A Women-Only Search for Gender Equality
Jamie Sims Coakley reflects on women’s rights both at home and abroad, and shares her experience traveling without her husband to a country that’s still struggling with gender equality.
Spa Day
Interview with the Hot Stone Massage Model
There’s no shortage of transcendent spa hotels, but when it comes to spa photography, it can be a struggle to capture the euphoric feeling a spa provides. We spent some time with the woman most responsible for helping spa photos rise to the challenge — plus a look at eight of our most enchanting spa hotels.
Up and Down
Of Ceilings and Sustenance in Spain
Photographer Jane Hu recently visited the Spanish cities of Sevilla, Granada, and Barcelona, where she found her lens drawn up to awe-inspiring ceilings and down to mouth-watering meals.
Rushing to Ruin
The Worrying Rise of Doomsday Tourism
If climate change has taught us anything, it’s that nothing lasts forever. As ice caps melt and coral reefs die, tourists are rushing to see the world’s most precious treasures before they’re gone. Those visits can raise much-needed awareness, but the extra attention isn’t always for the best.
Stilted Lover
Elevated Hotels That’ll Never Let You Down
There’s a lot to love about hotels on stilts. Unlike your past romantic partners, when your hotel room leaves you high and dry, it’ll leave you with nothing but positive memories.
The Hippie Trail
Once Upon a Time in the Middle East
Imagine a teenager deciding to hitchhike their way from London to Kabul. Now imagine thousands of them. What sounds crazy for 2019 was happening with surprising frequency in 1969, on a route known as the Hippie Trail.
Death in the Vatican
The Story of a Pope and His Elephant
The Vatican is no stranger to scandal. And one shameful legend in particular epitomizes the religious, political, and economic realities of a 16th-century papacy. Hilary Bockham, expert guide with Context Travel, tells the twisted tale of Leo X and Hanno the elephant.
Treasure Underground
The Bounty Beneath the Streets of Rome
The more you burrow down beneath the surface of Rome, the more history you unearth. Theresa Potenza, expert guide with Context Travel, plunges the depths to show us a city that’s eternal both above ground and below.
Where the Bungalow Roam
Freedom Is a California Cottage Hotel
The American West has always represented a certain freedom of movement. It’s no wonder then that California has so many hotels that offer freestanding accommodations: bungalows, cottages, cabanas, or full-on houses that give guests more privacy, more space, more independence — in other words, more freedom.
March of Progress
How the Vacation Came to Be
Martin Luther King said that “the line of progress is never straight.” When it comes to the history of tourism, the line swerved past 99% of the world’s population before it finally delivered the vacation as we know it today.
At the Crossroads
Georgia Comes Out From Behind the Curtain
Laurent Vernhes, Tablet’s co-founder and CEO, recently visited the former Soviet republic of Georgia, where he discovered unique wines, incredible mountains, and a country that is finally getting the attention it deserves.
Citizen Twain
A Quintessential American Finds Ugliness Abroad
Mark Twain wrote one of the 19th century’s most popular travel books. But the ugly ways in which he described the world say more about him — and perhaps America — than the places he visited.
Pride
A Father and Son Celebrate Self-Love in NYC
After Paul Fishman came out, his relationship with his dad wasn’t quite the same. So he decided to take him on a father-son trip to Pride NYC for the 50th anniversary of Stonewall, and to learn the history of LGBTQ+ rights.
Long Walk Home
Magnus Nilsson Prepares His Next Steps
What do you do after closing the world’s most interesting restaurant? If you’re chef Magnus Nilsson, you go back to where you came from.
Into the Wild
Struggling With Our Social Media Obsession
One of the most talked-about trends in travel today is how the pursuit of beauty, or, more baldly, the pursuit of social media cachet, might be destroying the world’s most amazing places.
Raw Power
Concrete Isn’t Just for Brutalists Anymore
The Brutalist architecture movement of the 1950s and 60s grew out of “béton brut,” the French idea that concrete in its raw, unfinished form is a powerful expression of beauty. Quite a few modern hotels agree.
Killing It
200 Years of Tourism in the Catskills
Twice the pinnacle of American tourism, the Catskills have ebbed and flowed in popularity over the past couple of centuries. But the cradle of modern comedy is standing up once again — for the same reasons as always.
It Takes All Kinds
The Year’s Most Singular Hotel Designs
As we near the halfway point of 2019, it’s a good time to look at the hotels that have gotten us the most excited so far this year. Since January, we’ve added a crop of thrilling new hotels to the Tablet selection that are especially remarkable for their diversity and range of styles.
Easter Island Enigma
Unraveling the Mysteries of the Moai
For centuries, explorers and archaeologists have tried to solve the riddle: how did Easter Island’s tiny population build the massive, big-headed stone statues known as moai? And how did they move them?
Five for La Playa
A Mexican Beach Holiday with Tablet Plus
Margaritas, sailboats, dolphins — the beaches along the various coasts of Mexico aren’t a hard sell, so we won’t waste your time. We’ll just say that the only thing that improves on paradise is the perfect hotel to frame it.
