When booking a hotel, most people don’t consider the framework of the building itself. Many choose hotels based on convenience or cost. Centrally located? Wonderful. Cheaper than an Airbnb? Splendid. For some, minimalism is fine—the hotel is secondary to the trip. But other travelers want more from their hotel—to surround themselves in total luxury in a space unlike any other. Sound like you? If you have a penchant for unique architecture, design hotels are destinations unto themselves.
Most hotels spring up in whatever real estate is available. A select number of properties, however, play off their surroundings. What makes these design hotels architectural marvels differ from one to the next. It could be significant because of the architect who designed it, historical distinction, or even because the building itself is unique (if it’s a building at all).
Below are eight design hotels worth the trip.
Spectacular Design Hotels That Are Architectural Marvels
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1. Hotel Marqués de Riscal
La Rioja, Spain
At the center of the Rioja Alavesa wine region in Álava, Spain, is this avant-garde masterpiece by Frank O. Gehry—one of the few modern architects the average person knows by name. Hotel Marqués de Riscal is just 15 years old, contrasted against surrounding structures 10 times its age (and that’s nothing compared to the 1,200-year-old La Rioja wine industry). Gehry calls the hotel “a marvelous creature, with its hair flying in all directions, launching itself over the vineyards.” He also designed the interiors of all 43 rooms and suites, made even more luxurious by the onsite Vinotherapie Caudalie spa, and a Michelin-starred fine dining. (May we suggest the Rioja?)
Cappadocia is famous for its Bronze Age-era cave hotels, carved into the rocks among the horizon’s stalagmite-like “fairy chimneys.” Your stay in any hotel is second to the sunrise hot air balloon adventure that most visitors seek out—though a luxury cave hotel with views of the horizon (and all those air balloons) might just rival it. Museum Hotel is a modernized cave dwelling boasting antiques from the Ottoman, Seljuk, Roman, and Hittite periods, giving it a “living museum” concept. And of course, no two of its 30 rooms and suites are alike, since uniformity was not something the original architects prioritized when chipping away at stone. Design hotels aren’t always about the manmade, after all.
Felsenhotel La Claustra, Airolo, SwitzerlandCourtesy Image
3. Felsenhotel La Claustra
Airolo, Switzerland
La Claustra is not for the claustrophobic—nor anyone who values a cell phone signal. It is, in fact, a “bunker hotel,” fashioned from an artillery bunker that’s built into the rocks 1.25 miles high into the Swiss Alps. And although it’s not most people’s idea of luxury, the location and silence are a welcome respite. If you’re worried about the other most important amenity (since connection with the outside world is off the table), rest assured you’ll have hot and cold spring water from five different Alps springs. The strange underground ambience makes for a head-clearing escape for many conferences, retreats, and creative escapes. There are 17 bedrooms across 54,000 sq. feet, which can accommodate up to 60 guests for private events.
Thirty miles outside of Shanghai city center is Wonderland, opened in 2018 into a rock quarry. What’s notable about this InterContinental resort hotel is its two underwater suites, which swap out the stunning quarry views and submerge visitors inside a lively aquarium. The onsite eatery Mr. Fisher pulls the same stunt, surrounding guests with schools of fishes.
Oftentimes, hotels are iconic for the era they represent. This is the case for oceanfront Fontainebleau in Miami (22 acres of oceanfront, to be exact). Its prominence on the coast is at Copacabana levels, thanks to architect Morris Lapidus’s towering curvature design. The 565-room luxury resort has been a nightlife staple since its opening in the 1950s, and has even been seen in a number of TV shows and films, most notably the James Bond film, Goldfinger. A 2008 renovation cost upwards of $1 billion, the same year the building was put on the National Register of Historic Places. To many, it’s the most important architectural structure in Florida, and cracked the top 100 on the 2007 American Institute of Architecture’s list “America’s Favorite Architecture” at No.93.
From the curtains to the wall sconces, every detail at the Romantic Neogothic Petroff Palace is stately—as it should be, since the facility was erected at the order of Catherine the Great to celebrate victory over the Ottoman Empire in the 18th-century Russian-Turkish war. She wanted its 16-meter dome to resemble that of Istanbul’s (then Constantinople’s) Hagia Sofia. Don’t miss seeing it, in the hotel’s Round Hall. Napoleon once occupied the palace while surrounding Moscow burned, and Petroff also played host to Alexander II immediately before his crowning. Now, it’s a stunning boutique hotel with 43 keys, and one of the world’s most storied properties.
Rotterdam is one of the world’s architecture capitals, and the quirkiest one at that. (It’s a short train ride from Amsterdam, equidistant to the Schiphol Airport.) A stroll through the city center is a feast for the eyes, thanks to its appreciation for cheekiness. One of Rotterdam’s most iconic structures is the riverfront De Rotterdam, with its off-center trio of towers designed by Rem Koolhaas. The architect did all of the interior detailing at Nhow Rotterdam hotel, too, which takes up 23 stories in the easternmost tower. This hotel is a bucket list treat for the architecture junkies above all else, but it’s an easy, accessible 4-star pick for any visitors.
