Luxurious Escapes: Hotel Tours from NYC to Bali

AFAR

Join us as we explore some of the world's most incredible hotels—from luxury properties in New York City and Tokyo to a boutique hotel in the Costa Rican rainforest—with this compilation of the best hotel tours from the AFAR Media team.  Get more hotel recommendations from AFAR: https://rebrand.ly/qvp0pyz  ---- CONNECT WITH AFAR Afar.com is a digital and print magazine that publishes travel tips, guides, news, and stories: https://www.afar.com Get updates on the latest articles, travel news, and more from AFAR by signing up for the AFAR newsletter: https://afar.com/newsletters Follow AFAR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfarMedia Follow AFAR on Twitter: https://twitter.com/afarmedia Follow AFAR on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afarmedia Follow AFAR on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/afarmedia  ---- CREDITS Claudia Cardia - Video Editor Jessie Beck - Senior Manager, SEO & Video Elizabeth See - Designer Sarika Bansal - Editorial Director Michelle Heimerman - Photo Editor Jenn Flowers - Senior Deputy Editor

Transcript

00:00 [Music]

00:13 Hi and welcome to today's episode of Stay Here Next where we deliver to you the best,

00:17 most exciting hotels around the world. Today I'm especially excited because I'm here to

00:21 talk to you about Guahan, a Banyan Tree Escape. This hotel appeared on our 2023 stay list which

00:26 is our companion of the best new hotels around the world and here to kick things off is Bali-based

00:31 correspondent, Catherine Ramay. Hi, I'm Catherine and I reviewed Banyan Tree's gorgeous Guahan resort.

00:36 I can't wait to show you around so let's go.

00:39 [Music]

00:45 Bali has no shortage of beautiful luxury hotels but this resort from Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts

00:52 which opened in 2022 in the village of Guahan is truly unique. The resort gives travelers the

00:58 chance to experience a quieter side of the island's jungle interior. That's because it's

01:02 located on a peaceful hillside about 40 minutes by car north of Bali's popular town of Ubud.

01:08 Without the tourist crowds and motorbikes, the area offers a glimpse at Balinese village life.

01:13 The hotel has a biophilic design which means that it harmonizes with its green hilly surroundings.

01:18 Pathways made with local stone wind through the lush 12-acre property. The hotel has 16

01:24 wood shingled bale or villas with beautiful views of nearby rivers. What we love about the

01:29 bale is their open plan design with no doors, windows or walls. Yes, you heard that right.

01:34 The villas at this resort have no walls. Even so, there's plenty of privacy thanks to opaque

01:40 curtains and lots of space between the bale. You can take a dip in your personal pool or lounge

01:45 in the private gazebo or soak in the hand-hammered copper bathtub. One of the highlights of a stay at

01:53 Guahan, a banyan tree escape, is the open kitchen, the hotel's zero waste restaurant. The restaurant

01:59 is 70% plant-based with sparing use of meat and lots of fermented preparations that repurpose

02:05 would-be kitchen waste. 90% of primary ingredients including poultry and coconut oil are sourced from

02:12 within 43 miles of the resort. That philosophy extends to the cocktails of the resort's open-air

02:18 botanist bar. The master of the kitchen is chef Eka Sonaria who was born right in Guahan and you

02:25 don't want to miss his delicious five-course dinners. But Eka doesn't just cook amazing meals,

02:30 he also teaches cooking classes and takes guests on tours of the property's own organic gardens.

02:36 We have a three-jar box so that's very very refreshing and very very tasty. Very very good for

02:42 our pipes and also we're using a lot of green and also for some colors. That's like a little

02:47 tannin. Slightly tannin, very very sour and after that you will get cleansing and all the other

02:54 good stuff. In addition to unique culinary experiences here at Guahan, there are so many

02:59 things to do right on property. You can explore the surrounding jungle, get a massage at the spa,

03:05 visit the on-site firefly nursery, take classes on Balinese Hindu philosophy, or simply lay by

03:10 the incredible pool and take it all in. Check out our full review and all other reviews on our 2023

03:17 stay list in our hospitality issue on afar.com and on YouTube. This is really an amazing retreat

03:24 like no other place. You truly feel the jungle here. So next time you're coming to Bali, I hope

03:28 you'll think about staying at Guahan if you can and I hope you enjoyed the tour. Thanks for watching.

03:36 Hi, I'm Jen and I'm here at the Hoshinoya Tokyo which is a really unique hotel here in the center

03:46 of the city. I love all of the cultural immersion I'm getting right here on the property and I'd

03:52 love to take you on a tour. Let's go. Hoshinoya Tokyo is in the Otemachi financial district.

