The living room in the Peninsula Suite. Courtesy Peninsula Paris
I’m not planning to get in the habit of writing about things that are way out of reach for most people, however, we all need a little fantasy sometimes. I recently had the opportunity to view the Peninsula Paris’ three theme suites (priced between $16,000-$25,000 a night).
Courtesy Peninsula Paris
While Paris has no shortage of luxury hotels and suites, I think what’s unique about the Peninsula’s top tier rooms is the way they marry the grand Haussmannian architecture with more restrained, contemporary furnishings and cutting edge technology including LED touch screen wall panels for operating lights and temperature control and a digital bedside panel, developed by the Peninsula Group, that allows you to control the TV and communicate with valet.
The one-bedroom Peninsula Suite is the largest at 3,420 square feet and has a salon with a grand piano, a dining room, two dressing rooms and two bathrooms with Spanish and Italian marble. The layout and architecture is traditional Haussmann with high ceilings and large windows that flood the space with natural light, but the decor is a mix of contemporary and art deco with flourishes like a white high-backed settee, Tai Ping carpets, and Baccarat chandeliers.
The Peninsula Suite’s elegant bedroom. Courtesy Peninsula Paris
The Katara Suite is perched on the sixth floor, and is a Parisian couple’s fantasy penthouse. The 1,991 square foot suite features a more contemporary grey color scheme and modern artworks including a white blown glass chandelier over the dining room table.
The Katara Suite terrace.
Two spectacular outdoor spaces include a large rectangular terrace off the living room and a 1,990 square foot rooftop garden (nearly as big as the actual apartment) that offers one of Paris’ best views—you can see all of the city’s iconic landmarks including the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe.
The dining room in the Katara Suite . Courtesy Peninsula Paris.
The two-bedroom Historic Suite would have been one of the original Presidential Suites when the hotel (then the Hotel Majestic) opened in 1908. It has been completely restored by French artisans using old photographs and also retains its original winter garden, a gazebo like dining room with a glass ceiling.
The winter garden in the Historic Suite.
The 2,335 square-foot apartment has 11-foot tall ceilings, gold leaf accented crown molding, and Murano glass art pieces. The suite’s bedrooms feature original marble fireplaces, and oval black and white marble bathrooms—one with a leaf-motif mosaic above the bathtub that dates back to the turn of the century.
A mosaic that dates back to the turn of the century adorns one of the bathrooms in the Historic Suite.
There are other much more affordable ways to soak up the Belle Epoque era grandeur offered by the Peninsula Paris. The oak-paneled Le Bar Kléber is an elegant place for a pre or post dinner drink. Glasses of wine start at about 10 euros each and cocktails 20 euros.
Excellent cocktails are poured at Le Bar Kléber.
And for a treat, make reservations for Afternoon Tea in the lobby where you can choose between Traditional Afternoon Tea with scones, jams and cucumber sandwiches or the Afternoon Tea, by Pastry Chef Julien Alvarez that includes treats from his childhood like fig roll biscuits and pain perdue as well as a finger sandwich with 36-month old compté cheese and ham.
How do these suites compare to others you may have seen/stayed in? Let me know in the comments below.
For more information about the suites call +331 58 12 27 77.
The island of Lanai, accessible via a short flight from Honolulu or a ferry from Maui, doesn’t have a single traffic light. The draw here isn’t beaches crowded with sunbathers or shopping, but access to nature and the outdoors, like the five-mile-long Koloiki Ridge Trail that passes through thick forests and along a narrow ridgeline with views of Molokai, Maui and the Maunalei ravine. According to local lore, the goddess Pele used to descend into the valley (pictured here) to adorn herself in a lei of rare mountain flowers and bathe in the cool waters.
Other activities and things to see on Lanai include horseback riding through wooded hills, driving to the lunar-like rock garden the Fire of Kawelo, seeing Sweetheart Rock, which legend has it is the tomb of a Hawaiian princess, and waking up to some of the most fiery sunrises I’ve seen. More in my story for @marinlivingmag at the link in bio. #lovelifeoutside
I love looking at a destination in a way that is somewhat unexpected. That was the goal in my latest story for @marinlivingmag about Hawaii's Wild Side. Instead of focusing on soft white-sand beaches and water sports, I wrote about the new nature-inspired hotels and natural attractions that immerse visitors in Hawaii's most dramatic and rugged landscapes. Did you know the islands have 11 climate zones and environments as varied as dry desert and snowcapped mountains?
From visiting Volcanoes National Park to going horseback riding on Lanai, there is so much adventure in Hawaii. Of course, lying on a beach is just fine too.
Go to the link in bio for the full story.
Chefs Karina Mejía and Israel Montero are trying to rescue native Mexican corn varieties. It’s a passion project they began in 2019 @siembra.tortilleria.
