Fitness
10 Best Luxury Hotels in the World for a No-Expense-Spared Getaway
It’s been a weird couple years for travel. By this point, most of us have attempted a trip or two—masked and vaxxed, we hope—most likely out of obligation to see family or friends. As for a more pampered, head-clearing escape, some have crossed the country, maybe even the Atlantic, while others have flown over the border to Mexico for a much-needed break from reality. If you haven’t already traveled for that change of scenery and peace of mind, now might be the best time to plan a trip for yourself and your favorite plus one. On the pandemic front, we’re moving into some semblance of “living with this,” so whether that trip is next month or next year, we’re happy to provide some indulgent inspiration for your next escape with the best luxury hotels in the world.
While the roster of best luxury hotels is long and varied, these 10 properties are our top standouts of late. They’ll each help you unplug and unwind in their own unique way—and after the last two years, that’s the least any of us deserves.
These Luxury Hotels Will Help You Live Large in the Best Cities in the World
1. Casa Silencio: Xaagá, Oaxaca, Mexico
Opening September 2021, Casa Silencio is part distillery, part hotel. You may already be familiar with El Silencio, the best-selling mezcal. This hotel, located outside Oaxaca’s capital city limits, marks a new phase of hospitality for the brand, and centers guests in mezcal’s native region while also immersing them in El Silencio’s artisanal production process. Co-founders Vicente Cisneros and Fausto Zapata envisioned an eco-friendly, no-waste, self-sustaining hotel, down to the solar panels and harvested rainwater. They embrace a local ethos. Oaxacan cuisine gets served across a 17-ton, 53-foot-long, hand-cut basalt communal dining table. Regional textiles, paintings, and sculptures adorn each room. And a solar-powered, half-ton tahona wheel mashes agave pulp in the onsite distillery. Guests enjoy spa-like amenities in each of the six onsite suites, as well as easy access to Oaxaca City and surrounding attractions (like the rugmakers of Teotitlan del Valle, the petrified waterfall Hierve el Agua, and the Mixtec/Zapotec ruins of Monte Álban and Mitla). You also have access to a plunge pool, bonfire pits, and said mezcal production areas, tucked away in a quiet corner of Mexico’s most colorful, flavorful state.
2. Le Bristol: Paris, France
Le Bristol is Paris as you’ve dreamt it: a (literal) palatial setting, with 13,000-foot courtyard gardens, brightly lit rooms and suites with gilded decor. Not to mention four Michelin stars among its onsite eateries, all under chef Eric Frechon (three stars for Epicure, reopening October 1, and one for 114 Faubourg, reopening August 30). Often regarded as Paris’ top hotel, period, Le Bristol is just off Avenue des Champs Elysées, near the Grand Palais (read: prime walking distance to the city’s most storied attractions). The jewel on this crown is the indoor rooftop pool, which offers expansive views of the Eiffel Tower and Montmartre. (It’s also part of Spa Le Bristol, featuring Russian Banïya treatments, a private couples’ suite, plus products from La Prairie.) It’s one of Paris’ dozen “Palace Hotels,” a distinction awarded based on historical merit, grandeur, world-class hospitality, beauty, gastronomy, and more 5-star standards. Oh, and watch for the furry Fa-Raon, Le Bristol’s fixture Burmese feline, in the lobby or garden. Of the hotel’s many famed guests, he’s perhaps the most beloved of them all.
3. Dunton Hot Springs: Dunton, CO
This ghost-town resort is an attraction all its own, rivaling nearby Telluride, Arches, and Mesa Verde with its 1800s-era log cabins and bathhouse (all up to date with 21st-century specs, of course). You can enjoy the thermal water five ways, including the bathhouse, hot springs, and the property’s heated pool. Each of Dunton’s 10 bookable log cabins features Four Corners-appropriate furnishings, down to the crackling fires and fur rugs. Stroll down to towns’ end to peep the open-air chapel and tumbling waterfall, or spend the day hiking or skiing the nearby runs. You can even book the entire grounds for a magnificent wedding or other occasion, adding to the many stories witnessed by these San Juan Mountains.
4. Maçakizi Bodrum: Bodrum, Turkey
Maçakizi helped Bodrum evolve from a simple seaside town into the lively, luxurious escape it’s known as today. The hotel has played host to Mick Jagger and Naomi Campbell, as well as countless writers, artists, and intellectuals seeking headspace and mischief alike. Each room, suite, and villa nestles guests into a sea- or garden-facing reprieve, while Chef Aret Sahakyan’s artful platings lure each from their abode. Don’t leave without a visit to the onsite hammam, or a sunset cruise on the hotel’s motorboat. (Alternatively, consider the half-day lunch option…or both.) Keep eyes peeled for the April 2022 launch of Villa Maçakizi, a 10-suite private Paradise Bay villa just 10 minutes from Maçakizi by boat.
