SAR - Luxurious Hotels

King George Palace

9:52 AM Miss . Safina Abdul Razzak

King George Palace

Athens, Greece

Hotel Information:

King George Palace

3, Vas. Georgiou A' Street Syntagma, Constitution Square, 10564 Athens, Greece
Toll Free: 1-800-745-8883 in the US
Tel: (+30-210) 322-2210
Fax: (+30-210) 325-0504

78 rooms, 23 suites, 1 Royal Penthouse Suite 35 minutes from airport

Cards Accepted

Major credit cards

Features :

Conference Hotel
City Hotel
Fitness Center
Health Club
Swimming Pool(s)
Spa Facilities
Banquets
Business Meetings
High-Speed Internet Access
On-Site Poo

Overview:

Fit for a King, a proud member of the Leading Hotels of the World, the King George Palace is created for people who recognize quality and dem

and excellence in all they do. The hotel combines the grace and stature of a historic landmark with ultra-modern amenities and personal service that puts guests’ comfort above all. A ground floor-to-penthouse renovation has restored the King George It’s original glamour. Advanced technology has also ensured a completely controlled environment, while the experienced hotel personnel offer discreet and competent service around the clock.
The unique Royal Penthouse Suite redefines the concept of luxury: 3,230 square feet occupying the entire 9th floor, wall paintings by Konstantin K

akanias, two bedrooms and a living room with enough space to host a reception for 70 of your closest friends. In such a lavish setting, direct access elevator, steam room, Jacuzzi, separate entrances for guests and staff. The piece de resistance: a private terrace with an unsurpassed view of the city, from the Acropolis to the Panathenaic Stadium, with a Jacuzzi and a private swimming pool hand-laid with mosaic tiles.

Every room and suite is individually designed and de

corated for guests who seek exclusive accommodations to match their exacting standards. Hand-crafted armoires, custom upholstery fabrics in raw silk, and satin-fringed drapes are the sort of details that distinguish the King George Palace. Advanced technology has also ensured a completely controlled environment: fully soundproofed rooms, adjustable lighting calibrated to complement natural light and advanced climate self control and ventilation. Bathrooms are furnished with pale, grey-veined marble and have discreet, recessed lighting, deep sunken tubs and separate glass-walled shower cabinets. All guestrooms have free Wi-Fi internet access.

The best hotel in Greece ranked among the 100 Top European Hotels in the Conde Nast Traveler 2007 Reader’s Choice Awards, also honored o

n the 2005 Hot List and the 2007 and 2008 Gold Lists.

Dining In:

The Tudor Hall Restaurant, located on the 7th floor, Athens’ most acclaimed gourmet restaurant specializing in an imaginative menu, offers magical views of historic Athens and the Acropolis. This is a favorite rendezvous for politicians, diplomats, corporate executives, and international celebrities. Beneath the stunning glass dome, deals are brokered - and wedding proposals made - over that is a fusion of Greco-French menu with a panoramic view of the city as the backdrop. At the ground floor, the T Palace-all day lounge bar-restaurant, is the best place for rendezvous, after work drinks, and dinner parties. Here, intimate flirts with daring. Here, a place opened to the city, to stay for hours, to drink, eat or listen to the music of the DJ's. Here, a place where the city comes to you. The famous Greek film director Antonis Kalogrides dreamt of a white library in the heart of Athens and designed it for the T Palace. Horse lamps designed by Front for Moooi, and black baccarat chandeliers lighten up the royal blue sofas and the crown artwork by Dimitris Antonitsis, on the left. Enjoy the exquisite Greco-French cuisine on the right side, sitting on the famous Moooi smoke armchairs in front of Kon The famous Greek film director Antonis Kalogrides dreamt of a white library in the heart of Athens and designed it for the T Palace. Horse lamps designed by Front for Moooi, and black baccarat chandeliers lighten up the royal blue sofas and the crown artwork by Dimitris Antonitsis, on the left. Enjoy the exquisite Greco-French cuisine on the right side, sitting on the famous Moooi smoke armchairs in front of Konstantin Kakanias paintings. Sip your caramel cappuccino in a golden cup in the library area with the golden Gun Lamps by Philip Stark, just above Scott Campbell's wall tattoo: "I was very good at doing what I was told". Drink Athens' most exotic cocktails at the Space Bar with the Mooi Dear Ingo hybrid lamp above.

Recreation and Health:

A Royal delight, the Palace Spa offers you an array of rejuvenating treatments by CARITA combining the best of ancient and modern techniques. Take a dive in the pool, relax in the Jacuzzi. Let yourself go in a place adapted to your lifestyle. In the heart of the Palace Spa, TETA’s Beauty Salon invites you for the best manicure and pedicure of the city and Athenian’s favorite hairdresser.

Jogging track, tennis and golf club nearby.

