Smith Hotels

We're not much for boring weather banter... but c'mon, it's cold out there! And winter is just getting started. No need to worry your pretty little bundled up head over it, though – we've devised a plan for you to flee the frost and escape to sun-soaked Miami. 

And the best part? It's totally weather driven – as the mercury drops, so do our rates. You'll get an American Airlines flight from your home city plus your pick of three Miami hotels – the price is set by the dropping temperatures in notoriously chilly Chicago (a city that really knows about cold).  

Last month, our New York team just happened to have tables booked at Amor Cubano for a festive feast on the same day that the US reinstated diplomatic relations with Cuba. Needless to say, we raised many mojitos to toast the occasion (well, it was also our office holiday bash – but what a bonus, right?) as we tucked into pillowy empanadas, crispy plantain chips and heaping plates of ropa vieja.

Cuba is of course topping our must-visit list, but just how to do that from the States? This New York Times piece answered many of our questions. Now we'll have to go scout a chic hotel where we can all stay ...

One of our New York editors, Amelia Mularz, took a trip to London and returned with an iPhone full of snaps and a taste for Scotch eggs. This is just a small sampling of the details she dug across the pond. Here, she explains...

From top left:

1. Coffee! Yes! I've never accepted caffeine as enthusiastically as I did here in the lobby at the Dean Street Townhouse. It was my first stop after a redeye flight and that little cup saved my sanity (for at least 45 minutes). 

2. When a friend suggested Columbia Road Flower Market I thought, meh...plants? But I ended up walking the length of these gorgeous stalls at least four times and seriously lamented the fact that I couldn't fill my suitcase with decorative cabbage.  

3. I did, however, fill my suitcase with gifts from the shops that surround the flower stalls. Shoutout to American Airlines for being so reasonable about my overstuffed bag.

4. The cosy cocktail bar at The Zetter Townhouse stole my heart with their vintage apothecary jars. The taxidermy cat in Victorian garb by the fireplace was just icing on the cake. 

5. Scotch eggs, how have I lived so long without you? This was my very first tasting (it had to be documented, of course) at a pub near Smith's headquarters in Shepherd's Bush.

6. The only in-room item that excited me more than the retro-style Roberts radio at the Dean Street Townhouse was the tin next to it that had my favorite word, 'Treats,' engraved on the lid. Each day housekeeping filled it with fresh cookies...er...biscuits, as the Brits say.  

7. These swatches were framed and hanging outside my room (#103) at Number Sixteen hotel. Seeing the inspiration behind the decor was like taking a peek inside design guru Kit Kemp's brain.

8. Meet my buddies Nelson and Nancy. Town Hall Hotel & Apartments has a goldfish pimping program (I couldn't make this up). If you donate 10 quid a night, the fish can sleep in your room. But don't worry, these are critters with hearts of gold. All money raised goes to a local charity. 

9. This tasty tray, including rabbit and pork rillettes, at Bistrot Bruno Loubet in The Zetter hotel was so much more scrumptious than my typical PB&J work lunch. 

Few things are more comforting on a dark winter's night than a flickering fireplace, a shock of bright vegetables and potent warm-you-right-up libations. All of which can be found at Little Park, Andrew Carmellini's new standout eatery at the Smyth a Thompson Hotel in New York's Tribeca neighbourhood.

Well, if you call ahead for a table, that is – this downtown spot has been consistently booked since its much-anticipated opening in November. And, as our New York editors discovered, the hype is with good reason.

Starting with the spent grain bread (made with leftover grains from their house-label beer) with a swipe of salted butter. There were perfectly plump Peconic Bay scallops basking in their fan-like shells and creamy Vermont burrata tucked beneath silky covers of butternut squash.  

Oh, and a meaty lobster tail with curls of spaghetti squash... a toothsome hangar steak... and a tart pear and rich chocolate tart. All expertly paired with wine by the friendly sommelier, of course. 

We should have stopped right there, but we couldn't resist sliding back the pocket doors for a peek at the hotel's Evening Bar ... and a nightcap.

When it comes to discovering the the inside scoop on a Smith stay, don't look for fuzzy stars, a rating system or cutesy icons to tell you what's what. 

Instead, you'll find a first-hand account from a real person. Once a hotel is part of our collection, we dispatch anonymous reviewers to slip beneath the billion thread count sheets, splash around in the rainfall shower larger than most New York apartments and sample cheeseburgers from room service.

