In Full Color
In Residence with Stephanie Covington, How To: See in Color, Hotels in Buenos Aires, and The New(s).
For Consideration
I made an imaginary hotel based up of various images I saved on Instagram throughout the week, no limits, full imagination, full send. I got this –
Where would it be? In your mind? Would you stay?
Images left to right, top to bottom: The exterior of Villa Colucci in Puglia; Valentino’s Tuscan home photographed by Guido Taroni for Cabana; Melissa George’s 17th-century Provencal home designed by Diego Delgado-Elias and photographed by Clement Vayssieres for T Magazine, the bar at Villa Colucci; the circa 1898 fabulous Art Nouveau Château Laurens in Agde, France, Castle Trematonia in coastal Cornwall; Castello di Gallese in Tuscia by Simon Watson for The World of Interiors; a bathroom at 15th-century Irish Kilcoe Castle
For Consumption
You’ll see below that today is all about color – good basics in all the colors is key, like these blue socks and red skirt from the Gap, or this orange sweater and this elevated blue polo from COS
Simon Miller does color very well, like this fun, green, on sale Vacation Bag and a sadly full-priced striped skirt
Christopher Esber colorblocked sandals in a great pink/orange or a blue/green varietal
A big splurge on this totally camp, totally colorful vintage Dior necklace (a rare occasion I’m ok with a logo)
For Today
In Residence with Stephanie Covington
How To: See in Color (and build a wardrobe apt for colorblocking)
Human Seeking Hotel: Buenos Aires
The New(s)
Happy Hoteling!
P.S. The post is super long today, as always click to view in your browser or the app if it gets cut off in your inbox
In Residence with Stephanie Covington
We’re in wonderful company today with a fellow Substacker and human with fantastic taste and enviable travels. Stephanie Covington is particularly fitting for today, she lives the most beautiful colorful life, literally and figuratively. She has insanely good personal style and has mastered poolside and black tie to equal measure, something I always admire. And she is a fellow pro at Happy Hoteling. Enjoy!
Please introduce yourself to all the fellow Hotel People!
My name is Stephanie Covington from A Life Well Saved where I love to share fashion “saves” on my Instagram and Substack but my true passion lies in travel. I have been traveling with my family since I was weeks old and lived in 6 different countries so travel is something I know and take pride in deeply. I create city guides and styling edits since I love dressing for a vacation and matching the destination. It’s a fun excuse for a new wardrobe and fresh perspective! I have a unique eye for the latest and greatest places to go but I also love a non-cookie cutter boutique stay.
I love seeing all your travels - is there one hotel (or two) in the world that sticks out as your favorite?
Oh gosh, this is a hard one. But anyone who knows me, knows I am happiest in Italy. I could make Chase go back year after year to a different area or hotel just to get my Italy fix. I know these two properties are super popular these days but I have to say it’s a tie between Il Pellicano and Mezzatorre. There’s something extra special about Mezzatorre - being able to vespa through the island’s amazing topography into town and see actual Italians vacationing (something that is rare as Americans have jacked up their summer hotel favorites).
But another non-beach hotel we recently stayed at and loved was Forestis. Surprise surprise, another Italian property but one that is heavily alpine with German influence. It was hard to get to (an adventure in an electric car rental riding uphill for 5 hours) but the views were out of this world and so was the spa that stayed open until 9pm with dusk not settling until around then, too).
The Pellicano properties are just so particularly special. They’re popular for a reason!
You seem to have cracked the code for traveling with kids and not sacrificing — is there any hotel that comes to mind as being particularly family-friendly but still so special?
Thank you! We love bringing our daughter along to places we’ve had on our bucket list without sacrificing our hotel dreams (unless of course they don’t allow kids). Grand Hotel Son Net this summer with her was a favorite! I think Mallorca in general is super family-friendly but this hotel was tucked away in the hills away from the heavily populated foot traffic towns such as Deià and had the best babysitter we’ve hired on vacation.
This and Passalacqua in Lake Como! Both are secluded and private with few rooms so you get the most beautiful hotels and locations with excellent service for your family. We still have the slippers and fish Passalacqua gave to Millie. The best part about both these hotels is that they aren’t “family-friendly” categorized. You have honeymooners, couples, friends and a few families so you don’t feel like you are sacrificing choosing some other hotel just because you have kids.
