As reported on Reuters.com
(Editing by Belinda Goldsmith)

© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved

Sleep tight: World’s top 7 hotel beds

Check in to these luxe hotels when you need a great night of rest

SYDNEY - For travelers who need a good bed for a good night's sleep, travel guidebook publisher LUXE City Guides has come up with a list of 7 of the top hotel beds around the world.

This list is compiled by Luxe City Guides' editorial team and is not endorsed by Reuters.

1. The Bowery Hotel, New York
The Bowery Hotel's custom-built American-style wooden beds look as plump and comfy as they feel. Serta mattresses are enveloped in custom 400 count Egyptian cotton sheets, plus down duvets, two firm and two soft down pillows, or if you're sensitive, a choice of hypo allergenic pillows and duvets. Leave the curtains open for views of the twinkly Manhattan skyline.

2. The Setai, Miami
With its 700 count sateen cotton treats from Christian Fischbacher of Switzerland, Dux beds with a 2.5 inch latex top pad and a choice of down, feather or hypo allergenic handmade pillows from Singaporean company Ploh, it's hard not sleep. Wake up with the views of the sunrise over the Atlantic.

3. Sofitel Watertower, Chicago
The trademarked SoBed sleep system is actually a Serta mattress topped by a Pacific Coast featherbed and duvet, custom 250 count linen and foam and feather pillows. If you can't stand another night without a SoBed, you can buy one through the hotel.

4. Hollywood Roosevelt, Los Angeles
After a night at LA's notorious party pad, you can sleep between custom 400 count sateen Sferra linens on a Sealy Palatial Crest Cushion with squishy pillowtop, and 26" square goose down pillows (hypo-allergenic upon request).

5. The Connaught, London
Sleep on the hotel's own signature Maybourne Deluxe barrel-shaped pocket spring mattress, with a poly-fiber pillow top, own brand 50/50 feather and down pillows and lovely Rivolta Carmignani 300 thread count cotton sheets. The window shades block out light completely and just add private butler and Asprey Purple Water toiletries for absolute luxury.

6. Park Hyatt, Sydney
Lie on an oversized Sealy Hyatt Grand Pillow Top king with 50 percent down and 50 percent feather pillows, snuggling under a cozy down and feather duvet and Australian 'Royal Collection' 300 thread count linens. Wake to a view of the iconic Sydney Opera House and the dazzling harbor.

7. JIA, Shanghai
The bed is Sealy Hotel Luxury Pillow Top, the linen 300 count, the pillows a choice of soft or firm feather and down or hypo allergenic and the duvets 80 percent down, but what makes JIA Shanghai really sleepworthy are extras such as eye shades, ear plugs, aromatherapy oils and even electronic lullaby tunes. If you're in a suite, you can even have a crackling fire DVD.

Magazines and Fashion Publications round-up

I'm a self confessed Magazine-aholic, whether it be fashion, business or wedding magazines. I had my monthly dose of magazines, after venturing into my favourite newsagency in South Melbourne. The reason why it's my favourite is because they have a frequent buyer card where I purchase 14 and you get the 15th free up to the value of $10. They give me up to a little over 2 months to use it which is certainly enough time for my magazine-fix.

Yesterday I had purchased In Style and Shop til you Drop. Both had some great tips for the season, but I must admit that the In Style 'Style at any age' feature captured my eyes the most. I love seeing an entire look from clothing, bags, shoes to accessories come together and even if you cannot afford the expensive designer labels, you can certainly see how to work a similar look by the decades, by mixing and matching and perhaps using your own clothing and accessories. Seeing the 'Leggings in 3 ways' feature by In Style's Style Experts, gives you a refreshing outlook to wearing this essential piece in your wardrobe. 'How to wear the New Shoes' gives us the best ways to wear different styles of shoes from sleek sandals to round-toe pumps, ankle boots, embellished heels, bold platforms and vibrant flats.

Here are some of the Fashion and Style related publications on my bookshelf:

Style A to Zoe by amazing Stylist to the Stars - Rachel Zoe, whom has styled the likes of Jennifer Garner, Demi Moore, Cameron Diaz, Deborah Messing, Kate Beckinsale, Molly Sims and Joy Bryant. I love her reality show 'The Rachel Zoe Project', which is a fascinating insight into the world of Fashion and Celebrity.

Colin Cowie Chic by renowned Events Extraordinaire Colin Cowie, whom has planned many amazing Events for friends such as Oprah Winfrey. He curently has a TV Show called Get Married, showcasing wedding and event tips and featuring wedding trends around the globe.

The Guide to quality taste and style by Tim Gunn, known for being a major part of America's Project Runaway and having the famous catch-phrase 'make it work'. He also has a spin off TV Show, Tim Gunn's Guide to Style.

