admin

Columbia HillenI stood gazing out the window exhilarated. Directly ahead a stunning aerial view over Basilica Sacre Coeur in Montmartre and the unmistakable Eiffel Tower and immediately to the left Stade du France, the national stadium.  Columbia HillenSuch was the picture-perfect panorama from my junior suite on the 30th floor of the soaring skyscraper that is H4 Hôtel Wyndham Paris Pleyel Resort on the northern ring of Paris in the heart of Saint-Denis.  Completed just before the Olympic games last year, this 697-room, four-star hotel occupies an enviable location, five-minute walk from the former Olympic Village and close to two…

Ai Weiwei's White Chandelier hangs in the Gran Salone of The St. Regis VeniceFew hotels can claim to be both muse and gallery, but The St. Regis Venice occupies that rare intersection. Rising from a cluster of noble palazzi along the Grand Canal, the property has long been tied to art history. Claude Monet once made it his Venetian base, sketching and painting from its upper floors as the sun shifted across San Giorgio Maggiore. The hotel has leaned into this heritage with more than a passing nod. Today, art is not only hung on its walls but woven into its very…

Sep. 24th, 2025 If it seems like everyone on your Instagram feed visited Mallorca this past summer, you’re not imagining it. The island is having a major moment, drawing travelers with its sun-soaked beaches, boutique hotels, and a culinary scene that’s as vibrant as its turquoise waters. Beyond the island’s beautiful coast, Mallorca’s charming villages, lush vineyards, and rugged mountain landscapes offer a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation, making it a destination that feels both effortlessly chic and endlessly inviting. Early fall is a wonderful time to visit Mallorca, with warm seas, golden light, and fewer crowds along its…

On the southern coast of Kos, where the Aegean Sea kisses the shore with quiet rhythm, there lies a place that understands what it means to truly arrive. Not just in destination, but in presence. Kyma Rooms & Suites, winner of the 2025 Luxury Lifestyle Awards for Best Luxury Beachfront Hotel in Kos, Greece, offers a sense of belonging, serenity, and quiet luxury that lingers long after you’ve departed. A Place Reborn, A Heritage Honored The story of Kyma begins decades ago, when the property operated as one of the first seaside rentals in the traditional village of Kardamena. Built…

Hotel del Coronado. Photo Jill WeinleinWhen visitors from all over the country arrived to the one-of-a-kind, Queen Anne-style, Hotel del Coronado in 1888, they marveled at its grand scale beauty.  Construction began in March 1887, and was completed in just 11 months. It was deemed as the largest wooden structure in the U.S. When the spectacular dining room with a curved wooden ceiling and sparkling crown chandeliers opened to guests on February 19, 1888, that date was deemed the hotel's birthday. Recently Hotel del Coronado completed a revitalization of its iconic Victorian building. This is the heart of the resort…

Sep. 24th, 2025 There’s an enduring romance to the open road, memories of family road trips, spontaneous detours, and freedom of moving at your own pace. Marriott International Luxury Group has captured that spirit of wanderlust with Iconic Drives a new program that pairs dream cars — from a twin-turbo V8 Ferrari 488 to the timeless Porsche 911 — with curated routes and luxurious hotel stays. Debuted at five flagship properties across the U.S. and Hawaii, the initiative balances automotive culture and experiential travel, rewarding with journeys every bit as memorable as the destinations themselves: from Arizona's Sonoran Desert to the shores of Maui.…

Alto Adige's vineyards cling to impossibly steep slopes. Photo by Anthony GiglioItaly’s famed wine regions—Tuscany, Piedmont, Veneto, even Sicily—often dominate the imagination of wine travelers. Yet, one of Italy’s most beautiful viticultural areas remains largely undiscovered. In the far north, hugging the Austrian border, lies Alto Adige, a region where the Dolomites rise sharply from the valley floors, vineyards cling to impossibly steep slopes, and wines radiate Alpine clarity. While many have heard of Chianti or Barolo, few have experienced the elegance and freshness of Alto Adige’s wines or the breathtaking landscape that nurtures them. Here are ten reasons this northern…

Glorietta Bay Inn. Photo Jill WeinleinThere are two legendary historical properties for visitors to stay at when exploring Coronado Island, the Glorietta Bay Inn and Hotel del Coronado. Both properties were once owned by San Diego's founding father, John D. Spreckels.  Glorietta Bay Inn is a renovated mansion that was once Spreckels' home. After living through the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Spreckels commissioned his favorite architect, Harrison Albright, to design his Coronado home built with reinforced steel and concrete. It was completed in 1908 and offered many unique features for its time. It was the first to have electrical lights and it had…