Hotel Éclat is perfectly situated in downtown Taipei, close to many restaurants, with bus and train lines right outside the door. It’s in a great location for a walk to the Taipei 101 Tower and the Linjiang/Tonghua night markets. We also enjoyed the nearby parks, including Elephant Park which has an amazing view of the entire city. That view comes with a price of many stairs, but it’s worth it.
Hotel Éclat is elegant, modern and not too big. We were lucky enough to have a view of the Taipei Tower right out our window. It was perfect for sunset. Rooms include a great sound system, TV, wifi, bathrobes, slippers, luxurious bedding, and so much more. In the bathroom, there’s premium shower products, a shower with no less than three shower heads, and one of the most modern toilets you will ever find.
Some room packages also include an amazing buffet and made-to-order breakfast, plus complimentary mini bar treats and drinks.
The hotel puts a focus on modern art including some original Dali sculptures. Everywhere you turn there is something wonderful to look at. The visual details are tantalizing and the customer service is incredible. Whether you’re at Hotel Éclat for business or pleasure, you are sure to be delighted.
From US$207
– Great for business or leisure travelers
– Onsite restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner
– Not all rooms will have the great skyline view
Melissa D. Jones
Review Team
We arrived at dusk in early autumn having travelled 2.5 hours from Valencia along winding roads increasingly overlooked by medieval towns and castle-topped rocks the closer we got. After a final bumpy 5 km we reached our destination, a collection of ivy-clad, low stone buildings lit atmospherically by warm recessed lighting. We made our way in through narrow corridors, up worn steps and through leafy courtyards to be welcomed into the farmhouse style kitchen. This, it was explained, is the heart of the house, and a symbol of the hotel’s ethos as being a home away from home.
The hotel was originally a scattering of farm buildings, and a 15th century tower. With careful renovation the disparate elements were transformed into a delightful labyrinth of airy bedrooms, generous living spaces, sweeping archways, garden nooks and picturesque stone terraces. Rooms retain their original character through features such as exposed brickwork, deep stone window ledges or the spacious bathrooms not constrained by traditional architecture.
In summer you’ll find no end of shady corners to enjoy the sunset or gaze at the stars. As the evenings turn chilly you’ll find yourself curled up in front of an open fire or browsing the extensive library, never far from the impressively stocked honesty bar tucked inside the chilled stone cellar.
Organic produce is grown on the 220 acres of land, which is the foundation for the delicious and contemporary evening menus and plentiful homemade produce such as preserves and oils. The open kitchen fire smoulders and smiling cooks are constantly whipping up something mouth-watering, whether it’s lemon curd, marmalade or fresh chocolate cake. Check the hotel website to coincide your visit with a weekend cookery workshop if you like your relaxation to have a productive element, and if cooking isn’t your thing you could try some liquor tasting (gin, whisky) or even a spot of astronomy from their fabulous high powered telescope.
La Torre del Visco manages to strike an enviable balance of unhurried and friendly atmosphere whilst maintaining a professional and efficient service. It’s an ideal combination for a heart of the Spanish countryside luxury retreat.
From US$225 including breakfast
– The hotel has 17 rooms in total including 4 suites with open fire
– The informal breakfast bursting with home-made goodies served on the large kitchen table until lunchtime
– There are plenty of walks from the hotel or in the nearby countryside which the helpful staff will point you in the direction of
– Not suitable for anyone with mobility issues
– No TV or other technology in the rooms.
Chris & Hannah
Directors
Taghazout itself is a small fishing and surf village, and Hyatt Place Taghazout Bay sits back into the argan tree-lined hills overlooking the lengthly beach and villages, the perfect spot for watching the sun go down.
The hotel has its own golf course and clubhouse (with spectacular views over Taghazout Bay), two outdoor swimming pools, gym, hammam and 24-hour food and drink. They also run a shuttle bus to the beach and Agadir regularly so that you can explore other places if the poolside relaxation gets too much. There is an activity club for children to keep the smaller members of the family occupied too. A 24-hour shop in the hotel is a welcome bonus as you are pretty cut off from local facilities. As well as buying things you might have forgotten, you can also borrow things like phone chargers during your stay. You can eat at the main restaurant, Gallery Café, or lunches and two evenings a week at the Golf Clubhouse — there is plenty of choice.
The rooms are spacious with a large walk-in shower, plenty of toiletries, a safe, lots of storage space, lounge area and balcony. The wifi here is available throughout the hotel and grounds with no need for a password, which saves a lot of time logging in. There is also 24-hour room service and the hotel can help to arrange any excursions or transport you might need. There are modern design touches throughout the hotel including a wooden seating area, sunken lounge areas outside, and even Moroccan inspired design in the lift. It’s a great hotel for lounging by the pool with the odd excursion.
From US$125 a night (double including breakfast)
– Sunset views
– Great pools
– Buffet evening meals (you may think otherwise)
– Very expensive drinks
+212 5 28 29 68 68 
taghazoutbay.place@hyatt.com
Shona
Review Team
Riad Star is a complete escape in the middle of the hectic Marrakech medina. As is custom with the traditional riad accommodation, through the winding lanes of the medina, you’ll stumble across a door, often ornate compared to the mud walls that you’re passing. And inside, you’ll find an escape, and Riad Star is no exception. The beautiful shiny door with a silver star gives you some idea as to the style that you’ll experience once you step through it.
Riad Star was the Moroccan home of American-French star Josephine Baker. The careful design is a mix of Art Deco and Moroccan inspired textiles, lighting, tiles and furniture and is timelessly stylish. In the dining room you’ll also find a collection of costumes, manuscripts and other paraphernalia celebrating Josephine’s career in Music Hall. Each room is also themed around particular parts of her life. In the Chiquita room (her leopard), we were set just off of the roof terrace where there are loungers and a seating area for you to relax in after a busy day exploring Marrakech.
Whilst not as notoriously difficult as Fez, Marrakech’s medina can be a confusing place and you can easily lose yourself. Riad Star does everything they can to make the experience as easy and pain-free for you as possible. They have created their own app which is a map of the medina with recommended places to eat and drink and the riad mapped. It works from GPS without need for internet, and if you are without a smartphone then they provide one for you to borrow. They also give you a phone with the hotel and host Aziz’s numbers saved for emergencies, or in case you get lost. The app is amazing and we would have been lost (literally) without it, we also ate at a number of the recommended restaurants and were not disappointed.
With just seven rooms, it’s a really personal experience and host Aziz is endlessly helpful, just ask him if you need anything. You can also rent to whole riad privately if you’re planning a group trip. They also have a hammam attached to the riad and you can arrange for traditional hammam spa treatments. Riad Star is a stylish retreat in the busy Marrakech medina, and we can’t find any fault with it.
From US$215 per room per night (including breakfast)
– Riad Star’s app, to find you way through the medina, is absolutely priceless
– No time limit on breakfast, you can eat whenever you want
– Incredibly friendly and helpful staff
– Nothing we can think of!
Shona
Review Team