Martha Aimée McInnis

I didn’t expect to love Île de Ré, but it quietly became one of those places I can’t stop thinking about. Just off the Atlantic coast, it has a distinctly French rhythm—effortless, understated, and completely unbothered. Days are best spent on bikes, moving between storybook villages like La Flotte and Saint-Martin, stopping for oysters and long, lingering lunches along the way. It’s rare to find a destination that feels this chic yet this easy—equally suited to slow family travel and a more refined, under-the-radar escape. You’ll hear very little English, which only adds to its charm—and why I hesitate, slightly, to give it away.

Greece has been the setting for some of the most important birthdays of my life, so going back for my 40th with my kids felt like the only place that made sense. I was a little unsure about returning to places I had loved so much years ago, especially now traveling differently and needing different things, but the trip only made me love it more. There was something really special about moving through a country that already meant so much to me, while watching my kids experience it with fresh eyes—on quiet beaches, on boats, in little towns, over long dinners, and in all the in-between moments that make a trip feel like it really settles into you. More than anything, it reminded me that Greece is one of those rare places that keeps giving you something new, no matter how many times you go or what stage of life you’re in.

The Fifth Avenue Hotel is a design hotel in the truest sense: bold, layered, romantic, and entirely self-assured. I have stayed here twice now, and both times I have still found myself in awe of just how beautiful it is. With interiors by Martin Brudnizki, every corner feels deeply considered, from the fabric-lined walls to the jewel-toned rooms and the little tucked-away nooks that make the hotel feel personal rather than simply polished. This is not an everyday hotel. It is a special-occasion hotel, the kind of place I would choose for an anniversary, milestone birthday, or celebration that deserves to feel memorable. Portrait Bar sets the mood perfectly: intimate, elegant, and ideal for a romantic pre-dinner drink or a celebratory nightcap. What makes the hotel truly stand out, though, is the service. The staff knows your name, makes you feel genuinely welcome, and reminds you that friendly, personal hospitality is a lost art. There is no gym, and the location is not my usual downtown preference, but I would make the trip any day for a hotel this special.

The Manner feels like a welcome, different addition to SoHo—a hotel with a real identity in a neighborhood full of imitators. Condé Nast Traveler’s take on its “nostalgic utopia” vibe feels spot on: It’s dramatic without being cold, and stylish without trying too hard. The incredible service only deepens the feeling that this place knows exactly what it is.

J.K. Place Roma felt special to me in the way the most memorable hotels always do: not simply beautiful, but deeply felt. What lingered long after my stay was the extraordinary care behind every detail—a kind of hospitality that was elegant, instinctive, and genuinely personal, making the entire experience feel effortless from start to finish. Even without a spa or gym, nothing about the stay felt lacking; it was so thoughtfully orchestrated, so warm, and polished, that it more than delivered the full measure of a true five-star experience. And at the heart of it all is the lobby—luminous, and grand beneath its cathedral ceilings by day, then irresistibly intimate at night, with the glow of candlelight and the fireplace giving it the romance of a private residence in Rome.