Do Not Disturb
For travel agents, there’s nothing better than the euphoria that comes with visiting a brand new hotel. The first step through the front doors is a wild foray into a whole new reality, blissfully detached from our everyday lives. As we stand in awe of stunning lobbies, glide our hands across perfectly pressed sheets, and breathe in that glorious new-hotel smell, we’re reminded how lucky we are to work in this incredible industry. Here are some of the new places we checked-in this year:
Les Airelles Chateau de Versailles
This was perhaps the most over the top hotel experience I’ve ever had…and I loved every minute of it. It’s exactly what you’d expect for a hotel located IN Versailles. Every detail has been thought of and service is executed perfectly. The decor of the hotel is supposed to reflect what it would have been like in 17th century France, so everything from the common spaces to the rooms are draped in fabrics, finished with gold leaf, and filled with ornate details that make you feel like royalty. The rooms themselves are beautiful, whether you have a suite or starting category. Nightly rates include breakfast, afternoon tea, after-hours tours of Versailles, and personal butlers who can do things like pack and unpack for you or wake you up in the morning with something called the Queen’s Wake-up, where they draw a bath while you are sleeping and wake you to the soft sounds of classical music. Butlers can also set up special tented lunches for guests on the grand canal when the weather is nice and can privatize areas around the hotel for meals. My favorite part was dressing up in period costume for our final (Alain Ducasse!) dinner. This place is a must-visit for every mother daughter vacation!
-Alex Erdman
Borgo Santandrea
I was one of the first guests to stay at Borgo Santandrea - the first luxury hotel opening on the Amalfi Coast in almost 15 years. I have always wanted to visit the Amalfi Coast and during the height of COVID lockdowns, I told myself, “When I can travel again, I’m going to finally visit the Amalfi Coast and check off that bucket list item.” So, when some of our partners at MJL Select asked if I wanted to visit their newly opened property, wild horses couldn’t stop me. It was truly a dream trip and is now one of my all-time favorite properties. The hotel is nestled into a cliff with commanding views of Capri, with terraces overflowing with gorgeous flowers, and a private sand beach right on property (the only one at a 5-star hotel in the region). And the design... oh, where to begin on the design! Artisans created 31 different styles of colorful tiles that cover the property - think blue & white stripes all over the bathroom, yellow & green swirls in the restaurant, I couldn’t stop taking photos of my feet! A trip to the Amalfi Coast should be on everyone’s list and Borgo Santandrea does not disappoint!
-Emily Pariseau
Paradero Todos Santos
I was able to visit Paradero in Todos Santos in March, shortly after it opened. I think there are still a few kinks to be worked out here, as there are at all new hotels, but the Paradero concept has great potential. It’s Mexico’s first “experience-inclusive” hotel, which means Paradero offers a built in menu of activities and excursions in its nightly room rates. Included activities run the gamut from sunset hikes and local art tours to hands-on farming experiences in nearby communities. There are, of course, supplemental activities like surfing and temazcal treatments, that incur extra fees. Activities aside, the hotel’s setting is stunning and the views of the Pacific are spectacular. Golden hour really takes on a whole new meaning here. The pools are also next-level, for travelers who are just looking to soak up some Vitamin D. And the food is out of this world. There’s a restaurant, and a menu, but the chef is more than happy to prepare whatever it is you’re craving.
-Elizabeth Walsh
Villa Igeia
After fantasizing about visiting Sicily perhaps daily during the pandemic, it was the sweetest dream come true to tack on a weekend trip to specifically visit this incredible island after attending a travel conference in Florence. Villa Igeia is everything it promises online (a rarity indeed) the restored palazzo feels like a sincere bastion of refined styling, a time warp to the old world even, with its vantage directly above the marina, nestled into the foothill of the city’s saintly Mt. Pellegrino. The dining terrace, kidney shaped pool and tucked-away spa are elegantly terraced amidst the fragrant gardens, creating the undeniable urge to don elegant attire befitting of such a setting. Pack accordingly, your photo memories will thank you. I recommend this spot to families and couples alike as the rooms vary in size and the pool and grounds cater to all.
