V&V - Articles by Hugo Audouy

Canyon Ranch Woodside: a short‑lived legend in the California redwoods

HotelsUnited StatesWoodside

14 Oct 2026

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9 minutes

Canyon Ranch Woodside: a short‑lived legend in the California redwoods

Suspended among giant redwoods in the California hills, Canyon Ranch Woodside always felt more like a legend than a pin on the map. Opened in 2019 and closing for good at the end of 2025, this fleeting retreat quickly built a reputation for letting the forest set the pace of every day. Treehouses in the canopy, a fully holistic spa and deep transformational programmes turned the property into a rare sanctuary, imagined as a living wellbeing laboratory. Now closed, Woodside still occupies the imagination of travellers seeking retreats that genuinely change the way they move through the world.

Hôtel & Spa du Castellet: a hedonist’s hideaway between pine forest and racetrack glamour

HotelsFranceLe Castellet

7 Oct 2026

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9 minutes

Hôtel & Spa du Castellet: a hedonist’s hideaway between pine forest and racetrack glamour

High above the Var, the Hôtel & Spa du Castellet surveys the legendary Circuit Paul Ricard like a private box with front‑row seats. Up here, engine noise fades to a distant hum behind 12 hectares of umbrella pines and ochre façades inspired by Tuscan country houses. Bathed in Mediterranean light and steeped in Relais & Châteaux art de vivre, the property plays on a seductive contrast: the hush of a confidential estate brushed by the thrill of the pit lane. A singular setting where every detail seems designed to slow time… before you choose to hit the accelerator.

Althoff Seehotel Überfahrt: Lakeside Bavarian Retreat in Polished Alpine Style

HotelsGermanyRottach-Egern

30 Sep 2026

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10 minutes

Althoff Seehotel Überfahrt: Lakeside Bavarian Retreat in Polished Alpine Style

On the tranquil shores of Lake Tegernsee, Althoff Seehotel Überfahrt seems to hover between water and Bavarian peaks, like a contemporary lakeside pavilion for aesthetically minded travellers. Once a discreet escape for Munich insiders, the resort has deepened its dialogue with light and water, turning its “4 elements” spa and panoramic suites into a confident stage for wellbeing. Here, the murmur of boats replaces urban noise, MICHELIN-level dining mirrors the lake’s evening reflections, and each stay feels like a chosen retreat, poised between cultivated nature and finely tuned sophistication.

Palace Hotel Tokyo: where Imperial gardens meet a contemporary cityscape

HotelsJapanTokyo

23 Sep 2026

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10 minutes

Palace Hotel Tokyo: where Imperial gardens meet a contemporary cityscape

Gazing across the shimmering moats of the Imperial Palace, the Palace Hotel Tokyo stands as a rare witness to the capital’s ongoing transformation. Rebuilt on a storied site, it has chosen to keep fragments of its past life — shigaraki tiles, the original bar counter, emblematic artworks — and set them within a resolutely modern design. Balconies open onto water and pines, evian SPA TOKYO reimagines urban wellbeing, and the hotel’s ten dining venues sketch a sophisticated, inward-looking portrait of Tokyo as much as they define a place to stay.

Phulay Bay: Bespoke Thai Seclusion Between Cliffs and the Andaman Sea

HotelsThailandKrabi

16 Sep 2026

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10 minutes

Phulay Bay: Bespoke Thai Seclusion Between Cliffs and the Andaman Sea

Facing the mystical cliffs of Krabi, where the Andaman Sea appears to swallow the sun, Phulay Bay, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve rises like an almost legendary hideaway. The brand’s very first Reserve cultivates the aura of a secret estate: monumental gates, Lanna lanterns and mirror‑still pools create an atmosphere that borders on the spiritual. Here, luxury is not proclaimed but whispered, in step with the tides and the soft footfall of Ton Hong butlers. Behind these deep crimson walls unfolds a rare art of living, where every gesture seems choreographed so that time itself pauses.

Il San Pietro di Positano: a family sanctuary carved into the cliff above the Amalfi Coast

HotelsItalyPositano

9 Sep 2026

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10 minutes

Il San Pietro di Positano: a family sanctuary carved into the cliff above the Amalfi Coast

Clinging to the rock like a Mediterranean mirage, Il San Pietro di Positano seems to watch over the Amalfi Coast from its 17th-century chapel. Imagined by Carlo “Carlino” Cinque as an Italian home open to infinity, the hotel has gradually merged with the cliff, threaded with secret tunnels that lead from hanging terraces down to the water’s edge. Between family heritage, sculpted architecture and an endless horizon, this hideaway tells a more discreet, intimate story of Positano, revealed level by level.

The Alpina Gstaad: a discreet creative chalet above the village

HotelsSwitzerlandGstaad

2 Sep 2026

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9 minutes

The Alpina Gstaad: a discreet creative chalet above the village

High on the Oberbort hillside, The Alpina Gstaad seems to have risen straight from the mountainside, as if inheriting the quiet memory of the vanished Grand Hotel that once stood here. Behind its traditional chalet silhouette lies a thoroughly contemporary refuge, shaped from time-worn timber, local stone and Bernese craftsmanship, where every detail reflects the patience behind a project long debated by the village. Here, contemporary art meets ancestral lines, light grazes the gables, and Gstaad reveals a more intimate side, reserved for aesthetes in search of far more than a simple stay.

Airelles Gordes, La Bastide: a hilltop bastide for families and connoisseurs of pure style

HotelsFranceGordes

19 Aug 2026

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9 minutes

Airelles Gordes, La Bastide: a hilltop bastide for families and connoisseurs of pure style

Poised on its rocky outcrop since the 16th century, Airelles Gordes, La Bastide surveys the Luberon like a noble residence brought back to life. Behind its honey-coloured stone facades, the house channels the spirit of an aristocratic family home, reimagined for today’s travellers: hushed salons, golden light, unbroken views over the valley. Suspended between village and horizon, heritage and absolute comfort, La Bastide sketches out a rare retreat – one whose most discreet behind-the-scenes details this article is designed to reveal.

Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine: a hidden wine abbey within easy reach of Madrid

HotelsSpainTeruel

12 Aug 2026

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10 minutes

Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine: a hidden wine abbey within easy reach of Madrid

In the solemn hush of a 12th‑century Cistercian abbey, the bells have given way to the murmur of vines and the soft footfall of butlers. Between Romanesque stone walls and perfectly drawn vineyard rows, Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine cultivates a rare art of living, where monastic discipline converses with a contemporary, almost secret form of luxury. Here, every stone seems to remember the wine it has sheltered for eight centuries, and every evening light hints at another story waiting to be uncovered.

The Fontenay: light, lakefront city resort and rooftop spa in Hamburg

HotelsGermanyHamburg

5 Aug 2026

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9 minutes

The Fontenay: light, lakefront city resort and rooftop spa in Hamburg

On the shimmering shore of the Außenalster, The Fontenay rises as a new landmark in Hamburg’s cityscape: three fluid white rings that appear to float between lake and treetops. Here, architecture does more than house a hotel; it creates an interior landscape of curves, northern light and open vistas onto the water. Conceived as a true city resort and member of The Leading Hotels of the World, The Fontenay hints at rooftop spa rituals, a glittering panoramic bar and gastronomic evenings overlooking the lake. An intriguing address, as much manifesto as hotel, to discover at the rhythm of the Außenalster.

Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco: a hidden Tuscan stronghold for wine aesthetes

HotelsItalyMontalcino

29 Jul 2026

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10 minutes

Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco: a hidden Tuscan stronghold for wine aesthetes

High above the Val d’Orcia, Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco occupies a former medieval stronghold where, legend has it, pilgrims on the Via Francigena once paused before pressing on to Rome. Today, an age‑old church, time‑worn stonework and encircling Brunello vineyards set the tone for a stay attuned to Tuscany’s slow rhythm. Restored by the Ferragamo family and entrusted to Rosewood, this 900‑year‑old borgo turns ultra‑luxury hospitality into a discreet form of rural living, where every cobbled lane feels like the beginning of another story.

Auberge du Soleil: A Mediterranean-Style Hideaway for Two Above Napa’s Vineyards

HotelsUnited StatesRutherford

15 Jul 2026

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9 minutes

Auberge du Soleil: A Mediterranean-Style Hideaway for Two Above Napa’s Vineyards

Poised on the golden slopes above Rutherford, Auberge du Soleil, Auberge Resorts Collection has, since the 1980s, embodied a singular vision: a Mediterranean country house reimagined high over California’s vines. Olive trees share the hillside with rows of cabernet, terraces seem to hover in Napa’s luminous air, and the MICHELIN‑starred restaurant nods to the great French dining rooms. In this adults‑only refuge, every stone pathway leads to an intimate encounter with the valley—and with unhurried time itself.

