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Costa Rica Diving: How To Scuba Dive Two Oceans on One Trip

The words “Costa Rica” literally translate to “Rich Coast.” So it’s no surprise that this Central American country is a haven for experienced and beginner scuba divers alike. Though it boasts a diversity of dive sites across two coastlines that enchant with dramatic topography, luscious coral reefs, and a swarm of pelagic action, most visitors don’t realize that some of the most epic adventures are underwater. And another cool perk of Costa Rica diving? You can dive in two different oceans on the same vacation.

When to go diving in Costa RicaDiving in the Pacific vs. Atlantic The best dive sites in Costa RicaBudgeting for a Costa Rica dive tripCosta Rica ocean healthWhere to stay to dive in Costa RicaWhen to go diving in Costa Rica

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There’s never a bad time to do a little Costa Rica diving. While the country is well known for having two distinct seasons – the dry season and the green season – the diving remains exceptional, rain or shine.

Green Season: May to November

While Costa Rica’s terrain is known to have reliable rain during the green season, its oceans are known during this time for pelagic action, especially on the Pacific Coast. In summer, large swells of nutrients in the water welcome in small- and medium-sized fish, which draw schools of hammerhead sharks, migrating humpback whales, big pods of dolphins, and giant manta rays. The surface may occasionally be rainy or a bit choppy, but the underwater world is as epic as ever.

Don’t let the promise of rain fool you into thinking you still won’t have any sunshine during your surface intervals on the dive boats. The chance of rain doesn’t mean it rains all day long, just that it may rain in spurts throughout the day. It also means that you’ll likely enjoy the lowest prices of the year on hotels and lodging, saving more money in the budget for diving.

Dry Season: December to April

Less rainfall during this season means minimal wind and calmer sea conditions, producing visibility underwater that can reach up to 100 feet at many sites. These factors make for near-perfect conditions for new divers or visitors hoping to get certified.

While many of the larger species start migrating away from both coastlines during this time, other species start to come closer to the shores. This includes a huge variety of fish (pufferfish heaven!) and numerous macro species, like nudibranchs and octopus. That said, sharks and rays reside in Costa Rica’s waters all year long. So a magical Costa Rica diving encounter with these species is still possible in the dry season, too.

Diving in the Pacific vs. the Atlantic

Costa Rica diving offers the chance to explore two completely different worlds, depending on what coastline your visit. Opt to be enchanted by the coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea (part of the Atlantic Ocean), or be excited by the active marine life of the Pacific Ocean. Both options are winners.

Because of how small and narrow Costa Rica is, you can also tick off diving in two oceans during one trip – something you can’t do in many other locations. But you’ll have to plan out the adventure correctly, as many Costa Rica diving shops on the Caribbean Coast turn into surfing and kayaking shops in the summer.

The Pacific Ocean: chances for epic animal encounters

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To encounter some of the ocean’s most majestic marine life, head to the west coast of Costa Rica. Not only is it part of the humpback whale migration route, but the underwater topography invites sharks and manta rays in abundance for a large majority of the year.

Guanacaste Region: Playas del Coco offers accessible dive sites for all levels. Advanced divers will likely visit this area as it’s the launch point for trips to some of the country’s most famous dive sites, such as Bat Island.Puntarenas Region: This region has an abundance of stingrays, eagle rays, white tip reef sharks, schools of trevally, sea turtles, and even the occasional visiting bull shark. If you’ve always dreamed of diving with hammerhead sharks, book a liveaboard departing from Puntaarenas to Cocos Island. The Cocos are an adventure likely to sit near the top of most divers’ bucket lists.Herradura Region: One of the newest diving hot-spots in Costa Rica is in the Herradura region, in the center of the country’s Pacific coastline. Its sites have a mix of arches, caverns and tunnels, and seeing big fish is almost a constant. A perk of basing your Costa Rica diving trip in this area is accessibility, as dive sites are often no more than a 10-minute boat ride from the docks.Quepos Region (Manuel Antonio National Park): While this region is world-renowned for the diversity of wildlife on land, such as sloths, toucans and tree frogs, it offers a similarly diverse underwater scene. White tip reef sharks, eagle rays, pufferfish, and nudibranchs are considered locals here all year long. But it’s not uncommon for migrating manta rays, humpback whales, and dolphins to be spotted at certain times of the year, too.The Atlantic Ocean: Coral reefs and wrecks in the Caribbean Sea

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If you want to dive through stunning and colorful hard and soft coral reefs, swim through an abundance of fish life, and explore picture-perfect shipwrecks, basing your Costa Rica diving trip on the country’s Caribbean coast is a must. Many area dive sites are in protected bays with minimal currents, great visibility, and diverse adventures suitable for both beginners and advanced divers.

But keep in mind that diving on this side of the country is only possible in the dry season (December – April), as heavy rains and bigger swells make for poor diving conditions outside of that window. If you find yourself on the country’s east during the rainy season, opt for a surfing or kayaking adventure in the water instead. The Pacific coast is the best side for year-round diving.

Most Caribbean sea diving is in the Limón Region. Most Limón dive sites are in protected national parks, and the underwater environment remains just as pristine as the national parks on land. While this area is a favorite for learning to dive, there are also deeper sites that offer plenty of excitement for advanced divers with multiple certifications.

The best dives sites in Costa Rica

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Whether you’re hoping to get certified or count your dives in the triple digits, there are countless places you won’t want to miss on your Costa Rica dive trip. Some are extremely well-known, while others are still a bit off the radar or newly discovered. Ask your dive shop if they visit the sites below when you’re booking.

Two Sombreros: Islas Santa Catalina, Guancaste Region

A short 30-minute boat ride from Potrero Bay will take you out into the deep blue, where two rocks shaped like sombreros (hence the name) peak out above the water. This dive site is often blessed with glassy conditions, and during the green season, lucky divers will be able to hear the songs of the humpback whales while descending. At Two Sombreros, the underwater paradise is filled with sea turtles, hundreds of pufferfish, and resident black tip reef sharks.

Average depth: 50 feetMinimum certification: Open waterThe Big Scare: Bat Islands, Guanacaste Region

Known for the bull sharks but equally loved for the manta and devil rays that congregate here, the Big Scare is one of the best dive sites in all of Costa Rica. Reaching the similarly impressive sites near the Cocos Islands takes more than 38 hours, but the Big Scare is less than an hour from Playa Ocotal.

Average depth: 90 feetMinimum certification: Advanced open waterPunta Uva Reef: Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Reserve, Limon Region

The protected Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Reserve extends into the Caribbean Sea, so this dive site offers healthy coral reef ecosystems. Punta Uva Reef is not only great for snorkelers, but also an incredible place to learn to dive. It’s also one of the best places for night diving in Costa Rica, where you can witness a bioluminescence phenomenon — glowing organisms in the water that glow when agitated, making you feel like you’re floating through outer space.

Average depth: 30 feetMinimum certification: Open waterDirty Rock: Cocos Island, Puntarenas Region

To get to the Cocos, known for not just the best Costa Rica diving, but potentially some of the best diving in the world, you’ll need at least eight days. That’s because the only way to access Cocos Island is via a liveaboard boat departing from the Puntarenas region. But the journey is worth it. Once you reach dive sites like Dirty Rock, you’ll be filled with excitement and adrenaline-filled happiness as you’re surrounded by whale sharks, manta rays, and thousands of jacks, as schools of hammerhead sharks circle below in the abyss to grab a tasty fish or two. Don’t let the name deceive you – the visibility is brilliant, and the topography is stunning.

Average depth: 90 feetMinimum certification: Advanced open water + 50 divesCaroline Star Wreck: Isla Tortuga, Puntarenas Region

For those interested in Costa Rica wreck diving, the Caroline Star should be a must-see site. The wreck is home to reef sharks and numerous tropical fish, with plenty to see without having to go inside. A fun fact about this dive site is that two other wrecks – the Coronel Alfonso Monge and Franklin Chang Diaz — sit nearby, making it one of the areas in Central America where you can learn to dive while exploring reefs. That’s because the Coronel Alfonso Monge Wreck sits just 52 feet below the surface, within the recreational limit for newly certified divers.

Average depth: 90 feetMinimum certification: AdvancedMiddle Reef: Playa Herradura, Herradura Region

Middle Reef is one of the best dive sites for beginners, with minimal currents and maximum visibility. This dive site boasts colorful, soft corals, where you’ll find nudibranchs, a variety of tropical fish reef sharks, and octopus. If you get lucky, you may even see a manta ray in the distance (but those are more common at The Island, a nearby dive site).

Average depth: 14 feetMinimum certification: Open waterCosta Rica diving budgeting

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Generally, Costa Rica is a destination that caters to all budgets, with both high-end luxury hotels and very budget-friendly bungalows and B&Bs (and Airbnbs). Travelers who prioritize diving above accommodations can save money by looking at budget backpacker options, or going in the opposite direction and springing for a pricey, all-inclusive liveaboard.

Many of the hotels throughout Costa Rica also have on-site dive centers, so you can book packages that often include diving at a discount, especially if you do multiple dives. These may be dive resorts, which cater primarily to divers, or general hotels that just happen to have an activity center nearby.

Another money-saver is that you don’t need to buy any gear in advance of your trip to Costa Rica. All Costa Rica diving companies can rent gear, so you don’t need to buy anything – though having a properly fitting mask can make your dives a bit more comfortable.

In general, budget…

$185-$200 for a “Discover Scuba Diving” class. In these sessions, a scuba diving professional will hold your hand (literally) while you try diving. No certification is required, and you’ll stay fairly shallow, with your guide will handle all the work while you focus on marine life.$450-$500 for an open water diving certification (the basic certification). You’ll need three or four days and can do your skills tests among reef sharks, sea turtles, and maybe even a manta ray.$200 for a refresher course, if you haven’t been diving in a while and want to re-familiarize yourself with the skills before heading to more advanced dive sites.$150-$250 for a two-tank boat dive. The easiest way to add some Costa Rica diving into your trip is to do a day or half-day trip. Most dive centers offer two-tank dives, where you’ll do two dives, with a surface interval in between on the boat.$2,000-$6,500 for a liveaboard trip. Access to the best dive sites in Costa Rica (and arguably the world) will come at a heftier price. But you’ll get an all-inclusive vacation where you’ll be wined and dined in between some of the best dives of your life.Finding ‘pura vida’ underwater

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In Costa Rica, the term “pura vida” means “pure life.” And that’s something you’re likely to find underwater, too.

To help preserve the “pure life” underwater, Costa Rica has 166 protected areas, covering more than half the coastline. Twenty of these are classified as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Many dive centers also run their own conservation projects to study and collect data on vulnerable marine species like sharks and manta rays, which can be used to help further influence marine policies.

Depending on where you dive, there may be a mandatory fee collected by the dive shop for conservation fees. These fees go to the government and are usually small – less than $20. Unless you’re in the Cocos, where it can be several hundred dollars.

Where to stay to dive in Costa Rica

There are numerous dive resorts throughout Costa Rica, many of which have support local communities and coastlines. The majority are on the Pacific side because of the year-long seasonality. However, you’ll find dive centers on the Caribbean Coast, too. Just keep in mind that they’ll mostly cater to surfers and kayakers during the green season.

The hotels below are good places to start for a balance of affordable rates, luxury, and easy access to diving. And if you’re thinking of going the liveaboard route, check out the list of available Costa Rica options on Liveaboard.com. Nearly all go exclusively to the Cocos.

We hope you love the spaces and stays we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

Bahia del Sol Beach Front Boutique Hotel

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Bahia del Sol Beach Front Boutique Hotel doesn’t cater only to divers, but it has an on-site dive shop and offers packages that include daily dives. However, it also has a full spa and yoga classes, a pretty pool with a swim-up bar, and easy access to other activities in the Guanacaste Region. And it’s on the beach. So it’s a great place to stay for a mixed group where some people want to check out the Costa Rica diving scene and others want to go on jungle hikes. Rooms start around $172/night.

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Occidental Papagayo

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The Occidental Papagayo is a sprawling hotel on the Gulf of Papagayo with one advantage that will appeal to many travelers: it’s adults-only. The all-inclusive resort has several large pools and is on the beach, with an on-site dive center (Rocket Frog Divers). The hotel also partners with shops like Liquid Diving Adventures to offer dive and lodging packages. Rooms start around $218 per night for two people.

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El Nido Jungle Lodge

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El Nido is a lodge on Costa Rica’s eastern coast on the Caribbean Sea. It’s near all the dive shops in Punta Uva and just a short ride from dive sites in the Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Gandoca-Manzanillo. You can walk to the beach in five minutes, and daily breakfast is included. Rooms start around $160 per night.

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Touring Hawaii by train

When you board a train in Hawaii, you don’t travel very far. A beautiful beach, orchards filled with tropical fruit trees, taro paddies, and fields of pineapples are among the vistas you might survey on excursions that traverse just a few miles. But you will be traveling back in time: In Hawaii, trains were central to the islands’ history, one that made Hawaii the multicultural place it is today. They also played a key role in the US’s World War II efforts in the Pacific.

