Take an exclusive look inside Park Hyatt St. Kitts, a luxury resort in the heart of the Caribbean. Continue reading
The Fabulous Phoenician
Since 1988, Scottsdale’s The Phoenician Resort has been a vast oasis in the desert, a 250-acre luxury property offering guests some of the Southwest’s best in dining, spa, golf and more. Continue reading
The Best of Las Vegas—Old and New
When gangster Bugsy Siegel opened the Flamingo in 1946, it was the first large-scale casino-hotel project on a quiet stretch of Nevada desert. Today, Las Vegas is anything but quiet, with massive casino-hotels stationed like giant soldiers on the world-famous Strip. Continue reading
Most Anticipated Luxury Hotel Openings Of 2018
The best of the best luxury hotel destinations are coming in 2018
It’s going to be an amazing year for new hotel openings in 2018. Some of the world’s most iconic properties are set to re-emerge after staying quiet throughout extensive renovations, while hot new properties will change the landscape at some of the most popular tourist destinations. Continue reading
Hotel For The Holidays
From rooftop terraces transformed into enchanting winter wonderlands to charming, artisan markets selling handcrafted novelties and gifts, hotels from Vancouver to London are pulling out all the stops to offer one-of-a-kind holiday pop-ups, festive events and even a few deals to guests and locals alike this winter. Here are some of the most festive (and luxurious) holiday experiences in the US, Canada and Europe. Continue reading
New York’s Pierre Hotel – A Jewel on Central Park
With its newly renovated Rotunda Room, reimagined Perrine restaurant, long history and international appeal, the iconic Pierre Hotel is the perfect place to stay if visiting New York City this fall
The U.S. Open is an international event, with an international crowd, played in an international city. If you’re in New York over the next few weeks to watch some tennis or you live in New York and enjoy a little people watching and the patronage of this great tennis event – the Pierre Hotel is a must visit place. Continue reading
Coasts With the Most
Instead of the Usual Seaside Hotpots, Hit These Four Northeast Beach Towns For Tranquil Summer Days
Looking to avoid the summer beach crowds this summer and settle down for a more tranquil summer experience. Here are our top picks for fun yet serene coastal destinations, all in the Northeast. Continue reading
Master a Mole and More in the City Travel + Leisure Rated #1 in the World
San Miguel de Allende, a rather little known colonial-era city in Mexico’s central highlands mostly known for its baroque Spanish architecture, just recently received the prestigious accolade of #1 city in the world by Travel + Leisure. So what is so special about San Miguel de Allende? T+L cites the authenticity, cost effectiveness and great restaurants among the many draws, all while—according to one reader—“maintaining its Mexican heritage, culture and charm.”
Here’s a quick review of San Miguel de Allende; where to stay, what to do and, according to our own John Newton, why a certain cooking school might be the biggest attraction of all.
Casa de Sierra Nevada
The grand dame of San Miguel de Allende, Casa de Sierra Nevada is a cluster of historic buildings at the centre of the city. With cool, leafy gardens, stone arches and traditional wooden doors surrounding pretty courtyards lit by lanterns at night, this charming luxury hotel offers the ultimate Mexican experience. While the interior, like many San Miguel hotels, is all about carved headboards and bathrooms in traditional blue-and-white Talavera tiles, their are also more contemporary options that shake up this hill town.
Hotel Matilda
The 32-room Hotel Matilda celebrates the arts scene of San Miguel with a gallery like atmosphere that is focused on the works of three emerging Mexican artists: Aldo Chaparro, Nacho Rodriguez Bach, and Bosco Sodi. Photographs by Mexico City’s Eduardo Zaylan hang on the walls of the guest rooms. Don’t worry, however: the scene is chic and celebratory, not studious, from the hopping Bar Matilda to the 4,700-square-foot spa. In celebration of its opening, all rooms are $195 per night, including breakfast, through the end of the year.
Rosewood San Miguel de Allende
Meanwhile, newcomer, luxury boutique hotel Rosewood San Miguel de Allende reflects the artistic traditions of an enchanting historic town, while still providing the amenities you would expect from the Rosewood brand. Surrounded by natural beauty and history, Rosewood San Miguel de Allende is ideally placed for experiencing this fascinating colonial town. Guests are invited to explore local vibrant fiestas or the town’s colorful streets lined with churches, gardens and galleries at their own pace. Guests can appreciate the art of craftsmanship at galleries such as Fábrica La Aurora to discover stonework, papier maché and hand-blown glass masterpieces.
