The Bella Sky Comwell Hotel in Copenhagen. Photos courtesy of the hotel.

While I’ve been pondering this mystery and trying to factor in where that whole Lutheran guilt thing,  Scandinavia’s largest hotel – the Bella Cromwell Sky hotel – has been settling into its position as the largest hotel in the Nordic region. Opened in May 2011, it’s once again made headlines for winning the Best Hotel Architecture title in the region at the 2011 European Hotel Awards, and having seen the two leaning towers that form the hotel at close range, we are not really surprised. Luxury Travel Beat wanted to see what other headlines the hotel has the potential for making, so we parked our bags and headed to our second home – Copenhagen to check it out.

One of the rooms at the Bella Sky hotel

The Rooms: We stayed in a corner room with a serious view of the surrounding Orestad region. I’m sure on a clear day I would have been able to see all the way to neighbouring Sweden but this is winter in Copenhagen – no such luck. Most of the rooms situated in the higher floors will give you magnificent views of your surroundings, and there’s even a suite equipped with a pair of high-tech binoculars:

Some of the suites at the Bella Sky come equipped with long-range binoculars. Photo by Cynthia Wamwayi

Designwise, you can expect to see a sampling of what has made Copenhagen world-famous. The Bella Sky’s 814 rooms, suites and public areas are designed according to a concept they call New Nordic Cool, which leans heavily on the use of classic Nordic furniture with an edge to match the hotel’s ground-breaking architecture. When I first set foot into my room, I am immediately greeted with a gratifying sense of lots of space. They’ve achieved this by strategically placing large mirrors on opposite ends of the room, and weirdly, according to Mr. LTB, a wall of glass separating the bathroom area from the living room.

The well-secured, all female Bella Donna Floor. Photo by Cynthia Wamwayi

The Bella Donna Floor: All 20 rooms on the 17th floor in Tower 2 of the Bella Sky hotel are strictly off bounds for men. Guest need cards to enter the floor and if one of them suddenly finds they’d like to share their room with a male guest, they have to switch floors. Inside, rose and burgundy tones have replaced the black and grey hues found on the hotel’s other floors. Other perks include Ole Henriksen toileteries, fashion and gossip mags, chocolate, fresh fruit and flowers.

Some of the amenities inside a room on the Bella Donna floor. Photo by Cynthia Wamwayi

Food and Beverage: The Bella Sky’s food and beverage offerings consist of a chilled-out, top-floor Sky Bar equipped with a snazzy Poul Henningsen piano and an even snazzier view, a Lobby Bar, two restaurants – The Library and The Balcony – where breakfast is served, and off course, room service.

The Sky-bar at the Bella Sky hotel. Photo by Cynthia Wamwayi

Other Amenities: Free wireless throughout the hotel (charging for Wi-Fi should be abolished in all four and five-star hotels in 2012!), a well-equipped gym and a spa with steam rooms and plunge pools. As at most Copenhagen hotels, bicycles may be rented by the day in the summer. I was informed that the bikes had been taken in for the winter.

LTB Blurb: Bella Sky’s location is a bit outside of the city center and in an area that is pretty much dead after 7pm. It’s right next to the Bella Center Exhibition center and a 15 minute walk from Field’s, which is one of Denmark’s largest malls. We loved that it is about 5 minutes from the Bella Center metro station (for 10-minute connections to downtown Copenhagen) and about 15 minutes from Orestad train station, which connects the area to the nearby Kastrup International Airport.

The lowdown: Bella Sky Hotel, Copenhagen. Center Boulevard 5, Copenhagen 2300, Denmark. http://http://www.bellaskycomwell.dk/. +45 3247 3000

Room with a view: Hotel Antumala, just one of the many hotel rooms being sold at rates of up to 50% off on bungolow.com. Photo courtesy of Hotel Antumalal

LTB: What is Bungolow.com all about?

Scott Bird: Bungolow.com features luxury Latin American hotels and resorts at room rates of up to 50% off. Our featured properties are hand-selected and reviewed by the Bungolow team for quality of service, amenities, and character.

