Hotel, Inspected

Traveling is intensely personal in even the best of times. In a post-COVID-19 world, the P-factor goes up even higher.

That’s why we feel lucky as your luxury travel advisor to be here as your trusted resource and guide to help make sure that when you choose to travel, be it next month or next year, that you do so in a way that feels authentic to your unique needs and desires.

We’re here to help you plan that dream vacation – be it for a honeymoon, a family getaway, or a break from nonstop work stress – at your time schedule.

That said, if you’re ready to go now, we have some ideas of local, drive-able, and most of all, distanced spots. These are places that may have been off of your list for a number of reasons in the past: they were too close, too far from a major city, or felt like they just needed a reason to splurge.

We have news for you: being alive and healthy is a reason to take that trip. Being able to reunite with your partner and family is a reason to take that trip.

And if you don’t want to take that trip today, we’re ready whenever you are – 2021 planning is already heating up as many travelers moved Spring Break and even early summer travel right into the next year, so booking early is key to securing reasonable rates and the best and most flexible policies.

For more information on the booking process, visit our post on working with a luxury travel advisor, and if you want our suggestions for planning in advance for new resort openings, we’ve got those too. We also post daily #LilyPondLux inspo over on Instagram if you just want to peruse pretty pictures for inspiration.

If you ARE looking to travel in the next few months, here are some ideas for inside-the-USA options that may be a perfect fit. These resorts have all planned to re-open for summer, and while many onsite activities remain TBD, we’ve confirmed that most plan to fully re-open with modifications for safety, security, and added cleanliness procedures.

We’ll add some suggestions soon for easy island adventures just outside the country as well.

Southern Charm

Whether you have kids or want to spend time with the extended family, each of these options has multiple generations covered. In many, you’ll also find options for private home rental (we’re happy to book these for you!) where you can socially distance as a small group, enjoying benefits like private chef services, golf carts, and more.

Montage Palmetto Bluff

A short drive from the Savannah airport, the Montage property is one of our all-time favorites for families and groups. It’s got quite the celebrity following too; Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin chose it as the site of their nuptials in 2019 as well.

Set within a planned 20,000-acre development, you’ll ditch your car the moment you arrive for a fleet of bicycles or golf carts and take in walking trails, a marina, two planned “Villages,” the tennis courts and a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. Spend your days kayaking, horseback riding, or simply reading a good novel on your front porch swing – the image at right is from one of our recent visits.

We love the rooms in the main Inn, but we prefer the cottage accommodations, which can be interconnected for families, or the private homes on property for a bit more privacy.

Complimentary for our Guests:

Upgrade at time of booking, subject to availability
$60 daily breakfast credit per bedroom, served in restaurant & In-Room Dining
$100 USD Spa Services credit to be utilized during stay (not valid on products, not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi

The Cloister at Sea Island

For nearly a century, Sea Island has drawn luxe southern families to its special blend of beach, golf, and water sports, as well as its world-class dining and hospitality. It’s a perfect spot for romance too – more than 40,000 couples have honeymooned here since the resort opened in 1928.

One of several properties that makes up the Sea Island group, the Cloister is the most “luxurious” of the options and our favorite for those who like a beach-oriented stay. Rooms are distinctively done with Moorish inspiration in the décor, and many renovations have been made in recent years to bring the resort up to today’s five-star standards.

We’d suggest the beach club rooms, which are closest to the water, for a summer stay, or the larger ocean villas, which are ideal for families who wish to stay together.

Complimentary for our Guests:

Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Full a la carte or buffet breakfast daily in the restaurant for up to 2 guests per bedroom (max $70.00 per day)
$100 resort credit that can be applied to any Sea Island amenity excluding accommodations, (Not valid at retail outlets or gift shops, including, but not limited to Sea Island Shop at the Cloister, Peter Millar Collection, The Spa Shop, Tennis Shop, Yacht Club River Shop, Surf Shop, Kids' Shop, Golf Club Pro Shop at the Lodge, The Market.)
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi

Salamander Resort & Spa

Just 90 minutes from Washington DC, in the heart of Virginia Wine Country, this beautiful and pastoral resort is ideal for families and couples alike. Oversized rooms (many of which are also pet friendly) offer terraces, fireplaces for chilly nights, and connecting options. Once you’ve arrived, you’ll find plenty for everyone, from strolls down to the full-service equestrian facility to outdoor pools to giant outdoor chess sets, or the charming town of Middleburg.

