travelog

My 50th Birthday Year Celebrations Continue with an Unbelievable Kaviari Caviar & Louis Roederer Champagne Afternoon Tea at Mandarin Oriental Bangkok - Bangkok, Thailand - January 2019

24/1/2019

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok continue to blow my mind. It really is one of the best hotels in the world.

This week I had an unbelievable Kaviari caviar & Louis Roederer champagne afternoon tea there. They even produced a separate miniature afternoon tea for my teddy bear Issy.

A '7 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) 50th birthday year continues.

Emirates First Class; a Suite at Four Seasons Seoul Overlooking the Gyeongbokgung Palace; an Iranian Kaviari Caviar Afternoon Tea at Mandarin Oriental; a Louis Roederer Brunch at Sukhothai & My 50th Birthday - Bangkok, Thailand - January 2019

18/1/2019

My year could not have started better.

Emirates First Class

On my Emirates A380 (double-deck) First Class flight here I was given a double portion of caviar & had another shower on a plane.

Four Seasons Seoul

My trip to South Korea next month has been confirmed. At Four Seasons Seoul I will stay in a suite overlooking the Gyeongbokgung Palace & be able step into North Korea. Also intend to visit the Lotte Hotel re: my Lotte New York Palace bag.

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok want me to try their new Iranian Kaviari caviar afternoon tea & I am meeting a friend from my Shrewsbury School days there tonight.

Sukhothai, Bangkok

I am going to the Sukhothai on Sunday for their Louis Roederer champagne brunch again and cannot wait to see Botan to talk about Seoul, while reading the Weekend Financial Times.

My 50th Birthday

Friends from Uruguay, Sweden, Qatar etc have confirmed they will be flying in for my 50th birthday celebrations in the UK at the end of March.

It is going to be a '7 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) 50th birthday year.

Four Seasons, Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, Royal Mega Private Yachts & 'Sunday Lunch' on the QE2: Dubai, a City of Superlatives - Dubai, UAE - January 2019

14/1/2019

I decided to 'break' my London to Bangkok flights with a stop to see my Australian lawyer friend in Dubai. Little was I to know what a memorable three nights it would be.

Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach; A Pre-Opening Guest Returns

It started taking the Emirates First Class limo straight to Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach for breakfast with Resort Manager Bob, who I know from when I stayed at Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, when I was their 'First Customer' (and twice again after that).

A 50th Birthday YEAR Celebration Starts with a Sublime Stay at The Dorchester in a Mayfair Suite - London - January 2019

10/1/2019

My 29 March 2019 50th birthday, & the related Brexit date, are fast approaching. I had to make my first hotel stay of 2019 The Dorchester and my stay there could not have been better.

I was given an elegant Mayfair suite, with a spare shower room; balloons in the shape of 50; my first birthday cake & champagne.

I visited Four Seasons at Park Lane and 45 Park Lane during me stay. At the former I finished writing the invited to my 50th birthday parties and then staff brought me dinner (tempura shrimp from heaven) without me even asking, just as at the Four Seasons George V in Paris, they can 'read my mind' and at the latter their genial GM John came for a cheerful chat.

I should also mention a fantastic chat with Janice at The Dorchester, I had perfect chats with so many of their unbelievable staff. I should finally mention the guitar player in The Bar at The Dorchester. Love the live music on Wednesdays in that bar.

A '7 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) start to my 50th birthday YEAR. My Tip:- make the most of Mayfair, London, the luxury hotels there, & their staff, blow my mind.

Madonna & Now This Brand Ambassador Stays in La Mansion at Four Seasons, Buenos Aires - What a Last Hotel Stay in 2018 - Buenos Aires, Argentina - December 2018

31/12/2018

Mandarin Oriental Taipei told me as much preparation & thought went into my visit as when Katy Perry stayed with them in Taiwan.

It was, therefore, almost 'appropriate' that I should follow Madonna's lead and stay in Suite 100 in La Mansion at Four Seasons Buenos Aires as my last hotel stay of 2019.