Wine Cellar at Rosewood San Miguel de Allende
Bathroom at Rosewood San Miguel de Allende
If you have ever wanted to master a mole or be able to prepare pitchers of agua fresca for your next holiday party, the chefs at the Sazón Cooking School at Casa de Sierra Nevada can guide you through the process.
Students of the day-long Market Tour and Class program begin with a guided visit to the markets of San Miguel de Allende, a postcard perfect 500-year-old colonial town outside Mexico City. The hotel’s chef, the charismatic and engaging Paco Cardenas (who, thankfully, speaks flawless English) explains the differences between habaneros, poblanos, and other chiles of the Mexican kitchen as well as basic shopping Spanish with opportunities to sample cheeses and other ingredients.
Students then return to the Sazón school, located in an 18th-century home near the hotel, and don their aprons. Hands-on lessons in preparing traditional Mexican dishes follow, with the results consumed at the end of class. During our visit, the favorite dish of most students was a nopal salad, made from the cactus plant of the same name, but what is on each class’s menu is determined by the ingredients at their peak of ripeness and available at the market. Other classes (which cost 600 pesos) focus on the country’s regional cuisines and signature dishes.
While classes are open to visitors who aren’t guests at the hotel, a stay at Casa de Sierra Nevada is a highlight of any visit to San Miguel. The Orient-Express property has 15 rooms and 22 suites, decorated with Spanish colonial–inspired furnishings, and distributed among four different colonial mansions and the larger Casa del Parque, a few minutes walk from the hotel. If you pay a month in advance and stay at least two nights, you’ll receive a 10 percent discount on any stay at Casa de Sierra Nevada, including the Sazón Culinary Package, which includes one market tour and one cooking class.
Not to be outdone Rosewood San Miguel de Allende has launched it’s own cooking school. At Los Pirules, a new, immersive outdoor cooking venue overlooking the city of San Miguel de Allende, guests use local Manchego cheese, fresh salsa and herbs picked from the hotel’s garden to create a sizzling queso fundido prepared in a traditional, heated stone bowl or molcajete, a technique that can be traced back to the Aztecs.
While San Miguel de Allende might have something for every type of traveler we’re pretty sure foodies—especially traditional Mexican food aficionados—will enjoy themselves thoroughly in this quaint, authentic and now famous, Mexican city in Mexico’s rustic central highlands.
Last Minute Beacher
Five Easy Northeast Beach Towns For Last Minute Travel
While booking a summer rental—in advance—is usually the best way to get your beach fix on, last minute weekend trips to the beach are a reality for most and can provide exactly the kind of whimsical lift your soul needs—if you pick the right town. Continue reading
Where Food and Travel Meet In Spectacular Fashion
Food and travel go hand in hand. After all, memories are made with all of our senses, and our senses of smell and taste often help cement a memory long after you’ve left a destination. Continue reading
These Photos Show Why The 35th America’s Cup in Bermuda Will Be a Spectacle to See
From May 26th through June 27th, Bermuda will host The America’s Cup—the world’s oldest and most prestigious sailing event, presented by Louis Vuitton. The competition will draw six teams comprised of the world’s best sailors to the crystal blue waters of Bermuda’s Great Sound for the first time in the event’s 166 years. Continue reading
Bermuda Hosts 35th America’s Cup—Here’s What You Need To Know
From May 26th through June 27th, Bermuda will host the America’s Cup presented by Louis Vuitton, the world’s oldest and most prestigious sailing event. The competition will draw six teams comprised of the world’s best sailors to the crystal blue waters of Bermuda’s Great Sound for the first time in the event’s 166 years. Continue reading
Boutique Boomtown
The Westin? Love it. The Intercontinental? That’s a “10.” The Ritz-Carlton? There must always be a Ritz-Carlton.
And yet, if a critique is to be had, it is this: If you’ve been to one Westin/Intercontinental/Ritz-Carlton, you’ve been to them all. Which, if you’ve been to one, isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it allows for only a very borderline exposure to the flavor and flair of the locale you are in.