Complimentary for our Guests:

Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Complimentary Full American Breakfast for two guests per bedroom daily (Breakfast is up to $30 per person per night. Brunch total cost is not inclusive, but $30 per person can be applied.)
$100 USD Resort/Hotel credit, to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full, excludes cooking studio, valet)
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi

Glamping is Great

The American West has a wonderful allure, and in 2020, the added benefit of built-in social distancing. These dude ranches in Wyoming and Montana offer both private homes and glamping-style tents, mostly inclusive packages, and access for private aircraft. In our discussions with these properties, most plan to re-open most if not all services as planned, due to the nature of the activities already leveraging social distancing protocol. In many cases, homes can even be rented for longer-than-usual periods at discounted rates as well, should families wish to take a home for a month or more. We are far from adventurous travelers ourselves, and even we can say we appreciated the wide-open spaces, high-quality cuisine, and luxe amenities presented even in the glamping style tents. Should a full-service resort not appeal, we can also consult on options like ultra-luxe RV rentals, national park excursions, and private homes in many of these destinations or off-seasons ski areas such as Aspen and Park City as well.

The Resort at Paws Up

We love, if possible, combining a stay in a ranch home with a few nights in one of the glamping tents here. A cattle drive is also a favorite activity and ideal for teenage children as well as adults. For all new bookings between now and the end of June, enjoy an extra $500 towards guided activities with our compliments. They are still planning for some July 4th special activities as well.

Complimentary for Our Guests:

Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily full breakfast (included in rates)
Complimentary round-trip private airport transfers
Bottle of wine in room on arrival
A $300 USD activity credit, to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
Early check-in, late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi

Brush Creek Ranch

With individual accommodations spread across 42 unique cabins, there’s plenty of privacy at Brush Creek Ranch, and many of the homes boast full kitchens as well. We also love this as an unexpected honeymoon retreat; their Magee Homestead portion of the property is reserved for guests 21 and up.

Complimentary for Our Guests:

Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Full breakfast served in Trailhead Lodge Great Room Dining Hall (included in rates)
$150.00 per person (up to 2 paying adults per room) towards ANY premium activity of his/her choice (No cash value/nontransferable)
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi

Ranch at Rock Creek

At just 26 distinct rooms and cabins, this small Montana resort is intimate in size (perfect for a buyout) but not at all small in activities or charm. Offering everything from fly fishing to horseback riding, guests can enjoy being outside most of each day, and return each evening to cuisine grown and raised locally on the ranch.

Complimentary for Our Guests:

Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily full breakfast (already included in the all-inclusive price)
One premium bottle of wine upon arrival
$100 Ranch Credit (may be used at The Granite Spa or The Mercantile)
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability

Triple Creek Ranch

The smallest of the ranch offerings at just 23 rooms, we love that Triple Creek, a Relais & Chateaux property, offers a number of small one-bedroom freestanding cabins, making it ideal for couples. Only children aged 16 and up are welcome here as well.

Complimentary for Our Guests:

Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Full breakfast daily included in rates
$100 USD Resort/Hotel credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi

Foodie Focused

Much like a ranch vacation, all of the luxurious resorts listed below are mostly if not totally inclusive, meaning food and drinks are built into the base price. They offer a wide array of outdoor activities, ranging from walking trails and fitness classes to gorgeously oversized cabins in stunning natural settings. Their distinctions are many (Twin Farms, for example, is adults only for most weeks of the year, and The Mountain caters to a slightly younger audience than sister property Blackberry Farm) but they are also uniquely positioned up and down the East Coast, with Twin Farms in Vermont, The Point in upstate New York, Blackberry Farm and Mountain in Tennessee and Inn at Dos Brisas outside of Houston, Texas (which is currently closed until September).

We’ve long loved these properties for great long weekend escapes (a three-night minimum is suggested or even required at most) and milestone birthdays, but they too often fall by the wayside for longer and further-flung trips. While none of these options are what we’d call budget-friendly, they’re well worth the splurge.

The Point

It’s worth noting that The Point, a former Great Camp in the Adirondack Mountains once frequented by the Rockefellers, is a throwback to an earlier era. Twice weekly, guests still enjoy group black-tie dinners, and the property offers a wide array of outdoor pursuits. Right now, it plans to re-open at the end of May, but programming is still TBD for summer.

Complimentary for Our Guests:

Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Full breakfast daily included in rates
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi

Twin Farms

Just outside of Woodstock, Vermont, we love this year-round gem that really caters to a food-focused traveler. While we prefer the “cottage” style accommodations to the main inn, there’s not a bad room in the house here. Our favorite feature is the in-room puzzles by local manufacturer Stave – they even feature puzzle-focused group events a few times each year.

Twice annually, they offer “family weeks” to accommodate little ones, and we suspect these will be extremely popular in 2020, normally children only aged 14 and up are permitted. Right now, the property has a planned reopening date of June 15.

Complimentary for Our Guests:

Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily full breakfast already included in the rates
House-made honey with locally made pottery (value of $150 USD)
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi

Blackberry Farm & Blackberry Mountain

It’s rare for a discussion of a milestone event to pass without our clients mentioning these gorgeous sister properties in the Tennessee mountains. From truffle-hunting dogs and an onsite brewery to ample wellness programming and gorgeously oversized cabins, Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain set the standard that many other five-star resorts aim to follow.

Both properties request if not require a three-night minimum stay, and “Camp Blackberry,” which welcomes travelers aged 4 and up, is a great way to get kids involved in the farm fun.