From a Mercedes ride from the airport with Sam that was full of giggles; to a sublime complimentary Sothy facial; to a Diego Maradona/ Lionel Messi Number 10 Argentina 'Simon' football shirt; cocktails outside with Lisa & then my wise Uruguayan friend; to the best bathroom of the year, a '7 teddy" stay that only Veuve Clicquot could have improved!

Happy New Year to all the readers of #travelblog www.sifrew.com, on 29 March 2019 I hit 50!

A Brand Ambassador Stays at Belmond Hotel das Cataratas on the Day LVMH Announced Details of Their Acquisition of Belmond. This was Toasted with Veuve Clicquot Champagne with a View of the Awe-Inspiring Iguazu Falls - Brazil - December 2018

29/12/2018

We decided Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, on the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls, was the place to stay on our visit there.

On the day when we were flying from Rio, LVMH announced details of its US$3.2 Billion acquisition of Belmond. An auspicious night for this Brand Ambassador to be staying at a Belmond in such a jaw-dropping location, surround by 700,000 acres of National Park & in a prime location next to the Iguazu Falls. We were able to watch Iguazu Falls while toasting this with Veuve Clicquot.

Eduardo Bressane, the GM, had given me a special rate and Fabio (Front Office Manager) and his team could not have looked after us better. The thoughtful welcome amenities left for Issy & me (eg a capoeira outfit for Issy edged with jaguar print to mark the birth of jaguar cubs in rainforest; Veuve Clicquot on ice for me etc) put Four Seasons Hotel Sao Paulo at Nacoes Unidas to shame. It was a memorable stay in what is clearly a quality hotel, which will only get better under LVMH's ownership.

The Iguazu Falls - a MUST DO Experience - Brazil & Argentina - December 2018

28/12/2018

Many people try to decide whether to view the Iguazu Falls (Spanish spelling) or Iguassu Falls (Portuguese spelling) from the Argentina or Brazil sides. We did both and you really have to.

You get the grand perspective from the Brazil side and can get wet & close on the Argentina side.

I cannot stress how magnificent these 100s of independent falls are and how fun it was taking a boat under them was from the Argentina side. Devil's Throat is the highest point and must be viewed from the Argentina side.

We stayed at the Belmond Hotel das Cataratas on the Brazil side & had lunch at the hotel Melia on the Argentina side.

A true '7 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) awe-inspiring/ jaw-dropping experience. My Tip:- enjoy all this with someone as fun & knowledgeable as my Uruguayan friend.

The grand perspective from the Brazil side.

Getting wet & close on the Argentina side.

Lots of interesting things to see walking around the Argentina side in the rainforest.

I Have Been to Paraguay - December 2018

27/12/2018

We visited Paraguay to 'Duty Free' shop and also crossed the Brazil/ Argentina border for the day to see the Iguazu Falls.

The main issue I observed during these visits was the lack of rigorous border controls in this border region. Not only was my Yellow Fever certificate not checked but my passport was also not asked for during some of the crossings. I also noted that there is a large Arabic speaking population living in this border area.

In my role as a Banking Consultant, most recently focusing on Anti-Money Laundering & Countering Terrorism Financing in Cyprus & Cayman Islands, this raised red flags for me. We associate this area with the proceeds of Nazi crimes but there are clearly more current issues people should be concerned about when dealing with clients from this region.

Rio de Janeiro, a Legend of a City - Rio, Brazil - December 2018

27/12/2018

We could not visit Brazil without a two night stay in Rio. The rooftop pool at the Fasano features in the logo of #travelblog www.sifrew.com and I have stayed at the Belmond Copacabana Palace on a number of occasions.

This time I got to walk on Ipanema Beach as the sun was coming up and shop at Shopping Leblon for the most exotic socks of my life.

Another stay in Rio, with my phenomenal friend from Uruguay, that I will never forget!

