The Sonnenalp is One of the MrFiveStar # 1 choices in the world both summer and winter. We like small, romantic, friendly, resorts, Johannes Fessler and his family are always on site to make sure everything is top notch. I like the Sonnenalp so much I applied for a job there at one time. To show you how much class they have, I didn't get the job, even, for no salary. Nothing but the best for the guests of the Sonnenalp.

A lineage of hospitality: 1919 Eleanore and Adolf Faessler purchase a small ranch house and refurbish it into a lodge offering their guests Moor mud treatments, a spa service still popular today. 1932 While Eleanore and Adolf are turning over management responsibilities to their son Ludwig and his wife Resi in Bavaria, Franklin D. Roosevelt is being elected the 32nd president of the United States. Ludwig and Resi register the Sonnenalp name meaning “sun on the mountains,” in Germany. 1964 Management of the Sonnenalp Resort of Bavaria is turned over to son Karlheinz and his wife Gretl, and despite a fire in 1967, the resort boasts 180 employees and sets a new standard for luxury and privacy, health and wellness. 1994 Son Michael Faessler assumes management responsibilities and the celebrated European hotel celebrates its 75th anniversary.

Gstaad Palace Hotel Built in 1913 and in the dedicated care of three generations of Scherz family since the 1950’s, the 5-star Gstaad Palace Hotel attracts a discerning clientele, many of whom return year after year to appreciate the magnificent architecture, elegant interior and perfect hospitality of this remarkable luxury hotel. Located on a hill-top with commanding views of Gstaad, the legendary Gstaad Palace

 Hotel really is one of the leading hotels of the world, and famously so. It’s the kind of Palace where you might easily resolve to leave your skis in their bag and simply enjoy the hotel’s luxurious surroundings including the stunning new spa and wellness area. 

 Choose from a range of 64 exceptionally well furnished standard, superior and deluxe rooms, 29 junior suites and 4 superb 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom tower suites. But for the ultimate in luxury and exclusivity - at a cool CHF 13,900 per night peak season - there’s the 3-bedroom penthouse suite with roof terrace and 360 degree panoramic views, outdoor Jacuzzi and private sauna in the upper tower. 

For culinary delights there’s a choice of four restaurants: La Restaurante & Grand Terrasse main restaurant with an international menu, Gildo’s for Italian cuisine prepared by a dedicated Sardinian team under the watchful eye of maitre d’hotel Gildo, Le Grill Rotisserie with Gault Milau 15 points for á la carte for gourmet fine dining or for a truly Swiss alpine experience La Fromagerie in the basement for Swiss specialities including Raclette and cheese fondue with champagne and truffles. For after dinner and late night entertainment the famous GreenGo Club in the basement has two dance floors with sound mixed by a resident DJ and is open every night from 10pm in winter and Thursdays through Saturday nights in summer. With a high proportion of guests returning each year it’s important to book early, especially for peak periods - Christmas, February and August, as many rooms will be automatically reserved to meet the anticipated needs of regular clientele. Over Christmas and New Year bookings are subject to a minimum 12-nights stay. The Gstaad Palace Hotel Spa & Heath Club The impressive new Gstaad Palace Spa offers a variety of body and facial treatments, separate steam rooms and saunas for men and women, techno gym with cardio and weight equipment, Pilates studio, private spa area, indoor and outside heated pool at a constant 34/35 degrees. Separate changing facilities are available for men and women and a wide range of body and facial treatments are available with products from Cinq Modes, Sisley and Clé de Peau Beauté in a serene environment. 

The 60m long grey stone wall built of 50 tons of granite from nearby Blausee is a stunnin

g feature running the length of the Spa and an exquisite lounge area with centre piece fireplace offers the utmost comfort among neutral colours. Herbal teas, water and fruit are available to all guests. The techno gym features cardio and weight equipment and a Pilates studio managed by Natasha Lutz offers both private and small group instruction. In both ladies and gentlemen’s areas experience the steam rooms and sauna, relax in a warm stone area, sit outside in the summer or experience the warm thunderstorm and cold waterfall showers – not to be missed! In the private spa suite you can indulge in the unique Hammam experience lasting 2 hours and journeying through 7 rooms, beginning with a soothing footbath, followed by a steam bath, infinity room, a cleansing soap and body massage, a floating pool, relaxation pool and completed with a hydrating warm oil massage. All rooms are spacious, multifunctional and beautifully decorated.

