The 9 Best Fashion Designer Hotels for an Elevated Vacation
Jul 14, 2022
Fashion is all about the finer details. From the tortoiseshell buttons that grace our winter coats to the expertly crafted bags we can’t live without, there’s a certain level of perfectionism promised by luxury brands. It’s this type of decadent refinement that attracts holidaymakers annually to the best fashion designer hotels in the world, offering chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce and scenic views completed by culinary artistry. Once you get the high-fashion holiday feeling, other vacation hot spots won’t be the same. Don’t believe us? Try one out for yourself. Below, we round up the best fashion designer hotels including the Gold Coast's Palazzo Versace and John F. Kennedy's favorite, Round Hill Hotel.
The Best Fashion Designer Hotels
1/9
Bulgari Resort and Residence Dubai
Location: Jumeirah Bay, Dubai
Awards: Green Key Sustainability Certificate 2021.
Must Do: Visit Bulgari’s first-ever yacht club and marina that includes a 50-boat harbor.
The Details: Known as a leader within the realm of fine jewelry, the Italian luxury house has developed quite the prestigious property catalog, touching everywhere from London to Bali. With new additions in locations such as Paris, Rome, and Moscow (to name a few), Bulgari isn’t slowing down—and the success of its Dubai hotel proves why.
Rooted in Italian design and decorated with Middle Eastern embellishments, the Bulgari Resort and Residential is the site of innovative vision. Designed by architectural firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel in 2017, the hotel was inspired by Italian seaside villages, as shown by the coal-like sunshade that hugs the building’s exterior. Aside from its breathtaking view of the Arabian Gulf and aesthetic use of Italian marble, the resort boasts an outdoor pool decorated with gems to give the impression of a glittering oasis. This is the must-stay place for any Bulgari loyalist.
2/9
Continentale
Location: Florence, Italy
Awards: TripAdvisor Travel Choice Award 2021.
Must Do: Visit the Rooftop Bar and try its cocktail of the month.
The Details: The second of the Salvatore Ferragamo Hotels is a beacon of contemporary design. Florentine architect and interior designer, Michele Bönan, was inspired by the 1950s golden age of Salvatore Ferragamo where pared-back leather shoes and luxury silk ties ruled. Since opening in 2001, the hotel has been a pilgrimage for those in search of minimalist opulence. In the Continentale, sleek blonde hardwood floors and white curtains are contrasted by bright pistachio and pink accents that are equally sophisticated as they are inviting. Located in the center of Florence, with views looking onto Brunechelli’s Dome, this is the perfect hotel to bask in the city's romantic charm.
3/9
Fendi Private Suites
Location: Rome, Italy
Must Do: Visit Palazzo Fendi, the brand’s flagship store.
The Details: There’s nothing that Karl Lagerfeld hasn’t done. As well as the creative force behind three fashion houses, and a highly skilled photographer, he was an expectational interior designer. Case-in-point: the Fendi Private Suites. Located on the third floor of Palazzo Fendi, two floors above the flagship store, you will find a quiet retreat of only seven suites. With black and white portraits (shot by Lagerfeld himself) lining the marble halls and deep soft leather couches filling the rooms, Fendi’s Private Suites are cool and comforting. Much like the Italian brand, the hotel prides itself on its exclusivity. Only allowing for a limited number of occupants at any given time, its nearly sound-proof walls and personal dining rooms (available to rent on the second floor) allow you to make this vacation hot-spot truly feel like your own.
4/9
Palazzo Versace Gold Coast Australia
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Must Do: Visit Vanitas, the AGFG Hatted Restaurant.
The Details: Opening its doors in the early 2000s on the subtropical terrain of the Gold Coast, Palazzo Versace was the first fashion designer hotel. With construction and planning starting in 1997, before Gianni Versace’s untimely death, the residence boasts all the vibrant characteristics of the beloved designer. From his colorful prints that can be found on the soft furnishings in the lobby to the Grecian motifs that grace the decadent entrance, the hotel is a symbol of unstifled glamour. Though, it’s not uninviting. The Palazzo Versace takes the best parts of humanity and makes something beautiful. A chandelier hailing from the State Library of Milan greets you upon arrival, complementing the Medusa mosaic situated on the entranceway. Its subtle details will make you want to stay that little bit longer.
