Vibrant yellow-and-white beach umbrellas set against an azure sky, with crystal-clear waves rolling across soft white sandy beaches: It’s a setting that immediately alleviates stress and brings peace to the soul. If you’re looking for a pampering getaway, look no further than Forbes Five-Star Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa. With impeccable service and the ultimate luxury spa, this beach resort should be on your Florida-stay bucket list. 

Located in the small seaside town of Manalapan just south of Palm Beach, overlooking south Florida’s turquoise waters, the sprawling, Mediterranean-style waterfront escape offers two outdoor pools, tennis courts, and four exceptional restaurants, all set on seven acres of lush tropical grounds. 

Upon check-in, guests are greeted with a glass of bubbly before heading to their spacious and colorful accommodations designed by Jonathan Adler, featuring soaking tubs, luxurious bedding, and private balconies with hanging chairs to enjoy ocean views. 

But amazingly enough, the luxury accommodations and the ocean views are not the main attraction for many guests. The resort boasts a 42,000-square-foot spa—a playground for adults—where all the senses are pampered and indulged. Spend any amount of time in this soothing Shangri-La and you’ll want to book your next trip.

Start your visit by lounging in the co-ed Self Centered Garden, a courtyard at the heart of the spa. The garden has several soothing water features including fountains and waterfalls and is lined with bromeliads and palms. White canvas tents shade lounge chairs, plush couches, and daybeds. Rattan swing chairs float over a shallow reflecting pool—the perfect place to rock your cares away. 

Separate lounges for men and women are located inside the spa, and just as the garden offers a relaxing setting, the interiors don’t disappoint. The oversized whirlpool in the women’s side is surrounded by heated stone loungers. This wet spa also houses the sauna and steam room. Guests can create their own body scrub at the Polish Bar before hitting the steam.

Nineteen therapeutic treatment rooms offer the ultimate “me time” experience. Among the treatments on offer are the One Love Facial, which treats the skin with Alpha Beta peels, vitamin C mask, and collagen-stimulating LED light, and the Eau Naturale Facial, an organic anti-aging facial that turns back the clock with botanicals. The Garden of Eden massage for two, and the Turkish Rhassoul Mud Ritual to soften and exfoliate skin, while sipping Champagne prove there is something for just about everyone on the spa menu. 

After a morning at the spa, have an umbrella set up on the beach in front of the hotel, where you can rent SUPs, snorkel gear, and body boards for an afternoon frolicking in the sun and surf. 

For dining, the resort offers incredible gastronomic delights. Whether you are in the mood for classic American surf and turf, sushi featuring Florida’s freshest catch, or upscale Italian cuisine, the resort has something for everyone’s palate. Angle offers a farm-to-table experience focused on regionally grown produce and prime meats and fish paired with wine from its award-winning selection. Boken shows off the creativity of head sushi chef Chris Cantrel.

For the ultimate experience, dine at chef Cantrel’s table for an Omakase meal, a one-of-a-kind tour of authentic Japanese cuisine. Or take your taste buds to southern Italy at Polpo Palm Beach. Upscale fare inspired by regional dishes with an Italian-influenced wine list is presented by Eau Palm Beach’s executive chef Neall Bailey. Choose to dine inside or out—I chose to dine outside to hear the waves lapping at the shore and see the stars coming out in the evening. 

Truly a playground paradise, this stellar spa and resort experience is not to be missed.

Real estate investment firm Trinity Fund Advisors LLC has purchased the award-winning Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida from Brookfield Properties for $835 million to private, and signed a 40-year management deal for the property with Hilton Hotels and Resorts to oversee the resort’s operation as part of the Curio Collection by Hilton brand.

The transaction is the third largest single-asset hotel/resort sale in United States history.

The property is perched on nearly 10 acres of Atlantic beachfront, overlooking both the Atlantic Surf and Intracoastal Waterway. The property – where an extensive, $90-million renovation was completed in 2017 – consists of a twin-spired, 36-story tower housing the resort rooms, a 15,000-square-foot spa and salon, six restaurants and bars, as well as multiple pools with cascading waterfalls and designer cabanas.

The Diplomat Beach Resort is the largest convention and meeting space in North and South America as well as the Caribbean. With 1,000 traditional guest rooms and suites and more than 209,000 square feet of integrated meeting and events space, the Diplomat is also the second largest beachfront resort in South Florida. Located between Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport, the resort offers unparalleled access to guests from major markets throughout the United States, Latin America and Europe.

