<strong>Pendry Hotel Chicago: Historic Charm &amp; Modern Sophistication</strong>
31 December 2024

Pendry Hotel Chicago: Historic Charm & Modern Sophistication

Why Chicago

Crazy piece of minutia:  SSO and I have the same birthday (day and month at least, only the year is different).  On my ‘big one’, SSO planned a weekend in NYC to celebrate with our sons and their partners.  It was fabulous and the Peninsula Hotel was an outstanding venue for the occasion. This year was SSO’s ‘big one’.  So, we reached out to the boys suggesting several different locations to honor SSO’s Birthday including London, Paris, San Diego, NYC.  Surprisingly to us, they came back with a different option, Chicago.  It made sense, Chicago was a relatively easy meeting place for all of us to get to (from CO; CA, VA and MA) and easily doable for a weekend without arriving back exhausted and jetlagged. Chicago it was. 

Why AMEX Fine Resorts & Hotels

My first, and only source for booking a hotel was AMEX Fine Hotels and Resorts.  The benefits are fabulous when travelling for a weekend, especially when you need 4 rooms. Many hotels will oblige to pool the room upgrades and give us a larger suite which we can use to meet in before and after dinner or just hang out in together.  The 2 breakfast credits/room is ample for feeding 4 big breakfast men and 3 light breakfast women.  The early check-in is a huge bonus especially when you are arriving on the red eye from the west coast and need a few hours of sleep before feeling alive again. The late check-out is also a huge bonus especially when you are only in a city for the weekend and have a later flight on Sunday.  These early check-ins and late checkouts facilitate getting the most out of a weekend away.  In fact, I had looked at an Airbnb / VRBO house, but for those very reasons, we nixed that idea early on.

 Why the Pendry

Given the Family was only going to be in Chicago for the weekend, we wanted to be centrally located and at a hotel we would all enjoy. I had narrowed the choice down among the Langham, the Waldorf Astoria and the Pendry and was watching their rates on AMEX for weeks before booking a hotel.  They were fluctuating quite significantly (important to lock it in on a low especially when you are booking 4 rooms).  When rates started to settle, it turned out that the delta between the Pendry and the Langham/Waldorf was quite significant ($150/night per room; x 3 nights x 4 rooms = $1800).  I would be the first person to admit the Langham/Waldorf are more elegant hotels than the Pendry (more in line with the Montage, the Pendry’s more upscale sister hotel); but given the ‘use case’ (a weekend enjoying the sights of Chicago and some great meals together) and the target audience (3 young men under 30 years old and their partners), the Pendry would be just fine, in fact, what am I thinking?  More than just fine.  Pendry properties’ reputation and from our limited experience (see: Pendry Park City) exude understated luxury, with interiors clad in elegant neutrals, elevated dining options and impeccable service; it is just more like an 8.5/10 versus a 10/10 for the Langham (see: Langham London)

Fairmont Miramar, Santa Monica:&nbsp; A Relaxed, Laid-Back Oasis
24 December 2024

Fairmont Miramar, Santa Monica:  A Relaxed, Laid-Back Oasis

SSO had the opportunity to borrow a Maserati MC20 Cielo for a few days on a recent trip to LA (Maserati MC20 Review) to visit our son and his fiancé. We decided to stay in Santa Monica where they are living and do a road trip up to Montecito.  Given how bad the traffic can be in L.A., we wanted to be close to the kids, the highway and the beach for morning walks.  A quick search on AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts, decision made:  The Fairmont Miramar.  

We took an UBER from the Airport. Our arrival at the Fairmont Miramar was spectacularly memorable:  we first drove through the grand black gates of the Hotel’s entrance, then drove along a cobblestone lined driveway that led to a magnificent oversize Moreton Bay fig Tree that predates the 100-year-old plus property. Awaiting us parked out front of the Fairmont sat the well-guarded and spectacular Maserati MC 20 Cielo. 

While SSO dealt with the Maserati, an army of busy lobby staff welcomed me, people handing out water bottles, assisting with luggage and walking me to the reception desk. The levels of service being doled out was incredible; check-in was efficient and professional.  We were offered a choice between a high floor, more traditional room with an ocean view balcony in the older Palisades Wing which was built in the 1920s or a Suite in the m ore modern 10-story Ocean Tower.  The Fairmont also has residential-style Bungalows set in the flower-filled Miramar Gardens, but they were fully booked. We opted for the more traditional room facing east to enjoy the sunrise on the balcony. 

<strong>Langham Hotel in London:&nbsp; Traditional Grandeur, Understated Elegance, Outstanding Service, a Quintessential London Hotel</strong>
24 December 2024

Langham Hotel in London:  Traditional Grandeur, Understated Elegance, Outstanding Service, a Quintessential London Hotel

Did you know that London, England has the greatest number of 5 Star Luxury Hotels in the World?  London has more luxury hotels than Dubai, New York, Paris and Miami.  No wonder it is always a challenge for me to choose where to stay when we visit London.  But as my husband, SSO, was invited to attend the Financial Times “The Future of Cars Summit” last May (see: FT's Future of the Car), that helped focus the area of London to start the search.  As we were planning a kitchen renovation, being close to kitchen stores was another point to focus in my search.  With the location chosen, it was time to research the rates & specials on AMEX Fine Luxury Hotels and Resorts.  The Langham Hotel was the perfect choice.  It was a short walk to where the conference was being held and in the heart of the “Kitchen District”.  Its rate was competitive with other Fine Luxury Hotels in the vicinity, and it included a $100 property credit, daily breakfast for two people, late checkout and a room upgrade (when available). The Langham is a Classic rather than Cutting Edge Hotel (see: The Londoner) and it does what it does well … really well.  It was perfect in so many ways beyond its location.

