London’s One Fine Stay or Waikiki’s new Schrager/Marriott Edition hotel? Tough call.

No sooner did images of Karl Lagerfeld’s Isla Moda finally make their mouth-watering way onto the web than, poof!, the island vanished. Our dreams of 1.2 million square feet of tumbling waterfalls, designer boutiques, futuristic hotels and shopping bag-toting nymphs evaporated in an economy-downturn instant. Sigh.

So what is a hotel-lover in search of something interesting (and real) to do in the meantime?

Plan A:
Well, not so much a plan, per se, as an un-plan. As London’s first ‘un-hotel’, it’s lovely to see One Fine Stay getting itself quite the portfolio since launching a little while back. No hotels – instead some very wealthy/stylish folks’ tasty homes (luxury boats, converted churches, stately manors with swimming pools) that they then rent out when they’re away, served with all the usual hotel amenities (airport collection, fridge fills, fresh towels, on-call staff). Sure it’s a cracking solution for ‘hosting’ guests (like when the in-laws come to visit). But it’s also great for when you just need to get away… but can’t actually get away.

Or there’s Plan B:
Hop over to Waikiki Beach – where Ian Schrager has just lent his hardly-insignificant hotelier expertise to the Marriott group to launch Edition. The first venue from this new lifestyle hotel brand, rooms start at a refreshing £220 for an Oceanview. The design is pretty sharp and there’s plenty on offer in the luxury department, combining Schrager’s style with Marriott’s scale. And, well, let’s face it: you’re in bloody Hawaii.

We’re particularly keen to see how this baby breaks in, as the latest Marriott sub-empire has its savvy eyes set next on Istanbul, Mexico City, Barcelona and Miami; some of our favourite spots! And if they pull this off, then that’s not a bad name to have in your little black book.

Offer

Hopefully you saw that we ran an exclusive UJ offer to members' club Blacks in our Weekend Guide last Thursday. Well, the offer has now been extended… From now until the end of December, Urban Junkies readers can receive access to private members' club, Blacks by quoting 'Urban Junkies' when making a reservation. Reservations must be made in advance by calling 020 7287 3381. Upon visiting, additional membership offers will be made available exclusively to UJ readers. And in case you were wondering, we aren’t posting a weblink as they don’t have one - Giuseppe, the owner, likes it like that.

Blacks, 67 Dean Street, W1D 4QH