World’s Best Island Hotels | Travel + Leisure Of the 20 best island hotels, Caribbean properties made the biggest splash this year, with seven on our list. Coming in at No. 11, Jamaica’s Couples Swept Away in Negril, epitomizes the destination’s couples-only, all-inclusive appeal in its 312 romantic suites with louvered windows overlooking the soft sand and gentle surf of Seven Mile Beach. -Donna Heiderstadt, Travel + Leisure Sorry, I know it’s a pretty respected brand, but any place called “Couples” just sounds cheesy as all hell to me. I mean it may not be a swingers joint*, but it certainly sounds like it. Oh, and the “Swept Away” part doesn’t exactly do it any favors either. This resort could be the most romantic place in the world, but with a name like “Couples Swept Away” all I get is a very B-Movie, Skinemax vibe, you know? I mean, why would my girl and I go to a place called that when we could instead go to the exotically-named Halekulani or the romantic and charming sounding Wickaninnish Inn? Photo: Halekulani Hotel | Waikiki Beach, Oahu * Not that there’s anything wrong with that of course.
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World’s Best Island Hotels | Travel + Leisure

Of the 20 best island hotels, Caribbean properties made the biggest splash this year, with seven on our list. Coming in at No. 11, Jamaica’s Couples Swept Away in Negril, epitomizes the destination’s couples-only, all-inclusive appeal in its 312 romantic suites with louvered windows overlooking the soft sand and gentle surf of Seven Mile Beach.

-Donna Heiderstadt, Travel + Leisure

Sorry, I know it’s a pretty respected brand, but any place called “Couples” just sounds cheesy as all hell to me. I mean it may not be a swingers joint*, but it certainly sounds like it. Oh, and the “Swept Away” part doesn’t exactly do it any favors either. This resort could be the most romantic place in the world, but with a name like “Couples Swept Away” all I get is a very B-Movie, Skinemax vibe, you know? I mean, why would my girl and I go to a place called that when we could instead go to the exotically-named Halekulani or the romantic and charming sounding Wickaninnish Inn?

Photo: Halekulani Hotel | Waikiki Beach, Oahu

* Not that there’s anything wrong with that of course.

America’s Best Ski Hotels | Travel + Leisure I’ve stayed at the Sonnenalp and The Lodge in Vail and at the Woodstock Inn in Vermont. I’ve dined at the Stein Ericksen Lodge and thrown back cocktails at The Little Nell, the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch, the Beaver Creek Park Hyatt, and at both the Four Seasons and Fairmont Chateau in Whistler. There is little question in my mind that these are all among “America’s Best Ski Hotels.” Bodes well for the rest that made the Travel + Leisure list. Photo: Park Hyatt | Beaver Creek, Colorado
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America’s Best Ski Hotels | Travel + Leisure

I’ve stayed at the Sonnenalp and The Lodge in Vail and at the Woodstock Inn in Vermont. I’ve dined at the Stein Ericksen Lodge and thrown back cocktails at The Little Nell, the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch, the Beaver Creek Park Hyatt, and at both the Four Seasons and Fairmont Chateau in Whistler. There is little question in my mind that these are all among “America’s Best Ski Hotels.” Bodes well for the rest that made the Travel + Leisure list.

Photo: Park Hyatt | Beaver Creek, Colorado

World's Prettiest Mountain Towns | Travel + Leisure

Time to start thinking about ski season! A while back Travel + Leisure picked some of their favorite mountain towns. Having lived in Colorado while attending school there, I’m not sure Beaver Creek qualifies. It’s not much of a town really, more a masterplanned resort community - though the skiing there and at nearby Vail is exceptional. Hard though to understand how one could find it “prettier” than other Colorado areas like Telluride and Crested Butte.

Of the non-U.S. destinations listed, I’ve only visited Wengen. Now it qualifies! Quaint, earthy spot in the foothills of Eiger. I was there in the summer, so can’t vouch for the skiing, but I can attest to its beauty.

Still, of all the places I’ve skied, no town comes even close to Whistler. Insane skiing at both Whistler and Blackcomb, and the funnest apres ski town around.

Photo of the Day | Fisgard Lighthouse | Victoria, Canada via: fuckyeahglobetrotters
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Photo of the Day | Fisgard Lighthouse | Victoria, Canada

via: fuckyeahglobetrotters

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Photo of the Day | Seabird Island | British Columbia, Canada Photo: Purple Field by Drew Brayshaw via: travelhighlights
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Photo of the Day | Seabird Island | British Columbia, Canada

Photo: Purple Field by Drew Brayshaw via: travelhighlights

Source: Flickr / druclimb