Sandonok

19/08/2022

Together, the nine 21c Museum Hotels (and counting) comprise North America’s only multi-venue museum dedicated exclusively to 21st-century art. Opened in 2018, the Kansas City location breathes new life into the 1888 Savoy Hotel and Grill, where President Harry S. Truman was such a regular that his favorite booth is now marked with a plaque. The hotel’s gallery welcomes rotating exhibits, but guests don’t have to leave their beds to see art: Each room features photographs of penguins and Antarctic landscapes shot by brand co-founder Laura Lee Brown. Continuing that chilly theme, the 21c chain is home to a flock of four-foot-tall, recycled-plastic penguins, which the staff moves around throughout the day. The K.C. ones are sky blue, and if you fall hard for them you can pick up a ceramic replica in the gift shop.

19/08/2022

Colombia has been rising through the ranks in terms of destinations in the past decade—and you can always trust W Hotels to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with the hottest trends. Opened in late 2014, W Bogota is situated right in the heart of the capital city's upscale Usaquen neighborhood, putting guests next to embassies, restaurants, and boutiques. You can expect colorful, modern decor in all 168 guest rooms—especially in the Extreme Wow Suite, which includes a king-size bed with floral canopy, an avant-garde (and purple!) circular sofa, and 180-degree views of the city's skyline. Grab brunch or dinner at the Martin Kitchen before kicking back with a drink and live music at the W Lounge. Then it's back to your room to detox before repeating it all the next day.

19/08/2022

At this stately Vancouver Island hotel only three miles from downtown Victoria, it’s not uncommon to look out from your balcony or from the waterfront mineral pools and see pods of orcas swimming close to the shore. The 100-room hotel is inspired by an English manor house, complete with Tudor-influenced architectural touches and a charming pub serving halibut tempura and seafood chowder. While the property and the surrounding seaside village may evoke the old world, the Boathouse Spa is firmly rooted in the Pacific Northwest thanks to treatments that incorporate seaweed and marine clay.

11/08/2022

Though it’s a sleek, modern hotel with impeccable high-tech hardware in its 185 rooms, Raffles’ address in Istanbul still channels the city’s Byzantine charm and mystery. Chalk it up to the gorgeous views from almost every room and lush Turkish textiles, handicrafts (like pierced metal-and-glass similar to those found in the Blue Mosque), and dramatic, oversized framed photos of its most famous sites. Set in the central Besiktas neighborhood on the European side, the Raffles puts guests right on top of an array of shopping and dining options, and you can see the Bosphorus from many of the rooms.

11/08/2022

Badrutt’s Palace doesn’t skimp on extravagance, possessing all the perks one expects from a St. Moritz hotel. The glamorous alpine hideaway overlooks the ski resort’s famous lake, and has been the go-to destination for celebrities and royalty since it first opened in 1896: Alfred Hitchcock became a loyal guest after spending his honeymoon there, and even an elephant once graced its halls. Complete with towers and turrets, the snowcapped hotel feels straight out of a winter fairytale—with the views to boot—and the rooms and suites provide an upscale, toasty retreat after a day on the slopes (hot water bottles are tucked under the sheets each night). There’s a restaurant to fit every mood (11 in total) and nightcaps should be imbibed at the Polo Bar, a popular spot among locals. Time your stay wisely: the New Year’s bashes, we hear, are legendary.

11/08/2022

The Gwen is named for Gwen Lux, a Chicago-born, pioneering female sculptor of the 20th century, and a fitting icon for the Chicago installment of Marriott’s Luxury Collection, which aims to make each hotel reflect the character of its place. The Gwen, located on the city’s famed Magnificent Mile and in the landmark McGraw-Hill building—with its 1928 facade wholly preserved—does just that. Art deco interiors with taupe- and gold-hued rooms emanate old-fashioned glamour and chic modernity all at once. The rooftop bar and restaurant, Upstairs at the Gwen, is buzzy as can be when the weather is nice, and your best shot for mingling with a crowd beyond the hotel’s typical guests on business travel.

06/08/2022

Opened in 1910 as the Bellevue Hotel, the downtown Beaux-Arts building has a long history of welcoming visitors to San Francisco. But when it re-opened in 2018 with a fresh redesign by Perkins + Will, a new era began. The rooms are decorated with expressive pops of color, statement walls, and a collection of furniture that seems to know no decade. Active travelers will be glad to hear that each room comes with its own yoga mat, and free bike rentals help you cruise around and explore the city with ease.

06/08/2022

The Waldorf Astoria Beijing is a 2014 arrival in a gold-box building in the Wangfujing neighborhood. When you pull up to the entrance, you're greeted by an exterior resembling one of Beijing's temple palaces—but the interior is pure, intimate hospitality. Instead of a flashy, bustling lobby, the concierge desk sits in a space surrounded by high, gray walls painted with flowers, while bolder art pieces surprise you as you turn the hallways to your room. The 171 rooms delight with soft teal and tangerine accents and views across heritage rooftops.

06/08/2022

06/08/2022