04:01 Today the neighborhood is filled with skyscrapers but it's got centuries of history too.

04:06 In fact, samurai from the mighty Tokugawa shogunate lived here between the 1600s and the 1800s.

04:13 The exterior, a stunning lattice metal pattern based on a hemp leaf, is inspired by an auspicious

04:18 Edo komon pattern that was once used on kimonos in the Edo period. This hotel is a true urban resort

04:25 inspired by a ryokan or traditional Japanese inn which is normally found in rural settings.

04:30 Even checking into the hotel is an experience unto itself. There's a large entrance hall with

04:36 soaring ceilings and a wall of woven baskets that stretch all the way up. These woven baskets are

04:42 for your shoes. You're asked to remove them and you keep them off during your stay because all

04:46 the hotel's floors, even the elevators, are covered with beautiful tatami mats. The idea is to encourage

04:53 guests to leave the city behind and to become immersed in another world through all five senses.

04:58 It's exactly what I feel when I sense the smooth texture of the tatami flooring beneath my feet.

05:03 Next I head for the elevator that takes me to the lobby on the second floor.

05:07 It's the afternoon and a musician in a kimono is playing a koto on a stage in the reception lounge.

05:16 The talented Rie Azuma is the architect behind this hotel and all the Hoshinoyas across Japan.

05:21 The hotel has 84 rooms with six rooms per floor. The kiku room is the largest accommodation and

05:27 fits up to three people. While children are more than welcome, littles who have a lot of energy

05:32 might feel a little frustrated in the hushed atmosphere. Each floor was created to feel like

05:36 its own private ryokan and has a shared tea area called an ochanama lounge. There you'll find

05:42 Japanese teas and snacks. While the lounge is technically a shared place, I often have it all

05:49 to myself. Everything in my room sits a little lower including the chairs in the bed. The

05:55 mattresses which are custom made for the hotel are truly amazing. I'm not sure if it was the

06:01 jet lag but I don't know the last time I got such a fine night's sleep. My favorite time of day here

06:07 is morning when the light floods into the room through lattice screens that leave patterns in

06:11 the tatami flooring. In the morning a member of staff arrives in my room with a Japanese breakfast

06:16 which is one of my favorite rituals whenever I'm in Japan. The ingredients change every day

06:22 according to the dozens of micro seasons found here. Hoshinoya Tokyo sits next to the massive

06:28 Tokyo Station subway hub and it's close to the Imperial Palace but the hotel offers plenty of

06:33 cultural experiences on site too. You can take a workshop on incense or take part in a tea ceremony

06:39 tutorial. I'm a martial artist so I've decided to go with one of their more active offerings.

06:44 So I'm here in the lobby. It's really early in the morning and I'm about to do a Kenjutsu

06:53 practice on a rooftop and I'm really excited. The class focuses on breathwork and basic swordsmanship

07:00 but the views themselves are taking my breath away. You can see Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower.

07:07 The Kenjutsu practice pays homage to the samurais who used to live in this quarter during the Edo

07:11 period. I also join a class on Japanese tea ceremonies which show just how carefully

07:17 considered every detail of the experience is. And then there's the onsen, one of the most coveted

07:24 features of this property. It's the only hotel in Tokyo with an onsen that's fed directly by

07:29 hot springs close to 5,000 feet below the hotel. The onsen is separated by gender and you need to

07:36 give yourself a good scrub before you enter. The bath leads to an outdoor space where walls frame

07:41 the sky above and you can feel cool breezes at night. For dinner I get a private room at the

07:48 subterranean restaurant and am treated to a multi-course meal of Nippon cuisine that features

07:53 fish and seasonal ingredients. So that concludes our tour of the Hoshinoya Tokyo. I hope you liked

08:01 it. Be sure to tell us what you liked in the comments. Don't forget to hit like and subscribe

08:04 on your way out and happy travels.

08:06 Hi, Jessie here and I'm at the Botanica Resort in Costa Rica. Today I'm going to take you on a

08:21 quick tour of the property as well as show you some of the reasons why this is such a wonderful

08:24 place to visit. Let's go! Botanica Osa Peninsula is located on, you guessed it, the Osa Peninsula,

08:37 which is on the southern part of the country's Pacific coast. Even by Costa Rican standards,

08:42 the Osa is incredibly biodiverse both on land and in the ocean. It's home to an estimated 250,000

08:50 different species of plant and wildlife, including hundreds found nowhere else on earth.

