JUST CHECKED OUT: VILLA PASSALAQUA... LAKE COMO'S NEW CROWN JEWEL

Lake Como, in Northern Italy’s Lombardy region, continues to be one of the most sought out destinations by Mapps clients, year after year. Set against the foothills of the dramatic Italian Alps, and only a 45 minute drive from Milan, the lake area is home to the most elegant villas, scenic small towns and fragrant gardens.

This past September I decided to head back to Northern Italy after a 4 year hiatus and check out the brand new Villa Passalaqua hotel, as well as the elegant Mandarin Oriental and Il Sereno Hotel.

We spent our 4 days in Lake Como lounging by the pool, cruising the lake and eating and drinking way too much pasta and Barolo wine than we needed. Below, I share some snaps from my iPhone and a few of my favorite spots. —

Travel Notes: Lake Como is a perfect 3-4 night stay and combines beautifully with Portofino, Florence, Venice and the Amalfi Coast.

P.S. we are planning summer travel for Europe 2023 now, so do not wait too long to plan, space is filing up in all the good spots.

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LAKE COMO

Hotel Stay: Villa Passalaqua

https://www.passalacqua.it/en/

Mapps X Passalaqua:

VIP upgrade status, complimentary daily breakfast & 100.00 food and beverage credit.

Lunch Spots: Giacomo & Locanda La Tirlindana.

Villa Tours: Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello.

Apertivo: The bar at Passalaqua or Grand Hotel Tremezzo.

Dinner Spots: Osteria Figli dei Fiori, Convivialità, Trattoria del Glicine and La Terrazza.

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ELISA'S TEENS REPORT BACK ON MIAMI

This past Christmas, the kids and I headed south to Miami to soak up the sun, the art and of course eat and shop till we drop. I personally find Miami an amazing options for families with teenagers as there is something for everyone and the safe city streets give the kids the coveted independence they desire.

For this piece, I asked my 13 and 16 year old daughters to share some snaps and scoop on what they loved. The details below…

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Finlay’s Take ( 16, Sophmore at The Taft School )

Favorite Hotel: The Edition

Favorite Restaurants: Macchalina, Mandolin and the tacos at Tacombi

Favorite Shops: The Webster, Christian Dior and Everything But The Water

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Hadley’s Take ( 13, 8th grader at Weston Middle School )

Favorite Hotel: One Hotel

Favorite Restaurants: Sushi Garage, Cecconi and the pizza at Lucali’s.

Favorite Shops: Kith and Off White

ELISA REPORTS BACK ON HER COUPLE'S GETAWAY TO ITALY

September is my favorite time of year to go to Europe. The weather is in the low 80’s, the mass tourist crowd is gone but still busy enough to have a buzzy vibe and you can finally score a table at the latest hotspots with ease… well, most of the time. With all five children settled back into their respective schools, we decided to pack our bags and head to Italy for ten nights, dividing our time between the island of Capri and the city of Florence with a delish pizza lunch stop in chaotic Napoli. We spent our days in Capri lounging poolside or at various beach clubs with long, lazy lunches or on a boat, island hopping. In Florence, it was all about living like a local and immersing ourselves in the food, the wine and the culture. To say we lived la dolce vita, would be an understatement and it served as a wonderful reminder to both of us why it is so important to continue to carve time for each other away from the craziness of our busy lives. Below, I share some snaps and a few of my favorite spots ( I hit the ground hard to curate the perfect list for clients )… and I promise, we really did miss the kids— xx E

P.S. we are planning summer travel for Europe 2022 now, so do not wait too long to plan, space is filing up in all the good spots.

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CAPRI

Hotel Stay: The Capri Touch Suite at Capri Palace Jumeriah which was absolutely gorgeous.

Mapps X Capri Palace: VIP upgrade status, complimentary daily breakfast and resort credits.

https://www.capripalace.com/en/

Lunch: The Spagetti alle Vongole at La Fontelina and La Conco de Sogno, the lobster pasta at Le Riccio and the Zucchini Spaghetti dish at Lo Scoglio.

Apertivo: Aperol Spritz on The terrace at Grand Hotel Quisisana.

Dinners: The tomato, mozzerella salad at Da Paolino, truffle pasta at Villa Verde and the white pizza Aurora.

