The Curation: Volume 36
In Residence with Tori Simokov, the Lamu List and two itineraries for the coast of Kenya, three winter itineraries in Mexico, my top hotel choices on the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands...
This week, I finally read Gone Girl (4/5), Harlan Coben’s Think Twice (4/5) and The Madwoman (a true 5/5 for Chelsea Bieker). I watched one-and-a-half episodes of The Perfect Couple and two of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. I added 463 new hotels to my global repertoire. I wrapped a great strategy project. I wrote a lot for today and the coming month’s Substack. Most interestingly for you, this week I also decided to up-level.
Substack just released a new feature where bestsellers (thank you for making me one) are able to host lives on the platform. I’ve wanted to be able to answer live and specific questions from paid subscribers for quite some time. Going forward, once a month, I will host an hour-long Q&A live for paid subscribers, to ask any travel, hotel, Italy, etc. questions.
I’m going back to two posts a week, every other week. I have so much to share, let’s level up. This means 6 posts a month for paid subscribers, and 2/6 will have free portions at the start. This starts this week, with a post mid-week and next weekend.
Today’s Agenda
In Residence with Tori Simokov, who writes the fantastic Substack Window Seat
My top hotel choices in the Balearic Islands of Spain
Three cool, not obvious winter itineraries in three different areas of Mexico
The Lamu, Kenya Hotel List and two itineraries for trips to Lamu and the coast of Kenya
All the places I’d stay in the Canary Islands for a winter getaway, an especially good list for the creatives and interiors-lovers
My thoughts on the World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024
Up Next
The updated Mexico Hotel List
Itineraries for The Alps in winter
Itineraries for Italy in winter
The Zanzibar Hotel List and itineraries
Hotels for surfers
Surprise magic in-between :)
In Residence with Tori Simokov
Class, we’re back in session. Today, we’re In Residence with a fellow Substack travel writer who I really admire, Tori Simokov. NYC-based, she’s a strategist (new Big Gig at Complex!), graphic designer, and writer of Window Seat, where she shares the world through her eyes. She’s a bona fide Good Person with Good Taste, impressively polished and I’m so excited to have her with us today to talk hotels. Thank you so much, Tori! This is so fun.
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I always have to start with the most important question, what is your favorite hotel in the world? You can pick two, or three, if you like!
Out of the hotels I’ve actually stayed at, my favorites–in no particular order–have been Palm Heights, Hotel Costes, and the Park Hyatt in Tokyo & Kyoto.
What about at the top of your hotel bucket list? Places you simply must stay in this lifetime.
Forestis Dolomites has been up there for a couple of years now, I just can’t decide if I want to visit during the Spring or Winter. Park Hotel Vitznau in Switzerland is a recent addition that I can’t stop thinking about; it’s beyond picturesque. I'm currently drawn to the idea of "deep" travel–returning to the same destination vs. ticking off new ones–and Paris is where I want to focus. One day, I’ll get around to staying at Abbaye des Vaux de Cernay in the countryside.
Is there any hotel you go back to over and over again? Or one that you've been to before and loved, and hope to become a regular.
The only hotel I’ve returned to with the intention of becoming a regular is Palm Heights in Grand Cayman. My first visit was with my mom on a girls' trip in 2022, and I instantly fell in love. The hotel had it all—stunning design, exceptional food, and service that made you feel truly cared for. When I got home, the first thing I told my husband was that I wanted to go back every year, something I’d never said before. This summer, we made that happen, and somehow, the experience was even more incredible.
You live in NY, if money were no object, what hotel would you choose for your dream staycation?
Aman New York, no question. I have yet to enjoy an Aman experience, and what better introduction than in my home city? I would take full advantage of everything the property offers: I’d start my day with reformer pilates, then relax in the sauna. I’d make sure to fill up on lunch at the Garden Terrace, then go shopping for an outfit for the evening’s activities–Aman has a complimentary car service for drop-offs within a 15-block radius. After some relaxing in bed, I’d head out for a couple of hours of pampering at their in-house nail and hair salons to prepare for dinner at Nama, their Japanese restaurant. Then, to cap off the perfect day, I'd enjoy an evening at their Jazz Club—something I'm dying to experience.
Now higher level. What do you look for in hotels?