08:54 Although the area is wild and rugged, Botanica is a modern, calm, and convenient base for exploring

09:02 it all. As part of Hilton's Curio collection, which is the brand's line of more boutique hotels

09:07 and resorts, Botanica has the amenities you'd expect from any Hilton worldwide, like reliable

09:12 wi-fi and comfortable beds. But it also has its own unique design and aesthetic that gives it a

09:18 much more Costa Rican feel. Among the 114 rooms, guests can choose from a studio or a one, two,

09:25 or three-bedroom suite, the largest of which can sleep up to 10 people. Suites come with a balcony

09:30 or patio, living room, and full kitchen, and all of the rooms are fully air-conditioned and

09:35 electricity is powered by solar panels. Unlike a lot of the other hotels in the area, these rooms

09:41 do not feature an open-air design, which may be a pro or a con depending on your travel style.

09:47 One of the first things I noticed about this property is just how close to nature it is,

09:51 which I personally love because that's one of the main reasons why we came to the Osa Peninsula.

09:56 We've also discovered that you don't really have to go far to see nature. There's been warnings

10:00 of where the macaws have come up right up to our balcony, and we've been able to see some pretty

10:04 incredible wildlife without even leaving. That said, a few guests did express disappointment

10:10 at not being right on the beach. However, this was a conscious decision meant to conserve the

10:15 nearby mangroves and coastal ecosystems while building the hotel. Knowing this, I was more

10:20 than okay walking 10 minutes down the road for those ocean views. Plus, the plant-filled pool

10:25 area right next to the resort's casual restaurant and bar, Giza, is a highlight of the hotel and

10:30 more than makes up for it with its spacious swimming area. Other amenities include a gym,

10:36 spa, excursions desk, and a second restaurant, Tierra a la Mesa, which is open for breakfast

10:42 and dinner. Thanks to its popularity among locals, it's a lively place to be once the sun goes down.

10:47 Speaking of excursions, outdoor activities like hiking in nearby Corcovado National Park

10:53 and deep-sea fishing are the main draw for visitors here, so we're going to go check those

10:57 out as well. Anglers come here from all over to fish rooster fish, tuna, mahi-mahi, and dozens

11:04 of other species. But preserving this marine ecosystem is also incredibly important, so fishing

11:10 here is mostly catch and release and anglers are only allowed to keep five fish per boat per day

11:16 to help preserve the natural ecosystem. Deep-sea fishing is actually really big here at Botanica

11:22 since it replaced an old fishing resort named Crocodile Bay. The owners are still involved in

11:27 Botanica, but they're not able to focus full-time on their fishing charters,

11:31 Crocodile Bay Fishing Tours, which is the outfitter we're going with today.

11:37 We're back on shore, it's the next day, and we're up early to drive the one and a half hours

11:41 each way to visit Corcovado National Park, which is actually the largest national park

11:46 in all of Costa Rica. Corcovado is one of the few remaining sizable areas of lowland tropical

11:52 forests in the world and it's home to thousands of species, small and large. You're almost certain to

11:58 see a few, like howler monkeys and tapirs, while here. We certainly did. It's a bit far, but it's

12:04 absolutely worth it. Finally, we're now going to visit one of the more unique places here at

12:11 Botanica. There's an environmental non-profit, BioSER, which is dedicated to safeguarding the

12:16 rainforests of the Osa Peninsula by creating rainforest reserves, teaching locals about the

12:20 environment, and conducting research. That's located right here on site. BioSER's founder,

12:27 Jim Cordova, is actually an entomologist and has amassed an impressive collection of insects from

12:32 around the Osa and we're lucky enough to go get to see some of them. Overall, Botanica is an

12:38 excellent choice for anyone who wants to explore this beautiful wild corner of Costa Rica, but

12:43 without sacrificing any comforts. While it's larger and less rustic than what I would normally go for

12:49 for a solo or couples getaway, even I can't deny that all of the amenities here and variety

12:54 excursions available make it a really great hotel for family and multi-generational travel.

13:00 I also love that Botanica and their partners at BioSER are committed not just in helping

13:05 guests explore the area's incredible nature, but also conserving it for generations to come.

13:09 Thank you for exploring the Osa Peninsula with me. Tell me what your favorite part was and where you

13:15 think we should go next in the comments below. As always, like, subscribe, and safe travels.

13:27 You want a bead? Yeah!

13:29 Hi, I'm Lindsay Matthews, a Farm Senior Commerce Editor. I'm at Wildflower Farms,

13:36 the first aubergine resort property in New York State, and we're up in Gardiner, New York,

13:42 in the Hudson Valley, about a 90-minute drive from New York City. I'm staying in a meadow cottage,

13:47 so come in and check it out with me.