Le K2 Palace: an insider’s Alpine hideaway on the slopes of Courchevel

HotelsFranceCourchevel

8 Jul 2026

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8 minutes

Le K2 Palace: an insider’s Alpine hideaway on the slopes of Courchevel

High above Courchevel 1850, Le K2 Palace watches over the pistes like a hush‑hush base camp inspired by the great Himalayan peaks. Behind its wood‑and‑stone façades, this palace‑style hamlet conceals spectacular chalets, two‑Michelin‑star dining and a panoramic spa, all run with almost secretive discretion. Here the mountains are far more than a backdrop: they set the tempo of each day, from the first turn with skis on to the last glow on the summits, in a way of life crafted for high‑altitude aesthetes.

Torre del Marqués: a locavore, low‑impact retreat in the hills of Matarraña

HotelsSpainMonroyo

1 Jul 2026

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9 minutes

Torre del Marqués: a locavore, low‑impact retreat in the hills of Matarraña

Once a noble watchtower keeping guard over the Matarraña hills, the Torre del Marqués Hotel Spa & Winery rises today like a fragment of another era, when the land set the pace of life. Encircled by terraced vineyards, centuries‑old olive trees and the blue‑grey outline of the Puertos de Beceite, this working estate turned hedonist hideaway cultivates a rare kind of luxury: silence, light and raw materials. Behind its timeworn stone walls, contemporary rustic design, a spring‑fed spa and an estate cellar sketch out a quietly sustainable art of living guests will want to delve into further.

HotelsThailandTrat

10 Jun 2026

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9 minutes

Soneva Kiri: a low‑profile island hideaway for eco‑minded families

On a still-under-the-radar Thai island, Soneva Kiri begins with an almost clandestine arrival: private plane, discreet airstrip, then a short crossing by boat before a resort appears to emerge straight from the jungle. Here, luxury is expressed in timber, filtered light and near-silence, with vast pool villas, a canopy threaded with suspended pods and an open-air cinema over the water. Conceived as a kind of radical-softness laboratory, every gesture of comfort is designed to converse with nature – the sort of place that quietly rewrites a traveller’s idea of escape.

Casa Maria Luigia: an Emilian country house for art lovers and gourmets

HotelsItalyModena

3 Jun 2026

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10 minutes

Casa Maria Luigia: an Emilian country house for art lovers and gourmets

Just outside Modena, Casa Maria Luigia reveals itself like a family home turned intimate manifesto. Bought by Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore for a single symbolic euro above the reserve, this 18th‑century house tells a story of filial love and a profound attachment to Emilia. Between time‑worn frescoes, design pieces, radical artworks and the aromas of Parmigiano and aged balsamic, it becomes a discreet stage where gastronomy, music and the Italian countryside meet. Much of what happens here still feels like a well‑kept secret.

Beau‑Rivage Geneva: An Intimate Lakefront Grand Hotel for Léman Aesthetes

HotelsSwitzerlandGeneva

27 May 2026

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10 minutes

Beau‑Rivage Geneva: An Intimate Lakefront Grand Hotel for Léman Aesthetes

On the shores of Lake Geneva, directly facing the Jet d’Eau, Beau‑Rivage Geneva stands as a discreet witness to Europe’s great secrets. Since 1865, this family‑owned palace has welcomed tragic empresses, negotiating diplomats and lovers of beauty through its doors, more reminiscent of a patrician townhouse than a traditional hotel. Behind marble columns, newly revealed frescoes and suites imbued with the memory of illustrious guests lies an address where every detail feels like another line in a story still being written.

Samujana Villas: bespoke hideaway for modern tribes on Koh Samui

HotelsThailandSurat Thani

20 May 2026

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10 minutes

Samujana Villas: bespoke hideaway for modern tribes on Koh Samui

Perched on a hillside above the Gulf of Thailand, Samujana Villas feels like a private belvedere suspended between sea and sky, conceived for contemporary clans travelling together. Born of the encounter between Koh Samui and a coral-fringed cove, these striking residences reinvent the idea of a holiday home with open-plan architecture, pared-back lines and unframed horizons. Here, the seclusion of a private villa is paired with couture-level service, creating a discreet stage for reunions, milestone celebrations and big ideas under the liquid light of the gulf.

Cheval Blanc Courchevel: Art‑Led Chalet Living, Peak‑Level Skiing and Cocooning Calm

HotelsFranceCourchevel

13 May 2026

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9 minutes

Cheval Blanc Courchevel: Art‑Led Chalet Living, Peak‑Level Skiing and Cocooning Calm

High above Courchevel 1850, Cheval Blanc Courchevel has carved out its own niche: a high‑altitude retreat instantly recognisable by its mustard‑hued façade against the snow. Open only for a few winter months, this is far more than a hotel – it feels like an annual rendezvous where contemporary art lines hushed corridors and the vast Trois Vallées unfurl at your skis. Conceived as a collector’s chalet, its intimate world and meticulous details are designed to make each stay feel transformative, and leaving, just a little bittersweet.

Xinalani: a Pacific‑side yoga hideaway between jungle and ocean

HotelsMexicoQuimixto

6 May 2026

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9 minutes

Xinalani: a Pacific‑side yoga hideaway between jungle and ocean

Reached by panga boat where the jungle finally meets the Pacific, Xinalani appears like a hillside village of cabins strung between sky and sand. Created by a family who fell for Quimixto, this yoga refuge is built on a simple idea: strip away the excess so body and mind can breathe. In place of screens, there’s the murmur of waves, sun‑warmed timber and the shifting light over Banderas Bay. Between open‑air yoga studios and suites on the edge of the jungle, time seems to slow, as if every stay promised a rare, one‑to‑one encounter with the ocean – and with yourself.

Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid: A Belle Époque Stage for Prado Aesthetes

HotelsSpainMadrid

29 Apr 2026

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10 minutes

Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid: A Belle Époque Stage for Prado Aesthetes

Conceived by King Alfonso XIII to give Madrid a palace hotel worthy of legend, the Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid surveys Plaza de la Lealtad like a grand Belle Époque theatre. Behind its listed façade, the white‑and‑gold interiors redesigned by Gilles & Boissier converse with a century of society stories, from Ernest Hemingway to Grace Kelly. Between the Prado Museum and Retiro Park, this urban palace feels like an intimate stage where art, Quique Dacosta’s gastronomy and a new wellness sanctuary script a Madrid for insiders, revealed curtain by curtain.

Schloss Elmau: an alpine hideaway for hedonists between peaks and culture

HotelsGermanyElmau

22 Apr 2026

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7 minutes

Schloss Elmau: an alpine hideaway for hedonists between peaks and culture

Between the Zugspitze and the Karwendel range, an alpine château emerges from the mist: Schloss Elmau Luxury Spa Retreat & Cultural Hideaway. Born from a philosopher’s vision in the early 20th century, rebuilt after a devastating fire and elevated to G7 summit status, this refuge fuses spiritual retreat, high‑altitude resort and cultural stronghold. In its light‑filled corridors, between spas, libraries and concert hall, unfolds a rare place where the Bavarian mountains seem to converse with the wider world.

Amanemu: a hidden onsen sanctuary between Ago Bay and the Ise hills

HotelsJapanMie

15 Apr 2026

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10 minutes

Amanemu: a hidden onsen sanctuary between Ago Bay and the Ise hills

Looking out over the quiet, intricate inlets of Ago Bay, Amanemu feels like a secret pavilion dedicated to Japan’s time‑honoured bathing rites. Here, steam from the hot springs mingles with sea mist, dark‑tiled roofs stand out against the Ise‑Shima hills and every path leads to a pool, a garden, or a view of the pearl‑oyster parks. Poised between contemporary onsen and idealised country retreat, the resort cultivates an art of silence and unhurried living. A stay unfolds like a ritual, where water, light and wood shape an inner landscape to explore at your own pace.

Castello di Reschio: A Thousand-Year Umbrian Hideaway for Design-Loving Country Seekers

HotelsItalyLisciano Niccone

1 Apr 2026

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11 minutes

Castello di Reschio: A Thousand-Year Umbrian Hideaway for Design-Loving Country Seekers

Poised between Umbria and Tuscany, Castello di Reschio feels less like a hotel than a chapter of Italian history waiting for you to write your own. Once a merchant stronghold, then a working estate and later an aristocratic residence, this thousand-year-old castle has been quietly reimagined by the Bolza family as a 3,700-acre private world where architecture, landscape and design speak the same pared-back language. In its uneven towers, reworked stables and underground Bathhouse, Reschio sketches out a rural, refined, almost secret way of life that this article explores, room by room.

Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne: cinematic clifftop luxury above the lake

HotelsSwitzerlandBürgenstock

25 Mar 2026

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8 minutes

Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne: cinematic clifftop luxury above the lake

Clinging to the rocky flanks of the Bürgenberg and jutting out over Lake Lucerne like a prow of glass and stone, the Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne has radiated an almost cinematic aura since 1873. From Audrey Hepburn’s wedding to discreet retreats for heads of state, this suspended plateau has hosted a century and a half of confidences with a view. Completely reimagined today, the 60‑hectare estate blends bold architecture, dramatic seclusion and a near-obsessive love of panoramic vistas. Behind its vast picture windows, an entire high-altitude art of living unfolds – to be discovered step by step.