The details! And yes totally, kids welcome but not “family-friendly.”
Is there any hotel that just really feels like home, a place you hope to return to time and time again?
Rosewood Miramar Beach. It’s where Chase and I got married and Santa Barbara is home to me so it encompasses a fantasy we’d like to call home one day and retire there.
Iconic! I’m not going to use your wedding photograph, I feel like there are restrictions to that stuff that single me doesn’t know about.
Ok, higher level, what do you look for in hotels? What makes you feel like YES I love it here?
For me it’s always about the interiors, the location/scenery and the service. It really depends on the location and our itinerary though. If it’s a city spot, I prefer a cute boutique hotel with a central location (maybe not the fanciest) since we primarily will be out and about all day. But if we want to truly relax and spend most of the time at the hotel, I prefer either a luxury driven or interior driven choice.
I know you have family in Peru (I’m part-Peruvian, too!) - is there a Peruvian hotel you’ve stayed at or have on your list that’s particularly special?
OMG I love meeting fellow Peruvians! One place I haven’t been to and high on my list is Mancora - specifically the KiChic hotel. But if you visit Lima first, you must stay in Barranco. It has the best new restaurants and has the most charming historic atmosphere. I would recc staying at Hotel B which is an art haven boutique hotel that used to be a 1914 mansion. And then go to Merito for dinner! I have a whole Lima guide in my Substack!
I’m dying to stay at Ki Chic! Gah! And thank you so much for the Lima intel.
Living in NY, do you have a favorite hotel in the city? Perhaps one to stay and one for a favorite cocktail?
I haven’t had many staycations in NYC myself to vouch for the hotel stay but I do love The Bowery, Hotel Chelsea, The Carlyle and The Surrey. Drinks at Casa Tua are such an UES vibe (I love the pistachio martini). And it’s also not a bad backup to have when you can’t get into my other UES cocktail favorite of mine, Bemelmans.
Classics! Such a good list. This is how to know you can trust her, readers.
What’s one (or two, or three, ha) hotels that are on your bucket list that you’ve yet to stay at but can’t wait to do so?
Nihi Sumba, Villa Mabrouka and Macakizi.
I love how consistent you are. It isn’t just any luxury property, you seek the same font of hotel wherever you go (a seriously good font).
Lastly, is there anywhere in the world (or Italy!) that you’d love to visit but need a hotel rec for? Perhaps I can help!
I have three! Japan, South Africa and Buenos Aires.
I have full lists for Japan and South Africa in the Archive, but I gotchu for Buenos Aires below!
Thank you so much for sharing with me and the Hotel People reading! You have such a good eye.
Make sure you’re following Stephanie in all the places, Hotel People!
How To: See In Color
2025 was a bad year for me to shop – color was not in. Or, at least how I like it: saturated and non-tonal, pure and un-printed unless it’s striped or Pucci.
The color palette mimicked the global sentiment – cautious. In September, when the Spring/Summer 2026 runways started rolling I felt a sigh of relief as it seemed my mentality would be popular in just six months. F it, joy is a form of resistance, let’s wear some damn color. Color was parading down the runway. And, more specifically, colorblocking, which happens to be a core tenet of my personal style.
My whole life people have said “only you can pull off that color” which isn’t true – my skin doesn’t have a particularly agreeable undertone, I just actually like color.
I could surely be wrong but I do think liking color is a prerequisite to colorblocking as a form of inspired dressing instead of a mere participation in trend. If you’re like me and already have strong opinions on shades of the same color, this isn’t for you. This is for those who typically tread towards neutrals and muted tones or maybe just one color and who actively want to actually enjoy and wear more color.
This is the first installment of a new series where I take the most basic editorial story, the how to, and apply it to something I’m particularly well-versed in. How To: Dine Solo, How To: Build a Reference Library, How To: Fly with Points, How To: Start Reading – you get the gist. I have so many ideas. It’s not about preaching but contributing to the tradition where humans help other humans know more based on what they know themself.