Traveling to Hawaii? Check out Matador’s accommodation guides to Hawaii:12 Dreamy Airbnbs in Hawaii That Are Right on the BeachThe Best Airbnbs on Hawaii’s Big Island, From Beachside Villas To a Downtown CottageThe Coolest Airbnbs on Oahu, Hawaii14 Stunning Kauai Airbnbs That Are Actually Affordable9 of the Most Breathtaking Airbnbs on Maui

Hawaiian Railway Society and the history of trains in Hawaii

“There were railroads on all the major islands. On many of the islands, there were quite a few. They all originally started based on sugarcane,” said Steven Vendt, Director of Operations and Special Projects for the Hawaiian Railway Society, which runs its trains on the last original railway tracks on Oahu.

The first tracks used to haul sugarcane were laid down in 1881 on the island of Kauai. By 1915, Kauai had over 200 miles of track. On Oahu, the first tracks appeared in 1889, set by the Oahu Rail and Land Company — which provided the link between plantations and the port.

“The plantations would have taken their sugarcane from the fields and brought it to the mill where it was processed. The processed sugar would have then gone on trains to the Oahu Railway, which would have ended up at the port in Honolulu,” said Vendt.

Eventually, the Oahu Rail and Land Company also transported cargo and people. After Japan’s bombing of Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor and the entry of the United States into the Second World War, the Oahu Railway served an arguably more significant function, “running pretty much 24 hours a day, seven days a week, hauling passengers, military personnel, equipment and stuff,” said Vendt.

Hawaii’s history wasn’t always pretty; the first European arrivals brought devastating diseases and the US illegally overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893. But the multicultural islands you experience today are a result of this turbulent story. When you savor a delicious Hawaiian poke or sweet bread, you are tasting the influences of East Asian and Portuguese immigrants who came to work on sugar cane plantations. When you bite into a spam musubi, you are taking a nibble of Hawaii’s World War II legacy — with which the Oahu railroad was also intimately entwined.

Few railroads exist or operate today. On the island of Maui, the six-mile-long Sugar Cane Train operated by the Lahaina, Kaanapali and Pacific Railroad was a popular attraction. But years of efforts to revamp and reopen the railroad failed, and it is now permanently closed. If you want to grasp onto a slice of history, check out the train rides below.

Hawaiian Trains Map

The Hawaii trains you can book on Oahu and KauaiOahu Railway

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Benjamin Dillingham first came to Hawaii as a sailor and decided to stay. After establishing the Oahu Rail and Land Company and securing a charter from King David Kalakua in 1888, he started to build out the tracks. Dillingham’s company became the most important railway on Oahu and served an essential role during World War II — but developments during that war also brought an end to the railway.

“The old Oahu Railway ran all over the island until the end of 1947. After World War Two, trucks, buses, cars, roads, just like on the mainland, started to take more of a precedence,” said Vendt. The non-stop transport of heavy equipment on the railway lines over the course of the war also took its toll. “The trains were pretty well beaten up. Dillingham could see the writing on the wall.”

Dillingham closed much of the railway, limited its operations to near the ports, and the army took over other portions. After this time the Hawaiian Railway Society formed, initially with the aim of saving a locomotive engine from the Waialua Agricultural Company on Oahu’s north shore.

Eventually, the Society also took over the railroad tracks that the army had abandoned — along with three of its locomotive engines: two from the Navy and one from the army. It also got this stretch of railway placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Today, Hawaiian Railways takes guests on a 90-minute train ride from Ewa Beach near Pearl Harbor to a beautiful beach on the Nanakuli Coast, a short jaunt from the Lualualei Munitions Depot. The train stops for ice cream at the end, where guests can walk out, stretch their legs, and enjoy the views. The addition of the ice cream stop helped boost the popularity of the trains, which run on Sunday, Saturdays, and Wednesdays — largely for locals.

“It’s about 70 or 80 percent locals. It has always been that,” said Vendt. While the Internet has made it easier for visitors to discover the train, it remains solidly popular for Oahu residents. When Vendt and his wife thought up the idea of offering pre-Christmas holiday rides, complete with milk and cookies, 1400 seats sold out in one day, he said.

Vendt says the train ride is a unique, inexpensive thing to do and the narration provides historical context. In fact local grammar schools have long brought kids on tours of the train. “What draws people? Part of it is history. Obviously people really enjoy the views at the other end of the line,” said Vendt. Also, he said it’s become a tradition in Hawaii.

“There was a lady that came and wanted to have her daughter’s fifth birthday at the railroad,” said Vendt, explaining that birthday parties at the train are pretty common — since Hawaiian Railway has a picnic area and celebrants get their own train. But, he added, “The reason the mom wanted to do it was because she had her own fifth birthday there.”

Oahu Railway days and hours of operation: Wednesday at 1 PM; Saturday at 12 PM and 3 PM; Sunday at 1 PM and 12 PM. Weekday charters are available. (Note, the Sunday 1 PM train does not include the ice cream stop.)Oahu Railway cost: Adults pay $18; children (age two to 12) pay $13; seniors (62 plus) pay $13Oahu Railway duration: Two hours round tripPineapple Express Train

Like the Kauai Plantation Railway, the Dole Plantation, located in the middle of the island of Oahu, offers a train trip through plantation history. In this case, the Dole Pineapple Express Train Tour takes you in smaller replicas of historic trains. The two-mile ride is quick, and you’ll travel past fields of pineapples, as well as other highlights like banana trees and other broad-leaved foliage.

Pineapple Express Train days and hours of operation: Daily from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM Pineapple Express Train cost: Adults pay $13.75; children (age four to 12) pay $11.75; Hawaiian residents and military personnel pay $13Pineapple Express Train duration: 20 minutesTrain ride in Kauai: the Plantation Train

Photo: Kauai Plantation Railway train rides

The Kauai Plantation Railway tours the Kilohana Plantation on Kauai’s east side. The trains travel in a figure of eight during a narrated visit of the 105-acre plantation. What you’ll see from your mahogany-paneled train car, however, is not sugarcane, but instead more types of fruit than you would spot at your local farmers’ market.

“We operate these electric locomotives, which basically, were the last type of locomotives used before everything went to trucking,” said Nick Atkins, General Manager of Kauai Plantation Railway. The train travels past, “fields of banana, papaya, Native Hawaiian hardwoods,” as well as multiple taro fields — which in Hawaiian are called “lo’i.”

The Kauai Plantation’s astounding variety of crops arose from an effort to adjust to the post sugarcane era. “By planting a variety of crops, we could see what actually grew best here in Hawaii, or on Kauai. And then what the market would be like and what the harvest would be like,” said Atkins.

As Atkins tells it, this resulted in the creation of a 67-acre agricultural park with 44 rows of fruit trees alone — with each row home to a different type of tree fruit. “We might have four rows of mango, but each row is a different variety of mango or lychee or longan or canistel or acerola cherry or jabuticaba, rambutan, mamey sapote…,” said Atkins.

As tasty as they are, mangoes and cherries were not to be the answer. “Times have changed since then. Large scale farming on Hawaii is not very cost effective no matter what you’re planting,” said Atkins.

So the Kauai Plantation lives on by offering visitors a chance to eat on site, attend a luau and, of course, ride a train through its property. In addition to all the fruit trees, the farm grows eggplant, okra, peanuts, ginger, and, more recently, hemp for CBD. It also has pasture land with cattle and horses and donkeys and pigs.

“It’s a 40-minute tour. So we stop the train for about 10 minutes, and let our guests disembark to feed our animals,” said Atkins. “The animal feeding is fun pretty much for everybody. Everybody gets a hoot out of feeding the pigs.”

There’s also an alternative train ride bundled with lunch and a nature walk, “where the guests get to take the train out and then disembark and walk through the orchards and pick and taste the fruit off the trees.”

The Kauai Plantation Railway tour days and hours of operation: Every day at 10 AM, 11 AM, 12 PM, 1 PM, and 2 PM. Additional runs on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM.The Kauai Plantation Railway tour cost: Adults pay $21.50; children (age three to 12) pay $16; children under the age of three take the tour for free; seniors (62 plus) pay $18.50The Kauai Plantation Railway tour duration: 40 minutes More like thisTrain Travel9 Luxury Train Rides in the US That Are Worth Splurging On

Skip Fine Dining in San Sebastian, Spain, for Bilbao’s Michelin-Starred Basque Cuisine

Before I say anything else, let me clarify one thing: San Sebastian is an integral part of any trip to northern Spain’s Basque Country. It’s a city whose allure exceeds its relatively small size, powered by surfable Atlantic waves that lap the shores of some of Europe’s finest beaches and a legendary food culture that includes one of the highest densities of Michelin-starred restaurants per capita of anywhere in the world.

Like many travelers who visit San Sebastian, I went this past July primarily to eat. Coveted eating experiences in San Sebastian can broadly be divided into two categories: First, there’s the pintxos, which are small bites similar to Spanish tapas or Portuguese petiscos that are typically enjoyed with drinks before lunch or dinner. Then there’s the star-worthy restaurants that have helped earn San Sebastian the distinction of being one of the world’s foodiest cities.

My travel companion was determined to experience both. If nothing else, she figured, we’d probably be able to find a cheaper tasting menu in Spain than in our native Bay Area (although there are a surprising number of affordable Michelin-starred restaurants in California). What we failed to account for was our timing. With just three days in San Sebastian and no advance reservation, we quickly realized that snagging a table at one of the world’s most coveted restaurants on a peak-season evening would be next to impossible.

Then, we had an idea. Instead of settling for whatever a la carte lunchtime reservation we could muster at the last minute, what if we looked for a Michelin-starred restaurant in Bilbao, the next and final stop on our Basque Country itinerary.

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Bilbao is the biggest city in the Basque region, located a little over an hour west of San Sebastian. We found out that it has 10 one-star Michelin restaurants, one three-star Michelin restaurant, and four Bib Gourmand restaurants, a designation that denotes excellent food at an affordable price point. With two days’ notice, several had dinner seatings available.

We booked a table at a one-star restaurant called Garena that specializes in refined Basque fare. Helmed by the young and innovative Chef Julen Baz, Garena offers a 16-course tasting menu for $140 per person, excluding wine, which fell within our budget. (The restaurant also serves an eight-course meal for $63 per person and a six-course meal for $52 per person.) What intrigued us most, however, was the restaurant’s setting.

Photo: Alex Bresler

Bilbao is situated slightly more inland than San Sebastian where the majority of the Michelin-starred restaurants are located near the busy areas facing the sea. Many of Bilbao’s Michelin-starred restaurants capitalize on the surrounding countryside, occupying traditional basseris (Basque farmhouses) on secluded properties with space for vineyards and gardens.

Garena is housed in a 16th-century basseri in the Dima municipality that’s hugged by the rolling hills of the Gorbea mountains and, farther afield, the Urkiola Natural Park. The sustainably-minded restaurant also has a vineyard that produces two versions of txakoli, Basque’s famous white wine, as well as keeps chickens and grows other ingredients on site.

After an amuse-bouche of Betizu beef tartar that was hand-delivered by Chef Baz, my friend and I enjoyed our first taste of the estate’s wine alongside a bite of white-clawed crayfish wrapped in a thin and crisp leather made from dehydrated peppers. The dish is an homage to a species of crab that was enjoyed in the region for centuries before becoming overfished.

Photo: Alex Bresler

Most of Garena’s menu has ties to its land and the Basque region at large. Anecdotes about each course are shared as the plates are served. One course, a savory macaron filled with an “old chicken” cream, is served in a box lined with feathers. The hake with green sauce, a dish you’ll see on menus throughout the Basque region, comes with the explanation that the cod-like fish is traditionally eaten on two occasions: when you’re sick or when the hake is sick, meaning a few days old and needing to be consumed. The herbaceous salsa verde that accompanies it is intended to uplift both the dish and its diners. Elsewhere during the meal, laurel branches are burned as part of an ancestral practice to ward off evil spirits.

Aesthetic plating and a touch of molecular gastronomy (think foams and smoke) add drama to the meal without detracting from the coziness of the cuisine. Garena itself means “what we are” in Euskara, the Basque language, and many of the preparations are designed to be eaten with your hands as you would in the comfort of your home.

Photo: Alex Bresler

This casual intimacy is what I appreciated most about dining at Garena, from the woodsy locale, to the homey farmhouse, to the fact that Bilbao’s Michelin-starred restaurants suffer less from the level of international renown that suffocates their counterparts in San Sebastian. Between the ease of getting a last-minute reservation and the reasonable price point, I left Garena convinced that Bilbao should be nobody’s second choice for Basque fine dining.

Here’s where to go to experience Bilbao’s Michelin-starred restaurants.