Complimentary Stay in a Four Seasons Executive Suite at the 'Very New' Four Seasons Hotel Sao Paulo at Nacoes Unidas: The First Four Seasons in Brazil & my First Four Seasons Executive Club Lounge - Sao Paulo, Brazil - December 2018

13/12/2018

Barcelona-based Ignasi Monreal's book of paintings 'Four Seasons: The Art of Hospitality' in the 12th floor Four Seasons Executive Lounge and my first negative edged indoor/outdoor swimming pool

I stayed at Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach & Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay before they opened to the public and wanted to stay at the first Four Seasons in Brazil, when I heard about Four Seasons Hotel Sao Paulo at Nacoes Unidas while staying at Mandarin Oriental Taipei a few months ago.

When I went to Mr Sharp's private home in Toronto, when I lived in Qatar, we discussed a Rio Four Seasons. However, Sao Paulo was the choice for the first Brazil Four Seasons in the end and GM Michael Schmid kindly offered me a complimentary stay, when I asked to try it.

I travelled overnight from Punta del Este, Uruguay to experience my first Four Seasons Executive Club Lounge; take a look at Barcelona-based Ignasi Monreal's book of paintings 'Four Seasons: The Art of Hospitality'; swim in my first negative edged indoor/outdoor swimming pool and encounter Four Seasons in Brazil.

It was a bit of a disappointed that, despite the effort I made to do this, Four Seasons Hotel Sao Paulo at Nacoes Unidas did not put much thought into the welcome amenities in my suite but the Brazilian owners of the property were visiting the hotel at the same time as me, so I guess the hotel was caught a little off guard.

Just as with Four Seasons Abu Dhabi, I have decided it is unfair to 'teddy score' the Sao Paulo Four Seasons at this early stage of its development. It is impressive that the 'spirit of Four Seasons' is firmly established in Brazil, after only two months, and the issues I encountered are just a feature of any new luxury hotel. I am confident they will be addressed very quickly.

Christmas Came Early With My Lufthansa Business Class Flight From Frankfurt to Buenos Aires - December 2018

6/12/2018

A series of mistakes/problems (eg bad journey advice from a black cab driver in London over the time it takes to get to Gatwick; my Lufthansa plane from Heathrow, London to Frankfurt was late & the connection time at Frankfurt being too short etc) led to a fraught start to my South American trip.

However, in the end the 14 hour flight from Frankfurt to Buenos Aires, upstairs on a Boeing 747, literally 'flew by'. The crew were friendly & helpful; the roast goose 'Christmas dinner' with red cabbage and potato dumplings excellent; the entertainment system with Bose noise cancelling headphones; good; the fully flat bed with a good quality pillow, large blanket & mattress topper had a quality feel; Van Laack sleep shirt was a nice touch; and L'Occitane products in the wash bags are still being appreciated here in Punta del Este, Uruguay.

🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻(6 out of 5 'teddies') - a high quality Business Class service but no champagne in the Lufthansa Lounge at Heathrow; too short a connection time in Frankfurt, combined with lack of privacy with the Business Class seats, prevented a higher 'teddy score'. My Tip:- run at Frankfurt!

Christmas is a Magical Time in Mayfair, London - London, UK - December 2018

2/12/2018

Despite a pre-Christmas trip to see my remarkable friend in Punta del Este, Uruguay; the new Sao Paulo Four Seasons; the Belmond hotel at Iguazu Falls ('Cataratas'); Paraquay; and the Buenos Aires Four Seasons again, I had to see the Christmas decorations by the hotels & businesses in Mayfair, London.

Four Seasons at Park Lane helped with this by looking after my luggage for a few hours and I was impressed by the monumental, & stylish, nutcracker toy soldiers in their lobby, my photo does not do justice to the crystal covered one. Christopher Kane's work at Scott's restaurant on Mount Street, the Diane von Furstenberg Christmas tree at Claridge's and The Connaught's Christmas tree by conceptual artist Sir Michael Craig-Martin at night all deserve special mentions. Along with Head of Guest Relations Emily at The Dorchester for her entertaining chat with me.

