Five Frivolities: December 10
@hannahchody on hotels, The 2023 Happy Hoteling Awards, my Instagram followers' favorite hotel stays of the year, my Lake Garda hotel short list, and an affordable hidden gem hotel in Veneto
Hannah Chody on hotels
If you don’t follow Hannah Chody Milburn (@hannahchody) on both TikTok and Instagram, take a minute to do so now. She’s the epitome of the Happy Hoteling audience: good people with good taste. Her 2022 Lake Como wedding was the spectacle of the year, and the frequent traveler has amazing, discerning taste when it comes to hotels. I do not say this lightly! Her cult following is much deserved. I asked the Austin-based, Chicago area-born tastemaker about hotels, and she delivered.
Marissa: What’s your favorite hotel you’ve ever stayed at? And yes, you can pick two.
Hannah: Il Pellicano and Singita Kwitonda. There is something truly addictive in the air at Il Pellicano and it is one of the most special places I’ve ever stayed. Singita Kwitonda has the best service, the most stunning property, and the rooms are huge with every amenity you could imagine. And gorilla trekking is a next level experience.
Marissa: What hotel (or hotels!) are at the top of your bucket list?
Hannah: Punta Tragara in Capri, Cap Rocat in Mallorca, Blackberry Farm in Tennessee, and Reschio in Tuscany (Umbria, on the Tuscan border). Ed note: Cap Rocat and Reschio are on my bucket list, too!
Marissa: What’s the most special hotel feature you’ve ever experienced? Ie. spa, embroidered pillowcases, things of the sort.
Hannah: The thermal bath spa at Mezzatorre is fabulous and having your own dedicated waiter for the entire stay at Singita properties is an example of service that goes above and beyond. Our room at the Address Downtown in Dubai had a terrace with more square footage than most houses which was pretty spectacular too.
Marissa: What’s a hotel you see yourself going to over and over again, throughout your life?
Hannah: Grand Hotel Tremezzo – it’s become even more special to us since getting married in Lake Como and the staff treats us like family. Also, best Aperol Spritz in the world.
Marissa: Beds are so important at hotels. Best hotel beds?
Hannah: I love a Four Seasons bed - the Four Seasons Firenze comes to mind. The named suites at Grand Hotel Tremezzo have different bedding and it is next level cozy. Also, Singita beds are incredibly gigantic.
AMEN TO THAT. The epitome of Happy Hoteling. Thank you the most, Hannah!
My Instagram followers favorite hotels of the year
I asked, people answered. Pretty much, no surprises! A+ hotels. Good people with good taste! Join me on there if you haven’t already? @mklurstein
Zannier Phum Baitang in Seam Riep, Cambodia (I’m dying to go here! I wrote about Zannier hotels in this paid post).
Grand Hotel Tremezzo in Lake Como, Italy
Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel, in Anguilla from two different people
The Tower in Byron Bay, Australia
Le Meurice in Paris
The Fife Arms in the Scottish Highlands (also dying to go here!)
Domaine de Murtoli in Corsica, France (one of my bucket list hotels)
Belmond das Cataratas in Iguassu Falls, Brazil
Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island (I second this!)
Bastide de Marie in the countryside of Provence, France
Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Arizona
Sea Ranch Lodge in Sea Ranch on the Sonoma Coast of Northern California (it’s amazing)
Timber Cove, also on the Sonoma Coast of Northern California
Menghetti Wine Hotel in Croatia
Lupaia in the Tuscan countryside of Italy (a top Tuscan option)
Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio on Lake Como, Italy (the hotel that made me fall in love with hotels, one of my favorites in the world)
Mezzatorre, by two different good people with good taste (I loved my stay as well! But to me, Pellicano > Mezzatorre if I had to choose)
São Lourenço do Barrocal in Portugal (my Portugal hotel list will be on Wednesday’s paid edition)
The 2023 Happy Hoteling awards
This year was a good year in hotels for me. I had the pleasure of staying at 18 hotels. Seven in Italy, naturally. Two in London. Three in New England. Five in my home state of California. And one in Mexico. Here’s how they measure up, in a variety of factors that matter to me. Spoiler: there are a good amount of ties, sue me!
