I am in a privileged position of sitting ringside at the ever-changing landscape of innovative hotel properties. I travel to, I read about, and I visit with people associated with new hotels. I can scan floor plans and site plans, instantly convert square meters to square feet, and ask the right questions about room floor, view, and location. Spa? Room service? Restaurant? Eco-friendly? Culturally sensitive? I know all the buzz words.
And then, along comes a property that tells me, in one quick introduction, just how perfect it is. Everything in balance, no hype, simplicity married to great style.
Think Babylonstoren.
Located in South Africa’s wine lands, this relatively new property has it all – Cape Dutch architecture, clean interiors, wonderful formal gardens that reach for inspiration back into the fabled history of Babylon and to the 17th century Cape Company Gardens which replenished ships midway through their journey. It has its own wine, of course, guest suites that thrill with contemporary furnishings, and a spa.
Come to savor the delicious food, the heartbreakingly beautiful landscape, the comfort of the farm, the lovely walks. And, guaranteed, you will not want to leave.
Cape Town is one of the world's great cities. The setting alone is worthy of top billing. And then you have a vibrant culinary scene, a fascinating flora and fauna representative of its microclimate, a diverse population and the logistical advantage that makes it a gateway for visits to the wine lands, to the garden route and north into the bush. In spite of the aforementioned, what makes me vibrate with anticipation in Cape Town is its flourishing art and design scene, its world class museums and galleries, its artisans, many of them passionately committed to ensuring that hand and design skills endure. The person who knows as much about this sector of the Capetonian landscape is Marion Ellis whose company, Cape Insights, designs whole or partial itineraries that feature - among other subject matter - the flourishing arts of the city. Marion's knowledge has both the breadth and depth to take you on a meandering journey across the media - from paintings and ceramics to photography and art installations - and behind the scenes to meet with collectors and artists, teachers and innovators."
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