Month: July 2015

Disneyland Paris

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Can dreams come true? Definitely! A fairytale starring Emilie, my little niece and myself! Once upon a time …

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Disneyland Paris is one of the most visited, famous and magical theme parks of Europe! Only 32 kilometers from Paris, Disneyland Paris is positioned in an ideal location. Over the last years they have been renovating the parks and hotels. We got the chance to visit and experience the true Disney magic and loved every single minute of our magical stay!

Let me first tell you some facts about the resort, Disneyland Paris opened back in april 1992. There are 6 Disney hotels on site and 2 theme parks: the magical Disneyland Park and the fun Walt Disney Studios. The Disneyland Park is the largest park and is dedicated to fairy tales and Disney characters. With more than 10 million visitors each year, it is the most visited theme park in Europe! The icon castle is replica of the castle seen in Sleeping Beauty. I took my little niece Emilie with me on this trip and she was in love with the castle… It is so nice!

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The Disneyland Park is divided into 5 themed areas: Mainstreet USA, Frontierland, Adventureland, Discoveryland and of course Fantasyland. While we were there, the theme was Frozen Summer Fun with shows and parades based on Disney’s Frozen. It is so nice to see the faces of the kids when they finally meet their favorite Disney characters!

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Although we liked all the attractions, I would like to highlight the Princess Pavilion! Located in a beautiful corner of Fantasyland, young royals can meet and have a photo taken with a real Disney princess. A truly magical moment which will be remembered for a very long time! You do need to make an appointment with the princesses so be sure to be there on time!

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The 2nd Disney Park, the Walt Disney Studios, opened in 2002. It is a world of cinema and entertainment and is more a teenager park with some thrill rides such as a Tower of Terror and the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith.

As mentioned before, Disneyland Paris has 6 hotels on site and the David Crockett Ranch where guests can stay in a Disney’s log cabin in the heart of nature, located only a few kilometers from the Disney Parks.

We stayed in the Disneyland Paris’ flagship hotel, the famous 5 star Disneyland Hotel. Truly unique is the fact that this hotel is located right at the entrance of the Disneyland Park! Literally a few steps from the gates, this Victorian Castle is the best Disney could offer! The building itself is spectacular… It looks like a castle featuring in a Disney movie! Complimentary valet parking and a warm welcome was appreciated! As soon as you enter this hotel, you will glide into a magical life of luxury. The grand lobby is so beautiful and majestic… Emilie felt like a princess (and I actually felt like a king too when I descent the stairs J).

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We got a room in the Castle Club, this is a private area within the Disneyland Hotel. It actually felt like a “hotel in a hotel”. This very exclusive area offers a private check-in, separate elevators and a very personal service. Guests staying here are treated as VIP guests. Firstly, there’s a separate elevator with direct access to the entrance of the Disneyland Park. So convenient! Staying at the Castle Club means you will receive VIP Fastpasses which will give you direct access to the Fastpass line (a service that can save you time by reducing the time you spend in line for attractions).  On top of that, free drinks and an afternoon tea is offered as well. I do recommend staying at the Castle Club as you will be able to have breakfast with the Disney Characters! Absolutely amazing and kids will LOVE it!

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The Disneyland Hotel has an indoor pool which is great to hang out after a day in the parks. There’s a fitness room, a full spa and play area for the kids!

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The rooms of the Disneyland hotel are of a very high level. They are luxurious appointed with some magical touches such as Peter Pan drawings on the drawer, Tinkerbell on the doorknob, etc. Rooms at the Castle Club have a Nespresso machine and a dvd player. We even had a small balcony with a unobstructed view of the Disneyland Park! But once again, what I like most about the Castle Club is the personal approach. Every staff member will make sure you will be treated as VIP guests. By the way, even the cappuccino they serve in the Castle Club Lounge featured Tinkerbell J You see what I mean? It’s all about the Disney Magic…

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We were sad to leave, but were heading home with the most magical memories which will last a lifetime!

Derag Livinghotel De Medici – Düsseldorf

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Hotelchain: Derag Livinghotels
Location: Düsseldorf – Germany
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: https://www.deraghotels.de/hotel-de-medici-duesseldorf/en/

I got the chance to explore the recently opened 5 star Derag Livinghotel De Medici in Düsseldorf. It is the newest high class hotel in the Düsseldorf area and I was impressed, let me tell you why… First of all, the Derag Livinghotel De Medici is perfectly located in the center of Düsseldorf. The best thing is that you don’t even notice that when you enter the hotel. We drove through a small gate and were surprised to see the most tranquil courtyard you can imagine. All we heard were birds and the cozy fountain in the middle of the yard, what an excellent start of our Düsseldorf getaway!

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There is a lot of history here, the Derag Livinghotel De Medici used to be a former town hall, a monastery and a museum. It truly is a walk through time as there are so many things to discover. Behind every corner, there is a surprise awaiting for you! I appreciated the mix between the old architecture and the modern touches throughout the hotel. They spend years renovating this place and it was so worth it.

The lobby area is spacious and stylish full with “Medici portraits”. I have been told that before it was rebuild as a hotel, the building was dilapidated which you wouldn’t tell today. They did a great job and entering the hotel gave me the feeling of entering a classy place. Staff was very professional and check-in was done within a few minutes. It was bloody hot that day and they immediately offered some water which was very much appreciated. They also gave us a small city guide of Düsseldorf at check-in with all the information you need to know when exploring this beautiful
city.

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Rooms at the Derag Livinghotel De Medici are luxurious appointed and brand new! Again, the mix new/old was very appealing. It had a small living area with leather couch and there even was a small kitchenette. The bedroom has heavenly beds and I was most impressed with the bathroom. The bathroom featured double sinks, toilet and a very large shower with rain and massage heads. 3 people could easily fit into the shower. Water pressure is good and toiletries are of a good quality! The room also had a separate toilet with sink. Very nice and spacious room and I loved walking through the hallways. It was like going back in time.

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Again, after every corner you will find something interesting. I was walking through the hotel and suddenly found out they have a spa elevator and let’s call it a “special hallway” with stairs. That hallway truly is the most beautiful part of the hotel. Make sure you check it out when you are there! The statues and colorful glass ceiling blew me away!

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Besides all the history, the Derag Livinghotel De Medici offers a full spa area with nicely equipped fitness center. The spa area (in Egypt theme) is the perfect place to relax after a day of shopping! A large sauna, hammam and ice fountain are there to enjoy. The place was immaculately clean. Bathrobes are in the room, by the way.

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I had lunch at the restaurant, Brasserie Stadthaus. One thing I noticed immediately was the reasonably priced menu and the gorgeous wooden ceiling. No outrageous prices here and the quality of the food was outstanding! I totally enjoyed my seafood lasagna, so yummie… Breakfast is served in the other part of the restaurant, it was of a high quality and offered a good variety of hot and cold items. They even offer sparkling
wine!

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The Derag Livinghotel is not just a hotel, staying here truly is an experience. If offers a perfect mix of elegance, history, spacious rooms, delicious food and the most attentive staff. Certainly one of the best Düsseldorf has to offer!