At their new fine dining restaurant next door, Siembra Comedor, they’re continuing this mission serving excellent tortillas using high-quality grains from the milpas of Tlaxcala alongside dishes such as the day’s catch with green mole and beans (pictured here), organic duck breast lacquered in honey and spice and lingua with mole negro.
It just so happens that the restaurant welcomes families with open arms too. Our boys ate everything and loved the Caesar salad made table side, the empanadas and, of course, dessert that included a citrus tart and chocolate tamale with vanilla and cocoa nibs.
For more kid-friendly hotels, restaurants, and things to do in Mexico City, click the link in bio. Photos courtesy @siembra.tortilleria and @analorenzana.
My family and I recently went on a fantastic trip to Mexico City. With graceful Spanish colonial architecture, edgy design hotels and cafes on every corner, it’s a beautiful and sophisticated city. We learned about the country’s tumultuous history at the National Museum of History, strolled through Alameda Central beneath blooming jacaranda trees and devoured everything from street tacos at family-run Tacos Hola El Güero to the legendary tuna tostada at Contramar. In honor of Cinco de Mayo, which celebrates the anniversary of Mexico’s victory over the French Empire during the Franco-Mexican War, I thought I would share my family-friendly guide to Mexico City. Click the link in bio for the complete guide. Please share your favorite spots too! We’ll definitely be going back.
We went to @hotelesencia for spring break, and it was just as fabulous as everyone says.
It’s a small, family-friendly luxury resort between Tulum and Playa del Carmen. Once the private residence of an Italian duchess, Hotel Esencia has been carefully and tastefully renovated and expanded.
Each room offers either a peaceful view of the lush garden canopy or an impressive panorama of the Caribbean. We stayed in a Jungle Suite fulfilling my lifelong dream of having a room with a plunge pool 😜 .
Visit the link in bio to check out the hotel and learn more.
Room photo credit: Hotel Esencia
Formerly known as Pronghorn Resort, @juniperpreserve has gone through a transformation over the last year and a half.
Shrugging off its dark Old World style for a look that epitomizes “New Bend,” Juniper Preserve now delivers light-filled guest rooms featuring earth tones, fine silk sconces and locally made pottery and a focus on well-being.
At the new Juniper Spa, treatments are inspired by ancient traditions and the high desert. I experienced a Sweet and Spicy CBD massage and transcendental breath work session on a recent visit and can vouch for the stress relieving benefits of both.
For more reasons to visit Bend, tap the link in bio for my full @marinlivingmag article. Photos courtesy @juniperpreserve.
Outdoor adventure lovers flock to Bend, Oregon to work and play, but the high desert town is evolving with great restaurants, wine bars and shopping, including:
@rbcbend - A steakhouse from Portland restaurant industry veterans featuring sustainably-raised meats and Spanish-style small plates. 🥩
@fermandfare + @sansimonbend - The former is a minimalist boutique wine shop and tasting bar serving natural wines. The latter serves cheese, charcuterie boards and a menu of well-balanced cocktails in a downtown alleyway. 🍸️
@wrenandwild - This mother-and-daughter-owned clean beauty boutique showcases top-quality beauty brands (@westmanatelier and @tataharperskincare, among others), pop-up events and makeovers in a light-filled space that feels like a mini department store. 💄
For my full list of reasons to visit Bend, tap the link in bio.
While @cashelpalace has put the Irish Midlands, also know as County Tipperary, on the map, this little reel shows why the bucolic region is well worth a visit.
To read about Cashel Palace Hotel and other stunning, must-visit hotels for 2023 head to the link in bio.
From tea at high noon in the Queen Anne Room, to al fresco lunch at Mikey Ryan's, artisanal cocktails at the Residents Cocktail Bar and dinner featuring the best Irish produce (with a focus on Tipperary’s ingredients) at Bishop's Buttery, dining and imbibing is one of the main draws @cashelpalace.
Swipe through for my curated preview.
Tucked between town and countryside in Ireland’s County Tipperary, @cashelpalace, my contribution to T+L’s It List, has luxurious rooms and suites, elegant public areas and historic gardens that have been meticulously restored. One of my favorite things about it is how the original Palladian manor has been complemented with more sleek modern architecture. And the new parts of the hotel have been built to Nearly Zero Energy Building standards, so they’re highly energy efficient and sustainable. Swipe right to see how the new structures, like a sleek spa wing with an indoor-outdoor pool, complement the historic buildings, including the main house, which was built for the Archbishop of Cashel in the 18th-century.
Learn more about Cashel Palace and the other best over-the-top luxury retreats of 2023 via the @travelandleisure link in bio. 📷’s all courtesy of @cashelpalace.
Every year, @travelandleisure makes an It List. In it, they name the 100 best new hotels in the world—37 countries on six continents to be exact. 🌎️
As a contributor to this year's It List, I had the pleasure of getting to relax, eat and revel in a winning hotel.
I can't wait to share it with you. Stay tuned.
To start browsing the list to end all "best hotel" lists, tap the link in bio.