Category Archives: Hotels

Colony Palms Hotel, the new hotel on our Palm Springs & Joshua Tree National Park trip for 2019, has a rich and vibrant history. It has been an icon of Palm Springs since it opened in 1936, hosting Hollywood’s most elite athletes, producers and even some of the area’s most notable mobsters.

 

Borgo Egnazia, the new hotel on our Puglia trip for 2019, is truly a magical place. I had the chance to spend one night last May and even 24 hours on the property was enough to wow me.

 

Here, you’ll lavish in every luxurious touch, whether it’s taking a break on the rooftop pool with a panoramic view of palm trees and Pacific shoreline or treating your skin to a decadent treatment at the surreal spa. Even the facade tells a special story, with history dating back to the original 1925 hotel itself.

 
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Here, you’re royalty. Welcome to the Timbers Resort ranked the #1 Resort in Europe by Travel + Leisure magazine, Castello di Casole.

A beautifully restored castle dating back to the 10th century and set on a stunning 4,200-acre private estate, Castello di Casole is a guest and guide favorite. This five-star boutique hotel boasts a destination spa, gourmet and relaxed dining, and exquisite suite accommodations that effortlessly combine the old world Tuscan charm of its storied past with modern luxuries of today.

 

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It’s the culmination of our year spent traveling the world, staying everywhere from the heart of the Patagonian Rainforest to a chef-inspired epicurean escape in Sonoma. So, which ones are our favorite? 
 

Ideally located in a quiet village in the heart of the Luberon countryside between Roussillon and Gordes, this Relais & Chateaux property is a converted farmhouse built on ruins dating back to the Knights of the Order of Malta. The Spa offers luxurious treatments in addition to a heated pool, tennis court, and even a dedicated pétanque playing area. The jewel of this hotel, however, is the Chef Xavier Mathieu’s Michelin Starred restaurant.

Not only do our guests eat at this restaurant, Chef Mathieu also leads guests in a trip to the weekly market followed by a private cooking lesson. And the best part? Le Phebus is a perfect base to explore the region’s best riding: quiet winding roads, colorful villages, gentle climbs like the Gorge de la Nesque, and more challenging ones like Mont Ventoux. This property is legendary, and we’re so glad that our guests will enjoy five full nights there this year on the newly redesigned Provence Luxury trip.

 

At the end of the day’s ride traversing the Rio Grande Valley from Santa Fe, guests roll under a canopy of shady Cottonwoods, past an expansive organic farm and into the welcoming embrace of a true high desert sanctuary, Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs and Resort. The historic hotel nestled amidst piñon and juniper dappled mesas beneath the site of the ancient Posí Pueblo, feels like a peaceful home away from home, and for two nights guests get to literally saturate in all the rejuvenating facets of the property.

Mineral baths, an expansive spa, elegant adobe inspired rooms and an amazing restaurant provisioned by the onsite farm and local organic food, are just the beginning of the experience here. Service is truly what rounds out our stay as the friendly local staff naturally adapt to our needs and requests. The only downside to Ojo Caliente is having to check-out.

 

A Trek Travel River Cruise isn’t your everyday boat trip. Our attention to detail, exceptional bikes and world-class guides together with Scenic’s all-inclusive luxury create a whole new way to explore the world. Recently, we had the pleasure to chat with Hotel Manager of the luxurious Scenic Jasper, Vasilije Stankovic, about what life is like on board and how he got into the business of 5-star service.

Who are you? Tell us a little bit about yourself? Where are you from?
My name is Vasilije Stankovic and I am from Belgrade, Serbia. I am 37 years old, married and having one beautiful daughter, Angela, who’s 19 months old. I finished Hotel Management University in Belgrade and have been working in the industry so far for around 18 years.

What led you to be an Hotel Manager?
18 years ago I started working as an assistant waiter in a 5-star hotel in Cyprus. The more I was trained by the management team about 5-star service, the more I was interested to learn. Each year I was able to progress in my career and had the opportunity to be a waiter, junior bartender, bartender, restaurant manager, F&B manager, front office manager, assistant hotel director and finally hotel director. It was never about my career, it was more about passion and love towards my job and my will to always learn more.

What drew you to Scenic?
Scenic was recommended by my colleagues as an excellent company with even better working conditions.

What part about your job do you enjoy the most?
Working with people and making them happy.

What’s your favorite part about working on the boat?
I really do enjoy sailing and having the opportunity to spend every day in a different place.

What’s your favorite feature of Scenic?
Enrich events definitely. The Vienna concert or Marksburg castle medieval dinner are my favorite ones.

Where all have you traveled and what has stuck with you the most in your travels?
I had the opportunity to travel from Amsterdam all the way down to the Black Sea and back. Beautiful surroundings, nature, small towns and big cities as well as unique architecture that you can see along the river is something I will remember till the end of my life.

If you could pick one meal on board what would it be?
Slow whole roasted beef tenderloin which we serve for our welcome dinner. Meat is very tender and served with cauliflower mousseline, asparagus duet, vine cherry tomato confit and finished with Pinot Noir reduction. Delicious.

