Our third stop-off on this two week mission to find a wedding venue is the Estepona Palace along the beach front in the heart of Estepona. The hotel is really beautiful with a stunning grand reception, large spacious bedrooms (some in need of an uplift) and large grounds with a huge pool right next to the beach. The beach itself isn’t the best beach in the Costa Del Sol but just a five minute walk around the corner is a great swimming beach with drinks and snack bars.

My only reservation with this hotel is the popularity of it! The two previous hotels we’ve stayed in were very quiet and peaceful but at the H10 you have to fight for a sunbed and get down early in the morning to reserve a good spot. Breakfast time is also a bit manic and again getting there early pays off. Other than that it is quite lovely and bearing in mind it is peak time I guess it’s to be expected.

We did find a really lovely spot here where we could potentially have our wedding ceremony but its not quite exclusive enough for a quiet doo and the function/disco room was OK but not great.

The best thing about this hotel is the location, everything is either a short walk or short drive and its quite easy to get around and find your way back!

I haven’t been to the spa yet but it looks really lovely and quite reasonably priced as well. I may opt for a quick treatment in there before I am whisked off the our next hotel in Ronda, maybe a massage to recover from all the wedding planning!

Visit the H10 Website for prices and more information.

Photographs from The H10 Estepona Palace

After checking out of the Rock Hotel Gibraltar, we headed for the Selenza hotel just outside Estepona. We got a bit lost because the hotel is not situated right on the beach, in fact its a little out of the way but we got there in the end.

The 4* hotel appears brand new and super modern with simplistic but effective decoration throughout. The snack bar, restaurant and pool area are also well looked after and beautifully styled. Our room was on the 3rd floor and was nice, the only downside was that a road ran directly passed the hotel so instead of listening to the soothing sound of the sea as I read my novel on the balcony, I could hear sounds of building trucks wizzing past and noisy pedestrians.

The Room itself was very nice; plasma TV, large bed, good wardrobe space, dressing gowns, good shower, very comfortable. If you decide to stay here, request a room on a lower floor overlooking the swimming pool - a much better view and more peaceful surroundings.

In terms of the appearance of the hotel itself I have no complaints. I do however think the location was poor, it is on the end of Estepona on the way to Puerto Banus (visited Trader Vics, Banus while staying here which I highly recommend if you fancy a night out). Not close to any shops therefore eating in the hotel restaurant is the only option if you don’t have a hire car or want to get a taxi. The food and drinks were overpriced and there is a limited selection.

If you get a chance to visit the spa please do, we were given vouchers to use the Thalasso Pool free of charge for the day which we took full advantage of. The spa is beautiful, very up to date, fantastic gym and there are some great treatments on offer. Treatments are expensive but a wide variety are available. I had a citrus body scrub to get rid of dead cells which was very relaxing and helped prepare my skin before my sun bathing sessions.

All in all, a lovely looking hotel in a poor location but well worth a visit if you fancy a few days of pampering and relaxation. Visit www.selenza.com for more pictures and information.

Photographs from The Selenza

My fiance and I are currently travelling around Spain in search of wedding locations for next year. We decided to have a look around Gibraltar as we need to do the legal bits and pieces over there.

Our first thoughts were lots of building work, birds (and therefore bird poo) and not a lot to do in the area. We booked into the Rock Hotel for four nights but after one night we were board and realised we were paying far too much for our room so we checked out the following day to find somewhere a bit more modern and relaxing.

They were charging £150 per night for a junior suite that was nice but outdated, had large cobwebs in the corner and was not all that great. The bathroom however was really nice.

The pool was also nice but you have to cross a busy road covered in roadworks and cones to get to it. We only went to the pool once and while there a bird decided we would make a nice toilet! We soon upped and left! We were shown a beautiful area by the pool where we could have our wedding reception but the location of the hotel spoiled the mood a little.

On a chirpier note, my fiance had an Argentinian steak in the hotel restaurant one evening and said it was the best steak he had ever tasted. We may even go back there on the way to Gibraltar airport just so he can have another!

So all in all if you are in Gibraltar and fancy a nice meal, the restaurant serves some lovely food (and sangria) but if you are looking for a peaceful getaway in luxurious surroundings, stay clear!

Photographs from The Rock Hotel

If you’re planning a trip to Vegas, what can I say except Lucky You! It’s like being a child in a sweet shop, you won’t know what to do with yourself! I visited last year and am contemplating eloping there with my fiance now we have realised how stressful it is planning a wedding, especially one abroad! Only kidding …

There are loads of places to stay in Vegas and I’m sure you will have heard of many of them from films such as Oceans 11. The Luxor is a newer hotel and is what you would expect from a Las Vegas masterpiece, OTT very OTT. The hotel is magnificent, shaped like an ancient Egyptian pyramid, it certainly stands out and is just a fabulous inside as out. As you enter the hotel you are greeted by giant Egyptian styled statues and a water feature ready for your photographs.

A super modern feel is experienced through the whole of the reception area and outdoors to the pool where I believe a new pool has recently been built. As you enter the elevator to your bedroom you will notice you are moving at an angle rather than vertically which is an odd feeling at first but you get used to the shape of the hotel soon enough.

The bedrooms are nice but need a bit of an uplift, the showers are amazing, absolutely huge and ours was very powerful. The rooms do not have balconies due to the shape of the hotel but are very spacious and let’s face it, if you’re in Vegas, you won’t be spending too much time in the room!

Casinos, casinos, casinos, everywhere you look, you will lose all track of time especially if your flight is ten hours like ours and you’re so jet lagged day and night roll into one!

