The Haute Travel Writer

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Noto Sicily and the Seven Rooms Villadorata: A Sublime Stay in Italy's Most Enchanting City

There is no such thing as a hidden gem anymore. This worn-out cliché was ruined decades ago with the rise of social media and the Instagrammers and TikTokkers that have made the most special places passé. Today it seems that the exceptional destinations around the world have been over-exposed where everyone has been there, done that, and got the t-shirt. We are inundated with an ad nauseam stream of flowing satin dresses from the big swing over the rice fields of Bali or the blue domes and white
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The Locke at Broken Wharf: London's Hip Hotel Showcasing the Future of Urban Travel

There’s no place on earth like London. The most prestigious monarchy in the world, Big Ben, double-decker buses, afternoon tea, and fish and chips. The Thames River cuts through the city and gives it so much of its personality and inspiration. At the foot of the pedestrian-only Millennial Bridge that crosses the Thames River is where you’ll find a dashing lifestyle hotel made for today’s travelers who want to
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London's Uber Posh Address: Chelsea and a stay at the Sloane Place Hotel

It is one of Big Smoke’s most posh neighborhoods. There you’ll find some of London’s top galleries and museums, walking streets with all manner of restaurants and cafes, and, of course, shop after shop offering the utmost in glorious shopping. The locality exudes class but not in a gaudy or over-the-top kind of way. There is an aura of discrete opulence that is refined and cultured. This wonderful part of the world is Ch
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Inkaterra La Casona Cusco: An Enchanting Stay in Peru's Most Magical City [Videos]

Inkaterra La Casona Cusco: An Enchanting Stay in Peru's Most Magical City [Videos] It is arguably one of the most spectacular cities on Earth, set high above it all at over 11,000 feet above sea level. At such a high altitude, most will take time to acclimate but its altitude is just one of the many aspects that makes Cusco so special. It is rich in Incan history, influenced by Spanish colonialism and today’s modernity. This patina of cultures and the beautiful setting amongst the clouds makes
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XV Beacon: Boston's Ultra Chic Boutique Retreat

There are no American cities that can compare to the great cities of Europe in terms of their history. In the United States, our oldest cities are no older than half a millennium. Across the pond, you’ll find medieval metropolises from over a thousand years ago with ancient buildings, monuments, and cultural riches to explore. In America, one of our most cherished cities is Boston which is known as “The Cradle of Liberty”. It is renowned for the Boston Tea Party, “No Taxation without Representat
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Cuba's Uber-Chic Retreat: A/S Boutique Residence Havana

Cuba and Havana in particular, are not a destination for everyone. For those looking for a pristine tropical holiday a la Turks and Caicos, Barbados, or St. Barths you’ll not find that here. However, it is exactly the destination that a certain traveler is after. For the culture vulture looking for a destination rich in culture, warm and genuine people, and authentic experiences, it doesn’t get much better than Havana. In the center of the Historic district and close to the best that the city ha
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W Hotel Ft Lauderdale, South Florida's Hipster Hangout

For the in-crowd, it is arguably the sexiest hotel brand in the world. Watering holes for the area’s hip crowd and the address to stay and play for the international traveler. Inside you’ll find edgy interior spaces with bold designs and daring color schemes and a pool area that is guaranteed to have that “wow” factor. One could surmise that if this brand doesn’t have an outpost in a city, the city is most likely pretty far down on the cool town list; if it's on the list at all. This is the W Ho
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Havana Cuba's Voya Boutique Hotel: For the Culturally Curious Traveler

It’s down an ordinary street in a typical Cuban neighborhood. There you’ll see mainly homes, a shell of their former glory from the 1950s, most of which, like the roads, are in a state of disrepair. Passing through the area, you’ll also see cars from that same period, patched up with bondo and billowing out black exhaust fumes as they putter along. There amongst this backdrop, you’ll find a salmon-colored building in sparkling new condition. It is a throwback to another time of elegance and soph
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Iceland's Bolthole of Silence and Seclusion: The Panorama Glass Lodge

Iceland is a country of indescribable natural beauty found in vast and wide open spaces. It is a land of incredible natural phenomena from glaciers to geysers as well as some of the world’s most stunning waterfalls and black sand beaches. Away from its popular sites are the highlands known for their barrenness and a certain type of quiet there. The rocky and dry landscapes appear as the surface of the moon, with surreal emp
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Spellbound by Iceland and a Stay at Hotel Ranga

There’s nowhere on Earth like____. Fill in the blank. You can pretty much say that about anywhere. And it is completely true as all destinations are unique and special in their own way. Be that as it may, some are a bit more special than others and Iceland is such as place. It is, in a word, incredible with an endless offering of natural wonders from magnificent waterfalls, and spectacular glaciers, to breathtaking landscapes with volcanoes that have left behind ethereal moss-covered lava fields
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Torfhus Retreat: Iceland's Secluded Haven of Hospitality

