W Istanbul
(90) 212 – 381 2121
Suleyman Seba Cad No. 22
Akaretler, Beşiktaş
Istanbul 34357 · Turkey

www.wistanbul.com.tr
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In the middle of the Besiktas neighborhood, sit the historic Akaretler Row Houses.  Peering at their curved facades, one can deconstruct their current perfection and see how it was a developers dream.  The neighborhood has now been transformed into one of the city’s trendiest areas, where you will find every elite boutique from Etro to Missoni.  Direct in the middle of this shoppers mecca lays the absolutely wonderful, very stylish and surprisingly accessible W Hotel Istanbul.

Besiktas, and the W,  is situated well away from the chaos of the main tourist areas, but close enough for easy access.  Be prepared to taxi in and out of ‘town’ for the sites and nightlife.  Luckily, the cabs are not so pricey as to make the fare uncomfortable – our average ride to/from the W was about 15 -25 minutes and cost between 8 -& 20 YTL (About $6-15).  The Ferry is right down the hill, 3 blocks away, and offers an exciting water journey downtown to Sultanhamet and the Hagia Sophia.  Boats leave every twenty minutes before 10 am and every hour from then on.  One thing you learn early is that all travel in Istanbul is highly traffic dependent, you learn to avoid rush hours quickly- the boats are your best bet for those times.  It is also within walking distance to the Dolmabahçe Palace, the seat of the Ottomans from 1856 through 1924.

The W itself is a real jewel designed by Mahmut Anlar of  the design firm Geomim.   It manages to stay just on the side of fun & chic, without crossing over into ostentatious and eurotrashy.  I believe this is the result of the excellent staff- which manages to keep everything grounded and never slipped into any type of haughtiness while we were there (5 days).  On the weekends a trendy crowd comes to party in the upstairs bar- that looks to have  lovely outdoor seating, which was unfortunately closed during our stay.  Guests are invited to join the party, and we were never made to feel uninvited.

An interesting fact is that the W Hotels are a franchise, not a chain.  Thus each W is independantly owned and managed- leading to varying experiences between locations.  The slogan is “Whatever/Whenever,”  and the staff at the W Istanbul certainly took that to heart!  The service was impeccable; from the front desk to the attentive doormen (who make sure you don’t get taken advantage off by taxi drivers), the concierge staff is a fountain of useful information and charm and everyone has a genuine smile on their face.

The rooms are beautifully decorated and fully decked.  The beds were very comfortable (you can order one off the room service menu!).  Excellent water pressure gave a loving hot shower.  The programed lighting is a delightful touch- ranging from reading, sleeping and the all important ambient mellow lounge look

The W’s in-house restaurant was one of the Spice Market chain that has a menu created by Jean-Georges.  It is a bit overpriced, as you would expect, but offers quality food.  A find for us was the late-night room service menu that had an excellent pasta!

In the lobby, there is a quite comfortable lounge area known by the moniker “Sip”, located opposite reception, behind beaded curtains.  Decorated with comfortable couches and settes; a place where you can relax with a tea and surf with the free Wifi.  Jump next to the hotel for an acceptable coffee from the ever present “Cafe Nero” for an option to the overpriced hotel breakfast.

Having stayed in many hotels, including a few W’s, I must say that the W Istanbul deserves all the accolades  it gets.  It successfully manages to merge old world service with ultra modern decor, which combine to create an experience that is at the same time relaxing, exciting, welcoming and exotic!  Kudos.

Painting by Pedro Ruiz

CASABLANCA
Hotel
(57)  1 – 664 5433
(57) 310 – 856 0249
Calle de la Tablada, No. 7-66, San Diego
Cartagena,  Colombia

kubismo.blogspot.com

Case Blanca is an adorable guest house created by interior decorator Carlos Cubillos. Who’s loving touch can be seen in all aspects of the design.  His ambiance gives you the feeling that you live there; One doesn’t feel like a guest, so much as a part of a larger family.  The family of whomever is there at the time- be they staff, patrons or Carlos himself.

The building resides in the ‘San Diego’ district of the old city.  Just outside the tourist path, but close enough to be a short walk from everything.  It consists of 4 guest rooms, a small pool and roof deck.  Adorned with paintings and works by the superbly talented and poignant artist Pedro Ruiz, Casa Blanca becomes a refuge from the heat and bustle that is Cartagena.  There are many days that we forwent the outside world and whiled away the day in a hammock- just being.

The key to this family is the staff.  They take care of you and give the feeling of welcome with their ever-present positiveness.  The day starts with the included breakfast, some warm sun, lounging by the pool — just writing about it now, I pine for that feeling of purity.

