Hindu temples and Harley Davidsons-the new Asian hotel

August 21, 2006—Vikram Chatwal may be known for his jet-setting ways, but until now the hotelier's business ventures have mostly been confined to Manhattan. That changes next week with the opening of his latest urban escape, the Dream Hotel in Bangkok. Chatwal describes the 100-room abode as a "property that mirrors [Bangkok's] surrealistic ultra-cool," and judging by the lobby's louche leather chaises and oversized gilded ceramic bell pagodas, he isn't exaggerating. But don't fear that style has been traded for substance. Guests arrive from the airport in a fleet of custom Mercedes-Benz, the concierge team has formally forsaken the word "no," and all rooms come equipped with 21st-century travel must-haves like plasma TVs, Wi-Fi, personal iPod Nanos, and minibars stocked with the best bubbly.

Meanwhile, the equally stylish Bulgari folks are getting ready to debut their second hotel—and first resort property. Slated to bow in late September, the Bulgari Bali was designed by Italian interiors ace Antonio Citterio and is perched on a bluff 500 feet above a serene Indian Ocean beach. The 59 villas are outfitted with Asian design elements like volcanic stone floors and towering bamboo ceilings, but neither the accommodations nor the on-site Hindu temple can compete with the elaborate ESpa, housed in an antique joglo, a traditional, hand-carved teak home. All sound too spiritual? For an entirely different sort of quest, there's a small fleet of Harley-Davidsons on hand.
Dream Bangkok, doubles from $160, (66) 2-254-8500, www.dreambkk.com.
Bulgari Bali, doubles from $1,250, (62) 361-701-009, www.bulgarihotels.com.