Still The Standard
Ocean Drive Style with a European Flare
The Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive may garner more attention, but across the Venetian Causeway, on residential Belle Isle, lies one of Miami’s best hotels.
Best Hotels In Chicago
It’s easy to indulge your love of exquisite accommodations in the Windy City. Celebrating arts, dining, shopping, entertainment and sports, Chicago is a diverse luxury destination that presents unlimited adventures. Continue reading
Luxury in Langkawi
Some 30 kilometers off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia lies the 99-island archipelago of Langkawi, a jungle-covered paradise in the Andaman Sea. The eponymous Pulau Langkawi is the largest of the islands and a getaway for everyone from backpackers to those in search of some of the nicest hotels in the world. Continue reading
This Resort in Napa Typifies What Younger Travelers Want in a 5-Star Hotel
If a world class spa, beautiful pool overlooking Napa valley, afternoon wine tastings, gourment farm-to-table cuisine (via multiple onsite restaurants) and the peace-of-mind knowing that the resort is a leader in sustainability practices is the kind of resort you would like to stay at—then give the Carneros Resort a try. It checks all of these boxes and more—especially for millenials and younger generations who genuinely care about these things.
Situated in the heart of wine country, sandwiched between Napa and Sonoma, the Carneros Resort (formerly “Carneros Inn”) is a quiet haven (and heaven) amidst the well-trodden wine country tourist trail.
Master a Mole at the Sazon Cooking School in the Mexican City Travel + Leisure Rated #1 In The World
If you have ever wanted to master a mole or be able to prepare pitchers of agua fresca for your next holiday party, the chefs at the Sazón cooking school at Casa de Sierra Nevada can guide you through the process. Continue reading
On a Roll With Lobsters & More in Maine
You don’t need sun or balmy weather to enjoy the Cliff House Resort & Spa in Ogunquit, Maine. In fact, some guests reportedly prefer to stay during storms. That’s when they can view the turbulent ocean from the cozy confines of their balconies perched above the rocky cliffs that jut into the Atlantic. Continue reading
Old Meets New at the Hudson Valley’s Mohonk Mountain House
I stared into the beak of a red-tailed hawk and wondered how I, a New York City girl, could be so fascinated by this bird of prey as she dug her claws into the padded gloves of naturalist/author Rusty Johnson. Continue reading
A Breed Apart
Americans go horse mad during the first week of May every year. The Kentucky Derby turns casual race fans into serious race fans. Maybe it’s the pomp and circumstance surrounding the race at Churchill Downs or maybe it’s the chance to win big money. But it probably has more to do with the majesty of the thoroughbreds racing around the mile-long track. Continue reading
In the Heart of Texas at Stubbs Bar-BBQ
Spring is one of the best times to scope out the infamous music scene in Austin. If you missed SXSW this year, there’s still plenty of time to visit renowned venues like Antone’s and the Continental Club before temperatures start climbing into the triple digits. Continue reading
Lovely Bones
Maybe you’ve come to Miami to rest and relax in the sun. Or perhaps you fancy the vibrant nightlife. No matter your business, it’s important to note—especially for you restless souls who grow tired of sunbathing—that a fishing mecca lies only a few miles south in the Florida Keys. Continue reading
Blue Curaçao
It is said that to go to Ireland is to experience every shade of green there is. If so, then the Caribbean is the showcase for all things blue. Nestled amid boundless fields of sapphire and cobalt, the island of Curaçao, 171 miles of Old-World-Europe-meets-New-World-palm-trees, is a far-flung fragment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. And while no insult is intended, if one hankers for a bit of European style in the month of February, Curaçao probably trumps Amsterdam in anybody’s book…
Landing on 2010’s Hot List by Condé Nast Traveler, and Winner of the 2011 TripAdvisor Travelers Choice award for Top 10 hotels for Romance in the Caribbean and Mexico, the Baoase Luxury Resort, ensconced on 300 meters along Curaçao’s starlight-white southern beaches, is a fairyland vantage point for all the blues the Caribbean can conjure. Reflecting the qualities of an elegant island manor house, the villas and suites at Baoase are decorated with refined Asian motifs, providing a relaxing ambiance complete with modern amenities and unrushed tropical serenity.
