Matador Network's Blog, page 949

The best rooftop bars in Barcelona

The streets of Barcelona come to life after the sun has set. Spain’s second-largest city is, somehow, even more vibrant at night than it is during the day, a nod to the fact that the Spanish start their evenings later than most. Whether you’re planning on heading to the clubs until the wee hours of the morning or want to hit the hay at a reasonable hour, few places are better to start a night out than a rooftop bar. These eight rooftop bars will give you a taste of Barcelona’s legendary nightlife.

1. The Lounge at Hotel Arts

Photo: Hotel Arts

Hotel Arts is consistently ranked as one of the best hotels in Spain, so it’s only fitting that it has one of the best rooftops in the country, too. This open terrace has an extravagant infinity pool with views of both the city and the sea, and live music plays during sunset. The Lounge is open from 8:30 PM to 11:00 PM, April through September. As the night goes on and you grow hungrier, you can dine on delicious tapas and signature cocktails at the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, Arola.

Where: Carrer de la Marina, 19, 21, 08005 Barcelona, Spain

2. Sky Bar at Grand Hotel Central

Photo: Grand Hotel Central

Grand Hotel Central’s Sky Bar is an establishment in the heart of the city. Its steep 20 euro cover charge (about $22.50) includes a drink, while full-price cocktails will set you back at least 14 euros (around $15.65). There’s regular live music on the weekends, and the place is within walking distance of both the Gothic Quarter and La Ribera. It’s also one of the only places on the Iberian Peninsula where you can dine on fondue outside as the sun sets while drinking an Aperol Spritz. The rooftop is a lively way to spice up a night and, although it’s not cheap, that cover charge keeps you in the door until the bar’s 1:00 AM close. Note, however, that Sky Bar does tend to fill up. If you’re visiting during peak season over the summer, reservations are recommended.

Where: Via Laietana, 30, 08003 Barcelona, Spain

3. Eclipse Bar

Photo: Hotel W Barcelona – GLAM Guest List/Facebook

Eclipse Bar’s glass-encased views of the city make it one up-high bar you shouldn’t miss. For drinks, there are fruit-filled cocktails like the namesake Eclipse (vodka, sake, and watermelon) and bottles of cava, Spain’s sparkling wine. Eclipse doesn’t opt for traditional Spanish cuisine for food, offering instead a dim sum menu that’s a favorite among locals and tourists alike.

Where: Moll Oriental, 08039 Barcelona, Spain

4. La Dolce Vitae at Majestic Hotel

Photo: Majestic Hotel Group

There is no landmark quite as quintessentially “Barcelona” as La Sagrada Familia, and views of the UNESCO World Heritage site are even better from above. Enter La Dolce Vitae, a rooftop bar with unbeatable views of the basilica. Drinks start at 18 euros (about $20), so expect an evening at La Dolce to be expensive, yet quality. A resident DJ sets the mood on weekend evenings, and in the grand tradition of modern rooftop bars, there’s a pool available.

Where: Passeo de Gracia, 68 Terraza 10A Planta, 08007 Barcelona, Spain

5. Ohla Chillout Terrace at Ohla Hotel

Photo: Ohla

Ohla offers everything you need in a Spanish rooftop bar experience: tapas, cocktails, and a swimming pool. Its location is reason enough for a visit, even more so than the delicious tapas, the five-star hotel setting, or the decadent (albeit expensive) cocktails that Ohla offers. Ohla is in the heart of Barcelona, as central as any rooftop bar could be. It attracts a trendy crowd of tourists and locals, of which you can tell the difference immediately — the locals congregate around the bar and cocktail tables, and the tourists generally can’t seem to pull their eyes away from the nearby Barcelona Cathedral.

Where: Via Laietana, 49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain

6. Panoramic Terrace at Hotel Colón

Photo: Hotel Colón Barcelona/Facebook

Those looking for a rooftop bar that feels luxe without a strict dress code need to look no further than the Panoramic Terrace on top of Hotel Colón. Panoramic is comprised of wooden decks spread across two levels. What sets a night spent at Panoramic apart from the many other rooftop bars in Barcelona isn’t the tapas or drinks, it’s the view of the Barcelona Cathedral just across the road and the greater Gothic Quarter beyond. Walking out onto the terrace is akin to stepping onto the set of Nosferatu. If you’re there on the right night, you’ll be treated to live music by local artists.

Where: Placa Rosa Del Vents, 1, Final, Passeig de Joan de Borbo, 08039 Barcelona, Spain

7. Barceló Raval Hotel

Photo: Barceló Raval Hotel/Facebook

The Barceló Raval Hotel is iconic. This is due, in part, to its oval shape. The building’s rooftop, aptly named 360°, has unadulterated views of Barcelona, including La Rambla and the beach. Its perimeter is lined with barstools, funky lighting, and artificial turf. There are sunbeds for lounging at dusk and a full-service bar. From Thursday to Saturday, live DJs amp up the atmosphere, taking it from laid-back to lit up — definitely something you don’t want to miss if you’re looking to get your groove on outdoors.

Where: Rambla del Raval, 17-21, 08001 Barcelona, Spain

8. B-Bar at B-Hotel

Photo: B Hotel/Facebook

B-Hotel’s rooftop B-Bar mirrors the hotel’s sleek interior design. It has all the appeal of a luxury rooftop escape, and, unlike most of the spots on this list, it offers the experience at an affordable price. There’s no spendy cover charge, making B-Bar ideal for budget travelers who want to revel in Barcelona’s rooftop nightlife. B-Bar is best enjoyed late in the evening when the lights of Plaza de España, in clear view of the rooftop, are switched on.

Where: Gran Via de les Corts, Catanes, 389, 391, 08015 Barcelona, Spain


More like this: Everything you always wanted to know about tapas but were afraid to ask

The post 8 rooftop bars in Barcelona to take in the city’s nightlife appeared first on Matador Network.

Lime Out VI taco and cocktail bar

There is a place in the middle of a Caribbean bay where relaxation meets responsibility, conservation meets cocktails. Oh, and there are tacos. Really delicious tacos.

The floating cocktail and taco bar, Lime Out VI, opened in March of 2019 in St. John’s Hansen Bay in the US Virgin Islands. The structure rests on pontoons, and was custom built by co-owners Dylan Buchalter, Dane Tarr, and Chelsea and Richard Baranowski (who also own Lime Inn on St. John). Lime Out VI is only accessible by pulling up your boat or by swimming from your boat to the bar, where you can eat and drink at the swim up bar or on the floats that surround Lime Out.

Since its opening, it has quickly become a popular destination for travelers to the US Virgin Islands. But it’s more than just a great place to get tacos and cocktails. One of Lime Out VI’s top priorities is to preserve the beautiful environment it’s lucky enough to call home.

“From our standpoint, Lime Out is not a novelty,” says Chelsea Baranowski. “Being environmentally minded is a necessity moving forward. It is not a trend or a fad, it is a reality. Everything that humans do should involve the conservation of the environment. We look forward to progress in awareness, to development in technology of sustainability practices, and to continuing to promote environmental consciousness in our lives and in our business.”

The Baranowskis and other co-owners approach sustainability in a number of ways. Rather than serving the freshly squeezed, locally inspired cocktails in disposable cups, Lime Out uses Corkcicle cups for all of its drinks. Visitors put down a deposit on a cup when they place their order, and can return the cup at the end of the day for a full refund or keep it as a souvenir. Guests can also BYOC (bring your own cup). Bottom line: no disposable cups and absolutely no straws, which were banned on the US Virgin Islands as of October 1, 2019.

Photo: Cynthia Swan of Zest Studio/Lime Out

Tuesday through Sunday, from October to July, you’ll find the Baranowskis manning the ship. If you spy Chelsea with a Corkcicle in hand, there is a good chance it contains her favorite cocktail on the menu, The Danger. Named after their son, it’s a blend of Thai chili-infused tequila, freshly squeezed watermelon and lime juices, and pineapple simple syrup. Other cocktails on the menu, all of which are $12, feature a lot of fresh squeezed juice, rum, and tequila. Tropical drinks are always refreshing, but they taste even better when you don’t have to worry about seeing discarded plastic cups floating by.