Features:

Conference facilities: versatile function rooms with state of the art audio-visual equipment, along with our experienced staff, will assure the success of your function. Free High-Speed Internet Access.

Labels: King George Palace 0 comments | |

9:31 AM Miss . Safina Abdul Razzak

0 comments | |

.

9:09 AM Miss . Safina Abdul Razzak

0 comments | |

Villa la Massa

8:32 AM Miss . Safina Abdul Razzak

Villa la Massa
Florence , Italy

pictures

35 rooms, including 12 suites.

Features: Conference Hotel, City Hotel, Fitness Center, Helicopter Pad, Swimming Pool(s), Seasonal, Wedding Chapel, Leading Small, Countryside, Business Meetings, Outdoor Poo.

Features :

Conference Hotel
City Hotel
Fitness Center
Helicopter Pad
Swimming Pool(s)
Seasonal
Wedding Chapel
Leading Small
Countryside
Business Meetings
Outdoor Pool

City Statistics

Location

Tuscany, northwest Italy.

Dialing code

39.

Population

493,000 (city); 750,000 (metropolitan area).

Time zone

GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz; round two-pin plugs or three-pin plugs are in use.

Average January temperatures

5°C (41°F).

Average July temperatures

35°C (95°F).

Annual rainfall

640mm (25 inches).

Overview

A visit to Florence (Firenze) is a must for any art lover. UNESCO estimates that 60% of the world's most important artworks are in Italy, with over half of those located in Florence.

Situated in the northwest of Italy, surrounded by the wine-growing hills of Chianti, the city attracts rapture and frustration in equal proportions. Few can dismiss the image of Brunelleschi's cathedral dome bursting through the morning mist - a terracotta balloon hovering above the medieval rooftops.

But once the visitor drops down to street level, the profusion of traffic, tourists and touts can remove all sense of tranquillity. It seems every building holds a masterpiece, demanding attention and often gobbling up funds. The streets are narrow and dark, enclosed on either side by granite palaces and even the open spaces are crowded with tour groups.

Often called the cradle of the Renaissance, Florence owes much of her wealth to the Middle Ages. Banking became big business on the back of the city's profitable wool trade and, in 1235, Florence minted the florin, the first gold coin to become standard currency across Europe.

In their turn, these bankers commissioned some of the finest art and architecture in the city. The names Strozzi, Rucellai and Pitti can be found all over Florence, but it was the Medici family (who led the city for over 300 years, off and on) that nurtured the greatest flowering of Renaissance art. The paintings of Botticelli, the sculptures of Michelangelo and the palaces of Michelozzo all flourished under their rule.

Then, as now, most of the action in Florence took place between Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria, the city's civic heart. Here, in the historic center, Dante (acknowledged father of the Italian language) first glimpsed his muse, Beatrice. Here, the Florentine Republic rose and fell. And here, Savonarola's Bonfire of the Vanities blazed.

Florence, for all her timeless charm, is no stranger to destruction. In 1944, all her bridges, save the Ponte Vecchio, were destroyed by the Nazis, in an attempt to stall the advance of the allies. In 1966, the banks of the River Arno burst, flooding the city with her muddied waters and devastating homes and artworks. Most recently, in 1993, a bomb exploded near the Uffizi Gallery, ripping through the museum's interior and claiming several lives.

That said, the only violence most tourists are likely to witness is during the medieval football match on 24 June (Florence's patron saint day) when petty wrangles often spill onto the pitch.

It is best for visitors to avoid the peak summer months of July and August, when the weather can be unbearably sticky. Early autumn, when the countryside glows with mellow fruitfulness, is the best time to visit, avoiding the heat and the queues and capitalizing on the soft light, empty streets and the abundance of wild mushrooms and just-pressed olive oil.

Tourist Information

Walking Tours
Visitors can arrange a private walking tour or book one of the daily guided tours around Florence's key attractions through Mercurio (tel: (055) 213 355; website: www.mercurio-italy.org). Walks include a tour of the Uffizi Gallery, departing from the reservations entrance at 14:00 (Tuesday-Saturday), as well as a tour of the Pitti Palace and Oltrarno area, which starts in front of the Pitti Palace at 16:30 on Tuesday and Thursday, and a ‘Florence Past and Present' city tour, which departs from the Ponte Vecchio daily at 10:00. The walking tours range from two to three hours and include entry tickets. Commentary is from English-speaking local experts and advance reservations are required.

A number of walking tours are also offered by Artviva (tel: (055) 264 5033; website: www.italy.artviva.com). The ‘Original Florence Walk' departs from the company's office, Via Sassetti 1, taking in the highlights of the city with tales from the past. The tour takes three hours and runs daily at 09:30. The company also offer private tours.

