Shangri-La Tokyo
Tokyo

Located just around the corner from Tokyo station, the Shangri-La is a strong contender for Tokyo's best hotel. It has gold but not glitzy touches such as the chaise lounge in the lobby and some of the generously appointed rooms. The interior design is warm and luxurious but not ostentatious. It is a calm but not too quiet haven of luxury, popular with the fashionable set of Japanese ladies who lunch, but with evening canapes and cocktails appealing to western guests. The Italian restaurant and its new chef 'Andrea Ferrero' are excellent, as is the Japanese restaurant, 'Nadaman'.

All rooms offer superb city views from the comfort of a king bed, particularly the corner rooms and Horizon Club floor with its refined lounge. Have a complimentary swim in their 25 metre pool with views, and call on their excellent concierge to help arrange your time in Tokyo. Every facet of this hotel enhances its charm, warmth and sense of calm, and its location in the upper half of a skyscraper only adds to the sense of an oasis in the big city.

When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.
Susan Heller