Three-star Michelin restaurants in BilbaoAzurmendi

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Twenty minutes from Bilbao, hilltop Azurmendi occupies an all-glass bioclimatic building topped with a rooftop garden that offers a first indication of the restaurant’s rigid commitment to sustainability. Chef Eneko Atxa’s Adarrak tasting menu honors the region’s culinary heritage, displays reverence for local ingredients, and delights all of the senses, moving through courses such as the “Welcome Picnic,” “Truffle’s Table,” and “Garden.” Wine is also produced on site.

How much the tasting menu costs: $330 per person, with optional wine pairings for an additional $165 or $330 per person

Where it’s located: Barrio Leguina, s/n, 48195 Larrabetzu, Biscay, Spain

One-star Michelin restaurants in BilbaoAndra Mari

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In 1964, a sibling trio opened a tavern in their family’s charming farmhouse as a place for locals and pilgrims visiting the nearby Andra Mari church to meet, dine, and rest. The Andra Mari restaurant has since garnered acclaim (and a Michelin star) for its hyper-local fare inspired by both land and sea. In addition to a la carte options, Andra Mari serves two tasting menus: the nine-course Elexalde menu and 12-course Andra Mari menu. Prices are quite reasonable — although the restaurant’s exceptional wine cellar might tempt you toward a bigger bill.

How much the tasting menu costs: $70 per person for the Elexalde menu, $100 per person for the Andra Mari menu

Where it’s located: Barrio Elexalde 22, Galdakao, 48960, Spain

Boroa

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Boroa is another Michelin-starred restaurant in Bilbao that’s located outside of the city in a farmhouse dating back to the 15th century. The grounds are lovely and large, providing plenty of terrace space for diners to enjoy the nine-course Mugarra, 17-course Txindoki, and nine-course Vegetarian tasting menus. The rustic-chic dining rooms inside nod to Boroa’s traditional bent, although the food itself blends Basque staples with global flavors and techniques such as kimchi and ceviche. Boroa has a winery on site, as well as a collection of fine international wines.

How much the tasting menu costs: $80 per person for the Mugarra menu ($30 optional wine pairing), $165 for the Txindoki menu ($55 optional wine pairing), and $70 for the vegetarian menu

Where it’s located: San Pedro de Boroa, 11, 48340 Boroa, Bizkaia, Spain

Eneko

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Azurmendi’s sister restaurant, Eneko opened on the same property in 2017 and has since expanded with outposts in Tokyo and Lisbon. The restaurant’s 12-course Sutan menu adheres even more closely to local techniques and traditions, featuring simple yet finely prepared dishes centered around ingredients such as cow’s tail, pigeon, wheat stew, and Idiazabal cheese. The two restaurants share both their executive chef and the property’s on-site vineyard.

How much the tasting menu costs: $85 without wine

Where it’s located: Barrio Leguina, s/n, 48195 Larrabetzu, Biscay, Spain

Etxanobe Atelier

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Raw ingredients and fresh seafood take center stage at Etxanobe Atelier, which is located in a former glass factory near Bilbao’s city center. Chef Fernando Canales takes seriously the idea that you eat with your eyes first, creating striking presentations of dishes such as scampi carpaccio, anchovy lasagna, and wagyu tenderloin. There are two tasting menus at Etxanobe Atelier, the 12-course Chef Atelier menu and 14-course Chef Atelier Plus menu, both of which come with the option of either a wine pairing or great wine pairing.

How much the tasting menu costs: $140 per person for the Chef Atelier menu ($190 with wine pairings and $230 per person with great wines), $175 per person for the Chef Atelier plus menu ($225 with wine pairings and $260 with great wines)

Where it’s located: Calle Juan Ajuriaguerra Kalea, 8, 48009 Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain

Garena

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Blending fine-dining techniques with traditional flavors, Garena honors its location in the countryside outside of Bilbao from its farmhouse setting, to the txakoli wines produced on site, to dishes that celebrate centuries of Basque culinary traditions. There are three tasting experiences: the 16-course Geroa menu, eight-course Gurea menu, and a six-course Seasonal Market Menu that celebrates the freshest produce of the day.

How much the tasting menu costs: $140 per person for the Geroa menu, $63 per person for the Gurea menu, and $52 per person for the Seasonal Market Menu

Where it’s located: Bº Iturriotz, 11, 48141 Lamindao, Biscay, Spain

Mina

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A perfect day for food-focused travelers in Bilbao might start at the Ribera market and end at Mina located across the street. Inside the small and unassuming building, which stands where a former mine entrance once operated, there’s a paradoxically bright and cavern-like restaurant made of wood and stone with an open kitchen that whets the appetite for raw, seasonal ingredients. Diners can choose between the full 14-course tasting menu or a truncated 10-course tasting menu, with wine pairings from the refined on-site cellar.

How much the tasting menu costs: $165 per person for the tasting menu (plus $85 for wine pairings), $130 per person for the short tasting menu (plus $65 for wine pairings)

Where it’s located: Martzana Kaia, s/n, 48003 Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain

Nerua Guggenheim Bilbao

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Bilbao’s star cultural attraction, the Guggenheim museum, also has a restaurant that treats food like art. The vegetable- and seafood-forward menu changes three times a year to prioritize seasonal ingredients according to the spring, summer, and fall-winter bounty. Expect upscale classics with a Basque touch, such as anchovies, lobsters, beef loin, and Iberian pig belly. The tasting menu is eight courses, but you can also order a la carte.

How much the tasting menu costs: $95 dollars per person, plus $40 per person for optional wine pairings or $25 for non-alcoholic pairings

Where it’s located: Abandoibarra Etorb., 2, 48001 Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain

Ola Martin Berastegui

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Located in the Hotel Tayko Bilbao, Ola Martin Berastegui occupies a piece of prime real estate in Bilbao’s historic quarter along the Nervión river. The Michelin guide describes the dining experience as a “sensory” journey that’s reminiscent of the fresh, briny, and savory ingredients found in Basque pintxos, from marinated sardines to blood sausage. In addition to an 18-course tasting menu, there’s a slightly shorter “tradition and taste” menu that spans 15 courses.

How much the tasting menu costs: $165 per person for the full tasting menu ($245 with wine pairings), $190 for the shorter tasting menu ($130 with wine pairings)

Where it’s located: Erribera Kalea, 13, 48005 Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain

Zarate

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Blink and you might miss Zarate on the edge of Bilbao’s city center. The small restaurant is unassuming from the street, with a simple awning bearing its name like any other casual restaurant, but inside, bold seafood-centric dishes await. The restaurant’s inspiration is firmly rooted in Basque cuisine but features the occasional pop of international flavors, such as wasabi and ponzu. Choose between an 11-course tasting menu or a la carte options.

How much the tasting menu costs: $115 per person

Where it’s located: Poza Lizentziatuaren Kalea, 65, 48013 Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain

Zortziko

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Zortziko has been a staple of Bilbao’s fine-dining scene since 1989. The restaurant offers a choose-your-own-adventure experience with various dining rooms, from wine-cellar seating to the elegant Versailles dining room, and three tasting menus: one with 11 courses, another with six courses, and an eight-course, meat-heavy Grill Menu.

How much the tasting menu costs: $100 per person for the short tasting menu ($155 for wine pairings), $155 per person for the long tasting menu ($225 for wine pairings), and $275 for the Grill Menu(

Where it’s located: Mazarredo Zumarkalea, 17, 48001 Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain

More like thisRestaurants + BarsHow To Pintxo Crawl Through Basque Country Like a Local

The Best Large Hardshell Luggage Options for Your Active Travel Lifestyle

Picture this: You’re heading out on a two-week trip. Normally, you carry just a pack on your back, but because you’ll be traveling with colleagues, you want to appear more professional this time. You also need to have a diverse array of stuff – ranging from loungewear to hiking gear to your work setup. It’s time to face the music: Hardshell checked luggage is your best option.

These suitcases are made from durable polycarbonate – some brands even use recycled version – which makes them exceptionally strong and resistant to damage. Additionally, most hardshell suitcases come with a built-in TSA-approved combination lock, offering extra peace of mind. The hardshell design also allows for easy organization as it provides a rigid structure that prevents items from moving around inside the suitcase during transit – this is especially useful if you’re trying to pack fragile items, such as delicate clothing or electronics. Finally, these suitcases are available in a range of colors and sizes, so you can find one that looks great — no matter what you’ve packed on the inside.

But which one to buy? The top-selling hardshell roller case checked luggage are detailed below, with itemized specs and a breakdown on which is best for what type of traveler. Let’s get you set to fly.

Shopping for roller bag checked luggage? Check out Matador’s detailed reviews: Monos Checked Luggage has the world’s best features, and it’s currently on sale Away’s luggage is the best roller case for your money How the July Checked Plus Hardshell roller got me to switch from my carry-on lifestyle This carbon neutral roller bag makes packing for two a breeze

We hope you love the hardshell checked luggage options we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

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July Checked Plus
Monos Luggage Hybrid Check-In
Away Roller Case
Paravel Aviator Grand
Rimowa Essential Check-In L
Samsonite Freeform Spinner
Traveler’s Choice Ultimax II 26″ Medium Trunk Spinner

Hardshell checked luggage: Rundown of top optionsJuly Checked PlusMonos Luggage Hybrid Check-InAway Roller CaseParavel Aviator GrandPrice: $345Price: $405Price:  $275Price:  $475110 liters, good for families and travel70-97 liters liters capacity, good for solo and light-packing couples40 liters, good for extended travel77 liters, good for up to one week on the roadEasy to separate by person, great for nice clothes, easy access to everythingEasy to separate by item or person, great for photographersEasy to separate work gear, clothing, personal items, can carry onPerfect for the traveling professional, carbon-neutralThree-sided zipThree-sided zipThree-sided zipThree-sided zipJuly Checked PlusReady to roll. Photo: Tim WengerMultiple pairs of shoes? No problem. Photo: Tim WengerPacking for three. Photo: Tim WengerMy daughter's clothes also arrived in good order. Photo: Tim WengerMy nicest button down arrived ready to go. Photo: Tim WengerSnap dress clothes into the right side separate from casual wear. Photo: Tim WengerThe minimalist aesthetic blends well in mid-mod hotels. Photo: Tim WengerThe adjustable handle makes wheeling through the airport a breeze. Photo: Tim Wenger

 

The July Checked Plus is a large checked luggage that is designed to be lightweight, durable, and stylish. You get 110 liters of capacity in a well-organized case, with its biggest perk being that when you open it at your destination, everything you’ve brought will be displayed in front of you. There’s no need to dig through all of your stuff just to find a shirt to wear to happy hour.

It is made of a 100% aerospace-grade German polycarbonate shell that is crush-proof and can withstand even the most rigorous travel conditions. The suitcase also features 360-degree spinner wheels that make it easy to maneuver, even in tight spaces. The interior of the July Checked Plus is divided into two compartments, each with its own compression system. This helps to maximize the amount of space in the suitcase and keep your belongings organized. The best way to pack this suitcase is to put clothes and delicates in one of the zipped compartments and work gear or other necessities in the other one. There should be plenty of room left over for shoes and other bulky items for two to three people.

This suitcase also comes with a removable laundry bag, a TSA-approved combination lock, and an integrated water bottle pocket. The July Checked Plus is available in a variety of colors, including black, navy, and charcoal. It measures 28.5 x 19.7 x 11.8 inches and weighs 10.3 pounds. Overall, the July Checked Plus is a great option for travelers who are looking for a spacious and cool-looking roller that is big enough to pack a small family, but easy enough to transport and check that it won’t be a pain in the butt on travel days. It is well-made and features a number of thoughtful design touches. However, it can be pricey, and some users have reported that the interior compartments are not as spacious as some other checked luggage.

Capacity: 110 liters. Dimensions: 28.5 x 19.7 x 11.8 inches. Weight: 10.3 pounds

Details: 100% aerospace-grade German polycarbonate and a water-resistant lining Features 360-degree spinner wheels, a TSA-approved combination lock, an integrated water bottle pocket, and a removable laundry bag. Colors: Black, navy, and charcoal

Warranty: Lifetime

Price: $345

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Monos Luggage Hybrid Check-InThe Monos Hybrid checked bag: a great looking bag with the practical chops to match. Photo: Suzie DundasThe medium carry-on holds much more than I expected. Shown on the bottom is a packing cube with three chunky sweaters, a shoe bag with a pair of size 10 hiking boots, and insulated black gloves. And the folded forest green jacket item above? A thick, thigh-length jacket. It's deceivingly large, despite being called the "medium." Photo: Suzie DundasPhoto: Suzie DundasIt's bigger than it looks, and almost too large to fit on some luggage racks in hotels. Photo: Suzie DundasA jet-lagged mirror selfie, for scale. I'm 5'7" and the medium Monos luggage hybrid checked is thigh-high on me. Photo: Suzie DundasStep two: two smaller clips attached to a full-sized soft panel (with pockets)Step one for compression: a full-length strap. Photo: Suzie DundasCan confirm: as waterproof as possible, as tested on a rainy mile-long walk in Munich, Germany. Photo: Suzie DundasPhoto by Suzie DundasCan confirm: as waterproof as possible, as tested on a rainy mile-long walk in Munich, Germany. Photo: Suzie Dundas

A good checked bag should be both light and durable, and the Monos Luggage Hybrid Check-In ticks both of those boxes. This bag can hold up to 70 liters of gear, which is roughly twice the size of a carry-on roller bag. It also has a compression panel to help you make the most of the available space. It’s rather minimalist, which is nice. While it’s not overly designed when compared to checked bags that prioritize style over function, it does feature two zippered pockets on the compression panel, a larger zipper pocket on the inner flap, and a slim pocket for jewelry and other small items. At first, I was concerned that my Monos Hybrid medium checked bag was too small, but after packing it for the first time, our editor had plenty of space left over and wondered if she’d forgotten something.

