Luxe Worldwide Hotels Blog

Carnival, Rio’s most famous celebration takes place in a just a few weeks.  The spectacular spectacle is one of the those events–like Mardi Gras in New Orleans or New Year’s Eve in Times Square–that are on the “must do” list for many of us. But even if you don’t go for Carnival, Rio de Janeiro is still an exciting and fun place to visit anytime of the year.  Known in Brazil as the “Marvelous City”, Rio is a city of stunning architecture, beautiful landscapes, great museums, fabulous music and marvelous food, but it may be best known for its beach culture, given its 23 beaches on an almost 45-mile continuous stretch of sand.

Situated along the Atlantic Ocean, in Rio’s trendy and affluent Barra da Tijuca district, the Transamérica Prime – Barra puts you close to the beach, with rooms overlooking the sea and a spectacular view of the Rock Gavea.

The spacious and well decorated accommodations in either the Superior or Deluxe category offer the option of one double bed or two single beds. Deluxe rooms include a lovely balcony with sea views, as well as a kitchenette. All accommodations include complimentary breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant. There is also 24-hour room service.

The hotel’s Cordato Restaurant, conveniently located on the ground floor of the hotel, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. The young chef, Peter Pecego’s menus feature tasty dishes that include shredded pork ribs with lemon zest, barbecue guava, tuna on mashed wasabi, chips with eggplant caviar and shitake-crusted tenderloin. During happy hour and into the evening, Cordato has a unique bar offering an excellent selection of cocktails, wine and other beverages.

Situated in a secluded garden area on the grounds is a beautiful recreation area with two large swimming pools, deck and bar. There is also a tennis court close by, lite for night play. Additional hotel facilities include a modern fitness center with circular shower and sauna, a business center with Wi-Fi, on-site parking and three meeting rooms.

The hotel’s Barra da Tijuca location is known as the neighborhood of Brazilian high society and celebrities.  The hotel is close to the beach, shopping malls, bars, restaurants and nightclubs with easy access to Rio de Janeiro’s financial center.

For Luxe Worldwide Hotels list of Top 10 attractions in Rio, click here.

21st-century Amsterdam is a thoroughly modern city with cosmopolitan style, restaurants serving global cuisine, sleek urban buildings, and trendy boutiques that at the same time has not lost any of its appeal as one of Europe’s best preserved, picturesque and historically intact cities.  Visitors to this culturally rich and iconic city will be captivated by its architecture, world-class museums, storybook canals, and especially by the friendly, open-minded and easygoing locals.

Boutique Hotel Kasteelen is a 15-room property in the cultural heart of Amsterdam, ideally located for exploring this international city.  The Concert Hall, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh and Stedelijk Museums and the Rai Congress Center, as well as Holland’s most exclusive shopping streets, Leids Square and the world famous Albert Cuyp outdoor street market, are just minutes away.

Boutique Hotel Kasteelen prides itself on delivering superb service to its guests. Combining classic style with all the modern comforts and conveniences, the hotel offers air-conditioned, non-smoking and handicapped accessible guestrooms with balconies, complimentary wireless Internet, and mini-bar.

Guests amenities include complimentary breakfast, hotel operated airport shuttle, on site parking, concierge and bellman, dry cleaning services and a gift shop on site. Business services, including fax, printer, copy machine and secretarial services, are also offered on site.

Boutique Hotel Kasteelen is located in the heart of Amsterdam’s cultural district, approximately 15 kilometers north of Schiphol Airport.  Tram stops just a few steps away from the hotel provide easy access to all areas of the city.  The hotel is situated near many of Amsterdam’s notable sites and attractions, including the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum, Rembrandt House Museum, the Van Gogh Museum and their world-class symphony orchestra, the Concertgebouworkest.

To see Luxe Worldwide Hotels Top 10 attractions in Amsterdam, click here.