The Little Black book of Style by Nina Garcia, known for being one of the judges on America's Project Runway. The former Elle Magazine Editor-at-Large is now the Fashion Director for Marie-Claire in September 2008.

Happy Reading!

My favourite Online Shopping Stores

Being a fairly internet savvy person, I must admit that I tend to find many bargains online. Especially on a cold Winters day when you're comfortable on your laptop infront of the heater, the world wide web offers a boundless amount of entertainment and for some that includes online window browsing. The difficulty in this is, that there are so many cheap online deals these days, that they are difficult to resist. I often do a bit of research online, but sometimes the research can become 'purchase'. The trick is to set a limit per item and only spend money that you actually have in your savings account, so you can pay off your credit card in full very quickly. The catch is that many of us have 44 - 55 days interest free on credit cards and that's where shopaholics can be caught out!

Here are some of my favourite Online Stores:

www.strawberrynet.com - Discount Perfume, Skincare and Makeup with Global Shipping

www.bluefly.com - Authentic Designer Clothing, Handbags, Shoes and Accessories - definitely for the Fashion Obsessed

www.victoriassecret.com - The only place to buy Victoria's Secret since we don't have retail stores in Australia

And one of the best ways to find out online sales and local sales in your state - ensure you subscribe online to www.salesguide.com.au so you won't miss a bargain!

Shop Safe and be sure to checkout my own online store www.style8shop.com.au to view our unique and stylish fashion accessories.

Designer Shopping in Bella Italia & Europe

When times are tough we all try to spend less on the luxuries and put our hard earned money towards necessities. But with a little bit of research and internet savviness, you can find the best buys and travel to some of the best places on earth to find ultimate fashion finds. I'm sure you can sense a bit of a theme going on in my blogs - Italy, Europe, Italy and more Italy. But I have to say, that my greatest fashion finds have been in Italy and I hope all of you fashionistas can save your pennies to visit the home of Style and Fashion - Italy and search for your own designer finds. In order to plan your trip to Shopping Trip of a lifetime to Italy, I highly recommend if you have yet to visit, you must start off in Roma and see the amazing historical monuments and soak in all the culture this city provides. Take a stroll down 'Via Condotti' where all the world's Designer stores are situated. It will lead you to the 'Piazza di Spagna' aka Spanish Steps.

For many travellers, Florence would be the next destination and ideally so, as it is a very beautiful city. If you do not intend on driving in Italy, the best way to get from City to City is by Train. Florence is the perfect stop along your shopping holiday. There are some great markets for you to explore where you can buy pashminas and leather bags, journals and Italian souvenirs. See the real Statue of David located at the Accademia Gallery and take pictures of the Beautiful Duomo aka Cathedral and see the Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio Bridge along the Arno River. Don't forget to stop by one of the many gelatterias and be sure to order some 'Pistacchio' gelati - my favourite flavour. Whilst in Florence you can book a shopping tour http://www.viator.com/tours/Florence/Florence-Shopping-Tour-to-Prada-and-the-Mall-Fashion-Outlets/d519-24288GROUP (Copy and paste this link into your browser). This Tour costs approximately EUR28.00 and the driver will take you to the Space Outlet which houses Prada, Helmut Lang, Miu Miu, Jill Sander and Prada Sport all under the one roof. You will spend a few hours there and then head to The Mall which houses Gucci, Zegna, Agnona, Burberry, YSL, Y3, La Perla, Valentino, Fendi, Tod's, Hogan, Bottega, Armani, Sergio Rossi, Veneta, Ungaro, Diesel, Stella McCartney and many more. There are some great buys to be found. On my past shopping expeditions I have always found some amazing handbags, wallets, jackets, shoes and accessories. It pays to do some research and head straight to the main designers you prefer, so you can look around there first. A good tip is to hold items first and then you can always come back to pay on the day, so you can look around the other designers first, especially if you are on a strict budget. My favourite store for handbags has been D&G. This is separate store which was used to be part of the shopping tours, but I have found less interest in tourists in buying at this outlet, as it tends to be out of most people's price range. I honestly think everyone's wallets and credit cards tend to be shopped out by the time the bus gets here, as it is the last stop.

What I like about Designer Outlet Shopping in Tuscany is that much of the selection you find, never even found its way to their Australian stores. So chances are, you will find items that were strictly for release in Europe and North America only. For those who prefer a bit of the designer luxuries, along with some other well known brands, there is a great chain of Designer Outlets opened by the McCarthur Glen Group http://www.mcarthurglen.com/ I really hope they open in Australia someday. As I would most definitely be tempted to stimulate the economy with a good number of Premium Brands under the one roof.