The Hybrid Check-In is available in a variety of sizes, including the Check-In (27.5 x 20.4 x 11.3 inches), Check-In Large (30 x 21.3 x 11.8 inches). It is also available in a variety of colors, including black, silver, and navy. It’s reliably water-resistant and can handle the rough-and-tumble life of being tossed around by airline personnel without displaying markings from each toss. What you’re getting with this hardshell is durability and a long, useful lifespan. The choice of three very different sizes makes this a versatility option that can work for most travelers.

Capacity: 70 liters Medium, (27.5 x 20.4 x 11.3 inches, 11 pounds),97 liters Large (30 x 21.3 x 11.8 inches, 13 pounds).

Details: Aluminum and polycarbonate shell, 60-degree spinner wheels, TSA-approved combination lock, water-resistant lining, removable laundry bag. Available in black, silver, and navy.

Warranty: Lifetime

Price: $405 (Medium), $435 (Large)

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Away Carry-On Roller CasePhoto: Johnny MotleyPhoto: AwayPhoto: Away

The Away Carry-On is a hard-shell suitcase that is designed to be lightweight, durable, and stylish. It is made of a polycarbonate shell that is scratch-resistant and can withstand even the most rigorous travel conditions. The suitcase also features 360-degree spinner wheels that make it easy to maneuver, even in tight spaces. While this roller bag is TSA-approved for carry-on (hence the name), we’ve included it in this roundup because it’s a larger carry-on and can carry most everything you need for a week or more on the road. That said, it won’t fit in the overhead bin on many smaller regional jets. If you need a roller case that can serve both the checked and carry-on function, this is it.

The interior of the Away Carry-On is divided into two compartments, each with its own compression system. This helps to maximize the amount of space in the suitcase and keep your belongings organized. The suitcase also comes with a removable laundry bag, a TSA-approved combination lock, and a built-in USB charger. The Away Carry-On is available in a variety of colors, including black, navy, charcoal, and blush. It measures 21.7 x 13.7 x 9 inches and weighs 8.8 pounds. The suitcase is priced at $275, but you can purchase it with a built-in USB charger for an additional $25.

Capacity: 39.8 liters Dimensions: 21.7″ x 13.7″ x 9″. Weight: 7.1 lbs.

Details: Polycarbonate shell, ABS interior, 360-degree spinner wheels, TSA-approved combination lock, built-in USB charger (optional), removable laundry bag. Colors: Black, navy, charcoal, blush, tan, pink, mint, rose gold

Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty

Price: $275 (without built-in USB charger), $300 (with built-in USB charger)

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Paravel Aviator GrandPhoto credit: Brett BraleyPhoto credit: Brett BraleyPhoto credit: Brett BraleyPhoto credit: Brett Braley

The Paravel Aviator Grand is a carbon-neutral checked roller case that is sized for extended stays and far-flung adventures. It is made of sustainably-sourced materials including recycled polycarbonate, recycled aluminum, and recycled vegan leather. The Aviator Grand is designed to be lightweight and durable. It weighs 10.8 pounds and has a capacity of 115L. The suitcase features 360-degree spinner wheels, a TSA-approved combination lock, and an interior compression board.

The interior of the Aviator Grand is divided into two compartments, each with its own compression system. This helps to maximize the amount of space in the suitcase and keep your belongings organized. The suitcase also comes with a removable laundry bag and a travel journal. The Paravel Aviator Grand is a great option for travelers who are looking for lightweight, durable, and stylish checked luggage that is as environmentally friendly as a piece of luggage can be. It is well-made and features a number of thoughtful design touches. However, it can be pricey, and some users have reported that the interior compartments are not as spacious as some other checked luggage.

Capacity: 77 liters. Dimensions: 28.1″ x 19.7″ x 11.7″. Weight: 11.8 lbs.

Details: Recycled polycarbonate shell, recycled aluminum handles, recycled zippers, vegan leather details, and Negative Nylon lining made from 21 upcycled plastic bottles. 360-degree double spinner wheels with carbon steel bearings, an interior compression board, a scuff-hiding textured finish, smart interior pockets, and a removable laundry bag. Colors: Safari Green, Metro Silver, Scuba Navy, Derby Black, Scout Tan, Domino Black.

Warranty: 10-year limited warranty

Price: $475

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Best of the rest: Checked Roller-Bag ReviewsRimowa Essential Check-In L

Photo courtesy of Rimowa

The Rimowa Essential Check-In L, available in special editions via Amazon, is large checked luggage designed to be lightweight, durable, and stylish. It’s ultra-luxurious, made of a high-quality polycarbonate shell that is scratch-resistant and can withstand even the most rigorous travel conditions. The suitcase also features 360-degree spinner wheels that make it easy to maneuver, even in tight spaces. It’s pricey, but is actually among the cheaper roller suitcases in the “luxury” level (for comparison, the Globe Trotter’s similar option costs nearly three times as much).

The interior of the Rimowa Essential Check-In L is divided into two compartments, each with its own compression system. This helps to maximize the amount of space in the suitcase and keep your belongings organized. The suitcase also comes with a removable laundry bag, a TSA-approved combination lock, and a Flex Divider. The Flex Divider is a unique feature that allows you to customize the interior of the suitcase to fit your needs. The Flex Divider can be used to create a separate compartment for your dirty clothes, or it can be used to create two smaller compartments for your belongings.

Capacity: 115 liters. Dimensions: 28.1″ x 19.7″ x 11.7″. Weight: 11.8 lbs.

Details: High-quality polycarbonate shell. Features: 360-degree spinner wheels, TSA-approved combination lock, Flex Divider, removable laundry bag. Colors: Black, silver, red.

Warranty: 5-year limited warranty

Price: $1,125

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Samsonite Freeform SpinnerPhoto courtesy of SamsonitePhoto courtesy of Samsonite

A big name like Samsonite can be the best option for value, as is the case here. The Samsonite Freeform Spinner is a lightweight, durable, and stylish checked luggage that is made from a 100% polycarbonate shell. It is designed to be able to withstand even the most rigorous travel conditions. The suitcase also features 360-degree spinner wheels that make it easy to maneuver, even in tight spaces.

The interior of the Samsonite Freeform Spinner is divided into two compartments, each with its own compression system. This helps to maximize the amount of space in the suitcase and keep your belongings organized. The suitcase also comes with a removable laundry bag, a TSA-approved combination lock, and a water-resistant lining. You can choose from a variety of sizes, including the Carry-On (21.7 x 14 x 9 inches), Medium (25.6 x 16.5 x 11 inches), and Large (28.1 x 19.7 x 11.7 inches). These options are available in a variety of colors, including black, navy, and charcoal.

Capacity: Medium: 75 liters, 25.6 x 16.5 x 11, 9 pounds), Large: 110 liters,  28.1 x 19.7 x 11.7 inches, 10.5 pounds).

Details: 100% polycarbonate and a water-resistant lining. 360-degree spinner wheels, a TSA-approved combination lock, a water-resistant lining, and a removable laundry bag. Colors available: Black, navy, and charcoal.

Warranty: Lifetime

Price: $191.95 (Medium), $223.99 (Large)

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Traveler’s Choice Ultimax II 26″ Medium Trunk SpinnerPhoto courtesy of Traveler's ChoicePhoto courtesy of Traveler's Choice

Not all hardshell checked luggage looks the same, and the Traveler’s Chocie Ultimax II 26” is proof. This high-end checked luggage is designed to be lightweight, durable, and stylish – and it pulls it off, with the bonus of allowing you to be that person at the baggage carousel who actually has unique luggage. It is made of a 100% polycarbonate shell that is impact-resistant and can withstand even the most rigorous travel conditions. The suitcase also features 360-degree spinner wheels that make it easy to maneuver, even in tight spaces. The two-compartment, compressed interior is spacious (110 liters of packing room) and has a clamshell-side handle so you can easily pick it up without having to wrap your arms awkwardly around the body of the suitcase. It weighs 10.3 pounds, which is lightweight for a large piece of checked luggage. This makes it easy to carry, even when it is fully packed.

Capacity: 110 liters. Dimensions: 26″ x 19″ x 11″. Weight: 10.3 lbs.

Details: 100% polycarbonate and a water-resistant lining. Features a 360-degree spinner wheels, TSA-approved combination lock, water-resistant lining, removable laundry bag, built-in luggage scale. Colors: Black, navy, and charcoal

Warranty: Lifetime

Price: $345

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This Carbon Neutral Roller Bag Makes Packing for Two a Breeze

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine an old-fashioned scale. On one end, you’re going to have Form, and on the other, Function. Most luggage brands either lean heavily into one category or the other: a tactical duffel that leaves little in terms of aesthetics, or a twee bag that can’t stand up to long-term wear.

And right in the middle of this imaginary scale, perfectly balanced, is Paravel.

Shopping for roller bag checked luggage? Check out Matador’s detailed reviews: The best hardshell luggage options for your active travel lifestyle Away’s luggage is the best roller case for your money Monos Checked Luggage has the world’s best features, and it’s currently on sale How the July Checked Plus got me to switch from my carry-on backpack lifesetyle

It’s a name you have probably seen on Instagram, specifically if you’ve searched the hashtags “Old Money” or “Wes Anderson”. The company is equal parts Orient Express and Jet Set, with a keen sense of sustainability for good measure. It’s as timely of a luggage brand as it is a classic, and I’m glad I was finally able to try out its largest offering, the Aviator Grand, in Safari Green, on a recent Summer getaway.

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We hope you love the Paravel Aviator Grand! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

Size matters

Try as I might, I can never seem to pack as lightly as I’d like. Couple that with the fact that my husband and I are the same size and, therefore, share most of our wardrobe, and that means we usually check a bag out of both convenience and necessity.

The Aviator Grand is the largest in the brand’s Aviator series and complements both its Carry On and Carry On Plus alternatives. Coming in at 18.25″ L x 28″ W x 11″ H, this is a larger piece of luggage that doesn’t feel excessive. The Aviator Grand offers plenty of room for two adults on a five-day vacation, while still leaving space for a few souvenirs, too.

Of course, the larger the bag the more you run the risk of extra weight. Unpacked, the Aviator Grand comes in at just under 12 lbs, making it a pretty standard size, thanks to the polycarbonate shell and aluminum handle. It feels as though Paravel hasn’t just designed the Aviator Grand from an aesthetic point of view, but from a functional point as well. No one wants to lug a heavy bag around – or worse, pay the extra fee to check one if it’s overweight.

Photo credit: Brett BraleyPhoto credit: Brett BraleyPhoto credit: Brett BraleyPhoto credit: Brett BraleyEye for design

For the better part of seven years, Paravel has remained consistent in terms of both design and quality. There are a number of brand elements that have defined the Aviator line, including a clean polycarbonate shell, perpendicular leather detailing, and aluminum wheels and bumper accents that adds protection without the bulk. All of this makes for a bag that feels high quality and belies the sub-$500 price tag.

Notable to Paravel is a design language that marries aesthetics and functionality. For example, the textured finish on the exterior shell is designed that way to help hide the inevitable scuffs from checking one’s bag. The leather accents are made of vegan leather, as part of the brand’s core philosophy to be as carbon-neutral as possible. And, perhaps most important to mention when it comes to Paravel’s design, is the variety of colorways with contrasting trims. These neutral color options stand out among the doldrum greys, navy, and blacks found in baggage claim without veering into ostentatious territory.

Packing: How the Paravel Grand Aviator holds up

The 77-liter interior of the Aviator Grand is fitted with a few specific details that make packing a breeze. The interior is your simple cavernous set-up with a few small features which were easy to utilize and stopped me from just shoving everything in and zipping it up as fast as possible. Each Aviator Grand is equipped with separate interior pockets for easy organization (or, if you’re like me, to keep your dirty shoes away from your white shirts), a removable laundry bag, and a compression board. All of these features aren’t reinventing the wheel, but they do make packing much more simple and – dare I say it? – a mindful act.