Last year we sent out like-minded travellers – actors, designers, artists, editors, comedians – all in the name of serious boutique hotel research. With that, here's a handful of our favourite anonymous reviews from 2014. 

Capella Georgetown, Washington, DC

Metropolitan by Como, Miami Beach, Florida

Inkaterra la Casona, Cusco, Peru

Hotel Marignan, Paris, France 

Pig near Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom

H2 Hotel, Healdsburg, California

Kingsford Homestead, Barossa Valley, Australia

Hotel Cort, Mallorca, Spain

Malin + Goetz co-founders Matthew and Andrew travel in style, so it's little wonder that their darling dog Mr Greenberg does, too ... 

Last trip San Francisco (all business), but I go up to the Hudson Valley (all fun) every weekend with Andrew and Matthew.

Next trip Los Angeles – apparently Malin+Goetz are opening two new stores there early next year.  I’ll be happy to get out of the snow, and maybe they'll splurge and rent a convertible...

You never leave home without… Andrew or Matthew.

Best souvenir Osso buco bones. I can spend hours chewing on them, days, even. It’s very Zen for me.

Quintessential New York  New York is all about walking and fire hydrants.  There are so many things to mark here; it’s a smorgasbord of pleasure. 

Favourite in-room or travel lotions and potions (other than your owners') Quite honestly, I’m off the lotions.  I once chewed a bottle of something – I was sick for days.  I’m sticking to sticks from here on out.

Favourite destination I’ve spent some time in Vermont, I’m actually from there.  But those were not happy times for me as I was sent from foster home to foster home until Andrew and Matthew rescued me.  My favourite place is wherever they go: to the office, on business trips and our house in the country. As long as there are good restaurants and 300-count linens, I’m very happy.

Favourite hotel Chateau Marmont, I really felt like a celebrity there. Everyone wanted to take a picture of me... although it did become a little annoying after a while. 

Last year we caught up with Andrew Goetz about all things travel, and we recently tracked down his fantastic co-founder Matthew Malin ... 

Last trip Normandy in April to celebrate Andrew Goetz’s birthday       

Next trip Los Angeles (for business) then off to Vieques, Puerto Rico (for pleasure)

You never leave home without… My own Malin + Goetz toiletries—we make them and they are the best for my sensitive skin.

You always return home with… A desire to sleep in my own bed and see our dog Mr Greenberg. 

Best souvenir A piece of art that is specific to the trip.

Quintessential New York  A bagel with smoked salmon from Russ & Daughters, a trip to the top of the Empire State Building, the Christmas tree and ice skating at Rockefeller Center and a walk through Central Park (in any season). 

Favourite destination We have a weekend house in Hudson, New York two hours north of Manhattan.  I look forward to going there every Friday.  It is spectacularly beautiful, rural and easy, and while so close, it still feels so far away from the hectic pace of NYC. 

After a whirlwind few days in the Windy City, we're with Mr Sinatra: Chicago is our kind of town, too. James and Tamara Lohan, our company founders and the original Mr & Mrs Smith, made the trip  – complete with a travel segment on a morning news programme and a splashy welcome dinner. 

We made fabulous new friends, discovered the most cleverly-curated boutiques and let our appetites be our guide. Of course, it helps when you have the inside scoop on the best places to bunk when in town, too. With that, here are some of our picks for your next Chi-town tour. 

See: Chicago's Magnificent Mile will satisfy power shoppers with its luxury shops and culture vultures in search of globe-trotting exhibits, alike. The MCA is currently hosting David Bowie Is, a retrospective of the pioneering glam-rock artist's career, and further south on Michigan Avenue, commune with the Art Institute Chicago's world-class collection.  And no visit would be complete without a hand-in-hand stroll through Millennium Park to pose in front of Anish Kapoor's mesmerizing Cloud Gate sculpture. 

Snack: Given more time we would have dedicated every lunch to exhaustive taqueria research (all the more reason for a return trip). Making the short list this time: Big Star for spicy pollo pibil washed down with a house barrel mezcal and Antique Taco for a crispy tempura-battered fish or grilled ribeye taco. For a juicy cheeseburger and other comfort fare with a twist, Au Cheval is all the rage or, if barbecue (brisket, pulled pork, ribs) is your thing, duck down the alley to the hip and just-hidden-enough Green Street Meats. Never indulged in goat liver mousse (slathered on warm, lightly fried crumpets), you say? Then do not miss the chance to dine on the inventive dishes that Stephanie Izard turns out at her West Loop eatery Girl and the Goat. Tables can be difficult to come by, but you can still experience the whole menu by snagging seats at the lively bar. 

