The New York Times’ Frugal Traveler Lucas Peterson recently paid our fair, seaside city of South Beach a visit and like so many travel writers and first time visitors before him, he fell into the typical tourist traps of Ocean Drive and its surrounding streets, rattling off (for the most part) a list of bars that no self respecting local would be caught dead in. He even called Mango’s the “quintessential” South Beach club experience—uh, not quite, bro. See: LIV, Story. To […]
Posts categorized: Hotels
Sep 13
2016
2016
A Weekend on the Gulf Coast in Naples
Perhaps you just need a change of scenery. Once you emerge on the other side of Alligator Alley after a two-hour drive, the west coast of South Florida unfurls against the powder white sands of the Gulf of Mexico where Naples is nestled into a corner of the Everglades. Here, you’re never far from a mangrove estuary as herons and brown pelicans swoop peacefully through the sky and you can consistently rely upon dolphin sightings just offshore. It’s a […]
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 […]
Nov 24
2015
2015
Day Tripping to Vero Beach
There’s a world of discoveries north of Miami where the pace slows down, the crowds dissipate and everything feels familiar, yet somehow different. Hopscotch past Broward to explore Palm Beach, St. Lucie and Indian River counties on this day trip up the coast that takes you from luxury shopping in Palm Beach to hiking through hardwood hammocks in Fort Pierce. All you need is a tank of gas and your GPS handy. That’s exactly what I did with my mom and […]
Nov 11
2015
2015
Ben Pundole, inside ‘A Hotel Life’
As far as tastemakers go, Ben Pundole has played a hand in shaping our collective hotel and nightlife experiences for two decades. The London native eschewed a traditional education by taking a job at the city’s infamous Groucho Club at age 19, before moving onto the Metropolitan Hotel’s Met bar. There, a serendipitous encounter with Madonna led to an introduction to Ian Schrager, who would become his longtime employer and collaborator. Pundole spent over a decade with Schrager at […]
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 […]