At the same time, award-winning hotel manager Dean Lane was named general manager of the property.

“I look forward to this new opportunity and am proud to be able to lead the phenomenal team at The Diplomat Beach Resort,” Lane says. “My ultimate goal is to ensure this premiere Resort remains the unquestionable leader in the South Floridian market for both leisure and business travelers visiting the area, by delivering an unparalleled guest experiences and best-in-class amenities around every bend.”

Known for its extensive offerings, The Diplomat holds multiple award-winning recognitions and accolades, including being awarded 2022 Top Beachfront Resort in the US by the World Luxury Hotel Awards, 2022 #1 Luxury Beachfront Resort in Florida by the Luxury Lifestyle Awards, 2022 Gold and Silver Awards by Travel Weekly for Best Overall Beach Resort and Best Overall Business/ Conference Center respectively, 2019 Best Family Resort by Travvy Awards, One of the Top-10 Resorts in Florida by Conde Nast Traveler in 2019 and is the recurring recipient of the AAA Four Diamonds Award®.

Taking over an iconic hotel built in 1924 on one of Palm Beach’s most fashionable main streets, The White Elephant is a 32-room boutique property (with 13 rooms and 19 suites spread across four stories) that offers the glamour of the 1920s with all the modern amenities of a five-star luxury hotel. 

The Addison Mizner–style facade was fully restored in creamy-white stucco, black trim, and terracotta roof tiles. Black-and-white striped awnings offer a polished, fabled look. Guests are welcomed by a seven-foot white elephant statue by Santa Fe–based artist Fredrick Prescott. 

Designed by Elkus Manfredi, the hotel has more of the feel of an upscale private residence, featuring a neutral color palette with metal accents, vibrant splashes of color, and more than 120 pieces of artwork, carefully curated by the owners and design firm, on display throughout the common areas and guest rooms. An original fireplace mantel welcomes guests in the lobby. The hardwood floors, Carrara marble, elegant tiles, and woven rugs offer a luxurious, textured contemporary style. 

Artists on display include Robert Rauschenberg, whose early creations in the 1950s anticipated the pop art movement, and Jennifer Bartlett, known for her small, square steel plates that are combined in grid formations to create large-scale works. Several pieces by painter Kenzo Okada, the first Japanese-American artist to receive international acclaim using abstract expressionist style, are on display, as are works by Donald Baechler, part of the East Village, New York, 1980s art movement.

A 54-inch-round acrylic work by Orit Fuchs was specifically created for the hotel and is a focal point of the lobby; six prints by Yinka Shonibare can be found on the second-floor corridor. Doodle Boy, a 10-year-old British artist, was commissioned to create 30 exclusive pieces for the powder rooms. Using clean black lines hand drawn with a thick marker, he incorporated a hidden signature elephant in each of his drawings. 

Each guest room door is outfitted with an elephant door knocker. Upon entering your spacious room, you are greeted with an impeccable designscape, featuring custom furniture and plush couches covered in soothing gray and cream-colored fabrics. The ultra dreamy king-sized beds are outfitted with Pratesi linens and upholstered backboards accented in a colorful palm and floral print. Console tables by Selamat Designs, in collaboration with Morris & Co., are wrapped inside and out with authentic William Morris “Strawberry Thief” covering. The bathrooms feature marble tiles, double stone sinks, a dry vanity, and glass-enclosed showers. Everything is automated including temperature, shades, and lighting, which can be set to any mood you wish. The guest rooms are so beautiful and comfortable, you may just forgo exploring the city.

 When you are ready to get some of Florida sunshine, an outdoor courtyard offers the perfect spot to relax or take a dip in the pool. The manicured grounds feature mature palm trees and lush, fragrant flora. White Elephant Palm Beach’s signature restaurant Lola 41—a Nantucket staple—serves globally inspired dishes and local seafood specialties. If you’re able to get a spot on the patio, I highly recommend it.  

For more information, visit whiteelephantpalmbeach.com

A long, narrow site along Cancun’s Golden Mile drove the design of a new Waldorf Astoria on the beachfront there.

A typical response might have been to insert a simple horizontal bar of a hotel on that strip of sand between mangrove and sea.

But SB Architects principal Stefano Falbo is no typical hospitality architect. And EDSA principal Astrid Hoffmann is no ordinary landscape architect. The two firms work together regularly, often with pleasing results. “It’s always a mutual collaboration,” Falbo says. “Sometimes we call them in, and sometimes we get the same from them.”

