The Curation: Volume 59
16 additions to the Italy Hotel List, an affordable luxury London hotel review, my highly opinionated hotel opinions, and a bit of an inside scoop on the appointment I've been long awaiting.
Today’s Agenda
All my opinions on hotels, the nitty gritty.
16 new additions to the Italy Hotel List.
The big appointment I’ve been waiting for.
A Grand Hotel Bellevue review (London affordable luxury).
Quick New & News
With the first interior peeks of Larch House in Whitefish, Montana (first shared about this last year), it seems like it’s going to be a like not a love for me. Not a no, though. On the other hand, One&Only Moonlight Basin is a no for me, while I appreciate that it will be a yes for many of you.
Graduate is taking over an institution of a hotel in Boulder, Colorado – Hotel Boulderado. Since nearly half of my high school’s graduates go to UC Boulder every year, I’m excited for all of the parents of this generation.
Elbow Beach Hotel in Bermuda is being brought back to life by the Loren group.
The Experimental Group recently opened their latest Parisian hotel, Experimental Marais in the namesake neighborhood. It is the former Sinner hotel, which is kind of a bummer of a loss, but the best one that could come of it. They make great cocktails and you can count on them for what they do.
MACAM has opened in Lisbon, which I thought I told you about but it appears I didn’t. The museum aspect is incredible, the hotel part, at least in so much as the rooms, are just fine. Not as artistic as one would think or like. But, there is a guest-only bar which is something I always appreciate and then the whole fact that you get to spend a night at the museum.
De Plesman in The Hague is housed in the former KLM headquarters and it could have been epic but it’s good enough.
And last but certainly not least, another exciting piece of Capri news that is officially official. The island is getting another club this summer. And it could be Great great. Frank Prisinzano, of NYCs Frank, Frankie’s, and Little Frankie’s (among others) and Francuccio in Capri (as of last summer) is opening up a nightclub and people are stoked. Phantom Capri. Renovations have begun, and his vision is great. It’s a bit bittersweet, as it’s a handing over from the people who gave me my relationship with Capri. Francolino, the magic-maker of Villa Verde, and the daughter he introduced me to as my first Caprese friend, Giordana. For the past handful of summers they’ve had a club that connects to their kitchen, VV Club. It had its many merits and those are my people, but this is something that worked out in everyone’s favor and I’m very excited.
How to Have a Color-Based Vacation Wardrobe
These are terrible collages but I think they’re two good examples of how I think about color in my style and especially when I pack for a short trip. You most definitely do not have to dress like me, but if you wanted – to this is a way.
Left: The blue and red La Veste terry number could be worn as a cover up, open with the bathing suit showing or closed as a dress. You could wear the terry palazzo pants too, on the beach or not. You could also wear the pants with either the green tank for a casual day (travel, perhaps, TSA tends to be into the colors, fwiw), or with the silk button down (tied, tucked, or loose) and the great strawberry bag. The green tank goes with the blue sheer skirt, as does the silk shirt that’s a different weight and finish to the skirt, which makes it work. You could even wear the shirt just a little bit too-far-unbuttoned and wear the bikini as a bra and make the necklace a moment. The shoes go with everything and suit all occasions.
Right: No swimming is on this agenda, it’s slightly cooler. The Rosie Assoulin skirt is the hero, and you embrace the huge splurge of a price by wearing it as much as possible instead of just wearing it once. It can go with all of the tops. Just the silk fucshia (not the color of any in the skirt, but complementary). Or with the sweater draped (or tied) around your neck. Or just the sweater. Or the purple underneath the sweater if you’re perhaps as nuts as me. Same with all the bottoms. Any combination can work, especially the white long shorts. Mango orangey yellow and purple (this specific purple though, an elite shade). Pink lemonade-inspired, either in serif or sans. White goes with everything, of course, but especially the Jil Sander bag and so does this shade of orange friulane.
(I’m sorry, the Zara necklace is now sold out, but there are other options and I’m always a fan of their costume jewelry for summer.)
Ok, now let’s get to the main events! Happy Hoteling, I hope you’re having a lovely day.
A Highly Opinionated Hotel Person
Inside my brain when forming (strong) opinions, predictions, and reviews, whenever I deem a hotel a no. I’ve done something like this in the past, but more than half of you had not arrived yet, and I figured this is a good re-introduction to betting on my taste.
I am not in the business of yucking anyone’s yum, nor deeming myself superior. I am however in the business of having an opinion and sharing it. I also count myself incredibly lucky to have found it easy to form opinion since my first memories were formed. That’s what got me here, above all.
So, I figured I would share.
Before a new hotel opens, I do judge the renderings. There are so many great companies who are talented at creating good ones these days, and to me, that signals that you already care about the guest experience.
