Savvy Sleeping

Today's sophisticated and trend-conscious travellers take pleasure from savouring the very latest discoveries ahead of the crowd - in hotels just as much as in the world of dining, fashion and art.

Having to sleep in an unfamiliar city can be unnerving at best. Savvy Traveller's accommodation picks have passed vigorous scrutiny for comfort, reliability, safety, friendliness, location and value-for-money. Savvy Travellers expect such extras as early and late check-outs, recognition from hotel staff when things go wrong and a prestigious temporary address worth boasting about to friends and business contacts. Most Savvy Traveller hotels have made the cut as places where you make-up or break up. Where you seek recognition or discretion. Where hotel staff have it within them, through the small touches, to make you feel appreciated.

Featured Property

  The Standard Los Angeles. 550 South Flower (at Sixth Street). Tel: 213 892-8080. We immediately knew we landed at the right place as soon as we strolled into the lobby - only to discover a dee-jay spinning discs, cool folks playing pool and a generally relaxed, cool environment. The Front Desk staff extended a mate's rate (around $150/night) and a choice room. We were invited to visit the rooftop bar area later that night, where another dee-jay was spinning disks in an open-air bar area with an awesome view of the revitalized downtown LA. Housed in a former office tower, The Standard LA takes us back to a place we all miss: art deco touches, rotary dial telephones, comfortable platform beds, 1960s type lifts and signs. Even the lobby barber shop has an enviable coolness to it! The hotel is big on being eco-friednly, with touches like boxed water and paper bags for laundry and dry cleaning. www.standardhotels.com/los-angeles

The roof-top pool at The Standard Hotel in LA. The city's only saltwater hotel pool.


China

  Beijing (PEK)
  Red Capital Residence. 9 Dongsi Liu Tiao, Dongcheng district, +8610-8401-8886. Savvy Traveller has not stayed here but loves this alternative to the big chains. Immerse yourself in stylish, tongue-in-cheek Maoist kitsch. It's a 5-room boutique hotel in a 150-year-old courtyard. info@redcapitalclub.com.cn


East Jerusalem

  Jerusalem Hotel. Nablus Road. Tel: 02-628-3282. The Jerusalem Hotel has been managed by the Saadeh family since 1960. Situated in an old Arab mansion originally built by a feudal lord in the heart of East Jerusalem. The authentic Arab architecture of the last century has been retained and accentuated in the arched windows, high ceilings, cool stone flooring and secluded vine garden. The thick stone walls cut from creamy Jerusalem stone, have been exposed and painted with traditional Arabic plaster. The hotel has undergone a series of renovations since 1991 and has been carefully refurbished with arabesque furniture. There are two original eating areas in the hotel: the popular Garden patio is THE spot with its grape pergola. The second area is designed to simulate a Bedouin setting and is situated in a 300 year old cellar distinguished by its arched ceiling. Local and international dishes are served daily either as a full meal or a snack at reasonable prices. Since the hotel is located about 100 meters from the Damascus Gate, guests can easily walk to the Old City or any other number of famous sites. Best rooms are 104,105 and 106 located on the first floor. Satellite television and free wireless internet. Don't be shy to book your CEO here and take credit for finding a splendid place with room rates below 100 Euros! Toll Free Reservation Numbers: USA 1-800-657-9401; Norway 800-13115; France 0800/912046; UK 0800/3282393. Email: raed@jrshotel.com

  American Colony Hotel. Nablus Road. 02-627-9777. Sublime, historic, romantic, expensive - THE meeting place for a cross-section of society in Jerusalem. Inner courtyard and the outdoor bar/restaurant a hangout for journalists, diplomats, aid workers, spies. Keep an eye out for disgraced whistle-blower Mordecai Vanunu doing back-flips in the outdoor pool. The Sunday brunch is very highly recommended. Awesome burgers! reserv@amcol.co.il
** Update October 2007: Bad service has infected the Colony courtyard and restaurant. Long waits to order are now common. Some blame a change in staff and others the influx of expense-account wielding side-kicks accompanying the hotel's newest celebrity guest, Tony Blair.

Egypt

  Alexandria (ALY)
  Four Seasons Hotel. 399 El Geish Road, San Stefano. Tel: +20-3-581-8000. Everything you expect a Four Seasons to be: luxurious, large, impeccable service, several good food and beverage outlets and comfort. From the time you are met at the rail station or airport through to check-in, the well-trained staff do not let you forget how special you are to them. Ask for rooms with balconies facing the sea. The French-Lebanese restaurant is highly-recommended: try a selection of hot and cold dishes from the mezza menu. At some point in 2008 an incredible seafront extension - complete with a private beach, cabanas and watersports centre - will further enhance this already impressive property. Tarnishing the food and beverage side is the lack of good wine by the glass choices and modest seafood selections. For incredible seafood, head up the shore towards the open air fish restaurants where fresh catches from the Mediterranean are on offer.
**The property is still operating under "soft opening" mode and many facilities - including the spa - are not yet open. Check directly with the hotel before booking.

