An evening with Small Luxury Hotels

Tonight, during a cocktail reception at L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, I had the fabulous opportunity to connect with several partners from Small Luxury Hotels. Over a glass of red wine and a delicious charcuterie spread, we traveled the world—discussing the beaches of the South of France, the Tuscan hills, biking through Napa Valley, the wild donkeys of Turks and Caicos, the jungles of Ubud, hidden gems in Amsterdam, and reconnecting with nature in Ireland.

Here’s a brief breakdown of each property we explored:

Carneros Napa

I stayed at Carneros in Napa, California a few summers ago and it was great to reconnect with their new sales team now that they are a part of SLH. I loved spending time by the pool and way too long in the spa (I almost overstayed my welcome!) Sitting by the fireplace in your suite is the best way to unwind from a day wine tasting in the valley.

Chateau L’Hospitalet Wine Resort, Narbonne, France

It was a true delight learning about this hotel. It’s not very often that I see a presentation and wonder how I can priortize visiting a place sooner rather than later. This hotel has 41 rooms on 2400 acres of vineyards, 10 minutes from the beach where they even have their own beach club and restaurant. Their gastronomic program is excptional—especially the Moon Room, a 3-hour dining experience where the menu changes daily based on the cosmos. It’s the perfect stop on the way to or from Spain, or a quick getaway from Paris.

La Roqqa

In the Italian seaside town of Porto Ercole, Tuscany, La Roqqa is a contemporary new hotel with a striking red exterior and serene green-and-blue interiors. Just a few minutes’ walk from town, it also has its own beach club. My favorite room? The Sea View Panoramic Suite with its expansive terrace. Nearby, you can enjoy everything Tuscany has to offer - horseback riding, wine tasting, golfing, and truffle hunting.

Montenotte

Cork, Ireland might surprise you. Montenotte has some of the most Instagramable spots in the whole country, including their Woodland Suites—luxury treehouses with modern interiors, 550 square feet of space, and balconies overlooking the city. Perched above Cork, the main hotel offers stunning views from its restaurant. It’s a truly unique experience, especially for Ireland.

Palazzo Tiglio

This charming, family-run hotel has just 7 rooms and is located about an hour from Florence, Italy. Housed in a reimagined 17th-century building, it features a pool, a beautiful dining terrace, and a fine dining restaurant with dishes that look almost too good to eat. The menu is seasonsal, local, and very refined. For longer stays, they have a casual menu, which seemed important to me to offer a variety. They’re open seasonally starting in April and it really looks like an Italian home away from home.

Pillows Grand Maurits at the Park, Amsterdam

I had the pleasure of staying here a few years ago during a trip to Amsterdam. Just a 15-minute walk from the city center, it’s nestled next to a lovely park and near attractions like the Rembrandt House Museum. The building is a converted schoolhouse, and the rooms are modern with unique touches like slanted beams. The breakfast, served on tea trays, was unforgettable—I’d go back just for that!

Sailrock South Turks and Caicos

This stunning property spans 770 acres with 41 rooms and 2 restaurants. What stood out to me were the multi-bedroom villas, which can be up to 4,000 square feet with fully equipped chef’s kitchens and private pools. Getting to South Caicos is now easier with nonstop flights from Miami a few times a week. And don’t miss the cocktails—the barman is serving up some seriously creative drinks.

Viceroy Bali

Located near central Ubud, this family-run hotel offers 40 villas, each with a private pool. The fine dining restaurant (which feels more European than Balinese) is a destination in itself, and the bar is so gorgeous it’s bound to appear on “Best Of” lists soon. It’s the perfect tranquil spot to begin or end a trip to Indonesia.

Ready to plan your next luxury escape? Whether it’s the vineyards of Napa, the beaches of Turks and Caicos, or the treehouses of Cork, let’s make your dream getaway a reality. Contact me today at Mark@MDTraveling.com to start planning!