Looking for the perfect Hideaway in Italy? Vitigliano Tuscan Relais & Spa, my insights!

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Heaven on earth, hideaway Vitigliano, Tuscany !   

 

Looking for the perfect Hideaway to stay in Italy? Vitigliano Tuscan Relais & Spa, my insights !

Hey guys,

I have been many times to beautiful Tuscany, Italy, but this time I was searching for a so called "hideaway". The definition of a hideaway for me is the perfect combination of peace, romantic, privacy and luxury. I started my research on the internet and came across the homepage of Vitigliano.

The romantic former village "Vitigliano" lies on a hill overlooking the breathtaking landscape of Tuscany. It is located in the most privileged region of the Chianti, Tuscany, half way between Florence and Siena.

The history goes back to the 1085. That means the oldest building - still in existence today - is 1,000 years old.

In 2008, Vitigliano, was rediscovered as the last Verrazano gem in Chianti, by Marion Hattemer who awoke it from its slumber and elaborately and extensively renovated the property in a way that does justices to its historic significance.

I read on the homepage the wonderful interview of the owner, Marion Hattemer and I really fall in love with her attitude about her work and her understanding from life. It took her 2 years of negotiations before she could fill out the contract and 4 years of renovation work before it was completed to the state in which you see it today.

The location is stunning and so is the hideaway. Surrounded by 5 hectares including an olive grove and oak forest, the resort distributes many amenities. The cypress-lined driveway leading to the estate is like something you would find in a picture book. 

To me it is no surprise, that Vitigliano is a World Luxury Hotel Awards winner and mentioned in different high class magazines for travel and luxury worldwide. 

Vitigliano is offering 6 suites for the visitors. Which means they can provide you the perfect service experience and you feel really private while being there.

Speaking about the rooms. The rooms are all facing the wonderful nature of Tuscany. The marvel bathrooms and every detail of the suites are well picked and showing the love and the good design taste of the owner. 

We stayed at the wonderful suite called "Torre", which is a 2-room maisonette-suite. I loved the combination of the modern and the historic elements, it feels more then a second home instead of a hotel room.

You can really fell the passion and love in every detail of your stay. The service is unbelievable.
Throwout our stay we more felt like friends instead of guests.

If you are into wellness, make sure to book a wellness treatment in the wonderful wellness area. The wellness of Vitigliano received the "world luxury spa awards" for a good reason. 

We loved to stay at the outdoor pool, you can relax there and just enjoy the wonderful view towards the amazing nature of Tuscany. One of my personal highlights, between all the highlights we experienced there. 

Sitting in the wonderful whirlpool after doing some sports is just only one thing you can do while staying here. 

The food options are high quality and regional food. You can choose breakfast, lunch and / or dinner. The restaurant serves only guests.

The service and the chef are doing such a great job, I loved the dinner - because it is such a romantic setting.

I love wine and this is of course the perfect setting for it. The wine cellar is stocked with a private label wine created especially for Vitigliano by Tommaso Cavalli, a neighbor and son of the fashion designer Roberto Cavalli. You need to try this wine, it is wonderful! 

So if your planning on going to Tuscany, make sure you stop by Vitigliano for some days !

Cheers,

Melaines-Insights

www.melaines-insights.com

Grand Hotel Central Barcelona - my insights for you!

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Where to stay in Barcelona? my answer definitely Grand Hotel Central Barcelona! My insights for you!

Hey guys,

I just came back from an amazing road trip, which also lead us to one of my favorite European cities: Barcelona, Spain!

The city has so many attractions and spots to explore, you should calculate at least 4 days for your stay in this amazing city.

Where to stay? Its always a big question, it was my third time and I have to admit this is the best hotel so far I stayed in Barcelona. There are many reasons for it. But first things first. Its all about the location, location and location where you stay, right?  As the name is already hiding it: "central" is the name of the game.It combines the amenities and luxuries of a five-star hotel with a sense of style and elegance.

Your only 10 minutes walk away from the beach and your in middle of the heart from the city and my favorite city parts are just around the corner "El Born" and "Gothic district". We could do everything by feet, which also makes you experience the city more and I can only recommend it to you to do so. They also offer you always a cap and a private shuttle upon request.

The Grand Hotel Central Barcelona has 147 spacious rooms and suites to offer. 

We stayed at an executive room, which was totally elegant and comfortable with the best view to the streets of the Gothic quarter (Room 509). The room offered had a Nespresso machine, which I found quite nice in the mornings to wake up.

The highlight for me (beside the fantastic service and style of the hotel itself) was the roof top terrace with the infinity pool. 

This was one of the best views I ever experienced. The best part the roof top is only accessible for the hotel guest till 9.00 p.m. It was never crowded, so we could do sun bathing and pooling without any problem. Also we got always a table for drinks at the skybar lounge.

We loved to have a sun downer at the sky bar and the perfect recommendation was the Cava Rose. 

For the evening I would recommend you to place a reservation for the "skybar" dinner and enjoy this fantastic romantic experience.

They also offer a city restaurant, which has as the skybar restaurant great market-fresh Mediterranean cuisine. Always recognisable and abundant.

As Barcelona is a place for foodies, they also offer a gym, which I used and has everything in it you need for your health. If your tired from exploring and the weather is not so nice, they offer also a wellness experience.

