Beauty Along the Bosphorus

 

Four Seasons Spa & Hammam Bosphorus

Most spa treatments speak to four of the senses, from sight and smell to sound and touch, but when you really think about it, there hasn’t been one blissfully perfect experience that engages all five — until now.

People have always flocked to the Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus for its traditional Turkish hammam treatment, a bathing ritual that activates blood circulation, detoxifies the body and — bonus! — improves the look of your skin. But the decadent new Epicurean Hammam will give you a taste of Istanbul in more ways than one.
Part way through your 25-minute hammam treatment in the hot marble sauna, you’ll be served an olive oil ice cream popsicle to keep you feeling cool and hydrated — just before receiving a luxurious 15-minute foam massage with natural olive oil soap. Next, you’ll be drenched head to toe in a special creamy mixture of strained yogurt and rose water. As the healing yogurt absorbs into your skin, making it look firmer and brighter, a scalp massage will send you even deeper into relaxation.
And at the end of your sensory journey, you’ll rest with a refreshing yogurt with honey to leave just the right taste in your mouth — and ensure you’re feeling good and looking great, inside and out.

So check out Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus  to stimulate your five senses with the exclusive Epicurean Hammam treatment.  Oh, and did we also mention that spa goers voted the Four Seasons Spa & Hammam as their favorite spa in Turkey for three consecutive years in the SpaFinder Wellness Reader’s Choice Awards?

Pair that with your popsicle!

The Hotel de Paris St. Tropez Has Opened!

Hotel de Paris St. Tropez

Viola… The Hotel de Paris St Tropez has just opened in the heart of Saint-Tropez. So, for those seeking a sexy jaunt to the South of France, you’ll get 52 rooms & 32 suites of awesome. Amenities include:

• “Suffren Café by Georges ”, a French brasserie orchestrated by the 3-star chef Georges Blanc
• Rooftop terrace with clear-bottom pool suspended 15 meters above the atrium
• Spa “My Blend by Clarins”
• “The Roof”, Lounge bar with caviar & Champagne
• Lobby Bar & landscaped patio
• Access by plane
• Nice International Airport (90 minutes)
• Hyères – Toulon Airport (60 minutes)
• La Môle – Saint-Tropez Airport (25 minutes)

And here’s a sweet secret Special Opening Rate…

$375/night

Buffet Breakfast and Taxes are also included.

Valid from March 23^rd to May 7^th, 2013

You can say ‘Merci’ later.

http://www.hoteldeparis-sainttropez.com/

A Little Luxury at Les Deux Alpes

Les Deux Alpes

Ah, le superb resort of Les Deux Alpes, nestled in the French Isère département, is a village at the mouth of the largest skiable glacier in Europe, giving visitors access to all-year-round skiing. Since we’re all about winter right now (I even skied Central Park this weekend, fellas), we say… check out some online reputable agents to book ski deals, and you can see for yourself how fabulous this resort is while benefiting from great value for the money.

Les Deux Alpes offers around 137mi of pisted runs, perfect for the family (or you and your amour). Often termed ‘upside-down’ due to the steeper runs being nearer to the resort than the beginner slopes higher up the mountain, there are plenty of opportunity for everyone – no matter how proficient they are on a pair of skis. Don’t worry about the beginner and intermediate runs being further up the mountain though – there are gondola rides that can help you get there.

There is also believed to be the same amount of miles in off-piste track, particularly the area known as La Grave, giving plenty of opportunity for cross country adventure. If you’re a little more practiced skier, this could be a great way to hone your skills and escape the crowds on the groomed slopes.

Are you a boarder? Don’t worry – there’s an extensive snowpark boasting a half pipe, a multiple kicker and a handful of grinding rails, meaning you can grab and grind as much as you like. Since we do love a good grind.

While the groomed slopes and marked runs are fabulous for novices, if you want to really test yourself, the glacier is a perfect place to go. Offering skiing throughout the year, the glacier can be accessed by Jandri Express ski lift or a funicular railway that transports you through a tunnel beneath the ice.

The resort also provides an ideal spot for mountain biking during the summer months, both downhill and freeride options readily attainable.

So, take the plunge and head for the family friendly resort of Les Deux Alpes. Whatever you hope to achieve from your ski holiday, this resort will surely provide it!

Istanbul: A City of Many Colours

Topkapi Palace

Istanbul: A City of Many Colours

For travellers, Istanbul is so much more than a bargain hunter’s dream. Throughout history, Turkey’s former capital city possessed all the power and status of a cultural and political superpower at the heart of both the extensive Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. These days, Istanbul’s rich cultural heritage is combined with the frenetic activity of a modern, cosmopolitan city. Tourists can explore ancient city walls and traditional mosques and churches by day, and enjoy an exhilarating social scene by night.

