Enjoying the Best of Three 2022 Hot List Winners

Presented by Capital One

There is always plenty to do at a Hot List 2022 hotel winner, from boat rides along their waterfronts to hitting the boutiques right outside their doors. Here, how to turn an overnight into a proper stay, complete with planning tips for places in Santa Fe, Boston and Boca Raton.

Bishop’s Lodge

Since the 1930s, New Mexico has been called the ‘Land of Enchantment’, and after visiting Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection, it’s easy to see why. The property dates back to the 1860s and recently underwent a six-year, $75 million-dollar renovation before reopening in 2021. Downtown Santa Fe is a few miles away, but the hotel’s scenic setting in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, makes it feel far removed. When you go, be sure to pencil in time at Stream Dance Spa, where ancient rituals and holistic treatments like crystal bowl south bathing revitalize the spirit. Meanwhile, each of the 100 guest rooms and suites are spiritual sanctuaries in themselves, with kiva fireplaces and private terraces. As the sun sets over the landscape, head to SkyFire, where leather furnishings and cow skin rugs give the signature restaurant a sophisticated, Southwestern flair that’s reflected in menu items like chili-chicken enchiladas and margaritas made with local limes and apricots.

There’s much to explore outside the hotel, too. Fuel up on craft coffee and fresh pastries at the hotel’s Two Dogs Café before a day of outdoor adventure. Fly-fishing in New Mexico is a year-round sport, and the property offers full-and-half-day excursions at a handful of private ranches. The concierge can also organize stand-up paddle-boarding on the Rio Grande River and horseback riding through the adjacent National Forest. I recommend the sunrise ride, where you greet the day from a scenic ridge with a cup of warm Navajo tea. Should your travels coincide with Santa Fe’s world-renowned opera season (July 1 – August 27), don’t miss the hotel’s special packages, including pre-show dinners and tailgate picnics, both of which will sing in memory long after you’ve returned home. – Sallie Lewis

The Newbury, Boston

Located in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, The Newbury hotel is synonymous with its namesake street’s iconic brownstones and verdant Public Garden. Originally opened in 1927 as the nation’s first Ritz-Carlton, the newly renovated property boasts bright rooms and sprawling suites with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the leafy park’s fountains, walking paths, and statues. The property’s 286 rooms include 90 unique suites—some with wood-burning fireplaces and marble bathrooms—plus sleek modern decor that makes each space feel more like you’re in a luxurious, stylish home than a hotel.

Art-filled common spaces like a hidden library and cocktail bar are perfect for imbibing over a borrowed book, or people-watching the busy shopping block outside. Colorful rooftop eatery Contessa serves Northern Italian cuisine that’s made this open-air spot one of Boston’s hottest tables. Reserve well in advance for inventive antipasti, aperitivo martinis, and local riffs on handmade pastas like the spicy lobster capellini—all in view of an iconic skyline.

Beyond the bellhop-staffed front doors lie plenty of activities to fill a day: Three summer weekends per year, the shopping district of Newbury Street becomes pedestrian-only—and is perfect for milling the stretch of stores that range from vintage fashion to high-end jewelry. On the nearby Charles River Esplanade, which is car-free year-round, grab a bikeshare bike or rent a kayak to and coast down the banks and get a new view of the neighborhood and adjacent Cambridge. For even more history, head to Beacon Hill to browse centuries-old real estate and explore the cobblestoned cow paths turned streets. – Shannon McMahon

The Boca Raton, Florida

Constructed in 1926 by famed architect Addison Mizner, The Boca Raton’s sprawling resort stands as a 200-acre reminder of all that is great can be grand. A recent $200 million renovation brings reimagined offerings at both its beachside and lakeside facilities, including at the breezy al fresco dining spot Marisol and New York City transplant Sadelle’s, where the breakfast bagel is king. Harborside Pool Club is a kid’s dream with its four acres’ worth of pools, a 450-foot lazy river and two sky-high waterslides. Take the resort’s complimentary water taxis across Lake Boca Raton to the property’s private beach, home to a surf boards, paddle boards and a menu of water sports activities. Rest at any of the premium guest rooms serviced by a butler, who can reserve a tee time at the championship-level golf course and pampering at the 50,000-square-foot Spa Palmera (do book a ritual bath for refreshing hot-cold water therapy).

Get a taste of the city by cruising to nearby Mizner Park in one of the resort’s Moke electric car (available for rent). Once at the posh entertainment plaza, grab a handcrafted coffee at Subculture Coffee before walking to the Boca Raton Museum of Art to see its collection of 19th, 20th and 21st century art. For a quintessentially Florida experience, rent a boat from The Boca Raton and steer it 20 minutes south on the Intracoastal Waterway to Hillsboro Lighthouse, a historic structure reachable only by watercraft. If you have the energy, climb the lighthouse’s 175 steps for 360-degree views of the ocean and city. – Nila do Simon

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