So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and book your trip to Barcelona!

Link is included in the headline, by clicking on it you will be forwarded to the hotel homepage.

Cheers,

Melaines-Insights

www.melaines-insights.com

High Tea at the Mandarin Oriental in Munich, my insights for you!

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Afternoon Tea in classy atmosphere? My insights for you!

Hey guys,

as a teenager I spend many weeks of the year in the UK, what I miss about the most is Londons tea time. I love how the people are obsessed with this wonderful tradition of celebrating tea and time. 

Glad that the Mandarin Oriental is now offering High Tea in Munich, feels like being back in good old England.

They offer High Tea from Friday - Sunday (2.00 - 5.00 p.m.) in their really cozy and modern designed Lounge. Make sure you haven't eaten anything before and you take at least 1,5 hours of your time, as they offer so many fantastic freshly baked products for you to try. Reservation is a must, please see link underneath I attached for contact information.

The Afternoon Tea menue is including beside the amazing range of fresh dishes a tea of your choice. You can ask the amazing service for help, as they have a own tea sommelier which can give you perfect recommendations if your getting lost between all the fantastic choices.  

For tea enthusiasts a special recommendation, ask the tea sommelier for the JING product range. As you can see in the picture they offer you to take a look into different sorts of tea before you order. If you don't know the JING tea, it is only natural - no artificial flavors. Make sure you check out the rose or smoked tea. 

What is fitting perfectly to the High Tea is a glass of bubbly, we decided to have Rose Champagner which I think is the perfect match for celebrating High Tea. 

Links: http://www.mandarinoriental.de/munich/

Cheers,

Melaines-Insights

www.melaines-insights.com 

Pure Lifestyle on top of the mountains - Austria / Kristallhütte

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Skiing and Lifestyle traveling on top of the mountains - my insights for you: 

Hey guys,

today I want to introduce to you the magnificent beautiful located "Kristallhütte" in Austria / Zillertal. 

For getting even a better impression I will provide you now with the link, as a video can say more then thousands pictures: https://vimeo.com/125841117

So YES, I love snow and being in the mountains. But unfortunately I missed learning how to ski or snowboard.

So how can you manage to get someone like this up to a skiing paradise and hideaway on top of the mountains in Austria (literally ON TOP)? Underneath you see the morning view from our suite.

For myself (thanks to the lovely host) they picked me up at the mid station and transferred me with a jet ski to the Kristallhütte.

For all the ski lovers out there - the normal way would be to get rid of your package in the middle station (they transfer it for you and take care) and then ski all day and come with the last lift to the Kristallhütte back.

Around 4.00 the daily skiing visitors are leaving to get the last ride down. This is when your private Kristallhütte experience is about to start.

The service is unbelievable, when your back from skiing or wellnessing (they offer a great Spa with one of a kind view towards facing the mountains - NOTHING ELSE!) you can go for an aperitivo in the freshly cleaned out Kristallhütte. While taking a sip of your aperitif, they offer you some snacks which you can enjoy while warming yourself up on a huge fire place.

As the Kristallhütte is only offering 4 alpine lodge suites and 8 superior rooms, you can imagine how private you feel when no one else is there only the crew members, you and the mountain spirit.

We stayed in an alpine lodge suite, which is only with one word writable : pure lifestyle luxury.
When staying at the suite you can leave your skiing equipment in your own glass locker (outside the suite) and for your shoes, they have a own room for it - to make sure it gets warm again.

The suite itself is facing the pure mountains, 2-level suite, 55 qm. All is in wood and a really clean minimalistic design with huge glass fronts. I guess they wanted to make sure that when you entered the bath tube (of course in front of the glass and facing the mountains) that you really feel your the only one person on top of everything. As a welcome they also offer you a bottle of bubbly, which you can sip with your own (how much luxury you can get!) little private fire - of course close to the bath tube so the romantic is own.

Speaking about romantic the 2-level has also a balcony (as the first level has) which is again facing the great view of the snowy mountains. On the 2-level you have a wonderful big bed where you can take a rest.

Of course you also have your own infrarot cabine in your suite, so you can relax from all the sport really privately.  The Nespresso machine is not missing and you have of course free w-lan. Not to forget to mention they have an integrated music system which serves the music threw all the levels of your suite and also an music alarm system to wake you nicely up - to make sure you don't miss to be the first skiing person that goes down the mountain - while the others still have to wait and stand in line for going up :-)

At night the Kristallhütte is offering (included in the over night price) a wonderful 5-course-Gourmet dinner experience, they have also a great wine card which just don't leave any wishes open.

The breakfast on the next day, sets the same luxury standards as the dinner. Just everything you need (or you don't need) is there.

The guest can also reserve outside some tables or what I would recommend to you: warm water beds, where you can hang out after skiing for lunch or just like me for sun bathing and people watching. Around lunch time many visitors are coming and it gets crowded, which doesn't stop the fun - a DJ act is always there - so you have a huge entertainment while being on top of the mountains.

The only sad thing about it, it is so nice that many people want to book this experience. So make sure you hurry up and book the trip to your winter hideaway !

Cheers,
Melaine
www.melaines-insights.com

Links:
www.kristallhütte.at