My Top Five Hotels By Claudia Carroll

[amazon_link id=”0007520883″ target=”_blank” ][/amazon_link]To celebrate the release of Claudia Carroll’s new book ‘Love Me Or Leave Me’and as the story is based in a hotel, Claudia tells us about her top five hotels in the world.

The Moon Palace Golf Resort and Spa, Cancun, Mexico.
Well, I’ll give you a laugh. Years ago a few pals were all going to Mexico on what the travel agent told us was an ‘all inclusive’ package. Now this was a new concept at the time, one that none of us eejits had ever come across before. And we were genuinely stumped. All-inclusive? What did that mean? Food covered but not drinks? Or the other way around? Or, worse, bed and brekkie covered but after that you were entirely left to your own devices?

So off we tropped, all buffed and spay-tanned, to the Moon Palace hotel in Cancun. And Oh. My. Actual. God. Turned out all-inclusive mean just that…absolutely everything. You name it, everything. You want room service at 2 a.m. with a bottle of champagne on the side? Covered. Cocktails at the pool whenever you feel them one? Covered. Or you fancy breakfast and lunch and a full afternoon tea – cupcakes included, naturally – followed by a four course dinner, where you don’t even have to bring you purse with you? Ditto.

Well, we were only stunned.

Final word on the Moon Palace? ‘If a hotel like this ever opened in Ireland,’ one of my pals quipped, ‘it would go bankrupt within about two days. Max.’

The Roosevelt Hotel, New York City.
Oh God, this place is a little gem. If you’re a shopper, as I am, then NYC is your Mecca. I’m lucky enough to be there about once a year and always stay at the Roosevelt. The location is perfect, on Madison Avenue and East 45th St and the hotel itself is so impressive, with a big sweeping staircase like something out of an Edith Wharton novel. It’s two minutes from all the fabulous shops on 5th Avenue, so it’s handy for running back to dump all the bags. Best of all, it’s not too spendy either!

The Covent Garden Hotel, London.
I think this hotel is probably right on your doorstep, Jo! I’ve never actually stayed here, but last year, Avon ran a competition for my readers and the prize was afternoon tea at the Covent Garden Hotel, which I was lucky enough to be asked along to as well. Oh it was so stunning! The afternoon tea was a dream come true; I turned into one of those annoying people who kept photographing their food, then posting it all over Facebook and Twitter, so everyone could admire them. The cupcakes were little works of art! One day, I’d love to stay there as I’d say the rooms are to die for but in the meantime, it’s so lovely to pop into for tea and one of those famous cakes.

The Burj Al Arab, Dubai.
Again, I’ve never stayed here, but I was on a girlie beach holiday years ago with a pal and we stayed at the lovely Sheraton hotel, right on Jueriah beach. It was gorgeous and not too expensive, but in Dubai, the Burj al Arab’s famous silhouette absolutely dominates the skyline; there’s no avoiding it. So over the holiday, my pal and I became obsessed with seeing it for ourselves.

Anyway, we made dinner reservations there and it was just breathtaking. The entire hotel is designed with the maxim, ‘more is more,’ and you want to see it! Solid gold bannister rails and more marble than I’ve ever seen outside of the Vatican. Best of all? My pal and I thought our meal would probably cost us the earth and I was dreading the bill, but when it arrived it was no more than you’d pay in any mid-priced restaurant here in Dublin. Highly recommended!

In fact, I loved it so much, I set one of the closing chapters of ‘Love Me Or Leave Me’ right here.

The Trevi Hotel, Rome.
I love and adore The Eternal City and first stayed in this hotel when one of my oldest pals got married there, about eleven years ago now. Best wedding Ever. It’s right beside the Trevi fountain and is charming, rather than posh, if you’re with me. It’s higgledy-piggledy with rooms all over the place and no lift, just a winding staircase, so it kind of gives you the feel that you’re staying on a ship. The restaurant is one big long dining table for breakfast and dinner, so it’s lovely as you get to chat to fellow guests. And it’s location is just perfect as you can walk to all the sights….and in Rome you do a lot of walking! And a lot of drinking wine, but then that’s another story….

You can pre-order [amazon_link id=”0007520883″ target=”_blank” ]Love Me Or Leave Me from Amazon [/amazon_link] and will be available to buy from 23rd October 2014.