The Crown, Amersham

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but all too often at TI Towers, breakfast means a hastily slurped skinny latte and a handful of yesterday’s chocolate-covered raisins. So when we’re out and about reviewing luxury hotels for our collection, there’s one thing that’s guaranteed to put a smile on our jet-lagged faces: a great hotel breakfast.

To all you lovely hotels out there who’ve filled us up before a hard day’s hotel reviewing and sightseeing, we thank you. And to those whose breakfasts have been particularly noteworthy, you’ve got an extra-special mention in our round-up below…

Riad Numero 9, Fez

On cold and drizzy February afternoons, we can easily fall into a reverie about the breakfasts at Riad Numero 9. Taken up on the rooftop terrace, with uninterrupted views of Fez’s sprawling medina, they include home-made banana jam, French toast and freshly baked waffles, all whipped up by the French chef owner.

Find out more about Riad Numero 9

The Crown Inn, Amersham

Guardian food writer Rosie Sykes is the mastermind behind this darling little country inn’s stellar kitchen. The Crown, together with sister hotel The Olde Bell, is worth the trip out of London for its food alone. Breakfasts are a delectable spread of home-made preserves, rye-and-barley bread and eggs cooked to order.

Find out more about The Crown

Room Mate Oscar, Madrid

The Room Mate chain has a lot going for it. Friendly on the wallet without compromising on style, it also serves a free breakfast buffet until noon. Oscar has one of the snazziest breakfast rooms we’ve come across, a black-and-silver affair that looks more like a nightclub. The continental-style spread is generous, too.

Find out more about Room Mate Oscar

The Grange, York

Our Editorial Director Ben came back raving about The Grange recently, and with good reason. He spent nearly ten minutes alone on the breakfast, describing in detail the locally-sourced Wensleydale sausages, yogurts, freshly squeezed juices and perfectly poached eggs.

Read Ben’s review (breakfast and all) of The Grange

Technorati Tags: luxury hotels; food and drink

Staircase - Hospital San Juan de Dios, Granada, Andalucia (Fred Shively)

From time to time you come across something online that really makes you sit up and take notice. This recently, for the TI team, was the case with the photography of Fred Shively.

Ordinarily, of course, we deal in travel writing. But Fred’s work is so textural, so rich and evocative and explores such an interesting and often unseen side (frequently in close-up) of this wonderful, crumbling city… Suffice to say we were pretty chuffed when he agreed to let us feature some of it on the TI Blog.

Fred’s back catalogue is enormous, so we’ve decided to focus in – and ‘focus’ is very much the operative word here – on some of his Granada photos. Anyway, enjoy!

Frescoes - Hospital San Juan de Dios, Granada (Fred Shively)

Cracked Tiled Staircase - Hospital San Juan de Dios, Granada (Fred Shively)

Decorative Ceiling - Hospital San Juan de Dios, Granada (Fred Shively)

Decorative Archway - Hospital San Juan de Dios, Granada (Fred Shively)

Wall with Babbling Fountain - Granada (Fred Shively)

Hanging Lamp - Granada (Fred Shively)

Crumbling Wall - Granada (Fred Shively)

Street Sign with Tumbling Ivy - Granada (Fred Shively)

If you like Fred Shively’s work as much as we do, you can check out more of his photos of Andalucia – and elsewhere – over on his Flickr photostream. In addition to his Granada collection, much of his work centres around his home in the stunning, mountainous region of the Alpujarras. At the time of writing, he’s shortly about to take up residence at the equally lovely looking Los Piedaos…

Technorati Tags: Andalucia, Fred Shively, Granada, Images, Photography, Spain

Golden Well in Prague

The most democratic travel awards around,  Trip Advisor Traveller’s Choice Awards puts the power to the people: it is a fantastic gauge of what matters most to the modern traveller — service that does not compromise on style.

Here at TI Towers we’ve always advocated this golden combination and we’re always thrilled to see just how many of our collection makes it into TA’s top tens year after year. For those of you that have not yet had the chance to visit these stellar luxury hotels, here’s a pick of the best:

The Golden Well, Prague: #1, “Top Ten Luxury Hotels in the World”, #1, “Best Service in the World”

Always a firm favourite here at Travel Intelligence, the Golden Well is undoubtedly one of the finest hotels in Prague. A beautifully renovated 16th-century building, it’s hunkered down beneath Prague Castle with sweeping views across the city’s Mala Strana district.

Check out Prague’s award-winning The Golden Well

Alchymist Residence, Prague: #3, “Top Ten Luxury Hotels in the World”

Prague was on a bit of a roll at the TA awards this year, which doesn’t surprise us in the slightest; it’s a great-value, picture perfect destination with some of the trendiest hotels in Europe. Alchymist Residence is a favourite with the A-list thanks to its discreet staff and bijou guestrooms.

