Favorite Hotels from TV Worth a Real-Life Visit
Image courtesy of San Domenico Palace
If you’re anything like me, you’ve had the “White Lotus” theme song stuck in your head all week. And while I await the the tragic hero Tanya’s fate, I'm providing your daily dose of wanderlust — this time, courtesy of the small screen.
TV shows can provide a much-needed escape from the stresses of everyday life; those set at stunning hotels offer an even more welcome hiatus: travel without leaving the couch. But what if we could actually visit the TV destinations we dream about? Well, it turns out we can. Many hotels featured in some of the latest popular shows — including Season 2 of “White Lotus” — are indeed open for business, ready to treat and pamper real-life guests, just as they do on the screen.
Here, I’ve amassed a list of some of my favorites, all worth a trip off the couch and across the globe. It’s worth noting, though, that TV shows take certain liberties with names, locations and the like. (Example: "The Resort,” a new comedy-drama on Peacock takes place in Mexico, but was filmed in Puerto Rico, at different locations.)
White Lotus (HBO)
Image courtesy of San Domenico Palace
Hotel: San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel
Location: Taormina, Sicily
I swooned when “White Lotus” creator Mike White announced he would be taking us all on a vicarious trip to Sicily for the show’s second season. In “White Lotus” Season 2, which recently dropped on HBO Max, Jennifer Collidge returns as Tanya McQuoid, a wealthy, lonely woman seeking to add adventure to her life. She jets off to Sicily’s San Domenico Palace, a lush Four Seasons estate that was once a 14th-century convent. We are introduced to other eccentric guests staying at the hotel, nestled on the idyllic Sicilian coast amidst views of Mount Etna and the ruins of an ancient theatre. All seems perfect — a sea of luxury and the requisite Italian dolce vita — but, in typical “White Lotus” fashion, the pristine veneer begins to crack as secrets emerge.
Looking instead for a rejuvenating trip to Hawai'i (minus the drama)? Season 1 was filmed at the sleek Four Seasons Maui. (And if you're craving more Hawaiian inspiration, check out this guide to the best Hawaiian islands for families.)
Fora Perks at San Domenico Palace and Four Seasons Maui:
When you book Four Seasons through Fora, you will enjoy exclusive Four Seasons Preferred Partner benefits. Your advisor will be pleased to give you more details.
Emily in Paris (Netflix)
Image courtesy of Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat
Hotel: Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat
Location: Côte d’Azur, France
Season 2 of Netflix’s “Emily in Paris” stars Lily Collins as Emily Cooper, an American expat working at a French marketing firm. From the eccentric yet impossibly chic outfits to the quintessential Parisian sets, “Emily in Paris” is utterly design-obsessed. It’s no wonder, then, that the show’s most recent season featured one of France’s most luxe hotels: Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, a glamorous and regal Four Seasons property overlooking the Mediterranean. It's no surprise that Elizabeth Taylor and Winston Churchill have both stayed at this sophisticated getaway; it's complete with Michelin-starred cuisine, the world-renowned Club Dauphin, a top-tier spa (helmed by the highly sought-after Swiss dermatologist Dr. Pauline Burgener) and offers the quintessential experience of visiting the South of France. (“Emily in Paris” Season 3 is slated to premiere in late December.)
Fora Perks at Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat:
When you book Four Seasons through Fora, you will enjoy exclusive Four Seasons Preferred Partner benefits. Your advisor will be pleased to give you more details.
The Resort (Peacock)
Hotel: Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve / The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan
Location: Dorado, Puerto Rico / San Juan, Puerto Rico
The new dark comedy “The Resort,” on Peacock, follows a married couple on an anniversary trip to the Riviera Maya. Upon arriving, they learn about a series of unsettling disappearances that occurred years ago, and remain unsolved. Although the couple’s trip turns out to be (shall I say) less than ideal, viewers can nonetheless embark on a far more enjoyable vacation at the show’s film sites: Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, an intimate seaside getaway housed on 50 acres of the Rockefeller estate; or at the Ritz-Carlton San Juan, a luxe property perched on a two-mile stretch of private beach.
Fora Perks at Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve and the Ritz-Carlton San Juan:
$150 hotel / resort credit at Dorado Beach; $100 food / beverage credit at the Ritz-Carlton San Juan.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Modern Love (Amazon Prime)
Image courtesy of Arlo NoMad
Hotel: Arlo NoMad
Location: New York City, New York
Although Season 2 of the romantic comedy anthology “Modern Love,” on Amazon Prime, premiered last year, I can’t stop thinking about the Scandinavian-chic Arlo hotel, which appeared in an episode of Season 1. In it, Dev Patel plays a journalist interviewing a dating app CEO (Catherine Keener) about her love life. The interview, interrupted by flashbacks, takes place at the Arlo, in New York’s sophisticated (and foodie-friendly) NoMad neighborhood. Here, guests can stay in whimsical bunk rooms, enjoy rooftop drinks with views of the city’s glistening skyline and dine at the hotel’s fabulous Middle Eastern restaurant, Lamalo — a must for any trip to New York.
Fora Perks the Arlo NoMad:
20% off at the Bodega “Grab and Go.”
Complimentary welcome drink.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Love is Blind (Netflix)
Image courtesy of Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Hotel: Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Location: Costa Mujeres, Cancún
The prospect of seeing someone for the first time only after a marriage proposal is daunting, but such is the premise of the dating reality show “Love is Blind,” on Netflix. If someone proposes, the newly engaged couple jets off to a resort — in Season 1’s case, the Grand Velas Riviera Maya, a luxurious, all-inclusive beachside resort close to Mayan ruins, lush jungles and underwater caves. The Yucatecán escape is perfect for couples (newly engaged and otherwise) and families alike, features gourmet dining and boasts a variety of both high-octane and relaxing activities, so you can tailor your trip to Mexico exactly how you wish.
Fora Perks at Grand Velas Riviera Maya:
$50 daily spa credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Inventing Anna (Netflix)
Hotel: La Mamounia / 11 Howard
Location: Marrakech, Morocco / New York, New York
In Netflix's wildly addictive Inventing Anna, all is not as it seems. The posh, mysterious and confident (perhaps too confident) Anna Delvey somehow manages to swindle New York's élite into thinking she is a fabulously wealthy German heiress. This, of course, is a lie, but that does not stop the master manipulator from living lavishly — or from frequenting some of the world's grandest hotels. Of particular note is Marrakech's regal La Mamounia, an ornate palace hotel with lavish suites and riads, four exquisite restaurants (two of which are helmed by Jean-Georges Vongerichten), a luxurious spa, a casino, golf and numerous bars and lounges. The fausse-heiress also favors the handsome 11 Howard, in New York City's trendy SoHo neighborhood. Here she doles out generous tips like candy — until the hotel realizes the once-beloved guest seems to lack a credit card on file. Where the cash is coming from shall remain a mystery. But, even for modest tippers, 11 Howard offers a sleek and sexy stay in downtown Manhattan, complete with a renowned French restaurant and infrared wellness spa.
Fora Perks at La Mamounia:
$100 food & beverage credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Fora Perks at 11 Howard:
$25 food / beverage credit.
Welcome treat in room on arrival.
Upgrade & guaranteed late check-out.