If you're ever in Germany, ensure you checkout http://www.outletcity-metzingen.com/outletCity.php?language=en&server=live in Metzingen which is closer to Stuttgart. I especially love the multi-level Hugo Boss outlet. This outlet houses other designer brands such as Burberry, Escada, Bally, Lacoste and Ralph Lauren to name a few. So next time you're in one of these cities, be sure you take time out to Designer Outlet Shop. I'm sure you will find some fabulous Designer bargains:)

Under the Tuscan Sun

Mura, Montaione, Tuscany - ITALY. That was the setting of my wedding which had been two years in the making. Such a beautiful part of the world with breathtaking scenery, so much history and culture, fabulous food and wine and hospitable locals. What more could we have asked for? From the 2nd May we had stayed at Villa la Noce which accommodated virtually all of our guests. I knew as soon as we had booked this place, back in 2007, that it be a special place hosting many unforgettable memories on our journey to marriage.

It was amazing to see the Tuscan Sun shining every day for the wedding week and it was certainly turned up on our wedding day - Friday 8 May, 2009. To top it all off, we had a full moon and we were all dancing in the moonlight.

If you're wanting to book a Villa in Tuscany, I highly recommend you checkout www.tuscanynow.com

Some of the major highlights of our Tuscan Wedding Week -
* Sharing our favourite place in the world with all of our loved ones
* All our guests getting to know eachother for the entire week as we all stayed in Villa la Noce
* Experiencing slight language barriers, always made for a funny experience
* Having a local wedding planner was well worth it and using all local suppliers to provide a truly authentic Tuscan experience
* Eating a number of times at our favourite local Italian Ristorante 'Il Caminetto'
* Using two way radios when driving in convoys. It was much cheaper than relying on mobile phones
* Designer Outlet Shopping
* Our rehearsal Dinner Cocktail Party at The Sky Lounge at the Hotel Continentale in Florence overlooking the Arno River and next to the Ponte Vecchio
* Wedding day bliss with warm weather, full moon, amazing food and wine. Hearing all the beautiful words and well wishes from friends around the world and dancing all night at my wedding. Something that many brides do not get to experience. But with a small overseas wedding, I was able to enjoy my night to the fullest.
* Honeymooning in Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Germany.

On the Road to Tuscany

Finally my wedding week has arrived. After being proposed to infront of the Leaning Tower of Pisa over 2 1/2 years ago and all the planning that has gone into our big day, we are finally here! My Hens/Bachelorette Party was an absolute blast. Being a girl that grew up in the 80's and having been heavily influenced by the music of that era, my girlfriends know that I am unashamedly into my daggy 80's pop. Hence it only came naturally that the theme of the party was 80's dress up. There were some hilarious get-ups that totally captured that significant era in many Generation X lives. I will not kiss and tell about the antics that went on that night, but needless to say, there was a lot of giggling, laughing, games, singing, dancing and plenty of photos that shouldn't be displayed on Facebook! I must say though, Men and Women are absolutely different species. Women love to talk and certainly did about what went on during the night, but men are all tight lipped about what goes on their Bachelor Party. I didn't mind not knowing. I know my man had a fabulous time and was looked after by our friends, so that's all that mattered.

I am now off to bella Roma today, on a very long flight via Dubai with Emirates. I quite like Emirates, which is one of my preferred two airlines. I like Singapore Airlines as well. Fingers crossed that my upgrade request is looked at favourably, being the bride to be and all. It's a pretty bih challenge to organise wedding on the otherside of the globe. Being an Event planner by trade, I thought I would be immune from much disaster, nothing too major but there are certainly constraints at times. I highly recommend using a local wedding planner that is familiar or specialises in planning for the country you are having your wedding in. Thankfully I still have not become a Bridezilla and I have promised my girls and my fiance that it isn't in my personality. Time will tell in a few days!

Lost in Translation

Recently, I was in Beijing to exhibit at a Fashion Trade Show in Beijing, China. Even during the tough economic global climate I felt it important to showcase our brand to prospective buyers and to test out the market. It was certainly an experience! I understand why people say it is better to travel with a translator and/or tour guide, as there can be a number of obstacles in communication. Taking a taxi was a huge task at times. It is essential to have your hotel or accommodation address with you and also written in Chinese and directions written in Chinese where possible. Some drivers found it difficult to read the Chinese characters as well, which made it even more frustration. That indicates to me, somewhat a high rate of illiteracy. There is of course, the drivers that like to take advantage of travellers by taking them what they say is a short cut, but of course the longer expensive way to your destination. It helps if you are heading somewhere regularly during your stay, that you keep the taxi receipt and show each new driver what you paid for it last. That way, they know that you know how much it should cost.

