a concise list where I have already stayed in that I consider worth to explore.
I was having my breakfast at the Pulitzer Hotel when two scenes caught my attention: fathers taking care - by themselves - of their children. When I say ‘themselves’ I mean no mother or nanny or grandma around. I thought this is not a regular thing in America, at least not in my home country.
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One of the most interesting ways to get to know the local food is visiting food markets and street fairs: a tip that would seem obvious, if it was not for the conceptual change that these types of food centers have been going through.
Palermo doesn’t have a large offer of hotels. There are all types of hotels in the city, but I can’t recommend any because I have never stayed anywhere else other than a Bed & Breakfast or at a friend's house. When I first went to Sicily, it was a pleasant surprise to find a charming B&B named BB22, whose owner became a great and dear friend.