The project started with a 2017 visit by the architects, who walked the site, talked to the client, and then wrapped their heads around the size, scope, and program for the hotel and spa.

Then came the edgy part, when the architects initiated a design charrette on site. Over a couple of days, they rolled out sketch paper and drew up a series of solutions for their clients. “You’re drawing by hand – and creating a vision right there,” he says. “It would have taken twice the time in the office.”

They followed an agreed-upon design footprint, with client decisions made on the spot. “It’s so valuable in a short period of time with all the stakeholders there,” Falbo says of the charrette process. “There it was – the combination of master plan and architecture.”

They’d sketched out a hotel with 173 ocean-facing rooms on that narrow strip of land, plus lobby, ballroom, meeting rooms and restaurants. “We wanted to break it up and articulate it, almost in a horseshoe shape,” he says. “We did not want a long, monotonous, and boring space.”

EDSA’s Hoffman was responsible for everything except the building itself. That meant the entrance sequence, the welcome center and guardhouse, the eight-minute drive through an otherwise untouched stretch of mangrove, the porte cochere, and the spa area.

“The site is a jagged line between the dunes and the mangrove,” she says. “It’s about the water, the flow, and the lines that cross the natural elements.”

The entire site is 865 acres of dense growth. The landscape architects didn’t touch the mangrove except for the road leading to the hotel. All around the structure, they used low-maintenance plantings, adaptive to the climate and natural to the place. Hoffmann’s material palette for the hardscape was a native stone, including the pools.

“It’s a very natural environment, immersed in the mangrove – you feel like you’re away from the world and in a wellness-oriented space,” she says.

Once an arriving guest has gone through a decompression phase from highway through mangrove to hotel entrance, an element of surprise awaits. “We wanted to create the ‘Wow!’ effect there,” Falbo says. “In a guest’s mind, the thought should be: ‘Yes – I arrived at the right place.’”

Hoffmann is a little more succinct. “I would say it’s a window to the sea,” she says.

And to the designers’ credit, it’s a sensitive triumph of nature over the built environment.

A 14-mile-long and half-mile-wide Atlantic coast barrier island, Palm Beach beckons those searching for the ultimate luxury in Florida getaways.

Pristine beaches, Worth Avenue’s tony boutiques, five-star restaurants, and oceanfront resorts make this a place to see and be seen. At this Gilded Age winter haven of the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers, grand historical estates hide behind iron gates and high hedgerows.  

The Colony Hotel

The Colony Hotel, known as the iconic “Pink Lady” (the hotel is painted a blush-rose hue), opened in in 1947 and embodies Old Floridian charm. Located on Hammon Avenue, the pretty-in-pink classic Colonial-style hotel is a breath of fresh air. The interior lobby is welcoming, with a nod to the tropics, thanks to Celerie Kemble of Kemble Interiors who has worked to give the original spaces (first designed by the iconic Dorothy Draper & Co.) a refresh. Palm frond–themed fabrics dress the club chairs, while shimmering green crystals drip from the chandelier. 

At check-in, guests are greeted with a glass of Champagne before heading to their suites. Each room is decorated in a unique color palette. Comfortable and ultra-luxe, the accommodations are impeccable (in my room, I’m surrounded by swaths of pink and green). After unpacking, head to the pool, where even the sunbathers are dressed to the nines in fashionable wide-brimmed straw hats, chic Audrey Hepburn sunglasses, and Lilly Pulitzer shifts, finished off with Jimmy Choo jute mule sandals. 

Couples enjoy brunch at the hotel’s restaurant, Swifty’s. The patio overlooks the pool, with many men in navy-blue jackets and shorts and women dressed in crisp white linen. The pool and the lush green lawn beyond are immaculate. Take a table on the terrace, order a salad and a sauvignon blanc, and watch the scene featuring the who’s who of Palm Beach’s elite unfold. The socialite scene is alive and well and lots of fun in this pretty pink paradise in Palm Beach. 

Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa

Vibrant yellow-and-white beach umbrellas set against an azure sky, with crystal-clear waves rolling across soft white sandy beaches: It’s a setting that immediately alleviates stress and brings peace to the soul. If you’re looking for a pampering getaway, head to Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa. With impeccable service and the ultimate luxury spa, this beach resort should be on your Florida-stay bucket list. Located in the small seaside town of Manalapan just south of Palm Beach, overlooking south Florida’s turquoise waters, the sprawling, Mediterranean-style waterfront escape offers two outdoor pools, tennis courts, and four exceptional restaurants, all set on seven acres of lush tropical grounds.

