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One Nice Hotel

Anna

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Overview

Fogo Island Inn is a proud representative of the One Nice Hotel values, embracing fulfillness for travellers through hotel-living and destination led experiences. The building itself is a miracle of architecture while the philosophy behind all of its operations have an ethically admirable structure. Fogo Island Inn is located in one of the four corners of the Earth and there is a secret that we want to share with you; when one observes the stars from the island’s shores their soul can get flooded with undiscovered emotions.

The Property

Describing Fogo Island Inn as an architectural masterpiece which has established an affectionate bond with nature since 2013, would be an exaggeration should its cubic exteriors lacked boldness that magnetically connect with the landscape’s effortless superiority. Due to the ordered, geometric approach in the building’s emblematic design, which depicts influences from local and international designers, it is inevitable to put aside the fair competition between technical innovation and the natural beauty.

Of course, the art of design is not the only one that gets to enjoy Fogo Island Inn’s appreciation. The property often becomes a fundamental supporter for artistic exploration and production for artists while artists-in-residence visit the island to do research, and selected artists are invited to present their work in exhibitions at the Fogo Island Gallery located inside Fogo Island Inn.

In that sense, the art that has been created by nature is admired as the greatest representative of all arts there and so, with the climate change achieving to get more of its market share by the travel community during the last decade, Fogo Island Inn seems to be ahead of the game, due to its highly sustainable infrastructure alongside the respect shown to nature and culture. Furthermore, Fogo Island Inn is a community asset, and 100% of operating surpluses are reinvested into the community to help secure a sustainable and resilient future for Fogo Island, Newfoundland.

Room & Suite Types

Fogo Island Inn provides 29 uniquely designed, well-appointed rooms and suites with dramatic floor to ceiling windows that open onto the wildest and most powerful ocean on the planet. The contemporary lavishness and earthy calmness which are reflected on each of the Inn’s rooms and its suites are the representatives of the property’s harmonious relationship with nature.

The bright colours on the fabrics that dress gently the soft parts of the furniture are matched with printed textiles on cushions. The above complement the neutral tones of the wooden floorings and support the wallpapers on their successful attempt to create a warm, cozy atmosphere. Looking at Fogo Island Inn’s smart and playful interiors, a comfortable contrast between the sophisticated indoors and the raw outdoors can easily be spotted, especially when the waves fiercely conclude in the rocks of the island.

The Inn’s rates are per night, per room, based on two guests in each room and a two-night minimum length of stay applies, except June-September, where a three-night minimum stay applies. The daily rates are inclusive of all meals, a half-day Island Orientation with a Community Host, and most excursions.

Location

Fogo Island is the largest of the offshore islands in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Fogo Island Inn sits on an island, off an island, and can be accessed by air through Gander commercial airport or through a passenger and vehicle ferry, operated by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador several times each day. The crossing takes about 45 minutes and the drive from the Fogo Island ferry stop to the Fogo Island Inn covers a distance of about 25km, and takes about 30 minutes. The island itself carries a long maritime history and a fishing tradition, which explains why one of the excursions one can arrange to have when staying at Fogo Island Inn is the guided open boat experience with an experienced local fisherman, which is a true adventure on the wild North Atlantic Ocean.

Experience

Whether you are a solo traveller, a couple or a larger group your curiosity to explore the island and Fogo Island Inn is understandable, although we cannot choose which of these two would take the lead. By visiting the island you will find yourself in one of the world’s most majestic places. There is a very special energy a Fogo Island and so, visiting it can only be described as an unconditional connection one can have with the world and with its own self without disruptions.

What we like about it

There’s not much to not like about it, however, if we only had to pick one favourite aspect about Fogo Island Inn, then that would be the fact that it is a property with a clear purpose in this world which proudly embraces the respect for life, as shown through tangible actions related to culture, nature, hospitality, and humanity. Fogo Island Inn’s driving force is fully aligned with everything that One Nice Hotel represents and the philosophy of personal development that is connected with the hotel-living experiences we aim to communicate through selected properties.

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    Every large city or little town has its local flower markets or the large wholesale type of flower markets which have become part of the grocery shopping for locals. Although these tend to not be included in travel guides or travel itineraries, as they are least of a priority in comparison to the landmarks or the hot list of restaurants, we thought it’s worth sharing some of the most beautiful flower shops or flower markets we have handpicked during our trips and explain the reasons why, in our view, the flower market visit should be added to your next trip’s plan.

