Kate's 2021 Travel Wishlist

Haven’t we all spent the last year dreaming?

Now, I nearly always have a running list in the back of my head of where I definitively want to go next, what would be nice if the opportunity arises, and what seems ripe for a research trip to scout for y’all. But for 2021? That list has ballooned and shrunk over and over as the realistic timeline for travel continues to shift. 

So, for now, assuming we’re able to travel internationally again starting in early summer, here’s what I’m wishing for:

Mexico

My love for Mexico runs strong and true, and the first thing I’m going to need is a bonafide spa vacation - somewhere with a lot of space, where I can be outside, in or near water, and with exceptionally good food.  

Accordingly, my first trip once we’ve been vaccinated, or feel like conditions are right, will be to Chable Maroma and Chable Yucatan.  Chable Yucatan, so I can spend all day overlooking the serene denote at the center of the spa; and Chable Maroma for their beautiful stretch of beach while snacking on the best pool food around.

Then:

NYC

New York City during the US Open has always been one of my favorite times of year…it can be beastly hot and humid, but the energy at those matches is incredible and it’s one of the best sporting events anywhere…this year, we’ll plan to meet up with friends at the Greenwich Hotel to enjoy those we haven’t seen since 2019 and get our fill of tennis via long sweaty days (me) and cool comfortable bars (Mr. Anthology).

The Greenwich is one of my favorite hotels in New York: it has a beautiful central courtyard for breakfast or mid-day drinks, as well as a generously-sized lounge/library area that doesn’t close until the last guest goes up to bed (I have it on good authority that you can get scrumptious cookies at 1 am even if they don’t have any standing by. And by good authority, I mean that has happened to me.) Best of all, the hotel is completely private, so that courtyard and library? All for you and your guests.

Paris

We’ve long traveled over Thanksgiving, and Paris is a particular favorite for that time of year.  Crisp but not cold, shorter days that encourage long evenings of charcuterie and natural wine exploration, and few tourists at whatever museums we happen into - perfection.  Our trip will consist of lazy days strolling through parks and perching at bars, comfy hotel rooms with soft beds and inviting soaking tubs, and astonishingly good food.  We might day trip to Chantilly or Champagne, or might decide to hole up in our room for an entire day and just marvel at being Elsewhere.

I haven’t decided where to stay yet, but Hotel des Grands Boulevards, Cours des Vosges, Grand Hotel du Palais Royal, and perennial Mr. Anthology-favorite Les Bains are all contenders.

London

Our Christmas plans for 2021 have been set for a few months: London, the week between Christmas and New Year’s, for as many soccer games as we can fit in one week.  I could not be more excited to see how Christmas-y London can get, and to enfold myself in the hospitality of their classic hotels.  My plans revolve around seeing parts of the city I haven’t yet had a chance to explore and touring as many hotels as possible (I cannot stop myself; I love hotels; they are my absolute favorite invention).

There are so many new hotels opening in London right now, I find it hard to commit to even a shortlist, but this bunch will definitely be included for touring, if not actually staying in: NoMad London in Covent Garden, Nobu Portman Square in Marylebone (this section of town is so darling), the Rosewood London, the Connaught, the Berkeley, Henrietta Hotel, L’Oscar, The Ned...I could keep going for days. 

Research Trips I’m Hoping To Take:

One of my favorite parts of this job is traveling with you in mind, rather than me.  In some ways, it’s a very different trip than I’d plan for myself - chockfull of hotel site inspections (okay, that’s the same), photoshoots (also occasionally the same), and much more likely to consist of attractions and museums (definitely for you, not me).  But I always leave some room for exploring on foot, sitting in parks, and seeking out restaurants and shops that are intriguing to me and will hopefully resonate with you.

This year’s research wishlist is:

Puerto Vallarta: some amazing new resorts are coming online in Puerto Vallarta - including the spectacular One & Only Mandarina - and I’m dying to properly inspect the full array of luxury options there.

Ireland: I don’t know if this one’s going to happen, since I really feel like I’d need a solid 2-3 weeks to properly explore, but it’s close enough that it might end up being a quick week’s jaunt to see Dublin and Belfast, and leave the countryside for a second trip.  (My philosophy: become comfortable with FOMO; chances are, if you love it, you’ll be back.)

Iceland: So close, yet so far away!  Iceland is a photographer’s dream, and photography’s become one of my favorite hobbies over the past few years (someday, I swear, I will correctly understand the relationship between all the little dials on my camera and the results they produce).  I’d love to hop up for a week, see a bunch of hotels in Reykjavik (there’s an EDITION on the way, if you’re a fan of that brand), and then drive around aimlessly, soaking in the landscape.

So…that’s my plan. I’m looking forward to checking in at the end of the year to see what actually materializes. The main thing is to go into 2021 with hopes and dreams, but completely without expectation.