SingleThread Inn: An Intimate Farm‑to‑Table Retreat in Healdsburg

HotelsUnited StatesHealdsburg

18 Mar 2026

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8 minutes

SingleThread Inn: An Intimate Farm‑to‑Table Retreat in Healdsburg

At the meeting point of Healdsburg’s lively streets and the furrows of a working farm, SingleThread Inn spins its own quiet legend: that of a chef–and–farmer couple who have turned soil, fire and table into a single story. Behind its discreet façade, just five rooms read like five chapters in a meticulously choreographed stay, every detail linked back to the nearby fields. More than an address, it’s a manifesto house, where night prolongs dinner and morning opens like a new season.

Royal Champagne: A Family Amphitheatre Overlooking the Vines

HotelsFranceChampillon

11 Mar 2026

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10 minutes

Royal Champagne: A Family Amphitheatre Overlooking the Vines

High above Champillon, the former coaching inn where Napoleon once paused on his journeys has been reborn as a contemporary stage for Champagne. The Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa unfurls like a mineral amphitheatre facing the vines, a private balcony over one of France’s most storied wine landscapes. Between imperial echoes, sculptural design and the play of light on the hillsides, this address creates an unusually intimate dialogue with the region. Behind its floor‑to‑ceiling windows, a distinctly Champenois art of living awaits, blending gastronomy, spa rituals and suspended moments to savour at your own pace.

Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge: a solar‑powered explorers’ camp in a wild Pacific fjord

HotelsCanadaTofino

4 Mar 2026

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8 minutes

Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge: a solar‑powered explorers’ camp in a wild Pacific fjord

At the wild, mist‑shrouded end of a Pacific fjord, where giant cedars meet the open ocean, Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge carries forward the spirit of Victorian‑era expeditions. Beneath its canvas roofs, refined comfort shares the stage with the distant surge of whales and the effortless glide of bald eagles. Here, the seaplane is your threshold, shifting coastal light your constant landmark, and every cedar boardwalk feels like a path to a more secret realm. The story begins with a soft splashdown on the water, then unfolds in a valley where luxury is written in mist, firelight and rain‑damp cedar.

Hotel Esencia: a duchess’s hideaway between jungle and Xpu‑Ha’s white sands

HotelsMexicoPlaya del Carmen

25 Feb 2026

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10 minutes

Hotel Esencia: a duchess’s hideaway between jungle and Xpu‑Ha’s white sands

Hotel Esencia rises between the Yucatán jungle and the translucent sands of Xpu‑Ha, still echoing the secrets of the Italian duchess who once called it her seaside home. Behind its whitewashed walls, pieces by Perriand and Jeanneret share space with works attributed to Warhol and Picasso, while sea turtles choose the same quiet beach as design lovers. More than a resort, it feels like a private collector’s house, where every path and every pool leads into a story you suddenly have the privilege to step inside.

Terra Dominicata: a hush‑quiet wine retreat in the Montsant mountains

HotelsSpainEscaladei

18 Feb 2026

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8 minutes

Terra Dominicata: a hush‑quiet wine retreat in the Montsant mountains

Between the Montsant peaks and vine rows aligned like a silent prayer, Terra Dominicata – Hotel & Winery breathes new life into the former Carthusian farm of Escaladei. The walls still echo the monks who shaped Priorat, while the winery and adults‑only hotel choreograph a contemporary, almost monastic art of living. Here, luxury keeps its voice low: mineral horizons, the scent of ripe grapes, light sliding over slate. The rest is left to the traveller willing to fall into step with the slow rhythm of the vineyard.

The Mitsui Kyoto: A Cultivated Escape into the City’s Quiet Art of Living

HotelsJapanKyoto

11 Feb 2026

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10 minutes

The Mitsui Kyoto: A Cultivated Escape into the City’s Quiet Art of Living

Facing the timeless rooftops of Nijo Castle, the former Kyoto residence of the Mitsui clan seems less transformed than gently shifted into another century. Beyond the 300-year-old Kajiimiya gate, The Mitsui Kyoto now unfolds in glass-lined galleries around a garden that stages the passage of the seasons like a silent theatre. Between memories of a merchant family home and strikingly contemporary architecture, this address offers a stay that traces both a lineage and a certain vision of Japan’s inner world: discreet, codified, profoundly aesthetic.

The Siam: A Hedonist’s Hideaway Between Art Deco Lines and Old Siam’s Soul

HotelsThailandBangkok

4 Feb 2026

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10 minutes

The Siam: A Hedonist’s Hideaway Between Art Deco Lines and Old Siam’s Soul

On the unhurried banks of the Chao Phraya, The Siam feels less like a hotel and more like a living chapter of the former kingdom of Siam. Imagined by a family of aesthetes and staged by Bill Bensley, this low-rise sanctuary calmly defies Bangkok’s skyline with century-old teak houses and a trove of rare objects scattered like secrets. Between monochrome Art Deco, luxuriant gardens and a private pier, it sketches out another way to inhabit the city, shaped by rituals, artistic encounters and almost ceremonial gestures revealed step by step.

Corte della Maestà: a bishop’s hideaway for aesthetes who crave silence

HotelsItalyCivita di Bagnoregio

28 Jan 2026

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8 minutes

Corte della Maestà: a bishop’s hideaway for aesthetes who crave silence

Clinging to the crumbling rock of Civita di Bagnoregio, Corte della Maestà could have stepped straight from an old Italian tale: a former bishop’s palace, abandoned after an earthquake and slowly brought back to life by a pair of aesthetes. Behind an ivy-framed door, timeworn frescoes, centuries-old terracotta and vaulted libraries set the scene for an almost secret retreat, celebrated by the MICHELIN Keys. Silence here feels almost tangible, the pace softens, and every room gives the impression of inhabiting a story you’ll want to unfold, page by page.

Hotel Les Trois Rois: riverside grande dame with three-star dining

HotelsSwitzerlandBasel

31 Dec 2025

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9 minutes

Hotel Les Trois Rois: riverside grande dame with three-star dining

On the peaceful banks of the Rhine, the Hotel Les Trois Rois has watched over Basel for centuries, a discreet witness to Napoleon’s luncheons, royal stopovers and artists’ late nights. Behind its neoclassical façade, meticulously restored as a vibrant tribute to 1844, lies a grand hotel where time seems to slow amid wood-panelling, historic salons and shimmering river views. More legend than mere five-star address, this Basel institution blends Belle Époque flair with three-MICHELIN-star gastronomy – a living icon to be discovered step by step.

Post Ranch Inn: An Immersive, Low‑Impact Hideaway Above Big Sur

HotelsUnited StatesBig Sur

24 Dec 2025

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10 minutes

Post Ranch Inn: An Immersive, Low‑Impact Hideaway Above Big Sur

Suspended above the Pacific, Post Ranch Inn rises out of Big Sur’s ocean mist like a contemporary legend. Once a remote pioneer ranch and now an adults‑only sanctuary, it keeps a near‑monastic discretion: grass‑roofed lodges melting into the hillside, cliff‑edge houses opening onto the horizon, triangular cabins tucked among the redwoods. Here, Mickey Muennig’s architecture never dominates the landscape; it recedes into it. Between ocean and mountains, this is a world apart – and this article pulls back the curtain without dispelling the mystery.

Les Sources de Caudalie: a thermal Palace hidden in the Graves vineyards

HotelsFranceBordeaux

17 Dec 2025

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10 minutes

Les Sources de Caudalie: a thermal Palace hidden in the Graves vineyards

In the heart of the Graves vineyards, Les Sources de Caudalie feels like a Bordeaux fable brought to life: a cluster of timbered houses and mirror‑still ponds born from the encounter between a great cru, a hot spring beneath the soil and the vision of a winemaking family. Reclaimed beams from the cellars, pioneering vinotherapy and two‑MICHELIN‑starred cuisine shape a distinctive art de vivre between vine and water. Behind the timeworn façades lies a rural Palace that quietly redefines French luxury: discreet, sensory, and deeply rooted in its terroir.

Rosewood Schloss Fuschl: a lakeside fairytale between empire and cinema

HotelsAustriaHof bei Salzburg

10 Dec 2025

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9 minutes

Rosewood Schloss Fuschl: a lakeside fairytale between empire and cinema

On the shores of Lake Fuschl, a 15th‑century castle seems to float between morning mist and legend. Once an imperial hunting lodge, later a film set for the “Sissi” movies, Rosewood Schloss Fuschl still bears the imprint of emperors and Romy Schneider while embracing a contemporary elegance. Renaissance‑filled salons open onto a sheet of turquoise water, lakeside chalets echo the Asaya Spa, and every view of the Salzkammergut suggests another story, somewhere between imperial romance and understated Austrian art de vivre.