Bus Tours
There is no reason for most visitors to take a bus tour around Florence, seeing as the entire city, from north to south, can be covered on foot in just half an hour. Most of the attractions are closely grouped together and heralded by the whirr of camera shutters. Visitors who are lost and do not feel up to asking directions should follow the umbrella hovering above the crowds - it is guaranteed to be guiding a band of tourists to another one of the city's attractions.

However, for visitors determined to take a bus tour, CAF Tours (tel: (055) 210 612; website: www.caftours.com) and Central Sita Viaggi (tel: (055) 219 383; website: www.sitabus.it) both operate tours of the main city sites. There are daily departures at 09:30 and 14:30 from Piazza Stazione. These tours last for three hours. CAF Tours also run tours to designer outlet stores on the outskirts of Florence.

Bike Tours

I Bike Italy (tel: (055) 234 2371; website: www.ibikeitaly.com) offers excursions into the Tuscan hills on mountain bikes. Full-day trips (09:00-17:00) are available, including lunch and a tour of one of the local vineyards. Bookings are taken in English over the telephone and a pick-up point in Florence is arranged.

Dining

After spending 25 years at Villa D'Este, Executive Chef Andrea Quagliarella now presides over the cooking at Villa La Massa. The Verrocchio Restaurant consists of an indoor dining-hall beneath a vaulted ceiling supported by two ancient stone columns, and a terrace overlooking the Arno with a view onto the famous Rufina hills. The menus propose a choice of both national and regional dishes, prepared with the talent and care with the Chefs specialties. The Medicean Bar & Pool Bar: Situated in the Noble Villa, in two rooms decorated with mid-19thth century frescos - the Medicean Bar offers a wide selection of grappe, whiskies, brandies and cocktails. The Pool Bar offers a selection of light snacks for informal lunches and is open during the summer months conveniently located near the swimming-pool with a view of the Arno River.

Recreation and Health

Outdoor heated swimming pool. New fitness room with state-of-the-art equipment, including cardio-fitness and weight-lifting machines. Treatment room. Biking and jogging. Tennis Club at 500mt from the hotel - free for hotel guests. Horseback riding and 18-hole golf course nearby.

Features

High-speed internet connection in all rooms. Private helipad. Chef’s garden and cooking classes. Complimentary outdoor parking and shuttle bus to downtown Florence (Ponte Vecchio). Banquet and meeting rooms.

Piano bar during weekend. Private cellar for wine tasting and private event. Private Chapel for weddings. 8KM from the Florence city center. Guided tours to the wineries of the Chianti region on request. Baby sitting available. Private transfer to the airport or rail station on request

Labels: Italy, Villa la Massa Florence 0 comments | |

.

8:12 AM Miss . Safina Abdul Razzak

1 comments | |

Hotel Raphael

7:48 AM Miss . Safina Abdul Razzak

HOTEL RAPHAEL

PARIS, FRANCE

MORE PICTURES

52 rooms, 38 suites

Features: City Hotel,Fitness Center, Leading Small, Banquets, Business Meetings

City Statistics

Location: Ile-de-France region, France. Country dialing code: 33. Population: 2,144,700 (city); 11,500,000 (metropolitan area) (2005). Time zone: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October). Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz; round two-pin plugs are standard. Average January temp: 4°C (39°F). Average July temp: 19.5°C (67°F). Annual rainfall: 642mm (25 inches

Features :

City Hotel
Fitness Center
Leading Small
Banquets
Business Meetings

Overview

The city center is actually surprisingly compact and the Métro system makes getting around fairly easy. A good way for first time arrivals to get an idea of how Paris fits together is to take a cruise on the River Seine or ascend the Eiffel Tower and take in a sweeping view of the city. With so much to see, time management is crucial and many people choose to concentrate on one or two of the arrondissements (districts).

The nostalgic should wander around the mansions of the Marais district, past the Musée Carnavalet, 23 rue de Sévigné, 3rd; Hôtel de Sully, 62 rue St-Antoine, 4th, and Place des Vosges, home to the Maison de Victor Hugo.

Those interested in modern art and design should opt for the Centre Georges Pompidou, place Beaubourg, 4th; Jean Nouvel’s Institut du Monde Arabe, 1 rue des Fossés-St-Bernard, 5th; or the Grande Arche de la Défense with its high-speed glass lift offering a spectacular view of Paris.

The Grande Arche, which lies along the same geographical axis as Napoleon’s Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysées, was built a century and a half later. This incongruity (the modern city juxtaposed with the old) is all part of the charm of Paris.

Paris overflows with museums, ranging from the vast collections of the Louvre to the small and quirky - such as the Musée des Arts Forains, 53 avenue des-Terroires-de-France, 12th, a shrine to fairground art, with something for everyone scattered through the metropolitan area. The Musée du Quai Branly,37 quai Branly, 7th, one of the newer museums, opened to much fanfare in 2006.