A brand with a mission

We all know the debate regarding air transportation and the environment. Paravel’s commitment to carbon neutrality through the manufacturing process isn’t just a pithy, throwaway PR move, but is an integral part of its business and manufacturing model. This seems to have come directly from co-founder, Indré Rockefeller, who has long heralded the green movement in her personal and professional life, including receiving a Master’s in Environmental Studies from Columbia.

Details such as using recycled polycarbonate and aluminum, as well as sourcing net-negative nylon for the interior, have allowed Paravel to proudly boast that the brand is one of the earliest adopters of carbon neutrality in the luggage industry. A helpful infograph on the Aviator Grand’s web page puts it into numbers. One Grand manufactured through sustainable means equates to: 11,352 hours of bulb energy saved, 126 km of driving emissions avoided, and 93 days of drinking water saved.

Paravel Grand Aviator security

While I would like to think that no one would feel the need to break into my luggage to steal my dirty socks or my tanning lotion, one never knows. Paravel’s luggage is equipped with a standard integrated lock for extra security. I found the instructions easy to follow and felt a little more comfortable handing my bag over to the American Airlines desk attendant when I popped the lock into place.

Here are the instructions to set the Aviator’s lock code, which are found on Paravel’s FAQ:

The preset combination is 0-0-0 and can be personalized by following these simple steps:
1) Turn the dials to the preset or current combination.
2) Press and hold the Reset Button with a pen or other tool while you set the dials to your desired combination.
3) Release the Reset Button and push the slide button on the other side of the dial to set the new combination
4) Secure your zipper pulls by inserting them into the slots

You may change your combination and reset your lock again by following the above steps whenever you’d like. Keep your personal combination in a safe place for future reference.

How does the Paravel Aviator Grand compare to competitors?

Between my freelance work, full-time job, and the occasional holiday, I’m looking at 10 to 15 trips a year. Because of this, I need a bag that can keep up. In the short time I’ve used the Paravel Grand Aviator, I’ve learned that it is a great roller case for longer trips when I can’t avoid a checked bag.

I do have Away’s “The Large” wheeled luggage, which somehow feels much larger and bulkier than Paravel’s, even though their dimensional differences are negligible. Paravel’s small design details also help to break up the eye from monolithic alternatives, making it stylish and not too blocky when tucked away in the hotel room.

From a price point, it does skew a little higher, but one can justify the cost when looking at the brand story and mission for carbon neutrality. But, by the same token, one may expect real leather finishes when paying nearly $500 for a bag. For me, I’m much more mission-driven and understand the cost and feel the bag looks as well as feels like a quality product.

What’s Paravel’s warranty policy?

Paravel offers a 10-year limited warranty, which covers most factory defects. Because of the nature of travel, your luggage is likely to get dinged up, and not all issues that arise will be covered by this warranty. Other defects that are caused by heat, solvents, or water damage are not covered by the warranty. Replacements and refunds are at the discretion of Paravel and require proof of original purchase, so be leery of using a secondary market like eBay when buying your Paravel in the off chance you ever need to contact the company with an issue.

Where to purchase the Paravel Aviator Grand

Paravel’s is a D2C business with accounts at retailers such as Bloomingdale’s, but the full experience is best found on its own site. The company offers all colorways for the Aviator Grand, while you can also pick up a matching Carry-On to complete the set. What’s nice about being in the Paravel universe is the array of travel accessories, such as luggage tags and passport holders, which can be handpainted and monogrammed to your liking. Be smart when shopping and try to bundle a few items to save money versus buying these pieces separately. Best of all, Paravel has been running a number of sales lately, so signing up to its newsletter may equal a few hundred dollars saved.

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Stay by the Eighth Wonder of the World at These 7 Hotels

Mont-Saint-Michel, France’s most famous and mysterious island, is one of the country’s most visited sites with 3 million tourists coming every year to marvel at the islet and its 1000-year-old abbey. While the island isn’t large and can be visited in just one day, it’s busy, making the narrow cobblestone streets, the numerous steep stairs, and every corner of the abbey, difficult to navigate. To make the most out of a visit to the area, visitors should stay in a Mont-Saint-Michel hotel for a couple of days, walk the trails around the bay, take a guided tour of the bay itself, and come to the island very early or very late to see it at its best: tranquil and free of crowds. But there’s one rule of thumb about hotels near Mont-Saint-Michel: Closer does not mean better. Staying a few miles away may prevent you from waking up to a view of the islet, but you’ll get much more bang for your buck.

Taking a trip to France? Check out Matador’s accommodation guides to the best places to stay:Elegant, Refined, and Luxurious Hotels in Bordeaux, France, the Wine Capital of the WorldStay at These Parisian Hotels Near the Arc de Triomphe for a Très Chic French VacationCan’t afford a night in a palace? These luxurious hotels near Versailles might be the best substitutes9 dreamiest Airbnbs in the South of FranceThe most beautiful Airbnbs in ParisThese Airbnbs Near the Eiffel Tower Offer Incredible Views of the Entire CityThe Finest Luxury Hotels Near the Eiffel Tower With Incredible Views of ParisThe 9 Most Exciting Boutique Hotels in Paris

Where are the best hotels on and near Mont-Saint-Michel?

The seven best hotels on and near Mont-Saint-Michel

We hope you love the hotels we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

Ermitage Mont Saint MichelPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: Expedia

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Ermitage Mont Saint-Michel is a five-star hotel located 1.6 miles from the island’s parking lot and the departure point of the 12-minute free shuttle service that will get you to the site. You can drive to the parking lot and take the shuttle, or walk from the lot for 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can walk for one hour and get all the way from the hotel to the island, a flat and easy walk that’s very rewarding. The Ermitage Mont Saint-Michel is a very small, stone-built property of only seven rooms and suites, all of which are very elegantly decorated in a classic style. There’s a bar and a restaurant on site serving local dishes using fresh, regional products (the menu changes according to the seasons). Guests can also indulge in a delicious breakfast if they wish to do so — the sunny terrace is the ideal place to do just that. If money is no object, know that the hotel has a helipad so you can easily transfer from and to nearby airports.

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Where: 14 Rte du Mont Saint-Michel, 50170 Beauvoir, France
Price per night: $715

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The Château de Chantore may be 19 miles (a 30-minute drive) from the entrance to Mont-Saint-Michel, but this bed and breakfast is very much worth the distance — especially since you still get to see the island from the castle. The highest-rated property in the entire area, the impressive 18th-century pink chateau is set in a huge 46-acre park filled with exotic trees, lakes, waterfalls, and more. There are only five guests rooms and suites in the immense castle, making for a quiet place to stay. Guests only have access to a few rooms (the blue sitting room, the Chinese room, the dining room, and the stables), but guided tours of the property are available upon demand. The interior decor is true to the castle’s 18th-century origins and is filled with antiques and rich textiles — you’re guaranteed to be transported back in time.

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Where: Chantore, 50530 Bacilly, France
Price per night: $539

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Located 10 miles from the entrance to Mont-Saint-Michel ( a 22-minute drive), the Château de Boucéel is a protected 18th-century, family-owned property that consists of a castle and three small homes, all on a beautiful 27-acre park. Guests to this highly-rated bed and breakfast may choose to stay in the castle or in one the three houses, but no matter what they opt for, they won’t disappointed. The decor is elegant, tasteful, and true to the property’s 18th-century roots, but the comfort of guests is never compromised thanks to modern amenities like a seasonal outdoor pool and air conditioning. There’s a bar, a billiards room, a library, and breakfast (served in a stunning room) is included.

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Where: Château de Boucéel, 50240 Saint James, France
Price per night: $424

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While not on the island, Le Relais Saint Michel is extremely close to it and has the views to prove it. Guests at this hotel can easily walk back and forth between the island and their accommodation and enjoy taking strolls around the bay without much effort. The four-star property has 39 rooms and most of them have a private terrace with views of Mont-Saint-Michel. The hotel is modern but the interior decor is quite ordinary, so look out the window if you want to be impressed. There is a restaurant-bar on site, as well as a terrace with amazing views. The free shuttle that takes visitors from the parking lot to the island stops in front of the hotel if you don’t feel like walking. Le Relais Saint Michel is also the highest-rated hotel so close to the site, making it very popular — book early if you’re interested.

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Where: La Caserne, 50170 Le Mont-Saint-Michel, France
Price per night: $236

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There are six hotels and inns on the island, and Auberge Saint-Pierre is the one with the highest rating on Expedia. The three-star inn is part of a beautiful historic building and all 23 rooms are cozy, feature wooden beams, and are clean, comfortable, and classically decorated. There is a restaurant-bar on site serving traditional French cuisine in a classic dining room with a large fireplace. Being right on the island, the inn is in the heart of the action, allowing guests to walk the streets of this very special place when everyone else is gone.

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Where: Grande Rue, 50170 Le Mont-Saint-Michel, France
Price per night: $244

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Located 15 miles (24 minutes by car) from the entrance to Mont-Saint-Michel, La Ramade is a four-star hotel that consists of two properties: one historic and one modern. In total, both buildings have only 21 chic guest rooms, all of which are unique and joyful thanks to their simple but colorful decor. There is a bar offering drinks and light snacks on site, and breakfast is available. Guests can set up on the terrrace or in the beautiful conservatory with views of the garden with their food and beverages, or they can spend some time in the jacuzzi if they want to relax further.

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Where: 2 Rue de la Côté, 50300 Avranches, France
Price per night: $145

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Le 1900 is a bed and breakfast that consist of a stone-built home and three private lodgings. The property is located 11 miles from Mont-Saint-Michel, i.e. an easy 20-minute drive. Much more like a large family home, Le 1900 is comfortable and simply decorated, but with great amenities like a large garden, an outdoor pool, a sauna, and a hot tub. Breakfast is included and meals are offered on site, including charcuterie and cheese board to accompany drinks.

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Where: 15, rue René le Hérissé, Antrain, 35560 Val-Couesnon
Price per night: $130

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The Top San Diego Hotels Near Downtown and the Beachfront

Sunny San Diego is just the ticket for a South California vacation. Downtown swarms with museums, rooftop bars, and taquerias while golden beaches and basking seals are a trolley, bus, or ferry ride away. When choosing where to stay in San Diego, you’ll need to weigh up whether you want hip urban digs or salt in your hair. These are the best hotels in San Diego for a downtown sojourn or for getting your surf on.

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We hope you love the San Diego hotels we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

Best Hotels in San Diego’s Downtown DistrictBest San Diego Hotels near Beaches and Family Attractions

Best Hotels in San Diego’s Downtown District

Downtown San Diego is a great place to stay because it’s centrally located and offers easy access to many of the city’s most popular attractions. Staying downtown allows you to be close to the beach, Balboa Park, Seaport Village, Gaslamp Quarter, and more. It also puts you steps away from some of the city’s best restaurants, bars, and shops.

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See more photosAddress: 550 J Street, San Diego, CA, 92101, United StatesRates from: $333/night

One of the coolest boutique hotels in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, the Pendry is topped by a corker of a swimming pool. The roof deck spills into the Pool House bar where shellfish towers are served alongside creative margaritas. Recover from all that relaxation with a CBD-infused soak or al fresco massage in the spa garden.

Lifestyle rooms sport custom tartan couches, coastal photography, and luxe tiled showers. Higher floors grant incredible bay and skyline views while suites are furnished with pool tables and soaking tubs, or – in the case of the Pool Suite – a personal cabana. The Pendry’s status as a dog-friendly hotel earns it further stripes.

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The US Grant, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San DiegoPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: Expedia

 

See more photosAddress: 326 Broadway, San Diego, CA, 92101, United StatesRates from: $369/night

As the most luxurious eowntown San Diego hotel, the US Grant is unashamedly indulgent from the second you enter its palatial lobby. Rooms are outfitted with sumptuous Egyptian cotton sheets and drip paintings by Yves Clement. Even the entry-level ones have bags of space while penthouse suites will tempt families and longer stays.

The Art Deco grill chases Pacific seafood dishes and sustainably-sourced prime cuts with imaginative cocktails. Live music drums up a crowd in the lounge on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Sandwiched between the Gaslamp Quarter, the Embarcadero, and Balboa Park, you’ll never fall short of places to visit in San Diego.

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The Guild Hotel, San Diego, a Tribute Portfolio HotelPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: Expedia

 

See more photosAddress: 500 W Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101, United StatesRates from: $279/night

One of the most stylish boutique hotels in San Diego, the Guild Hotel brings a new lease of life to the former Armed Services Building. Once you pass through the splashy entrance, the lobby is refreshingly lowkey while the lush courtyard serves thin-crust Roman pizza and jarred puddings. “Aperitivo Hour” takes place daily in the velvet-clad speakeasy.

Radiantly white rooms feature tufted leather headboards and subway-tiled bathrooms. The loft collection is of a similar vein but with the perk of beautiful arched windows and the two-bedroom penthouse features a kitchen and an exclusive garden terrace.

