Hillary Davis Travels's Blog

Hotel Review: Le Grand Hotel Cannes

    This is one of the most intriquing hotels in Cannes, and one of the most comfortable. Le Grand Hotel is a large property with a prime location on the Croisette. It even has its own private beach for its guests. Yet it only has 45 rooms and has a distinct boutique feel to it---most likely due to the fact that it has been run by the same family for generations. It is the details, at this hotel, that make it a standout.

    Its exterior is indeed grand. This privately owned property also includes apartments and a large elegant villa used for cultural exhibitions.

    Le Grand Hotel has the highest floor of any hotel in Cannes, and that is where I was taken to see the suite on the 11th floor. When they opened the door, this was the view....

    The first thing I did was make a beeline for the glass doors to open them and walk out on the terrace. It was surprisingly wide, with a small table and chairs perfect for dinner for two. Under a full moon. With a sea breeze. And champagne. Dinner cooked by the Michelin star chef in the hotel. But more about that later.

    I was told that the barrier behind the table could be removed to open up to another spacious terrace including a large jacuzzi, with an entrance to an adjoining suite---providing the possibility of settling into a quite large living space. 

    The view was just unbelievable. You could see the entire bay of Cannes, the mountains, the beach, old town....and I could imagine how it would look at night with all the sparkling lights. 

    Two wicker chaise longues were positioned facing the sea, waiting for someone to snuggle into them for a nap in the sun.

  I could imagine sitting here forever watching the yachts come and go.

    Back inside, the decor was a cool blend of 50's and 60's, which was refreshing and fun.

    Yet there were high tech touches like an ipad and huge flat screen TVs.

    I was again swept away, this time with the view from the bedroom. 

    ....which was simple and comfortable, with red bedside reading lights by Philip Stark.

    Le Grand Hotel was built in the 60's and is emblematic of that error. Major renovations upgraded the entire complex, making it supremely attractive and giving it a contemporary, sleek feel.

    Le Cercle Bar faces the sea and spills outside onto the lawn.....

    ....and artwork such as the "roses" constantly change color at night..........from pale pink to fuscia to red.....

    But here's the best news of all.

    Le Grand Hotel has one of the best chefs on the Cote d'Azur, Sebastien Broda. This Michelin star chef has lifted Cannes' hotel dining scene to a higher level with his inspired cuisine, which reflects the exquisite produce available on the Riviera. You can sample his cooking at Le Park 45, either inside or outside. You will be in the good hands of a chef who has worked with Roger Verger, at La Palme d'Or and at the Carlton. 

    This is a hotel I can enthusiastically recommend. It is retro chic, colorful, filled with light, sparkling clean, in a prime location, with a beach and a beach restaurant, a Michelin star chef, and an atmosphere that is friendly and very upbeat. No stuffy antique lobby at this hotel. It is breathing and alive. Its energy will revive you. Just what a great hotel should do.

Le Grand Hotel, 45 Bd. de La Croisette, Cannes, France

33 (0)4 93 38 15 45

www.grand-hotel-cannes.com

 

Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas Cruise to Bermuda

    This beautiful ship is where I spent my summer vacation. I only had one week free. How perfect. I would be taken care of, fed, entertained, and allowed to rest. It was exactly what I needed. I am a workaholic. A cruise takes care of you, takes a burden off your shoulders, holds your hand, and pushes fun into your life. I was on the Explorer of the Seas headed for Bermuda.

    We sailed out of Cape Liberty, NJ and had this view of New York City with the Staten Island Ferry heading towards her. 

 

.......everyone went up on the deck to see the ship sail under the Verazano Bridge...........

.............there was a Captain's Welcome Party on the Promenade with free-flowing champagne and live music to dance to...................

...........we all jammed onto the Promenade to enjoy the party............it was our first real look at all the shops and restaurants as well.................

...............this is what the Promenade looks like during the day.....some cabin windows open out to the Promenade and it is beautifully decorated and filled with light..............

............at one end of the ship is the Palace Theater, where all the broadway-style shows were held.......

.............this is looking up from the Promenade at the huge piece of artwork hanging from the ceiling......

.............this is looking down at where the art auction is held on a lower deck..........the curves and flow of the interior space of the boat were eye-catching and made it a pleasing experience to stroll around...........

..........the stores along the Promenade were filled with high quality items.....I thought these Lamborghini watches looked pretty cool...........there was also an English Pub and a French inspired cafe............and a Ben & Jerry's............

..................you can see the cafe below under the red awning on the left........I used to stop in for coffee or little croissant sandwiches stuffed with ham, cheese and tomato........they also served pizza and cookies every day.........

