UNFORGETTABLE PLACES ON EARTH

Today I've stumbled upon an amazing website and I wish I knew about this much earlier because it's just brilliant. That's why I love to share this with you. Welcome Beyond Handpick Paradise is a website with truly amazing boutique hotels and B&B's. My earlier post about the B&B in Belgium is mentioned on this website too and they so deserve it!! Today I take you to a wonderful place up north west in Norway. I love this countries nature although I've never been there before. The Juvet Landscape hotel is a beauty surrounded by nature. The Norwegian owner Knut started this hotel in 1994 with help from the government he realised his dream hotel. The owner wants his guests to remember the hotel like this:

— Knut: “I would love our guests to have a feeling that this is a fantastic place, that they had been visiting friends and that they had a very, very nice time. And that I am sorry that they had to pay for it.”

Do I need to say more?

via: WelcomeBeyond

TODAY I WANT TO BE IN GREECE....(VIA URBAN STYLE VIBES)

How are you today? DO you enjoy the long weekend? It's a public holiday here in Holland so we have a few days off. I will travel to the south of Holland today to visit my family. But before I leave you I'd like to share the beautiful blue tones from Greece with you. This is the Theoxenia Hotel at the isle of Mykonos.

The Mykonos Theoxenia Design Hotel has ranged among the top cosmopolitan locations on the Aegean for over forty years. The unique exterior has recently been complemented by a discreetly luxurious 60s glam interior-design makeover, both recreating the hotel's original strong identity while communicating a powerfully modern design statement. 

By the way, it;s time to think about your holiday plans for this summer. Do you already hava any  plans? Would you like to spend your holidays in this luxury retreat? 

THIS SUMMER: PORTUGAL BOUND

Hello friends. I'm just back from my trip in the Caribbean so it's time to plan my next trip for this year. This summer we are planning a trip to Portugal. I do visit Lisbon for a few days and I think I would love to stay in the beautiful Fontana Park Hotel. Since its 2007 debut, the minimalist-chic Fontana Park has already racked up impressive awards (Best Interior Design: Rooms and Bathrooms, at the European Hotel Design Awards). Besides Lisbon we will visit the Alentejo region in the south west of Portugal. We will stay for a few days in the house shown above but we are still looking for great places to visit.

Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHERE TO STAY IN LISBON AND ALENTEJO? I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR TIPS/IDEAS?

DIY: TRAVEL MEMORIES

Maps are wonderful! This is a new idea from one of my favourite designers from California: Erin Vale Design. She designed this map as a memory of her trips. I'm off to the Caribbean soon so I hope to see that one back soon in her collection. Thanks Erin for these wonderful DYI ideas.

Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS IDEA?

source: Erin Vale Design

BLUE & WHITE INSPIRATION

Hi blogfolks! How are you today? It's still winter here in Holland. But in the meantime I'm dreaming of a lazy summer day. Let's spent some time in Greece today. Cavo Tagoo is a unique luxury hotel near Chora of Mykonos, built into an impressive natural cliffside. With its luxurious barefoot chic aesthetic, its distinctive architecture, versatile services, and respect for traditional elements, Cavo Tagoo unfolds as an unparalleled experience.



I just love all the blue details combine with white. What a good combination! It matches with the color of the sea.

Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS PLACE IN GREECE?

TODAY I WANT TO BE IN....THE CARIBEAN (VIA URBAN STYLE VIBES*)

My dear friends, how is your weekend so far? In my search for a new travel destination I stumbled upon this  French website. This villa is located in the Caribean at the bay of Marigot. Deocrated by the french interior designer Christian Liaigre this villa is a real treat for the eye. Take me away as soon as possible;-)

I jsut love the simplicity of this bungalow with a view. 

Q. What do you think of this retreat?

NEW YORK QUICK GUIDE

My dears! Finally we're back from the Big Apple and ready to share my New York finds with you. We were so lucky to land on JFK airport the day after X-Mas. There was so much snow that only 8 planes were able to land on JFK that day. Isn't that a miracle? Needless to say we had a wonderful time in this sparkling city. It was great to travel with my Mr. again and we lived life to the max in Manhattan. (Because life is too short...) Many blog friends asked me to give some tips and ideas where to go while in New York. So I thought it may be nice to pull together a quick guide of some of the hotspots I've visited while I was in New York last week...

