23 October 2014

The Air Canada flight left Heathrow at 15:00 and we landed in Toronto at 18:00. The flight was faultless, cabin crew polite and the Economy seat comfortable. Food was good too. There was a choice of salmon or pasta. I picked the pasta dish and wasn’t disappointed. Only criticism was the choice of audio and film on board, which was quite limited. On the other end, it was maybe better that way, so I didn’t have to spend too much time to ponder what to watch! Transfer from the airport to the city is generally quick (30 minutes) but there was a lot of traffic because of rush hour and it took us much longer. We stayed at the recently opened Shangri-La. I was familiar with the Shangri-La, having been to a couple of their hotels in China, and Toronto did not disappoint me! The hotel lobby was very charming and looked like a wine bar with lovely sofas and there was live music, which happens every night and I got a good vibe from it. The décor was very Asian and refined. I was expecting to share a twin room with one of my colleagues so when I was told that I actually I was going to have my own room I was quite glad, then I entered the room and WOW, I was actually given a one bedroom suites with separate living room and bedroom, with 2 bathrooms! The room had also a very handy Nespresso machine for my morning coffee and the view of the city with the CN Tower was splendid. Apparently everything in the room is controlled by an iPad, including the curtains, but I am a bit old school, so I didn’t use all these iPad features but I am sure some people will appreciate it! On our first full day, we visited Ripley’s Aquarium. I am not a great fan of aquariums and my visit to the London one did not changed my mind when I went, but this one was a totally different thing. More space to walk around first of all and better features like the walking through passage where on top of it a shark was having a nap, I will never forget it! We then visited the nearby CN Tower, and observed the view from the restaurant with the skyline of Toronto and the nearby lakes. In the afternoon we visited the Toronto Premium outlets which are situated near the airport and if you like shopping is a definitely a place to visit with lots of bargains to have. For dinner, we dined at Bosk, one of the Shangri-la restaurants (the other one is called Momofuku). Food was of great quality and the service spotless. Also breakfast at the hotel was quite good, I had a different one every day and the waiter on the second day did remember what I was drinking the day before. I was quite impressed! The day after we visited the Niagara Falls, which lay on the border with the US. We visited it by boat called the Hornblower boat, while Maid of the Mist goes from the USA side. When going on the boat bring warm clothes because you get wet and get hold of the kids, they may fly away with all that wind! We had then lunch at the Sheraton on the Falls which wasn’t probably at the same standard of luxury of other Sheraton I have seen. I was quite surprised to see so many hotels at Niagara Falls, I didn’t know people visited the place for more than one day but the Falls is not the only sightseeing to do in the area and so the Falls are a good starting point. In the afternoon we had a helicopter ride over Niagara Falls. I had never been on a helicopter before and the scenery was really breath-taking! Nearby the falls there is the "Niagara on the Lake" which is a lovely old Canadian village with one off boutiques, little guest houses and restaurants, and the world’s smallest chapel. Later in the day we visited a vineyard in this area. Canadian does great wine and we tried a few red and white wines, including the famous Ice Wine, which reminded me of the Italian wine "Moscato" or the French "Muscat". In the evening we wanted to see the hockey game being played at the Air Canada centre but we arrived too late and it was sold out anyway, so we went to the bar next to the stadium that does have a gigantic screen and we watched the game there. The atmosphere was very friendly and supporters of the two teams were mingling together. The game lasted a very long time and Toronto lost, apparently they are not a great team. On our last day in Toronto we visited the Fairmont Royal York hotel, which is a five star hotel directly linked to the centre shopping malls and therefore perfect for a winter break. We had a lovely Sunday brunch there. On the flight back we got upgraded to business class and the flight went on a whizz! I make the most of it and slept most of the way. No leg or back pain for once when I landed. After the trip I had, I can say Toronto is a wonderful destination and a good starting point to discover the rest of the country. I wish to visit again in the future and send my clients there as well.

09 December 2012

I had great expectations about this resort based on the website and reviews and I was not disappointed, but actually blown away! The Pelican Hill is situated in Newport Beach, two minutes’ drive from the beach and 40 minutes’ drive away from Los Angeles. From there you can reach many destinations in Southern California and many guests do one-way trips as far as San Diego. I stayed in a three-bedroom villa fitted with a kitchen that I wish I had in my flat! It was spacious and well equipped. The kitchen was open-plan with the living room, something I like in a hotel suite. The dining room was very cosy with a fireplace. The outside space had a couple of sunbeds and a great view of the sea, golf course and gardens. The bedroom was spacious and the bathroom too. The bathtub even had a tray where you could rest a book and a glass of wine! The resort has also four bedroom villas and bungalows, all of them of a great standard and lots of privacy. The hotel has seven restaurants and I dined at two of them. One was the Tamarind of London, an Indian restaurant that I liked very much. The meal was exclusive and probably one of the best Indian meals I ever had. I also ate at the Grill, where the chef prepared a selection of different types of food. There is also an Italian restaurant called Andrea, after the famous Italian architect Andrea Palladio whose villas have inspired all the architecture of the resort. As I was there as a part of a work trip, I was shown around the hotel and I wish I had the time to enjoy all its facilities! There is an Italian style café serving great gelato (I tried them) and the spa was very welcoming with a spacious Jacuzzi. The hotel has two infinity pools with breath-taking views. The hotel is also well-known for its golf course, one of the best in the US. I can’t really say there is anything to fault at the Pelican Hill. It is not your typical hotel and it is much more than a resort, almost like a little Italian village. It was built only four years ago and it is already voted the best resort in the US by the Conde Magazine. Amazingly, the Sales and Marketing Director, was telling us that he was already thinking of doing some refurbishments!

27 December 2013

I have not stayed at this hotel but I was shown around and I had a meal there. From the outside I must say this hotel didn’t look that great and the entrance was rather too dark. I changed my mind though once I had a view of the very inviting swimming pool and bar area glittering in the evening. The hotel had a lot of charm. The rooms had been recently re-decorated and smelled of new and had a touch of light green and blue that gave them a modern and casual feeling. The rooms were not, in my opinion, as spacious as other hotels of the same category, but they were well designed in order to maximise the space. I had the pleasure of eating at the Italian restaurant and it was exquisite. It did not serve pizza but meat and pasta dishes of a very high quality and I would be surprised to eat better Italian food in Los Angeles! The hotel is very central and good value for money. I think it suits younger travellers and anyone looking for a not too formal hotel to stay at. It has a great restaurant and a touch of history; Marilyn Monroe used to live there!

09 December 2012

Although I have not stayed at this hotel, I was shown around while in Los Angeles. The Montage is a luxury hotel located near Rodeo Drive, therefore in the heart of the city. It definitely has a European flavour and when I was there I did actually forget I was in LA! I could have been in Rome or Paris. I had this impression straight away because of the hotel structure, with a portico and a well-kept garden with a fountain in the middle of it. On the inside, the atmosphere stays European and Classical and the hotel also has great views over the city. The European touch is also translated in the restaurant: there is an afternoon tea room and an Italian restaurant, La Scarpetta. I didn’t have the chance to dine there, but the kitchen looked first class and I am sure the food must be amazing. This hotel will suit clients looking for a touch of Europe in the heart of LA and I was under the impression the hotel was not particularly for young crowds, but for older clients. Saying that, the hotel also has a children’s program.