The 5-star resort property of Nayara Hangaroa on Easter Island, which I will call Rapa Nui for the rest of this article, is an exceptional experience that I can’t possibly recommend enough. Also read my article on visiting Rapa Nui in general.
A portion of the reception area at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
We were greeted at the airport by resort personnel on foot, but because of a small protest happening that day, they weren’t allowed to drive right up to get us. Instead, we all had to drag our bags a few minutes away to a parking lot. That wasn’t fun, but once we arrived at the resort about 10 minutes later, we were greeted with a welcome local fruit drink and a flower lei.
The real flower lei given to me upon arrival at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
At reception, someone sat with each of us to give us instructions about the property. Then, someone guided us to our rooms. There are two types of rooms. I opted for a “Kainga” room (Kainga means earth), which is the least expensive of the two types of rooms.
My room at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
But that least expensive room didn’t leave me feeling cheated in the least. It was air conditioned room and made of cypress logs, clay, and volcanic stone. It was very spacious (527 square feet) with a king-sized bed, couch, table, private outdoor terrace with a table and two chairs and ocean view, a large bathtub, stand-up shower, sink, minibar, and front hallway with a shelf and a large bureau with shelves, a safe, and plenty of room for hanging clothes.
My room at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.My private terrace at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
A bathrobe and flip flops were provided, and maid service was available twice a day. The first drinks in the minibar were complimentary, while I paid for the refrigerator to be replenished after that.
My room at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.My room at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.The large bureau and entry shelf in my Kainga room at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The shower was constructed of local clay tiles made by an artisan from Pichilemu on the Island and manufactured in local ovens, and it had the best showerhead I have ever experienced in my life. It was a strong flow of water, but extra fine. (I luxuriated under it a bit more than I’d like to admit.)
The shower in my room at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The Maunga (mountain) rooms are built on two levels and great for families, providing 796 square feet. These also have a private outdoor terrace along with 1-1/2 baths, a king bed plus two sofa beds, and the other amenities as my Kainga room.
One of the buildings at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The package I bought is called the “Dream Program.” It includes only breakfast, but other on-site meals and excursions leaving from the resort can be charged to the room. I found the cost of the excursions and the food to be quite reasonable. The “Discover Program” includes breakfast, as well as either lunch or dinner each day, and one free half-day excursion per night stay. The “Full Experience” includes all meals.
The pool at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The resort has an outdoor pool and a spa with reasonably priced treatments, is kid-friendly, and offers bicycle rentals. It’s also located just across a street from the coast and a short walk from the Island’s main town, which has a few restaurants and cute little shops. I bought a gift box of Moai statue-shaped and scented soaps.
A portion of the breakfast buffet at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The food at Nayara was universally delicious. The breakfast buffet at Poerava restaurant was very extensive with eggs made to order, bacon, a variety of cold meats, cereals, juices, breads, and pastries. The variety was the most I’ve seen at a hotel outside of Asia, which seems to always have the best breakfast buffets in the world.
A rainbow one afternoon from the outdoor seating of Poerava restaurant. You can also see one of the many stray dogs on the Island that are cared for by the inhabitants. They seem quite healthy and happy. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Poerava also serves lunch with both indoor and outdoor seating that overlooks the ocean. Its location provided a wonderful view of the sunset and gifted us a full rainbow one late afternoon. I ate the roast beef salad there two days in a row because it was so good. Besides mixed greens and roast beef, it contained palm hearts, grilled onions, avocado, and mango slices with a honey mustard vinaigrette.
Food is also served at the Vaikoa Bar, which is located in a separate building next door to Poerava. Each night, they provided a free surprise cocktail like a Kir Royale or a Pisco Sour.
Basil ceviche amuse bouche. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The fine dining restaurant just beyond Poerava serves dinner in an elegant indoor setting, but it was fine to dress casually there. I was served a wonderful basil ceviche amuse bouche followed by a lovely salad with avocado, carrots, sweet potatoes, and grilled pineapple. I also loved the chicken curry. Of course, the restaurants serve a great deal of local fresh seafood.