Fake velvet? There’s going to have to be no other bad vibe in order for it to pass the test.
“Bronze” hardware on chairs or really most things? No.
Big hotel? Over 100 rooms? I’d like it to be an institution, please.
Colored, ribbed, single-ply toilet paper? That’s going to impact my whole experience.
Connecting pools? I will kindly pass. No mega-resorts for me.
All-inclusive? It has to be ultra-luxury and extra small, or for sustainability purposes or due to remote geography. Otherwise, hard pass.
A single overheard word of racism or discrimination? You’re on the no fly list.
Those “woolen” blankets on the bed – I would really prefer if you didn’t, but if you do, cover it completely with a great cotton duvet cover.
No outlet next to the bed? Your hotel must be really historic or very small and B&B-like, otherwise that’s design that doesn’t serve the stay and is just silly at this stage of our consumer game.
Art that looks like it could have been a pdf downloaded from Etsy? Pixelated photography? “Abstract” shapes in Millennial style? The hellest of nos, especially the latter.
Live music played on a keyboard instead of a piano? Genuinely no need if you can’t do the real thing, go with another instrument or a solid playlist.
Laminated in-room signage? If it’s less than $200/night, sure. If it is not, don’t cheapen yourself.
Neon signs in that cursive? Noooo.
Gold for gold’s sake? Not my thing.
“Aesthetic” props. Really truly, it’s not doing what you think it is. No.
Controversially, I don’t love a strong signature hotel scent. Scent is so personal, why ostracize people from the start? No, thank you.
Faux wicker outdoor furniture. Again, if you’re a very affordable hotel, fine! If not, splurge for the real thing and the maintenance of it. This is a small thing that makes a big difference for me.
“Modern” patterned walls or headboards or things of the sort? Really not needed. Same with the headboard nearly every new luxury opening has that’s just a horizontal tetris cube of varying bore. No shade to the shape, but do something beautiful with it.
Highly generic wallpaper? No need to waste the labor. And yes it’s too late to start having palm tree print.
Books that are glued to a surface and have no intention of being browsed or read? Why? No.
“Tulip” chairs. There were about six months when this worked, and those have long passed.
Colored lighting. Ti prego, nooooo.
I could go on and on. But I think you get the picture.
Now, things that I miss when they’re absent, but not dealbreakers:
A do not disturb and please make up the room sign. Mostly for the former.
Branded slippers. Not just the blank white ones that fall apart after two uses.
Physical keys, not cards.
A way to turn off the lights without getting out of bed.
An in-room espresso machine. This one is becoming tougher to come by.
Vanity kits. I always seem to need a Q-tip or a nail file when it isn’t there.
Pillows of varying firmness. I understand that my preference of down isn’t for all, especially allergy-wise, but at least provide some option in terms of how to lay your head.
For over $300/night, a hand with your bags. Glass bottles of water in-room. Eggs included with the complimentary breakfast. Barstools with backs. USB plugs even in historic rooms. Soundproofed windows.
Things that can make me love a hotel:
A good honor bar.
Little branded pouches that can become your junk drawer pouches in all your bags for years to come.
A library.
A welcome drink.
A really beautiful bathroom (but I am also not going to not stay at a hotel because of a bathroom).
Great hand-painted ceramic ashtrays.
A beautiful game room.
A name that draws locals.
The good padded, well-branded Holy Grail slippers.
Great fries.
Aperitivo as a celebrated occasion.
The ability to procure a late-night, one-off, big bad idea pack of cigarettes.
Original walls and/or ceilings.
Named rooms.
A great brand’s toiletries with either a commissioned or spot-on scent.
An owner with name heard at least semi-often on property.
A particularly good pool. Rectangle.
A car or transportation of some sort that doesn’t require the ability to balance.
A store where I actually want to buy things and take photos of brand tags.
Staff I want to keep talking to.
Really fast and good room service.
A beautiful elevator.
Coasters that I want to cop.
An inspiring, unique city guide.
A fantastic restaurant you want to eat at twice.
A guest book.
Great staff uniforms.
A crowd that makes you feel like you can maybe be appreciated for the real you but makes you want to dress up as the most impressive you.
And for f’s sake, yes, monogramed pillows.
Welcome Additions to Happy Hoteling in Italy
The Italy Hotel List has some great new peers. 16 new names to know.
3 in Sicily (Palermo, Sciacca), 3 in Veneto (Venice, Prosecco hills), 4 in Tuscany (Florence and the countryside), and one each in Piemonte, Umbria, a private beach in Basilicata, on the Tarocchi Coast of Abruzzo, on the best piece of the Riviera del Conero in Le Marche, and in a fantastic town in Puglia.