Travel & Leisure

1. Hotel les Deux Gares

What to expect: Alice in Wonderland vibes with an ideal location near two train stations. Close to Gare du Nord

Designed by British decorator Luke Edward Hall, Hotel les Deux Gares, a new property from the Touriste Group (with three other Paris hotels, and one soon to come in London) is very Alice in Wonderland meets Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Whether you’re in the bathroom, lobby, hallway or elevator, bright colours and patterns abound — from leopard print and stripes to orals and herringbone.

Located between two of Paris’s main train stations, Gare de l’Est and Gare du Nord, it’s ideally situated for truly living like a local.

2.Hotel Paradiso

A cinephile’s dream hotel in the 12th arrondisement

Cinephiles will love Hotel Paradiso, a lm-themed hotel attached to an art-house movie theatre. It’s close to Nation, a major metro hub in the 12th arrondissement, which is home to both Paris’s popular Marche d’Aligre and the Coulée Verte, its answer to the High Line. e 36 rooms are out tted with their own projector screen that descends via remote control. ey cover the giant windows either facing the street or the courtyard where a giant mural of Charlie Chaplin was installed by street photographer JR Settle in with one of the hundreds of movies on o er from the privacy of your bed —Twizzlers and salty/sweet popcorn included. ere’s also a rooftop bar where, in the summer, screenings are hosted en plein air.

3. Hotel du Sentier

irty rooms in jewel tones within blocks of the Louvre in the 2nd arrondissement

Hotel du Sentier, a 30-room boutique hotel, near the market street Rue Montorgueil in the second arrondissement, is a lovely choice for a sunlit, stylish stay behind an old Egyptian facade in a central neighbourhood. It also overlooks the heritage-listed arcade Le Passage du Caire. e colour palette of emerald greens and sapphire blues comes from architect Vincent Bestie and rst-time hoteliers Charlotte and Samuel Castro, who injected a chic sense of modernity into the property. e top- oor suite that faces the passage has its own balcony, while rooms that overlook the small square below get cheerful natural light throughout the day.

4. Hoy

Wellness hotel in the former red light district of the South Pigalle part of the 9th arrondissement.

Franco Mexican Charlotte Gomez de Orozco opened this 22-room hotel at the top of Rue des Martyrs in South Pigalle, the former red light district gone bobo ’hood, with the intent of giving wellness junkies their x while on holiday. Forget televisions and co ee: Rooms at Hoy come with a ballet barre and charcoal- ltered water. All-natural toiletries in the bathroom have been crafted in collaboration with ecofriendly cosmetics brand the Naked Shop. In addition to a plant-based café (featuring corn pancakes stu ed with nut butter and bananas), there are dedicated rooms for reiki and re exology treatments, plus a yoga studio where hotel guests receive a special rate.

5. Hotel Sookie

A mix of modern and vintage in Paris’s top shopping district, e Marais, in the centre of Paris.

Smack dab in the heart of trendy haute Marais, the 31room Hotel Sookie, named for the jazz tune by Grant Green, is a good bet for travellers who want to shop and eat. e property is surrounded by the best of both—from Veja for eco conscious sneakers to Le Mary Celeste for divine devilled eggs.

Inside, designer Dorothée Delaye mixed old and new elements such as vintage nds from ea markets with madeto- measure modern furniture and ceramic light xtures. Room sizes vary from ‘spacy’ (the largest at 270 square feet) to ‘simply’ (at only 97 square feet), but each comes with co ee —via Nespresso pods and the Terre de Mars beanbased toiletries. ere’s no breakfast bu et, but a lobby-level café open to the public with à la carte items such as the requisite avocado toast and “sunshine eggs and bacon”with ricotta and pomegranates.

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6. Hotel Ami

Cozy (read: tiny) but great value in the 15th arrondissement, south of the Ei el Tower.

For those who’d rather save on sleeping — but not sacri ce style —this minimalist hotel in the quiet 15th arrondissement on Rive Gauche is ideal, with options starting at just €59 for a 75-square-foot space with a single bed and little else but a night table, lamp, and bathroom. Even the biggest rooms at Hotel Ami are intimate but still welldesigned by architect Gesa Hansen. Some, like 67, even have a view of the nearby Ei el Tower. All come with the Orso Hotel brand’s own toiletries made in Grasse, featuring a g/fennel-scented hair and body wash that does the job well for a two-in-one. Soulful reggae tunes play in the lobby/bar area, which is great for co-working or sipping a lter co ee from Paris roaster Lomi. ere’s also a charming outdoor courtyard with jasmine owers growing over terra-cotta tiles.

7. Chouchou

In the 9th arrondissement.

More than just a place to spend the night, Chouchou is a self-proclaimed ‘Hotel Bar and Guinguette’ around the corner from the Palais Garnier and Galeries Lafayette. It’s also a destination in its own right come evenings, when it hosts events in the plant lled atrium. ( ink Ricard tastings, Euro Cup screenings, and celebrations for the likes of the annual all- night Fête de la Musique in June.) ose staying over can expect ample space in the 63 rooms, all of which boast a cool marqueelike frame around the beds. Additional design details include lipstick ‘kisses’ with a di erent name and date hanging in each room. (Room 406, for example, features ‘Mila imprinted on February 9, 2020.)

Taking A Night Tour In A Tropical Forest

Most neotropical forest dwellers are nocturnal, so nighttime tours are offered at rainforest and cloud-forest destinations throughout the country. Some of the better spots for night tours are Monteverde, Tortuguero, and Drake Bay.

Soaking In A Volcanic Hot Spring

Costa Rica’s volcanoes have blessed the country with a host of natural hot springs spots. From the opulent grandeur of Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort to the more humble options around Rincon la Vieja to the remote hot river pools at Rio Perdido, mineral-rich, soothing hot pools are waiting to soothe what ails you.

Getting the most out of Costa Rica

World monkeys—howlers, capuchin, squirrel and spider. Your odds are very good of seeing one or more of them if you visit Cahuita, Monteverde, Tortuguero, Manuel Antonio or the Osa Peninsula.

Touring A Co ee Plantation

World-renowned and highly coveted, Costa Rican co ee can be enjoyed at the source all across the country. Peek inside the cup with a co ee tour—they’re o ered around the Central Valley, outside Monteverde, and elsewhere.

Help A Hatchling Reach e Sea

During various months throughout the year, multiple species of sea turtles arrive on beaches on both coasts of Costa Rica to lay their eggs. After hatching, the baby turtles face enormous odds in reaching the sea in places such as Las Baulas National Marine and Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, though volunteers around the country help ensure that they do.

Visit A Feria

Usually on Saturdays, a vast network of rural farmers markets comes alive in every part of Costa Rica. ere’s a brilliant display of colourful fruits and vegetables, local foods, and often live music. Some of the more interesting ferias occur in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Guapiles, and San Jose’s Feria Verde de Aranjuez

Eating At A Soda

Costa Rica’s traditional, ubiquitous, and relatively cheap sodas are simple, family-run restaurants serving local standards. You’ll nd them just about everywhere. Order gallo pinto (rice and beans) for breakfast and try the casado (a mixed plate with your choice of meat) or a gallo (the Costa Rican version of a taco) for lunch or dinner.