If you stay at the Luxor take advantage of the buffet but don’t eat for days in advance so you can sample the wonderful variety they offer. I’ve never seen a buffet quite like it - if you’re on a diet, my advice is to make a fresh start on your return home.

The hotel consists of casinos, bars, restaurants, a fast food court, iMax theatre and a few simulators etc. It’s great and probably like nothing you’ve experienced before if this is your first time in Vegas. If you get a chance go and see some of the shows, I watched a comedy act and it was fab, friends of ours saw the Cirque Du Soleil while we were there and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Photographs from the Luxor Hotel

The other hotels in Las Vagas are also pretty spectacular, see pictures below for a feel of the main strip.

More Photographs from Vegas

Located on the 52nd floor of the Four Seasons, the lavish, Ty Warner Penthouse has been completed. What do you get? Four main rooms including a living room, library, master bedroom and spa (which can be converted to a second bedroom upon request) Floor-to-ceiling bay windows unveiling a 360 degree view of the city including Central Park and the Skyline. A state of the art bathroom, with LCD screen television and a chromatherapy feature in the bath tub which can change the colour of the water. Oh and the glamorous unlimited use of a chauffeur driven Rolls Royce, with a 24 hour a day personal assistant to cater to your every need and the full range of spa treatments.

So what’s the damage? $30,000 per night.

Find the Ty Warner Penthouse suite at The Four Seasons Hotel on 57 East 57th Street, New York. To make a reservation call (00 800) 6488-6488 or visit the website.

Following the success of the über-chic Gansevoort hotel in New York, the Gansevoort is headed for the south of North America, Miami to be precise.

The new hotel, Gansevoort South, is opening for 2008 and will be accepting reservations from the 15th of February. Combining its unique features like its 24,000 square foot roof top with a 110 foot pool with surrounding palm tree’s, a bar and lounge and spectacular views of the city of Miami and South Beach. There’s even a 50 foot long glass fish tank in the lobby containing 27 types of fish and sharks. Enjoy, colourful and spacious rooms with high tech features and amenities, including luxury shopping, a gym and spa.

The Gansevoort South can be found at 2377 Collins Ave. Miami, South Beach Florida 33139, for more information visit Gansevoort South. Doubles start around $395 per night.

Set against the backdrop of beautiful blue skies, turquoise seas and golden sunsets the Four Seasons resort in Koh Samui, Thailand is a paradise.

Tucked away on the hillside resort on the Gulf of Siam, you can stay in your own villa with coconut grove and tropical garden surroundings. To top it all off you can sun yourself on The Four Seasons very own private beach. Beach villas offer spectacular and unobstructed views of the Gulf and surrounding islands and come with outdoor wooden decking and seating area. To add to the tranquillity of it all you can enjoy eating by the beach or hillcrest and pamper yourself at the spa.

Enjoy yourself, exploring the beautiful island and the gorgeous scenic views in Koh Samui. Villas cost around £710 per night, to view available accommodation at The Four Season in Koh Samui and for reservations visit The Four Seasons website.

Looking for somewhere chic and stylish to sleep when visiting Paris, renowned for being the most romantic capital of the world?

Check in to the L’Hôtel, the theatrical, ultra chic hotel has been host to many a star including Johnny Depp and is reportedly where the famous Oscar Wilde spent his last days. After a much anticipated makeover from Jacques Garcia, the quirky, quant hotel oozes sophistication. Facilities include a private swimming pool for two and the much publicised restaurant and bar. The boudoirs are beautiful with the choice of staying in the Apartment, the Grande room, the Chic room or the Bijoux and Mignon.

Visit the website, www.l-hotel.com to see it for yourself and enquire into prices.

The ultimate bachelor pad has been created and sits at the top of the Fantasy Tower at The Palms, Las Vegas.

The two-story, luxury suite is modelled on the Playboy Mansion in California and does not disappoint. Featuring a cantilevered Playboy Jacuzzi® pool, a spectacular view of the strip, an eight foot round, rotating bed, a gym and a full bar to name a few of the luxuries, this certainly is a man’s dream.

Dare to enquire into the price? $40,000 per night! It’s the second most expensive hotel room in the world, according to The Times Online.

The Hugh Hefner Sky Villa is located at The Palms Casino Resort, 4321 West Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89103. To make a reservation visit www.palms.com.

I’m not a big fan of swimming in the sea. So when I went to Nice this year my only stipulation was that that hotel had a private outdoor pool. I just wanted to chill out in the sun by a pool with a bar close by. Well I quickly discovered that there was lots to see in Nice and the surrounding area so what should have been a few days relaxing turned into a mad rush to see the whole of the cote d azure in four days… I just can’t go to a place and feel like I haven’t seen much of it!

What I did miss out on though was enjoying the facilities of a great hotel. The Radisson SAS Nice is located on Nice’s famous Promenade des Anglais – the road that runs along the sea front. Its a bit further from the town center than many of the other hotels but it offers a bus shuttle service until 6 o’clock (unfortunately after that you have to take a 30 minute walk or get a taxi which can be quite expensive). The hotel makes up for this by being the only residence in the area to offer a rooftop outdoor private pool and restaurant/bar area. The food is great and you can have a lovely evening watching the stars twinkling over the ocean from up high whilst listening to some excellent live music.

The hotel has a gym and some spa facilities - something else which is hard to find in Nice - and bedrooms with balconies overlooking the sea. This is a modern hotel with recently refurbished bedrooms in a vibrant eclectic style…. there was a bright red chili pepper mounted on the wall in our bedroom. You can book a stay at this hotel via lastminute.com