The bicoastal real estate moghul, reality television star, and on-the-go hotelier makes a case for Los Angeles. Dani Shapiro takes her turn as apprentice.Outside of New York, L.A. is the place I spend the most time. We shot a whole season of The Apprentice there a few years ago, which was a lot of fun for all of us. Between ...

In the past few months Mumbai has witnessed the debut of four properties and the revamping of a landmark city hotel. T+L peeked in to see what's on offer.By Alisha Patel.THE OBEROI, MUMBAI Location: In the heart of the city's commercial district, The Oberoi, Mumbai, overlooks the Arabian Sea - making it one or Mumbai's most spectacular hotels. First impressions: ...

Celebrate a special occasion with The Famous Grouse's (available at select outlets nationwide; thefamousgrouse.com; Rs 16,000) limited edition gift box. The leading brand has launched only 1,980 bottles to celebrate their 30th year as the best-selling Scotch whisky in Scotland. The precious collector's item bears a seal for authenticity, and also comes with a certificate signed by former master blender ...

For the fifty year, Travel + Leisure set out to find the best new hotels in the world. From pioneering architecture to authentic regional experiences, these properties are reshaping their destinations. Read on for this year's 45 most exciting openings.CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA: One&Only; Cape TownThe knockout first impression as you walk in the door is the hotel's 40-foot-tall picture ...

With Seoul abuzz with excitement at being named this year's World Design Capital, now is the time to visit. Here, T+L selects five style-savvy stays, By Nicolai Hartvig IP Boutique Hotel: If there's any doubt that a World Design Capital accolade can spark a truly stylish stay to spring up overnight, just look at the IP Boutique Hotel. This artsy-luxe ...

CHENNAI: ALOFT CHENNAI, OMR IT EXPRESSWAYThe Location: The first Aloft hotel to open in India is located on the OMR or Old Mahabalipuram Road which is an IT corridor, Leading software development and business process outsourcing companies are located close by while the airport is 25 kilometres away.The Rooms: The modern guestrooms feature an ultra-comfortable signature bed, oversize shower, amenities ...

Mumbai's Tao Art Gallery (Dr. Annie Besant Rd., Worli; 91-22/2491-8585; August 6-26) is presenting a solo show titled 3 Worlds. The exhibition will showcase the works of Owais Husain, the youngest son of M.F. Husain. Curated by Kalpana Shah, the exhibit is unique in terms of both size and style. The show has been divided into three sub-shows: The Heart ...

Discover Les Suites Orient from history, culture, space and artSituated on the historic Bund the new Suites Orient offers spectacular views of Shanghai's Huangpu River and the Pudong skyline. It also has convenient access to the tunnel that connects to the Pudong financial district, the Pudong ferry terminal, and the famous Yu Gardens.The elegantly designed boutique hotel has 168 guestrooms ...

The revamped Matakauri Lodge (Glenorchy Rd., Queenstown; 64-3/441-1008' matakauri.co.nz; doubles from USD 423, including pre-dinner drinks, hors d'oeuvres, breakfast and dinner) is located on the sparkling shores of Lake Wakatipu and gazes at The Remarkables mountain ranges. And even though you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere, the property is just seven minutes from downtown Queenstown. Matakauri ...

Tired of using boring looking business accessories? Opt for Swarovski's (14-A Khan Market, Delhi; 91-11/4175-7395; swarovski.com; Rs 5,300 upwards) Active Crystals collection, where fashion fuses with functionality. The range of adorable looking USB Memory Keys called Howard, Maurice, Pearl and Chloe are available in colourful hues and are adorned with sparkling crystals. Also pick up one of the Wild Blossom ...

With the opening of The Park Hyderabad, serious architecture and design has arrived in the city of the Nizams. The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace in Cyberabad stands tall and offers a contemporary oasis. MONALIKA NAMCHOOM reports.Hip, original, stylish, contemporary have often been the words used to describe The Park Hotels that are scattered like pretty charms across the country. High on ...

It's always interesting to work on Travel + Leisure'sHotels issue, specially when you break down this integral part of the travel experience into its parts, it makes for a fabulous learning experience and also, often an amusing and inspiring read. This time around we look at everything from forecasting what the hotel room will look like in the future, to ...

Inspired by years of collecting antiques and contemporary artwork in China, Wisconsin residents Brian and Jeanee Linden moved directly to the source and opened the Linden Centre (89-872/245-2988; lindencentre.com; intensive programmes from USD 4,300, including airfare, meals, and hotel stay) in the southern province of Yunnan. Using a restored inn as a base, they've created a series of programmes to ...