Fogo Island Inn: remote-edge luxury with a purpose

HotelsCanadaJoe Batt's Arm

3 Dec 2025

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8 minutes

Fogo Island Inn: remote-edge luxury with a purpose

At the very end of the road, where the North Atlantic pounds the rocks at Joe Batt’s Arm, the Fogo Island Inn rises like a white vessel on stilts, suspended between sky, sea and mist. Conceived as a contemporary epic by architect Todd Saunders and driven by the vision of Zita Cobb, this statement-making inn is transforming a former fishing island into a testing ground for responsible luxury. In the hush of drifting icebergs and the crackle of wood fires, each stay becomes an intimate pact with the landscape and with the island community. The story begins here, on the edge of the world.

Atrio Restaurante Hotel: avant‑garde luxury, three stars and a living culture of art

HotelsSpainCáceres

26 Nov 2025

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10 minutes

Atrio Restaurante Hotel: avant‑garde luxury, three stars and a living culture of art

Set among the centuries‑old stones of Cáceres, Atrio Restaurante Hotel feels like a beautiful anomaly: a piece of contemporary architecture by Mansilla+Tuñón that hides, behind its almost monastic façade, a three‑Michelin‑star restaurant, a legendary wine cellar and an art collection with the intimacy of a private museum. Here, José Polo and Toño Pérez do more than welcome guests: they stage an ongoing dialogue between city, cuisine and creation, where every detail seems designed to turn a stay into a conscious cultural act. The story begins on Plaza San Mateo; the rest unfolds as you step inside.

Gora Kadan: An Imperial Villa Reimagined for Modern Japan

HotelsJapanHakone

19 Nov 2025

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10 minutes

Gora Kadan: An Imperial Villa Reimagined for Modern Japan

Once a discreet retreat for Japan’s imperial family and now a contemporary ryokan, Gora Kadan seems to hover between volcanic mist and century-old pines. Pale wood, raw stone and the glow of landscaped gardens quietly recast aristocratic etiquette as an understated art of living. Behind the clean-lined architecture lie private hot-spring baths, finely calibrated kaiseki cuisine and an almost ceremonial sense of hospitality. This is a sanctuary where every gesture, every threshold, offers a rare, immersive glimpse into the life of a reinvented imperial villa.

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok: a riverside legend for hedonistic travellers

HotelsThailandBangkok

12 Nov 2025

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10 minutes

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok: a riverside legend for hedonistic travellers

On the lively banks of the Chao Phraya, the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok has nurtured an almost novelistic aura for more than 150 years. Once a hideaway for writers and royals, this grande dame of Victorian hospitality now gazes across at the sleek lines of modern Bangkok in a hypnotic face‑off with the river. Between salons steeped in stories, the soft glow of terraces at dusk and the silhouettes of boats gliding past after dark, it sketches an intimate, refined vision of the city where time seems to pause. To stay here is to gain access to Bangkok’s most discreet stage.

J.K. Place Capri: a cliffside hideaway for seasoned hedonists

HotelsItalyCapri

5 Nov 2025

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10 minutes

J.K. Place Capri: a cliffside hideaway for seasoned hedonists

Poised above Marina Grande, J.K. Place Capri keeps watch over the island like a yacht permanently moored to the rock, its 19th-century villa silhouette facing the Gulf of Naples. Once home to two American sisters, it has been recast as an ultra-discreet private house where you arrive by sea more as a guest than a hotel client. Lacquered wood, deep blues, the low golden light on the bay: every detail extends the illusion of life on board. With only 22 keys, the hotel reveals a more intimate Capri, reserved for those seeking a quiet home port from which to make the island their own.

Grace Mykonos: a quiet Aegean sanctuary above Agios Stefanos

HotelsGreeceMykonos

29 Oct 2025

•

8 minutes

Grace Mykonos: a quiet Aegean sanctuary above Agios Stefanos

High above the serene bay of Agios Stefanos, where sea breezes brush against whitewashed walls and the horizon melts into the endless blue of the Aegean, Grace Mykonos feels like a near-secret hideaway. More than a hotel, it is a suspended interlude where Cycladic architecture meets refined contemporary design. Between sky and sea, this intimate, light-filled retreat offers a deeply sensory experience, inviting travellers to slow down, breathe and surrender to the island’s gentler side.

Salt Suites Paros, first chapter in an intimate island collection

HotelsGreeceParos

27 Oct 2025

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8 minutes

Salt Suites Paros, first chapter in an intimate island collection

Fifteen years in the making, Salt Suites Paros is no ordinary hotel but a quietly luxurious hideaway, poised between the Aegean Sea and a cocoon of stillness. Sheltered from the bustle of Naoussa, it reveals a discreet private beach, architecture perfectly attuned to Cycladic light, and a rare kind of hospitality infused with a deeply Greek spirit. Here, luxury is something you feel rather than show. And from the very first moments, you sense that every hour spent here will linger on as an unforgettable memory.

Liostasi Hotel Ios: Above the Aegean, Between Sky and Sea

HotelsGreeceIos

25 Oct 2025

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5 minutes

Liostasi Hotel Ios: Above the Aegean, Between Sky and Sea

High on a sun‑drenched Cycladic hillside, where the sky seems to melt into the endless blue of the Aegean, Liostasi Hotel Ios unfolds a story of heritage and far‑reaching horizons. Born of a family dream, this intimate hideaway blends the soul of a Greek island home with the clean lines of contemporary design. Dawn here feels like a daily promise, and every whisper of wind invites you to slow down. Suspended between land and sea, Liostasi is one of those rare places where luxury is felt first and foremost as emotion.

Magma Resort Santorini: a hidden lava-born retreat above the Aegean

HotelsGreeceSantorini

23 Oct 2025

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10 minutes

Magma Resort Santorini: a hidden lava-born retreat above the Aegean

Born from the island’s volcanic core, Magma Resort Santorini does more than gaze out over the Aegean: it channels the raw, geological memory of Santorini. Discreet yet sculptural, this contemporary hideaway appears to rise from the black rock, a mineral mirage on the hillside. Here, luxury turns inward, silence takes on texture and every detail is designed to awaken the senses. A rarefied retreat, poised between sky and lava, to be discovered like a closely guarded secret.

Atrina Canava 1894: A Cliffside Sanctuary Above Oia’s Caldera

HotelsGreeceSantorini

21 Oct 2025

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10 minutes

Atrina Canava 1894: A Cliffside Sanctuary Above Oia’s Caldera

High on the cliffs where the sky dissolves into the Aegean, Atrina Canava 1894 reveals a troglodyte sanctuary carved into volcanic rock, born from a 19th-century family wine cellar. More than a hotel, it feels like a private alcove suspended in time, where each vaulted room tells a story and every terrace opens onto the caldera. Between pure Cycladic tradition and quiet contemporary elegance, this intimate retreat distils a discreet, genuine sense of luxury. To stay here is to brush against the very essence of Santorini.

Radisson Blu St. Helen’s: An Irish Manor Escape on Dublin’s Edge

HotelsIrelandDublin

19 Oct 2025

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8 minutes

Radisson Blu St. Helen’s: An Irish Manor Escape on Dublin’s Edge

On the fringes of Dublin, a Georgian manor still whispers the secrets of Ireland’s aristocracy. Once the Purcell family’s residence, then a religious boarding school, the Radisson Blu St. Helen's Hotel now marries historic splendour with contemporary refinement. Between formal gardens and salons adorned with original mouldings, it offers more than a simple stay: a timeless retreat where every detail seems to hold a story. Ready to step inside this remarkable Irish manor?

Papadopoli Hotel: A Winter Garden Hideaway in Venice

HotelsItalyVenice

3 Aug 2025

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13 minutes

Papadopoli Hotel: A Winter Garden Hideaway in Venice

In the heart of La Serenissima, where history and wonder meet at every turn, the Papadopoli Hotel reveals one of Venice’s best-kept secrets: an enchanting winter garden, tucked away amid the city’s lively canals and calli. Heir to the splendour of the former Papadopoli palazzo, this green sanctuary was designed by master landscape architect Pietro Porcinai and offers a rare moment of calm. Here, timeless elegance meets contemporary style, creating an atmosphere that is both intimate and unique. Ready to see Venice in a new light? Your journey begins here.

La Caserne Chanzy Hotel & Spa: Reims’ Former Fire Station Turned Five-Star Retreat

HotelsFranceReims

20 Jul 2025

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10 minutes

La Caserne Chanzy Hotel & Spa: Reims’ Former Fire Station Turned Five-Star Retreat

Once the proud stronghold of Reims’ firefighters, La Caserne Chanzy Hôtel & Spa has been reborn in the heart of the city, a luminous blend of stone, glass and living memory. Facing the magnificent cathedral, this five-star address fuses the heroic spirit of its past with contemporary elegance inspired by Champagne’s golden bubbles. Behind its monumental doors lies a world apart: a quietly luxurious, deeply authentic refuge. An invitation to feel history in every surface – not only in the walls, but on the skin.

Château de Sacy: A Hidden Retreat in the Champagne Vineyards

HotelsFranceReims

20 Jul 2025

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8 minutes

Château de Sacy: A Hidden Retreat in the Champagne Vineyards

Set high on the hillsides of Sacy, in the midst of an endless sea of vines, Château de Sacy seems to float between sky and earth, a well‑kept secret in timeless Champagne. Once a Second Empire residence and now an exceptional boutique hotel, it blends neoclassical elegance with a rare, relaxed art of living, where every moment is savoured like a fine vintage. More than a simple stay, it offers a poetic, multi-sensory escape above the vineyards, far from the rush of everyday life.

