Tag Archives: Europe

Sofitel Saint James: A Room With A Breakfast @ The Balcon

Posted on March 5, 2013 | Leave a comment

Just arrived in London St. Pancras station

and 4 tube stops later, I’m on Piccadilly Circus, 2 minutes walk from the Sofitel Saint James located away from the crowd, in a little place that I didn’t know. The hotel is housed in an heritage building: a former imposing bank with incredibly high ceilings!

After a warm welcome at reception desk by a French-English bilingual staff, I discover my room: simple, elegant and spacious, in a range of black, white and brown. The decor is stylish with black and white photographies on the wall. Lovely bathroom with the old faucet and tiled black and white checkered.

What a pity amenities are limited to one soap, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner … all Hermès okay! But for short stays, to lighten my bag I bring the bare minimum like a mini make-up and cleanser, because I usually find everything else in the room. Damned, this time I didn’t take my toothbrush, toothpaste nor body cream (LOL!): thankfully Boots is in Piccadilly Circus!

Otherwise leaving my room with its so cozy vibe and “you’re in London Baby!” exotic view (picture 3) and comfortable king size bed, is a huge challenge my dear (lol)! Photo 4: a regressive wallpaper in the entrance to the room (picture 4).

And for lasting this cozy atmosphere, a breakfast full of vitamins at the beautiful Balcon, the relaxed chic brasserie of the hotel (pictures 6 & 7). Too hard to leave it to go to my meetings! Picture 5: amazing chandelier ceiling of a hotel suite.

www.sofitelsaintjames.com

Mayfair, London: Shopping & Art

Old Street & Bricklane, London

HOTEL REVIEWS, LIFESTYLE & DESTINATIONS

I was invited by the Sofitel Saint James London. Many thanks to the Sofitel Saint James London and these are my opinions.

Sofitel Saint James: Une chambre avec petit déjeuner au Balcon

Posted on March 5, 2013 | Leave a comment

A peine arrivée à la gare de Londres St Pancras et 4 stations de métro plus tard, je suis sur Piccadilly Circus, à 2 minutes à pied du Sofitel Saint James, situé en retrait de la foule sur une petite place que je ne connaissais pas. L’hôtel est installé dans un bâtiment classé : une imposante ancienne banque avec des hauteurs de plafonds hallucinantes! Accueil chaleureux à la réception par une équipe bilingue français-anglais, j’ai hâte de découvrir ma chambre : simple, élégante et spacieuse, dans une gamme de blanc, noir et marron. Très belle salle de bain avec robinetterie à l’ancienne et sol carrelé à damiers noir et blanc. Dommage que les produits de toilettes se limitent à un savon, un gel douche, un shampoing et un après shampoing… le tout Hermès, O.K.! Mais pour alléger mon sac durant les séjours express, je n’en porte que le strict minimum, mini make-up et démaquillant, car j’ai l’habitude de tout trouver à l’hotel. Damned this time, je n’ai pris ni brosse à dents, ni dentifrice, ni lait pour le corps (lol!) : direction Boots à Piccadilly Circus. Sinon quitter ma chambre à la déco ultra cosy, vue super dépaysante “you’re in London Baby!” (photo 3) et king size bed douillet à souhait, tient de l’héroïsme (lol)! Photo 4 : papier peint régressif dans l’entrée de la chambre (photo 4). Et pour prolonger cette ambiance cosy, un petit déjeuner vitaminé dans la superbe salle du Balcon, la brasserie chic et relaxe de l’hôtel (photos 6 et 7), d’où j’ai eu un mal fou à décoller pour filer à mes R.V. Photo 5 : le lustre un peu fou d’une suite de l’hôtel.

www.sofitelsaintjames.com

Autres articles :

Mayfair, London: Shopping & Art

Londres: Old Street & Bicklane

HOTEL REVIEWS, LIFESTYLE & DESTINATIONS

Back To London in The Eurostar Standard Premier

Posted on March 1, 2013 | Leave a comment

I tested the Eurostar Standard Premier Class

Yep I’m back to the real things, back to the blog, I’ve missed you! Fashion weeks go by and I’ve been back and forth: no time to post. But let’s start with a nice surprise I had for my last round trip to London. I tested the Eurostar Standard Premier Class. It’s always nice to travel with a heavy camera equipment in a more comfortable class than the Standard one.

Arrived at the station 30 minutes before – I was panic cause I forgot to print my tickets (!), I passed the check in and customs and I directly went to the train: no waiting! The cabin seemed smaller and more airy than in Standard: finally I have space for my legs! Great choice of magazines: Wallpaper, Condé Nast Traveller, Jalouse … which is something to keep busy my hyperactive person for a good part of the journey. Followed by a snack (attentive service) and already the Channel Tunnel!

The trip lasted 2 hours, the time of a traffic jam during peak hours (LOL!). Arrived in London St Pancras “fresh as a roach” (French way to say super fresh), I go to recharge my Oyster card (which is the London transportation card). I am now in less than 10 minutes on the Piccadilly Line, 4 stops from my hotel, SO great!

The good tip for anyone who travels two and more: Eurostar Plus. Upon presentation of the Eurostar ticket, you can receive 2 tickets for the price of one in eight of the largest museums in London. Interesting: many exhibitions in spring, like the Roy Lichtenstein retrospective at the Tate and the Bowie resptrospective at the Victoria & Albert Museum (“Fa-fa-fa-fashion! Beep-Beep”).