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Hotels Above Par
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Hotel · Saint-Thomas d'Aquin
"Opened in the 1920s on a quiet Saint‑Germain side street, this discreet Left Bank boutique hotel feels like a well‑kept secret that naturally fits into its bookshop‑ and café‑lined neighborhood. The atmosphere throughout is perfectly chic yet genuinely comfortable, with modern, sleek design layered with colorful but tasteful furniture, dark wood accents, flourishing plants, and characterful details like an artsy bookshelf, a rotating sand display in the lobby, and an old‑school two‑person elevator that makes it feel like stepping back into the 1920s. Downstairs, the restaurant and bar are lively without being overcrowded, attracting a relaxed mix of guests and locals; the mood is social but not scene‑y, centered in the bar around a cozy fireplace and bookshelves that make it feel like a laid‑back gathering spot ideal for celebratory drinks or nightcaps, and it’s easy to see why it’s long been a favorite among regulars. Rooms are polished yet cozy, designed to feel like well‑appointed Paris apartments rather than standard hotel rooms, with layouts that are spacious by Paris standards, featuring large, inviting beds, separate toilets, seating areas, and in some cases private patios. Many rooms and suites look directly onto the top of the Eiffel Tower, a view that never gets old, and bathrooms are especially well done, with deep soaking tubs, rainfall showers, oversized sinks, and generous counter space so the rooms overall feel like the chicest version of home. Dining is approachable and in line with the hotel’s vibe, with Montalembert Restaurant offering a menu that leans modern French, complemented by the quietly standout bar. Amenities are simple yet appreciated, including a full spa that feels like a pleasant surprise for a hotel of this size, a small fitness room, very helpful concierge service, and room service for nights when staying in is the best option. Its Saint‑Germain‑des‑Prés address is one of the standout features, placing guests within a short walk of antique shops, bookshops, galleries, cafés and brasseries, with the Seine about ten minutes away for morning or evening strolls and the Musée d’Orsay and the Louvre close enough to visit without turning the outing into a production, making the combination of Eiffel Tower views and this quintessential Left Bank location feel like a classic Paris stay." - Lauren Harano
Tourist attraction · Cuneo
"In the nearby village of Barbaresco, the namesake tower houses a winemaking museum and offers 360-degree views over the Langhe region, standing as a vantage point where visitors can take in the landscape and learn about the place where the famous Barbaresco wine was first created in 1894." - Mariangela Rossi
Restaurant · Asti
"Set beneath original late-19th-century barrel-vaulted ceilings within the Relais, this restaurant showcases Chef Mykyta Bida’s modern take on Piedmontese cuisine, using typical local ingredients reimagined and pairing them with estate wines such as an excellent 2019 Barbaresco. Among the specialties are hand-chopped raw veal, rich 30-yolk tajarin—thin egg pasta—served with smoked butter, and agnolotti della tasca stuffed with veal cheek, all contributing to an experience that blends regional tradition with contemporary flair in a warm, vineyard-framed setting." - Mariangela Rossi
Hotel · Asti
"Nestled in the UNESCO-listed heart of Langhe and Monferrato, this charming hideaway has a poetic, artistic vibe and sits amid 30 hectares of vineyards and orchards. Created by entrepreneur Guido Martinetti and his wife Martina in three restored 19th-century brick farmhouses, it follows the Mura Mura mantra of “living slowly and wisely,” with life meant to be lived mostly outdoors among trails and vines. Interiors blend rustic echoes with custom-made Italian artisan furniture and a few standout design pieces, like the cedar-wood Molletta bench by Riva 1920, land art installations, a modernist-style lounge for tea by the indoor pool, and a Camaleonda sofa by B&B Italia; while there could be more cozy nooks inside, the focus is on movement, harmony, and reconnecting with the earth, which makes it a favorite base for athletes who come to jog, e-bike, and do cyclocross. The 13 rooms each have a distinct personality: five in Dimora dei Poeti are dedicated to Piedmontese authors such as Cesare Pavese and Natalia Ginzburg, with details that evoke their voices, and a standout suite, “La Bellezza Esiste,” pays tribute to Gianmaria Testa, feeling like an artist’s postcard with a terrace and large windows framing the vineyards and rolling hills; the remaining eight rooms in Dimora degli Artisti are conceived as livable works of art offering a visual and sensory journey. The crown jewel is La Casa sospesa tra le Vigne, a wooden suite suspended five meters above the ground, particularly loved by couples, where leaving the curtains open rewards guests with the soft pink dawn light over Monte Rosa and the Monferrato vineyards. Dining centers on Radici Ristorante In Vigna, set under original late-19th-century barrel-vaulted ceilings, where Chef Mykyta Bida uses typical Piedmontese ingredients in modern ways—such as hand-chopped raw veal, 30-yolk tajarin with smoked butter, and agnolotti della tasca stuffed with veal cheek—paired with estate wines like a 2019 Barbaresco, and guests can join guided cellar tastings with Giovanni Solo, sampling Barolo and Barbaresco (Rigore wines) or Barbera, Grignolino, and Moscato (Fantasia wines), the latter sometimes said to rival a Château d’Yquem Sauternes. The wellness area offers a 25-meter, three-lane indoor pool with vineyard views, a fully equipped Technogym fitness center, and a spa with sauna, whirlpool, cold plunge pool, and treatments such as a cane sugar and Mura Mura millefiori honey scrub followed by a grape seed oil massage, making it ideal for post-activity recovery. With no official star rating but service and attention to detail described as truly five-star, the atmosphere is one of inspiration and harmony, steeped in literature, fine wine, and Italian cuisine, and enriched by amenities such as truffle hunting with a trifolao, cooking classes, wine tastings, bike rentals, and floor-to-ceiling windows that blur indoors and outdoors, plus Italian-style hospitality expressed through art, food, wine, culture, nature, and wellness, with breakfast-inclusive rates starting from about $470 per night." - Mariangela Rossi
