WHEN most of us check into a hotel, it’s likely to have a restaurant, a spa and a bar – but around the globe are some VERY luxurious ones with suites costing as much as £30k per night.
In a new Channel 4 series, First Dates star Fred Sirieix heads behind the scenes to see what exactly makes these hotels the best of the best.
First Dates star Fred Sirieix checked into four ‘ultimate’ hotelsCredit: Waddell Media Suites at The Royal Monsour in Marrakesh and be as much as £30k per nightCredit: Waddell Media
In the show called Fred‘s Ultimate Hotel, the charming maître d’ explores four hotels; The Royal Mansour in Marrakesh, The Royal Madikwe Lodge in South Africa, Les Barmes de l’Ours in France and Raffles Hotel in Singapore.
All of the hotels are five-star with Michelin-star dining and experiences that make them a step above the rest.
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Thanks to his history of working in hospitality, Fred can definitely make a judgement on whether these hotels live up to expectation.
Fred explained: “I’ve been doing this work from the age of 15 in hotels and restaurants – so I speak the lingo.
“Observing them, being a guest and then behind the scenes and working with the people there because this is all I’ve done all my life – and I wanted to see if these hotels were actually ultimate and why.”
Not only does Fred check-in at the hotels as a guest but he also goes behind the scenes as concierge and even bar staff – so here are the best ones he explored.
The Royal Mansour, Marrakesh
The first stop is at The Royal Mansour in Marrakesh which is owned by King Mohammed VI of Morocco.
It has 53 private riads with gardens, courtyard patio, roof terrace, swimming pools, hammams and each comes with a personal butler.
Fred said: “The most incredible thing is that this hotel was built from scratch and this started from the back of the house.
“They created the most efficient hotel, it’s aerodynamic – it’s like Formula 1 it makes for such fast service.
The Royal Mansour is owned by King Mohammed VI of MoroccoCredit: Waddell Media
Fred continued: “I was an easy customer for the butler, by 6 o’clock I told him I was OK. I can call room service or make my own coffee from the machine in my room – but some customers use the butler for 18-hours a day.”
“These are the Premier League of hotels – and the way to be the best is to not say no. You have to deliver – they are working at the highest level.”
The Royal Mansour in Marrakesh ranked 13th globally and Best Hotel in Africa at the World’s 50 Best Hotels Awards last year.
Sounds incredible, right? If you’re looking to stay, you might need to start saving now as the top suite, the Grand Riad, costs over £30,000 per night.
Villas in The Royal Madikwe Lodge can cost up to £6,000 per nightCredit: chriscloete.comFred ventured out into the bush to spot the wildlife
The Royal Madikwe Lodge, South Africa
The next stop on his trip is safe to say one of Fred’s best, and possibly worst emotional experiences, at The Royal Madikwe Lodge in South Africa.
Fred explained: “The Royal Madikwe, out of all the places I have been in the world, I have never felt so emotional throughout.
“From the moment I arrived, I started to cry. It was so emotional – I almost died in the bush, sandwiched between an elephant and two rhinos.”
Luckily bush ranger Ernie came to Fred’s rescue: “He saved my life because of how he dealt with the situation.”
“The staff there were on another level – it was very touching. It was very different as well like when I was in the bush with Ernie because it was a very responsible job.”
The most expensive accommodation at The Royal Madikwe Lodge is The Sovereign House which racks up to £6,000 per night.
It sits by a well-travelled elephant path so guests are likely to see the creatures from the comfort of their room.
It has room for six guests across three spacious bedrooms, with a glass wine cellar, plunge pool and private boma.
Les Barmes de l’Ours in the French Alps has suites that cost £3,500 per nightCredit: Nicolas AnetsonGuests can make use of the spa and are right next to the mountainsCredit: Waddell Media
Barmes de l’Ours, France
Tucked way in the French ski resort of Val-d’sère is the five-star luxury Les Barmes de l’Ours.
It’s safe to say that Fred, who was born and raised in France, had high hopes and luckily, they delivered.
Fred said: “These people are the embodiment of French hospitality – it’s a dying art that people do not practice anymore.
“From the moment I arrived, I was so impressed. It’s rare in life when you’re really impressed in life and you see excellence in people who want to do a good job.
