We’re gleefully celebrating Spring’s arrival with a globe-spanning host of new hotels this month. We kicked off our world tour in the Windy City, where Ian Schrager’s sleek Public Chicago hotel has impressive Lake Michigan views, a glittering crowd invariably gathered in the bar, and some elegant guest rooms big enough to throw a party [...]
This month, we started our search for stylish stays by sipping whisky at The Atholl, a suite-only townhouse in Edinburgh. After all that hard work, we headed south to soak up the rays at romantic Tuscan village retreat Monteverdi and relax at Imani Country House, a rural haven in Portugal. Over in Australia, we partied [...]
During this month’s search for sparkly new Smith hotels, there were two words on our lips: Costa Rica. We played ‘I Spy’ (the sea) at Latitude 10‘s bohemian beachfront casitas on the Nicoya Peninsula, developed a design crush at Kurá‘s minimalist jungle bungalows in Uvita, played Tarzan and Jane at Lapa Rios‘ tropical treehouses on the Osa Peninsula and got coffee-drunk at Finca Rosa [...]
Looking for relaxation, refined dining and perhaps even some springtime sunshine? Escape to L’Andana Hotel in Tuscany, where the spa staff stand ready to soothe and the menu’s overseen by world-renowned chef Alain Ducasse (we can’t guarantee endless days of Tuscan sun, but we’re pretty sure it’ll be warmer than rainy old England). Style Tuscan [...]
Our suits and party frocks are back in the wardrobe, we’ve wiped the parmesan crumbs from our lips, the whisper-thin ham is MIA, and the prosecco bottles are empty. Yet the memory of our book-launch party for Mr & Mrs Smith Hotel Collection – Italy lives on. (For those who weren’t there, you missed opera [...]
Easter is upon us, and with it a flurry of bank holidays, made to get our wanderlust levels peaking. If you’re disorganised, holiday-less or in need of inspiration, look no further than rural idyll Borgo Santo Pietro in Tuscany, which has a fantastic family-friendly Easter offering… Style Classic-luxe Tuscan villa Setting Enchanting formal gardens Why [...]
Just like the Beatles, Smith gets by with a little help from our friends. Our recent rummage through the Italian kitchen with gourmet gurus Dean & DeLuca wouldn’t have been possible without a discerning smatter of Smith informants. One such secret-sharer is Samuel Porreca, who mans the good ship JK Place Capri; a whiter-than-white sunspot [...]
The 2010 La Dolce Vita show is set to honour all things Italian this week. We’ll be there of course – look out for our Graham and Green-styled stall, G1. In greedy anticipation, we’re playing foodie Top Trumps with six of Italy’s regions, highlighting their signature plate-toppers and suggesting where to sleep off the calories… [...]
With the shops’ shelves crammed with heart-shaped chocolate boxes and tiny teddies declaring undying love, our thoughts have turned to the practical issues surrounding Valentine’s Day – where can we find really romantic bedrooms in which to woo and be wooed? As usual, the Italians had the answer… Casa Angelina, Amalfi Coast The all-white rooms [...]
Best family-friendly boutique hotels in Europe, anyone? Mr & Mrs Smith round up a top 10 selection of child-friendly escapes
