Anytime a “world’s best stargazing” list is created, you can be sure Chile’s Atacama Desert ranks at the top. It’s the driest non-polar place on Earth, and the lack of rain makes for a barren landscape — two things that provide optimal stargazing.

In fact, the skies above the Atacama Desert are so clear and open that it was selected as the site for some of the world’s biggest and most advanced observatories and telescopes, including the world’s largest radio telescope, ALMA, and the world’s most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory, Very Large Telescope. The desert is also the future site of the Giant Magellan Telescope, which will be more powerful than any existing ground-based telescope when it is completed.

The best stays for uninterrupted stargazing experience in Chile’s Atacama desert

These tools make the Atacama Desert a hub for astronomers, but it has also become a popular Astro-tourism site, drawing travellers who yearn to see the hallmarks of the Southern Hemisphere sky — perhaps the Tarantula Nebula or even the Large Magellanic Cloud.

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Those who come to Chile to stargaze may enjoy the perks of viewing the night sky from a high-powered telescope, but chances are the privilege of seeing the night sky from bed and drifting off to sleep under a pitch-black, star-studded blanket is the Atacama Desert’s biggest appeal. To that end, we’ve highlighted a few of the area’s best stargazing hotels, including those with dedicated stargazing domes and their own private observatories.

Our Habitas Atacama

Our Habitas Atacama is the latest property to join the scene and is committed to showcasing Chilean culture. Its 51 rooms, for example, are furnished with local decor and textiles. And its on-site restaurant and bar showcase regional ingredients. Guests can take part in workshops to learn cooking, mixology, ceramics and crafts, and wellness activities like sound baths and meditations.

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MiLodge Elqui Domos

Elqui Domos isn’t new to the astro-tourism lodging scene, but the hotel is still one of the area’s best options. For starters, the hotel is set in the Elqui Valley on the southern fringe of the Atacama Desert. Unlike the barren desert, the valley can support plant life, including a stretch of vineyards.

Elqui Domos is set among this desert oasis. The boutique hotel has just 11 rooms, including seven geodesic domes and four observatory-style cabins. The roof on the former opens to reveal starry skies, while the latter has a giant window designed for stargazing. There is also an on-site observatory and regular stargazing tours.

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Explora Atacama

At Explora Atacama, the roofs don’t open to the night sky, but there’s a private observatory and a natural hot spring — both of which provide an excellent way to see the stars. The luxury Explora property is set on a desert estate with an indoor and outdoor pool, a spa, and a menu developed by the renowned Peruvian chef, Virgilio Martínez. The clean, modern rooms have desert views in lieu of TV and Wi-Fi and they offer spectacular journeys and expeditions, including multi-night trips through South America.

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Tierra Atacama

There’s no bad room at Tierra Atacama, a property that overlooks the Licancabur Volcano and the Atacama Desert. In fact, the hotel was built to take advantage of the area’s expansive views and some rooms even have al fresco bathrooms so guests can shower under the starry skies.

Beyond rooms with serious views, Tierra Atacama has a spa with an indoor and outdoor pool, a steam room, and a menu of treatments that incorporate regional specialties, including sheep’s milk, honey, and clay. Similarly, the on-site restaurant does its best to rely on local produce to create its menu of north Chilean cuisine.

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Hotel Awasi Atacama

The experience at Hotel Awasi Atacama is all-inclusive, so guests don’t have to worry about getting to and from the hotel or paying for food or drink (including alcohol). There are also a series of excursions guests can choose from, including horseback riding, biking, and tours to the salt flats, highland lagoons, and local archaeological sites. In the evening, guests can book an astronomical tour with a local guide.

The property is also unique because it is made of stone, wood, and mud and is set under a latched roof — a traditional way of building in the desert. The highlight of the eight well-appointed guest rooms is the private patios with solariums and outdoor showers.

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(Hero and feature image credit: Alfredo Santamaria/500px/Getty Images)

This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com

Related: Washington’s Stargazing Domes Offer A View Of Cascade Mountains With Private Saunas

Scottsdale, Arizona, has become nearly synonymous with bachelorette parties and balloons, pools packed with inflatables, and Instagram photos featuring sunsets and saguaro cacti. Its dry heat, thriving restaurant and bar scene, and vast assortment of outdoor activities — from day clubs to country clubs — are magnets for group trips and carefully planned itineraries.

If the aforementioned features don’t equate to your ideal adventure, you may have steered clear of Scottsdale in the past. However, a quick 30-minute drive north will have you rethinking that idea.

Desert bathing is the key to complete relaxation at this resort in Arizona

Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North is a far cry from the bustling nightlife of Old Town Scottsdale. The property’s focus on nature, wellness, and its food and beverage program landed it on Travel + Leisure’s list of best Arizona resorts for luxury travellers, and it’s grounded in its desire to create a tranquil atmosphere for guests, starting from the moment they pull under the portico.

While many hotels strictly rely on their interiors and amenities to create an experience, the Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North’s exact brand of calmness stems, in part, from its location. Built in the foothills of Pinnacle Peak, the 210 guest rooms, bi-level pool, and various common spaces are merely foils — albeit beautiful ones — to the main character: 40 acres of the Sonoran Desert. “The property’s natural desert setting is inherently calming,” says Jaana Roth, the resort’s senior spa director.

