I just received in the mail Mr & Mrs Smith's Global Shortlist, a beautiful guide to the most exotic and beautiful boutique hotels around the world... It turns out the Brits, never short on cool expressions, call a romantic/sexy weekend getaway a "Mr and Mrs Smith weekend", hence the name of the book and its parent website, which proposes booking services, special offers, and all kinds of hedonistic perks for members. Personally, I also love their stylish blog.
Lavishly illustrated, the book features a very carefully edited selection of unique hotels, reviewed by the likes of Dita von Teese, and is also packed with information about the cities it may take you to. But what I like most about it is its tongue-in-cheek tone. Really, what other guide teaches you how to mix a minibar cocktail? My own personal favorite feature, as a fervent linguist, is of course the useful phrases translated into many languages - perfect if you need to say "Take me to your leader", "I swear I didn't take the bathrobe!" or "Shaken, not stirred" in Thai or Portuguese...I collect pictures of amazing, quirky bookshelves so the one above, from the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica, went straight to my iPhoto library. Any local bloggers who'd care to joint me there some time for a drink?
Emily Dickinson
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26 comments:
Ciao!!
Ma che brava che sei in italiano! :)
Buon Natale anche a te!
à bientot, chèrie!
xxx
ps
I love that graden in the first pic!
Il me faut absolument ce guide car je vais être un peu nomade l'année prochaine. Je vais déjà aller visiter site et blog et me le commander. Thanks for sharing.
FRANCESCA - anche a mi mi piacce quello giardino inglese.
MISS GLITZY - with your taste for all things beautiful and unique, I'm sure you'll love the book.
I haven't seen this book, but it looks beautiful! The garden picture is beautiful! Thanks for shairng.
Also, for visiting my blog and your sweet comment!
I'll be back...
Mary-Laure thank you so much for posting about us. I'm so glad you like the guidebook.
The garden in the first picture is at Barnsley House Hotel in the Cotswolds. It was designed and kept by Rosemary Verey (a famous English gardener). The new owners of the house and garden opened the hotel and have kept the gardens as beautifully as they were.
I love the criss-cross shelves! Thank you for commenting my blog :-) You definitely can't beat live music!
Oh how I want to be Ms Smith! I have to get that guide.
Maybe I can try and hit all of the below places from the book. I love the Mr. and Mrs. Smith weekend. Done let's all go! xoxo
DESTINATIONS FEATURED –
• United States: New York, Napa Valley, Miami, LA
• Caribbean: Grenada
• Mexico: Mexico City, Quintana Roo, Puebla
• Belize: San Ignacio
• Brazil: Rio de Janeiro
• UK and Ireland: London, Gloucestershire, Edinburgh, Southern Ireland
• France: Paris, Bordeaux, Bergerac, Provence
• Germany: Berlin
• Italy: Rome, Puglia, Tuscany, Venice, Florence, Sorrento
• Spain: Barcelona, Seville Province
• Turkey: Istanbul
• South Africa: Cape Town
• Thailand: Phuket
okay, now i have the travel bug! or the nice hotel bug, or both! happy holidays to you Mary-Laure!
okay, now i have the travel bug! or the nice hotel bug, or both! happy holidays to you Mary-Laure!
TAMARA - thanks for your comment! I just love English gardens, with their messy appearance and their exquisite compositions.
I hope I can go there some time, as I've never visited the English countryside.
WORLD IN A PAN - you can get the book from the website or from Amazon. Maybe Celine and I can get it for your birthday....?
LAURA - what a dream list!
JILL - as long as it's not a bed bug, he he he... Happy holiday to you too, dear Jill, and stay warm in Cambridge.
I'm so bad at mixing drinks that the minibar instructions might be just at my speed :)
Thank you for sharing dear Mary-Laure, hope you have a very merry Christmas!
I wish I could join you for a drink, instead I will do a little toast to you now...I am on a cooking break (for the next 15 minutes)...It's Christmas eve tomorrow - my Christmas. Just wanted to wish you the very best and all good things for 2009.
Salut Mary-Laure, I would love to join you for a cocktail, maybe some day soon when I leave the inland empire and visit my old haunts in LA! That book looks fabulous. I was at the Red Rock Resort and Casino today and it was fabulous! I can't wait t devote an entire post to it. ¡Feliz Navidad a ti y a Benjy!
RAINING SHEEP - I was so fascinated with your citrusy holiday menu that I forwarded it to my mum, a great cook. You got us both very intrigued and mouthwatering..
LAURA - do contact me if you (and little Norman!) drop by Los Angeles, and until then, enjoy your vacation in Vegas. I look forward to reading all about it on your blog.
Salut Mary-Laure, I would love to join you for a cocktail, maybe some day soon when I leave the inland empire and visit my old haunts in LA! That book looks fabulous. I was at the Red Rock Resort and Casino today and it was fabulous! I can't wait t devote an entire post to it. ¡Feliz Navidad a ti y a Benjy!
If I was local I'd love to meet you there for a drink :)
Wishing you a very merry & safe Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you Mary-Laure !
Happy holidays and sweet Christmas to you dear Mary-Laure! Thank you for your card!
Oh I had a browse through this in the bookshop - delicious. So many beautiful places to visit! Wish I could join you but I'll just wish you a very happy festive drink! :)
i used to have a dream of being a bartender. i like the idea of mixing 'joy juice.'
merry christmas to you!
ARTYCHO - I'm glad you got my card! Happy holiday to you too...
L'AIR DU TEMPS - how fun! What's a joy juice, tell me? I'll drink to your health.
yes i love the bookshelves from the Viceroy hotel- they grabbed my attention right away. thank you for this nice post- and merry christmas.
Can I buy this guide simply to dream?
ANONYMOUS - I suspect that's what many of us will do...
.I am loving your blog.
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