In the last few years, Colombia has become one of the hottest destinations in South America, reclaiming its role as Latin America’s intellectual and cultural hub.  The capital city of Bogota boasts over 50 museums, and hosts one of the world’s largest theater festivals. The Grand House offers visitors a modern chic hotel with a helpful staff, and a central location on a quiet street within easy walking distance to Zona T and many of Bogota’s top sites, restaurants and shopping.

Sleek, luxurious, and serene are some of the adjectives to describe the Grand House. Abiding by the principles of Feng-Shui, the hotel’s unconventionally modern architecture and elegant interior decor ensure guests a perfect stay. Clean lines and loft architecture allow for open spaces that include large bedrooms and bathrooms, living rooms and terraces, which are all elegantly furnished and technologically equipped. Each of the 64 suites feature a king size bed, pillow menu, anti-allergic down like comforters, marble bathrooms with Jacuzzis or shower jets, and in some cases fully equipped kitchenettes.

At Bambú, guests will experience Grand House´s authentic cuisine in a modern setting with outstanding service. Internationally renowned Chef Sylvia Gast has skillfully developed the restaurant’s signature dishes, which highlight exquisite local and international flavors. Bambú also offers an extensive wine list and menu of drinks and cocktails, making it a popular afterhours spot.

Grand House offers five meeting spaces, all designed to allow in beautiful natural lighting. There is a 24-hour full service business center with concierge services on site, as well as a state-of-the-art Spa with sauna, steam room and a gym.

The Grand House is located in the upscale Centro 93 district, a flourishing, well-manicured, commercial and financial center. The area offers a nice mix of boutique shops and cafes overlooking tree-lined streets and small, residential parks. From the hotel it is extremely easy to get to Bogota’s historic center, its many museums, theatres, galleries, shopping and some of the city’s best nightlife.

São Paulo has been creating a lot of buzz as a hot upscale travel destination, not surprising since it’s one of the most exciting and cosmopolitan cities in South American. It offers fantastic cuisine, sophisticated cultural attractions, a fascinating history, fabulous shopping, and a vibrant nightlife. In fact, São Paulo could easily give New York City a run for its money as the “city that never sleeps.”  Luxe Worldwide Hotels’ newest member property in Brazil, Transamérica Prime – The World, puts you right in the middle of São Paulo most happening neighborhood, Vila Olimpia, a major business and entertainment area of the city.

The hotel boasts 324 Suites. The spacious and well-decorated accommodations feature separate living rooms, and fully equipped kitchenettes with a refrigerator, electric stove, microwave and coffee/tea maker.  Amenities included everything you’d expect at a deluxe hotel, with the added bonus of complimentary buffet breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant included.

Victorino Ristorante, located on the main floor of the hotel, offers superb Italian cuisine for lunch and dinner daily.  Room Service is also available.  Hotels facilities include a pool and gym, with Jacuzzi and sauna.  For business functions, Transamérica Prime – The World offers a Business Center and three modern conference rooms, which can be configured to hold up to 60 people for business and social events. The hotel also offers guests complimentary passes for the weekend City Tour, which highlights the main historical sites of São Paulo.

Transamérica Prime – The World offers a premier location in São Paulo’s Vila Olimpia with easy access to the most popular avenues, Bandeirantes, Faria Lima and Luis Carlos Berrini, and shopping malls, including the Vila Olimpia Mall, Cidade Jardim and Morumbi. It is five kilometers south of Congonhas São Airport, the main airport for domestic flights in the country and 30 kilometers northwest of GRU-Guarulhos International Airport. It is 13 miles south of SP-São Bernardo do Campo. There are numerous companies within a kilometer of the hotel, including Renault do Brasil, Yahoo do Brasil, Michael Page Internacional Brasil S/C LTDA, T-Systems do Brasil LTDA, McCain do Brasil Alimentos LTDA, Kimberly Clark Kenko Industria E Comerico LTDA and Straumann Brasil LTDA. Nokia do Brasil is two kilometers away.

For Luxe Worldwide Hotels Top Ten Must See Attractions in São Paulo, click here.