Luxury Travel Advisor - April 2008 - (Page 14)

ACCESS: HOLM HOUSE: HIGH DESIGN IN A GARDEN BY THE SEA Two hours from London by train (via Paddington station) is Penarth and the new Holm House Hotel (www.holmhouse.com), a property that might put you in mind of that famous line of poetry about a “kingdom by the sea.” In this case, it’s a kingdom of earthly delights. Hotelier and General Manager Susan Sessions (info@holmhouse. co.uk; 44-292-070-1572) has opened this perfect London weekend retreat in the charming seaside town of Penarth, a few minutes from the newly energized city of Cardiff, famous for its Millennium Center and the shops, restaurants and spas of Cardiff Bay. Holm House describes itself as “cwitchy” (a Welsh word that’s synonymous with “cozy” or “warm”), quirky, eccentric, bohemian, opulent, decadent, indulgent, relaxing, sumptuous, luxuriant and accessible. It’s hard to imagine decadent opulence and coziness in one breath, but, somehow, Holm House manages to carry it off. Holm House’s 12 rooms and suites (bookable on the GDS via Epoque Hotels) are filled with designer details, like Clarisse Hulse throws and cushions, Frette linens and Jo Malone bath amenities. Most of the rooms have unencumbered views of the ocean and face the east for brilliant Welsh sunrises every morning. The most over-the-top suite (the Bron-y-Glyn) is decorated in Chinese lamp-black lacquer (a nod to the sea merchant past of the house) and includes a half-ton Italian designer 1920s movie-style spotlight in the living room. The Flatholm Suite (named after the nearby island, which can be seen from its window) has a freestanding brass bathtub set beside a lambskin rug—the ultimate in bathing decadence. Insider tip: Holm House doesn’t allow children younger than 12 and is filled with expensive detail, so it’s best to book for grown-ups only. All this design is somehow fitted into the charm and eccentric warmth of a one-time family home perched on a hill overlooking the sea. Insider tip: The top-floor rooms have the best views. Sessions has also managed to fit in a really fine dining experience (the restaurant is open for hotel guests only) and a small but well-serviced spa, helmed by Amanda Jones (44-292-070-1572, ext. 308), whose lullingly Welsh voice and extensive experience aboard luxury cruises make her an excellent choice for the massages and hot-stone therapy on offer here. When your clients have satiated themselves on the indoor pleasures of Holm House, encourage them to explore the charming seaside town of Penarth, once called “the garden by the sea” and a favorite of royals like Queen Victoria and Princess Alexandria (the town is filled with historic Victorian architecture). Penarth Pier, a stone’s throw from Holm House, is a marvelously intact Victorian seaside pier whose almost-surrealistic beauty will lure travelers back to sample more of the town’s haunting beauty. HOLM HOUSE combines the ambiance of a country house with décor that is surprisingly modern (Holmskomer shown at left; Steepholm shown here). 14 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | April 2008 http://www.holmhouse.com

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Luxury Travel Advisor - April 2008 Contents Publisher's Letter Editor's Letter London DESTINATIONS India Greece HOTELS Golf Royal Hideaway Playacar Chateau Marmont SPAS Hawaiin Spas Southeast Asia CRUISES: Antarctica Cover Story: Rocket man The Pulse Traveling Gourmet Jetset Sightings Source List

Luxury Travel Advisor - April 2008

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