Lost Generation
The Forgotten Women of Hemingway's Paris
Ernest Hemingway’s time in Paris is the stuff of legend, but key players in his story are often overlooked. Samuél Lopez-Barrantes sheds light on a group of pioneering women who had a lasting influence on the young writer.
The Future We Were Promised
What Ever Happened to Space Tourism?
News of an upcoming space hotel obviously got our attention, but it also got us thinking: will space tourism ever live up to expectations?
Rule of Three
Sydell Group Is King of Their Corner
It’s hard enough to find success with one line of boutique hotels. To be responsible for three of them, like the Sydell group, is extraordinary.
Rural Legends
Portugal’s Cutting-Edge Countryside Hotels
Portugal is one of the world’s hottest tourist destinations, due in no small part to the number of exciting new hotels opening throughout the country.
Lisbon Light
How to See the City in 24 Hours
It’s not uncommon for our memories from a short trip to be stronger than those from a long one. When a vacation is brief, we want to fill it with as much action as possible. It’s a whirlwind, and it’s how Erika Suban first experienced Lisbon.
Five for the Ages
Tablet Plus in the 17th Century
When a place survives 400 years and people are still clamoring to get on the grounds, it’s no coincidence. Sometimes it’s the building, sometimes it’s the architecture, sometimes the location just never went out of style. And sometimes, it’s a Tablet Plus hotel.
Five Aside the Seine
Tablet Plus on the Left Bank of Paris
The stereotype about Paris’ Left Bank — the six arrondissements south of the Seine — is that it’s where the city “learned to think.” Smaller than the Right Bank, it’s still remembered as the haunt of Picasso, Matisse, and Hemingway, where you can still enjoy the timeless Paris of old.
Don’t Call It a Comeback
Art Deco Quietly Returns Again
Art Deco has been back in fashion before, most recently in the 1980s, but its latest return to visibility is quite different from its last.
The Mad King
Ludwig II Was Crazy for Castles
If Neuschwanstein Castle looks familiar, it’s because you’ve seen it at Disneyland. The inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s palace was the obsession of a 19th century king whose untimely death is still debated today.
Outside In
The Shinola Hotel Puts Detroit on Display
Detroit is as much of an icon as the brands that built it. Since the Seventies, it had been a city in steep decline, but hotels like the Shinola are helping to lead a dramatic revitalization by celebrating their surroundings.
Shangri La
The Real Heaven on Earth in Hawaii
In 1933, James Hilton introduced the world to Shangri La in his novel Lost Horizon. Not long after its publication, the “richest girl in the world” decided that it wasn’t good enough for heaven on earth to exist on the page, it also needed to exist in Hawaii.
Art Time
2019's Most Desirable Art Events
Consider timing your travels for the purpose of attending a major art festival or biennial exhibition. These events are a unique chance to be truly immersed in the local art and culture, and 2019 features an impressive slate of opportunities.
Five for Miami
Tablet Plus Takes Over South Beach
In Miami’s most iconic neighborhood, our five favorite Tablet Plus hotels can’t help but riff on the history of the place, building on the omnipresent Art Deco style with smart renovations and modern sensibilities.
Heat Check
When Tablet Plus and Michelin Stars Collide
In basketball, a heat check is when a player takes an extra-difficult shot in order to show off how ‘on fire’ they are. These nine hotels are the hospitality equivalent.
Five for the Islands
Tablet Plus Relaxes in Indonesia
When you think of Indonesia, the island nation that welcomes some millions each year, your thoughts may drift to scenes of raucous partying on an idyllic beach (especially if you’re picturing Bali). You’re not wrong. But there is another, more relaxing side.
Action Items
Unique Attractions for Your Next Trip (Vol. 2)
All throughout 2019 we’ll be introducing selections of unique attractions designed to help inspire your next big trip. Volume 2 explores destinations that are worth seeking out in Colombia, Japan, Iceland, and California.
Five for Tea
It's Tea Time in London for Tablet Plus
At five of our favorite Tablet Plus hotels in London, afternoon tea means menus packed with gourmet sandwiches, inventive, guilty pleasure cupcakes and the finest imported teas from around the world.
National Bird
The Overwater Bungalow: At Home in Maldives
The overwater bungalow is one of the most impressive hotel species in the world. The very first were found in Tahiti in the 1960s, but the islands of the Maldives are now their dominant habitat.
Scenic Route
Discovering the World Through Cinema
Cinema can take you where you’ve never been. On the eve of the Academy Awards, we’re taking a look at six classic films with powerful perspectives on the towns where they take place.
Five for Amalfi
Tablet Plus Hotels of the Amalfi Coast
The picturesque, cliff-hugging hotels of the Amalfi coast region are already some of the finest hotels in the world. These five hotels are made even finer by the fact that they’re Tablet Plus.
Five for the Family Business
The Family-Owned Hotels of Tablet Plus
When a hotel boasts that they’re family-owned, it guarantees a certain attention to detail, a certain personal touch.
The Empire Strikes Back
Angkor Wat Is Having Another Moment
In the early 13th century, Angkor was the monumental focal point of one of the world’s most astonishing empires. Eight hundred years later, it’s taking center stage all over again.
