Murray On Travel

Central London offers a variety of overnight accommodations, from grand Victorian hotels to contemporary steel structures towering more than 1,000 feet.  While historic hotels remain popular with travelers to London, none of them offer the unique history of the St. Ermin’s Hotel.

Near the Houses of Parliament, and surrounded by the wartime intelligence offices, the St. Ermin’s Hotel became a strategic meeting place for the British Secret Intelligence Service during WWII.   

In 1940, Winston Churchill organized the first meeting of the founding members of the Special Operations Executive, an elite group of intelligence agents who took over an entire floor of the St. Ermin’s.  The Military Intelligence unit, MI6, was housed two floors above.  For more about this hotel's WWII history, read the book House of Spies, by Peter Matthews, which provides a comprehensive history of the espionage connection.

A wide front patio welcomes guests and offers a comfortable spot to plan your visit to London.

Originally built as private “mansions” in 1887, the residences were converted to a hotel in 1899, when the new owners enlisted Victorian theatre designer J.P. Briggs in 1899 to refurbish the interior.  

The lobby of the hotel reminds visitors of a grand theatre, including an elaborate staircase and ornate plasterwork created by skilled tradesmen of the time.

The rooms are modern and decorated to reinforce the classic and historic aspects of the St. Ermin's.  Bed was very comfortable and room was clean and quiet.  This corner room had two windows looking out over London.

The bath was fresh and modern with a shower and marble floors.

In addition to the hotel's long history, it offers some very new features, one of which is this "Bee & Bee Hotel", located behind glass and harvested for honey that is used in the hotel.

During warmer months, the second floor's London Essence Summer Terrace is a delightful spot for a drink and a light snack.  

The comparisons to a theatre are easy to see from the second floor.  The staircase, chandelier, and marble railings are all very ornate, even for a Victorian hotel.

Afternoon tea is served on the second floor in the St. Ermin’s Hotel Tea Lounge, just steps from the main lobby.

Business travelers will also find the location for the St. Ermin's to be well suited to their needs.  It is just around the corner from the St. James Park underground station and the city's subway system.  The hotel also offers 14 contemporary spaces for meetings and stylish wedding receptions.  The Crystal Ballroom can hold up to 200 guests.

The main dinning option, in addition to 24-hour room service, is the Caxton Grill.  They serve a delicious buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  The burgers at lunch are outstanding!

Close to St. James Park, the St. Ermin’s Hotel offers easy access to all the sights of Westminster.  Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the Churchill War Rooms, and Buckingham Palace are all within easy walking distance.

Staying the night at the St. Ermin's Hotel will extend the enchantment of London into the evening.  This property is part of the Marriott Autograph Collection of unique boutique hotels.  For more information visit their website, St. Ermin's Hotel.

This review is of a suite at the Wedgewood Hotel and Spa located in beautiful downtown Vancouver, British Columbia.  It was great to return to the Wedgewood after an almost 10 year absence.  My memories were of an elegant hotel on a lovely, tree-lined street.  The hotel was then surrounded by great restaurants and shopping.  Well...  Very happy to report that things haven't changed all that much.

If anything, the hotel and surrounding area are even nicer than before.  Located across the street from Robson Square Park and the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Wedgewood mirrors the elegance and sophistication of the nearby art museum.  The intimate lobby is warmed by a fireplace and brightened with lovely flowers.  My check-in was quick and accurate.  If needed, the staff will help you with your luggage due to a few stairs found between the main lobby and guestroom elevators.

Throughout the property, it feels like you have entered a private home decorated with furniture and items collected over many years.  The original developer used her personal collection of antiques and artwork to decorate the Wedgewood Hotel. 

Room #505 is a one bedroom suite with a balcony overlooking the street and park.  My three night visit was in June of 2016 while attending a cruise ship industry event.  This hotel is located several blocks from the Vancouver cruise ship terminal, but it is still an excellent choice if you are in town for the start or end of an Alaska cruise. 

The main living room is spacious and well appointed.  Lighting is good.  The very comfortable sofa folds out for additional sleeping space.  The suite's heating and air conditioning was very quiet and easily controlled. Nice big HDTV with a good selection of cable sources. 

A bar area includes a well stocked Mini-Bar and coffee/tea service.  Just behind the bar is a handy coat closet with umbrellas, safe, and iron & ironing board.  

There was a nice desk with comfortable chair, lamp, and phone for getting a little work done.  It includes a handy PowerQube power strip on the desktop providing three USB outlets and two standard 120v outlets.  Plenty of power to easily charge your gear.

A passageway connects the living area to the bedroom and bath.   

The bedroom was large and offered plenty of storage.  The very comfortable bed included bedside lamps that provided great reading light.  A large HDTV was mounted high in the corner. 

One of my favorite features in the bedroom was the luggage shelf.  The low platform over the drawers offered a great space if you prefer to live directly out of your unpacked luggage.  The light directly above the suitcase area is perfectly placed. 

There was plenty of room in the bedroom closet for two guests.  The Wedgewood provides slippers and a bathrobe.   Note that another robe was located in the bathroom.

The elegant bathroom provided plenty of counter space and splendid L'Occitane amenities, hairdryer and a good supply of fine towels. 

I always love choices...  Especially when it is between a large shower and an equally large and luxurious bathtub.  After a day on my feet, the tub wins every time. 

