InterContinental Montelucia: The New Crown Jewel of Scottsdale

Sun-Kissed Resort Offers Relaxed, Luxurious Paradise

By Si Si Penaloza

Whatever happens, we’ll always have… Montelucia. The first US-based resort for the venerable and global InterContinental brand is a valentine to the art of the amorous - guaranteed to melt the heart of all who visit. It is a also an impressive accomplishment in the hospitality industry’s art of the big gesture. It contains enough piazzas, campaniles and cupolas, stone-clad walkways and quiet cloisters to keep you and your partner in a state of wonder and mutual lust for at least a week. But it’s no dusty outpost, either. It comes alive at night - great music, art and a lively bar scene. The total absence of cars throws me back to another time, where it was throngs of people, rather than cars, that were the dominant kinetic force. A river of pretty bridesmaids flowed past in their summer best, flirting with the boys, chatting. The smell of wood-fired meats from Prado and the aroma of fresh waffle cones from Crave combine to give a heady atmosphere of barely suppressed excitement.

The brand new InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa is nestled beautifully in the foothills of spectacular Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley, Arizona. The property features 293 guest rooms as well as 34 posh privately-owned villas on 34 acres of lush desert landscape. The resort also offers 24-hour concierge service, six restaurants and venues, the 31,000 square foot Joya spa, multiple shopping areas, an art gallery, a wedding venue and multiple ballrooms, five pools and other luxuries for use by resort guests. Sunsets are exceptional and framed by rugged mountains, palm trees and shimmering water.

One of the most goose-bumpy moments for a seasoned world traveler is the feeling that you are discovering something truly unique - that you’ve stumbled on a well-kept secret. Montelucia, and especially the Joya Spa, felt like that to me: it’s a picture-book place, with colour-washed buildings and detailed architecture. There are beautiful gardens to walk in and Crave Cafe at the entrance which serves fantastic coffee; you could sit there all day and watch the comings and goings from the open air courtyard “lobby”. The courtyard itself is quite chic - lots of cozy places to gather - but it maintains a historical feel, thanks to all the cobbled alleyways and courtyards. You need time to wander and allow yourself to get lost.

Prado, the resort’s signature restaurant, offers wood-fired grilling with a Spanish accent. Within Prado is Mbar, featuring tequila, tapas and temptation in an ambiance perfect for socializing. Kasbah Restaurant and Bar entices guests with a sparkling pool and showcases a Rum Bar that prepares unique poolside cocktails and offers a variety of flavorful pomme frite from around the world. Another poolside option is Oasis Pavilion, a fun place to relax and enjoy items on a tasty poolside menu featuring handmade empanadas. Crave Cafe offers gourmet coffee, gelato, chocolate, wine, and everything you crave.

Montelucia’s Prado will surprise business travelers who often encounter lackluster hotel restaurants or have permanently written off hotel food. Named for the Madrid museum, the restaurant features an Andalusia-inspired menu. The Montelucia resort as a whole captures the more soulful side of Spain and features the ambiance of the southern region of Andalusia, where culture is vibrant and flavors distinctly alive. Prado and the adjacent Mbar focus on fresh drinks and a cultural atmosphere that promises to impress. A venue where food enthusiasts and wine connoisseurs can dine in luxury, enjoying signature dishes and regional cocktails while overlooking the majestic Camelback Mountain.

Chef Claudio Urciuoli couldn’t have asked for a more idyllic spot. The restaurant at this luxe new resort offers an elegant interior that screams relax. The kitchen sources many artisanal products: half the meats on the menu have private labels. Urciuoli samples the sublime ingredients with more of his supremely confident, creative constructions: divine lamb cathedrals, cured sausages over seared artichoke. Hotel food has gone through a renaissance, clearly, at Prado, which offers so many culinary wonders. Dining at Prado proved an extraordinary event.

Joya Spa, the jewel of the resort, is an expansive Moroccan-inspired 31,000 square foot spa, with 5,200 square feet of outdoor space. The spa houses 19 treatment rooms including five opulently over-sized treatment suites with terraces, king size daybeds, dual treatment tables, fireplaces, flat-screen televisions, outdoor and indoor showers, in-suite bathrooms with sunken tubs and direct poolside access. Joya Spa is the first in Arizona to offer a Hammam and Hammam-inspired therapies and treatments. Joya also includes a Wellness Program, the Joya Salon, a fashion-forward luxury boutique, Joya Bazaar, multiple lounges, a state-of-the-art fitness center, juice bar, and Joya Terrace restaurant at Joya’s rooftop pool. The six unique restaurants and venues will more than satisfy any desire. Enjoy a night of a million stars, a stupendous landscape of reddish dunes and mountains.

On my last evening at Montelucia, I took in the energetic vibe of MBar. I wondered if my friend’s girlfriend was going too far. She was dancing free form and barefoot in a clingy summer dress that left little to the imagination. The lively crowd was going wild. There was spontaneous close-harmony singing, a LOT of grilled meat, and toasts in whichever fiery local spirit you chose. The waiters smiled indulgently as they kept the vino flowing. After all, they know all about Prado’s powers of seduction.

4949 E. Lincoln Drive
Corner of Lincoln and Tatum boulevards
Paradise Valley , Arizona
85253
Tel: 888 627 3010 (toll-free)
Tel: 480 627 3200
montelucia.info@ihg.com
montelucia.reservations@ihg.com

Hot Scots: Gordon Ramsay, Ewan McGregor and Tilda Swinton

Are Scottish Hotties Reason Enough to Visit Scotland?