Pig Beach
A Test Case for Responsible Tourism
Pig Beach is exactly what it sounds like. It’s one of the most intriguing tourist attractions in the world. It also raises some serious questions about how we travel.
Go Forth
Four Unique Attractions for Your Next Trip (Vol. 1)
Throughout 2019 we’ll be introducing selections of unique attractions to consider visiting on your next big trip. Volume 1 explores destinations that are worth seeking out in New Mexico, Australia, Chile, and Zimbabwe.
Automatic for the People
Southern Hospitality (and Songs by R.E.M.)
For our hotels that sit south of the Mason-Dixon line, “Southern Hospitality” isn’t a cliche, it’s a fundamental expectation (like having a bit of heat in your fried chicken). We’ve decided to spice things up a bit ourselves by pairing some great Southern hotels with songs from a great Southern band.
Why I Love Hotels
Liz Lambert Writes About Her Passion
One of the world’s most important hotel developers explains why hotels are so important.
Breakout Season
The Most Exciting New Hotels of 2019
These eleven new hotels are breaking new ground with their service and design, and they’re set to break out big in the coming year.
God Is in the Details
The State of Hospitality in 2019
Hotels have figured out that specificity is the key to success in the modern world of hospitality. As a result, the state of the industry has never been stronger.
Out of the Past
Seven Enduring Destinations for 2019
Our favorite destinations for 2019 each have long and lasting histories. They’ve humbled travelers for many years — and they deserve a visit during the upcoming one as well.
The Future Is Written
Our Staff Imagines the Hotels of Tomorrow
Here at Tablet, we’ve seen just about everything that the hotel industry has to offer — and we also know what it hasn’t thought to try yet. That’s why we asked our staff to imagine the hotels they hope to see in the future.
The People Have Spoken
The Highest-Rated Hotels of 2018
We take a look back at the best-reviewed Tablet hotels of the past year — which would place them high in the running for best hotels in the world.
Lost in Translation
How Not to Piss Off a Japanese Chef
Japan is a country where the people go to great lengths in the name of hospitality. But there are lines that can be crossed — especially in restaurants. Tokyo-based chef and food blogger Marc Matsumoto outlines the five rules you need to remember if you don’t want to run afoul of a Japanese chef.
Make Your Presents Felt
12 Gift Ideas for the Traveler in Your Life
It’s important that your holiday gifts make an impact, but what do you get for the world traveler who’s seen it all? We’ve assembled a list of gadgets and artworks that will bring warm feelings to even the most jaded traveler in your life.
Season’s Readings
Beautiful Books Make the Greatest Gifts
No one makes better books than Phaidon, publishers of innovative volumes on art, architecture, food, travel, and even illustrated books for children. You’ll find all of those subjects and more among our picks for this season’s best and most beautiful books.
Tablet + MICHELIN
Tablet Hotels has been acquired by Michelin, the original travel curators whose iconic guides have led the way to adventure for over 100 years.
Holier Than Thou
A First-Timer's Guide to Jackson Hole
Jackson Hole’s particular confluence of old west and new west has helped it become the wilderness escape of choice for the rich and famous.
Hot Pursuit
Catching Up with the Eclipse Chasers
Year after year, eclipse chasers traverse the globe in pursuit of a high that only comes from witnessing one of the universe’s most mesmerizing events.
A Star Is Born
Michelin's New Stars in New York City
Michelin recently revealed its 2019 stars for our hometown of New York City. We’re highlighting our favorite restaurants from the list, pairing them with a fine hotel, and taking a deeper look at the history of Michelin’s lofty honor.
Waiting For Your Return
Travel Story Contest Winner - Kathryn Parker
I can’t tell you where I am because I could be anywhere right now, but I can tell you I am always with you.
Island of the Gods
Experiencing the Spiritual Calm of Bali
People visit Bali for a lot of reasons: to surf or sunbathe in the south, to snorkel or scuba dive in the east, to see dolphins in the north, or see the national park in the west. Erika Suban, our Italian writer and travel specialist, had reasons more spiritual in mind.
You Can’t Go Wrong
A First-Timer's Guide to Montevideo
Smaller and calmer than nearby Buenos Aires, the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo is as fascinating a center of culture and history as anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere. It also has a lot of meat.
The End of the World, As I Knew It
2018 Travel story runner up - Forrest Reid
I proved today how small the world is. Or maybe I only proved how small the circles I run in it are.
The Dark Edge of Heartbreak
2018 Travel Story Runner Up - Trisha Ridinger McKee
Heartbreak is a funny thing. It already takes you out of your comfort zone so that you’re sometimes willing to go even further into the unknown, to try something different, perhaps a little dangerous. Dangerous, at least, to a naive, sheltered young woman.
Untitled
2018 Travel Story Runner Up - Deborah Lane
My name is Deborah Lane. I am a widow, I live on my farm. My mother Areta also lives with me.
Spice of Life
12 Different Kinds of Caribbean Vacation
There’s a certain sameness to many travelers’ vision of a Caribbean vacation: sun, sand, rinse, repeat. But there’s a surprising amount of variety available throughout the region, especially when it comes to hotel experiences.