Resort hotel · Tecate
"Stepping onto this serene, family-owned wellness resort in Tecate feels like entering an oasis dedicated to its “Siempre Mejor” (“always better”) motto, with a 7-day immersion of fitness, food, spa, nature, and mindfulness designed to leave you physically and emotionally renewed. The experience begins even before arrival, with staff greeting you at San Diego International Airport with freshly made granola and a folder of options before escorting you 40 miles southeast to the property, where about 140 guests each Saturday settle in for an all-inclusive, week-long reset. As the OG of fitness resorts, open since 1940 and still run by its founding family, it offers a holistic, grounding getaway with more than 25 miles of hiking trails, five fitness class options every hour that build in intensity throughout the week, and additional educational seminars and creative classes like sculpture, jewelry making, and cooking, plus upcoming themed weeks centered on pickleball, longevity, culinary, sobriety, and sustainability. The expansive grounds sit four miles from the U.S./Mexico border at the foot of 3,885-foot Mt. Kuchumaa, surrounded by a 2,000-acre nature preserve and meticulously tended gardens, flower beds, and water features that blend the built environment into the landscape; maps, hammocks, and inviting chairs make wandering from the dining hall to four pools, 11 fitness studios, three full-service spas, and the track both easy and relaxing. Accommodations—86 rooms and casitas, many fully renovated within the last decade via a $10 million investment—feature patio-lined bespoke designs, Mexican folk art, vibrantly hued textiles made from environmentally friendly local materials, beautiful tiles, and intricate woodwork; many have wood-burning fireplaces and all include heating and air conditioning, while most intentionally omit in-room WiFi and TVs to encourage unplugging, with connectivity reserved for certain communal spaces and specific options like the Villas Cielo casitas, which include private plunge pools and WiFi. The resort’s own organic body care line, crafted from sustainably harvested plants and herbs, is available both in-room and in the spas, which offer massages, aromatherapy, scrubs, scalp treatments, and facials for an extra fee. Food is a highlight: semi-vegetarian, regionally focused meals and snacks—largely sourced from the on-site 6-acre organic farm—include options like bean-and-egg breakfast tacos and a turmeric juice shot at the breakfast buffet, a lunch of soup, salad, and hearty whole-wheat bread, and a three-course dinner with a starter, your choice of entrée (the roasted cauliflower with date mole is a must-order when available), and a low-sugar dessert; eggs and freshly delivered Baja California seafood are available, and food allergies and preferences are accommodated. With 340 days of sun per year, warm, low-humidity days, crisp nights, and an atmosphere that encourages a week of nature bathing, nourishing food, and self-care, staying on property feels like a comprehensive nervous system reset, supported by amenities such as unlimited fitness classes and speakers, multiple restaurants and communal dining, on-site art galleries, a business center, a boutique, an in-room refrigerator, fresh fruit on demand, tea, and selective free WiFi, plus optional “Saturday at the Ranch” day experiences that offer a taste of the full program. The overall vibe is that of a holistic, grounding escape where the mission to leave both land and people better is woven into design, programming, partnerships with local communities, and every detail of the guest experience." - Karla Walsh
Carretera Mexicali-Tijuana K.M, 136.5, Rancho la Puerta, 21447 Tecate, B.C., Mexico Get directions
Public bath · Jerez
"Set in an 18th-century palace, this hammam provides traditional Arab baths and massages, making it a nearby option for deep relaxation that complements the historic and architectural ambiance of Jerez’s old town." - Katie Monk
Fortress · Jerez
"Dating back to the 11th century, this fortress complex combines Moorish architecture, gardens, and a camera obscura, and sits beside the Alameda Vieja park, which is noted for offering some of the best sunset views over the surrounding countryside." - Katie Monk
Winery · Jerez
"Highlighted alongside other bodegas for touring and barrel tastings, this famed sherry house invites visitors to explore its cellars and sample its production, making it a key stop for understanding Jerez’s wine heritage." - Katie Monk
Museum · Jerez
"As one of the sherry bodegas recommended for a visit from the hotel, this famous producer offers tours and barrel tastings that immerse visitors in Jerez’s sherry-making culture and history." - Katie Monk
Foundation · Jerez
"Within walking distance of the hotel, this renowned institution offers the chance to watch famed Cartujano horses train and perform, providing an immersive equestrian experience that showcases the region’s deep horsemanship traditions." - Katie Monk
Av. Duque de Abrantes, s/n, 11407 Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, Spain Get directions