Adjacent to the Spa is the separate indoor and outside pool area, which has snacks available and allows children accompanied by an adult. In the evening the indoor pool area changes into a night bar with dance floor above the pool. The indoor and outdoor pool and Jacuzzi is kept at a constant 34/35 degrees. During summer months a salad bar and grill is available outside. All areas of the Spa are of exceptional quality. Click here to go directly to the Gstaad Palace Switzerland website.

For all prices and further information contact the Spa Manager by email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or telephone +41 (0)33 748 58 90 Gstaad Palace Hotel Palacestrasse CH-3780 Gstaad Tel: +41 (0) 33 748 50 50 Fax: +41 (0) 33 748 50 01 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Web: www.palace.ch

This is on of the MrFiveStar Christmas Suggestions. The 13th Century Ashford Castle is set on the northern shores of Lough Corrib, a half an hour from the medieval city of Galway on the West Coast of Ireland , amidst acres of beautiful gardens and forests. Once the country estate of the Guinness family, it was transformed into a luxury hotel in 1939. The great hall is lavishly decorated with rich panelling, fine period pieces, 

objets d’art and masterpiece paintings. All guest rooms are appointed with style and refinement and many feature high ceilings & delightful lake or river views, all of which signatures Ashford Castle. 

The hotel offers a full range of country sports, including falconry, fishing on Lough Corrib, clay pigeon shooting, horseback riding, an exclusive 9-hole golf course, and a modern health centre comprising of a whirlpool, sauna, steam room, fully equipped gymnasium and lake view conservatory. The Formal Gardens are restored, there are incredible walks along the Lakeshore and one in particular leads to the Chalet – built by Lord and Lady Ardilaun of the Guinness Family in the late 1800’s. On his death, Lady Ardilaun erected an obelisk to his memory on which bears the inscription: Rien ne m’est plus; Plus ne m’est rien (Nothing remains to me any longer, anything that remains means nothing) Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall Ashford Castle and its grounds continues to play cupid to couples from around the globe. Click here to go directly to Ashford Castle Ireland website. This is a great site.

Check the website for current specials.

I am still trying to imagine what will take place in the future with this great America Historic Resort. The Gaylord family has generously spent hundreds of millions of dollars to restore, expand this Grand Resort to the splendor it enjoys today. Will Philip Anschutz have the same passion for the property. No one likes change, and I recognize change can be good. Since I have never met either the Gaylords or Mr. Anschutz I suppose I shouldn't start worrying just yet.

The good news so far is that they say there will be no changes in the current management and staff, but how may times have we heard that? Now, I have no idea what the Boradmoor's books look like but I have to assume they should look fairly good since many times recently I called for reservations and they were fully booked. Over the past many years I have met Steve Bartolin the current CEO and had the pleasure to spend many interesting hours discussing the Broadmoor and the Greenbrier history. If there is anyone in this country who knows half as much about running a 700 room resort, 16 restaurants and several golf courses, I sure would like to know who that person is. Bartolin's name is always brought up when I meet with resort owners and operators world wide. Bartolin's name is always held in the highest regard, almost saintly.

Anschutz calls Colorado his home and is proud to drop Colorado's name frequently as he travels the world, so hopefully he will maintain the high standards set by the Broadmoor or possibly even take it to a higher lever, if that is possible. I had always wished that the Gaylord's would have also purchased the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, but I suppose that won't happen now. Hey! Mr. Anschutz, the Brown is screaming for someone like you or the Gaylord's to be it's parent, and then send Steve Bartolin up there for the cleanup.

I have spent many memorable nights at the world famous Broadmoor Resort since the early 50's when I made my first visit with my parents. The Broadmoor was opened in 1918 by the Penroses, Colorado Springs philanthropists. And it would seem that no drastic changes are necessary. For 2011, after all, the Broadmoor retained its membership in an elite group of luxury hotels that have maintained AAA's Five Diamond status ever since the Diamond ratings were introduced for hotels 35 years ago. The Broadmoor shares the honor with two other hotels: Camelback Inn, the JW Marriott Resort and Spa, in Scottsdale, Ariz., and the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W. Va.

