THE 2024 HOT LIST:
TRENDING DESTINATIONS & TOP HOTEL PICKS
I'm kicking off 2024 with a heavy dose of wanderlust. As a Certified FORA Travel Advisor, I have tapped into my community of fellow advisors for data-driven intel on trending destinations, and we’ve mapped out a 2024 Hot List including our favorite hotels & a few brand new properties.
In 2024, expect rising stars (Hola, Panama!), along with tried and true classics in heavy-hitter destinations like Paris & Florence. Below are some of my highlights on what’s trending in travel this year, and where to stay, of course! You’ll find the full list here.
SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN & BIARRITZ, FRANCE
San Sebastian, Spain
Why we chose them: Madrid and Barcelona may always be Spain’s busiest cities, but the destination I'm most excited about is farther north and spans two countries. Ideal for the casual couple or girls' weekend away, the Basque Country is perfect for a multi-stop adventure including Michelin-starred restaurants, casual pintxos bars, surfing, art, and, of course, new hotels.
Hotel happenings: Nobu is at it again with a new property in San Sebastián — and good thing they got in now, as the Spanish city has announced they plan to ban new hotels to protect against over-tourism. Not brand new, but still newsworthy is the Hotel Maria Cristina, a refreshed classic that reemerged from a $25 million renovation completed in time for its 100th anniversary in 2012.
Moving north to Biarritz, Experimental Group brought not one, but two properties to this seaside city: the Regina Experimental, a Belle-Époque beauty brought back to life, and Le Garage, a 27-room stunner in, yes, a former garage. Both are walking distance to shops, dining, and great beaches. Noteworthy as well is Hotel du Palais, a beloved resort that received a much-needed renovation, and is now managed by Hyatt.
Biarritz, France
FORA Perks at Nobu Hotel, San Sebastián
$100 food/beverage credit, breakfast daily, upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
FORA Perks at Hôtel Du Palais, Biarritz
$100 food/beverage credit, welcome amenity, breakfast daily, upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
FORA Perks at Hotel Maria Cristina
$100 food/beverage credit, breakfast daily, upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Image courtesy of Cali Mykonos
GREECE
Why we chose it: I get it, the Aegean is where everyone wants to go. But, who wants to deal with the teeming crowds and tourist traps? It’s less about Santorini, Mykonos, and Athens — now is the time to venture to the islands you haven’t heard about yet. Plus, the Athenian Riviera has gotten a major upgrade with the introduction of One&Only Aesthesis, making it the prime escape located just outside of the city’s center.
Hotel happenings: Don’t sleep on Corfu, where the all-inclusive Angsana beckons all types of travelers, families included, or Kos, where the adults-only, super-sexy OKU Kos awaits with a clean geometric aesthetic, a private beach, and locally sourced cuisine.
Although Crete is larger than the other Greek islands, I love it for its down-to-earth vibe. You can’t go wrong with Domes Zeen Chania, designed to resemble a traditional Greek village. Or, check into Phaea Blue Palace, a new boutique property where more than half of the 47 rooms boast private pools. Hint: look for Rosewood Blue Palace coming in 2025.
Paros epitomizes the ideal Greek vacation: secluded laid-back luxury, a pervasive breeziness, and a slower pace of life. Avant Mar which opened in mid-2023, awaits, as does Cosme, a chic 40-room retreat with an appreciation for all things local.
Mykonos is anything but under-the-radar, but the chic eco-minded Cali Mykonos (which opened in 2023) is on the quieter side of the island, and it’s a much-needed breath of fresh air.
Finally, One&Only, an expert in spectacular hotels in relatively untouched, distinctive locales, gifted Greece with Aesthesis, a stunner on the Athenian Riviera (translation: far enough from the crowds of Athens, but close enough for a day trip to see the sites).
Paros, Greece
FORA Perks at Angsana Corfu Resort & Spa
$100 hotel/resort credit, breakfast daily, upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
FORA Perks at Domes Zeen Chania
$100 hotel/resort credit, breakfast daily, upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
FORA Perks at Blue Palace
$100 hotel/resort credit, breakfast daily, upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
FORA Perks at Cosme, Paros
$100 hotel/resort credit, breakfast daily, upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
FORA Perks at Cali Mykonos
$100 hotel/resort credit, welcome amenities, one complimentary beach club boat transfer, breakfast daily, upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
FORA Perks at One&Only Aesthesis
You'll score VIP perks at One&Only hotels thanks to Fora's partnership with One&Only Resorts.
CONTINENTAL CLASSICS: PARIS & FLORENCE
Paris, France
Why we chose it: New hotels and global events are drumming up enthusiasm for some of my favorite destinations.
