If new hotels are any indication that travel is alive and well, then we are on a healthy path. These four new hotels found by our Luxe Lavs contributor Angela Fairhurst are placing a greater focus on the size and design of the bathroom.
The Perry Hotel Key West, Florida
Located on Stock Island is the newest hotel in Key West. Just 15 minutes from the center of the island, this fishing village is undergoing a transformation to a quieter luxury version of its party-town neighbors, and The Perry Hotel Key West epitomizes the new aesthetic. Friendly service and delicious cuisine make this contemporary 100-room marina-front boutique hotel a treat to visit. But it’s the nautically inspired décor that makes the hotel feel like a home, blending rugged fishing elements with warm ocean-like features. The spacious guestrooms are designed by South Florida’s Casa Conde & Associates. In every room, floor-to-ceiling window doors lead to balconies. The driftwood tri-colored floors, multi-colored wood-paneled headboards, handcrafted local art, and dark furniture complete the simple yet chic room. The bathrooms are equally as large. Ample vanities accompany showers big enough for two; with textured white subway tiles making them seem even larger. The Danish organic I Love Eco Essentials products come in waste-proof full-size bottles. The ocean-colored tiled flooring completes the bathroom scene. I look forward to returning and seeing the future development of the area.
Ultima Gstaad, Switzerland
Located in the alpine village of Gstaad, Switzerland, the Ultima Gstaad opened at the beginning of this year as the newest luxury hotel in the area. It features 11 suites and 6 residences, 4 of which are Signature Suites. The bathrooms are laid with wall-to-wall gray, brown, and black marble from Italy, Spain, and the Sahara Desert. Uniquely patterned frosted glass doors surround the rainfall showers and are decorated with Moorish-inspired arabesques. The bathroom includes a cutout between the living room, with an option to pull the blinds, and a heated towel rack by the soaking tub…which is great for colder weather. A fleur-de-lis pattern is the room’s common thread, running from the front door to the bathroom mirrors, as well as a sculpted pattern on the balconies.
Palácio Tangará in São Paulo, Brazil
Palácio Tangará is the Oetker Collection’s newest property and its first hotel in South America. The hotel took three years to build and occupies an imposing neoclassical mansion located in São Paulo at the center of Burle Marx Park, a 27-acre stretch of dense Atlantic rainforest. Leading Brazilian interior designers William Simonato and Patricia Anastassiadis created a truly bespoke design concept for each interior space. All 141 spacious guest rooms—including 59 suites – have views overlooking the park. The bathrooms are mostly white with black marble floors and vanities. Even the framed photography artwork is black and white. Frosted glass doors open to the shower and water closet. The only color in the room is the high-end Etro toiletries in turquoise blue bottles.
W Punta de Mita, Mexico
Opened less than a year ago, the W Punta de Mita in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit is a colorfully designed hotel by ASET/AOMA in collaboration with Oakland-based Mister Important Design, and Starwood’s design team. The hotel was built around the ancient fig trees and natural springs on the property. The colorful and playful decor is inspired by the local Bohemian surf culture of Mexico’s Pacific Coast: the beach sunsets, blue of the water, and the traditional patterns of the Huichol people of Nayarit, as well as other indigenous cultures. All villas and suites feature private balconies or patios. The signature E Wow Suite is the most luxurious room category and has a master bathroom with an elongated tub in the center of the room as its focal point. Glass-paneled walls provide an open feel. The wood-paneled ceiling is a highlight as is the lighting above each of the vanity sinks.
