My partner and I are getting ready to spend much of this summer on our new tugboat—something I never imagined saying until a few months ago. But thanks to our new satellite Wi-Fi setup, we’ve now got internet in even the most remote coves, which means I’ll be working, editing, and writing from the water for stretches of time.
It’s a far cry from the marble bathrooms and city views of the Park Hyatt New York’s $35,000-a-night suite, which editorial director Billie Cohen recently reviewed for Afar, but it’s made me think about how broadly the word “luxury” can be interpreted. For some, it’s an elegant two-floor spa in Bangkok. For others, it’s about heading into the wilderness with just enough connection to keep life moving (any of these incredible new Montana lodges can help with that). For my part, I thrive on both kinds of luxury—so much so that I schedule my entire year around this philosophy.
In the spring and fall, I prefer urban explorations. This fall, I’ll return to my beloved longtime home of New York City, followed by a trip to Tokyo, where I plan to check into the Park Hyatt Tokyo, a nostalgic favorite of mine where much of Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation was set; it’s also where my hotelier dad would stay on business trips to the city when we lived in Asia. Park Hyatt Tokyo will unveil a top-to-bottom renovation in October 2025, and I’m counting the days.
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Exploring Vancouver Island via helicopter at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge in 2024. |
In the summer, however, it’s hard to pull me away from the temperate rainforests and idyllic waterways of my Pacific Northwest home, where the days are long and filled with sunlight. Last year was all about Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge on Vancouver Island, Canada, where I walked through ancient forests and hovered over evergreen trees in a helicopter. This summer I’m planning a return trip to British Columbia—this time to Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort, in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest.
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Parisian charm, en suite kitchenettes, and garden views—for under $200 |
The cafe in Le Jardin de Verre by Locke in Paris. |
When contributor Laura Rysman told me about this new gem of a hotel in Paris’s happening Latin Quarter, I couldn’t believe my ears when she shared the starting rate of $160, which is rare for a hotel with this level of style and detail. Le Jardin de Verre by Locke is located in an 18th-century hôtel particulier, or private city mansion, and has en suite kitchenettes and a private garden—all in the thoroughly Parisian fifth arrondissement. Need I say more?
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Aman returns to Thailand with a retreat in the heart of Bangkok |
A south-facing Premier Suite at Aman Nai Lert Bangkok. |
Aman Nai Lert Bangkok is the celebrated Aman Resorts’ much-awaited return to Thailand, after launching here in 1988 on a secluded stretch of Phuket. The interiors designed by Jean-Michel Gathy, who has created more than a dozen Amans, are clad in rich stones and woods—an inviting minimalist escape from the city’s frenzy. |
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In Taipei, Capella creates a hotel experience rooted in culture |
The new Capella Taipei enlisted designer Andre Fu to bring the interiors to life. Fu, who is based in Hong Kong, has gained attention in the hotel world for his use of sumptuous materials and thoughtful cultural references. At the Capella Taipei, his team pays homage to Taiwanese culture down to the teapots, which were sourced from nearby artisan villages. The hotel’s programming also connects visitors to local culture with tours of tea farms and Taipei’s most historic neighborhoods.
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Wherever you’re headed next, I hope you land somewhere that energizes you—or slows you down in all the right ways. Got a hotel you love or can’t wait to try? Tell me at [email protected]—I might share it in an upcoming issue. See you on the road, Jennifer Flowers
Senior deputy editor, Afar |
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More hotel inspiration for your next trip |
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