Salad with grilled pineapple, carrots, sweet potatoes, and avocados at Nayara Hangaroa restaurant. Photo by Melanie Votaw.Chicken curry at Nayara Hangaroa’s restaurant. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
There are numerous excursions available leaving each day from the resort at 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Besides the various Moai statues on the island, you can visit a volcano crater site or small cave. You can do a trek in the more isolated parts of the island or a guided bicycle trip for three hours.
Other experiences include diving, surfing, a boat ride, cooking classes, and Moai carving classes. While some of the excursions are called “low difficulty,” they aren’t all on flat land. You might have to climb stairs or rocks a bit.
Our guides for the excursions were locals who were very knowledgeable about the Island’s locations and history. Two of them said they had learned much from their grandparents, who were native to Rapa Nui. Of course, there’s still much no one knows about the Island and its statues, which is one of the things that makes it so fascinating.
The view from Poerava restaurant. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
My only complaint about Nayara was that many of us wanted to take a sunrise excursion to particular Moai statues near the resort, but they told us repeatedly that this wasn’t available to us because of the clouds. In other words, they claimed there would be no sunrise. We wondered if they just didn’t have any available staff that early in the morning.
Then, at the airport before leaving the Island, I met a couple who had stayed at the other Rapa Nui 5-star resort called Explora Lodge. They said they went on a sunrise excursion during the time of my stay that proved to be a mystical experience. I feel a bit cheated that I didn’t have that opportunity.
There was a Polynesian dance show one night at the resort. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The downside of Explora, according to them, was that they felt pressured to leave $100US in tips for the staff on a daily basis, which they thought was excessive considering the price of staying there. At Nayara, we were never pressured to tip anyone, but of course, I did. I’m happy to tip, but no one likes to feel pressured into it.
Despite my minor complaint, my stay at Nayara Hangaroa was stellar, and I would love to experience it again. Next, I plan to visit their resort property in Chile’s Atacama Desert. Stay tuned!
In the late 1990s, I visited Iguassu Falls in Brazil for the first time, and I stayed at Hotel das Cataratas – a sprawling, bright pink, 1950s hacienda-style property right across the street from the Falls. I got a deal back then and paid about $100 a night.
Hotel das Cataratas in Iguassu Falls, Brazil. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Since then, the hotel has been renovated and taken over by Belmond, making it even fancier with a price tag eight times as high as in the late 1990s. But I have to say it’s worth it. Not only is this the only hotel within the national park where you find the Falls, but it goes beyond five-star service for a luxury-plus experience.
One of the lounge areas in Hotel das Cataratas. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
First of all, staying within the national park means you don’t have to travel 15-30 minutes from your hotel to the Falls. You just cross the street! You also don’t have to pay to enter the park because you’re already there, and you can beat the crowds, visiting the Falls before the park officially opens and after it closes (although they suggest you not walk on the trails after dark).
Iguassu Falls from a helicopter. Even this isn’t the full expanse of these immense falls. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
I arranged with the hotel to have a private car transfer from the airport to the property, which took only about 20 minutes. Once you enter the park, the speed limit is quite low to prevent collisions with animals. I didn’t see any coatimundis (raccoon-like animals) during this visit, but in the 1990s, they were everywhere. So back then, I saw a couple of dead ones that had been hit by cars. Hopefully, this low speed limit makes that less likely to happen.
Iguassu Falls across the street from Hotel das Cataratas. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
My bags were delivered to my traditionally decorated room with a queen-sized bed. I was upgraded to a Deluxe room in the “Garden Wing,” which meant my windows opened to a section of the hotel’s substantial gardens. This also meant my room was occasionally a little buggy (even though I kept the windows closed).
My deluxe Garden Wing room at Hotel das Cataratas. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
But this is a rainforest, so if you absolutely hate bugs, don’t go. (I mean, you might even hear howler monkeys in the distance.) The hotel provided a small bottle of natural repellent spray, which did come in handy, and I managed to avoid even one mosquito bite.