“One thing about these hotels is that the five-star standard must be everywhere. If you’re walking down a corridor and you cross a member of staff – they must see, smile and say hello before you do that to them.”
The hotel in the mountains has North American-style lodges, alpine chalets and even contemporary lofts.
It’s the only hotel to sit at the foot of Face de Bellevarde – a black run which has a vertical drop of 850metres.
With the hotel guests can fly in via private helicopter and arrange paragliding flights from the slopes, it also has a two-lane bowling alley.
Here, the Bear Suite is the most expensive at over £3,500 per night – it has a private Jacuzzi, sauna, hammam and balcony overlooking the mountains.
When a hotel has former guests like Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William and Princess Kate, and Elizabeth Taylor – you know it’s going to be amazing.
Raffles Hotel in Singapore has had lots of high-profile guestsCredit: Waddell Media The hotel is where the famous Singapore Sling drink was founded – and Fred has a goCredit: Waddell Media
Raffles Hotel, Singapore
Raffles Hotel in Singapore is found on 1 Beach Road, the colonial-style hotel is surrounded by lush gardens and it has a huge rooftop pool.
It’s the birthplace of the Singapore Sling cocktail which was invented at its Long Bar where Fred attempts to create the drink himself.
Its suites all have high ceilings with separate living areas. Guests get 24-hour butler service – and it’s in a league of its own with personalised itinerary and service.
Fred said the special touches from his butler makes the experience extra special.
He explained: “I arrived on Father’s Day and the butler there looked me up before I arrived.
“They prepared a Father’s Day card for me with pictures of my children and left it in the room – it was so special. I thought wow, this is a touch above the rest.”
Raffles Hotel started off as a 10-bedroom bungalow before being expanded into the grand hotel it is now with 115 suites.
The First Dates star was given an unexpected Father’s Day surprise during filming for his new travel series. He became emotional when staff at a luxury hotel in Singapore arranged a personal gesture for him while he was filming Fred’s Ultimate Hotels, which is set to air on Monday (August 31st).
Fred was staying at the iconic Raffles Hotel Singapore, one of the city’s most famous landmarks, when the hotel team decided to mark Father’s Day in a very special way.
Speaking about the moment, Fred admitted he was completely caught off guard when he returned to his room and discovered a surprise waiting for him.
“I arrived there on Father’s Day on the 21st of June,” he explained. “My concierge picked some pictures off the internet of my kids. They used AI to mock up a card to say happy Father’s Day. ‘We love you’, blah, blah, blah, and he put it in my room.”
The thoughtful gesture proved too much for Fred, who admitted he immediately became emotional. “Wow. Oh my God, I knew my kids are everything for me and I just saw that card there,” he said. “It was just on Father’s Day. I cried.”
Fred has two children with his former partner Alessandra Spendolini – daughter Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, a professional Team GB diver who won a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and was named the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2020, and son Lucien, who stays away from the spotlight.
The emotional moment came during Fred’s stay at Raffles, which is one of Singapore’s best-known hotels and has become synonymous with the city since opening its doors in the 19th century.
The hotel is famed for its colonial architecture, luxurious suites and its connection to the Singapore Sling cocktail, which was created at its Long Bar.
It has 115 suites spread across nine categories, with no standard hotel rooms, while its Presidential Suite costs around £12,000 per night.
During his time in Singapore, Fred also took part in a number of experiences as part of the new series. His adventures included a sidecar tour, a visit to the city’s Botanic Gardens and a trip to a hawker centre, where he explored Singapore’s famous food culture.
He also learned Tai Chi from a master at Raffles before heading out on a yacht experience around Sentosa. The Botanic Gardens provided another glimpse into Singapore’s unique landscape, with the city being one of the few places in the world where primary rainforest can be found within its city limits.
The trip forms part of Fred’s Ultimate Hotels, in which the television personality explores some of the world’s most remarkable hotels while getting to know the destinations and cultures surrounding them.
But despite the luxury and extraordinary experiences on offer, it was the simple Father’s Day gesture that left the biggest impression on Fred.
Fred’s Ultimate Hotels airs on Monday, August 31 at 8pm on Channel 4.
Fred Sirieix has revealed the terrifying moment he feared for his life filming his new Channel 4 show
Fred experienced a terrifying moment on his new Channel 4 show
TV star Fred Sirieix has opened up on a near-death experience.
