The Curation: Volume 61
In Residence with Jordan from Atelier Le Monde, my Italian Summer bucket list, 20 unexpected hotels for that Big Trip, and all my recent reads.
And I’m off. I will see you next Sunday from Sicily. If everything goes to plan, I have five islands on the agenda in the next three weeks. All hotels booked, all flights, not a single reservation otherwise. I’m so excited.
Today’s Agenda
In Residence with Jordan from
My first full Italian Summer bucket list
20 unexpected hotels for that Big Trip you’re planning
All the books I’ve read recently
For Consideration
Tod’s in a particularly good color way
This epic dress, if you’re a wedding guest
A great serpentine bracelet
Goggles that are actually…cool?!
Happy Hoteling!
In Residence with Jordan of Atelier Le Monde
We’re back In Residence! After a too long hiatus, my first guest is someone I’m thrilled to have. Meet Jordan, a bona fide Good Person with Good Taste. She has a fantastic eye, personal style, and way of capturing the world that isn’t over-done – she’s cool. Plus, she’s a luxury travel designer that I would personally feel lucky to book with. She shares my love for hotels and is always somewhere, transporting us through the screen on Instagram or her Substack,
.Today’ we talk hotels, my favorite subject. It’s quite the treat. If you don’t already, follow her on Instagram @jordanrosee and @atelierle_monde, she’s a favorite follow. And, of course, if you need a trip planned or a hotel booked – Jordan’s your girl.
First, do you mind introducing yourself to the Hotel People reading?
Hi! My name is Jordan and I’m a luxury travel designer. I book hotels and plan trips for people who crave elevated yet authentic experiences. Home base is Manhattan Beach in Los Angeles, but honestly, I spend more than half the year on the move—either traveling for personal or professional reasons, or relocating for my husband's job in the film industry. I thrive on a balance of routine and a little bit of chaos. Travel is my career and my favorite thing, but I also love style and beauty. On my Substack
, I share it all—client trip planning, city guides, interviews with tastemakers, packing lists, and everything that’s catching my eye. It’s intentionally a bit all over the place because I think being authentic is better than overly edited.Amen to that! I always have to start with the top question on everyone’s mind – do you have a favorite hotel in the world, that you’ve stayed at? You can pick more than one :)
This is the world's toughest question. I keep coming back to Mezzatorre on Ischia because it encapsulated everything for me: where I was in life (on my honeymoon), who I was with (my VERY new husband in wedded f*cking bliss), and the quietly cool vibe of Ischia itself—like Capri’s little sister—less touristy buzz, more local soul.
We weren’t there for posh shopping or a scene; it had incredible food, beautiful beaches, natural hot springs, local markets, and so many little corners that felt absolutely perfect. The hotel itself offered chic interiors, a private pool + beach club, a well-rounded wellness area, and multiple spots to grab cocktails, play backgammon, + just lounge. The service was unmatched—I talk about it all the time. At breakfast, I asked for a cappuccino, and their response was, "Immediately, Signora." They even had a daily newspaper, The Pelican Post Daily, with weather updates, hotel happenings, and local highlights. It was truly a perfect combination of everything a hotel stay should be.
You’re a Mezzatorre Person! It sounds like the most special trip.
Now, it doesn’t necessarily need to be your favorite hotel, but is there a hotel that you just really feel at home in and either are a regular guest at or would like to be?
Can I have a few? Each for different reasons:
Le Sirenuse—I wrote about this on my Substack in a piece about hotels that just GET it. It's an icon of the Italian coast, shaped by the family who brings it to life—an ode to Positano’s sirens, timeless hospitality, and effortless luxury. I've met the family professionally a few times, got married in Positano, and love the hotel's story—hotels that don’t just host you but stay with you long after you leave, and this is it. Yes- it's spendy but I want to spend my time here and make memories.