The Torfhús Retreat is made for a certain type of traveler. As its name indicates, it is a retreat, created for weary travelers to just calm down while surrounded by the stunning nature of Iceland. It is ideally located on Iceland’s famed Golden Circle with nearby waterfalls, geysers, and mountains. The Torfhús Retreat appears as a small village, inspired by an Icelandic Viking farm, with a main house with reception, dining hall, and lounge area and 25 accommodations spread out across the 125-a
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The Megaro: London's Uber-Stylish Steampunk Hotel

At the turn of the 19th century, as it is today, London was a thriving metropolis where travelers from around the world came to visit. They arrived by train at King’s Cross which is still the bustling hub that connects London to Paris via the termination of the Eurostar. A stone’s throw from the Kings Cross station is London’s most rebellious new luxury hotel. The recently opened Megaro Hotel is deliciously cheeky, uber stylish and, most of all, unforgettable. As busy commuters and arriving pas
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The Mondrian London Shoreditch: The East End's Hipster-Ready Hotel

Like New York has its boroughs and Paris has its arrondissements, London has its villages and neighborhoods, each with their own attributes and unique personalities. Shoreditch is part of the East End and is known for its edginess and grit, artsy vibe and graffiti, and an authenticity that sets it apart from the others. This is the up-and-coming part of London with new office towers, construction zones, and building cranes in every direction. The rebirth has attracted a vanguard of freethinkers,
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St. Moritz's Poshest Place to Play and Stay: The Hotel Giardino Mountain

St. Moritz's Poshest Place to Play and Stay: The Hotel Giardino Mountain St Moritz is considered the epitome of Europe’s luxe ski resorts. And it should be. Celebs, the well-to-do, and legions of bon vivants have been gracing the slopes there for over 120 years. This town offers the best of everything from its idyllic slopes to its apres-ski respites for the beau monde. One of its chicest hotels is as glamorous as St. Moritz itself; the Hotel Giardino Mountain. St Moritz has a well-deserved re
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Mykonos' Luxe Nest for Lovebirds: Bill & Coo Suites and Lounge

Most of us have seen the mating ritual of birds. Affection is on full display as the male ostrich, swan, or peacock will put on his best show to swoon the female he desires. The ornate dance includes ruffling his colorful plums, swaying his neck, and adding a flirty serenade of sounds to the performance. Bill and coo is a reference to how pigeons express their desire and is the inspiration for one of the most romantic resorts in Mykonos if not the world, Bill & Coo Suites and Lounge.
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Bruges for the Bon Vivant: The Impeccable Van Cleef Hotel

Art, by definition, is something that captures us. It can be found in the works of Van Gough and Rembrandt, or in sculptures such as Michelangelo’s David. In another form, art is found in music and dance from a performance of Swan Lake or an orchestra performing Mozart's Serenade No. 13. Art can even be found in hospitality, where the most minute of details are done to perfection. Where the hotel is like a stay in a fine art gallery with sculptures, museum-quality paintings, and décor so rich th
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Discovering Germany's Cosmopolitan Metropolis and a stay at the Jumeirah Frankfurt

Frankfurt is best known as Europe’s banking center and the seat of the European Central Bank and of course, the Euro. But this eclectic city is so much more than just another one-trick pony. This multicultural city is known as the Manhattan of Europe with a population of which 25% are expats giving the city its ultra-cosmopolitan vibe. It is the best of the old with heritage buildings dating back centuries as well as modern-day skyscrapers such as you’ll find in one of the city’s most fashionabl
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Switzerland's Destination Grande Dame Hotel, the Victoria Jungfrau Grande Hotel and Spa

Switzerland is known for doing several things extremely well. Cheese would come to mind first, with happy cows and high altitudes, their Emmental, Gruyère, and Tête de Moine are known for their exquisite smell, texture, and taste. For most, Swiss chocolates would make their list and for others, their fine timepieces such as Patek Philippe and Rolex. Beyond that, since the first British tourist began arriving at the end 18th century, this little European country has the reputation of perfecting t
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One Aldwych: The Blue Blood of London's Boutique Hotels

There is a gravitas that London exudes unlike anywhere in the world. The Big Smoke is a city that is bold, iconic, and knows its place among our most fascinating destinations. The seat of the world's most revered royal family, London is regal itself with its own authentic British flair, style and grace. There are plenty of posh places to stay in Londontown, but there is one that is iconic, regal, and that also knows its place in the world. That icon of London hospitality is the One Aldwych. Lon
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Medieval Masterpiece: Chateau Eze, the Castle Set Above the Cote d' Azur

Thousands of years ago, the Normans built castles and strongholds along the Mediterranean coast. Many places were chosen for their strategic location high up in the mountains and difficult to approach yet giving commanding views for miles and miles away. Today one such medieval village has been well preserved in turned into a 1000 year old fairytale-like tourist attraction drawing curious travelers from around the world. Tucked in between Nice and a stone's throw away from Monaco is the village
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