Travelling in Style: Barcelona, Spain

Here it is...the other Barcelona apartment rental that caught my eye from Destination BCN.  I love the minimalist look and profusion of white, which is something this place shares with the apartment we rented for our honeymoon. The Principal, as its called, sleeps 6....maybe for that family vacation in a few years? (I can dream, right?)
We did a lot of research on where to stay in Barcelona, and finally realized that some of the best deals there are the apartment rentals. Surprisingly, you can stay in these rentals for just a few days at a time. I haven't come across these kind of short-term apartment rentals in any other city...I wonder if this is a distinctly Barcelona thing, or a new trend? Anyway, I'm glad we're getting to take advantage of it. 

Our Honeymoon Destination

My wedding is now only 17 days away, and I'm super excited because that means we will be in Spain in only 18 days! You may have noticed by my frequent posts about Spanish interiors that I really love the design aesthetic in Spain. Well, we were lucky enough to be able to rent an apartment in Barcelona that is one of the most beautiful interiors I've seen.

One of the most amazing things about this place is that we will have our own rooftop patio that overlooks Placa Reial. The apartment is privately owned and rented by the company Destination BCN, which also has several other rentals in Barcelona, all of them meticulously designed and curated. I feel so lucky to be spending (part) of my honeymoon here, and I can't wait to see the space in person. Check back later this week and I'll share the other Destination BCN apartment that really knocked my socks off.

Moroccan Oasis

The desert is harsh, but with an oasis like this, how can you resist? This vacation rental is officially in my top 5 coolest hotels list.

Travelling in Style: Mykonos, Greece

Is it possible to not feel intense pangs of wanderlust when viewing photos of the Greek Isles? I certainly say no. And the beautifully styled Grace Mykonos Hotel has made those pangs even deeper for me. I would love to visit this world of white, blue, and water.

This wraps up my blue-themed posts....and now I'm headed to Chicago for a weekend with my fiance. Happy Weekend!

Travelling in Style: Portland, Oregon

First, I have to get this off my chest: I have an Ace Hotel fetish. There are 4 locations in the U.S., each one arranged and outfitted by a different design team, giving them all a totally unique character that jives with local trends and tastes. On top of this Ace Hotel fetish, I also have a serious penchant for Portland. Its cool, its low-key, it has great bookstores and great coffee (keep reading), and the restaurants are amazing. So, of course, I had to do a "Travelling in Style" post on the Ace Hotel in Portland. And this is one of my featured hotels that I've actually stayed in, so it gets my personal stamp of approval! The Ace Portland is in a perfect location--it literally shares a lobby with Portland's own Stumptown Coffee (not to be missed--my best friend's Italian fiance said it was the best espresso he's ever had in America) and is 1 block away from Powell's Books, an entire city block full of new and used literature of every flavor and color. The rooms have a minimalist and off-beat feel and are very budget friendly, with bunk and/or shared bathroom options to help you keep a little more money in your wallet (the more to spend at Powell's later). Plus, there are some serious perks: they rent bikes, allow dogs, and every room is stocked with miniature Malin + Goetz toiletries (the rum soap is heavenly).

P.S. Last weekend Emma of Emma's Design Blogg reblogged my Travelling in Style post on Hotel Aire de Bardenas in Navarra, Spain. It sent my pageviews through the roof, and I'm so happy that Emma and my other visitors enjoyed the post!! Hopefully some of you have come back....and I 'd love to hear your thoughts about what you like and don't like. Thanks!!

Travelling in Style: NYC

I'm not sure how long I'll stay in New York state, so while I'm here I'm trying to take advantage of my proximity to some of the major east coast cities. This spring we're hoping to spend a weekend in NYC, which I've only been to once before--and that was a for a half day high school field trip, so its safe to say that I know nothing about the city. As always, Kyle and I did extensive research on where to stay. Of course, hotels in NYC are ridiculously expensive, so ultimately our choice will be dictated by budget. But in my dream world, we'd stay at The Greenwich Hotel. In fact, in my dreamworld, we would live in the Greenwich Hotel.

Travelling in Style: Navarra, Spain

I came across Hotel Aire de Bardenas while looking for a place to stay on my honeymoon in La Rioja. This austere accommodation sits isolated on the plains outside of Tudela, and it has me convinced that when it comes to architecture and design Spain has got everyone beat.  An outdoor bathtub? I'm sold! Would you want to spend your honeymoon here?