Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a contrarian, a total workaholic who loves to travel. There is no place too far, too exotic, or too expensive not to be on my travel itinerary.
Now that summer is here and you may be planning your vacations (unless you’re shopping for or selling a home of course) – here are some of the places I’ve been to and highly recommend:
Cheval Blanc, St Barth– An elegant beachfront luxury resort on the northern coast of Saint-Barthélemy with some amazing bungalows.
Goldeneye, Jamaica– My holiday getaway last year! A collection of private villas, cottages and beach huts. Each is set amid tropical gardens, private beaches and secluded coves.
Jumby Bay Resort, Antigua – West Indies– Set on a private Caribbean island, this luxe beachfront resort features wraparound terraces and is only accessible by boat.
La Pinède Plage, La Croix-Valmer– In close proximity to downtown Saint-Tropez , this bright hotel is surrounded by pine trees and overlooks Gigaro Beach.
Park Hyatt, Tokyo– Views of Mount Fuji through the surrounding Tokyo skyscrapers is all that you need to know.
Babylonstoren, South Africa– This elegant hotel is surrounded by a fruit and vegetable garden on a farm dating back to 1692.
La Mamounia, Marrakech– Set on a former royal estate dating from the 12th century, this lavish hotel features plush Moroccan rooms, patios and private pools.
Thorntree River Lodge, Zambia– A luxury lodge that sits right on the banks of the Zambezi River in Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, only 30 minutes from Victoria Falls.
Babington House, United Kingdom– A country house, hotel and members’ club on 18 acres of land in the heart of Somerset.
The JK Place, Capri– This chic hotel overlooks the Gulf of Naples on the island of Capri.
The Whitby Hotel, New York– This ultra-chic hotel sits just south of Central Park in NYC, and features hip rooms with a true English-country vibe.
La Bastide de Gordes, France– This plush, seasonal spa hotel offers views of the valley and mountains of Parc naturel régional du Lubero.
Tavarua Island Resort, Fiji– Surrounded by pristine natural beauty and world class reef breaks, this iconic and intimate resort is a surfers dream.
Ett hem, Stockholm– This hotel has an ultra-stylish townhouse feel that makes you forget you are actually staying in a hotel at all.
The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls, Zambia– Next to the Zambezi River, this posh, Colonial-style hotel in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park offers views of Victoria Falls
The Norman, Tel Aviv– A pair of 1920s-inspired buildings, this luxury hotel sits in the heart of Tel Aviv.
Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos– 1,000 acres of private island featuring a high-end beach resort with a total of 61 rooms.
The Harmony Hotel, Costa Rica– Casual, airy rooms close to the surfing beach of Playa Guiones.
Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Dubai– This luxury hotel is set on an island in a striking sail-shaped building.
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Waimea– Set on Mauna Kea Beach, this modern, upmarket resort with a tropical vibe features colorful, contemporary rooms with private balconies.
Singita Boulders Lodge, South Africa– A rustic-chic all-inclusive lodge, set in woodlands alongside the Sand River.
Sand Hotel, Reykjavík, Iceland– A simple, very clean boutique hotel in the heart of Reykjavík.
Hotel Fairmont Mara Safari Club, Kenya– A luxury resort hotel in Kenya surrounded by the breathtaking Mara River.
Four Seasons Resort, Bora Bora– A collection of thatched-roof bungalows on the Bora Bora lagoon.
The Raj Palace, Jaipur– Set in an 18th-century Maharajan palace, this opulent hotel has a beautifully designed restaurant that is a must-see.
Six Senses Laamu, Maldives– Amid lush tropical forest on a coral atoll, this remote luxury resort is reached by plane, then boat, from Malé Island.
The Brando, French Polynesia– A unique luxury resort on French Polynesia’s breathtakingly beautiful atoll of Tetiaro.
Hotel de Russie, Rome– This one of Rome’s most prestigious luxury hotels, also called “paradise on earth” by French poet Jean Cocteau.
Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, Peru– This tranquil mountain hotels is only a 10 minute walk from Machu Picchu’s Temple of the Three Windows.
Hotel Fasano, Rio de Janiero– This posh Brazilian hotel is just across the street from the iconic Ipanema beach.
Insólito Boutique Hotel & Spa, Búzios Brazil– This artsy boutique hotel overlooks a sheltered bay on the Búzios Peninsula.
Serenissima Boutique Hotel, Greece– This posh boutique hotel is set in a 16th-century Venetian manor.
The NoMad Hotel, DTLA– This premium hotel is set in an ornate 1920s neoclassical bank building in downtown Los Angeles.
Hotel Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena– This upscale hotel is located in a converted 17th-century convent near the Caribbean Sea.