Luxury Collection Archives - The Brief Review

Hotel du Couvent Review – A Sacred Escape Reborn in the Hills of Nice | Nice, France

AB — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 10:51:50 +0000

Hotel du Couvent is less a hotel and more a spiritual resurrection, literally. This 17th-century convent has been meticulously transformed into a serene sanctuary nestled above Old Nice. Blending monastic simplicity with indulgent luxury, it’s a slow-living, farm-to-table, spa-forward, no-stress kind of place. With gardens on the terraces, olive groves in the hills, and zero pretension this is not your average Riviera retreat.

Review of Hotel du Couvent Nice – Details

Best For: Slow living, wellness getaways, design lovers
Location: 2 Rue Honoré Raynaud, 06300 Nice, France
Type: Boutique luxury hotel
Price: From €450–1,200 per night
Instagram: @hotelducouvent

Review of Hotel du Couvent Luxury Collection – Highlights

Stunning Conversion: Think original chapel ceilings, stone staircases, and cloistered corridors—with modern elegance.
Secret Gardens: Terraced herb gardens, a greenhouse restaurant, and views over the city and sea.
Locavore Dining: Daily menus created with ingredients grown on-site or sourced from nearby producers.
Romanesque Spa: Cold plunges, herbal steam, and natural pools hidden in vaulted chambers.
Peaceful Vibe: No flashy branding or commercial energy just nature, quiet, and care.

Hotel du Couvent Review – Things to Note

Limited Rooms: Only 27 rooms and suites—book far in advance.
Not Central Central: A 10-minute walk uphill from the Old Town—wear good shoes.
No Kids Allowed: Adults-only policy for full tranquility.
Minimalist Tech: Rooms lean into analog charm—no TVs or digital distractions.
Wellness-First: This isn’t a party hotel—it’s a place to unwind, reflect, and breathe.

Review of Hotel du Covent – Tips

Do the Full Breakfast: Served in the garden, featuring local honey, just-baked sourdough, farm eggs, and herbal infusions.
Book the Hammam Circuit: Their spa experiences are worth every minute quiet, cleansing, and candlelit.
Take a Garden Tour: The staff are passionate about their permaculture plus you’ll eat what you see.
Catch Golden Hour on the Terrace: The views from up here are unmatched, especially with a glass of natural rosé.
Ask for the Old Choir Room: Some suites retain parts of the original choir lofts truly unique.
If you have any questions, ask in the comment section below!

Review of Hotel du Couvent France – Photos

Hôtel du Couvent doesn’t shout it whispers. Every detail feels intentional, from the stone-washed linens to the hand-thrown ceramics. It’s a reminder that luxury doesn’t have to be loud to be life-changing. If you want Nice without the noise, this might just be your sacred place.

Looking for more things to do in NYC? Check out our reviews of Katz’s Delicatessen and Rao’s.

Check out our review of other hotels here.

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Ajman Saray Hotel Review | Ajman, UAE

AB — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 07:58:00 +0000

A 45 minute drive outside the popular destination of Dubai is Ajman, one of the smallest emirates (states) in the United Arab Emirates. Here along a small strip of beach are a few resorts side by side, next to the Ajman Saray is the Fairmont Hotel on the left. The Ajman Saray is part of Marriott Luxury Collection hotels.

In our stay we were upgraded to a sea view room, always ask for a high floor as you get amazing views of the gulf and resort. There was no valet as we stayed in August 2020 and there were some protective measures in place due to Covid-19. Upon self parking the check in process was very seamless.

The main bedroom and room layout as below, standard set up with working desk, small pantry and tv which is on welcoming you.

The desk has a few notices from the hotel outlining some policies and procedures as well the leather room service binder has been replaced with a print out menu, so they can change it for each new guest.

Ajman Saray Hotel

One interesting fact is the deluxe rooms in the Ajman Saray have the toilets separate from the main bathroom. It is directly on the right side when you enter the room and provides a private washroom to use.

The main bathroom is at the end of the room and has amazing views – especially from the bathtub, which offers expansive horizon over the Gulf sea.

The bathroom itself is very well appointed with Arabic influences and design. All the standard amenities are provided as well as a large walk in shower to the right side.

From the balcony you have a full resort view, overseeing the property including restaurants, pool and kids recreation area.

As a Marriott Bonvoy Elite member we were given a welcome amenity of some Arabic sweets. The baklava (on the top of the plate) were especially delicious.

A view of the room from the balcony. You will again notice the Arabic influences in the lighting fixtures. The room in general is very spacious and provides ample space to lounge around indoors or outdoors on the balcony – with chair and table or on the lounger.

A quick shot of the compulsory club sandwich to be ordered while staying at hotels – always a staple and this one was perfectly done. Replaced the bacon with avocado to be slightly healthier.

The views of the ocean are unbeatable with the light reflecting off the water at sunset provides stunning scenery.

Likewise in the morning the beaches are combed to perfection perfect for a morning swim or run. The Ajman Saray hotel has its own private beach.

Overall the hotel provides for an amazing get-a-way. There are a few activities one can do in the Emirate of Ajman itself, but most guests will likely stay on property for the majority of their stay.

Find a view walk through of the Ajman Saray Hotel room below:

Review of Ajman Saray Hotel – The Details
Address: Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi Street, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 6 714 2222
Website: Ajman Saray

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Metropol Palace Hotel Review | Belgrade, Serbia

AB — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 11:37:21 +0000

The Metropol hotel in Belgrade is an institution having been home for many foreign dignitaries over the years. Now that there are many new hip young hotels arriving at the scene the Metropol decided to undergo a refurbishment to add a modern flair. The hotel is very imposing with a large entrance and lobby.

Metropol Hotel Belgrade

The hotel is in old Belgrade though everything is close. You will need to take a taxi to reach most places. One museum of note that is just a block away from the hotel is the Nikola Tesla museum, which is small but worthwhile! One can easily walk around the hotel safely and discover the city.

As gold Starwood members, we were given an upgrade to a junior suite at Metropol hotel in Belgrade (normally standard room, however special consideration was given). The room is separated by a divider.

Between the living area and the bedroom area there is a sofa and coffee table to relax which offers nice separation between the rooms. The rooms also have a nice view over a park and views of the city.

Very modern look and feel – which makes one feel at home in Belgrade. The only issue is that the TV did not have the necessary connectivity and felt a little outdated. The books on the table give suggestions and nice ideas on activities and places to visit in the city.

The bathroom was large and spacious with all amenties one would expect in a 5 star hotel in Belgrade. It would have been nice to have twin sinks as typically you would be staying as a couple in a suite and it provides more usability.

The details
Address: Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 69, Beograd 11000, Serbia
Tel: +381 11 3333100

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