Series synopsis
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby is a British documentary reality television series that premiered on BBC Two on March 27, 2017. It stars Monica Galetti, Giles Coren and Robert Rinder.
Giles Coren and Monica Galetti travel the globe visiting some of the world's most incredible hotels. They go beyond the lobby to see the areas that the public never see and roll up their sleeves to work alongside staff.
Premise
Giles Coren and Monica Galetti travel the globe visiting some of the world's most incredible hotels. They go beyond the lobby to see the areas that the public never see and roll up their sleeves to work alongside staff.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Monica Galetti as Self
- Giles Coren as Self
- Robert Rinder as Self
Episodes
This series spans 7 seasons with 42 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 2 | December 13, 2018 | December 20, 2024 |
| Season 1 | 6 | March 27, 2017 | May 8, 2017 |
| Season 2 | 6 | February 27, 2018 | May 17, 2018 |
| Season 3 | 6 | July 14, 2020 | March 11, 2021 |
| Season 4 | 6 | November 30, 2021 | February 22, 2022 |
| Season 5 | 8 | August 6, 2023 | December 24, 2023 |
| Season 6 | 8 | September 12, 2024 | December 21, 2024 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Christmas Special 2018, Kulm Hotel, St Moritz In a festive special, Giles Coren and Monica Galetti travel to Kulm Hotel St Moritz. This Swiss Alpine hotel was the birthplace of winter tourism more than 150 years ago. Back then the owner made a bet with summer guests that if they returned in the winter and did not enjoy themselves he would pay for their stay. The guests stayed for the season - and a new industry of winter leisure and sports was born. During their stay, Giles works as a bellboy alongside veteran head concierge Silvio, while Monica helps joint managing director Jenny transform her office into a private dining room for a nostalgic candlelit dinner. |
December 13, 2018 |
| 2 |
Christmas Special 2024 - Wildnerness 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 indigenous Sami culture before prepping some reindeer stew, while Rob gets all hot and bothered maintaining saunas before taking a cold-water plunge in a snow hole. But will Rob finally witness the wonder of the northern lights from the comfort of his own room? |
December 20, 2024 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Giles and Monica join the 9,500 staff working at one of the world's largest hotels. As well as viewing some of the facilities on offer they go behind the scenes to see the parts of the hotel guests never see. |
March 27, 2017 |
| 2 |
Mashpi Lodge, Ecuador Giles and Monica visit Mashpi Lodge in the Ecuadorian rainforest which features a gondola cable car to transport guests through the forest canopy. The pair learn how eco-tourism is saving endangered species. |
April 3, 2017 |
| 3 |
Giraffe Manor, Kenya Giles and Monica discover a unique hotel in Kenya where giraffe, guests and staff all co-exist. They then visit the Sasaab Lodge a 6-acre plot set within 82,000 acres of land owned by the Samburu tribe who receive a fee for each guest. |
April 10, 2017 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Brando, French Polynesia Return of the series exploring extraordinary hostelries. Giles Coren and Monica Galetti explore one of the world's most luxurious eco resorts on the small island of Tetiaroa in French Polynesia. Surrounded by a beautiful coral reef and an abundance of marine life, they work alongside staff of the exclusive Brando Resort to serve five-star luxury to guests paying up to £11,000 per a night. |
February 27, 2018 |
| 2 |
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Oman In the second episode, Giles and Monica travel to the Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar in Oman. It is the highest five-star hotel in the Middle East and a resort seeking to blend local tradition with modern tastes. Built to resemble an ancient Omani fort, and situated 2,000 metres above sea level on the rim of a dramatic canyon, the hotel has recently made the most of its location by constructing a jaw-dropping via ferrata and zip-wire rope course along the cliff edge. Led by the hotel's mountain guru Maher, Giles and Monica undertake a test-run of the stunning adventure course before it opens to guests, facing 30-metre drops and Giles's prolific fear of heights. |
March 6, 2018 |
| 3 |
Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, Switzerland Giles Coren and Monica Galetti head to the foothills of the Swiss Alps to experience a very different type of travel - health and wellness tourism. The Grand Resort Bad Ragaz houses not only multiple restaurants, spas and golf courses but also Olympic-standard sports facilities - and a high-spec clinic boasting 80 medical staff, who offer guests everything from sleep therapy to dietary advice and surgery. |
