"Stylish Cortina d’Ampezzo is known as the Queen of the Dolomites, and Cristallo is its undisputed grande dame. Built in 1901 in the art nouveau style, it hosted royalty and VIPs like Frank Sinatra, Saul Bellow, and Vladimir Nabokov, and the U.S. Olympic team used its skating rink to practice for the 1956 Olympics. Formerly a member of Marriott’s Luxury Collection, the hotel is closed for renovations and will reopen as a Mandarin Oriental in 2025. When it does, it will have 83 guest rooms and suites—many with balconies—a variety of restaurants and bars, a spacious spa, and an indoor-outdoor swimming pool. Award-winning architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron is also creating a new extension for the property. Rates TBA" - Erica Firpo, Laura Itzkowitz