The Ultimate Guest Ranch

I was lucky enough to spend a pre-opening weekend at the Ranch at Rock Creek in Montana. www.theranchatrockcreek.com. What a wonderful destination for corporate incentives, family reunions or simply a great 4-5 day getaway-summer or winter.
The brainchild of investment banker Jim, it more than accomplishes it's goal of being the first real luxe dude ranch in Montana. And it isn't all about horses, though their stable of 40+ steeds are there for the taking, up through the wonderful hills that surround the lodge. A picture perfect creek full of cutthroat trout, runs between the main lodge and the tented camp, and all the equipment from waders to flies are there for you to use, as well as personable guides that take the feelings of inadequacy right out of your first fly fishing experience! I even caught one! And I am hooked on it, so to speak.
But it doesn't stop there. The spa awaits, as does the incredibly luxurious great room where everyone gathers for pre dinner drinks around the fire, before dinner in the rustic dining room, which serves a delightful mix of comfort food and sophisticated fare. Just when you think you can't have any more fun, off you go to the full scale bowling alley, with shoes and a bowling ball just right for you, for as many games as you are game to play. We followed that up with a screening of the classic western " The Big Country"! All total escapism and yet simple pleasures. And the staff makes it feel simple, but actually it is a superb mix of casual but 5 star service and western hospitality.
Everything is included in your rate-from cognac after dinner to a private fly fishing lesson. The ultimate luxury-no signing a chit for any activity or intake!
The Ranch was written up this month in Town and Country so check it out at:

http://kurtzahlers.com/pdf/TRRCTownAndCountryDecember.pdf

I will be back this winter with a follow up on the winter season, at this very special place!

Istanbul Luxe Hotels Part II

There are plenty of new options on the European side as well. We stayed at the new Four Seasons Bosphorus, a restored former palace set on this incredibly entertaining waterway. Vast stone terraces with pool, conversation areas and two restaurants look out on the myriad of vessels parading by continuously, including the beautiful old wooden gulet, that plies between this Four Seasons and the one in the ancient monument district of Sulthanamet ( a converted prison in fact).


Main lobby areas are superbly designed with sumptuous but unfussy sofas and easy chairs. Rooms are of course lovely and generous in size, but no balconies unless you are in the main palace building which is significantly more expensive than the new side wings.

The spa may be the most spectacular one I have ever had the pleasure to indulge at!
Dimly lit cavernous halls and various rooms, with a lovely Mediterranean blue theme, and wonderful scents. Truly a 21st century version of a royal hamman!
All in all this new property will give the Ciragan Palace a run for it's money!

If you can live without a water view in a city that is full of them, then the new Park Hyatt
is a terrific business hotel in a commercial area. In my opinion the best bath I have ever seen in a city hotel. Color scheme is muted in warm browns, taupe and ivory, and they have managed to slide in a pool area for an after work dip.

Prices here are reasonable for the level of comfort you buy.Definitely a contender.Bath is photo below.

The W-well this is a good one also without views, but definitely for the under 40 crowd. Dark entry, dark elevators and hallways are supposed to give you a certain jive. What I did like were the clever cabanas attached by a walkway from certain categories of rooms, and the comfort level of the rooms. The rest felt like it was trying to hard to be hip.


And speaking of over the top-Les Ottomans, trying terribly hard to be a hang out for Paris Hilton and her wannabes. A small mansion on the Bosphorus that could be a great boutique hotel if they paid more attention to the stains on the outdoor cushions and a little less to the feng shui of the gazillion dollar vinotherapie spa. Best for Hollywood types, which is obvious from the pantheon of minor celebrity photos on display always posing with what appears to be a fairly egotistical owner.