Category: Mountain Hotels

Fontelunga Hotel

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If you’ve seen Under the Tuscan Sun, then you know the kind of experience you should get when you book a hotel in Tuscany. I was not kidding when I booked a room at Fontelunga Hotel, expecting that I will get to see a sunset view of the fields and olive gardens just as the movie portrayed.

Location

Fontelunga Hotel is located at Arezzo, Italy. If you’re coming from Florence, then it will just be an easy one hour drive away. An hour of driving does not seem appealing especially if you are coming from a long flight or a business trip but I recommend staying awake to take in the routes going to the hotel. If this is your first time in this side of Italy, then you would love to know that there are several tourist destinations like the Pienza and Siena are just less than an hour away.

Interior Design

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When you approach the hotel, you will suddenly wonder if you are going to a local’s house or a building. Don’t be fooled by the facade as with its simple exterior comes with a sense of calming sensation for anyone who wants to escape the city life. It was nice to see that all the blue shutters were open which made the place feel more inviting.

Upon checking in, I was directly led to my room. To my amazement, it did not look like anything from the outside. Instead of having brick walls as I would think Tuscan homes have, I have a room that was stark white with shades of light blue and cream. It is somehow reminiscent of Greece in the age of Mamma Mia.

Amenities

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For a boutique hotel, Fontelunga Hotel offers a lot of things. It has its own pool and tennis court. However, they don’t have an in-house spa which is understandable. Nonetheless, I appreciate their effort to get me a spa appointment in my room. During my stay here, I also availed of their guided tours. They don’t hold these tours themselves but I just gave them the places I wanted to go to and they sent me a few quotations to choose from.

Staff

What I love the most in this boutique hotel are the services they offer to make every guest have that Tuscan experience. I was fortunate enough to reserve a seat at their bi-weekly dinners. These bi-weekly dinners, as I was told, were made to replicate how life is in Tuscany – where people (even strangers) gather around a long table and get to know each other. This became the highlight of my stay here. People were so welcoming and kind and seeing the stars above our heads just painted a very serene picture.

Overall, there is nothing I would change in this boutique hotel – not more rooms, not more furniture. It is lovely the way it is. I also loved the fact that they made sure they gave what they can to all their guests. Whether it was a car rental or a cooking class, they didn’t miss out on the services that can make your stay enjoyable. If you are planning to stay here, I recommend booking some of their tour packages like the cooking classes and the horse rides.

Amangani Luxury Hotel and Resort

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Found at the top of a small hill by the foot of the Teton Mountains is Amangani. When I first heard about it, I didn’t understand that it was an American-inspired hotel save for the location that it’s in. But just a quick search on Google and I found it to be one of the most American hotels I’ve ever seen. This immediately made me want to book a suite there. And I did.

Location

Amangani is located at the crest of the East Gros Ventre Butte and is at least 7000 feet above sea level. If you’ve heard about the Jackson Hole Mountian Resort, then Amangani is just a 20-minute drive from there. Thanks to its location, you can already expect wilderness everywhere. When it’s spring and fall, you will be able to see all sorts of animals around the area. Luckily I was able to book a room here during the time when wildlife was abundant.

Interior Design

When I was approaching the hotel, I was greeted by a wide driveway. Upon entering, I was welcomed by a very warm room. Even if it’s not winter, it gave me the impression that it was cold outside. The walls were lined with rocks and the banisters and furniture were wooden. Even the reception was designed with varnished wood.

My suite didn’t fall short as well. I booked the Spring Gulch Suite which was spacious enough to accommodate four people but I had the room all to myself. Although the suite has the same color palette as all the interior of the hotel, it had a modern air with it. I guess it’s because it had a modern fireplace by the windows. My room was overlooking the Snake River so it was perfect that it had a lot of windows.

Amenities

In terms of amenities, Amangani has all the basics – dining areas, a fitness center, and a spa. I particularly didn’t do much inside the hotel because they were offering a lot of outdoor activities. I myself felt excited to go out and try the hot air balloon and visit the stables. The stables were just a short walk from the hotel which was very convenient. They also have a huge infinity pool overlooking the mountain. I recommend dipping there during the morning so you can watch how serene everything is.

Service

After enjoying the stables and the hot air balloon on my second day, I booked a massage in my room. I ordered the healing therapy which focused on removing the tension in my body. The masseuse was very professional and I can say the massage made me feel calm and stress-free. In fact, every staff at the hotel was very professional and all of them gave me a warm welcome especially when I first arrived at Amangani. It’s obvious that they are used to giving world-class service.

Overall, my stay at Amangani is one of the best. The design of the whole place definitely complemented the location and I would definitely visit for another time. I have yet to experience Amangani when it’s winter.

The Boulders Resort and Spa

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I was in search of a perfect place to unwind in America and I found myself in the comfort of the Boulders Resort and Spa, a 1,300-acre richness of the Sonoran Desert foothills. I did not only spend quiet moments at the Boulders, but even had an adventurous experience with the different outdoor activities they offered. My energy is refreshed, my soul is renewed.

