Beautiful stays begin with deluxe digs. In certain homes away from home, it can be hard to convince yourself to leave your welcoming space or property. That may be the case with these lodging options that have been enticing us in recent months. Yet, when you do feel like stepping beyond your room or suite, there’s thankfully plenty of delicious fare and rich culture to be absorbed nearby.
Pueblo Bonito Vantage, San Miguel de Allende (México)
To begin the morning quietly, poolside, with coffee in hand at this brand-new property in the Mexican state of Guanajuato, is to rediscover ultimate bliss. The hacienda-style resort, about a 20-minute walk from the heart of enchanting San Miguel de Allende, slowly stirs to life as hotel staff bustle around its perimeter, offering warm smiles and “buen dia’s” along the way. Here it feels imperative to slide into the day gently, watching the aqua sky reflected on subtle ripples, and immediately feeling soothed by the warm hues and bright tiles in your midst.
The next order of business: desayunos enjoyed at Casa Bistro, the property’s casual, airy eatery with blue-and-white tiles and consistently tasty fare. Choose between dishes like their chilaquiles or scrambled eggs with chorizo, refried beans, potatoes, and avocado, best accompanied by fresh juice and fruit sprinkled with coconut. (Also be sure to select freshly- baked goods from the abundant bread basket.)
Days at the property are best spent relishing your own private oasis, marked by dark woods, a warm palette, large, pristine beds, and floor-to-ceiling doors that open onto a private terrace with stellar skyline views (also visible through large peek-out windows in the shower). Some guests may prefer to check out the resort’s four wellness-themed guestrooms or impressive dog-friendly amenities that help pampered pups truly live like royalty, thanks to healthful cooked feasts each evening and even their own pre-bed massage.
While there, we were lucky to indulge in a treatment at the serene Aromatika Spa & Wellness, where a memorable massage began with a sacred foot bath (and the gifting of a small worry doll). Even when you are unable to fully exchange language with your assigned practitioner, we promise their warmth and care will radiate through their actions and energy. Afterward, join an on-site class where you concoct your own fragrance or body scrub, or practice sculpture and painting skills with the help of a local artist.
Dinnertime at Pueblo Bonito Vantage is best spent at LaFrida, where elevated views of San Miguel’s charming skyline are anchored by downtown’s soaring Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel. If you’re especially fortunate with the timing, fireworks raining down over the city may provide an extra dose of festive flair. In this elegant dining setting, savor dishes by Chef Anaisa, such as sea bass carpaccio, lavender and bougainvillea salad, lamb barbacoa tacos, and ribeye with mole chichilo.
When it’s finally time to explore beyond the property, head into town to peruse the many upscale galleries, boutiques, and markets that make this stunning, UNESCO-listed city such a magnetic hub for global expats and artists. The magic-soaked destination, featuring exquisite Mexican Baroque and Neoclassical architecture, is located a 3.5-hour drive from Mexico City (and closer to airports like Querétaro and Guanajuato). Stroll its upscale businesses and rooftop restaurants lining cobblestone streets in the city’s traffic-free Distrito Corazón (Heart District), or wander through quiet parks where families walk dogs, take kids to playgrounds, and peruse the occasional table of jewelry and other art.
It’s also well worth the short drive out to Viñedo San Miguel, owned by the Cuadra family, a winery known for delicious tastings and photo ops on the vineyard’s whimsical swings. The experience here begins in a sleek tasting room featuring funky chandeliers dangling from the ceiling and a massive macramé wall hanging. The impressive work by local artisans mirrors the mountain range visible beyond the venue’s walls. Peruse the gift shop for goods such as exquisite wines (some soon to be exported to Texas), an abundance of leather merchandise, and artisan treasures like locally made handbags (with profits benefiting a nearby hospital).
Unique artwork can also be found throughout the cavernous building — a trickling fountain made of wine bottles and colorful, indigenous art (found across from the 31-tank barrel room) celebrating Mother Nature’s bounty. Don’t leave the winery without dining on the charming terrace of on-site restaurant Trasiego, where Chef David Quevedo and team send out dishes that seek inspiration from the culinary richness of Guanajuato. Back near the resort, walk just a few minutes down the road to Fábrica La Aurora, a buzzing, premier art and design center where dozens of artists (like Lucas Rise, hard at work the day we visited) display their creations inside a former 20th-century textile factory. Grab a meal at one of the complex’s restaurants or cafes, or attend events like their popular art walk on the first Saturday of each month.