Another part of my deluxe room at Hotel das Cataratas. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The gardens on the hotel grounds, by the way, are gorgeous. Some of the birds have become quite used to people, including the Southern Lapwing and colorful Plush-crested Jay.
A portion of the gardens at Hotel das Cataratas. Photo by Melanie Votaw.A southern lapwing enjoys the hotel pool. Photo by Melanie Votaw.A plush-crested jay in the gardens at Hotel das Cataratas. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
While I didn’t get a Deluxe room with a view of the Falls, those rooms are available at a higher price if you prefer. I had no complaints about my room, however, which had a large bureau, free minibar, free wifi, table and chairs, television, bathrobe, and slippers. The spacious bathroom was filled with lovely blue and white Portuguese tiles called azulejos.
The bathroom in my room at Hotel das Cataratas. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Other hotel services include a pillow menu, ATM, babysitting, business center, concierge, shoeshine, laundry, dry cleaning, adapters and converters, and a free shuttle van that runs every 20 minutes to and from the hotel and the entrance to the national park.
The hotel’s shuttle van is easy to spot. Photo by Melanie Votaw.My deluxe room at Hotel das Cataratas. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
I was also impressed by the daycare center on site with all sorts of guided activities for kids. And next to the doors, there were umbrellas available to borrow. These little touches do much to make a hotel stay extra comfortable and special.
Hotel das Cataratas has a heated outdoor pool with a bar as well, where you can have a drink and a nosh, and there’s a restaurant called IPÊ that’s just a few stairs up from the pool and with indoor and outdoor seating. The breakfast there is generous with just about everything you could possibly want, and it also serves lunch and dinner.
The pool at Hotel das Cataratas. Photo by Melanie Votaw.IPÊ Restaurant at Hotel das Cataratas. Photo by Melanie Votaw.A pistachio pastry and a banana/dulce de leche pastry at Hotel das Cataratas breakfast. Yum! Photo by Melanie Votaw.
For fine dining at dinner time, there’s Itaipu Restaurant, serving top-notch Brazilian cuisine such as Amazonian pirarucu fish in beurre blanc sauce with banana crumbs and grilled vegetables with a cherry reduction.
Part of breakfast at Hotel das Cataratas. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
During a hard rain one day (it’s a rainforest, after all), I sat on the terrace of the hotel at Bar Tarobá with a view of the Falls. I ordered bruschetta with parma ham and figs with an apricot bellini made with Moët & Chandon, and they provided a bowl of mixed nuts. My delightful waiter asked my first name and remembered me by name the next day when I ordered a drink at the pool bar.
Bruschetta with parma ham and figs at Bar Tarobá in Hotel das Cataratas. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The hotel has 187 rooms and suites, a children’s pool, tennis courts, a gym, a spa, luxury shops, meeting rooms, conference facilities, and room service. It also provides guided excursions and adventure sports for guests. Experiences like wine tasting, cachaça tasting (cachaça is a popular liquor in Brazil), sunset with cocktails in the hotel’s tower, afternoon tea, and a garden picnic are all available. It has also received certifications for environmental management and social responsibility.
The lobby at Hotel das Cataratas. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
You can’t go wrong with this grand hotel, which has hosted the Princess of Wales, David Rockefeller, Anthony Hopkins, and Jackie Chan, among others. They say location is everything, and this one has a location like no other. But it goes far beyond its location to provide stellar service and food.
A vegan brownie at Hotel das Cataratas. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Read my separate article on the town of Iguassu Falls itself, what it’s like to visit this miraculous site, and what else you can do there.
The ultra-modern, 5-star Capitol Hotel Tokyu is located in the trendy Akasaka area of central Tokyo, not far from the Imperial Palace. The locale couldn’t be more convenient. There’s a subway station just under it where several Metro lines converge, so you can take an elevator or escalator from the subway to the hotel.