....I didn't take a picture of the cabin, but did of the hand-painted tile detail in the bathroom .............

............yes, those are my feet! Lounging and listening to a great band by the pool. Ended up dancing under the stars for hours....the entertainment on the boat was superb.

..........there is a huge gym facing the ocean with steam, sauna, whirpools and classrooms.....

............and an adults only pool area with its own bar and whirlpools..................

...and you can jog and walk the upper deck for working out in the sun and sea air....and in the evening you could either dine at your whim in the large buffet area or dine formally in the dining room below....

........this cruise was only five days to Bermuda, so since I had been there many times before, I decided to spend my time near where the boat was docked on King's Wharf. It had everything I wanted. A French pastry shop with WIFI. A fabulous British pub that makes their own beer and delicious Bermudian fish chowder. Shopping. A crafts center. Entertainment and bands at night. And a sweet little beach you could snorkel from with a restaurant, bar and bands. And I had time to rest, sleep, and rejuvenate. It's almost a perfect quick trip out of New York City, getting you to a place far enough away that you feel as if you have been somewhere, and taking very good care of you. I can't wait to go back.

Related Post:

Cruise Cuisine: Explorer of the Seas 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Madison Avenue Stroll, Part 1

    While mid-town Madison Avenue is impressive and international, the upper reaches of Madison Avenue feel like a small town. Side streets are tree lined. Town houses have planters overflowing with flowers and vines. Stores are small, and antique shops, boutiques and art galleries abound.

    Come take a walk with me and let's look at all the shops together. Later, I will post a second stroll that takes you to mid-town.

    I started around 94th street and began to walk downtown....

    

    Rather than big book chains, a couple of independent bookstores have survived with a very loyal local clientelle. 

    This knitting store looked very tempting, but I have bags full of beautiful yarns waiting for me to transform them into something, so I bypassed this temptation and kept walking!

    Despite only being mid-June, summer sales are in full swing. 

 

    Bistro du Nord was ready for guests...........

.....and looked like it had an interesting menu for the evening.....

...........this lavender was so fragrant as I walked by...........

......shoe window shopping. From casual flats to space age stilletos!

    I stopped into Dean & Deluca, an upscale food market, to take a look around.....

...and ended up with roll mops and some peaches for later. 

....back on the street, more window shopping.

.....loved this window of an art gallery.

......not sure how I felt about these shoes!

.....EAT Cafe, always busy.....

    I stopped into L'Occitane....from the south of France where I lived for so many years. They make a wonderful Shea Hand Cream............

    And I ended up at my hang out, my favorite restaurant in the city. I stood at the bar. I had a tiny sandwich and an expresso. I feel so at home here, either dropping in for one of the gelatos they import from Milan, or for a wine, or for lunch, or for a late afternoon snack. Great ambiance. The family is from Milan and have had this restaurant in this location for years. You have to try it!

    Soon I will post Part 2. Stay tuned!

 

 

French Doors

I have a passion for French doors. My love is a visual one, and it is stoked by the fact that there are so many of them and they are all unique in their own way. 

Just look at these, which I found on a walk along the Seine in Paris. Even the color is exciting.

I grew up in New England and was used to very plain doors. Which is perhaps why, when I am in France, I end up photographing so many of them. These were taken in Paris. 

Hand carved, surprising, and the kind of door that makes one stop and think! What are you meant to find on the other side?!

I think behind this one was a convent.....so lovely, so inspiring. I love the little putti angels floating above the scene.

And I can never resist taking pictures of French Door knockers. So many are hand-crafted, stunning, heavy and impressive.

Some of the doors are wide enough to let a car through from the inner courtyard to the street. The Jour et Nuit sign on a door or near one tells you to expect a car to enter or leave, at any time of the day or night.

This is the door to a building I used to live in when I was a newlywed in Paris. I remember how heavy it was to push it open, and I rememer the sound of the click behind me when it shut.

It's like an outdoor museum. Each and every door a new discovery, a new piece of art.

And even if you find one that is transparent, French Doors are always a mystery.

 

Hotel Review: Wyndham Garden Hotel Chelsea NYC

How lucky did I get?? On a weekend when it was very hard to get a room in NYC, I scored one at a hotel right across the street from EATALY. 

For a foodie traveler this holds great significance. I visit EATALY, an Italian food emporium, every time I visit the city. And now I had a gem of a little boutique hotel to stay in just steps away.

The Wyndham Garden Hotel was small and intimate with a colorful lobby....

and very friendly and helpful staff at the front desk.