Hope you enjoy the photos below. A true '7 teddies' effort by the hotels and businesses in Mayfair, London.

The Ultra Luxurious Petra VIP Lounge at the Queen Alia International Airport - Amman, Jordan - November 2018

21/11/2018

My journey back from the Far East to Shropshire included a stop in Amman, Jordan. My Royal Jordanian Business Class ticket did not allow me access to the Petra VIP Lounge but an important Jordanian contact & friend, from my almost 10 years working in Qatar, wanted me to experience this VIP lounge and staff from his bank arranged this.

I was overjoyed I tried this experience. The decor of this lounge reminded me of my suite at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, while the level of service was reminiscent of the BA Concorde Lounge at JFK, with staff asking regular flyers about their university studies etc.

Early in the morning this lounge had a hushed monied feel that was a perfect place to recharge before my London flight. There is a separate dining area with a large selection of hot & cold foods.

This luxurious experience made me even more excited about staying at Four Seasons Amman again next year, once their refurbishment is complete.

🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻(6 out of 5 'teddies') - an ultra luxurious airport lounge but would need to offer champagne, & a waiter service food area, to gain 7 'teddies'. My Tip:- jump at the opportunity to use this lounge, if you are lucky enough to be offered the chance.

Hilton Pattaya: A Dream Second Stay and a Wedding that was the Highlight of my Far East Trip & a Day I will Never Forget - Pattaya, Thailand - November 2018

16/11/2018

When I left Pattaya in 2015 I was unsure if I would ever return there. However, the wedding of some of my best friends meant I did and I am now so glad about this.

I met superb Hilton, Pattaya GM Rudolf for the first time (he welcomed me in person) and his staff could not have treated this Brand Ambassador better. Chilled Veuve Clicquot in my room, a rose petal "welcome back" message on the bed, a life-size teddy bear and ever pre-peeled fruit.

They even now serve sparkling water in the 33rd Floor Executive Lounge, did #travelblog www.sifrew.com previous comments on this lead to this improvement?!

The wedding was the highlight of my Far East trip with a Veuve Clicquot cascade/tower, ice sculptures, entertainment flow in and so many of my extraordinary friends from Qatar present. Days as happy as this one are rare in any life.

It was all a credit to the staff of Hilton, Pattaya and I am so grateful to have been included in such an extraordinary event.

🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻(7 out of 5 ‘teddies’) - a '7 teddy' wedding in a '7 teddy' hotel, despite Pattaya! My Tip: the breakfasts in the Executive Lounge are worth a try.

Only GM Rudolf & his team at the Hilton could make three days in Pattaya this special.

Sofitel So, Bangkok; Christian Lacroix & #travelblog www.sifrew.com - More Dreams Come True!!! - Bangkok, Thailand - November 2018

8/11/2018

Meet Greta, a Christian Lacroix dressed teddy bear specially created for #travelblog www.sifrew.com by Sofitel So, Bangkok.

Pinnpratch at Sofitel So, Bangkok created her and she is a spectacular piece of art.

I have named her Greta, after someone I adore in Puna del Este & she will be accompanying us to 'the wedding' of some of our best friends in Thailand tomorrow.

Feeling so blessed here in Bangkok.

The Louis Roederer Champagne Sunday Brunch at Sukhothai, Bangkok is the Best in the World - Bangkok, Thailand - November 2018

6/11/2018

I have sampled brunches in Qatar, Cayman Islands etc but never anything like the Louis Roederer champagne brunch at Sukhothai, Bangkok.

As soon as I met F&B Manager Botan I knew I was in for an exceptional experience. There was Wagyu beef, Unagi sushi, oysters from Jersey, live music inside and as much Louis Roederer champagne as you could drink.

I will certainly be returning to try this brunch again after the Thai wedding I am attending and before I leave the Far East later this month.

🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻(6 out of 5 ‘teddies’) - a brunch that is the manifestation of luxury with the quality of the food. My Tip:- speak to Botan. I am going to Four Seasons Seoul after speaking to her!

