Extraordinary hotels to elevate your summer

Ella Fitzgerald got it right when she sang “summertime, and the livin’ is easy.” All those blue skies induce natural highs, and a swell of festivals, parades and parties means the coming months offer something for everybody. From a Seattle icon that comes with guaranteed whale sightings to a Thai resort that’s set to take a starring role on TV, these are the exceptional hotels to add to your summer bucket list.  

A star in the making

_{Four Seasons Koh Samui, Thailand}

If you’ve watched The White Lotus, you’ll understand the concept of “set-jetting”: Viewers went wild for vacations in Hawaii and Sicily after indulging in the show’s extravagant location shoots. So if you want to beat the crowds, now’s the time to hot tail it to the Four Seasons Koh Samui. The resort will take center stage in season three and features every conceivable amenity, from a Muay Thai boxing ring to its own chic sailboat. You’ll also find top-tier kids’ club facilities, a suitably spectacular beachfront setting, and the most gracious Thai hospitality.  

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A foodie fantasy

_{Hoxton, Chicago}

One of the world’s largest food festivals, September’s Taste of Chicago dishes up everything from mango gazpacho to Senegalese peanut stew, alongside local signatures like brick-size slabs of Chicago-style cheesecake. For travelers after even more culinary clout, there’s only one place to stay: The Hoxton Chicago, where rooftop Cabra serves mayo-flecked goat empanadas, and airy Mediterranean restaurant Cira does buttery pistachio-stuffed ravioli. 

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A natural beauty

_{1 Hotel Toronto, Canada}

In summer, when Lake Ontario is at its most accessible and inviting, Toronto takes to the water. Unsurprisingly, this progressive city offers something for everybody, from yoga on stand-up paddle boards to glow-in-the-dark night-time kayaking, illuminated by LEDs. And to stay? Packed with greenery, genuinely committed to sustainability and with its entrance lined by indigenous trees, 1 Hotel Toronto is the obvious choice for anyone who shares Toronto’s outdoorsy sensibilities. The concierge team enthusiastically advises on hikes and birdwatching opportunities, while the rooftop pool is a standout. 

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A Weekend In… 1 Hotel Toronto

Where style meets sustainability

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An over-water wonder

_{The Edgewater Hotel, Seattle, WA}

A one-off property pitched over Puget Sound on Pier 67, The Edgewater Hotel is a magnet for visitors to Seattle who love the water: It envelops this landmark building so completely that The Beatles famously fished from the window of their suite. Nowadays most guests are content to take in its wondrous views of the Olympic Mountains, though there’s an extra incentive to come here in summer. During these hotter months, these sparkling waters teem with humpback, minke and killer whales, and you don’t necessarily need to join one of the city’s whale-watching boat tours to make a sighting. 

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A piece of living history

_{Faraway Nantucket, MA}

Nantucket is a place like no other in the United States, with its stylishly no-frills, beach-and-boats lifestyle. Faraway perfectly fits in with this vibe. Six historic captain’s houses make up the property, complete with with wooden porches and shingled exteriors, while inside they’re all modern comfort with Bellino Italian linens and Byredo body care. The 17th-century Meeting House is now home to Sister Ship, an ultra-stylish restaurant with warm golden tones, elegant design touches and a beautifully retro mood. The terrace bar is an popular spot, and in the unlikely event that it all gets too much, the town center location makes exploring extremely easy.  

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A rooftop oasis in the city

_{Humaniti Hotel, Montreal, Canada}

When a place is renowned for its cold winters, you can bet the locals take their hot-weather days seriously. That’s perhaps why Montreal’s summer season of festivals, exhibitions and parties rivals that of any other global city, and much of it is easily reached from the Humaniti Hotel. Minutes from Downtown, Old Montreal and Chinatown, it’s impeccably located for sightseeing year-round, though in summer there are extra incentives to spend clear-sky days at the property. Up on the roof, its outdoor pool opens seasonally, as does its sun-trap bar Terrasse Alizé—try the signature Alizé Mojito, with rum, maple and peach purée.

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An indoor jungle

_{Mayfair House Hotel & Garden, Miami, FL} 

Miami is renowned for its art-deco landmarks, but the recent $50 million renovation of Mayfair House Hotel & Garden has now cast the spotlight on a 1980s Coconut Grove property whose sinuous facade was inspired by Gaudí. Beyond that audacious architecture, what’s notable is a garden atrium draped with so many lush tropical plants it’s easy to imagine you’re in Langkawi or Bali. To keep the vacation vibe going, the crowds ascend to rooftop bar Sipsip Calypso Rum Bar for piña coladas by the pool.  

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A cool and calm new look

_{Nuage, Paris, France}

Just like its home city, Nuage has had a makeover recently. The hotel underwent a top-to-tail renovation after operating for years as Hotel Elysées Mermoz. With its new name meaning “Cloud,” this 8th arrondissement retreat is now appropriately calm and dreamy— expect airy rooms where swing chairs are suspended from the ceiling, and an indulgent approach to hospitality that means staff will happily, for example, serve breakfast late into the evening.   

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Room report: Inside Nuage, Paris

Take a closer look around this hot new hotel

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A haven for hikers

_{Wuksachi Lodge, Sequoia National Park, CA}

The ultimate rustic mountain retreat, clad in stone and cedar, Wuksachi Lodge entices hikers and nature lovers as the start point for routes that wind through towering pine forests and, in summer, abundant wildflower meadows. A nearby two-mile loop, the Congress Trail, circles through dozens of gargantuan sequoias before revealing General Sherman, the world’s largest living tree (and 2,200 years old to boot). Back at Wuksachi Lodge each night, guests gather at The Peaks Restaurant to share trails and tales over generous steaks and trout almondine spritzed with lemon miso butter.  

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A musical marvel

_{The Sherry Netherland, New York City, NY}

Eclectic and charismatic, with fabulous art-deco flourishes and a flamboyant fresco decorating its lobby, The Sherry Netherland has immersed its patrons in decadence for just shy of a century. But there’s no question its setting—where Central Park meets Fifth Avenue —is just an integral to its success. Consider the convenience afforded to guests who can nip out to the free musical performances taking place all summer long at Central Park, as part of New York’s SummerStage concert series. After a lie-in and some lunch-time bellinis at Harry Cipriani restaurant, the stage is just minutes away by foot.  

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John O’Ceallaigh

Writer

John O’Ceallaigh is a luxury travel editor, and journalist with The Telegraph, National Geographic Traveler and many more. He is the founder of LUTE travel consultancy.