Château du Grand-Lucé, an 18th‑century neoclassical dream in the Loire Valley

HotelsFranceLe Grand-Lucé

8 Jun 2025

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8 minutes

Château du Grand-Lucé, an 18th‑century neoclassical dream in the Loire Valley

In the heart of the Sarthe countryside, an almost-forgotten palace has been brought dazzlingly back to life. The Château du Grand-Lucé, an 18th‑century neoclassical masterpiece, now reveals its gilding, frescoes and gardens like a closely guarded secret. Once the retreat of an enlightened baron, later a military hospital, this listed monument has been reborn as a luxury hotel offering an escape outside of time, where the art of French living meets absolute elegance. A rare, almost unreal address where every moment feels like a lasting memory.

Hotel Calimala: contemporary elegance in the heart of Florence

HotelsItalyFlorence

1 Jun 2025

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7 minutes

Hotel Calimala: contemporary elegance in the heart of Florence

Slip down a cobbled Florentine side street and, where history is etched into every stone, an unexpected gem appears: the Hotel Calimala. Set in a 19th-century palazzo boldly reimagined for today, this boutique hideaway bridges Florentine heritage and avant-garde design. Cross the threshold and you enter a world where marble, velvet and contemporary artworks converse in captivating harmony. More than just a place to stay, it offers a sensorial immersion in one of Italy’s most timeless cities.

The Shinmonzen, a Tadao Ando Sanctuary in the Heart of Gion

HotelsJapanKyoto

25 May 2025

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12 minutes

The Shinmonzen, a Tadao Ando Sanctuary in the Heart of Gion

Hidden away in the hushed backstreets of Gion, where time seems to pause, The Shinmonzen rises like a discreet sanctuary. Envisioned by master architect Tadao Ando, this intimate jewel blends Kyoto’s centuries-old grace with a minimalist architecture carved in light. Just nine suites, a river whispering below, and an experience that feels closer to meditation than a hotel stay. Here, every detail is a quiet tribute to excellence, drawing you into a parallel world where art, space and emotion converge to redefine Japanese hospitality.

Le Grand Bellevue, Gstaad’s Iconic Alpine Hideaway

HotelsSwitzerlandGstaad

18 May 2025

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7 minutes

Le Grand Bellevue, Gstaad’s Iconic Alpine Hideaway

Behind its Belle Époque façades, Le Grand Bellevue reveals an utterly distinctive world, where the soul of a former mountain sanatorium meets the flair of contemporary design. For more than a century, this jewel in the heart of Gstaad has charmed travellers in search of authenticity and refinement. In its private park, framed by peaks, time seems to slow to a whisper. With a life-size giraffe, a vast destination spa and bespoke hospitality, this Alpine refuge offers far more than a stay: it creates a magical interlude, suspended beyond the everyday.

InterContinental Khao Yai: Vintage Train Carriages Reimagined as Luxury Suites

HotelsThailandPak Chong

11 May 2025

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5 minutes

InterContinental Khao Yai: Vintage Train Carriages Reimagined as Luxury Suites

Deep in the lush forests of Khao Yai, a legendary train has come to a permanent halt. At the InterContinental Khao Yai, maverick designer Bill Bensley has transformed authentically restored railway carriages into sumptuous suites, like cabins on a tropical Orient Express. Blending railway nostalgia with contemporary refinement, this remarkable hideaway offers an immobile journey, suspended in time. Perhaps the most memorable voyage is the one where you never leave your bed.

The Ritz-Carlton Nikko: where luxury meets Japan’s first Ritz-Carlton onsen

HotelsJapanNikkō

4 May 2025

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8 minutes

The Ritz-Carlton Nikko: where luxury meets Japan’s first Ritz-Carlton onsen

In the sacred mountains of Nikkō, where morning mists skim the surface of Lake Chuzenji, The Ritz-Carlton Nikko rises like a contemporary sanctuary. Home to the brand’s first natural hot spring onsen, this rare retreat weaves modern elegance into Japan’s age‑old wisdom. Picture yourself sinking into a steaming outdoor bath facing silent peaks, wrapped in a contemplative calm that borders on the spiritual. More than a stay, it feels like a revelation – an invitation to discover a version of luxury defined by stillness and reflection.

Villa Contessa: Lakeside Grandeur and Quiet Luxury on Scharmützelsee

HotelsGermanyBad Saarow

27 Apr 2025

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7 minutes

Villa Contessa: Lakeside Grandeur and Quiet Luxury on Scharmützelsee

Villa Contessa rises above the serene shores of Lake Scharmützelsee with the poise of a grand lakeside residence from another era. Once an aristocratic home and now an intimate luxury hideaway, it weaves neo-classical heritage, unspoilt nature and made-to-measure hospitality into a single, quietly confident address. Here, the murmur of water replaces the rush of the outside world and time seems to slow. A discreet retreat where refinement is expressed in whispers rather than spectacle – and felt long after you leave.

Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley: Where Luxury Meets Its Own Private Vineyard

HotelsUnited StatesCalistoga

20 Apr 2025

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7 minutes

Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley: Where Luxury Meets Its Own Private Vineyard

In a secluded corner of Napa Valley, where morning mists drift over the vines and dormant volcanoes stand guard, the Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley anchors contemporary luxury firmly in the soil. The first Four Seasons property to unite five-star hospitality with a fully operating organic vineyard, this Californian hideaway offers more than a getaway: it’s a sensory immersion in the region’s terroir. Between elegant design, bespoke wine experiences and the gentle rhythm of the surrounding hills, a suspended world awaits.

Cap Rocat: A Cliffside Fortress Reimagined as a Mediterranean Hideaway

HotelsSpainMallorca

13 Apr 2025

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8 minutes

Cap Rocat: A Cliffside Fortress Reimagined as a Mediterranean Hideaway

Poised on sheer cliffs above the vast blue sweep of Palma Bay, Cap Rocat rises like a mineral mirage: a former military outpost reborn as a sanctuary of Mediterranean luxury. This 19th-century fortress, seemingly sculpted by wind and time, has been transformed into a secret retreat where every stone holds a story of silence and light. More than a hotel, Cap Rocat offers a rare, immersive experience, its understated elegance concealed within the rock itself. Step into a suspended world, somewhere between sky, sea… and mystery.

Maison Messmer: Imperial Grandeur in the Heart of Baden-Baden

HotelsGermanyBaden-Baden

6 Apr 2025

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10 minutes

Maison Messmer: Imperial Grandeur in the Heart of Baden-Baden

Since 1834, Maison Messmer has captured the imperial charm and romantic spirit of Baden-Baden. Once a discreet sanctuary for Empress Sisi and Napoleon III, this storied hotel hides, behind its neoclassical colonnade, a refined art of living where every moment feels rare. Balancing historic splendour with thermal wellbeing, it offers a suspended interlude that is both intimate and theatrical. Step into a place where time seems to dissolve and allow the magic to unfold.

Belmond La Residencia: Mountain Hideaway in Mallorca’s Tramuntana Range

HotelsSpainDeià

30 Mar 2025

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8 minutes

Belmond La Residencia: Mountain Hideaway in Mallorca’s Tramuntana Range

Nestled against the dramatic slopes of the Serra de Tramuntana, Belmond La Residencia feels suspended in time, a well‑kept Mallorcan secret. Once the home of noble families, later a sanctuary for artists in search of inspiration, this legendary hotel blends rustic elegance with a distinctly bohemian spirit. Amid centuries‑old olive trees, sun‑drenched terraces and scattered artworks, it offers far more than a stay: an enchanted interlude where understated luxury is woven into the poetry of the place.

The Beverly Hills Hotel: Inside Hollywood’s Legendary Pink Palace

HotelsUnited StatesBeverly Hills

23 Mar 2025

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6 minutes

The Beverly Hills Hotel: Inside Hollywood’s Legendary Pink Palace

Set amid lush tropical gardens on Sunset Boulevard, The Beverly Hills Hotel has embodied Hollywood glamour since 1912. Nicknamed the “Pink Palace”, this storied hideaway has welcomed cinema legends from Marilyn Monroe to Frank Sinatra. Behind its iconic blush façade lies a sanctuary of timeless elegance, where every corridor and cabana seems to hold a secret. Step inside a world where luxury and legend are inseparable, and let the hotel’s irresistible allure cast its spell.

Hotel Hubertus: Sky-High Serenity in the Heart of the Dolomites

HotelsItalyValdaora

16 Mar 2025

•

8 minutes

Hotel Hubertus: Sky-High Serenity in the Heart of the Dolomites

Suspended between sky and peaks, Hotel Hubertus feels like an alpine dream made real. Once a simple guesthouse, it has evolved into a contemporary retreat of understated luxury, tucked into the Dolomites. Its vertiginous Sky Pool – a true architectural statement – seems to defy both gravity and imagination. Here, every line, every texture and every intentional silence tells a story: a place where nature inspires, design intrigues and time appears to pause. More than a hotel, it is an experience that lingers long after you leave.