On the food front, Lime Out has a range of tacos filled with ingredients like freshly caught ceviche, rum ribs, and green curry chicken. Since all you need to dive into a taco is your bare hands, Lime Out is utensil-free. Hungry guests can have their orders delivered to their boat, dine on the colorful floating mats and couch floats that surround Lime Out, or tie up their kayak and eat at the swim-up bar. To further minimize the environmental impact of its food, tacos are served in compostable taco trays, which break down quickly compared to other take-away containers.

Photo: Cynthia Swan of Zest Studio/Lime Out

Lime Out isn’t alone. Its team members are also involved in other local sustainability efforts. Lime Out partner Valerie Tarr is active with Island Green Living, an organization whose mission is to transform the US Virgin islands into a net zero waste, carbon-neutral territory. The group’s ReSource Depot has repurposed nearly 30,000 pounds of salvageable building material, furniture, and other household items. Next up is the construction of a solar-powered Sustainable Living Center for the island. It will include facilities for recycling glass, plastic, and used cooking oil, as well as a co-op food market and garden. There are also plans for an on-island composting center, which the Lime Out team is anxious to get in place.

The US Virgin Islands as a whole is making strides to protect the environment. The islands started off the new decade with a ban in place for all toxic sunscreens. Effective January 1, 2020, any sunscreens containing oxybenzone, octinoxate, and octocrylene are prohibited. These three ingredients are known to impair the growth of green algae, decrease fertility in fish, damage and destroy coral, and cause defects in marine life.

As part of the ban, stores on the islands are prohibited from stocking the banned sunscreens and visitors and locals may not use or possess them. Since there is technically no sunscreen that is “reef-safe,” locals like the Lime Out team encourage covering up with clothing to reduce sunscreen use all together.

With a floating, green, taco-and-cocktail-filled platform to advocate for the environment, Lime Out is a sustainable business model in the region that proves that when cocktails meet conservation, we all win.

Where to find it: Hansen Bay in East End, St John, 00830, US Virgin Islands


More like this: Your 2020 resolution: Travel to save the planet

The post Promote sustainability at this swim-up taco bar in the US Virgin Islands appeared first on Matador Network.

Best astronomical events of 2020

Anyone who was in the contiguous United States in August 2017 for the solar eclipse dubbed the “Great American Eclipse” knows just how awe-inspiring a celestial event can be. Even a full moon can be a profound experience for a skywatcher. Not all stargazers know what to look for, or when to focus their gaze on the skies, however. To make your skywatching experiences as optimal as possible in 2020, we’ve put together a list of this year’s can’t-miss astronomical events in chronological order, from the best and brightest meteor showers to the eclipses worth traveling for. These are the celestial events you don’t want to miss this year.

1. January 3-4: Quadrantid meteor shower

January marks the annual Quadrantid meteor shower, like a celestial celebration of the new year. This year’s shower began on December 27, 2019, and will continue through January 10, 2020, with the peak falling between the third and fourth of the month. Northern Europeans will have the clearest views, but skywatchers in the northeastern United States will also have the opportunity to see as many as 50 to 100 shooting stars per hour, assuming the sky is relatively dark and cloudless. Keep an eye out just north of the Big Dipper’s handle around 4:00 AM ET to see the shower in full swing.

2. April 7: The year’s brightest supermoon

Photo: Paramonov Alexander/Shutterstock

Supermoons, a colloquial term, occur when a full moon coincides with perigee, meaning the moon orbits closest to Earth. The result is a big, beautiful moon that looks even fuller than normal. April’s won’t be the first or only supermoon of 2020, but because the full moon falls on the exact day of perigee that month, it’ll be the most impressive. If you’re determined to see every supermoon this year, also look to the skies on February 9, March 9, and May 7.

3. June 21: Annular solar eclipse

Photo: Hyserb/Shutterstock

On June 21, one day after the 2020 summer solstice, there will be an annular solar eclipse during which the moon will pass between Earth and the sun, obscuring all but the sun’s outer edge. Though the eclipse won’t be visible in the United States, anyone lucky enough to experience it in the parts of Southern and Eastern Europe, northern Australia, South and Southeast Asia, Central Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula where it will be visible can expect a striking “ring of fire” effect.

4. July 4: Penumbral lunar eclipse

Photo: Dr Ajay Kumar Singh/Shutterstock

A penumbral lunar eclipse is a phenomenon in which the sun, Earth, and moon are slightly misaligned. As such, Earth blocks some of the sun’s light from hitting the moon, resulting in a shadow on the moon’s face and a slight change in its color. In 2020, one such eclipse will occur on the Fourth of July. Though it’s a relatively subtle astronomical event, there’s a good chance fireworks will have you staring up at the sky that evening anyway. Look out for the shaded moon around 11:30 PM ET.

5. July 14: Jupiter at opposition

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, but it can still be hard to spot. It’s most brightest and most visible when at opposition, meaning it’s closest to Earth and its face is lit up by the sun. In 2020, Jupiter will be at opposition on July 14, giving skywatchers with mid-sized telescopes the opportunity to get a solid glimpse at the planet and its moons. Though you won’t make out any details with just binoculars, you should be able to see Jupiter and its largest moons even if you don’t have a telescope handy.

6. July 21: Saturn at opposition

Saturn will be at opposition a week later, so you can see the second-largest planet at its brightest in July, as well. Point a mid-sized telescope at the sky on July 21, and you’ll get a view of the ringed planet and some of its moons at their most visible.

7. August 11-12: Perseid meteor shower

Photo: Logra/Shutterstock

One of the flashiest meteor showers of the year is the Perseid shower which is created by debris from the mammoth Swift-Tuttle comet. It might also be the most pleasant meteor shower of the year given that it falls on balmy summer nights, perfect for stargazing. Skywatchers can expect up to 100 shooting stars per hour during the Perseid meteor shower, including fireballs that leave behind brilliant, colorful streaks of light. This year, the flurry of shooting stars will peak on August 12 around 8:00 PM ET, though you’re all but guaranteed a good show between August 11 and 13.

8. October 8-9: Draconid meteor shower

The Draconid meteor shower isn’t generally one to plan an evening around, but every so often, it produces an impressive amount of shooting stars. This year is expected to be a big year for the shower, with prime viewing opportunities in the evening of October 8 and into the morning of October 9.

9. October 31: A rare blue moon

The phrase “once in a blue moon” is rooted in an astronomical phenomenon. There are different definitions for what the event is, but in this case, it refers to a second full moon that appears within a calendar month. On October 31, you can witness the once-in-a-blue-moon event for yourself, which occurs roughly once a year — if that. Don’t expect the moon to actually be blue in color, however.

10. December 13: Geminid meteor shower

Photo: sripfoto/Shutterstock

Together with the Perseid meteor shower, the Geminid shower is the most impressive of the year, with up to 120 colorful shooting stars raining down per hour at its peak, which will fall between late evening on December 13 and the early morning of December 14 in 2020. Though stargazing may be less enticing in winter given the lower temperatures, the Geminid shower is worth braving the cold for, particularly given that the new moon preceding it will ensure dark skies that are prime for stargazing. Expect to see meteors diffusing from the Gemini constellation, but have no fear: Even if you’re not a constellation expert, shooting stars should be visible across the night sky.

11. December 14: Total solar eclipse

Photo: PhotoZeal/Shutterstock

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely overshadows the sun, leading to complete darkness during daylight hours. This year’s total solar eclipse won’t be visible in the United States, but any skywatchers willing to travel for the event should head to South America, namely Chile and Argentina. A partial eclipse will be visible in Brazil and Uruguay.

12. December 21: Jupiter and Saturn’s great conjunction

Every 20 or so years, Jupiter and Saturn align close enough to almost appear as a single, bright light in the night sky. This year, on December 21, the two planets will experience the rare conjunction, making both far more visible to the naked eye than they typically are.


More like this: The 10 best parks in the US for spectacular winter stargazing

The post 12 stargazing events you don’t want to miss in 2020 appeared first on Matador Network.

Best fitness challenges for 2020

It’s 2020, and nothing says “Happy New Year” like setting health and fitness resolutions. If you’re tired of the same old, vague “exercise more,” why not consider adding something a little more rugged and adventurous to your list of goals? Not only will training for one of these events listed below improve your strength and endurance, but completing one of these brag-worthy fitness challenges will instill a huge sense of self-pride.

So if you’re willing to take on the toughest of physical and mental challenges this year — and perhaps explore the world while doing so — here are fitness challenges that you need to sign up for now.