Fairlane Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee
Not everyone immediately associates Music City with luxury, but there are plentiful ways to savor the sounds and sights of this welcoming destination in style. Located not too far from the neon and all-night honky-tonks of the iconic Broadway strip, you’ll find lodging that offers a peaceful oasis in the midst of the electric buzz. While many luxury lodging lists highlight havens like Four Seasons Hotel Nashville, a The Hermitage Hotel, we found unexpected bliss in a corner suite at Fairlane Hotel. Situated inside the original 1972 Fidelity Bank building, our spacious room showed off retro-chic design, modern amenities, a locally-sourced mini-bar, and floor-to-ceiling views of the action below.
Downstairs, sate your appetite at Ellington’s, where a 7 Paintings dining experience (a 2.5-hour, 7-course affair) combines fine cuisine with art and technology. Or settle in at Modern Love, a restaurant “rooted in the spirit of 1960s counterculture and mid-century modern design,” where local favorites with an elevated twist range from pork belly BLTs and hot chicken flatbreads to grilled oysters and olive-poached salmon. At Fairlane, keep an eye out for hosted events like Cocktails and Constellations, where the hotel’s Unistellar smart telescope allows for deep space stargazing and private viewing opportunities from the penthouse terrace. If this hotel brand fits your vibe, research sister properties also owned by Storey at exotic destinations around the globe, like Nanuku Resort, Fiji, and Long Bay Villas, Anguilla. (Storey Hospitality prides itself on offering “Luxury with Soul.”)
Beyond the hotel, Nashville captivates with its music-filled past and still-humming “now.” Attractions range from the city’s numerous music-anchored museums to the Nashville Parthenon, the world’s only exact-size replica (within 1/8th of an inch) of the original Parthenon in Athens. Attend performances at “Music City” institutions like The Bluebird Cafe, Ryman, and Grand Ole Opry (which turned 100 in 2025), or delight your senses inside the Scherhorn Symphony Center, considered one of the world’s finest acoustical venues and the city orchestra’s home since 2006. The intimate, 1,800-seat Laura Turner Hall features soundproof windows and a 3,500-pipe concert original. If you’re lucky, you might even witness a special collaboration between the symphony and local legends like Trisha Yearwood.
Nashville is a “city of neighborhoods” that’s a hub for 17 colleges and universities and a rich global tapestry. It’s home to the largest Kurdish population in the U.S., and 120 languages are spoken in public schools. Since the city currently gets about 17 million visitors a year, it’s expected that certain parts of town bustle with energy. But you can easily find zen at Spa R+R Wellness inside the Grand Hyatt Nashville or Rose at The Joseph. Retail options around town range from 12 South, a trendy, walkable neighborhood, to The Gulch, an upscale, urban area that’s also a LEED Certified community.
And of course, in Nashville, one comes to eat. While some arrive craving hot chicken or BBQ, you can also delight in seasonal fare at Michelin-starred venues like Bastion and The Catbird Seat. Newer additions like Momotaro and Alla Vita soon join the scene, too. For decadent take-home treats, head to East Nashville’s Olive & Sinclair — the first bean-to-bar makers in Tennessee and perhaps all of the south. Their select single-origin beans, slow-roasted and stone-ground in small batches, get combined with pure brown sugar for a smooth taste that’s often paired with other surprisingly complementary flavors. Best sellers include their duck fat caramels, Mexican-style cinnamon chili chocolate bars and Bourbon nib brittle.
1 Hotel Seattle, Washington (+ 1 Hotel Copenhagen, Denmark)
If you’re seeking a soothing retreat for your next Pacific Northwest getaway, we can wholeheartedly recommend 1 Hotel Seattle, a decidedly delightful place to land. Not only is this sustainably minded, luxury-focused brand making thoughtful moves to mitigate travelers’ impact on the environment, but their Seattle outpost is also conveniently located a short walk from downtown and South Lake Union, a hub for seaplane activity and waterside feasts.
Inside the hotel’s serene sanctuary of creams and beiges, you’ll find reclaimed wood finishes, stone-clad millwork, 1,200-plus living plants cared for by a team of diligent “plant whisperers,” moss-inspired art (check out the lobby’s living wall), and gorgeous furniture spotlighting the craftsmanship of local artisans. Spacious corner suites showcase views of the iconic Space Needle and offer amenities ranging from luxurious rain showers to separate living and dining areas. Keep an eye out for accommodation packages, such as a wellness offering that lets guests try a sauna blanket and a red light face mask during their stay.
