Tag Archives: Travel & Leisure

New Travel Books: ‘Great Escapes Mediterranean – The Hotel Book’ (Taschen)

October 2, 2020 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

Angelika Taschen set out in search of the most beautiful hotels on a great variety of coasts, islands and beaches, taking you on a journey to the luxurious Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc and the ultra-chic Les Roches Rouges on the Côte d’Azur, to the little-known Pardini’s Hermitage on the Italian island of Giglio, which is only accessible by boat or on foot, and to Bodrum in Turkey, where the elegant Amanruya resort lies hidden in one of the most stunning bays in the Mediterranean.

The Mediterranean is surrounded by three continents – Europe, Africa and Asia – and even though the cultures around this sea are highly diverse, they harmoniously share a pleasant climate, distinctive flora and fauna, and not least the intense blue of the water.

She also presents new hotel concepts, great architecture and creative design – for example the finca Menorca Experimental on the Balearic Islands, the modernist Villa Dubrovnik in Croatia and Dexamenes on the Peloponnese, where new life was breathed into decommissioned wine tanks.

Further highlights are the brand-new, stylishly designed Mezzatorre on Ischia and the Torre di Cala Piccola with its enchanting private beach on the Argentario peninsula in Tuscany, an almost unknown location that possesses the aura of 1960s Italy. Another real gem is La Locanda del Barbablù, with just five rooms in the shadow of the mythical volcano on Stromboli. Look forward to staying at the Nord-Pinus in Tangier with its fantastic view of the Strait of Gibraltar, and the charming Coco-Mat Eco Residences on Serifos, or experiencing the originality of Ammos on Crete, where the art and design are as essential as the sun and the beach!

The editor

Angelika Taschen studied art history and German literature in Heidelberg, gaining her doctorate in 1986. Working for TASCHEN from 1987, she has published numerous titles on art, architecture, photography, design, travel, and lifestyle.

Texts by

Christiane Reiter is a freelance author based in Brussels. She studied journalism at the University of Eichstätt and worked as a travel editor for Ringier Publishing in Munich and Zurich. Later, she established the travel section of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.

Leisure, Travel, Videos

WORLD’S BEST SMALL HOTELS: ‘Hôtel Crillon le Brave’ In Provence, France (Video)

Video September 28, 2020 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

Wind your way through narrow alleyways, the scent of wisteria in the air. Walk across the hidden cobbled courtyards. Stop to take in mesmerising views of the surrounding hills. Hôtel Crillon le Brave makes quite a first impression. A quintessentially French hideaway that fuses the charms of a 17th-century hamlet with contemporary luxury.

The hotel’s nine stone houses will whisk you back in time. But the rooms and suites give Provençal traditions a distinctly modern twist. Think terracotta tiles, colourful throws and handpicked antique furniture. Once you’ve settled in, make your way to the outdoor pool for a relaxing swim. Or wander to the spa for a restorative massage. And while the sun sets over the slopes of Mont Ventoux in the distance, dine on Mediterranean-inspired cuisine.

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Adventure, Leisure, Technology, Transportation, Travel

Top New Camper Vans: ‘Alphavan’ – Mercedes High-End Sprinter With “Unequaled Roominess”

September 21, 2020 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

The Alphavan is built on Mercedes’ largest Sprinter, the 736-cm (290-in)-long extra-long-wheelbase variant with super-high (299-cm+) roof. For comparison, that van is nearly 1.5 m (5 ft) longer than the Sprinter 144 that underpins notable campers like the Winnebago Revel and Westfalia James Cook.

ALPHA Living Space

Spacious living room conveys home feeling
Choose from two different styles
- Soft line: modern structured wooden finish combined with warm grey surfaces
- Pure line: soft earthy white finish combined with warm grey surfaces
Seating covers can be exclusively individualized based on your request
Feel yourself like home with a fantastic ceiling height of 2.10m (made possible by the extra height of the base vehicle)

ALPHA Kitchen

High quality design kitchen
Single cast countertop – smooth rounded edges
Spacious drawers, feather-light movement and premium Soft-Close technology
Brushed stainless steel push locks enriching the design surfaces
Three generous compartments in the entry area allow for easy access of frequently used items
Two stowing compartments with integrated LED background lighting provide high end atmosphere while realizing superb practicability
A comfortably large 90 liters Dometic refrigerator in a central location welcomes you
The countertop blends beautifully into a flush mount two-burner Thetford induction cooker
High-end sink armatures underline the elegance of the interior

ALPHA Bathroom

Spacious and bright bathroom with outside window, style “white-pure”
100% water proof
- Single cast bathroom construction
- Polyurethane sealed edges
- Side window with 100% waterproof frame fittings
Thetford toilet with SOG ventilation system
Additional ceiling ventilation
Space saving pull-out sink
Extractable shower head
Water-protected storage bin in the upper area for showering items
Flush mount integrated bathroom door
Premium door handle with innovative magnet lock
Additional useful built-in closet between bathroom and sleeping area
Clothes rail in upper part
Shoe compartment in lower part