1. Ragnar Relay — Worldwide

Photo: Ragnar Relay/Facebook

A Ragnar Relay is not your usual trail run — chances are, you haven’t experienced racing like this. During a Ragnar Relay, you’ll join forces with a group of friends and fellow runners who don’t think you’re insane for wanting to run trails in pitch-black darkness.

During a Ragnar Relay, you set up camp with your relay team and take turns running the legs of a relay. However, this is much more than a 400-by-400 meter dash. Ragnar Relays are approximately 200 miles in total, ranging from 11 to 24 miles per runner for a standard 12-person team, depending on which legs you and your teammates choose to run. The races span two days and one night.

Of course, you’ll have a headlamp for the overnight portion, but that doesn’t negate the fact that there are critters, tree roots, and other obstacles that might trip you up. Let’s face it, running overnight will be a novel experience for most. Find a Ragnar Relay near you and round up your favorite runner friends for an adventurous fitness challenge you won’t ever forget.

2. Escape from Alcatraz — San Francisco, California

Photo: Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon/Facebook

No, we aren’t suggesting you try out as an extra for a new Hollywood movie. Escape from Alcatraz is a real fitness challenge off the coast of San Francisco, California, during which racers leap from a ferry boat at Alcatraz Island and swim through bone-chilling waters toward the San Francisco Bay.

Once out of the chilly waters, you’ll complete an 18-mile out-and-back bike ride through some of the most beloved San Francisco scenery and top it all off with an eight-mile run that takes you underneath the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. You’ll need a full wetsuit for this triathlon, as well as plenty of layers to shed during your bike and run portions. Don’t forget to pack plenty of race fuel, either.

3. CrossFit Open — Worldwide

Photo: CrossFit Open

The CrossFit Open isn’t your typical fitness challenge. This is an intense five weeks of workouts that make even the fittest people on the planet roll around on gym floors in pain. Every week for five weeks, CrossFit HQ announces a new workout designed to push athletes to the edge. You’ll dig deep and discover that you’re capable of far more than you ever thought you were. You might climb your first rope, do your first muscle-up, or sprint your fastest mile ever on a bike.

And the best part? You can participate in the Open from anywhere in the world. Beginners and elites alike partake in this fitness challenge from CrossFit gyms in more than 100 countries. So no matter where your travels take you this year, as long as you can access the necessary equipment, you’re good to go. If you’re feeling a bit nervous about doing a CrossFit Open workout at an unfamiliar gym, don’t worry: The CrossFit community is known for being inviting and cheering on everyone during tough workouts, even if you’ve never met a single person at the gym you’re visiting.

4. Tough Mudder, Spartan Race, or Rugged Maniac — Worldwide

Photo: Tough Mudder/Facebook

If you’re feeling adventurous, try out an obstacle course race (OCR) to exercise and explore the outdoors at the same time. During a Tough Mudder, Spartan Race, or Rugged Maniac race, you’ll encounter a collection of challenging, sometimes even frightening or questionable, obstacles that you must conquer to finish the race. Some examples: army crawling underneath barbed wire; leaping over actual pits of fire; trudging through waist-deep, ice-cold water; and flinging yourself up and over high walls and barricades.

OCRs are typically held outdoors in locations away from big cities, so depending on where you’re at, you’ll get some good views along the way. And depending on Mother Nature, you may end up trudging through knee-deep mud or spending the entire length of the race wiping the rain from your eyes. Most of these races offer options for people at all fitness levels, from the length of a 5K to a marathon. Check out the event pages to find a Tough Mudder, Spartan Race, or Rugged Maniac near you.

5. GORUCK Challenge — Across the United States

Photo: GORUCK/Facebook

Many people drop the GORUCK Challenge into the obstacle course racing category, but this fitness challenge is on a whole other level. This beast of a race was developed by an Army Green Beret and has Special Forces roots. Based on military training, the GORUCK Challenge involves a 20- or 30-pound weighted vest, depending on your body weight, and unknown obstacles.

You can choose from “light,” “tough,” or “heavy” options depending on your endurance level and physical and mental strength. These challenges are all about how hard and how far you can push yourself. They take place all over the United States, mostly during the summer months. Check out the event’s website to find a GORUCK Challenge near you for 2020.

6. Race Across America — Oceanside, California to Annapolis, Maryland

Photo: Race Across America/Facebook

Race Across America gives a new meaning to the phrase “coast to coast.” Think Tour de France, but in the United States — and 30 percent longer with no rest days. But you’ll be traveling from the beachfront of Oceanside, California, to the sailing hub of Annapolis, Maryland, on the East Coast, so at least you’ll be preoccupied with stunning scenery.

Here’s what you’ll do: Cycle more than 3,000 miles through 12 states and three mountain ranges, cross four major rivers, climb more than 175,000 feet, and pass through tons of cultural landmarks. You can enter solo or with a relay team, but note that solo cyclists must qualify to ride in Race Across America. The race begins in June and you have nine days to complete the course (as a team). Learn more about registering on the official website. And if you aren’t quite up for this cross-country challenge, check out Race Across the West, a similar event put on by the same organization, in which cyclists travel from Oceanside, California, to Durango, Colorado.


More like this: The best wellness retreats for people who don’t like yoga

The post The ultimate fitness challenges for 2020 you need to sign up for now appeared first on Matador Network.

Museum of Hangovers in Zagreb

Museums are traditionally regarded as hubs of culture, art, or history, and taken relatively seriously. The Museum of Hangovers, however, is geared toward those looking for a more lighthearted museum experience, where you can leave the “stop, stare, think, and nod” tactic at home. Recently opened in Zagreb, Croatia, the museum might not appeal to our more sophisticated tastes, but it does evoke a feeling most of us know quite well — the drunken walk home from a bar, and the painful lethargy of the next day.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Museum of Hangovers (@hangoversmuseum) on Dec 2, 2019 at 10:07am PST

With rooms resembling graffiti-lined streets, rows of storefronts, a park-like room, and finally a bedroom, the museum recreates a hazy, drunken walk home from the bar. Visitors will be make this walk while wearing beer goggles, which will impair their vision. On their way to the bedroom, museum-goers will also navigate through exhibits of funny stories and strange objects people have actually discovered the day after their drunken shenanigans. There’s a chalkboard where visitors are encouraged to complete the sentence “I woke up with…” The answers currently on the board include: “snakes,” “one eye,” and the all-too-common “my ex.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Museum of Hangovers (@hangoversmuseum) on Dec 3, 2019 at 3:52am PST

The visit to this unique museum ends with a round of famous drinking game Drinkopoly, and shot of Croatian rakija.

Some are criticizing the museum for glorifying alcohol abuse. Features like the drunk driving simulator, and the gift shop stocked with alcohol-themed merchandise, are especially drawing fire for making light of excess alcohol consumption. Psychiatrist Gail Saltz told CBS, “It’s fine to drink in moderation, but that’s not what this museum is about. It makes it look appealing, it makes it look like it’s fun and hilarious and for young people especially, that’s going to be a big draw.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Museum of Hangovers (@hangoversmuseum) on Dec 23, 2019 at 3:34am PST

Appropriately, tickets are about the cost of a cheap glass of beer — just $4.50 for adults. But if you can hit the bull’s eye of the museum’s dartboard while wearing beer goggles, you get in for free.


More like this: 21 drinking games you can play in any bar

The post Zagreb’s Museum of Hangovers takes visitors through a booze-filled night out appeared first on Matador Network.

Best hotels in the world in 2020

The 25 most spectacular hotels in the world: 2020

Photo: Castello di Vicarello/Facebook

Figuring out where to stay is hard. By some estimates, there are over 700,000 hotels, motels, hostels, and resorts around the world. Even in the age of TripAdvisor, that’s a hard number to narrow down. Where you stay on a trip can be as important as where you go, especially when you consider that certain properties have become destinations unto themselves. The Matador Network team of writers, editors, videographers, and intrepid storytellers have seen this firsthand at hotels around the world. After traveling far and wide in 2019, the team narrowed their list the best of the best, from remote eco-lodges in South America to opulent castles in Europe. Twenty countries are represented among our favorites, and each accommodation has its own style, perks, and curiosities that make it special. Some are luxurious, others are bare-bones. The one thing they all have in common is that the accommodation is an experience in and of itself.

