When people don't give grace to their fellow passengers, it drives me nuts. When I see somebody traveling with a young kid, and they're not only worried about their baby's experience of this flight and trying to make sure that it's a good memory for them, but also then having to worry about the adult the row over who is huffing and puffing and rolling their eyes? Have some grace!
"We often encounter guests who either forget or choose to leave behind certain amenities that just don't make the cut," says Joon Chang, assistant general manager at Kimpton Hotel George in Washington, D.C. "Ultimately, we want guests to feel their best while staying with us, and if our amenities can free up a bit of suitcase space for souvenirs and unforgettable memories instead, that's even better."
As a traveler, I've been privileged. Not due to family wealth or a secret benefactor, but the fortune of falling into a travel writing career that has included 10,000 hours, and then some, at hotels and resorts around the world. These stays - sometimes comped, sometimes not; sometimes incognito, sometimes not - are turned into reviews, guides, listings, features, profiles, round-ups for print and online publications. Topics run the gamut, too, from service, amenities and facilities to design, architecture and technology.
Some hotels feel like just a place to sleep, but others feel like a full experience. The Four Seasons Hotel Boston falls into the latter category. For years, I'd heard about the Four Seasons' timeless luxury, but I'd never actually stayed at any of the chain's hotels. That changed on a recent trip to Boston, where I checked into the Four Seasons on Boylston Street. The 239-room hotel is situated in a prime location downtown, directly across from the Public Garden,
The reason for this is multipronged. In an effort to reduce packaging waste, the European Union (EU) announced a plan last year to have single-use plastics-like mini shampoo and conditioner bottles- banned by 2030. Most European hotels have now switched over to bulk-sized dispensers in order to reduce plastic waste, with many only offering shampoo, body wash, or two-in-one shower gels.
This was my fourth time traveling to New Orleans for Tales of the Cocktail, and there are a few very important things I look for when choosing a hotel for that event. First of all, it has to be close - but not too close - to the French Quarter, where a lot of the Tales action goes down. I want to be within walking distance of events so the swampy July heat doesn't kill me, but I also want a quiet locale to go back to after the day's festivities are done. A location in NOLA's Warehouse District ticks this box perfectly.
While you check off the bucket list attractions and hidden foodie gems you've seen come to life in your favorite shows and all over TikTok, a great hotel is a relaxing retreat that plays to its home base's strengths in one aesthetic package: Great culinary and beverage options that are a nod to the local scene, state-of-the-art amenities, and curated activities just steps away from your pristine suite (all with no cleaning required, deliciously crisp sheets, and a room service menu at your fingertips).
As a travel writer, I've spent more nights in hotel rooms living out of a carry-on suitcase than I can count. But nothing prepared me for what it would feel like to actually live in a hotel - not for a few weeks on assignment, but for months at a time, with my then-fiancé and our mini schnauzer in tow. Our stay didn't start as some glamorous, work-from-anywhere experiment.