13:49 [Music]

14:01 So this is one of the one-bedroom cottages. You can book it connecting to a second one if you

14:07 are coming with your family or a group of friends, and there are 65 total cottages and cabins on the

14:13 property. All of the design work is beautiful. It's by a New York design firm called Ward & Gray.

14:20 They designed it with locally sourced antiques and a lot of custom elements, like this quilt

14:26 was made specifically for these rooms, and you can see it's embroidered down here. And what I love

14:33 about this is all the different textures in here. So you can see there's velvet couches,

14:37 nubby wool chairs, lots of wood and marble. My favorite thing about this room is all the

14:44 different cozy places to sit. I particularly love this little reading nook. It's made out of this

14:50 kind of dark orange velvet, and there's this beautiful celestial-inspired table and a mohair

14:57 throw. And a lot of these items you can buy up at the shop that they have up in the check-in desk,

15:02 which is run by a local store. The bathrooms in each of the cottages are also massive and

15:10 full of beautiful details. As you can see, this stone countertop is slightly reminiscent of

15:17 the Shawangunk Mountain Range in the distance beyond the hotel.

15:22 All of the soaps and lotions are made in-house, and they smell amazing.

15:29 Each of the cottages have private outdoor space as well. As you can see, there's a private deck

15:35 with a couch, a table, and these beautiful handmade Adirondack chairs

15:40 that is shared with the cabin next door.

15:54 Before Auberghe bought this property, this land used to be a tree farm. And as you can see behind

15:59 me, these are a few of the remaining trees that they kept on the property, which are gorgeous

16:04 in late October. It's kind of funny. I don't think the intention was always to have this for guest

16:12 use. It's just sort of the fact that we come. Wildflower Farms also has a working produce

16:17 farm on it now. Guests are welcome to tour it with the farmers for a behind-the-scenes look.

16:45 So in addition to serving a lot of food they grow themselves at their restaurant,

16:50 Wildflower Farms is committed to working with a lot of local friends. So you'll see

16:54 in the main bar, there's beer from local breweries like Arrowood, and then they also

17:00 make house-made cocktails that you can enjoy right in your room. A lot of them there.

17:05 In addition to the produce they grow at Wildflower Farms, they also have pigs and

17:11 chickens on the property. Every morning at 8am guests are welcome to come to the chicken coops

17:17 and pick out the eggs they want and take them back to the restaurant to have them

17:20 cooked for their breakfast. Thanks for joining us on this tour of Wildflower Farms.

17:27 Be sure to click the subscribe button to follow afar for more travel videos.

17:32 There we go. Yeah.

17:39 Watch your fingers. Hi everyone, my name is Jen Flowers and I'm the senior deputy editor at Afar

17:46 Media. I am also Afar's resident hotel obsessive and that is why I am so excited to be in the Amman,

17:54 New York. Now if you haven't heard about Amman Resorts, it's this incredible brand that started

18:03 in the 1980s in Thailand and it's since grown into this global collection of properties.

18:09 It's so wonderful that it's attracted a whole crowd of cult followers called Amman junkies.

18:15 A few things to know about this property. One, it's in the historic crown building. It is one

18:19 of the most beautiful examples of Beaux-Arts architecture in America. Two, you're right near

18:25 Central Park. Three, the whole idea behind this resort is to be a vertical retreat away from the

18:32 city that makes you feel connected still to the kind of heart and culture of the place. The other

18:38 thing to know about this hotel, the room rates start at $3,200 a night, which means it's the

18:45 most expensive starting hotel rate in New York City. I'm going to check out this resort and I

18:50 want you to come along with me. The theme of this hotel is urban sanctuary and you feel it immediately

18:58 upon arrival. The interiors were designed by Jean-Michel Gaffi of Deniston, who also did the

19:04 Amman in Venice. The design nods to the brand's origins in Southeast Asia and everything you see

19:10 is a showcase of natural materials including oak, walnut, blue and chocolate brown marble, and black

19:16 and steel. My favorite spot on the 14th floor, where the lobby and two restaurants are located,

19:22 is the enormous terrace. Large seating areas are flanked by young pine trees and slatted wood

19:27 coverings, which offer privacy and shade. Look up and you'll see the crown building soaring above

19:33 you and there are views of other iconic buildings nearby like the world-famous Plaza Hotel. The 83

19:39 suites are on the 7th to 12th floors and they're inspired by Japanese open floor living with

19:44 pivoting partition walls that remind me of paper shoji screens. Suites start at 745 square feet,

19:51 the size of most one-bedroom apartments in New York City. In each suite there's a large-scale

19:56 mural made with washi paper and ink inspired by the 15th century masterpiece Pine Trees by

20:02 Hasegawa Tohaku. The Amman New York is the first hotel to have working fireplaces in all the guest

