Hotels

(credit: courtesy of Visit Huntington Beach)With 10 miles of uninterrupted, wide golden sand beaches along the Pacific Ocean, Huntington Beach provides an iconic beach getaway on the West Coast. Just 35 miles south of Los Angeles and 95 miles north of San Diego, the dynamic coastal city has near-perfect outdoor weather (between 60-90 degrees) and almost year-round sun with 281 days of sunlight per year. It officially received its moniker of Surf City USA® in 1991 and plays host to professional sporting events such as the U.S. Open of Surfing and offers numerous spots for locals and travelers to test…

Courtesy of The Little NellWith as many prismatic sparkles as freshly fallen snow or sunlight glinting off the flowing Roaring Fork River, The Little Nell Aspen is a AAA Five-Diamond property known the world over. Located at the base of the mountain, The Little Nell personifies all things luxury: from the amenities to service, fine dining to ski-in-ski-out location for a perfect Colorado destination vacation. My first time staying at the hotel, I was not only impressed by the property and offerings, but felt right at home with the approachable mountain attitude and friendliness of everyone on property.  Upon entering…

All photos courtesy of The Godfrey Hotel HollywoodHollywood is having a moment. One of Los Angeles’ most iconic neighborhoods has seen a slew of new boutique hotel openings, and with the city’s sights set on the 2028 Summer Olympics, more are sure to follow. But, for now, if a stunning rooftop, pool deck and cocktail bar combo (at 12,000 square feet, it’s Hollywood’s largest) appeals - not to mention glam guestrooms and eco-friendly initiatives - then welcome to The Godfrey. The Vibe The first California outpost from the Chicago-based hospitality brand is located one block below Sunset Boulevard, making it…

(credit: Fairmont Orchid)Situated along 32 pristine oceanfront acres along the Kohala Coast of Hawai'i Island, Fairmont Orchid presents the spirit of aloha with an emphasis on the surrounding area's historic culture. Offering a plethora of hotel activities which give guests a deep dive into Hawaiian culture, guests are easily immersed in an authentic island of Hawai‘i vacation experience. From their lush tropical gardens, cascading waterfalls and a tranquil white sand beach and lagoon, guests get to know their 'aina (land) and heritage the fun way. With 540 spacious guest rooms, suites and the exclusive Fairmont Gold concierge floor, the warmth…

Columbia HillenAmong the glistening chandeliers, gleaming marble columns and art nouveau frescoes of Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, there’s a strange little bronze horse perched on a plinth at the entrance. Though well designed, this charming sculpture has a single obvious defect - the veneer on its right front leg is almost completely worn away. Long-time loyal doorman Eric and his four-footed companion, Lucky. Photo by Columbia HillenWhy would a five-star hotel with an illustrious history dating back to the halcyon Belle Époque era of the mid-19th century have a seemingly defective work of art in such a prominent place plum…

All Images Credit AccorLike New York has its boroughs and Paris has its arrondissements, London has its villages and neighborhoods, each with their own attributes and unique personalities. Shoreditch is part of the East End and is known for its edginess and grit, artsy vibe and graffiti, and an authenticity that sets it apart from the others. This is the up-and-coming part of London with new office towers, construction zones, and building cranes in every direction. The rebirth has attracted a vanguard of freethinkers, tech geeks, and corporate ladder climbers snatching up flats as quickly as they come on the…

Photo by Columbia HillenWhen I first met Radu Octavian in Romania, he was a dynamic national retail entrepreneur. He still is, but he now focuses some of his talents on the hospitality sector. Ioana Hotel, high above the charming town of Sinaia, nicknamed the ‘Pearl of the Carpathians,’ and located in the Prahova River Valley, is one of Radu’s pet projects. Columbia HillenRustic in design with modern conveniences, this boutique hotel on the slopes of the Bucegi mountains is popular with visitors seeking a breath of fresh air and a break from the frenzy of city-life and others interested in…

KempinskiLying 434 metres below sea level – the lowest point on Earth – the Dead Sea is a magical, mysterious place; an extraordinary environment, where nature and history are inextricably intertwined. Widely regarded as one of the natural wonders of the world, with its spectacular and spiritual landscape, vast source of natural minerals and ozone rich air which complement its therapeutic waters, this famous salt lake has attracted visitors from around the Mediterranean basin and beyond for thousands of years. It was one of the world’s first natural spas; Cleopatra and Herod the Great both visited for the health benefits…

All Images Credit Hotel Innere EngeJazz is a lot like truffles.  It’s not for everyone. But for those of us who love it, we just can’t get enough of it. It doesn’t matter where you are in the world; from where jazz music originated in the brothels of New Orleans, to where it took its classic form in St Louis or Chicago. Or we can even find a bastion for the lovers of Jazz far away in Europe in a place that could not contrast anymore to its roots.  The city of Bern, Switzerland is where you’ll find a destination…

Mar. 31st, 2022 St Moritz is considered the epitome of Europe’s luxe ski resorts. And it should be. Celebs, the well-to-do, and legions of bon vivants have been gracing the slopes there for over 120 years. This town offers the best of everything from its idyllic slopes to its apres-ski respites for the beau monde. One of its chicest hotels is as glamorous as St. Moritz itself; the Hotel Giardino Mountain. All Images Credit Giardino HotelsSt Moritz has a well-deserved reputation for being the swankiest of Europe’s ski resorts. What also makes it quite unusual is that oftentimes during the ski…