This was the best hotel of the trip. Jetwing Yala is located on the southern coast of Sri Lanka on the Indian Ocean, right outside Yala National Park. The main restaurant served an extravagant buffet of gourmet local fare and a second restaurant, Thambapanni, offered an Asian fusion menu and outdoor seating. We loved […]
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Icehotel, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
Since we were sort of in the area, of course we had to spend a night at the original Icehotel in Sweden. If you’ve never heard of the Icehotel, it’s exactly what it sounds like: a hotel built of ice (well, ice and snow). Each year, the hotel is built anew. It takes three months […]
Hotel Villa Scacciapensieri, Siena
This 19th-century villa is about 2 km north of Siena on a hill with views of the Chianti wine region. Since we wanted to explore the area, it was easiest to stay outside a city. Also, my husband and I were training for a marathon, so we needed areas where we could get some long […]
Hôtel Villa Louise, Aloxe-Corton, France
If the sunny weather, charming towns and unbelievable wines were not reason enough to love Burgundy, our stay at the Hôtel Villa Louise would have. The hotel was comfortable with endearing décor and a pleasant, helpful staff. It was a relaxing countryside inn that fit perfectly into the setting. A 17th-century house with an ample […]
Marseille Sofitel, Marseille, France
This was one of the best hotels we’ve stayed in recently. The hotel has sweeping views of the Vieux Port and the city, and the walls of windows allow the seaside breeze in. The breakfast was our favorite hotel breakfast in Europe, full of Mediterranean fare like the world’s best ratatouille, marinated vegetables, fresh cheeses […]
Palacio Das Cardosas Hotel, Porto
Porto has no shortage of nice hotels, but most of them are near the beach. Since we visited in the cool springtime and would therefore need more of an urban experience, we opted for the InterContinental Porto, located in an 18th-century palace. The hotel anchors one end of Avenida dos Aliados, a massive square lined […]
Sofitel Le Faubourg, Paris
Paris has an overwhelming supply of great hotels, and most of them are in desirable locations with amenities and transportation within an easy reach. So how do you decide where to stay? The best way is to pick a neighborhood based on proximity to your intended activities and narrow it down from there. Usually we […]
Hotel Colombi, Freiburg
Hotel Colombi was recommended as a good place to spend Christmas, and we were not disappointed. Freiburg’s five-star hotel is well-located on the western edge of the city center. The service was impeccable and the room was clean, large and comfortable. The 112 rooms are individually furnished and range from singles to suites. Like many […]
Hotel Angleterre & Residence, Ouchy
Hotel Angleterre is perfectly situated near the waterfront, down the hill from the main part of Lausanne in Ouchy, Lausanne’s flat, lakeside neighbor. Ouchy’s promenade offers a front-seat view of sprawling Lake Geneva and the snow-capped Savoy Alps. Since the 12th century, Ouchy has been an important fishing and trading port and tourists began flocking […]
Hotel Pironi, Cannobio, Italy
This welcoming hotel is housed in one of Cannobio’s oldest buildings, a 15th-century palace that was also part of a Franciscan monastery. The building is especially recognizable for its prow-shaped exterior, parting two roads leading down to Lake Maggiore. Throughout the building, some of the ancient features remain such as original frescoes, brick tile floors, […]
