This December marks the close of a year where even those with Frequent Flyer miles in the hundreds and thousands have not been traveling. Everyone has, for the most part, stayed put. But while London’s swanky Connaught hotel (with the best bar in the world) may be out of reach, their Martini glasses are just an online order away. Il Pellicano’s Slim Aarons-famous pool, meanwhile, can be recreated at a pool near you with their striped beach towel. And though you may be unable to venture to Aspen for New Year’s Eve, where the St. Regis’s imposing red brick building gets dusted with snow, you can sport their collaboration with Stubbs and Wootton. One of the styles, designed by Zach Weiss, features a spray of bubbly Champagne. Your feet may be firmly planted at home but your spirits will be transported to the epic end of the year countdown you deserve.
These, and more of the best gifts from hotels around the world, below.
Man about town Zach Weiss was asked by St. Regis to design a line of Stubbs and Wootton footwear for men and women. The slippers feature a variety of embroidered decals that will lend your ensemble an I’m-permanently-on-holiday vibe, even if that couldn’t be farther from the truth. To wear the club sandwiches, Bloody Mary, and credit card shoes is to ask, “Did somebody say weekend?”
Travelers to Nantucket know the White Elephant is an island institution. The same will likely be said of their new outpost in Palm Beach, which just opened last week. The hotel’s namesake mascot famously makes appearances throughout the hotels—bring him home with this delightful decorative pillow.
Quatrefoil-shaped windows can be found at Dallas’s Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. And so it was the perfect motif for bespoke bootmakers Miron Crosby to sprinkle on a boot, made especially for the hotel.
The magic of Le Sirenuse is hard to recreate, but the hotel owner, Carla Sersale, had Positano’s pink-purple sunset in mind when she designed this line of Murano glassware for the hotel’s shop, Emporio Sirenuse.
Walking into the Eero Saarinen masterpiece that is now the TWA Hotel seems to trigger Frank Sinatra’s “Come Fly With me.” The hotel, heavy with 1960s swagger, has a lovely gift shop where the defunct airline’s logo appears on several goodies. We particularly like their cashmere sweaters.
Half the joy of ordering a cocktail at the Baccarat Hotel is the glassware. Will it be a goblet the color of a ruby? An etched Champagne coupe? An elegant tumbler? Recreate the experience at home with this set of four crystal glasses used by the hotel’s showmen bartenders. And you can round out the experience with a bottle of Essentiel By Matthieu Yamoum, a special edition of Champagne Piper Heidsieck created in collaboration with the Baccarat Hotel New York's Wine Director.
andBeyond has made a name operating socially responsible safaris across Africa, South America, and Asia. Their commitment to their local community carries over to their shop, which features wares handmade by artisans in those areas where andBeyonds can be found. These zebra napkin rings by Ardmore are made by craftspeople in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
The Ranch is one of those hallowed hotels promising life-changing wellness epiphanies. Their reputation is one that’s lured Hollywood for years. The resort’s treatment-based stays might not be available to all, but their products are. This lavender soap is made with ingredients harvested from The Ranch’s 2-acre organic garden in the Santa Monica mountains. Purchase the calming bar as a one-off or set up a recurring order so you never run out of zen.
Globe Trotter luggage makes cases and bags with a bygone safari feeling. They made for an obvious choice when it came to a collaboration with The Luxury Collection and Sofia Sanchez de Betak. The end product features a whimsical illustration of Mykonos, Athens, Santorini, and Messinia (where The Luxury Collection hotels can be found) on the insides of each case.
Tennessee’s Blackberry Farm is set on 4200 pastoral acres in the Great Smoky Mountains. Agritourists come for the scenery and the farm-to-table fare and food-related activities. You might take a cooking class if you’re there. If not, you can sharpen your knife skills on this cutting board made by a local Tennessee artisan.
South Africa’s Babylonstoren is one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms. It’s located in the Franschhoek wine valley, where the Simonberg mountain looms overhead. The potager and grounds are as pretty as a botanical garden and to capture the essence of it all, Babylonstoren attempted to bottle it up. Their Bitterlekker is a non-alcoholic aperitif that intends to capture the flavors of the farm.
Miraval resorts—with locations in Austin, Tuscon, and the Berkshires—want guests to put their bad phone habits to bed. To facilitate this, they sell a little bed where iPhones can be placed overnight so screens stay out of your sleep routine.
The Casetta hotel group consists of boutique properties across the West and Southwest U.S. Each of their locations was transformed from an existing building, rooted in the culture of their place. Their Pearl hotel in San Diego sells this darling leather notebook. They also sell it online at their Casetta shop, where you'll find that 100% of all profits go directly to their staff who have been affected by the pandemic.