Best view from the ship?
On Scenic ships have two Panorama suites. The best view for our guests is from those suites. Large windows and a beautiful balcony provide stunning views and pure pleasure on sailing days, along with being able to see stellar sunrises and sunsets.

What’s the one thing you’d recommend all guests try?
For the potential guests who are still thinking about who to travel with, I would suggest a trip with Scenic of course. And for the guests who already chose Scenic, I would recommend Scenic Eclipse, the world’s first discovery yacht and first ocean cruise ship from Scenic.

 

This isn’t your average cruise. Journey along the Danube and sample the cuisine and cultures of Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Germany. You’ll explore the heart of each historic region by bike then kick back and relax on the deck of a five-star luxury Scenic Space Ship.

 

We cover the globe in adventure, exotic experiences and first-class memories. We’ve been to every corner of the world, from the back roads of Chile to the riverbanks of the Danube to the singletrack of Iceland, and we’ve tested the thread-count of practically every hotel along the way. So what’s the best of our best? Drum roll, please…

 

 

Transformed from former military barracks to a country club hosting Hollywood’s most glamorous elite, the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa is our favorite new source of inspiration, rest and relaxation. Here, five stars is only the start. This impeccable resort has won a host of awards including Conde Nast Traveler’s Gold List and Top 100 Resort Spas in the US, Travel and Leisure’s World’s Best Awards, and AAA’s Five Diamond Resort Award nine years in a row! With over 200 acres of beautifully manicured grounds, seven restaurants, four pools, a lavish spa and one expertly designed golf course, it’s no wonder the Ojai Resort is where we’d choose to stay if we had one night away. And to think, the Spanish-colonial-style escape is only 90 minutes from L.A.

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

If it’s an undiscovered hotel gem you want, look no further. A masterclass in first-class accommodations, Lesic Dimitri is a recently renovated 18th century Bishop’s palace tucked away in the winding alleyways of old town Korcula. Designed by an Asian-Croatian team of architects and inspired by Korčula’s famous resident, Marco Polo, and his travels along the Silk Road, every aspect of this luxury hotel was thoughtfully planned to celebrate the rich culture and exquisite beauty of the area. Best of all, this Relais & Chateaux retreat is comprised of six luxurious apartments and five medieval cottages, striking a perfect balance of intimate yet unobtrusive service.

 

 
 

When Anthony Rovente lost his job in New York in the spring of 2013, the San Juan Islands were the furthest thing from his mind. Though he had never heard of this little archipelago in the Salish Sea until stumbling upon it on Google Maps, that summer he and his wife decided to move their family some 3,000 miles across the U.S. to Lopez Island. In his own words, this is the story of how his family’s dream became reality.

“At some point or another I feel that most people are drawn to certain destinations, whether it be fate or curiosity or some other power. During a particularly trying period in my life after a layoff, I began to dream of other opportunities and possibilities for myself and family…things that you simply don’t consider when you are tied to a job. I had never lived anywhere outside of Upstate New York and had no clue where to start. Searching Google Maps for potential places to live became a new hobby.

Living in a rural area in close proximity to the ocean was our dream scenario, and a moderate climate would be even better. During one particular Google Maps session I grazed over the San Juan Islands. It was the perfect little island of farms, surrounded by beautiful craggy outcroppings and beaches; an absolute unspoiled paradise. We took our first trip to Lopez in March of 2013, and in August we packed up our four boys and everything that could fit into our minivan and made the move. Three years later and Lopez is home.
 
 

 
 
Growing up in a tight-knit family, the idea of owning and operating a family business has always been a dream of mine. When Crystal and I married and started our family, we knew we wanted to create a life we could all invest in and share together. The Edenwild Inn seemed like a perfect opportunity. It had become a major landmark in the center of Lopez Village, and was up for sale when we arrived. It’s no easy feat to run a busy inn but we cherish the opportunity to build a family business with our four sons while sharing Lopez Island with guests. Everyone has a job and we all work together to get it done. Even our four-year-old has his little chores!

Our vision for the Edenwild has been the same idea since day one–to create a sweet little retreat from the stressors of daily life. Visitors come to Lopez Island to relax and enjoy the beautiful peacefulness of the natural surroundings. Our goal is to turn a long weekend at The Edenwild into beautiful, life lasting memories. It’s the small things that people appreciate the most, whether helping to plan an evening out or adding thoughtful touches to their room. Our guests know we care and I think that connection means a lot to them!

I think what drew me to the San Juan Islands three years ago, and what continues to excite me most today, is the incredibly special relationship residents and visitors have with natural environment around them. Being isolated on an island, away from the stressors of everyday life allows you to re-connect with nature and ultimately yourself. A walk on a quiet beach, a spectacular sunset, ocean views all around; this truly creates an environment of serenity so difficult to find in the modern world.”
 
 

 

Barcelona can be an action-packed combination of passion, nightlife, food and culture. Or it can be the getaway to end all getaways, with the serene escape of your own private villa. New in 2018, you can now choose one of three luxury villas and say goodbye to the bustle of civilized life.