The resort offers a number of immersive outdoor activities to ensure travellers take in the full breadth of the desert and its magic. In 2022, “desert bathing” was added on a rotating basis as part of the weekly fitness and wellness programming. Similar to forest bathing, desert bathing is “designed to help participants unplug from technology and slow down,” says Roth. Led by a wellness instructor, it begins with a moment of intention setting and a mindfulness exercise. What follows is best described as a meditative hike — where stopping, deep breathing, and simply taking a moment to soak in the setting are encouraged.

“The key to desert bathing is to use all five senses,” she explains. “Listen to the birds, notice the different varieties of cacti and native plants, smell the rich scent of creosote bushes and desert sage, taste the freshness of the air, and feel the desert sand beneath you.”

At first, desert bathing appears to be a straightforward concept — even with additional yoga poses incorporated along the way. But there’s another level to it. Desert bathing encourages a “deeper connection to place and the natural desert beauty,” says Roth, one that benefits our physical health and mental wellness. According to Roth, guests should feel a boost of energy, experience a better night’s sleep, and achieve a “more relaxed state of mind” after a hike. From a scientific perspective, many studies have demonstrated the benefits of simply being outside.

According to one 2018 study, natural environments lead to lower stress levels. Another study published in the same year credits greenspaces — and yes, the Sonoran Desert features a variety of green plants — with a reduction in diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and salivary cortisol, as well as the incidence of type II diabetes and stroke. When viewed with a more qualitative lens, desert bathing is the perfect time to leave your phone in your room (you can take photos later) and force yourself to focus on the present. For those who have never tried — or succeeded with — meditation, desert bathing can be used as a gateway to other mindfulness practices.

Desert bathing isn’t the only way Roth’s team incorporates the desert into its offerings, though. Inside the spa, guests can enjoy the Nopal Massage or the Prickly Pear Renewal treatment. In the former, warm cactus gel is applied to the skin using cactus paddles. Also known as the prickly pear cactus, the nopal cactus has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties — both of which can be useful for anyone who frequently travels or is in need of a reset. The Prickly Pear Renewal treatment follows the same idea, but it uses a prickly pear body polish to exfoliate before the massage.

Whether you choose to desert bathe, relax in the spa, or hide from the sun in one of the resort’s pool cabanas, there’s a high chance you’ll be able to, as Roth puts it, “hit the pause button” at the Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North. Just don’t forget to pack hiking boots, sunscreen, and some UPF apparel.

(Hero and feature image credit: Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North)

This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com

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Tucked along Colombia’s north Caribbean coast is one of South America’s oldest colonial cities: Cartagena de Indias. Colonised by Spain in 1533 and liberated in 1821, the historic architecture remains well-preserved within its “Old City,” which is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (The Old City is surrounded by a nearly 2.5-mile or 4.02 km wall that was built in the 1590s by Spain to protect the port city from attacks.)

Today, charming squares, cobblestone streets, and colourful buildings await travellers who visit. And this past spring, the Walled City welcomed a new boutique hotel in a Colonial-era building: Casa Pestagua. The historic 18th-century mansion underwent a USD 15 million (INR 1,24,41,37,500) renovation that merges the city’s Colonial past with its contemporary present. (The property is notably Colombia’s only Relais & Châteaux hotel.)

This charming boutique hotel in Cartagena is in an 18th-century home

As part of the update, the property has an upgraded lobby, an on-site restaurant, a new bar, and a gym. “As a carefully renewed and restored hotel, the team put all our best efforts into reopening it,” Paula Andrea Chamorro, the director of sales and marketing, told Travel + Leisure. “Its Moorish-inspired arches; its double-height ceilings; its rooms, each one different from the other and with a history related to the Count of Pestagua; the service and luxury amenities — all these aspects make our hotel unique.”

Casa Pestagua

• The hotel is located in the heart of the city, just a one-minute walk from Plaza de Santo Domingo.
• The vibe and aesthetic of the hotel blend seamlessly with the historic Old City, while simultaneously offering modern amenities.
• You don’t need to leave the property to find a great meal. The on-site restaurant, Ánima, offers local dishes plus international fare.

Casa Pestagua comes from the same owners as Hotel Casa San Agustin, another boutique hotel in the area with three Colonial-era homes that were merged to offer 20 rooms and 11 suites. Preserved throughout the property, much like Casa Pestagua, are original frescoes.

Here’s everything you need to know about the boutique hotel.

The Rooms

Casa Pestagua has 16 rooms and suites in a beautifully restored home. No two rooms are the same — each is unique in its shape and size. The common thread tying the rooms together is the design and thoughtful amenities.

The boutique hotel in Cartagena has two suites — the Count de Pestagua and Madariaga suites — that are equipped for larger groups. Each suite has three rooms, plus private elevator access and a terrace with a jacuzzi and city views.

Food and drink

At the center of the boutique hotel in Cartagena is a Moroccan-style open-air courtyard framed by arches and filled with greenery. That’s where the on-site restaurant — Ánima, under the helm of chef Heberto Eljach — sits. “I was mainly inspired by the ancestral traditions of Colombian cuisine, the gastronomic heritage left to us by our grandparents, the great biodiversity of Colombia, and my family,” Eljach told T+L.

