The Curation: Volume 41
In Residence with Gabrielle from The Relisher, hotels in western North Carolina, additions to The Switzerland Hotel List, and a very special spotlight on Nepal.
This whole notion where time speeds up as you age is both too true and getting out of hand. It’s nearly November? Election Day? I’m finding myself anxiously awaiting November 5th. The uncertainty in America right now is so palpable, regardless how you feel or how you’ll vote (please do so). But then, we always have travel. Other cultures and places and experiences to be had. New understandings, fresh lenses. We need that more than ever right now. Greater opportunities to shift your perception. To understand others, incrementally more. That’s the key to all of this, right? If you’re able, now’s the time to see the world. There really is no better education, and a getaway is great for the nervous system.
So, that’s where my anxious energy went this week – planning my winter trip in December. It’s not such an easy thing to choose when you have thousands of hotels residing in your head. Thank you for helping me make my final decision on Instagram the other day. Community for the win. In the same vein, paid subscribers, put a trip you need an itinerary for in the comments, and I’ll choose one to answer and share next week. I think we all liked that? Do let me know if I’m wrong.
Anyway! We have a lot of ground to cover today.
First, I’m thrilled to have Gabrielle from The Relisher In Residence. It’s cool to collaborate with people you admire in the Substack world. Hopefully, this is a mash-up you’ve been wishing for! Before the paywall hits, four hotels in western North Carolina that are open with open arms and would love your tourism. Then, nine great additions to The Switzerland Hotel List, descriptions and photos for all. Lastly, a spotlight on Nepal with some names that are top contenders for a solid bucket list.
Let’s keep the shopping section short this week. If you’re looking for a statement splurge that you’ll have for your lifetime of winters, this Pucci poncho couldn’t be more perfect. I liked nearly everything from the Christopher John Rogers x J. Crew collaboration, but this blazer is a sleeper win, sadly what I bought already sold out. This year’s beanie is from Gap, and it’s yellow. Lastly, these striped curtains are room-makers, I just can’t decide which color way to go with.
Now, let’s travel!
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In Residence with Gabrielle from The Relisher
You may have wondered, why is everyone on Substack now, and a main reason is – it’s truly built for writers. And with it, comes an automatic community. Which is how I met
, who writes the The Relisher, where the world’s top chefs and hospitality names share their favorite places from where they’re from. It’s fantastic, a true immersion of food and travel, underscored by the intrigue of people. Influential people, at that. Today, Gabrielle and I talk hotels, mostly. It’s great fun. Of course, this is your time to subscribe to !
I always have to start by asking, of all the hotels you've ever stayed at, what's your favorite hotel in the world?
The Bulgari Resort Bali had been at the top of my list for years, so I chose it for my honeymoon. The hotel is perched on a cliff, and as soon as you enter, you're absolutely in awe. You enter through a pavilion made of volcanic Balinese rock, with views of all the villas (i.e., the rooms) scattered among Balinese trees and overlooking the blue ocean. The combination of all of these elements brought together creates this very powerful and breathtaking view.
Since the hotel is part of the Bulgari brand (i.e., the Italian jewelry brand), everything—from the style and character to the facilities (the pool, spa, and private beach club are to die for), food, and level of service—is absolutely impeccable. Another fun bonus: the toiletries are, of course, Bulgari.
What particularly stood out to me, though, was the exceptional level of service. I’ve stayed at quite a few high-end hotels, but I’ve never experienced anything like the attention to detail at Bulgari Bali. For example, the restaurant by the pool made us dishes that weren’t on the menu, and the staff noticed how much I enjoyed Balinese honey. Upon our departure, the restaurant gifted me two jars of this honey to take home, pre-wrapped for air travel.
We spent three nights and four full days there, and we didn’t leave the hotel once. We didn’t want to spend a single minute away from it.
Bulgari toiletries reign supreme! But also, the honey! So lovely.
Now, what about your bucket list? What are the top few names of hotels that you just simply must stay at in this lifetime?
Le Sirenuse in Positano is at the very top of my bucket list. Some destinations, like the Amalfi Coast, are once-in-a-lifetime experiences where you simply have to do it right—and that means staying at the iconic hotels that define the place. Le Sirenuse is undoubtedly one of them.
I recently interviewed Valentina De Santis, the CEO and owner of Grand Hotel Tremezzo and Passalacqua (ranked the second-best hotel in the world) for the Lake Como edition. She shared that her favorite hotel in the world is Le Sirenuse, which has made me even more eager to experience it for myself.
My second bucket list hotel is Plaza Athénée in Paris. Paris is my favorite city, and as I’ve said before, if you’re going to experience Paris properly, you need to stay at one of its legendary hotels like the Plaza Athénée—just once is enough, as it’s exorbitant, but it will be a memory of a lifetime.
One of my favorite things about hotels is breakfast (done right). Several friends, including a Parisian two-Michelin-starred chef, have told me that Plaza Athénée's incredibly over-the-top breakfast will be the best breakfast you've ever had.
What do you look for in hotels?
It really depends on what kind of trip it is. If it's a city break, then my first criterion would be an excellent location, ideally in a charming boutique hotel (that's not overly expensive, since you're anyway out exploring most of the day).
When it comes to resorts, I look for places where the facilities are exceptional (the pool, spa, etc.)—ideally, so good that you won’t want to leave the hotel. In these cases, I don’t mind spending more since I’ll be spending most of my time there anyway. An added bonus is whether the hotel will create a memory of a lifetime.
Of all your travels, is there one country or that stands out as being the best of the best?
This probably sounds so cliché, but it would 100% be Italy. You can visit Italy over and over again and have a unique experience each time (as there are so many different regions to explore), and so I think that's really special.
Amen! I can never quit it.
Lastly, I'm always so curious - what is the most comfortable hotel bed you've ever slept in?! Hotel beds are so important.
Probably The Chedi Andermatt in Switzerland—the sheets were divine! By the way, this is another one of my favorite hotels. What makes it so special is its unique blend of Asian-inspired design mixed with Alpine glamour, which you don’t typically find in European mountain hotels that tend to feel more traditional or stuffy. It’s such a refreshing take. The rooms at The Chedi feel like your own private mini chalet.
That sounds divine. Thank you so much for your time and insight – it’s been so lovely having you In Residence, Gabrielle.
Help North Carolina Hotels
As you may have noticed, I have not been on TikTok in months. I’ll go into that in more detail next week (nothing happened), but something that I particularly don’t miss is when every time I would share a hotel in America, certain Karen-like locals would yell in my comments and tell me a rendition of “no one wants tourists, go home.” This never once happened with a hotel outside of the US, by the way. But I know that tourism is huge for many economies. It is the livelihood for a lot of humans. And one place that is begging for tourism to help them through this post-hurricane time is western North Carolina. I thought I’d give you some ideas that are open for business, and are eagerly awaiting guests.
High Hampton in Cashiers is one of the hidden gems of the country, and definitely the state. Family camp and luxury come in equal measure, as does magic in all seasons.
The Greystone Inn on Lake Toxaway is quaint and elevated, and would make a great Fall getaway.
The Outpost Inn in Highlands is incredibly cool and bohemian, and they’re donating part of their sales to local relief.
Old Edwards Inn is like going to the UK or France, but in Highlands.
If you live in the area or just are looking for somewhere to go for a weekend, choose this? Travel karma is a thing, I think.
Additions to the Switzerland Hotel List
The Swiss List is already quite robust, but I do have nine additions, across the country, B&B to 5-star luxury. They’ve all been added to the OG, so they live in one place for any and all future travel to Switzerland. There’s so much Happy Hoteling. Now, 85 great names.