Hôtel de Nell, Paris

Elegant design, five-star service and Japanese-style soaking tubs make this minimalist hotel a quiet oasis within the clamor

When traveling through a destination city full to the brim with expectations, stumbling upon a hidden gem is extra special—and extra rewarding. That’s exactly the feeling after a stay in Hôtel de Nell, located in the residential-feeling 9th arrondissement of Paris—across the street from the 19th century church and on the same block as the French national drama academy. Just two years old, the 33-room …

A New Kind of Hybrid Hotel and Hostel: Freehand Chicago

Taking a magnifying glass to the intimate and luxe spaces designed by Roman and Williams

The Freehand Miami made waves when it first opened in 2012. The laid-back boutique hostel stuck out in the South Beach hotel scene, saturated with extravagant but oftentimes uniform options. This is the sort of thing we’ve come to expect from the developer Andrew Zobler of Sydell Group (the mastermind behind stylish, vibrant hotels with strong personalities like NYC’s NoMad and The Line Hotel in …

Modern, Colorful Sculptures of La Mamounia, Marrakech

French artist Julien Marinetti's vibrant, temporary pieces complement the iconic hotel

Very few hotels around the world carry a reputation like Marrakech, Morocco’s La Mamounia. Opened in 1923, the magnificent venue has played host to some of the world’s most acclaimed figures—be that politicians or celebrities—and its storied 200-year-old gardens began in the 18th century as a wedding gift, to Prince Moulay Mamoun from his father, King Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah. While the hotel has long …