The Edit: Volume 3
In Residence with @strictlythegoodstuff, my Spanish hotel crushes, a new luxury boutique hotel in Vermont, a highly unique Moroccan beach hotel, and a preview of Happy Hoteling curios
In Residence with Denna Nazem, aka @strictlythegoodstuff
There are few people on this planet (or more specifically, this world wide web) who I find to be truly great curators. Denna is one of them. She knows where and how to find all the good, strictly. From the Bay Area (like myself!), she’s living my life in reverse, having just moved to NYC from SF. But also, she’s often on a plane going somewhere else equally endearing. I always nod with approval whenever she checks into a hotel, and save to favorites as soon as she shares a particularly good looking sandwich or a charming bar. Great style, great eye - a bona fide good person with good taste. She just launched The Strict List Substack, which is off to a smashing start. A must subscribe! And on both Instagram and TikTok, too, naturally.
Our conversation:
When you lived in SF, I always thought "thank god there's another stylish, fashion-loving human in this city and quickly grew to love your taste. And your travels! Always so fun to follow along. Speaking of, do you have one hotel (or two!) that you can definitively say is your favorite that you've ever stayed at?Â
Thank you!!!! Right back atcha :) Most recently and the first one that comes to mind is Eden Rock, St. Barths. I just stayed there over Christmas and literally had no notes. It is the most chic yet fun, filled with inspiring, saturated, highly curated design elements. They had perfect service, the best food on the island (served in mix matched floral chine), a pristine beach, custom Diptyque scents – the branding is still living rent free in my mind. It’s a true iconic establishment on the island (for 70 years!) and I will definitely be back!
Otherwise, I am an Amanjunkie. I love being deeply immersed in nature while still being in a luxurious hotel. I have to gatekeep my dream wedding location, but Amankora in Bhutan and Amangiri are two faves.Â
Ok, one last one for good measure: I will never forget my experience at San Camp and Jack’s Camp in the salt flats in Botswana. Truly life changing and one of the most magical things I have ever seen! Love how you dine together with the other guests and stay in fabulous glamping tents.Â
I’m dying (!!!!) to go to Jack’s Camp. In the top ten on my hotel bucket list. Speaking of, what about your bucket list hotels? Places you haven't stayed at yet but really want to.
Ok this is a very hard question to answer because my list is endless. But a few Italian spots are at the tippy top: Passalacqua, Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli, and Il Pellicano. Cuixmala has also been on the list for so long – it looks like such a special property, just the colors of the pool alone require a visit – along with Blackberry Farm, what can I say, I love a farmhouse, remote vibe.Â
You must go to Pellicano, there’s nowhere like it. Gah! Villa Feltrinelli is #1 on my list, too. It’s so good, the best. And while I haven’t stayed at Cuixmala, I went to Careyes for Thanksgiving and it’s incredible. When you stay (not if!) definitely stay in the main villa. This is such a good list, by the way.
Ok now let’s talk places. Is there one place in the world that you love to go to over and over again, the way I do with Capri? If so, where and where do you stay?Â
Nothing beats Paris for me. There are so many magical hotels in Paris, but my family and I always go back to Hôtel Plaza Athénée. I am also very excited about some of the smaller new boutique hotels and will definitely be staying at Hôtel Le Grand Mazarin next time!
It’s true what they say, we always have Paris. It certainly got the royal hotel treatment this past year, almost a renaissance. It’s so exciting. There can never be too much time spent in that city.
What about service? What's the most special hotel amenity or experience you've ever had at a hotel?Â
I think it has to be the most epic breakfast of my life that was included in my stay at SingleThread Inn in Healdsburg, Sonoma. You pick from an incredible 3 star Michelin restaurant menu for breakfast served in your room or by the fire on the roof – and if that isn’t enough, you have complimentary snack time to hold you over before dinner. They also had a Cuzen matcha maker in the room, which is beyond elite. Overall, the whole experience felt like you were staying at your very chic friend’s guest house who is also a world class chef!Â
That sounds beyond. The ultimate?
I always have to ask, are there any hotels you've stayed at that you think of as having "the best beds?"Â
I really enjoy the Soho House beds, probably especially because I have memories of getting to them after an Airbnb or long journey. They are always fluffy, very big and feel incredibly luxurious even though I normally book for around $200 a night! Notable faves include Babington House in Somerset, Soho House Rome, and Soho House Paris (also in my favorite neighborhood in the city, the attic rooms are so well designed!!). The robes and free skincare really add to the lounging in bed experience.Â
I should ask, what do you look for in hotels? Is it boutique, lots of amenities, lots of personality, minimalistic haven, a specific brand you love, known for having a cool crowd and/or bar, etc? I have a strong inkling but must hear straight from you.