My room at Capitol Hotel Tokyu. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
I loved the Capitol’s sleek 21st century décor, but the hotel itself has quite a history. About 50 years ago when it was in a different building at the same location, the Beatles stayed there. The building was completely rebuilt in 2010 – a project that took four years. It was designed by architect Kengo Kuma, who has also designed the stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Capitol Tokyu is a large property with 251 rooms (including 13 suites), three restaurants, a bar, a pastry boutique, five banquet facilities, small meeting rooms, private dining rooms, an indoor swimming pool, fitness center, spa, and gardens.
A beautiful cherry blossom ikebana display in the lobby of the Capitol Hotel Tokyu. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Even though the décor is very modern and high tech, the style is still true to Japan. The impressive lobby included a huge cherry blossom ikebana display and a kimono-clad woman playing a traditional musical instrument from afternoon to evening. Of course, as is common in Japan, there are flower arrangements everywhere.
A musician in the Capitol Hotel Tokyu lobby. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Shoji paper screen dividers are also in every guest room. In my Deluxe King room, the divider separated the bedroom from the bathroom. At 500 square feet, the room was spacious, especially by Japanese standards, which have tended to mean smaller rooms than in the west. My Deluxe King included a desk and a chaise, a large bathroom, and an unusual amount of closet space.
Sliding room dividers in my room at Capitol Hotel Tokyu. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Larger rooms are available as well from the Premier rooms and Club rooms to the suites. The Garden Suite on the 5th floor overlooks the historic Hie Shrine.
The bathroom in my room at Capitol Hotel Tokyu. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
What I loved most about my room, though, was the panoramic window with a button-operated shade and separate button-operated curtains. My view was of the Tokyo skyline, but the hotel also has some gardens on the property that can be seen from some rooms. I got a view of the gardens from the Origami restaurant the next morning, which made for a particularly peaceful breakfast.
Origami Restaurant breakfast. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The breakfast, by the way, was a relatively small but fine buffet, while my eggs were made to order and brought to my table by the wait staff. Origami is open for all-day dining and has a pastry boutique that’s been famous for its butter-free banana bread since 1963. If you want to buy the folks back home an unusual edible gift, check out the boutique’s Gâteau Noir, which is a charcoal black cake with chestnuts and adzuki beans, made using bamboo charcoal.
My room’s closet at Capitol Hotel Tokyu. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Origami is a great choice for lunch or dinner if you want a break from Japanese cuisine because it serves eclectic dishes like T-bone steak, clam chowder, jambalaya, fettuccine alfredo, and banana custard pie.
The Capitol’s main restaurant, however, is the Japanese Suiren, which serves teppan-yaki, sushi, kaiseki with traditional tea ceremonies, and a popular tempura station. Star Hill serves the four major areas of Chinese cuisine and includes a weekend buffet with 110 types of dishes.
Capitol Hotel Tokyu robe and slippers. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
There’s also an additional bar on the fourth floor, aptly called The Capitol Bar, open from 4:00 to midnight and with its own elevator. When I was there, the hotel was still serving cherry blossom-flavored specialty drinks at the bar and during afternoon tea. (Note that cigar smokers are welcome in this bar.)
A meeting room at Capitol Hotel Tokyu with a crib for babies. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Capitol has a variety of meeting rooms, including several ballrooms, but what impressed me most was that one of the small meeting rooms I saw contained a crib. I’ve never seen this in a hotel anywhere in the world. It seems that Japan is more progressive about helping parents manage their lives between home and work. Not surprisingly, the hotel is also a popular place for weddings and wedding receptions.
I would happily stay at The Capitol Hotel Tokyu again when in Tokyo. Its 5-star status is well-earned from the helpfulness of the staff to the facilities, food, and accommodations.
The author received a complimentary stay at this hotel, but we are dedicated to providing unbiased reviews based on our experience. See our Disclosures page for more information.
The Ciragan Palace Kempinski Hotel is true to its name in more ways than one. Not only are the building and grounds palatial, but so is the ambience and the service. Of all the fine hotels I have had the good fortune of experiencing across the world, the Ciragan Palace is the finest. The property is allowed to call itself “5-star luxury,” but it is far superior to most 5-star hotels.
