It’s been awhile since I’ve participated in #FriFotos on Twitter thanks to a hectic travel schedule and looming deadlines, but today’s theme was too good to pass up!
I’m fortunate that many of my travels have included stays at some highly-rated hotels and resorts. As with my personal home, I want a killer view in a hotel since I have to spend much of my time glued to the laptop. I’m more productive and certainly less stressed if I’m working somewhere with a stellar backdrop.
In honor of this week’s #FriFotos theme of ‘a room with a view’, here are some of my favorite views from my last few years of traveling.
The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong
Until recently, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong had the distinction of being the world’s tallest hotel. I went for the soft grand opening weekend and was treated to this view of Victoria Harbour from 115 stories above ground.
The Phoenix, Ambergris Caye, Belize
I have not stayed at one place in Belize that didn’t offer spectacular views of either the jungle or the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. I’m blessed that my part-time home is literally on the beach in Ambergris Caye, but I never get tired of the views from the island resorts. One of my favorites is The Phoenix Resort with a balcony that is about the size of my apartment. Lounge chairs, dining table and views of the pool and the water – best mobile office ever!
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
Although I’m not a huge fan of cruises, the views from each port if you book a balcony class room are pretty awesome. Check out this one as we docked by the massive yachts in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. I couldn’t even afford one of the dinghies tied up to these multi-million dollar beauties!
Sofitel Hotel in Papeete, Tahiti
Views throughout French Polynesia are hard to beat, but one of my favorites was watching the sun go down from the balcony at the Sofitel Hotel in Papeete, Tahiti. The sunsets in French Polynesia are some of the best I’ve experienced anywhere in the world.
Palau Royal Resort, Koror, Palau
Sampling local beer is a must on all my travels and enjoying one on the balcony of my hotel room is even better. Locally brewed Red Rooster beer + this view of the lagoon = match made in heaven. I didn’t want to leave this spot…ever. Unfortunately, I did, but at least it was to go diving and experience more of Palau’s unique cuisine besides the coconut candy next to my can of beer on the balcony.
Wulai Hot Springs in Wulai, Taipei
Taiwan is blessed with some of the world’s best hot springs around the world. Head less than an hour outside of Taipei to the aboriginal village of Wulai for some rest and relaxation in one of these renowned hot springs. My dear friend and chef took over a restaurant in the area and surprised us with this room to stay the night in after coming to visit him for dinner. Hot springs tub in the room with this view — no wonder Taipei residents flock to this region on the weekends.
Lake Lucerne, Switzerland
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day and who can argue with room service on the balcony with a view like this? Sadly, this was a quick overnight in Switzerland so I didn’t get to enjoy the room nearly long enough, but managed to snap a few memorable photos. Definitely on my list of places I want to visit again.
Hotel Wentzl in Krakow, Poland
20 euros fares to Poland on RyanAir in the dead of winter allowed the flexibility to splurge on a hotel in Krakow’s city center and this was the view from the window of the bedroom. It started snowing the next morning and sightseeing was brutal, but it was worth every penny to experience a couple nights in the heart of Krakow.
Eiffel Tower View from Pullman Hotel in Paris, France
This is a view that is on probably a number of travelers’ bucket list and for good reason. Rooms with views of the Eiffel Tower can easily set you back an entire vacation budget per night, but hotel loyalty can definitely pay off. We were treated to this upgrade at an Accor chain hotel in Paris with the Eiffel Tower so close I had to bend backwards to fit the entire tower in my iPhone frame. Oh darn….
View of the Grund from the Sofitel in Luxembourg
The first time I drove through Luxembourg I immediately fell in love with this tiny country, especially one of the oldest areas called the “Grund”. Imagine my surprise when I visited Luxembourg again on a wine tasting trip and landed yet another upgrade from the Sofitel. We went from a standard room to a suite that took up 1/4 of the hotel floor I believe. The suite had stunning views from every corner of the suite, including this one from the giant oversized tub.
Volcano near Guatemala City
Last January, I headed to Guatemala City with my best friend as representatives of Belize at a Latin American media conference. We arrived late at night and I could tell by a few staggered lights and the stars that my room likely had a good view during the day. When I got up in the morning, I opened the drapes to find mountains and one of the big volcanoes just outside Guatemala City. After the conference ended that afternoon, we headed right back to my room to check out the views. While we couldn’t see the volcano through the clouds and the setting sun, Dorian and I propped our feet up and relaxed as the sun eventually disappeared behind the volcano’s peak.
The Ritz-Carlton, Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt
My last day in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt started off with this sunrise and a passing dive boat as I sat on my balcony at The Ritz-Carlton. Too bad the rest of the day didn’t go so well — someone spilled olive oil in the restaurant and yours truly got to experience an Egyptian emergency room and spend the next two days flying unable to walk. Ugh.
My Apartment in Taipei, Taiwan
Despite all the travel I’ve done over the past four years, my favorite views are from my current apartment in Belize and my previous apartment in Taipei, Taiwan. 24 stories up and overlooking a park, lake, and plenty of mountains, it was worth down-sizing to have this view. How could you not love working at home when you could walk out on your balcony and see this every day?
