Swanky Retreats Fall 2018

letter from the editor in chief

Autumn vibes… Hands down, this is my favorite season. Summer travel has its perks, spring brings forth new adventures, and winter journeys have their own distinct pace. The feel of the air this time of year inspires me to embrace travel in a whole new light. In this issue, we are sipping wine in Bordeaux, taking time for a Gastronomic Gallivant in London and spending a swanky 72 hours in Zurich. As we jet set around the globe, this autumn, we stop at a few new favorite spots in Swellegant Stays. From Hawaii to Tanzania, we found some pretty swanky spots to share with you, so get on in here and discover your next getaway. The light of this season is softer, the clouds more elevated and the perfect time to share…

the swank team

ALEXANDRA MAE EDITOR-AT-LARGE When you look up "wanderlust" in the dictionary odds are that a picture of me is in the definition. AMY SEDEÑO EDITOR-AT-LARGE As a self-proclaimed @hotelista I do quite a bit of traveling, and from holding a tarantula in an ancient site in Guatemala to drinking high tea in Dubai, and petting grey whales in Baja, you bet I’ve got stories to tell. ANDREW INNERARITY DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY I prefer to let the images do the talking. AVA ROSALES FEATURES EDITOR So, what’s the best part of traveling? Meeting new people and immersing myself in the culture! DANIELLE KRAUSE EDITOR-AT-LARGE Exploring the fascinating variety of this exquisitely beautiful blue planet nourishes and fulfills my spirit. Being able to delight and inspire you, by sharing some of these travel gems is an even greater gift. Enjoy!' DYLAN BENOIT CONTRIBUTING EDITOR I’m a chef with Champagne…

in amsterdam (with a caribbean twist)

This autumn, the Van Gogh Museum presents Gauguin & Laval in Martinique. From 5 October 2018 to 13 January 2019, the museum is organizing the first ever exhibition devoted to a significant, but up until now neglected, period in the artistic career of Paul Gauguin: the four months he spent on the island of Martinique in 1887, together with his friend and fellow artist Charles Laval. In this French colony, located in the Caribbean, the two artists sought new inspiration away from Paris – a city that they believed had become too modern and depraved. The colorful artworks that they created on the island proved to have a huge impact on their artistic development. A significant number of this series of works is exhibited together for the first time in this…

swellegant stays

Carneros Resort and Spa Napa Valley, California If you’ve been dreaming of a luxury cottage getaway, we may have found the perfect fit for you. Oh, and it’s in wine country. That never hurts. Surrounded by rolling grapevines and picturesque farmland, Carneros Resort and Spa is home to 100 cottages, suites, and residences and provides a luxurious getaway in the heart of Napa Valley. Each of the resort’s cottages has 400 square-feet of living space and up to 800 square feet of outdoor living space, depending on your selected accommodation. The cottages are equipped with various amenities and design features, including fireplaces, indoor/outdoor showers, individual hot tubs and French doors leading to landscaped gardens. Inside, the cottages feature modernized furnishings and lighter color palettes to match the property's sun-washed, farm-style architecture. One-…

a letter from africa: tanzania

Dear day dreamer, Do you remember when you were a teenager, you wondered if you would ever see faraway places with peoples still practicing ancient ways? Do you recall how you pictured yourself in the savannas of East Africa, tracking animals, so close to lions you could see the steam from their breath in the early morning? Or how you imagined yourself in a tented cabin, overlooking a valley of gold and green with a lake you could not see the edges of, after a long day of exploring? Day dreamer, I’ve been to those places, on a multi-day safari in Tanzania, a name derived from Zanzibar and Tanganyika, which in Swahili means ‘to sail in the wilderness’. I always pictured that dream, if it became a reality, as something bespoke, select,…

a letter from england: london

I’ve always dreamt of London. The history, the culture, the shopping, and as of late… the food. Being from North America I often heard that Britain wasn’t known for its edible offerings. Save for a few of the big-name chefs like Marco Pierre White, Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver, London was a bit of a culinary blind spot for me; my repertoire of English fare reduced to little more than fish and chips and Westernized versions of classic Indian curries. I was always focused on the cuisine of France, Spain and Morocco, the romance of their rich culinary traditions and the beauty of their dishes. However, I still refused to believe that a city like London, so rich in culture and tradition, could be lacking such a defining element as…