The hotel aims to be LEED Silver Certified soon, and it’s immediately clear how intentional the designers have been in every sustainable feature and aesthetic touch. Relax beside the lobby’s meditative fireplace, peruse local goods in the open-air retail shop, or enjoy a leisurely breakfast on the Drift patio. Dinnertime inside La Loba is a true delight. James Beard-nominated Chef Oscar Amador has described the restaurant as a “high-energy, elegant space where nature plays a central role,” with the menu reflecting that same spirit.
The seasonally driven culinary offerings — rooted in Spanish tradition and blended with influences from Japan, the Mediterranean, and beyond — are described as “playful, soulful, and meant to be shared.” Begin your meandering meal with the scallop crudo (tom kha sauce, candied lime, pickled jalapeño), caviar and eggs, or pan con tomate. For a true treat, experience the tableside butcher’s beef tartare (where a server methodically combines bone marrow, chive-jalapeño emulsion, mojo rojo, black garlic aioli, egg yolk, and toasted coca bread), perhaps accompanied by a gin and tonic also made via exclusive, tableside service. Outstanding mains here include the pan-roasted black cod and lamb loin asada, best polished off with a bowl of the deconstructed key lime pie.
Though it’s hard to tear oneself away from 1 Hotel Seattle’s dreamy interior, nearby sites luring you out include the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum and the adjacent Space Needle’s Loupe Lounge. Here, a seafood tower and whimsical cocktails are best relished as your table slowly spins high above the city, offering a 360-degree view of the Seattle skyline. Other downtown meals guaranteed to please your palate include Pike Place’s Matt’s the Market and Pioneer Square’s 84 Yesler, where freshly sourced, organic ingredients contribute to dishes featuring sea bass, seared scallops, salmon, and other local delicacies. A six-course tasting menu showcases unexpected treasures like sunflower raviolo.
In Belltown, ShoMon proves a near-theatrical experience with exquisite service that should not be missed. Sitting at the intimate counter here offers a front-row seat to a “Kappo” feast, inspired by the traditional Japanese culinary style, where ingredients are meticulously prepared before your eyes. Skilled chefs are somehow able to chit-chat with guests while simultaneously cutting, simmering, grilling, and plating in the most artistic ways. The chefs (“Itamae”) at ShoMon have honed these skills primarily in top Japanese restaurants, including a Michelin-starred Kappo restaurant in Kyoto. Prepare to be dazzled by their expert craftsmanship before diving into fresh bites of Dungeness crab, ling cod, bluefin tuna, Wagyu, and so many other special delights, perhaps paired with tea, wine, whiskey, or a flight of sake.
*If you were wowed by the 1 Hotel brand’s ethos and aesthetics, keep their other global destinations in mind, like Copenhagen, Denmark, where PÆRE Dining Room melds a coastal Italian sensibility with fresh, Nordic ingredients in a stunning setting. In 2027, the hotel’s brand-new Bamford Wellness Spa will give even more reason to visit. From Copenhagen, exploring the rest of the country via train is pleasant and efficient, thanks to DSB and its comfortable, typically timely offerings.
Six Senses Crans-Montana, Switzerland
Last but not least, the fresh air and copious lakes of this European nation seem enough to put anyone’s nervous system at ease. It’s an incredibly easy country to get around, too; we recommend taking advantage of the 1st class Swiss Travel Pass for ease-filled journeys with jaw-dropping views. We can think of countless reasons to reach Six Senses Crans-Montana, a wonderland set above the Rhône Valley, and their multi-day retreats seem the perfect excuse to find some R and R in the towering Swiss Alps. The venue is said to meld “playful alpine energy with elevated wellness and refined dining.”
Offerings here have ranged from a longevity-focused retreat called The Art of Staying Young, an immersive four-day experience, to their latest, quicker option — the Alpine Reboot. This intensive full-day wellness journey is designed to restore balance, boost energy, and support long-term wellbeing, all done in the midst of a sunlit alpine backdrop enhanced by panoramic views of the valley below. After your rejuvenating retreat, consider spending time in other Swiss destinations like Zurich, the country’s largest city with a creative gastronomy scene, Geneva, a powerful town that’s said to boast the highest concentration of luxury hotels in Europe, and laid-back Lausanne, home to countless parks and the highly impressive Olympic Museum.
Wherever you land this summer and beyond, we hope you find luxury, beauty, and restoration within your hotel walls — before you’ve even set foot outdoors to begin your greater explorations.