TravelBIG says, “Hell Ya!”

A Perennial Destination: Edinburgh

All year round, Edinburgh offers a luminous cultural calendar complimented by scenic splendor. Teeming with history, this cultured city is now the hot weekend haunt for trend-spotters and bar-hoppers.

Edinburgh is a pocket-sized gem of a city. Built on a series of volcanic hills, the city’s spectacular architecture dates back to the 12th century. Perched at the most prestigious address in Edinburgh, the five-star Balmoral Hotel is a noble blend of charming Scottish Baronial dwelling and stately international landmark.

A mere twenty minutes into my stay at the Balmoral, I experience bliss in the form of the perfect scone. High tea is serious business at this property, with every ritual lovingly observed. It’s right in the middle of the action, yet with suites so inviting, it’s hard to imaging venturing out.

The Balmoral Hotel, 1 Princes Street, +44 131 556 2414, www.thebalmoralhotel.com

A short walk from The Balmoral, dinner at the Fourth Floor Restaurant at Harvey Nichols is a must. The long balcony allows for striking views of Edinburgh Castle and The Firth of Forth. Customized non-reflective floor-to-ceiling glass affords diners unimpeded after dark views.

Rolling in the Isles

The soothing tranquility I find on the ferry to the Isle of Skye verges on therapeutic.
I’ve a Viking’s vastness, sea lochs and anchorages to myself - try finding that on the Med, with its over-stuffed Speedos and hot cross buns. Hushed majesty at every turn, neither a house nor human to interrupt the beauty.

There’s no need to request a room with a view at Toravaig House: open any window and behold an epic landscape of ice silver seas. I can’t recommend Toravaig’s Iona Restaurant more highly. After a walk in the twilight air, I savoured the chef’s filet of salmon with herb crust, served on brandied fennel with a caramel sauce.

Scotland’s true treasure lies in its people. I enjoyed the loveliest reception from Lord and Lady Macdonald at their ancestral home, Kinloch Lodge. Godfrey Macdonald, High Chief of Clan Donald, runs it as an intimate, personal hotel - adding a new building in 1998, whose highlight is an open concept pro kitchen, dining room and lecture hall. This is where Lady Macdonald holds court over her massively popular cooking “experiences”. Part demonstration, part Ealing comedy, Lady Macdonald’s vivacious narratives are as addictive as her sweets and as treasured as her techniques. An award-winning author of more than a dozen cookbooks, she’s produced the most delicious food seasonal to Scotland for twenty years.

Lady Macdonald is not a fan of North America’s “supermarket” mentality and low-fat obsession. “I say eat fat, cheese, cream! Just not three times a day,” she chides. Claire Macdonald is to food enthusiasm what Hugh Hefner is to lingerie enthusiasm. It borders on naughty. A true sensualist, the lady slips me a candied orange peel with a wink. “This will blossom in your mouth, you’ll feel like Botticelli’s Venus,” she teases. I blush, the savoury rind blooms, and the lady of the manor conquers another palate.

Toravaig House Hotel, 01471 820200, www.skyehotel.co.uk
Kinloch Lodge , 01471 833333, www.kinloch-lodge.co.uk

For more Scottish Hottie News and contests visit www.dateahotscot.com

And your ultimate guide to visiting Scotland is www.visitscotland.com

The A-List Loves Bermuda: Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas

The Perfect Island for Couples Craving Culinary Creativity

Batten down the hatches, the gluttons are coming! An international coterie of professional eaters descend on Bermuda evety November to celebrate the annual Bermuda Culinary Arts Festival. From hit reality shows to cult followings, chefs remain a hot commodity these days.

Targeting the true food fan’s interest in learning from culinary mavericks, the BCAF is at the forefront of engineering much coveted intimate experiences with true masters of the craft. From cozy demos to decadent dinners, BCAF’s luscious offerings satiate even the most well-traveled and tasted palette. The programming is pitch perfect, an unprecedented opportunity to get up close and personal with the best of the best.

Imported foodies went wild over some of New York’s hottest chefs - Tom Colicchio of Craft, Cornelius Gallagher of Oceana, Aaron Sanchez of Paladar. Ashbell McElveen of London hosted the most incredible beachside BBQ, where I tasted the best pulled pork of my life. Canada’s own culinary treasure, Susur Lee, held his dining audience spellbound with his divine menu of caramelized sable fish with bone marrow crust and rack of lamb with two chutneys.

Sigourney Steak Out: If that isn’t enough to tempt you to book, I should mention BCAF’s momentum in securing celebrity hosts. The 2004 edition had three-time Oscar nominee Sigourney Weaver clinking glasses with guests.

Perhaps the most desirable attraction of BCAF is the tiny isle itself, which balances beautifully on two circles of extinct volcanoes. The millionaire’s haunt markets itself as a haven of order and social discipline. Vendors offering second-rate mementos are completely absent from the landscape. It’s simply not allowed.

Locals are polite, a feathered elegance born of offshore banking. There are no fast food outlets or wild discotheques. The streets are pristine and I had to ask the taxi driver whether there were any dogs on Bermuda. The rules for acquisition of a dog are so stringent, a glamour puss may click her kitten heels, nose in the air, without fear of undesirable accident.

Celebrity Real Estate Tidbit: Ross Perot, Quincy Jones, David Bowie and Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones all maintain homes on this 21 mile isle.

To Book for the next BCAF, click here.