Speaking of architectural bucket lists: This 3-star hotel is found inside the otherwise residential “radiant city” (‘Cité Radieuse’) in Marseille. Hotel Le Corbusier combines colorful elements characteristic of Le Corbusier, the famed architect and urban planner whose various Unité d’habitation projects aimed to solve urban crowding with high-rise, community-based structural design. You can experience what life is like for the many residents who still occupy the space, with its pop-color balconies overlooking the sea to one side, and green foliage to the other.
There’s no doubt when the weather turns colder as we settle into winter, stouts take center stage. And while we enjoy all its iterations: standard stout, imperial stout, and robust barrel-aged stouts, we think this malty, chocolate-filled beer’s close cousin deserves a little respect as well. Of course, we’re talking about the oft-overlooked porter. And the best porters, oh buddy, they’ll have you rethinking your seasonal bevvie of choice.
For those uninitiated, the porter style had its genesis in England like many other iconic beer styles. It first appeared in the 1700s and is (you guessed it) named after porters—individuals tasked with transporting luggage.
A confusing origin story
“Stout is the direct descendant of porter. In the 1700s, it was common to use the word ‘stout’ to refer to a bolder, higher-alcohol version of any beer style, much in the same way we use the word ‘imperial’ today,” says Zach Fowle, advanced cicerone and head of marketing for Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix, AZ. “Porter was the most popular beer of the day, and over time, “stout porter” became a popular variant. But by the late 1800s, demand for regular porters evaporated, and stout porter shortened simply to stout.”
But more has changed between the 1800s and today than just our penchant for wearing top hats. “Today, most brewers seem to market beers as either stout or porter based on vibes, rather than on any notable stylistic differences,” he says.
Specifically, porters are known for their dark, almost pitch-black color and rich, sweet flavor profile. If you were to drink a porter and a stout side by side, you might even have difficulty discerning the differences between the two.
Stout versus porter is an enduring topic of discussion in the brewing industry. “While there’s no debating the porter came first—and stout used to be called stout porter, so it was a stronger version of a porter—the lines have become very blurred over the years,” says Rob Lightner, co-founder of East Brother Brewing in Richmond, CA.
“I would venture that even among professionals, a blind taste test would often yield inconclusive results,” says Lightner.
The difference between porters and stouts
Porters tend to be on the milder, more chocolatey end of the spectrum, Lightner says, whereas stouts are typically a little stronger and more roasty. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule
Fowle agrees, “Porters tend to be fruitier, sweeter, and less bitter than stouts, with cocoa and caramel flavors in balance with dark malt bitterness. And stouts are usually hoppier, drier, maltier, and more coffee-forward—and may even have a touch of acidity.”
Whether or not they fit neatly into boxes, one thing’s for sure: both make for incredible cold-weather brews.
“As the nights grow longer, drinking a light, summery beer just doesn’t seem right,” says Fowle. “Porter is the perfect style for the transition to winter: warming and toasty yet not too heavy, with flavors of coffee, chocolate, and pie crust that correspond with autumn weather and holidays.”
It’s the perfect time to broaden your repretoire. Sweet, robust, warming, and well-suited to the season, here are the best porters to drink now.
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1. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
There are few porters more well-respected than Deschutes’ iconic Black Butte Porter. It’s brewed with Cascade and Tettnang hops as well as 2-row, Chocolate, Crystal, and Carapils malts as well as wheat. This 5.5% ABV year-round offering is great for cold-weather drinking because of its mix of roasted malts, coffee, and chocolate. It’s a robust, subtly sweet beer perfect for imbibing on a crisp fall night.
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
Marius Bugge
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
Marius Bugge
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
Marius Bugge
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
Marius Bugge
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
Marius Bugge
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
Marius Bugge
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
Marius Bugge
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
Marius Bugge
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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If you haven’t picked up a jump rope since elementary school, you’re missing out on a fantastic cardio workout. Not only will you burn a ton of calories in a short amount of time—200 to 300 calories in 15 minutes—but jump ropes can also improve your coordination and agility. Better yet, jumping rope doesn’t require much space, so it’s easy to do at home, and it’s often more mentally stimulating than jogging or swimming.
Choosing a Jump Rope
When deciding which jump rope is best for you, it’s important to determine what your goals are. While lightweight speed ropes are popular for cardio-focused training, weighted or drag ropes will be best for those focused on strength training.
No matter what your training goals are, we’ve got you covered with this roundup of 10 jump ropes from top brands including Crossrope, TRX, Rogue, and more.
The Best Jump Ropes of 2022
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