Luxury Travel Advisor - January 2009 - (Page 12)

LA ROMEA (left) is a charming bed-and-breakfast in the center of Lucca. PALAZZO TUCCI’s spacious Wally Suite (above) provides classical ambiance. parking for guests and has several beautifully frescoed public rooms, ideal for small wedding parties or board meetings. La Romea (www.laromea. com), a paragon of residenze d’epoca, is a six-room hideaway on the second floor of a 14thcentury palace. Two young hosts, Giulio and Gaia (info@ laromea.com; 011-39-058-3464175) run this intimate gem with charm and finesse. The Celeste is the skyblue junior suite, with a huge bathroom, frescoed ceilings and parquet floors. The double-room Rossa has a pretty view of the city, while the Ivory is a double bedroom large enough to add beds for children or an extra guest. We say this would be a great little place to take over in its entirety for a group of family or friends traveling together. The spacious lounge is ideal for relaxing and an elevator is avail- able for those who don’t want to climb steps. Franco Barbieri has developed two special hotels in the center of Lucca: the contemporary and chic Hotel Ilaria (www. hotelilaria.com), created out of the old stables of the Villa Bottini, and its annex, the Residenza dell’Alba (www.hotelilaria. com), with a hidden entrance into a 14th-century church and the San Gervasio gate nearby. The 10-year-old Ilaria has 30 rooms, a pool and a wonderful big terrace used for dining and relaxing. Hint: Ask for room No. 112, or another one of the accommodations that face the terrace. All the rooms have nicely done modern bathrooms and a sophisticated contemporary design. The Residenza dell’Alba is a lovely place for a small wedding—even a civil wedding is possible here now that local laws have changed. The décor and interior architecture are a combination of the contemporary and ancient, with light woods and old stone. Suite No. 21 is a two-level dream with two bathrooms, one featuring a Jacuzzi tub and stocked with Gilbert & Soames amenities. There are tall windows streaming light into the upstairs bedroom and living room below. No. 12 is a regular double room, spacious and contemporary, with a bathtub. Every room also has king-size beds. The hotel offers free bicycles to ride around Lucca, which is as flat as a pancake and a non-taxing place for walking or cycling. Reserve through the Ilaria for both properties (info@ilaria. com; 011-39-058-347-615). Meanwhile, the two-year-old Hotel Noblesse (www.hotelno blesse.it), in the historic town center, offers 15 rooms and suites within a 15th-century pal- ace that was renovated by owner Ferdinando Galli. There are three floors in total, lined with eight double rooms and five suites—each one an original, boasting different color schemes, furniture and vantage point of the city. The rooms are equipped with all standard comforts, including new touches, such as LCD TVs with satellite connection and Jacuzzi showers and bathtubs. We were most impressed by Suite No. 25 in luxe Grand Dame style. Luxury travel advisors can contact the property’s Reservations Manager Veronica Olivia (giaveronicaolivia@yahoo.it; 011-39-058-344-0275) to make bookings. Dining Tip: Plan for an evening meal at Chef Cesare’s Ristorante Hotel & Restaurant Noblesse, which is now recommended by the Michelin Red Guide 2008. 12 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | January 2009 http://www.laromea.com http://www.hotelilaria.com http://www.laromea.com http://www.hotelilaria.com http://www.hotelilaria.com http://www.hotelilaria.com http://www.hotelnoblesse.it http://www.hotelnoblesse.it

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Luxury Travel Advisor - January 2009 Contents Publisher's Letter Editor's Letter Lucca Egypt Provence Great Honeymoons Cover Story: Dan Flannery Girlfriend Getaways Croatia The Pulse Jetset Report Sightings Meetings & Incentives Supplement Aruba Turks and Caicos Los Angeles Laguna Beach, CA

Luxury Travel Advisor - January 2009

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