Hotel du Couvent has long been on my list. It feels + looks like a chic home, the interiors are effortless, elevated, and my personal preference. Small touches like branded soaps, ready-made cocktails, and an overall relaxed atmosphere stand out. It’s perfectly located in Nice’s Old Town, close enough to the beach but surrounded by the local buzz. Plus, it’s conveniently close to places like Èze, Saint-Paul de Vence, and Saint-Tropez for a different vibe. It’s glam without the pretense—I’d love to become a local at the markets, sip wine at neighborhood bars, and take easy weekend trips to Paris.
Speaking of Paris—I adore hotels that feel like home. Recently, Hotel Balzac and Château Voltaire did just that. They offer the right amenities mixed with a perfect dose of silent grandeur. Paris speaks for itself and I feel so at home in this city, + these spots feel effortlessly welcoming.
In LA, I frequent Sunset Tower (Tower Bar) often for drinks + dinner. I love the moody interiors, the old Hollywood glam, and the formality of it. It's so different from where I live in Manhattan Beach, and sometimes you just need to dress up and have a date night or a girls' night downtown. Get the martini. Order the pigs in a blanket or sliders and the Tower burger. At then end, you get a dessert card to create a personal sundae.
I'm sure there are more, but these come to mind first.
Your Paris trip was so well done. Brava, brava, braa. What about your hotel bucket list? What’s on top?
There are a few hotels that have my attention and I’d love to check out:
Palm Heights—for laid-back, understated cool vibes.
Sterrekopje Farm—grounding, eclectic, and profoundly gorgeous.
Kisawa Sanctuary—the ultimate off-grid luxury. The interiors look stunning, it’s all-inclusive, and perfect for a buyout with its eight residences.
Shinta Mani Wild—luxury jungle retreat in Cambodia, fully inclusive. Off-the-grid retreat.
Honestly, any of the Singita safari lodges.
I'll stop here for now!
Suuuuch fantastic choices, I share many of the same. As a travel advisor, but also just someone with great taste, what do you look for in hotels?
Love this question, because it’s so easy to get caught up in the overly polished version of hotels. I gravitate toward places with depth—rooted in meaning, history, and soul—built not just around aesthetics but family legacy and somewhere you can create your own stories and traditions. it should feel like your home away from home. It's the bartender who remembers your drink, the warmth of a familiar welcome, and that quiet, effortless sense of belonging. It’s all about capturing culture and honoring both the past and future.
But the essentials for me come down to incredible service from staff who genuinely care, chic design that feels authentic rather than overdone, and thoughtful amenities like wellness offerings, amazing F&B, and personal touches such as turndown service, private drivers, airport assistance, and curated experiences. Location is key—whether that means direct beach access, an iconic city, a charming old town, or a destination where everything you could possibly need is there, so you never feel the need to leave.
One of my favorite questions, what is the best hotel bed you’ve ever had the good fortune to sleep in?
Hmmm, I honestly need to start keeping better track of this, but the one that's top of my mind is Ojai Valley Inn—their beds were soooo dreamy. Plus, their hotel robes were divineeee; I still think about them.
Is there anywhere in the world that’s particularly at the top of your bucket list? Hotels aside.
A safari is at the top of my list right now. There are so many incredible options, I'd be happy with any of the ones on my list. It’s such a special, intimate yet grand experience. And I'd love to finish off the trip somewhere tropical (like Kisawa) or a lush wine valley (like Babylonstoren) for a different kind of luxury. Curating the outfits for this trip would be so much fun too.
I like to ask people about their hometowns. Do you have a favorite hotel to recommend where you’re from?
Living in LA, we have some amazing hotels. I often forget LA is a travel destination! Some favorites:
Santa Monica Proper—Kelly Wearstler designed this to perfection.
Sunset Tower Hotel—for moody, old Hollywood glamour.
Beverly Hills Hotel—for a quirkier take on luxury.
Hotel Bel-Air—for polished elegance.
Boutique vibes: Cara Hotel and Silver Lake Pool & Inn.