The entrance to the Ciragan Palace. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Of its 302 rooms, 75% of them face the Bosphorus, and 25% face the park behind the hotel. My room was larger than the size of a normal suite and had a view of the Bosphorus and the outdoor pool below from a private balcony.
The view from my room at the Ciragan Palace. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
It also had a living room and hallway with a couch, chair, dining table, desk, television, and bureau. The bedroom had another television, chairs, and a pillow menu, and the beautiful bath contained a separate shower and bathtub, as well as a bidet.
My room at the Ciragan Palace. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The Ottoman décor was in deep red and green velvets and brocades, with a faux brocade canopy over the bed. The lights were operated by push button on the telephone, along with a “do not disturb” button. WiFi was complimentary throughout the property.
My room at the Ciragan Palace. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The Ciragan Palace is on the opposite side of the Bosphorus from the historical areas of Istanbul. You can take a taxi across the bridge or take the tram part of the way and a taxi the rest of the way. When traffic is heavy, it’s actually faster to take the tram.
Another view of my room at the Ciragan Palace. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
“Ciragan” is a word derived from Persian, which means “a special light source,” and the name was borrowed from the torchlit “Ciragan Festivals” that were held on the grounds in the 1700s. The word is not pronounced as it looks in English, however. So when you tell a taxi driver to take you to this hotel, it’s important to get the pronunciation right. The “g” in the name is silent, and the “c” has a “sh” sound, which means you pronounce it as “sheer-on.”
The lobby at the Ciragan Palace. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Security is exceptional in the hotel. You have to go through a metal detector each time you enter. This is both a bother and a comfort. The lobby is expansive with large vases of fresh flowers and several luxury shops.
The grounds of the Ciragan Palace on the Bosphorus are stunning. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The grounds of the hotel are also expansive. You can watch the boats go by and look at the other part of Istanbul across the water. There is ample room for lounging outside, whether by the heated infinity pool or in the gardens among the four ornate gates. The property consists of two buildings, one of which is technically called “the palace.”
A chandelier in the Ciragan Palace. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
More than one actual palace was built on the site throughout history, but the last one burned almost entirely in 1910. Finally, in 1987, a Japanese company teamed with a Turkish company to restore the palace and build the hotel next to it. The hotel opened its doors in 1990, and the palace reopened in 1992. Of course, it has been renovated since then.
Reception at the Ciragan Palace. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Ciragan Palace Kempinski Hotel has 282 rooms and 20 suites, and the palace contains 20 ultra-luxurious suites with butler service. The largest suite in the palace – the Sultan Suite – is considered to be one of the best three suites in Europe. The palace is so upscale, in fact, that it caters to royal families and people like Bill Clinton, Sting, and Elton John.
The palace includes Tugra Restaurant, which serves both contemporary Turkish cuisine and Ottoman cuisine from 1910. This makes for a very interesting (and award-winning) menu.
The pool at the Ciragan Palace. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The waterfront Gazebo Lounge on the grounds serves breakfast and high tea with live music, and there is also an open air cigar bar called Bar Le Fumoir. There are several other eateries on the premises, so you can always find something marvelous to eat. In the morning, the breakfast buffet is extensive with very fine eggs, meats, fruits, salads, breads, pastries, cereals, and more.
The Ciragan Palace. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The property can arrange for airport transfers by limousine, boat, luxury van, or helicopter. Of course, as you would expect, there is a fitness center on the premises and a spa with a traditional Hamam.
The Ciragan Palace awards a scholarship to a young artist every two years. Monthly exhibitions are held in an art gallery on the ground floor of the palace, and discussions are free and open to the public. Readings and classical music concerts are held regularly as well, where they serve free coffee, tea, and food to anyone in the city who wants to attend.
The Ciragan Palace. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
I can’t imagine staying anywhere else while in Istanbul, nor can I imagine that there is a finer hotel in the city. The Ciragan Palace Kempinski was truly an exquisite experience that I will never forget.
The author received a complimentary stay at this hotel, but we are dedicated to providing unbiased reviews based on our experience. See our Disclosures page for more information.
