Category Archives: Hotel of the Week

Amanyara Hotel. Turks & Caicos

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During my five years of working as a travel curator, I have never come across a property so perfectly executed like Amanyara. The fact that Amanyara is only a few hours away from major cities like Miami, Dallas, New York and Boston, makes it my favorite and most desirable beach destination (specially during the cold winter).

When you enter Amanyara  you will easily understand why I consider it to be the most beautiful hotel of the Aman brand. You will be welcomed by a contemporary setting, with an infusion of Japanese architecture. It is located in a sensual tropical island; one you would want to be lost in forever with your better half.

When you walk into the lobby you might have to pinch yourself once or twice to make sure you are not in a wild dream. The hotel has 38 pavilions and 20 villas, which are equally as beautiful. If you are traveling with a big family a Villa might be the best option due to their size, they all range between 3 to 4 bedrooms. If you are on a romantic getaway, I suggest staying in either the Pool Pavilions 120 or 125.

As soon as you realize that the beautiful pavilion the manager is walking you to is yours, you might feel dizzy and extreme excitement all at the same time, they are absolutely stunning. Each features a private pool, not plunge pool, but a 30-foot pool, therefore there is no need to share it with strange guests and unwanted small humans.

The restaurant terrace is the perfect place to have a decadent breakfast before heading to one of the gigantic lounge sala´s next to the pool. If you get tired of tanning (not that anyone would get) the library is the perfect place to unwind and sip a delicious Mojito. If for dinner you want something extra special, get a private table at the picturesque cove right on the beach. Maybe, if you’re lucky, you will get to see famous celebs, such as Mary J. Blige and Sting, who usually perform at Amanyara’s holiday parties.

 

Photographs courtesy of the property.

Gstaad Palace Hotel. Gstaad, Switzerland

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So far, the ultimate alpine retreat has proven hard to find. Yes, I have encountered numerous striking mountain hotels, but had not fallen head-over-heels for one in particular…until last week.

In order to be on the top of the list, the hotel needs to offer a mix of unparalleled skiing, superb cuisine, jaw-dropping bedrooms and a cozy yet striking style. Upon visiting Gstaad Palace Hotel, the research of my top resort has come to an end.

Gstaad is best known as the most beautiful winter paradise in Switzerland. They have hundreds of perfectly snowy slopes, various sledge runs, hot-air balloons, snow parks, spectacular hiking routes, and my personal favorite: the most picturesque rustic chalets out there… No wonder this is a favorite ski spot for the European elite.

The hotel is located in a 1913 castle perched over the village, offering staggering views outside and royal-like décor on the inside. Despite the age of the castle, the hotel’s modern amenities make it a hideaway you will never want to leave. I also realized that they undergo renovations twice a year when the hotel closes due to low season.

The spa is located around an open fire, which instantly made it my preferred part of the hotel. The Hammam ritual is a must.

My favorite room has to be the Deluxe Suite, Swiss chalet characterizes the style with a touch of modern details.

 

Photographs courtesy of the property.

The Whiteface Lodge. Whiteface, New York.

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Why be at home for the holidays when you can celebrate at a luxury lodge? Think about it… Not have to worry about prepping the turkey 3 days in advance, not have to worry about the decoration, and the best part… not have to worry being stuck cleaning the dishes.

Don’t get me wrong, I love that part of the Holidays too, but there comes a year once in a while where you need a break from all of it, and if you are in need of that break, read carefully to find out where can actually relax and have a truly Merry Christmas.

The Whiteface Lodge in located in the heart of the Adirondacks, making the spot nothing short of a winter wonderland.

The rustic lodge is reminiscent to a winter estate of the Northeast’s most prominent families in the early 1900´s. The charm oozes out of every corner, starting from the festive lobby with infinite Christmas decoration and wood burning fireplaces.

The perfect Christmas day was waking up to a tasty all-American breakfast while listening to Christmas carols in the background, then hitting the Whiteface Mountain slopes for a few hours, before returning to the lodge to sip some delicious hot chocolate by the fire. Upon relaxing, I made my way to the ice skating rink to work my appetite for the most delicious and stress-free Christmas dinner ever.

 

Photographs courtesy of the property.

Post Ranch Inn. Big Sur, California.

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Post Ranch Inn is located in a unique setting, on the cliffs of the Pacific Coast Highway, offering staggering views of the California coastline and wine country.

The moment you set foot on Post Ranch, the breeze will awaken your senses and the view will make your eyes sparkle. The romance of the hotel boasts is so intense, that most of the guests are either celebrating their honeymoon or anniversary.

The 39-guestroom Inn is understated yet extremely exclusive. The organic architecture embraces a modern style with a natural twist using stone, wood, and of course glass so the magnificent views stay uninterrupted. This is rustic elegance at its best.

I found that their main objective is to provide the most exquisite organic cuisine, top-notch yoga classes, spa treatments, and extraordinary stargazing with their in-house astronomer.