5/9
Hotel La Bellechase
Location: Saint Germain, Paris
Must Do: Treat yourself to a long breakfast in the hotel’s neo-classic dining room.
The Details: Want a unique hotel experience? Tucked away in the fashionable district of Saint Germain, lies the vision of esteemed designer Christian Lacroix: the Hotel La Bellechase. It’s a melting pot of Lacroix’s whimsical imaginings and penchant for gothic decadence. Each of the 33 rooms, though all deeply individualistic, draws on the same neo-classic palette of dark reds and golds encouraging a home feeling. Situated on the stylish Left Bank, you’re only a stone’s throw away from the cultural commodities of Paris like Musée d'Orsay and the Louvre.
6/9
Round Hill Hotel & Villas
Location: Montego Bay, Jamaica
Awards: Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice Award 2021.
Must Do: On Fridays, guests can tour gardens including where the hotel’s organic produce is grown.
The Details: Built on the notion of understated luxury, Round Hill’s Hotel and Villas is a haven for those who wish to forego the larger Montego-Bay resorts in the name of a quieter retreat. The vacation spot of choice for the Kennedys (John F. Kennedy penned and rehearsed his inauguration speech on these premises) and Sir Noël Coward, Round Hill carries a classic charm seeped in Jamaican culture—as seen on the straw accents and white stone. Since opening in 1953, the resort has undergone much change including the renovation of its 36-bedroom Pineapple House, spearhead by American designer Ralph Lauren. Lauren combined his signature touch (think classic white linen) with Caribbean subtleties like racing green stripes to create a restorative resting place.
7/9
Armani Hotel Milano
Location: Milan, Italy
Must Do: Go to the hotel balcony for a 360-degree view of the city.
The Details: Taking the cool and seductive characteristics that are synonymous with the Armani brand, this second collaboration with Emaar properties (the first is in Dubai) is a hub of minimalist splendor. Neutral shades coat the interior of the 95-guest room hotel in a way that feels sophisticated and spirited thanks to the high-rise windows that grace the property. From the spa to the fitness center, to the bespoke tailoring service offered, the Armani Hotel will have you looking and feeling like your best self upon departure.
8/9
Bulgari Hotel London
Location: London, England
Must Do: Organize a personal film viewing at the hotel’s private cinema.
The Details: Rooted in mid-century design, this London iteration of the Bulgari Hotel is sleeker than its Arabian sibling, but equal in glamour. Dark-leather furnishing and room-commanding columns fill the entranceway inviting you to explore the brand’s luxury heritage. Whether you opt for a superior room or a deluxe suite, a beige palette and soft furnishing greet you inviting you to relax. If you want something more effective, try the hotels’ renowned spa, where you can have a cryotherapy massage to revitalize your body. When evening strikes treat yourself to flavorsome Sette, an Italian restaurant made to excite the senses. Its signature menu, including truffle mushrooms and succulent octopus, works to transport you to the Mediterranean coast. Swallow it down with one of the restaurant’s unique cocktails named after pre-90s songs.
9/9
Tortuga Bay Hotel
Location: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Awards: AAA Five Diamond Property.
Must Do: Hit the links on the oceanic golf course.
The Details: Touchdown in paradise by visiting Tortuga Bay, the award-winning hotel designed by Oscar de la Renta. Combining the designer’s Dominican heritage with his unique artistic vision, the two-story villas are painted with an illuminating canary yellow that nods to the country’s tropical subclimate and is balanced out by elongated French windows. While the Tortuga Bay Hotel has all the makings of a formal resort, from the renowned golf course to the award-winning restaurants, it is defined by its causal-inviting air that makes the vacation spot feel like home.