Gastro Obscura
9 Unusual Foods For Adventurous Eaters
We’ve partnered with Atlas Obscura — chroniclers of all things odd and overlooked — to investigate nine of the most eye-catching, unusual, and fascinating foods throughout the world.
What’s Old Is New
A First-Timer's Guide to Marseille
Besides its enviable Mediterranean geography, Marseille spent the aughts building new museums and revitalizing public spaces. It shows.
Sheer Terra
13 Hotels in Precarious Positions
Forget haunted hotels, you’ve seen that list a million times. This Halloween, we’re focusing on hotels in scarily precarious locations that are not for the faint of heart.
Under the Influence
Why Hotels Continue to Love Modernism
Hotel design has been heavily influenced by Modernism for a couple of decades now, outlasting other trends along the way. It’s easy to see why.
Masters of Their Domain
16 Homes by Iconic Modernist Architects
Hotels frequently find inspiration in residential design. With help from Dwell, we’ve selected sixteen influential homes that were designed by some of the 20th century’s most iconic Modernist architects.
Infinity and Beyond
Hotel Pools with Awe-Inspiring Views
At many hotels in spectacular locations, the pools are positioned to provide the best possible views of the surrounding scenery. They’re often the star attraction of the property, and as we confirmed recently, Tablet users can’t get enough of them.
High-Value Proposition
A First-Timer's Guide to Bhutan
Bhutan only opened to visitors in 1974, and keeps their numbers limited by charging a daily fee of $250 per traveler. Is it worth the price? Yes, it absolutely is.
Road to Excess
The Pure Opulence of Palace Hotels
William Blake wrote that “The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom.” Conversely, there are few better ways to achieve excess — the good, healthy kind — than through the incredible opulence of a palace hotel.
The Mother City
Cape Town Delivers in Three Distinct Ways
From the city to the coast to the countryside, Cape Town is the kind of place that has something for everyone.
Houses of the Holy
14 Hotels Made From Old Monasteries
Sometimes you need a little rest and reflection. Sometimes you need a little spirited self-indulgence. These monastery hotels are for when you need quite a bit of both.
Strength in Diversity
A First-Timer's Guide to Toronto
Diversity is the word to describe Toronto, both in culture and attractions. It’s a city where you can find any community of people, and almost any kind of activity.
Decisions, Decisions
Chiang Mai, Santiago or Cappadocia?
When you work in travel, you’re exposed to a seemingly endless amount of amazing vacation options, and choosing between them can sometimes be paralyzing. Our own Mitchell Friedman is experiencing this indecision quite acutely, and he needs your help. Where should he go next?
Travel Story Contest
How Did You Spend Your Summer Vacation?
Do you have a great travel story? Send it to us and you could win $300, a lifetime Tablet Plus membership, and a celebrated place in Tablet history.
Sacred Journey
A First-Timer's Guide to Cusco
Don’t just settle for Machu Picchu — Peru’s Cusco region contains far more than that one amazing ancient ruin. It’s also got a lovely and lively capital city.
School Rankings
The Best College Town Hotels
If you’re struggling to decide which college you or your child should attend, just remember, there’s really only one factor that you need to consider: the quality of nearby hotels.
Picture Yourself
Our Most Exhilarating Hotel Photos, Part 2
The most-liked photos from our Instagram feed showcase an epic group of dream hotels and locations. Vote for your favorite, and we’ll give you more just like it. Part 2 of our series features hotel interiors.
Dream Big
Our Most Exhilarating Hotel Photos, Part 1
The most-liked photos from our Instagram feed showcase an epic group of dream hotels and locations. Vote for your favorite, and we’ll give you more just like it. Part 1 of our series features hotel exteriors.
City Improper
The Unexpected Side of Chicago
Chicago’s famous attractions are as iconic as the Midwestern reputation for niceness. But things are not always what they seem. With help from Atlas Obscura, we’re exposing a lesser-known side of the city — and its residents.
Full to the Brim
A First-Timer's Guide to Prague
Prague is 10 centuries old and full to the brim with castles, monasteries, gorgeous Gothic architecture, and of course, a whole lot of delicious beer.
Mind Your Manors
14 Carefully Converted Mansion Hotels
By paying attention to both the past and the present, the brand new owners of these grand old homes transformed them into boutique hotels that are bursting with personality.
Bound For Glory
Finding Faith in the Parklands of Utah
Utah is overflowing with glorious landscapes and breathtaking scenery. Its backcountry is blessed with numerous state and national parks, monuments, forests, and preserves — and Mark Fedeli spent his honeymoon trying to visit them all. The experience was profound.
Case Study #4
Inside the Bush, Outside of Sydney
North of Sydney, a modern house sits comfortably amidst the bushland of a valley estuary. Lucky for you, there’s no shortage of hotels that will immerse you in nature, yet keep plenty of cutting-edge amenities close by.
Case Study #3
Minimalism Meets Maximalism in Iceland
Set on a ridge overlooking a deep ravine, this understated summer home in Iceland is surrounded by awe-inspiring scenery, reminding us of how the best way to experience a maximalist landscape is with a minimalist hotel.
