9 Hotels I Need to Stay in.
When I was a child I’d have various puzzles and placemats that were maps of the world or different continents. I used to love reading the country names aloud and asking my mom if she had been to them and pestering her about whether or not we could go to certain places. This lead to many years of fantasizing about places to visit and what sort of adventures I would get to upon arrival. I still do this to this very day.
I’ve gotten a little more particular about the details as time has passed. As you can imagine, I spend a lot of time in hotels so I’m often poking around in magazines and corners of the internet discovering reviews and pieces on various properties. A few have stuck with me, like an ear worm for my mind’s eye, and those few fabulous properties have made it into this post.
Think of this as a sort of bucket list for hotels. Some of these are in locales I go to over and over, some are completely foreign to me, but they all are truly outstanding.
Cheval Blanc Paris
This place fascinates me. Some of you may know that in the before-times I would make a yearly pilgrimage to Paris for my birthday. Paris is always such a fun place because it is seeped in so much history. The building which boasts gorgeous art deco elements in its architecture was originally a department store started by Ernest Cognacq and Marie-Louise Joy. This couple were ardent art collectors and quite the philanthropists creating homes and aid programs for families and individuals in need.
The building still houses a department store showcasing many of the parent company’s brands (LVMH) but one wing is devoted to an ultra luxe hotel which houses the largest indoor swimming pool in all of Europe. The rooms are stunning in calming in mostly white decor but one of the most notable features of this property is the stunning view of Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris.
Airelles Château de Versailles
Versailles is another of my favorites and it isn’t short on lovely places to stay but this new hotel (it opened in June 2021) is perfect for completely immersing oneself in the fantasy world that the gardens Versailles can so easily transport you to.
Located within the park of the palace of Versailles this property is perched in a location providing some rooms with stunning views of the Orangerie. Perhaps if you ask nicely and I will tell you stories of my sunset to sunrise party in the Orangerie, although if we stay here maybe we could reenact my shenanigans as guests of the hotel are allowed access to the Orangerie any time of day or night. Guest also get private early morning access to the Trianon.
No detail was spared in outfitting this property with antiques for the appropriate 18th century timeframe. Allegedly, the country was scoured to find the right fixtures and furniture to master the look that was desired and I think they knocked it out of the park.
4 Seasons Orlando
So Orlando is divisive, some love it some hate it, everyone has an opine on Disney. But this isn’t about Disney per se, this is about a Disney adjacent property.
Geographically it is on Disney property within the hallowed grounds of their super luxe housing development, Golden Oak, but this property is truly stunning and an oasis from all of the Orlando mishegoss.
Yes, the fireworks are viewable from the fantastic rooftop restaurant, Capo, but the property is so secluded they provide a whimsical ambiance to what is sure to be a fantastic meal (trust me, I’ve eaten there). The view of the property from this restaurant is just stunning as all of the various pools available to guests are laid before you. Seriously, I freak out over a ton of pools but this is THE one, or four if you want to get specific.
The food is outstanding, the pools are fantastic, and the interior of the building is utterly serene. It’s so easy to decompress here and everyone could use that now and then.
Ion Adventure Hotel, Selfoss Iceland
I have a feeling some of you may have been drawn in by my pictures from Iceland. I love Iceland and fortunately, it’s really accessible from Boston.
This hotel used to be housing for workers at a geothermal plant nearby but has been redesigned into an ultra-chic, Scandinavian design hotspot.
The views are astonishing, particularly in the bar which extends from one end of the building and features floor-to-ceiling windows made for optimal viewing of the aurora borealis.
The outdoor heated pool is also pretty enticing with its breathtaking view of the surreal Icelandic landscape.
Royal Malewane, South Africa
I don’t have many regrets but one of them was letting my mother talk me out of going on a visit to South Africa. The upside to this is it has allowed me more time to research where I’d like to stay.
