Hotels

Jill WeinleinOpened in December 2018, the Hyatt Regency Seattle is the first and only LEED Gold-Certified hotel in Emerald City. This environmentally sustainable hotel is in the business for caring for people, as well as enriching the neighborhood and community by reducing, recycling and reusing local products. Sustainability is a natural extension of Hyatt’s purpose. Meeting with Abby Polasko, Area Director of Marketing at A Seattle Collection, she shared that the hotel earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certified designation. This internationally recognized green building system, provides third-party verification that a building or community was designed and…

All Images courtesy of The Northern Lights InnArticle written by Isabelle Clark As you drive in from the Keflavik airport or the capital city of Reykjavik, you begin to understand.  There is a sea of lumpy and jagged rocks and moss as far as the eye can see. These odd shaped rock formations are spotted with what appears to be seaweed which is actually mold-colored moss. It looks more like the surface of the moon or from another planet than anything most have ever seen on earth. These are the lava fields of Iceland and because of their inhabitable makeup,…

Kimpton Seafire Resort and SpaIf the Caribbean is calling your name, consider booking a trip to visit the famed Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman to take in the idyllic crystal clear water and soft, powdery sand as far as the eye can see. For extraordinary accommodations, the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa is an ideal choice thanks to its spacious rooms and suites (with ocean views aplenty), tantalizing culinary options, and most remarkably, an awe-inspiring spa, which boasts the first Hammam and quartz sand table on the island.  Kimpton Seafire Resort and SpaWith 264 guest rooms and suites, the Kimpton…

All Images Credit Marriott HotelsFor the in-crowd, it is arguably the sexiest hotel brand in the world. Watering holes for the area’s hip crowd and the address to stay and play for the international traveler. Inside you’ll find edgy interior spaces with bold designs and daring color schemes and a pool area that is guaranteed to have that “wow” factor.  One could surmise that if this brand doesn’t have an outpost in a city, the city is most likely pretty far down on the cool town list; if it's on the list at all. This is the W Hotel brand and when that…

Ideally situated just 25 minutes from the Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Elaf Al Taqwa Hotel Madina is a family hotel in the heart of Islamic culture and civilization, Madina. The Luxury Lifestyles Awards winner for Best Luxury Family Hotel in Saudi Arabia in 2023 provides guests with a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual experience.  Each room in the Elaf Al Taqwa Hotel Madina has been carefully positioned to provide views of the city’s famous landmarks, like the Al Masjid an-Nabawi and Haram Piazza and large Arabian-styled windows, with beautifully intricate detailing, provide ample light for guests throughout the day. Guests of the Executive floor have access…

Park Lane New YorkThere are plenty of hacks for catching those all-important Z’s, but studies show sleep quality has been on the decline for decades with many of us now getting less than six hours of it a night. Perhaps no surprise then that sleep has become the next big thing in wellness travel with luxury hotel brands tapping into the trend by designing dedicated suites, hosting multi-night retreats, and collaborating with experts on workshops and special programming to help guests improve and reset their circadian rhythms. Consider getting a good night’s rest the new going out, and these five…

All Images Credit A S Boutique Residence HavanaCuba and Havana in particular, are not a destination for everyone. For those looking for a pristine tropical holiday a la Turks and Caicos, Barbados, or St. Barths you’ll not find that here. However, it is exactly the destination that a certain traveler is after. For the culture vulture looking for a destination rich in culture, warm and genuine people, and authentic experiences, it doesn’t get much better than Havana. In the center of the Historic district and close to the best that the city has to offer is an ideal hideaway to…

Zachari Dunes at Mandalay BeachHand picked hotels that are part of the Curio Collection by Hilton are luxury properties that share with their guests one-of-a-kind stories about the surrounding locale. New to the collection is the refreshed Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach. Walking into the light-filled large lobby, guests will learn about Oxnard sugar mogul Henry Oxnard. Other stories include strawberries growing in nearby fields with complimentary glasses of strawberry lemonade, and decor in the colors of sugary sand dunes and the inviting ocean just steps from the resort. Guests will learn that in the early 1900s, Henry Oxnard outlined…

Jill WeinleinThis year The Flower Fields in Carlsbad, a beach town in Northern San Diego is celebrating a rainbow of ranunculus thanks to an abundance of rain. "Ranunculus love rain, and this year their stems are thicker and their colors are bolder," said Fred Clarke, the General Manager of The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch. The 2023 season’s theme is “Live Colorfully” and according to Clarke, “Visitors can’t help but smile when they are here.” Jill WeinleinCelebrating the return of Art Alive, The San Diego Museum of Art chose San Diego artist, muralist and photographer, Thao Huynh French to paint…

Healdsburg’s newest luxury hotel option is, in and of itself, a wonderful place to enjoy a bit of rest and relaxation within the beauty of Northern California wine country. Located on a stretch of three acres with westward facing mountain views, the 11 room boutique property features amenities typically found at a larger resort, such as a swimming pool and chaise lounge-lined pool deck, hot tub, six pickleball courts, bocce courts, and a central 18 hole putting course that is tended daily by Mayacama Golf Club greenskeepers. Mayacama is the keyword here. The Ruse is owned and operated by the private golf club’s ownership…