Repeat visitors to Paris usually end up uncovering something new, such as the rejuvenated Bercy district to the east with its green spaces, popular bars and development buzz or Belleville, with its grungy cosmopolitanism and ethnic restaurants.

Another popular attraction is Paris Plage in summer when the city’s inhabitants relax by the Seine amidst a world of sand and deckchairs.

Tourist Information

Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau
25 rue des Pyramides
Tel: 0892 683 000.
Website: http://www.paris-touristoffice.com/
Opening hours: (Jun-Oct) daily 0900-1900; (Nov-May) Mon-Sat 1100-1900, Sun 1000-1900.

Further tourist offices are located at the Gare de Lyon, 20 boulevard Diderot, 12th (open Mon to Sat 0800-1800), G are du Nord, 18 rue de Dunkerque, 10th (open 0800-1800), Opera, 11 rue Scribe, 9th (open 0900-1830), Eiffel Tower(open daily 1100-1840 May to Sep).

Passes

The Museum Pass (website: http://www.museums-of-paris.com/) allows f ree unlimited access to more than 70 museums and monuments in the Paris region, including the Arc de Triomphe, Musée National du Louvre, Musée d’Orsa y and Musée Rodin. The two-, four- or six-day pass is for sale from tourist offices, participating museums and monuments, the main métro stations and FNAC stores. It allows visito rs to bypass queues but does not provide free admission to special or temporary exhibitions.

Dining In

The discreet eleganceof La Salle à Manger is the perfect setting for the innovative creations of Chef Philip Delahaye. Sink into the comfort of a velvet-covered sofa, and relax over cocktails in the English Bar. All day long, from May to September, enjoy buffets and cocktails on the rooftop terrace, with panoramic views of Paris. Le 17, a cosy restaurant, offering light and French cuisine, is opened daily from breakfast to dinner. 24-hour room service.

Recreation and Health

Fitness facilities.

Workout machines, sauna, and steambaths.

Features

Conference and banqueting rooms. Concierge. Safety deposit boxes. Fully air-conditioned. Non-smoking rooms. Valet parking and private limousine service on request.

Business Center, Wireless Internet Access, on-site Fitness Center.

Tourist Information

Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Garden)
This garden, part formal, part jardin à l’anglaise, was created for Marie d

e Médicis (Henri IV’s widow), along with the Palais du Luxembourg, which now houses the French Senate. It is a favored spot for a Sunday stroll, game of tennis, chess or boules, or a pony ride.

Boulevard St-Michel, rue de Médicis, rue Guynemer, rue d’Assas, rue Auguste-Comte or rue de Vaugirard, 6th
Tel: (01) 4234 2362.
Opening hours: Daily 0715- 2130 (Apr-Sep); daily 0800-dusk (Oct-Mar).
Free admission.

Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
This appealing park spreads over 23 hectares (57 acres) between Gare du Nord and Belleville. It was originally commissioned by Napoleon III and mixes grandeur with wildlife. Its walkways ar e alive with the likes of wagtails, gulls, geese and swans. In the lake pike, tench and roach abound. The park is perfect for escaping the city for a while, strolling around its lofty inclines or even popping on some in-line skates and heading around the skate trail.

Opening hours: Daily dawn-dusk.
Free admission.

La Grande Mosquée de Paris (Paris Grand Mosque)
Built between 1922 and 1926, close to the Jardin des Plantes, this Hispano-Moorish mosque caters for France’s Muslim community. There is free access and guided tours to the sunken garden and patios. The prayer room, however, remains closed to the non-Muslim public. There is also an authentic hammam (Turkish bath) with masseurs at hand, as well as a wonderful mosaic courtyard complete with fig trees and a fountain - the perfect setting for enjoying a sweet mint tea served in tiny gilded glasses with some honeyed baklava. In the adjoining restaurant, couscous and other Arabic dishes are served.

1 place du Puits-de-l’Ermite (access via 39 rue Géoffroy-St-Hillaire), 5th
Tel: (01) 4535 9733.
Website: http://www.mosquee-de-paris.org/
Opening hours: Mon, Wed, Thurs and Sat 1000-2100, Fri 1400-2100 (women); Tues 1400-2100, Sun 1000-2100 (men); tours Sat-Thurs 0900-1200 and 1400-1800 (winter), Sat-Thurs 0900-1200 and 1400-2200 (summer); closed Muslim holidays.
Admission charge; free to tearoom.

Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine (Architecture and He ritage Museum)
This museum, which spans from the 11th century through to the future, is devoted to France’s architectural heritage. Twice a year architects are invited to transform part of the museum space into a world of their own creation.

Palais de Chaillot, 1 place du Trocadéro, 16th
Tel: (01) 5851 5200
Website: http://www.citechaillot.fr/
Opening hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 1200-2000; Sat, Sun 1100-1900; Thurs 1200-2200; Tues closed.

Admission charge