3 Hotels to Book for the Design Alone—and What to Pack for Each

There are hotels you book for the location, whether that’s in the middle of the action in your favorite city or on an isolated atoll halfway around the world. There are hotels you book for the amenities, like a great spa. And then there are hotels where the design is so beautiful, so transportive, you may just want to spend your entire stay taking in your surroundings. Here, three hotels in the latter category—along with a packing list to match the mood of each one.

VITORRJA

VENICE, CALIFORNIA

Just a block from the boardwalk, Vitorrja is the first hotel from the team behind the beloved Venice institutions Gjusta and Gjelina. With only 27 rooms and suites, the masterfully renovated former boarding house feels less like a hotel and more like the home of a dear friend—who has unimpeachable taste and an eye for good craftsmanship. The palette is calm and clean, heavy on the earth tones with dark accents and an occasional playful pop of color, like the persimmon-orange Smeg fridge and oven in one suite (the paint colors throughout are bespoke). The rooms, all unique, are furnished—simply and tastefully—with a mix of vintage and custom furniture and art. The finishing touches: Coyuchi linens and towels, Simone Fan bathrobes, custom Totem ceramics, and baked goods and provisions on order from Gjusta.

What to pack: The vibe is laid-back but luxe. A textural knit set in warm, earthy hues. A minimalist LBD you can dress up or down to meet the moment. California-cool sunglasses. And, for luck, a delicately beaded rose-gold bangle embellished with diamond-dotted clovers.

HOTEL CAFÉ ROYAL

LONDON

More than a century and a half since first opening its doors, the storied Hotel Café Royal is as impressive as ever. Every space is almost overwhelmingly luxe, in various interpretations of that word: There’s the opulent gilded lounge that’s hosted the likes of both Oscar Wilde and David Bowie. Ultrasoothing bathrooms with Carrara marble covering every wall and surface. Contemporary suites with warm oak paneling and sleek leather furniture in soft pastel hues. The spa, Akasha, does not photograph well, probably because the lighting is blissfully dim; it’s moody and warm, with a pool and lounge setup that feels secluded and private. And while, given all of the above, it is the kind of place you may not want to venture out of, you are in London, so it bears mentioning: The location is very central. The close proximity to Piccadilly Circus would almost be a demerit if the rooms weren’t shockingly quiet, thanks to multipaned glass windows, among other sorcery.

What to pack: This is a proper city break, and you’ll want to pack accordingly—think elegant, elevated, and mostly black. Essentials include a coolly sophisticated linen dress, knit ballet flats, a slim structured suede purse, and the pièce de résistance: a wide beaded bangle finished with tonal bands of round-cut diamonds.

HOTEL CORAZÓN

MALLORCA

Nestled in the Tramuntana Mountains, this beautifully restored finca is the brainchild of fashion photographer Kate Bellm and her partner, artist Edgar Lopez. There are 15 rooms, each one distinct. All are done in a soft, warm palette with sculptural furniture, gauzy fabrics, and modern art—some of it created for the hotel by artists in residence. The pool is an oasis surrounded by retro sunset-hued loungers, straw-draped umbrellas, and hammocks. Overall, Corazón is the kind of place where time seems to slow.

What to pack: Lean into the ’70s-ish vibe of the hotel with a silk muumuu in a large-scale floral print and a clean-lined caftan-and-wide-legs set that calls to mind Jackie in her jet-setting Onassis days. For the pool, a lipstick-red triangle bikini. And to catch the light, be it sun or candle, a statement ring in gleamy gold and white diamonds.