20:09 rooms and you could spend all day in the enormous beds and the soundproof glass diminishes the

20:14 street sounds outside. They say the decibel level is nine, the equivalent of rustling leaves, and

20:21 quiet enough for a recording studio. The bathrooms feel like a private wellness sanctuary. I love the

20:30 freestanding oval bathtub and the marble rain shower. Plus the floors are heated and it was

20:36 just paradise in there. Even the toilets are worth mentioning. They're Toto, a Japanese company that

20:42 makes these incredibly tech-savvy toilets with everything from heated seats to lids that open

20:46 automatically as you walk toward them. In the 25,000 square foot spa and wellness area you'll

20:53 find a state-of-the-art fitness center, seven treatment rooms, and everything from a cryotherapy

20:58 chamber to tools for advanced medical evaluations. There are even private spa houses for those who

21:04 want extra privacy. I've spent a lot of time going between the sauna and the steam room but my

21:09 favorite spot is the 65 foot indoor swimming pool which is flanked by fireplaces and day beds.

21:15 The gym has advanced infrared equipment that helps to maximize calorie burn and there's plenty of

21:22 space for yoga, Pilates classes, Tai Chi, and Qigong which are all on offer here. There are two

21:29 restaurants on the main lobby level, currently for guests only, but there are plans to open them to

21:34 the public soon with guests getting priority seating. They include Arva, an Italian restaurant

21:39 that focuses on seasonal ingredients in a room surrounded by backlit bottles of the hotel's

21:44 extensive wine collection. The food is fantastic. The burrata poliese and the carciofia la dodea

21:51 were magical. One of the sommeliers, Slim, can help navigate the list of wines. I'm interested

21:57 in Italian wines from small, sustainably run producers and Slim has been able to point me

22:01 in the right direction. And then there's Nama where chef Takuma Yonemaru focuses on washoku

22:07 cuisine which is traditional Japanese food. They serve omakase or chef's choice menus at a Japanese

22:14 hinoki wood counter but I'm trying the a la carte menu which is stellar and knowing I love a good

22:19 pairing with dinner, Slim is helping me navigate the sake menu too. As you can see, the Amman, New

22:28 York is indeed one of the most exciting new openings in the city and I'm enjoying every

22:32 minute of my stay. Don't forget to hit like. Hello and welcome to today's episode of Stay Here Next

22:46 where we show you incredible and noteworthy hotels around the world.

22:49 Today I am right outside of Zion National Park, the newest property by outdoor lodging company,

22:55 AutoCamp. AutoCamp first launched in Santa Barbara, California back in 2013. That original property

23:06 has since closed but they currently have nine properties throughout the United States.

23:10 All of AutoCamp's properties are always in a beautiful natural area, sometimes a national

23:15 park but not always. Zion is actually one of four locations that opened this year in 2023

23:20 alongside Sequoia National Park in California, Texas Hill Country, and Asheville, North Carolina.

23:25 Glamping experiences like this are actually on the rise and I personally have stayed at some other

23:30 glamping properties like Under Canvas in Mendocino Grove. Though those properties usually use a safari

23:36 style campus tent and I've never stayed in anywhere quite like AutoCamp before. So let's go check it

23:42 out. Looking for our room which is in one of these iconic airstreams. That's one of the things that

23:50 AutoCamp is known for and here at AutoCamp Zion I believe they have 72 airstreams in addition to a

23:56 couple of other options for accommodations but yeah that's part of the fun of staying here is

24:01 getting a chance to stay in one of these guys. John, you excited? So cool!

24:11 First stop in our tour we've got this lovely spacious living room for lounging

24:14 indoors and then next up we're going to take a look at the bathroom really quickly which is

24:20 also quite spacious for an airstream. We've got this nice large shower over here, toilet,

24:28 sink, essentials, lots of nice natural light which is always nice to have. Then over here a little

24:34 kitchen space as well as one of their signature s'more kits which I can't wait to try later.

24:39 The bedroom where actually my favorite part is airstream. Here we have got a skylight where you

24:46 can go stargazing straight from your bed. Airstreams are each kind of set up like you would a typical

24:53 state or national park campground so each one has a fire pit in an optimal lounge area so you can

24:59 really take advantage of the beautiful scenery around here. One of the things I'm noticing is

25:03 that there's kind of limited coverage for such a hot and exposed area. We do have this little

25:12 awning here but it's still really sunny and hot so I think we should go head to the pool.

