My favorite hotels in the world

On the road again means staying in a hotel again! Between work and vacation, I stay in dozens of different hotels every year. It sometimes feels like I spend my life in hotels. So, I thought I’d share three of my favorites. Drumroll, please.

21C MuseumMy top three are the 21C Museum Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky because they strike the perfect balance between high art and wimsy; the Covent Garden Hotel in London for its remarkably comfortable yet luxurious style, but also because the staff does such a great job of making you feel “at home” there; and the Amanyara hotel in Turks and Caicos because the environment is so serene that I’m too relaxed to even put together full sentences.

If I ever opened my own hotel, I’d want it to be the most comfortably luxurious place you ever visited. Welcoming, but private. Functional, but elegant.  I think my hotel would be more of an inn. I’d use a lot of stone, brick, and wood to create a warm, charming environment.  The bed rooms would be spacious but cozy and there would be a musical instrument in every room. Hmmm…I guess I’d need to add soundproofing!


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Ok Ty so when is your new hotel going to open? LOL I know you are way to busy for that.

That sounds like a plan. If you ever open a hotel, I am so there. That sounds swesome. Are you taking early reservations? If and when you open, if you need an ex travel agent or ex hotel reservationist/desk clerk, I have experience. lol I would love to apply. Your hotel idea sounds beautiful. If anyone would know what makes a guest feel comfortable it would be you. You have definately stayed in enough to know what works and doesn’t work.

What hotel is in the picture? I love the colors and artwork. Is this the one in Louisville you mentioned?

Take care and have fun,
Love ya,
Linda

Hi Ty,
This comment has nothing to do with your post but I have to tell you something. The name of your blog always reminds me of a Willie Nelson song. I love Willie Nelson and ‘On the Road Again’ is one of my favorite songs he sings. Do you know the song I’m talking about?
Take care and have fun. Try to stay cool and dry in Baltimore.
Love ya,
Linda

That would be interesting. But how much would your hotel cost and where would it be? I would love to work for you, someday :) I’ll be glad just going around the rooms and cleaning and making sure everything is in place. How many rooms would you have? Will all the rooms look alike or will they have their own style? How many times will you visit your hotel? :D But you’re too busy to think about a hotel right now. I like the bed and flowers with the stand. There’s something in this pic that I don’t like. It’s the black behind the pictures. The black makes this pic dark. The color needs to change. What about a light, light brown in the background of those pics. Have fun. Stay healthy and keep safe.

thank you for having the time to share your momments with us, sorry for the mistakes, I’m learning english, I’m from Venezuela.. I’m a big fan of your work and how give your heart to those familys who are in trobles and going through a bad time in his lifes…..
God Bless you..!! keep being like the way you are ..
sorry again if I did some mistakes in my sentences..

Il n’y a rien plus chaud que la pierre et le bois dans une maison ou une chambre à coucher . Je me souviens de la chambre à coucher que vous avez fait pour la famille Dore . Le Bed & Breakfast . C’est exactement ce que j’appelle chaud.

Bise

OK. Here I think it was I who needed to sleep. Because I write in French. Lol.
So I said:

There’s nothing warmer than stone and wood in a house or a bedroom. I remember the bedroom that you have done for the Dore family. The Bed & Breakfast. This is exactly what I call warm.

Bise

Basil!!!!
Make sure Manuel move out those gnomes from the garden! And whatever you do, don’t mention the war when the Germans arrive. I am busy taking care of the customers, dear.
/Sybil

Hi Ty:)