Beware of immitation bottles of liquor being sold in what looks like a reputable small tobacco/liquor store. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. For instance, a bottle of Jack Daniels may look like the original bottle, but when you taste it, it is a Chinese generic spirit instead of the real thing. I don't drink JD by the way, a fellow traveller had the terrible experience. Thankfully he got his money back, after havong the guts to go back to the store and demand the refund. The refunded money was not fake either, which was good. He managed to have his hotel verify that it was not fake currency.

I recall one of the funnier experiences at the Trade Show, when I was approached by a small group of Asian general public, not Trade Buyers. They immediately speak to me in Chinese, but of course I said I cannot understand and that I only speak english. One of the girls had said to me 'Why you speak english?'. I replied, 'Because english is what I know, just as Chinese is what you know', and then they giggled and walked off.

Walking down to the Food Night Market was another interesting cultural experience. Chinese do not mind eating BBQ'd Scorpions, Crickets, Cocooned looking witchetty grub type worms and snakes served on skewers. I wasn't game enough to try any of these, but I saw a few tourists try some for a unique photo-op.

My tourist highlights would have to have been The Great Wall of China. The most AMAZING man-made creation on this earth. It stretches out as far as the eye can see. Walking up the section I was at, surrounded by tourists from all over the world and old local Chinese up to the ages of 70-90 and still being able to walk around without walking sticks or needing glasses of contact lenses was so fascinating to me. It must be the Tai Chi, special herbs and remedies the Chinese consume regularly and just the simple lifestyle. They older generation loved hearing english speaking tourists and often tried repeating words they would hear in english as well. It was very cute!

The Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square were also must see sights for me. I know understand why China has been perceived as such a 'grey-looking' country for many of the major cities. Its due to the Imperial times, only Royalty was permitted to colour the inner palace walls and outside the walls where the 'ordinary' people lived were only permitted to have their structures in grey.

I highly recommend you visit China in your lifetime, especially Beijing to see the historic sights and experience the local culture and people. I will certainly be back and look forward to visiting cosmopolitan Shanghai next time. There were times I was certainly 'Lost in translation', but as long as you are a traveller that has a very open mind and some common sense, you can certainly get by visiting this immensely cultural and historic part of the world.

Style 8 World

Welcome to Style 8 World Blog, my new pet project. My name is Mary Ann Reyes, soon to be Mary Ann Haywood from Melbourne, Australia - Founder of Style 8 Enterprises Pty Ltd and Style8shop.com.au - Home of Essential Fashion Accessories for Fashionistas. That's right! Soon-to-be Mrs Haywood, as I will be marrying my partner of 7 years, Benjamin Haywood. On Friday 8 May, 2009 we will be married in Tuscany, Italy - sharing our most special occasion with 23 of our close family and friends at Villa la Noce, located in the area of Montaione which is located close to Siena and San Gimignano. I had my final dress fitting yesterday with my Friend and Enormously Talented Fashion Designer, Hannii Chan. I have known Hannii for over 9 years and continues to be at the forefront of Women's Contemporary Formal Fashion Design. Checkout some of her amazing creations at www.hannii.com.au. My wedding dress will be kept a secret until after the nuptials. I will be happy to post photos of my special day after my honeymoon which will also be in Italy down the Amalfi Coast to Positano, Sorrento and Capri and then heading up to Lake Como and Maggiore, through to Switzerland and then Germany. I am so very excited about my Wedding Day, which has been planned for the past 2 years after our trip to Pisa when Ben had proposed in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Quite romantic and memorable as you can imagine!

Much has happened in the last 12 months, with Style 8 being established, with our key products 'Hang-bag' - genuine leather purse hooks/holders designed in Switzerland, becoming our licensed product which we now manufacture and distribute globally, as well as representing 'Laifu' products from Asia, which produces a number of very stylish and innovative products such as Automatic Business Card holders and Automatic Cigarette dispensers/holders. Style 8 by no means promotes smoking, as we believe it is up to each individual to make the decision to quit for themselves, but if you make that lifestyle choice, then why not have a stylish accessory that goes with it? All of our products can be purchased at www.style8shop.com.au. We Ship Globally. We also welcome International and National Wholesale orders from any of our range.

The main motivation for me when starting up Style 8, is to bring the latest stylish and innovative Fashion Accessories to the Australian Market. I am now pleased to announce that Style 8 is no longer limited to promoting these amazing products to the Southern hemisphere, but The Globe!

Stay tuned for my update regarding my recent Business Trip to China and Hong Kong. Let's call the China part 'Lost in translation'. I love Hong Kong. It's my second home, besides Bella Italia:)

Arrivederci Fashionistas.