From an ancient monastery turned boutique hotel in Cappadocia to an iconic celebrity hang-out in Puerto Rico, these historic hotels and resorts around the world invite guests to relish in their rich culture as they offer a peek into the past with a modern twist.
Argos in Cappadocia | Cappadocia, Turkey (pictured)
Emerging from a 2,000-year-old historical network of ancient ruins, caves and underground tunnels, Argos in Cappadocia is a luxury hotel carved into the cliffs of Turkey’s charming town of Uçhisar. The ancient monastery turned boutique hotel derived from ancient dwellings and was transformed into an unmatched hotel experience through the discovery of the ruins of Bezirhane, a 1500-year-old rock-hewn monastery and later hostel for camel caravans on the legendary Silk Road. After a 14 year restoration period consisting of careful excavation and research, Argos in Cappadocia opened its enchanting doors to travelers with just 29 rooms. Today, the hotel now boasts 51 rooms that are uniquely designed to pay tribute to the region’s ancient architecture as they blend in the volcanic landscape while offering en-suite pools, fireplaces, or terraces overlooking the Pigeon Valley, Mount Erciyes and fairy chimneys. Guests can choose to dine at Nahita - the region’s first farm-to-table eatery with produce derived from a 60 km area that sits within one of the oldest human settlements in history. For a truly memorable escape, the hotel offers tailor-made experiences including full moon treks, local culinary tours and cooking classes, scenic picnics, holistic spa treatments, hot air balloon rides, and much more.
Barnsley Resort
History is around every corner at Barnsley Resort. The estate dates back to the 1840s, when Godfrey Barnsley began construction on the original manor, called Woodlands, which was built for the love of his life, his wife Julia. As Godfrey Barnsley began construction, Julia fell ill and passed away. Some months later, Godfrey began having dreams of Julia in the boxwood parterre gardens, asking him to finish construction of the estate for their children and future generations; and that's exactly what he did. In 1848 the Manor and gardens were completed, with the gardens, which are still there today, modeled after the architectural designs of Andrew Jackson Downing. During the Civil War, The manor suffered damage beyond repair during the occupation of troops, and in 1906 a tornado damaged the home, tearing away the roof. Godfrey's descendants occupied the manor until it was sold in 1942, and left to ruins. In 1988 Prince Hubertus Fugger of Bavaria purchased the estate, reviving and expanding the gardens and restoring the remains of the ruins. The property opened as a formal resort in 1999 and has been delighting guests ever since.
Barnsley Resort offers charming cottage-style accommodations, elevated cuisine, on-site adventures including horseback riding, shooting clays, a refreshing pool, award-winning golf, miles of trails for hiking, an intimate spa, and gorgeous gardens — all complementing the Manor House Ruins, of course. With three on-site restaurants ranging from fine-dining at the 19th century farmhouse, Rice House Restaurant, to pure Southern comfort food at The Woodlands Grill and al fresco dining at the Beer Garden, guests can feast their eyes (and appetite!) on some of the freshest Georgian garden-to-table cuisine. Whether seeking a relaxing getaway or an adventurous escape, Barnsley Resort serves as the ultimate retreat to unplug, reconnect and escape together. For more information or to book, visit www.barnsleyresort.com.
Kura Botanica
Kura Botanica Hotel – a luxury boutique property centrally-located in the heart of Curaçao's Kura Hulanda village. Formerly a residential housing community, the UNESCO World Heritage designated buildings of Kura Hulanda were built in the 17th and 18th centuries, adopting a Dutch colonial style and the island’s signature multi-color aesthetic. The interiors of several of these historic buildings have now been turned into an arts and entertainment district, including a museum, shops, restaurants and of course, the new boutique hotel. Enjoy a historic European-esque village experience on property, along with all of the modern luxurious catering to travelers today – a wellness spa, stunning pool, personal concierge, complimentary breakfast and room-service. https://kurabotanica.com/
Villa Bokéh
Located in the heavenly outskirts of Antigua sits Villa Bokéh - a 15-room luxurious hacienda that was once home to over 10 orphans. Situated in the heart of a 6-acre lush garden, the property was built by two artists that fell in love. They quickly realized their estate was too large for their quaint family and decided to open up their home to help raise and homeschool girls that were displaced. Now, the intimate and exclusive Relais & Chateaux property serves as a home away from home for International and local visitors that want to indulge in Guatemala’s history, art, rich culture, and nature. Common areas and guest rooms entrance visitors with Guatemala’s irresistible textile culture, from the tapestries (some of which date back almost a century) to the linens to accent wallpapers — Guests should keep a special eye out as many of the artwork found in the two-story estate was handmade by the original owners and other local artisans. To learn more, visit www.villabokeh.com.