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Andaz San Diego – a Concept by HyattPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: Expedia

 

See more photosAddress: 600 F St, San Diego, CA 92101, United StatesRates from: $272/night

Things get off to a fine start at this pet-friendly San Diego hotel with a complimentary drink before you receive your keycard. A destination fee applies at the Andaz, granting a plethora of freebies including a daily beer and wine tasting, a one-hour kayak rental, and a day pass to a boxing club. You’ll also nab a discount at city attractions.

Comprising only 159 rooms, the Andaz is one of the best San Diego hotels for an exclusive poolside atmosphere. Only the Cabana Suite grants direct access to the water! All other units are appointed with work by local artists, teal bed stands, and Keurig coffee makers.

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Carte Hotel San Diego Downtown, Curio Collection by HiltonPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: Expedia

 

See more photosAddress: 401 W Ash St, San Diego, CA 92101, United StatesRates from: $347/night

If you’re heading to America’s Finest City to pig out on SoCal cuisine, you’ll find yourself in good company at any of the Little Italy San Diego hotels. Close enough to smell the dough, the Carte Hotel Downtown lets you idle from pizza kitchen to brewpub to bakery. Work up an appetite with a dip in the landscaped outdoor pool and nurse a negroni with a view at Above Ash Social.

Floor-to-ceiling windows let you take in the urbanscape from the comfort of your bathrobe. One of the best hotels in San Diego for families and those with dogs, connecting rooms and ample suites provide more than enough space.

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See more photosAddress: 675 L St, San Diego, CA 92101, United StatesRates from: $268/night

A hop, a skip, and a jump from the Grand Stairway, the Omni is one of the best hotels near the San Diego Convention Center. This 34-floor tower keeps a watchful eye over the Pacific Ocean with top rooms and suites granting bay or Petco Park views. All units don a coastal aesthetic using maritime hues while the lobby and communal areas exhibit baseball apparel.

Bounded by palm trees, the heated rooftop pool and hot tub are the crowning joy. Follow a tanning session with a ritual at the property spa where hot stone massages are delivered with recycled tiger clam shells.

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Best San Diego Hotels near Beaches and Family Attractions

Staying near the beach gives travelers an opportunity to experience the city’s beautiful scenery and outdoor activities, while also providing them with a convenient place to stay. Plus, many hotels in the area offer discounts or packages that include tickets to attractions such as SeaWorld San Diego or the San Diego Zoo.

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See more photosAddress: 1404 Vacation Rd, San Diego, CA 92109, United StatesRates from: $331/night

Located on a private island, Paradise Point Resort and Spa is one of the most kid-friendly hotels near SeaWorld San Diego. Only a five-minute drive from the aquarium, the beachfront hotel is equally convenient for the watersport haven of Mission Bay.

The vacation resort comprises five pools inclusive of a lagoon, a waterfall pool, and one for adults only. Oceanic-inspired guest rooms, suites, and bungalows facing the garden or bay come in a variety of configurations to accommodate families and couples. As befits a SoCal resort, casual restaurants bring you the freshest seafood while surf lessons and beach cruiser rentals cater to adventurous tastes.

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See more photosAddress: 7753 Draper Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037, United StatesRates from: $369/night

A brand new hotel, Orli is a unique boutique beach hotel in San Diego already causing a stir. Located in the heart of La Jolla Village, magazine-quality rooms at this heritage residence are wrapped around a courtyard where olive trees thrive.

All 13 suites are individually styled with Parisian elegance. Retire to The Study where a typewriter will serve as your muse, let the sound machine lull you to sleep in The Nest, or play vinyl records until the wee hours in The Wing. One of the best hotels in San Diego for an authentic homestay experience, this seaside hideaway suits couples, families, and solo explorers.

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See more photosAddress: 525 Spruce St, San Diego, CA 92103, United StatesRates from: $206/night

Get a headstart on your exploration of Balboa Park’s countless museums by staying at the Inn at the Park. One of the more family-friendly hotels near San Diego Zoo, the two-bedroom suites accommodate groups of eight. All classically designed domains feature simple kitchenettes and dining areas while a handful of smaller units have the perk of a balcony.

This landmark building culminates with a knockout rooftop terrace where you can catch sunsets over the bay. There’s no restaurant but you’re welcome to take your own drinks or snacks up there to sweeten the experience.

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See more photosAddress: 2660 Calhoun St, San Diego, CA 92110, United StatesRates from: $240/night

If walls could talk, those of these Old Town San Diego hotels would chew your ear off. What started life in 1827 as an adobe home went on to serve as a stagecoach office, olive cannery, and Mexican restaurant before becoming the Cosmopolitan Hotel. As the second-oldest building in the state historic park, vintage rooms capture the spirit of the Victorian era with tin bathtubs and late 19th-century dressers.

If San Diego hotels downtown are more your vibe, at least swing by the restaurant. Overlooking a bountiful orchard, the menu celebrates ranch, ocean, and farm produce while weekend brunch and afternoon tea are perfect for a special occasion.

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See more photosAddress: 723 Felspar St, San Diego, CA 92109, United StatesRates from: $322/night

San Diego’s only beachfront lifestyle hotel, all “pads” and suites at Tower23 Hotel are themed as per Sky, Surf, Sanctuary, or Serenity. Superior units come with a Pacific Ocean view, a private balcony, and a whirlpool bathtub. Those at the top of the chain have all three.

One of the vibiest San Diego beach hotels for sampling the California way of life, this hotel is steps from surf schools, yoga studios, and espresso bars. On-site restaurant JRDN is worth a look-in for an açaí bowl or chili mango margarita while the rooftop zen garden is a prime sunset spot.

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Which area is best to stay in San Diego?

The downtown core around the train station and the Gaslamp Quarter are the best places to stay in San Diego for a first-time visitor. Awash with restaurants and cultural institutions, these neighborhoods are convenient for Balboa Park, the Embarcadero, and Little Italy. If you’d prefer to wake up to the sound of the sea, the best San Diego hotels near the beach are located around Mission Bay, Ocean Beach, and La Jolla.

Where is walkable to stay in San Diego?

San Diego’s downtown district and parts of the Embarcadero are walkable although you will need to use the trolley to connect between the main districts. The best hotels in San Diego for walkability are located in the Gaslamp Quarter. Old Town, one of the best places to visit in San Diego for history, is walkable but you’ll need to ride the trolley there.

Is it good to stay in downtown San Diego?

The downtown neighborhoods are the best places to stay in San Diego. The wider district covers the Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, the Embarcadero, and the marina. The Gaslamp is particularly walkable with awesome dining, fun nightlife, and the best hotels in San Diego for luxury.

What is the best hotel to stay in San Diego?

The Pendry Boutique Hotel and the US Grant Luxury Hotel are two of the best hotels in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter for style, amenities, and location.. Close to SeaWorld, the Paradise Point Resort and Spa caters to families while the new boutique hotel Orli La Jolla is an irresistible seaside retreat for couples.

Is it better to stay in La Jolla or San Diego?

Twelve miles north of Downtown San Diego, the seaside village of La Jolla also refers to La Jolla Cove and Torrey Pines State Reserve. Although a car is handy for getting around, public transport links the inner city with the resort in just over an hour. As a first-timer in San Diego, it makes more sense to stay downtown and visit La Jolla for a day. On the other hand, La Jolla is an attractive option for families, surfers, and those who prefer beach environments to urban.

Are three nights in San Diego enough?

At the very minimum, you’ll want to spend three nights in San Diego. This will allow enough time to scratch the surface by touring the downtown attractions, exploring Balboa Park, and devoting a morning to Old Town. Although half the size of Los Angeles, San Diego is pretty spread out and has a bevy of sights and activities that mean you can easily fill a week in the region.

Where to stay between San Diego and Disneyland?

The drive time between San Diego and Disneyland in Anaheim is around two hours, subject to traffic. One of the best places to visit in San Diego for wildlife and water activities, staying in La Jolla would spare you from falling prey to downtown congestion. The halfway point town of Oceanside, California, is an alternative stopover with an appealing blend of beach and urban delights. Served by the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, you can trade the wheel for the rails and stay at an Oceanside Airbnb.

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The Top Budapest Hotels Include a Wes Anderson Inspo and an Art Nouveau Showcase

Although the mythical “Grand Budapest Hotel” isn’t an option when deciding where to stay in Budapest, there are countless hotels in Hungary’s vibrant capital that earn the Gustave H. stamp of approval. Widely considered one of the coolest cities in Europe, days in Budapest are spent encountering landmarks, meandering along the riverside, and curing all ailments by “taking the waters” at a thermal bathhouse. Evenings start with rooftop sundowners and end in buzzing ruin bars. Fusing golden-age hospitality with bohemian charm, these luxury Budapest hotels give you the grandest experience.

Traveling to Budapest? Check out Matador’s Budapest accommodations guides:Experience the history and culture of Budapest from these epic AirbnbsThis luxury Airbnb has the best view of the Parliament in Budapest

We hope you love the Budapest hotels we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

The Ritz-Carlton Budapest HotelPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: Expedia

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Address: Erzsebet Ter 9-10, 1051 Budapest, 1051, HungaryRates from: $395/night

Located in Erzsébet Square and right around the block from Vörösmarty and St. Stephen’s Basilica, you can’t get more central than the Ritz-Carlton Budapest Hotel. Commanding a heritage building, the interiors mix bygone elegance with contemporary amenities. Some overlook the leafy plaza while Club suites have the perk of a balcony and skyline views.

This 5-star hotel in Budapest has a luxe spa complex with a heated indoor pool and Jacuzzi. Although you’ll be drowning in options for where to eat nearby, Kupola Lounge is a classy spot for a casual Sunday brunch or traditional afternoon tea.

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Address: Erzsebet krt 43-49, Budapest, 1073, HungaryRates from: $196/night

When it comes to spa hotels in Budapest, it’s nigh impossible to top the Corinthia. The pool at the Royal Spa even gives the Széchenyi a run for its money with its Art Deco tilework and Wes Anderson-worthy symmetry. It’s no surprise that this Budapest hotel played a starring role in the creation of the 2014 comedy caper.

Furnished with coffee-makers and marble en suites, understated rooms are styled with an emphasis on comfort. Ensure your reservation covers spa use otherwise a surcharge per visit will apply. Orfeum hosts cabaret shows while the atmospheric Le Bar keeps a resident pianist.

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Address: Podmaniczky utca 45., Budapest, 1064, HungaryRates from: $125/night

Besides being convenient for the key District V sights, the Mystery Hotel is one of the most unique Budapest hotels. Eclectic decor sees rooms flaunting larger-than-life replicas of paintings while others channel a classic French look. Exuberant suites are dressed with Persian carpets, reading nooks, and free-standing tubs.

If the playful aesthetic doesn’t cut it, the Sky Garden is the crowning glory at the Mystery Hotel Budapest. This seasonal rooftop bar serves craft cocktails and Hungarian nibbles with views skimming Fisherman’s Bastion and Gellért Hill. On chillier days, find refuge at the glass-covered Jacuzzi in the Garden Spa.

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Address: Vaci Utca 36, Budapest, 1056, HungaryRates from: $377/night

One of the best hotels in Budapest near the popular ruin bars, Matild Palace consists of glamorous suites and epic lofts. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the hotel was originally designed as a place for artists and the elite to mingle. The recent renovation has brought a bold color scheme to the rooms – check out the glitzy sapphire bathrooms inspired by Gellért Thermal Baths.

Cabaret acts, acrobats, and musicians make regular appearances at the historic Belle Epoque Matild Cafe. This Belle Epoque coffee house was the first to reopen after the end of World War II. Thermal therapy and hammam rituals are available at the hotel spa.

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Hotel Moments BudapestPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: Expedia

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Address: Andrássy út 8., Budapest, 1061, HungaryRates from: $193/night

Located on the UNESCO-listed Andrássy Avenue, Hotel Moments Budapest is an evocative urban hideaway that ascends around an ornate atrium. Beyond the rooms, the lobby lounge is a lovely place to plot out your day or tune into the occasional live piano recital. Before its transformation into a luxury hotel, this building housed Budapest’s first movie theater.

Ninety-nine domains are accented with mulberry and gold hues with superior rooms on the higher floors drenched in sunshine by skylights. Only the St. Stephen’s Basilica Suite supplies landmark views from its private roof terrace and soaking tub.

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Address: Apaczai Csere Janos u. 4, Budapest, 1052, HungaryRates from: $255/night

One of the best 5-star hotels in Budapest with Danube views, the Marriott is a stone’s throw from the walkable riverfront. Entry-level deluxe rooms grant a peek at the water while select suites feature private balconies with arresting aerial perspectives. All units are bathed in natural light courtesy of picture windows and outfitted with premium linens for a comfortable night’s sleep.

Provisioned with connecting rooms, a business center, and a spa, the Budapest Marriott Hotel is the perfect all-rounder. Traveling families can rely on trusted childminding services while all guests will appreciate the panoramic Sky Lounge.