These are the 25 most spectacular hotels in the world, personally vetted by the Matador team, ranked from envy-inducing to life-changing.

Editor’s Note: These entries were written by Matthew Meltzer, Nickolaus Hines, Alex Bresler, Eben Diskin, Dayana Aleksandrova, Noelle Salmi, and Laura Reilly, with nominations from the entire Matador Network staff.

The Cozy Peach at Schnepf Farms

Queen’s Creek, Arizona

Photo: Laura Reilly


25. The Cozy Peach at Schnepf Farms
Queen’s Creek, Arizona

Just outside of the sprawling city of Phoenix is the smaller city of Mesa, the agricultural heart of Arizona. There you can visit farms growing everything from oranges to olives to dairy products to peaches — the best of which can be found at Schnepf Farms. Technically in the smaller town of Queen’s Creek, this family-owned, 300-acre farm is famous for its peaches, whether they’re in the butteriest, juiciest peach pie you’ve ever had at the farm bakery or in the fields awash with blush pink flowers during the Peach Blossom festival in late winter. The fruit also inspired the name of their new glamping ground, The Cozy Peach, a collection of renovated Airstream trailers. Far from roughing it, the trailers are equipped with plush beds, a stylish lounge area, a coffee maker, TV and WiFi, and, yes, a bathroom. You can even order trailer service in the morning, so you can start the day with farm-fresh eggs or French toast and bacon without leaving your bed.

You will want to leave the trailer eventually, though. This is still the desert, so the weather is pretty close to perfect year-round. Trailer guests are able to use bikes to get around the massive farm and visit the petting zoo, collect fresh produce in the U-Pick garden, or chill out in the secret reading nook in the middle of the woods. Schnepf Farms also hosts many seasonal events that see hundreds of attendees, including a blowout Fourth of July party, the Pumpkin and Chili Party in October, and Christmas celebrations in December — during which they’ll probably have their vintage carousel running. It may be the most perfect place to take young kids or go on a romantic couples getaway, but you’ll find us checking in solo for a farm retreat, so we can eat our peach pie undisturbed.

Château Pellisson

Cognac, France

Photo: Nickolaus Hines


24. Château Pellisson

Cognac, France

Cognac is often left out of travel conversations about France, but it’s a worthy stop for anyone who cares about history, good food, and good drink. After long days of indulging in the region’s famous eponymous brandy, you need a fitting and comfortable place to stay. Few places are better than a chateâu (this is the country of chateâux, after all).

Chateâu Pellisson will give you Beauty and the Beast castle vibes (in a good way and without the talking furniture) while modern touches like in-room jacuzzi tubs and WiFi keep you in the 21st century. Each room has a theme, from Baroque to Renaissance suites, and most have a living room in addition to a bedroom. Wander down the stone spiral staircase and into the garden. When the weather is right, a pool raised above the garden is there to keep you cool. In the morning, a small breakfast spread of a variety of cheeses, yogurts, and fruit gets you ready for the day. Even if you’re not into the namesake spirit, good French wine is always flowing. You’ll feel far from it all, but Château Pellisson is a short walk or even shorter taxi to downtown Cognac and the nearby Cognac houses, from Hennessy to Martell.

Riley

Cairns, Australia

Photo: Crystalbrook


23. Riley

Cairns, Australia

Finding a balance between sustainability and high luxury is tricky since many of the defining factors of a five-star hotel can be inherently wasteful. But Tropical North Queensland’s first new five-star in two decades is pioneering the fusion of luxe lodging and going green, and it may serve as a model for sustainable resorts in the future. Riley’s luxury is easy to spot — there’s the massive lagoon pool with a front-row seat to the ocean, a high-ceilinged lobby adorned in earthy custom furniture, a rooftop craft cocktail lounge, and oversized bathrooms with full rain showers.

The sustainable part is sneakier but equally impressive. The hotel is almost completely paperless, using tablets for all its guides and check-in forms. It has solar panels on the roof and rooms keys made of recycled wood instead of plastic. Closet hangers are also made of recycled material, your in-room water comes in paper cartons, and bathroom amenities are in bulk dispensers.

The beef at Paper Crane — an Asian-inspired restaurant on the ground floor — comes from Crystalbrook Station, a farm owned by Crystalbrook Collection, which also owns the hotel. That makes it one of the only hotels in the world that grows its own ethically raised beef. As the gleaming new property in the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, hopefully it can serve as inspiration for better care of the ocean, as well.

Flophouze Hotel

Round Top, Texas

Photo: Flophouze Shipping Container Hotel


22. Flophouze Hotel

Round Top, Texas

About halfway through the no man’s land along Highway 290 between Houston and Austin, you’ll find little Round Top, Texas. Population 90 as of the last census. In this calming, pastoral landscape, you can spend the night at America’s best example of a completely repurposed hotel. Each of the Flophouze’s six “houzes” is made of old shipping containers, which sit on a sprawling stretch of Texas countryside with unfettered views of the sunset.

You’ll enjoy those sunsets through windows salvaged from an old school in Philadelphia. The rest of the interiors are long on repurposed goods as well, whether it’s wood from an old distillery in Kentucky, cabinets from a Brooklyn laboratory, or countertops made from a bowling alley in Texas. Cool off from the summer heat in a swimming pool made from an old container, with a clear wall that looks out on the landscape. Though the area can feel remote and removed at times, that’s kind of the point of going on vacation.

Coal Miners Cabins

Svalbard, Norway

Photo: Coal Miners Cabins/Facebook


21. Coal Miners Cabins

Svalbard, Norway

A trip to Svalbard, a remote Norwegian archipelago within spitting distance of the North Pole, isn’t exactly going to be a luxurious vacation with all the traditional comforts. But when you forge into the Arctic wilderness on a dog sledding or snowmobile expedition, it’s important to have a cozy base where you can thaw out, refuel, and plan the next day’s adventure. Situated in a valley just a 15-minute walk from Longyearbyen — Svalbard’s only real town — the Coal Miner’s Cabins are the perfect home base for both aspiring adventurers and seasoned Arctic expeditioners.

Two-story former mining barracks have been converted into guest rooms, now furnished with all the essentials you need for a comfortable stay in the Arctic — even WiFi. No, you won’t find any swim-up margarita bars or room service, but you didn’t come to Svalbard for that stuff anyway (though you do get a cushy bathrobe). The cabins have fantastic views over the Longyear valley, and if you happen to be visiting during the summer months, you can enjoy that view all night long as the sun never sets. In the winter, spotting the elusive northern lights are certainly a high possibility.

In this remote part of the world with such an unforgiving climate, you might be wary of the food scene — but don’t be. Coal Miner’s Cabins serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the main lodge, and the fare is as hearty as it gets. Steaks, reindeer burgers, and potatoes will comprise most of your meals, so you definitely won’t be entering the wilderness on an empty stomach. If you prefer to take it easy, you can play board games with fellow travelers or sip on wine and beer curled up with a good book.

JW Marriott El Convento Cusco

Cusco, Peru

Photo: JW Marriott El Convento Cusco


20. JW Marriott El Convento Cusco

Cusco, Peru

In most hotels, listing “oxygen” as an amenity would be about as impressive as touting the hotel’s snappy new invention, “the bed.” But when you’re sitting at 11,150 feet above sea level, getting fresh oxygen pumped into your room is a luxury better than in-room massages and part of what makes the JW Marriott Convento Cusco the coolest luxury hotel in Peru.

In addition to thick air, this hotel packs some serious history. It’s housed in a 16th-century convent that’s been meticulously restored in the heart of the city. A sunny interior courtyard with pre-Inca walls is an ideal space to enjoy what we determined to be the best pisco sour in Cusco. It’s also a prime spot to take selfies with Panchito the alpaca, who makes daily appearances with his Quechua owner for photo-ops and cuddles. Plus the hotel offers a 24-hour coca tea service, which combined with the fresh air in your room, makes for the ultimate refresher after visiting Machu Picchu.

Borana Lodge

Kenya

Photo: Borana Lodge


19. Borana Lodge

Kenya

A safari at this eco-lodge on the Borana Conservancy rhino sanctuary is a lot more than just riding around in a jeep looking at wild animals. Yes, you can absolutely do that if that’s your vacation MO. But you can also go out into the bush with conservation workers, doing stuff like spotting rhinos and reporting on their locations, monitoring lion behavior, and participating in darting and tagging initiatives. Or take a more active approach to touring the bush aboard a mountain bike or one of the lodge’s 26 horses.