Crusin’ down the Bosphorus in front of Istanbul’s Galata Tower

Some Revision

History buffs will tell you that the city of Istanbul was originally known as Byzantium. Colonised by Greek settlers in approximately 680 BC, the city had a seaside location that soon meant that it became an important centre for trade. This was especially the case for luxury goods such as silks and exotic spices that passed through the city on their route from East to West. Captured by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus in 196, Byzantium was integrated into the Roman Empire. The city flourished as a centre for arts and culture and quickly became the political capital for the eastern half of the Roman Empire. It was renamed Constantinople (Constantine’s city) under the rule of the first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine the Great, and became an important centre for Christianity; the world’s largest cathedral, the Hagia Sophia – transformed into a mosque, and now into a museum – is still open for tourists to visit in the present day. Economically weakened by the crusades, Constantinople was inevitably conquered by the Turkish nobleman Sultan Mehmed II in 1453 and renamed Istanbul. The Sultan founded an Islamic dynasty – the Ottoman Empire – lasting over 600 years.

The Grand Bazaar!

Modern Istanbul is a cultural melting pot of both Christian and Muslim heritage and architecture. Though Ankara is now the capital of Turkey, Istanbul continues to be an important city for trade and tourism. Sitting at the crossroads of two continents (Europe and Asia), the city is divided by the Bosphorus, a strait of water frequently navigated by ships on a European cruise as well as by trade ships on their way to Asia and the Black Sea.

Enough. Markets!

Now you’ve swatted up on the history, time to get yourself out and about for that authentic Istanbul cultural experience.  If you’ve already checked out the Galata Tower, Rumeli Hisari, Topkapi Palace (where you can also grab a bite to eat and have some Cherry juice… yum!) and the Blue Mosque and still don’t have flagging feet, what better way to get to know the city than by shopping? The Grand Bazaar is just the place to do just this – everything from traditional spices and silks to handbags, shoes, and jewellery, to lamps, shishas, vegetables and sweets are on display and ready for you to buy. Haggle to your heart’s content as there are no fixed prices – those prepared to pay the price tags’ face value are missing out a valuable lesson about Turkish culture, as well a great deal!

Live Music at Arpa Bar

Now take a break at one of the street cafes or shisha bars offering refreshing mint teas, baked goods just dripping with honey, and real Turkish Delight. Café Meşale just behind the Blue Mosque has live Turkish music and dance performances to accompany your meal.

Sundowners

Nightlife options in Istanbul are just as varied as everything else in the city; from traditional wine bars to Turkish taverns, roof bars to nightclubs, there is a wealth of experiences to be had. The bars, basement jazz cafes, and traditional Turkish venues of the Beyoğlu district provide an easy-going indie atmosphere; everyone is welcome, and will undoubtedly be quizzed as to his or her origin! Rooftop venue Kumbaracı Yokuşu has a mellow atmosphere with music and cocktails that make it the perfect place to start out the night. Follow up this up, perhaps by dropping into Arpa Bar, just a short walk away. If you’re feeling like a touch of glamour, head over to Ortaköy and attempt to get in to The Reina. An upmarket club, it hosts several different restaurants and bars. It’s exclusive, expensive, and there’s a dress-code, but it’s great for celebrity spotting.

Your Cheat Sheet: The Best Restaurants in Europe

Selene – Santorini Greece

The Daily Meal’s 101 Best Restaurants in Europe list is out! While other Best of Europe lists have covered similar territory, no one else has covered 31 countries and enlisted the assistance of European food and dining experts to whittle down the continent’s thousands of restaurants (beginning with 1,450) into a more manageable 101 – leaving only the essential restaurants that discerning diners must try. The Daily Meal covers all things food and drink, creating a complete epicurean experience for cooks, food lovers, wine, beer and spirit connoisseurs, discerning diners and everyone in-between. Comprised of original content and video from Award winning editors, industry insiders, tastemakers and the user community, The Daily Meal is one of the largest food sites on the Web and the first property of Spanfeller Media Group, founded by Jim Spanfeller.

Syr – Moscow

The list, which took seven months to curate, runs the gamut from French to fusion and traditional to molecular gastronomy, with all price points covered. No island, hamlet, principality, or city was overlooked. The list includes the most exemplary epicurean endeavors in Europe’s capital cities but also in far-flung locales.

Consulting with Michelin Guide and other trusted sources, The Daily Meal gathered hundreds of recommendations from The Daily Meal’s editors, who have traveled and dined extensively around the world. They reached out to a panel of more than 200 knowledgeable judges, comprised of restaurant critics, food and lifestyle writers, and bloggers with wide restaurant-going experience. Then, they curated a separate panels by region so only experts on the UK voted for UK restaurants, Italy experts voted for Italy and so on.

VOTING CRITERIA

Panelists voted in two categories: cuisine and style/décor/service.

Cuisine: From innovative menu options to plating and presentation to freshness, quality, and taste, panelists evaluated each restaurant’s cuisine and only voted for the restaurants which they believe are extraordinary.

Style/décor/service: panelists evaluated the dining experience, from the restaurant’s interior and dining room ambiance to the service, voting for the restaurants which they believe offer an unrivaled experience.