I am always looking for lots of personality, and unique experiences. Sensory bliss, aesthetically pleasing, lots of patterns and colors, luxury vibes and it feeling like a treat. I personally require a robe and slippers and love when the hotel branding is iconic and unique. My favorite hotels are the ones that inspire me. A sauna will also get me…Â
Same. Ditto. Copy paste. So well put. Before we go, I have to know what you have up your travel sleeve this year? Any trips on the books?Â
I am headed to South Korea next month and I could not be more excited to explore Seoul. This summer I will definitely be heading back to Europe and thinking of going to Spain honestly just because I must go to Hotel Corazon in Majorca! And definitely another trip back Upstate in the spring or fall, probably to stay at Inness this time.
Incredible. I can’t wait to experience it all from the other side of the screen. Thank you so much for taking the time to share strictly the good stuff with us! It was really, so good.
Three Spain hotel crushes
I’ve been working on my master list of hotels in Spain, and it’s finally (almost) ready. It will be in this week’s paid edition. You asked, I will deliver! Always. Almost, at least. To whet your palate, I thought I’d share two Spanish hotels that I have deep crushes on, currently.
Landa in Burgos. First of all, their Instagram?! So cool. So good. So unique! Website and logo, too. +5 points, immediately. It’s moody and it has an incredibly strong commitment to materiality. It’s cinematic, I feel. Their Gran Suite once met Claudia Cardinale, who is one of my ultimate Cool Girl inspirations, and it’s calling my name loudly. To get there, fly into Bilbao.
Now, something totally different. On an island - Menorca. A quick flight from most Spanish airports, or an hour-long ferry from Mallorca. Interestingly, there are more hotels that are really special on tiny Menorca than their are on big Mallorca. In my opinion. This is all my opinion, we know that right? But my #1 hotel crush on the island is Cristine Bedfor, owned and designed by the namesake. Cool, inspiring, affordable - a hotel triple threat. Add wonderful use of color, mixing of materials, and a highly personalized touch? It’s a star.
A newly reimagined charming hotel in Vermont
Meet The Weston, and no, most definitely not affiliated with my least-favorite chain (and yes, I am aware they’re spelled differently). Freshly unveiled in November, mark my word, this will be a go-to next fall for Fall Foliage. It’s restrained, just like the land it’s on and the people it lives within, yet elevated and endearing.
The nine rooms are individually-designed, just how I like it. Plus, there’s bocce. Who doesn’t like bocce? Packed with 18th-century antiques and all the amenities, it’s a firm yes from me. Specifically, Suite Seven, and rooms One and Three.
Destination: the Green Mountains. The signal: go. Ortigia toiletries will be waiting.
A Moroccan hotel worth the 2.5 hour drive
My Morocco hotel list has also been in the works, since the summer. Unsure exactly when it will be released, but within the next few weeks. It will be chock full of gems like La Sultana Oualidia, a hard-to-pinpoint luxury beach hotel. It’s not shiny, but it’s definitely not sedate. It’s a beach destination that could only manifest this way in Morocco. One part traditional, one part Robinson Crusoe, one part whimsy, if I had to describe. Unpretentious but luxurious. With a treehouse suite and an oyster shack at the end of the dock. It’s cool, and completely out of the way. Luckily, they offer complimentary transfers to/from Marrakech and Casablanca airports, including a fast pass through customs. Also, there are daily direct flights from Casablanca to Newark, making it a lot easier to get to in some respects than Essaouira or Tangier.
Happy Hoteling IRL curios
To me, a great hotel stay isn’t complete without souvenirs. If the branding’s good, I want a tote and ashtray, as well as at least one pair of the complimentary slippers, many tucked-away pens, a notepad from both sides of the bed, and of course, many sets of matches. One of the best gifts my mom ever gave me was for Christmas a few years ago, where she had given me her old ashtrays from the 80s from Caviar Kaspia and Il San Pietro di Positano.
In recruiting the genius graphic designer Freddie Hall to create a logo for Happy Hoteling, I wanted it to feel akin to an old-world hotel luggage tag, as well as something that would be worthy of buying a bathrobe if I were actually staying at Happy Hoteling (the fictional hotel).
So, for months, I’ve been knee-deep in research to create Happy Hoteling curios that feel like they’re procured from a cool, timeless hotel. Slippers, matches, ashtrays, candles, schendiletti (the cotton mat placed at your bedside during most luxury European hotel turn-down service), pens, notebooks, luggage tags…you name it. Before I place orders, I’d love to know what you’d like the most.
Thank you for being here! I’m grateful for each and every eyeball that grazes this page. Cheers to a good week, you good people with good taste.
xx Your Penpal,
Marissa
Can’t wait to see the HH goods IRL! I’ll be making the first order!