Washed by lush winds and waves and brimming with luxury and attentive staff, the Baoase isn’t about to give guests an easy excuse to leave—here, it is all about kicking back and letting the world go by on puffs of tropical air. Baoase seduces visitors with luxury without slapping them in the face with it. By paying attention to the little details, such as the water trays located at the guest room entrances to wash the sand from your feet before entering your room, the resort need not rely on pomp and circumstance to get its 5-star message across. Surrounded by billowing trees, meandering streams, gem-like pools, waterfalls, and a symphony of island birdsong, visitors are spoiled from the very minute they set foot on the property (literally—a complimentary welcome drink awaits at check-in).
Now, it is not to say that the resort’s rooms and lofts are by any means lacking, but for the top-shelf experience, only the villas will do. Featuring it’s own Jacuzzi, private infinity pool and a luxury cave including a pool, in- and outside shower, lounge area, bar, and it’s very own baby beach, the aptly named “Mastervilla” is the crown jewel of the property. With its master bedroom offering panoramic views of Bibi Island, the space has a luxury, walk-in closet, flat screen TV, balcony, and a voluminous bathroom stocked by Gilchrist and Soames with a bath and in- and outdoor showers. The villa can also attach to the Baoase’s Banyan Rooms to let up to eight people delight in view of the sea, pool, and garden.
Terra firma is not the only place from which Baoase casts its spell. Curaçao is one of the top shore diving destinations in the whole of the Caribbean, and a vibrant coral reef located just beyond Baoase’s lagoon awaits. After breakfast on the beach, you can, with your own private scuba diver instructor at Baoase (for Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced divers) delve into the wonders of the sea. There is even a mini-submarine to explore deeper seas up to 320 meters. Baoase’s aqueous charms are not limited to the undersea realm, however: Jet skiing, sailing, deep sea fishing, surfing or swimming with dolphins at the Dolphin Academy are all at the ready to enchant. After spending the day with Poseidon, Executive Chef René Klop, whose French-Asian fusion cuisine is something of a local legend, ushers in coral-colored sunsets and nights heavy with floral scents.
The Baoase also features in-room “wellbeing service.” In the language of Baoase, wellbeing does not mean a routine spa; rather, it attempts more by providing a comprehensive range of spa services (Couple Massage, Aromatherapy Massage, Hot Stone Massage…) directly on the private room terraces or on the beach to the eternal rhythm of aquamarine waves.
For a hemisphere still locked in winter’s grip, trading winter blues for tropical ones is music to our ears.
A (North) Fork In The Road
Now is the time to visit the North Fork. The summer crowd is gone and the early fall visitors that descend upon the narrow fork for wine tasting and apple and pumpkin-picking have mostly thinned out. Finally, the area’s main road, Route 25, is easy to drive once more. Continue reading
Paradise Found—In the Maldives
As the seaplane descends from the clouds high above the sun-dappled cerulean water, I gaze transfixed at the island’s virgin white sand. Dolphins happily race each other as a nearby yacht traverses miles of serene blue ocean. Continue reading
Fall Festivals, Coast to Coast
The kids are back in school, the days are growing noticeably shorter and a certain crispness has invaded the air. If we didn’t know any better, we’d say that summer has drawn to a close. Hang on a second while we check the calendar…
Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, California
For many an Angelino, a quick trip away from the hustle and bustle of the city usually means hitting the beach. But for those in the know, a historic property 35 miles south of Santa Barbara is the perfect spot for a pleasing respite. Ojai Valley Inn & Spa in Ojai, California, has long been the go-to vacation spot for the Hollywood elite, from Clark Gable to Renée Zellwegger.
The expansive property sits at the base of the TopaTopa Mountains. One can’t help but admire the profusion of lavender and other fragrant wildflowers. It makes you feel as if you’re in the Mediterranean. The Spanish-style main building houses 308 rooms and suites, all with large, carpeted sleeping and sitting areas and stone-floored, salmon-colored bathrooms, some with tubs that open onto the bedroom. Step out onto the patio and you immediately get a sense of peace just by breathing in the clean air.
The grounds are at once immaculate and wild. The par-70 golf course is admittedly well manicured but the greens use the natural undulating hills to challenging affect. The herb garden pergola is a great place to enjoy a glass of wine or just relax with a great book. The resort has a number of areas at which to rest.
