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A column in every issue · Where to sleep

The Room

Which town, which coast, which kind of place, and what you are really paying for. The column about the bed.

Hdr Vineyard (19455303) · Liliana Saeb · CC BY 3.0 · cropped

21 columns · newest first

The column, issue by issue

  1. Rows of vines across the floor of Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California at golden hour, with dry hills rising beyond the vineyards.Hdr Vineyard (19455303) · Liliana Saeb · CC BY 3.0 · cropped Valle de Guadalupe · Vol. 2 · No. 09 · September 2026 Valle de Guadalupe: Where to Sleep Choosing where to stay in Valle de Guadalupe, from vineyard guesthouses to city hotels, determines the rhythm of a trip. By Rafael Costa · 2 min read · p. 6
  2. An aerial view of the Wailea resort coast on Maui's sunny south shore — a line of low white beachfront hotels and green gardens above deep blue water, with the upcountry slopes behind.Starr-180326-2966-Cocos nucifera-aerial view The Grand Wailea… · Forest and Kim Starr · CC BY 3.0 US · cropped Maui · Vol. 2 · No. 08 · August 2026 Maui Coasts: Where to Sleep Deciding on South Maui or West Maui makes all the difference for a first trip, with options from value condos to full-service resorts. By Rafael Costa · 2 min read · p. 6
  3. Lake ComoBellagio - Albergo Genazzini & Metropole from Lake Como · Xavier Caré · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped Lake Como · Vol. 2 · No. 07 · July 2026 Which town Bellagio sits where the two arms split and gets the postcards, along with the crowds that come with them. Varenna, across the water, is smaller, walkable and has the train from Milan. The western shore — Cernobbio, Tremezzo, Lenno — holds the grand villa-hotels and the gardens. Pick for how you mean to spend your mornings. By Rafael Costa · 2 min read · p. 6
  4. Curved, stepped rice terraces planted in bright green on a hillside near Ubud in Bali.Rice terraces, Bali · Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0 · cropped Bali · Vol. 2 · No. 06 · June 2026 Bali: Coast or Interior Deciding where to sleep in Bali means choosing between the island's green, cultural heart and its varied coastline, each offering a distinct trip. By Rafael Costa · 2 min read · p. 6
  5. A wide Atlantic beach at Comporta backed by low sand dunes and pine under an open skyComporta Beach in May - panoramio · augustoptm · CC BY-SA 3.0 · cropped Comporta · Vol. 2 · No. 05 · May 2026 Comporta: Cabana or Villa On the low-built Alentejo coast, the choice between a thatched cabana and a private villa shapes the entire stay. By Rafael Costa · 3 min read · p. 6
  6. Thatched-roof beachfront cabanas among palm trees on the sand along the Tulum beach roadCabanas on the Beach , Tulum, Mexico Cabañas en la Playa, Tul… · md · CC BY 3.0 · cropped Tulum · Vol. 2 · No. 04 · April 2026 Tulum Beach Road Pueblo Or In Between Tulum's appeal splits between its iconic beach road, the everyday town, and newer areas, each offering a distinct experience and price point. By Rafael Costa · 2 min read · p. 6
  7. Queenstown on a bay of Lake Wakatipu with the Remarkables range rising across the water under autumn light.The Remarkables from Queenstown, New Zealand 08 · Σ64 · CC BY 4.0 · cropped Queenstown · Vol. 2 · No. 03 · March 2026 Sleeping in Queenstown Town or Lodge Central Queenstown offers a walkable, lively stay; a few minutes out, the lake lodges provide water, mountains, and silence. By Rafael Costa · 2 min read · p. 6
  8. Camps Bay beach on Cape Town's Atlantic Seaboard beneath the Twelve Apostles mountainsAfrika 2006 028 · Lettkow · CC BY-SA 3.0 · cropped Cape Town · Vol. 2 · No. 02 · February 2026 Cape Town: Beach, Bowl, or Vines Deciding where to base yourself in Cape Town is the single choice that shapes your trip, offering distinct experiences from lively beaches to quiet vineyards. By Rafael Costa · 2 min read · p. 6
  9. AspenMaroon Bells (148358679) · Juan Esclusa · CC BY 3.0 · cropped Aspen · Vol. 2 · No. 01 · January 2026 Town or slopeside Aspen's gift is that you can stay in a real town and still ski. Slopeside condos suit hard-core skiers; the town hotels suit everyone who also wants dinner and a bookshop. By Rafael Costa · 2 min read · p. 6
  10. A small propeller aircraft on final approach over the hill above St Jean beach on St. BarthelemySt. Barts Baie de Saint-Jean vegetation · Mike Schinkel · CC BY 2.0 · cropped St. Barths · Vol. 1 · No. 12 · December 2025 St. Barths: Villa Island Stays Most visitors to this French Caribbean island rent a private villa, a choice that shapes the rhythm of a stay. By Rafael Costa · 2 min read · p. 6