I see hotels as destinations in their own right. If I’m being totally honest, hotels are usually what get me excited to visit a new place–they’re the anchors I plan entire trips around. For example, I traveled to the South of France just to stay at Les Roches Rouges, which had been on my vision board for years before seeing it IRL.
Here are the commonalities among hotels I love: Foundationally, they are all design-forward. I won’t spend money to stay in a hotel that doesn’t have considered spaces–it offends my design sensibilities. To this end, they usually have great branding (and merch). They are intimate yet welcoming, not too exclusionary. And above all else, they embrace a hedonistic philosophy: Comfy beds, luxurious in-room amenities, and a great spa or restaurant–preferably both. When I book a hotel, I like to enjoy my time in it.
What's the best trip you've ever been on? Or, if that's impossible, a trip that you can't get out of your head and heart.
Definitely my honeymoon in Japan last year. As someone who counts Japanese food and Nintendo among her favorite things, I knew I’d love it, but I was surprised by how at home I felt there. I think it’s because I’ve always been deeply in touch with my inner child, and Tokyo made me feel like a kid again. I don’t know if that’s a feeling that’s unique to me or not. Obviously the food was unbelievable, but what I loved most was how warm and hospitable everyone was. There were many places we felt a real kinship with people we'd only just met.
One of the unexpected highlights of the trip was actually our flight home. We flew ANA business class and, to our surprise, ended up on one of two special Pokémon jets in their fleet. I’m super passionate about aviation, so it was an incredible (and extremely niche) cross-section of my interests. It was so serendipitous and the best way to end such a special trip.
WHAT! A POKEMON PLANE?! That’s truly epic.
Lastly, as a thank you, is there anywhere in the world you really want to go but need a hotel rec for?
Spain’s Balearic Islands really call to me. Would welcome any and all hedonistic hotel recs!
You got it! Coming right up. So grateful for your time and thought and insight. Thank you, Tori! To infinity and beyond.
My Top Balearic Hotel Choices
We’re Balearic-bound. And yes, this is a fantastic time to book your travels for next Spring and Summer. The full Spain hotel lives in the archive here, and there are so many (almost too many) special hotels in the Balearics on that list, so these are just my personal very top choices.
Mallorca was majorly on the collective mind this summer. My top choice, design-wise and special-wise is Son Net. By far. My top choice, location and sea-wise is Cap Rocat. My top choice in Palma is hard to pick, but at the moment I’m really into the new Portella. Agroturismo-wise, Son Viscos gets my top vote. Tori, I think Es Racó d'Artà would also very much be your cup of tea.
Ibiza has a lot of great hotels. As should be expected, I’m not speaking of the big party hotels, or the ones that yacht-goers spend a night onshore. I’m, at least personally, on Ibiza for the sea and the creative spirit. Los Enamorados is small and funky and many just go to the store and restaurant, but I’ve long wanted to stay. Es Cucons is a Goldilocks hotel that has a creative spirit but isn’t crunchy and is luxurious but not too much. Cas Gasi is a dream, all around.
Menorca is the smallest, but not lacking in great hotels. My top three will be location-based: near Ciutadella, Morvedra Nou is my top choice, in the middle of the island Son Vell gets my vote (and my #1 Menorca choice overall), and in Mahón, Cristine Bedfor takes the cake.
Formentera is small, and with the least options, even less great ones. The new Dunas de Formentera is the luxury choice, but I’d probably opt for a dreamy apartment at Can Tres.
Mexico is Always the Move: 3 Winter Itineraries
As a born-and-raised California girl, I’ve been fortunate to spend a lot of time in Mexico. Especially, because my godmother has lived there my whole life. I love it. The diversity of the country. The people and the food and the drinks, of course. The history, and the hospitality. I could write a hundred Mexico itineraries, but let’s start with three.
Itinerary 1: Baja California, but not Cabo
Look, I’m never going to speak badly about Cabo because it’s a place I’ve been a lot and that has many merits. It’s gone through a renaissance. But, it’s gotten so expensive and less and less authentic and most places you can’t swim. It’s hard to experience Mexico in Cabo. But, geographically, it’s easy. It makes sense, especially for the West Coasters. So this is Baja California Sur, by car and by the sea, a bit more authentically. You know I love a roadtrip, I like having freedom to roam, but if you prefer the private driver route, that’s totally doable. Even though you’re not going there, you fly into San José Cabo airport and head to your first stop, outside Cabo in