The First Dates star revealed the terrifying moment a tour guide saved his life after he found himself caught between an elephant and two rhinos during a bushwalk in South Africa.
He opened up about the frightening encounter while explaining why he chose Ernie for his Hospitality Hero Award in his brand new travel documentary series Fred’s Ultimate Hotels, which airs on Monday (August 31) at 8pm on Channel 4.
Fred had been staying at The Royal Madikwe Lodge, a luxury safari retreat on the border between South Africa and Botswana, where he experienced a host of activities including game drives, a walking safari and rhino conservation but it was during the walking safari that the trip took a potentially deadly turn.
Recalling the moment, Fred explained the moment Ernie received his award: “Ernie in South Africa – the guy who saved my life in the bushwalk, where we had the near miss.
“He was crying like a baby. He’s a mountain of a man, strong like an elephant, the heart of an elephant, he was crying, big tears, it was beautiful.”
Fred then explained how the group became caught in an extremely dangerous position in the bush.“Well, we went on a bush walk, and basically what happened is we got sandwiched between one elephant and two rhinos, it’s not a good place to be, let me tell you that,” he said.
The television star praised Ernie for remaining calm and relying on his extensive knowledge of wildlife to protect the group. :Anyway, Ernie came into his own, the guide because it’s all about their training and knowing how to read an animal,” Fred explained.
“They don’t want you there, the animals, they don’t think that you should be there and they are very territorial. So if you’re in front of the water or there or whatever, they just charge.”
According to Fred, Ernie managed to drive the animals away without resorting to a firearm. “So he managed to scare them. Without using a gun or anything, just his arms and whatever he was doing, and they left,” he said.
During his stay, Fred was based in the Naledi Suite at The Royal Madikwe Lodge, which offers three luxury suites and two luxury villas, all with private pools. Its top accommodation, The Sovereign House, costs around £6,000 per night.
The retreat also boasts an infinity pool beside its main clubhouse and offers gastronomic dining experiences led by head chef Zuki, who trained at the Mount Nelson Hotel.
Fred’s trip began with an arrival in the middle of the bush on a small plane from Johannesburg before he embarked on a packed itinerary of safari experiences.
As well as morning and sunset game drives and the walking safari, he took part in rhino conservation, with the experience costing £3,500 and funds going towards the Madikwe Wildlife Foundation.
He also enjoyed a South African wine tasting featuring Chenin Blanc with sommelier Ingrid, who was flown in from Cape Town for guests, as well as yoga with instructor Jess, flown in from Johannesburg. The trip also featured a Marimba band and a bush dinner.
Fred’s Ultimate Hotels airs on Monday, August 31 at 8pm on Channel 4
The cruise line is returning to the Amazon for the first time in almost a decade, with their latest cruise also giving holidaymakers the chance to witness the dramatic landscapes of Antarctica
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Fred Olsen is the only cruise line offering trips to the Amazon rainforest from the UK(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
With summer holiday season in full swing, many Brits who are sick of the usual beach resort might already be planning something more unique for their next getaway. And the wow factor doesn’t get much bigger than with Fred Olsen’s newest cruise that stops off at an incredible 28 ports – but holidaymakers will need to have some hefty savings.
The Amazon and Antarctica Adventure has just been announced by the cruise line, and it’s one of the longest trips available to book. Setting sail from Southampton on January 5, 2028, this cruise aboard the Borealis ship is a whopping 87 nights long and visits dream destinations across five continents, from the Canary Islands all the way down to the Antarctic Peninsula via the likes of Jamaica, Costa Rica, Brazil and Chile.
The voyage marks the first time in nine years that Fred Olsen has offered a cruise to the Amazon – and it’s the only cruise line sailing from the UK to do so, offering British holidaymakers a unique opportunity. “Time ashore brings you closer to lush rainforest, with toucans, butterflies, monkeys and pink river dolphins among the wildlife to look out for,” the description of the Amazon and Antarctica Adventure teases.
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A place on this adults-only cruise understandably doesn’t come cheap, with prices starting from £11,499 per person. But with travel, accommodation, food and entertainment all included at under £140 per night, those with the cash to spare might consider it worth the investment to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
For those seeking something more budget-friendly, the longest cruise on offer from fellow cruise line Ambassador is the Caribbean Sunsets and South American Secrets holiday. Sailing from London Tilbury in January 2027, this cruise currently has 30% off all cabins with prices now starting from £3,233 per person, and visits 12 countries over 45 nights, including Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Belize.
