Guilty Pleasures

I have a confession. I love, love, love roaming through boutique hotels, especially those designed by world renowed architect Phillippe Starck. There, I said it. Beyond my fantasy of wanting to stay in every penthouse suite with Jack Johnson, I revel in Matisse-inspired colors, contemporary energy and the modern luxury of boutique hotels. Starck's surreal Cocteau-like dream world inspired him to use unicorn heads as wall decorations in one hotel and a 20 foot log tree with seatbacks in another. Now that's creativity. His hotels are museums that you don't need to worry about alarms going off if you touch them.

Sneaking through super chic hotels are guilty pleasures I do when I find myself in big beautiful cities like NYC, Los Angelas, London or Hong Kong. I'll tiptoe past the concierge, through the lobby, up the elevator and check out all hyper-adorned accommodations for the discerning traveler. I am not a discerning traveler but I play one on location. Hey, it's an urban adventure that satisfies my love of labyrinths, passageways and trendsetting design.

Some of favorites include:
The Mondrain Hotel in L.A., featuring underwater music in an outdoor pool overlooking the Hollywood Hills.
The Faena Hotel in Beunos Aires with an infinity pool and pulsating Cabaret night lounge.
The Sanderson Hotel in Londonwith a super whimsical billiard room featuring an entire wall with original 50’s stained glass design.