As Audrey Hepburn famously said in Sabrina, Paris is always a good idea. A palpable energy will fill the City of Light all year, courtesy of the summer 2024 Olympics, with new hotels aplenty. And a trip to Paris just got sweeter, as the all-Business Class airline La Compagnie continues to add routes, in addition to their daily flights from NYC. (Pssst: snag exclusive rates when you pair a La Compagnie flight with a stay at one of my favorite French getaways, Domaine de Primard.)
Florence, brimming with captivating art and architecture, is also always a good idea, especially when one of my favorite luxury brands is heading to the Tuscan capital.
Hotel happenings: The Paris moment isn’t palace hotels; it’s all about bougie boutique properties with playful designs, cool bars, and locations in great neighborhoods. I'm particularly excited about La Fantaisie, Paris, which opened in late 2022. Designed by the legendary Martin Brudnizki, La Fantaisie, Paris boasts a dreamy garden setting in the 9th arrondissement and is a stone’s throw from Grand Boulevards, Galeries Lafayette, and Rue des Martyrs (well worth a visit for the Sunday morning flea market for vintage shopping and wine shops).
2023 brought the openings of the vibrantly chic Le Grand Mazarin, in the Marais, the opulent Hôtel Dame des Arts, in the Latin Quarter, and the discreet Maison Delano, an 18th-century mansion with impeccable taste. Plus, the SO/Paris opened in 2022 with a rooftop bar and artistic flare. (Pssst: while you’re in France, head to Auberge’s standout Domaine des Etangs in the French countryside, which makes a great complement to a visit to the city.)
A 15-room jewel box where each room is totally unique, Hotel 1 Place Vendome is in the heart of the city but is tucked away and private. Even if you want to be in the city center, there's now a spectacular, uber-private option to travel through a local lens.
Speaking of Auberge, the brand announced its foray into Europe’s Renaissance jewel, Florence. Collegio alla Querce, a collection of restored 16th-century buildings, is opening its doors in early 2024. The hotel’s terraced gardens, authentic Tuscan style, and lavish outdoor pool have the industry buzzing already.
If you're daydreaming of shopping in Firenze, don't miss La Gemma, a new boutique property that opened in 2023 and is a stone's throw away from some of the city's best retail therapy locations.
Florence, Italy
FORA Perks at Domaine de Primard
Complimentary experience, welcome amenities, one-way airport transfer, breakfast daily, upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
FORA Perks at Maison Delano
Hotel/resort credit, welcome amenity, breakfast daily, upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
FORA Perks at SO/ Paris
$100 hotel/resort credit, breakfast daily, upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
FORA Perks at Domaine des Etangs
$100 food/beverage credit, breakfast daily, upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
First-Time Cruises
Image courtesy of Coquelicot, A Belmond Boat, Champagne
Why we chose it: 2023 was the year that non-cruisers became cruisers, and I'm here for it. The trend isn’t going anywhere, and interest in cruising — especially on less stereotypical charters — is on the rise.
Cruise happenings: I'm a big fan of Virgin Voyages and its adults-only routes around the world. Virgin’s Valiant Lady is on its way to its newest home port, San Juan. Now the ship can visit the lesser Antilles, adding many new destinations to its lineup. The signature Scarlet Lady will also introduce longer itineraries across the Mediterranean, as well as a return to the home port of Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
Luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent purchased Crystal Cruises (now re-envisioned simply as Crystal). Expect a whole new level of luxury at sea in 2024 to the tune of a $150 million Italian refurbishing. Penthouses now sprawl across the upper floors for cruisers to relish in what can only be described as a luxury apartment at sea. Also new in the luxury cruising world is Explora Journeys, which welcomed its first guests in 2023 with the Explora I. Five more ships outfitted with penthouse-like accommodations are set to follow. And my eyes are on the Four Seasons yacht, which takes its maiden voyage in 2025 — and when reservations open up, they’ll go fast!
And a hop, skip, and river boat ride from Paris, I'm eyeing the Coquelicot, A Belmond Boat, Champagne. The newest addition to the fleet of Belmond river boats, complete with opulent suites, an indoor salon, and a Champagne bar (mais bien sûr).
For an intimate and eco-friendly adventure cruise, opt for an expedition with the newly rebranded HX (Hurtigruten). The brand unveiled its much-anticipated voyages to West Africa in its inaugural season to the continent late last year.
There’s lots more on this year’s Hot List, which you can check out over on my Fora pages. When you’re ready to start planning your next adventure, get in touch!