Where to sleep...
We decided to sleep in the Pod Hotel on 51st street. The location is perfect BUT: On their website they show you an urban design hotel but in real it's far below that standard. At the entrance you will see some design but your room is simple and basic. I must admit that's not a problem but for $300,- a night you expect a little more. The service of the hotel is below my standards: no roomservice, no breakfast and the wifi connection in the rooms is very weak so you can't even check update my blog...

Where to eat...
New York has over 18.000 very good and affordable restaurants so it's impossible to mention them all. Here are some good ones that I visited:
i Trulli: The name reveals it already. This is true Italian food. We had a wonderful diner here. Their pastas and 'secondi's' are divine. In addition they have a great wine list.
Spice Market: In the meatpack district there are many good restaurants. This is one of them. 
Villa Pacri: Fine dining with Italian styling and decor
And for breakfast:
Le Pain Quotidien This Belgian Breadshop gives New York and extra good breakfast and lunchplace.

Later this week I will post an additional list with my shopping tips for NYC. I hope you will enjoy it!


images by Lise M. for Urban Style Vibes*

PHILIP STARCK DESIGN HOTEL BUENOS AIRES

One of my favourite cities in the world in Buenos Aires. This sexy, Latino city with a European twist is unforgettable! This city is all you need for a short break. The shopping ranges from designer labels to street hawkers, and nightlife will keep you swinging all night long. Don’t miss attending a superpassionate fútbol (soccer) game, snatching a quick tango lesson or downing a juicy steak.
A visit to the Philip Starck hotel: Faena Universa is a must! If you can afford it, please stay for the night, if your budget is limited a night at the pool will be a great option too. 

DESIGN HOTSPOT: AIRE DE BARDENAS

Hi Lovely readers across the globe. How is the week going? Do you need some new inspiration from Spain? Yes? Good news, today I will to show you a glimpse of the Design Hotel Aire de Bardenas. Enjoy reading!




It's getting a bit colder here in the Netherlands. Maybe we even get some snow and ice this weekend so what is better than a bit of day dream to go to Spain and sleep in this wonderful fairly new hotel. Hotel Aire de Bardenas is my kind of architectural heaven. Set in a dramatic landscape in Navarre, Spain, it was featured in the lifestyle magazine Wallpaper. Designed by Barcelona based architects Emiliano Lopez and Mónica Rivera, you can see more of their work here.

ONGOING TRAVEL DREAMS

Hi sweet readers! How are you? Are you ready for a trip across the globe this week? Today we land in Stockholm. The lovely Story Hotel is a lovely place to spent a few days. The Story hotel is situatied right in the center, in the 'posh'neighbourhood called Ostermalm, close to Stureplan.

I just love their website:

And it even gets better when you enter the hotel.

“The philosophy of Story Hotel is to combine design and innovation with an attractive location in downtown Stockholm. Our mission is to offer a smart, stylish and new kind of hotel for today's traveler."

source: Story Hotel

HOME SWEET HOME

So, how did you kicked off your week? Was it a good start? I'm just back home from my retreat to Malaga where I spent a long weekend with my friends and Mr. 

This weekend had all the ingredients I needed:

1. Some sunshine (24 degrees celcius)

2. Great friends around

3. Time to relax

4. An awesome pool party

5. A sea side appartment

Q. WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED?

PS. Later this week I will share the highlights of Malaga and some images from my trip with you.

image: VTWonen

THANK YOU!

Thank you for joining me this week on Urban Style Vibes*. It's been a pleasure to share some travel, design and style inspiration with you and I feel so honoured to have you here as a frequent reader. Since I've started Urban Style Vibes* last summer I met a lot of beautiful people around the world with so many beautiful ideas. And today I'm so proud to show you the new blog design of Urban Style Vibes*.

Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE NEW DESIGN?

Although it's Autumn here in Holland, summer is in my head today so I would love to share these lovely images Postcard Inn on the Beach Hotel in Florida. This is a true beauty on the beach. A bohemian mix of colors, vintage lightning and Eames chairs with a finishing touch of beautiful wave images on the wall.

Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS BEACH RETREAT?

images: Postcard Inn on the beach