The main draw of Tokyo’s Hotel Chinzanso is its 17-acre garden, and while that garden is nothing short of spectacular, there’s certainly a lot more to love about this hotel. Formerly a Four Seasons, Hotel Chinzanso has quite a history. The area was known for its wild camellias for six centuries, and the word “Chinzanso” means “guest house on Camellia Hill.”
The land was owned by Prince Aritomo Yamagata in the 1920s and then passed on to Baron Heitaro Fujita. The garden was destroyed by air raids during World War II, after which it was acquired by Fujita Kanko Incorporated and restored with 10,000 trees.
The gardens at Hotel Chinzanso. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
This property now is almost like a resort in the city. It has Tokyo’s largest hotel spa, 36 meeting and banquet rooms, and 260 rooms and suites.
Then, there are nine restaurants and bars: Il Teatro serves Italian cuisine; The Bistro provides casual French dining; Kinsui in the garden serves kaiseki meals; Mokushundo serves old-style dishes cooked on hot lava rocks from Mount Fuji; Miyuki provides elegant Japanese cuisine; Mucha-An is a Soba restaurant; Le Jardin bar serves English-style afternoon tea and drinks in the evening; Le Marquis is the hotel’s main bar that also allows cigar smoking; and finally, Foresta is a café that serves coffee and sweets.
Breakfast at Il Teatro, Hotel Chinzanso. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Breakfast at Il Teatro is decidedly elegant. Rather than buffet-style, there are various menus available at different price ranges. I had a full American-style breakfast with eggs, bacon, toast, juice, and pastries. Everything was as high quality as you would expect, including the service.
The décor of this hotel is traditional with antiques and Japanese designs throughout. Just walking through the many hallways and common areas is a treat for the senses. You’ll find paintings, sculptures, ceramics, unusual furniture, marble floors, and colorful carpets everywhere you turn.
A hallway in Hotel Chinzanso. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
My room was also beyond what I usually find in 5-star hotels. First of all, I had a panoramic view of the garden, and the thick, floral curtains alone were especially luxurious. Besides the customary amenities you find in luxury hotels, most rooms at Chinzanso contain CD and DVD players, tea/coffee-makers, and televisions in the bathroom. Humidifiers are also available on loan.
My room at Hotel Chinzanso. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
I had a king-sized bed, two chairs, a desk, a credenza with television, a minibar with dishes including wine glasses, and a separate bathtub and shower. Like many high-end hotels in Tokyo, I was provided with a cell phone for local use that also allowed unlimited international calls. You can enter your own data into the phone and erase it before checkout.
The minibar in my room at Hotel Chinzanso. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
This is such a wonderful perk in Japan, along with the extra amenities that you rarely get elsewhere like toothbrushes, hair ties, shavers, and shaving cream.
My room’s bathroom at Hotel Chinzanso. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Regardless of Hotel Chinzanso’s many charms, I do need to pay appropriate tribute to the garden. With grounds of this size, the property isn’t what you’d call centrally located, but that’s a small price to pay for what amounts to a quiet oasis in such a busy metropolis. I took a glorious stroll on the grounds for about two hours in my first morning.
The pagoda in the gardens at Hotel Chinzanso. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The garden contains a number of historical artifacts, including a three-story pagoda. At first, I assumed it was a replica built in modern times, but not so. The pagoda was found in Chikurin-jiTemple in the mountains of Hiroshima and is believed to have been built during the first half of the Heian period from 794-1185.
There is evidence that it was renovated in the 1100’s, and it underwent a full-scale renovation from 2010-2011. After the renovation was completed, a ritual was carried out by Raitei Arima, the 113th head priest of Shokoku-ji Temple.
A sculpture in the Hotel Chinzanso gardens. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The garden also contains a pond, separate rooftop “serenity garden,” shrine, manmade waterfall, 500-year-old sacred tree, water basin from the Edo Period, 50 traditional copper lanterns, monuments that are hundreds of years old, numerous statues of gods and goddesses (all with markers explaining who they are and what they stand for), and other artifacts and features that make the stroll interesting, as well as peaceful.
