[ daydream destination ] Hotel Boca Chica, Acapulco

The Location

Acapulco is the classic Mexican resort town which rose to popularity in the 1950s as a getaway for the rich and famous. It may have faded slightly from its former glory days but it is still the number two destination in Mexico for spring break among U.S. college students. Nowawadays, most of the tourists are actually Mexican. However, it a worthwhile adversary to the larger Cancun and is the largest beach resorted city in Mexico. The north end of the bay is the “traditional” end, known for its nightlife while the south end is dominated by luxury high rise hotels.

The Hotel

If you are after that original 1950s Acapulco vibe, then Hotel Boca Chica is right for you. The property was featured in Elvis’s Fun in Acapulco movie. Grupta Habita acquired the property and opened Hotel Boca Chica in 2010. A deft minimalist make-over has smoothed over the faded edges and breathed life into the space.

Renovating a building while keeping the original spirit is a tricky task for most. But thankfully many elements of the 1950s still shine through here thanks to Mexican artist Claudia Fernández who was in charge of the redesign. The exterior remains largely unchanged but the interiors are sleek and mostly white. Furnishings and details are on the minimal side but quirky accents – such as the vintage soda dispenser in the lobby – show off the hotel’s personality.

In a town full of massive resorts, the Boca Chica seems downright tiny with a mere 36 rooms. Each has a bay or ocean view and a roomy balcony outfitted with a hammock – the perfect spot to indulge in an afternoon nap. Jalousie doors open to allow ocean breezes inside and ceiling fans keep things cool. Amenities include Dr. Bronner products, wifi and 24 hours room service.

The Extras

The restaurant’s large open air palapa is the perfect spot to down a few chilaquiles. The restuarants Executive Chef Keisuke Harada provides an eclectic menu, including a sushi take-out menu.

The retro-style pool is a hip place to hang both day and night. Slide up to the bar to try an Acabrown, the hotel’s own tamarind and mescal blended cocktail. Or if you want to see how the locals live one of Acapulco’s most popular beaches is right next door. If you are in the mood for adventure, take the hotel’s boat to nearby La Roqueta island – an ecological reserve that’s the perfect spot to do some snorkeling.

The on site gym and spa are ready for those who desire it. The spa is a striking departure from the rest of the hotel decorated in dark and moody colors. There are several massage cabans and a therapy area where trained experts offer a full menu of body and facial treatments.

Once the sun goes down, the hotel turns into one of the hippest places in town. The onsite disco provides a place for guests and locals to dance all night long.

Hotel Boca Chica
Playa Caletilla
Fracc. Las Playas
Acapulco, Guerrero,
México, 39390
T. 1-866-978-7020
Rates from $95 USD.

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[ daydream destination ] The NoMad Hotel, NYC

You might think that The NoMad Hotel hotel which recently opened in NYC in April is giving the Ace Hotel up the street a run for it’s money. However the two hotels are actually siblings of sorts. They are owned by the same developer and are intended to be complements to one another: The Ace for the cheap and chic crowd and the NoMad for their more well-heeled brethren.

The NoMad (North of Madison) location has long been called on to the the hip new hood but the hotel is still one of the first signs of new life in the area. It’s housed in a surprisingly beautiful Beaux Arts building set amongst the gritty backdrop of electrical and perfume shops. The midtown location is within walking distance of many attractions such as Times Square and Union Square.

The hotel has been cleverly designed by Jacques Garcia with heavy Art Deco influences. The rooms were inspired by Garcia’s own Parisian flat and they have a comfortable well-travelled vibe. The public spaces are high on drama and richly outfitted in antique furnishings and heavy fabrics. Although the hotel has only recently opened, it’s chic vibe and soaring interior spaces are destined to become NYC favorites.

Rooms are sumptuously outfitted with custom king-sized plush top mattresses and embossed leather headboards. The custom linens, bedding and bathrobes are by Sferra and Frette. Vintage Heriz rugs and Portraits de Villes photographs add a unique touch to each room. High ceilings, hardwood floors and spacious rooms give the space a homey feel. European style bathrooms with walk-in showers are in most rooms and many rooms feature an additional freestanding clawfoot bathtub. Bath amenities are exclusive Argan by Côté Bastide. Guest rooms are tech friendly as well with flat screen LCD Tvs with on-demand movies, iHome docking stations and free wifi.