Each stay comes with a complimentary breakfast. Every table is given a bread basket of assorted treats and a fruit platter with seasonal and local bites. Guests can order an assortment of beverages: coffee, water, orange juice, and green juice. And then there’s the a la carte breakfast entrees, which range from arepas to acai bowls and yoghurt parfaits. I opted for the arepa con huevo y carne after a server told me it was his favourite breakfast — whether he gets it at the hotel or from a street vendor. (And he was right, it was delicious.)

“Ánima’s relationship with Colombian cuisine is focused on ancient techniques of traditional cooking — this includes preservation methods (cured, salted, fermented, canned, smoked, pickled), the use of local products, artisanal fishing, organic products from the Montes de Maria, Amazon, and other regions of Colombia,” Eljach said. “Each dish tells a story and it’s important to us that we can keep our traditions alive in our cooking.” (Chef’s tip: he said Ceviche Eljach is a must-try dish. It’s a blend of fish, octopus, shrimp, onion, local chilli peppers, and pork rinds served with a roasted arepa.)

You could also walk over to Casa San Agustin for dinner to dine at Alma, which was also conceived by Eljach. The restaurant is widely considered to be one of the best in the city. (In fact, I dined at Alma when I visited Cartagena in 2019 on a personal trip, as the restaurant’s reputation made it a must-visit.)

You’ll find Ceviche Eljach on both menus, but other than that, the experience is completely different. “Alma’s menu is inspired by the cuisine and products of the Colombian Caribbean and Pacific coasts,” the chef said.

Experiences and amenities

My favourite experience on offer at Casa Pestagua was a visit to Acasi — a private beach in Barú that is only open to guests of Casa Pestagua and Casa San Agustin. “For those looking to escape the noise, Acasi is the perfect place to unwind and experience the natural environment of the lush mangroves and beautiful white-sand beaches,” Chamorro said. “We welcome up to 10 people per day and serve delicious Colombian-Caribbean cuisine.”

After a scenic, one-hour ride on a private boat, we pulled into a dock and walked through mangroves to a gorgeous beach. I was greeted with a cocktail served in a coconut, snacks, hammocks, and oceanfront loungers. The entire experience was relaxing and private — a stark difference from the bustling beaches in the area. For lunch, we enjoyed shrimp ceviche, paella, and a chocolate cake.

(Guests can pick between two food packages: the standard day trip and the VIP one. Both packages include a private speedboat, a host, and transfers between the hotel and the dock. The difference is the food: the standard package serves shrimp ceviche, fruit, and plantain chips, while the VIP one serves specialties like lobster empanadas and grilled octopus. The standard package is USD 600 (INR 49,763) for two adults, plus USD 75 (INR 6,220) for additional adults and USD 35 (INR 2,903) for each child. The VIP package is USD 620 (INR 51,422) for two adults, plus USD 83 (INR 6,884) per extra adult and USD 50 (INR 4,147) per child.

Coming to the private beach this October are six bungalows that will allow guests to stay overnight. Each will have an ocean view, and access to a massage area, bar, restaurant, and pool.

The property concierge can set guests up with local activities, too: walking tours, coffee tastings, rum tastings, and cooking classes.

I joined a coffee experience at Café San Alberto, where I learned about Colombia’s coffee scene, explored the flavour notes of different beans, and became obsessed with a refreshing coffee mocktail made with in-house syrup and sparkling water. (I also learned that, as a reaction to the climate crisis, Colombia’s coffee plants are moving to higher elevations to handle the warming temperatures.)

On a walking tour with local operator Galavanta, I learned about the city, its colonial history, and its present. Our knowledgeable guide, Javier, talked me through Cartagena’s slave trade history and even explained what each home’s quirky ornate door knockers represent. (Spoilers: During the Colonial era, the door knockers symbolised what a resident’s profession was. For example, a lion meant the home belonged to a military family and a lizard meant that the resident was someone of high-society status.)

Casa Pestagua’s Aurum spa

Guests of Casa Pestagua can book a spa treatment at Aurum Spa, which is at the Casa San Agustin location. “Aurum Spa is different than other spas in Cartagena, as it has an official Hammam space offering the service as it is originally done in Marrakesh,” Chamorro said.

During my spa experience, I had a full body massage that made me forget I had just spent the bulk of my day flying to Cartagena. After the treatment, I was taken to the relaxation room to slowly reacclimate to the real world.

The location

Casa Pestagua is just four miles (6.43 km), or a 15-minute drive, from Rafael Núñez International Airport (CTG). The boutique hotel in Cartagena can arrange airport transfers for guests.

Within Cartagena’s old town, the property is conveniently located and walkable to most sites within the historic areas. Las Bóvedas, for example, is a 13-minute walk; Plaza de Santo Domingo, home to the iconic Fernando Botero sculpture, is around the corner; and Santuario de San Pedro Claver is four minutes away. (Pedro Claver was a missionary who advocated for slaves and became the patron saint of slaves.) Even the hip Getsmani neighbourhood is a 20-minute walk or 10 minutes by car.

