Episode six: Morning meeting March 21, 2011 I LEAN back in my chair, hands behind my head and look up at the ceiling. It’s been a whirlwind few weeks. Pregnant. Then pregnant some more. And on top of that, we’d spent last weekend at Emma’s parents, celebrating her birthday and with Emma desperate to tell her parents about her – our? – [...]
Caribbean Travel March 21, 2011 Jamaica BEST BEACH Jamaica is one of the few Caribbean islands that is blessed by being totally surrounded by the warm Caribbean sea. That said, the choice of beaches is unending and in Montego Bay, one of the best to experience is the Doctors cave Beach. Celebrating over 100 years as a bathing beach, it [...]
An Italian affair at the Four Seasons March 21, 2011 Amaranto Hamilton Place, Park Lane W1J 7DR Tel: 020 7499 0888 FOOD SERVICE ATMOSPHERE Cost per person without wine: £55 AFTER its £125m makeover, the Four Seasons is looking just like you’d imagine. It’s dripping in chandeliers, coated in lacquer and bedecked with equine sculpture. It hardly feels homely, but it does feel rich. It’s [...]
French fancy in the villa of your dreams March 20, 2011 THERE is no shortage of villa rental services in France. But few provide access to the country’s most beautiful properties in the way that Pure France, a company founded by two Brits tired of the Anglo slog, does. With 400 properties, from the rustic to the grand to the minimalist and modern spread over the [...]
HONG KONG GLAMOUR March 20, 2011 LEFT for Buddha,” said the sign. But the one directly beneath it read: “Right for the discount outlets”. This is the visitor’s dilemma in Hong Kong, with its mix of spirituality and blatant consumerism. And how to combine the two with all the bars and restaurants? We chose to answer this question by opting for [...]
THINK ROOMS… with LateRooms.com March 20, 2011 NOVOTEL HONG KONG NATHAN ROAD KOWLOON 4* 348 Nathan Road | Kowloon | Hong Kong Step off Hong Kong’s famous ‘Golden Mile’ and into the sleek and stylish Novotel Hong Kong Nathan Road. Ideally located opposite the Temple Street Night Market and conveniently beside a mainline MTR station, this hotel is an escape in the [...]
TRAVEL NOTES March 20, 2011 BA’s American shuttle British Airways and American Airlines have combined forces to create a transatlantic shuttle service. The most dramatic change is to the Heathrow to New York route: previously nearly half of all flights were departing at the same time, leaving gaps of up to three hours between services; now they will depart every [...]
Changing times: moving on from Mayfair March 17, 2011 PRICES of the Monopoly board favourite Mayfair, as well as other prime favourites, have rocketed to near 2007 levels (see graph below), leading to the emergence of alternative investment hotspots. Marylebone is being hailed as the new Mayfair, with residential favourites Pimlico, Hampstead and Fulham hot on its heels. Mayfair prices have been drastically pushed [...]
WIMBLEDON March 17, 2011 RIDLEY ROAD Price: £749,950 The elegant yet unassuming exterior of this three-bedroom house conceals a family home to die for: all clean lines, sash windows and shiny wooden floors. Plenty of space for entertaining, including an extensive open-plan kitchen – ideal for dinner parties, and a decent-size garden. Contact: Foxtons on 020 8605 2900 or [...]
NEED TO KNOW | AREA INSIGHT March 17, 2011 Commuting: Based at the southern end of District Line, Wimbledon Station has good access to West and Central London. There are also regular overground trains to Waterloo (taking 19 minutes) and a twice-hourly service to St. Pancras (taking 40 minutes). Education: Ursuline High for girls and Wimbledon College for boys are two above-average comprehensives. Wimbledon [...]