The hotel’s dining options are numerous and there’s something to choose from no matter what you are in the mood for. A sophisticated and eclectic set of menus has been put togethr by the Swiss Chef Daniel Humm. The Atrium and The Parlour are good choices for dining but if you require something private the hotel has several more options to choose from.

Thirsty? The hotel’s bar is suitably dramatic: 24-feet-long and mahogany. It strikes the right note between gentleman’s club and hip lounge. A proprietary blend of cocktails are served by award-winning mixologist Leo Robitschek. Or try the Library for a more lively setting.

The hotels staff are friendly and blessedly free of the usual boutique-hotel attitude. Expect exceptional details like turn down service and complimentary bottles of wine. They are also more than happy to help you navigate the complexities of NYC travel and reservations.

The NoMad Hotel
1170 Broadway (at 28th St)
New York, NY 10001
T. 212 796 1500
Rooms from $295

If you are looking to give your space a dose of style- whether you are splashing out or on a budget – drop me a line. Check out my Hire Me! page for more details.

[ daydream destination ] The Haymarket Hotel, London

A light changing pool might be the last thing you’d expect in buttoned-up London but the Haymarket Hotel is not the type of hotel to follow convention. This luxury offering is the one of the latest in the Firmdale empire of British hoteliers Tim and Kit Kemp.

The Haymarket could not be more centrally located. It’s situated off of London’s Haymarket in the heart of the theatre district. It’s steps from Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery and St. James’s Park. The Piccadilly Circus and Charing Cross tube stations are each a six minute walk away.

The entire hotel has a fresh and playful feeling which is hard to detect from looking at the classic exterior. The main floor consists of three spacious rooms that are vastly different from one another. The stark lobby is clad in white and yellow and dominated by a shimmering Tony Cragg sculpture. A coolly elegant conservatory follows done in shades of green. Lastly the is the boldly patterned library which seems wild at first glance but becomes comfortably cozy after you warm up to it.

The converted Regency-era building was designed by architect John Nash who developed much of Regency London, including Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and the adjoining Haymarket Theatre. The interior design has been handled by the designer half of the hotel team – Kit Kemp. Each of the 50 rooms and suites has a vibrant and eclectic look achieved by a mix of eras, colors and fabrics. The furniture is a mix of modern and antique pieces. A consistent theme is the fabric dressing dummy which appears in each space.

All guest bath rooms feature granite and oak vanities which are further accentuated by double basins, an oversized bathtub and all the technological details you would expect (anti-misting mirrors, heated towel bars). Rooms also feature wifi and large flat screen TVs. For a truly luxurious stay, be sure to book the private townhouse.

The stunning basement level 60 metre pool is truly the highlight. The lights change color continually and were designed by Martin Richman. If you don’t feel like taking a dip, simply grab a drink from the sleek pewter pool bar and lounge in one of the many nearby sofas, some of which are clad in gold lamé. The sound system is superb and the whole room can be rented out for private events, should the need arise.

Feeling jetlagged? Visit the Soholistic for a visit to the 18 meter pool as well as a gym, spa and organic pharmacy.

After you’ve worked up an appetite, saunter down to the hotel’s on-site restaurant – Brumus Bar & Restuarant. It’s the perfect spot to dine on Modern English cuisine and drinks before taking in a show. And on the way back take a leisurely stroll through the nearby 58-acre St. James’s Park.

Haymarket Hotel
1 Suffolk Place
London SW1Y 4HX
T. +44 20 7470 4000
E. haymarket@firmdale.com
Rooms from £245.

If you are looking to give your space a dose of style- whether you are splashing out or on a budget – drop me
a line. Check out my Hire Me! page for more details.

[ daydream destination ] Hotel Urban, Madrid

As you would expect from the name, Hotel Urban is a modern refuge in vibrant Madrid. The luxury 5 star hotel has 96 rooms which are all suites and duplexes. The hotel opened in 2005 and won a Traveller’s Choice Award 2012 from TripAdvisor (amongst numerous other awards).

