With winter in full force and the holidays behind us, it’s easy to get blue until the warmer weather comes back our way. Now is the perfect time to plan your favorite weekend getaway to escape the cold and give yourself and a little something to look forward to. There are warm weather destinations across the globe that are well suited for a weekend away. Here are some of our favorites.
Good to know: if you’re looking to see and be seen on your weekend getaway, check out The Dorsey at The Venetian, a new cocktail lounge that all Vegas regulars are talking about. It’s been said to have Manhattan’s class with a Vegas edge, likely in part due to the men who developed it, Sam Ross and David Rabin, who also developed Café Clover in NYC. If you’re heading with your clique, The Dorsey does take reservations for larger parties, and they do host private parties as well. Contact Casi Arnold at [email protected] if you’re interested.
If you’re really looking to get away, hop on a quick flight to the Dominican Republic and spend the weekend at the new Intercontinental Real Santo Domingo. Having only recently opened in 2016, the hotel offers 227 guestrooms within its 21 stories, all up to date with the latest in modern accommodations and amenities. The $70 million new-build hotel has a variety of luxury suites, including 16 junior suites and a presidential suite, spanning 2,300 square feet and offering views of the Caribbean Sea. When not on the beach, spend some time at the hotel’s spa, which features two saunas and steam baths, plus a 24 hour fitness center with Wi-Fi and TV’s. For dinner and rinks, be sure to the resorts formal dining restaurant, the Factory Steak and Lobster before heading to live music and drinks at Nau, another of the resorts culinary concepts. For the best views, however, head to the hotel’s infinity pool which offers views overlooking the city.
For those looking to stay stateside, say, on the East Coast, head south to Florida’s Edgewater Beach Hotel in Naples. Edgewater is the ideal destination for those looking for a luxury weekend getaway. If you’re looking to get away with the gang, try the hotel’s “Jet Set Celebration,” a program that will fly you and seven friends into town to stay in the hotel’s party suite for a night, complete with dinner and a brunch the next day. Pick your best friend and bring them for the massage that’s offered exclusively to the host and one guest. The hotel’s Coast restaurant offers guests seaside dining, with a custom menu and butler included. For those wanting to stay a little more low-key, try a seat on Coast’s verandah, which still offers a good view of the Gulf of Mexico. Bonus: Edgewater is pet-friendly, so don’t forget to bring your four legged friend for some relaxation as well.
Off-site, don’t miss the shopping over at Naples’ Fifth Avenue, easily accessible via the hotel’s electric trolley. Make a stop at the Norman Love Confections’ Naples Chocolate and Dessert Salon, which is every bit as delicious as it sounds.
Staying south on the east coast, try Joie de Vivre’s newest property, The Troubadour in classic New Orleans. Located at 111 Gravier Street, the building that was originally developed as an office space was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places. Set on the forefront of NOLA’S Central Business District, the hotel is really just steps away from where the action’s happening. Visit nearby revived local theaters, the French Quarter, Garden District or Warehouse district, known to be filled with art and spirits. Take in the view from above at the hotel’s rooftop bar, Monkey Board, which is well suited for weekend day drinking, after work happy hours, private events and more. Don’t fill up before you get there, though – though bites may be lite, the menu features a ton of classic food-truck favorites.
Off site, check out Latitude 29 for a feel of the tropics within Louisiana. Escape the states at this recently-opened tiki bar, and grab your friends to split the Plantocracy Punch. Your party must have eight people to order this bowl of cognac, old Jamaican rum, Madeira wine, guava marmalade, green tea and lime, so start making friends.