A view of the opulent pool at Palazzo Versace; (above) the patio at the Ralph Lauren Round Hill Hotel in Jamaica

It’s a playground for sheikhs and movie stars who love its over-the-top excesses. But the Palazzo Versace in Australia’s Gold Coast has always taken extreme care to stay out of the limelight. But earlier this month the low-profile boutique hotel hit the headlines in a most unfortunate fashion when the Emir of Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum suffered a heart attack on the premises. Suddenly, the Palazzo Versace was making the news in a most unwanted fashion.

You could call the Palazzo Versace a designer hotel. It has been outfitted from head to toe ? or, should that be from its penthouse suite to the carefully created reception ? by no less than Donatella Versace, who reigns over the fashion house that her brother created. But the Palazzo Versace isn’t the only ‘designer’ hotel that’s opened its doors to a well-heeled clientele. Other design houses like Salvatore Ferragamo and designers like Antonio Mir? are also getting into the hoteliering game. The result can sometimes be quite spectacular.

Take the Palazzo Versace, a masterpiece of opulence. The foyer has a 275kg chandelier that Gianni Versace had bought from the Milan State Library and over $11 million worth of the highest quality Carrara marble was used in the construction. And, of course, the guests dine off Versace cutlery and use toiletries by Donatella. The hallways are lined with art once owned by Gianni. The hotel has over 300 rooms, suites and condominiums. The cheapest rooms here start at slightly over $400 and the most expensive are said to be about $2,500 a night.

Move to Florence or Firenze, as the Italians call it, which now has some fancy new places to stay courtesy Salvatore Ferragamo. If it’s designer-style variety you want, you can choose between Ferragamo’s Gallery Hotel Art, the Continentale, Hotel Lungarno and the Lungarno Suites.

Built across the street from Hotel Lungarno is the ‘aparthotel’ ? Lungarno Suites. It has a 24-hour concierge but no restaurant or bar. The d?cor is done up in soft creams and peppermint-greens. The Gallery Hotel Art opened in 1999. It’s where you can see the influence of designer, Christian Liaigre, in the library-style lobby. Continentale has a mod 1960s look about it and a night’s stay costs about $280.

Ferragamo’s latest, Palazzo Capponi opened in 2002. This two-suite, fully staffed apartment is on the first floor of a beautiful palace owned by the family. The drawing room is decorated with 16th-century frescoes, huge 17th-century oak sacristy dressers and a Murano chandelier.

And how about London? There are plenty of choices here but a different one would be Anoushka Hempel’s The Hempel in West London. Anoushka belongs to an exclusive club and was once a Bond girl. She has parlayed her earlier fame into fortune as a designer. The Hempel has eschewed designer excesses and prides itself on a certain Zen-like simplicity. It’s a member of Design Hotels and rates start at $365 per room.

The Hempel likes to position itself not as a place to party but as a place where you can just relax. Anoushka also runs two Blakes Hotels in London and Amsterdam. At the Amsterdam Blakes, rates start at $357 while London rates are $356.

Even other smaller towns are now getting their own ‘designer’ hotels. Take Bilbao in Spain, which now has the Miro Hotel by designer Antonio Mir?. This offers a mix of old-fashioned quality service with modern touches. The 50-room hotel has a striking green aluminium and stone-fronted exterior.

Or, move to Dublin where Irish designer John Rocha has two hotels: The Morrison and The Beacon. Both are designed according to Feng Shui principles and Rocha has liberally used his favourite colours, chocolate brown and cream. Costs here go upto $285 per room.

Another designer whose work in The Hotel in Miami beach is most notable for its interior appointments is Todd Oldham. The Hotel has 52 rooms and suites with custom-crafted furniture, satin ribboned pillows, tie-dyed robes, rain-head showers and luxurious beds. Rates during off season come down to $145 and during peak season, are around $235.

Now for a destination in the Caribbean. Barbuda is one of the most beautiful islands here and Italian designer, Mariuccia Mandelli, widely known as Krizia, was so captivated by its beauty that she created a hotel that aims to be an exclusive hideaway. At the 29 units Krizia K club, you can get a cottage for $1,400, a suite for $2,000, and a villa for $3,300.

Staying in the Caribbean, eight miles west of Jamaica’s Montego Bay is the secluded Round Hill Hotel and Villas. Designed by Ralph Lauren the 110-room hotel offers an fusion of old Jamaican charm and modern day style. A three-night package can cost upto $4000 per couple.

Soon there will be more designer hotels closer home. Dubai, for instance, will probably soon gets its Versace hotel. And, what the heck! Life is short, so why not check into these palaces of style.

My favourite holiday

Babul Supriyo,
singer

I have had the good fortune to travel the world as a result of my music shows. So one can almost call these paid holidays. I also take my family along with me on these trips. I really look forward to these shows as I not only get the chance to perform at these places but also take in the various sights and sounds. Among the many cities I’ve visited, San Francisco happens to be one of my favourite holiday destinations. I have been here quite a few times and whenever I visit, I love to go for long walks. The San Francisco bay happens to be the most wonderful place, and the lush green hills forming the backdrop to the Golden Gate Bridge only add to its beauty.

While I love San Francisco, my family loves visiting London. Whenever we go there, we hire a car and visit the various places of interest. Also, I must point out that whenever I go on a holiday, I hate to carry a video camera. I prefer instead, to just absorb the natural beauty of the place on my own.

Route map

The New Year brings some good tidings for those partial to Singapore Airlines. Here’s why: the airline has decided to beef up flights to select destinations in Asia between January 21 and February 6. During this period those headed to Taipei from the Lion City will have an option of an additional five flights. The airline will also boost connections fromSingapore to Penang with 10 more flights and to KL with an additional connection. Also, come March and the airline will touch down in Abu Dhabi thrice a week and carry on to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Off to a flying start as it were!

New Zealand Tourism is offering special promotional offers for self-drive tours in New Zealand. The 12-day tour in New Zealand costs Rs 95,000 per head. Cost includes international return airfare to New Zealand, 11 nights stay in four star hotels, car hire, breakfasts and sight-seeing. Self-drive tours are popular in New Zealand for Indian visitors as Indian driving licenses are recognised here. But don’t forget that you can’t fly directly to New Zealand from India. So in order to avail this offer, one has to take the following connections: Singapore Airlines via Singapore to Auckland and Christchurch; Thai Airways via Bangkok to Auckland, Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong to Auckland; Qantas Airlines via Sydney to Auckland or Wellington or Christchurch.