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From the minute you pull up to this resort, you know you’re in for a treat. The Riviera is stylistically awe-inspiring. The lobby is lined with floor to ceiling walls ensconced in a floral lattice pattern. Illuminated from behind with glowing orange light, the walls are reminiscent of a designer honeycomb. Packed with retro furnishings, all this glitz is set beneath a sky of modern chandeliers descending from a ceiling studded with starlight bulbs.
I’ve never set foot in a more beautiful hotel. Words to describe it? Timeless. Graceful. Opulent. Stylish. Unique. Palatial. Every last detail of this hotel is pure perfection. Consisting of 5 riads (traditional Moroccan residences centered around a courtyard or garden) with 28 individually themed rooms total, La Sultana is a shrine to Moroccan design and craftsmanship.
It’s no secret that Seattle is a gourmet wonderland for foodies. Emphasizing fresh local ingredients, Pacific Northwest chefs are constantly seeking creative combinations of ingredients. Although you’ll fare pretty well in Seattle eating wherever you happen to be once your stomach rumbles, there is definitely something wonderful about staying at a hotel with a restaurant good enough to be a destination itself.
When in Morocco, you can’t miss the traditional Moroccan hammam, or Turkish-style steam bath. There are a variety of public and private hammams ranging from uber-luxurious spa experiences, like the hammam at La Sultana in Marrakech, to simple public bathhouses.
Small artisan details abound at each turn, such as wood carvings, paneled ceilings, alcoves containing Roman busts, and stained glass doors. The interior design fuses traditional and contemporary design elements perfectly, creating a stylish interior space inside a former 18th century church vestry. The fashionable interiors combine the best of classic Andalusian design, including decorative painted tilework and rooms surrounding a multi-story courtyard accented by a Moorish fountain.
Instead of staying in a traditional hotel, experience a slice of Moroccan culture by staying in a riad, or small hotel converted from a traditional Moroccan home or palace centered around a courtyard or garden. Marrakech is bursting with stylish luxury riads, many of them European-owned. For a taste of something more authentic, check out Riad Kniza. This is one of the city’s most luxurious riads, which also happens to be Moroccan-owned.
For those seeking a unique place to sleep in Spain’s capital, look no further than Casa de Madrid. This boutique retreat in an upscale 18th century building is located in the heart of the city, just steps from both Madrid’s iconic Puerta del Sol square and the Royal Palace, as well as a metro stop and some of the city’s top dining spots. Facing the Royal Opera House and situated in what is arguably Madrid’s best neighborhood, Casa de Madrid is surrounded by countless architectural gems. Staying here is like rooming at a friend’s house, that is a friend with impeccable design taste.
The Grand Hyatt Macau is a luxurious haven of sunlight and glass set along the pearl river delta. A perfect retreat from the hustle of Macau island, the newly-opened Hyatt offers an elegant, secluded space to unwind in the midst of Macau’s next hot spot: the Cotai strip.
The first thing one notices upon arriving at the Shangri-La is the service. It isn’t ingratiating. It isn’t over the top. It’s efficient and attentive, with genuinely helpful staff who all seem to be fluent in multiple languages.