The Best Service:
2nd Place: La Minervetta in Sorrento, Italy and Verana in Yelapa, Mexico (tie)
1st Place: La Minerva in Capri, Italy
The Best Pool:
4th Place: Verana in Yelapa, Mexico
3rd Place: Mezzatorre in Ischia, Italy
2nd Place: Punta Tragara in Capri, Italy
1st Place: Caesar Augustus in Capri, Italy
The Best Views from Bed:
4th Place: Casesar Augustus, Capri and Parco dei Principi in Sorrento, Italy (tie)
3rd Place: Nick’s Cove in Point Reyes in West Marin in Northern California
2nd Place: The Four Seasons Embarcadero in San Francisco and Punta Tragara in Capri (tie)
1st Place: La Minervetta in Sorrento, Italy
The Best Property Views:
4th Place: Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island
3rd Place: Verana in Yelapa, Mexico
2nd Place: The Sea Ranch Lodge on the Sonoma Coast of Northern California and Caesar Augustus in Capri (tie)
1st Place: Punta Tragara in Capri, Italy
The Best Room Overall:
4th Place: Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island and Nick’s Cove in West Marin in Northern California (tie)
3rd Place: San Michele in Procida, Italy and La Minervetta in Sorrento (tie)
2nd Place: Caesar Augustus in Capri and Punta Tragara in Capri (tie)
1st Place: Claridge’s in London
The Best Food:
4th Place: The Madrona in Healdsburg in Sonoma Wine Country
3rd Place: Verana in Yelapa, Mexico
2nd Place: The Sea Ranch Lodge on the Sonoma Coast of Northern California and Punta Tragara in Capri (tie)
1st Place: Caesar Augustus in Capri
The Best Intuitive Details:
4th Place: The Twenty Two in London
3rd Place: La Minervetta in Sorrento, Italy
2nd Place: Claridge’s in London
1st Place: La Minerva in Capri
The Best Bed:
4th Place: La Minerva in Capri and La Minervetta in Sorrento (tie, also no relation)
3rd Place: Claridge’s in London
2nd Place: The Sea Ranch Lodge on the Sonoma Coast and the Castle Hill in in Newport, RI (tie)
1st Place: Punta Tragara in Capri
The Top Hotels I Stayed at This Year:
*Measured by how special it was, and how much it stuck with me
3rd Place: Castle Hill Inn in Newport Rhode Island and La Minerva in Capri (tie)
2nd Place: Claridge’s in London and Punta Tragara in Capri
1st Place: La Minervetta in Sorrento, Italy
My Lake Garda hotel short list
If you want to experience Italian lake culture, but don’t want to deal with the Summer surge rates on Lake Como, go Garda. It’s great. (I love alliteration, I just do). Here’s where I’d stay:
Villa Feltrinelli is the number one hotel on my bucket list, so that’s the top. The screensaver on my phone (my idea of a vision board). The seemingly most enchanting place on Earth.
Villa Cortine is where I spent my 31st birthday, perfectly located in the perfect town of Sirmione, with sprawling manicured gardens and a picturesque beach club. Rooms and pool are meh (but comfortable), common areas are fantastic.
Villa Cordevigo Wine Resort is the hotel that has gotten the most views on my TikTok - fantastic value
Villa Arcadio is a hotel I’m dying to stay at, a quintessentially Italian (seemingly) hidden gem on the hills overlooking the lake
Locanda San Vigilio is a historic property from 1540 with a cult-following, beautiful property, some rooms are meh, but the suites look incredible.
There are a handful of others, that will be included in my Happy Hoteling guide to hotels in Italy (over 500!) soon. These are my favorites!
A Veneto, Italy hidden gem hotel
Meet Villa Il Galero, in Asolo in the Veneto region of Northern Italy.
A bit about the history, from their website, “The land was purchased in 1646 by the noble Venetian Rubini family and in 1691 the villa was erected by Cardinal Gian Battista Rubini, bishop of Vicenza and nephew of Pope Alexander VIII (known at the time as Pietro Ottoboni). The most illustrious figures of the time enjoyed hospitality at the villa. Thanks to the Cardinal, the villa became known as “Il Galero”, which is the name for the well-known headpiece that Cardinals wear consisting of a very stiff hat with a ribbed tassel, which has been reproduced in various decorative elements throughout the villa.”
So, it’s historic. And, it’s been preserved in such a special way. It’s honestly underpriced, starting at €150/night, breakfast included, with a 2-night minimum stay. They host weddings, and it would be a fantastic venue (other guests could stay at the nearby also wonderful Villa Cipriani).
The two rooms that have the Happy Hoteling seal of approval: The White Suite and The Pink Suite (both €180/night!!)
See you on Wednesday?
Thank you for being here, you good people with good taste!
xx Your Penpal,
Marissa