Each sale lasts for 10 days and includes information about the hotel accompanied by a gallery of high-resolution photos. Members reserve their hotel rooms, select their travel dates, and submit payment through our booking system.

Our goal is to place an emphasis on imagery and simplify the hotel reservation process by only offering our selection of curated hotels and resorts across Latin American destinations.

LTB:  How is it different from similar sites like, say, Jetsetter.co.uk?

SB: Our difference is in our niche. Jetsetter has a global focus featuring properties from all over the world. We’re focusing exclusively on properties in Latin American countries. Our goal is for you to be able to see as much of Latin America as possible. Unlike Jetsetter, our site is also available in Spanish which allows us to reach out to Latin American members as well.

LTB: I’ve personally never been to South America, and would like to change that this year. Where do I start, and what should I absolutely not miss?

SB: Oh boy, there’s so much to see! If you only have 1-2 weeks, I highly recommend Buenos Aires as your first trip to South America. Buenos Aires was the first place I ever visited in the region. It has all the comforts of home that you’re accustomed to, but you’re still wrapped in the South American flavor. The best thing about Buenos Aires is the feeling. There is no pressure to have to do a million things at once. Take leisurely-paced lunches, go to the cafes and occasionally sprinkle in some touristic activities. If you have a little extra time on the trip you should definitely visit Iguazu Falls. Located at the border between Brazil and Argentina, the waterfall is one of the biggest in the world and is an amazing sight!

LTB: What sets the hotels you feature on Bungolow.com apart from the others in Latin America?

SB: We’re really focusing on the luxury boutique hotel. A lot of these hotels you wouldn’t come across unless doing more detailed research into the locations. For example in Santiago, Chile, it’s too easy to just book the Ritz-Carlton without doing much research and be done with it. We recommend a couple of spectacular and unique smaller hotels here such as The Aubrey and Lastarria Boutique Hotel. It would be a shame to travel all this way and stay at a hotel you could easily find in London or New York.

LTB: What is the luxury hotel scene like in Latin America?

SB: Depending on country the scene can really vary. There are a lot of great luxury properties in traditionally popular tourist destinations such as  Mexico or Buenos Aires, Argentina. But then you also have places like Panama City which has just exploded with brand new luxury hotels in recent years. The type of luxury varies – it’s easy to find everything from traditional huge, gold-plated hotels to the 4-guest eco-spa sitting on the edge of the ocean.  Overall the outlook is great as newer hotels are popping up and travel to the region increases.

LTB: Now I’m going to ask you to be completely subjective. What the best hotel you’ve ever stayed at in Latin America?

SB: My favorite hotel is definitely the Arrebol Patagonia. It’s located in Puerto Varas, Chile which is a destination that is often overlooked by foreigners when travelling way south to Patagonia and Torres del Paine. But the hotel is this beautifully minimalistic and modern building. None of the rooms have televisions as you don’t need them – your view is of the Llanquihue lake. They have a wood bar which is from a fallen tree sourced local, so they’ve done an amazing job at adding rustic elements that are also eco-friendly.

LTB: Where should I check in for superb service, unbeatable location, and mouth-watering food under one roof?

SB: In Buenos Aires, for everything I have to recommend the Alvear Palace. If you don’t need mouth-watering food directly in the hotel then there are also great boutique hotels like the Nuss Hotel which have several great restaurant options just blocks away. Personally, I’m a big fan of the boutique hotels across South America. Many of them are in older buildings restored to their original elegance with a bit of a modern furniture. To me, staying in one of these boutique’s is a way to experience the city’s history.

LTB: I know we’ve sort of touched on this in the course of our conversation, but what does Latin America as a destination have to specifically offer the 25-34 year old?

SB: Almost every destination I’ve been here has a perfect blend of adventure, festivities, and relaxation. Spend your days hiking or rafting and dance your nights away. Most of the big cities have incredible nightlife. The culture definitely starts later with dinner after 9pm and then hitting the clubs in the early morning. It’s a bit too easy to party and stay out until 6 or 7 in the morning here. That’s not a problem though, because the days also get started a little later down here.