  Sharm El Sheikh (SSH)
  Four Seasons Resort - One Four Seasons Boulverd, Sharm El Sheikh. Tel: +20-69-360-3555. This is everything a Four Seasons should be - right down to the chap who wanders the beach offering to polish sun worshippers' sun glasses! Nestled over beautifully-landscaped terraces that overlook a bucolic bay, this resort will appeal to those who demand great service and discretion. A custom built cable car (one of two in the world) transports guests between the main reception building and the (almost) sea-level pool area. Another thoughtful bonus is that a remote pool is dedicated for children - meaning fewer screaming toddlers at the "grown-ups pool" over-looking the sea. There are some small annoyances: the retail shop has mark-ups of about 400 percent on some items such as sun tan lotion - high by even luxury resort standards! Wine by the glass at the F&B outlets is mostly Egyptian wine, which ranges between entirely undrinkable to marinade standard. And when the wind blows the wrong way departing jets from the nearby airport can be heard. But none of these is reason to avoid this spectacular hide-away! Diving and snorkeling here are a must but like all resorts in Sharm, water worshippers end up competing for under-water serenity and views with dozens of other travellers! Finally the gym is not equipped with the full range of resistance machines that one would expect at a property of this class.
The resort is conveniently located near Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport, and it's possible to leap from your Business Class seat to the resort in under 30 minutes! Expect to meet guests and staff from around the world, including in the wonderful spa. With several varied F&B outlets right on the resort property there should be little temptation to take the 15-minute drive to the budget traveller hangout of Na'ama Bay, unless you want to mingle with the Ryan Air crowd. On some mornings Asian foodies will be rewarded with congee at breakfast - a rarity at Egyptian resorts!


Germany

  Frankfurt (FRA)
  The Pure. Niddastrasse 86. Tel: +49(0)169-71-04-570. There are two things which struck us about this hotel: its close proximity to the main Frankfurt train station and the reception desk that doubles as a bar! We were offered a glass of champagne before we even had a chance to put our designer bags down. Add to that reasonable prices, cheerful and chic staff and a delicious and plentiful breakfast buffet. While The Pure advertises itself as a boutique hotel, it does unfortunately hold back on things like fluffy towels and high quality toiletries. Rooms are small but warm and cozy. Email: info@the-pure.de

Hong Kong (HKG)

  The Luxe Manor. 39 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. Tel: (852) 3763 8888. French style, funky and well-priced (HK$1088) - a real oddity for Hong Kong. In the heart of bustling Tsim Sha Tsui, this self-styled boutique hotel also offers six themed suites - including safari and Nordic themes. A recent stay by Savvy Traveller revealed inadequate and spotty food and beverage service,

Italy

  Milan (MXP)
  Bulgari Hotel. Via Privata Fratelli Gabba 7B. Tel: +39-02-805-8051. Savvy Traveller doesn't often direct people towards hotels where a standard double runs 800-900 Euros. But when the property is backed by luxury retailer Bulgari and our favourite hotel chain - Ritz-Carlton - the urge to urge you to splurge is irresistible! A so-hip-it-hurts design - with huge black granite tubs and palatial closets, Bulgari products in the rooms and superb service makes this an obvious target of our affection. Not to mention a prime Brera location near Milano's fashion icons! The Bulgari is nestled in the botanical gardens, close to one of the city's best shopping streets, Via Monte Napoleone. It is a cool, quiet sanctuary with light walls, dark teak wood, Vicenza stone, Turkish Aphyon and black Zimbabwe marble. A spa and sumptuous swimming pool compliment the small size of this 52-room property, Care for seclusion? The 4,000 sq. meter private garden - adjacent to the city's botanical gardens - should provide sufficient cover from prying paparazzi. The restaurant - framed by a spectacular glass facade - serves Italian food, has an adjacent bar and is said to patronized by "seriously beautiful people."
  Hotel Berna. Via Nap Torriani, 18. Tel: 02-67731. Within a short walk from Milano's grande Stazione Centrale train station. This isn't a hotel of the standard Savvy Traveller would normally recommend - but for an affordable hotel with clean rooms and convenient location this is a logical choice - especially for those who find themselves stranded in Italy's industrial and fashion capital after missing a train connection. Book well in advance if you plan to visit during Milano Fashion Week in late September / early October. info@hotelberna.com


Lebanon

  Beirut (BEY)
  Palm Beach Hotel. Ain El Mraaisseh. Tel +96-1-372-000. You wouldn't book your grandparents or boss into this waterfront hotel, Euro chic, well heeled locals can be seen enroute to the rooftop hideaway - during the day to lounge at the rooftop pool and terrace and at night to socialize at the Bubbles Bar. Chances are you will spend most of your time on the rooftop, admiring the sprawling views of the Mediterranean and Beirut - as well as the people watching. Savvy Traveller believes other hoteliers could learn some lessons from the Palm Beach - room service orders arrive miraculously quickly, hotel staff are exceedingly friendly and wireless Internet is available throughout the property, The hotel is located along Beirut's Corniche, and just around the corner from where former Prime Minister Rafik Hairiri was assassinated by 1000kgs of explosives in 2006. Breakfast is included in the room rate but chances are, given Beirut's fantastic late night haunts, you won't be up by 10am to enjoy it!

Pakistan

  Islamabad (ISB)
  Chez Soi Guest House. 6 Kohsar Rd., F 7/3. Tel: 2276921. With its network of comfortable and discreet guesthouses, this is an exceptional, friendly, safe, cozy place to stay for one night or one month. Buffet breakfast with cook-to-order items included. Ask for the large suite. Staff will fetch take away from nearby restaurants. Excellent location near Margala.