I have a bad case of hotel design wanderlust. My friends and family know that there is probably one thing I love as much as traveling with my family and exploring new destinations, and that is discovering new luxury hotels and well0designed hotel rooms. Even when I’m not actively planning a trip, I find myself perusing travel magazines, websites and Pinterest boards and pinning them to our Travel Well Designed Pinterest board (a collaboration with Natalie DiScala, editor of Oh! Travelissima). I love searching for hotel style inspiration and sharing my finds both here on the blog and on social media. In February, I had the chance to connect for 36 hours in Las Vegas with the Visa team and learn more about the The Visa Signature Luxury Collection, a travel rewards program that gives cardholders access to a variety of premium benefits from a selection of 900 of the world’s top hotels, evoked my luxury hotel design lust.
[Disclosure: I was invited by Visa to participate in the Visa Signature blogger event and received complimentary travel and experiences during my stay. As always, all opinions are my own].
Here are three luxury hotels from the Visa Signature Luxury Collection website that I’m dreaming about today:
City Escape: Mondrian SoHo, New York City
New York City is home to countless, swanky boutique hotels and large luxury brands, all waiting to be discovered. When I visit New York, I love to stay in lower Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood, so I’m close to great boutique shopping. The Mondrian SoHo in Manhattan, NY, part of the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection, caught my eye and is on my wish list for my next visit to the Big Apple. This 263 room hotel in SoHo was designed by Benjamin Noriega Ortiz and features cool tones of blue and white and artful decor inspired by Jean Cocteau’s 1946 French film “La Belle et la Bête.” Perhaps what struck me most about this hotel is the eclectic mash up of design in its rooms and public spaces. I have my eye on the balcony suite, with its cool white and blue decor, 10 foot floor-to-ceiling windows, and sweeping views of Manhattan. The Mondrian’s indoor-outdoor bar Isola Trattoria & Crudo Bar features a lush garden setting straight out of an Amalfi coast holiday, while the the onsite nightclub, Mister H provides hipster nightlife without having to step outside the hotel.
Unique: Hotel Unique, Sao Paulo, Brazil
There is no escaping the spectacular design of the boat-shaped Hotel Unique in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The hotel’s design is the creative brilliance of Brazil architect Ruy Ohtake and designer João Armentano’s and the beautiful design can be seen throughout the hotel’s modern spaces, including the rooftop bar and swimming pool with sweeping city views of the city. I love the mix of weathered metal and hard woods, highlighted by portal windows. For a unique hotel room stay, I would book one of the corner rooms, where the edges curve up into the arc and almost play a trick on the eye.
Bucket list trip: NIYAMA, Maldives
The Maldives is a destination on my bucket list. Check out The NIYAMA, Maldives. The NIYAMA Maldives features 86 beachfront and waterfront studios and pavilions and has me dreaming of a week of indoor-outdoor living in the Maldives, filling my days with sunbathing and spa treatments, long naps, and soaking in a private, open air tub. The dining experiences are almost as impressive as the beachfront studios. Check out the campfire dining experience at TRIBAL, with its beach dining, open air grills and campfires, or the endless ocean views at Edge, a floating restaurant accessible only by boat. The property also boasts family-friendly accommodations and activities, with an impressive, two bedroom, family beach pavilion suite, and kids club for ages 12 months to 12 years.
When you book one of these hotels with a Visa Signature card at VisaSignatureHotels.com, (check for the Signature designation on the bottom right-hand corner of your Visa card), you get access to the best-available rate guarantee, automatic room upgrade upon arrival and complimentary in-room Wi-Fi (when available), complimentary continental breakfast daily, a $25 USD food or beverage credit, VIP Guest status and 3PM check-out upon request, when available.
What luxury hotels in the Visa Signature Luxury Collection have you dreaming of a getaway?
Photo credit: Photos courtesy of Visa.