-Meg Nolan
Origins Lodge
Origins Lodge opened in 2019, but due to the pandemic it really didn’t gain traction until this year. I was blown away by this safari inspired hotel seemingly dropped into the middle of the Costa Rican jungle. Costa Rica has long been in need of a really special boutique property, and Origins really fits the bill. Not only does it offer unparalleled access to adventure activities (it’s located next to a volcano!), it’s also incredible well done – plush and comfortable without feeling too stuffy or out of context. The views from the property are gorgeous and the integration of indoor/outdoor living is truly unique – there’s a really special ambiance to this place. I will be recommending it to my clients 100%.
-Missy Weil
One & Only Mandarina
The day I first saw photographs of O&O Mandarina, I knew I had to visit. The architecture and design wowed me. I was finally able to check it out in August, and it lived up to every expectation. Situated on 33 coastal acres, the hotel is home to 105 contemporary treehouse style villas that feel nestled within the dense rainforest. There’s a stunning private beach, five pools (most with jaw-dropping infinity edge views!), and a massive spa with incredible facilities. We loved the couples’ earth treatment, a two-hour experience that includes a mud mask and scalp massages, followed by full body massages and a couples ceremony. We also really loved the butler service, which was available from 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM. We had a Whatsapp group with two dedicated butlers, and they were excellent. This is an awesome place for couples or families (young and old!), but anyone looking for nightlife will want to steer clear.
-James McLaren
Four Seasons San Domenico Palace
Four Seasons Taormina at San Domenico Palace offers just the exhalation inducing ambiance that the curvaceous drive up to Taormina requires, and then goes beyond that with a refreshing spritz welcome beverage as you await check-in on the plush seating in in the former monastery’s spacious courtyard. The building’s monastic origin can be felt in the long hallways and squared off room configurations while the dramatic infinity pool terrace featuring scallop edged parasols and a champagne menu, that certainly answered my prayers, keep the historic semblance front and center particularly since the former monastery was one devoted to social gathering. A decadent breakfast buffet and a cool poolside trattoria with views of both the sea and steaming Mr. Etna ensure this Four Seasons is firmly rooted in its location. I recommend it for all types of guests, save those who prickle at a bit of a journey between their room and the pool.
-Meg Nolan
Marram
This hotel is the perfect way to experience Montauk. It’s a serene oasis directly on the beach with lots of spaces to relax and sip a fresh smoothie or a Montuk ale. The rooms are on the smaller side but are calming with all natural fabrics. It’s just a short 10-minute walk to town to pick up lunch for the beach. There is something for all guests on the daily activity board bike cruisers, yoga, morning meditation, private surf lessons, and even stargazing at night. This hotel is perfect for singles, couples, and small families with babies or toddlers.
-Maggie Ryan
Four Seasons Madrid
I was in Madrid for less than 10 hours at the end of July, between a flight from Rome and one to Newark. The Four Seasons’ 200 rooms span a cluster of seven restored historic buildings located in the heart of Madrid, 25 minutes from the airport and near many of the city’s important attractions. The lobby is double height, with a translucent glass ceiling and an array of seating areas; the look is beige-toned and modernist. The upstairs corridors are wide and long, extending through the different buildings. The color scheme is lighter and creamier here and throughout the guest rooms, including in the almost 500-square foot Deluxe Alcala room where I spent the night. It was blissfully comfortable, high-ceilinged with a large tufted headboard, lacquered off-white furniture, and a large marble-tiled bathroom. Throughout the hotel, lamps and lighting fixtures were contemporary in style.
As for the service, it was entirely soothing. At every point on arrival, from the person at the door to the one at reception who greeted me in the otherwise empty lobby, I was welcomed in a way that expressed not only genuine hospitality, but also concern for my well-being given the late hour of my arrival, close to midnight. After a blissfully comfortable night, if not a sufficiently long-lasting sleep, I headed to breakfast on the roof-top terrace of the hotel’s restaurant—with lovely views of the rooftops of surrounding buildings. My crab omelet was perfect.