The Perfect Riad

As it's pouring ice outside here in NYC, I'm thinking about warmer climates once again.  I continue my search for places to stay during my Morocco trip in Spring, and I came across this stunner in Marrakesh.  The over-sized planters in the outdoor space makes a dramatic statement.  The patina window shutters and wood work though out creates a nice contrast to the concrete floors and walls.  This perfect Riad will suit me just fine!

Moroccan Dream, Hotel #2

Since I'm going to Morocco in spring and it's so damn cold here and the streets of NYC are full of icy brown sludge I thought it was befitting that my second hotel post reflect where my mind is currently at right now...warmer climates and exotic interiors!  During my lodging research for my spring sabbatical I found a chic retreat located in Essaouira, Morocco called Dar Beida. This white structure from the 1960's era is located in an old port city in the west of Morocco.  Designed and decorated by the British owners, they scoured local flea markets and Souks to fill the interiors with vintage objects and furniture resulting in a warm and eclectic atmosphere.  Collections of skulls such as bird, dolphin, camel and cows found washed up on the Moroccan shores or collected from the desert, were arranged on the walls which create pattern and shadow.  The owners added bulbous shaped fire places to most of the 4 bedrooms.  But, now back to my day dream filled mind! The rooftop bedroom pictured just below which opens up onto a rooftop terrace is where I take retreat, sipping on, hmmmmm, well some yummy local drink of course, soaking in the warm sun light, catching the comforting breeze from the dry desert and enjoying the salty scent from the nearby shore.  Spring just can't come fast enough!

A Home Away From Home. Hotels #1

When I travel, the place where I rest my bones is very important to me.  I want to be surrounded by interesting atmosphere, elegant or weird things and objects and clever design that inspire.  I think of hotels as an extension of my own abode.  When I'm traveling I want to feel comfortable and cozy just like I do when I'm home.  So, I'm kicking off my first hotel post with The Parker in Palm Springs designed by Jonathan Adler.  I discovered The Parker when it first opened.  A friend had the most beautiful wedding there on one of the many lawns that surround the mid-century/classical structure.  As soon as I stepped foot into the lobby I was smitten over Adler's choice of materials, furniture and accessories.  It's all so bohemian! Moroccan textiles, quirky objects, mid-century inspired decor, which is a must since it's in the middle of Palm Springs, and pottery everywhere you look.  Now that it is beginning to get chilly here in NYC, I'm reminiscing over my California days, drinking cocktails at the pool and lazy days at the beach...or the desert.  

I enjoy hearing about new hotels, new places to decompress at, to unwind and find inspiration, so I'm interested in some of your favorites.  Please, do share!

Swap Homes in Style

Marrakesh, Morocco

Sri Lanka

Brittany, France

When I'm on holiday I enjoy spending the time as a local would. Dining in a great little neighborhood cafe, getting the best deals at the local flea market, sunbathing at a secluded beach and staying at a local's country villa or a city pied-a-terre.  Through Luxe Home Swap this can become a reality.  For a small yearly fee, you can search the website for homes you would like to stay in throughout the world, and begin your conversation with the owner, to swap.  Unfortunatley, it's obvious this will not work for everyone.  If your trying to swap your mobile home in Wichita Kansas for a small castle in France, uhhhh, it's just not gonna work out.  As for me, I'm eying up the gorgeous home in Morocco, but hey! If the owner of the castle in Brittany wants to swap for my apartment in NYC, my bags are packed!

VFM platform Leonard chose SLH manage and distribute images of over 500 hotels-hotel

VFM platform Leonard chose SLH manage and distribute images of over 500 hotels, whose name is also the exclusive provider of rich media distribution services for a hotel SLH.-hotel



VFM Leonardo, the leader in online distribution of visual content for hotels, today announced that Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) VScape adopted (R) digital asset management system. SLH, a brand more than 500 hotels in over 70 countries, the Enterprise version VScape used to manage photos for distribution to hotels and VNetwork (TM), formats and delivery methods are needed.
VNetwork is the largest distribution network of Internet content to the Visual travel industry and includes all four GDS and Pegasus and thousands of third-party sites and channels, including Travelocity, Orbitz, Priceline, TripAdvisor, and, as such, Images Hotel SLH reach as many sites related to travel buyers, in light of a single hotel with a site on a site that offers affordable prices.
"SLH visual and an important part of customer experience, allowing users to see what makes this hotel unique, based on experience of luxury that offer more than this book. VFM Leonardo will help us make our hotels offer images are still available and updated using the Web sites of clients in the choice of hotel, "said Paul Kerr, CEO of Small Luxury Hotels of the world.
SLH also selected and approved by VFM Leonardo, the exclusive provider of rich media to their property. Various properties of SLH to solve their presence on the travel sites to distribute their photos and multimedia display multimedia VNetwork VFM Leonard VBrochure online merchandising system that is fully integrated into the West VScape strengthened.
"We call on the hotels on the video and virtual tours of goods, using their best online hotel discount. VFM Leonard VBrochure on-line merchandising system allows us to distinguish between customers and travel to the hotel with a stimulating effect visual, "says Kerr. "We are pleased to SLH contributed to improving the online visual representation of the hotel. In the era of digital technology, but consumers do their shopping at several places in the hotels that stand out, and report on a stimulating experience. We believe that greater exposure to online content SLH VR at home and lead to more revenue can be used, "said Paolo Boni, President & CEO, VFM Leonardo.
About Small Luxury Hotels of the World
Small Luxury Hotels of the World (TM) (SLH) brand is a unique portfolio of some of the best in the world of small, independent hotels. With more than 500 hotels in over 70 countries, the diversity of individual hotels, and the experience they offer is exceptional. From the modern design hotel for the houses, the palaces of the 17th century, the temples of the city of islands, historic home in the idyllic resort offers a Small Luxury Hotels of the world for the better. Reservations can be made at any Small Luxury Hotels of the World in property www.slh.com. Travel agents need only luxury GDS code LX.

About VFM Leonardo
VFM Leonardo is the leader in content management and Internet transmission of audio-visual aids. VScape VFM Leonardo da Vinci (R) and VBrochure (TM), uses the distribution possibilities VNetwork (TM), generally accepted as the largest network of online distribution of visual content for the global travel industry, including all four Global Distribution Systems (GDS) and Pegasus-travel-related channels, including online travel agencies, research and websites of travel suppliers, search portals and travel agencies more important. VFM Leonardo Hotel offers systems industry more efficient management of digital resources and merchandise are now available online and provides more efficient 1000000 (photos photos, virtual tours and videos) are more than 30,000 channels of travel websites including which VNetwork Amadeus Galileo, Saber, Worldspan, Pegasus, Travelocity, Orbitz, Priceline, TripAdvisor, Yahoo! Travel, kayak, Google and more than 90,000 hotels around the world. Visit for more information on Leonardo www.vfmleonardo.com VFM . Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com / VFMLeonardo.

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