Fresh tracks: Skiing is a great way to get rid of unwanted pounds. Photo courtesy of Alpineguru.com

LTB: It’s that time of the year when ski holidays are calling, what is the number one thing to keep in mind when choosing where to go?

Oliver Corkhill: Well all aspects of a holiday have an impact on where you should go. Especially who you’re going with, the ages of the group, whether you’re looking for nightlife or serenity – it all makes a big difference of course. That’s why it can be good to seek advice from an unbiased insider who knows several resorts well and can make an informed decision to help you based on your criteria, needs and desires.

LTB: Which skiing destinations are best-suited for new-beginners like myself?

OC: If we’re just talking about terrain that’s suited to beginners then the slopes of Aspen or Courchevel 1650 are ideal because the progression from nursery slopes through to the longer runs is subtle and makes for a smooth transition. In lots of resorts we find people will spend a few days on the nursery slopes mastering the basics and then have their confidence thrown when they have steep pitches mixed in with the green and blue runs up the mountain. Another good spot is Grimentz because it’s much quieter than the popular resorts so if you’re a slightly nervous skier it can be great to practice in the tranquil surroundings.

 LTB: So I’ve made my decision about where I’m going. What do I need to pack?

OC: If you’re just starting out then it’s best to be prepared as you don’t know how you’ll feel. Especially when tired and in varying weather conditions. I suggest you also account for the fact you might be spending a lot of time on your bum. I’d recommend that the first thing to look after is your feet. Good quality ski socks go a long way and while people always think they need thick socks to keep warm, these often cause discomfort and aren’t best for performance. I ski in the Falke Pro Race ski socks, and 3 pairs is usually enough for a weeks’ trip. The next most important items are hats, gloves and goggles. Lots of people ski in sunglasses but again if you’re starting out, it’s best to have some goggles with an adaptable lense, which will work well in both the sun and snow.

For the ski outfit go with something you feel comfortable in. There are so many models and levels of technical specifics – it all comes down to budget versus brand. 

LTB: It’s January, and some trousers are really feeling the pinch of holiday over-indulgence. Is skiing a great way to get rid of some unwanted pounds?

OC: For some reason people from non-mountainous nations assume that skiing isn’t an intense workout, but it’s up there with the most rigorous of sports. If you haven’t been skiing before and you head to the slopes your body will certainly be in for a shock, with some aches and pains along the way. There are some great ski fit exercises that you can practice before heading out to the mountains and it’s advisable that you do so. Skiing is about agility, strength, endurance and flexibility. You have to have a strong foundation from your core, and you’ll be working the entire body through with a complete range of movement from head to toe.  Some good exercises are of course cycling, one legged squats, swiss ball work and yoga, these will get you nimble and ready for the slopes.

LTB: Any tips on how to avoid coming back home black and blue from injuries?

OC: If you follow the advice above for getting ski fit then you’ll most likely prevent the worst of the bruises. Best advice is to relax when you’re skiing, if you take a tense tumble then it’ll be twice as bad.

LTB: What are the best luxury skiing options out there?

OC: There are a whole range of luxury options from chalets to hotels and eco retreats. The resorts that have always been up there for luxury chalet holidays are Courchevel 1850, Verbier, Val d’Isere and Zermatt.

If we’re talking about ‘Uber-luxury’ then there are a number of super exclusive options like Chalet Spa in Verbier, Marco Polo in Val d’Isere, Les Anges in Zermatt or Hidden Dragon in Veysonnaz. Or if you want a hotel then the Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains in St Moritz or the Omnia in Zermatt are pretty special too.

All of these are worth a look whether you can afford them or not, the designs are superb. Plenty of hidden gems too that not too many people know about, like the renovated barns in the sleepy hamlet of Commeire.