Hotel Bareiss: From Village Gasthaus to Black Forest Icon

HotelsGermanyBaiersbronn

9 Mar 2025

•

7 minutes

Hotel Bareiss: From Village Gasthaus to Black Forest Icon

Born of Hermine Bareiss’s bold dream in the heart of the Black Forest, Hotel Bareiss is far more than a five-star address: it is a living legend, lovingly nurtured over three generations. This refined retreat, cradled by wooded valleys and snow-dusted peaks, feels infused with a rare spirit of hospitality. Every stone, every warm greeting seems to carry the house’s story. Here, luxury is emotion and time appears to slow. Step inside this storied hideaway and an unforgettable experience quietly unfolds.

Hotel Ritz Madrid: Belle Époque glamour in the city’s Golden Triangle of Art

HotelsSpainMadrid

9 Mar 2025

•

10 minutes

Hotel Ritz Madrid: Belle Époque glamour in the city’s Golden Triangle of Art

Born from a royal dream in 1910 and recently reimagined by Mandarin Oriental, Hotel Ritz Madrid encapsulates timeless elegance in the heart of Madrid’s Golden Triangle of Art. Behind its Belle Époque façade lies a cocooned world where history and contemporary style move in perfect step. Just moments from the Prado, this legendary palace offers more than a stay: an immersion into the city’s aristocratic soul, where discreet splendour, living art and exceptional hospitality meet. Step through the doors of a modernised icon.

Bahia del Duque, a 19th‑century colonial villa reborn above the Atlantic

HotelsSpainCosta Adeje

2 Mar 2025

•

5 minutes

Bahia del Duque, a 19th‑century colonial villa reborn above the Atlantic

High above the sunlit shores of Costa Adeje, Bahia del Duque rises with crenellated towers and filigreed balconies, like a living tableau of 19th-century aristocratic Tenerife. Built on the former estate of the legendary Duke of Abrantes, this extraordinary village-style hotel blends colonial heritage, tropical exuberance and contemporary comfort. Every pathway seems to awaken a forgotten memory, while the property's theatrical architecture invites guests on a sensory journey poised between sky, sea and history.

ZillergrundRock Luxury Mountain Resort: a high-altitude hideaway in the Zillertal Alps

HotelsAustriaMayrhofen

2 Mar 2025

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5 minutes

ZillergrundRock Luxury Mountain Resort: a high-altitude hideaway in the Zillertal Alps

Born from a family dream deeply rooted in the Zillertal valley, the ZillergrundRock seems to hover between sky and summits, where the murmur of the stream meets the silence of the peaks. More than a hotel, it is a contemporary sanctuary nestled at 1,450 metres, where alpine design, raw nature and heartfelt hospitality strike a rare harmony. Every moment here becomes a ritual, every view an invitation to pause and reflect. This is not a place you simply visit – it is one you experience, intensely.

Traube Tonbach: Two Centuries of Quiet Luxury in the Black Forest

HotelsGermanyBaiersbronn

23 Feb 2025

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5 minutes

Traube Tonbach: Two Centuries of Quiet Luxury in the Black Forest

Born in 1789 in a hidden valley of the Black Forest, Traube Tonbach is not simply a place to stay; it is a living legacy to be slowly discovered. Eight generations of the same family have shaped this retreat, weaving together alpine tradition and contemporary elegance. Each stone seems to hold a story, each fir tree a whispered memory. A haven for aesthetes and a temple of gastronomy, the hotel beguiles with its singular soul, poised between forest silence and absolute refinement – an invitation to pause time and lose yourself, blissfully.

Abadía Retuerta: a monastic sanctuary among the vines of Ribera del Duero

HotelsSpainValladolid

23 Feb 2025

•

5 minutes

Abadía Retuerta: a monastic sanctuary among the vines of Ribera del Duero

Founded in the 12th century by Premonstratensian monks, Abadía Retuerta now rises from the Ribera del Duero landscape as a tranquil haven of understated luxury, poised between sky, vines and stone. This former monastery, restored with almost devotional care, gently fuses medieval spirituality with contemporary refinement. In its light-filled cloisters, time seems to slow and soften. Behind its centuries-old walls lies a rare promise: an inner journey, rich in sensations and quietly unforgettable.

Hotel Maximilians: Three Centuries of Grandeur on Augsburg’s Maximilianstraße

HotelsGermanyAugsburg

16 Feb 2025

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10 minutes

Hotel Maximilians: Three Centuries of Grandeur on Augsburg’s Maximilianstraße

On Augsburg’s majestic Maximilianstraße, Hotel Maximilians rises like an open book of more than three hundred years of history. Behind its baroque façade, this legendary address, founded in 1722, has welcomed princes, artists and thinkers, all drawn to its timeless aura. Today, coffered ceilings and historic stained glass meet clean-lined contemporary design, embodying German elegance at its most refined. A rare city sanctuary, where every stay feels like an unforgettable new chapter.

Rachamankha Hotel: A Quiet Lanna Sanctuary in Historic Chiang Mai

HotelsThailandChiang Mai

16 Feb 2025

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5 minutes

Rachamankha Hotel: A Quiet Lanna Sanctuary in Historic Chiang Mai

Hidden behind immaculate white walls in the heart of Chiang Mai’s Old Town, the Rachamankha Hotel reveals a sanctuary of measured elegance where time seems to pause. Inspired by Lanna monasteries, this rare property, born from the vision of two aesthetes, quietly reinvents hospitality through its hypnotic simplicity. Patios, cloistered walkways and shaded galleries all whisper stories of a forgotten kingdom. More than a discreet address, it is a place where architecture stirs emotion and each stay feels like a personal revelation—a world apart, to be entered slowly.

Aman Tokyo, a Ryokan in the Clouds Above Otemachi

HotelsJapanTokyo

9 Feb 2025

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10 minutes

Aman Tokyo, a Ryokan in the Clouds Above Otemachi

Suspended between sky and skyline, Aman Tokyo is far more than a luxury address: it’s a sanctuary in the clouds, born of a bold dream. The brand’s first urban retreat, it crowns the upper floors of the Otemachi Tower like a celestial ryokan. Here, tatami floors meet vast picture windows, and the city’s constant hum fades into a near-unreal calm. In this minimalist refuge, luxury speaks in hushed tones and every moment feels like a quiet act of contemplation.

Romantischer Winkel: A Family Hideaway in the Heart of the Harz

HotelsGermanyBad Sachsa

9 Feb 2025

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7 minutes

Romantischer Winkel: A Family Hideaway in the Heart of the Harz

Set on the shores of a shimmering lake in the mystical forests of the Harz, Romantischer Winkel has been cultivating a warm, family-driven vision of luxury for more than forty years. This evocatively named retreat – literally “the romantic corner” – feels as if it has stepped from the pages of a fairy tale, where nature, wellness and heartfelt hospitality blend with effortless grace. Behind its walls unfolds a vivid family story and an invitation to experience something rare, poised between tradition and inner transformation.

Engel Obertal: a cocoon of calm in the Murg Valley

HotelsGermanyBaiersbronn

2 Feb 2025

•

11 minutes

Engel Obertal: a cocoon of calm in the Murg Valley

Hidden in a quiet fold of Germany’s Black Forest, where morning mist brushes the treetops and silence seems to stand guard, Engel Obertal rises like a celestial hideaway. This distinctive five-star retreat blends the soul of a traditional mountain chalet with the polish of a contemporary wellness sanctuary. Its “Wolke 7” spa promises a sensorial escape poised between sky and earth – an invitation to step beyond the everyday and experience the very essence of unhurried, effortless luxury.

Villa Sonnenhof Boutique-Hotel: a tranquil retreat above Bad Reichenhall

HotelsGermanyBad Reichenhall

2 Feb 2025

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5 minutes

Villa Sonnenhof Boutique-Hotel: a tranquil retreat above Bad Reichenhall

High on the mountainside, just above the morning mists of Bad Reichenhall, Villa Sonnenhof stands watch like a storybook residence suspended in time. Once a modest family guesthouse, now a discreet boutique hideaway, it exudes a rare kind of alpine elegance, where century-old woodwork frames sweeping views of the Bavarian peaks. In this sanctuary with an undisturbed soul, every detail feels imbued with memory. Perhaps true luxury lies in slipping, for a while, into the living history of a place.

KroneLamm: A Black Forest Hideaway with Three Centuries of Family Heritage

HotelsGermanyZavelstein

26 Jan 2025

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8 minutes

KroneLamm: A Black Forest Hideaway with Three Centuries of Family Heritage

Nestled in the storybook village of Zavelstein, KroneLamm feels as though it has been gently carved out of time itself, a quiet legend whispered among the century-old fir trees of the Black Forest. More than 300 years of family hospitality live on in this haven, where artisanal tradition and contemporary elegance meet with effortless grace. Every stone, every hint of wood, every hushed corridor invites you to truly switch off for a while – a rare interlude to be discovered like a closely guarded secret.