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Prestige Hotel BudapestPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: Expedia

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Address: Vigyázó Ferenc utca 5, Budapest, 1051, HungaryRates from: $152/night

Minutes from the Hungarian Parliament Building and St. Stephen’s Basilica, the Prestige is one of the more traditional Budapest hotels. Spacious rooms overlook the chandelier and skylight-lit atrium courtyard where guests are welcome to unwind on velvet couches as the concierge team goes about their business. All units are richly appointed with deluxe upholstered beds and fluffy bathrobes.

It’s on the compact side, but the Prestige Hotel has a hot tub, sauna, and gym on the first floor. A buffet breakfast and evening tasting menu are available at the hotel’s restaurant partner, the Michelin-starred Costes Downtown.

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Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace BudapestPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: Expedia

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Address: Széchenyi István tér 5-6, Budapest, 1051, HungaryRates from: $535/night

One of the most illustrious 5-star hotels in Budapest, rooms at the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace are outfitted with the chain’s legendary mattresses. Premium rooms overlook the Danube, Buda Castle, or the Széchenyi Bridge. Ideal for families seeking additional living space, the specialty suites have private balconies and fireplaces.

Occupying an Art Nouveau palace, the Four Seasons wears its grande dame status well with two million mosaic tiles adorning the lobby. Seize the opportunity to grab a pre-dinner drink at the lavish Múzsa where potent cocktails are served alongside posh bar snacks on bespoke china.

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Address: Dessewffy utca 14, Budapest, 1061, HungaryRates from: $140/night

One of the best hotels in Budapest for couples, the Cortile Budapest Hotel is an adults-only boutique hotel near the Hungarian State Opera. The interior design mimics the natural world, with rooms styled on earth, sky, jungle, or forest. All come stocked with a Nespresso coffee machine and bathrobes while management is committed to green practices.

Covered for year-round swimming, the rooftop infinity pool is provisioned with floating pillows. In reflection of the room decor, the four signature cocktails served at the adjacent bar take their lead from the four elements. The complimentary breakfast is an added bonus for those on a budget.

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Aria Hotel Budapest by Library Hotel CollectionPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: Expedia

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Address: Hercegprímás utca 5, Budapest, 1051, HungaryRates from: $389/night

One of the most romantic boutique Budapest hotels in District V, the Aria Hotel hits all the right notes with rooms capturing the spirit of opera, jazz, classical, or contemporary music. Some open onto a private balcony or a sunroom while all connect to the digital library where you can set your own playlist.

Available all year, artisan cocktails at the High Note SkyBar are dedicated to Budapest’s principal sights. A complimentary afternoon wine and cheese reception is hosted daily in the Music Garden and frequented by musicians. Down in the basement, a heated pool, Jacuzzi, and sauna will rejuvenate you between sights.

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Ibis Styles Budapest Airport HotelPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: Expedia

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Address: Hrsz. 072 3, Liszt Ferenc International Airport, Terminal 2, 1185 Budapest, HungaryRates from: $123/night

A crack-of-dawn flight to your next destination calls for a hotel near Budapest Airport. The solo in-terminal hotel at Liszt Ferenc International Airport, Ibis Styles comprises soundproofed rooms with blackout curtains. The cheerful decor features aviation motifs while runway view rooms are available.

Only five minutes on foot from departures, this Budapest Airport hotel offers a buffet breakfast and wake-up calls. The lobby restaurant serves cocktails and light bites with the option to request in-room dining.

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Is the Grand Budapest Hotel real?

The titular Grand Budapest Hotel and its mountainside setting of Zubrowka are fictional. However, Wes Anderson’s movie was influenced by his visit to one of the storied hotels in Budapest, Hungary’s capital city. Originally called the Grand Hotel Royal, the Corinthia Hotel Budapest has a history with filmmakers – its ballroom-turned-cinema hosted the Lumiére brothers. Anderson also traveled to the Czech spa town of Karlovy Vary where the Grandhotel Pupp, the Hotel Imperial, and the Hotel Bristol Palace further kindled his imagination.

Where was The Grand Budapest Hotel filmed?

Much of The Grand Budapest Hotel was filmed in the East German state of Saxony, specifically in and around Görlitz and Dresden. The Sphinx Observatory in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland was used for the cable car scene. Although inspired by hotels in Budapest, Hungary, and Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, miniature handmade models were used to represent the facade of the pink hotel.

Which part of Budapest is best to stay in?

Budapest is divided into two parts: Buda and Pest. On the west bank of the Danube, Buda is where you’ll find Fisherman’s Bastion, Buda Castle, and Matthias Church. In terms of where to stay in Budapest, the Pest side on the east of the river is best. D Marked by Vörösmarty Square and Andrássy Avenue, District V is the heart of the city and where you’ll find the best hotels in Budapest. The nearby District VI (the Jewish Quarter) has a corker dining scene and laid-back nightlife.

Where is the best place to stay in Budapest for first-time visitors?

As a first-time visitor, Pest is the best part of Budapest to make your base. It’s easy to hop across to the Buda side and tour the historical sights by walking or taking a bus over Széchenyi Chain Bridge. Families or couples might prefer Buda for its quieter atmosphere but there is still a wider variety of hotels and restaurants on the Pest side suitable for all types of travelers.

What is the famous Budapest hotel?

The most famous Budapest hotel is the Corinthia, formerly the Grand Hotel Royal. Wes Anderson visited this hotel ahead of making The Grand Budapest Hotel. The Marriott Hotel is known for its Danube views while the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace is the definitive luxury Budapest hotel.

Are three nights in Budapest enough?

Three nights in Budapest will cover you for seeing the main sights on both sides of the river. Although if your itinerary allows, five to seven days will give you the chance to dig deeper into the history and culture of Budapest.

Which month is best for Budapest?

Budapest has a year-round appeal. Summer is the best time to visit Budapest for the hottest temperatures although the streets will feel busier. Early spring and autumn are ideal for spending time outdoors and exploring the hills with April bringing an eruption of cherry blossoms in Budapest’s parks. Although frosty winters see temperatures drop to 32°F, Budapest’s luxury hotels, festive markets, and thermal baths are good reasons to consider the Hungarian capital for a winter getaway.

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Elegant, Refined, and Luxurious Hotels in Bordeaux, France, the Wine Capital of the World

Although it is only the ninth biggest city in France, Bordeaux is certainly one that should be at the very top of your French to-do list. Not only is it the heart of the famed wine-growing region, the entire city is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it has more protected historic buildings than any other city in France except Paris (there are 347 listed buildings in Bordeaux). To see the city, its glorious architecture, and its excellent cultural offerings properly, you need to stay in the city center in one (or several) of the best hotels in Bordeaux, France, for every budget.

Taking a trip to France? Check out Matador’s accommodation guides to the best places to stay:Stay at These Parisian Hotels Near the Arc de Triomphe for a Très Chic French VacationCan’t afford a night in a palace? These luxurious hotels near Versailles might be the best substitutes9 dreamiest Airbnbs in the South of FranceThe most beautiful Airbnbs in ParisThese Airbnbs Near the Eiffel Tower Offer Incredible Views of the Entire CityThe Finest Luxury Hotels Near the Eiffel Tower With Incredible Views of ParisThe 9 Most Exciting Boutique Hotels in Paris

Where are the best hotels in Bordeaux, France?

The best seven hotels in Bordeaux, France, for every budget

We hope you love the hotels in Bordeaux, France, that we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

Le Palais Gallien Hôtel & SpaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: ExpediaPhoto: Expedia

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Le Palais Gallien is a 19th-century private residence that was turned into five-star luxury hotel. Located in the center of the city, the property is only three minutes on foot from the monument after which it was named: Palais Gallien, an amphitheater dating back to the third century, the oldest Gallo-Roman monument in Bordeaux. The hotel is also less than a 10-minute walk to the Saint-Seurin Basilica, a 11th-century Romanesque church that is very much worth visiting, and less than 20 minutes to the quays that run up and down along the Garonne river. But Le Palais Gallien Hôtel is exceptional for more than its great location; with only 22 rooms and suites, all beautifully and individually decorated, it’s an intimate and welcoming place to stay. Of course, there’s also the spa, the outdoor pool set up in the hotel’s garden, the bar, and the gourmet restaurant: La Table de Montaigne.

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Where: 144 Rue Abbé de l’Épée, 33000 Bordeaux, France
Price per night: $756

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A former private mansion built in the 18th century, Le Boutique Hôtel & Spa is a five-star property centered on the theme of wine. Located in the city center, the historic hotel is less than 15 minutes on foot from the most famous area of Bordeaux: La Place de la Bourse, and only 10 minutes from the iconic Place des Quinconces, both of which sit on the quays facing the Garonne river. There are only 27 rooms and suites in the hotel, making for a very quiet experience. While the rooms and suites vary in size and amenities (some have balconies and others have jacuzzis), they are all impeccable in their elegant and contemporary decor. The on-site spa allows guests to enjoy a sauna, a steam room, a heated half-indoor half-outdoor pool, as well as a variety of treatments, including massages and facials. The onsite Wine Bar offers wine tasting and fine cuisine.

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Where: 3 Rue Lafaurie de Monbadon, 33000 Bordeaux, France
Price per night: $421

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Away from the historic city center, Renaissance Bordeaux Hôtel is a four-star property located in the Old Docks area. The Old Docks, like its name suggests, is a former industrial zone alongside the port that has been reinvigorated with new businesses and cultural venues. The Renaissance Bordeaux Hôtel takes full advantage of this industrial past and has set up its lobby into an old concrete silo, setting the tone for a hotel that’s modern and trendy. The decor is elegant and contemporary with touches of bright colors, eccentric patterns, and funky furniture to keep guests on their toes. There’s a restaurant, bar, and coffee shop on site, but the highlights of the property are the indoor pool and the topfloor terrace, both of which offer great views of the incredible architecture of the Cité du Vin, Bordeaux’s most exciting museum, entirely dedicated to wine and its history. Cité du Vin is only three minutes on foot from the hotel.

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Where: 16 Rue de Gironde, 33000 Bordeaux, France
Price per night: $349

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Hôtel Cardinal is an 18th-century mansion transformed into a bijou hotel that’s located in the historic center of town. The property is situated in between two of Bordeaux’s main sights: the 11th-century Saint-André de Bordeaux Cathedral and City Hall, both of which deserve your full attention. With only 10 suites, all of which make good use of rich materials like brass, marble, and velvet to accentuate the feeling of privacy, opulence, and coziness, the property is reminiscent of a jewelery box. While there’s no spa or restaurant on site, there’s something even better: A wine cellar filled with 400 bottles that you can choose from. Also, there’s a fancy patisserie chocolate shop next door and you can enjoy everything it has to offer during the hotel’s breakfast and afternoon tea.

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Where: 4 Rue Elisée Reclus, 33000 Bordeaux, France
Price per night: $339

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The Marty Hotel Bordeaux is a brand new four-star property whose warm and trendy Neo mid-century interior is sure to cheer you up. The highlight is the lobby, with its glass partitions and beautiful color palette, but all 61 rooms are just as fun and elegant, featuring modern and uplifting artworks, unusual pieces of high-quality furniture, cool light fixtures, and more. There’s a beautiful bar on site, as well as a lounge area where guests can relax, but no restaurant — although room service is available and so is breakfast. The property is in the city center, close to all the big Bordeaux attractions, including the Place de la Bourse and the 18th-century Grand Théâtre less than 20 minutes on foot, and the Saint-Seurin Basilica and the Cathedral Saint-André just a few minutes away. La Chartreuse Cemetery, which makes for a great and curious walk, is next door for those who don’t mind taking a stroll among impressive headstones and monuments.

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Where: 153 Rue Georges Bonnac, 33000 Bordeaux, France
Price per night: $276

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Formerly a university building dedicated to the study of zoology, Hôtel La Zoologie is determined to make the past part of the guest experience. The 40 rooms, all unique, have stone or clay walls, large windows, and feature large illustrations about botany, wildlife, and exploration, giving guests the feeling that they have landed in the jungle rather than in the heart of Bordeaux. The four-star property has a bar, a restaurant, and a small shop on site for all your food and drinks needs. As far as outdoors space go, it’s hard to beat the rooftop terrace and the greened-up inner courtyard of the property where guests can leave the city behind to fully relax. For more leisure time, there’s a great spa with a sauna, a jacuzzi, a steam room, and where you can book massages and such treatments. Hôtel La Zoologie is 12 minutes on foot from the magnificent Saint-Michel Basilica, and only 16 minutes from Grosse Cloche, a 13th-century belfry that houses an impressive bell that rings only on the first Sunday of every month and on certain holidays.

