New Hotels from California, Amsterdam, and New Orleans — Check ‘Em Out!

The Conservatorium Hotel delivers a true five-pearl experience in Amsterdam’s residential Museum Quarter. It’s housed in a 100-year-old former bank building, and the hotel’s warm, modern design melds seamlessly with the structure; the stunning atrium lobby, for example, is industrial-chic, featuring wood, brick, and glass. The rooms are decorated in earthy neutrals and every detail was considered, from the placement of the electrical outlets to the reading lights by the bed to the high-tech controls for the lighting and blinds; some rooms have duplex layouts and exposed structural beams. Bathrooms are gorgeous, with rainfall showerheads, stone tile, LCD mirror TVs and micro cotton towels. The big, modern fitness center, stylish indoor pool, and lovely spa, all located below ground, are highlights. It’s a premier choice for luxury travelers looking to trade a central location for added space and quiet.

Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur

The 39-room Post Ranch Inn is one of the most beautiful hotels in the United States — if not the entire world — and offers a romantic, intimate stay amid gorgeous natural surroundings. The hotel is built into the cliffs of Big Sur, and the organic architecture is breathtaking, seeming to grow out of the ground beside the hotel’s surrounding redwoods. The spacious, eco-sensitive rooms have ocean or mountain views (that are sometimes obstructed by the pervasive fog that the area is known for) and many feature floor-to-ceiling windows to better show them off. Rooms also have wood-burning fireplaces, radiant floor heating, outdoor showers or hot tubs, private decks, and organic bath products and linens — but no televisions or alarm clocks as the hotel strives for a peaceful environment. The award-winning spa focuses on rejuvenating services and even has a shaman on-site; the restaurant, Sierra Mar, is one of the best in Big Sur; the hotel’s cliff-top pools are stunning; and free amenities (such as yoga and stargazing) are abundant.

Dauphine Orleans Hotel, New Orleans

This classic, 111-room New Orleans boutique hotel is a well-maintained historic property in the French Quarter, just a block from Bourbon Street. Rooms are elegant and charming; some have details such as exposed brick, whirlpool tubs, or balconies. Like most neighborhood hotels, the property surrounds a lovely private courtyard and has a nice on-site bar. It also has a pool, unlike the nearby Hotel Mazarin.

Trump International Hotel and Tower Toronto

This 261-room Trump property is one of Toronto’s top luxury hotels, located conveniently in the city’s Financial District near many tourist sights. Contemporary decor is opulent without being over-the-top, and the rooms feature many high-end details, such as fireplaces, deep soaking tubs, wet bars, iHome sound systems, and Nespresso machines. The fitness center and indoor pool area offer stunning city views, and the chic spa features a whirlpool and sauna. The on-site restaurant, appropriately called STOCK (a nod to the hotel’s FiDi location), serves solid locally sourced fare, and the two lounges are popular drinking spots with the business set. It’s an excellent pick for business travelers, with 12,000 square feet of event space available, but well-heeled leisure travelers will also find plenty to appreciate.

The College Hotel, Amsterdam

The College Hotel is a sensuous, intimate four-pearl option in the Museum Quarter. It is appropriately named — not only because it is housed in a historic school building, but because most of the staff members are hospitality students in training. Features are few — there’s no fitness center or spa on-site — but there is a popular Bar & Lounge with a fireplace where afternoon tea is served, as well as a fine dining restaurant. Though the public spaces wow with their sultry sophistication, rooms aren’t quite as impressive, with cramped layouts, too few electrical outlets, and mood lighting that many find too dim to be practical. Note that third floor rooms have slanted ceilings — homey to some, a nuisance to others.

Cavallo Point, San Francisco Bay Area

This historic property under the Golden Gate Bridge offers sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay skyline. Located in a state park in Sausalito, across the bay from San Francisco, Cavallo Point feels removed from the hustle and bustle of the city even though it is still accessible — the hotel operates a free shuttle to the ferry terminal. Originally built as an army base in the late 1800s, the hotel has retained many charming historical details in its two main buildings as well as in its Historic Rooms, which were all formerly officers’ residences. Contemporary Rooms, on the other hand, were built into the hillside, and have great views, gas fireplaces, and floor-to-ceiling windows. The hotel also features an acclaimed spa with a pool and fire pits, a Michelin-starred restaurant serving regional cuisine, an on-site cooking school, and many outdoor activities such as morning yoga and hiking. But heavy fog can block the views Cavallo Point is most known for and persistent fog horns have prompted the hotel to include ear plugs in every room.