Chamorro said the hotel’s proximity to the historic city centre is ideal. “Not only because of the city’s history and diversity but also because of how easily navigable the area is — you will never be far from the property.”

Accessibility and sustainability

Though the surrounding city is flat in terms of elevation, visitors should know most nearby streets and sidewalks are cobblestone, which may be challenging for those with limited mobility.

Casa Pestagua encourages its guests to reuse sheets and towels instead of requesting a daily replacement. It also recycles all plastic packaging, working with a recycling plant that then uses the money to financially support children with cancer and other illnesses.

At the private beach, there has been a conscious effort to keep things undeveloped. This means mangroves were planted and the pathway to access the beach is made of washed-up coral instead of pavement.

Casa Pestagua’s nightly room rates, which include breakfast, start at USD 550 (INR 45,616). You can book your stay here.

(Hero and feature image credit: Casa Pestagua)

This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com

All currency conversions were done at the time of writing

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“Waves all day,” sings my enthusiastic surf guide, Lenny Espinoza. It’s barely 5:30 a.m. and morning’s first blush tints the sky sherbet. Most guests at Rancho Santana are still sleeping, but the surrounding jungle is wide awake. We wax our surfboards to a chorus of bellowing howler monkeys, the high-pitched buzz of cicadas, and a symphony of bird song. Above it all we hear the rumble of crashing waves calling us to the ocean.

In most countries, “waves all day” would be a wishful mantra. In Nicaragua, Espinoza’s refrain is a celebratory fact, particularly along the Emerald Coast where Rancho Santana resort is located. Lake Managua, 50 miles (80.46 km) inland from this 30-mile (48.28 km) stretch of shoreline, funnels wind from the country’s Caribbean side across to the Pacific Ocean, providing 330-plus days of offshore winds. Those unicorn winds make this one of the few places in the world where you can find perfect waves, from sunrise to sunset, nearly all year round.

It was the promise of consistent surf that first drew me to Nicaragua in 2010. But the country’s raw natural beauty, empty beaches, warm people, and untapped potential for adventure are what have lured me back a half-dozen times. My reasons for returning have changed, but the reactions of my friends haven’t. “Isn’t it dangerous?” they still worry. “Aren’t the waves in Costa Rica just as good …and the hotels, even better?” they ask.

Nicaragua spent most of the 20th century suffering through oppressive dictators, revolutions, counterrevolutions, a 10-year civil war, and a devastating earthquake. With such a tumultuous past, it’s no wonder that mostly diehard surfers and undaunted backpackers dared venture across its borders in the 1990s when a tenuous calm seemed to settle across the country. As Costa Rica was loudly touted as the poster child of eco-tourism, whispers of Nicaragua’s pristine nature quietly started to spread.

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This resort in Nicaragua provides a dreamy oceanfront view

In 1997, American developer Matt Turner learned of a 2,700-acre ranch for sale with five dreamy, surf-swept beaches. He and five friends flew down to scout the land and immediately knew they’d discovered paradise. Their original vision was to build personal vacation homes, but luckily for me, they decided to share their Shangri-la, called Rancho Santana, eventually adding rentable homes and a 17-room oceanfront inn.

Most real estate developments feel like exclusive, gated compounds shut off from locals. Rancho Santana, however, feels like an integral part of the surrounding communities thanks to investments like a non-profit health clinic and a community centre located across from the ranch’s entrance that offers youth and adult English language courses, computer and vocational classes, sports programs, and a gym open to both locals and guests. Everyone is welcome at weekly bike-and-burger rides hosted at the property. The resort also supports the Santana Surf Team and its members (many of them employees like Espinoza) show off their talent on the waves at Playa Santana, the surfing beach adjacent to the inn.

Espinoza, 28, started working as a surf guide for the resort at age 16. As we paddled out to the empty lineup at Panga Drops, he told me he was promoted to an office job a few years ago. After just a few months, he told his boss that he preferred a job where he could be barefoot and in board shorts sharing his passion with guests.

I can’t say I blame him. His office, the surf shack, is located steps away from world-class surf breaks like Panga Drops and Colorados. It’s also next door to La Taqueria, the resort’s casual taco spot, beloved for its tableside guacamole service and house-ground corn tortillas stuffed with beer-battered catch of the day or chile-braised lamb.

On my first trip to Nicaragua, I was nearly as wave obsessed as Espinoza. Back then, Rancho Santana catered to guests like me. But the resort’s new emphasis on wildlife, culture, and wellness has started to attract non-surfers looking for a less crowded, more affordable alternative to Costa Rica. And what they uncover is a destination that has it all: wildlife, volcanoes, towns brightened with pastel-painted façades, and incredible hiking and biking trails. Even surf-crazed visitors like me are enticed away from the sea.

The vastness of the ranch makes it feel like your own private national park (there’s even a turtle sanctuary and guests can observe hatchlings from August through October). Later that afternoon, Eddy Mendoza, one of the resort’s experience guides, leads me on a hike along the 21 miles (33.79 km) of jungle-shaded trails. A self-described bird nerd, he jumped with excitement when he spotted the long, bright blue tail of Nicaragua’s national bird, the guardabarranco or turquoise-browed motmot, flash above us.

