Hotel Reviews
Hotel Review Blogs
Who loves staying at hotels on their travels? I DO! Yes, I absolutely adore finding cool, quirky and luxurious hotels to stay in along my travels.
From a 6 star hotel in Marrakech and glam villa hotels in Bali, to Michelin star hotels in the UK and unique accommodation in Croatia, you’ll find plenty of great hotel reviews here.
Happy relaxing!
REVIEW: Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon, London
Forget the tennis, there’s another BIG reason to take a trip to SW19 – for a relaxing getaway at Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon!
When it comes to mini-breaks, London might not be your first choice, but that’s where a hotel like this is just perfect! It has the feeling of being in the countryside, set in beautiful parkland and close to upmarket Wimbledon Village, yet you’re just a short tube ride to the bright lights of the city. It really does offer the best of both worlds.
I visited in October, enjoying the Eat.Love.Stay package, which included a three course dinner, a glass of wine per person, an overnight stay and a full breakfast the next morning. So, time to find out more… what’s the hotel like? Where is it? Who’s it suitable for? And most importantly – is the food any good?!
Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon: Hotel Overview
Hotel Du Vin has a collection of smart hotels around the UK, many in unique and historic buildings. I was familiar with the brand after eyeing up their gorgeous hotel in Brighton many times! Cannizaro House, their Wimbledon outpost, is a large 19th Century house overlooking Cannizaro Park – a sprawling collection of parkland and gardens that was looking particularly pretty as Autumn rolled in. There was a sense of grandeur as we entered, peeking through to the bar, lounge and the floor to ceiling glass of The Orangerie. After reading about the history, it felt appropriate to hear the house had hosted the likes of Lord Tennyson and Oscar Wilde! It was quintessentially British in character.
Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon: Style and Décor
I loved the bar and lounge area of the hotel, which is both sophisticated and cosy! In the centre of the lounge there’s a striking circular banquette with seating around it. To the side, a fireplace with an ornate marble mantelpiece, topped with bottles of champagne. There are tall columns topped with gold, mirrors with thick gold frames and chandeliers. It definitely feels like somewhere you’d visit for a special occasion. Just beyond is The Orangerie, Hotel Du Vin’s restaurant where we enjoyed both dinner that evening, and breakfast the next morning. What a room! While it’s a lovely open space (with retractable roof and huge doors opening straight out into the park) it’s the view of Cannizaro Park which makes it extra special. The greenery is uninterrupted, with the autumnal colours of red, orange and brown making it especially pretty.
REVIEW: Heritage Le Telfair Golf and Wellness Resort, Mauritius
Find out if Mauritius really lives up to those paradise images you have in your mind, as I check out newly renovated luxury hotel, Heritage Le Telfair Golf and Wellness Resort.
After exploring a lot of the Caribbean over the last few years, I was excited to venture to another corner of paradise. After a 12 hour flight from London I reached Mauritius – and from our arrival over turquoise waters and epic mountains, I could already see that this was a place where the photos would take themselves!
Our check in at Heritage Le Telfair Golf and Wellness Resort, a hotel on the south of the island, was no ordinary one. After an intensive three-month renovation project, that evening over 500 people would gather on the property to toast its chic new look. Incredible dancers, beautiful imagery, lighting, soundscapes and gourmet food combined to create a night none of us would forget in a hurry. I started to wonder if they threw extravagant parties like this every night!
By day two, it was business as usual, and over the next week we found time to enjoy the luxurious pools, relax on the beach and explore the impressive grounds, taking part in pilates, sunset yoga, a golf initiation, stand up paddle boarding, a cooking class and dining at pretty much all of the resort’s restaurants. So, whether you’re looking for a paradise getaway and can’t decide where to jet off to next, or you’re already considering Heritage Le Telfair, here’s a rundown of what to expect.
Heritage Le Telfair Golf and Wellness Resort: Hotel Overview
This hotel offers 5-star luxury in stunning surroundings. The south is seen as the wilder, more secluded and authentic part of the island. While for me, this was a big selling point, some may prefer being nearer the main towns and closer to the action. With its own stretch of white sandy beach protected by a reef, two large pools (one of them heated which is ideal for visits in cooler months) several restaurants, a brand new wellness centre, tonnes of activities and an 18-hole championship golf course, it’s perfect whether you want to relax or keep active. Its sister property, Heritage Awali, is next door, and provides extra options of restaurants, including a great Indian restaurant and Coco Shack – a cute beach hut selling fresh coconuts and cocktails. In terms of location, you’re a short drive from a few of the island’s natural wonders – the Seven Coloured Earths, Chamarel Waterfall, and Black River Gorges National Park.
Best Restaurants In The Lake District, England
Find out all about the best restaurants in the Lake District, including gastropubs, distilleries and Michelin starred hotels.
As we packed up, caught the train to Carlisle and hopped into our Hertz hire car, my heart was pounding. This was a trip I’d been desperate to do for a long time… and here we were about to arrive in the Lake District!
REVIEW: The Forest Side Hotel & Restaurant, Grasmere, The Lake District
Time to check out The Forest Side, one of the Lake District’s Michelin Star restaurants.
As we drove up towards The Forest Side, it was easy to see what a totally magical spot this was. Surrounded by lush forest with rolling hills and mountains in the distance, it’s like something out of a fairy-tale. It’s also just a stone’s throw from the historic village of Grasmere with its Wordsworth connections. This was as charming as I’d hoped The Lake District would be.
The Forest Side is a high-end hotel and restaurant, and as with many others in region, is perfect for those seeking a luxurious getaway. You can hike and explore the great outdoors in the daytimes, then kick back and relax in chic surroundings in the evenings. Rather than a sprawling hotel building, it’s one large self-contained house. There’s a reception, bar, large lounge area and restaurant downstairs, then bedrooms on the upper floors. Our room was large and had a lovely four-poster bed with canopy and an enormous bathroom with one of the biggest baths I’ve seen. Oh and stunning view out to the gardens and surrounding countryside!
The restaurant is the BIG draw at The Forest Side. Receiving an elusive Michelin Star last year, Kevin Tickle’s creative approach to food is reason to visit in itself. His passion for the Lake District’s landscape, and love of local ingredients really shines through in the menu. 90% of the ingredients are sourced within 10 miles of the restaurant, and a huge chunk of those are grown right on the doorstop in the Forest Side’s adjoining gardens.
There are several menus on offer, and as super-foodies we couldn’t resist but go for The Grand ‘Un – the full 10-course tasting menu with wine pairings. We’d be venturing through courses based on potatoes, venison, beetroot, cod, raspberry and even gooseberry! I couldn’t wait to dive in.
Before the first course arrived, we were treated to a few canapés, which already delighted in both appearance and taste! There was black pudding like I’d never tasted, a mini croquette and a pine emulsion, which brought all the flavours of the forest to our mouths. Meanwhile, the Parma ham and summer truffle was pure indulgence. A great start to the upcoming feast.
While I’d hate to spoil the experience for anyone heading to The Forest Side soon by revealing every intricate detail, I wanted to share a few of my favourite courses.
I’m a big fan of the humble potato. I saw an episode of Masterchef recently where the chef showcased how many amazing things you can do with potatoes – it can be a star rather than a side! The first course at The Forest Side did exactly that. The heritage potato was served with a white chocolate emulsion, charcoal and mint. There were pops of saltiness, then minty flavours with a rich smoky undertone. It was served with a dry white wine from Syria (a country I never imagined to be producing wine, particularly in the current political climate) which complemented it well.
