Hollywood dreaming

lebua at State Tower’s Hangover Suite is one of a kind, and a perfect place to throw a Hollywood dinner party.

I arrival at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport mid-morning and am immediately greeted by a driver sent from lebua at State Tower. He takes my luggage and ushers me into a fully air conditioned blacked-out limo – a welcome relief in Bangkok’s steamy 37˚C heat. lebua at State Tower is set a little way off the road in downtown Bangkok, and as the driver turns into the driveway I can see the somewhat understated entrance, which surprised me because at 63 storey’s high, the hotel is far from understated. I later ask the doorman why the entrance is so modest. “It keeps the hotel’s entrance a secret – more exclusive,” he explains. As I wander through the doors, the lobby is opulent yet very trendy – the crowd is young and very cool. Within seconds I’m whisked up to the Hangover Suite, named after the eponymous movie. lebua at State Tower was thrust into the spotlight when the much-awaited The Hangover: Part II, graced movie screens back in 2011, since the aerial views used in the movie were all shot from the impressive heights of the rooftop Sky Bar. Located on the 56th floor and part of the hotel’s all-suite Tower Club, the Hangover Suite is made up of a master bedroom, one double and one smaller double, a fully equipped kitchen, a dining area, a lounge, four balconies, walk-in wardrobes, plus exclusive entrance to the Tower Club’s private lounge on the 52nd floor. If ever there was a place to hold a party, this would be it. Checking in and signing the disclaimer forms that exempt the hotel from responsibility should I fall off one of the balconies took all of five minutes, and then I was left alone to explore. The décor in the suite is fairly neutral – lebua aims to wow with its use of space and lighting, leaving the rooms as a blank canvas. All bedrooms have en suite bathrooms with Bvlgari amenities and the two larger doubles have balconies with sweeping views of the Bangkok skyline and Chao Phraya River below. The best views come at night, when the smog clears and the city lights up. I race around the rest of the suite – the brown lacquered dining table has ample space to sit eight comfortably, which immediately starts me thinking about hosting a dinner party. The kitchen, complete with breakfast bar and serving hatch, is ideal for the in-house chef to rustle up a treat if you opt for in-room dining. The lounge area, complete with a wide-screen TV and surround sound would be perfect to create a sophisticated atmosphere, and the extra guest washroom takes care of practical issues. All in all, the ample space coupled with the unrivaled views makes it the perfect venue for a dinner party; the only missing factor being the other seven guests. The public areas of lebua are all equally outstanding. The three Dome restaurants offer unrivalled cuisine and have become popular places to be seen among Bangkok’s trendy set. Breeze on the 52nd floor, which I can look down on from my suite, is a truly unique concept – the food is Asian fusion, the view is of Bangkok’s skyline and the atmosphere is super cool. The glass sky-bridge, which is suspended mid-air above the outdoor restaurant, is the ultimate catwalk, leading to a viewing station at one end. It’s the light show that sets this venue apart – the bridge changes from cool purples and blues to hot pinks, contrasting with the plain white decor. Take the lift to the 63rd floor and you emerge in an ultra-cool bar. I wander out of the doors and into a huge outdoor bar and restaurant. In the far corner I can see the illuminated round Sky Bar; in front of me is the super-romantic Sirocco restaurant. The glowing gold dome of State Tower is behind me and the Oscars-style illuminated staircase guides me to the bar. Guests staying in the Hangover Suite are entitled to a Hangovertini – a mixture of whisky, vermouth and other white liquors designed exclusively for the cast and crew of the film. It’s delicious, if a little too drinkable. When I get back to the suite, the maid has turned down the room and softened the lights. I step out onto the spacious balcony for one last look at Bangkok at its most beautiful; the light shimmering all around me. I jump into the enormous bed in the master bedroom, snuggle into the luxury goose down pillow (my selection from a choice of nine) and close the blinds and the party sounds of the Sky Bar drift away. Remark - Enjoy our luxurious new range of bath amenities by Acca Kappa.  

