Tag Archives: Vacations

Hillside Beach Club: Room With a Soothing Seaview

Posted on July 13, 2014 | Leave a comment

The view, light & peaceful landscape!

After a long journey – my first flight landed at midnight, followed by the boarding of my second flight at 4 a.m. – I decide to spend the next three hours in the coffee at the airport arrivals. What a surprise, a nice waitress and an outlet to recharge my laptop!

Once seated on the plane to Fethiye, we wait more than an hour before taking off, lulled by the hysterical cries of a temperamental kid! A nightmare!

So you can imagine THE pleasure when early afternoon I finally open the door of my room at Hillside Beach Club! I am immediately caught by the sight (pictures 1 & 2)!

Difficult not feeling on holiday!

Every details, materials and colors of the decoration (recently renovated) encourage a certain indolence which frees the mind.

Offering free Wifi throughout the club, me and my computer (digital nomads) declare the couch facing the sea: our new workspace (picture 1)!

We can access to the bathroom (very well equipped wirh separated toilets) through the terrace. The bathrobes are soft and I loved the detail of wooden curtain, with eyes that protect from bad luck (pictures 4 & 5).

Each day, the maids creates a small flower arrangement, like the bougainvillea flowers in heart shape on the bed! Thank you for this delicate attention that have put me in a great mood!

Homely contemporary decor

White walls and comfortable huge bed, facing the soothing view to the landscape. Some nights, I could admire the starry sky or the moon reflection on the sea from my bed wedged into soft pillows!

This allowed me to avoid mosquitoes (through the bay window closed). Everywhere they love me! But here, much less than in Poland for example, LOL!

I also enjoyed the lighting with dimmer, plugs everywhere, including on each side of the bed, and behind sliding doors, a discreet large dressing with a long mirror.

Informations

Hillside Beach Club

Scuba Diving @ The Hillside Beach Club, in Fethyie, Turkey

Fashion: Let’s Go To The Beach In Algarve, Portugal

HOTEL REVIEWS & DESTINATIONS

I was invited by the Hillside Beach Club and as you know, my opinions are my own! Thanks to Hillside Beach Club.

Qatar Airways: My Flights to Asia in Business Class

Posted on July 9, 2014 | Leave a comment

I fell in love with the Dreamliner,

the Boeing 787-8: what a fantastic flying experience in both directions! Qatar Airways offered me a round ticket Brussels-Denpasar/Bali in Business class.

The one way trip includes two stops: a first trip with the famous Dreamliner aircraft to the Hamad International Airport (Doha), where is the hub of the ailine. Then a second trip from Singapore to Denpasar in another plane more “conventional”.

My first impressions of the flight from Brussels to Denpasar: great cabin with a minimalist design that inspires comfort, wide windows and especially the amazing LED lighting (pictures 1 & 2). The service on board is also excellent: discreet, friendly and efficient.

Comfort, high tech & gastronomy

As always the day before departure I slept little (3h!). That morning, there were still details to finalize this express presstrip to Bali, “tailor made” for the blog.

Do I need to add that a Business class on a long haul – more than 20 hours one way trip (including stops) – is not a luxury but a fantastic way to not feel jetlag and to be optimum at the destination arrival!

Quickly I got familiar with the different audiovisual and seat remotes (picture above and pictures 5 and 1). What a pleasure to watch a program on the large TV touchscreen! And the seat combining comfort and intimacy (without feeling confined in a box), is difficult to leave! Believe me!

You can also use the Internet, I did not. On my Twitter (@ Mademoisellelek), I was against the Internet in flight. Why? By peace! But now, not so sure, LOL … For me the most important: I could recharge my electronic devices in my seat during the flight. I’ve also found the best sound proof cabin.

Icing on the cake: the food presentation and quality of meals. Foodies, famous international chefs have especially designed or adapted some of their specialties for the menu. Picture below: main dish with rice, lentils, fish, asparagus and spices of the Indian chef, Vineet Bhatia.

First stopover at Hamad International Airport (Doha)

Arrived at 11.30 p.m., I leave at 2:25 a.m. to Denpasar via Singapore. Not really the time to visit the airport, even if the shops and restaurants are open (pictures below).

After the security check, I head straight to the Qatar Airways lounge for the First and Business travelers, where I quietly rest.

The lounge space is quite small, but it seems that the new (huge) lounge will be operational in a few days. Good point: I’m five minutes from the gate of my second flight.

Another aircraft (Boeing 777-300ER) with a much greater capacity than the Dreamliner. Another design more conventional, but the comfort and service of the Business class remain excellent! As soon as I received my pajamas, I wore it! It always amuses me (sorry I’m not a fashionista anymore)!

To reduce the jelag effects, you have to set up the hours the destination where you are going. Drink plenty of water and sleep a maximum. I opted for a very light dinner, with a fisrt meal of the Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhira and a salad. And in bed (picture 7)!

Second stopover at Changi Airport (Singapore)

I was really excited by a stopover in Changi Airport (Singapore), the most awarded airport in the world: 420 awards since 1981 (Le Figaro)! But the stopover is too short (1:30) to visit at least one of the airport’s gardens.

In fact, passengers to Denpasar must also leave the plane. Pass the security check and wait to board again. So it is recommended to stay close to the boarding gate. The second image (right) of the photo below: the lounge.

If the Changi Airport is huge, everything seems to have been designed to make the traveler’s experience easier and enjoyable. As I haven’t had time to visit, It’s just my first impression.

Back on board, in the same aircraft, sitting on the same place. Denpasar Arrival at 7 p.m. local time. Time for a lunch and then we land!

And guess who comes out of the plane fresh and smiling? Of course me! Another pleasant surprise after being pampered by the crews of my different flights, I enjoy the VIP treatment on arrival at Denpasar. To be continued… Selamat datang di Bali, welcome in Bali!

Informations

Qatar airways

More informations about how to organize your travel, here.

Travel Begins With a Good Travel Insurance

How To Prepare Your Travel & DESTINATIONS

Many thanks to Qatar Airways. As always all my opinions are mine!

Casa Vanni: A Room in Viganella, Piemonte (Italy)

Posted on September 11, 2013 | Leave a comment

After a very long day

among the beautiful gardens of Sacred Mount Calvary of Domodossola, a short hike in Anzuno and a visit in the ancient village of Tappia, what a fantastic surprise when I arrived at the hotel!

If for you too, luxury is defined by scarcity, taste, simplicity and warm hospitality, you’ll soon become addicted to Casa Vanni Dimora storica (historical house). From the exterior, I immediately loved it! THE pearl of my weekend in the Antrona valley, Piemonte!

This small hotel with 5 bedrooms is located in the center of Viganella, a semi-desert remote village that full of charm and surprises. In my room at the second floor, I was conquered by the elegant sober contrast between the ancient thick walls and minimalist modern decor (pictures 1 & 2). Spotless bedding and bath room, with new facilities, where every detail is perfectly thought out (pictures 5 & 7).

Simple almost monastic, but so refined, congratulations to our smiling charming hostess! Big euphoria when I discovered my little terrace with panoramic views of the mountains and village (pictures 3, 4 & 8). The bottom of the air is fresh and invigorating and the moment is magical.