ALPHA Relax Area

Sleeping space of 200x160cm
High-end mattress
Sophisticated ventilation concept:
- side-windows left and right for fresh air
- ceiling window allowing circulation and unforgettable star gazing during clear nights
Windows with fly screens and separate shades

ALPHA FlexPort

Alpha FlexPort 220x170x128 cm (LxWxH)
Integrated chair holders in the rear doors
Lashing system in the floor and side walls for safely securing stored equipment
Optional design storage bags for the side walls
Convenient hooks on rear doors and front wall of FlexPort
Seating and stowing capabilities on and inside the design round-edged floor cabinets left and right
Single cast closing flaps of the cabinets with integrated Soft-Close technology and warm grey design

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Leisure, Travel, Videos

Future Of Mobile Living: “2021 Living Vehicle” – “Top Off-Grid Power & Luxury”

Video September 2, 2020 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgrhLElJK1c

Enjoy a luxurious mobile living experience with all the comforts of home. The 2021 Living Vehicle combines beautiful aesthetics with the functionality of a modern home.

Excellence in design is achieved when there is nothing left to take away. Clean lines, European fixtures and marine grade influences elevate Living Vehicle to a stunning yet functional work of art.

Go where you want and do what you want. Living Vehicle is engineered to withstand the demands of even the most extreme outdoor adventures. Four-season capabilities, off-road running gear, and storage for all your toys make sure fun has no limits.

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Leisure, Travel, Videos

Top Camper Trailers: “Mobi Nomad – Slide Out” (2020)

Video September 2, 2020 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

The Mobi Nomad is a go anywhere hybrid with unrivalled inside space in its class and excel with features like full permanent bathroom, island bed, great kitchen and 2 minute setup time. With the slide room extended the Mobi has 12.4 sq meter internal space.

The body is constructed from 1 piece mono hull fibre glass construction with steel super structure for superior strength and stainless steel fittings. The chassis is manufactured from 4mm hot dipped galvanized steel and fitted with a 2.5ton Burquip suspension and 2.7ton Knott German brake coupler. The aerodynamic design ensures extremely light and stable towing. Mobi comes fully kitted with gear!

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Culinary Arts, Food & Drink, Travel

Travel & Cuisine: “Salina – Italy’s Island Of Wine, Capers & Pane Cunzatu”

August 29, 2020 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

ITALY MAGAZINE (Aug 25, 2020): Here, Michelin-star restaurants are hidden behind the secluded gates of family inns and the best wines are served by winemakers on a panoramic terrace using a vine leaf as a coaster while crystal clear waters are just a step away from the hydrofoils. And, though nothing lands in your lap since you have to climb through ferns and craters and puff along steep slopes to reach the most beautiful places and enjoy a magic sunset in the Pollara bay – it remains totally worth it.

Pane cunzatu – literally, seasoned bread, is the most famous Aeolian specialty. It is different from the namesake recipe you can find all over the island, which is more similar to a sandwich. Here a huge, round flat loaf’s base is topped with a generous amount of local delicacies, resembling more a pizza.

Once upon a time Salina was considered the “lesser” of the Aeolian islands despite being the second biggest after Lipari with three different comuni of Santa Marina, Malfa and Leni and six volcanoes scattered around its 10-square mile surface. However, it was a place that silently carved out a very special place in the heart of island lovers. It smartly matched its wild nature and untamed spirit with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere offering a dashing bit of otherworldly hospitality.

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Adventure, Leisure, Travel, Videos

World’s Best Small Hotels: “Huvafen Fushi – Maldives”, Indian Ocean (Video)

Video August 27, 2020 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

Ocean as far as the eye can see. The first and only under-the-sea spa and an underground wine cellar. Dinner with the sand beneath your toes and a world of luxury at your feet. Huvafen Fushi blurs the boundaries between sea and sky, land and lagoon. After all, this Maldives island haven is the stuff that dreams are made of.

Only a 30-minute speedboat ride from the airport, with no disturbance from flight or boat paths, it’s clear to see how ‘Dream Island’ earned its name. Here, private chefs serve you on a sandbank beneath the stars, sommeliers whisk you off on a wine flight beneath the ground, and clown fish dart past your massage table beside the coral reef. But before all that, you’ll be introduced to your bungalow. Whether it’s an Ocean Bungalow or Two-Bedroom Pavilion, you’ll have your own freshwater pool and a staircase into the sea.

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Adventure, Leisure, Travel

Top New Camper Trailers: “Pinea Mobile -Eco-Suite”

August 24, 2020 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

Pinea mobile is an eco-suite on wheels. ERA architects goes one step further by innovating in ecoTourism with this self-sufficient prototype thanks to solar energy, innovative fabrics, green roof and a rainwater collection tank (in addition to the usual natural materials such as wood and cork).

It is an ecological trailer-caravan between the vineyards of the residence of artists Mas els Igols who run Iris and Arnout in the Penedés. It also has a self-sufficient plant cover thanks to the rainwater tank that works by capillarity.

This innovative deposit is the FIRST TIME that it has been installed throughout the Peninsula. This prototype is supplied with solar energy, thus innovating in wine tourism, sustainable tourism, ecological tourism and self-sufficient construction.

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