Kempinski Hotel Berchtesgaden: a five-star hideaway in the Bavarian Alps

HotelsGermanyBerchtesgaden

19 Jan 2025

•

5 minutes

Kempinski Hotel Berchtesgaden: a five-star hideaway in the Bavarian Alps

Perched 1,000 metres above sea level where the clouds skim the Watzmann peaks, the Kempinski Hotel Berchtesgaden rises like a contemporary mountain retreat on a storied ridge. Once a backdrop to history, it is now a showcase for modern Alpine living, offering far more than just a place to stay: a sensory escape between sky and forest. Behind its clean lines and hushed interiors lies a rare, almost otherworldly experience, where luxury is something you feel, hear and breathe as much as you see.

Althoff Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg, a princely hilltop château above the Rhineland

HotelsGermanyBergisch Gladbach

12 Jan 2025

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5 minutes

Althoff Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg, a princely hilltop château above the Rhineland

Poised above the Rhine Valley like a baroque mirage frozen in time, the Althoff Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg reveals the splendour of a former princely hunting lodge, now one of Europe’s most dazzling grand hotels. Within its history-steeped walls and facing a sweeping, cinematic panorama, every moment feels suspended. Here, yesterday’s courtly elegance converses with today’s discreet luxury to create an experience apart – a château stay that feels less like a getaway than a gateway to another world.

Beau-Rivage Palace: Lake Geneva Grandeur with 160 Years of Style

HotelsSwitzerlandLausanne

12 Jan 2025

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10 minutes

Beau-Rivage Palace: Lake Geneva Grandeur with 160 Years of Style

Gracefully poised on the shores of Lake Geneva, Beau-Rivage Palace weaves more than a century and a half of history into a thoroughly contemporary art of living. Its Belle Époque architecture, romantic gardens and flawless service make this five-star sanctuary a celebration of elegance and understatement. Expect Michelin-starred cuisine by Anne-Sophie Pic, a destination spa and sweeping Alpine views that elevate every stay into a true escape. Start planning your lakeside interlude on the official website: Beau-Rivage Palace.

The Standard Bangkok: a new icon in the city’s boldest skyscraper

HotelsThailandBangkok

11 Jan 2025

•

13 minutes

The Standard Bangkok: a new icon in the city’s boldest skyscraper

High above the Bangkok skyline in the spectacular King Power Mahanakhon tower, The Standard Bangkok reinvents contemporary luxury hospitality. Daring design, a relaxed, welcoming vibe and standout culinary concepts turn a stay here into a fully immersive sensory experience in the heart of Thailand’s buzzing capital. From sleek suites and a spellbinding rooftop to cutting-edge wellness rituals, every detail is crafted as an invitation to travel differently, where creativity and sophistication are in perfect balance.

L’Apogée Courchevel: Peak Indulgence in the Jardin Alpin

HotelsFranceCourchevel

10 Jan 2025

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9 minutes

L’Apogée Courchevel: Peak Indulgence in the Jardin Alpin

Set high above Courchevel 1850, L’Apogée Courchevel brings a new level of polish to Alpine luxury on the site of a former Olympic ski jump. This five-star hideaway combines vast mountain views, true ski-in/ski-out access and quietly opulent design. Timeless elegance, standout gastronomy and a cocooning spa create a sanctuary where every detail is considered. More than a hotel, it is a serene retreat that distils the art of mountain living into an irresistible invitation to escape.

Waldorf Astoria Cancun: a serene escape on the Riviera Maya

HotelsMexicoCancun

9 Jan 2025

•

8 minutes

Waldorf Astoria Cancun: a serene escape on the Riviera Maya

Slip away to a contemporary sanctuary on Mexico’s Riviera Maya at the Waldorf Astoria Cancun, where lush nature and refined design come together for an unforgettable stay. Fringed by the turquoise Caribbean and powder-soft sands, this intimate hideaway offers privacy, tranquility and standout gastronomy. A spa inspired by Mayan rituals, suites with sweeping sea views and bespoke adventures on land and water all celebrate a distinctly modern vision of luxury living.

Severin's The Alpine Retreat, a mountainside hideaway in Lech

HotelsAustriaLech

8 Jan 2025

•

7 minutes

Severin's The Alpine Retreat, a mountainside hideaway in Lech

Set high in the spellbinding Austrian Alps, Severin's The Alpine Retreat reimagines contemporary Alpine luxury. With just nine exclusive suites and a private chalet, this discreet haven combines refined design, complete privacy and sweeping views over the peaks of Lech am Arlberg. Bespoke service, a standout spa and fine dining worthy of the finest tables turn every stay into an unforgettable escape, where raw nature and polished sophistication come seamlessly together for travellers in pursuit of the exceptional.

Hotel Heureka: A Hidden Palazzo in Secret Venice

HotelsItalyVenice

5 Jan 2025

•

11 minutes

Hotel Heureka: A Hidden Palazzo in Secret Venice

In the maze of Cannaregio’s backstreets, far from Venice’s crowds, Hotel Heureka reveals itself like a closely guarded treasure: a 16th‑century palazzo where heritage meets bold contemporary style. Behind its discreet façade, reflected in the emerald shimmer of the canals, lies a world of dazzling contrasts – period frescoes, designer furnishings and a rare privilege in Venice, a private garden. Conceived as a living work of art, this magical hideaway invites you to step out of time, promising serenity and wonder to those who cross its threshold – a Venetian secret to savour slowly.

Rosewood Bangkok: An Urban Sanctuary Inspired by the Thai ‘Wai’

HotelsThailandBangkok

4 Jan 2025

•

12 minutes

Rosewood Bangkok: An Urban Sanctuary Inspired by the Thai ‘Wai’

Rosewood Bangkok is far more than a hotel; it is an architectural and cultural landmark in the chic Ploenchit district. Its striking silhouette is inspired by the traditional Thai “wai” greeting, a bold design that fuses heritage and modernity with consummate style. Inside, everything is curated for immersion in Thailand’s refined soul, from suites with private pools to contemporary artworks by local talents. Add world-class dining, a serene spa and a prime location for exploring the city, and Rosewood Bangkok becomes an essential address for discreet luxury and bespoke experiences. Discover an urban sanctuary where comfort, culture and innovation meet. www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/bangkok

Decu Downtown Mid: A 19th‑Century Mansion Reimagined in Mérida’s Historic Heart

HotelsMexicoMérida

3 Jan 2025

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10 minutes

Decu Downtown Mid: A 19th‑Century Mansion Reimagined in Mérida’s Historic Heart

Step inside the quietly dramatic world of Decu Downtown Mid, a 19th‑century mansion turned boutique hideaway in the heart of Mérida. Behind its historic façade, this intimate address blends clean contemporary lines with characterful details drawn from the Yucatán’s rich heritage. Lush patios, high-ceilinged rooms and made-to-measure services create a cocoon of calm just moments from the city’s vibrant streets. From leafy courtyards to skyline views, every space is designed for unhurried living. More than a place to stay, it’s an invitation to experience Mérida’s art de vivre in style. Book your stay on the official website: www.hotelmaximilians.com/en

Purs Hotel & Restaurant: Baroque Heritage, Boutique Soul in Andernach

HotelsGermanyAndernach

2 Jan 2025

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11 minutes

Purs Hotel & Restaurant: Baroque Heritage, Boutique Soul in Andernach

In the quiet town of Andernach, in the heart of Germany’s Rhine Valley, stands an architectural jewel of rare refinement: the Purs Hotel. This former baroque townhouse, reimagined by renowned designer Axel Vervoordt, brings historic character and contemporary minimalism into perfect balance. Natural stone, raw wood and sculptural lighting create spaces that are both warm and strikingly pared back. With just eleven suites, each conceived as a bespoke sanctuary, every stay feels highly personal, elevated by handcrafted details and an atmosphere of timeless calm.Beyond its design, Purs is also a destination for gastronomy, art and wellbeing, where immersive experiences and a thoughtful eco-conscious vision turn luxury into a true art of living. For more information or to book, visit the official website: https://purs.com/en/.

Chateau Marmont: Hollywood’s Golden-Age Hideaway on Sunset Boulevard

HotelsUnited StatesLos Angeles

1 Jan 2025

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9 minutes

Chateau Marmont: Hollywood’s Golden-Age Hideaway on Sunset Boulevard

Nestled along legendary Sunset Boulevard, Chateau Marmont distills the timeless elegance and enigmatic aura of old Hollywood. Inspired by the fairy-tale châteaux of France’s Loire Valley, this 1929 landmark is far more than a place to sleep: it is a storied sanctuary where cinema, music and art’s brightest names have long converged. Antique furnishings, sumptuous fabrics and exotic gardens create a hushed atmosphere that invites both escape and reflection. A retreat for free spirits and creative minds, every corner whispers a tale and every moment unfolds with effortless grace. Fine dining, intuitive service and secluded villas come together to offer a rare sense of privacy and exclusivity. Step into the spellbinding world of Chateau Marmont and indulge in an unforgettable Hollywood reverie in the heart of Los Angeles. Discover more at https://www.chateaumarmont.com/.

