Elite Traveler January-February 2018

INSPIRE TOP 100 HOTELS AMERICAS

THE POINT SARANAC LAKE, NEWYORK, USA

ROSEWOODMAYAKOBA RIVIERAMAYA, MEXICO

ONE&ONLY PALMILLA SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO, MEXICO

At The Point, you can vacation like a Rockefeller (it was built asWilliamAvery Rockefeller’s great camp). The Relais & Chateaux property has just 11 bedrooms on its sprawling grounds, ensuring an intimate escape. Respecting the great-camp era, meals are taken communally in the Great Hall (Wednesdays and Saturdays are black-tie), and days are packed with seasonal activities such as curling, boating and hiking. The adults-only hotel has bars hidden about should you need a pick-me-up, and friendly staff make every request come true. The recently winterized Boathouse is newly available for bookings year-round. The Boathouse from $3,600 per night. Contact Cameron Karger, general manager, ckarger@thepointresort.com, +1 518 891 5674, thepointsaranac.com

At nearly every turn at One&Only Palmilla, there is a member of staff greeting you with a hand over the heart, a gesture with roots in the Huichol culture that epitomizes the gracious and heartfelt service at the resort. It occupies a prime position in Los Cabos on one of the area’s only swimmable beaches, with dramatic views of San José del Cabo and the Sea of Cortez. The attention to detail is remarkable, including the impeccable and friendly butler service offered to every guest. Don’t miss the spa, which offers 13 private treatment villas and a newly opened temazcal , a traditional Mexican sweat lodge. Villa Cortez from $11,500 per night. Contact Marcela Nuñez, reservation manager, marcela.nunez@oneandonlypalmilla.com, +52 624 146 7082, oneandonlyresorts.com/palmilla

The Rosewood Mayakoba has carved out a niche for itself by being one of the few luxury properties on the Riviera Maya to fuse with the location’s natural beauty. Surrounded by luscious jungle, white beaches and clear waters, the Mayakoba resort is a serene getaway where guests can relax without interruption. One of the most interesting things on offer at the hotel is the ‘Marry Oneself Ceremony,’ led by the resident shaman. Participants work toward spiritual renewal (a traditional Mayan act of cleansing your soul). Perfect for those seeking meditation over margaritas. The Beach Front Presidential Suite from $9,890 per night. Contact Erandi Juarez, reservations assistant manager, erandi.juarez@rosewoodhotels.com, +52 984 875 8000, rosewoodhotels.com/mayakoba

LAS VENTANAS AL PARAÍSO, AROSEWOODRESORT SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO

FASANORIODE JANEIRO RIODE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

Last year marked the 10th anniversary of the Fasano Rio de Janeiro. To celebrate, the luxurious Brazilian resort refurbished its fitness facilities, moving them from the rooftop down to the ground floor, making way for a new rooftop lounge with obligatory infinity pool and panoramic vistas. From this terrace, you now have a never-before-seen view of Ipanema beach, the Morro Dois Irmãos nature reserve and the Corcovado mountain range. The hotel’s impressive exterior, meanwhile, is matched by elegant interiors. Each room has been meticulously designed, with furnishings by the likes of Philippe Starck and Sergio Rodrigues. Deluxe Oceanfront Suite from $2,138 per night. Contact Barbara Magalhães, reservations manager, barbara.magalhaes@fasano.com.br, +55 213 202 4253, fasano.com.br/hoteis/fasano-rio-de-janeiro

Translating to ‘windows to paradise,’ Las Ventanas al Paraíso is a nirvana-esque hotel with luxury at its heart. The recently opened TyWarner Mansion, the resort’s top suite, is an $18m, 28,000-sq-ft villa designed by French architect and interior decorator Robert Couturier. Despite its price tag (and the expectations that come with it), the mansion is anything but flashy. Its modest gray facade houses pared-down off-white interiors brought to life with colorful furnishings and huge windows looking out onto the sea. You will also have access to a sprawling private pool, personal spa and enough private staff to keep you well pampered for the duration of your stay. The Ty Warner Mansion, $35,000 per night. Contact Lourdes Camacho, reservations manager, lourdes.camacho@rosewoodhotels.com, +52 624 144 2800, rosewoodhotels.com/en/las-ventanas-los-cabos

Photos George Gruel, Erhard Pfeiffer, Daniel Pinheiro, A. Gra Quagliata, Durston Saylor