The Curation: Volume 56
Happy Hoteling around the world through the alphabet, a Venice to Dolomites summer itinerary, the Florence files, where to go and stay if you need a reset, and a weekend itinerary for Ponza.
Today’s Agenda
Happy Hoteling throughout the world, by way of different destinations that start with each letter of the alphabet. 26 hotels in 26 different places, my friends!
The Florence Files, and reality has hit a bit more.
Reader Requests: a 2-3 week itinerary from Venice to the Dolomites, ideas of where to go and stay for someone in dire need of a relaxing vacation (spoiler, they all are in western Europe), and lastly, the only time you’re ever going to get a day-by-day itinerary from me – a sister’s weekend trip to Ponza.
For Shopping Consideration
COS is killing it this season. I got this skirt, I want this (perfectly fitting) striped shirt, this pleated skirt, and this trapeze coat.
Nothing is new, I am not into the it bags or ones that everyone has. From my deep window shopping, if I had Monopoly money and they took that, I would snag this very good new Ferragamo silhouette or this year’s version of the Jil Sander bag.
We all know I’m a Loewe sunglass girl, but I have too round of a face and eyebrows too high for these sunglasses to work. Maybe they could work on you? They’re very good, even more so IRL.
I went to H&M today to buy socks and left with socks and this cropped trench that fits really well (for the price).
It’s really long, far beyond the limit – please click to view in browser/app if necessary.
Happy Hoteling!
Happy Hoteling Throughout the World, A-Z
I did a version of this about a year ago, but with hotels A-Z. Strangely, I think about it a lot. I think all my years of being a creative strategist have made my inclinations toward a nostalgic format strong. Something I try to do with Happy Hoteling, usually unspoken, is to shine a spotlight on childlike wonder. I think it’s one of the keys to contentment when traveling, and who doesn’t love an A-Z?
Plus, this is a way to share places that I may not feature otherwise, and hotels that have either made a very brief appearance on here but not for some time, or may not have seen the light of day anytime soon otherwise.
Was it an idea I had a few weeks ago that I thought would be somewhat easy to execute? Yes. Did it end up being that? Not at all. This was a labor of love, but something that I’m really happy I did and really hope you enjoy.
A – Antwerp, Belgium
Antwerp is a city with a handful of very Special hotels, do let me know if you’d like a spotlight on them. I used to have little interest in the Belgian city, but as of recent years it has become such a place of creativity that I feel I need to go and soon.
Boulevard Leopold is what I would consider a cabinet of curiosities that is also a hotel. That is to say, it is what I would consider a reason to go to Antwerp even if I didn’t want to already. Curio is my favorite word, if you didn’t know.
B – Bangkok, Thailand
My mom and I spent a week in Bangkok when I was younger, and I found it to be a lot. Mostly, I think that’s because at the time it was very hard for me to find anywhere to eat that was free of my many allergens. Also because we went during the hottest month, and I do not do well with intense heat, especially in a city. The temples and natural mixing of past and present fascinated me, and continue to today. I need a return visit to give it a second change.
The Mustang Blu is located in the city’s Chinatown and is a feast for the patina-seeking, slightly cinematic and novel eyes. If anything, I want to go back to Bangkok so I can stay here.