In terms of the newly announced sale, the Broadmoor is just one of the assets included in the purchase from the Gaylord family, one of Oklahoma's wealthiest families, the Denver Post tells us. The Anschutz Co.'s purchase of the Oklahoma Publishing Co. also includes the 500-room Lost Pines Resort and Spa in Austin, Texas; the Oklahoman newspaper and website, and other assets. The sale amount was not disclosed. According to the Associated Press, Doug Price, CEO of the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau, told The Gazette of Colorado Springs that he expects Anschutz will keep the Broadmoor rather than spin it off. "I think probably the most important part is that it's going to remain independent," Price told the AP.Click here to go directly to the Broadmoor website.

The Alvear Palace Hotel, MrFiveStar Hotel of the Month, April 2011

The Alvear Palace, befitting its name, treats its guests like royalty! Our five nights there brought new meaning to extraordinary. Located in the exclusive Recoleta section of Buenos Aires, not only is the building an exquisite representation of architectural splendor and an interior elegantly decorated in Louis the XIV and XVI style, but the staff is well known for its dedication to customer service clearly placing the Alvear Palace in a class by itself. All 5 stars are shining very brightly at this outstanding hotel.
 
The Alvear Palace was built in 1932 and is the only 5-star hotel in Buenos Aires that has been continuously owned by an Argentinean family. The hotel enjoys the elite status of being included in the collection of Leading Hotels of the World (please take a look at the beautiful pictures accompanying this article). With its 197 luxurious rooms (100 are suites), all have butler service, along with modern conveniences including WiFi, direct fax line, TV and DVD players. Each beautifully decorated room features fresh flowers (ours had an assortment of colorful roses). Each day we enjoyed a bowl of assorted fresh fruit and bottled water delivered by staff. It is most apparent that this Argentinean family makes every effort to set their hotel apart. With 550 employees, this translates to about 2.8 per guest, one of the highest of all luxury hotels.

An example of the hotel's attention to detail was very much enjoyed by my husband and me. One of our days out and about walking all around Buenos Aires, we were a bit tired from all that wonderful sightseeing and shopping. My husband called ahead to the butler on our floor (each floor has a butler). When we returned to our beautiful and well-appointed hotel room, our Jacuzzi bathtub (each room has one), was filled with swirling warm water in which this weary sightseer/shopper could immediately relax and luxuriate! By the way, at the foot of the tub a flat screen TV, no less!
 
While I enjoyed my glorious Jacuzzi, my husband headed straight to the Alvear's 8,000 sq. ft. Spa and Fitness Center. The Gym and Spa facilities are designed to offer hotel guests an unforgettable experience of both physical and spiritual well-being. The gym features the Italian-designed Technogym, but my husband's favorite was the core training Kinesis system (unique for Latin America).

If you enjoy pampering, as I do, then treat yourself to the Alvear Spa for a truly amazing experience. Amidst luxurious surroundings, all the usual spa services are offered, but all are way above usual when executed by very talented hands of spa personnel. The signature La Prairie body and facial treatments were my favorite.

A must at the Alvear Palace is the especially elegant late afternoon High Tea. Inside the truly lovely surrounding of the hotel's Le Jardin, a garden room, we were treated to this extraordinary and scrumptious experience. The waiters were most attentive and particularly handsome in their red coats. All served us with white gloves. The choice of teas...extensive, but our favorite is the Alvear's very own special blend. It goes without saying, we enjoyed consuming all those wonderfully delicious calories in the form of the tea sandwiches and pastries. What a splendid way to spend the late afternoon!

