Spectacular Hotels
If you are in the habit of clicking on my eye candy selections and getting them from the library to gawk at, be assured that Trisha Wilson’s Spectacular Hotels will not disappoint in that regard. I have some reservations about this book but if you’re in it for the eye candy, they don’t matter in the slightest. Wilson is an interior designer who has worked on a number of spectacular hotel projects all over the world, and her book is perfect for armchair travel from Africa to the Americas to Europe and the Islands.
Wilson’s book at times reads very much like a $39.95 large sized hard cover brochure for her design business, which is rather pricey for those of who won’t be writing it off as an expense on a future multi-million dollar resort development project. I also found myself resenting a bit that Wilson boldly proclaims her own portfolio to be "The Most Remarkable Places On Earth" when there are in my opinion quite a number of hotels which Wilson never worked on that absolutely must be included in a book titled Spectacular Hotels which purports to show the world’s most remarkable hotels. To name just two, San Diego’s Del Coranodo and The Royal Hawaiian, Honolulu’s iconic ‘pink palace’ would have to be mentioned in any serious guide to the most spectacular hotels.
These quibbles aside, Wilson is a gifted designer and from South Africa’s Zimbali Lodge to Japan’s Yokohama Royal Park Hotel, all of the properties featured are truly spectacular. And just in case my secret Santa is reading this, my first choice would be The Four Seasons Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island with London’s The Lanesborough a close second choice.
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1Cromely
wrote on 14 December 2007 at 7:41
This year I discovered Samantha Brown’s “Great Hotels” on the Travel Channel. She goes to some amazing places and is a wonderful host.
I’m amazed at the beauty of some hotel lobbies. The gorgeous architectures, interesting furnitures, and attention to detail are fascinating. Especially since the seem to serve little purpose.
Most people get to a hotel, check in, and go to their room. They don’t seem to spend copious amounts of time in the hotel lobby — unless they’re on a 15 minute break in the middle of a conference.
The hotel lobby seems to be a relic from a time gone by — where people would meet and greet, and pass the time. I don’t see much of that in my travels. Do you locals in a city still use the lobby of a nice hotel? Did they ever, or have I just seen too many movies?
2Alan
wrote on 14 December 2007 at 19:49
I always wanted to have Samantha Brown’s job. I think for _business_ travelers, you are right that most get in and get out and pay no attention at all to the lobby but leisure travelers may linger more, particularly if the lobby is inviting, there is art or architecture to admire or if the people watching is good. (Confessing I have on occasion passed an odd hour or so in the lobbies of hotels much grander than the ones I was actually staying at