Complimentary for Our Guests:

Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily full breakfast (included in rates)
$100 USD Spa Services credit, to be utilized during stay (not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full. Spa credit is not interchangeable with activity offerings or giftshop purchases).
Welcome Amenity
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi

Celebrity Worthy

Celebrities crave great service, but they also insist on privacy and discretion when they travel. After all, why travel if your home is nicer than your hotel? The below resorts are splurge-worthy in price, sure, but they also offer a combination of wow-worthy views, great service, and isolated locations that mean that both paparazzi and the ‘rona can’t track you down.

Amangiri

The name Amangiri stands for “peaceful mountain,” and it’s absolutely true. Built into the Four Corners desert, this 34-room villa escape is the perfect front door to the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Bryce and Zion National Parks, and gorgeous Southwest landscapes.

Each of the suites provides spacious terraces with beautiful views, and many of the oversized rooms have private pools, fire pits, and outdoor spaces. A ten-minute drive away, the resort also has the new-ish Camp Sarika, a glamping experience perfect for a one- or two-night extension.

Complimentary for Our Guests:
·       Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
·       Full breakfast daily for two guests per bedroom
·       Spa credit of $125 per person, once, for up to 2 guests, applicable to spa treatments scheduled between 9am-3pm
·       Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
·       Complimentary Wi-Fi

Dunton Hot Springs

If you’re a Westworld fan, Dunton Hot Springs is the place for you. This recreation Western Village is available for per-cabin or full buyout of its 13 unique accommodations (we like the Well House, with its private hot spring and wood-burning stove), making it the perfect place to distance in style. They also have a custom “river camp” available for Glamping.

Complimentary for Our Guests:
·       Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
·       Daily A La Carte Breakfast (all meals included in rates)
·       $100 USD Resort/Hotel credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
·       Bottle of Sutcliffe Wine in room upon arrival
·       Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
·       Complimentary Wi-Fi

Ventana Big Sur

Drive the California coastline and head down to Big Sur for a trip that’s as much about the joy of getting there as it is about the joy of being there. We love Ventana (which allows guests 18 and up only) for a couple’s weekend in luxury and nature. Perched 1,200 feet above one of the most dramatic stretches of the state’s Central Coast, the adults-only, rustically romantic resort has just completed a multimillion-dollar re-imagination. Ventana’s 59 guestrooms and suites are tucked amidst 160 acres of redwood forests and meadows; each features a private balcony or patio (book a Big Sur Spa Suite to enjoy a private hot tub). Spend your days hiking and exploring in nature, and your evenings relaxing by your private in-room fireplace or in your private hot tub.

Complimentary for Our Guests:
·       Upgrade at time of booking, subject to availability
·       Full breakfast daily for two guests per bedroom (up to $30 per person credit daily)
·       $100 USD Hotel/Resort credit to be used during stay excluding retail (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
·       Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
·       Complimentary Wi-Fi

Beachy Keen

Beach travel is a must for summer. While we may not be partying it up in Ibiza or rocking with the crowds this summer on the Amalfi Coast, we’ll be exploring and indulging with a cocktail by a pool somewhere. We are more than happy to offer private home rentals in coveted areas like Nantucket and the Hamptons, or to look into your favorite resort in any coastal area. But here are a few options we particularly like for their private spaces and gorgeous views.

Sunset Key

We know, we know – you want to go to the beach. While Key West may seem like party central, we love the peace and quiet of Sunset Key, which is accessible only by a private ferry available from Key West. Each of the intimate cottages – which boast full kitchens and daily “breakfast basket” delivery – has a gorgeous private home feel, all with the relaxed and barefoot vibe Key West is known for. Rent one-, two-, three-, or four-bedroom cottages to invite as many (or as few) family members and friends as you wish. Spend your days on the white sand beach before enjoying the best views of the signature Key West sunset in the whole area. Just don’t pass up the chance to have a signature Key Lime Martini at Latitudes, one of the best restaurants in the area and the island’s only dinner destination.

Complimentary for Our Guests:

Cottage upgrade on arrival, subject to availability (excludes 1-bedroom cottages)
Daily full breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom, served in the restaurant.
$100 USD Resort/Hotel credit, to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi

Ocean House

When we think of the beach, usually Rhode Island isn’t the spot that comes to mind first – but once you’ve seen Ocean House, you’ll never want to go anywhere else. There’s a reason that many of the Gilded Age elite made their summer homes in “cottages” in nearby Newport.

This beachfront resort offers 18 oversized signature suites, including several private homes and fully-furnished apartments right on property, as well as easy access to white-sand beaches, superior farm-to-table dining, and some of the best service we’ve experienced in the nation. For those who want the beauty of a private home with all of the services of a luxury resort, this would be our pick, hands down.

Complimentary for Our Guests:
·       Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
·       Daily Continental breakfast for two guests per bedroom
·       $100 USD Resort/Hotel credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
·       Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
·       Complimentary Wi-Fi