Read on about André, Lauren, and Tony’s all-time favorite hotels and resorts, and why they love them.

ANDRE KOESTER

Hiiragiya Ryokan, Kyoto, Japan, is a traditional Japanese inn where you can experience genuine Japanese customs in low-key luxury. In the evening, soak in the onsen (a deep, hot bath), enjoy a delicious kaiseki meal of Japanese delicacies, and then sleep on the tatami floor on cozy futons while listening to the burbling fountain in the garden outside your window. Zen bliss!

 Capri is the epitome of la dolce vita; expect gorgeous scenery, delicious cuisine, and stylish scene. A small island, Capri can be overrun with day-trippers and I think the true magic is experienced in the evening and early morning. My preferred place to stay is J.K. Place Capri. The views, the service, the huge pool, and the chic decor make it one of my favorite hotels in the world. 

Villa des Orangers, Marrakech, Morocco. This charming, small hotel is a sea of calm in the heart of bustling Marrakech. The rooms exude a stylish Moroccan/French flair and the open courtyards are filled with wonderfully-scented orange trees and chirping birds. I love exploring the colorful and chaotic city and then coming back to relax at this lovely oasis.

LAUREN KROGER

I was drawn to Francis Ford Coppola’s Turtle Inn for its dreamy thatched-roof cottages, constructed so near to the Caribbean’s blue hues that the tide lulls guests to sleep each night. However, it was the warm and generous Belizean staff who will bring me back to this eco-lux hideaway again and again.

Hotel Bennett in Charleston is a show-stopper, from the Egyptian limestone lobby to the highly Instagramable pink champagne bar. Despite being the newest and grandest in the city, the hotel never compromises the soul of the low country. Hotel Bennett is the perfect southern escape, especially when paired with Kiawah Island or Palmetto Bluff.

The WildLand estates in the Scottish Highlands were founded to support one of the largest land conservation projects in the country. When guests book one of their exclusive-use lodges or cottages, they are granted access to jaw-dropping private acreage in the Cairngorms and untamed north coast. My stay at Killiehuntly, a farmhouse renovated with a chic Scandi-Scot interior, was a highlight of my trip to Scotland last year.

TONY HUFFMAN

Having lived in Istanbul in the early ’70s, my family and I return almost annually. Located in the “Sultanahmet” historical district, the Four Seasons Istanbul at Sultanahmet is a boutique hotel housed in an old Turkish Prison with all its guestrooms surrounding the beautiful courtyard garden. Walk outside and you immediately find yourself in the middle of Christian and Ottoman history, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and Hagia Sofia. 

Returning to New Zealand in 2019 after 45 years, we spent two weeks exploring both the North and South Islands, and experiencing the truly amazing country lodges that have made New Zealand a famous destination for the culturally inquisitive who like charming but luxurious accommodations. Our last stop was Blanket Bay, about a 45-minute drive from Queenstown. The views from the lodge over the lake and toward the mountains, which were snow-capped for our departure in mid-April, left memories of one of our most favorite properties. 

The Point, Saranac, NY, was originally a family “camp” for William Rockefeller, converted to a charming 20-guest Relais & Chateaux in the ’70s. After four trips there since the ’80s, my wife Pokey and I have found “Morning Sun” and “Mohawk” to be our favorite accommodations. At this remote, all-inclusive lodge, numerous self-serve bars are scattered around the grounds, and dinner is served at two round tables in the great hall - think “house party”. The Point is a perfect place for a reunion or small group gathering, and it is a year-round destination.