Arctic TreeHouse Hotel: Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland Courtesy Image
5. Arctic TreeHouse Hotel: Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
Lapland is the closest inhabitable resemblance we’ve got to the North Pole, evidenced quite literally by the year-round Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. Among the many year-round activities in Lapland, Northern Lights scouting remains top of the list—and a lifelong bucket-list item for many. Arctic TreeHouse gives seekers prime viewing access, with the aurora borealis shining approximately every other clear night between September and March. The hotel’s tiny-house-style cabins provide an elegant, cozy environment to witness one of nature’s most incredible phenomena. During the day, the glass wall looks out over a steep hillside, showcasing Lapland’s snow-covered pines. It’s a true wintry wonderland, though you’ll be warmed by hearty Finnish cuisine, crackling fireplaces and, yes, a private Finnish sauna.
6. Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge: Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa
Earth Lodge is one of four 5-star Sabi Sabi properties on the Sabie Game Reserve in eastern South Africa. It blends into the bushveld, practically becoming one with nature—so much so you may even get a curious (and friendly!) visitor from Greater Kruger National Park. Guests can partake in day or night safaris in open-air vehicles to scout the Big 5 (lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, and leopards), as well as cheetahs, hyenas, and other animals that populate the bush. Guests pay a levy that supports Sabie Game Reserve conservation efforts, making this once-in-a-lifetime experience a mindful one at that. Each of the 13 luxe suites on the property boasts its own plunge pool, plus indoor and outdoor shower. You can visit the onsite Amani Spa for a relaxing treatment, drink from a 6,000-bottle rare wine collection, or sit under the night sky in the Earth Lodge’s own fire-pit lounge.
7. Castello di Reschio: Umbria, Italy
A short jaunt from Perugia and Florence alike, the 3,700-acre Reschio Estate opened this 36-room hotel in its onsite castle (casual, we know) in May 2021. On its grounds, guests can go horseback riding through the Umbrian wilderness, forage for truffles, fish, reading lakeside, cook adjacent to the divino Ristorante Alle Scuderie, serving timeless Italian, play tennis on astroturf, bike the grounds, or visit the music and art exhibitions at the onsite Tabaccaia di Reschio. Architect Benedikt Bolza and his wife, Donna Nencia Corsini, could moonlight as Hollywood set designers for the beautiful restoration work they’ve put into each room of this hotel. With the Umbrian landscape as backdrop and thousand-year framework holding it all together, Castello di Reschio feels fashioned from fantasy—but rest assured, it’s the real deal.
8. Royal Mansour Marrakech: Marrakesh, Morocco
At Royal Mansour, guests reside in one of 53 regal riads, each a three-story affair tucked into the property’s meandering alleyways. The palace rests on a 5-hectare estate in the heart of Marrakesh, next to the Medina old town. You can book private dining at The Nest, while hovering over the ground gardens among lemon and palm trees; or indulge in the Mediterranean-Asian-fusion fare at Le jardin, from Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno. A new grounds expansion yielded the glass-paneled greenhouse, Atelier d’Artiste, which plays host to art therapy sessions (such as pottery, painting, and calligraphy). That greenhouse is second only to the 27,000 square-foot Spa Royal Mansour, with its metal latticework atrium (offering products from Intraceuticals, Subtle Energies, and Dr. Burgener Switzerland). It’s luxury fit for a king, which should be a given: Royal Mansour is owned by the King of Morocco, after all. His personal guests surely occupy the hotel’s Grand Riad, whose description we must lift verbatim: “The 19,375 square-foot residence features a private library, two swimming pools, a cinema, hammam, gym, multiple dining and living rooms and a glass-enclosed split-level terrace with a retractable roof.” It can be yours, too, if you’re feeling very fancy.
9. FUFU: Kyoto, Japan
FUFU is a reprieve at the opposite end of the Earth—a total detox complemented by tranquil, temple-tinged Kyoto. Turn off your phone, save the stamina for Tokyo, and settle into FUFU’s zenful garden-guarded sanctuary. Guests bathe in hot spring water from the Nose Art Lake, within sumptuous cypress tubs. Private experiences are available in the hotel’s detached house, from millennium-old flower arrangement practices to tea or incense ceremonies, yoga and meditation courses, as well as geisha performances. Onsite restaurant Ioto serves seasonally and locally sourced charcoal-grilled fare, paired with wines and sake. You’ll hear the sounds of running water, watch blossoms come and go in the garden, hide away in the stress-melting rooms and suites, and soak in the inimitable experience that is Japanese hospitality.
10. The Mark Hotel: New York City
With a view over Madison Avenue and a stone’s throw to Central Park, The Mark is a gem for its location alone. But inside, you’ll see why it’s also the chosen hotel partner for the annual Met Gala, with its avant-garde decor from legendary French designer Jacques Grange. It’s one of Manhattan’s most vibrant, exciting, see-and-be-seen hotels, with 5-star amenities at every turn, like a 1,400-square-foot fitness center and onsite Frédéric Fekkai’ hair salon. Guests can book Picnic in the Park, bikes, and drop by the Mark Haute Dog Cart for gourmet, organic chicken or grass-fed beef hot dogs, as well as sorbet and gelato. Other perks include personal shopping from Bergdorf Goodman, plus pedicabs exclusive for hotel guests (to help get you to the Met, of course). As if this weren’t enough, you can level up with any number of The Mark’s experiential offerings, like charter the hotel’s sailboat (for up to 25 people) or book a private dining experience with Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges (whose Mark Restaurant is also a highlight of each stay).
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The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top.
Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop
once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
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