The Curation: Volume 47

44 additions to the Italy Hotel List and a full review of Grandhotel Giessbach on Lake Brienz in Switzerland.

Today is in two parts. First, 44 very Special additions to the Italy Hotel List. Then, the full review and down-low on Grandhotel Giessbach, which deserves a huge spotlight. There are a lot of photos, so it may be too long for email. I hope today feels like you received a whole lot of postcards in the mail.

What I Read This Week

Two books, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed.

First, a good thriller from the author of one of my favorite books of the genre of this year, A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight, 5/5. And then, a book I couldn’t have loved more, a memoir about a woman who goes to Paris for a month in search of pleasure, end of summer 2021. If you’re a woman and reading this, I think you’d really enjoy I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself by Glynnis MacNicol.

The Shopping Section

Shoes: Shiny disco-indulgent pointy splurge for the fashion girlies, red snow boots for the non-boring boarders, Adidas in a very cool colorway that match my preference for reggae; A beautifully-detailed sundress if you’re going somewhere warm; a Capri swimsuit with the faraglioni and Fontelina on it; this cozy and cute head thing; a very affordable and useful basket

Happy Hoteling!

xMarissa

Additions to the Italy Hotel List

I feel like it’s likely clear, but doing this research, to continue to find the most special hotels throughout Italy is the high I chase. I have a singular mission of having Happy Hoteling be the the most comprehensive curation of hotels in Italy, and it is as is, but every new installment is new fuel to the cause. 44 truly Special Hotels are in this January arrival.

9 in South Tyrol, Trentino, Alto-Adige. 1 in the Aosta Valley. 7 in Veneto. 1 in Liguria. 5 in Lombardy. 2 in Emilia-Romagna. 3 in Piemonte. 1 in Umbria. 1 in Le Marche. 6 in Tuscany, including 2 in Florence. 1 in Sardinia. 1 in Campania. 1 in Lazio. 1 in Calabria. 2 in Puglia. 4 in Sicily. Mostly true hotels, but some adjacent that are very special.

South Tyrol, Trentino, Alto-Adige

• Castel Rundegg, Merano – I’m so sorry, but there’s another very Special Hotel in Merano. I know, we weren’t lacking. But, this is a gem, that I know in my bones. True history from the 12th-century, and truly wonderful in execution for today. Adults-only, and go in the summer, because the pool and gardens are very much part of the very Special factor.

• Ostí Vedl – A modern-ish execution of traditional South Tyrol style and culture, simple and soulful.