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RAFFLES L'ERMITAGE
QUIET ELEGANCE IN A SEA OF HYPE
© 2004 Bonita Productions Inc.
E-zine of Travel Adventures
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RAFFLES L'ERMITAGE
QUIET ELEGANCE IN A SEA OF HYPE
By RON KAPON
Beverly Hills 90210: sunshine; movie stars; Rolls Royce; Rodeo Drive; "love you baby, love you;" "lets do lunch"; cell phone mania; sunglasses; movie producer with his "granddaughter" or the reverse, with her "grandson". All these images danced through my head as I checked into the Raffles L'Ermitage for my one day Beverly Hills energizer tour. Beverly Hills is a 5.7 square mile city with 33,000 residents and 200,000 daytime visitors. It has over 900 retailers (over 100 on Rodeo Drive alone) and of course is the headquarters of many entertainment powerhouses.
Awarded the AAA 5-Diamond and Mobil Travel Guide 5- Star rating for 2004, Raffles L'Ermitage is only 1 of 3 luxury hotels in America known as "Favorite Place to Stay" in the 2002 Travel & Leisure Magazine survey. Conde Nast Traveler Gold List calls the hotel a "Top 25 North American Hotel". Raffles International spent $60 million to transform the old L'Ermitage to its present condition. Start with personal stationary and business cards and a private, direct number on my room telephone (bypasses the hotel operator) to three pre-set climate and lighting contrasts for each guest, while one button at my bed turned everything on and off and the insertion of my key into the lock re-sets everything to my preference. Every room features English sycamore paneling and maple wood furnishings with a silk sham on my platform bed. There is a Mitsubishi 40- inch screen TV, DSL & wireless internet access, Bose speakers, audio/video DVD/CD player, a copier/printer/fax machine; 4 multi-line (3) telephones; Aveda bathroom amenities and more. My room (one of 111 plus 13 suites) had French doors and a private balcony overlooking the street. It was 700 square feet with a living room, work area, sitting area, walk-in closet and vanity area and a rack rate of $450.
Although only a few blocks from Rodeo Drive, the surroundings were quiet and I never felt I was in a city hotel. There was a limo available to take guests to any part of Beverly Hills. It was raining and my small umbrella was not enough; of course, they lent me a Raffles "big" umbrella. Even the doorman called me by name each time I entered or left the hotel. I expected that from the telephone operator and front desk. I did use the roof top fitness center, but not the spa or heated outdoor rooftop pool (60 degrees outside temperature was a bit cold). There is also a complimentary DSL computer next to the concierge desk available 24 hours and no charge for high speed internet access throughout the hotel; ditto there is no charge for 800 calls. Even the soft drinks and water in the mini-bar are complimentary. What I also liked was the 24-hour flexible check in/ checks out policy. Check in at 8PM- you have until 8PM the next day (24 hours) to check out. I have never seen that policy in a hotel before. I did interview Chef Lopez of Jaan Restaurant (Sanskrit word for dish or bowl) for my radio show but did not accept their dinner invitation because of my desire to see Beverly Hills at night. The cuisine at Jaan is French- inspired that blends with modern California flavors.
I have stayed at many hotels in the luxury category that charge around the same prices as Raffles L'Ermitage. What I have never experienced was the total dedication to quality service and the "little things" that made this my top choice of any hotel in the 141 countries I have visited over the past 50 years. The Beverly Hills Ambassadears- Official docents for the Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau took me on a 4 hour walking tour showcasing the culture & history of Beverly Hills. Visitors pay $80 for the 4 hours. Donna, my docent, started our walk at the Regent Beverly Wilshire and discussed shopping, history, and architecture of her town. We followed the walk with a 40 minute narrated trolley tour that departs from Rodeo & Dayton, but not when it rains. ($5 adults, $1 children under 12).
I went back to visit an old friend of 30 years- Dennis Overstreet at the Wine Merchant of Beverly Hills. For 32 years Dennis, known as "wine merchant to the stars" has run this shop, and added a new wine shop and restaurant in Newport Beach. The Wine Spectator named him one of the top 100 most influential people in the wine industry.
For more INFO- www.lermitagehotel.com - (800) 800-22113
www.beverlyhillsbehere.com
www.winemerchantch.com - (310) 278-7322
Real Travel Adventures International Magazine
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