The Urban is centrally located opposite from the lower house of the Spanish Parliament. It’s the business oriented part of the city, midway between Puerta del Sol and Paseo de la Castellanoa. It’s a quick five minute walk to Thyssen-Bornemis art museum and about 10 to the Prado. The lively Santa Ana neighbourhood is just around the corner.

The design is warm and welcoming yet still fashionably cool. The mix of metals with cool browns and greys infuses the space with sophistication. The glass and steel mix of architecture borders on the chilly side but the large helpings of historical art pieces do their part to warm things up (check out the Egyptian museum in the basement).

The guest rooms feature rich mahogany floors tempered by buff coloured walls. Sculptural leather platform beds complete the look. Bathrooms feature glass walls that separate the toilet from the sink and tub. Huge marble sinks are a focal point. Mesh make-up bags hold the hotel’s private label toiletries and of course, many fluffy white towels and plush robes are on hand.

The onsite restuarant Europa Deco serves Mediterranean fare. The Late Breakfast buffet is served unil 1pm which - perfect for after a late night out Madrid-style. Be sure to have a drink in the Glass Bar, suitably outfitted in Ghost chairs and spider-y chandeliers.

The hotel also features many other 5 star amenities. Urban’s staff is known to be extremely detail oriented, sending out items ranging from personal notes to bottles of wine to guests. And if you are looking to cool off, try a dip in the rooftop pool – the perfect spot for cooling off after a day’s sightseeing.

Rates from 175€.

Hotel Urban
Carrera de San Jeronimo, 34
Madrid 28014 Espagne
T: +34.91.787.77.70

If you are looking to give your space a dose of style- whether you are splashing out or on a budget – drop me a line. Check out my Hire Me! page for more details.

[ daydream destination ] Hotel BPM, Brooklyn

Everyone knows that Brooklyn is the cool now, so it only makes sense that hip new boutique hotels are opening up in the area. One of the first is Hotel BPM (and if you have to ask what BPM stands for you probably aren’t cool enough to stay here). Renowned hip-hop DJ Bijal has combined his love of music, hospitality and the environment in one sleek package. DJ Bijal was the first South Asian DJ to have an urban-themed radio station on both AOL Radio and Sirius and is regarded as one of the East Coast’s most influential DJs. (And yes music nerds, their logo is inspired by an equalizer.)

The hotel is a contemporary outpost set amidst the brownstones of Brooklyn’s Sunset Park, located on 33rd Street between 4th Avenue and the Gowanus Expressway. The hotel is an older building which has been converted into a 76 room hotel of Queen and King suites. The hotel has been designed to be completely contemporary, with bright light displays in the lobby at night to give a nightclub sort of feel.

As you might expect, music is the theme here. Guest can control the music in the suites and have the option of streaming in the hotel’s current playlist (curated by DJ Bijal). If you get in party mode, you won’t have a problem disturbing the neighbours. The rooms have been designed to be soundproof so feel free to crank your JBL speakers.

Guest rooms boast eco-friendly smart climate controlled rooms that automatically adjust the temperature when you enter and exit as well as light sensors. But here green doesn’t mean lacking in comfort. The rooms have been outfitted with 300 thread count Frette linens and “The Sound Sleeper” matresses that were made exclusively for the hotel. Bathrooms feature Porcelanosa marble, rainfall showers, steamproof mirrors and Gilchrest and Soames BeeKind bath products. The wifi is free and each room features a hefty stack of music themed magazines (SPIN, Vibe etc.). Dual shades offer full or partial light control. Other room amenities include 40 inch HDTVs, Keurig coffee makers and laptop sized safes.

The downstairs lounge serves free continental breakfast. The lounge is small but talks are going on to open a rooftop space at a later date. However, Bijal has high hopes for his first hotel with an eye to hosting music festivals and events through the hotel. It’s location means that it’s unlikely to become a true party center – which might be a good thing for some of the guests. The hotel is a 30 minutes from Manhattan and does it’s fair share to promote the local neighbourhood. Mini-bars are stocked with locally sourced products where possible.

The hotel is set to open in May, with opening week rates starting at $139.

Hotel BPM
139 33rd Street
Brooklyn, New York 11232
info@hotelbpm.com

If you are looking to give your space a dose of style- whether you are splashing out or on a budget – drop me a line. Check out my Hire Me! page for more details.