Shahpura Bagh – half way to everywhere
Don’t rush through Rajasthan; make sure you rest a while at Shahpura Bagh to absorb the real colour of this wonderful Indian state. So often, we hear of people who’ve been on ‘The Golden Triangle’ tour being hurried through India to give them a taste of its wonders, leaving them exhausted and overwhelmed. Part of any tour will inevitably cover at least the mesmerisingly busy city of Jaipur, if not Udaipur and Jodhpur as well,...
Champagne in the snow; tea in bed? It must be Purple Piste!
Thinking of skiing in style – well Purple Piste will do everything for you except, err…. If you love skiing, as we do, then you’ll be only too familiar with the huge variety and standard of chalets available throughout the ski resorts of the world. What a truly successful skiing holiday distills down to, in our opinion, (leaving aside perfect snow conditions for the moment) is the location of your chalet and the personal...
Dreamy beds – our top 10
Our ‘alpha-bed-ical’ list of the top ten places to lie for. So that you’re not sleeping with the envy, make sure you check out our top ten ‘come to bed’ beds that have invited us from around the world. We’ve evaluated our current favourites using a simple checklist that each had to meet before it laid us out. To be a dreamy bed with sufficient ‘jump in, chill out’ value it had to be – sumptuous (big enough to swallow...
To the Burley Manor borne
This guest review by our son, Olly, gives an insight into this genteel hideaway in the heart of the New Forest. Ever since we were kids learning to ride our BMX bikes or being taken for long walks by our parents to keep us occupied, the New Forest has held a special magic with its leafy glades, meandering ponies and quiet secluded copses. So it was with a great feeling of anticipation and nostalgia that my girlfriend Ruth and I turned...
Dally in Darjeeling in these three exceptional hotels
It’s not often that you’re spoilt for choice in a destination but in Darjeeling, nestled 6000ft up in the foothills of the Himalayas of India, you’ll need to search your own character for the answer to which of these outstanding hotels you’ll choose. Each will take you back in time to an era of exceptional service and courtesy, attributes that have long departed elsewhere. Your choice will be based on just how authentic you want your...
Every seasons’ fare at The May Fair
Playground of High Society since 1927; graced by King George V and Queen Mary; showcase for London Fashion Week and the British Film Institute; masterpiece of contemporary style and opulence – The May Fair Hotel has evolved to lead expectations; like a charismatic chameleon throughout each era of its existence. Its initially slightly dour and conservative facade, despite the decorative trappings of Christmas, is quickly...