Can you believe all of these goodies come from hotel gift shops? It's true. You can simultaneously travel the world and complete your holiday shopping in one fell swoop. See, the real reason you planned that far-flung beach bonanza is because you are a giver. 

Now, as for where in the world to get these travel-worthy treats, see below. But for the wanderer who has everything, there's the always-coveted Mr & Mrs Smith gift card.   

From top left:

1. Claska, Tokyo: Stay in the shop-stuffed Meguro District and snag a super-cool Sway Tokyo tee. 

2. The Standard, Hollywood, Downtown LA, New York and Miami Beach: This plush pout is just like the one you'll find on your bed at The Standard, East Village. 

3. Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm, Albuquerque: This pueblo-perfect New Mexico hotel brings you fields of lavender, cosy kiva fireplaces and this cast iron flying donkey bank (clearly a must-have for the fiscally responsible). 

4. Gramercy Park Hotel, New York: The smoky notes in this custom tin candle (made exclusively for Gramercy Park) match the hotel's seductively boho stylings.  

5. Como Shambhala Estate, Bali: Our runner-up for the Best Spa Hotel at this year's Smith Awards certainly knows how to make a mean bottle of invigorating Body Oil. 

6. The Drake, Toronto: The cafe at this hip Canadian hideaway is a favorite among locals, so it makes sense to pay homage by carrying your brew in a Mountie-covered thermos.  

Are you travelling or staying put this Thanksgiving? Wherever you spend the holiday, we wish you a magazine-worthy spread like the one we stumbled across when looking for last-minute recipes in Saveur.

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Robert Tagliapietra + Jeffrey Costello, high-fashion design duo behind Costello + Tagliapietra  Based in Brooklyn, NY

Last trip We were in Washington, DC, to visit the White House. We loved how modern the city feels and the restaurants are so great – Jaleo and The Capital Grille are two of our favorites. This cupcake-of-a-trip came with the added frosting of meeting the First Lady! Next trip Our annual trip to Maine. We usually take time off in October, but this year we weren't able to – we may just  sneak out of the office and drive up anyway.  First thing you do when you check into a hotel Check the bed and then unpack. The OCD in me needs to organize my things before I can concentrate, and this effort usually leads to a shower and a nap. You never leave home without… We are over-packers: extra outfits, every toiletry we own, extra socks and spare t-shirts. This sometimes makes us much better hoarders than travelers. You always return home with… Some kind of food treats. The idea begins as a generous gifts to return with for friends and employees, but, really, it's so that we have snacks for the trip home. Go-to travel togs Our comfiest flannel shirts from our ever-growing pile of 'comfy flannel shirts' (we still own the two Eddie Bauer flannels we met in 20 years ago), and our most broken-in khakis. We also can't leave home without our lovely handmade moccasins from the Arrow Moccasin Company in Massachusetts – they're like wearing slippers. 

Hellooo down there! We're here (yep, up here!) in our Zabuco Villa at Secret Bay hotel on the lavishly lush island of Dominica. Not too shabby, eh?

We've just finished kayaking the magical Indian River (you may remember it from the Pirates of the Caribbean films), and now we're kicking back in a hammock that overlooks an infinity pool with a fresh-squeezed juice in hand. 

Ok, fine. We're actually staring longingly at our screens and wishing ourselves there. Know the feeling? Well, you may not have to daydream for long. We here at Smith, along with our friends at Domino, Southern Living and Fodor's Travel, want you to actually go there and send us photos of all your river adventures (we're huge Johnny Depp fans). Simply enter here and you could win a four-night stay at Secret Bay, plus round-trip airfare for two and more. 

Wishing all a ghoulishly good Halloween or festive Day of the Dead celebration this weekend. 

Are you that friend: the one who has a habit of turning meals into a photo shoot? Pull up a seat at our table, then – we've been known to snap and snack, too.  

All that shutter-bugging could finally pay off in the form of a $400 Smith voucher to use at any of the 950+ hotels in our collection. Simply post your most mouth-watering food shots on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter and tag them #SmithTaste from now until Friday, October 24.

David Bowie is... in Chicago. If you missed the Victoria and Albert Museum's cleverly curated retrospective of the artist born David Robert Jones when it debuted in London, make a glam-rock weekend of it in the Windy City. 

It's that time of year when things start to fade: the sun-kissed glow on the cheeks, that splatter of freckles across the shoulders and the criss-cross sandal pattern over the toes. Yep, it makes us a little sad, too.