Another afternoon, I up the adrenaline factor on a mountain bike excursion with guide Devin Lynn. Jurassic-sized iguanas scurry out of our path as we zip down the resort’s newly built singletrack trails. The ranch’s “hero dirt,” which provides some of the most predictable grips on the planet, makes the mountain biking here just as unique as the surfing, boasted Devin. That same evening, I have a thrilling sunset surf session with Eddy, but it isn’t on a wave, it’s down a 100-foot sand dune at Playa Duna.

With such an action-packed schedule, my muscles would have been revolting if it weren’t for daily Yin sessions in the ocean-view yoga pavilion and a restorative massage and cold plunge at El Bosque, a new 6,000-square-foot spa built into the treetops. The upside to being so active was that I always had an appetite, and trust me, you’ll want one. The food at Rancho Santa is sensational and nearly every ingredient in the dishes I savoured — the coffee-rubbed pork chop and plantain-bean hash served at La Finca y El Mar, the sushi and wood-fired pizzas at La Boquita — is sourced locally. Seafood comes from area fishermen, including Espinoza’s dad, but nearly everything else is grown, raised, and produced on-site, including the cheese and kombucha.

On a tour of Rancho Santana’s 80-acre farm, I learned that I am hopeless when it comes to milking cows (I’m only slightly better when it comes to handling goat udders). But the more important insight was the extent of the sustainable and regenerative practices the resort has embraced. Each month those cows and goats produce 2,000 litres of milk and the farm’s chickens lay more than 1,100 eggs. Cows and pigs are slaughtered for meat and the two-acre garden provides 2,500 pounds of fruits, vegetables, and herbs each month. What isn’t used at the property’s four restaurants and sold at the on-site market is sold to staff. An on-site biodigester utilises organic waste, including animal droppings and food waste, to produce fertilisers and biogases, enough to cook all the food waste that is received from the kitchens to feed the Rancho animals.

The resort’s efforts go beyond food. A solar park powers much of the property and an on-site woodshop employs 200 locals who do everything from craft furnishings for the villas to meld metal for the chandeliers in the inn’s rooms. In total, the hotel employs more than 80 percent of its staff from the surrounding 16 communities.

As easy as it would be to stay on property, where my every wish and desire was met, the team at Rancho Santana urges guests to go out and explore, offering day trips to the colonial city of Granada and the active Masaya volcano and boat trips to epic waves like Lance’s Left. Tours of the neighbouring communities include stops at local restaurants like Amigos Bar (don’t miss the wings) and Yolanda’s (the ceviche is a must). And the nearly mile-long (1.6 km) stretch of beach between Playa Santana and Magnific Rock, a favourite beginner surf spot, has a handful of beach bars, including the Popoyo Republic, a low-frills spot recently opened by the manager of Rancho Santana’s horse stables.

When I visited this area in 2015, I stayed at a chic (and pricey) boutique hotel on this very stretch of beach — it’s since been reimagined as a hip surf lodge. Nicaragua was having a brief “star” moment. International investors and influencers had descended on Granada and surf towns like San Juan del Sur and Popoyo. Almost overnight, this sleepy area seemed on the precipice of becoming the next Tulum.

But then, in April 2018, President Daniel Ortega announced social security reforms that resulted in the largest protests the country had seen since the end of its civil war in 1990. Authorities around the globe issued travel warnings, crushing the country’s nascent tourism industry. Visitors disappeared and investors vanished, leaving locals to return to their lives as campesinos, and farmers. COVID-19 dealt the country yet another setback.

Despite the uncertainties over the years, Rancho Santana’s owners consider Nicaragua home and have stayed committed to their employees as well as their long-term plan to develop the ranch slowly and sustainably. And travellers are starting to trickle back, following those same whispers the owners heard more than two decades ago — and still finding a place that feels undiscovered.

Nightly rates at Rancho Santana start at USD 360 (INR 29,815) for guest rooms; USD 520 (INR 43,066) for suites and USD 800 (INR 66,256) for three-bedroom residences. You can book at ranchosantana.com.

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All currency conversions were done at the time of writing

This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com

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These days, road trips take place at high speed — wide interstate highways, quick bathroom breaks, and never-ending Spotify playlists. But the golden age of the great American road trip had a completely different feel. Back then, travellers drove down the two-lane cross-country roads with their windows down, stopping for the night at roadside motels. One of the first and longest road trip routes during that time was Route 66, which travelled between Chicago and Los Angeles and traversed eight states.

Almost a century later, most of Route 66 has been abandoned for travel on the faster, more direct interstate highways. But in certain places, like Flagstaff, Arizona, Route 66 has been carefully preserved. In the city of Flagstaff, the lore of this historic route is now complemented by a renovated roadside motel from 1962 that will be reopened in June — just in time for summer road trip season.

A ‘futuristic’ roadside retreat in the world’s first dark sky city

The Americana Motor Hotel, which sits right off Route 66, will offer nostalgic travellers the chance to stay in a reimagined roadside retreat. The design of the hotel is retro with a futuristic feel. There are 89 vibrant rooms with playful touches, like in-room disco balls and geometric carpeting.