Kitchen Lounge

Living Room Common Area

(above photo © Glencot House)

Glencot House
Hotel and Restaurant
(44)  (0) 174 967 7160

Glencot Lane, Wookey Hole
Wells, Somerset, BA5  1BH  UK

www.glencothouse.co.uk.
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While touring the West Country, we stopped by the lovely town of Wells in Somerset.  There we experienced this enchanting cornucopia of a hotel.  In one truly enchanting day, we explored its myriad of rooms, miles of books, plethora of antiques- and then there are the grounds.

Built in the Jacobean style by architects Ernest George and Harold Peto in the late eighteen hundreds after the original burned down, The house has changed ownership many times as a residence, until  the nineteen seventies, when it became a school.  Then, shortly before the eighties,  it reverted to a residence again and  in its latest incarnation, it became a hotel.   In 2006 Martin Miller, the founder of Miller’sAntiques Guides and Miller’s Gin, acquired the property and renovated it into a wonderful cabinet of curiosities!

The lovely gardens are home to sculpted vignettes scripted from storybook.  They are crossed by the river Axe, which glides through the property enhancing the magic.

(above Left photo © Glencot House)

There is a constant stream of events throughout the year- including writers retreats  and culinary weekends.

The rooms  are quite comfortable and luxurious.  Each is themed to a whim of Miller’s and features an array of antiquities to keep the eye roaming the walls, continually discovering new nooks and treasures.  Our room was a exotic combination of black walls and flowered drapery.  A window overlooked the green below.

A full service restaurant prepares strong English fare with grace and style.  The dining rooms are well proportioned and the staff quite amicable (as they are hotel-wide).

For us Glencot House is the reason we travel and what a hotel is meant to be.  To step out of the every day, to leave the known world behind- and enter into the imagination.

(above Left photo © Glencot House)

(above Left and Right photos © Glencot House)

Sochagota Lake as seen from room © ablogvoyage.com 2009

Hotel Sochagota
57 (1) 623 4992
57 (8) 785 0011
Km 2 via  Las Pisinas
Paipa, Boyaca , Colombia

www.hotelsochagota.com.
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The Hotel Sochagota in Paipa is a piece of architecture that feels as if it were lifted from one of the Sean Connery era Bond films.  It’s long, low ceilinged structure cries out for a renovation, but you don’t come to Paipa for the architecture-  You come for the stunning landscape and the healing mineral thermal waters.

The Hotel Sochagota is situated on the edge of the Sochagota lake.  A large round body surrounded by green hills dotted with trees.  Boyaca can be quite deceiving at times- often times tricking your mind that you are in the Swiss Alps, when in fact you are still in Colombia!

The Hotel offers a Standard Room which hasa balcony with lake and garden views.  Or you can opt for the cabin which has 2 sleeping rooms, terrace, fire place (as for wood at the front desk) and, most importantly, a private thermal bath!  This is quite convenient as the main pool closes early, and … it’s private

The key to Paipa is the water.  It is heated by deep underground volcanic vents which infuse it with minerals.  This makes for a highly rejuvenating bath that soothes away pain and ache.  Being a devotee of bath culture, I say that Paipa offers some of the best water to be found.  I highly recommend the private cabin and a day and night of solid soaking!

Hotel Sochagota can organize a horse back riding tour of the surrounding area; or you can relax at the spa treatments or take a lovely walk in the forest.  We didn’t look into it, but we saw people sailing,  water and jet-skiing, etc on the lake and I’m sure you could do any of those.

The menu, like the architecture,  is also stuck in the 70s; eat there in a pinch.  There are a bunch of local restaurants on the road to town.  We frequented the little roadside gem, Frutilandia.  And they saved us from our hunger with addicting Almohabanas (a pastry typical from the region); Changua (milk soup with poached eggs cilantro cheese and scallions- see photo below) and Cuajada, a soft white cheese similar in flavour to cottage cheese and usually served with caramel on top (you can order it plain and it is very good with olive oil and salt).

Hotel Sochagota © ablogvoyage.com 2009

(above left photo ©Patton) “Monument to “Los Lanceros”, created by Rodrigo Arenas Betancur conmemorating the Pantano de Vargas Battle in July 25th 1819, which was decicive for Colombia’s Independence.  You can visit this monument on the road to the hotel
(above right photo ©Matthew Shewfelt ) Sochagota Lake

(above left photo Hotel Sochagota) view from the room’s terrace
(above right photo Hotel Sochagota) natural hot thermal water pool

(above photo ©Amelia Mendez) Changua – Traditional Colombian Milk Soup