But amazingly enough, the luxury accommodations and the ocean views are not the main attraction for many guests. The resort boasts a 42,000-square-foot spa—a playground for adults—where all the senses are pampered and indulged. Spend any amount of time in this soothing Shangri-La and you’ll want to book your next trip right away.

Head to the co-ed Self Centered Garden, a courtyard at the heart of the spa. The garden has several soothing water features including fountains and waterfalls and is lined with bromeliads and palms. White canvas tents shade lounge chairs, plush couches, and daybeds. Rattan swing chairs float over a shallow reflecting pool—the perfect place to rock your cares away.

Separate lounges for men and women are located inside the spa, and just as the garden offers a relaxing setting, the interiors don’t disappoint. The oversized whirlpool in the women’s side is surrounded by heated stone loungers. This wet spa also houses the sauna and steam room. Guests can create their own body scrub at the Polish Bar before hitting the steam.

Nineteen therapeutic treatment rooms offer the ultimate “me time” experience. Truly a playground paradise, this stellar spa and resort experience is not to be missed.

White Elephant Palm Beach

Taking over an iconic hotel built in 1924 on one of Palm Beach’s most fashionable main streets, The White Elephant is a 32-room boutique property (with 13 rooms and 19 suites spread across four stories) that offers the glamour of the 1920s with all the modern amenities of a five-star luxury hotel.

The Addison Mizner–style facade was fully restored in creamy-white stucco, black trim, and terracotta roof tiles. Black-and-white striped awnings offer a polished, fabled look. Guests are welcomed by a seven-foot white elephant statue by Santa Fe–based artist Fredrick Prescott. 

Designed by Elkus Manfredi, the hotel has more of the feel of an upscale private residence, featuring a neutral color palette, vibrant splashes of color, and more than 120 pieces of artwork on display throughout the common areas and guest rooms. An original fireplace mantel welcomes guests in the lobby.

Upon entering your spacious guest room, you are greeted with an impeccable designscape, featuring custom-designed furniture, plush couches covered in soothing gray and cream-colored fabrics. The dreamy king-sized beds are outfitted with Pratesi linens and upholstered backboards accented in a colorful palm and floral print. Everything is automated including temperature, shades, and lighting, which can be set to any mood you wish. The guest rooms are so beautiful and comfortable, you may just forgo exploring the city.

When you are ready to get some Florida sunshine, an outdoor courtyard offers the perfect spot to relax or take a dip in the pool. The perfectly manicured grounds feature mature palm trees and lush, fragrant flora. White Elephant Palm Beach’s signature restaurant, Lola 41—a Nantucket staple—serves globally inspired dishes and local seafood specialties. If you’re able to get a spot on the patio, I highly recommend it.

The Breakers

Gilded Age decadence is alive and well at The Breakers. The iconic Palm Beach resort has been welcoming guests for more than 100 years, offering lavish accommodations on the shoreline. In the late 1800s, Henry Morrison Flagler reimagined South Florida into a winter getaway for the well-heeled and this tradition of a luxury holiday remains to this day. Now into its second century, the resort continues its success under the ownership of Flagler’s heirs.

The architecture, based on the Villa Medici, built in Rome in the 1400s, is of the Mediterranean-style and features an eight-story palace with Belvedere towers and graceful arches throughout. The palm-lined approach road leads to a Florentine Fountain based on one found in Florence’s Boboli Gardens, and the hotel’s breathtaking lobby is inspired by the Great Hall of the Palazzo Carrega in Genoa.

The 538 guest rooms, including 68 suites, offer views of the ocean or the manicured gardens and landscape. For an intimate and customized experience, the resort’s Fllagler Club is an exclusive, 25-room boutique hotel atop the resort. With a private entrance, the club offers well-appointed accommodations and personalized service throughout your stay, including chauffeured Tesla car service and a full-service team to cater to your every desire. 

With a full-service spa and hair salon; multiple pools; watersports on the half-mile private beach; 10 Har-Tru tennis courts; and 10 dining options, including Sunday brunch in the Circle, a rotunda with 30-foot frescoed ceiling and eight oval murals depicting Renaissance landscapes; there is no shortage of indulging, pampering, or entertainment. In 2022, the resort completed a full-scale renovation of the Rees Jones golf course. The resort is a must-visit on any trip to Palm Beach.

Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach

Sophisticated and stylish, the Four Seasons offers the seasoned traveler unparalleled service, breathtaking ocean views, and a relaxed vibe that melts away the stress of life. Authentic experiences abound and are inspired by the barrier island’s heritage and charm, such as a private luxury yacht sunset cruise, snorkeling in the Atlantic, or taking in a polo match while sipping Champagne at the International Polo Club. There is no shortage of unique and elevated activities at this five-star beachfront masterpiece.

With picturesque pools, six acres of private beachfront, five-star spa, fitness center, tennis classes, a luxury-goods boutique, and Krigler Perfumery, a stay at Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach offers a relaxing oasis of the world-class amenities and 207 guest rooms and suites. Experience dining at Florie’s by Mauro Colagreco, the flagship restaurant and bar in partnership with the chef behind three-Michelin starred Mirazur, which celebrates Florida’s seafood and local farm produce.

The common areas and guest rooms, designed by acclaimed interior architect and designer Martin Brudnizki, pay homage to an elegant yet laidback coastal lifestyle with a fresh, modern color palette. For an elevated getaway that brings together the best of resort vacations, the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach should be on your list of stays in this Florida paradise.

Just beyond the artisanal shop of Casena and Mozza’s oceanfront dining pavilion at the Marina Village on the Sea of Cortez is an unassuming alley that leads to the new Costa Palmas lounge + nightclub: Chiki. The first of many projects led by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio (MBDS) brings together raw authenticity and rich Mexican culture.

“You hear the music and feel the energy, but you have to find it,” says Jason Grosfeld, founder of the development company, Irongate. “Like many of the areas we have developed at Costa Palmas, there is an element of exploration to the village, with hidden gems like the lounge + nightclub, where you can catch up with friends on the dancefloor after a day on the beach.”

The nightclub certainly feels like a universe all its own. Inspired by La Casa Azul in Mexico City, especially its architectural configurations, the nightclub’s interiors are eclectic in style yet retain a uniquely Mexican feel that plays to a fresh generation of cultural enthusiasts and modern-day travelers.

The bar area is draped in colorful fabrics to create an intimate cocooning effect gracefully juxtaposed with statement-glass chandeliers and antique mirrors that stretch across the bar to reflect the geometric tiled floors. MBDS worked closely with mosaic artist, Celso, to create show-stopping murals that draw inspiration from folk art and traditions, particularly the significance of the sun and moon within Mexican culture.

The speakeasy aesthetic offers a variety of seating experiences, including intimate booths designed for relaxing before or after hitting the dance floor, and outdoor seating in a central courtyard area. And everywhere, there are murals and mosaics that bring walls to life in a deeply rooted Mexican way. A color palette of reds, oranges, and greens lends drama and excitement while colored lighting help create a cantina vibe throughout the dining and bar areas.

“The location was just as important as the details of the space,” says Jason Grosfeld. The nightclub is a first taste of what is coming from MBDS, which will soon bring Grosfeld’s vision to life with Casa Blake, the first boutique resort and residences at Costa Palmas Marina Village.

Come sip on an El Rey (featuring home-aged santanera tequila, pink peppercorn, antica formula, luxardo cherry, and orange bitters), a Diablito (made with mezcal, lime, simple syrup, baked pineapple and chamoy), or one of the many delicious, bespoke cocktails shaken behind the mosaic bar.

Handcrafted mosaic art company Mozaico has recently completed a dazzling custom artwork for the iconic Mayfair House Hotel and Garden in Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami, Florida. The mosaic medallion, some 12 feet in diameter, creates a sense of movement and dimension in the newly renovated hotel lobby.

The custom mosaic was assembled from from the 30,000 hand-cut marble stones, that were set by hand into the piece in a process that took eight expert craftsmen more than 16 weeks. Pieces of cut marble were added one-by-one using tweezers or fingers to map out the linework in the early stage of bringing the mosaic to life.

The medallion has a deceptively minimalist design in a palette or blue, white, and gray. However, upon closer inspection, there is an expansive range of shades and tones at play. The rendering and design of the mosaic were created in close collaboration with interior designers responsible for the Mayfair renovation project. Mozaico’s team searched far and wide for the highest quality marble in colors that precisely matched the intricate design and create a sense of depth, shade, and movement.