25:17 Like every auto camp they have this great clubhouse space where you can buy some food to eat

25:26 ready-made or a couple of essentials that you may have forgotten to bring with you. They also have

25:31 games and live music and it's a really great social space either for hanging out with people

25:35 that you came here with or making new friends because why not? One other signature of Auto

25:40 Camp's properties is this mid-century modern design and really lends itself a very design

25:45 forward element to this otherwise outdoors forward property. So the location itself

25:50 really prioritizes the outdoor beauty of this area. You are about 10 to 15 minute drive away

25:57 from Springdale which is the main gateway town to the main entrance of Zion National Park.

26:03 So you're not able to just pop outside the hotel and go walk into town and get dinner which

26:07 personally I think it's okay because you're also a little bit set apart from that hubbub. But

26:12 actually one of the benefits of being in this particular location which is in the small town

26:16 of Virgin is that you're actually super close to some really rad mountain biking trails that are

26:21 outside of the park as well as some scenic drives and vista points for actually like seeing parts

26:28 of Zion National Park from outside the park. Additionally you're just a little bit closer to

26:33 the less popular and therefore less crowded entrance for Zion so if you wanted to explore

26:37 both sides of the park this is actually not a bad location to set up as your home base.

26:42 But now let's go check out the park. So Zion National Park was the third most visited U.S.

26:50 National Park in 2022 which means it can get crowded. It's best known for two of its hikes

26:56 the Narrows and Angels Landing both of which are also very popular especially during the summer

27:00 time. Now shuttles have helped reduce car traffic in the park but even the lines for those can get

27:05 long. So to avoid some long shuttle lines we're renting some e-bikes from Zion Adventures.

27:11 They cost about $95 for a full day. Zion Adventures also does some other tours in and around

27:16 the park like their Sunset Overlook Scenic Drive and Mountain Bike Tours both of which are bookable

27:22 through AutoCamp since they are partners. It was really worth it to get the e-bikes though since

27:26 we were able to get around the park super quick and it was just plain fun. There weren't any cars

27:31 in the road just the shuttles so it wasn't very stressful biking. After a quick beer in Springdale

27:37 we head back to camp. It's been a long day. We actually went on two hikes today so we're pretty

27:43 hungry. Unfortunately we grabbed one of these grill kits that they have up in the camp store

27:49 so we're gonna get those going.

27:50 AutoCamp also has a restaurant on site but the food there is pretty simple and basic

28:01 which is fine if you want something quick but I actually think that was okay because one of my

28:05 favorite parts about camping is getting to cook outside and this Airstream is set up perfectly

28:10 for that. The outdoor space also means we can eat and cook while enjoying one of the best parts about

28:15 this property, the stars.

28:17 Overall I'd really recommend AutoCamp Zion if you want to have a camping-ish experience.

28:25 You get campfires and s'mores but also comfortable beds and good showers. Plus it's a beautiful

28:31 design forward space which there are a few of these in and around Zion National Park but is

28:36 kind of a rarity near national parks in general where accommodation options tend to be a bit more

28:41 basic. Some of the cons though it is right next to the road and there isn't a whole lot of shade

28:47 next to the Airstreams themselves. That said neither of these are deal breakers. As for price

28:52 they start at $189 a night in the low season and $269 a night in the high season which is a pretty

28:58 good rate compared to other options in and around Zion National Park. It's also more nature-focused

29:03 than a hotel and more fun and social than an Airbnb. So John would you stay here again? AutoCamp.

29:11 Smash that like. Where are we going guys? Mexico!

29:17 Hi Michelle here I'm at Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita with my son Nico. Hey Nico!

29:24 Nico and I are going to take you on a quick tour of the property which has some new kids

29:30 programming we're checking out and we're going to show you around Punta Mita

29:34 to see what makes this part of Mexico so special. Nico you ready? Yeah!

29:38 Punta Mita is on Mexico's west coast about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta in the larger Riviera

29:52 Nayarit region. It's a unique development that's part residential community and part resort.

29:58 There's a Four Seasons with its recently opened adults-only tented camp Naviva and a St. Regis

30:03 here. A little further south there's a newly opened Auberge Resort, a Conrad Hotel, and a W.

30:09 All of them are sandwiched between a beautiful rocky coastline on one side and a lush tropical

30:14 rainforest on the other. During our stay in Punta Mita we're calling the Four Seasons home,

30:19 a resort that is extremely family-friendly. We're going to show you our ocean casita room at the

30:26 Four Seasons Hotel Punta Mita. Let's go! All right show us around Nico. Here's our closet and our bathroom.

30:36 Wait let me look at the bathroom. They even put a little step stool for us and some bath toys.

