The 2024 Hotlist: Unpretentious Luxury

So many products and services are now adorned with the ‘luxury’ label that it’s become almost meaningless and, for us, it’s a term that has sometimes sat uncomfortably. Over-the-top extravagance and orchestrated set-piece experiences are not our style. Instead, in our quest to create immersive travel that connect curious travelers to North America, we’ve settled on our own pillars of luxury: true personalization for our clients, a team of genuine specialists, authentic experiences that connect, and good old fashioned, resolutely human customer service.

If this sounds like your idea of luxury, read on for a little unpretentious inspiration, then feel free to get in touch and we’ll start dreaming up a journey together:

A Private fitting at Sing Hats in Jackson, WY 

Sing Hats

By Joeseph Haeberle

Experience the epitome of Western hat craftsmanship at Sing Hat Company in Jackson, Wyoming. Founded in 2018, this woman-owned and women-run establishment marries tradition and innovation, offering meticulously handcrafted beaver felt and Guatemalan palm leaf hats by artisan Christy Sing Robertson.

Sing Hats collaborates with other regional artisans to curate a collection of accessories, including hatbands, sheep hides, clothing, bags, and more. The hat-fitting experience is a personalized journey with a custom-fitting device to capture the precise contours of your head. Upon entering the downtown workshop, you’ll be surrounded by vintage and modern tools, with some pieces dating back to the late 1800s. You’ll learn a thing or two about the time-honored craft of hatmaking before Christy partners with you in creating the design for a hat that perfectly reflects your own personal style. 

Experience Upstate New York like a Rockefeller at a Great Camp 

Great Hall

The Point is a distinguished member of 19th century properties classified as “Adirondack Great Camps.” In the late 19th century, affluent figures of the Gilded Age, including the Vanderbilts and Guggenheims, constructed picturesque log mansions along the lakeshores of upstate New York as retreats into the embrace of nature. A Rockefeller family member built The Point, where the atmosphere still reflects the grandeur of an age past.

In the same style that the Rockefellers hosted their soirées, you’ll be seated at a formal table in the Great Hall and served a bounteous seven-course meal with wine pairings, amongst much laughter and lively conversation. Following the last course, the evenings socializing flows into several second spaces on the property, from a night-cap and a round of pool at The Pub to an outdoor movie with truffle popcorn. 

Take a dip in ancient, natural hot springs at Castle Hot Springs

Castle Hot Springs Overhead

An oasis of palm trees and saguaro cacti nestled in the heart of the Bradshaw Mountains, Castle Hot Springs is the perfect place to get away and relax. The property has mineral-rich, natural hot springs and a full spa on property. For centuries, people have sought out the natural power of hot springs for bathing, healing, and spiritual connection. Castle Hot Springs’ particular mix of mineral water is rich in lithium, magnesium and bicarbonates, making it ideal for easing achy muscles and joints, lifting your mood, and calming your mind. The property’s three natural pools are available exclusively to guests, with the addition of a private, stone tub in each room that fills with hot spring water. Perfect for soaking after a long hike through the Sonoran Desert or to wind down before bed. 

Unbeatable hospitality (and Ski-in Ski-Out Access) at The Little Nell Aspen

Aspen Little Nell

The Little Nell sits at the bottom of Aspen’s Ajax Mountain and is the only ski-in ski-out hotel in town. The ninety-two stylish guest rooms and suites form a horseshoe around the central pool area and the lower slopes are within touching distance. From Mark Albrecht bar stools and a Tristan Auer Mystere coffee table to Maya Romanoff wall coverings, designer Holly Hunt led the hotel’s renovation with her ‘Aspen Modern’ aesthetic. The hospitality of the staff is truly unbeatable. You’ll barely need to touch your skis until you arrive at the lift, with the ski concierge team handling transport to all four mountains. The Little Nell’s wine program is renowned for having more than 20,000 bottles in the cellar and dozens of sommeliers on staff. 

Itinerary: A Romantic Couples California Road Trip 

Santa Barbara Sailing

On this Tesla-powered luxury California road trip, sample culinary treats in Napa and Sonoma, explore Big Sur’s lush coastal forests, and immerse yourself in Southern California’s architecture and exciting art scene. After busy days exploring, find respite at secluded getaways and intimate luxury hotels perched high above a cliff or surrounded by vineyards and fragrant gardens. Sample the abundant produce, rare vintages and fresh catch of the day at farm stands and chef-driven establishments throughout the state. This is a refined California road trip that never drifts far from the earthy, natural pulse of this state.

Itinerary Inspiration: A Romantic California Couples Road Trip

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