Party-minded luxury hotel in downtown Sydney

"Sydney trendsetters find lofty-comfort in downtown boutique hotel"
- Ann Vine, Editorial Review Author

Boutique hotel offers sedate rooms and lively lobby

The Place:

Establishment

Who's Going:

Young professions, owner-Justin Hemmes’ friend Keith Urban

Reason to Stay:

Architectural Design, City-Center, Boutique hotel

Hotel Type: City Hotel

The Scene:

On a bustling downtown thoroughfare leading to Sydney harbor, this lively boutique hotel offers an urban sanctuary for partying locals and savvy travelers looking for design-conscious rooms. While the main hotel entrance is a bit-hard to find on a separate side street, most guests enter through the lobby lounge. It's the quintessential boutique hotel complete with darkly dressed doormen, overcrowded cocktail bar and sleek check-in area where guests congregate after-10pm to complain about the noise. The lobby area features the well-hyped Establishment Bar with its lofty pounded-tin ceiling and Victorian pillars that attempt to contain the bloated-egos of studly bartenders and the leggy ladies that chase them. Behind the bar is a translucent glass atrium that peers-through to an interior courtyard of exposed brick-walls, and is nicely equipped with Le Corbusier (but fake) loungers for prime posing. Hotel facilities include well-equipped conference rooms popular with local media companies as well as in-house Est restaurant featuring modern Australian cuisine. A small fitness center is offers a few cardio-machines and free-weights, but leaves much to be desired.

The Room:

Divided amongst five floors, 33-guest rooms and two-penthouse apartments offer minimalist design and a sedate color-palette. Rooms feature two design schemes that are hard to differentiate aside from the dark-ebony floors and Japanese accents in one and muted earthtones in the other. Entry-level rooms feature small bedrooms with windows overlooking the downtown cityscape, or perhaps just the building next door. Bathrooms are generously laid-out with double-sinks, rain showers and the occasional soaking tub in larger room categories. Towels and bed linens are fluffy and soft, especially considering the lack of Italian sheets or even Frette in most of Australia’s hotels. Some guests complain of air-conditioning noise on the 5th floor, so opt for something on the 3rd or 4th floor if available. For those looking for something a bit more posh, try one of the bi-level penthouse suites with loft-style living areas popular with Aussie film stars.

Other Useful Information
Preferred Room: Studio Penthouse

Special Features: City-Center, Trendy Clientele, Designer

HotelAmenities: Restaurant, Lounge, Fitness Center

The Residence Tunis Hotel

The Residence Tunis Hotel
Les côtes de Carthage
BP 697 - 2079
La Marsa
Tunisia

Local #: (00 216 71) 910 101
Fax #: (00 216 71) 910 144
http://www.theresidence.com/tunis/

Oriental decor and great comfort, the Residence-Tunis is a harbour of grace and elegance where the Orient of "one thousand and one nights" unfurls it's magic...

This palace of Arab-Andalusia architecture, a real oasis of charm and serenity, invites you to discover the authenticity of Tunisia through it's sumptuousness, it's products and it's people.

Londolozi Private Game Reserve

Londolozi Private Game Reserve

Private Bag X 27

Benmore

Johannesburg 2010

South Africa

Toll Free: 1-888-882-3742

Local #: (+27 11) 809 4300

Fax #: (+27 11) 809 4400

$3,650.00-$6,800.00

http://www.londolozi.com/

Londolozi Private Game Reserve is a 14 000-hectare (34 580 acre) exclusive safari destination situated in the heart of the famous Sabi Sand Game Reserve on the western border of the Kruger National Park in South Africa. Meaning “protector of all living things” in Zulu, Londolozi is renowned for its progressive ecotourism practices, and is one of the most sought-after safari destinations in Africa.

Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok

Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok

89 Soi Wat Suan Plu

New Road, Bangrak

Bangkok 10500

Thailand

Local #: (66 2) 236 7777

Official Website

With lush gardens, river views and a signature spa, the Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok offers guests the warmth of the Thai capital amid the serenity of a tropical retreat.

Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa

Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City offers an unparalleled travel experience on the East Coast. The 2,000 room luxury casino-hotel, located at Renaissance Pointe, presents a destination designed to rival those once found only in cities such as New York City and Las Vegas.

After igniting Atlantic City’s revival with its 2003 opening as the first new hotel property in 13 years, Borgata – a joint venture between Boyd Gaming and MGM MIRAGE – has experienced overwhelming popularity and near-capacity occupancy since its debut. The Borgata has been the top-grossing casino for all but one month since its debut in Atlantic City.

Casino Hotel

Designed in classic Italian style, the casino hotel’s 2,000 guest rooms and suites include six tiers of luxury accommodation — 1,600 Classic Rooms (460 square feet); 313 Fiore Suites (700 square feet); 8 Studio Suites (900 square feet); 39 Opus Suites (1,000 square feet); 40 Piatto Suites (1,500 square feet); and two Residences (5,000 square feet). Stylish amenities, including floor-to-ceiling windows; 300-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets and Egyptian cotton bath sheets; ultra-comfortable custom-made Sealy Plush mattresses; large bathrooms with granite countertops and marble walls and floors; oversized glass-enclosed showers with therapeutic showerheads and body sprays; high-speed internet access, and three phones, each with dual lines, are included in each suite and room in the hotel.

Casino

With a 161,000-square-foot casino floor incorporating 4,100 slot machines and 200 table games, Borgata puts the high-octane excitement of casino gaming on display in all its glory. Among the available table games are poker, blackjack, roulette, Baccarat, novelty games, Racebook, Pai Gow tiles and Sic Bo. Borgata’s preeminent poker program continues to gain momentum with daily tournaments in Borgata's new 85-table Poker Room, the largest in Atlantic City. As well as high-stake tournaments in conjunction with the WORLD POKER TOUR.

Dining

Borgata’s 13 destination restaurants bring a world of culinary experiences to Atlantic City includiing Luke Palladino’s Italian eateries, Specchio and Ombra; the New York–landmark Old Homestead Steakhouse. Also on-site: The Metropolitan Café, Oyster Bar and Gelato Bar; Gypsy Bar; Risi Bisi; B Bar; Borgata Buffet, and Noodles of the World (N.O.W.). Acclaimed chefs Bobby Flay, Michael Mina, and Wolfgang Puck join Borgata's stellar lineup of fine dining restaurants with Bobby Flay Steak, SeaBlue and Wolfgang Puck American Grille.

Entertainment

Today's headline acts perform at Borgata's entertainment venues. The 2,400 seat Borgata Event Center has been host to the likes of Pearl Jam, Gwen Stefani, Sting, Carly Simon, Kelly Clarkson, Aerosmith and Lenny Kravitz. The Music Box, a 1,000-seat theater hosts more intimate events and is home to Borgata's nightly Comedy Club. Live bands and pulse-pounding beats can be found at Borgata's four nightlife hotspots: Gypsy Bar, B Bar, MIXX, and mur. mur.

Nightlife

With a variety of original nightlife concepts under one roof including Gypsy Bar (Borgata's resident rock and tequila bar), B Bar (Borgata's ultra-lounge, MIXX (Borgata's nightclub), and mur.mur, an intimate nightclub experience with celebrity guest DJs, Borgata offers guests the ultimate sense of nightlife escapism. More details surrounding each bar/club, photos, event listings and more can be found at borgatanightlife.com.

Spa Toccare

Borgata’s European-style, 54,000-square-foot Spa Toccare, complete with salon, fitness center and barbershop, is the place to indulge and escape in Atlantic City. Spa Toccare offers an extensive menu of rejuvenating treatments, while The Barbershop is a bastion of masculinity complete with a pool table and shoe shine. Guests seeking a relaxing respite can find it in the indoor pool and outdoor gardens.

Retail

To round out Borgata’s array of amenities are 11 specialty boutiques. Located in “Via Borgata,” the stylish shopping spots offer men’s, women’s and children’s fashions, gifts, toys, housewares and absolute essentials.