This Mother’s Day, skip the flowers and give her memories. Whether it's a mom-and-child getaway together or a trip she takes with someone special, travel is the ultimate “I love you.”
In today’s 5-minute newsletter ⬇️
🌍 Take Mom on a Vacay Here – Your top picks, our boutique hotel recs💼 Traveling With Your Mother 101 – Tips for smooth, stylish trips 🗽 NYC, Mom-Edition – An HAP editor’s food & sip plan for her Mom’s upcoming trip
What’s the Best Mother’s Day Vacation Spot?
You told us your dream spots to take Mom on IG, and we listened. We picked three randomly and shared boutique hotel picks for each below. (A ✔️ means you can book with us at the same direct-to-hotel rate.)
1. South of France Boutique Hotel Recs
Positioned on the sun-drenched shores of the quiet and chic Juan-les-Pins, Hôtel Belles Rives is where Gatsby-era glamour meets barefoot Riviera bliss. Once the seaside hideaway of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, this family-run gem still hums with Art Deco charm and literary whispers. With direct sea access, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and sunsets fit for a French film, it's the ultimate throwback escape—with better rosé. Moms who like the finer things in life—this is for you.
St. Tropez became a jet-set favorite after Brigitte Bardot made waves in the 1956 film And God Created Woman. Fast forward to today, and it's all beach clubs, oligarch-owned yachts, and endless rosé—yet somehow, the charm still lingers. Moms (and anyone else who needs a chic escape) will fall in love with AREV St. Tropez, the stylish new hotel that wraps old-school glamour in modern luxury, perfect for a sun-soaked getaway with a little je ne sais quoi.
Pulling into Coquillade Provence Resort & Spa feels like stepping into a postcard—think vineyards, olive trees, and lavender fields galore. This dreamy 100-acre escape is packed with sunny spots, spa bliss, and that laid-back Provençal magic moms absolutely adore.
Tucked into Sausalito’s waterfront, a coastal hamlet across the bay from San Francisco, the Inn Above Tide charms with cedar shingles, spiral staircases, and rooms that feel like floating retreats—with wraparound windows, porthole details, and plush four-poster beds. It’s cozy, nautical, upscale, and cute—we predict that your mom will gush over every thoughtful touch (especially the Bvlgari bath products and fireplace bay views).
Valle de Guadalupe is a 90-minute drive south of San Diego. If you haven’t heard of the destination, it’s Mexico’s burgeoning wine country. A clutch of design-centric boutique hotels have been opening left and right. Among a few other favorites, we love Mira Earth Studios—a minimalist, hyper-contemporary stay built into the taupe boulders that cascade a hillside staring out a valley replete with vineyards. Read our guide to Valle de Guadalupe if you need more recs. Also, if this stay doesn’t float your boat, here are some other cool boutique hotels in this neck of the woods.
How to Travel With Mom 101
My Mom Is Coming to NYC—Steal Our Itinerary. 🍎
Fret not—I’ve rounded up a few standout restaurants and bars that, Mother’s Day or not, make fantastic places to take Mom when she visits the Big Apple.
- Britney Eschelman, Associate Editor at HAP (Dedicated to her mom, Carol)
Where Mom & I Will Sip Champagne 🥂
Hotel Chelsea’s alluring Lobby Bar is the kind of lounge that effortlessly transports you between a swanky New York City drinking spot and an Art Nouveau watering hole. By day, it’s an atmospheric spot to enjoy coffee beneath the verdant indoor-outdoor garden terraces. By night, it transforms into a moody, golden-hued cocktail room adorned with striking artwork, where quiet conversations unfold in the cozy corners of low-sunk velvet couches. It’s the perfect place to unwind and treat mom to a drink, and sing praises to her—something none of us do enough.
We Love a Shopping Spree and a Cocktail to Follow 🛍️
The fashion-forward, shopaholic momma can and will appreciate a drink after a shopping spree at Saks Fifth Avenue. Head over to Le Chalet at L’Avenue, a swanky après-ski lounge high above posh Fifth Ave. Flipping through the drinks menu, the cocktail selection is the star of the show, from a smoky Fireshine featuring a house-made blood orange liqueur, to the classy St. Moritz, equipped with a bold blend of Bourbon, house-made miso liqueur, and nocino.
Mom & I Will Be Playing Swanky Foodie Here… 🍝
Aqua is best for an indecisive group; this gallant restaurant serves both Italian and Japanese cuisine. Just to clear the air, it’s not quite fusion cuisine, but it’s the ideal place to order both sushi and pasta if you wish to do so. A hearty Malfaldé made with an oxtail ragu and white truffle is a must-order. And for a bit of oohs and aahs, the Crystal Sushi will definitely deliver. And if you would like to celebrate and close out with dessert, the Tiramisu here is to die for. The coffee is fresh from the moku pot, and the cream is lightly sweetened.
Mom & I Love a Chic Restaurant with Artisanal Pizza on the Menu 🍕
After taking in the chic interiors of Gjelina, the menu is quick to entice. The Dandelion Greens Salad is HAP-approved and a must-order, seasonal dish. The spicy Saffron Spaghetti is addictive—no doubt, we’ll easily clear the plate without much resistance. As for pizza, the Lamb Sausage and Pomodoro with Burrata, let’s just say it’s New Yorker-approved!
That’s all, folks. Make sure to hug Mom for us (as well as hold space for those who might have a hard time with the holiday). To all the motherly figures reading this, we honor you. ❤️