The eight-cottage resort also lets you delve deep into the local community, where you can pay a visit to a local Maasai village and learn its history along with a traditional dance. You can also visit a local school and medical clinic to see some of the advances the area has been able to make in education and healthcare, as well as donate supplies. Want to feel even better about the money you’ve dropped on your trip? The family that runs Borana Lodge also uses much of the operating profits to support greater wilderness conservation through its non-profit Borana Conservancy organization.

Koyasan

Wakayama Prefecture, Japan

Photo: KrisDurlen/Shutterstock


18. Koyasan

Wakayama Prefecture, Japan

It’s not often you get to spend the night in one of the holiest sites of a major religion. But this is what you’ll find atop the sacred mountain of Koyasan, about 100 minutes south of Osaka, where over 100 temples fill a plateau near the mountaintop known as Danjo Garan. About 50 of those beautiful, intricate temples are known as shukubo, essentially temples that rent out rooms to travelers.

Though you’ll literally be living with monks, the digs aren’t exactly monastic, with big, modern rooms, many of which offer terraces looking out on meticulously maintained gardens. You can start the morning by joining the monks in their morning chants (there’s a printout if you’re not up on your Buddhist chants), spend the afternoon forest bathing, and end the day with plant-based dinners made from stuff grown on or near the mountain. But it’s not all meditation and vegan dinners atop Koyasan: If you feel like cracking a beer and scrolling your Instagram feed after your long, difficult journey to a Japanese holy site, you can do that too. This particular sect of Buddhism has adapted with the times, so finding WiFi and beer for sale at a shukubo isn’t at all unusual.

Finn Lough

Aghnablaney, Northern Ireland

Photo: Jessica Devnani


17. Finn Lough

Aghnablaney, Northern Ireland

Saying you’re “living in a fishbowl” isn’t usually a good thing, per se. But if you happen to be a guest in one of Finn Lough’s dome accommodations, it’s pure natural paradise. This resort set on Lower Lough Erne in Northern Ireland offers two domes that look a little like bedrooms in a snowglobe, where you’ll literally sleep surrounded by the forest with uninterrupted sightlines to the night sky. The Premium Dome even comes with a fully domed bathroom, so you can get the feeling of being in an outdoor shower, without having to actually be outdoors.

The rest of the resort isn’t much of a dropoff — the other accommodations include two-story lakeside lodges, a charming lakeside cottage with wood-burning stoves, and fully catered suites. You’ll spend your days mountain biking through the woods, surfing along the Donegal coastline, or playing the links courses at Donegal and Lough Erne. Finish the day sipping on sundowner drinks with the rest of the guests, then retreat back to your private oasis under the stars.

Belmond Hotel das Cataratas

Iguassu Falls, Brazil

Photo: Belmond Hotel das Cataratas


16. Belmond Hotel das Cataratas

Iguassu Falls, Brazil

South America’s most famous waterfalls, like most famous waterfalls, are a wonder of nature that’s considerably less wonderous when surrounded by thousands of phone-wielding tourists. The best way around said selfie-crazed masses is to book a night at the Hotel das Cataratas, where guests get access to the falls both before and after the general public. Think of it kinda like the Disneyland hotel — but actually worth the money.

In addition to early access, this grand 1950s property offers a massive resort pool where you can relax with a caipiriñha with the thundering falls in the background. The grounds feel almost like an extension of the park, with tropical flowers and howler monkeys sharing the environment with you. Though if you do feel like getting out into the rainforest, Belmond Hotel das Cataratas offers private guided tours there as well. Did we mention there’s a free airport transfer from Iguassu Falls Airport? Staying at this Belmond property is simply the ultimate way to take in one of the most popular attractions in the world.

Hacienda La Mocha

Ponce, Puerto Rico

Photo: Laura Reilly


15. Hacienda La Mocha

Ponce, Puerto Rico

Everyone knows that Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico hard in 2017, but much of the global attention was paid to the capital city of San Juan and the surrounding area — less so on the opposite end of the island, near Ponce, where much of Puerto Rico’s agriculture is cultivated. That left Puerto Rican farmers to do much of the rebuilding themselves and rethink their production to become more self-sustainable and durable for future hurricanes. Hacienda La Mocha, a family coffee farm and guesthouse, is one such place that’s made major strides in the last three years. Named not for your favorite chocolatey coffee beverage but the old tool used to harvest the coffee beans, Hacienda La Mocha lost much of its coffee crops in the hurricane. In 2020, though, they are poised for a healthy harvest and are ready to welcome visitors to their beautifully restored guesthouse.

Thanks to its location near the highest elevation in Puerto Rico, staying at the guesthouse feels like sleeping in a treehouse overlooking the verdant coffee plantation and surrounding green mountains. Choose between nine luxurious rooms, all of which converge in a stunning, open-air lounge where you can feel the breeze, hear the chirping birds, sway in a hammock, and smell the beans getting ground below. Breakfast is included, naturally, with a piping cup of the freshest coffee you’ll ever taste. The Hacienda also has a resident birdwatching expert who can take you on a hike to spot the native San Pedrito bird. The whole farm is also a butterfly sanctuary, and it’s not uncommon for one to land in front of you while you sip your morning coffee on the balcony. In 2020, Hacienda La Mocha also hopes to start offering more coffee-centric experiences, which may include helping harvest the beans or hand-grinding your own blend.

The Hacienda is fully committed to sustainability, both in its farming practices and in the guesthouse, from using solar energy to not using environmentally hazardous chemicals on the farm. Return the favor by conserving water wherever possible, sticking with the glorious natural light, and opting not to have the linens changed on a daily basis.

The Horse Shoe Farm

Asheville, North Carolina

Photo: The Horse Shoe Farm/Facebook


14. The Horse Shoe Farm

Asheville, North Carolina

Finding somewhere that’s quiet where you can stop and think is all too important when the rest of life is go, go, go. Then again, so is traveling somewhere with enough activities to distract yourself from daily stressors. The Horse Shoe Farm near Asheville, North Carolina, has both. There’s a meditation silo but also bikes, games, and boats by the pond. There are fishing poles and lounge chairs to sink into but also 85 acres to wander with goats, chickens, and ducks. Not to mention the morning juice bar, yoga sessions, and professional masseuses.

Horse Shoe Farm is a wellness-focused working farm where you can make your own definition of wellness — whether that’s reciting mantras and holding crystals, sweating it out at yoga, or simply reading a book and petting a goat. It’d be too easy to get lost in the comfort of the accommodations and never leave the farm, but you should spend enough time here to explore the area. It’s a short drive away from the restaurants and 25-plus breweries in Asheville while outdoorsy types will fall for the dozens of nearby hikes that end in waterfalls.

Yangshuo Mountain Retreat

Yangshuo, China

Photo: Yangshuo Mountain Retreat/Facebook


13. Yangshuo Mountain Retreat

Yangshuo, China

There are people who may be a little hesitant to visit China, with visions of jam-packed cities and chaotic traffic overshadowing any kind of cultural knowledge they might gain. But traveling into the mountainous regions of Southeast China proves that this country is vast and diverse, and serenity can easily be found if you’re willing to travel outside of the main cities. The Yangshuo Mountain Retreat sits right next to the Yulong River, a tributary to the Li, which winds past sharp cones of mountains and a lush green landscape. And the views from its balconies feel like living in a landscape painting.

The waterfront hotel offers some of the best affordable luxury in the world, where wood-adorned rooms with pitched ceilings and river views run about $90 a night. Even the smallest room, which costs about $40, has a balcony to take in the stunning scenery. Though it might be tempting to just stay here and soak up the natural beauty, take a bike into town and catch the Liu Sanjie Light Show, a nightly performance on the river that showcases the boats, attire, and culture of the Yangshuo region.

Tutka Bay Lodge

Kachemak Bay, Alaska

Photo: Tutka Bay Lodge


12. Tutka Bay Lodge

Kachemak Bay, Alaska

Escaping into the Alaskan wilderness doesn’t mean going all Into the Wild and seeing how long you can survive with a pack of Clif bars and a hatchet. It can also mean escaping deep into the wilds of Kachemak Bay State Park and staying at this luxe lodge only reachable by water taxi or floatplane. Each of the six cabins has stunning views, perfect for relaxing after a long day of hiking through old-growth spruce trees, kayaking, fishing, or doing whatever else you ask your exclusive team of guides to set up.