The Natural Beauty of the Resort

Located in the state of Arizona, The Boulders is set on a strategic location where over 12-million-year-old boulder formations are found filling the panorama. The vastness of the space and the magnificence of the natural architecture altogether create a picturesque view of the hotel. If you ask me, it is the resort’s natural sprawling beauty complemented by cabin-like design that sets the Boulders apart from the high-rise hotels with manmade landscapes.

Ultimately, I appreciated the Boulders because of its friendliness to the environment. The concept of the place is vintage as evident in the deep wood furnishings used and the native furniture pieces and indoor accessories displayed. They filled the spaces with cacti, to stay true to the Arizona scenery. It is indeed a confirmation of what they say about the relevance of details. Even in the selection of their cleaning products, the hotel is very conscious, according to the room attendant I randomly asked. They only choose those that have green seals; some toiletries are organic. This information was consistent with their website profile. I double-checked and indeed the resort has earned the Environmental Award of Excellence from the Urban Land Institute for good reasons. More so, if you are also craving for healthy delicious meals, you will find them at the Grill.

Outdoor Adventures

While my room offers a relaxing ambiance that is conducive to sleeping, I spent my time mostly outdoors. I couldn’t resist the activities offered, particularly the horseback riding and hot air balloon. Naturally, I love horses and the thought of galloping in the foothills excites me. The staff are friendly and the safety gears are provided. The hot air balloon was a scary idea at first since I am used to ground and water adventures, yet the staff are better able to orient and debrief us. Thus, I was able to conquer my fear and truly enjoy the desert view. I was even able to catch a view of the infamous Grand Canyon.

For golf lovers, the Boulders is also a perfect venue to test your precision. They have a wide 18-hole field and a fantastic view of the desert. If golfing isn’t your sport, you have the option to swim your heart out or play tennis with friends or newly-found friends. I also had the amazing wildlife encounters with bunnies, birds, turtles and fishes. You may traverse to the Downtown Cave Creek to experience more of the wildlife.

On my third and last day at the hotel, I availed of their deep tissue massage and dozed off in the process. My stay in Arizona is truly one for the books because I had a taste of the Boulders service. For first timers, I suggest you to bring comfortable shoes as the property is so expansive you may do a lot of walking. Overall, my Boulders experience was a rewarding one.

Viceroy Snowmass, Colorado

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The Viceroy Snowmass is one of the more popular hotels in Snowmass, Colorado. I had the pleasure of staying here because according to their site, it is the perfect place to stay if you plan on visiting Aspen. I planned on visiting Aspen during the summer, but since I did not feel comfortable staying in crowded places, I was looking at hotels that were a few kilometers away from the crowds.

Location

Viceroy Snowmass is only seven miles from Aspen, to be exact. This was ideal for me because it was enough distance to be away from the noisy area of Aspen when the tourists come in. At the same time, Viceroy Snowmass is located near notable mountains like the Buttermilk, Aspen Highlands, and Snowmass.

When I arrived at the airport, I was greeted by one of their valets because the hotel offers complimentary pick-up and drop-off to the airport. This was a plus for me because it allowed me to save the time and effort of figuring out where Viceroy Snowmass is in Snowmass Village.

Interior Design

The hotel boasts of interior designs made by Jean-Michel Gathy of Denniston International. As I have no idea who that is, I just assumed that for him to be named, he must have been a great interior designer. My expectations were met.

Upon entering the hotel, I was greeted by a symphony of wood, brick, rock, and glass. It was a display of different shades of brown and gray and although it would seem that it would be dark and gloomy, the lobby radiated feelings of warmth and welcome. However, what I noticed is that it wasn’t so spacious especially if the hotel was going to have a lot of guests. The long couches made everything stuffier and it occupied a huge portion of the lobby.

Amenities

By being a five-star hotel, Viceroy Snowmass is expected to have the basic hotel amenities vamped up to world-class which they do have, actually. Although I wasn’t able to see their executive boardrooms and private dining rooms, I was able to stay around their other amenities like their gym, cocktail bar, pool, spa, and their famous Toro restaurant.

Their spa is a great cozy place for relaxation. They offer a jacuzzi as well which is great for anyone who wants to try out different ways to relax. I also stayed for an hour in their gym, although I notice that for such a small space, there were lots of gym equipment. I commend them for filling it up, but I wish they had more space for everyone to move. I had to constantly be conscious if I was going to hit somebody whenever I tried any of their gym equipment.

Staff

To cap off my stay at Viceroy Snowmass, I want to talk about how welcoming the staff is. From the valet that picked me up to the reception, everyone was warm and accommodating. They helped me get rentals for ski equipment, they were accommodating to my food requests, and what was most impressive of them all is that they never made me feel that I was traveling alone. Yes, I was just by myself, but the staff was so friendly you feel that you have been a regular visitor at the hotel.