The Royal Malewane is in the Greater Krueger National park and it has been a dream of mine to safari there. African wildlife face many risks and quite frankly I’d love to see them on their turf before more species disappear from the face of the earth. The trackers who work here have impressive resumes, several of which have won FGASA Safari Guide of the Year Award (quite an interesting competition if you’d like to look it up). However what I find most impressive is that the bulk of the trackers and guides have been employed at the Royal Malewane since the ’90s, that’s quite the tenure.
The hotel itself boasts a pool where elephants have been known to walk up to and greet the guests and the guest rooms are a perfect blend of modern with old school touches which I find adorable. This locale also has the alleged “Best Spa in Africa” but I ‘d have to check this out for myself.
Raffles Singapore-
This may be influenced by reading Crazy Rich Asians but I’ve wanted to go to Singapore before the book was even a twinkle in Kevin Kwan’s eye.
Raffles is stunning and packed to the brim with old-world splendor which is a stark contrast to the ultra-modern buildings that have taken over the Marina Bay area even though it is a mere 5-minute drive away.
The Singapore Sling was invented here and the hotel has its own resident historian. If these novel touches don’t entice you well there are plenty more reasons to be fall in love with Raffles, the rooms are clean and modern and frankly remind me of the Beacon XV in Boston but with more light. The property itself features NINE eateries and I’d have to eat at them all. From steak, Italian. Indian, French, or Chinese they have you covered. I must comment that their afternoon tea looks delightful as well.
The courtyard looks absolutely romantic and I invite you to imagine me making my way to you in a red silk dress amongst the greenery in this al fresco joint.
Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como
Yet another place that looks straight out of a dream, and features THREE incredibly unique pools that I am dying to try. There is the indoor pool which is an infinity pool which always seem sexier for some reason. It provides a great view of the lake and is optimized for serenity. Another is in the garden. The garden is a must see attraction full of olives, fragrant flowers and a giant teddy bear atop a hill, one could spend ages in so I can’t imagine what it would be like to relax and luxuriate within it. The last pool is located within the lake. Why? I don’t know, but I’m down to try it, less risk of a fish bugging me. You can also get a deckchair on their “beach” adjacent to the pool in the lake.
The interior of the building can be best described as opulent. Not for those who fear maximalism, the common areas are colorfully furnished in period decor with modern luxuries and fantastic art which immerse you in a bygone era. The rooms indulge in elements of this but not to the degree in which it robs you of serenity.
And then there is the dining! I can’t even imagine having so many options all with such fantastic views of the lake.
Hotel the Mitsui
Kyoto is one of my favorite cities in the world. Saturated with culture and history so it makes sense to stay in a hotel with a fascinating history. Hotel the Mitsui is on the site of the former Mitsui household. The Mitsui were an affluent family of traders who came to prominence in the 1600s. They are still in business with a presence in many industries, the hotel itself is run by Mitsui Fudosan, their real estate development group.
The Hotel is located next to UNESCO World Heritage Site Nijo castle allowing for stunning views and is a culmination of the efforts of many asian designers at the top of their fields and they’ve managed to successful enmesh history with a modern luxury brand, from the lobby decorated in a contemporary minimalist style accented with kimono fabric or the garden which was directly inspired by the original strolling garden the Mitsui family had for centuries.
This also is the only luxury property in the city center with its own natural source of hot spring water. The thermal pool spans the basement and is incredibly sleek. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy they offer two suites with their own personal onsen.
Guests are free to partake in a few activities offered by the hotel such as a tour of the art (a must for me), morning breathing exercises, as well as a tea ceremony, and many others.
Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan
Moving onto another historical onsen property, this is the oldest hotel in the world still in operation! This alone is enough to pique my interest. Opened in the 8th century, it has been operated by the same family for 52 generations. Even Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, has stayed here! It has been renovated many times since its opening some 1300 years ago but great efforts have been made to preserve the original architecture of the building.
Based at the foot of the Japanese Alps, this is probably the most humble property on my list not boasting any super-luxe amenities but it does feature multiple public and private hot springs and has added free-flowing hot spring baths to each room. The water is alleged to have healing powers.