A boat cruise, a taste of Paris in London and a historical city: finding the magic of travel near me.
My dining experience at At Sloane, a night of tunes and views and an upcoming hotel review. #83.
Did you have a nice couple of weeks? Here’s what I’ve been up to during that time.
Discovered York and stayed at Number One York
I had a team away day in the historical city of York. I really enjoyed the city. I had a shorter walk around the fortified wall, the fabulous cathedral, the old streets and took a mental note to check the Mulberry factory outlet next time. We had a fun Gin tasting session before diner back at the hotel that, I, of course, had recommended. Number One York was really a great boutique hotel and I’ll share my review in a future newsletter.
We’re likely to be back in York in June as we attend the open day at York University for Mademoiselle.
Went for diner at At Sloane hotel
On a Friday night, we tried the restaurant at At Sloane. It’s a new hotel opened on Sloane Square by the Costes group, which is known for it’s famous Costes hotel and various restaurants in Paris. The restaurant is on the top floor and is really beautiful. The service was classic Costes, with some very pretty and glamourous waitresses, although, contrary to Paris where they have a bit of a condescending attitude, they were really warm and friendly. Food was fine, very simple dishes cooked well. You come here for the scene more than for the gastronomy. But I certainly thought that staying there as an overnight guest in beautiful rooms could be quite special.
Went to see Take That in concert at the O2 arena.
Every time I mentioned it at work, I got some "ah, really" looks! And I noticed that none of my French colleagues, friends or family quite knew what Take That was. Take That has evolved from a 90s Boys band into a kind of classic mixed with tacky British pop band, part of the furniture, loved or despised a bit. Mademoiselle and I do love some of their big anthems so were really looking forward to singing them in the arena. And we did and had a great time.
I did worry about getting home in crammed tubes as I am claustrophobic, but I found out that you could take the Uber Thames Clipper instead. It's an express journey they put on after the show which takes you back to London Bridge in just 25 minutes. We therefore had the pleasure of a night cruise with a great view of Greenwhich, Cutty Sark and Tower of London along the way. Some times, you don't need to go far to travel!
May is now there with its bank holidays and long weekends. Hope you are making the most of it and taking advantage of some of the nice boutique hotels and B&Bs that I have listed for you over the past few months. Let me know where you are going in the comments!
Sources de Caudalie video tour
To complement the review of our stay at the redesigned Caudalie a few weeks ago, here is a video tour.
Extra finds
Hôtel Saint-Julien, Biarritz, France
From 100 Euros - Check latest prices and availability
Half boutique hotel, half family home, the Saint-Julien hotel has been recently partly renovated. Ask for one of the 6 new rooms amongst the 26 rooms. It is only a few steps from the beach of the Côte des Basques. They also have a 87 sq meters flat for 5 people that can be rented.
Bull Burford, the Cotswolds, UK
From £195 - Check latest prices and availability
Nestled in the heart of The Cotswolds, Bull is an intimate 18-bedroom hotel in a Grade II listed 15th-century inn which has been completely refurbished. The owner has lent some of his art collection and you can thus admire originals by Francis Bacon, Salvador Dali and Damien Hirst, as well as some great iconic photographs. Each of the 18 bedrooms and suites has a decor very different from a pub, stylish and cozy at the same time in tones of terracotta or blue while the bathrooms have a light and refreshing white marble look. Downstairs, there are three separate restaurants. Two of them are communal and the third is more classic. You can always eat in the garden or help yourself to the pantry. No pool.
Castel Maurn, South Tyrol, Italy
From 400 Euros - Check latest prices and availability
Surrounded by forests and mountains in South Tyrol, Castel Maurn is a unique building that is over 1,000 years old. Castel Maurn has been family-owned since 1935 and was completely renovated in 2020. The renovation took care of maintaining historic charm while adding modern details. There is an outdoor swimming pool.
Villa Monty Banks, Italy
From 200 Euros - Check latest prices and availability
Villa Monty Banks is just one kilometre from the centre of Cesena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. The interiors stylishly combine artisan details from the 1930s with contemporary furnishings. There are 11 ensuite rooms, a restaurant, pool, spa and a gym. Bicycles can also be rented to explore the surrounding area. The spa features a Turkish bath and sauna while the heated swimming pool enjoys magnificent views across the surrounding countryside.
One&Only Kéa Island, Greece
From 1000 Euros - Check latest prices and availability
We considered staying there this summer as we had good memories of One & Only Saint Geran in Mauritius, but it’s really expensive so better kept for one of the off season months. The new luxury retreat sits on the western side of the beautiful Kéa island, which is only a short trip from Athens. The property has 75 villas, a state of the art fitness centre with both an indoor and outdoor space, and a wellness-focused spa. There is a common pool and many of the private villas have their own pools. If it’s like in Mauritius, there should also be plenty of activites for children.