Vienna’s Regel Residence – The Imperial HotelWritten by Pam
Vienna’s Regel Residence – The Imperial HotelRead Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/hotels/sheraton/imperial/imperial.html When Duke of Wurttemberg came back from a business trip, he was dismayed to find that his backyard, which was essentially a park at that time, had been bisected with a new road. Not one to cross street to go to park, Duke decided that road had ruined his Vienna palace and put it up for sale. There are those who would say that it was financial woes, not dissatisfaction with progress, which caused Duke to hang "For Sale" sign in window. Still, whatever impetus, palace sold, Duke moved out, and in 1873 Hotel Imperial opened, just in time for World's Fair. Time has not exactly stopped at Hotel Imperial, but no effort is spared to give visitor feeling that they are in heart of royal Vienna. From damask lined walls and heavy swag drapes to crystal chandeliers that illuminate every room, hotel expresses grandeur and elegance of an earlier era. Add to that seasonal touches that make Christmas time in Vienna like nowhere else on earth, and visitor is transported to a time and place of romance and waltzes and horse drawn coaches. A room at Imperial is unlike any other room at Imperial. Each suite - and even standard rooms feel large enough to be considered a suite - is furnished uniquely. The style is baroque but facilities are modern. The recent 10 million Euro remodel of 5th floor shows off integration of modern amenities with baroque style. Our bath featured heated marble floors, towel warmers, a large bathtub and "rainstorm" shower, and of course, plush bathrobes bearing Hotel Imperial logo. Decorated in pale yellow and gold with crystal chandeliers, style was antique, but heavy wood cabinet hid a CD player and television - with cable in several different languages. The elegant desk held creamy Hotel Imperial stationary, but also was a convenient location to hook up a laptop to provided data port. High style and best of facilities are common denominator in all rooms at Imperial. There's a reason hotel is choice of visiting royalty, of traditional and more modern kind. The Imperial Hotel has been home away from home to visiting dignitaries - from Queen of England to Prince of Pop. The first floor of hotel is designed to provide comfort and privacy to public figures. Underneath gold leafed ceilings, a sweeping marble staircase leads to Imperial Suite, two magnificent rooms with spectacularly high ceilings and portraiture of former Austrian royalty. The entire first floor is connected with floor to ceiling doors between each room, allowing those traveling with an entourage to keep them near at hand. The rooms in between regal corner suites have earned nickname "bodyguard suites". Beyond style and amenities, Imperial is world renowned for its service. The royal suites have separate entrances for butler. Should you be traveling without one, hotel will be happy to provide you with one of theirs to attend to all of your needs, including ironing your morning paper! But one needn't be so grand to appreciate services provided by hotel. Fresh fruit and a plate of goodies await each guest when they check in to their room. Maid service arrives promptly in morning to make up beds and in evening again, with chocolates and mineral water, to turn them down for night. And while manner among hotel staff is formal, one mustn't mistake this for stiff - everyone we met, from front desk clerks to maids, was friendly and warm.
| | New Life Midtown Manhattan (NYC) at the San Carlos HotelWritten by David Lazzarino
New Life Midtown Manhattan (NYC) at San Carlos HotelRead Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/hotels/newyork/nyc/scarlos/sancarlos.html I'd spent summer months living and working in small-town, northeastern Pennsylvania. The type of living that clearly defines necessities of life—food, shelter, sleep, rinse, repeat—for simple reason that there isn't much else to do there. I mean, it's beautiful and full of fresh air and sunsets are second to none. After a few months, though, a few of us agreed that we needed to look for a different tune to live by (something other than "Dueling Banjos" anyway). Possibly even one that began with "Start Spreadin' The News". New York City it is! My initial reaction to lights, sounds, and scores of people was comparable to an ADHD child who had lost his Ritalin. In short, OVER-STIMULATED! To people outside cab I must have looked like a goofy, life-size version of Garfield dolls you stick to your windshield. Anyone who has visited Big Apple surely wouldn't find this odd for a first timer. However, this was my sixth visit. It does it to me every time. The cab ride from Port Authority bus station was about five minutes. Before I had a chance to pay door was opened and an experience I could never have expected began. A voice spoke in a charming Eastern-European accent: "Hello, welcome to San Carlos. Go right on in. I will bring your bags." I walked into lobby and had a very difficult time keeping my composure as I took in atmosphere. The wide and elegantly high-ceilinged corridor is decorated in mahogany wood and satin chrome metal on a marble background. It has a contemporary look but soft lighting and layout give you a very comfortable and spacious feel. The building itself has a clean and welcoming façade to it. The San Carlos includes 83 deluxe rooms, 20 executive suites, 42 one-bedroom suites, and two penthouse suites. These penthouses have an adjoining terrace and one of them features a wood-burning fireplace. The closer I approached front desk more I became aware of my own state. Sleepy from traveling and in desperate need of a shower I felt slightly out of place in this kind of luxury. All these feelings subsided instant I approached desk. I was met with a welcoming smile by concierge. His name was Chris and he seemed to be able to put me at ease with a simple, "What can I do for you today?" After getting my info, he thanked me for coming to San Carlos and told me that Bobby would take us to our room and if we needed anything else we should feel free to call. Only then did I remember that there were other people with me. Ruth had been speaking with Bobby since we entered hotel. She's a very good friend of mine and a lovely person, but I'd never known her to ask so many questions. She seemed to be drilling this kind doorman on everything imaginable and, in Bobby's defense, he was doing a remarkable job keeping up. In a short elevator ride to fourteenth floor we learned that he was originally from Poland and was working as a teacher until a few years ago. Furthermore, he was quizzed on hotel and what it had to offer. As can be seen on computer screen in elevator there is a board room, conference room, and breakfast room. The business center is complete with high speed internet access, fax machine, and copier service, and a lovely view of reception area. There are smoking rooms available by request, an adjoining garage, and a penthouse terrace that can also be used as a nightspot for parties. The hotel restaurant was not yet completed but as Chris had said to me during check in, "If you can't find a restaurant in New York City, you're in trouble." Besides, if you need help on finding a specific type of restaurant, San Carlos staff is more than happy to offer suggestions as well as make reservations and get you a cab. By now Bobby had our complete attention. He moved on to tell us about room amenities.
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