All the glamour and comfort yet none of the murder

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This was published 10 years ago

All the glamour and comfort yet none of the murder

Opulent: the living room in The Plaza's Fitzgerald Suite.

Opulent: the living room in The Plaza's Fitzgerald Suite.

If Baz Luhrmann's movie adaptation of The Great Gatsby whets yours appetite for a bygone era then a night in New York at The Plaza in the Fitzgerald Suite — with Moet & Chandon cocktails on arrival — is in order. Marking the US release of the movie, The Plaza, a haunt of F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda, has opened the suite in honour of the author and hotel patron.

Designed by the film's costume and set designer, Catherine Martin, the 18th-floor suite has been taken back to a time of art deco. A bespoke front door mimics the grille work in the film's logo, there are oak floors, dome ceilings surrounded by an antique mirror, glass-fringed chandeliers and Mayfair Steamer desk drawers, a replica of antique steamer trunks.

Photographs of the 2013 film cast and Fitzgerald sit beside bookshelves containing the author's complete works. The bedspread and towels are embroidered with the Jay Gatsby-and-Daisy-inspired monogram, Gatsby's initials outlined by a daisy flower (as seen in the film), and there are gramophone-shaped iPhone and iPad speakers.

The bedroom.

The bedroom.

From a white leather couch, guests will eventually be able to watch Luhrmann's movie on the suite's television when released on DVD.

Within the hotel, the Palm Court is serving Fitzgerald Tea (curried-lobster salad and chocolate Sachertorte), or in the Rose Club and Champagne Bar click your fingers in the direction of the Moet cart to top up your glass.

The Australian premiere of the movie is in Sydney on Wednesday.

The writer's nook.

The writer's nook.

The suite costs from $US2795 ($2798) a night. See theplazany.com.

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Play hard, rest harder

To the west coast and San Diego's sprawling Rancho Valencia, on 18 hectares and with 18 tennis courts and 49 suites, has reopened after a $US30 million makeover.

Upgrades: San Diego's Rancho Valencia.

Upgrades: San Diego's Rancho Valencia.

While other healthful activities include yoga in the pavilion and croquet, indolence is also catered to, with a four-to-one staff-to-guest ratio and, at the Pony Room, 100 types of tequila to choose from at the Californian resort.

Rooms cost from $US650 a night.

See ranchovalencia.com.

Miner opening

Perth's shortage of hotel beds will ease slightly with the opening of the five-star Fraser Suites overlooking the Swan River.

The 19-storey property in East Perth has 236 self-contained studios and one-bedroom apartments (which can be converted to two-bedroom apartments).

The suites are close to the city, WACA cricket ground and Perth Convention Exhibition Centre.

A studio costs from $245 a night; a one-bedroom apartment from $270. See perth.frasershospitality.com.

Send Room Service items to jreddy@fairfaxmedia.com.

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