Post Dinner Spot: Anema e Core Taverna for live music and dancing.

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FLORENCE

Hotel Stay: The Master Suite at The Place Firenze, completely obsessed.

Mapps X The Place: VIP upgrade status, complimentary daily breakfast and resort credits.

https://www.theplacefirenze.com/

Lunch: The Terrace at The Place

Enoteca: Le volpi e l'uva.

Apertivo: The Negronis at Serra Torrigiani.

Dinner: Osteria Cinghiale Bianco

Post Dinner Spot: The Lodge Club

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NAPOLI PIT STOP

On our way from Capri to Florence, we pressed pause for 2 hours to eat lunch where pizza was born. I cannot recommend Pizzeria da Concettina ai Tre Santi enough… absolute carb and dairy perfection!

http://www.pizzeriaoliva.it/en/

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CHEVAL BLANC OPENS IT'S DOORS IN PARIS NEXT WEEK

On September 7th, LVMH will open it’s first urban hotel, Cheval Blanc Paris, located In the heart of the City of Light, only a few steps away from the Louvre and the Marais and in front of the Left Bank. The 72 room/suite hotel was designed by Peter Marino, the architect behind numerous LVMH stores, who designed the hotel with the spirit of a Parisian apartment in mind. Below we share a sneak peek —

Mapps X Cheval Blanc: VIP priority upgrade, special nightly rates, complimentary daily breakfast and spa credits.

JUST CHECKED OUT: MAPPS'S TRAVEL ADVISOR TAHVA WYLIE SHARES SNAPS AND NOTES FROM THE ROAD

CANYON POINT, UTAH

STAY: Amangiri

“ When my husband announced he wanted to drive cross country with our three kids this summer in an RV, I was not exactly thrilled… until he said that we could stop for 4 nights at Amangiri to break up the trip. Amangiri has been on my bucket list for years and was definitely what I needed after sleeping ten nights in our mini-bus. Our family had the most epic time exploring the area which included a visit to Horseshoe Bend, Zion National Park and a boat day on beautiful Lake Powell where the kids went tubing for hours. The hotel is simply magical, and the landscape makes you feel as if you are on planet Mars. The staff was so friendly and welcoming to our kids and the food at both of their restaurants was delicious. The nightly s’more platters they would leave by our suite’s fire pit was such a treat for the kids. Bucket list check!”

MAPPS X AMANGIRI: Special nightly rates and spa credits.

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EB REPORTS BACK ON HER TRIP TO ST. BARTH'S

St. Barth’s is an island notorious for drawing a discerning crowd, a destination with no shortage of glamour, white sandy beaches, luxury hotels, yachts, world-class dining and upscale boutiques. It is the reason that travelers return year after year. This past January, I flew to San Juan and boarded Tradewinds PC-12 plane and arrived back to my favorite island on the planet. The details of where I stayed, ate and cocktailed below—

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STAY

For this holiday, I checked into the iconic Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France, home to 61 beautifully appointed rooms, suites and villas, with beach or lush garden views. The property offers guests two restaurants with locally-inspired French cuisine. La Cabane Beach Club is the perfect spot for rose and a long lazy toes in sand lunches or La Case, a new culinary journey designed by Jean Imbert offering weekend brunch and daily evening dinner. At any time of the day, their White Bar serves the most refreshing rum cocktails and light bites around one of their two swimming pools, surrounded by gorgeous panoramic views of the coveted Flamands Bay. During the year, Cheval Blanc Maison hosts exclusive events organized with the most prestigious champagne houses such as Veuve Cliquot and highly curated art exhibitions. The Cheval Blanc Spa offers Guerlain rituals, in exclusivity in the Caribbean and has 4 treatment rooms, 1 hammam and 1 outdoor pavilion nestled in the vegetation. Their team, known for their high touch, personalized service and tailor-made experiences delivered on every level.

MAPPS X CHEVAL BLANC: Special nightly rates, complimentary daily breakfast and resort credits.

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EATS

LUNCH HOTSPOTS

GYPSEA: The all-new “Bohemian Beach Club” dropped anchor this past fall. The dress code is barefoot and salty hair. The restaurant, which is right on the beach, is adorned with shades of blue in homage to the Caribbean sea and Atlantic Ocean, with comfy benches and large mismatched cushions, untreated furniture and wood with a saltwater patina creating a chic, laid-back, end-of-the earth feel.

