Mary Gostelow’s hotel picks.
The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald
Edmonton, Alberta
Location The city-centre hotel dominates a high bank above the North Saskatchewan River valley, the largest urban park in North America. Highlight Weekend tours of this château, built in 1915 for the Grand Trunk Railway, highlight its history; be sure to try the afternoon tea. Thing to do Take one of the hotel’s mountain bikes and cycle through the riverside park. Insider tip The hotel’s chef, David Wong, is Canada’s entry to the biennial culinary Oscars, the Bocuse d’Or, to be held next in Lyon, France, in January 2009. Rooms 199. GM Johanne Johnson.
780-424-5181, fairmont.com/macdonald
The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg, Germany
Location This ultramodern hotel, part of Volkswagen’s Autostadt working theme park, is less than an hour by high-speed train from Berlin and a two-minute walk from the Wolfsburg railroad station. Thing to do Do not miss a guided tour of the 60-acre Disney-inspired Autostadt; enjoy the museum of classic cars, design your own vehicle and experience a driving simulator. Insider tip Pick up your Volkswagen with the help of a personal on-site concierge. Watch as your car is brought down from one of the two 20-storey-high glass-walled storage towers, and then drive it away. Spa After your massage, relish the hotel’s 40-metre pool, which floats in the lake just outside the spa and is heated year-round to 30°C. Rooms 174. GM Thomas Wurzinger.
49-5361-607000, ritzcarlton.com
Eichardt’s Private Hotel
Queenstown, New Zealand
Location Often called New Zealand’s most exclusive lakefront address, this hotel is nestled in the town centre, with cafés and boutiques only a few minutes away. Highlight The family-style breakfast, served in the residents’ library, gives you a chance to meet fellow globetrotters. Thing to do Queenstown is one of the world’s extreme-sports centres, so you can try your hand at everything from skydiving to whitewater rafting. Room to book Overlooking Lake Wakatipu, room 11 has a brown, black and cream palette chosen by designer Virginia Fisher, a wood-floored parlour complete with working fireplace and a stunning bathroom with a skylight ceiling. Rooms 5 (book far ahead!) GM Victoria Shaw is also part owner of this refurbished 1870 heritage gem.
64-3-441-0450, eichardtshotel.co.nz
Mary Gostelow is the editor-in-chief of Wow.travel, the online magazine of www.kiwicollection.com. E-mail her at mgostelow@enroutemag.net.
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