The FireSky Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, Ariz.
The desert is the perfect place to escape a chilly
Northwest winter and Scottsdale is one of the hottest
spots amid the cactus. With 325 days of sunshine
annually, and a thrilling array of sizzling hot restaurants
nearby, the funky, yet luxurious and intimate FireSky Resort
& Spa (4925 N. Scottsdale Rd.; 480-945-7666; www.fireskyresort.com; from $199) is the
perfect location for an escape from the cold.
Formerly the
Caleo, this Kimpton Hotels resort offers all the whimsical
decorative touches and topnotch service that we have grown
to expect and love from this incredibly LGBT-friendly
chain, as well as an enticing indoor-outdoor bar,
tasty Taggia restaurant and the tempting Jurlique Spa.
Generous rooms have double doors that open out onto spacious
balconies, overlooking the pools and lush courtyard, and
luxe L'Occitaine amenities. The pet-friendly Firesky
plays with the elements and surrounds the pools and
hot tubs with blazing fire columns and cozy fire pits,
perfect for toasting s'mores with one of the handy kits
available from front desk.
The Iroquois, New York
The Iroquois (49 W. 44th St.; 212-840-3080; www.iroquoisny.com; from $315),
between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in the heart of Times
Square, sashayed past the finishing line of the final
phase of a $5 million guest-room refurbishment. From
its marble lobby to the Molton Brown amenities in
guest bathrooms, the 114-room, nine-suite Midtown boutique
property oozes with understated elegance. Rooms boast
hardwood floors, dazzling window treatments and rich,
custom-made furniture. A perfect base for the theatre
or for a business trip, guests share their quarters
with 32'' LG HDTVs, custom-made executive desks, king beds
with mahogany and suede headboards, and satin wall
treatments.
Opus Montreal, Montreal
Formerly Hotel Godin, the architectural landmark on the
corner of Sherbrooke and vibrant Saint Laurent has
been reborn as Opus Montreal (10 Sherbrooke Ouest,
Latin Quarter; 514-843-6000; www.opushotel.com; from CDN$179).
Attracting a similar stellar celebrity set as its
Vancouver sibling, the 136-room hipster haven features a
sleek lobby with a circular caramel velvet couch and
sliding wood panels. Rooms boast Egyptian cotton
sheets, down duvets, Gilchrist and Soames amenities and
ambient low-level lighting in the showers. Old Montreal
and the Gay Village are five minutes in a cab or 15
minutes on foot.
Hotel Deluxe, Portland, Ore.
Up the glam at Hotel Deluxe (729 SW 15th Ave;
503-219-2094; www.hoteldeluxeportland.com; from $149),
an opulent address where classic Hollywood style
prevails. Guest rooms are generous and luxurious, and
downstairs' dimly lit Driftwood Room is on hand for
hip sips, tasty treats, and all sorts of glamorous intrigue.
Architectural details summon back elegant moments of the
1920s, 1930s and 1940s. Staff is friendly and truly
excellent. A screening room shows local gems monthly.
Within an easy sauntering distance from downtown
Portland and the Stark Street gay bars, the hotel is also
mere feet away from the MAX Light Rail system direct
from Portland's PDX Airport.
Hotel Murano, Tacoma, Washington
One of the brightest and boldest openings recently,
Tacoma's Hotel Murano (1320 Broadway Plaza, Tacoma;
253-238-8000; www.hotelmuranotacoma.com; from $189)
proves that having a heart of glass is a desirable
thing. Offering packages to the nearby Museum of
Glass, Hotel Murano is a stunning 319-room property in
which more than 40 of the world's glass artists' works are
showcased. Artworks star in the hallways and in rooms.
The attention to detail doesn't stop there: Rooms
feature a pillow menu, a spiritual menu (offering
various different types of holy tomes), Aveda products in
the bathrooms, iPod docks and loaner iPods. It's the
latest gem in the crown of Portland's chic, luxe
Provenance Hotels and stands to become a Tacoma
attraction in its own right.
Galleria Park Hotel, San Francisco
California-based boutique hotelier Joie de Vivre, a
company that proudly reaches out to the LGBT
community, entirely renovated the Galleria Park Hotel
(191 Sutter St.; 415-781-3060; www.galleriapark.com; from $179), one of
California's most historic hotels. Some of the results
of the $7.1 million makeover of the 1911 Financial
District property include dramatic upgrades to the
rooms and public spaces, a vibrant color scheme and
whimsical furnishings, locally sourced artwork, an
office-products honor bar, an outdoor roof deck for
Tai Chi and Pilates and 300-thread-count Frette
linens.