Hotel to Home: Boscolo, Nice, France

October 26, 2017 | Leave a Reply

I realized earlier this week that I have been featuring hotels in this hotel to home series weekly since March 2016. That’s over a year’s worth of hotels! Isn’t that wild? There have been so many beautiful hotels that I’ve drooled over, and I certainly cannot pick a favourite! Can you?

I’m debating bringing this series to an end and starting something else (I have a few thoughts), but I’d love to have your input. Do I keep going with “Hotel to Home” series? What else would you like to see here on White Cabana? What would you like me to write about? What would you like to learn? What stories can I share?

While we’re all thinking about our next steps…

Let’s head on over to Nice, France, to look at the Boscolo hotel.

via Boscolo Hotel Nice

Here’s my version with the bed as really the most dramatic piece in the room:

bed, chair, desk, flowers, mirror, curtains, coffee cup, coffee pot

Save

Travel: Ritz Carlton Sarasota Spa Experience

September 27, 2017 | Leave a Reply

How many massages have you had in your life? I’ve had two! Two!? One was earlier this year at the Scandinave Spa. The other was at the Ritz Carlton Sarasota last month.

When my friend and I took a vacation-in-a-vacation to the Ritz Sarasota (read about our stay here), we were lucky to be treated to massages at the beautiful Ritz Spa.

I know the Ritz staff see thousands of people come through the hotel each month/year/day, but when I’m there, I feel like I’m getting all of the attention! How do they do that? My spa visit was a perfect example of this kind of attentive service.

We arrived at the spa first thing in the morning after an easy drive from Madeira Beach, Florida. After reviewing the spa menu and consulting with the Ritz staff in advance of my visit, I was booked in for an 80-minute lemongrass bamboo massage. Here’s the description straight from the spa menu:

“Therapeutic hands, warmed bamboo and an infusion of lemongrass soothe tension through this deeply holistic and balancing massage. Be transformed as your mind rests and muscular stress melts away.”

I can confirm that the description and the reality matched perfectly! I lay on a heated bed under the softest covers. My masseuse started by scrubbing my feet and wrapping them in a warm towel. She then used lemongrass-infused oil on my skin before she started massaging me, alternating between her hands and warmed bamboo sticks. Oh my goodness – the warmed bamboo sticks were incredible! I don’t think I was very stressed to begin with (because I was on vacation after all!), but the systematic, thoughtful rolling of the bamboo sticks across my body really made sure that any and all tensions left my body. It was fantastic!

Honestly, I didn’t know if I would be bored for an 80-minute massage, but there was no way! I was unbelievably relaxed, and if my appointment was later in the day, I surely would have fallen asleep.

Of course there were some points in the massage where the masseuse applied more pressure – and I wasn’t sure if it would lead to some soreness later on in the day – but it didn’t. I felt great! She checked in with me several times about the pressure, and switched the bamboo sticks depending on tension and body part.

My skin was so soft – and my body felt relaxed – for days after my massage.

This spa visit was a very special experience, and I’m grateful to the Ritz Carlton for welcoming us in so warmly.

If you’d like to learn more about the Ritz Sarasota, read about my visit last year, my visit last month., or check out my posts on Instagram at #WhiteCabanaGoesToTheRitz, or #WhiteCabanaGoesToFlorida.

Side note: Love for the Ritz runs in my family. At the same time that I was booking a return visit to the Ritz Sarasota, my sister was booking a return visit to the Ritz Lake Oconee Georgia for her and her family. As you may remember, she and her husband have four kids, and the whole family absolutely loves the Ritz! She has told me that the Ritz staff have treated the kids so well, and there are plenty of fun activities for them! It’s a very kid-friendly resort!

Thanks to S.A. and the Ritz Carlton Sarasota team for sponsoring this post. All opinions and photos are my own.

Save

Hotel to Home: Palazzo Manfredi, Rome

May 11, 2017 | 1 Commentary

So, I’m on a Relais & Chateaux kick at the moment. The hotels are just beautiful and unique. They ooze luxury. Plus, somehow they keep finding me via Twitter, so I figure it’s a sign. I will keep my Relais & Chateaux research going!

Today, I’m bringing you to the Palazzo Manfredi in Rome, Italy. As in – you can see the Colosseum from your hotel window! Che bello! The hotel offers pretty spectacular views and the rooms are certainly inviting.

Look at all the white loveliness in this hotel room! And can you see the Colosseum outside the window? Amazing.

If you’re loving this look, here’s how you can bring it home:

bed, bathrobe, coverlet, art, sheet set, curtains, round mirror, magnifying mirror, desk, Dedalo Pianca side table, lamp

What do you think? What’s your favourite piece?

Save

Travel: Langdon Hall in Cambridge, Ontario – Part I

June 23, 2015 | 4 Commentaries

I learned about Langdon Hall last summer when I Googled something like “fancy hotel Waterloo,” and it came up in the search results. I thought I had just discovered an unknown treasure, but when I began asking others about this “fancy hotel” so close to where I live, everyone already knew about it. Where had I been living that it was unknown to me? (Kingston, London, Toronto, Europe…that’s where).

Fast forward a year, and I finally took the 20 minute or so drive to Langdon Hall, and I’m so glad I did! What a beautiful place to spend a morning (or longer). Rox-Anne (from Celebrating this Life) and I drove over early Saturday morning a couple of weeks ago to meet our host, Kate, for breakfast and a tour.

Everything at the country breakfast buffet was beautifully presented, and looked to be absolutely fresh and delicious. Rox-Anne opted for the lobster omelette, and, because I have such a sweet tooth, I couldn’t resist the pain perdu (French toast). The smaller slices of bread were not soggy or too sweet. The topping included slivered almonds. Yum! Chef Jason Bangerter – you’ve got my thumbs up for this meal!

I followed the pain perdu with a croissant (why not!?). I honestly wasn’t sure I wanted to try the croissant because I’ve been spoiled by Golden Hearth’s croissants, but I did. And it was delicious. It was more buttery than Golden Hearth’s, but it had a beautiful texture, lots of layers, and was the perfect mix of soft and crusty.

After breakfast, Kate led us on a tour (had to walk off those calories, of course), and I was absolutely blown away by the architecture, decor, and details in each and every room. The main floor rooms include beautiful millwork, coffered and paneled ceilings, rich deep colours, and warm textiles in a mix of cohesive patterns. Brass, gold, and blue & white also make their appearances in almost every room.

above: one of the dining rooms (with walk-out to the conservatory) set up for a wedding celebration

above: a bright lounge with walls of windowsabove: Wilks’ Bar

The fireplaces in the rooms in the main house really caught my attention. They would be so pretty (and warm) in the winter. They’re giving me inspiration for my own fireplace re-do that I’m planning on tackling this summer. The smaller tile set in a brick pattern are classic.

fireplace in the pool room