    We will begin this blooming journey from the flower market in Amsterdam, the well-known Bloemenmarkt, which can be found on the Singel canal between Muntplein and Koningsplein in the city’s southern canal belt. Bloemenmarkt is a small but beautiful flower market which has a really local sense to it and is surrounded by souvenir shops and just a few shops which are still selling fresh flowers. It is one of Europe’s first flower markets as it was founded in 1862 and was the world’s only floating flower market, so in honour of its history and virtue we would definitely recommend a visit.

    Moving on to a unique fleury place in London and the shop of the ‘Petals at Bibendum’ on Fulham road, which we would recommend it as the perfect place to spend an afternoon or walk by to enjoy some of the the most superlative flowers from the Netherlands, Italy, Ecuador and of course, the UK. The shop itself is located in the iconic Michelin House in Chelsea, which was the first permanent UK headquarters of the Michelin Tyre Company Ltd. The building was built by one of Michelin’s employees, Francois Espinasse, and has three large stained-glass windows which were there to accommodate their advertising needs at the time, all featuring the Michelin Man “Bibendum”. ‘Petals at Bibendum’ made their first, humble appearance in 1982 but they have now expanded to more places around London and they have some of the most beautiful seasonal fresh flower collections available. Definitely a fantastic spot for a picture as well as flower shopping and Oysters at Claude Bosi’s Oyster Bar at Bibendum. For more variety and a longer walk in a proper flower market, Columbia Road Flower Market in Bethnal Green, which is open only on Sundays, is the place to be while the New Covent Garden Market in Nine Elms provides a wholesale type of shopping experience for veggies, flowers and fruits but is definitely not a priority for a traveller, unless you are specifically looking for a wide selection of products at wholesale prices.

    Of course, Campo de’ Fiori in Rome could not be excluded from our list, as it is one of the most traditional urban open-air markets where flowers have a special place among vegetables and other goods. The market itself is found on a rectangular square south of Piazza Navona in Rome and it has never been architecturally formalised. Interesting fact about it is that executions used to be held publicly in Campo de’ Fiori. In fact, on 17 February 1600, the philosopher Giordano Bruno was burnt alive for heresy, as is made evident by the monument that sits on that exact spot where the execution happened. Even if you are not a big flower fan, visiting Campo de’ Fiori will give you an idea of the real Roman lifestyle and you will see a wide variety of types of people doing their grocery shopping there; some of them dressed in high fashion outfits and others in their low-key casual style, all very authentic and passionate, as Italians tend to be.

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    This summer we will all have to skip holidays or accept that we have to travel differently. If you have decided to take all necessary measures and travel abroad you may have started searching what the new processes in the airports are and what the ground services on arrival countries look like. We had a first-hand experience of international traveling and we were surprised by the preparation and the commitment of all involved people who have worked very hard in order to help bring our confidence and our travel habits back.

    The trip started from Heathrow on 31st May and our final destination was Athens, Greece. It was a morning flight and so we arrived at Heathrow at around 07:30a.m. Timings do not usually affect how busy Heathrow is and neither did this time, only this time Heathrow was very quiet which was so unusual. Although seeing the airport almost empty was shocking it also felt kind of good at the time. There was still a lot of uncertainty in the air around travel guidelines while the cases’ numbers had just started to be under control in the United Kingdom, so entering the airport and preparing to fly out felt almost surreal after two and a half months of self-isolation. The airport itself felt like a ghost town, as there was very limited staff and very few travellers spread all over the floor. Most of the staff was wearing their masks. As they were all sitting behind the protection walls which have been placed on their desks and kiosks, it really felt like there was no real risk in approaching them if any assistance was required. Everyone from the airport’s staff looked very excited to see the first travellers approaching them to request assistance with luggage drop off or seek guidance regarding any necessary documents that needed to be filled in. In the end everything was pretty straight forward and there was nothing to be too worried about as long as social distancing instructions kept being followed. In general, the staff gave us a first relief while we were entering the unknown travel zone.