When the piece was complete, Mozaico placed it on a football field in order to photograph the final artwork, due to its impressive scale.

The Mayfair, which was designed by architect Kenneth Treister and built in 1985, reopened in September after a $50 million renovation. The newest iteration of the hotel is focused on art and culture, featuring the work of photographers, sculptures, folk artists, and more, as well as rooms that each have their own unique style.

The warmth hits my face first when I open the door onto the balcony in the morning. From several stories above, I hear the waves crash onto the white sand beach as the wind blows sea air into my room. On the other side of the hotel, the colorful homes of Saint Lawrence Gap, just outside Bridgetown, Barbados, stretch over the hills and into town. Not a bad view to wake up to.

I’m at O2 Beach Club & Spa, a new luxury all-inclusive resort on Barbados’ south coast. The five star hotel hits all the important points—pools, private beach, delicious on-site dining, and a spa. But O2 makes luxury comfortable and down-to-earth, with poolside dining, friendly service, and artwork by Bajan creatives hung on the walls.

Fifteen minutes east of Bridgetown, O2’s location on the south coast means there’s something for everyone—snorkeling, windsurfing, lively restaurants and nightlife, and relaxing, swimmable beaches. We even ventured to a nearby distillery for a rum tasting one day. Staying on the south side is a bit of a choose-your-own adventure.

O2 focuses on cultivating a sense of place—while travelers might head to a Caribbean island like Turks & Caicos for seclusion, Barbados is great for explorers who like learning about a destination’s culture. The resort’s newly opened gift shop features exclusively Barbados-made items.

O2’s 130 guest rooms, suites, and residences come in three tiers: Club Collection, Luxury Collection, and Concierge Collection. All rooms include private balconies, crisp white linens, and beautifully updated bathrooms with rainfall showers. And with a five-night stay, all guests get a complimentary round of golf at the 18-hole Barbados Golf Club.

The adults-only Luxury Collection suites are situated in a newly constructed nine-story tower, which also houses the property’s new chic, state-of-the-art spa with panoramic views. The Luxury Collection’s first-floor swim-up suites offer direct access to the river pool surrounding the building, with the beach just beyond. 

The Concierge Collection suites bump up the opulence even more with designer kitchens, oceanfront balconies, and butler service. Both the Luxury and Concierge Collections include amenities like a bottle of champagne on arrival, nightly turndown service, spa credit, and unlimited access to Sea Breeze Beach House, O2’s nearby sister property, a smaller, quainter location featuring more private beach and pool access. 

Besides the adults-only river pool, O2 has two other pools—one of which is among the only rooftop pools in Barbados.

O2’s six onsite restaurant concepts range from no-shirt-no-shoes-required to bespoke private dining options. Elements is the beating heart of the property, situated between the two buildings of accommodations and serving up deluxe buffet breakfasts, sit-down lunches, and curated rotating dinner menus. 

Oro, on the ninth floor of the newly constructed building, serves European-Caribbean cuisine in a sleek, sexy space with 270-degree views of the sea. Brisa, on the rooftop of the main building, is the perfect spot to grab a cocktail before dinner, enjoy tapas as the sun sets, or snag something sweet at the end of the night. Unlike many all-inclusives, O2 stocks a range of high-end wines and liquors. 

And because it’s vacation, no meal beats a casual seafood lunch from Bluefin. The snapper and fries served right to my poolside lounge chair felt like a true Bajan experience. The bar near the pool, Oasis, serves up cocktails, afternoon teas, and sweet treats throughout the day. 

O2’s new Acqua spa, opened in February 2022, delivers luxury treatments on the eighth floor of the resort’s new building (a floor below Oro). They have the only Hammam steam room on Barbados, and they use OSEA products throughout the spa. They offer massages, facials, signature body rituals, and manicures and pedicures, and they’ve recently introduced a new spa culinary menu for light, nutritious pick-me-ups in between treatments like strawberry mint bisque and fresh seafood ceviche. The white marble and the floor-to-ceiling windows affording views of the sea make tension almost impossible in a place like this.

O2 has two other sister properties in the Ocean Hotels Collection, both five minutes away: Sea Breeze Beach House, a boutique hotel with private beachfront and Bajan charm, and South Beach Hotel, a retro-inspired spacious all-suite property steps from the beach. Guests of O2 staying in the Luxury or Concierge collections have open access to Sea Breeze Beach House and its amenities, like an adults-only pool, watersports, and more creative restaurant concepts like fine-dining Cerulean, alfresco Aqua Terra, and De Rum Shop Cafe, located in a charming blue cottage.

