Deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Primland is like a luxury outdoor camp for all ages, complete with horseback riding, hiking, fishing, an aerial adventure course, and nightly s’mores around the firepit. There is plenty in store for those who head to this Virginia gem, not the least of which is its exceptional dining options and world-class golf course with stunning views from every hole. For a real treat, head to the observatory for a guided stargazing session—I can guarantee by the end of it you’ll be interested in buying your own telescope. Due to the massive size of the property, you’ll either make liberal use of the valets to shuttle you around from one activity to the next or want to bring your own car. At the heart of it all is The Lodge, with 23 suites and 30 rooms, but guests can also book the one (slightly removed) luxury six-bedroom residence, a variety of mountain homes, or the tree houses located in a secluded corner of Primland’s 12,000 wooded acres. From Rs53,564. —Jamie Spain
The Lowell — New York.jpg)
In an era when what’s newest and fastest often gets the spotlight, The Lowell, quietly holding court on a leafy block on New York City’s Upper East Side since the 1920s, remains a bastion of class and elegance. Sometimes you may need to wait a few minutes for one of the two elevators that service the hotel’s 74 rooms and suites, all reimagined by Michael S. Smith, the designer behind the White House updates during Obama’s presidency. But that’s okay; while you wait, you can quite literally stop and smell the flowers—gorgeous fresh bouquets are placed throughout the hotel. There are real room keys and actual light switches to flick, analog vestiges from simpler days that ironically make things easier than the latest innovations. There are dozens of lovely, throwback touches, such as the Club Room, a sophisticated convivial space off the lobby and adjacent to the hotel’s French restaurant, Majorelle, with oak parquet floors, a fireplace, and a small bar, for the exclusive use of hotel guests and their companions until 5 p.m., when the public can join. And while this neighbourhood might never be the most avant-garde sweep of Manhattan, it isn’t totally caught in amber. Previously downtown brands (Foundrae, Khaite, Ulla Johnson, Toteme) have opened outposts on nearby Madison Avenue, and the Frick Collection, a few blocks to the north, recently revealed a massive renovation. It seems like the storied Upper East may just be entering another Gilded Age. From Rs1,17,030. —Rebecca Misner
Mayfair House Hotel & Garden — Florida