NEW HOTEL ALERT: FOUR SEASONS FORT LAUDERDALE

November 13, 2022

The new Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale Hotel is an ideal destination for travelers who want a luxurious and lively atmosphere without having to pay the sticker prices of Four Seasons Palm Beach and Surfside. I recently sat down with their GM and Head of Sales to discuss the excellent value this property brings to the luxury market, their favorite rooms and suites to book and what should definitly not be missed. The details below….

LOCATION: 20 minutes by car from FLL Airport.

ROOMS: 129

SUITES: 19

RESIDENCES: 41

ROOM TO BOOK: Prime Ocean View Room.

SUITE TO BOOK: Prime Lauderdale View Suite.

TOP 3 RESTAURANTS: Evelyn, Takato and Cafe Martarano.

DON’T MISS: A sunset cruise on the Inter-coastal Waterway.

NIGHTLY RATE: starts at 795+

MAPPS X FOUR SEASONS: Complimentary daily breakfast for 2 per room, food and beverages credits, upgrade priority status and a personalized amenity.

Click here to learn more

TOP FIVE PLACES TO EAT & DRINK IN PALM BEACH, FLORIDA

January 12, 2022

The island of Palm Beach is home to legendary resorts, exquisite mansions and historic landmarks, including Henry Flagler's former residence, now the Flagler Museum. Lined with stately palm trees, the shopping nirvana of Worth Avenue is known worldwide. Palm Beach Island's Gilded Age architecture will captivate, as will the chic restaurants and a winter highlight, the Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival.

Added bonus, Issac Boots has taken residence here this winter at The Colony Hotel and offering Torch Workout Classes daily. Below we share our top five picks on where to eat and drink in PB.

Email info@mappstravel.com to plan your next trip to Palm Beach.

Buccan: https://www.buccanpalmbeach.com/

Grato: https://www.gratowpb.com/

Bice: http://www.bice-palmbeach.com/

Le Bilboquet: http://lebilboquetpb.com/

Imoto: https://www.imotopalmbeach.com/

TRAVEL SPOTLIGHT: ROMANTIC ESCAPES FOR VALENTINE'S DAY WEEKEND

January 10, 2021

Looking to re-ignite that spark, maintain the current status or perhaps, shall we say elevate your game? Below we round up hotels that we have personally stayed at —trust us when we say that these spots will get the job done.

The details below — Elisa

AMANGANI

JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING

MAPPS X AMANGANI: As an Aman Preferred Partner, MAPPS clients receive special nightly rates, a complimentary upgrade subject to availability, daily breakfast and resort credits.

GETTING HERE: The resort is located 25 minutes by car from Jackson Hole Airport. (JAC)

VIBE: Like all Aman resorts, the eastern, minimalist feel is evident at every corner but with touches of the western lifestyle amongst epic Grand Teton views.

ACCOMMODATIONS: 40 suites and 5 private homes.

STARTING NIGHTLY RATE: $1250 plus tax and service fees.

ACTIVITIES: https://www.aman.com/sites/default/files/amangani_activities_guide_winter_2020.pdf

AMANGIRI

CANYON POINT, UTAH

MAPPS X AMANGIRI: As an Aman Preferred Partner, MAPPS clients receive special nightly rates, a complimentary upgrade subject to availability, daily breakfast and resort credits.

GETTING HERE: The resort is located 25 minutes by car from Page, AZ Airport ( PGA ) or 4 hours by car from Las Vegas , NV Airport ( LAS ) or Phoenix, AZ Airport. ( PHX )

VIBE: Serene minimalist chic interiors amongst a backdrop of what can only be described as planet Mars.

ACCOMMODATIONS: 34 rooms and suites.

STARTING NIGHTLY RATE: $2600 plus tax and service fees.

ACTIVITIES: https://www.aman.com/resorts/amangiri/adventures-experience

HOTEL ESENCIA

RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO

MAPPS X HOTEL ESENCIA: MAPPS clients receive special nightly rates, a complimentary upgrade subject to availability, daily breakfast and spa credits.

GETTING HERE: 50 minutes south of Cancun Airport and 35 minutes north of Tulum by car.

VIBE: Originally the private home of an Italian duchess turned into a 50-acre estate of luxury suites and villas that has become the most sought after beach resort on the Mexican coast of Tulum for the fashion crowd ( Jason Wu got married here ) and well-travelled who want to fall off the radar.

ACCOMMODATIONS: 42 suites and 3 villas. We are huge fans of the beach suites.

