Art Deco travel tips

Presiding over Manhattan since 1930, the Empire State Building is as emblematic of New York City as the Statue of Liberty. Observatories are installed on the 86th and 102nd floors but the experience starts at street level where craning your neck up the length of the Art Deco tower is a traveler’s rite of passage. Skip the subway and stay at one of these Manhattan Airbnbs near the Empire State Building.

It’s been 16 years since actress and singer Eden Espinosa has been on Broadway, but now, she’s back in a big way as the lead in the new and highly acclaimed musical “Lempicka.”

For years, road-trippers whizzed right past Yamba, just south of Byron Bay at the mouth of the Clarence River in northeast New South Wales. The under-the-radar fishing town has long been blessed with wild beaches, rocky ocean vistas, and an easygoing surf scene, but a crop of openings has turned it into a place to linger awhile.

On a leafy stretch near Kolkata's Southern Avenue, the three-level designer store Bombaim is a hive of activity. Young locals breeze through its centuries-old doors, trying on silks and gowns, admiring the space's bones. Large windows allow ample sunlight to stream through, illuminating the mulmul curtains that fall from the ceilings. Outside, lush tejpatta, or bay leaf, trees grow. The Art Deco grills and the city's signature khorkhoris, or louvered windows, reflect the store's previous life as a turn-of-the-century residence. Bombaim's owner, Richa Kanoi, made a point of preserving its historic splendor. “The launch was more about celebrating the space than the clothes,” she says.

“They’re movable pieces of art,” says Budapest-born, London-based decorator Gergei Erdei of his new collection of hand-painted folding pinewood screens. Part of his Objects of Desires series, the six designs include trompe l’oeil columns, wing-footed mythological figures and interlinked geometric shapes. Erdei found inspiration for his pieces, which are over seven feet tall, in a recent retrospective of the Italian couturier Elsa Schiaparelli’s works at Paris’s Musée des Arts Décoratifs and in the lacquered screens of multimedia Art Deco creator Jean Dunand; Pompeii’s crumbling frescoes and ancient mosaics informed the mythological design’s soft, ocher hues, which were achieved through multiple coats of acrylic paint. “I keep coming back to Pompeii in my work,” Erdei says. “I find the layers faded by time so beautiful, like veils of history.”

MG Relations is delighted to announce its newest client, Riad Botanica, a five-suite sanctuary in the heart of Marrakech’s Medina. Owned by Australian and Moroccan couple Angela and Mohamed Mellak, Riad Botanica is a labour of love and a fusion of cultures. Having undergone meticulous renovations from the ground up, the historic 10th-century Riad is now a space that ignites the senses with traditional Moroccan craftsmanship and Australian style. Complete with a rooftop terrace, courtyard, and pool, and defined by its iconic Moroccan and Australian art deco design, Riad Botanica can be hired exclusively for up to twelve guests, or suites can be booked individually, making it the perfect place to retreat from the city buzz of Marrakech and soak up Moroccan hospitality and culture.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with John Martin, who previously worked in the aluminum industry, and his wife Beverly, both 60, who have been traveling the world since 2021. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

You may not have heard of Juan-Les-Pins, the charming seaside resort town on the French Riviera’s glamorous Cap d’Antibes. But if the brilliant blue waters, picturesque beaches, and megayachts anchored in Millionaire’s Bay aren’t enough of an endorsement to travel to this ultra-luxe destination, just look back a hundred years.

Palm Beach Cannes, an iconic destination on the French Riviera since the 1920s, is set to reopen during the Cannes Film Festival after undergoing a four-year renovation. The new launch will feature the first-ever waterfront saltwater pool on the Riviera, offering magnificent views of the Bay of Cannes. Additionally, there will be a fitness center, wellness area, luxury boutiques, and a large ballroom.

A renovated hotel restaurant harkens back to a beloved era in Paris, and a century later, it’s both a local gem and a social media star.

Now with its Art Deco furniture, uniformed doormen and glamourous décor, it’s hard to imagine The Beaumont in its previous life as a parking garage built in 1926. Tucked away on Balderton Street, behind London’s Oxford Street (the Selfridge’s end, of course), it was transformed into a hotel in 2014, yet a stay here is reminiscent of a time when flapper girls would be holed up in the bar and dashing gentlemen would be holding court in the lobby.

On Valentine’s Day, even the most elegant New York City hotel dining rooms raise the bar in terms of their culinary offerings.

When your wedding budget stretches into the millions, the possibilities are endless. So it’s no surprise that celebrities often choose to say their ‘I dos’ in exotic locales.

“Creating a new home for Café Boulud has been my focus and priority for the last year,” Chef Daniel Boulud explains. “Given the special place it holds in my heart, I feel very fortunate to be able to bring it back to the Upper East Side and look forward to sharing it with our guests, The restaurant will be a vibrant celebration of my French roots and love for New York.”

Situated around 20 miles from Spain on the tip of North Africa, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea, Tangier has been a coveted naval prize for centuries. Phoenicia, the Roman Empire, various Islamic caliphates, Portugal, Spain, England and France all laid claim to this hilly port town. After World War II, the city was an international zone — administered by several countries — until Morocco achieved independence in 1956 and regained full control of it. It was this colorful heritage and these scenic surroundings that helped to entice a steady stream of writers, artists and eccentrics in the mid-20th century, the city’s bohemian heyday.

Miami and Orlando are the two most visited cities in Florida. Miami is nicknamed the Magic City and known for its white-sand beaches, pastel-hued tropical Art Deco architecture, dynamic nightlife, and Latin vibes. Orlando is home to the Magic Kingdom and the world’s most famous mouse. Until recently, out-of-towners who wanted to experience both sides of the Sunshine State either had to hop a flight between Orlando and Miami and then take a taxi or ride-share to their destination or rent a car, navigate the oft-congested interstate, and endure the hassle of finding (usually pricey) parking during what’s supposed to be a relaxing vacation.

To celebrate the holidays in style, some iconic luxury hotels around the world have collaborated with top designers and brands to create enchanting holiday tree displays that fuse fashion, art, and design. Take a look and enjoy the magic of the season.

Belmond, the luxury company behind the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE), made a historic announcement this week that will delight those who love luxury European luxury train travel. The company said that in June 2024, the VSOE will travel to the Italian Riviera for the first time on a three-night experience that links Paris and the Ligurian coastal resort of Portofino. Once in Portofino, guests check into the Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, for two nights.

Miami Beach is witnessing the rebirth of a legend. The Raleigh, an iconic Art Deco gem since 1949, is set to become the city's most exquisite resort and residential retreat.

Visiting Belfast for a romantic break is probably not the first place that comes to mind. Instead, you probably picture west Belfast's segrated areas with their murals that were most affected by the Troubles. However, there is another side to Belfast, showcased in the recent Sky original series The Lovers, which visited some of Belfast's more charming spots.

Perla La Paz, Tapestry Collection by Hilton and Tropicana Los Cabos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton mark the brand’s arrival in the region adding to the company’s Baja California portfolio of award‑winning hotels.