One singular sensation at One Aldwych

October 9, 2011

LONDON, UK- In all my world travels, there are few hotel properties I’ve visited where I wouldn’t change a thing.  Even at the most fabulous and luxurious digs, there’s always a little something that rubs me the wrong way, be it the noise of an elevator, the lack of a… (more)

Posh digs at the Pelham Hotel

October 2, 2011

LONDON, UK–When I’m visiting London by myself, the Pelham is one of my lodgings of choice for two reasons. One, the oh-so-cozy rooms are just a little *too* cozy for two, but cozy (in the good sense!) for one. And two, even after just one night, the whole staff knows… (more)

The more things change…: Keeping things classic at The Goring

April 22, 2011

LONDON, UK – There are some certainties of travel that we have come to count on in our years on the road: we will always forget to pack something, flight delays are inevitable, and restaurants with a “tourist menu” are best avoided. When we’re hitting the British capital, the list… (more)

“Dame” Dorchester: always ready for its close-up

April 27, 2010

LONDON, UK – I tend to think of The Dorchester as the Judi Dench of London lodging:  a Grand Dame who’s classy, elegant, inherently British, and scene-stealing in every role it plays.  This doyenne has certainly earned its stripes, having first opened in 1931, with refurbishing in 1990 and a… (more)

Media frenzy meets modernist serenity at Charlotte Street Hotel

March 23, 2010

LONDON, UK – When Virginia Woolf wrote that she wanted “a room of one’s own,” she might have been craving a space at an establishment such as the Charlotte Street Hotel in Bloomsbury. Woolf was one of the most famous members of the Bloomsbury Group, a collective of London artists,… (more)

Covent Garden Hotel: Quite an Upgrade from Your Sleeping Bag

March 12, 2010

LONDON, UK – I always loved slumber parties growing up: gossiping with the girls, trying beauty treatments straight out of teen magazines, indulging in munchies, watching a fun John Hughes movie, and at some point, getting in much-needed sleep in a not-so-comfy sleeping bag. The Covent Garden Hotel reminds me… (more)

Getting naughty, Italian style, at Baglioni Hotel London

January 25, 2010

LONDON, UK – Fire up your Vespas, ladies. The Baglioni is a Roman holiday in London Town. This is over-the-top luxury fit for your inner Sophia Loren. Perfect if you happen to be planning a rendezvous with a tall, handsome, preferably Italian lover. The Italian Baglioni Hotel group is the… (more)

Rubber ducky, you’re the one! at Threadneedles London

January 19, 2010

LONDON, UK – It can be a wee bit of a bummer to visit London on business and have to make The City (the heart of the financial district) your lodging headquarters out of expediency. Not that there’s nothing to see in this part of town. Landmarks like The Tower… (more)

A hip hip hooray! for The Haymarket Hotel

June 8, 2009

LONDON, UK – On our recent trip to London, Emily and I eagerly explored (to death) the city’s hotel scene in anticipation of the The Purple Passport’s launch in 2010. We had wonderful and varied experiences at so many London hotels: the traditional elegance of The Dorchester, the local charm… (more)