HAP Weekly: The Year of the Horse 🐎

Hello again (HAP)ers!

We’ve left the January slump far behind, and February is already galloping away. First up: it’s my birthday today!! I’m not one for blowout parties, so my husband and I are taking a quick overnight getaway to Upstate New York, where we’ll be checking out the new Pocketbook Hudson hotel and baths. Recently transformed by Charlap Hyman & Herrero, this former factory blends raw industrial and contemporary elements, punctuated by the studio’s signature flourishes of pattern. With temperatures still barely above freezing in New York, I’m slightly regretting not booking something in the Caribbean—but we’ll be leaning into the cozy vibes instead. I’ll share my thoughts next week!

Conveniently close to my birthday (though sometimes annoyingly so, when I can’t get a dinner reservation!), Valentine’s Day is also just a couple of days away. Hopefully you’ve already secured your date night, made plans to host friends, or—if I know you all—booked a boutique hotel stay somewhere romantic. (My pick would be Eden Rock in St. Barths, where we spent our mini-moon last March. Divine!)

Also coming up this week, Lunar New Year festivities kick off around the globe, culminating in the main celebration on February 17. My birthday often coincides with the holiday, and I like to use it as an opportunity (or excuse) to revisit any January 1 resolutions I haven’t kept—or to introduce fresh goals I’ve landed on since. This year, we’re collectively shedding our Snake skins and welcoming the Year of the Horse—full of boundless energy, freedom, and possibility. More on that below. Gong Xi Fa Cai, and thanks for reading!

As mentioned above, we’re welcoming the Horse in the Chinese Zodiac. Symbolizing freedom, energy, independence, and adventure, it has experiential travel written all over it—and it got me thinking about boutique hotels around the world that offer, or even revolve around, equestrian pursuits. I am, sadly, allergic to horses, so I never get to try these experiences myself and am perpetually envious of those who do. Whether trekking up mountain trails, riding through the surf along a white-sand beach, or watching a thrilling dressage performance, encounters with these magnificent creatures have a way of making any trip more memorable.

Several boutique hotels immediately spring to mind for horse guys and girlies. First is Reschio, a 1,000-year-old Italian castle that also operates as a working stable, raising and training up to 40 purebred Spanish horses. Guests can enjoy hacks across the Umbrian landscape, children can take riding lessons, or everyone can sit back and watch piaffes and pirouettes in the dedicated Teatro Equestre. Meanwhile, at Indonesia’s NIHI Sumba, a full wellness program is designed around the island’s wild horses—offering massages and reiki sessions in their calming presence, as well as yoga beside (and even atop) them for those seeking a deeper equine connection.

In rural Portugal, São Lourenço do Barrocal keeps eight Lusitano horses on the property, which guests can ride through vineyards and olive groves or learn about during hands-on care sessions. The rugged Scottish Highlands can also be explored on horseback from Gleneagles, home to a 50-acre riding school and equestrian center within the hotel’s Sporting Club. And, of course, there are countless ranches across the American West offering a taste of authentic cowboy life—Paws Up in Montana, Ranchlands in Wyoming, and Rawah Ranch in Colorado are among my favorites.

For those like me who can’t ride, hotels such as The Manchester in Lexington, Kentucky—home of the world-renowned Kentucky Derby—offer an impressive equine art collection that can be enjoyed without a saddle, bridle, or crop. So whatever your riding ability, what are you waiting for? Giddy up!

I’m Ruby, HAP’s News Editor. Each week, I highlight the travel, hotel, and lifestyle stories catching our Editor-in-Chief Brandon Berkson’s eye—and what should catch yours too. Have an above-par piece of news? Pitch me at [email protected]

Montblanc and Claridge’s debut Love Letters from London Feb. 10–13, transforming the Mayfair hotel’s Art Deco lobby into a live poet’s corner for bespoke, post-ready love notes. Heritage, romance, and craftsmanship meet as Claridge’s iconic letter box becomes a modern gateway for handwritten love.

The Balearic lifestyle capital, Palma, is welcoming Aethos Club Palma, a four-story members’ townhouse designed for all-day living—part workspace, part wellness hub, part social club.

Toronto’s emblematic CN tower has undergone its first major renovation since the building’s debut in 1976. Angled glass, transparent floors, and immersive art redefine the tower’s newest observation deck.

Designed by Archer Humphries, Upstairs at Ronnie’s, Soho’s iconic jazz club, ushers in a new era with a stunning renovation—wooden pieces, a stunning marble bar, and red, gold and velvet accents bring an elevated energy to the music club’s already vibrant heritage.

James Turrell unveils his largest Skyspace yet at ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, a monumental dome framing the sky in a meditative interplay of light and space. Opening June 19, 2026, the immersive installation transforms the museum’s expansion into a contemplative destination for art and design lovers alike.

Delano Miami Beach reopens late March 2026 with Gigi Rigolatto and Mimi Kakushi, bringing Parisian and Osaka‑inspired dining to the legendary hotel. The culinary duo aims to elevate the celebrated property into a global lifestyle destination.

Williamsburg’s Domino Park has transformed into a winter wellness playground as Culture of Bathe‑ing, America’s largest sauna festival, brings 17 architecturally striking saunas and immersive programming from Feb 12–Mar 1.