Alpine Guru: http://www.alpineguru.com/

Luxury Travel Beat only ever writes about hotels we’ve personally been to, but this year there are a couple of hotels we are anticipating to stay at so much that we’ll just jump the gun and excitedly chatter about them. Our own hometown is gearing up for the Olympics by opening a gaggle of hotels that we’re sure will wow our visitors away. Further afield, despite a recession that’s holding on tighter than leather jeans on a humid summer day, luxury hotels continue to flourish.

1. St. Regis Bal Harbour, Miami: January 19

The St. Regis Bal Harbour

Collins Avenue is Miami’s premier hotel mile, and with last Thursday’s soft opening of St. Regis Bal Harbour, it’s set to become even longer. The St. Regis luxury hotel chain’s newest addition will deliver ocean views from each of the 27 floors through three sleek, glass-encased towers that and Art Deco-influenced design with, as befits any Miami hotel worth its salt, a heavy dose of glam. Common areas feature unusual accents such as the graffiti-style mural that anchors the bar and the massive crystal chandelier in the hotel’s Grand Hall. The Jean-Georges Vongerichten-created J&G Grill and Remède Spa provide diversions, as do the private oceanfront cabanas and outdoor pool. This one seems like the place to stay if you want to occasionally get caught up in the whirlwind energy of South Beach but retreat to somewhere quieter once it all gets a bit too much. In other words, just my kind of place.

2. The W, Paris: February 14

The W Paris

Opening on Valentine’s Day in the city of lights (and romance) is the W Paris–whose 91 rooms will feature high ceilings, black chandeliers, pretty carpeting, gorgeous city views, some funky LED lighting and very open bathroom plans. Having recently broken my W cherry in Miami, I’m sure the W Paris will not break with the brand’s reputation for providing swanky digs for the young and hip. I do, however, sincerely hope the service in Paris will be a tad better. There is, after all, very stiff competition in the luxury hotel scene there.

3. Belgraves Hotel, London: February

The Belgraves Hotel

February will also see the arrival of the luxury Thompson experience in London. Belgraves will combine British hospitality with a Bohemian American vibe, it’s being said. The 85-room boutique hotel is promising Sferra linens in the rooms, white and grey marble bathrooms with marble floors, walk-in showers, toiletries from Penhaligon’s, LCD flat-screen TVs and an 80-cover restaurant from Chef Marc Hix among others. In this Olympic year, we say break a leg.

4. Conrad New York: March

The Conrad, New York

Conrad, along with the Waldorf-Astoria collection are the luxury brand arms of the Hilton group. March sees the entry of the Conrad into the stiff New York city market. It will be an all-suite accommodation, with the smallest starting at 430-sq.ft. Complimentary breakfasts and wine receptions will be a great drawing point for foodies, as will the Shake Shack adjacent to the Conrad, a Blue Smoke restaurant, and a soon-to-be-opened grill with restaurateur Danny Meyers at the helm a mere steps away from the hotel.

5. The Buddha-Bar hotel, Budapest: April

Buddha-Bar Hotel Budapest

Buddha-Bar hotels and resorts quietly launched their first hotel in Prague in 2009. It appears they are now in the expansion phase of their venture, with openings in Panama and Dubai among others in the offing. Their most immediate openings however, take place in Paris and Budapest, with the latter expected to launch in early April. I like not knowing what to expect but expecting to be wowed. Having looked at the hotel’s website, I might not be disappointed come April.

6. Bulgari, London: April

Bulgari Hotel , London

Bulgari’s third hotel project and London’s first ever bonafide fashion design house hotel also opens in April in Knightsbridge, the most prestigious area of Central London.  The hotel, with its 85 rooms and suites — including seven extraordinary Bulgari suites, each more than 200 square meters large — will feature a large ballroom, a private cinema and a 2,000 square meter SPA and fitness centre with a 25 meter indoor pool.