There are so many different neighborhoods in LA that it's nice to have some diversity in aesthetic, location, and price point.
Now, Budapest! I was so envious and so happy for you while you were living there. So cool. Do you mind sharing your top hotel choices, and a favorite restaurant, bar, store, and museum?
Top hotel is probably the Four Seasons at Chain Bridge—classic, defined luxury, great location, amenities, and friendly staff. Budapest could use more aesthetically aligned hotels, but I think that’s coming soon (ish). Favorite restaurant: Déryné. Favorite store and coffee shop: Nanushka. Museum-esque, I loved the Opera House—it’s stunning. We also did an amazing private river cruise with wine tasting; the city is beautiful from the water.
I have to go to Buda! Thank you.
You’re always on the go and always well-dressed, is there anywhere you’re traveling to soon that you’d be ok sharing with us?
Omg, you’re the sweetest. Curating outfits for each trip is one of my favorite things, so I appreciate you saying that! This year, our travels are mostly wedding-related—we have 9 weddings now onward. Next up is Punta Mita, Mexico, then the South of France. Hotels on my radar there include Hotel du Couvent, Cap d’Antibes, Château de Théoule, Les Roches Rouges, and lunch at La Colombe d’Or. We’re short on time, so planning strategically to make the most of each spot.
This was so fun. Thanks for including me. Xx
Thank you! This was incredible, I love following you around the world! Happiest Hoteling, and cheers to hopefully being able to do that IRL one day.
My Italian Summer Bucket List
This will be my first-ever full entire Italian Summer. Oh, I’m so excited. I’ve been for almost two months before, but the season is three and I’m thrilled to spend the entirety of it the place I love most.
I’m excited to venture to regions I’ve never been to and go back to old favorites, and equally so to re-setup life in Florence and re-start school. I like to create these little bucket lists for certain things, mostly as a way to encourage me to do something if and when I’m on the fence. I’ll report back after my birthday (September) to see what became reality.
This Italian Summer I would love to…
Be the first or the last hotel guest of the season.
See the flowers in bloom in Norcia.
Add a new holy grail beach club to the list.
Re-learn how to ride a bike.
Go to an outdoor classic music concert of some sort.
Get the red taxi in Capri.
Ride on the back of a Vespa.
Rent a 500 (new or old).
Rent a gozzo or gommone and drive it solo.
Actually make it to the club/taverna on a Friday night in Capri.
Finally have Buonocore yogurt gelato for the first time in 5 years.
Be the lucky recipient of a great room upgrade.
Make it back to Eco del Mare.
Birthday at REDACTED.
Stay the night on Isola Bella.
Go to 3 new regions that I’ve never been to before.
Make it to the Vasari Corridor.
Find a new regional digestivo to love.
Make a new Vacation Friend.
Stay at 20 new (to me) hotels.
Unexpected Hotels for the Big Trip
This is a repeated request and something I think about a lot. A Big Trip, whether that’s a honeymoon or a birthday trip or anniversary or family reunion is a big deal. Where you go is a hard decision, and where to stay a seemingly endless quest for the one.
One of the comments I enjoy most is when people share that they just added a hotel to their list from somewhere they totally hadn’t considered before. A lot of these are in that category. For the trip where you want to go the distance, literally and metaphorically.
Also, sometimes a hotel can be a destination in and of itself, and a reason to visit somewhere you may not otherwise. I love that aspect about what I do. If a friend texted me saying that they or their parents wanted a list of unexpected hotels for a big trip of whatever sort, I’d share a list like this. Of course, this is inspired by Happy Hoteling Around the World. 20 Special places, capital S through and through.
Asia & Oceania
Bon Ton, Malaysia – For those who went to Bali decades ago and still want to go somewhere developed but just…less than Bali is now, Langkawi has become a go-to destination. Whereas other hotels on the island have new contruction, Bon Ton comprises century-old villas with a whole lot of soul.