As I write this recap, I’m preparing for my fourth hotel stay in five weeks. Working with Global Traveler, hotels often feel like a home away from home — as they do for many of our readers. There are highs and lows, but since I joined Global Traveler in 2006, most of my stays have leaned toward the exceptional.
TWO WEEKS INTO my tenure at Global Traveler, I was in Santa Monica for a work event at the Sheraton Delfina. Fresh out of college, my travel experience had been limited to family vacations and European hostels during study abroad. Suddenly finding myself in a suite with a private deck and hot tub overlooking Santa Monica felt like a real treat.
ANOTHER ONE OF my early hotel experiences with the magazine was The Langham Boston. Spending a long weekend in the city, I appreciated the hotel’s location and its home in the former Federal Reserve Bank. What I remember most, though, was the Saturday chocolate brunch — more than 100 chocolate preparations that felt like pure indulgence. Those unique moments are what make a hotel stay memorable.
ONE OF MY most immersive stays was at Anantara’s Qasr Al Sarab, set in the Liwa Desert. The resort rises from the sands like a mirage and feels like a destination in itself. I hiked dunes at sunrise, rode a camel at sunset, watched an Emirati feed his falcon and enjoyed a massage using lotions made from local dates. Beyond the dramatic landscape, the accommodations were luxuriously appointed.
EACH YEAR, Global Traveler runs an online charity auction. One year I found myself drawn to the Hotel Allegro in Chicago from the prize listings — the certificate’s swirl designs and photos of modern guestrooms promised a playful stay. I visited in March 2009, meeting my mom for a long weekend after she finished a nursing convention. It was a lighthearted, quirky hotel that matched the mood we needed. We fell in love with Chicago and created joyful memories that included my late grandmother in spirit.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF a stay shaped by great company was The Brazilian Court Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida. I took two girlfriends for a weekend escape and we luxuriated in a three-room suite finished in rich cherry tones. With living and dining spaces, two bedrooms with full baths and ample room to relax, we enjoyed the pool, the nearby beach, dining in Daniel Boulud’s restaurant and strolling Worth Avenue. As managing editor of Global Traveler, I often stay at five-star hotels, but sharing that experience with friends was a special pleasure.
SPEAKING OF EXTRA-LARGE accommodations, the biggest room I’ve stayed in was a 3,500-square-foot suite at The Peninsula New York. Even 300 square feet feels indulgent in New York City, so stepping into a suite with a long hallway, a living room and office with wall-to-wall windows, a dressing area and marble bathroom, plus a large bedroom with a king bed was jaw-dropping. I could have happily moved in. The hotel also has one of the best fitness centers I’ve encountered.
ANOTHER NYC HOTEL that ranks among my favorites is the Mandarin Oriental. While the logistics of using two separate elevators could be inconvenient, nothing beat the views of Central Park and the city from my room — I would have stood at those windows for hours if time allowed. A later stay at the Mandarin Oriental, Macau, reinforced my appreciation for the brand’s attention to detail and first-rate amenities.
Hotel Las Brisas © Kimberly Krol
HOTEL LAS BRISAS is an Acapulco icon. The white building with pink rooftops and lush tropical foliage evokes midcentury glamour. My suite, labeled “Casa Krol,” had its own gate and private walkway and made me feel specially welcomed. Recovering from a broken heart, I arrived to rose petals on the bed and towel swans — a bittersweet moment that quickly shifted when I stepped outside. My suite was built into a cliff overlooking Acapulco’s blue waters, with a pool, sauna and multi-level outdoor seating. The vista and sunset were enough to make everything else fade away.
This list only scratches the surface of the memorable hotel stays I’ve been fortunate to enjoy. I’ve experienced iconic properties like Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles and boutique gems like Hotel Quincy in Singapore; enormous resorts such as Sheraton Hotel Macau and intimate spots like The Crescent Beverly Hills; architectural wonders like Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and hip city hotels like Gansevoort Meatpacking in New York; scenic retreats such as The Leela Kovalam and urban-view classics like The InterContinental London Park Lane. Each stay offers its own distinct charm.
The best part? I still get a thrill at the simple act of sliding my key card into the lock and wondering what awaits on the other side of the next hotel door.