7. Palais Namaskar, Marrakech: April

The Palais Namaskar Hotel, Marrakech

The German Oetker group, which is responsible for one of my favourite hotels – the Le Bristol Paris - is set to replicate its unique hotels, this time in Marrakech, Morrocco. The group’s first opening since 1994 and their first African hotel ever, Palais Namaskar luxury Hotel and Spa is an idyllic resort of 41 villas, palaces and suites. I have absolutely no doubt the hotels facilities are above and beyond exquisite, but it is the setting between the Atlas Mountains and the Djebilet Hills, the short 30-minute drive from Marrakech International Airport and the 20-minutes it will take me to get from the hotel to the Jemaa El-Fna UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s put the hotel firmly on my to-visit list.

8. Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg: May

The Four Seasons St. Petersburg

I have mixed feelings about this. I love the Four Seasons Hotel chain and have had nothing but positive experiences with them. I also have a soft spot for hotels that once used to be palaces. What I’m not thrilled about is whether I will break an embargo I imposed upon myself against visiting Russia, after it came to light that journalists and black people are basically an endangered species there. The hotel is said to be inside a restored 19th-century royal palace guarded by two marble lions at the entrance, and will house a grand staircase, two signature restaurants, and a glass-topped spa, among others.

9. The St. Regis Mauritius Resort: May

St. Regis Mauritius Resort

The St. Regis hotel chain is also opening its first African hotel in Mauritius, an island country synonymous with white sand beaches, turquoise lagoons and tropical climes. The St. Regis Resort Mauritius will have 173 guestrooms, each outfitted with spacious private balconies with ocean and mountain views, personal butlers, a nightly champagne ritual, six restaurants and a spa surrounded by tropical gardens.

10. Four Seasons Hotel Pudong, Shanghai: Mid-2012

The Four Seasons Pudong Shanghai

Opening mid-2012 with luxe interiors and modern lines inspired by Shanghai’s Art Deco period of the 1920s, Four Seasons introduces a second hotel for China’s booming business capital. On eleven floors of the 21st Century Tower, in the heart of the Lujiazhui financial zone, the hotel is expected to be a haven of style.

11. The W Sentosa Cove, Singapore : August

The W Sentosa Cove

The Singaporean island resort of Sentosa on the country’s southern tip is where the W Sentosa Cove is currently taking shape. The resort island boasts vibrant beach bars, chic restaurants, indulgent spas, attractions such as Universal Studios and the casino at Resorts World Sentosa; all of which will clamour for attention with The W.

The Capella Georgetown: Mid to late 2012

A rendering of the Capella Georgetown

Poised alongside the historic C&O Canal and cobblestone sidewalks of Georgetown, in the capital city of Washington, D.C., Capella Georgetown will feature 48 guest rooms and suites, an elegant restaurant and lounge featuring seasonal dining overlooking the Canal, a rooftop pool and bar and exclusive spa. The hotel’s premier location will offer dramatic views of the city’s iconic landmarks. The intimate Capella Georgetown will provide a top-tier retreat for the discerning world traveler, positioning guests between the center of culture, shopping, dining, and the headquarters of international policy and finance. As a big fan of Capella hotels and Georgetown, I’m waiting for my invitation!

For the Business Traveller:  The Mandarin Oriental, Miami

The Mandarin Oriental Miami: A Deluxe Bay Room

The Brickell area of Downtown Miami is the business hub of Florida, housing hundreds of large corporations. Hotels are nearly just as many, fighting tooth and nail to get those corporate accounts. I usually steer well clear of business hotels, as I find them too impersonal and staid for my taste. This is definitely not the case with The Mandarin Oriental Miami. Combining Asian ambience with a decidedly Western flair, just its location on uptown Brickell Key by Biscayne Bay – where you can sometimes see Dolphins flipping around – was enough to put a smile on my face when I checked in on a typically sunny Floridian morning.

The hotel’s well-appointed rooms (room 1812 has magnificent views over Biscayne bay and of the Miami skyline), its famous Azul restaurant, where American dishes and accompanying wines are elegantly served with an European twist, and a spa whose botox-by-way-of-a-facial (formulated by Brazilian plastic surgery pioneer Dr. Ivo Pitanguy) had me contentedly caressing my skin for days are the hotel’s strongest suits. But the cherry on top of this Asian-American sundae was the hotel’s man-made beach, picturesquely situated by the bay and only a few metres away from the pool. Who needs South Beach and its noisy party scene when you can lie on a hammock and revel in the knowledge that you still have another 5 days of vacation left?

