Nobu Hotel Los Cabos
Area: Los Cabos, Mexico
Vibe: Beach
Style: Sleek and laid-back
Fun Fact: With chef Nobu as a founder, expect amazing food
Don’t Miss: Lounging by one of the resort’s four pools
When you’re ready for a beachfront escape, here’s a new choice to top your list: Nobu Hotel Los Cabos. The first hotel in Mexico for the Nobu Hospitality team— whose founders are chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert Deniro and actor/producer Meir Teper—the resort offers everything from amazing dining (of course) to multiple pools to lots of wellness options, all against a stunning ocean backdrop.
Location: Situated on the Baja Peninsula in Mexico, this resort in Cabo San Lucas is on El Suspiro beach—and has the amazing views that you’d expect from its waterfront location. It’s located inside the Diamante complex, which includes a world-renowned golf course and lots more—and it will take you about 45 minutes to drive to the hotel from Los Cabos International Airport. Once there, you’re about half an hour from most of the off-site activities and attractions, including the famous El Arco and the marina.
Vibe: Sleek and sophisticated, this design-forward hotel offers lots in the way of, as they describe it, laid-back luxury. Expect lots of wood, stone and wood tones, all against a neutral color palette. There are 200 guest rooms and suites, with some overlooking the water and others with views of the nearby golf course. The “deluxe room swim-up,” which opens right up to the pool as well as the Zen Suite and Sake Suite, both of which have ocean views. The two-bedroom Nobu Suite, which is over 2,600 square feet, boasts a chef’s kitchen, pool table and wrap-around terrace that looks onto the water. Pro-tip: When deciding where to stay, head to the hotel’s website where you can take a 360-degree tour of the room or suite and really get a feel for each.
Why We Love It: You’ll find everything you need to relax at this hotel—from great pools to amazing dining options. Let’s start with the dining. With renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa as one of the founders of Nobu Hospitality, you can expect that the food will be top notch. At Nobu Restaurant you’ll find the Japanese fusion cuisine that Nobu is famous for, as well as two bars, all with the ocean in the background. Malibu Farm is a farm-to-table restaurant offering organic choices for all three meals, and at Pacific Restaurant you’ll find “fine dining Mexican concept with a-la-carte service and traditional taco & mezcal pairings.” Rounding things out are Cortez Swim-Up Bar and Playabar, offering drinks and food poolside. Speaking of pools, there are four at the resort, including an infinity pool. Other amenities to check out: On the wellness end, the spa includes a salon and a fitness center with yoga and spinning classes. Plus, there are lots of other activities, like beach volleyball, a Kids Club that offers yoga, origami and face painting for the younger members of your group, as well as golf, including access to the nearby Diamante: The Dunes course.
Why Go F1rst: If you book with First in Service, you’ll receive a complimentary breakfast for two throughout your stay as well as one complimentary lunch for two. Plus: early check-in and late check-out and an upgrade, if available.
F1S Tips: You won’t have to leave your four-legged family members at home: the hotel is pet-friendly and offers amenities like pads and bowls.
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Equinox Hotel New York City
GFG
Equinox Hotel, New York City
Area: New York, New York
Vibe: Sophisticated wellness
Style: City
Fun Fact: Can’t sleep? Ask for the Equinox Sleep Coach
Don’t Miss: The 60,000-square-foot Equinox Club
Fitness and wellness take center stage at this new Hudson Yards hotel—the first for the Equinox brand. That includes access to the 60,000-square-foot fitness center and SoulCycle studio, the signature Electric Lemon restaurant, and guest rooms that help prioritize sleep—plus so much more to make you centered and happy during your stay.
Location: Set in Manhattan’s newest neighborhood, Hudson Yards, the hotel is located at the corner of 33rd street, between 10th and 11th avenue, at 33 Hudson Yards. And it’s quite the new neighborhood: You’ll also find lots of restaurants and shopping like Dior, Fendi and Neiman Marcus (plus so many more), as well as the climbable Vessel, which is fast becoming a must-see for tourists and New Yorkers alike. The area, on the west side of the city, is accessible by bus and the 7 subway train—and is about an hour from JFK airport, and half hour from both LaGuardia airport and Newark International Airport.
