For this week’s Featured post, we interviewed Edward Farwick, Director of Sales of The Standard New York by noted lux business hotelier and residential developer, André Balazs. Due to open in the Fall of 2008, The Standard New York will be located in the heart of Manhattan’s searing hot, très fashionable meatpacking district at 844 Washington Street. Stay tuned for more exciting news coming up soon!
Edward was kind enough to take time to give 14Trips his insights on our five favorite travel questions. Please read his candid answers below!
14Trips: What was your favorite childhood vacation spot?
EF: There are too many to tell; however, narrowing it down it would come down to four places:
1) Tonda: A small village in Tuscany, Italy. A true ‘’under the Tuscan sun’’ town where all the inhabitants know one another, everyone is friendly, it’s spacious, and unspoiled style is combined with a true Italian Charm.
2) Hong Kong: A place that I would call the New York of Asia, a magnificent city full of life, so much so that as a child I was impressed with everything going on there. One moment you could be walking in the cosmopolitan downtown, the next moment you could be on Repulse Bay, which is a great beach. Once a vacation spot, it became a place where I had the pleasure of living for a year.
3) New York City: As a Dutch National with a born and raised in New York father, Manhattan has always greatly inspired me. New York’s vibe is amazing, 24 hours a day, with lots of life and an amazing population of different cultures. After being here for five years, I can call it my true home now, as I enjoy everything from brunches in the West Village to strolls down in Central Park. I would say that Christmas is one of the most amazing times in New York, with the streets decorated, a clear blue sky, and the freezing cold: a perfect excuse to get a Dean & Deluca hot chocolate.
4) Los Angeles: You either hate it or love it, but for me, LA is a very special place, especially after seeing movies on TV as a child in Europe, then experiencing the reality of LA life. It’s a great, laid back, fun, and crazy place, all at the same moment.
14Trips: What book did you take with you on your last trip?
EF: Losing My Virginity by Richard Branson. He’s a man who, in my eyes, understands travel; how to travel, how to work hard, and how to enjoy life. Sir Richard is a visionary with unending dreams which all come true.
14Trips: What is the best dining experience you’ve ever had?
EF: El Bulli which is a Michelin starred restaurant run by chef Ferran Adrià in Roses on the Costa Brava in Catalonia, Spain. The small restaurant overlooks the Cala Monjoi Bay, and could be described as “the most imaginative generator of haute cuisine on the planet.” The restaurant has a limited season from April to September; bookings are taken on a single day in the previous October. It accommodates only 8,000 diners a season.
14Trips: What city, in your opinion, is the best kept secret in travel?
EF: I would say two cities. First, Milan is a city which is described as industrial and, of course, besides being famous for the fashion, has a lot to offer with amazing architecture, wonderful little restaurants, and areas which are fun and crazy. One of them is Zona Tortona, which you would say is industrial, but is a place which I believe will soon become like the meatpacking district of New York.
The second city would be Paris, which is an amazing city with so much unspoiled beauty besides the obvious places. I love the little streets. I cherish the coffee houses as a true pleasure of a city where you can easily live after spending some time with the locals. As in many cities, I would always want to visit the none-too-obvious places, as those are the true local beauties of any city.
14Trips: Who do you think publishes the best travel guides?
EF: Beside the great magazines and guides we have like Travel & Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Zagat Surveys, Rick Steves, and The New York Times’ Travel section, I always want more so I do a lot of research online. A good travel guide is the actual person from a specific country working for a local CVB in your city. For example, the French Tourism Board in New York like many others recruit their local habitants to work for them. For me, that is the best resource for finding the places that are not published.
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“For me, this photo encapsulates a moment of pure awe: the magnificent Alhambra perched atop a hill overlooking Granada and Southern Spain, set to the backdrop of clear blue skies. The Alhambra palace and fortress date back to the Muslim kings and their court in the 1300s but today they represent a stunning example of Moorish architecture. The Alhambra draws a huge number of visitors but the property is large enough that one can escape the crowds and spend the whole day wandering and taking in the breathtaking scenery and amazing architectural accomplishments. And when your feet need a rest, head to the Parador Hotel for some sangria on the beautiful patio overlooking the Alhambra and surrounding area. “