Because the hotel features many outstanding restaurants, my husband and I are pleased to announce we enjoyed them all! The elegant lobby bar (known for being the place to meet for Buenos Aires high society and business people), features a menu of delicious appetizers and those luscious Argentine Malbec wines! The Alvear's La Bourgogne Restaurant is a member of Relais & Chateaux (an exclusive collection of the finest hotels and restaurants in 60 countries and is the only restaurant with this designation in Latin America). French Chef, Jean Paul Bondoux creates the most superb French cuisine bound to please the appetites of the most discriminating gourmands. Another restaurant, L'Orangerie, is located in yet another of Alvear's truly beautiful rooms. With its very high ceilings and natural light, this is where we enjoyed outstanding buffet breakfasts and delicious lunches prepared by the hotel's talented executive chef. And, for worldwide wine lovers, the Alvear Palace is known for its wines. Featuring 650 national and international wine labels, it is consistently sited by Wine Spectator as having one of the finest wine lists of any hotel worldwide.

As if superb service, exquisite surroundings, delightful and delectable meals were not enough for discriminating national and international travelers, we found the hotel's business facilities extraordinary as well. The Business Center has six computers, along with dedicated hotel staff members on hand, who assisted my husband with all of his business and communication needs. In addition to the Business Center itself, there are a number of small and medium-sized meeting rooms, all nicely decorated and wired for current technological devices, for use by hotel guests.

A new addition to the hotel is the elegantly decorated Cigar Bar. An avant garde experience for sure. To complement one's smoking pleasure, this elegantly decorated room offers cigar lovers a wide variety of internationally well known brands, as well as an extensive collection of liqueurs, cognacs, spirits, etc. And, the piece de résistance has to be, chocolates made with cacao from all over planet earth! Even though my husband and I are not cigar smokers, we enjoyed the room's special ambiance. As we sipped our after dinner drinks, we consumed way more than our fair share of delicious chocolates.

By now it should be clear to the readers of this article, that my husband and I truly loved our Alvear Palace experience. Anyone traveling to Buenos Aires, whether on business or for pleasure, should definitely plan to stay at this extraordinary hotel. In our opinion, it is one of the most elegant hotels in all of Latin America, perhaps the world. Consider this... in recent years this Buenos Aires Palace has been visited by the Her Majesty the Queen of Netherlands, His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Wales, His and Her Majesty the King and Queen of Spain, among others. If you wish to receive the extraordinary service usually reserved for Kings and Queens, then the Alvear Palace is the perfect choice. From personal experience, my husband and I state unequivocally the hotel lives up to its reputation for providing its guests with what we now designate as the Alvear Palace's exclusive and special brand of the royal treatment. Our return trip cannot come soon enough!

Please click here to go directly to Alvear Palace Hotel web site.

This article was written by Daphne Goodyear. Daphne and her husband Richard are well seasoned International Travelers, traveling the globe for decades.Daphne is the VP of MrFiveStar "Boutique Properties Editor". Daphne and Richard call home Sarasota Florida and Jackson Hole Wyoming. Daphne can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Click "Read More" to view some additional pictures of this world class Hotel.

Once in a while, you should stop and smell the roses in your own backyard. With all the traveling I have been doing in the past few years, somehow I had completely overlooked a great little gem almost a stones throw from our corporate offices here in Vero Beach. It is the noteworthy Amalfi Grille, located along the waters of the Indian River on the prestigious, historic, finger peninsula, locally known as Royal Palm Pointe. Okay, it's not quite as charming as actually overlooking the Mediterranean on the Amalfi Coast in Italy but the restaurant does have a tropical charm with the palm trees gently swaying in the breeze, and the food transcends the ambiance. 

The moment you walk through the door, the aromas permeating the air set the mood for a wonderful meal. “Grille Restaurant”, yes, but upscale white tablecloths, linen napkins, fine china and stemware, yet, not at all stuffy or pretentious. This is not a large restaurant, so I strongly urge you to make reservations ahead of time. I was lucky. Arriving early, I was able to get the last table of the evening. Not realizing the sophistication of the room, I was dressed in my normal Sportif Shorts, Columbia Shirt and Sperrys. I was well received, but personally I would have felt more in-place with casual trousers and maybe even a blazer at least in the high winter season. After apologizing for my attire to the owner, he told me that the previous weekday evening he too was wearing nice dress shorts. Speaking of the owner, Bob Rose is by far the most personable hands-on operator I have had the pleasure to meet in a long time. He is one of those people you talk to for a few minutes and you feel as if you have been friends for years. Bob is extremely knowledgeable about the restaurant business (35 years), entertaining, and a master at working the room. Bob makes the regulars and the newbies all feel as though he personally invited them to his restaurant. There is no class distinction here. Every guest is royalty in his eyes. 

