WHERE TO STAY > Archives Page 2 of 8

STAY > KAI Akiu, Akiu Onsen, Sendai (17/20)

KAI Akiu by Hoshino Resorts brings understated design, ritual-rich bathing and river-facing calm to one of Sendai’s most storied onsen towns, wrapping traditional ryokan cues in a quietly luxurious, contemporary frame. For ALMANAK readers, it is the kind of stay that feels purposeful rather than flashy—more about seasons, texture and water than spectacle.Summary Intro goes…

ByCrispinDecember 23, 20250Comments

STAY > JAPAN STAY > TOKYO WHERE TO STAY >

STAY > TRUNK(HOTEL), Yoyogi Park, Shibuya Tokyo (17/20)

TRUNK(HOTEL) YOYOGI PARK is a design-led, boutique bolthole on the edge of Yoyogi Park that channels low-key Tokyo cool, rooftop glamour, and neighbourhood warmth in equal measure. This is a place for those who want Shibuya’s energy within walking distance, but prefer to wake up to trees, terrace light, and the scent of wood-fired pizza…

ByCrispinDecember 21, 20250Comments

STAY > AUSTRALIA STAY > NSW STAY > SYDNEY WHERE TO STAY >

STAY > QT, Sydney (18/20)

QT Sydney brings theatrical glamour, bold design, and a playful, inner-city energy to one of Sydney’s most characterful heritage corners. Blending the restored State Theatre and former Gowings department store, it delivers an urban escape that feels equal parts boutique hideaway and backstage pass to the CBD’s creative pulse. AMBIENCE > Arriving at QT Sydney,…

ByCrispinDecember 1, 20250Comments

STAY > AUSTRALIA STAY > GOLD COAST STAY > QLD WHERE TO STAY >

STAY > QT Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise (16/20)

QT Gold Coast takes the art of hospitality and turns it into a vivid, playful experience that’s unmistakably Gold Coast—an exuberant fusion of beachside glamour, contemporary style, and a dash of retro whimsy. Towards the northern end of Surfers Paradise, (slightly away from the chaos and grunge of Cavill Avenue) a somewhat brutish building, this…

ByCrispinNovember 16, 20250Comments

STAY > AUSTRALIA STAY > GOLD COAST STAY > QLD WHERE TO STAY >

STAY > The Langham, Gold Coast (15/20)

The Langham, Gold Coast stands as an emblem of modern luxury and beachfront ease, offering an escape where laidback sophistication and a touch of coastal drama converge. Positioned on the absolute beachfront on the Northern edge of Broadbeach (or the Southern edge of Surfers Paradise), it delivers uninterrupted Pacific blue on one side and the…

ByCrispinNovember 9, 20250Comments

STAY > ATHENS STAY > GREECE WHERE TO STAY >

STAY > The Twenty One Hotel, Athens (17/20)

Step away from the classical chaos and into the contemporary embrace of Twenty One Hotel — a clever, design-forward refuge at the leafy heart of Kifisia, Athens’ most quietly confident district. Here, you will find a bold façade of charcoal and glass frames, in a cocoon of Nordic-minimal calm, all just a metro ride…

ByCrispinNovember 8, 20250Comments

STAY > FRANCE STAY > PARIS

STAY > Welcome Hotel, Paris (16/20)

With less than 24 hours in Paris, we needed to stay somewhere central that didn’t cost a bomb. Welcome Hotel was perfect. AMBIENCE > Welcome Hotel is old and modern at the same time. The building dates to the late 19th century, and maintains this charm even as its 30 rooms have been updated for…

ByPaulaNovember 8, 20250Comments

STAY > CHAMPAGNE STAY > FRANCE WHERE TO STAY >

STAY > Hôtel Les Avisés, Épernay (19/20)

With just 10 rooms, Hôtel Les Avisés and its neighbouring champagne house (Domaine Jacques Selosse) is a delightful stay with solid hospitality and exceptional food and drink. ABOUT > The town of Les Avisés Les Avisés is a picturesque enclave in the heart of Avize, Champagne, renowned for its grand cru vineyards…

ByPaulaOctober 12, 20250Comments

STAY > LONDON STAY > UK WHERE TO STAY >

STAY > The Standard, London (18/20)

Where to stay in London is often the eternal question. For this visit, we were arriving via Eurostar and departing via Heathrow five days later. I landed on staying near St Pancras for ease of movements, helped by having The Standard on the door step. . ABOUT > The Standard Hotels The Standard…

ByPaulaOctober 11, 20250Comments

STAY > JAPAN STAY > ZAO ONSEN WHERE TO STAY >

STAY > Miyamaso Takamiya, Zao Onsen, Japan (16/20)

There’s a rare comfort at Miyamaso Takamiya—one that hums beneath tatami floors and steams from the ancient volcanic springs of Zao. Arriving at this storied ryokan, you step not just into a place, but into over three centuries of tradition, each timber and lantern casting a hush of ceremony and calm. Deep snow piles…

ByCrispinOctober 11, 20250Comments