To some travelers, the hotel is critical to the experience. We report on the newest, most noteworthy hotels; old classics we still love; or someplace fun and funky that reflects a special mood. Anything goes: prices range from modest to lavish.
Santorini, Greece If it was good enough for Brangelina, Lady Gaga and Heidi Klum, it was good enough for us. No matter that Vedema Resort isn’t perched on the caldera in Fira, where smashing Aegean Sea views claim the attention of many hotel guests spending time in Santorini. What Vedema … Read more
In the heart of Antwerp, nestled in tiny Oude Stad, where narrow, winding pedestrian-only streets form little puzzles of old cobble stones, heavy curtains drift behind tall windows in a stark white building that would otherwise have blended in with the other townhouses. It would only take a small distraction … Read more
From the lobby’s marble floor to the top floor’s panoramic views, The Peninsula Tokyo is, in its entirety, refined through and through. As Tokyo’s landmark hotel, this location of The Peninsula Group doesn’t lack for opulence. The fusion of traditional Japanese culture, the latest technology, sublime service and a prime … Read more
The music at the pool bar is in a deep eighties groove. From David Bowie to the Thompson Twins, Alpha Ville to Bananarama, the sounds of the era of excess are taking center stage at the Aressana Hotel’s pool, that is, along with a gurgling waterfall and the occasional clink … Read more
*With contributions by Lucille Sitra This is a big hotel with an intimate soul. A stay at the Westin Diplomat involves a number of decisions – the first, between a room overlooking the Atlantic surf or its bright green expanse of golf course, then, which of its eight outstanding restaurants … Read more
Matetic Vineyards, Chile Driving down a long dirt road surrounded by 27,000 acres of vineyards and beautifully landscaped gardens, I think that I may have discovered one of Chile’s best-kept secrets. La Casona Guesthouse at the famous Matetic Vineyards is the ultimate wine aficionado’s dream. Located in the Casablanca Valley, … Read more
I admit it. As soon as the annual travel magazines’ “Best Of” editions hit my mailbox, I immediately dive into them and flip to the pages to find “the best” hotels in a certain city or country where I am traveling to, have traveled to, or would like to someday … Read more
Pucón, Chile Wilderness lodge meets luxury hotel, circa 1950 “The wise man built his house upon a rock,” said Rony Pollak, quoting a Bible story as she sat down to dinner with me and four other journalists. The house she was referring to is actually a hotel, and that wise … Read more
Mary Cassatt once commented on how she touched some people with a sense of art, saying, “They felt the love and the life. Can you offer me anything to compare to that joy for an artist?” Well Mary, I think we found it. Between the old world atmosphere and the … Read more
While listening to the sexy, trancey c.d. compilation, from Dark to Light, the Musical Journey of Klaus K, it all slowly trickled back through my mind – the sights, sounds and special moments the Klaus K Hotel provided in my short stay in Helsinki, Finland. I felt like a local … Read more
[wide][/wide] Beaver Creek Resort is the perfect place for discerning travelers headed to the Colorado Rockies. The gated, luxury resort community offers a plethora of amenities for mountain getaways. Beaver Creek’s appeal is broad. The resort prides itself on its safe, family-friendly environment and variety of activities and programs for … Read more
[wide][/wide] When Alan Faena, the former owner of the Argentine fashion brand, Vía Vai, set out to establish the Faena Hotel and Universe in the Puerto Madero neighborhood of Buenos Aires, he was inspired by the idea of creating a specific kind of urban space from scratch. Though his hotel … Read more
Hotel Mediterraneo Let’s start with the view. In the glass enclosed dining room and on the flowered terrace of La Terrazza, the Roof Garden on the top floor of the Hotel Mediterraneo, you’re treated to a sweeping panorama of all of Rome. Not a city where skyscrapers are the norm, … Read more
The Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, one of Florida’s most beloved hotels has just undergone a spectacular lobby renovation. Overlooking Tampa Bay in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, the hotel recently completed renovations on a new lounge like lobby decorated with colors reflecting the city’s vibrant atmosphere. Designed by … Read more