    From a processes perspective everything run extremely smoothly. Passing through security was very efficient and quick. We did not do anything different, however, we did use sanitiser a few times. The staff seemed to know exactly what they were doing throughout the process implying good training, which was impressive considering the short period within which they had to get ready for the new standards and new processes. Every other seat was covered with tape to guarantee social distancing instructions are being followed by travellers while all restaurants were closed and had the chairs and the stools covered with plastic. After security, there was not much to do really. People took a seat and waited until boarding. No shopping, no snacking, not even much chatting. It almost felt like people avoided causing any possible disruption of the stillness. To top this feeling up, this was the quietest queueing for boarding we have ever had. Distances were respected by everyone and people waited patiently for their passports and tickets to be scanned. As we entered the aircraft, people’s behaviour changed; some people who had been allocated in isle seats tried to sit by the window thinking the flight would not be full, which caused a bit of a delay in getting things sorted as the airlines hostesses had to get involved so as to resolve the issue quickly. Inside the airplane all seats were occupied and so, there was no enough social distancing. Masks were mandatory, which was good considering we were all so close to each other. We had agreed we would sanitise our chairs with Dettol wipes. This has always been a habit of mine when it came to long haul flights, but this was the first time I did not get any weird looks from other people while doing so.

    When we arrived in Frankfurt we were told we had to leave the airplane in groups, which worked well. The airport itself was not as organised as I would have expected. There was passengers from approximately six flights at the same time in the waiting area, which was probably the most people we had seen in the same area for more than two and a half months. There was a couple of coffee shops which were open and people could buy coffee or snacks. It was surprising to see so many people walking here and there in various directions and there was not much staff around to direct the crowd or help put some order, which made us feel uncomfortable. Taking a seat and wait till it is boarding time for the second part of our transit flight felt like the best possible idea and being able to consume the dry food we had brought from home felt smart at that time. After freshening up and taking teeny-tiny breaks from wearing our masks we focused on one mission; to avoid getting squeezed up during boarding. People’s reaction to the gate’s opening was suddenly too aggressive as everybody was rushing into getting into the plane forgetting we all needed to keep distances. Inside the plane, after sanitising once again the chair and the armrests as well as the table on the front chair’s back, we took a nap till landing.

    When we arrived in Athens we could not believe the level of preparation we experienced by the local authorities and ground services’ staff. Once again, we were told we would leave the plane in groups. The whole deboarding process lasted no longer than fifteen minutes, which was not too bad considering the flight was full. The first thing a passenger experiences as they walk into the airport is their passport’s control and check of the completed form on which each passenger has completed the address of the place where they will be doing their quarantine. After that, travellers are requested to complete another form providing each individual’s contact details. This is given to the doctors who conduct the saliva test by the authorities and based on the results the passengers are directed to either go home or self-isolate in a hotel for fourteen days. Luggage collection is right after the doctors’ remote medical kiosks and so, all these steps take place really quickly one straight after the other.
    After passengers have collected their luggage they can jump on one of the coaches, which are filled in a 50% occupancy, and they will be taken to a hotel where they will sleep for the night until their test results are announced the next morning or early afternoon.

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    Looking at Fashion and Travel as a natural pair in a wanderluster’s life, which complement each other and walk side by side towards self-exploration and self-positioning, today we present to you three resort wear brands which have built their identity having in mind a sophisticated traveller’s needs. Keeping the refined designs aligned with practicality is a recipe not all brands can successfully manage, however, SANGUEL, EG|DAMGAARD and Akinda Co. have skilfully linked these two elements since inception time and we are delighted to share with you what makes them stand out of the crowd.

    SANGUEL’s story had its first lines written in Paris in 2019. Carrying the glamorous beach life boldness of Los Angeles, Capri and Santorini on each piece’s shoulders, SANGUEL combines distinctive yarns with smart sexy cuts which praise the feminine silhouette, with or without jewellery. The designer herself has spent years in studying knitting techniques and practising the art of knitwear through her various roles in luxury fashion houses, such as Hugo Boss, and fast-fashion, as she was a senior designer of women’s knitwear at Inditex Group. Although her talent leads the brand’s distinctive quality, her passion for travel has always been the driving force behind the eclectic approach towards a jet-setter’s wardrobe. The collection includes a mix of knitwear as well as delicate swim wear, luxury kaftans, sluggish cover-ups and seductive cocktail dresses which wrap up a globe-trotter’s yacht days, beach party looks or negroni evenings by the pool.

