Bali, this place has the power over us that even if we have never been, we immediately have visions of peace and calm. Bali is a most interesting place. This Indonesian island is located at the western most tip of the Lesser Sunda Islands, between Java (to the west), and Lombok (to the east). With a population of 3.1 million, it is home to some of the world’s best hotels and spas.

The belief in Bali, is that all things are alive and that the gods and
goddesses reside in them. Every element of nature therefore possesses
it’s own power, which in effect reflects the power of the gods — a rock,
a tree, even woven cloth is a potential home for the gods.

With this in context, one cannot help but feel close indeed to the gods,
while staying at the Bulgari resort in Bali.

The hotel, is a secluded villa cliff-side retreat, located in the southern
tip of the Jimbaran Peninsula, close to the temple of Uluwatu. This
exclusive resort offers not only a retreat for the mind, but also a release
for the soul.

The resort reflects the traditional Balinese architecture, combined with
contemporary design using indigenous stones, native wood finishes and
refined craft –– all the fabrics are created exclusively for the Bulgari resort.

In this hotel feature, we at KA thought deeply about what could possibly
be written about this place, but the only words that would come to mind
were :

“Oh my God, this place is so beautiful.”

KUBE — ST. TROPEZ

If I was wishing to have the perfect word to replace “best of both worlds” that word would be KUBE. The Kube St. Tropez is that rare  place where you get to have your cake and eat it too. Situated close enough to the night life of St. Tropez (for those times that you wish to take in that side of the French Riviera) and yet, it is far enough from the nightlife to give you that mini-resort feel.

Kube is the latest offering from the operators of the Murano hotels and sister to the Kube Paris. Located on the edge of town in Gassin, near the Villa Marie and the Villa Belrose, the Kube has done something not seen on this side of the French Riviera. It has taken the old and made it new. Kube has taken what was the former Caesar Domus and recreated it into a thing of beauty.

The hotel is a bit of urban zen, right smack in the middle of “old money” St. Tropez. The rooftop bar is actually more of a bay view lounge, where you will feel that much closer to heaven as DJs play for guests until the early morning.

This hotel could be considered style with space. The choice of room sizes range from S,M,L,–XXL, and guests actually have a chance to stay in something larger than a closet, while enjoying the magic of the French Riviera. The location of this hotel makes it a perfect choice for those wishing to have a break from the stress of the city while still having an urban experience.

The Perks: Sky Bar, beautiful design, Djs, beautiful people, private chef.

Jet Set cool: 13 Chemin de Rogon de la Valette St. Tropez- Gassin 83580 France (33) 1 42 05 20 00

THE SETAI — MIAMI

Living in Montreal sort of makes you a bit on the “hard to impress” side. Being from a city of beautiful bars and restaurants as a given, makes it even that much harder to be moved, shaken or stirred by the offerings of a less than amazing experience.

The bar at the Setai is one such experience that even to a jaded Montrealer, will leave you amazed by it’s clear beauty. The bar, on the roof top of the Setai, is set partially inside of the hotel with a lounge area (on the roof ) set up along side. The thing that is amazing with this area, and the Setai for that matter, is the “minimal, with feeling” décor — You are left feeling deserving of the time spent here.  Unlike most recent builds, where you wonder if you (the client) were an after-thought — the Setai makes you feel that you were the only one they thought of.

The word “ultra luxurious” has been used by so many, that it has become an anti-climax. The Setai is deserving of another word, but for now we will have to use this one knowing that you will not be disappointed. The Setai is one of those hotels that have managed to do the difficult well, and without effort.

The rooms have everything that you can imagine and some you might not have even thought about as standard fare. King size bed, plasma screen TV, espresso machine, surround-sound CD and DVD system, rainfall shower – and much more.

The décor is Asian influenced, but not cliché. The walls are teak wood, the decorations are real jade, and the larger suites come with a sitting area, full kitchen, and jacuzzi. There are three pools with different temperature settings. A full service spa, two full service restaurants, one Asian and the other a more casual Grill.

The Perks: Perfect crisp white linens, the concierge service that contacts you before you even arrive in Miami to help plan your stay, a penthouse suite fit for royalty (would need it’s own separate review), perfect sunshine for a week.

True luxury: 2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 520-6100

ATLANTIS — DUBAI

I have been to the Atlantis in Bahamas and the experience was one to remember. I could not help myself in thinking if they would do another one somewhere else. With the Atlantis Dubai, my question has been answered. The sister hotel to the Atlantis (now we have to put Bahamas behind the word to be sure of which one we are speaking), details in geography aside… we get to focus on details in destination. The Atlantis Dubai has plenty.