A Mandarin Oriental 'Celebrity Fan' has a Stay at Mandarin Oriental Taipei that Blew My Mind - Taipei, Taiwan - November 2018

6/11/2018

A Michelin Star Chef from Mandarin Oriental Milan cooked for me; I was served vintage Veuve Clicquot wherever I wanted it; the hotel is an architectural masterpiece & this Brand Ambassador has never been treated better.

Issy's new Taiwanese outfit is a masterstroke, my 'I'm a FAN' business cards with a QR code taking you straight to the #travelblog www.sifrew.com site are winners and Manager Frances & her team are all exceptional.

🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻(7 out of 5 ‘teddies’) - a '7 teddy' experience without any doubt that has left me speechless. People must stay at Mandarin Oriental Taipei!

Business Class Flights to Taipei with Eva Air that Felt Like First Class - Taiwan - November 2018

6/11/2018

The Eva Air Business Class seats reminded me of British Airways First Class.

Taiwanese people are some of the most avid readers of #travelblog www.sifrew.com.

I only became aware of Eva Air recently but, as soon as I booked Mandarin Oriental Taipei, I knew I had to fly with this Taiwan airline that partners with Hello Kitty.

A '6 teddy', 'First Class', friendly experience I will never forget.

Restaurant Suhring - Michelin Starred German Food Exquisitely Reinvented in Bangkok - Bangkok, Thailand - October 2018

5/11/2018

I met my Old Salopian friend at Shrewsbury School but we reconnected at Four Seasons in Chicago and now regularly meet in Bangkok. We always have an epic meal there and Restaurant Suhring did not disappoint.

Restaurant Suhring

There seems to be a trend for German food in Bangkok at present and Suhring is the Michelin Starred pinnacle.

It is ironic that our last epic Bangkok meal was at Gaggan and Gaggan Anand helped to finance the Suhring twins in this new venture.

It is based in a stylish villa and services there could not be faulted.

It was unfortunate they messed up my very dry martini. The miniature food at Suhring looks like a gimmick but was impeccably executed & the duck main course was divine.

🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻(6 out of 5 ‘teddies’) - the bill at this restaurant will take your breath away but it is a temple to fine dining. They messed up my very dry martini but so did Eleven Madison Park in New York. The Suhring Twins personally saying goodbye meant that did not 'drop a teddy' for this. My tip:- leave lots of time for your Bangkok driver to find this place in the bad traffic. I ended up being 40 minutes late.

We met at Shrewsbury School but now meet in Bangkok. Shrewsbury International School is now in Bangkok too.

It was unfortunate they messed up my very dry martini. The miniature food looks like a gimmick but was impeccably executed & the duck main course was divine.

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok: An Unbelievable Stay, Even for a Mandarin Oriental Celebrity Fan, in Their Dame Barbara Cartland Suite - Bangkok, Thailand - October 2018

25/10/2018

My 'last' night at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. My face says it all about an evening with senior staff from Mandarin Oriental's Head Office in Hong Kong, having spent the previous evening with a senior member of staff from Jardine Matheson.

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok is one of the world's legendary great hotels. It has been open for more than 140 years & is known as the 'Grand Dame' of Bangkok. I get nervous before each stay at this iconic hotel that it will not be possible to match my last experience but my stays keep getting better, which is truly unbelievable.

This time 'new' GM Greg & legendary Guest Relations Director Mayuree waiting outside for me in the steamy Bangkok heat; I was given the Dame Barbara Cartland suite; lunch with GM Greg; the pool staff welcome me back as an old friend & even presently me with a teddy bear of their own; and a final evening drinking with senior staff from Mandarin Oriental's Head Office in Hong Kong, having spent the previous evening with a senior member of staff from Jardine Matheson, blew my stay out of the water.

Strongly Recommend Flights from London Heathrow to Bangkok via Amman with Royal Jordanian in Business Class on Their 787-8 Dreamliner Planes - October 2018

23/10/2018

This view of the Business Class cabin on the Royal Jordanian 787 Dreamliner illustrates the spacious, light & airy feel to these new cabins.

