Looking forward to this series. Forgive me for posting cringe, though I think the point is apt; a good hotel to me should feel like Hotel from Porco Rosso, the famous Ghibli film. A place of rest and repose, worth a repeat visit. The word you use ("enchanting") is just right. Perhaps 'cosy' would be another.
Perhaps the greatest place I have ever stayed was the former residence of a great opera singer in Granada... when I stayed there, I was greeted each evening at the impluvium by a rather large and impressive ginger cat, whose face reminded me of the portrait of Picasso by Juan Gris. I must return again soon and sample once more their Hammam and hospitality
I went to Lisbon earlier this month and yes the Hotel and AirBNB prices were heavily inflated, stayed in one AirBNB for $65 and it included the African ownerβs family in the same hallway as our bedroom and shared bathroom.
Algarve however (Lagos and Sagres specifically) had very good and affordable hotels quite close to beach.
Yes, after a few unfortunate AirBNB experiences in Lisbon I took planning privileges from my brother and found an excellent hotel in Lagos for ~$65 per night on weekdays. Continental breakfast for only an extra $5.
Better yet the hotel was filled with beautiful German grils and we didnt have to hear a word of Punjabi anywhere near the hotel.
Is there a better part of Lisbon to stay at where there is not so much South Asian filth?
Very interesting but for me reading is totally vicarious because this lifestyle financially out of my league
I can't tell if your use of 'freier' savours of mici and timisoreana or hummus and matzah which is it (it can be all four; oh I suppose the latter because spelling)
PS: Colombia hostels the absolute worst and so unnecessary unless one *enjoys* the stink which I think many do regrettably
Please conduct thorough investigation into Onsen hotel / Ryokan goings-on in Japan... A friend and I recently struggled to find anything that wasn't a substandard fake version with legionnaires risk and festooned with baubles to attract naive gaijin... It seems like all the decent places are either booked out years in advance, absurdly expensive, or perhaps they're deliberately not-available to foreigners because of risk of CONTAMINATION. I noticed this more and more in recent visits to Japan - they obfuscate inside of indecipherable, heiroglyphic-laden 2000s era websites, or deny translation softwares etc. Fine either way - they must protect - but I must know. GO where us mortals cannot, sir.
I had a good experience staying at the syukubo at Osorezan on the Shimokita peninsula. The refurbished sulfur onsen is beautiful, cleansing and calming. There is an included Buddhist vegetarian breakfast and dinner which is at a fixed time and close to exactly the same every day. Some of the wooden floors in the temple complex gave me splinter worries, and some of the statues on the grounds looked to be made of poor quality stone, but the syukubo itself is clean, modernly decorated, and well maintained. The setting is remote and the surroundings beautiful, and the price is far from extravagant for all this. Unfortunately there is also, outside the entrance to the temple complex, an annoying pile of waste material from construction including some of that same stone; this sort of thing was, in my experience, not a rare sight in rural Japan. Overall recommended.
It's full heiroglyphics, but I managed to translate. It seems to require a written application to be submitted and approved by "the temple abbot (acting chief priest) under the supervision of the Lord of Mount Osorezan" in order to stay there...
It's an RPG quest or something. How many potions must I craft before setting out on the journey? Is the road infested with dangerous Oni? It's been a while since I sought approval from a Mountain Lord, but I may try it anyhow; the sulfur beckons. Wish me luck.
I used a Japanese travel agency to make my reservation; I expect that Japanese visitors usually do the same. I didn't notice any oni on the road but would recommend minimal potions as there are vending machines on site. Ganbatte!
Paris, London, Madrid. Those are the three cities which have genuine Ritz hotels. All of the others are Ritz-Carltons or some other form of trading on the name. BtW, the three I mentioned are somewhat like mausoleums and nowhere near worthy of their preposterous tariffs.
I haven't stayed in those Ritz but I've stayed in the Osaka, the Mexico City ones and the one in Nikko. I'll review them later...the Nikko one is very special. The others just felt like very good hotels but no special thing...