30:44 And here's the grandma bed and here's the kids bed. Right which is a sofa during much of the day and

30:53 then we want to go outside. And this is the view. There's a Kids for All Seasons club that is free

31:03 for children ages 5 to 12. Really good guys. Look I colored it. Special kids menus at all the dining

31:11 venues where kids 6 and under eat free. Two family-friendly pools, babysitting services,

31:17 and cultural activities for everyone in the family to enjoy. One thing that drew us to this property

31:22 is that in 2022 it became the first in the worldwide Four Seasons portfolio to introduce a

31:27 new kids well program. This unique programming focuses on kids mental health and well-being

31:33 through activities aimed at reducing stress and anxiety such as nature walks and connecting with

31:37 local wildlife. Set on 52 acres of land, Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita offers that perfect

31:49 mix of natural beauty and top-notch amenities including a full-service spa, numerous restaurants,

31:56 and a new mez bar with a massive mezcal collection. I highly recommend getting a

32:01 babysitter for an hour to do the mezcal tasting that is accompanied by some 20 different flavored

32:06 salts. From December to March, visitors have a very good chance of spotting humpback whales in

32:17 Banderas Bay. So for our first activity we're heading out to try and find some with outfitter

32:23 Punta Mita adventures. Humpback whales were once at extreme risk and some populations are still

32:28 considered endangered or threatened. Nico and his younger sister Catalina are totally mesmerized by

32:34 the humpback whales slapping their fins against the water and breaching. I also like that the

32:39 boat keeps a safe distance from the whales so we can appreciate their beauty and movement without

32:44 feeling like we are harassing them. After some incredible whale watching, we are heading off

32:50 the resort for dinner at El Surf Club, a super relaxed oceanfront restaurant with tables right

32:55 on the sand. With a resident DJ, it definitely has a bit of a club vibe but honestly this setting is

33:03 ideal for families too. We let the kids run around and play on the beach while we enjoy refreshing

33:08 cocktails and Baja fish tacos. As for the DJ, turns out kids love music and dancing too.

33:14 One thing we are all really loving about Punta Mita is the area's rainforests,

33:24 home to animal species that we definitely don't get to see at home in California.

33:28 We've seen iguanas of all sizes and colors and Nico has decided to give them all names.

33:35 And what's this little list? It's my list of people on the name. You can check it out. Fire

33:42 Bomb. We'll sure miss Fire Bomb and Tree Cutter. Not to be overshadowed by the animals is all the

33:49 plant life. Today we've opted for a guided jungle hike to witness firsthand all the fascinating

33:55 survival techniques and defense mechanisms of these rainforest trees. The kids are loving

34:01 roaming among all the flora, making walking sticks, observing ants and termites in their

34:05 element and just taking it all in. Last up on the itinerary, we've rented a car and are heading to

34:12 the seaside town of Sayulita, about 35 minutes north of here for some lunch and shopping.

34:17 We've decided to grab some food at La Rustica, a super cute Italian restaurant with great wood fired

34:23 pizzas. With no real plan of what to see or do, we're just ducking into random shops that catch

34:31 our eye. Some of our best finds include 80s style shades the kids found in the main square and mezcal

34:37 for the adults. I can't close it. Are you trying to change? Yeah. We have had such a wonderful time

34:48 exploring Punta Minta and we're so glad we got to share this beautiful place with you.

34:52 All told, my kids love this Mexico adventure and we could totally see how other families and groups

34:57 of friends would love it too. Whether you're into swimming or snorkeling, resting and relaxing

35:02 poolside or immersing yourselves in local cuisine and culture, you're sure to find something that

35:07 suits the interests of everyone in your crew. Let us know what you think and where we should

35:12 travel as a family next. Thanks for watching this video by far. Please remember to hit that like

35:17 button on your way out and subscribe to our channel for more travel tips and inspiration.

35:29 Just arrived at Bocas Bali which is in Panama. You can paddleboard or kayak or take all kinds

35:41 of tours. We saw starfish island on the way here with starfish in the ocean. There's dolphins

35:48 outside. You can go to beaches. You can take tours to Bocas town which is sort of the main

35:53 backpacker hippie cool town with lots of restaurants and bars. Here's my villa. Villas

36:01 are Balinese and cool thing inside the villa a little peek through so you can see fish below.

36:09 They're actually doing a coral restoration project so you can swim underneath and this

36:14 is the bathroom. It's gorgeous. I love this tile work and of course you know my faves we've got

36:22 the robes and there's slippers and a desk where I hope not to have to do too much work and there you go.

36:37 This is my deck and you can see I think there are 16 villas now. They're gonna build

36:43 20. Over there is the Elephant House restaurant.

