VILLA LE SCALE
CAPRI’S CHIC SHANGRI-LA
REOPENS MAY 1, 2012

The seductive, seven-room Villa le Scale has just become more luxurious – recent restyling highlights its legendary artworks and artifacts made more splendid by breathtaking gardens and views of the Bay of Naples

 Beginning May 1, 2012, the secluded, seven-room, Villa Le Scale will be more seductive than ever.

After months of renovations, the 19th-century “Villa of the Steps” will reopen refreshed and rejuvenated for its ninth season of beguiling a steady flow of celebrities, tycoons and lovers of exquisite surroundings.

But how do you renovate a masterpiece when the décor itself is irreplaceable?

“Slowly and deferentially,” says owner Anna Maria Coronato, a leading international antiquarian, who personally selected the remarkable collection of museum-caliber statuary, paintings and objets d’art that distinguish each guestroom.  “Guests tell me that my collection is what makes Villa Le Scale so special.”

18th-century objets, boiserie panels, surround sound

Each of the historic home’s seven rooms is individually decorated, each style taking its theme from the centerpiece artwork.  Hence, guests checking into the Artist’s Room will find a fabulous Marchigana Era bookcase in the bedroom and two 18th-century marble basins in the bathroom.  The Venetian Room is dominated by a glorious 18th-century bookcase that frames the entrance to the boudoir, while the Louis XV1 Room comes with exquisite boiserie panels and a terrace overlooking a delicately perfumed cetrella garden. 

All the rooms come with air conditioning, personal safes, minibars, plasma-screen television sets, surround sound and high-speed wireless access.  Most of them have expansive views of the Bay of Naples and they all look out on or open on to very private gardens almost three times the size of the villa itself – including a Secret Garden down a flight of flower-draped weathered stone steps.

Private dining, private gym, private pool

For an elegant hideaway with just seven rooms and suites, Villa Le Scale offers its guests a surprising array of services: private dining (indoors and outdoors, never more than 14 guests at each meal), room service, turndown service, 24/7 concierge service, an 8-station gym with the latest gear, and a fully stocked wine cellar.  The heated swimming pool is ringed with fountains, stone grottoes, a spacious sun terrace and masses of foliage and flowers to create an air of seclusion and privacy.  Signora Coronato has personally trained her staff in the manner of household retainers rather than hotel employees, creating an ambience appropriate for a villa built for an aristocrat.

From emperors to helicopters: the mystique of Capri

The original villa dates from the 18th century, a summer retreat for Barone Monti delle Corte, and is one of the few surviving aristocratic homes on an island renowned for lavish summer retreats since the days of the Emperor Tiberius.  Situated high in the hills, on the outskirts of Anacapri, the Villa is just a short walk from the town’s main attractions: turn left for the piazza, turn right for the Axel Munthe Museum two doors away.  The Villa’s guests are conveniently located yet sequestered from the daytrippers and cruise ship passengers who often crowd the island in summer.

The Villa’s knowledgeable, personable manager, Vincent Copeland, is an insider guide to the pleasures of Capri and will steer guests to the perfect restaurants, cafes, bars and boutiques, arranging the most convenient transportation – helicopter, touring cars, luxury sedans, funiculars, taxis – to move his guests effortlessly around Italy’s most romantic little island.

The splendors of the Villa and its gardens can be reviewed in detail at www.villalescale.com.  Rates range from 350 Euros to 650 Euros and include a la carte breakfast and taxes for individual bookings.  Rates for exclusive rentals are on request.  The season runs from May 1 – September 30, 2012.

When it’s time to reserve a room (and with only seven rooms to choose from, early reservations are recommended) bookings can be made on the website www.villalescale.com or by calling   Tel. +39 081 8382190 - Fax +39 081 8382796 or in United States 800-783-6904

New Year Celebration - Florence

Three New Hotels in Kuala Lumpur Offer More Options for Accommodation

 The Kuala Lumpur City Center is set to accommodate more tourists and visitors with the addition of three hotels to its vibrant landscape. The InterContinental in Jalan Ampang was recently launched, while the Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar and the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur in Jalan Pinang are expected to open in 2012.

InterContinental Kuala Lumpur is a world-class hotel located along Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur’s embassy district with premier business, shopping, restaurants, and entertainment. “Our facilities have everything you would expect of an InterContinental, like spacious meeting rooms and event facilities, business center, gymnasium, pool, spa, and all the other little touches that you expect of an iconic brand,” said the General Manager, Adam McDonald.

The Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar is expected to open in February 2012. The hotel features 513 rooms and suites that exude Asian contemporary style. The hotel was designed with business travellers in mind, and offers state-of-the-art communications facilities with WIFI access in all rooms and public areas of the hotel. In addition, it is ideally situated in the heart of the commercial and entertainment hub with an extensive selection of dining options.

The Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur is located in Jalan Pinang and is still under construction. This 5-star luxury city center hotel will be within walking distance to the entertainment district, popular shopping malls and tourist attractions, including the Petronas Towers,

For more information on hotels in Malaysia, please visit: www.tourism.gov.my/accommodations/.

HOLIDAY FUN IN ALBUQUERQUE NEW MEXICO

ENJOY ALBUQUERQUE AND SKI NEW MEXICO IN 2012

The holiday season in Albuquerque means Luminarias. Learn more about how these humble paper sacks adorn rooftops and walkways to light up the holiday season in the heart of the Southwest. The annual Old Town Luminaria Tour on December 24th is not to be missed. Contact the Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau: