Photo courtesy of William Jess Laird.
Can you feel it? The hum of summer vacation anticipation? We started feeling it a few weeks ago, on the first really nice, sunny day in forever. (As you surely know, Los Angeles has been experiencing occasional rain showers—brutal.)
A handful of us have already booked our first round of summer trips, and we have some good ones in the lineup. There are the usual suspects: Santorini, Ibiza, Paris. But we also have editors hitting up Panamanian private islands and reserving long-haul flights to Hong Kong.
Here are the hotels we’re headed to this summer—shared early enough so you can book them, too.
AT THE BEACH
Maroma, a Belmond Hotel
Riviera Maya, Mexico
Maroma recently reopened after a head-to-toe renovation, and it’s the kind of place where you’ll want to linger forever. There’s a pool shaded by lush palms, a Curtis Stone restaurant, and direct beach access. But we’re really fired up about the new Guerlain spa, which offers hydrating massages inspired by local cenotes and sound therapy that mimics the frequencies of Melipona bees, which are considered sacred in Mayan culture.
Photo courtesy of William Jess Laird
Islas Secas
Panama
In Panama’s Gulf of Chiriquí, on a private island, a handful of single- and multibedroom casitas make up most of what you’ll see at Islas Secas. But the resort is just a fraction of the overall property, which spans a 14-island archipelago. A staff member can help guests charter a yacht between the other 13 for secluded beach days, fishing trips, and humpback whale watching. Other highlights: an impressive bar, five-star service, and not a television in the whole place.
Ibiza Gran Hotel
Ibiza, Spain
If you’re headed to Ibiza to party, good news: Ibiza Gran Hotel is a 10-minute walk from the action in the old town. And if you like to counterbalance cocktails and clubs with massages and Michelin stars—or if you prefer to avoid the crowds entirely—perhaps even better news: The hotel is a refuge when you want it to be, with a serene pool, several restaurants, and a spa you could spend all day in.
Katikies Kirini
Santorini, Greece
On the edge of a cliff just minutes from the middle of Oia, Katikies Kirini is classic Santorini. Everything’s washed in white. The rooms feel like intimate hideaways. You could spend a whole weekend lounging at the pool, which overlooks the caldera. There’s so much to get excited about: the hotel’s bioregenerative wellness clinic, wine tours focused on local Assyrtiko grapes, excursions to Santorini’s lesser-known beaches, and cooking classes with Greek Italian chef Ettore Botrini, whose namesake restaurant in Athens won a Michelin star.
IN THE MOUNTAINS
Mollie
Aspen, Colorado
Mollie is the new kid on a very old block. And it’s quickly become a hot ticket, even up against Aspen’s heritage hotels. That might have something to do with its cool, contemporary look, influenced by Bauhaus geometry and Japanese and Scandinavian simplicity: The rooms are cozy, as much in summer as in winter, and guests soak in views of Aspen Mountain from the sleek rooftop pool. It’s a short walk—really, just a minute—to the great restaurant scene in Aspen’s central core, but for something quick on your way out the door, Mollie’s all-day café has grab-and-go pastries and Sightglass coffee.
Photo courtesy of Nicole Franzen
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
Vancouver Island, Canada
If mountain peaks and old-growth conifers are your vibe or if you’re partial to the Pacific coast, Clayoquot might be the glamping destination to end all glamping destinations. The property sits at the end of a long sound on Vancouver Island, 45 minutes by seaplane from the nearest town. It has just 25 tents, outfitted with en suites and heated floors. The restaurant, despite being so remote, is supposed to be amazing, and the spa is newly redone. But people really come here for deep immersion in nature, and otherwise-rare sights—like bald eagles soaring across the sky, sea otters chilling in the sound, or mama black bears ambling through the forest with their cubs—aren’t long shots.
IN THE CITY
Hôtel Barrière Fouquet’s New York
New York, New York
The French hotel collection Hôtels Barrière modeled Fouquet’s New York after the original Le Fouquet’s hotel in Paris. But instead of mirroring Le Fouquet’s neutral tones, they did this iteration in soft rose, sage, and cherrywood, staying true to the spirit of stylish Tribeca. The marriage of French and American sensibilities extends to the wellness center, which has a Biologique Recherche spa and a Dogpound gym, and to the food: Three-Michelin-star chef Pierre Gagnaire—an expert in fusion cuisine—helped design the menu at Brasserie Fouquet’s.
Raffles London at the OWO
London, England
The newest Raffles hotel recently opened in the historic Old War Office, now the OWO, in Whitehall. And Raffles has been strategic about how it’s reimagined the Edwardian building. Guest rooms occupy old offices; the three bars and nine restaurants take up courtyards, atriums, and drawing rooms; and a four-story wellness center offers pools, thermal circuits, workout space, and Guerlain treatments. The ballroom remains a ballroom, with black-and-white checkered floors, marble columns, and a grand staircase.
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
Hong Kong
On my own highly anticipated summer trip—an arts and culture tour of Hong Kong—I’ll be landing at the Four Seasons, which sits on the waterfront at the International Finance Centre. The views are a major part of the allure; every room looks out over either the harbor or Victoria Peak. And while I don’t anticipate holing up in the hotel, the restaurant situation looks insane—there are eight Michelin stars under the hotel’s roof, including two for Lung King Heen, which I’ve read has the best Cantonese fine dining in the city.
La Fantaisie
Paris, France
There’s no shortage of boutique hotels in Paris. But we’ve had our eye on La Fantaisie since it opened last summer. It has a rooftop bar, an all-day café, and a dreamy restaurant in a solarium. At the spa, guests enjoy body and facial treatments using the French beauty brand Holidermie and unwind in the spa’s baths, sauna, and hammam. It’s in the 9th arrondissement, not far from Pigalle’s main drag. But even if none of the above were on the table, we’d have fallen in love with La Fantaisie for its pastel palette: light wood, blush, butter yellow, pistachio, and misty blue.
Photo courtesy of Jérome Galland
Maroma, a Belmond Hotel
Riviera Maya, Mexico
Maroma recently reopened after a head-to-toe renovation, and it’s the kind of place where you’ll want to linger forever. There’s a pool shaded by lush palms, a Curtis Stone restaurant, and direct beach access. But we’re really fired up about the new Guerlain spa, which offers hydrating massages inspired by local cenotes and sound therapy that mimics the frequencies of Melipona bees, which are considered sacred in Mayan culture.
Photo courtesy of William Jess Laird
Islas Secas
Panama
In Panama’s Gulf of Chiriquí, on a private island, a handful of single- and multibedroom casitas make up most of what you’ll see at Islas Secas. But the resort is just a fraction of the overall property, which spans a 14-island archipelago. A staff member can help guests charter a yacht between the other 13 for secluded beach days, fishing trips, and humpback whale watching. Other highlights: an impressive bar, five-star service, and not a television in the whole place.
Ibiza Gran Hotel
Ibiza, Spain
If you’re headed to Ibiza to party, good news: Ibiza Gran Hotel is a 10-minute walk from the action in the old town. And if you like to counterbalance cocktails and clubs with massages and Michelin stars—or if you prefer to avoid the crowds entirely—perhaps even better news: The hotel is a refuge when you want it to be, with a serene pool, several restaurants, and a spa you could spend all day in.
Katikies Kirini
Santorini, Greece
On the edge of a cliff just minutes from the middle of Oia, Katikies Kirini is classic Santorini. Everything’s washed in white. The rooms feel like intimate hideaways. You could spend a whole weekend lounging at the pool, which overlooks the caldera. There’s so much to get excited about: the hotel’s bioregenerative wellness clinic, wine tours focused on local Assyrtiko grapes, excursions to Santorini’s lesser-known beaches, and cooking classes with Greek Italian chef Ettore Botrini, whose namesake restaurant in Athens won a Michelin star.
Mollie
Aspen, ColoradoMollie is the new kid on a very old block. And it’s quickly become a hot ticket, even up against Aspen’s heritage hotels. That might have something to do with its cool, contemporary look, influenced by Bauhaus geometry and Japanese and Scandinavian simplicity: The rooms are cozy, as much in summer as in winter, and guests soak in views of Aspen Mountain from the sleek rooftop pool. It’s a short walk—really, just a minute—to the great restaurant scene in Aspen’s central core, but for something quick on your way out the door, Mollie’s all-day café has grab-and-go pastries and Sightglass coffee.
Photo courtesy of Nicole Franzen
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
Vancouver Island, CanadaIf mountain peaks and old-growth conifers are your vibe or if you’re partial to the Pacific coast, Clayoquot might be the glamping destination to end all glamping destinations. The property sits at the end of a long sound on Vancouver Island, 45 minutes by seaplane from the nearest town. It has just 25 tents, outfitted with en suites and heated floors. The restaurant, despite being so remote, is supposed to be amazing, and the spa is newly redone. But people really come here for deep immersion in nature, and otherwise-rare sights—like bald eagles soaring across the sky, sea otters chilling in the sound, or mama black bears ambling through the forest with their cubs—aren’t long shots.
