A hand-picked collection of places to stay: Authentic, Small-scale, One of a kind!
When there’s a big bar of Hermès soap in the bathroom and a tea menu, you know this is pure luxury. This wine and olive oil estate, Herdade in Portuguese, covers 450 hectares, so it is huge but it doesn’t feel too big. It’s because the various accommodations are spread out and all have their own style. This is such a special hideaway, very suitable for the spoilt international traveller who goes for luxury and (eco) top quality in combination with nature, Alentejo deluxe!
Okay, there’s special and then there’s very special… this hideaway in the heart of Cologne falls into the latter category. I often talk about how a hotel needs to have a soul… this is what makes it stand out from the crowd, and this hideaway certainly does. In this case, the soul of Michael Kaune, which perfectly matches the beautiful neo-Gothic building, the old city archive. Michael was looking for a place where he could bring together his love of design, art and beauty. Not a museum, but low-threshold and everyday, so that everyone can enjoy his wonderful collection of modern design.
Off the beaten track Algarve… The olives are being harvested as we drive along a dirt track to our cottage. Formerly the farm workers lived here, now the 3 cottages and the main house are transformed into spacious holiday homes, white plastered with soft green shutters and a large, deep purple bougainvillea growing along the covered terrace. The houses are fully equipped and have a private swimming pool. Here you can relax and get a glimpse of authentic Portugal away from the hustle and bustle, a wonderful rural escape.
I have a new happy place… a place where I have set my heart on having my own Hideaway – Casa Cubista in Sedella. It is located in the Axarquía, the area east of Malaga. Not yet very well known and it has everything: sea, mountains, nature, a wonderful microclimate and a choice of white villages. Because I now spend so much time in this part of Andalusia, I came across this striking guesthouse, located in the neighbouring village. Contemporary, comfortable, affordable and a super deluxe breakfast… an absolute insider tip!