Located on the Palm Dubai in the center of the Palm’s crescent, this hotel is definitely one with a view. Continuing a reoccurring theme in these reviews, the Atlantis features so many water themes, that one begins to feel like they are truly in the lost city of Atlantis. The hotel even has guests suites with wall sized aquariums. The lost Chambers Suites are exclusive to the Atlantis, with both bedroom and bath views directly into the Ambassador Lagoon with over 65,000 species of marine animals. If that wasn’t impressive enough, they have thrown in a personal butler for good measure.

Something that was of special interest to me, was The Dolphin Bay Lagoon with it’s seven interconnected pools, offering possibly the only dolphin rescue and rehabilitation center for stranded dolphins in the Arabian Gulf.

The Atlantis is so full of aquatic attractions that we tend to over look that it also is a 5 star hotel with great food and rooms. The rooms are perfect, the food is perfect, and the service is perfect. Now, lets get back to the Ambassador Lagoon shall we…?

The Perks: 24 hour room service, butler service, rooms with a view, water sports, spa.

Lost City Found Paradise:  Atlantis The Palm, Jumeirah Dubai. UAE  (+971) 4 426 2000

HALF MOON — MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA

Question: When is a vacation, not just a vacation?

Answer: When that vacation becomes an experience.

The Half Moon Jamaica is just that, an experience. Something that leaves you smiling and feeling good from beginning to end. With a list of features that would take this whole article to write about, (we might just have to do a full review to give you the complete picture) it is truly a trip to paradise.

Situated on it’s own private beach, the resort is one of my favorites in Jamaica. Private butlers, horse back riding, parasailing, jacuzzis, saunas, and a full service spa are just a few of it’s features. This is one of those resorts that you would have to take two trips just to get started.

The sunset is breathtaking and the sound of the ocean stays with you for weeks after you have left this tropical paradise. With all of this, the one thing that stuck with me the most were the golf carts. It was so much fun to drive around on these electric golf carts that I felt like a kid again and I look forward to this. The Half Moon is so large, that to get around, guests either take the long walks from area to area, or use these golf carts.

The villas make you feel like you are in your own home, and leaving this “experience” was one of the few times that I actually felt like I was leaving home. But I know that I will be back again.

The Perks: Beautiful beaches, verandas overlooking the ocean, ocean breeze, spa, stress free luxury, championship golf course.

Ocean Luxury:  Rose Hall  Montego Bay, Jamaica W.I. (876) 953-2211

Bvlgari Milan:

The Bvlgari Milan; is one of those rare Gems a Hotel unlike the others tucked away neatly in the heart of Milan’s fashion District. It’s best to take a taxi directly to the Hotel the first time as it is not Obvious from the main streets that are only a stones throw away. Via Montenapoleone and Via Della Spiga. The Hotel is in the Middle of a 4,000 Sq meter private garden, visitors to this Hotel retreat will get a interpretation of traditional Italian Landscape. During the spring and summer the Terrace is the place to just chill and enjoy life as it is. The rooms are just enough modern without being cold and there is a feeling of elegance which leaves you feeling inspired. The black marble bathrooms at first a bit cold but after a time it becomes liquid and just makes you feel good.  The Italian restaurant’s glass facade leaves you with the feeling of dining outdoors.

With only 58 rooms in total this is not a big hotel but the blending out Nature and space gives an expanded illusion. The spa is still one of my favorites, unhurried, great menu and a pool that makes you feel like you are a modern Emperor swimming in gold leaf splendor .

The perks: personal shopper, complementary packing and unpacking service,hair and make up service.

Garden Luxury:: 7 Via Privata Fratelli Gabba Milan 2021

Neighbourhood: Brera

Phone: +39 02 805 8051

Chou Chou — Feeling the room …

In  a time when the word cool is used for very uncool things, it seems that “Chasing Cool”   has become the modern day hunt for MOBY DICK on a raft with a jar of Tartar sauce in hand.  Montreal as a City is very Cool; So cool that Hotels especially Boutique Hotels , by definition must even be cooler than cool. What is it that makes this jump to the other level, is it the designer rooms. Designer sheets, designer furniture: We at KA beg to differ, since designers are hired to do a job and as a result each hotel with enough money can hire the designer they want, as such then each hotel will have access to “cool” and since by it’s very Undefinition, cool cannot be manufactured, cool cannot be bottled , cool is a sort of force brought into a space made ready for it’s essence … Cool, that thing that just is; the unknown that resonates and leaves us unable to comment; Leaving us to  only respond let out a little smile and know we are in it’s presence , and for the time we are there we just feel well; “COOL” The fact that your best friend, in our case Chou Chou, (Opus Montreal is Pet Friendly) can come and feel good too well that just makes it even COOLER …

OPUS — MONTREAL : a really cool place.

Very Cool Lobby

OPUS LOUNGE