LE TOINY: Even if you’re not staying at the hotel, don’t miss the hidden paradise on Toiny Bay. The menu rotates regularly and offers dishes based on fish, grilled meat and refreshing salads. Enjoy a truly relaxing feet in the sand, lunch under the Paillottes.

NIKKI BEACH: On Sundays, the posh beach club turns into a table-dancing day party complete with bottle service, model-esque waiters, and oversize sushi boats. Stay through the weekend, you don’t want to miss this one.

SHELLONA: Watch the sunset with your feet in the sand at the revamp of beach bar Do Brazil, an island institution. The Shellona sunset is a little flashier than its former iteration, but that’s fine. Nature is the real star here.

THE SAND BAR: The Sand is the culinary heart and soul of Eden Rock Hotel. Signature Sand classics include… truffle pizza, crispy salmon and caramelized foie-gras, caviar and more.

DINNER HOTSPOTS

BONITO: Latin-French fare in the form of ceviche, tiraditos, and an abundance of truffle oil, plus an extensive menu of creative cocktails served alongside unbeatable views of Gustavia Harbor.

LA GUERITE: This local gem transports you to St Tropez. Make a reservation for Saturday night and be prepared to get up and dance.

L’ISOLA: Beloved by both locals and visitors, this Southern Italian favorite is the perfect spot for a romantic dinner. You won’t be sitting by the sea, but you’ll also get some of the best dishes on the island.

OREGA: A newcomer on the gourmet scene in Saint Barth, this restaurant quickly developed a stellar reputation for their Franco-Japanese fusion concept.

TAMARIN: Island favorite set in a magical garden under the shade of a 200-year-old tamarind tree with a distinct French-Thai vibe.

AFTER HOURS HOTSPOTS

BAGATELLE: An offshoot of the original in New York, the cocktails flow and the crowd gets similarly rowdy, minus the costumes.

LE TI: The raucous, kitschy nightclub is a rite of passage for first-timers. Waiters whisk you into a secret back room, set you up with costumes like you’re going to Coachella, and send you off onto the dance floor.

* Editor’s note: Due to Covid-19, Le Ti will not reopen until 11/2021.

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JUST CHECKED OUT: EB SHARES A SNEAK PEEK INTO HER RECENT STAY AT FOUR SEASONS PUNTA MITA

Feliz ano nuevo! I recently headed to Mexico to scout the Punta Mita and Nayarit area, a remote 192-mile-long coastline nestled between the majestic Sierra Madre mountains and the rugged Pacific Ocean. This jungle of love is tapped to be the newest hotspot once travel restrictions begin to loosen and the Covid -19 nightmare ends.

Four Seasons Punta Mita has long been a MAPPS favorite for families as the activities on property are endless such as pool, beach, surfing, tennis, golf, a lazy River, kids club, teen center, hiking and biking trails.

Off property there is golf, fishing, the beaches of Banderas Bay and the many sanctuaries of the San Juan State Biosphere Reserve that offer whale watching, bird watching, boat tours, island tours, and the boho chic town of Sayulita is only thirty minutes away by car.

The resort which is following strict Covid-19 guidelines in partnership with Johns Hopkins, recently underwent a renovation and I was chomping at the bit to check it out.

Below some snaps from my recent stay with the team at Four Seasons Punta Mita.

xx Elisa

I ❤️ Mexico.

Surf lessons for all ages.

Too pretty to drink.

Lazy Rivers are the best.

Tacos on repeat.

All roads lead to happy.

Mi Casa Su Casa.

I ate everything.

Boho chic vibes forever.

Cutest welcome ever...

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WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

MAPPS X FOUR SEASONS PUNTA MITA: As a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, MAPPS clients receive special nightly rates, a complimentary upgrade subject to availability, daily breakfast and resort credits.

LOCATION: The resort is located one hour by car from Puerto Vallarta International Airport. (PVR )

ACCOMMODATIONS: 139 newly renovated modern Mexican casita rooms, 34 suites with living rooms and terraces with a plunge pool, or 32 villas and residences.

P.S. A day trip to the boho chic town of Sayulita is a must for lunch and shopping.

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