The Malaysian chateau where bodysculpting gets serious October 9, 2011 ON ARRIVAL in my spa suite at Malaysia’s new all-organic destination spa, I was pleasantly surprised to find a note on the pillow reading: “Chocolate is an elixir of life. Scientists from Harvard University say that eating a couple of chocolate bars a week could extend your life by almost a year.” By day two, [...]
Cosiness meets luxury in the new generation of pub hotels May 22, 2011 IF you’re skipping out of town for a weekend, you don’t always want the ultra-plush, waited-on-hand-and-foot trappings of a smart hotel any more than you want the chintz and limited comforts of a B&B. For cosiness, convivial hospitality and excellent nightcap options, a stay at a pub with rooms can be the answer, not least [...]
BILL OF THE WEEK February 6, 2011 A COUPLE of fine wine lovers splashed out at the Hawksmoor steakhouse after a well-judged tour of the wine cellars. Laying eyes on a bottle of 1982 Petrus at the bargain basement price of £6,500 (usually to be found for over £10,000), they simply had to pop the cork. And as they sat back to [...]
Diary January 30, 2011 LIQUIDITY INFUSIONS Famous for the harsh schedule inflicted upon its toiling delegates, this year’s party merry-go-round at Davos was no exception. Drinks and well-watered dinners kick off from 6pm, with the central Belvedere hotel boasting around a dozen venues for simultaneous drunken revelry. They then proceeded to a collection of “nightcaps” at 10pm, and usually end [...]
A sanctuary – with iMacs – in West Sussex March 6, 2011 A WEEKEND in the country is often not so much a change of pace as stepping back into another era, where duvets are a dirty word and the closest you get to modern technology is a Teasmade. Not so at Park House, a luxury rural retreat in West Sussex. There might be rows of Hunter [...]
Events January 26, 2011 DAVOS: THURSDAY 27 JAN French President Nicolas Sarkozy will give the opening address in the Congress Centre. 7.30am in the Belvedere Hotel: BCG-CII breakfast session, with BCG CEO Paul Buerkner speaking. 7.30am in the Belvedere: Swiss Re hosts a roundtable on solutions to ageing, good security and natural disasters. NASDAQ OMX hosts an opening bell [...]
Cyber security global threat January 25, 2011 A BREAKDOWN in cyber security is now one of the five major risks facing the global economy, according to World Econmic Forum founder Klaus Schwab. A WEF report released as a preview to discussions planned at the conference this week highlighted cyber attacks and the possibility of “all-out cyber warfare” as a major threat. “We [...]
Cyber security global threat January 25, 2011 A BREAKDOWN in cyber security is now one of the five major risks facing the global economy, according to World Econmic Forum founder Klaus Schwab. A WEF report released as a preview to discussions planned at the conference this week highlighted cyber attacks and the possibility of “all-out cyber warfare” as a major threat. “We [...]
COLCHESTER January 27, 2011 SHEEPEN STREET Price: £86,995 Compact but thoughtfully decorated, this one bedroom apartment proves that good things come in small packages. A spacious open-plan kitchen/living room provides the perfect place to entertain at home, while the property’s central location means that all the amenities of the town centre are only a short walk away. Contact: Spicer [...]
It’s time to take insomnia seriously January 31, 2011 LYING in bed and grimly watching the hours tick by as your body and mind refuse to shut off is a horrible sensation, but one most people will have experienced on occasion. However, a new report published by the Mental Health Foundation has revealed just how pervasive a force insomnia can be, suggesting that over [...]