Catch up TV
Series 2: 6. Hacienda Vira Vira, Chile
In this insightful and entertaining programme, Monica and Giles travel to South America to work in Hacienda Hotel Vira Vira - a unique hotel near Pucon, the adventure capital of Chile and gateway to the Andes and the country's Lake District. Nestled within a 23-hectare native park along the shores of Liucura River, the hotel overlooks an active volcano which regularly spews ash and lava.\n\nMonica and Giles meet Swiss hotel owners Claudia and Michael Paravicini, who left behind big jobs in finance and sales in Europe to pursue their dream of setting up a luxury adventure-themed hotel. They discover the delicate balance of working with the indigenous Mapuche community who own the land surrounding the hotel. With just 12 villas and six rooms, Vira Vira is a small boutique hotel that is big on luxury and adventure. Giles and Monica work alongside Greg to prepare a once-in-a-lifetime meal for hotel guests. In the hotel's helicopter they fly above the volcano to a location with a stunning view to set up and serve a special meal. The pair work alongside esteemed horseman Rodolfo, who takes them trekking through ancient Chilean forests on horseback. They meet chef Damian, who embraces the freedom offered by the hotel's organic farm and abundance of local Chilean produce. Damian uses skills acquired from years at the famous French Le Gavroche to transform dishes like Chilean sweet potatoes, crispy quinoa, green tomatoes and their own lamb into world-class recipes. The hotel has its own working farm on site, lovingly producing milk, yoghurt and all manner of dairy products to enhance the dining experience. Giles discovers that the farm is proud of its homemade Longaniza sausages, concocted using a secret recipe. And as a Swiss man, the prospect of a life without cheese was unbearable for Michael, who has gone as far as building a cheese factory next to the hotel that makes over 15 different types of cheeses entirely for Vira Vira guests to both enjoy and participate in making.
Source: BBC 2
Most recent episodes of Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby
Series 6: 8. Wilderness Hotel Inari
Rob Rinder and Monica Galetti visit Wilderness Hotel Inari, an adventure hotel above the Arctic Circle in Lapland. Working in sub-zero conditions, Monica learns about the indige ...
20-12-2024
BBC 2
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby
Series 5: 8. Hotel Hubertus, Italian Alps
In the Tyrol region of northern Italy lies Hotel Hubertus - a family-run resort which offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains thanks to its panoramic aspect.\n\nTh ...
14-12-2024
BBC 2
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby
Series 5: 3. Nusfjord Arctic Resort
Nusfjord Arctic Resort is a preserved 200-year-old cod fishing village in the Lofoten Islands of Norway. Working alongside the dedicated team, Monica and Rob learn to appreciate ...
07-12-2024
BBC 2
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby
Series 6: 7. Stanglwirt Hotel, Austria
Rob Rinder and Monica Galetti work at Stanglwirt Hotel in the Austrian Alps, owned by one family for 300 years and grown slowly over the years to offer world-class boxing and te ...
30-10-2024
BBC 2
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby
Series 6: 6. Gangtey Lodge, Bhutan
Rob Rinder and Monica Galetti work 3,000m above sea level at Gangtey Lodge, Bhutan, in a remote region that only obtained electricity 11 years ago. This luxury hotel has oxygen ...
23-10-2024
BBC 2
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby
Series 6: 5. Datai Langkawi, Malaysia
Rob Rinder and Monica Galetti travel to the Datai Langkawi in Malaysia. Beneath rainforest canopies, this hotel is so tucked-away that monkeys will break into the room if the do ...
16-10-2024
BBC 2
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby
Series 6: 4. The Hassler, Rome
Rob Rinder and Monica Galetti visit the Hassler Hotel, arguably Rome’s most classic and celebrated hotel, which is undergoing a change in management. Family-run for genera ...
09-10-2024
BBC 2
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby
Series 6: 3. Six Senses Ibiza
Rob Rinder and Monica Galetti work at Six Senses Ibiza on the island’s north coast. They help guests in the hotel’s on-site clinic experience biohacking therapies, f ...
04-10-2024
BBC 2
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby
Series 6: 2. Argos In Cappadocia
Rob Rinder and Monica Galetti travel to Turkey to work at Argos in Cappadocia, a hotel built into a network of ancient caves.\n\nCombining history with modern luxury, Monica fin ...
25-09-2024
BBC 2
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby
Series 6: 1. Shanghai Wonderland
Rob Rinder and Monica Galetti visit the Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland, known as the world’s first 'earthscraper' hotel. Learning about the innovative architectural ...
18-09-2024
BBC 2
Most popular episodes of Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby
Series 4: 6. The Lanesborough, London
Monica Galetti and Giles Coren visit London's most expensive and exclusive hotel, the Lanesborough. It's the first time the hotel has allowed anyone behind the scenes.\n\nThe ho ...
06-11-2022
BBC 2
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby
Series 5: 7. Glenapp Castle, Scotland
In Scotland, Monica Galetti and Rob Rinder discover Glenapp Castle, where guests are treated to a magical stay made possible by a dedicated team of local staff. \n\nMonica and R ...
17-06-2024
BBC 2
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby
Series 6: 7. Stanglwirt Hotel, Austria
Rob Rinder and Monica Galetti work at Stanglwirt Hotel in the Austrian Alps, owned by one family for 300 years and grown slowly over the years to offer world-class boxing and te ...
30-10-2024
BBC 2
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby
Series 5: 8. Hotel Hubertus, Italian Alps
In the Tyrol region of northern Italy lies Hotel Hubertus - a family-run resort which offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains thanks to its panoramic aspect.\n\nTh ...
14-12-2024
BBC 2
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby
Series 3: 1. Mgm Cotai, Macau
Monica and Giles travel to the self-governing Chinese city of Macau, which is the gambling capital of the world, welcoming millions of Chinese visitors every year. \n\nJoining t ...
22-03-2021
BBC 2
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby
Series 5: 4. Ceylon Tea Trails, Sri Lanka
Monica and Rob travel to the highlands of central Sri Lanka to learn about Ceylon Tea Trails - a series of colonial era bungalows that have been renovated and revisioned by a lo ...
18-04-2024
BBC 2
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby
Series 5: 6. Borgo Egnazia, Italy
Monica Galetti and Rob Rinder visit Italy to go behind the scenes of Borgo Egnazia - a hotel modelled on Puglia’s historical local villages. They work with the local staff ...
02-05-2024
BBC 2
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby
Shorts: 4. Royal Mansour, Morocco
In the fourth episode of this eye-opening series, Giles and Monica arrive at Royal Mansour, one of the world's most discreet hotels, hidden deep in the heart of Marrakech's anci ...
07-07-2021
BBC 2
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby
Series 3: 4. Jade Mountain, St Lucia
In this episode, Monica Galetti and Giles Coren visit Jade Mountain, an entirely handbuilt hotel in St Lucia where each room has no outer wall and so is open to the ocean view - ...
05-03-2023
BBC 2