At certain times of the year, there’s a spot within the garden that fills with fireflies, and dozens of cherry blossoms bloom there in early spring. With chapels on the grounds as well, it’s a popular location for weddings.
Staying at Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo is an experience that deserves the word “special.” It’s one of those rare hotels that will stay in your memory for years to come.
The author received a complimentary stay at this hotel, but we are dedicated to providing unbiased reviews based on our experience. See our Disclosures page for more information.
One of the most elegant hotels in London’s Mayfair, Claridge’s has been the favorite residence of visiting industrialists, international aristocracy, statesmen, and illustrious celebrities since 1898. Completely restored to its art deco splendor, it now features 269 individually designed rooms and suites.
Claridge’s lobby. Photo courtesy of Claridge’s.
The ambitious renovation after it was acquired by a Qatari-owned British company has taken seven years and involved mining by hand. The work was completed in September 2021.
Claridge’s entry hall. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
L’Epicerie (the spice store) at Claridge’s offers a unique dining experience. Set within Claridge’s kitchens, this beautiful “Chef’s Table” seats 14 guests and provides a front row seat to the culinary magic performance of the kitchen. The French name can be traced back to the Middle Ages when it defined a small shop specializing in selling spices from around the world.
Claridge’s Mayfair Suite. Photo courtesy of Claridge’s.
Claridge’s purchase and expansion into the neighboring building also created space for numerous new suites such as the Mayfair in a modern style with scallop-shaped furniture in a coral and pastel palette. The suites on the top floor feature long terraces overlooking Brook Street.
Claridge’s suite terraces. Photo courtesy of Claridge’s.
Claridge’s enjoys the unrivaled reputation of combining the grace and traditions of a bygone era with the superb comfort and amenities of the present. The staff of 320 is some of the most highly trained in the world. During our stay, the maid unpacked for us and pressed what needed pressing, while room service brought dinner from Claridge’s dining room that is noted for haute cuisine and an excellent cellar.
On our last stay at the property, there was a bottle of champagne, orchard-fresh fruit, and handmade chocolate truffles waiting for us on a table in our living room. Bathrobes in our size (they keep records from previous visits) were waiting in the bathroom, and slippers were laid out on a linen mat next to the bed.
We normally take an early flight from Kennedy Airport and take advantage at Heathrow of Claridge’s “Meet and Greet” service to bring us to the hotel in a chauffeured Mercedes or BMW in time for an evening business meeting or the theater.
Claridge’s bedroom. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
Since my time of working with the Leading Hotels of the World that used to represent the hotel worldwide as part of the Savoy Group, I’ve loved staying at Claridge’s. The property is very conveniently situated in the heart of London, which makes it the best base of operations.
Claridge’s was only about 15 minutes from the Abbey Road studios, where I used to create and edit soundtracks for my films and videos, and a few more minutes from Soho, the theater district, Harrods, and Liberty department stores. It’s also close to some of the best London pubs and wine bars.
Afternoon tea tartelettes at Claridge’s. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
The Foyer is “the” place to have afternoon tea – a daily ritual of London’s society, where waiters serve finger sandwiches, the best tasting scones with clotted cream and strawberry preserves, petit fours, and miniature fruit tarts. We always try to take advantage of this repast in the company of friends or business associates.
Afternoon tea at Claridge’s. Photo courtesy of Claridge’s.
Claridge’s has observed this enjoyable feature of the British national culinary tradition for more than 150 years. Currently, the fine bone china table settings are made to Claridge’s specifications in a proprietary pattern by the French porcelain masters at Bernardaud.
Nowadays, the waiters are dressed fairly formally in white jackets and black ties, but in the past, they would wear Edwardian britches and appropriate vintage outfits while serving the tea! I’m sorry I no longer have any images of those servers in their uniforms. They were spectacular. It was definitely something to remember, and a stay at this hotel will also be something you long remember.
The author received a complimentary stay at this hotel, but we are dedicated to providing unbiased reviews based on our experience. See our Disclosures page for more information.