Case Study #2
Southern Modernism in Charleston
After a thoughtful revamp, this 19th century Charleston row home is now an example of “southern modernism,” a style we’re seeing more often from hoteliers who’ve rejuvenated historic structures in the United States.
Case Study #1
Traditional Chinese Cave Dwelling
A traditional Chinese cave dwelling is transformed into a chic and modern residence, providing the same exciting sense of novelty and adventure that’s on hand at our favorite cave hotels.
Proper English
The Exquisite Country Hotels of England
Perfected over centuries, the great hotels of the English countryside offer a peerless mix of service, comfort, and coziness, with a view back into the beginnings of modern hospitality.
Stop Wining
The Sober Guide to Secret Tuscany
Tuscany isn’t all just vineyards and wine tours. With help from our friends at Atlas Obscura, we’re shedding some light on the hidden places, mysterious marvels, and curious oddities that often go overlooked in the region.
Stranded
If You Could Only Choose One Island Hotel...
It’s hard to go wrong with an island getaway: sun, sand, surf, and the feeling that you’re basically in paradise. But don’t get too comfortable yet. When it comes to your hotel, you still have some big decisions to make.
Spanish Why?
Five Reasons You Should Visit Madrid
Everyone knows Madrid. It is, after all, Spain’s capital and largest city. But when it comes to arousing the imagination, it tends to get overshadowed by Barcelona and Seville. Well, not anymore. We’ve compiled five reasons why Madrid is just as exciting as those splashier Spanish cities.
This Is America
A Celebration of Immigrant Culture in NYC
The history of New York, like the history of America, is the story of immigrants arriving in search of new lives and lasting success. Inspired by the late Anthony Bourdain, we’re taking a look at the diverse cultures of our home city the same way he always did: through their comfort foods.
Coastal Elites
A Fresh Batch of First-Class Beach Hotels
Whether you’re a frequent flyer or you’ve saved for years to finally get away, there’s one thing we can all agree on: it’s hard to beat a beautiful beach hotel. Here are a dozen of the best examples that have been recently added to Tablet.
Rainbow Connection
The Ecstasy Inside India's Festival of Colors
Every year, friends and strangers alike come together in explosions of color at India’s Holi festivals. Photographer Michael Greenberg visited the city of Jaipur for an up-close look at this year’s euphoric celebration.
Coming Out
New England Hotels Are Finally Having Fun
The Lark group is subverting expectations in New England by creating playful hotels that put an irreverent spin on revered forms.
2018 Tablet Hotel Awards — Europe
The Best Hotels in Europe
If there’s one thing to understand about Tablet, it’s that our greatest joy in life is handing out well-deserved recognition to the world’s most unforgettable hotels.
Kings of the Road
Restored Motels Are No Longer a Novelty
They seemed like a novelty in the nineties, but restored motels have gone from kitsch to cutting-edge, and are now playing a key role in the future of hospitality.
Cocina Casera
Home Cooking and Hospitality in Mexico
Join us for a ten-region tour of the complex cuisine and exciting accommodations that make Mexico one the world’s most diverse and deserving destinations.
Hostel Takeover
The Influence of Youth-Oriented Lodging
It’s not often that a new style of hotel arrives on the scene, but when an idea gets big among the young, it isn’t long before it gets big everywhere else.
Call of the Wild
12 Hotels for a Different Kind of Camping
Have you ever really wanted to go on a camping trip but you have no gear and no idea what to do? Consider starting with these luxury tent hotels instead.
Grand Designs
Monumental Hotels and National Parks
In the shadow of unimaginable beauty, the designers of these hotels chose not to shy away, but to offer a monumental experience of their own.
Golden Age
A Brief History of Boutique Hotels
This is the true story of what happens when a group of independent thinkers stop following the status quo and start creating a better kind of hotel.
First Class
Airport Hotels That Don't Stink
Often disparaged and rarely respected, the airport hotel is in dire need of an image makeover. Thankfully, some top-gun brands have come to the rescue.
Agricultural Revolution
Farm Hotels Are Growing Up
As the farm-to-table movement grows and travelers seek more artisanal experiences, hotels with an intimate focus on food are surging in popularity.
Highway 1 Revisited
Explorations Along the California Coast
The aesthetic diversity on display in California makes it a destination worth revisiting, especially for hotel fans. Exploring the Golden State’s best lodgings can be very easily done — just take a drive out on Highway 1.
Serenity Now
The Reinvention of the Ryokan
Today’s ryokans are putting a modern spin on a dependable format, helping carry it forward into yet another millennium.
2018 Tablet Hotel Awards — North America
The Best Hotels in North America
If there’s one thing to understand about Tablet, it’s that our greatest joy in life is handing out well-deserved recognition to the world’s most unforgettable hotels.
The World Is Yours
Hotels You Can Have to Yourself
If your idea of the perfect getaway is being in a stunning location surrounded by only your favorite people, then we’ve got the hotels for you.
It’s All Wood
Cabin Hotels to Cure Cabin Fever
Just like a vaccine contains the virus, when you’ve got cabin fever, the only prescription is more cabins.