This 87-night cruise sets sail from Southampton in January 2028 and visits 17 countries across five continents.
Meanwhile, TUI’s Marella Cruises is also offering last-minute summer cruise deals with flights included in their price. Among the cheapest options are the Highlights of the Mediterranean cruise, which is on offer for £944pp reduced from £1,623, and the Grecian Discovery holiday, now priced from £949pp down from £1,598.
Back at Fred Olsen, another highlight of the Amazon and Antarctica Adventure is the Antarctic Peninsula, described by the cruise line as a place with ‘vast glaciers and snow-topped mountains’ where there’s also a chance for passengers to spot penguins and whales. Here’s the full itinerary of stops and highlights on this 87-night cruise:
Santa Cruiz de Tenerife, Canary Islands
Santa Cruz de la Palma, Canary Islands
St John’s, Antigua
Samana, Dominican Republic
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
Willemstad, Curacao
Kingstown, St Vincent and Grenadines
St George’s, Grenada
Roseau, Dominica
Bridgetown, Barbados
Cruise past Barra Norte, Brazil
Santarem, Brazil
Cruising Amazon River, Brazil
Manaus, Brazil
Parintins, Brazil
Alter do Chao, Brazil
Fortaleza, Brazil
Buzios, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Puerto Madryn, Argentina
Punta Arenas, Chile
Cruise by Cape Horn, Chile
Cruise Drake Passage, Antarctica
Cruise Antarctica Peninsula
Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
Montevideo, Uruguay
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Salvador, Brazil
Mindelo, Cape Verde
Las Palmas, Canary Islands
La Coruna, Spain
As well as travel and accommodation, the price of a cruise also includes full board dining, from five-course à la carte dinners to afternoon tea, and selected drinks with lunch and dinner. And there’s no shortage of things to do on the ship, with the fare also including access to the swimming pools, fitness centre and classes, expert talks and lectures and a variety of other activities, as well as evening shows with live music and dancing.
For those looking to get away sooner, this isn’t the only bumper cruise Fred Olsen is offering. The cruise line’s longest holiday currently available to book is the World Cruise with Japan and Hawaii, which stands at a staggering 98 nights and sets sail from Southampton in January 2027 with prices starting from £13,999 per person.
The third-longest is departing from Southampton this September for a last-minute autumn and winter getaway lasting 71 nights. The Exploration of the Mediterranean is priced from £9,999 per person and visits Spain, Italy, France, Malta, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Turkey, Gibraltar, Morocco, the Canary Islands and Portugal.
“It’s my favorite city in the world,” says the comedian, musician and actor best known for the beloved sketch comedy series “Portlandia” and for “Saturday Night Live.” “It has a really strong sense of community for such a giant city,” he adds, noting the recent celebration surrounding the new Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Metro’s D Line extension.
In Sunday Funday, L.A. people give us a play-by-play of their ideal Sunday around town. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the weekends.
Armisen enjoys being behind the wheel, which is how he first noticed Hulu’s “Deli Boys,” where he plays casino boss Max Sugar in the show’s second season.
“Strangely, I was a fan before I was a fan of the show,” he says. “I was a fan of the billboards. I saw ads for it, and I was immediately curious. Like, ‘What is that? Why is it called ‘Deli Boys’? Who are these people?’ There was something about the three leads, a sort of chemistry or charisma, that I wanted to be a part of.”
For him, the perfect Sunday involves traversing the city, checking out record stores and visiting museums like the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City. “I fell in love with it as its own art piece,” he says. He also enjoys going to live shows, sometimes performing and spending time at home with his family. For him, the ideal day in L.A. “is a mix of all of those things.”
The one place you won’t find the sun-averse actor is the beach. “Los Angeles is a great place for people who hate the sun,” he says. “There’s a goth quality to it. So many of the best punk bands came out of Los Angeles.” He appreciates that you can avoid the sun by staying in your car. “It feels like I get to confront my hatred for the sun without being in it,” he says.
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for length and clarity.