When I was looking for flights to Bangkok and saw that Royal Jordanian Business Class was a viable option, I knew I had to fly with this airline for the first time.

I am friends with the owners of the Four Seasons in Amman & am due to stay there again next year, once their refurbishment is complete, and have some astonishing Jordanian friends.

A friend at Boeing told me to pick the flights where 787 Dreamliners were used and sitting next to the charming young son of the Chairman of the airline on the flight to Amman made my day. I cannot recommend the flights I took strongly enough.

An Unforgettable Stay in a Park Suite at The Dorchester - London, UK - October 2018

21/10/2018

My Park Suite. Note the red lacquer cabinet & wait to hear more about that when I post about my Dame Barbara Cartland suite at the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.

Before I left for the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok & the Far East I decided to spend one more night at The Dorchester. I had intend this to be a 'low-key event'. However, nothing The Dorchester does is unexceptional and on this trip they gave me an updated version of the Park Suite I spent my 40th birthday in. I almost cried when I saw its beauty & recalled that 'historic' dinner in The Dorchester's Penthouse & Pavilion.

This, along with a private viewing of 'Mono Scripto', the Bob Dylan exhibition at the Halcyon Gallery on Bond Street and dinner with some exceptional friends at Dishoom made it a '7 teddies' 24 hours I will never forget.

Spending Quality Time with my Exceptional Parents in Shrewsbury - Shropshire, UK - October 2018

19/10/2018

The 'Shropshire Frews' at a dinner I hosted while in Shrewsbury. You would smile like me if you were seated opposite my niece.

Completing my 18 months in Cayman Islands gave me a chance to spend some quality time with my incredible parents, before another big adventure in. the Far East.

During my time in Shropshire my brother hosted an impressive family birthday Sunday lunch; I got to have lunch with my awe-inspiring godmother; went on a Tanners Cellar Tour with dad; visited Chester with mum & day, including lunch at The Chester Grosvenor; had lunch with a special family friend who got me thinking about Bank of Bermuda (now part of HSBC) etc; squeezed in a day in London to see the Bank of England & Annabel Shaw (Four Seasons Director of Residences Twenty Grosvenor Square - the former US Navy building) and I had drinks with friends from my Prestfelde & Shrewsbury School days. Hope the photos below help you understand what an unforgettable time I had.

🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻(7 out of 5 ‘teddies’) - spending time with my unbelievable parents is always a '7 teddy experience' but so much else during my time in Shrewsbury & London could not have been better (eg lunch with my indomitable godmother). What UK memories to take to the Far East with me.

An Epic Return to the UK - September 2018

16/9/2018

Finding a Rolls-Royce on my return from Cayman Islands turned what could have been a fraught experience into a pleasure.

Flying American Airlines First Class, & staying at The Dorchester, meant I had to return from Cayman Islands to find a Rolls-Royce.

The Dorchester helped me celebrate by giving me one of their gorgeous Dorchester suites again, hotel legend Amanda Hyndman met with me, I (finally) met Four Seasons' Lynn Brutman, Dorchester butlers repacked my luggage beautifully and some of my best friends from my 10 years in Qatar joined me for drinks.

🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻(7 out of 5 ‘teddies’) - no return to the UK could have been better. I must thank Robert, Janice & Emily at The Dorchester, John at 45 Park Lane, Lynn & Irene at Four Seasons at Park Lane & Amanda Hyndman at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park for all they did to make my welcome back to the UK so special.

An Awesome End to an Unforgettable 18 Months in Cayman Islands - September 2018

15/9/2018

My last day in Cayman Islands started with Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman serving this Brand Ambassador Veuve Clicquot champagne & truffles at breakfast.

I have too many people to thank for my 18 unforgettable months in Cayman Islands. My parents, & so many special friends, for visiting me, and there are too many incredible people in Cayman Islands I hope I never lose contact with.

There are a few photos below from my last two days in Cayman Islands but they do not do it any justice!