Hotels

Photo by Michael ReissChicago conjures up many captions--from the Windy City, to the deep dish pizza capital, to the hometown of presidents, popes and media moguls. This city has something for everyone: it’s architecture, museums, theaters, symphony, sports venues, culinary stars, river walks and lakefront make it an irresistible tourism destination. No wonder it has been voted Best Big City in the US. for eight years in a row by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler. Photo by the Nobu HotelsBesides Best Big City status, Chicago has numerous luxury hotels ready to welcome international guests. Why not stay at the…

The Nickel Hotel credit: Matthew Williams For many of us, checking into a hotel isn’t just about where you sleep—it’s about how a place makes you feel. Unlike brand-name properties, boutique stays provide a sense of place and personalization with fewer rooms, thoughtful interiors, and locally rooted experiences. This latest wave of new openings is helping redefine the travel experience, prioritizing character, craftsmanship, and connection over scale. From a reimagined motel in the Mojave Desert and design-forward coastal retreat on Coronado to the latest addition to Bunkhouse Hotels, here’s where to check in for a soulful escape. The Nickel Hotel, Charleston,…

Royal Maxim Palace KempinskiIn a city defined by ancient wonders and modern intensity, Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski offers a refreshing reinterpretation of luxury—an opulent, resort-style sanctuary that stands apart in Cairo’s hospitality landscape. Located in the increasingly cosmopolitan First Settlement district, just 20 minutes from the airport, this expansive property is more than a place to stay; it’s a destination designed to envelop guests in elegance and ease. From first approach, the hotel’s all-white, palatial façade commands attention. Four wings encircle a central courtyard with a striking outdoor pool, while polished blue domes cap each corner, creating a visual language…

Barcelona is a city of contrasts—sea and mountain, history and innovation—and nowhere are they more elegantly expressed than at Hotel Arts. Rising 44 stories above the Port Olímpic, this gleaming steel and glass tower—originally built as part of Barcelona’s 1992 Olympic-era reinvention—has long served as a symbol of the city’s transformation. Its location, on the seam between the city and the sea, gives it a kind of natural glamour. Now, three decades after its debut, it has quietly reinvented itself. The redesign begins where it matters most: the guest rooms. Design firm Meyer Davis led the transformation. Their approach is exceedingly…

all images credit Parocks or establishment featuredSome Greek islands announce themselves with flash and frenzy—where the soundtrack is thumping techno and the beaches are shoulder-to-shoulder with the sun-bronzed and the overexposed. Others, once serene, now strain beneath the weight of unchecked tourism—overrun by cruise ship hoards and influencer pilgrimages that have turned once-revered hideaways into little more than backdrops for borrowed moments. Places that once felt sacred now feel spent, their magic dimmed by too many eyes and too little reverence. But Paros has managed something rare: it remains unhurried. Unspoiled, in the ways that matter. A place where the…

Ruairi McLaughlin, General Manager, voco Belfast. Photo by Columbia HillenLocation, location, location is the oft-heralded mantra for hospitality success and it doesn’t get much better than Belfast’s voco hotel, a short walk from downtown, the City Hall and a host of cafes, restaurants, clubs and shops. Columbia HillenNot to mention it also being tucked away from traffic in the historic Gasworks district beside an attractive water feature, a stretch of the Farset River from which Belfast gains its name (Beal Feirste - Gaeilge for ‘mouth of the Farset’) and open grassy areas where people leisurely walk their dogs. Columbia HillenStanding tall…

Photo courtesy of Alila Marea Beach ResortPerched up on a cliff overlooking North San Diego's Ponto Beach and Carlsbad, the luxury Alila Marea Beach Resort in Encinitas is an adult-centered wellness resort. Immersive experiences are designed to reset, rejuvenate and improve guests physical, mental and emotional well being.   Practicing the Alila philosophy of sustainability, respect for the local culture and providing guests with a sense of wonder, there are 130 thoughtfully designed guest rooms and two large suites. Spectacular Suites. Photo by Jill Weinlein Most of the guest rooms are designed for two people and offer a patio or…

Image Courtesy of Casona Roma NorteIn a city brimming with reinvention, Casona Roma Norte manages to feel both timeless and impossibly fresh. Tucked within a stately 19th-century mansion in the heart of Mexico City’s creative quarter, this new lifestyle hotel is already quietly drawing the kind of crowd that rarely needs to name-drop. Designers, art world fixtures, architects, and in-the-know travelers have all found their way to its wrought-iron gates. Drawn in by its architectural grandeur, magnetic energy, and an aesthetic that feels more like a cinematic tableau than a hotel lobby. Image Courtesy of Casona Roma NorteWith its graceful…

Columbia HillenStep across a welcome carpet, the name Adele & Jules hotel woven on it, and you enter a quiet world on a gated street removed from Parisian traffic on the Right Bank’s Grands Boulevards district.  Columbia HillenThe first clue as to the chic decor that awaits you inside is a container with vivid red umbrellas standing upright in it, a framed portrait of a man’s face his head garlanded with flowers on one wall and what looks like an evocative sunrise or twilight on the other and a multifaceted mirror design featuring 36 concave mirrors. Columbia HillenThe entrance hallway leading to a marble-topped reception desk…

Photo by Jill WeinleinWhile staying at the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero and exploring San Francisco, I noticed colorful and whimsical artistic hearts displayed throughout the city. In December 1961, award-winning singer Tony Bennett first sang "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" at the Venetian Room in the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. Hearts have been associated with the city ever since the song's debut. Many of these creative hearts are located in popular tourist areas such as Union Square, Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, City Hall, AT&T Park and San Francisco General Hospital.   For over 20 years, these sculptures have become…