5 a.m.: Early rising
I love Los Angeles so much that sometimes, when I wake up, it’s still dark outside. So it’ll be, like, 5 or 6 o’clock in the morning, and it’s dark, but the palm trees are silhouetted in the sky. Right away, I’ll have granola or Grape Nuts with almond milk and blueberries. And then I just like to sit in silence while it’s still dark out, while sipping two mugs of coffee. If I do go out, the Village Bakery and Cafe on Los Feliz Boulevard is really nice for breakfast or if you have to meet someone. There is a scramble there that I really like. But lately, I’ve also been getting granola with yogurt.
8 a.m.: Make it a work day in Elysian Valley, a.k.a. Frogtown
I like to make every day a work day. So even if I have a day off, I still try to do one work-related task. I have a music-and-writing space in Frogtown where I’ve had an office for a while. I had one there when we wrote “Portlandia.” I’ve got my drums set up, and I usually like to get things ready for touring. I have all these flight cases and drums there and I get all my equipment together. I’ll just clean them up a little bit. Sometimes I practice — not practicing to get my rudiments up for drumming — but just because I enjoy drumming so much.
11 a.m:. Lunch in Frogtown
There are a few places in Frogtown where I like to have lunch. There’s a vegan cafe near me called Just What I Kneaded, which is great, or the Spoke Bicycle Cafe, which is a little down the river. I like the chickpea farro bowl with Brussels sprouts and tempeh. Sometimes I’ll go to Wax Paper and order the Kai Ryssdal sandwich. Their sandwiches are really good and are named for National Public Radio hosts. We have to embrace being pretentious. I think in these cafes, we should talk about the Velvet Underground. It’s almost like cosplaying. Like, let’s really be Silver Lake. Well, you know, with bicycles.
1 p.m.: Run errands at the Americana at Brand
I can’t just stay in Frogtown, so I’d next go to the Americana at Brand outdoor mall because sometimes, when a place is devoid of all those pretensions, it’s actually very relaxing. You can walk around and get a lot of errands done. I love the sushi place the Bar — Hand Rolls by Seabutter.
2 p.m.: Take a drive through Griffith Park
I love driving. That’s one thing that I love about Los Angeles. Everywhere I go, I get to be in my car. I like listening to the radio. It’s just a peaceful place to be. There’s something special about it, especially as day turns into dusk. I like going down Sunset Boulevard or Beverly Boulevard. I also love driving Crystal Springs Drive through Griffith Park. It is the prettiest drive. The speed limit is nice and slow. In the summer, there’s a free Shakespeare festival in that same park. I haven’t made it yet because I’m usually traveling, but I’ve always wanted to go.
3 p.m.: Hit the record stores
I know it’s a cliché for me to say I go to record stores, but I do. I like going to Amoeba Music in Hollywood. I’ll get any reissue, like a new box set. And there’s always something that’s just come out. Sometimes I’ll go to a musical instrument store called Caveman Vintage Music in Lincoln Heights just to pick up a few things that I’ll need, you know, drumsticks or whatever. Or sometimes I’ll get a weird little amp or keyboard.
6 p.m.: Sushi dinner in Glendale
If I go out to dinner, I like going to Sasabune in Glendale. It’s on the third floor of a building near the Americana. In my opinion, Los Angeles has the best sushi in the world. Ventura Boulevard in the Valley is amazing, but this place is my favorite restaurant in the world. Wow. I love it.
8 p.m.: See live music
Once a month, although not usually on Sundays, I play covers at a bar and record store called Permanent Records Roadhouse in Cypress Park. Sometimes I do stand-up at Largo at the Coronet. But I love to see live bands. The Bellwether and the Teragram Ballroom are great venues to see bands. Those two, I’d say, are my two favorites to go to because I like a little bit of space, because I can’t be up at the front. You know, I’m so famous that bands stop playing [laughs] when they see me. No, I’m just a patron. I’m a fan. TheGreek Theatre is a fantastic place to see live music. And the Ford amphitheater! The last time I went, I thought, ‘Why don’t I come to every show here?‘ because it’s the perfect size. It’s outdoors. It’s not gigantic. Every seat is good. It’s really, really great. I saw Neil Young there. I saw Paul McCartney at the Fonda Theatre in March, and he was unbelievable. I love that he played there. I like the Hollywood Bowl, obviously, but everybody knows that.