I was expecting a notebook on PMCs in Sudan, Mali and Burma where he would put the call to collect the Mannerbund on the agora on Cape Tainaron.
I have to admit, I am a little bit disappointed. BAP starts to act like an "art hoe".
Why didn't you go ROTC when you where in university in the USA? Even 4 years in the National Guards or Reserves would have made you proficient in the profession of arms.
Lovely concept for a book. You could play-on-words of the popular combined Neo-hippie/Moneyed Boomer publications and call the combined work: βLonely Pervertβ?
I visited the USA a year ago and was prepared for the cash extraction ritual, especially as I was not wise to any alternative. San Francisco was enormously expensive for a modest sized room. But I perhaps shouldnβt have booked the Financial District as that where I thought it was optimal to be. But I can understand the price given, whatever one thinks of San Francisco, it is a place of many purposed people.
My next stop after that was LA, was to my surprise offered a much more palatial hotel for far cheaper, in West Hollywood. But my surprise evaporated once I got to see LA itself.
I haven't seen it yet but from the photos it just looks like the same building where they got rid of the theatrical setting? But the Sinner did it very tastefully. I don't know I'll get a drink and see it, but it doesn't appeal to me now. I'm told the Cheval Blanc is now the only good hotel in Paris, but it seems unreasonably priced to me.
The best hotels are, in my opinion, two and sometimes three star places in minor European cities, often very cheap with an excellent location, no expectations to be ruined, no strivers and hucksters showing off for Instagram, and almost always independently owned/run.
Looking forward to this series. Forgive me for posting cringe, though I think the point is apt; a good hotel to me should feel like Hotel from Porco Rosso, the famous Ghibli film. A place of rest and repose, worth a repeat visit. The word you use ("enchanting") is just right. Perhaps 'cosy' would be another.
Perhaps the greatest place I have ever stayed was the former residence of a great opera singer in Granada... when I stayed there, I was greeted each evening at the impluvium by a rather large and impressive ginger cat, whose face reminded me of the portrait of Picasso by Juan Gris. I must return again soon and sample once more their Hammam and hospitality
Bronze Age Hotelier
A very important series. I await the Japanese reviews especially with anticipation.
I went to Lisbon earlier this month and yes the Hotel and AirBNB prices were heavily inflated, stayed in one AirBNB for $65 and it included the African ownerβs family in the same hallway as our bedroom and shared bathroom.
Algarve however (Lagos and Sagres specifically) had very good and affordable hotels quite close to beach.
Airbnb in Lisbon is now insane especially because of the regulations. To be avoided imo
Yes, after a few unfortunate AirBNB experiences in Lisbon I took planning privileges from my brother and found an excellent hotel in Lagos for ~$65 per night on weekdays. Continental breakfast for only an extra $5.
Better yet the hotel was filled with beautiful German grils and we didnt have to hear a word of Punjabi anywhere near the hotel.
Is there a better part of Lisbon to stay at where there is not so much South Asian filth?
Ibis is cheap (basic business hotel chain) and doesn't have locations in Areeiro.
Very much looking forward to this series. I happened to stay at APA hotel when I visited Osaka recently. Delightful and very affordable experience.
Very interesting but for me reading is totally vicarious because this lifestyle financially out of my league
I can't tell if your use of 'freier' savours of mici and timisoreana or hummus and matzah which is it (it can be all four; oh I suppose the latter because spelling)
PS: Colombia hostels the absolute worst and so unnecessary unless one *enjoys* the stink which I think many do regrettably
Please conduct thorough investigation into Onsen hotel / Ryokan goings-on in Japan... A friend and I recently struggled to find anything that wasn't a substandard fake version with legionnaires risk and festooned with baubles to attract naive gaijin... It seems like all the decent places are either booked out years in advance, absurdly expensive, or perhaps they're deliberately not-available to foreigners because of risk of CONTAMINATION. I noticed this more and more in recent visits to Japan - they obfuscate inside of indecipherable, heiroglyphic-laden 2000s era websites, or deny translation softwares etc. Fine either way - they must protect - but I must know. GO where us mortals cannot, sir.