Csalogány 26 – Budapest, Hungary

101 BEST RESTAURANTS IN EUROPE

1. Osteria Francescana (Modena, Italy)

2. Arzak, San Sebastian (Spain)

3. Noma (Copenhagen)

4. Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester (London)

5. Guy Savoy (Paris)

6. Aqua (Wolfsburg, Germany)

7. Varvary (Moscow)

8. Hof Van Cleve (Kruishoutem, Belgium)

9. L’Arpege (Paris)

10. JB (Ljubljana, Slovenia)

11. Can Fabes (Sant Celoni, Spain)

12. El Celler de Can Roca (Girona, Spain)

13. Dal Pescatore (Canneto sull’Oglio, Italy)

14. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (London)

15. Taillevent (Paris)

16. Epicure at Le Bristol (Paris)

17. Le Meurice (Paris)

18. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athenee (Paris)

19. Louis XV at Hotel de Paris (Monte Carlo)

20. The Fat Duck (Bray, England)

21. Bras (Laguiole, France)

22. Benoit Violier (Crissier, Switzerland)

23. Maison Troisgros (Roanne, France)

24. St. John Bar & Restaurant (London)

25. Chapter One (Dublin)

26. Pierre Gagnaire (Paris)

27. Les Pres d’Eugenie (Eugenie-les-Bains, France)

28. Bruneau (Brussels)

29. Le Calandre (Sarmeola di Rubano, Italy)

30. El Motel Restaurant (Figueres, Spain)

31. Asador Etxebarri (Atxondo, Spain)

32. Moments, Mandarin Oriental (Barcelona)

33. Tickets/41º (Barcelona)

34. Oud Sluis (Sluis, Netherlands)

35. De Karmeliet (Bruges, Belgium)

36. Anne-Sophie Pic at Beau-Rivage (Lausanne, Switzerland)

37. Waterside Inn (Bray, England)

38. Le Cinq, George V (Paris)

39. Gordon Ramsay (London)

40. Quique Dacosta (Denia, Spain)

41. Sant Pau (Sant Pol de Mar, Spain)

42. The Witchery (Edinburgh)

43. Atelier de Jean-Luc Rabanel (Arles, France)

44. Die Schwarzwaldstube (Baiersbronn, Germany)

45. Le Carre des Feuillants (Paris)

46. Geranium (Copenhagen)

47. Anna Sacher (Vienna)

48. Patrick Guilbaud (Dublin)

49. Mugaritz (San Sebastian)

50. Les Ambassadeurs (Paris)

51. Vendome (Bergisch Gladbach, Germany)

52. Le Comptoir at Hotel Relais Saint-Germain (Paris)

53. Paolo e Barbara (San Remo, Italy)

54. Sonnora (Dreis, Germany)

55. Ca l’Enric (La Vall de Bianya, Spain)

56. Da Fiore (Venice)

57. Soelleroed Kro (Holte, Denmark)

58. Alexander (Muhu Island, Estonia)

59. Maaemo (Oslo)

60. La Vie (Osnabrueck, Germany)

61. The Three Chimneys (Isle of Skye, Scotland)

62. Enoteca Pinchiorri (Florence)

63. Faeviken Magasinet (Jarpen, Sweden)

64. Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia (Milan)

65. Relae (Copenhagen)

66. La Ciau del Tornavento (Treiso, Italy)

67. Mathias Dahlgren (Stockholm)

68. Chez Dominique (Helsinki)

69. Trussardi Alla Scala (Milan)

70. Don Alfonso 1890 (Sant’Agata Sui Due Golfi, Italy)

71. AOC (Copenhagen)

72. Hakkasan, Mayfair

73. Clairefontaine (Luxembourg)

74. Chaika (Moscow)

75. Ca l’Isidre (Barcelona)

76. Via Veneto (Barcelona)

77. Madonnina del Pescatore (Senigallia, Italy)

78. River Cafe (London)

79. Cheval Blanc (Basel, Switzerland)

80. Liviano Restaurant (Bratislava, Slovakia)

81. Steirereck (Vienna)

82. Fishy Fishy (Kinsale, Ireland)

83. Ballymaloe House (Shanagarry, Ireland)

84. Ribe (Tallinn, Estonia)

85. Vila Joya (Albufeira, Portugal)

86. Ikarus (Salzburg, Austria)

87. Csalogany 26 (Budapest)

88. Aniar Restaurant (Galway, Ireland)

89. Syr (Moscow)

90. Le Mandrac (Volosko, Croatia)

91. Spondi (Athens)

92. Quo Vadis (London)

93. Alle Testiere (Venice, Italy)

94. Selene (Pyrgos, Greece)

95. Ristorante Del Cambio (Turin, Italy)

96. miX (St Petersburg)

97. Fish Market (Reykjavik)

98. Onyx (Budapest)

99. Plavi Podrum (Volosko, Croatia)

100. Mavrikos (Lindos, Greece)

101. Figlmueller (Vienna)

So get your grub on – Euro style!

 

TheDailyMeal.com