March 13, 2018 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 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. Joining the 6,000 staff of its newest super-hotel, the MGM Cotai, Monica gets special access to The Mansion, a secret VIP world of huge suites where even money can’t buy a stay. Giles flies through the air in one of the world’s most technologically advanced theatres and helps create the floral displays for Chinese New Year. |
July 14, 2020 |
| 2 |
The Torridon, Scotland Monica Galetti and Giles Coren visit the Scottish Highlands to work at The Torridon, Britain's most northerly five star hotel. Its need to balance a luxury stay with being self-sufficient has Monica collecting sea-weed for the kitchen and helping to herd Highland Cattle. Meanwhile, Giles learns to change toilet seats and joins the staff in their afternoon off for a swim in the beautiful but freezing cold loch. |
July 21, 2020 |
| 3 |
Schloss Elmau, Germany In this episode, Monica Galetti and Giles Coren visit Schloss Elmau, a hotel deep in the snowy Bavarian Alps that claims to be a cultural hideaway and restore their guests mind, body and soul. Monica joins in the daily meditation session for the restaurant staff, and Giles recites poetry and travels to a mountain hut to serve dinner, while dressed in lederhosen. They join the hotel guests for an evening of world-renowned musicians playing for free. |
July 28, 2020 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Icelandic ION Adventure If lazily sipping cocktails in the sun is your idea of a dream vacation, then look away now. In this unique BBC Select travel documentary, Monica Galetti and Giles Coren visit Iceland's ION, an adventure hotel levitating out of a dormant volcano. Guests expect the icy experience of a lifetime, exploring lava flows and glaciers. But how do you keep guests safe when a volcano starts erupting? |
November 30, 2021 |
| 2 |
Reid’s Palace, Madeira Desperate to sleep in the same spot as Winston Churchill? Join Monica Galetti and Giles Coren as this BBC Select travel documentary visits Madeira's Reid's Palace which first welcomed the world's glamorous elite 130 years ago. Contemporary cool, extreme luxury and astonishing attention to detail is coupled with stunning scenery. But why is Monica cleaning crabs out of a historic swimming pool? |
December 7, 2021 |
| 3 |
Grand Park Rovinj, Croatia Get ready to experience luxury, glamor and contemporary chic. If you can find it. As Monica Galetti and Giles Coren learn in this unique travel documentary for BBC Select, Croatia's Grand Park is a design classic that blends into the incredible scenery that surrounds it. Art and high cuisine come with a Croatian edge. But will Monica be able to learn how to clean Europe’s biggest glass window? |
December 14, 2021 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Kasbah Tamadot, Morocco Genuine Berber hospitality and spectacular views of the breathtaking landscape make to Kasbah Tamadot in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco unique. And as Monica Galetti and Rob Rinder discover in this opulent travel documentary, they also have Sir Richard Branson as their boss! Monica helps the chef source local produce while Rob mucks out the hotel stables and guides guests on a mountain trek. |
August 6, 2023 |
| 2 |
Joali Maldives Joali offers guests a luxury experience despite its remote location, but how does the Maldivian resort manage it? Monica Galetti and Rob Rinder travel by seaplane to find out in this fascinating travel documentary. Rob discovers hidden workers in the island’s center, while Monica uncovers how food is supplied to the chefs. They realize that delivering paradise is like a giant theatre production. |
August 13, 2023 |
| 3 |
Nusfjord Arctic Resort Nusfjord Arctic Resort is a 200-year-old cod fishing village in the Lofoten Islands of Norway. Working alongside the dedicated team, Monica and Rob learn to appreciate the difficulties of running a high-end resort in such an extreme environment in this revealing travel documentary. Battling snowy paths, facing huge waves on fishing boats and chasing the Northern Lights is all in a day's work. |
August 20, 2023 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Shanghai Wonderland Rob Rinder and Monica Galetti work behind the scenes of a hotel that is built downwards into a quarry, with high-tech guest experiences and rooms with windows looking into aquariums. |
September 12, 2024 |
| 2 |
Argos in Cappadocia Rob and Monica make the journey to Turkey to work at a hotel built into a network of caves, where modern luxury meets ancient history and every room comes with its own surprises. |
September 19, 2024 |
| 3 |
Six Senses, Ibiza Rob Rinder and Monica Galetti work at a luxury hotel in Ibiza where cutting edge biohacking therapies are offered alongside cacao ceremonies, inspired by the islands hippy roots. |
September 26, 2024 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | BBC Two |
|---|---|
| First aired | March 27, 2017 |
| Last aired | December 21, 2024 |
| Runtime | 60 minutes |
| Status | continue |
| Schedule | Sunday at 20:00:00 |