The Mandarin Oriental Miami. 500 Brickell Key Drive, Miami, Florida 33131, USA. http://www.mandarinoriental.com/miami/

For the Rockstar: The W, South Beach

The W Miami.

If you found yourself screaming “I do! I do!” in reply to the last question in the previous paragraph then I’ve got just the hotel for you. The W South Beach. Everything about it oozes “I’m hip and happening (and you, my dear, are not)”. From the black-clad secret-service-resembling bellhops who are quite picky about which guests they smile and assist (hint: be young, look glam and ooze money), to the security in the back-garden who took one look at my laid-back beach fatigues and demanded proof I was a guest at the hotel as I re-entered it from the beach. Aforementioned beach is just a stone’s throw from the hotel and can be seen from many of the hotel’s rooms.

Be wary, however, of the rooms directly above the hotel’s entrance. Luxury Travel Beat slept fitfully on a Thursday night, our sweet dreams interrupted constantly by loud party-goers and clubbers well into the little hours of the morning. (The W’s Wall nightclub is very popular with the South Beach party set).  Beware also of the 7 percent Florida tax and two percent local tax which is levied on all of the room service items set about like booby traps in the hotel room.

Other amenities include a Bliss spa, a Mr. Chow restaurant, complimentary shuttle service in the Miami beach area, a gym, and two pools.

The W South Beach Miami. 2201 Collins Ave  Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States. http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1599

For the Escape Artist

The Setai Miami.

The Setai is located literally next door to the W, but entering its lobby feels like entering a whole other world. Perhaps because you sort of actually do step into a whole other world when you check in to the hotel. The hotel’s décor is a fusion of both elements from the(in)famous South Beach Miami and the wider international art deco scene. The lobby alone is lined with grey antique bricks from Shanghai, which at one time had the largest array of Art Deco buildings in the world. A Burmese teak lattice motif which lends its inspiration from the Belgian Art Deco era (the hotel’s décor was designed by a Belgian) adorns the panels in The Setai’s Bar & Courtyard. The centrepiece in the lobby is a bronze fireplace composed of panels from Bali, Indonesia. Despite this veritable collage of international art deco, the overall design is not as staged as what you might find on South Beach’s hotel mile.

Inside the hotel’s rooms and suites, Asian art deco once again takes center stage. The studio suite is the hotel’s standard room, and it is here I try to gather my wits immediately after arriving from London. Words like spacious and airy spring to mind when I try to define what I’m seeing, whilst teak and black granite line the floor. A rainfall shower complete with luxury Asprey bath accessories, Sateen bed linen by Christian Fischbacher, a BOSE Wave system with an ipod docking station, an LED Samsung flat screen TV, an illy coffeemaker,an in-room bar and complimentary wireless high-speed internet. Other amenities include The Spa at Setai, a gym much larger than your regular hotel fitness center where I especially enjoyed doing my morning runs on the treadmills overlooking the hotel’s three pools (I promise it had little, if nothing, to do with the pool boys cleaning them), and four restaurants.

Music and X-factor enthusiasts (though some might argue the two are not necessarily related) will be tickled to know that the hotel has its very own Lenny Kravitz-designed recording studio. Could this be one of the reasons Simon Cowell sometimes takes up residence at The Setai Miami’s 40^th floor 10,000 square-foot penthouse?

The Setai, Miami. 2001 Collins Avenue, Miami, Florida 33139. http://www.setai.com

The Lowdown: Luxury Travel Beat flew from London to Miami courtesy of Delta Airlines Business Elite service. The airline recently introduced Economy Comfort to the long-haul fleet, and a luxury bar to their award winning Delta Sky Club. Flights to nearly 250 destinations worldwide  can be booked on http://www.delta.com/.