The Langham has a legendary hotel heritage dating back to 1865, when it opened as Europe’s first Grand Hotel.  For nearly 160 years, this flagship hotel has been at the forefront of sophistication, personalized service and gracious hospitality.  From its outset, it has occupied an unrivaled location in the heart of London, just moments from the tranquility of Regent’s Park and the buzz of Oxford Circus.  It is truly a London icon. 

Stepping out of the taxi, a jovial, uniformed bellman immediately greeted me and offered to take my bags and escort me to the check-in.  His professional and friendly demeanor was not lost on me, but no need as I had SSO’s room number. His offer of a bottle of cold water was greatly appreciated.

Domaine De Primard in Guainville
3 December 2024

Domaine De Primard in Guainville

SSO and I share a passion for supercars, fine food and fine hotels; ideally brought together to create an exceptional experience. As somewhat regular patrons of fine, luxury hotels, we prefer to seek out different hotels when we travel.  As a cardinal rule we don’t go back to the same hotel twice.  

With decades of ‘training’ now, I would like to think that I have developed a ‘sommelier’s nose’ for fine, luxury hotels; at a minimum, that I have the ability to identify when a hotel is truly outstanding and exceptional and when it’s simply just great! However, regardless of the number of outstanding reviews you read and how exceptional it seems ‘on paper’, the real truth is uncovered in your experience. 

Our most recent trip in mid-May 2024 started in Woking, England where McLaren kindly lent us a new McLaren 750S to drive for the week (I will let SSO share his driving experience posted:  ssoreport.com/mclaren-750s-review). As the passenger for 5 – 8 hours a day, for 6 days, I have to say it is exceptionally comfortable and can hold a shocking amount of luggage between the frunk and behind the seats (2 carry-on suitcases, 1 suit bag, I knapsack, 1 large tote bag, 1 purse and 2 jackets!)

We stayed in 3 different hotels in France over 6 days:  Ferme Saint Simeon in Honfleur, Domaine Des Etangs in Massignac and Domaine De Primard in Guainville.  We decided to limit the number of hotels to 3 so that we could enjoy a minimum of 2 days at each. We chose these hotels based on meeting 3 criteria:

1.    Fine, Luxury Hotel

2.    Gastronomic Restaurant

3.    At least 5 hours apart to enjoy the McLaren

This article will cover Domaine de Primard.  Ferme Saint Simeon and Domaine Des Etangs and will be under separate covers.

I was searching for a hotel to meet the above criteria for our final destination before heading back to England.  Location wise, 5 hours from Domaine Des Etangs landed us an hour or so from Paris which was also about 5 hours to Woking. I began the hunt for hotels in this area searching AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts, Tablet Hotels, SLH, and various travel guides to find the perfect place.

Domaine de Primard appeared perfect!  It is an 18th-century Château and was the stately country home of Catherine Deneuve for nearly thirty years.  The hotel seemed to meet all our criteria. Le Primard is described by many travel reviews as elegant, secluded, unpretentious, tranquil, and luxurious.  After spending 2 nights there, I don’t disagree with the reviews’ descriptions in totality; however, it is only when you combine the room, the grounds & their gardener, the pool, and the gourmet dining experience that I get there.

Domaine Des Etangs in Massignac
3 December 2024

Domaine Des Etangs in Massignac

SSO and I share a passion for supercars, fine food and fine hotels; ideally brought together to create an exceptional experience. As somewhat regular patrons of fine, luxury hotels, we prefer to seek out different hotels when we travel; as a cardinal rule we don’t go back to the same hotel twice. With decades of ‘training’ now, I would like to think that I have developed a ‘sommelier’s nose’ for fine, luxury hotels; at a minimum, that I have the ability to identify when a hotel is truly outstanding and exceptional and when it’s simply just great!

Our most recent trip in mid-May 2024 started in Woking, United Kingdom where McLaren kindly lent us a new McLaren 750S to drive for the week (I will let SSO share his driving experience posted:  ssoreport.com/mclaren-750s-review). As the passenger for 5 – 8 hours a day, for 6 days, I have to say it is exceptionally comfortable and can hold a shocking amount of luggage between the frunk and behind the seats (2 carry-on suitcases, 1 suit bag, I knapsack, 1 large tote bag, 1 purse and 2 jackets!)

We stayed in 3 different hotels in France over 6 days:  Ferme de Saint Simeon in Honfleur, Domaine Des Etangs in Massignac and Domaine De Primard in Guainville.  We decided to limit the number of hotels to 3 so that we could enjoy 2 days at each. We chose these hotels based on meeting 3 criteria:

1.    Fine, Luxury Hotel

2.    Michelin Gastronomic Restaurant

3.    At least 5 hours apart to enjoy the McLaren

This article will cover Domaine Des Etangs.  Ferme de Saint Simeon and Domaine de Primard will be under separate covers.

In a word, Domaine Des Etangs is outstanding, spectacular, incomparable, unsurpassed, magical, unique, sublime … truly heavenly.  I am not at all surprised that it is the # 1 hotel in France according to readers of the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2024.  It is no surprise that the Auberge Resorts Collection now manages Domaine Des Etangs!