If you do decide to do something more strenuous, Ojai Valley Inn & Spa has a number of activity options. The two pools offer exercise and dining al fresco. Opt for the Herb Garden Pool. The adult-only spot features covered cabanas and hosts live music on Friday and Saturday nights. Rent a bike and head to town on the paved bike path. The tennis facilities are exemplary and if you need a hitting partner, the staff pro will happily comply.
But let’s face it, you’ve come here for the spa and it doesn’t disappoint. Choose from an array of body treatments, water therapies, facials and innovative massages, all performed with expertise and a smile. The spa has a sizable aqua lounge with a sauna, steam room and hot tub. You may never want to leave.
Lost in the Atlantic
Block Island has an otherworldly air, forgotten by time and lost in the Atlantic. If Martha’s Vineyard is the summer resort of Democratic leaders and Nantucket a mecca of New England preppies, Block Island, which lies 12 miles south of the coast of Rhode Island and 14 miles off the eastern tip of Long Island, is decidedly more humble. It’s a nice respite from the tourist hoards one encounters on the other two islands.
Most of the island, all 10 square miles of it, is dotted with parks. Some 43 percent of the island has been protected from development, earning Block Island a spot on the Nature Conservancy’s list of the twelve “Last Great Places” in the western hemisphere. Most visitors come in the summer, when the gentle ocean breezes and plentiful sand lure urbanites wanting a quick break from the steam of the city. But the best time to go is during the shoulder season, which runs from Labor Day till Thanksgiving. During this time you’ll find quiet dunes, empty beaches and a near-desolate nature trail leading through scrubland to coastal bluffs. Expect to spend at least some days waiting out storms curled up fireside with a novel. When you emerge it will be to dramatic windswept dunes, often cloudy skies and a topography that feels more Scottish than Caribbean. The principal appeals of Block Island off-season, experienced by only a few of its annual visitors, are solitude and silence.
The compact size of the island and its relatively flat terrain also make it an ideal green vacation destination. Leave your car at home as the entire island can easily be explored on bike in an afternoon, from the Mohegan Bluffs on the southern coast with views of Montauk on clear days to Sachem Pond and the North Lighthouse at the island’s other end. And if you are staying at a hotel in Old Harbor, every dining option is only a short walk away.
Almost all of the hotels face the Old Harbor, constructed in the 1870s. (New Harbor, which sits on the island’s Great Salt Pond, is almost as old, having been built in 1895.) And prices drop dramatically as the days grow shorter. A room at the Hotel Manisses that is $220 a night in the height of summer can be had for only $75 in October. From November to April, all rooms at it and its sister property, the 1661 Inn include a lavish breakfast buffet in the rate. Double rooms at the harbor front National Hotel start at $199 in the summer, but only $99 in October.
Hotel Manisses at night. Photo by Eric Johnson (View 836)
You won’t find the same discounts when it comes to dining, however, side from some specials on fudge as candy stores prepare to shutter for the winter, but the island has a range of restaurants from upscale options such as the Spring House—especially popular for cocktails at sunset—to casual lobster shacks. One downside, however, of visiting off-season is that some restaurants, such as the Hotel Manisses’s, close before the end of October.
Getting around is cheaper, too. The Old Harbor Bike Shop doesn’t have special seasonal rates, but print out the coupons found at bnockislandtransportation.com for $10 off of moped rentals or $5 off of bicycle rentals.
Although Block Island is served by ferries from New London, Connecticut, and Montauk, New York, in the summer, after the end of September, the only way to reach the island is via the ferry from Port Judith in Rhode Island. If it’s a bit harder to get there, it just means it will be easy to find the peace and quiet you were searching for.
—John Newton
John Newton is a Brooklyn-based travel writer and a former editor at Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure.
Prim(land) and Proper
Start the morning off with 18 holes of PGA quality, Scottish-links style driving and putting action on the #1 public golf course in Virginia. Next, grab a quick lunch and a cold pint at the 19th Pub before your afternoon ATV tour starts at 2 p.m. After a bumpy ride through the Blue Ridge Mountains, your body will most likely need a break, so settle back in at your luxurious mountain suite for an afternoon siesta. Continue reading