In addition, overnight guests will be treated to a series of throwback amenities with a twist, including “dive-in” movies in the year-round heated pool and on-property bike rentals. There’s a walk-up “diner” serving burgers, fries, and ice cream, and an expansive fire pit and telescopes where guests can watch the night sky — an activity that has become synonymous with Flagstaff, the world’s first International Dark Sky Community and the site where Pluto was discovered.

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Flagstaff’s deep ties to stargazing and astronomy are well-represented at the Americana Motor Hotel. The lobby walls change from warm desert shades to the deep hues of the night depending on which way you walk through the space, and the hotel is close to both the U.S. Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station and the Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered in 1930.

Less than an hour-and-a-half drive north is Grand Canyon National Park, which is also a designated dark sky place. The Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is less than 30 minutes by car and Wupatki National Monument, which protects ancient pueblos, is under an hour away.

The central location of the Americana Motor Hotel makes it an excellent base camp for excursions into the area’s many parks, monuments, and wilderness areas. And if your favourite road trip companion is a furry one, keep in mind that dogs are welcome at the Americana Motor Lodge and there’s even a fenced “Barkyard” that ensures pups get plenty of time outdoors.

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(Hero and feature image credit: Practice Hospitality)

This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com

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If you like the bright colours of Kentucky Derby fashion, you’ll love the newest boutique hotel in Louisville, Kentucky.

Hotel Genevieve is a chic property by Austin-based hospitality company Bunkhouse Group located in Louisville’s trendy NuLu (or New Louisville) neighbourhood. It started welcoming guests on May 3.

“Louisville is just a great town. Totally underrated in our view,” Amar Lalvani, Bunkhouse Group’s executive chairman, told Travel + Leisure. “Beyond the Derby and the bourbon trail, both of which we love, the city has a lot to offer culturally in terms of the art scene and food scene as well.”

This boutique hotel is a reminder of Louisville’s French roots

The hotel’s name refers to its inspiration: the patron saint of Paris, Saint Genevieve. It’s a nod to the historic American city’s French roots. (Louisville was named after Louis XVI, the last king of France, in honour of his support of the American colonies during the Revolutionary War.)

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A floral space filled with colour!

Bunkhouse Group partnered with interior design studio Rohe Creative to design a floral space filled with colour, from the pink and gold front desk to the shades of blue throughout the 122 guest rooms. That’s paired with a number of antique finds, including an art collection largely sourced from antique fairs, including Texas’ famous Round Top Antiques Fair.

“This is our first urban-core, new-build hotel, which means it doesn’t have some components that are central to our other properties — lushly landscaped grounds, a garden, a beach, etc.,” Tenaya Hills, Bunkhouse Group’s SVP of design and development, told T+L. said. “So we really wanted to make up for the lack of natural setting with really beautiful architectural details.”

Bunkhouse Hotel is a culinary destination

Hotel Genevieve is not just a place to rest your head, but a culinary destination, too, thanks to three restaurants and bars by James Beard-nominated chef Ashleigh Shanti, as well as a mini-market filled with local provisions.

Lalvani said the hotel’s all-day eatery Rosettes “transports you to the feeling of dining alfresco in a beautiful Parisian cafe,” while The Bar at Hotel Genevieve offers craft cocktails, light bites inspired by French street food and Mediterranean cuisine, and boasts sweeping views of the city and the Ohio River. There’s also a late-night speakeasy-like joint, Lucky Penny, hidden in the hotel. “All of them bring things that are new to Louisville but somehow, feel like they totally belong,” Lalvani said.

Rates at Hotel Genevieve start at USD 159 (INR 12,985) per night. Book your stay at bunkhousehotels.com.

(Hero and feature image credit: Bunkhouse Hotels)

This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com

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El Cosmico is the name of the first hotel in the world that uses 3D printing technology in its construction. The property is expected to open in 2024 in Texas.

The name El Cosmico may already ring a bell for some glamping regulars, as it used to be a campground hotel in Marfa, Texas. However, under the collaboration between hospitality expert Liz Lambert, pioneering technology company ICON, and architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the glamping site is getting a relocation and a renovation into a larger, more technologically advanced hotel.

Everything you need to know about the world’s first 3D-printed hotel

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The former 21-acre venue will be relocated onto a 62-acre land, with new hospitality services provided such as an infinity pool, an open-air spa, and a communal space. Since Liz Lambert has high hopes that the property will become more than just a hotel, the innovative 3D printing technology really adds some awe-inspiring elements to the whole project, whether it’s the dome, vault, or parabolic forms of the architecture.

In addition to the upcoming hotel, the team also aims to offer housing in Marfa called Sunday Homes. These 3D-printed homes, like the hotel, will present an unrivalled connection between the desert landscape and cosmic organisations through curved surfaces, domes, and earth-inspired tones.

Find out more via the website.

This story first appeared here

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Rapa Nui, now known as Easter Island, is one of the most remote inhabited places in the world. Travel + Leisure India & South Asia’s contributor captures the eerie mood and the mystical stone heads that exemplify the region.

Rapa Nui in pictures

Tahai Ceremonial Complex on Easter Island is formed by three ceremonial platforms from where you can catch breathtaking vistas.