Where the Sidewalk Ends
Fantastic Hotels for Your Inner Child
As children, we used our imaginations to create worlds of joy and wonder. We don’t do that nearly enough as adults, sadly — but these awe-inspiring hotels might offer us something even better.
Street Life
Hong Kong From Ground Level
Hong Kong is famous for its Chinese New Year celebrations, but these streets are colorful and animated even on a normal day. Photographer Michael Greenberg captures the human moments that stand out amidst that chaos.
Aggro-Tourism
Get Active for a Better Getaway
When the real world gets too heavy, some people escape to a comfortable chair on a quiet beach. Others, though, seek to release their stress via more aggressive methods. These hotels are for them.
Singular Obsession
The Passion of the Themed Hotel
Themed hotels often risk sacrificing comfort for concept. But thanks to some uniquely passionate visionaries, these hotels achieve the perfect balance.
Hang In There
Clifftop Hotels of the Highest Quality
Sometimes you just want to see a bunch of amazing hotels on the edge of incredible cliffs high above gorgeous blue waves. We’re happy to oblige.
Book It
9 Top-Shelf Hotel Libraries
Whether you could spend all day with your nose in a book or just want some conversation pieces to accompany a cocktail, these hotel libraries all get top marks.
Name That Tune
What Do These Hotels Have In Common?
These hotels all share one uncommon thing in common. Can you figure out what it is? Whoever is first to guess correctly will win a $300 credit to use on Tablet.
High Praise
The Top-Rated Boutique Hotels of 2017
Tablet users are known for being sophisticated and discerning hotel guests. So when they say these are the best boutique hotels of 2017, there’s no higher praise.
Time Out
2017's Best Hotels for Escaping 2017
What a long, strange year it was. We all deserve some time away to unwind. Thankfully, there are hotels designed to help us do just that.
Squad Goals
Our Annual Employee Hotel Wish List
Tablet’s own travel experts talk about which hotels they’re most excited to visit in 2018 — some old, some new, all extraordinary.
Performance Space
The Power of Interior Design, Part 2
Hotels aren’t as simple as they used to be. The best have evolved into performance spaces that allow guests to star in their own sort of theatrical production — to try on a whole different life, if only for one night.
This Side of Paradise
Belize Lives Up To Its Reputation
You’ve probably heard of Belize. For years, adventurous travelers have championed its many virtues, speaking of it with a wide-eyed, almost mystical reverence. Well, what you’ve heard is true.
Try On A New Life
The Power of Interior Design, Part 1
A boutique hotel stay is a chance to try on a different life — to inhabit new spaces, explore new fantasies, and check yourself out against a new interior-design backdrop.
Sunsets & Vines
The World's Most Gorgeous Wine Hotels
Maybe it’s the pleasant climates, or the wide open spaces, or the short commute home to your room — but for whatever reason, there’s nothing quite like a vineyard-hotel getaway.
Hard Truths
What Your Dream Hotel Says About You
The hotel you choose for your dream getaway reveals a lot about the kind of person you are. Find your dream hotel — and find out what it says about you.
Back From the Dead
13 Old Structures Reborn as Hotels
These decaying and decrepit buildings have been resurrected from the dead, brought back to life as shockingly fresh hotels.
First Impressions
Unforgettable Hotel Lobbies, Ranked
The best hotel lobbies spare no expense to immediately grab your attention and make a grand statement about the experience to come.
D.I.Y. Design
15 Hand-Crafted Hotel Experiences
Some of the world’s best hotels were hand-crafted by a single visionary with the burning desire to have every detail be perfect. Because if you want something done right…
Long Bright World
It's Adventure Time in New Zealand
Adventurers have no shortage of destinations for finding their thrills, but nowhere collects so much dramatic variety in one place as New Zealand.
Peak Performance
The Higher Standards of Ski Hotels
We used to struggle finding ski hotels as unique and full of personality as our favorite urban boutique hotels — but not anymore. The standards have gone up, and modern ski hotels are distinguishing themselves in memorable ways.
This Must Be the Place
A Complicated Journey to Marfa, Texas
Sometimes you need a place exactly like Marfa, even if Marfa doesn’t exactly need you.
Trust the Process
Inside the Philadelphia Hotel Revival
Philadelphia is in the midst of a renaissance that has it exploding out from behind New York’s cultural shadow — and its hotel scene is leading the charge.
I Am Cuba
The Spirit of Havana, in Pictures
Photographer Michael Greenberg recently visited Havana. His pictures display the indomitable spirit of the Cuban people and the vibrancy of their capital city.
As Time Goes By
The Past is Present in Morocco
Morocco’s labyrinthine medinas were built to slow and confuse invaders. But what was once an inconvenience for ancient attackers is now a desirable feature for modern travelers.
World Builders
It Took a Village to Raise These Hotels
The days of a totally immersive Westworld-style hotel park may be some years off — but we know a few hotels that come pretty close. For when one roof just isn’t enough; sometimes it really does take a village.
Machine Learning
Industrial Design Goes Mainstream
From poured concrete and exposed pipework to transformed factories and converted shipping containers, more hotels than ever are taking their design cues from industrial architecture.