Points Miles & Martinis - My 5 Favorite International Cities to Visit

by http://travel.usatoday.com I received an email from a reader who was in the initial phases of planning an international trip (on frequent flyer miles of course) but hadn’t yet picked out a destination.  The reader asked if I could recommend my personal favorite cities in the world to visit.  I definitely love making lists so I was happy to take on the challenge of selecting my top 5. It is very rare for me to want to go back to an international city that I have already visited.  While I love most every international city I visit, it takes a little something extra to interest me in returning at the expense of visiting a new city.  These 5 cities have achieved that level.   In no particular order, here are my top 5 international cities that I recommend interested travelers visit. 1. Berlin, Germany My favorite European city is the German capital of Berlin.  The city offers a wide range of experiences that can’t be found elsewhere.  The history alone is enough to make this a world class city worth visiting. It is amazing to walk the grounds where so many important world events have taken place.  Furthermore the architecture, the green city parks, and modern art are qualities to be greatly admired. For better or for worse, Berlin is a city full of unique thinkers and I believe this shows through in their city. Personal highlights: The Reichstag, Brandenburg gate, Museum Island, the Tiergarten, the beer! 2. Kyoto, Japan I can confidently say Kyoto is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.   For over 1000 years, Kyoto stood as the capital of Japan.  As an American, that concept is extremely tough to grasp.  Walking through today’s Kyoto you can’t help but appreciate the incredible commitment to and feat of preservation this city represents.  There is a certain peacefulness and tranquility about Kyoto which exists throughout every square inch of the city. Personal highlights:  Endless temples and historical treasures, Philosopher’s Path, Bamboo Forest, Geisha spotting, Gion, Overwhelming natural beauty. 3. Bangkok, Thailand Bangkok is a tough city to describe.  I don’t find the terrain to be especially unique.  The skyline is not as picturesque as its Asian counterparts.  It is not a the cleanest or most efficient city in the world.  The real beauty that I find in Bangkok is the atmosphere.  The city is buzzing with activity all day everyday.  During the day you have an infinitely long list of historical attractions to keep you entertained while at night the party atmosphere takes over.  The nightlife is incredible.  No matter who you are, where you come from, or what time of day it is, you will certainly find new friends to celebrate with and have fun. Personal highlights: Drinks on top of the Lebua at State Tower, Cheap and delicious Thai cuisine, Backpacker’s party atmosphere, Nightlife, Street markets 4. Cape Town, South Africa My favorite city in Africa is most certainly Cape Town.  Cape Town offers something for everyone.  Ocean seeker? Got it.  Mountain seeker? Got it. Wine seeker? Got it.  History seeker? Got it.  Adventure seeker?  Got it.  The list goes on and on. In my mind, Cape Town shares the title for the most naturally beautifully city on earth, along with #5 on this list. Personal highlights: Day trips to the Stellenbosch wine region, Cage diving with Great White Sharks off Gansbaai, Cape of Good Hope, Table Mountain, Robben Island 5. Rio De Janeiro, Brazil My favorite city in South America is Rio De Janeiro in Brazil.  As mentioned in #4, I believe Rio De Janeiro shares the title for most naturally beautiful city on earth.  The juxtaposition of the mountains and the ocean is truly stunning. I was fortunate enough to experience a concert on the beach with 200,000+ of my newest Brazilian friends.  Rio has a certain buzzing vibe that is hard to describe but will surely leave you happy you came! Personal highlights: Driving up to see Christ the Redeemer, Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, Live concert on the beach

Bangkok binge

This is one destination that always leaves you wanting more, says Chitra Anand Papnai. There I was high in the clouds on the 63^rd floor of the Tower Club at lebua hotel in Bangkok but it wasn’t vertigo I was suffering from. It was déjà vu. Here I was sitting in the hotel’s elegant alfresco rooftop restaurant Sirocco and towering over us was the hotel’s amazing Sky Bar that seemed almost to be suspended in mid-air. From my vantage point I looked out over the city and the Chao Phraya River gleamed like silver mercury as it snaked between the city lights. It all seemed very familiar-but this was my very first time in Bangkok. The answer came quickly enough. As I reached my dinner table I heard someone mentioning the movie Hangover 2. This is where that rooftop scene was shot!” the person declared with delight, whipping out her camera. The location scouts of Hangover 2 certainly knew what they were doing when they chose this spot with its view of Bangkok. And like the stars of the movie, we had an action – packed evening. As our candlelight dinner got underway with a string of chef’s special dishes, a jazz band made mellifluous music in another corner. And the steadily growing crowd around the circular neon Sky Bar reminded us, again that this city never sleeps. The Tower Club at lebua had been written off by the travel industry when it was being constructed and it isn’t tough to imagine why. The hotel is located in the bustling Bang Rak District, which is a maze of narrow roads filled with street-side food carts. Not exactly the stuff of luxury said the naysayers. But once the building and its fine-dining restaurants got into action, all fears were put to rest. The next day I had a quick lunch at the hotel’s Café Mozu . Being a vegetarian, I was apprehensive, but not for long. To my relief, quite a few dishes were marked with bold Vs. I opted for the yam som a jay, a pomelo salad with tamarind sauce that is a mix of juicy sweet and sour flavors. For the main course I was recommended a vegetarian pad thai with mushrooms, which had a hot and sour flavor. Bangkok’s most important tourist spot is the Grand Palace but I was advised to avoid the heat and go the next morning. So, I did the next best thing and took Bangkok’s famous Sky- train to visit Siam, the city’s central shopping district. Siam is a shopaholic’s poison. Afer whetting my appetite at the high-end Siam Pargon mall, I headed, on a more realistic note, instead to MBK mall, which is filled with middle-bracket stores that are just right if you don’t want to burn a hole in your pocket. Back at the hotel I was treated to a quick massage. And after that I trotted down to the nearby flea market, Bangrak Bazaar, which is right next to the Silom Skytrain Station. Traveller tip: there is scope for Bargaining here but don’t expect the prices to go down drastically.