Imagine you’re in the woods surrounded by acres of grasslands on one side and forested mountains on the other, the sound of a river only steps away and the occasional bunny or deer running by. You’ve just returned from your all-day adventure or spa treatment and your driver drops you off at your tent. Your tent has a bathroom with hot running water and heated floors, AC or heat on demand (depending on the season), a luxuriously soft king bed, heated blankets and towels, a butler on stand by, concierge staff just waiting for your messages, and a chef ready to cook your dinner. That’s what it’s like when you stay at The Resort at Paws Up in one of their camps. You aren’t just camping, you are most certainly glamping — the best camping experience you could have.
Your adventures could be skeet shooting, ATV riding, rappelling down a cliff, whitewater rafting, hot air ballooning, a horse drawn carriage ride, go-karting or paint balling; they have it all at the resort. You almost never have to leave the 37,000 acre ranch if you don’t want to. The only exception would be if your excursion swept you away to enhance your Montana experience, like seeing Glacier National Park from a helicopter. If you don’t see an activity listed or an amenity in your tent, just ask and Paws Up will provide you with an exceptional solution.
Smelling of delightfully scented soaps and full from the most deliciously cooked meal, you sit by the campfire enjoying laughs and wine. You wait just a few minutes for your s’mores to be cooked to perfection, your butler there to help with any troubles or wants you may have. You think you might be dreaming, but you haven’t even gone to bed yet. It’s the perfect holiday. You’ll never think of camping the same way. Paws Up is the experience of a lifetime (or one that you’ll want to repeat every year, and bring your friends with you so they too can sit by the campfire and take in all the beauty that Montana and Paws Up has to offer).
If camping really isn’t your thing there are houses for rent with your own private car to get around the property. If you have kids, no worries — Paws Up has activities just for them and provides day care too. Every detail has been thought of for the most comfortable stay possible.
From US$1155 including gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner, wine and beer for two people
– Complimentary goodie bag on arrival.
– Hammock with every luxury tent.
– A perfect spot for a corporate retreat, wedding, family or romantic getaway.
– Wifi and cell service may not be available everywhere on the ranch (this can also be a positive feature if you want to disconnect!).
– During peak times it can get very busy at the ranch and the activities can fill up quickly. However, with 37,000 acres you will otherwise never know just how busy the ranch is — there’s space for everyone to get away from the crowd.
Melissa D. Jones
Review Team
This 5-star hotel had only been open two days when I arrived. I’ve been in hotels open for six months that were less finished than this one. The hotel was almost full — I was part of a large international tourism conference — but aside from a few cultural and language differences, everything worked smoothly.
The Crowne Plaza is primarily a conference and business hotel (it has 1538 square meters of meeting space), but is also a comfortable home for a western tourist seeing the sites in and around Yibin. Its 249 rooms and suites are large and comfortable with all the standard amenities of a western 4 or 5 star: mini-fridge, large TV, safe, 2 twins or a king bed, and all the lovely bathroom amenities typical in China. There’s even a pillow menu (though staff weren’t fully briefed on it, and mistook the key English word “menu” to mean the guest was asking about dining; it all got worked out eventually).
The rooms are designed for spacious comfort. There’s a sculptural bathtub in the middle of the bathroom area (you can close off the area with sliding doors). The shower room has both a handheld and an overhead rain shower. The bathroom counter has plenty of space to spread out your stuff (or get it out of the way on a shelf). The office area has a big desk and an ergonomic chair. There’s tons of closet space (but I could have used a few extra hangers). The three Club floors feature personalised business and concierge service.
Buffets and banquets are especially popular for feeding groups of almost any size in China, but the Crowne Plaza has one of the best ones I’ve experienced. There was a wide variety of dishes to appeal to a wide variety of tastes — Indian, Japanese, western, vegetarian and, of course, Sichuan, selections. The breakfast croissant and pain au chocolat were made with an expert hand. An English-speaking chef was at hand to adeptly answer questions about dietary restrictions.
From US$70
– Extremely friendly staff, ready to do almost anything for you, including press the elevator button.
– Great food, especially for a buffet catering to a large group.
– One of only two 5 star hotels in the Yibin area (the other is Eden Resort Hotel, not as nice, but closer to the tourist sites).
– The lobby is a bit plain and unusually shaped (the building was originally designed as a shopping mall).
– Pool wasn’t yet open.
Johanna Read
Contributing Editor
Talk about first impressions. When I walked into the Zoom Hotel I knew I’d found something special. ZOOM is truly unique, in the best kind of way. It’s obvious the design team went above and beyond to think about the hotel concept and how to make sure guests have an enjoyable stay.
I felt welcomed to Zoom Hotel; and a brew from the onsite “Beer House” was a nice way to settle in. With a focus on photography, the hotel has an industrial meets boutique/design hotel feel. It’s so easy to say that this hotel is very cool.
My room was very comfortable. I loved having a water boiler to make tea and a coffee maker too. The high quality teas were a nice touch. Since the Zoom Hotel is all about photography, the rooms serve as a photo exhibit, with various displays throughout the hotel. Rooms feature a “pillow menu” with a few different options, so that you can pick the perfect pillow. I used the speaker to play music via Bluetooth, which was a nice bonus.
I enjoyed the desk and working space in my room, in addition to the couch to catch up on some reading. The room was spacious for an urban hotel. Keep in mind that the hotel is not in the center of Brussels, but it’s not too far — just a 25-minute walk to the Grand Palace or a quick taxi or tram ride. Although this hotel has a rather edgy feel I was encouraged to see the range of guests.
I found the team to be very helpful, from the friendly morning crew to the receptionist who helped me print out my travel documents for the next part of my trip. The breakfast buffet was lovely, with a nice variety of fresh options.
From US$85, includes free wi-fi
– The unique design of the hotel. This is a great place when you’re tired of average hotels.
– The staff was genuinely kind and helpful.
– A great room: spacious for an urban hotel with a really comfortable bed and pillows.
– The location is a bit far from the city center. Hop on the tram or get a taxi when you’d like to go to the center of Brussels.
Katherine Wright
Review Team
Asheville, rich in history and fun experiences, is a bustling foodie city with so many new places opening all the time. For those looking for a more peaceful oasis just outside the city centre, Biltmore Village offers an entrance to a more luxurious escape.
From arrival at the Biltmore gate the customer service astounds. You receive a custom certificate with your name on it and directions to the inn. The road to the inn winds through fields, trees, lakes and bamboo, transporting you to another land. It’s as if you are in a fairy tale and you are the star.
When we approached the inn the staff were eager to assist us with our bags and get us checked in as soon as possible with all that extra Vanderbilt care. The lobby and dining room are quite grand. The view is even better. The time of day and the changing seasons make it a great view whenever you go. Besides the other people staying at the inn, the hotel is very private from the rest of the world. There are miles of grounds (8,000 acres) you can explore on foot, by bike or car.
The inn is nestled near a small village, Antler Hill, that consists of restaurants, a petting zoo, a winery and shopping. As if all this is not enough, you can also tour America’s largest private residence, the Biltmore Estate. A tour of the winery and complimentary wine tasting included with Biltmore Estate admission, which I highly recommend.
If I lived closer I would definitely buy an annual pass to the grounds. I would enjoy seeing the sunflowers bloom, the corn growing and the leaves changing. I saw just a moment of time in the late summer season and I know it would be amazing year-round.
From US$299 and up
– Personalized, Vanderbilt hospitality.
– Picturesque grounds to explore.
– It’s easy to get lost on the grounds.
– A car is needed to make the estate easily accessible.
Melissa D. Jones
Review Team