Check out Prague’s award-winning Alchymist Residence

Hotel Villa Ducale, Taormina: #10, “Top Ten Luxury Hotels in the World”

The Villa Ducale may not have the cutting-edge style and designer quirks of more urban hotels, but this charming Sicilian bolthole is an absolute winner in terms of service and sweeping sea views. It has the air of a private villa and its staff are well-versed in making every guest feel like a star.

Check out Sicily’s award-winning Villa Ducale

Hotel Britania, Lisbon: #7 “Best Hotels for Service in the World”

A great location off the Avenida da Liberdade is just the start of this classic Lisbon bolthole’s charms. Housed in a building that dates back to the 40s, the Britania offers stellar service, original Art Deco bathrooms and even a quirky little barber’s museum.

Check out Lisbon’s award-winning Hotel Britania

Sirkeci Konak, Istanbul: #1 “Best Family Hotels in the World”

Istanbul has more than just being crowned City of Culture 2010 to celebrate; it’s also home to the most family-friendly hotel in the world according to TA reviewers. Staff are friendly and accommodating, there’s a great traditional restaurant and it overlooks Topkapi Palace Park.

Check out Istanbul’s award-winning Sirkeci Konak

Technorati Tags: Luxury Hotels, Luxury Travel News

"Homer the Great" Simpsons, series 6

Here at TI Towers, we’re proud of having gathered together an impeccable collection of boutique and luxury hotels. Trumpet blowing aside, each and every one of them offers something special, whether you’re after a purse-friendly city crashpad or lavish grand dame.

And in the course of building this collection, a wealth of random knowledge has seeped into our travel-addled brains; these hotels are not only special in terms of style and value, many have had colourful past lives, hilarious former incarnations and more than their fair share of skeletons in the closet.

So without further ado, here are three of our favourite facts from the TI collection:

The Andaz in London has a hidden Masonic temple

When the Hyatt group took over the Great Eastern Hotel near Liverpool Street Station, they knew they’d bought an imposing red-brick building dating back to 1884 that was perfect for their flagship boutique-style property. All it needed was a top-to-toe renovation.

During the considerable transformation work, they hit upon something they hadn’t bargained for: a Masonic temple hidden in the bowels of the building. With walls of polished marble, original sconces and beautiful dark-wood seating, it makes for a unique meeting and events space for Andaz guests.

The Hotel Sacher and Hotel de Paris invented some seriously good desserts

Anyone who reads this blog regularly will know that TI’s editorial desk has a well-developed sweet tooth. Just two weeks ago we paid homage to our favourite sweet retreats, and afternoon tea at Brown’s or the Mandeville is a favourite way to spend an afternoon.

One of our top facts then, was always going to be confectionery-based. Delicious Sacher Torte is the namesake of the Hotel Sacher in Vienna, whilst anyone who’s made room for a crepe Suzette after their steak frites should know that this dish originated in the kitchens of Monaco’s Hotel de Paris.

The Library Hotel is dedicated to the Dewey Decimal System

Not the most systematically-minded bunch, we did take a little while to get our heads round this one. Nevertheless, it’s a pretty unique fact and we’re certain that there’s no other hotel on the planet that organises itself in this way.

Each of hotel’s ten floors has been assigned one category from the Dewey Decimal System. Which means if you’re partial to a bit of sci-fi, or if mysteries are more your thing, there’s a floor at the Library Hotel that’ll get your literary juices flowing. So to speak.

(Photo credit – The Shambles York, By Unnatural Blonde on Flickr)

1. Where to Stay…

The Grange Hotel. Rocketed up into the lofty echelons of the Sunday Times Travel Magazine’s Top 100 Hotels in the World for 2009, and perfectly sanguine about it. A fine example of an old-fashioned English hotel, it adds up to a lot more than the sum of its parts.

2. Refuelling…

Xing (The Shambles) may not be able to offer a six-course taster menu (bagels and salads are more the order of the day), but their juices and smoothies are sublime and the welcome’s seriously friendly. For something a little more substantial, Nineteen (Grape Lane) mixes fine food, an atmospheric premises and an enticing early bird special.

3. After Dark…

A toss-up between blockading yourself in on a filthy January night at the deliciously snug Golden Slipper (20 Goodramgate) and quaffing cocktails in the roomier setting of a former church at The Biltmore (Swinegate).

4. Getting Around…

York is pretty wee and the only proper way of taking it in is on foot. Prime wandering can be found around the ridiculously cutesy Shambles and Snickelways. And if you see an alleyway, make sure you’re up it like a rat up a drainpipe. Some of York’s most interesting spots are hidden away out of sight…

5. Keeping Busy…

Spend a happy afternoon sifting through a combination of high-class antiques and assorted bric-a-brac at the Red House Antique Centre (Duncombe Place).

Technorati Tags: Five-minute Guide, TI Tips, Travel Guides, York