While O2 has more than enough activities to keep guests busy throughout their stay, heading out on an excursion gave us a taste of Barbados’ culture. We drove over to the rugged east coast for stunning views, checked out historical churches, and went for a rum tasting at Mount Gay. We stopped for lunch at Tides, an elevated Bajan cuisine spot situated right above the lapping waters of the west coast in a former post-war seaside home. On the island you can also explore botanical gardens, a boardwalk, Friday night fish fries, and natural wonders like caves.

Sitting under the shade of a palm tree by the pool with the crash of the waves behind me, I soaked up my last full day in Barbados. Like most tropical destinations, it’s almost always sunny and warm—and a bit windy. But unlike some other tropical spots, the island pulses with energy. Relaxing in the balmy weather is great, but whatever the evening will bring might be better. 

For more information, visit o2beachclubbarbados.com

American artist James Turrell’s Skyspace installations are concerned with viewers’ perceptions of light, space, and the sky. What better way to soak all that in than at a boutique hotel on the beach?

Turrell’s newest Skyspace—there are about 100 different ones worldwide—is built into a hill at Posada Ayana, a private villa-turned-hotel in the arts-centric town Jose Ignacio on the coast of Uruguay. Robert Kofler, who owns the hotel with his wife, Edda, commissioned the installation after experiencing a Skyspace installation in Argentina and another in the Austrian Alps. (The couple hail from Vienna.)

The hotel unveiled its Skyspace, titled “Ta Khut” (“the light” in early Egyptian), in November. The construction timeline was swift at just 18-months. Basically, the speed of light compared to the Skyspace at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art which was 35-years in the making before its debut last spring. “Ta Khut” is the first freestanding Skyspace in South America.

The installation consists of several elements: At the core is a 20-foot high, 13-foot diameter domed structure made of white Italian marble bricks. It sits on a polished granite platform with a cement-wall enclosure. The entire thing is nestled atop an earth-covered embankment. Cement-lined tunnels on two sides lead to native wood plank doors that open into the enclosure; another set of doors bring you inside the dome. It sounds complicated, but the presentation is wholly minimalistic.

Once inside the dome, viewers gaze up at the skylight. Artificial lights morph from one color to the next. It’s as though the sky itself is changing color. The experience is other-worldly. According to the hotel, Turrell drew inspiration from the light that reflects from the area’s open skies onto the open ocean and vice versa.

Turrell’s installation is a unique draw. The Koflers plan it to be the centerpiece of a large park on Posada Ayana’s property that will also include a sculpture garden and an amphitheater.

Meanwhile the cosmopolitan locale has much to offer in the way of culture. The Jose Ignacio International Film Festival happens this month on the beach, there is lots of live music, and the Art Fest Garzon is a late December event. The hotel itself has a selection of Latin-American films with English subtitles and often hosts salon-style movie nights. There is also a collection of works by female Uruguayan artists on display.

The Koflers hosted a soft opening for locals at the end of 2020, then re-opened in earnest this past November. Posada Ayana is a simple, thoughtfully-designed paradise. That the property is adults-only enhances its peaceful allure. Local architect Alcvaro Perez Azar initially designed the stylish structure as the Koefler’s private residence. Soon after completion, however, the family decided to convert it into a hotel. The vibe, they say, is meant to exude the glamour of 1960s Côte d’Azur.

Good, sustainable, and local design is a priority. Each of the 17 guest rooms is at least 500-square-feet, features floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides, and has either a private garden or an ocean view. The team sourced all of the furniture locally from Uruguay and Argentina. Many are 1950s and 1960s vintage pieces from the adjacent towns Punta del Este and Montevideo. There are blankets hand-woven from naturally dyed wool shorn from sheep that roam nearby and vegetable-based soaps and creams, also from a local Uruguayan maker.

The hotel restaurant and bar also overlook the gardens, with the ocean in the distance. Bespoke ceramic tableware came from another Uruguayan artisan while the ceramic serveware supports a local foundation working with disadvantaged teens. In addition to providing in restaurant meals—online reviews declare their breakfasts sublime—the establishment arranges private dinner parties complete with freshly-caught seafood and organic wines.

Posada Ayana’s green marble infinity pool is perfectly positioned to catch the sunset. The warm wood deck is a respite after a busy day of hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, or kitesurfing.