My room, on the 17th floor, was small but super super comfortable with a bed I didn't want to get out of once I was in it and a view over the neighboring rooftops and over to the famous Flatiron Building a street away.

It had free Wifi, a large flat screen TV, desk and ergonomically engineered chair that only made my back feel better.

Nice little treats awaited.......

as well as Wolfgang Puck signature coffee and lovely teas......

The "be well" theme of the center bed pillow was echoed throughout, including a new bathroom with "spa" toiletries and good fluffy white towels.

Downstairs in the lobby there is a door connecting to the Italian restaurant San Rocco. I took a look before dinner. It was lit with candles and looked wonderful. I had reservations at a French restaurant nearby, but you know, I should have stayed put!

Any restaurant lit with candles and filled with the music of Frank Sinatra must be taken seriously.

Which was confirmed in the morning when I dined at San Rocco for my  Italian breakfast, which was a beautiful buffet.

To the left, fresh squeezed orange juice. Cereals. Yogurt. Nutella. Two freshly baked breakfast cakes redolent of candied orange and rum soaked raisins. Superb capuccino. Fresh fruit salad. Panini press to make ham and cheese panini.

I was so happy with the quality of the food, the beautiful waitress who told me she came from Rome and the chefs from Milano, with the great conversation with fellow guests....that I decided then and there that I would be coming back to the hotel Wyndham in Chelsea.

I would reserve ahead a table at this restaurant for dinner, and I would again find my seat for the lovely breakfast served here. This was a special experience, and I am grateful to have found such an intimate and ultimately homey place to call home when I visit New York again.

 

 

My New Hampshire Summer

There's no better way to share with you the beauty of a New Hampshire summer than with photographs. I love taking them, I hope you enjoy!!!

 

And now, at the end of August, we have heavy tropical winds from the approaching "hurricane", winds are whipping up the outdoor chimes into a frenzy, and dark clouds are piling up high into the sky. Moody. Tropical. Always beautiful.

 

Hotel Review: Alvisse Parc Hotel Luxembourg

I was in dire need of a hotel to simply sleep in after a transatlantic flight and a very long struggle to get a train during a week when all of Europe's trains seemed to be on strike.

Luckily I chose the right hotel online before my trip. I didn't know that Alvisse Parc Hotel was outside of Luxembourg City proper, but when I arrived and discovered it was only minutes away, I was ecstatic. This was a lovely setting. Serene. In a park. Surrounded by trees. And I was amazed and delighted by how light and airy and modern it was inside.

I was immediately shown to my room and found it large and newly updated. The bed test was excellent. Soft enough and lots of pillows. The bathroom test was excellent. All squeeky clean and loads of towels. 

Later I took a walk around and found a beautiful spa and pool area.

I made a note that the next time I come to stay I would book the spa. It was a lovely setting with views outside to the park like setting.

It had a bar lounge area that was nicely lit at night and had a great bartender.

Now for the breakfast! Amazing. A huge dining room opened off this little alcove and at breakfast offered a long long table buffet filled with everything imaginable, and it was included in the price of my room. I had poached eggs. I layered a plate with soft slices of ham and cheeses. I added fresh tomato slices, mozzarella slices, and a just baked roll. I had my deep coffee. I had pastries and fruits and then a cappuccino. And there was excellent waiter service that hovered and cleared and smiled.

So, my friends, I happily recommend this hotel outside of Luxembourg City. I will definitely be going back. The reason I was there in the first place was to visit my friends the Mathes family at their vineyard. I know I will be going back to visit them again soon. If you would like to continue with me on my journey, click here to watch the video I made of my visit to their vineyard. You'll want to go to!

Alvisse Parc Hotel, 120 Route d'Echternach, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

Amazing Find: Cire Trudon

Travel sometimes takes me to the past. I found this store in New York City and was transported to another time.

It is the oldest candle maker in the world, so you can imagine what it was like entering their new space in Greenwich Village, an odd location for a really upscale store like this. Somehow I thought it would be better suited to Chelsea or Tribeca or even Soho. That said, I felt tremendously lucky to have found it.

"In 1643, a salesman named Claude Trudon arrives in Paris. He soon becomes the owner of a shop on Saint-Honore street thanks to a fruitful and happy marriage. Among groceries, the store also provides its customers with wax, candles for any domestic usage as well as church candles to the neighboring Saint Roch parish."

That was written in the 18th century, and the original store still exists in Paris today. The company makes candles for all the top French brands, including Hermes and Cartier. They still make the candles for the Chateau de Versailles.

