Most ICONIC Stays

THE MOST ICONIC STAYS

BACCARAT HOTEL

by Dena Roché

No apologies—we’re a bit particular when it comes to luxury hotels. In fact, what really sets one apart from another? Luxury travelers expect all five-star stays to offer an amazing experience, so what makes a Baccarat better than a Belmond, or a Four Seasons rank over a Fairmont? We’ve stayed at hundreds of exclusive properties worldwide, and we’ve done the time, brought back the intel and invested in the deeper dive to share our picks for truly ICONIC stays.

HOTEL EMMA Texas

Good times are brewing at Hotel Emma in San Antonio. Located on the famous River Walk and housed in a 19th Century brewhouse that maintained many of its original fixtures and even equipment from the brewing days, the 146-room boutique property stands out with great loft-like design, modern and historic aesthetics, and local touches. A culinary concierge is on-hand to organize private chef dinners in your suite, or advise guests of hidden pop-up dinners around town. As a writer, the 3,700-volume library from the collection of a local historian provides the perfect alcove in which to while away a rainy afternoon.

THE RANCH AT ROCK CREEK Montana

The Ranch at Rock Creek, a Relais & Chateaux property nestled into one of the most pristine valleys in Montana, is the first guest ranch in the world to earn a Forbes Five-Star award. The Ranch takes glamping to a new level, with 29 individual accommodations from onebedroom suites to five-bedroom homes. The ranch offers a host of winter activities including survival skills while on a snowmobile to a new Après Ski & Spa package where you can combine downhill skiing and snowboarding with blissful treatments in the Granite Spa.

RITZ-CARLTON DOVE MOUNTAIN Arizona

With the debut of a floor-to-ceiling renovation of all its guest rooms, The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain near Tucson was one of just eight hotels in the world to earn a five-star rating from Forbes for both the resort and its spa. One of my favorite memories from a past stay was roasting s’mores, so I love that the 14 Fireside Mountain rooms added in the renovation come with a s’mores kit as the turndown amenity.

I’d heard a rumor that employees at any Ritz-Carlton are empowered to solve a guest problem or create a special experience for guests. Imagine my surprise and delight to return to my room and have a basket of spa goodies sent to me.

BALLYFIN

BALLYFIN Ireland

deeper connection to the place. Such is the the up-and-coming American Colony area of Tel Aviv. The 42-room Leading Hotel of the World pays homage to its unique past when a self-proclaimed prophet from Maine moved 40 American families to Palestine in 1866, and two disciples, John and George Drisco, tried to build the hotel. They ran out of funds and the hotel was eventually completed by a German Templar. Mark Twain and Thomas Cook were frequent ateliers and VIP tickets for the Bat Sheva Ballet and The Gesher Theater next door. If you’ve ever dreamed of being a princess (or prince) Ballyfin Demesne in County Laois, Ireland is your fantasy come to life. This lavish former country mansion is set on 614 acres and features a scant 20 rooms. After eight years of restoration, the house is as over-the-top as Versailles and feels like going back in time, albeit with all the modern conveniences of 2018. The 19th-Century carved wooden canopy I’ve ever seen, is so impressive it literally sits in the center of the room.

THE DRISCO Tel Aviv

A hotel with a storied past can make for a case with the newly opened Drisco Hotel in guests. The hotel offers visits to independent bed, which has the most ornate circle

BACCARAT New York

Baccarat crystal is the epitome of luxury. That iconic luxury is authentically captured in the Baccarat Hotel in New York City. Timeless heritage and elegance gracefully combine with modern amenities and flair to create an atmosphere akin to staying in a fine French chateau in the world’s most dynamic city. Most of the furniture and accessories were custom designed and, naturally, Baccarat crystal is woven into many features. The Grand Salon is designed with champagne-colored silk drapery with vibrant red roses arranged into an elegant ball perched on the bar. There are even Glass Attendants, employees whose entire job is caring for the crystal. My favorite use, though, is Bedside Bubbles: simply press the CHAMPAGNE button on the phone and your favorite bubbly is delivered to the room with Baccarat flutes.

RANCHO VALENCIA

RANCHO VALENCIA California

Zurich may be the financial capital of Europe, but for visitors who want an Old World European experience in this modern mecca, the Widder Hotel is a hidden gem. Located in Old Town, the five-star hotel was created by combining several 700-year-old former guild houses in an incredible adaptive reuse project. While the hotel includes a large collection of modern art from artists like Andy Warhol and Robert Rauschenberg, it’s the old architecture and history that make the Widder shine. When wellness is on the menu, check into one of the 49 casitas at Rancho Valencia, Southern California’s only Relais & Chateaux property. The 45-acre property near Del Mar will make you think you’ve landed in the Mediterranean with its olive trees, gardens and design. There are more than 95 complimentary fitness classes a week, and a fitness butler will meet you after each one with a pressed green juice or protein shake as a reward for completing a workout. With 18 tennis courts on property, including two new ClayTech courts, it’s no surprise to me that it

WIDDER HOTEL Zurich

is Tennis Magazine’s perennial top tennis resort in the country.