The Curation: Volume 52
50 specific Italian hotel rooms on my bucket list, an ode to my childhood home, and a bunch of exciting hotel openings (and a restaurant in Capri).
FOR CONSUMPTION
There’s a new Wes Anderson movie coming out?! Hell yes. An espionage thriller with…Benicio del Toro, Michael Cera, Bill Murray, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Benedict Cumberbatch, Scarlett Johansson, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Rupert Friend, Willem Dafoe, and Bryan Cranston?! Hellll yes. The Phoenician Scheme. It’s out in US theaters May 30. Maybe everyone already knew this.
I had a health thing that essentially had me on bed rest this week and I finally watched Severance and I am revolted at myself for thinking I wouldn’t like it.
I read a solid 5/5 romcom this week, Life’s Too Short, by Abby Jimenez. Now, I’m on to the just-released We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes. I always seem to want to read romcom-type books in February, despite rarely having a Valentine.
I loved Yes Theory’s latest YouTube video on Socotra. It’s an innately fascinating place, but they go about it in a particularly interesting and wonderful way.
Cult Gaia's latest novelty bags are so good. For a bride, this rose bag (of sorts) would make a look. I’m not sure if this is a balloon or a pot of gold but I love it. This is out of stock but it’s a backgammon game inside a bag and it’s so cool and worth seeing if it comes back.
A CALL FOR HAPPY HOTELER TRAVEL AGENTS
While I am no longer a practicing travel agent, I do still have a license and I do still think there’s a true time and place to use a good one. Like when you don’t want to choose from lots of options, or you don’t like booking things, or you want to stay at a hotel with a preferred partnership with travel agencies – like Belmond, Virtuoso, Rocco Forte, Four Seasons, etc. Or just when you need a guide, someone to spitball with.
I’ve been thinking for a while about how I can help the many travel agent readers I have. I get constant DMs and emails inquiring about my services, and I am no longer offering them and would love to have a database of Good People with Good Taste who are travel agents that people can book through instead.
This will be only available for paid subscribers, and if that’s you and you’re a travel agent, please leave your name, email, and speciality in the comments. I will compile them and put together a list that I will share with all subscribers, before a paywall!
I hope this is a valuable asset for the community, that’s the goal with everything. Because I think this is a group of individuals who seek special, soulful, unique travel, please self-select if you think you’re a fit. I’m not knocking corporate travel or just a place to lay your head, but I don’t think that’s what my people are looking for here.
TODAY’S AGENDA
First, the main event, 50 specific hotel rooms in Italy on my bucket list. This is something I've been wanting to do for six months, and I made it a goal to get it done and do it well before I moved. I did it!
My mom’s worst nightmare, a vulnerable essay of sorts. About my childhood home, which gives a bit of context to this move.
13 new and upcoming special hotels to know about, plus one upcoming Capri restaurant opening.
This is quite long, please view in browser/app if it gets cut off :)
Happy Hoteling!
P.S. If you’ve sent me an email in the past week, my inbox is swamped and might just have to remain that way until I’m finished packing up my life. I’m so sorry, there are only so many hours in a day, and why I’ve been MIA on Instagram as well. At least I will very much make up for that come March 1.
50 Specific Hotel Rooms on My Italy Bucket List
This was tremendously fun and laborious in a good way. There were many rooms and suites that I had a mental picture of, but couldn’t recall what hotel it was. There are so many more, but I really wanted the curation of 50 to reflect the reality of the rooms I really want to sleep in across Italy – some splurges that I can likely keep a pipe dream, and some genuine gems that cost less than an airport hotel in the US. Also, I felt like it was important to include a photo for each room, so I have. I will consider this my second Italian thesis, I think. And I’m going to make it my mission to try to stay in them all.
Some hotels I have stayed at, a few many times, but I have not included any specific rooms that I have already spent the night.
This is born out of my love for individual rooms. I think it makes all the difference in making you feel special on your stay, which is the easiest path to memory success. And there are some rooms that are worth going out of your way for, in a variety of ways. I feel called to specific rooms like I do to specific hotels, it’s a gut-heart collaboration.
Of course, these are suited to me. There are so many blatantly wonderful rooms across Italy and there are plenty of hotels where I’d be thrilled to stay in any and all rooms. But there are 50 that I’ve yet to experience and would, in a dream world, check all of them on my list in this lifetime. And even then, this list is bound to change. But now, these are it.
The Art Suite at Punta Tragara in Capri. You simply cannot get closer to the faraglioni. And I really, really love those two rocks. I was lucky to be the first person to see the renovated room, before it was unveiled (or fully finished) a few summers ago. It was always a wow, but the blue marble translucent bathtub upped the ante (better IRL). From €4,500/night, but usually far more.
The Green Room at Castello di Potentino in Tuscany, because it has the most picturesque bathroom and I must experience it. I will, soon. From €230/night. I would also love to stay in the Yellow Room.