STARTING NIGHTLY RATE: $1000 plus tax and service fees.

ACTIVITIES: http://hotelesencia.com/activities/

ROSEWOOD LAS VENTANAS

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO

MAPPS X LAS VENTANAS: MAPPS is a Rosewood Elite Agency so our clients receive special nightly rates, a complimentary upgrade subject to availability, daily breakfast, resort credits and airport transfers.

GETTING HERE: 30 minutes by car from Los Cabos International Airport. ( SJD )

VIBE: No one quite nails romance like Las Ventanas. I mean what hotel have you ever been too that has a Romance Department? Their group of specialists dedicated to infusing your holiday with extra special touches such as couples massages, elaborate beach dinners etc. rolls out all the stops.

ACCOMMODATIONS: 83 suites and villas.

STARTING NIGHTLY RATE: $1000 plus tax and service fees.

ACTIVITIES: https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/las-ventanas-los-cabos/experiences

LE TOINY

ST. BARTH’S

MAPPS X LE TOINY : MAPPS clients receive special nightly rates, priority upgrade subject to availability, complimentary daily breakfast and resort credits.

GETTING HERE: Fly to St. Martin ( SXM ) and connect to St. Barth’s ( SBH ) via WinAir or ferry. Fly into San Juan ( SJU ) and connect to St. Barth’s via Tradewind Air. Fly private into Anguilla and take a ferry over to St. Barth’s. Le Toiny is located 20 minutes by car from SBH.

VIBE: A serene hideaway built for privacy seekers with a super chic beach club.

ACCOMMODATIONS: 22 independent, self-standing Villa Suites, each one offering a private pool and a large terrace that overlooks the beautiful Toiny Bay.

STARTING NIGHTLY RATE: $2000 plus tax and service fees.

ACTIVITIES: https://letoiny.com/leisure

LITTLE PALM ISLAND RESORT AND SPA

LITTLE TORCH KEY, FLORIDA

MAPPS X LITTLE PALM ISLAND: MAPPS clients receive special nightly rates, a complimentary upgrade subject to availability, daily breakfast and resort credits.

GETTING HERE: Set on a private island accessed only by seaplane or boat, this luxe resort is 40 minutes by car from Key West International Airport ( EYW ) or 3 hours by car from Miami International Airport. ( MIA )

VIBE: Florida Keys meets South Pacific isle feels, nary a distraction is allowed - no televisions, telephones nor children. Need we say more?

ACCOMMODATIONS: 30 suites, many with private oceanfront verandas.

STARTING NIGHTLY RATE: $2000 plus tax and service fees.

ACTIVITIES: https://www.littlepalmisland.com/florida-keys-beach-resorts/

COMO PARROT CAY

TURKS & CAICOS

MAPPS X COMO PARROT CAY: MAPPS clients receive special nightly rates, a complimentary upgrade subject to availability, daily breakfast and resort credits.

GETTING HERE: Upon landing at Providenciales International Airport ( PLS ) in Turks and Caicos, guests take a ten minute car ride to Leeward Marina where they board a private, 25 minute boat ride to the car free island of Parrot Cay.

VIBE: Laid back, barefoot chic sentiments mixed with canopy airy four-poster teak beds with billowing white linen. Be prepared to run into Keith Richards or Donna Karen ( homeowners at the resort ) while you are riding your bike or golf cart around the property.

ACCOMMODATIONS: 74 rooms, suites and private homes.

STARTING NIGHTLY RATE: $1000 plus tax and service fees.

ACTIVITIES: https://www.comohotels.com/en/parrotcay/experiences

THE POINT

SARANAC LAKE, NEW YORK

MAPPS X THE POINT: MAPPS clients receive special nightly rates. Please note the property is all-inclusive.

GETTING HERE: Located in the pristine Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York, the estate is 45 minutes from Adirondack Regional Airport in Lake Saranac, 45 minutes from Lake Placid, NY by car or 5 hours from Boston or New York City by car.

VIBE: Formerly the Rockefeller Family Great Camp, now turned into a luxury hideaway for discerning adults who want to eat, drink and be merry.

ACCOMMODATIONS: 11 individually styled guest rooms, each with a stone place and clawfoot tub. The boat house room is a freestanding cabin where the other 10 are located within 3 separate buildings.

STARTING NIGHTLY RATE: $1750 to $3750 based on room, plus tax and service fees.