    Another luxury swimwear brand that pays ode to the modern, stylish and environmentally conscious traveler is EG | DAMGAARD. Inspired by the inviting, dark ocean waters and the history of the little mermaid the founder, Mie Eg Damgaard, who has strong family traditions of working with fabrics, has created a wardrobe for a would-be taskforce of seductive mermaids. The brand, which has roots in Copenhagen, has a mission to share the Nordic lifestyle through their pieces, which aim to be in your heart for many years and accompany many moments in your life. The brand’s uniqueness lies in their innovative slant on high-end fashion and their pieces have been designed having the traveller at the centre of attention as well as their sustainable nature. EG | DAMGAARD creates modern pieces from 100% recycled ocean plastic while everything they use, from fabrics to hang tags, has a sustainable aspect attached to it, too. They also work with factories that have a truly responsible approach towards their workers at the industrial production line and they support local communities through their actions, too. The little surprise we found while browsing their website and immediately put a smile on our face was the travel size bikini wash! Nice touch EG | DAMGAARD!

    The third resort wear brand that takes into serious consideration travellers’ needs and is extremely relevant nowadays is Akinda. Inspired by the spontaneity and the sense of exploration a trip has to offer Akinda is the brand that wants to let you get the full experience of the moment and helps you do that in style. Their pieces have the incredible ability to look great from day to night; Akinda’s one-piece swimsuits could work well with several different outfits, providing versatility and a sense of effortless elegance to any outfit. Whatever your mind’s eye conjures, it is no exaggeration to say that Akinda’s clean lines can guarantee for swim wear with timeless value. Their signature piece, Solis, sits comfortably next to shorts and sandals at brunch or lights up an evening outfit. Their brand’s concept is around light travelling and stress free travel habits, which really matches the island life we all dream of when booking our next vacation.

    #resortwear #travelinstyle #sustainability

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    Chairs are an object of desire for many people and truth is, a stylish chair can really give identity to any room. The same applies to hotel environments, too, especially when we are talking about hotels where owners have invested something more than just money in the creation of the lobby, the rooms and the public spaces.

    Classic, eccentric, curvilinear, trestle, spindle-backed, pierced, cantilever and arabesque are only some of the chair styles that can beautifully complement a room’s interior design. Today, we will explore together three hotels in which the chairs play an instrumental role in the guest’s experience due to their unique aesthetics and smart design. In each of these properties the chairs help in the creation of identity but also aim to make the guest feel comfortable and nice.

    First things first, the chairs of the Santa Monica Proper hotel, furnished by the global design visionary, Kelly Wearstler. Wearstler is highly sought-after for her distinctive and inspiring approach to residential living and her influence on the furniture selection of several hotels under the umbrella of Proper hotels is clear. By mixing contemporary furniture and repurposed finds from vintage shops, focusing on neutral tones and hand-picked deco details, the designer has created a well-balanced atmosphere where guests can relax, explore beautiful objects that cannot be found anywhere else and feel spoiled. Chairs seem to play a very important role to Wearstler’s decoration approach; I have personally managed to count thirteen different types of chairs in the hotel’s restaurant alone.

    Next on my list is a very fashionable suites-only hotel, the brand of which is synonymous to elegance and luxury. I am referring to Fendi Private Suites Roma, which is located in the heart of the Eternal City and consists of seven impeccably designed suites. The boutique hotel sits on the third floor of Fendi’s prestigious headquarters, providing guests with an exclusive shopping experience alongside sophisticated accommodations, encompassing aristocratic Roman elegance within prêt-à-porter living spaces. The various chair styles complement the palazzo’s grande architecture; fine fabrics, a carefully selected palette matching the walls’ colours and contemporary units harmonically combined with classic ones, giving guests an authentic Roman experience in luxury surroundings.

    Chairs, chairs and more chairs; on gloomy days when everything seems grey and dull, El Fenn shows the bright side to the hotel world and its chairs are just one of the colourful furniture that make this place look so happy. For those who can do with a little bit more pink and a little bit more yellow than others, El Fenn is paradise. Chevron and flame stitch patterns on the chairs interact playfully with the checkered floorings and the multi-layered surfaces. The chairs shout about comfort and coziness, inviting you to lay your body on them for till room service arrives.

    #hotelchairs #hotelinteriordesign