More than 25 years after opening its gilded doors, Dubai’s most iconic hotel, Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, has closed for restoration works.

During the planned 18-month closure, the hotel’s distinctive interiors will be enhanced, preserved, and upgraded by celebrated French interior architect Tristan Auer, who’s reimagined his fair share of hotel greats, from the Carlton Cannes to Paris’s Hôtel de Crillon.

But how, exactly, do you reinterpret an icon? “It’s kind of a science,” he tells me on a morning call from his Paris studio. “The Burj Al Arab is one of the most well-known, important, and recognized hotels in the world. As a designer, you have to be respectful—to watch, listen, and see how people behave in this hotel.

French interior architect Tristan Auer

Courtesy Jumeirah

“The vision of His Highness with the original design was just incredible. It’s the taste of Dubai and the vision of a man, and for that, I cannot damage it. So I have to put my feet in his shoes to be able to understand and to enhance.”

Jumeirah Burj Al Arab has many defining features. Designed to resemble the sail of a traditional dhow, the hotel is among the city’s most recognizable landmarks, standing as a symbol of Dubai’s unending ambition. Inside, it is equally distinctive. Cascading fountains and aquariums filled with 400 species of fish, sharks, and rays sit at the foot of its towering 180-meter atrium. Some 1,790 square meters of 24-carat gold leaf run throughout, alongside 86,500 hand-fixed Swarovski crystals. More than 30 types of Statuario marble—the same stone used by Michelangelo—cloak nearly 24,000 square meters of walls and flooring. Tourists without a reservation here pay to tour its halls, just to peek behind the curtain of its duplex suites, with their mirrored ceilings, mosaiced washrooms, and Jacuzzi bathtubs. Its design has always been loudly, unapologetically opulent, and that, Auer says, will not change.

Tristan Auer’s designs

Courtesy Tristan Auer

The Washington Inn—Santa Fe, New Mexico

Where it’s located: Tucked off Washington Avenue, two blocks from historic Santa Fe Plaza, this intimate property places guests within easy walking distance of the art galleries, museums and restaurants that make this Southwestern capital so exciting.

Why we’re excited: Santa Fe has fantastic food and art scenes, but high-end, all-suite accommodations have been conspicuously lacking—until now. Enter the Washington Inn, an intimate, 27-key property that blends historic renovation with modern construction, with accommodations ranging from homey, studio-style stays to sprawling three-bedroom retreats that are perfect for groups. The design leans into a contemporary, sleek interpretation of the region’s style (not the same old, yet beloved, Pueblo Revival the city is known for), with lots of local stones and bricks throughout, and a color palette that reflects the high desert landscape. For visitors looking to experience Santa Fe not as tourists but as temporary residents, this is a compelling new address.

Hotel Corduroy

Hotel Corduroy—Montauk, New York

Where it’s located: In the heart of Montauk Harbor, a short walk to Sunset Beach, Gosman’s Dock by Bagatelle, and the Viking Fleet ferry to New London, Connecticut. The East End has changed so, so much over the last ten years, but there’s still glimpses of Montauk’s humble fishing village past in this part of town. Today, it’s an area that’s equal parts relaxed and refined—in other words, just where you want to be in Montauk.

Why we’re excited: Blue Flag Capital is in for a big, distinctly Long Island summer, with the expansion of its Faraway brand to Sag Harbor, as well as the openings of Oyster Estate in Greenport and this, located on the site of the former The Sunset Montauk. Hotel Corduroy marks Blue Flag’s first boutique hotel outside of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, and this is a group that has a proven track record with creating vibey coastal properties perfect for a guest experience nothing short of transporting. The renovation by Ward + Gray brings a textured, design-forward aesthetic that feels fresh for Montauk, complete with a communal lawn outfitted with sofas, loosely arranged lounge chairs and a fire pit. Looking for a stylish Montauk hideaway this summer? This is it.

Long an eponym for all short-term rentals, Airbnb is one of the most popular vacation rental platforms in the world. In more recent years, it’s expanded to include Airbnb Experiences and Airbnb Services, combining access to unique activities and experts around the world with excellent places to stay—for example, you can book a food tour or art workshop in the city you’re visiting, or schedule a massage therapist, private trainer, or chef straight to your rental home all from the Airbnb site. But the brand’s dominance has been contentious over the years, and certain cities, like New York, have banned or put high restrictions on home rentals of less than 30 days to help with overtourism and hold space for locals. But did you know that you can actually rent NYC hotels on Airbnb as well? And that there are actually benefits (and savings) you can score from booking them through Airbnb’s site?

The dining area at The Hoxton, Williamsburg, one of the NYC hotels on Airbnb

Courtesy of Airbnb

What are Airbnb hotels?

While you may not have seen them before, hotels are not a new feature on Airbnb. They’ve been around for years on the platform, but thanks to a new look on the site, they’re now easier than ever to find. Guests can simply select hotels under the “type of place” filter, then use the standard filters—for features like self-check-in, free cancellation, and accessibility—to find their perfect stay. You’ll also find a button at the top of the page when searching for New York City properties that lets you filter between homes, hotels, or “any.” At this time, New York City is the only location with that additional button at the top of the page, rather than buried in the filter section.

Those who book on Airbnb are usually after a specific type of stay: a hyper-local, small spot that feels under-the-radar and lets you experience a city like a local. To stick to this ethos, the hotels available on the rental platform are exclusively boutiques or independently owned properties, so while you may get the benefits of room service, fresh towels, and a front desk, you’ll still leave your room every morning feeling like you’re staying in a hidden gem. In New York, for example, you’ll find some design-forward Condé Nast Traveler favorites like The Hoxton Williamsburg and The William Vale.

What you can expect from a stay:

Spread across 32 stunning acres on the Kohala Coast, Mauna Lani manages to feel both immensely grand and extremely intimate. Its 300+ rooms and suites (plus five private two-bedroom residences, each with its own pool and butler) were all renovated in the 2017 acquisition to reflect a modern take on Hawaiian living: rich hardwoods of all colors and tones, natural fabrics, private lanais, and ocean views and sounds that lull you to sleep and serve as the perfect alarm clock. The crowd includes a wide variety of travelers—honeymooners, multigenerational families, and a very large handful of long-timers who know the receptionists, pool staff, water sports crew, and even the shuttle drivers like family members. A variety of wildlife can be found sprinkled around the property, namely the Hawaiian green sea turtles, or honu, which lie atop the sand and lava rocks.

The dining upgrades are really the cherry on top; when we went back for the first time post-renovation, the meals at two different on-site restaurants left me speechless. I take food very seriously, and a bite from each meal made it onto my top 10 bites of the entire year.

My mornings here are typically spent at the indoor-outdoor breakfast buffet featuring traditional malasadas—a Portuguese fried dough pastry—that can’t be missed. The Canoe House, the resort’s most luxurious restaurant, remains the uncontested jewel of the property: an oceanfront institution with a basalt bar and a menu built around local cuisine with artisanal twists. For more casual dining, I head beachside to the Surf Shack—a newer addition that feels exactly right for lunchtime in a damp bathing suit. Another newcomer, the HāLani restaurant—which highlights coastal Mediterranean cuisine—provided some of the best food on my most recent trip. I still think about the sticky date pudding to this day. This spot is great for those with allergies, too, serving some of the best gluten-free food I’ve ever had.

Beyond the food, there are 3 pools, 36 holes of golf, a tennis and pickleball club, and a cultural program that highlights the history of the sacred land the resort sits on. A thoughtful kids club is also a big draw for those with families. The renovation also coincided with one of my favorite additions: a resort dog, Mika, who visits once a week to play and paddleboard with guests.