IN THE CITYHôtel Barrière Fouquet’s New York
New York, New York
The French hotel collection Hôtels Barrière modeled Fouquet’s New York after the original Le Fouquet’s hotel in Paris. But instead of mirroring Le Fouquet’s neutral tones, they did this iteration in soft rose, sage, and cherrywood, staying true to the spirit of stylish Tribeca. The marriage of French and American sensibilities extends to the wellness center, which has a Biologique Recherche spa and a Dogpound gym, and to the food: Three-Michelin-star chef Pierre Gagnaire—an expert in fusion cuisine—helped design the menu at Brasserie Fouquet’s.
Raffles London at the OWO
London, England
The newest Raffles hotel recently opened in the historic Old War Office, now the OWO, in Whitehall. And Raffles has been strategic about how it’s reimagined the Edwardian building. Guest rooms occupy old offices; the three bars and nine restaurants take up courtyards, atriums, and drawing rooms; and a four-story wellness center offers pools, thermal circuits, workout space, and Guerlain treatments. The ballroom remains a ballroom, with black-and-white checkered floors, marble columns, and a grand staircase.
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
Hong Kong
On my own highly anticipated summer trip—an arts and culture tour of Hong Kong—I’ll be landing at the Four Seasons, which sits on the waterfront at the International Finance Centre. The views are a major part of the allure; every room looks out over either the harbor or Victoria Peak. And while I don’t anticipate holing up in the hotel, the restaurant situation looks insane—there are eight Michelin stars under the hotel’s roof, including two for Lung King Heen, which I’ve read has the best Cantonese fine dining in the city.
La Fantaisie
Paris, France
There’s no shortage of boutique hotels in Paris. But we’ve had our eye on La Fantaisie since it opened last summer. It has a rooftop bar, an all-day café, and a dreamy restaurant in a solarium. At the spa, guests enjoy body and facial treatments using the French beauty brand Holidermie and unwind in the spa’s baths, sauna, and hammam. It’s in the 9th arrondissement, not far from Pigalle’s main drag. But even if none of the above were on the table, we’d have fallen in love with La Fantaisie for its pastel palette: light wood, blush, butter yellow, pistachio, and misty blue.
Photo courtesy of Jérome Galland
Hôtel Barrière Fouquet’s New York
New York, New York
The French hotel collection Hôtels Barrière modeled Fouquet’s New York after the original Le Fouquet’s hotel in Paris. But instead of mirroring Le Fouquet’s neutral tones, they did this iteration in soft rose, sage, and cherrywood, staying true to the spirit of stylish Tribeca. The marriage of French and American sensibilities extends to the wellness center, which has a Biologique Recherche spa and a Dogpound gym, and to the food: Three-Michelin-star chef Pierre Gagnaire—an expert in fusion cuisine—helped design the menu at Brasserie Fouquet’s.
Raffles London at the OWO
London, England
The newest Raffles hotel recently opened in the historic Old War Office, now the OWO, in Whitehall. And Raffles has been strategic about how it’s reimagined the Edwardian building. Guest rooms occupy old offices; the three bars and nine restaurants take up courtyards, atriums, and drawing rooms; and a four-story wellness center offers pools, thermal circuits, workout space, and Guerlain treatments. The ballroom remains a ballroom, with black-and-white checkered floors, marble columns, and a grand staircase.
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
Hong Kong
On my own highly anticipated summer trip—an arts and culture tour of Hong Kong—I’ll be landing at the Four Seasons, which sits on the waterfront at the International Finance Centre. The views are a major part of the allure; every room looks out over either the harbor or Victoria Peak. And while I don’t anticipate holing up in the hotel, the restaurant situation looks insane—there are eight Michelin stars under the hotel’s roof, including two for Lung King Heen, which I’ve read has the best Cantonese fine dining in the city.
La Fantaisie
Paris, France
There’s no shortage of boutique hotels in Paris. But we’ve had our eye on La Fantaisie since it opened last summer. It has a rooftop bar, an all-day café, and a dreamy restaurant in a solarium. At the spa, guests enjoy body and facial treatments using the French beauty brand Holidermie and unwind in the spa’s baths, sauna, and hammam. It’s in the 9th arrondissement, not far from Pigalle’s main drag. But even if none of the above were on the table, we’d have fallen in love with La Fantaisie for its pastel palette: light wood, blush, butter yellow, pistachio, and misty blue.
Photo courtesy of Jérome Galland
