Hotel Heaven: Confessions of a Luxury Hotel Addict

by Matthew Brace

“Filled with hilarious stories, embarrassing incidents and wacky observations. . . . A perfect combination for escapism.”— Famous Magazine In this eye-opening account of a decade spent in relentless pursuit of luxury, award-winning journalist Matthew Brace takes the armchair traveler inside the hallowed walls of the world’s most glamorous hotels. Whether recalling close encounters with leopards in Kenyan safari lodges, or—equally alarming—collisions with A-listers in the Beverly Wilshire, Brace is a wonderfully charming and eloquent companion. But he’s not just a witty he has plenty to say about our species’ obsession with luxury and where it may lead us.

Genres: Nonfiction

310 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2008

Reviews

[N]

You know how it's kinda fun to read a magazine spread about a really swanky hotel, featuring a write-up and lots of glossy photos? Well, this book taught me that it's the photos that make that magazine spread compelling. Hotel write-ups without the photos (which is what this book is) just become an exercise in some tiresome WASP cocking on about how wonderful it is to lie on a beach and have some underpaid schlub bring you a G&T. Nahhh...

[Mark Farley]

Having come from a hotel background (for some years), this really interested me. But there was no comparison with the hotels that I worked and the experiences that Matthew Brace has embarked on as a travel writer over the years. To the point where most would question their choice of career. In this book, he travels all over the world, checking into remote island retreats and city based luxury hotels. Talk about a book being escapism. Prepare to be sickeningly envious.

[J.L.]

Very interesting!

[That70sheidi]

I learned there are lots of places that are very nice but that I would never be able to go visit, either because of money restrictions or my dislike of flying (I always always without fail get sick - flu, sinus infection, migraine, or all three).

[Robin]

Another Powell's find.

[Michael Heath-Caldwell]

Interesting book on hotels around the world and critique of what makes them good.

[Joanne Aldridge prev logan]

really interesting to find out about the history of luxury hotels and the funny goings on

[Diane in Australia]

3 Stars = I liked the book. I'm glad I read it.