The legendary RIMOWA suitcase has added titanium to their Classic Line, available in Cabin, Check-in L, and Trunk sizes. The brand's premium craftsmanship holds true in their newest addition, making each piece an essential travel investment.

Farmstays are no longer just about chickens and check-in baskets—they’re becoming some of the most design-forward places to stay. At the center of that shift is a new kind of rural hospitality: thoughtful, heritage-led, and deeply personal. Enter Emily Seiders, the Austin-based designer behind Hideaway Round Top, a 21-acre boutique retreat quietly redefining what a Texas farmhouse stay can look like.

For Seiders, the project wasn’t about chasing a trend. “The timing feels more serendipitous than intentional,” she says. Purchased in 2020 with her husband, Hideaway was envisioned as a place rooted in the stories, traditions, and rhythms of Round Top itself—one shaped by memory, family history, and a desire to preserve the character of a small farm town with very little lodging to begin with.

That philosophy carries through the design: early Texas architectural references, antique quilts used as artwork, homespun textiles, and spaces that encourage gathering without feeling oversized. “This isn’t a museum,” Seiders explains. “Historic influences quietly guide decisions so guests sense the heritage rather than immediately seeing it.”

As travelers increasingly seek out slower, rural escapes—places to exhale, reconnect, and linger—Hideaway Round Top feels less like a hotel and more like staying on a friend’s impeccably designed farm. It’s Texas heritage, reimagined for the way we travel now.

Read the full article.

“Point Windsor!” rang time-and-again on the speaker, as if I was on-set filming for The Crown.

And there he was, Prince Harry, trotting confidently on a polo horse. A fresh layer of snow sparkling through the sun’s prism of clouds and mountains surrounding. Admittedly, I felt a bit conflicted cheering for him, as he was competing against the Hennessy Team, our generous hosts.

A well-appointed row of tents, graced by the one-and-only Mariah Carey, was filled with the season’s latest fashions. Within each, one might discover ice sculptures, model ships, winter outfitters, hospitality and interior showrooms. The food was sublime from fresh lobster to shrimp, sushi, and squid ink pasta.

If you ask me, good company is the ultimate luxury, and I’ve learned over the past decade that the greatest company—those who encourage you to smile more and dream bigger each day—flocks to Hennessy.

Over the holidays, I had the distinct pleasure of exploring Billionaire’s Mountain with their Rare Cognac Team for the Aspen World Snow Polo Championship. If your resolution for life, rather than just the New Year, is to travel like a celebrity, then saddle up—this guide is just for you.

Read the full article.

Planning a wedding, never mind one overseas, is a Mount Olympus–sized feat, shaped as much by expectation as by logistics and cost. What’s first imagined as an intimate celebration can quickly grow into something far more involved.

As Hotels Above Par’s new Destination Wedding Correspondent, and as someone planning my own wedding in Ireland, I know this firsthand. Each month, I’ll document the journey from proposal to honeymoon, sharing what I’m learning along the way to help make the process clearer for others considering a destination wedding.

In this first installment, I’ll explore why couples choose destination weddings in the first place, and how to think thoughtfully about selecting the right location to begin your search.

In recent years, more couples have chosen to take their weddings abroad. Part of the decision to jetset comes down to return on investment, particularly as domestic venue costs continue to rise—reaching well into five figures just for the access to say “I do.”

By contrast, many overseas venues structure weddings differently. Venue fees are often lower or bundled into room buyouts. Multi-day celebrations are the norm rather than the exception, and while the overall spend can be comparable, the value proposition is fundamentally different.

As a travel writer with family overseas, the idea of hosting a destination wedding felt intuitive. For others, the decision might not be as simple, and destination weddings come with real trade-offs, like a smaller guest list, particularly when most family and friends are stateside. For some couples, that natural narrowing feels like a relief, while, for others, it requires careful consideration.

If the above sounds great to you, and you’re ready to begin thinking more about ‘where’ rather than ‘if,’ start by identifying your non-negotiables. Consider who will be attending, travel distances, language barriers, and the wedding infrastructure of a potential destination.

For us, that meant prioritizing places that encouraged guests to stay for several days, with accommodations largely on or near the property. We also wanted a destination we’d happily linger in afterward for a mini moon.

Food and drink mattered too. They can shape the rhythm of a wedding, and are often an important aspect that guests remember. Think about the cuisines and drinking cultures you already love together, and the trips where the local food left a lasting impression.

Finally, the underpinning of it all: the romance. Defining what that actually means for us became one of the most useful early steps, cutting through outside expectations and allowing us to rule out tons of popular destinations.

A useful starting point is how you already travel together. Do you prefer cities or countryside? Slow mornings or packed itineraries? The most romantic destination often mirrors how you relax in real life. Mood boarding can help here, too. Look beyond wedding imagery and focus on destinations that speak to you both: sunlit countryside, ancient ruins, or, in my case, a moody Irish castle.

The enduring beauty of weddings is that each one looks and feels entirely unique, trends aside, and yours begins to take its own shape when you choose a destination that is truly right for you both—whether tied to heritage or simply to instinct. When the destination clicks, much of the rest follows. Next month, I’ll turn to the next step: narrowing the search to the venue that brings it all to life.