Art + Craft
Two Kinds of Masterpiece in London
This is an exciting time for fine art and fine hotels in London, so we asked artist, designer, and long-time Tablet Plus member Rymn Massand for a full report on both. Below, she breaks down the four must-see exhibits currently running, and reveals her picks for the city’s most well-crafted hotels.
Road to Rediscovery
A Ride Through the Sicilian Renaissance
Sicily hasn’t always been a part of the standard Italian itinerary, but lately that’s been changing, as visitors rediscover the island via one of Italy’s most cherished methods of travel: the automobile. Here are the hotels you need to see along the way.
O Pioneers!
13 Trailblazing Beach Hotels
This week we’d like to tip our straw hat to some trailblazing hoteliers who showed up in tiny beach towns — or in no towns at all — and through sheer force of hospitality, put a new pin on the map.
Changing of the Guard
12 Brands That Rejuvenated Hotel Design
In the years since we launched Tablet the hospitality landscape has continued to evolve. Here’s a look at the hotel brands that changed the game, and the hotels with which they did it.
Vive La Révolution
History Transformed in 14 French Hotels
In honor of Bastille Day, we shine a spotlight on a country where Tablet’s got some roots, as well as more than a few extraordinary hotels.
Jamón Ibérico
A Tour of the World's Finest Ham
What goes into each leg of the world’s finest ham? How is it best experienced? Where should you book your next trip? Take a seat and prime your appetite for this 6-part tour of the pride of Iberia.
This Land Is Your Land
Celebrating the Diversity of American Hotels
The US is a large country, and between its coasts it contains multitudinous modes of hospitality. In the spirit of the Fourth of July, we’re celebrating the best way we know how: by sharing a selection of singular hotels from across the thrillingly diverse American landscape.
The Unlikely Frenchman
Travel Story Contest Winner
We asked our readers to tell us about their most memorable travel experiences, and they delivered. The winner of our first-ever travel stories contest is Katrina Turner, whose tale of an unlikely Frenchman took home the big prize.
Adults Only
15 Hotels Not Suitable for Children
There are times when you need a break from the kids — yours, and everyone else’s. Whether you’re in the mood for something R-rated, or you just need a break from the pitter-patter of little feet, we’ve got 15 hotels where kids need not apply.
Fresh Water
11 Lakeside Hotels for the Summer
Nothing against beaches, but some of us associate summer with fresher water altogether. So go jump in a lake, and do it from one of these hotels.
Montréal
The Boutique Hotels of Montreal
The advent of springtime in New York can feel like a revelation, but it’s nothing compared to what happens when Montréal, North America’s most European city, finally comes out of the annual deep freeze.
The Next Dynasty
China's Most Extravagant Hotels
If you’ve been with us for a while you know we’ve always been bullish about China — the boom in the Chinese economy has ushered in a corresponding boom in Chinese hotels, and the results, especially at the high end, are unlike anything else in the world.
The Greek Isles
An Odyssey of the Mediterranean
It would be an exaggeration to call the islands of the Aegean Sea underrated, as they’ve been a byword for sublime natural splendor for literally thousands of years. But sometimes in the search for the next big thing you run the risk of overlooking a sure thing. Here’s why your next island escape should be to the Greek Isles.
Sri Lanka
Why This Is Your Next Island Destination
The most remarkable thing about Sri Lanka might just be the immense variety that’s packed into such a compact island — you’d normally have to travel a thousand miles, across several countries, to experience everything Sri Lanka has to offer.
Rock Stars
The Cave Hotels of Cappadocia
Cappadocia, Turkey is famous for its “fairy chimneys,” its unique vertical rock formations, and for the general strangeness of its landscape. But around here the region is equally famous for what’s below ground level, and it’s one of the most delicious two-word phrases in the language: cave hotels.
The Party Line
The Fall of the Soviet Union, by Train
In 1991 Tablet’s co-founder and CEO rode the Trans-Siberian railway by himself, from Beijing to Moscow, a distance of nearly 5,000 miles.
In Bloom
Springtime for Amsterdam
It’s a classic European city destination, for good reason: Amsterdam is many cities at once, equally attractive to history buffs, fashionistas, diehard cyclists, design devotees, and urban explorers.
Spring to Life
10 London Weekend Getaways
London is one of Tablet’s favorite cities, and its hotels are among the best in the world. But there’s more to England than the capital — and with springtime suddenly in the air, the country calls.
Destination Brews
Tracking Down the World’s Best Beers
We’ve tapped our in-house beer expert Josh Cotton to guide us through an exploration of brewing’s boldest pioneers — hopping from monastery to metropolis to seek out the best and find out what makes them so extraordinary.
You’re Doing It Wrong
An Alternative Guide to New Orleans
Now that Mardi Gras has run its perennial course, we figured we’d walk you through New Orleans the right way, with an alternative guide to a most unorthodox city.
Rage Against the Machine
Hotels for Leaving Technology Behind
While we love a business hotel where we can stay effortlessly wired, when it’s time for a proper escape, the technology needs to be the first thing to go.
Your Feedback Matters
Tablet Plus Feedback Giveaway — Terms and Conditions
Official Rules for the Tablet Plus Feedback Giveaway. No Purchase Required to Enter or Win.