As I walked in, I expected to be overwhelmed by aromas from the candles. Not a whiff. Almost all of the candles are under glass to preserve their scent until you lift the glass to smell them. 

Except of course for these beautiful tapers. 

What a treasure trove of visual treats. The color of the paneling, the wax busts, the antiques for lighting candles and displaying them.....all were from a distant past when light bulbs hadn't been thought of and candles were vital to survival as well as love.

I loved that they had so many candles lit and it was not even noon. It made a point. Candles are not just for the dark. 

These are some of the less expensive and absolutely delightful smelling candles you can find there. Most of the candles are quite pricey, however, considering that they burn at least 80 hours makes them actually reasonable. The quality and the colors and dyes and perfect fragrances all combine to make these some of the finest candles in the world. 

For instance, these pillars with individual cameos are $130. They come packed in a beautiful grey and red box with a book about the candle maker. 

The candle on the left under glass (cloche) is their signature candle. The gold coat of arms of the candle maker is on the front. It is hard to make out, but it is of a bee hive, with bees and the caption, "Bees work for God and the King." They come in a small travel size all the way up to a huge 7 pound candle. All are set in hand blown glasses from Vinci in Italy. 

My favorite? Has to be their candle scent called "Mademoiselle de la Valliere" because it is all tuberose, my favorite flower. All the scents are magnificent though and their descriptions delightful.

Carmelite sent: "The perfume of old stonewalls, in the shade of cloisters and convents, this scent of fresh and mossy stone tells us about the black and white silhouettes of sisters moving in the silence of ritual mass. Under the light of votives and psalmody, Carmelite refers to the peace of souls and eternity."

CIRE TRUDON, 78 rue de Seine, Paris   http://ciretrudon.com     http://blog.ciretrudon.com

54 Bond Street, New York, New York  

Cambridge With Sneakers

I walked by and stopped in front of this store window in Cambridge. If you can love a picture of sneakers, can it be far off to imagine that others would love the sneakers themselves?

I mean, these sneakers are illustrated like a modern day Botticelli was interpreting their beauty as an object of art. This is why I love traveling. I get to a place and am swept into visuals that are new to me. 

I was in Cambridge, intellectual capital of the Northeast. And here I was, in front of my urban museum window exhibiting a relic of our daily culture. Amazing that sneakers could be transformed into a whimsical item of an almost painterly ideal.

Then I saw the line.  A really long line.

So I had to ask the first person on line, "What are you waiting for?"

"Limited edition", he replied.

Wow, limited edition sneaks. 

I travelled across the street. The line seemed to be elongating. I wanted to keep walking now that I found Cambridge With Sneakers. Maybe the next corner would bring another unexpected surprise. 

Epilogue: Once back at my computer I read up on Concepts, the store that first caught my eye. Next trip I am going to pay them a visit. They are all about Limited Editions, by various shoe companies. So their stock is really interesting and always changing. Another thing I love about traveling. Finding new stores!

 

Harrods London: A Wee Peek

I didn't take a picture of the outside of Harrods, so I thought I could show you what it looks like with the tea tins above that have the exterior of the department store embossed on the front! It actually is so large, taking an entire block, that I am not sure my camera would have captured it all.

The food halls have been completely renovated at great cost, including repainting the original ceiling designs. And now, for a feel for the branding machine that is Harrods. I love the store, there is nothing quite as exciting and interesting in the world, but it must be said that everything that can be branded is branded.

More tins of tea....

 

And the wonderful selection of English cheeses.....

 

Ok, now this is serious branding. Water. Bottled water. Harrods on the label. It translates to approximately $45 a bottle.

Although, these are worth the splurge. Their Christmas Puddings made with Brandy.

And these lovely little pies, my favorites. Chicken and Ham Pie with Honey Mustard, Turkey Gammon and Cranberry Pie, and Chicken and Ham with Apple Chutney. Good to go!

I always get one of these Bobbie banks when I am in London for the kids I know!

Even the boxes of fruit are labeled!

Even the teddy bears........

Great service. They really understand that word.......

I mean, wouldn't you feel special having your sandwich hand carved by this gentleman in this setting? Knowing that pretty much everything in the Harrods Foods Halls tastes divine?!

Another brilliant "brand" just opened an outpost in Harrods. Perfect! 

OK, the next two pictures have nothing to do with Harrods, but they were cool and in London so I wanted to share. First, this hand dryer. You put your hands in, and they are dry and germ free. Haven't seen one in the States yet.

And this.....all over London you can just put in a coin and hop on a bike. Drop it off when you reach your destination. I loved this idea!