For more information, visit posada-ayana.com

As the European Union is welcoming back US travelers to their countries, we’ve rounded up what’s new in prime destinations across the continent for those who feel comfortable crossing the pond. From upcoming immersive tours and educational hotel packages that allow you to explore a city’s history, to where to stay if you’re looking for an intimate seaside escape, these top European destinations offer a memorable experience for all kinds of travelers. Here are our top recommendations for a fall getaway.

The Marbella Club

Spain

The Marbella Club is a dreamy, seaside Mediterranean staple founded by Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe in the heart of Andalusia’s ‘Golden Mile’ in Southern Spain. The newly launched ‘Clubhouse’ social hub of open-air and interconnected bar and dining spaces includes the brand-new, all-day eatery, El Patio restaurant. The Clubhouse at Marbella Club will feature an exciting series of pop-up exhibitions and fashion residencies from now to October, including legendary French Maison CHANEL for its very first ephemeral boutique in Spain, and a showcase of the Marbella Club Days swim-short in collaboration with British men’s resort wear brand Orlebar Brown and renowned international photographer Stuart Cantor. Alongside the shorts is a pop-up exhibition from Stuart Cantor of his Marbella Club Days series, known for his vintage style and character-filled images of some of the world’s most iconic beachfront locations and party playgrounds.

Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay

Ibiza

This season, international photographer Stuart Cantor—known for capturing the understated luxury and timeless glamour of some of the Mediterranean’s grandest destinations—will be exhibiting his Balearic Bliss series exclusively at Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay for guests to enjoy. Cantor’s first ever physical exhibition will showcase a series of 16 first edition prints expertly capturing the barefooted spirit and natural beauty of the Balearics islands. Provoking a sense of escapism with each image through soft lighting and a unique composition, guests will be transported into another world; from lazy pool days in Ibiza to the crystal-clear waters of Formentera and the arty enclaves of Deia in Mallorca. The exhibition will be displayed at Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay for the 2021 season and all prints, including the ‘Ibiza Bay Days’ and ‘Family Time At Ibiza Bay’ will be available to purchase from the hotel.

Casa Angelina

Italy

Located in Praiano, Italy, Casa Angelina is a quiet retreat from the busy nearby towns of the Amalfi Coast. The boutique hotel recently unveiled its new Live La Dolce Vita Package, allowing travelers to experience both Casa Angelina and its surroundings through arranged programming, centered around each one of our five senses. Guests will be picked up on property and treated to a sailing along the region’s coastline to see Italy’s most stunning beaches. In the spa, touch the Amalfi Coast with Casa Angelina’s signature, Amalfi Coast Sea Salt Scrub. Guests can also hear Casa Angelina’s home region come to life with a live, private performance at Seascape Bar, featuring local musicians playing Neapolitan melodies. Those craving a taste of Italy can enjoy the package’s private four-course live cooking show experience on the hotel’s rooftop. Lastly, smell the wines of Italy with a guided wine tasting at Un Piano Nel Cielo’s, the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant that offers sweeping views of the Amalfi coastline. 

The Thinking Traveller

Mediterranean Region

Those seeking the perfect mixture of connection and seclusion for their return to Europe should look no further than luxury villa specialists The Thinking Traveller. The brand offers exclusive access to the most desirable rental properties in the heart of the Mediterranean, located throughout Sicily (Tenuta della Cava, Linera) Puglia (Il Tabacchificio, Villa Eterea), Greece (Noiya, Alessia), Corsica (Cala d’Istria, I Bruzzi) and its most recently launched destination, Mallorca (Mal Pas, Palacio Can Ferrer). The Thinking Traveller also offers thoughtful service and enriching Think Experiences, allowing travelers to immerse themselves in local culture with the help of the brand’s expert, local knowledge. 

Puente Romano Beach Resort

Spain

Set amongst acres of lush, tropical gardens, the luxurious rooms and suites at Puente Romano Beach Resort all benefit from their own private access and the varying luxury villa options offer complete seclusion, with private pools and gardens to soak up the Mediterranean sun behind closed doors. New for 2021 is the family friendly al fresco lounge and dining area La Concha, for refreshing custom-made cocktails and mocktails delivered straight to sun-loungers. An active living destination, guests can also enjoy the new state-of-the-art Health & Fitness Centre, multiple tennis and paddle courts, and access to an 18-hole private golf course.