140 Character Overview: Boutique design hotel in the heart of Zurich with three fab restaurants reflecting the full spectrum of Swiss cuisine. Each room unique. The Vibe: Hotel Widder’s lobby is a meticulous blend of modernism and antiquity with slick glass, chrome and steel elevator banks set against ancient stone walls, leather and high-gloss wood designer chairs in a library and one-0f-a-kind guest rooms, ranging from romantic to modern within nine medieval townhomes restored by architect Tilla Theus. The whole […]
Posts categorized: Hotel Reviews
Sep 28
2015
2015
Hoteligence: Hotel Erwin, Venice Beach, LA
140 Character Overview: Funky SoCal vibes with a touch of grit in the heart of Venice Beach. Rooftop bar with killer ocean views & sunsets. Easy walk to everything. The Vibe: As my Uber pulled up to the Hotel Erwin on Venice’s Pacific Avenue, I was overwhelmed with a serious feeling of familiarity, although I’d never been here before. Was I getting Tamarindo, Costa Rica vibes with all the funky mural art and casual beach bars? Did the madness swirling on the Venice Beach […]
Sep 23
2015
2015
Hoteligence: The New York EDITION
140 Character Overview: Understated elegance by Ian Schrager, master of boutique cool, & Marriott International. Golden Age NYC inspo. Modern, sexy lobby scene. The Vibe: This place is cool, sexy and luxurious. The New York EDITION is what modern hospitality is all about. The Location: Perfectly situated on Madison Square Park in the Flatiron District, you’re a stone’s throw from the original Shake Shack and Eataly, and everything else that makes this neighborhood cool right now. It’s an easy […]
Sep 18
2015
2015
Key West: 3 New Hotels & 1 Classic
Looking for a quick getaway to Key West? Now until mid-October is considered the off season, making it the perfect time to snag rock bottom hotel rates, get out on the water (go with my peeps at Fury!) and enjoy the island sans the crowds. There’s also a slew of brand new Key West hotels to check out, plus I’ve included one of my favorite classics below. The New The Marker Waterfront Resort A stone’s throw from the historic seaport and […]
Sep 9
2015
2015
Languorous Luxury in Anguilla 4 Ways
There’s a Spanish proverb that goes, “How wonderful to do nothing, and then rest.” It’s found printed on t-shirts at Ernie’s Bar, a humble beach shack on Anguilla’s Shoal Bay, a stretch of powder white sand and endless turquoise-teal water, once named the number one beach in the world by Travel Channel. It’s a sentiment that’s easy to settle into on this Caribbean island of 35 square-miles with a population of 15,000. A British territory and northernmost Leeward Island, Anguilla’s a […]
Sep 2
2015
2015
Hoteligence: Plaza Athénée, Paris
140 Character Overview: Opulence to the maximus at iconic Parisian luxury hotel on Champs-ÉlysĂ©es. Eyefuls of Eiffel Tower, glitzy dining by Ducasse, spa by Dior. The Vibe: The Plaza AthĂ©nĂ©e is nothing short of spectacular. It’s a luxurious, glittering marvel with both Art Deco and classical design elements. In fact, rooms are designed in one of the two styles. The Location: One of the ritziest neighborhoods in Paris, the Plaza is situated between the […]
140 Character Overview: Funky boutique bungalows on remote stretch of CR’s Central Pacific Coast. Black sand beach, swoon-worthy sunsets. At one with Mother Nature. The Vibe: This place is magical. With roughly 20 colorful private bungalows lining the beach, Alma del Pacifico is what California architect Sherill Broudy imagined Costa Rican vernacular architecture to look like when he designed the resort. Made of stucco, polished wood and mosaic tile all in cool colors, the roof lines have a […]
From The New York EDITION to the new Whitney, there’s so much to see and do in New York before summer’s end. If you’re planning a late summer trip, I’ve got you covered with something new in every category: Do, Eat, Drink Shop and Stay, plus one bonus—my favorite sailboat-turned-oyster bar, Grand Banks, is back for its second season on the Hudson River. Do – The new Whitney With last fall’s Jeff Koons retrospective marking the final exhibition in its longtime Upper East […]
140 Character Overview: Tower of sexiness straddling the High Line in NYC’s Meatpacking District. Peek-a-boo exhibitionist rooms, all mirrors & windows. Party spot. The Vibe: The epitome of a trendy New York City hotel, The Standard High Line (848 Washington St., New York; 212-645-4646) is a hot spot destination in the Meatpacking District. More than just a place to lay your head at night, New Yorkers flock to The Standard for weekend day drinking and ping pong at the Biergarten, […]
Sep 29
2014
2014
All-Inclusive Resorts: Yay or Nay?
I stayed at my first all-inclusive resort this month in Riviera Maya, Mexico  for the Travel Bloggers Exchange (TBEX) North America Conference. The 2,500 room (read: massive) Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort is one of seven in a family of all-inclusives across the Yucatan Peninsula. In the end, it didn’t add up to my ideal vacation experience. My biggest problem was the lack of quality food and drink. I also wasn’t impressed by the massive (slightly worse for wear) […]
