I’m not sure which part of The Osthoff Resort I enjoyed most.
Was it my huge suite, complete with fireplace, jetted tub, sunny balcony, separate living room and kitchen? Was it the calm of the Aspira Spa and the massage I had in one of its fireplaced treatment rooms? It might have been the cooking class where I learned to make French onion soup, potato-crusted walleye, beef tenderloin and a chocolate caramel dessert. Or it might have been all the delicious food I ate, much of it coming from the resort’s organic gardens (my dinner at Lola’s on the Lake and my berry pancake one day at breakfast were real highlights). Was it the views of Elkhart Lake, both from within the hotel and out on the lake itself? High up there was the friendly feeling throughout the town of Elkhart Lake and the kind and professional service of The Osthoff’s staff.
The Osthoff Resort is the biggest property in tiny Elkhart Lake, a resort town with a surprising amount to do and an abundance of excellent dining. The Osthoff is busy all summer long with families and couples enjoying the atmosphere and services. It’s easier to find a quieter time to visit at other times of the year, and just as much — maybe more — to enjoy. There are special events throughout the year, like a Christmas market and a Mother’s Day jazz concert.
The resort is an AAA Four Diamond property 19 years in a row. It hosts conferences, weddings and events, as well as couples and families who want a relaxed lakeside vacation.
Motorsport enthusiasts will love visiting during nearby Road America’s vintage auto races, as the parade of old cars of all types is right outside The Osthoff (be sure to book well in advance).
Prices vary throughout the year on 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom suites. The spa package is an excellent deal.
– The food! Organics from the gardens, fine and casual dining, plus a great cooking class.
– Spacious and well-equipped real suites.
– Gorgeous lakefront property with an onsite spa.
– I would have loved a bathrobe in my room.
Johanna Read
Contributing Editor
Being greeted by name on arrival at any hotel is a perfect start and so it was at the Fairmont Dubai’s Gold Club lounge. Immaculately attired staff welcomed us and offered drinks during our short check-in procedure before showing us to our suite.
The bright and airy Fairmont Gold one-bedroom suite felt more like an apartment than a mere hotel room. Despite including a dining table for four, a well-situated desk with extremely comfortable high backed leather chair, tea/coffee making area and a full-size sofa opposite the wide-screen TV, the sitting room felt very spacious. The hotel had asked our preferences in advance and there was also a beautiful spread of cut fruit, mineral water and the most delicious macarons imaginable.
The bedroom had a wonderfully snug king bed, ample storage space and a chaise longue, ideal for lazing on to watch the bedroom TV or to browse a magazine.
At the lofty height of the 33rd floor, the large Gold Club lounge affords fantastic views and attentive service and includes all-day soft beverages, afternoon tea and a generous 3-hour serving of evening cocktails, as well as 24-hour access. It’s a perfect spot to escape your room (if you really want to!) and work, or relax in between outings exploring Dubai.
Breakfast is taken in Cascades restaurant on the ground floor which offers an appetising array of international and Arabic dishes and subdued mood lighting that make for a relaxing start to the day. Our dinner was at the ‘Best Steakhouse in Dubai’ according to Time Out magazine, The Exchange Grill. Everything about the meal was perfect, from the sublime ribeye steak to the very knowledgeable staff, excellent wine list and funky décor. The restaurant also has a well-thought-out and high-quality vegetarian selection; unusually, the vegetarian options here are much more than a mere afterthought.
The hotel has a unique and striking architectural design, inspired by the traditional wind towers of the region. It’s essentially two towers connected through a soaring central atrium and the glass elevators provide stunning views as they race up the interior of the building. The design allows for a one-of-a-kind pool experience too. The Fairmont Dubai has ‘sunrise’ and ‘sunset’ pools, one on either side of the hotel, allowing for one to be completely in shade while the other has full sunshine — guests can take their pick of toasting in the strong sun or relaxing in the shade.
The Fairmont Dubai is a long standing icon of the city, positioned at the beginning of the famous Sheikh Zayed Road. It’s a stone’s throw from the financial district and the convention centre while being only ten minutes from three of the city’s biggest tourist attractions, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and the Dubai Fountain. It’s also within easy reach of the local beaches and of Dubai Creek, in the heart of fascinating old Dubai and only 15 minutes from the airport so perfect for stopovers. There’s also a metro station right outside the front entrance. We had wanted to stay at this hotel for many years; it was well worth waiting for.