Easter island is located around 3,700 kilometers off the coast of Chile, in the southeast corner of the Polynesian triangle. Stretching 163 square kilometres in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the island enchants with its rolling hills and the wild horses that roam freely across them.

Fewer than 10,000 people live on this island made famous by its ancient moai statues scattered across Rapa Nui National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These statues and the barren landscape along with its captivating history, have beguiled visitors for centuries. The moais are imposing monolithic human figures carved by ancient Polynesians between 1250-1500 AD as tombs to honour ancestral chiefs.

The inhabitants of Rapa Nui were skilled craftsmen, and carved these breathtaking statues from the volcano Rano Raraku. Moais from this volcano consist of tuff or compressed volcanic ash that was easy to carve. The figures can be anywhere between two and 20 feet high and weigh between 10 and 86 tons.

They have long sloping noses, sunken eyes, and prominent chins and brows. There are now an estimated 1,000 moais dotting the landscape. One of the greatest puzzles is how the people of Rapa Nui transported these enormous stone statues across large distances and placed them in various spots around the island.

This feat seems impossible at first glance. Archaeologists believe they were rolled on logs from one site to another. As you gaze at the land, it seems as though time stands still, and you wonder what extraordinary tales these stoic guardians have been witnesses to. If only stones could speak! 

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If surf, sand, sun, and lush tropical views teeming with wildlife sound like your ideal vacation — or remote work location — then Sendero, a new boutique hotel opening on February 16 in Nosara, Costa Rica, should be at the top of your wish list.  

Fully embracing the Costa Rican beach town’s signature laidback vibe, popular with yogis and surf enthusiasts, the hotel marries chic contemporary design with Costa Rica’s beautiful nature. The property’s 25 rooms are a stylish and secluded retreat catering to wellness-minded travellers, located a two-minute walk from the four-mile (6.4 km) protected Playa Guiones (hence the hotel’s name, which means “short path” in Spanish).

Here’s a look inside the new gorgeous hotel opening in a beach town of Costa Rica

The architecture and design borrow elements from traditional haciendas, such as exposed wood beams, arches, and ceramic tiling, and use local and recycled materials to keep up with the property’s sustainability efforts. Of course, nature plays a central role in Sendero’s décor; Each accommodation has an outdoor shower overlooking a neighbouring 11-acre preserve.

The hotel has also partnered with deCerca, a San Jose-based art gallery, to showcase work by Costa Rican artists throughout the rooms and lobby.

“Sendero is not only your path to the beach to catch a morning wave but your path to connecting with and feeling energised by the nature that encapsulates you from our open lobby to our rooms,” said Stefanie Tannenbaum, the hotel’s co-founder, in a press release sent to Travel + Leisure.

On-site wellness offerings include yoga classes, Pilates, and barre, along with breathwork and stretching sessions that surfers will surely appreciate. The hotel also has its own surf school, where travellers can rent a surfboard and head straight to the beach. After all, Nosara is famous for its consistent year-round waves that surfers of all levels can enjoy.

Or, if you prefer something less adrenaline-inducing, the hotel’s pool offers a serene setting to unwind with a book and a cold drink from Talise, Sendero’s all-day restaurant and bar. Talise also serves a seasonal menu of healthy dishes with locally sourced produce in an effortlessly chic, open-air dining room.

And if you need to respond to an email or two, Sendero’s guests also get access to a fully equipped co-working space with offices, a library, a café, and a rooftop.

Nightly rates at Sendero start at USD 300 (INR 24,818), and you can book your stay at https://senderonosara.com.

Main and Feature Image Credit: Courtesy of Sendero

This story first appeared on www.travelandleisure.com

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If ever there were a perfect blend of “Cast Away” remoteness and the luxurious conveniences of a modern, five-star hotel, it can be found on Palm Island in the Grenadines.

After a 3.5-hour flight from Miami to Barbados, an hour-long inter-island flight from Barbados to Union Island, a two-minute drive to a dock, and an eight-minute boat trip, arriving at this 135-acre island resort feels like a scene straight out of HBO’s White Lotus — in the best of ways. I could hear the theme song in my head as we arrived to see the manager and staff waving from the dock, beaming smiles on full display and welcome drinks (a colourful rum concoction) in their hands.

Here’s why this gorgeous island is known as the Maldives of the Caribbean

Likened to the Maldives or French Polynesia, Palm Island looks like the Fiji of the Caribbean, with its velvety green hills ambling skyward from blindingly white sand and water that transitions from crystal-clear to glowing Powerade to denim the further you get from shore. The air is scented with plumeria and salt — your favourite island candle brought to life. It’s little wonder Palm Island Resort & Spa snagged the number three spot on Travel + Leisure’s 2022 World’s Best Awards list of the 25 best hotels in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas.

Palm Island, in its current form, hasn’t been around long. The pristine paradise received all the updated conveniences (such as a desalination plant) during an overhaul in 1999. Since then, the resort has been welcoming couples, families, and groups of friends, many of them for decades and most of them British, American, or Canadian.

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Nowhere is this decades-long devotion more evident than in the open-air library, where hundreds of books seem to span every genre, culture, language, and era. The next-door TV and internet room is another amusing holdout from the past; Wi-Fi is now available throughout the island.

