This was published 11 years ago
Venetian luxury with art on the side, and the ceiling
A Tiepolo bedroom.
While art and crowds are a given for every Venice Biennale, there will be a new place of retreat this year at the Aman Canal Grande Venice in the northern Italian city.
The resort is located in San Polo, the smallest of the six districts of Venice, named for its church.
Guests travel by water taxi to the resort's reception hall with historic frescoes and reliefs in the two five-storey adjoining buildings with 24 suites.
The Alcove Tiepolo at the Aman Canal Grande Venice.
The Sansovino Suite has an original fireplace designed by 16th-century architect Jacopo d'Antonio Sansovino; the Alcove Tiepolo has a Chinese painted sitting room and a bedroom ceiling by 18th-century artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.
There's elevator access to the terrace for views over the rooftops of the city while, at ground level, two private gardens provide alfresco dining.
Dining and lounge areas in the resort have large glass windows that overlook the Grand Canal.
Junior suite Sofitel Brisbane.
The Biennale and hotel open on June 1. Rooms cost from €1000 ($1245) a night. See amanresorts.com.
The great indoors
Forget roughing it or even glamping, it's time to check in for urban camping at The Hotel at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London.
Nine suites have been transformed to luxury "campsites" with tented bed, ornate light fixtures (remote controlled), camp decor including leather saddles, animal throws, custom cowpoke art and teepee with pillows.
An electric fondue set and survival kit with champagne is also provided for a night in the great indoors.
Rooms cost from $US429 ($413) a night, twin share, and include full breakfast and use of all athletic facilities at the private club established in 1880.
Los Angeles Athletic Club hotel.
At 431 West Seventh Street, Los Angeles.
See laac.com.
Paris goes south
Guests will find touches of Paris in all 433 revamped rooms at the Sofitel in Brisbane, including photographic landscapes from the city of light.
Suites in the style of European apartments are furnished in silver and blue.
Level 28, reserved for the Opera Suite, has a lounge room, stone bath and electric blockout blinds if the glare from this city of light gets too much.
At 249 Turbot Street, Brisbane. Rooms cost from $255 a night, twin share; Opera Suite from $3000 a night.
London luxury sleepover
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London has five-star sleepovers catering to your little darlings.
Girls get a manicure with Little BU nail polish (note to housekeeping, it's water-based) and boys a bucket of Harrods lollies.
An in-room family movie served with popcorn and milkshakes and full breakfast is included in the stay.
At 66 Knightsbridge, London. It costs from £931.25 ($1355.25) a night for a family of four.
See mandarinoriental.com.
Send Room Service items to jreddy@fairfaxmedia.com.
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