The Guesthouses at Southernmost Beach Resort
Blending history with contemporary coastal décor, take in the magical atmosphere of Key West from the guest room of an elegantly restored, turn-of-the-century Victorian home with The Guesthouses at Southernmost Beach Resort. Located on the historic Duval Street, "The Avalon" is an intimate 19 room escape with origins dating back to 1885, while "Duval Gardens" is a home comprising 12 rooms dating back to the 1920s. There are also two other guesthouses, Dewey and La Mer. In their former lives, the guesthouses took on many roles, including one of the first few hospitals on the island and a boys schoolhouse. Perhaps the most interesting part of their history is that in 1962 one of the guesthouses was turned into a military stronghold for troops to monitor Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. All of the rooms in these interesting slices of history have been updated to provide modern amenities, while still maintaining the colonial charm and ambiance. The old town bed-and-breakfast feel of these properties are as close as you get to Key West’s storied past, where Hemingway once roamed the streets. A plentiful continental breakfast buffet is served café style on the front porch each morning. All guests of The Guesthouses may access Southernmost Beach Resort's other amenities, such as the two private beaches, three pools (as well as the homes’ private pools), daily programming and more.
Playa Largo Resort & Spa
In Its Former Life: The Largest Pineapple Farm in the U.S.
In the 1860s and ‘70s, there was a captain by the name of Ben Baker who owned 160 acres in Key Largo - the northernmost island in the renowned Florida Keys - stretching almost half a dozen miles. With prime real estate on mile marker 97 - where Playa Largo Resort & Spa is now located - Captain Baker planted 6,000 pineapple stalks and grew the nation’s largest pineapple farm. His pineapple operations were so successful that he shipped out over 85 percent of all pineapples consumed in the U.S. at the time. When a Category 2 hurricane damaged the island in 1906, the business slowed down, and the Florida Keys ultimately began its transformation into a vacation hotspot. Enter Playa Largo Resort & Spa in 2016… before even breaking ground on construction, the resort team dedicated $300,000 towards environmental preservation to survey trees and wildlife in the nearby area to ensure the Keys’ delicate ecosystem wasn’t harmed in the process. Playa Largo - home to 178 guest rooms, two-story bungalows, private beach homes, a beachfront zero-entry pool, incredible spa, four restaurants and so much more - quickly became one of the most sought after luxury getaways in the area. However, the land’s pineapple-filled history doesn’t go unnoticed, as the resort pays homage to its former life with pineapple mojitos as welcome drinks for all guests who walk through the doors, a signature Eventide cocktail (served at their daily sunset celebration of the transition from day to night) served in a whole pineapple, and most recently, a private label pineapple vodka only available at Playa Largo - distilled at the local Islamorada Brewery & Distillery. (www.playalargoresort.com)
Caribe Hilton | San Juan, Puerto Rico
The iconic Caribe Hilton opened in 1949 as Hilton’s first hotel outside of the continental U.S. When the government of Puerto Rico put out an open bid to hoteliers wishing to build on the site, Conrad Hilton was the only one who responded in Spanish…the rest is history. Throughout the years, the beloved mid-century island mainstay was known for its Juliana’s nightclub — an epochal celebrity hang-out where guests and locals alike would gather to catch the hottest entertainment; artists like Julio Iglesias, Gloria Estefan, and Iris Chacon performed there (years before they were famous). Liz Taylor, Sophia, Loren, and Barack Obama are also among the hotel’s celebrity guests. ‘Club Caribe’ - the resort’s beach club - drew in locals in droves, while guests from abroad returned year after year, making Caribe a second home. Fun fact: the resort’s most long-time guests have been vacationing there for more than 50 years! In 1954, Caribe bartender Ramón “Monchito” Marrero created the Piña Colada while attempting to come up with a fun, refreshing, welcome drink for guests. The first Piña Coladas were non-alcoholic and made in a shaker because blenders didn’t yet exist. It wasn’t until years later that Monchito added local rum to his concoction and pioneered the region’s tropical cocktail movement with what’s known as the world’s most popular vacation libation. After serving the Piña Colada for 35 years, in 1978, Monchito’s signature beverage was declared the official drink of Puerto Rico. In 2004, Caribe Hilton was even presented with an official government proclamation in support of the cocktail’s 50th anniversary. The resort continues to pay homage to its rich history and local culture with unique twists on the Piña Colada that include modern variations of the classic tropical cocktail, bartender demos, mixology lessons, and more.