I had a good experience staying at the syukubo at Osorezan on the Shimokita peninsula. The refurbished sulfur onsen is beautiful, cleansing and calming. There is an included Buddhist vegetarian breakfast and dinner which is at a fixed time and close to exactly the same every day. Some of the wooden floors in the temple complex gave me splinter worries, and some of the statues on the grounds looked to be made of poor quality stone, but the syukubo itself is clean, modernly decorated, and well maintained. The setting is remote and the surroundings beautiful, and the price is far from extravagant for all this. Unfortunately there is also, outside the entrance to the temple complex, an annoying pile of waste material from construction including some of that same stone; this sort of thing was, in my experience, not a rare sight in rural Japan. Overall recommended.
I appreciate the recommendation. Is this the place? https://reijyo-osorezan.jp/
It's full heiroglyphics, but I managed to translate. It seems to require a written application to be submitted and approved by "the temple abbot (acting chief priest) under the supervision of the Lord of Mount Osorezan" in order to stay there...
It's an RPG quest or something. How many potions must I craft before setting out on the journey? Is the road infested with dangerous Oni? It's been a while since I sought approval from a Mountain Lord, but I may try it anyhow; the sulfur beckons. Wish me luck.
I used a Japanese travel agency to make my reservation; I expect that Japanese visitors usually do the same. I didn't notice any oni on the road but would recommend minimal potions as there are vending machines on site. Ganbatte!
Seconding
Paris, London, Madrid. Those are the three cities which have genuine Ritz hotels. All of the others are Ritz-Carltons or some other form of trading on the name. BtW, the three I mentioned are somewhat like mausoleums and nowhere near worthy of their preposterous tariffs.
I haven't stayed in those Ritz but I've stayed in the Osaka, the Mexico City ones and the one in Nikko. I'll review them later...the Nikko one is very special. The others just felt like very good hotels but no special thing...
BAP please consider Adler in Renon, South Tyrol.
I was expecting a notebook on PMCs in Sudan, Mali and Burma where he would put the call to collect the Mannerbund on the agora on Cape Tainaron.
I have to admit, I am a little bit disappointed. BAP starts to act like an "art hoe".
Why didn't you go ROTC when you where in university in the USA? Even 4 years in the National Guards or Reserves would have made you proficient in the profession of arms.
Looking forward to this series, Iβve no doubt in your taste-making sensibilities Mr. Pervert.
Comfy read very enjoyable content pervert
Lovely concept for a book. You could play-on-words of the popular combined Neo-hippie/Moneyed Boomer publications and call the combined work: βLonely Pervertβ?
I visited the USA a year ago and was prepared for the cash extraction ritual, especially as I was not wise to any alternative. San Francisco was enormously expensive for a modest sized room. But I perhaps shouldnβt have booked the Financial District as that where I thought it was optimal to be. But I can understand the price given, whatever one thinks of San Francisco, it is a place of many purposed people.
My next stop after that was LA, was to my surprise offered a much more palatial hotel for far cheaper, in West Hollywood. But my surprise evaporated once I got to see LA itself.
Looking forward to it. Reviews of hotels in Italy soon would be very much appreciated!
What do you think about the Experimental Marais that took over the Hotel Sinner location?
I haven't seen it yet but from the photos it just looks like the same building where they got rid of the theatrical setting? But the Sinner did it very tastefully. I don't know I'll get a drink and see it, but it doesn't appeal to me now. I'm told the Cheval Blanc is now the only good hotel in Paris, but it seems unreasonably priced to me.
The best hotels are, in my opinion, two and sometimes three star places in minor European cities, often very cheap with an excellent location, no expectations to be ruined, no strivers and hucksters showing off for Instagram, and almost always independently owned/run.
Would specifically look forward to reviews of hotels in Ulan Bator, as I will frequent in a not too distant future.
Seconding