Our travel has been limited over the last few months as we have sold our Florida condo and have settled in our retreat/home in Maine. Hot tub arrived, generator is on its way and more Restoration Hardware purchases are envisioned. Since we are still in a travel lull, I have been researching properties around the world I would love to visit one day. Let me walk you through my criteria on how I chose my top 5.
Balancing Luxury and Cost
It would not take much searching to find properties that are more expensive than the ones below. Don’t worry these aren’t cheap either, but believe it or not, one is actually a **** star hotel, no turn-down service! While none of the properties I list below are cheap, they are realistic at some point and realistic for us in the next few years. All these properties are luxury hotels. Rentals, campgrounds, safari lodges etc. are not in play for this post as those are hard to compare.
Locations I Want to Visit
All of these properties are in countries I already love or have always wanted to visit. They all belong to Categories 1-3 in Gay Welcomeness. As my earlier post suggested, we also would travel to category 4s as well, but for my top 5 aspirational hotels, I kept it within categories’ 1-3.
My Vacation Values
In a previous post I discussed how Matt and I choose our destinations. To save you some time, let me summarize
- Less People: We are both introverts (me more) and we both relax better in quieter settings. Being crammed onto a cruise or a mega resort doesn’t do that.
- Excellent Food and Wine: We do write a cooking blog too…. this one is a no brainer for us.
- Unplug: We find going far overseas makes it easier to get off our phones and ignore work.
- Flexible: Don’t need to worry about reservations ahead of time for restaurants or activities. Gives you time to explore and check things out before making a commitment
- Minimal Children
With the context out of the way, let’s explore my top 5 aspirational properties in no particular order. All the photos are from each of the hotels’ websites, so I assume it is kosher if I post them here. Please send this post to my husband 😊.
1. Adler Ritten
Location: South Tyrol, Italy (Dolomites)
What is it: An All-Inclusive Spa Retreat in the Dolomites Mountains
Why? The Adler Hotel Group owns Spa hotels across much of Italy. We have never stayed overnight in one, but we have visited the Adler Thermae in Tuscany to use their spa and it is fabulous. We have always wanted to stay at one and this is highest on my list. Each guest gets their own luxurious cabin. There is a full spa with an amazing selection of treatments, with breakfast and dinner included. Do not be alarmed that dinner is included, this is no mediocre all-inclusive as the food at their Tuscany property was amazing. I just love the idea of my own cabin in the woods surrounded by mountains with the Alder Spa and food accessible.
How Can We Afford This? Part of what makes the Adler hotel group special is all their locations are hard to get to. Few are found anywhere near a decent sized airport. The closest major airport from the Dolomites is Venice which is not close. As a result, room rates are not outrageous.
Why May Never Happen: This one might at some point, but likely paired with a Venice, Italy or Austria trip as otherwise it is too difficult to get to.
Location: Bora Bora, French Polynesia
What is it: A Luxurious Hotel in the Marriott Group
Why? This one is easy to explain. The overwater bungalow experience and we have a passion for the St. Regis brand. We love the butler service and attention to detail. Bora Bora also represents the only Overwater bungalow experience in a category 1-3 when it comes to welcoming gays.
How Can We Afford This? Earn those Marriott Points!
Why May Never Happen: Look at the cost of the nightly BASE room….do Mathew and I seem like base room kinds of people?
3. Botanique (the four star hotel, because it is tiny not lack of service or price)
Location: Bairro dos Mellos, SP, Brazil (few hours outside São Paulo)
What is it: A small boutique hotel surrounded my hills and the Brazilian forest.
Why? We love Brazil (yes, we are aware of the politics there, but have you been to the USA?) and I have had my eye on this place for a long time. It is located on a working organic farm, with just a few rooms, beautiful spa and an excellent restaurant. A great place to escape. Have you seen how beautiful everyone from Brazil is?
How Can We Afford This? It is a little pricey, but not crazy. We would likely stay for just a few nights as there isn’t much to do besides unwind and relax.
Why May Never Happen: We usually go to Buzios which is not very close (4-5 hours from this property),which makes pairing the two quite challenging as driving in Brazil is terrifying.
4. Ice Hotel
Location: North As Fuck, Sweden
What is it: Literally what the name says. You stay in an Ice Hotel north of the Arctic Circle.
Why? How cool is sleeping in an ice hotel? What an experience!
How Can We Afford This? It is very expensive per night, BUT likely only 1 night in the ice room and otherwise a few nights in a regular room to explore the area and go dog sledding!
Why May Never Happen: Not sure this is truly for us, but fun to think about!
Location: Bordeaux-Martillac, France
What is it: A Hotel built on top of a vineyard and local farm.
Why? French wine, food, spa, countryside…. does this need more explanation?
How Can We Afford This? This one is pricey but not completely outrageous. I imagine we would stay for 5ish nights and take a train to/from Paris.
Why May Never Happen: I am confident this one will happen.
These are the top 5 hotels on my aspiration list. Notice these are all quite remote, all about wellness and relaxation and in gay friendly countries? Notice none are a packed cruise or a crowded hotel in Hawaii? Hey if you like those kinds of things, great, but not me!
Let’s see if any ever materialize but I have my eyes on them! What do you think? What are your aspirational hotels? Why?
Bon Voyage,
Andrew
Out And Abroad Luxury Travel 
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