 

Photographs courtesy of the property.

Bunga Raya Resort & Island. Gaya Island, Malaysia

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Bunga Raya Island Resort and Spa in Malaysia is a rustic tropical resort offering a happy medium between Survivor’s exotic location and a Four Seasons service.

A sensual and exotic location is the best way of describing where Bunga Raya lies. It is a luxurious jewel set on a coral reef island just off the coast of Borneo. The secluded hotel has 48 timbered villas tucked away on a tranquil and hidden bay with white sand beaches on one side and the old virgin jungle on the other.

The most impressive fact is that each private villa is rough hewn and hand-crafted by local tradesmen, terraced into the hillside reflecting the traditional simplicity of their architecture, which blends flawlessly with the comforts and needs of the most sophisticated luxury traveler.

 

Photographs courtesy of the property.

Belmond Villa San Michele. Fiesole, Italy

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The former monastery built in the 15th century, is now an uber luxurious Orient Express hotel nestled on a hilltop amid lush trees, which allows unparalleled views of the vibrant city of Florence.

Every detail of the hotel was pure perfection; from the unmatched luxury and the superb alfresco dining to the warmer-than-your-grandmother service and exquisite architecture, your stay here will be equivalent to excellence.

The 46-guestrooms are exquisitly decorated with antique pieces that represent the history of the architecture, also the bathrooms are enormous with double vanities, shower, deep soaking tub. My favorite room was the hidden Junior Suite in the mountain, which offers the best view hands down.

 

Photographs courtesy of the property.

Blackberry Farm. Walland, Tennessee

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Blackberry Farm is the perfect example of flawless southern hospitality set in a storybook location. Built in 1939 in the idyllic Smoky Mountain foothills, this boutique luxury hotel is located on 6,200 acres of romantic and fog drizzled forest.

This 62 guest-room property is a fully operational farm allowing the chef to make every meal fresh. Everything you will eat is grown, or raised right on site – the rest purchased from local farmers. The accommodations have a sumptuous feel with an exceptional attention to detail. The Farmstead Cottage and Singing Brook Cottage Suite are two of my favorite rooms, the latter offers connecting doors giving the ability to book side-by-side suites, ideal for family or friends traveling together. Also included is your own private golf cart. Farmstead Cottage is a bit more sophisticated, ideal for a city couple who are accustomed to the finer things in life.

Blackberry Farm’s restaurants are widely known for offering some of the freshest food and ingredients around. The restaurants try to create haute cuisine while incorporating locally grown produce indigenous to the Smoky Mountains. In fact, Blackberry Farm has been recognized as the #1 Hotel for Food Lovers from Bon Appetit Magazine. Spend breakfast at the Main House and make your way to the James Beard award-winning restaurant, The Barn. 

Blackberry Farm offers a wide array of food & drink activities, not to mention they have their own brewery. The Farm also offers yoga, outdoors activities (which include kayaking and fishing), adventure treks, and will help you plan romantic picnics. After a few days there you might love it so much you’ll be asking for a job application.

 

Photographs courtesy of beall + thomas.

The First Luxury Art Hotel Roma. Rome, Italy

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The First Luxury Art Hotel Roma is indeed the first hotel I have been impressed with during my numerous trips to Rome. Although the building dates back to the nineteenth century, the hotel, which opened in 2011, has been completely renovated in accordance with the original architecture.

During my stay at The First, there were many things that made me consider this my new “favorite hotel” in Rome, such as the personalized service and heavenly rooms; however, the chic decór, the unbeatable location (just a short walk from Piazza del Popolo and Via del Corso) and the art collections, which is worthy of a museum, are second to none.

At first you arrive to a narrow alley, which makes you ask yourself if you booked the right hotel. It reminded me of the first time I went to a speakeasy New York restaurant, where they take pride in the privacy and exclusivity of the location. What I loved about the hotel besides the location was the young, energetic and sophisticated atmosphere—no wonder it is a favorite among the fashion gurus.

Once you arrive to the unpretentious entrance of the hotel, you suddenly start breathing again as you realize you are exactly where you are suppose to be. This secret destination is a historic gem in the vibrant center of Rome, where art galleries and osterias emerge with every step you take.

My favorite room is the First Suite; it is so spacious you will forget you are in a European hotel. It has two stunningly spacious living room areas, two immense bathrooms with deep soaking tubs and beds so heavenly you wont want to leave your room.

The scenic terrace provides the perfect way to either wind down from a hectic day walking the streets of Rome or to get the night started with a refreshing glass of wine before you head off to dinner. Additionally, the hotel recently opened a sushi bar on the terrace that from the looks of it was exceptionally appetizing, but I unfortunately couldn’t stay and try it out since my boyfriend had plans for a romantic dinner where he soon after… asked me to be his wife.

 

Photographs courtesy of the property.