So here is the deal on the food and the Chef. The Chef, Chester (Chet) Perrotti and the owner Robert Rose have been childhood friends, growing up in a  very small Italian neighborhood in New Haven, Connecticut. Chet, a two-time Zagat-rated chef, has never received formal training, but instead learned the art of fine cuisine from his grandparents. Just as Bob is very hands on in the front of the house, so Chet is in the rear. Within reason, he will make your request any way you want, respecting dietary requirements and various accents on flavor. Why? Because he can. Everything is freshly made on the spot when ordered. Nothing is made in advance. For instance, since they were unable to locate sausage they would be proud to serve, they decided the best solution was to make their own. Chet's background in the produce business gives him the connections and knowledge to acquire only the best from his suppliers. These guys really respect where they came from, making sure, for example, that they import all quality Italian products; that includes all cheeses, Parmesan Reggiano, Pecorino Romano, Asiago and Provolone. They also import the #1 San Marzano Tomatoes, and all Italian meats including Prosciutto di Parma, Sopressata, Pancetta, Salami's and Ham's, direct from their friends in Connecticut at Napoli Foods. Napoli also supplies the Grille with specialty items such as dry salted Sicilian capers, the finest in Extra Virgin olive oils, marinated mushrooms, pickled eggplant, and Arborio Risotto. Bob, an avid fisherman, knows his fresh fish- which, other than the New England-supplied shellfish, they acquire locally. They are so discerning, in fact, that they have educated their vendors on the finer points of quality, ensuring that only the best is utilized. 

To start, I had “Pasta Fagioli made to order”. You bet it's made to order. I don't think it gets any better in the old country, and certainly there is none as good within 100 miles of Vero Beach.

For my entree, I had a seafood medley recommend by John our Waite Captain. This was a mountain of food including shrimp, little neck clams, scallops, mussels, and topped with a split Maine lobster tail, all on a bed of linguine, ala fra diavolo. The wine was a Chianti Classico, Reserva, San Felice, II Grigio-06. The entre was more than sufficient. I was going to order the Zuppa di Pesce, but John told us it was even larger and definitely for two. I consider myself somewhat of an expert on Italian Seafood dishes. I lost count after ordering my 100th meal. . Amalfi's dish ranks right up there at the top with the best I have had in the world. I am fortunate as I live in Vero Beach, however if I didn't live here, there is no question, the Amalfi Grille would be a destination restaurant for me. I would drive to Vero and spend the night at the Vero Beach Hotel and Spa (on the beach) and dine at the Amalfi Grille for both lunch and dinner.

 

Molly, my wife, had “Vitello Amalfi.” This dish is thinly sliced egg battered veal medallions, Marsala, a touch of Marinara, peas, pancetta, eggplant, and mozzarella. Following her second bite she vowed, “we must come here once a week.” I was able to grab a small bite off her plate when she took her eyes off her plate to eyeball another fabulous entree passing our table. There is no question that on my next visit to Amalfi Grille, “Vitello Amalfi” will be what I will be ordering. What makes their food five star in addition to the quality of their ingredients? The seasoning is impeccable yet robust with flavor, and the selected cooking time of the ingredients is done to perfection. Nothing was over-cooked, which often results in the compromise of taste or texture.

The “piece de resistance” was dessert. With hardly room to spare, we did share one piece of the Italian Blueberry and Rhubarb Bread-pudding. This is done in a custard style, sliced in a pie wedge and served with a Belgian white chocolate ganache sauce. There are no words to describe this heavenly finish to a great meal. The dessert menu was the broadest and best we have ever found in Italian-emphasized restaurant. You will find your authentic and traditional options in addition to a selection of international favorites created by the best pastry and dessert chef in town, Danny Frechette. Although Danny is rather humble, he is a truly skilled artisan who takes great pride and joy in creating his desserts. 