I love the fact that you picked a hotel that serves afternoon tea! That is so me!:) I think my favorite rooms are the Four Poster (very Jane Austen-like;)), and the Junior Loft with the exposed wood beams(Austen w/a little Southwest twist:)). Again, so me!
I have a design ? for u. How does one blend such different styles together? I have a home in the woods & mountains (complete w/chickens:),that is mostly being decorated with a western theme/hunting style(complete with deer heads & bleached out antlers/skulls in the great room upstairs). So, there is alot of variations of brown/tan being used. Downstairs living room I want to do more southwest (think Navajo Indian blankets). My first dilemma is the dining room which is painted a brick red. We have a huge green safe in the DR (won’t be moved). I was thinking about going more olde world western complete with tin signs etc. in there, but not sure what to do. Lastly is the main bath, which is going into my bedroom. (Bedroom is a cool green color, very J.A. with flower pics, doublesided fireplace and romantic girly victorian pics. (don’t worry, I didn’t go too flowery, husband would hate it;) I don’t know what to do with the bathroom, go western? More in theme with my bedroom? I was thinking light blue with a big white tin star, but that’s all I can come up with (yes, I know greens & blues, your favorite;)- hey, I took the quiz on here, I’m kind of all over:) The shower is a tan marble w/flecks of white quartz & clay accents with river-rock on the floor. Tile on floor is tan, I also don’t know what to do around the fireplace in there. We built the house & I’m kind of brainfried now that it comes to decorating:). Well, gotta go, EMHE is coming on in a few min. on the CMT channel & I got to go put chicks away!:)-BTW, I love the pics u put on Twitter, drives me crazy we are limited to what we can answer, I’m so NOT a girl of few words;)–

One more question…I love the nature pics u took (Scotland, Big Sur, Sandi:)) and posted on your Twitter site. Would you be upset if people downloaded them and had them framed or put on canvas? They would look great in the house too, & I know my daughter would love a canvas print of u & ur dog.:)

Hi Ty:)

I love that you picked a hotel that serves afternoon tea! That is so me! My two favorite rooms are the Four Poster (very Jane Austen like;)) and the Junior Loft w/the exposed wooden beams (JA meets southwest:). I am such the ditzy blonde! I posted earlier and asked a design question, and forgot to press submit! It was too long anyway, so I’ll try to make it shorter.
How do you blend together such completely different styles? I’ve lived in Hawaii and Italy (Navy brat), and my husband and I built a 2800 sq. ft. house in the woods & mts. of VA. Needless to say, there are hunting trophies everywhere, a safe in the dining room, and I’m thinking about going western & southwest design theme. Except in the MBedroom, I want romantic Jane Austen (Covent Garden hotel site has good ideas). I’m brainfried after building and am having some kind of decorating/design block:), I’m sure you have no idea what I mean;).

Hi Ty:

I know you have traveled the world and have stayed in some of the best places a person could ever stay but I do have a suggestion … Come to Natchez Mississippi and stay in one of our GREAT B & Bs … we have so many to choose from (and I don’t own or work an any of them) One of my personal favs is Monmouth Plantation … great rooms with true southern charm and the food in 1818 is Fab …

Natchez is the oldest town on the Mississippi river and worth the travel up from New Orleans

Please keep this place in mind for a great get away from your ever so busy life

Have a super great day and keep up all the great work that you do … thanks to people like you for your giving back to those who can’t really do it for alone.

Bryan

If I make a mistake, forgive me. I’m not using my laptop. I can’t write to you on Facebook because of what I’m using right now. I just want to say, you’re right about treating others the way you want to be treated. I wrote to you on Twitter but I don’t know if you got it. So, I’m going to write it here. I’m sorry :(

Ty,

I love the 21C, their amazing ability to combine art into their decor and the colors are amazing! What’s the story behind the red penguins? Do you know? There’s just something about Kentucky. Jewelsey

Ty,
It’s so great to hear that I live only a couple of hours away from one of your choices only I am not familiar with the name. My last visit there I stayed at the Brown Hotel, very early 1900’s. It also strikes me funny that you should mention your own hotel as I have entertained that thought many times myself. Now I have a very eager, very imaginative 8 year old who would love nothing better than to live in a hotel. I am not his influence though, it’s a show he watches called The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, ha ha!
And I liked your thoughts of using the elements of nature to build, so intense is wood, brick, and stone. Man,you would never have to worry about the big bad wolf blowing your place down!(couldn’t resist)
Yes, it’s definately ‘music’ to my ears too! With your brilliant mind I know it would be nothing short of spectacular! Then you could also prepare a special dish and sing another song? It works for S. Hagar, it will work just as well for you!
Thanks so much for sharing all of this, your website is a real treat to hang out and say hello. Peace~ Janet

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