What sets Tutka Bay apart, though, is the food experience. French-trained chef Kristen Dixon is the visionary behind the lodge, where you can participate in fishing, foraging, and preparing literal sea-to-table feasts. From casting lines in the nearby waters to digging for clams, you’ll collect your food then learn to cook it in an exclusive cooking class. Tutka Bay isn’t just an escape into Alaska — it’s a chance to venture out and live off the land as well.

The Gibbon Experience

Nam Kan National Park, Laos

Photo: The Gibbon Experience/Facebook


11. The Gibbon Experience

Nam Kan National Park, Laos

There’s spending the night in a treehouse, and then there’s sleeping in a tree canopy and waking up surrounded by wild gibbons. While the Gibbon Experience’s treehouses aren’t necessarily the pinnacle of luxury, they are as close to being a gibbon as you’re likely to get without some kind of freak comic book accident, and an exceptional way to immerse yourself in the nature of Nam Kan National Park in Laos.

The treehouses are allegedly the tallest in the world, standing 100-130 feet above the ground, connected by zip lines that allow you to move like gibbons, as well as live like them. The experiences run two or three days and have you trekking through the park — sometimes to waterfalls, sometimes over lush valleys — staying in a different house each night. Because of the elevated vantage point, the views are never short of spectacular, and the Gibbon encounters are frequent and plentiful. Do they wake you up in the morning before you want to be awake? Absolutely. But if you’re the kind of person who books a hotel in a treetop, you probably weren’t traveling to sleep in, anyway.

Harmony Hotel

Nosara, Costa Rica

Photo: The Harmony Hotel


10. Harmony Hotel

Nosara, Costa Rica

When you look back at Playa Guiones from the water’s edge, all you see are trees. That’s one of the things that make the surf-and-yoga magnet of Nosara, Costa Rica, so magical. Development on its two-mile-long beach is prohibited, and no building can rise above the treeline in order to protect the nesting turtles that use the moon as their guide. Behind that greenery are houses, restaurants, and the Harmony Hotel.

The Harmony Hotel has open-air hallways and several cabanas that surround a pool with verdant tropical foliage. The alfresco restaurant serves up healthy options like vegetarian curry or fish of the day poke. Behind it, the thatched-roof juice bar mixes up a tasty almond butter smoothie, and a huge palapa serves as the yoga studio.

As the name suggests, the Harmony Hotel seeks to live in harmony with its lush surroundings and its neighbors, which include the canopy’s resident howler monkeys and the red and purple crabs that scurry out of the way as you traverse the sandy path through the forest to the flat, expansive beach. On that short walk, you’ll pass a surf shack where you can store your board after a morning surf and an outdoor shower where you can rinse off after your wave session. The shower feels like an unpretentious, laid-back indulgence. Just like the Harmony Hotel itself.

JW Marriott Marco Island

Marco Island, Florida

Photo: JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort/Facebook


9. JW Marriott Marco Island

Marco Island, Florida

Big-name, high-luxury hotels are always nice places to stay, but sometimes they can leave you feeling a little… isolated. Like you’re having the same beautiful experience in Laguna Beach that you would in Cabo that you would in St. Lucia. But when Marriott completely redid the storied Marco Island Marriott last year and reopened it as JW, it also made sure the property had plenty of sense of place.

First, you’ll have a front-row seat to Florida’s Everglades, the only luxury beach hotel to sit literally walking distance from the River of Grass. You’ll be able to immerse yourself deep in the swamp with customizable jetski tours leaving from the beach, where you’ll learn the history of the Ten Thousand Islands and see the famously eerie Cape Romano Dome Houses. Next, spend the afternoon collecting shells off the beach and learning about the sea life in the Gulf of Mexico that’s literally helped for the state of Florida.

You’ll also be able to experience local flavors, whether that’s at Kane, which has an extremely rare collection of Caribbean rums and makes a case as the best outdoor rum bar in the United States; at the new sprawling brewpub with over 60 local beers on the menu; or at Ario, which plates up only-in-Florida seafood alongside a top-notch wine list. It’s the ultimate way to experience Florida in all its turquoise-watered glory, without any interruptions from the notoriously reckless Florida Man.

Feynan Ecolodge

Dana, Jordan

Photo: Feynan Ecolodge/Facebook


8. Feynan Ecolodge

Dana, Jordan

Trekking through the deserts of Jordan’s Dana Biosphere Reserve near the Dead Sea, you might think this stone fort in a deep valley was some sort of mirage. But the Feynan Ecolodge — modeled after the caravanserai of centuries past – is a testament to eco-friendly travel and perhaps the most sustainable hotel in the consumption-crazed Middle East. It sits on an old copper exploration camp, its existence alone keeping the nature reserve from being reopened to copper mining. The entire lodge is solar-powered, too, and most of the stone-walled bedrooms are lit by candlelight at night.

It’s the perfect jumping-off point for exploring Jordan’s desert wilderness, where you can spend the sunny days hiking, biking, or canyoneering through the mountains and immersing yourself in the local culture. At night, enjoy dinner under the stars in the lodge’s central dining area, or take a cooking class to learn how to do it yourself. It’s also only about two hours from Petra, so you can make a quick day trip to the ancient world wonder, then escape back to the reserve once you’ve had enough of the tourists.

Dominican Treehouse Village

Samana, Dominican Republic

Photo: Dominican Tree House Village/Facebook


7. Dominican Treehouse Village

Samana, Dominican Republic

The Dominican Treehouse Village is a perfect hybrid of a relaxing Carribean resort and an adrenaline-pumping adventure. In the heart of El Valle, Samana’s most luscious valley, Indiana Jones rope bridges and jungle views meet Tarzan-esque waterfalls and an in-house zip line. Cruise on the back of an ATV through remote jungle terrain. Snap some photos of the bluest water you’ve ever seen on a snorkeling excursion to Playa Fronton. Ride a horse to El Limon Waterfall, and taste local chocolate.

When you get tired of having badass adventures, head back to the resort to chill by the pool, laze at El Valle beach, or feast on freshly caught fish at Mami’s Restaurant. The main lodge is located in the center of the resort where you’ll find cozy hammocks, a large lounge and restaurant area, and a bar. On either side of the lodge is a bonfire spot where people gather to play Cards Against Humanity or dance bachata at night. When it’s time to retire, each of the resort’s 22 cabins has a queen-size bed, powerful fan, leather swings, and a personal bathroom. The entire area is fumigated, so you won’t have to worry about falling prey to the mosquitos. There’s no WiFi, but take that as an opportunity to unplug and listen to the buzzing of the jungle instead of the vibrations of your phone.

Nihi Sumba

Sumba, Indonesia

Photo: Nihi Sumba/Facebook


6. Nihi Sumba

Sumba, Indonesia

Indonesia, and especially Bali and the islands around it, are not lacking for tranquil, beachfront luxury escapes with stunning views of the mountains and the lapping surf. But Nihi Sumba, about 45 minutes by plane from Bali, is the king of them all, a thatched-roof paradise where every guest has a different itinerary custom-designed to their particular interests. So you can spend the morning scuba diving the crystal-clear waters and the afternoon horseback riding in that same ocean. The resort even has an on-premise chocolate factory, which, while not exactly the Wonka factory, does make turndown service that much more exciting.

Many rooms have private plunge pools and paths down to the beach, and with the right amount of fans and mosquito netting, you’ll almost feel like you’re sleeping right on the sand — except way more comfortable. Meals are served beachside, too, if you opt for the right restaurant.

But perhaps the most impressive thing about Nihi isn’t tangible at all. The largest employer on this island of about 685,000 people also runs the Sumba Foundation, a charitable organization devoted to providing access to clean water and education to the Sumbanese people, as well as lessening the effects of malaria. So while you’re not exactly building houses in the jungle, know that some part of what you spend here is going back to the people of Sumba.