36:47 Hey guys I'm Jen and I am here to welcome you to the 2023 Staylist which is a Farrer's

37:00 compendium of the best new hotels around the world. I am here in the Chelsea Hotel which got

37:08 a recent renovation here in New York City and is now welcoming an entirely new generation of artists

37:13 and creatives like it once did. I can't wait to show you the rest of the list. Let me take you on

37:18 a tour. The Staylist is our yearly spotlight of the new and renovated hotels that we believe are truly

37:25 game-changing. The hotels we love don't just wow us with their outstanding locations, design,

37:30 and service. They're also continually looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint,

37:35 benefit communities in meaningful ways, and connect guests to biodiverse landscapes.

37:40 We vet all of these properties personally to ensure that these hotels are truly walking the walk.

37:45 This is just a sampling of a few properties on our list and you can see all 15 winners for this

37:51 year on afar.com or in our print magazine. Links to both are in the description.

37:55 Wildflower Farms is one of the newest hotels from a Burr's Resorts collection.

38:01 It's just a 90-minute drive north of Manhattan but thanks to its location on a former tree farm,

38:07 this cluster of 65 cottages feels a world away. We love that city-weary guests from Manhattan

38:13 can escape the hustle and bustle up here and connect with nature in a slower pace of life.

38:18 Whether that means you're picking up eggs from the chicken coop or walking along the

38:21 property's scenic trails. Back in New York City, our next hotel is the world-famous Chelsea,

38:28 which you've already heard a little about. This icon stands out for a completely different reason.

38:33 It has long been a hub for creatives, having played hosts to the likes of Andy Warhol,

38:37 poet Dylan Thomas, and Janis Joplin. Today, it's opening a new chapter with a thoughtful

38:42 renovation from a trio of accomplished hoteliers, including Sean McPherson, who also did the very

38:48 cool Jane and Bowery hotels in Manhattan. The hotel feels thoroughly modern in its creature

38:53 comforts but with plenty of nods to its past throughout. And now we're off to the Caribbean.

39:00 Surrounded by nature on the island of Dominica, Colibri Ridge caught our attention because it's

39:05 setting a new standard for sustainability in the region. The property is powered by solar and wind

39:10 and harvests rainwater on site, all while maintaining a luxurious experience for guests.

39:15 During the day, nearby Martinique is visible from all of the rooms. This next lodge is one that I

39:22 personally got to visit and I'm so excited to include it on our 2023 stay list. And not just

39:27 because it's in Tanzania, one of my favorite countries. This lodge is part of an incredible

39:32 conservation-minded company called Anne Beyond, and it's located on the edge of Serengeti National

39:37 Park. The existing camp was completely rebuilt into 10 canvas-walled rooms that feature local

39:42 hardwood that was sustainably sourced. The lodge runs on 80% renewable energy and as you might

39:49 imagine, wildlife is the main draw. But staff-led experiences bring guests deeper into nature,

39:55 be it by spotting elephants on a walking safari or visiting fishing communities on nearby Lake

39:59 Victoria. In India's history-filled region of Rajasthan, Udaipur has plenty of palatial stays,

40:06 but the Raffle's Udaipur captures the opulence of this historic kingdom with grand architecture,

40:12 gardens that are home to 30 bird species, and a lavish spa. Set on a private island,

40:17 this hotel has 101 luxurious lake-view rooms with marble inlay work and hand-painted murals.

40:24 Pay close attention to the menu at the on-site restaurant Sawai Kitchen,

40:28 which features regional heirloom recipes. On the lush Indonesian island of Bali,

40:34 in the jungle north of Ubud, Buahan, a banyan tree escape, is reshaping the high-end hotel

40:40 experience into one without walls. In this remote, crowd-free part of Bali, guests stay in one of 16

40:46 open-air bales or villas. Each villa includes a private infinity pool, a hammered copper bathtub,

40:53 and boat jetty columns salvaged from nearby Borneo. Guests can visit the property's waterfall,

40:58 firefly nursery, and open-air spa, and then end the day with a locally-sourced meal prepared by

41:03 Bali-born chef Eka Sunaria. Now I'm taking you to the desert. At Habitat Salula, an otherworldly

41:11 retreat in the Ashar Valley of Saudi Arabia, the 96 luxury villas were built with organic materials

41:16 that blend into their surroundings. Some even include their own telescope, evoking the Bedouin

41:21 experience of stargazing in the Arabian desert. The real draw is the area's deep cultural history.

41:31 There you have it guys, that is the 2023 stay list. I hope you liked every single one of those

41:36 hotels just as much as we do, and I hope you visit them soon. Don't forget to hit like and

41:41 subscribe on the way out, and be sure to check out our other hotel tour videos. We've got a lot

41:45 of fun stuff in the works too, so stay tuned and watch this space. See you soon.

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