It’s crazy to say so already but… summer is wrapping up.
And August means one thing: it’s time to get irresponsible with that PTO. There won’t be a better window to use it. And there’s still time on the table to plan your travels.
While Matt & Adam have been on the road already quite a lot this summer (they’re off to Italy again as we speak), I’ve been cooped up in NYC interning. But I can still dream…so here’s a shortlist of places from my ‘wants list’ where I’d be off to if lowly interns were granted paid time off. Maybe next year.
For all of you, whatever your situation…just know that the clock is ticking. So get that flight on the books and we’re here to help on the hotel front, as always.
Disclaimer: Matt & Adam have already spent an obscene amount of time in Italy (for good reason…congrats again Adam!) and covered 11 of the best hotels that Italy has to offer. So I’ll consider that region dealt with and take you to some other hotels I want to get to.
Look, I’m French. I will always rep my homeland. We also know what gets clicks, and the South of France is near undefeated as a summer destination. Basque country might be getting snubbed here, but hit our line and we most definitely will have recommendations there for you as well.
Everyone knows about the classics already, but there’s a reason they’ve reached such acclaim—and while I do ultimately want to make it to Hotel du Cap one day, Château de la Messardière has more to offer this season. An iconic hotel, the White Lotus filming, and a much more lively area for an international (21 y/o) crowd. There’s a story to be written here and I’ll be in the area soon…so convince Matt & Adam to sponsor my stay and it’ll happen. Airelles can do no wrong.
Located in idyllic Èze, between Nice and Monaco…but don’t be fooled into thinking you’re far from the party action. First of all, let’s talk about that god dayum view: the place looks like a sun-drenched Disney castle, perched atop a medieval village, overlooking the mediterranean. I’m nominating this for probably the best view in the region, and it’s definitely up there for the best food as well. Also, you’re right next to Cap-Ferrat (actually, that’s what you’re overlooking). So if you’ve ever wondered where the truly deep-pocketed French are when all you hear in St. Tropez and Cannes is English, they’re here: on the ‘Peninsula of Billionaires’. The hotel is worth a look.
I have plans to write a piece about great artists and great hotels, where I will be going more in depth on this particular property. But let’s focus on the elevator pitch here. Saint-Paul-de-Vence is the definition of slow living—but you’re also surrounded by some of the best vineyards, restaurants and artist studios in all of France. The walls themselves are a museum, exhibiting works from the masters of the region: Matisse, Picasso, Calder, and others who paid their bills in paintings rather than cash (sidenote: if ever I open a restaurant or hotel, I will be reinstating this policy). We all know, ultimately, the Riviera is about seeing and being seen. But here it’s about choosing between pétanque, a nap, or another bottle of rosé by the pool after lunch (which cannot under any pretext start before 1 and should end no earlier than 3pm).
Summer is for partying in the European sun, sure—but it’s also about proper adventures in faraway places. Asia’s on the brain, so here’s where to hit up in the far East. You probably won’t be running into anyone you know at these places, and that’s kind of the point.
One of the coolest hotels I’ve ever stayed at…which means I need to make it back. My parents took the family to visit Angkor Wat after my high school graduation. It’s a generational pilgrimage for us, starting with my grandparents who visited as the area was still being de-mined. They were even held at gunpoint within the temple complex… and still brought their children back. The hotel itself is a family run establishment, with a multitude of bungalows joined by bridges passing over clear, flower-speckled waters. It’s its own private Venice within a jungle. The pool is gorgeous, the food is great, and the staff is some of the friendliest I’ve ever had the pleasure of interacting with: I mentioned to the owners we were hoping to try local snacks (including bugs) and that same night they brought out an assortment of fried and sauteed critters. Not everyone’s ideal care package, but most definitely a personalized one.
Ahah—bet you didn’t expect to see that one. In all honesty, this might be my personal Aman grail. Bhutan is a fascinating place with no doubt some of the most beautiful mountains I’ve ever seen (through my phone screen). Amankora isn’t one lodge…it’s five, spread across Bhutan. You choose the order you visit them in, which lets you see multiple sides of a country that’s ultimately quite small. Great for a spiritual reset or simply to deepen your cultural appreciation of the stunning Himalayan region, this seems like the perfect way to wrap up your summer after the few too many drinks that we hope you enjoyed in the more party-forward destinations on this list. Life’s about balance.
You see MO, you think we’re about to talk about the brand new one in Mallorca… we’re not. Qianmen, Beijing baby. Chinamaxxing is a thing, and if you’ve never been, you should get yourself to the capital. This property’s location rocks. You’re within walking distance (a miracle in Beijing) of both the Temple of Heaven and Tiananmen. These monuments are mind-blowing in scale…while the hotel we’re recommending isn’t. Nestled between hutongs, the historic narrow streets of old Beijing, the hotel is a complex of siheyuans (traditional courtyard houses). Is this necessarily what you had in mind for a late summer hotel? No, probably not. But, they’ve got a buy 2 nights, get an extra night free going on right now, so why the hell not?
We’ve strayed pretty far from home by now. And while we do encourage you all to keep up the globetrotting, something a touch more local can be just as special. If you want to keep it domestic, here’s where we would be heading.
There’s a horseshoe theory in hospitality. All-inclusive is at both ends: one is the budget holiday while the other means you literally don’t have to think about anything…especially not the prices. Take a guess as to where the Ranch at Rock Creek lands on that horseshoe? Horseback riding, a pistol range, clay pigeon shooting, fishing, and more. True Montana livin’ in a stunning setting. Have some pride in our beautiful country, and get some Western in ya’ (while still in the utmost comfort…did we mention their spa within a caravan?). We promise your Instagram posts will be cooler here than anything from La Guérite.
Now is a good time to disclose that I set myself a challenge for the America section: only all inclusives. There’s some stunners that fit this category, and quite a few are on the West Coast. They know about the art of chilling over there. And everyone should make it out to Big Sur at least once. Alila is the perfect (all inclusive!) place to stay on your visit. While we could dive into the details of this gorgeous resort’s spa and its multiple offerings, the truth is this is the perfect place to stop on a road trip up Highway 1. Pull over at charming surf towns on the way, embrace everything coastal California has to offer, and sleep under the Redwoods. Shouldn’t be too hard of a sell.
Wrapping up this list with a bang. “The most romantic hotel in the world” itself. While this place might be less isolated geographically than Alila, it feels just as (if not more) intimate. That might be because it’s pretty hard to get yourself in there, but trust us— there’s reason for this. The balmy, shortening late-August days are, in our opinion, the best time to experience the feeling of old Hollywood royalty. There’s a luxury to the lack of emergency. It’s truly the time of year where you start forgetting what day of the week it is (if you planned your PTO well enough), and if there’s one place where that should happen, it’s San Ysidro Ranch. No better place to do so.
That’s the list. As for me: I’ll be at my desk in Midtown if ever you need me. You, however, have no excuse. Don’t let those precious days slip by and become “next year” talk. And if you have any plans of your own or recommendations for what to do in this liminal span of time, do let us know.
That’s all for today. If you’re into this kind of thing, give it a heart so others know it’s worth a read. And, as always, smooth skies to the lot of you!
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