For those of you who have been following me, you know I have seldom met an Italian Restaurant I didn't like. I have written about hundreds. Only God knows actually how many I have eaten in over the past 25 years. Of them all, Amalfi stands out because # 1 the owner really gets it. He knows excellent food, the value of absolutely fresh ingredients and that the dining experience is a symphony of events and that all must be performed without flaw every time. Yes, Robert Rose and Chef Chester Perrotti, and Danny Frechette, pastry chef, conduct this symphony at the Amalfi Grille for lunch and dinner every day except Sunday from Mother's Day until October. They are open 7 days a week from the 15th of November up until Mother's Day. Each year, the restaurant closes for 6 weeks starting in September and remains closed until October. Judging from my own personal experience at this restaurant and the many reviews I have read, they have achieved what so many others have tried and failed. The MrFiveStar team has now all sampled the Amalfi Grille and the vote is in. It is unanimous. The Amalfi Grille definitely receives this months Restaurant of the Month Award. 

Click here to go directly to Amalfi's web site. Click here to read reviews of the Amalfi Grille. If you landed on this article and don't know where Vero Beach Florida is located, Vero Beach is on the Atlantic side of Florida 65 miles north of Palm Beach, 55 miles south of the Kennedy Space Center and 100 miles south of the Orlando Airport. 

Bonjour, Paris! One of the most fascinating cities in the world. The combination of its interesting history, gorgeous architecture, museums and scrumptious cuisine. Paris has been a favorite vacation spot ever since seeing the Audrey Hepburn/Fred Astaire's movie, Funny Face, way back when. The song from the movie, Bonjour Paris, is an amazing tribute to amazing city and the joy it brings to those who love being there, as I do. So click on this link for a special tour of gay Paris: Bonjour, Paris!-Funny Face Once you arrive in the City of Light, check into one of the best small hotels in the world.

The San Regis hotel sits one block off the Champs Elysees and Avenue Montaigne. This splendid hotel has just 44 rooms. It was originally built in 1897 as a private 3 story mansion, but is now an especially charming hotel. Upon walking through the hotel's front entrance, the decor struck me immediately. The style is elegant and classic. With its lovely furnishings (period, furniture), very comfortable rooms, impeccable service and a great location, the San Regis a very nice place to stay. Beautiful fresh flowers always talk to me and speak volumes about a hotel's attention to detail .
 Upon arrival, the friendly and courteous staff makes for the best first and lasting impression. Every morning it was lovely to hear, "Bonjour Madam et Monsieur!" In the lobby the most exquisite circular staircase. Next to it is a typically old fashioned tiny European elevator, also decorated in appropriate Parisian fanciness! For some reason we loved squeezing into this small space! Upon reaching our room, we were very pleasantly surprised. The room, not a suite, was very roomy. The decor... typically Parisian with its elegant damasks and brocades. The room featured a king-sized bed and had all the amenities any guest would require. We were very pleasantly surprised at the size of the gorgeous marble bathroom... definitely luxurious and stocked with lovely thick terry cloth robes, slippers and Hermes "goodies".


Then came the piece de resistance..upon opening the window in our room...voila!... there before our very eyes...the Eiffel Tower . What a gorgeous sight! Talk about being in seventh heaven.

And, before going to bed each night, what a thrill it was to look out our window and see the most beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower at night. Actually, we were mesmerized by its outline in lights. The dining room on the first floor is also beautifully decorated...very charming, indeed. Along with the great food and service, the atmosphere is reminiscent of Paris in the late 19th century. The decor and atmosphere is precisely how I envisioned Parisians dining way back when.

The San Regis is highly recommended. Compared to some of the top hotels in Paris, this boutique hotel is an excellent value, in my opinion. Because it is small and intimate, and has a friendly and efficient staff, convenient location, superior amenities, well appointed rooms, the San Regis is my first choice for hotels in Paris. So pack your bags and be on your way because you, too, can check into the San Regis and say, "Bonjour, Paris!" 

Click here to go directly to the Paris San Regis Boutique Hotel.

Click here to see the Location of the San Regis.

This article was written by Daphne Goodyear. Daphne and her husband Richard are well seasoned International Travelers, traveling the globe for decades.Daphne is the VP of MrFiveStar "Boutique Properties Editor". Daphne and Richard call home Sarasota Florida and Jackson Hole Wyoming. Daphne can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it