The balcony off of the living room looked out over a park and provided a beautiful view of Vancouver's skyline.  Also very little street noise made it into this 5th floor room.

Public spaces are decorated in an classic elegance.  This is the elevator lobby on the Wedgewood Hotels main floor. NOTE: I was an invited guest of the hotel. My review and photos are accurate representations of the property during my visit. 

The Bacchus Lounge found just off the main lobby is a delightful spot for a meal or drinks with friends.  Large windows open up on the the sidewalk offering an airy atmosphere.

Also on the main floor of the Wedgewood Hotel is the Bacchus Restaurant, decorated with warm woods, flowers and comfortable seating.  This is a fine dining restaurant and offers modern French cuisine featuring fresh, West Coast ingredients. Private dining spaces are offered.   The hotel also offers several small meeting / special events rooms. You can find the latest menus and hotel info on the Hotel Website.

Guests of the hotel have access to a small but well equipped gym. Unlike some city hotels the Wedgewood gym offers windows with a view. 

I would recommend the Wedgewood to anyone visiting Vancouver and looking for a centrally located, upscale, classically styled boutique hotel.  If you are in Vancouver before or after a cruise, this hotel is perfect.  This elegant, award winning luxury hotel is uniquely decorated, well maintained, and offers excellent service.

Matlali is a unique modern hotel / resort overlooking Banderas Bay and Puerto Vallarta, in the Punta Mita area of Mexico.  This property is a combination of 42 beautifully appointed villas and suites surrounding a main building with a restaurant and pools. 

A beautifully landscaped private road takes you into the Matlali resort complex.  The lush vegetation  separates the villas, keeping them isolated and private.  Security gate at entrance restricts access.

The modern hotel's suites are located in a large building located at the top of the valley looking out over the rest of the resort and Banderas Bay.  

Suite #330 is a two bedroom suite with lots of room for a family of three or four to relax.  It includes a large living/dining area, small kitchen with bar, two bathrooms, and a large balcony with plunge pool. 

The living room area is comfortable and well appointed.  It is a great spot to enjoy the view while staying inside with the air conditioning when the window wall is closed.

The kitchen is small and efficient.  The staff will help you fill the full size refrigerator.  The management suggests you Do Not Drink the tap water.  Bottles of water are supplied in the kitchen and bathrooms.

The plunge pool on the private terrace quickly became my favorite spot for letting the time pass by.  And the outside dining table was used much more than the table inside.  With the fast WiFi provided by the hotel, this spot became an office.

A long nap is the best use for this quiet spot on the balcony.  Sometimes doing nothing can be hard work, and you need a rest!

The large master bedroom has a very comfortable mattress with soft, smooth sheets.  Before I arrived the room had been sprayed with a sweet perfume, which was not to my liking.  Ladies may enjoy it.

The master has a window wall that opens out to a small but usable balcony. 

Large sliding doors in the master bedroom open to the bathroom area.  These large doors can be closed for visual privacy, but they don't quiet the noise that might be made.  As you can see, across the hall, a second small bathroom is provided. 

Both TVs in the master bedroom and in the living room had good reception.  The desk was comfortable, but when I needed a desk, I used the table on the main terrace. 

The Matlali has several pools.  This one is located deep inside a valley on the resort's property, a short walk from the villas and suites.  It blends effortlessly into the forested valley setting.  Of the pools provided, this was my favorite. 

Just off the main building is this set of two pools surrounded by lots of lounge chairs and umbrellas. 

Adjacent to one of the central pools is a small bar.  It was quiet during my visit, but it looked like the pools had plenty of space to handle a full hotel.

The Matlali has a small but well equipped gym for guests who want to work up a sweat. 

Feel like a little game of basketball or tennis?  The resort offers both. 

A beautiful walking path connects the various pools and sports courts on the property. 

The hotel provided me with two meals, dinner and breakfast, in the restaurant at Matlali.  Enjoyed both of these meals.  Quality was excellent and service was very good.   

The hotel offers a shuttle that will take you down to the water and to Matlali's beach club.  This club is run by the same owners that operate the hotel, and must be taken advantage of.  

The club is just a 10 minute shuttle ride from the main resort.  The bar serves a delicious menu of tacos, local fresh catch of the day, and the required margaritas.  Now this is the way to spend your day!

Mexico's beaches are beautiful, and the waves here are minimal and great for swimming.  On the other side of the Bay is Puerto Vallarta.  Matlali is actually located in Punta de Mita, Nayarit, Mexico just a short drive north of PV.  If you are interested in the region, here is their website. 

Matlali offers guests Makawe Spa with four treatment rooms, two of which can accommodate couples. 

Spa services are based on local Indian cultures.  Signature treatment is the Hikuri Therapy.  During my stay I did not try the spa.

For more information on this hotel and its services, visit their website www.Matlali.com. 

Ended my day here in the private plunge pool on my terrace.   The lights of Puerto Vallarta can be seen twinkling in the distance.

This is one of several luxurious private villas that are available.  Note: This property provided the writer one night's accommodations and two meals.

Matlali is a beautiful, modern resort just waiting for those who are looking for a relaxing getaway.  It is more of a condo/villa resort providing the services of a traditional hotel.  They take very good care of their guests.  The separate beach club is a great amenity and shouldn't be overlooked.