Singita Lebombo Lodge

Kruger National Park, South Africa

Photo: Singita


5. Singita Lebombo Lodge

Kruger National Park, South Africa

Though some safaris through Kruger can get a little congested during high season, that’s not the case at Lebombo where the lodge’s own private concession within the park means it’s only you, the other hotel guests, and the hippos out there in the bush. That alone would be reason to visit this lodge right near the Mozambique border, but what’s inside makes it equally as enticing as the animals. If you can score a room downstairs overlooking the N’wanetsi River, you’ll lie outside in a private bed and sleep to the sounds of wildlife coming over the water at night.

Each of the 13 suites feels like part of the landscape, and you’ll spot wild animals from your bedroom just as easily as you would on a game drive. If you leave the room, you can cool off in swimming pools with views out over the hills, or sip on South African specialties in the wine studio before taking drinks up to the rooftop viewing area. Your meals are prepared by a gourmet chef and are included in your stay, naturally. While many luxury safari camps in Africa can lean too hard on the nostalgic (or borderline cringey in their myopic celebration of colonial Africa), Lebombo is refreshingly modern with contemporary, natural-light-filled rooms and airy sculptural touches that celebrate the surrounding wildlife.

Patagonia Camp

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Photo: Laura Grier


4. Patagonia Camp

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Yurts, in their original state, aren’t exactly luxurious. Tough and efficient? Absolutely. But it takes some real vision to equip them with heated towel racks and high-thread-count sheets. Such is the genius of Patagonia Camp, a lakeside glamping retreat in the stunning mountains of Patagonia. The camp features 20 yurts with private terraces and views over the turquoise lake, some with private hot tubs and all with central heat and running water. The main lodge is a wood-lined palace, with floor-to-ceiling windows and nightly meals full of steaks, fresh vegetables, and wines from the owners’ private winery.

You’ll devour that food with an appetite forged from long days hiking through Patagonia. Each evening your guides will brief you on the next day’s adventures, whether that’s spotting wild animals on the east side of the park or hiking the famous W trail and the 15-mile pilgrimage to Mirador de las Torres. Patagonia Camp allows you to enjoy the rugged backcountry of this region without having to spend the nights in drafty tents, making you far more relaxed and refreshed for your journey through the wilds of Chilean Patagonia.

Nimmo Bay

British Columbia, Canada

Photo: Scott Sporleder/Shutterstock


3. Nimmo Bay

British Columbia, Canada

Want to immerse yourself in the spectacular west coast of British Columbia? Nowhere does it quite like Nimmo Bay, a family-run resort set in the wilds of the Great Bear Rainforest just south of the Alaskan border. Here you’ll spend days with your helicopter guide reaching places seldom seen by humans, like remote waterfalls cascading down from glaciers and pristine streams set in the shadow of bright green mountains. You can have a picnic in a remote icefield, fish with no boats for miles, or go bear spotting in their natural habitat.

Back at the resort, enjoy fresh cookies and BC wine in your own private cabin, which either sits surrounded by forest or on top of rising tides. The food is made from stuff found nearby, where the chefs literally go out clam digging and berry picking each day. With only nine two-bedroom cabins, the place feels more like a family getaway than a wilderness resort. A sort of home away from home hundreds of miles from anything.

Minaret Station

Minaret Bay, New Zealand

Photo: Minaret Station


2. Minaret Station

Minaret Bay, New Zealand

There’s remote. There’s exclusive. And then there’s Minaret Station, a four-chalet, helicopter-in lodge and farm hidden away in New Zealand’s Southern Alps. You’ll get used to choppering around on epic excursions here, getting an unparalleled perspective of Mount Cook, the nation’s tallest peak, and Fiordland National Park. Think hiking through ancient ice caves at Tasman Glacier, trout fishing in the crystal-clear waters of Dusky Sound, mountain biking beneath the snowy peaks ringing Lake Wanaka, and heli-skiing on untouched powder. Those interested, whether green or old hat, can also go game hunting on 50,000 acres of privately owned land. Intrepid, yes, Minaret Station’s adventures are also as comfy as wilderness experiences get, with top-of-the-line gear and gourmet picnics set amidst New Zealand’s most coveted scenery.

Spent from days touring the glacial valley and rugged west-coast beaches, guests can retreat to spacious yet cozy chalets tucked away in vast alpine pastures, each with a private deck and hot tub. The lodge’s common area comes equipped with cushy, fireplace-facing lounges and a communal library, though it may be hard to tear yourself away from the view long enough to escape into a good book. At the Mountain Kitchen, expect a first-rate wine cellar, plates loaded with locavore-approved goodies, and hefty helpings of the farm’s own venison, lamb, and beef to keep your energy high for the next day’s outings. Guests can also take their meals in their chalets, opting for a moment alone with the mountains. Talk about room service.

Castello di Vicarello

Poggi del Sasso, Italy

Photo: Castello di Vicarello


1. Castello di Vicarello

Poggi del Sasso, Italy

In a world as wide as this, with hotels as superlative as the ones above, it’s almost impossible to pick just one place to call our favorite. Except it isn’t — because choosing Castello di Vicarello as the best hotel for 2020 is as easy as sipping wine from its oak barrel hot tub as the sun sets over the Maremma hills. Staying here feels like coming home, despite the fact that we’re pretty sure your home is not a 900-year-old Tuscan castle. It is the home of the Baccheschi-Berti family, though, and has been for 25 years. The property was salvaged as ruins in the 1980s by Carlo and Aurora Baccheschi-Berti, who brought their three young boys to grow up here while the castle was slowly restored. Today, their sons Neri and Brando run the hotel and the winery, respectively, aided by the trusty family dog, Uva, who is always around to escort you to and from your room if you fear getting lost in the expansive estate.

Experiences are at the heart of every stay at Castello di Vicarello, and they can be as active as you want them to be. Wine tasting is a must for all, whether out in the organic vineyards or by the fireplace before a mind-blowing dinner. Take an intimate, one-on-one cooking class with the chefs in the jaw-dropping stone kitchen, focusing on Tuscan dishes that may be pulled from Aurora’s own cookbook, like papa al pomodoro, meaty entrées made from local game hunted by the family, and fresh pasta (of course). Try your hand at harvesting — grapes, olives, truffles, depending on the season. Hike, bike, or ride horses around the estate. Or just take a dip in the pool, read a book, and have a relaxing nap. There’s no wrong way to stay here.

Admittedly, there are dozens of hotels throughout Tuscany with similar offerings, some even in castles. What makes Castello di Vicarello so special is that it doesn’t force a facade of authenticity, a bottled experience to allow people to live out their Under the Tuscan Sun fantasies. There’s Indonesian furniture in the living room because the parents spent their early years living in Bali working in furniture and textiles. There’s a big skeleton key for only one of the suites, not because they’re trying to be cute but because it’s literally the only key that will open the room where the general of the castle once resided. Some rooms embrace the fascinating history; others are newly built and don’t try to hide their modernity behind creeping ivy. The Spa Suite is made of wood and glass, with clean contemporary lines, a steam room and sauna, and a sprawling deck overlooking the vineyards and olive groves, the hillside, and the Tyrrhenian Sea far in the distance.

More integral to your experience than anything is the family, and the extended family they’ve created with their attentive staff. You’ll chat with everyone about their lives, what brought them to the castle, what they hope to achieve in the future. You’ll share wine and the same breakfast table, sneaking pets of Uva underneath. You’ll feel compelled to hug everyone you’ve met and feel emotional leaving. If that doesn’t make it deserving of the title for our number one hotel to stay in 2020, we don’t know what could.

The post The 25 most spectacular hotels in the world: 2020 appeared first on Matador Network.

Prince William announces Earthshot

Prince William is using his royal voice to address the threats facing our planet. In a video shared on social media and narrated by Sir David Attenborough, Prince William announced that he will award five prizes each year between 2020 and 2030 to “individuals, teams, or collaborations — scientists, activists, economists, leaders, governments, banks, businesses, cities, and countries — anyone who is making a substantial development or outstanding contribution to solving our environmental challenges.”

The Earthshot Prize, announced on December 31, aims to reward 50 solutions to environmental issues such as “climate and energy, nature and biodiversity, oceans, air pollution and freshwater” that Prince William has dubbed the “world’s greatest problems.” In 2020, the first set of specific challenges will be announced to mark the official kick-off to the contest.