Through the Looking Glass
On the Ground in North Korea
With North Korea in the news again for all the old familiar reasons, we thought it was time for a first-person perspective on what life is like in this most singular of countries.
Mendoza
Argentina Hotels for Wine Lovers
Come along with us to Argentina’s wine-producing province of Mendoza, a place where the incredible scenery, the extraordinary quality of life, and the perfect climate for growing grapes — not to mention some truly extraordinary hotels — combine to offer travelers an experience to remember.
City Sanctuary
Urban Spas for the Business Traveler
Business travelers: you owe it to yourselves to slow the hectic pace for at least a few hours and unwind with some “me time.” And don’t just settle for a hot bath — these spas are institutions unto themselves, well worth the pleasure of a dedicated afternoon.
Social Engineering
The Next Big Thing in Hotel Design
If you focus only on visual style, you might miss out on the fact that the biggest change to hit the world of hotels has been a conceptual one. The best hotels these days are social spaces.
Pleasure Yourself
Hotels for the Solo Traveler
Sometimes the greatest thrills are the ones you have without a partner, when you can simply indulge yourself wherever and whenever you want, as often as you like. In honor of Singles’ Day, here’s the solo traveler’s guide to enjoying yourself in the city.
Brave New World
There's No End of Amazing Hotels
Once upon a time, we thought we might someday finish our list of the world’s finest hotels. But year after year, they’re opening faster than we can add them to our selection.
This Is Why We Do It
New Hotel Inspiration in North America
Looking back over this year’s additions, we found plenty of hotels to be excited about in North America alone — we’ll save the rest of the world for a future installment. Today, ten hotels in the US and Mexico that remind us why we’re still in the game.
Dear Kanye
An Open Letter to an Aspiring Hotelier
When we heard that Kanye West was talking about adding “hotelier” to his already overstuffed résumé, we thought there’d be no time like the present to arrange an interview. But even though we’re arguably the world’s experts on unique and extraordinary hotels, our calls went unreturned. Nothing personal, we understand; but in the spirit of open collaboration, we offer our advice below.
Reach Nirvana
Asia's Amazing Beach Hotels
You might think you know a thing or two about getting away, but if you haven’t seen the best of Southeast Asia’s coastal and island resorts, you don’t yet know the meaning of true relaxation.
A World Apart
10 Apartment-Style Boutique Hotels
You don’t have to choose between a conventional hotel and a totally self-serve apartment-share. These hotels offer the privacy and the chill residential style of a standalone apartment along with the service, comforts, and professional hospitality of a boutique hotel.
Offshore Havens
Ten Hotels With Overwater Villas
A room on the beach may be enough for the average island-hopper, but for a more immersive experience, nothing beats sleeping offshore, with the waves lapping practically at the foot of the bed. Two words: overwater bungalows.
Castle Mania
10 Fantastic Castle Hotels
A castle is excellent raw material for a hotel, owing partly to the rare perspective it affords, partly to the implied seclusion, and overwhelmingly to the sheer promise of the unusual. But the most elegant and splendorous interior hardly means a thing if it can’t muster a good (k)night’s sleep. Here are our picks for the true royal treatment.
Best of the Bay
Top hotels of San Francisco
San Francisco is one of the busiest hotel markets in America, and one of the hardest places to build new hotels. When demand outstrips supply, there aren’t a lot of hidden gems left lying around — but if you want to look beyond the big chains and try something unique, we’ve got you covered.
Northern Migration
Top 10 Scandinavian Hotels
Escape the summer heat where the autumn chill comes early and hospitality traditions share a distinctive local character — Scandinavia.
Get Out of the City
American Hotels for a City Getaway
Sometimes you just want to get away, and do it with as little hassle as possible. Why spend hours at the airport when there’s often a very fine escape within easy reach of your hometown — or, if you’re the staycationing type, actually in your hometown….
High Drama
Seaside Hotels of the Amalfi Coast
Not only are these already some of the finest hotels anywhere, but they’re made even finer by the fact that many of them are Tablet Plus hotels — which means special privileges and room upgrades for members. Dolcissimo!
Britain: Still Great
10 Reasons to Travel To Great Britain Now
The Kingdom: still United. London’s still got what is arguably the finest collection of luxury hotels anywhere, the English country-house hotel tradition is alive and well, and Scotland has a plentiful supply of both stylish city hotels and classic castle hotels.
The Newlywed Gang
10 Essential Honeymoon Hotels
The fact that a honeymoon is a once-in-a-lifetime(-ish) trip gives you license to spoil yourself in all sorts of ways, and the best hotels are built for exactly this kind of indulgence.
French New Wave
The Next Generation of Paris Hotels
Though battered by rough seas, Paris is far from going under. It’s the world’s most visited city for a reason, and its essential appeal remains undimmed.
Second Life
Recycled Buildings Now Boutique Hotels
We love plenty of purpose-built hotels, of course. But for the kind of architectural contrast that’s impossible to plan, we’ve also got some favorites among hotels whose buildings have been adapted from a very different use. Prisons, factories, firehouses, seminaries — here are eight of Tablet’s finest repurposed hotels.