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Where: 151 Cr de la Marne, 33800 Bordeaux, France
Price per night: $237

FirstName Bordeaux — part of JdV by HyattPhoto: Photo: Photo: Photo:

is a newly renovated four-star hotel located in the city center, next door to several must-visit attractions, including: the Beaux-Arts Museums, City Hall, and the Saint-André de Bordeaux Cathedral. While the beautiful bar, French-cuisine restaurant, lounge, and lobby have a trendy, modern-art vibe to them (the large stuffed animal by the reception should help you clue in), the 147 rooms are all about comfort and simplicity, offering a pared back, Japandi aesthetic.

Where: 14 Rue Claude Bonnier, 33000 Bordeaux, France
Price per night: $224

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Discovering the Best of the Carolina Core

Midsize cities are perfect for weekend getaways. In the Carolina Core, you get three for one. The cities of Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and High Point offer all that you could ask for in a city-centric vacation. In the Carolina Core, everything feels like a 10-minute drive away. You can get a table without a reservation and strangers on the street offer friendly advice when you can’t figure out how to pay for parking ( hot tip: it’s free). The high quality of life here is as redolent as the crape myrtle and magnolia trees that line the residential streets.

The Carolina Core is in the middle of it all and distills all that the East Coast is about: great food, high art, technological innovation, world-class furniture, baseball, nature, and all four seasons.

Things to do in the Carolina Core

The arts and crafts scene is vast here, from modern art museums to mural street tours. The Carolina Core built itself up through textiles and tobacco, and the influences of both are still widely seen in the art and culture here. Many institutions that made their fortunes in tobacco are finding philanthropic ways to clean the air.

Explore the Reynolda House Museum of American Art and Gardens

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The Reynolda House Museum of American Art and Gardens is a preserved example of old American royalty. This Gilded Age country house of tobacco tycoon R.J. Reynolds and his wife Katherine Smith has been turned into an active museum. In each room hangs a painting from its expansive collection of American art — including works from Frederic Edwin Church, Georgia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol, and many more — among the antique furnishings and objects.

The home is a piece of art in its own right. You can wander through the 64 rooms and explore the numerous bedrooms and lounges. Keep exploring and you will find the roller skate room, a downstairs bar, an organ room, and a swimming pool. It’s like walking through the expansion pack of a Clue game board.

A ticket to the museum is $19 for non-members. However, the gardens next to the estate are free. The gardens are filled with local fauna and designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect who also designed Central Park. In the center of the gardens is a beautiful greenhouse styled after the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, thick with humidity and overflowing with rare tropical plants.

Reynolda House Museum of American Art and Gardens: 2250 Reynolda Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27106

Boutique shopping

There are a number of local boutique shops that offer tons of locally made crafts and arts by North Carolina creators. Just Be and Design Archives Vintage & Handmade Emporium are local chains that have locations in both Greensboro and Winston-Salem. In High Point, there is the charming Blue Hydrangea Boutique and The Mantel Mercantile.

For something a little out of the ordinary, head to Greensboro to explore The Borough Market + Bar, which knows that a good shopping trip is enhanced by the strength of your drink. Built out of an old brewery, the Borough Market + Bar is one part boutique shopping, one part bar, and 100 percent fun. It’s a women-owned business with a ‘70s glitter pink vibe. Head to the bar for one of the signature cocktails and wander around the shop alone or with a crew. Be sure to bring an empty suitcase because nothing loosens your purse strings like a bit of booze.

Enter the home of Home Furnishings and see the world’s largest chest of drawers

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At the turn of the 20th century, High Point was conveniently located on the railroad that lumber and cotton passed through. This made it a point of contact for East Coast textile and furniture artisans. A furniture boom took off, and High Point has kept its reigning title as the home of home furnishings for over 100 years. Every year, High Point hosts have the nation’s largest furniture market where designers and brands congregate to ogle and awe over this year’s latest furniture trends. However, you can take a self-guided furniture tour anytime and explore High Point X Design: a retail collective for furniture designers, including Cohab.Space, SPLASHWORKS, and South + English.

This city’s real high point is visiting its icon: the world’s largest chest of drawers. The chest was built in 1926 to honor the booming furniture industry. It is 36 feet tall, with six-foot-long socks poking out of one of the drawers that change based on the season.

Greensboro Downtown Greenway

The Downtown Greenway is a park and art initiative connecting Greensboro’s diverse neighborhoods. The City of Greensboro and Action Greensboro have carved out a four-mile pedestrian and biking trail that circles the downtown. There are various art installations that sit on the Greenway like charms on a bracelet. Along the way are murals, sculptures, gardens, children’s parks, and outside event spaces that encourage the community to connect with nature and each other. The art incorporates Greensboro’s storied history with the Civil Rights Movement and paves a path toward a more connected future.

Greensboro Science Center

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The Greensboro Science Center is dedicated to conservation and encouraging curiosity. It holds an aquarium, a zoo, a butterfly garden, and the answers to all of your questions about nature. They have a range of sea life that are local to the North Carolina coast, including jellyfish, as well as housing animals on the endangered species list like penguins and pygmy hippos. The staff is so friendly and excited to answer any questions you have about the animals that live there. This is great for kids and the scientifically curious adults.

Greensboro Science Center: 4301 Lawndale Dr, Greensboro, NC 27455

Where to eatGet your doughnut fix

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North Carolina has locally and internationally recognized doughnuts. Winston-Salem is the original home of Krispy Kreme, which can be found anywhere from Sydney to St Petersburg (the cruller and chocolate covered is a staple, no matter your latitude and longitude). For a North Carolina specialty, head to Duck Donuts. Duck Donuts is a smaller chain where you can have your doughnut your way. Choose from a variety of toppings, frostings, and flavor combinations (the blueberry pancake is a favorite). They are cooked fresh and come out warm, which pairs perfectly with a flavored iced coffee (warning: you will walk out covered in confectioners sugar). For a Carolina Core staple, head over to Dough Joe’s. This delightful coffee shop is tucked away in the Reynolds Village. It feels like you’re at your grandmother’s antique home with the freshly made donuts and a quiet ambiance to pair.

Machete

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For those who want to feel like they are dining in a Chef’s Table episode, Machete cuts through the noise. Located in trendy downtown Greensboro, it was nominated for a James Beard in 2022, won Best in Greensboro in 2021, and made it on Yelp’s Top 20 Restaurants in America in 2022. The menu changes as often as the seasons, yet the brilliant brains behind Machete always offer a mix-match of global flavors. You’ll see side dishes like lemon shoyu butter and main plates like lamb and tomatillo croquettes or carpaccio, roe, and aji amarillo tostadas. One of the only consistent things you’ll find on the menu throughout the year are the duck wings, which should also be ordered every time you go.

Machete: 600 C Battleground Ave, Greensboro, NC 27401

Undercurrent

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Undercurrent flows with elevated southern cuisine. In an elegant fine dining room, the kitchen pulls from ingredients that run through the bloodstream of North Carolina. From a decked-out brunch to pulled pork, fried chicken, and every other farm animal as an entree for dinner, no meal misses.

Undercurrent: 327 Battleground Ave, Greensboro, NC 27401

Chez Genese

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While sitting by the window in Chez Genese, you will sometimes question whether you are in Provence or North Carolina. The ambiance is soft and inviting, and the seating is close enough to strike up a conversation with your neighbor. The food is French inspired with a big American heart. The omelet section is vast (get the asparagus and chevre), and the Southern twist on lemon ricotta pancakes and rosemary biscuits with dollops of whipped butter and raspberry jam are a hit. The restaurant has a no tipping policy and instead has higher prices to pay their staff fairly, but even an indulgent breakfast here won’t break the bank.

Chez Genese: 616 S Elm St, Greensboro, NC 27406

Stock and Grain Assembly Food Hall

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For those who want a sampler’s platter of all the Carolina Core offers, head west to the new food hall in High Point. As you walk around the 10 establishments with options ranging from barbecue to poke to pizza to sushi rolls, you’ll hem and haw about which one to support. Bonus for you, every joint is a local small business and independently owned.

It’s conveniently placed right next to the High Point Rocker’s minor league baseball stadium. (Side Note: the Rockers are not rock and roll thrashers but rocking chairs. No mascot has ever been more intimidating than one threatening a splinter.) You can grab your favorite meal and head to the game to watch the Rocking Chairs duke it out with the Winston-Salem Dashes. (What’s worse than a mascot threatening a splinter? One who corrects your grammar that the dash is technically a hyphen).

Stock and Grain Assembly Food Hall: 275 N Elm St, High Point, NC 27262

Lil’s Coffee Bar at Congdon Yards

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Congdon Yards is a great space to gather for coworking, meetings, or relocating from your couch to work someplace a little more social. Right around the corner from Stock and Grain, Congdon Yards is another one of High Point’s city-wide efforts to facilitate more spaces for the local community or out-of-towners who need to check their email in a quiet space. Congdon Yards is intentionally built to support local entrepreneurs and provide tools and spaces for new businesses. It is large enough to hold a 15-person meeting or cozy enough to sneak into one of the dome chairs to read. The space is beautifully decorated with the stylish, cutting-edge furnishings and designs High Point is famous for. And then there is the coffee.

Tucked in between the community tables, avant-garde paintings, and swivel chairs is Lil’s Coffee Bar. The only lil’ thing about it is the name. It offers great liquid inspiration when you are slogging through emails or need to schedule Zoom calls. The ice oat milk coffee is ideal on those muggy southern days.

Lil’s Coffee Bar: 410 W English Rd, High Point, NC 27262

Fishbones

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If you’re craving someplace laidback with delicious food, you won’t find a bone to pick with Fishbones. This dive spot offers affordable, high-quality meals and free local gossip when you sit at the bar. This joint is always busy and the beer selection is a community staple. There is a range of seafood or barbeque dishes, with farm-fresh vegetables grilled to your liking (get the grilled shrimp with garlic spinach). It’s bar food that hits the spot that never makes you feel greasy on the inside.

Fishbones: 2119 Walker Ave, Greensboro, NC 27403

Village Tavern

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The Village Tavern is an institution in Winston-Salem. Bring a big appetite to match the large and storied menu. People come for the crab dip and stay for the rest of the menu. This scratch kitchen whips up classic American meals with an Asian flair and excels at salmon, fish tacos, and mountainous salads. It is part of the larger Reynolda Village, a collection of restaurants, shops, and coffeehouses on the outskirts of the estate. Meaning it’s a great place to carbo-load before you explore the property.

Village Tavern: 221 Reynolda Village, Winston-Salem, NC 27106

The Katherine

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The Katherine Brasserie & Bar is as lovely as the woman it is named after (Katherine Reynolds, of the famed Reynolda House). Katherine had great taste, and this restaurant mirrors her elegance and cosmopolitan nature. The restaurant is located in the old R.J. Reynolds building that has been turned into a hotel and is a mini version of the Empire State Building. The Katherine combines southern culinary ingredients, cosmopolitan flair, and French inspiration (a country Katherine loved visiting). Do not leave until you have had the Le Grand charcuterie board with a massive spread of local meats, cheeses, jams, pickles, and crackers. Pair that with any one of the hearty mains with a side of fried brussel sprouts)and top it off with the chocolate mousse cake for dessert.

The Katherine: 401 N Main St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Where to stay: The Proximity

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We hope you love the spaces we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay.

The Proximity Hotel is true to its name and a touch outside downtown Greensboro. This modern hotel is stunning and elegant with tall windows, spiral staircases, lofty rooms, and a London cabbie outside, happy to take you around town. The rooms are spacious and even offer a window from the bathroom into the bedroom, because why not? The hotel is employee-owned and is LEED Platinum certified as a green building. There is a 24/7 gym, a pool, and a beautiful courtyard lined with ivy and magnolia trees with plenty of places to sit.

Attached to the Proximity is Print Works Bistro. Down an elegant spiral staircase, through the glass tunnel, you are welcomed by a bright pale yellow room with tall billowing white curtains and elegant furniture. Imagine if Marie Antoinette had Southern heritage. It’s a place where men wear tuxedos to breakfast (true story). But the cuisine, while delicious and fresh, is not intimidating or pretentious. The breakfast selection is classic, with options like omelets, pancakes, and French toast. No matter the meal, always get the biscuits. If you are staying at the Proximity, you must visit Print Works Bistro; there is no luxury like being able to roll out of bed and have an exquisite meal in front of you before you get all of the sleep out of your eyes.

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How to get to the Carolina Core

Many major American cities connect with the Piedmont Triad International Airport. Greyhound and Amtrak also stop in Greensboro and Winston-Salem. If you’re driving in, it’s about a 5 hour drive from either DC or Atlanta.

Once there, you will want to rent a car if you don’t drive in so that you can dance along the four-lane highways connecting the cities. If you don’t rent a car, you can use a rideshare app like Uber or take the PART bus system connecting all three cities. There are buses in each city, like the Greensboro Transit Agency, the High Point Transit, or the Winston-Salem Transit Authority. Once you are in the downtown area of any of these cities, it is easy to walk around.

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