1-bedroom Fairmont Gold suite with full club lounge access USD$380; Standard king bedroom USD$145
– Excellent spa with high quality treatments
– The Fairmont Gold butler was always on hand to help with any requirements and even packed our suitcases before we left and left a very sweet note wishing us well on the rest of our trip
– Excellent choice for a mixed city/beach holiday when combined with its sister hotel, Fairmont The Palm
– Service at breakfast could have been a little more attentive and special requests were not well accommodated
Steve and Candice
Review Team
On being welcomed into the Shangri-La’s impressive lobby by the famed ‘Essence of Shangri-La’ scent that is the signature fragrance across all their hotels, an immediate feeling of calm anticipation descends.
The atrium lobby is bright and airy with smiling staff and an artful display of white orchids. Around the lobby are the hotel’s restaurants and cafes, including the award-wining Hoi An, surely the best Vietnamese restaurant in Dubai.
We had a deluxe room with a view of the world’s tallest building, the 828m Burj Khalifa, and the surrounding skyscrapers of the buzzing Downtown district. The earthy tones of the room were offset with stunning local art works and the layout was thoughtful and practical. The toiletries are good quality and the fluffy bathrobes perfect for lounging around in.
The hotel has a great gym with a good selection of free weights and high-tech cardio equipment. There are also tennis and squash courts with racquets available to borrow at no cost, along with regular fitness classes on a paid basis.
Shangri-La has a great location, a short walk to the metro station which is only one stop from Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain, three of the city’s biggest attractions. It’s also within easy reach of old Dubai and Dubai Creek.
One of the hotel’s highlights is the breezy 4th floor pool which has to have one of the best pool views in the city. Recline on comfortable loungers and gaze up at a perfectly framed Burj Khalifa and you really couldn’t be anywhere else in the world but Dubai.
Deluxe Burj Khalifa view room from USD$145, not including breakfast.
– The breathtaking view from the 42nd floor balcony, especially at night
– The great food and particularly fun and knowledgeable staff in Hoi An restaurant
– Great location on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai’s main thoroughfare
– Sneaky tactics from the breakfast staff who handed us an iPad to complete a satisfaction survey. We thought it strange they only wanted our names so we went back a page and found that staff had already filled in the questionnaire giving everything 5 out 5 stars! We reported this but received no acknowledgement or feedback from management.
Steve and Candice
Review Team
The anticipation grows on approach to Kata Rocks, from the visually stunning photos on the website and numerous magazine covers, to the ‘buzz’ about this hip resort. Expectations are high.
The small reception area is staffed by young, enthusiastic staff in Kata Rocks polo shirts, and then it’s onto a golf buggy for a short ride down a precipitous road to the resort itself.
In the bright Thai sunshine the resort’s iconic infinity pool with white, in-water loungers are blinding and the view across the Andaman Sea quite breathtaking. The 34 villas, ranging in size from one to four bedrooms, are situated on the hillside overlooking the sea and huge boulders that give the resort its name. Each of the multi-million dollar villas is ultra chic, with top of the range Italian designer furniture.
Our stay is in a one-bedroom ocean pool loft which, like all the villas, has a full glass wall looking out to the terrace, a 7m private infinity pool and the deep blue sea beyond. The living area includes a 55-inch HD LCD TV with digital movie library and an entertainment system with iPod and MP3 integration. The fully-equipped kitchen has a well-stocked wine cabinet by Verasu as well as a full-size fridge, dishwasher, oven, hob and washing machine.
Up the cantilevered stairs is the slightly cramped but comfortable bedroom. Once again, the view takes centre stage with the bed offering a beautiful sea view through the glass wall. There is also a 40-inch TV in the ceiling if you can tear your eyes away from the mesmerising view.
The resort includes a well-equipped gym with state-of-the-art cardio machines, as well as a holistic spa with high-tech treatment rooms. In-villa spa treatments are available and the one-bedroom spa pool villas even have their own treatment room with two massage beds.
Although the larger villas are ideal for families or groups of friends, Kata Rocks really stands out as a romantic getaway for couples who appreciate the finer things in life.
One bedroom Sky Pool Villa USD$1000; one bedroom Ocean Pool Loft USD$1150, both including breakfast
– The restaurant uses the highest quality produce and produces superb meals, including the à la carte and buffet breakfast
– All the villas face west allowing guests to watch the sunset from their private infinity pools, the terrace or even from bed
– Very well stocked wine cellar with many premium quality wines available by the glass
– Staff seemed to lack the genuine warmth that Thais are famed for
– The resort’s in-house newsletter promoted a local elephant show
Steve and Candice
Review Team