As an architecture lover, I find the idea of the hotel fascinating. At their best, hotels can be architectural exemplars — radiating their built intentions in every room, to a variety of perspectives. Their adaptations are meant to differ from the lived-in architecture of cities and houses. Guests aren’t supposed to change a hotel’s atmosphere; instead, their mood is changed by a good hotel.

Working for a tourism-oriented magazine and in my freelance life, I was able to dig into what makes the best hotels special. Some delivered world-class hospitality experiences, while others leaned heavily into their atmospheres.

Read on for a taste of luxury — and get in touch here if you have a hotel for me to write about!