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Une publication partagée par Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal) le 31 Déc. 2019 à 3 :00 PST

The name “Earthshot” was inspired by former US President John F. Kennedy’s “Moonshot,” a concept that sparked a decade (the 1960s) of technological innovations that eventually led to the 1969 moon landing. Prince William hopes that Earthshot will create a wave of ambition and innovation to help save the planet.

The prize will be funded by Kensington Palace along with various philanthropic donors and organizations.


More like this: Your 2020 resolution: Travel to save the planet

The post Prince William announces prizes for solutions to climate change appeared first on Matador Network.

Australia fires forces move to beach

The devastating Australian brushfires that have been raging for many weeks did not even take a day of rest to ring in the new year. There are currently 100 fires burning in the state of New South Wales and a dozen in Victoria.

In Mallacoota, a beach town in southeastern Australia, people were forced to evacuate their homes and take refuge on the beach, as blazes swept in and triggered an alarm bell at 8:00 AM on Tuesday. “It should have been daylight but it was black like midnight and we could hear the fire roaring,” said local resident David Jeffrey to the BBC. “We were all terrified for our lives.” Some people hopped in boats and waited on the water.

In Batemans Bay, a little further north in NSW, similar scenes played out, with people sitting on the beach next to life rafts while their towns were burning down. They were ready to take to the waters if conditions worsened.

Batemans Bay residents are now evacuating to the beach, these are the scene captured a short time ago.

LIVE COVERAGE: https://t.co/7oP3HkcPse

LATEST RFS INFORMATION: https://t.co/OUj0yszjdF

9 popular Matador Instagram photos

As the year comes to a close, we like to reflect on how the past year has gone. 2019 was a great year for travel, with economies bouncing back and welcoming more tourists than ever, new eye-catching structures that kept travelers in awe, nations opening their doors to eager visitors thanks to new visa regulations, and outdoors fun that has us all fit and entertained. Thanks to the wonders of social media, travelers from around the globe have been sharing their adventures with us all year long via Instagram in the hopes that they will inspire more of us to get out there and explore. From Rainbow Mountain in Peru to Torre Sant’Andrea in Italy, here are Matador Network’s nine most liked photos on Instagram in 2019.

1. Mostar Bridge in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Callum Thompson/@adventure_cal

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Matador Network (@matadornetwork) on Apr 18, 2019 at 9:00am PDT

2. Mount Fuji in Japan by Kristina Makeeva/@hobopeeba

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Matador Network (@matadornetwork) on Apr 11, 2019 at 9:01am PDT

3. Rainbow Mountain in Peru by Jacob Moon/@moonmountainman

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Matador Network (@matadornetwork) on Apr 24, 2019 at 12:01pm PDT

4. Rock climbing in La Majorra, Colombia by Nieves/@xueyichen

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Matador Network (@matadornetwork) on Nov 20, 2019 at 2:00pm PST

5. Aerial skills around the world by Liz Thomas/@lizasouras

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Matador Network (@matadornetwork) on Nov 16, 2019 at 10:06am PST

6. Hiking in the Alps by Petra Cola/@colapetra

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Matador Network (@matadornetwork) on Nov 14, 2019 at 2:05pm PST

7. A canyon in Iceland by Asa Steinars/@asasteinars

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Matador Network (@matadornetwork) on Jul 11, 2019 at 12:01pm PDT

8. Ninh Bình, Vietnam by @toni_b_____

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Matador Network (@matadornetwork) on Feb 2, 2019 at 11:00am PST

9. Torre Sant’Andrea in Italy by Francesco Giannotta/@francescogiannotta

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Matador Network (@matadornetwork) on Apr 16, 2019 at 9:02am PDT

A version of this article was previously published on December 31, 2018, and was updated on December 31, 2019.

More like this: How to ring in the new year twice in 24 hours

The post The 9 most liked photos on Matador’s Instagram in 2019 appeared first on Matador Network.

The best travel membership plans

Hopefully, you’re stocked up on travel rewards points, because 2020 is shaping up to be a big year for travel. It’s not all about rewards points, however — many membership programs are available to optimize your travel experience beyond free flights and hotel rooms. Consider these five programs to make 2020 your best year of adventure yet.

1. Priority Pass Select

Who it’s for: People wanting a bit of peace and quiet at the airport

Priority Pass Select is the best thing to happen to the airport lounge since the self-service wine bar. Members enjoy up to 10 complimentary lounge visits per year at airports worldwide, for $249 — a roughly 50 percent discount were you to pay full price at each lounge. The best part is that many travel rewards credit cards, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve and American Express Platinum, offer free Select membership to cardholders. So, if you’re a member of one of the top rewards programs, you can sign up for Priority Pass Select, scan your digital membership card at 1,300 lounges worldwide, and enjoy all the Scotch and fax machine access your heart desires.

Should you burn through the 10 passes, additional entries are $32 each. Note that we’re talking about Priority Pass Select membership — not the $99 basic membership, which offers only two $32 lounge entries and no free entries. To actually make your membership worthwhile, opt for the Select plan.

2. ExpertFlyer

Who it’s for: People who want affordable comfort while flying

Perhaps your legs are feeling a bit cramped, and you could really use a bit of extra legroom on that long-haul flight to Seoul. ExpertFlyer is far more reliable a companion in this case than even the airline website itself, as the service allows you to monitor the best seats on your flight and will contact you immediately should they open up. ExpertFlyer also details frequent flyer programs to help you get the most points for your buck and works as a flight monitoring tool to boot, for $99.99 per year.

It has even gone so far as to provide a crash course on every common airplane model so that you’ll know which seats to look out for when booking a flight. Did you know that the aisle seat in row 47 on that long-haul flight has no seat in front of it and thus offers three extra feet of legroom? You will with this service, and will have the best chance of snagging it before everyone else.

3. CLEAR

Who it’s for: People who don’t like waiting in line at airports

CLEAR, currently operated by the private company Alclear, LLC, is a program that uses biometrics to identify a person before they pass through security screening at crowded facilities like airports and stadiums. At first glance, it looks familiar to federal programs like TSA PreCheck, but rather than being designed to speed you through the entire security process, CLEAR focuses specifically on the first part — the identification check. Instead of having to wait in line to hand your boarding pass and ID to a TSA agent before you pass your bag and self through the scanners, you visit the CLEAR stand and scan your eyes or fingerprints. Then, a CLEAR representative will direct you to the nearest, and hopefully shortest, screening line.

Besides having your irises and fingerprints filed in binary code, the only real “catch” to CLEAR is that it’s not available at all airports — currently, only 30 airports in the US have it. Membership costs $179 annually, though many travel rewards credit cards and other programs offer discounted membership ranging from $109 to $149.

4. TripIt Pro

Who it’s for: People who doesn’t like wasting time at the airport

TripIt isn’t new, but it has optimized its paid membership (TripIt Pro) so much over the past two years that it has essentially become the Siri of airport navigation and itinerary organization. The app keeps track of all of your travel plans and organizes them into neat and easy itineraries that are easy to access and share. For $49 per year, you’ll gain access to airport terminal and concourse maps with voiced directions that can navigate you between gates on a tight layover, updated security wait times, and the ability to change flights and seats within the app.

TripIt Pro also has international travel guides that include currency, tipping, and other handy information. It allows you to monitor fares and receive text messages of delays and gate changes, and there’s even a tool that tells you what time you need to leave your location for the airport, making the nail-biting drive through traffic to the airport a thing of the past.

5. GEOS Travel Safety

Who it’s for: Adventure travelers who want to remain safe on the road

While not nearly as fun a topic as travel hacking and free lounge buffets, the issue of what to do when something goes wrong on the road is worth every traveler’s attention. GEOS is a company that provides search and rescue and medical evacuation support to its members, along with accident coverage up to $50,000 or $100,000 depending on the level of membership. If you’re injured while rock climbing abroad and need to be evacuated, or on a backcountry expedition and get stuck in the elements, the last thing you want is to have no one to turn to for help — let alone question whether the event will leave you in financial ruin. GEOS can be activated through a mobile app or a supported satellite device that you bring with you while traveling. Coverage plans include Search and Rescue, Medical Evacuation, and bundled options that tie the two together, with costs starting at around $24.95 per year for a basic SAR package, depending on your situation and needs.


More like this: When Global Entry and TSA PreCheck are worth it, and which to choose

The post Sign up for these programs to make travel easier in 2020 appeared first on Matador Network.