The famous Coney Island in New York is once again bustling with visitors since the opening of Luna Park (1000 Surf Ave., Brooklyn; 1-718/373-5862; lunaparknyc.com; open till midnight; from USD 3 per ride; wistbands for unlimited rides, valid for 4 hours from USD 26). The brand-new 3.1 acre Luna Island is the first amusement park to open in Coney Island ...

Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa (555, Moo 3, Mai Khoo, Talang: 66/7636-3999; marrott.com; doubles from USD 171, including breakfast; till October 31) offers guests an intimate vacation experience. Located adjacent to Sirninath Marine National park, the resort features an unspoiled 17-kilometre long white sand beach offering you complete privacy. The property has 150 deluxe rooms, four one-bedroom suites, 25 one-bedroom ...

Weaving traditional Balinese techniques with chic, contemporary silhouettes, a handful of the island's boutiques architect bursting with designs you'll want to take back home. By Lili Tan. PUSAKA: mango, mahogany and seri leaves are just a few of the natural materials used to tint the yarns at Pusaka's airy boutique, where clothing hangs on rustic wooden racks and shelves. The ...

Want to sport a truly unique soccer T-shirt? One&Only; Cape Town in collaboration with U2's lead singer Bono and his wife Ali Hewson's socially conscious, ethical apparel company Edun has launched the Soccer Ball Tee (27-21/431-5195; neo@one&onlyresorts.com; Rs 3,500) that is available exclusively at Neo, the hotels chic boutique. The organic cotton T-shirt was specially created to promote sustainable development ...

RUSSELL PETERSNo joke: comedian Russell Peters, who says he loves Asia, gets back to his roots when picking his favourite spots. Chris Kucway finds out why.I really enjoy all of Asia as a continent, but I would have to say India feels like home to me. Apart from the obvious reasons - I'm Indian -Canadian-I like the rich history and ...

Few destinations in Asia rival the charm of Thailand's beaches. After all, where else can you encounter friendly people and delicious cuisine alongside powdery sands, turquoise seas and plentiful sunshine? This alluring blend of breathtaking landscapes and exotic culture can be experienced when you visit the Gulf of Thailand, a lengthy coastline with hundreds of picture-perfect islands and beaches.Covering an ...

A far-flung Indonesian island proves to be the perfect, possibly permanent, escape for Adam Skolnick. Now if he could only learn for surf.Diego Arrarte hangs up his mobile phone and accelerates his dented, late-model Isuzu pick-up past hip-high stone fencing and thatched lontar-palm shacks. We're speeding down the white-earth roads of Nembrala, the tourist epicenter of little-known Rote Island, which ...

Top travel portal Cleartrip recently introduced an online planning tool called Small World, a mini-guide that offers all the information you need about a destination from the weather to fares on a single page. Founder and director Hrush Bhatt tells us more.What was the inspiration for Small World? Online travel search has remained static for 15 years-every site forces users ...

Now you can satisfy your rental cravings at 35,000 feet with domestic airline Indigo's (1-800/180-3888; goindio.in; Rs 89 upwards) in-flight shopping initiative. Browse through their detailed Wish catalogue which features an array of fun and functional products from leading global brands as well as Indigo's in-house brand. Pick from the airline's branded plane-shaped USB drive, caps, T-shirts, backpacks, and a ...

As the rainy season gets underway, Anita Nair reflects on her childhood years spent in her grandparents' home in Kerala - when the landscape took on a new and mysterious hue - and remembers the sheer joy of being pelted by the rain.For several days now, the koel perched on the mango tree has been filling the air with its ...

AT THE RISK OF SOUNDING SLIGHTLY WIDE-EYED WITH wonder, I have no hesitation in admitting that a recent visit to Shanghai was more than an eye-opener for me. I travelled there last week as a visitor to ALTM 2010 (the Asian Luxury Travel Market) and while I spent time at the venue, I did manage to explore the city of ...

If you want to wallow in luxurious surroundings when the rains descend over Lake Pichola and the rolling Aravalis, check in to The Leela Palace Kempinski Udaipur. By Monalika Namchoom.The Leela Palace, Hotels & Resorts have never been known to shy away from grandiosity, espousing opulence in all their plush mansions that are spread across Bangalore, Mumbai, Goa, Kerala, and ...