  11. An overwater villa on stilts with a wooden deck and steps leading down into a clear lagoonAnantara Kihavah - Aerial Hero Shot 2024 · Matheenfaiz · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped The Maldives · Vol. 1 · No. 11 · November 2025 Overwater Or Beach Villa Choice Deciding between an overwater villa and a beach villa in the Maldives shapes a stay more than many first-timers realise, affecting comfort and cost. By Rafael Costa · 2 min read · p. 6
  12. Bixby Creek Bridge, an open-spandrel concrete arch, spanning a steep canyon on the Big Sur coast with Highway 1 along the cliffs above the PacificDistance view of Bixby Creek Bridge (204357335) · Robin Férand · CC BY 3.0 · cropped Big Sur · Vol. 1 · No. 10 · October 2025 Big Sur Stays: On the Coast or in Carmel Choosing where to sleep in Big Sur means deciding between scarce coastal inns or a Carmel base, with October rooms booking months ahead. By Rafael Costa · 2 min read · p. 6
  13. A cypress-lined gravel road climbing through the hills of the Val d'Orcia in southern TuscanyLeading Road (52716048000) · kuhnmi · CC BY 2.0 · cropped Tuscany · Vol. 1 · No. 09 · September 2025 Tuscan Stays: Estate or Farm Choosing between a grand restored estate and a working agriturismo shapes the character and cost of a Tuscan stay among the vines, especially during harvest. By Rafael Costa · 2 min read · p. 6
  14. Waterfront houses of Little Venice in Mykonos Town with wooden balconies over the seaLittle Venice, Chora, Mykonos, Greece (53507026255) · Warren LeMay from Chicago · CC BY-SA 2.0 · cropped Mykonos · Vol. 1 · No. 08 · August 2025 Mykonos Base: Town or Sand Choosing where to sleep on Mykonos defines the trip, especially in August. Decide if you want the town’s lanes or a beach at your doorstep. By Rafael Costa · 2 min read · p. 6
  15. White cliffside houses and blue-domed churches in Oia above the Santorini caldera at duskOia - Santorini 2019 · User:Anna.Tsolidou · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped Santorini · Vol. 1 · No. 07 · July 2025 Santorini: On the Rim or Off The famous caldera view defines Santorini's top prices and crowds; consider Imerovigli for calm or the island's quieter side for better value. By Rafael Costa · 2 min read · p. 6
  16. Positano's pastel houses rising in tiers up the cliffs above the beach on the Amalfi CoastPositano at dusk, Amalfi Coast, Italy · Eric Hossinger · CC BY 2.0 · cropped The Amalfi Coast · Vol. 1 · No. 06 · June 2025 Positano or Ravello The Amalfi Coast offers two distinct experiences, and choosing between its vertical, glossy towns and its quiet, high-perched villages sets the tone for your entire trip. By Rafael Costa · 2 min read · p. 6
  17. The hilltop village of Gordes in the Luberon, its pale stone houses rising above the valleyGordes with cirrus · Astronautilus · CC BY 2.0 · cropped Provence · Vol. 1 · No. 05 · May 2025 Your Mas in Provence A restored farmhouse with a pool and a view is the classic Provence stay, offering independence and a base for exploring the Luberon. By Rafael Costa · 2 min read · p. 6
  18. KyotoYasaka-dori early morning with street lanterns and the Tower… · Basile Morin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped Kyoto · Vol. 1 · No. 04 · April 2025 Ryokan or hotel A ryokan is an experience, not just a bed — dinner, bath and breakfast are part of the deal. If that sounds like a lot, a good hotel in the right district may serve you better. By Rafael Costa · 2 min read · p. 6
  19. The white marble Taj Lake Palace appearing to float on Lake Pichola, with the Aravalli hills behindUdaipur, India, Lake Palace on Lake Pichola · Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0 · cropped Udaipur · Vol. 1 · No. 03 · March 2025 On the Lake in Udaipur Udaipur’s island palace and its spacious lakeside alternative offer distinct experiences, each with its own trade-offs and charm. By Rafael Costa · 2 min read · p. 6
  20. Interior courtyard of a Marrakech riad with a central fountain, tilework, and rooms opening onto the patioCourtyard with Chandelier and Fountain (5038922480) · Mike Prince from Bangalore · CC BY 2.0 · cropped Marrakech · Vol. 1 · No. 02 · February 2025 Marrakech Riad Location Guide A traditional courtyard house offers atmosphere and quiet, but its location within Marrakech's old city dictates convenience and the overall feel of your trip. By Rafael Costa · 2 min read · p. 6
  21. The facade and tower of Badrutt's Palace Hotel above Lake St. Moritz.St. Moritz - Badrutt’s Palace (15885656269) · Kecko from Switzerland (Rheintal SG) · CC BY 2.0 · cropped St. Moritz · Vol. 1 · No. 01 · January 2025 The Tower Rooms at Badrutt's Palace The iconic St. Moritz hotel, with its fairy-tale tower, offers specific rooms that define the classic winter experience on the lake. By Rafael Costa · 2 min read · p. 4
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