Vibe: Sleek and modern, the hotel is the place, as they say, “where the science of fitness meets the art of travel.” There are 212 rooms and suites, which are “dark, quiet and cool”—a motto you’ll see carried out throughout. It’s in the contemporary décor and black and white colors, the blackout blinds, the soundproofing, the shower with three showerheads, and the “proprietary sleep system.” All the rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, some with views of the Hudson River and others with a full-on city view. The largest of the suites is the 1900-square-foot “EQX two bedroom corner suite,” which sleeps up to six and includes a separate living and dining room space.
Why We Love It: Just as the name implies, this hotel puts fitness and wellness at the forefront—and then takes it one step further. Here’s what we mean: Upon check-in, all guests receive 24/7 access to the huge (we’re talking 60,000-square-feet) Equinox Club. There, you can stick to your usual fitness routine, try your hand at any number of classes (you can even take some on the Vessel!), go one-on-one with a personal trainer or take a SoulCycle class in their dedicated studio. But that’s just the start of the wellness options: The 27,000-square-foot spa features everything from cryotherapy to an infrared sauna to the traditional offerings like facials and massages. Need more? There’s an indoor saltwater pool, an outdoor pool with great views, you can have an in-room IV vitamin drip or hang out in the super-relaxing sounding E.Scape Pods, where you can “enjoy a meditation session incorporating our intelligent audio library and EEG data, developed with sleep scientists, to help you manage stress and switch off.” Now, on to the dining options. Electric Lemon, the hotel’s signature restaurant, sits on the 24th floor—the views from the 8,000-square-foot terrace alone are worth the trip—and offers American cuisine, plus everything from cold-press juices to drinks and dessert. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and there’s also a bar on-site, as well as in-room dining, including the RoomBar, their take on the mini bar, with cocktails, snacks and more.
Why Go F1rst: If you book with First in Service, you’ll receive daily continental breakfast for two, a $100 hotel credit, and early check-in/late check-out as well as a room upgrade, if available.
F1S Tips: If you take sleep seriously, then this is the place to be: From the blackout curtains to the “ high-grade STC (Sound Transmission Classification)” for quiet to the lux bedding and the Equinox Sleep Couch on hand, you’ll truly be able to rest and relax.
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Belmond Cadogan
BELMOND CADOGAN
Originally built in 1887, this London hotel recently reopened after a multi-million dollar historic renovation—and the upgrade is evident: With access to gardens, rooms and suites that offer lots of amenities and great dining all in one location, the property feels stylish and fresh while still retaining its historical significance.
Right on Sloane Street, the hotel straddles both the Chelsea and Knightsbridge neighborhoods in London. It’s easy to choose your direction, too: Use one exit in the hotel and you’ll wind up closer to the Chelsea side, use another and you’re on the Knightsbridge end. The hotel itself is only about 35 minutes from Heathrow airport, and the central location make it easy to access the entire city.
At this more-than-a-century-old property, you’ll find lots of whites and greys, with golds and reds throughout. There are 54 rooms and suites, including a few one-bedroom “specialty suites,” like the Royal Suite, where a certain famous author with the last name Wilde once regularly called home. And in the rooms themselves—some of which look out onto the garden—there are lots of special touches, from statement headboard pieces above each bed by British female artists, to specialty tea sets to help you really get into the English spirt.
Aside from the enviable location and the impressive history, (The paparazzi would have definitely set up shop outside: It’s said that socialite Lillie Langtry and the Prince of Wales courted there, among other gossip-worthy tidbits) the hotel offers a chance to unwind and relax in fun and unique ways. There’s dining, of course, including the hotel’s signature restaurant, Adam Handling Chelsea, which serves up a contemporary twist on English favorites. There’s also a bar, as well as Afternoon Tea served in the lounge, named Cadogan’s. Private dining options are available—and as you enter one of the dining rooms, you’ll be greeted by a Swarovski-encrusted peacock. (His name is Oscar, in case you were wondering.) But there are even more special touches. Here’s one: Guests have access to Cadogan Place Gardens, which are normally reserved only for residents, and the hotel can provide everything from a tennis set to yoga mats to take into the gardens. Another? “In-room libraries,” where you can kick back with a book from local bookstore, John Sandoe Books Ltd. (which has been around since the 1950s). Then there are the traditional de-stressors, from a spa to a 24-hour fitness center. The hotel caters to family life too, with kids menus and in-room board games.
When you’re ready to book, doing it through F1S will snag you VIP welcome treats, breakfast for two every day of your stay, your choice of complimentary lunch or quintessentially English tea for two, and a complimentary upgrade, if available.