Originally known as Prune Island, Palm Island was leased for 99 years, beginning in 1966, by Americans John and Mary Caldwell. For USD 1 (INR 83) per year, the Caldwells could lease what was then an uninhabitable arc of land with a swampy interior from the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines — as long as they built a hotel to provide employment for locals.

With eyes on the unspoiled beaches lapped by crystal-clear waters, the Caldwells built Palm Island Beach Club, which they ran for the next 30 years. In 1999, the hotel was purchased by the current owners and received extensive renovations, plus the construction of 41 rooms and suites, a spa, and other amenities. Now part of Elite Island Resorts, a collection of unique beachfront properties in the Caribbean, Palm Island Resort is an adult-oriented all-inclusive where all on-site restaurants, bars, and facilities are included in the stay.

Guests can opt for evening dining in either of the two restaurants, Royal Palm or Sunset Grill & Bar, or book a romantic option in one of three secluded speciality spots nearby, including beneath an illuminated heart-shaped tree. Theme, menu, and live entertainment all vary nightly; our favourite by far was the Caribbean barbecue buffet with a steelpan band, tied with the lobster dinner in the gazebo.

Another memorable meal was a picnic lunch at Hammock #4, a beachy tree house of sorts, complete with a shaded upper deck, hammock down below, overwater wooden swings, and a serene setting overlooking a quiet bay.

Outside of meal times, you can do as much or as little as you’d like. There’s a full gym, pool, daily fitness classes, snorkel gear, kayaks, paddleboards, Hobie cats, and nature trails to hike or bike. Optional add-on activities include a sunset sail on the Pink Lady or — a highlight of our trip — a half-day sailing around Tobago Cays Marine Park aboard the Yannis catamaran, with stops at two sparsely populated islands and one tiny, uninhabited one where you’ll spot green turtles while snorkelling. (Laying in the net of a catamaran with the ocean gliding a few feet beneath you is one of the unparalleled pleasures of life.)

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On Union Island, you can take kitesurfing lessons, go scuba diving, and more. Or, if you just want to lounge beneath a palm tree and stare out at the sometimes inky, sometimes cerulean sea, no one would blame you.

Of course, no tropical island vacation is complete without some time at the spa, and the one on Palm Island is a dream. Book the Hibiscus Package to spend 2.5 blissful hours with your sweetheart; the treatment begins with a foot wash ritual, then transitions to a beachfront floral bath, scrub, wrap, massage, and facial, all from the trained hands of two Balinese masseuses.

Located outside the hurricane zone and accessible only by boat, Palm Island offers the best of the Caribbean, practically all to yourself. It’s about 10 minutes to drive the entirety of the island via golf cart, but if you’re on foot or bike, it’s ripe for exploration, and much of it remains undeveloped, barely touched. There are five different beaches and more palm trees than you can count, all linked together by sandy paths and a smattering of 43 rooms, suites, and villas around the uncrowded perimeter of the island. It feels anonymous, but it isn’t: An Instagram follower told me that a season of MTV’s hit series Siesta Key was filmed here in 2021.

As far from reality as Palm Island feels, it’s actually pretty accessible, and getting there is half the fun: Flying to the Grenadines at golden hour can only be described as awe-inspiring. The recommended route is a commercial flight to Barbados, then a teeny-tiny Grenadine Alliance flight to Union Island. (If you’re lucky, you’ll also touch down in Canouan or Bequia to drop off a few shared charter passengers on your way.) Upon landing on Union Island, you’ll be met by a driver who will take you all of two minutes to the nearby dock, where a boat awaits to whisk you away on an eight-minute crossing to Palm Island.

If Palm Island is a favoured destination in the Grenadines, the brand-new Seahorse Villa is its crown jewel. It’s isolated at the eastern end of the island, engendering privacy and solitude — it wasn’t until I was supposed to hand in our room key that I realised I never got one; we didn’t lock our doors once during our stay and never thought twice about it.

However, villa guests get their own golf cart, so you can dart back to the more populated end of the island fast (or, at least, as fast as you can go on those bumpy, sandy backroads). You will undoubtedly get lost, even after several days of taking the same routes, but luckily, you can never get too far from where you’re trying to go on an island.

You could bring far more than the four people this 4,000-square-foot villa sleeps and never cross paths unless you wanted to; the white-picket-fenced home has space and more space, plus your own beachfront backyard and, best of all, no other structures in sight.

Crafted using local and reclaimed whitewashed woods with bold pops of blue to mirror the Caribbean beyond, the organically decorated villa is lit with wicker pendant shades set high in vaulted ceilings, creating an undeniably cozy ambience for a tropical island retreat. In the oversized kitchen, the breakfast bar and shelving are made from salvaged ship masts reclaimed from a shipwreck.

There are also outdoor showers, tiled indoor showers with stable doors opening up to views of the ocean, beach cabanas, huge walk-in closets, a half-bath, and — my personal favorite home-away-from-home feature — a laundry room with a washer and dryer. If there’s any way to feel like an island in the Caribbean is all yours, it’s with a stay at the Seahorse Villa.

This story first appeared on www.travelandleisure.com

Main and Feature Image Credit: Courtesy of Elite Island Resorts/Palm Island Resort and Spa

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