ACTIVITIES: https://thepointresort.com/home/activities/fall-winter/

READY FOR ROMANCE? CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED

Faena Hotel Pool_Photo by Todd Eberle.jpg

BEHIND THE SCENES: FAENA HOTEL MIAMI BEACH

May 19, 2020

Alan Faena, a former fashion designer turned developer and hotelier, is the creative genius behind The Faena Hotel and the stylish “Faena District.” His dream to transform unappealing neighborhoods into luxury cultural landmarks became a reality back in 2004, when he purchased an abandoned stretch of docklands to open the Faena Buenos Aires. Once a notoriously dangerous city, Faena put Buenos Aires back on the map, and is credited for the most successful urban regeneration project in South America. Over the past few years, he has unveiled his latest labor of love in layers in Miami. First with the hotel, then with the launch The Faena Cabaret Show, next The Faena Art Forum and finally the Faena Bazaar. Each space is purposely designed to be a distinct experience, re-defining the concept of a hotel. For this specific project, he collaborated with Moulin Rouge director Baz Luhrmann who drew inspiration from opera houses and L.A.'s Chateau Marmont, mixing Fitzgeraldian Art Deco with South American elegance plus he got Damian Hirst to construct and display a 25 karat gold wooly mammoth. A glimpse below into my stay at my Miami Vice, The Faena XX Elisa

ACCOMODATIONS

Faena Hotel_Rooms_Premier OF Jr Suite.jpg

ROOMS: 179 guestrooms including the most spacious Signature Suites on the South Florida coastline offering 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-bedroom suite accommodations.

WHAT TO BOOK: Majority of the guest rooms are Junior Suite driven so size is never a concern. Partial Ocean View Junior Suites and Ocean View Junior Suites at this level offer exceptional comfort with fully furnished outdoor balconies and all interconnecting options can be confirmed at time of reservation. My personal favorites were the 4 premier category rooms and suites.

WHAT TO SKIP: For me, Bay view room views left little to be desired once you saw ocean view rooms. If you are a couple or girlfriends traveling together, the only room I would shy away from are the Partial Ocean View King Rooms. These rooms are designed for solo travelers.

DINING

Our gorgeous Sunday Asado by Francis Mallman

DINING

LOS FUEGOS: Netflix’s Chef Table and Argentine grill master Francis Mallmann puts his gaucho touch on a contemporary asado experience with an open-fire kitchen and local ingredients, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

PAO: Paul Qui, a James Beard award winning chef and winner on the Food Network’s Top Chef take on modern Asian cuisine, dinner only.

NOTES: We loved the Huevos Rancheros on LF’s breakfast menu and the 3pm Sunday Asado experience is a must. The food is delishly fresh and beautifully presented. I have now been to the Faena three times and we book the 3 pm slot every time. At Pao, the chilled peanut gazpacho with charred eggplant puree and the short rib mushroom rice was insane.

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

The Faena has three areas to enjoy cocktails. Tree of Life is their outdoor patio lounge, The Living Room ( pictured below ) offers live music in the evenings and The Saxony Bar, only opened on weekends, not till 11pm and has a DJ. spinning tunes with a golden age glamour vibe.

The Faena Theater was inspired by Europe’s grand opera houses with an Old Hollywood vibe. The theater showcases ambitious artistic productions and Faena’s very own highly-acclaimed cabaret performances.

NOTES: The Living Room was my favorite spot. We loved coming back from dinner and having a glass of wine while listening to jazz music. The people watching was pretty great too. I unfortunately struggle to stay up late unless I am traveling abroad so I did not check out The Saxony Bar. The Faena Theater is a must and tickets sell out way in advance. Skip the dinner portion piece of the ticket and eat in one of the hotel restaurants instead.

WELLNESS

WELLNESS

The Tierra Santa Healing House. is an impressive 22,000-square-foot sanctuary that features one of the largest hammams available on the East Coast, along with shaman-developed body-healing rituals and treatments, and technologically advanced facial treatments using Naturopathic and Biologique Recherche skincare lines.

NOTES: The Hammam Rose Ritual will not disappoint.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

MAPPS X FAENA: Special nightly rates, a complimentary upgrade subject to availability, daily breakfast and food and beverage credits.

LOCATION: 25 minutes from Miami International Airport and 35 minutes from Blade Lounge Miami by car.

BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: November-May

IDEAL GUEST: One who values personalized service, art, design, theater and prefers hotels that have a private club atmosphere. While the hotel welcomes families, we prefer other hotels for children.

P.S. For a long weekend trip I would do Pao one night for dinner and the Sunday Asado for a late lunch leaving 2 nights to hit up our other favs: Kyu,Casa Tua, Planta and Mandolin.