Park Hotel Vitznau: Lakeside Tranquillity on Lake Lucerne

HotelsSwitzerlandVitznau

31 Dec 2024

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9 minutes

Park Hotel Vitznau: Lakeside Tranquillity on Lake Lucerne

Nestled on the shores of Lake Lucerne, the Park Hotel Vitznau captures the spirit of timeless luxury in a breathtaking natural setting. This architectural jewel, where Belle Époque elegance meets contemporary flair, promises a stay defined by comfort and calm. Its 47 themed suites combine refined design with sweeping views, while the spa invites you to unwind facing the mountains. Two Michelin-starred restaurants elevate every mealtime into a memorable occasion. With bespoke activities and refined spaces for private events, Park Hotel Vitznau is a remarkable haven for travellers in search of true sophistication. Find out more and book your stay at www.parkhotel-vitznau.ch.

Imperial Grandeur in the Heart of Vienna

HotelsAustriaVienna

30 Dec 2024

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10 minutes

Imperial Grandeur in the Heart of Vienna

Step into a world where imperial history meets contemporary luxury at Hotel Imperial Vienna, a true landmark of Viennese elegance set within a neo-Renaissance palace. First opened in 1873 for the Vienna World’s Fair, this grand hotel blends Habsburg splendour with state-of-the-art comfort. Its 138 lavish rooms and princely suites feature crystal chandeliers and marble bathrooms, designed to delight the most discerning guests. At Michelin-starred Opus, Austrian cuisine is reinvented with finesse, while a team of personal butlers crafts bespoke experiences. In the very heart of the city, Hotel Imperial offers a regal stay that defines Vienna at its most refined. Book on marriott.com.

Hotel Bayerischer Hof: Munich’s Grand Dame of Hospitality

HotelsGermanyMunich

29 Dec 2024

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9 minutes

Hotel Bayerischer Hof: Munich’s Grand Dame of Hospitality

Hotel Bayerischer Hof is much more than a luxury address in the heart of Munich; it is a city institution that has embodied timeless elegance since 1841. Set on Promenadeplatz, this five-star landmark combines heritage charm with contemporary comfort across 337 rooms, including 74 sumptuous suites. Its five restaurants range from the three-Michelin-starred Atelier to rustic Bavarian and exotic, globe-trotting cuisine. To complete the experience, the rooftop Blue Spa offers an open-air haven of wellbeing with sweeping city views. For details and bookings, visit the official website at www.bayerischerhof.de.

Hôtel Lutetia: A Century of Parisian Style on the Left Bank

HotelsFranceParis

27 Dec 2024

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10 minutes

Hôtel Lutetia: A Century of Parisian Style on the Left Bank

A Left Bank legend since 1910, Hôtel Lutetia is an Art Deco jewel at the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, where over a century of Parisian style and discretion unfolds behind its sculpted façades. Designed by Boileau and Tauzin, the building blends modern lines with carved stone, marble and period lighting, evoking the creative energy of early-20th-century Paris. Today, after a meticulous restoration, the hotel pairs heritage architecture with contemporary comfort: light-filled rooms, refined dining at its Belle Époque brasserie and Saint Germain restaurant, and the serene Akasha Spa together create a complete immersion in the city’s most elegant, timeless side. Discover this singular Parisian grand hotel and its very own art of French living on the official website: www.hotellutetia.com.

Grand Hotel Kronenhof: Alpine Grandeur in the Heart of Pontresina

HotelsSwitzerlandPontresina

26 Dec 2024

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11 minutes

Grand Hotel Kronenhof: Alpine Grandeur in the Heart of Pontresina

For a nature-rich escape wrapped in five-star indulgence, Grand Hotel Kronenhof in Pontresina is a destination in its own right. Set in the Swiss Alps just minutes from St. Moritz, this historic grande dame blends neo-Baroque splendour with contemporary comfort. Guests are immersed in sweeping mountain and forest views, while the hotel’s storied past is reflected in every architectural detail. Between its acclaimed dining, vast 2,000 m² spa and direct access to year-round alpine adventures, Grand Hotel Kronenhof promises an unforgettable Engadine stay. www.kronenhof.com

The Berkeley: Private-Terrace Glamour on Hyde Park

HotelsUnited KingdomLondon

25 Dec 2024

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10 minutes

The Berkeley: Private-Terrace Glamour on Hyde Park

Moments from Hyde Park, The Berkeley is a London address for travellers who take their luxury seriously. In the heart of Knightsbridge, this five-star hideaway balances heritage style with a cool, contemporary edge. Rooms and suites are dressed in refined Victorian-meets-modern design, with the Park Suite framing sweeping park views and select suites opening onto private terraces high above the city. A Michelin-starred restaurant, the fashion-forward Pret-à-Portea, a serene spa with outdoor pool and flawlessly attentive staff complete an experience where every detail feels bespoke. www.the-berkeley.co.uk

Park Hyatt Vienna: Gilded Banking Grandeur Reimagined as a Five‑Star Hideaway

HotelsAustriaVienna

24 Dec 2024

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7 minutes

Park Hyatt Vienna: Gilded Banking Grandeur Reimagined as a Five‑Star Hideaway

At the Park Hyatt Vienna, the opulence of a former bank meets the ease of contemporary five-star living, right in the heart of Austria’s capital. Housed in an early 20th-century banking palace, the hotel subtly fuses its imperious past with today’s comforts across 143 rooms and 35 lavish suites. Beneath the old vaults, the Arany Spa offers a cocoon of calm, while refined cuisine is served at the “Bank Brasserie & Bar.” Set in the prestigious First District, moments from Vienna’s cultural landmarks, it promises a stay where history and modern luxury are inextricably entwined. Discover more or book on the official website: www.hyatt.com.

The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna: Imperial Glamour on the Ringstrasse

HotelsAustriaVienna

23 Dec 2024

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8 minutes

The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna: Imperial Glamour on the Ringstrasse

Set along Vienna’s storied Ringstrasse, The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna is a sanctuary of luxury spread across four 19th-century palaces. Seamlessly blending imperial grandeur with contemporary finesse, this five-star hotel features 202 lavish rooms and suites, standout dining and a spa ranked among the city’s finest. Guests savour refined cuisine, take in sweeping views of the capital and unwind in exclusive spaces where every detail speaks of opulence and heritage. With bespoke services and experiences such as private concerts and out-of-hours museum tours, The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna promises an unforgettable stay. Discover Vienna at its most luxurious at this exceptional address. Book on www.ritzcarlton.com.

HotelsItalyVenice

22 Dec 2024

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8 minutes

Hotel Danieli: Venice’s Timeless Legend

Venice, city of mirage and marvels, guards a treasure that seems to defy time itself: Hotel Danieli, Venice. Set on the waterfront just moments from the Grand Canal, this 15th‑century palazzo, born within the prestigious Palazzo Dandolo, distils the very soul of La Serenissima. Vast frescoed salons, soaring staircases with a cathedral-like grandeur and glittering Murano glass chandeliers evoke the elegance of a vanished age, while the soft lap of the lagoon still lulls guests to sleep. To stay at the Danieli is to surrender to a world where history and absolute luxury meet, and every moment feels like a legend in the making.

The Stafford London: St James’s Grand Hotel with Posthouse Soul

HotelsUnited KingdomLondon

22 Dec 2024

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8 minutes

The Stafford London: St James’s Grand Hotel with Posthouse Soul

In the heart of London’s most distinguished quarter, The Stafford London blends timeless English elegance with a rich sense of history. Just moments from Green Park and Buckingham Palace, this five-star hideaway occupies former 17th-century townhouses on the old site of a coaching inn in St James’s. Behind its discreet façade lie hushed corridors, characterful rooms and suites, and quietly polished service that attracts loyal regulars as much as curious newcomers. From modern British dining at The Game Bird to classic cocktails in the storied American Bar, every stay feels quintessentially, and indulgently, London. www.thestaffordlondon.com

Le Negresco: Iconic Riviera Grandeur on the Promenade des Anglais

HotelsFranceNice

21 Dec 2024

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11 minutes

Le Negresco: Iconic Riviera Grandeur on the Promenade des Anglais

Presiding over Nice’s legendary Promenade des Anglais, Hôtel Le Negresco has been a jewel of French luxury hospitality since 1913. This five-star icon masterfully blends heritage and modern flair, with opulent interiors adorned by both historic and contemporary works of art. No two rooms are alike: each one channels a different chapter of French history, transforming every stay into a uniquely immersive experience.Two-Michelin-starred restaurant Le Chantecler, led by chef Virginie Basselot, elevates the sense of prestige with inventive cuisine, while Bar Le Relais extends the magic with signature cocktails in a sumptuous Belle Époque setting. More than a hotel, Le Negresco is a living museum overlooking the Mediterranean, a sanctuary of art and elegance where the very best of French chic comes vividly to life. Book your stay at www.lenegresco.com.

Hugo Audouy

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