Hotel Il Pellicano - Porto Ercole, Italy

“This must be what it feels like to be George Clooney.”

That was my first thought upon arriving at the Hotel Il Pellicano. 

We drove for two hours from Rome to the peninsula of Monte Argentario. An island-like comune connected to the mainland by three strips of land. The narrow road wound around one steep hill after another. As we took each turn, I couldn’t help but picture small Italian cars zooming uphill the way they do in the movies. 

We parked at the hotel garage and were received with the warm smiles of the hotel staff. They didn’t care we weren’t celebrities. We still felt the VIP treatment. (Even though we were an hour late for our lunch reservation.)

Il Pellicano was a pitstop on our journey from the capital to the Chianti region. It was a place to decompress for a few hours while enjoying the beautiful Italian coastline. And that’s exactly what we did. 

As we descended onto the terrace, the view from the top of the cliff was breathtaking. Below us the terrace continued to cascade sharply onto the Tyrrhenian Sea. 

At the edge of the cliff, a set of stairs and an elevator await to bring you down safely from the summit to the beach at sea level. 

We ordered lunch at the hotel’s Tuscan Grill. Fritto misto, spaghetti with clams, and my favorite dessert: affogato. The food was delicious, but it was the view that created a real feast for the eyes. 

As I explored the venue, I noticed that their main restaurant Il Pellicano received one Michelin Star for 2019.

The Hotel Il Pellicano is one of those incredible hidden gems that I can only hope to visit again.

 

Useful information:

Tuscan Grill Summer Hours:

Lunch: 12:30pm - 2:30pm

Dinner: 7:30pm - 10pm

Address: Località Sbarcatello, 58019 Porto Ercole GR, Italy

Book a table: https://www.hotelilpellicano.com/en/dining/booking-pelligrill/

Contact: info@pellicanohotel.com

Website: https://www.hotelilpellicano.com/

TWA Hotel - New York, USA

A red carpet, the ultimate symbol of status, is rolled out for you the moment you enter the TWA Hotel. Literally. The carpet that covers the entrance corridors and part of the lounge areas is bright red, after the original colors of the airline. But it’s not only the carpet that makes a big impression.

I took the elevator from JetBlue’s Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport and in a few seconds was transported in time. It was the 60s and this was the jetset lifestyle. 

A makeshift office welcomes you next to a futuristic tunnel that will lead you to the hotel. Before walking through the tunnel, I couldn’t help but explore the MadMen-style desk, wooden decor and full bar (all props left there for you to take some cool antique snaps).

Inside the hotel, the celebration to this precious era of aviation continues. A monochromatic sunken lounge, a departure board with split-flaps that switches with the iconic clicks and clacks, and a wing displaying vintage flight personnel uniforms bring to life what the TWA Terminal was like back in 1962.

1962 is the year this terminal originally opened its doors. The building, known as the headhouse of the terminal, was designed by Finish architect Eero Saarinen. The design itself is considered to touch a few different styles, including Futurism, Neo-Futurism and Googee styles.

Today, the terminal is the anchor between the three buildings that make the TWA Hotel. Additional to 512 rooms, there is also a rooftop infinity pool that overlooks the active JFK runway. It’s an amazing sight and one of my favorite parts of the hotel.

If you’re feeling peckish, try one of the many food options: a restaurant by Jean Georges called Paris Café, the Pool Bar, The Sunken Lounge or the Connie Cocktail Lounge (a lounge inside a vintage airplane!)

 

Good to know:

Rooms:

Average per night is around USD$ 250 depending on how far in advance you book.

But you can book a room for 4 hrs to rest between layovers for $150.

Pool:

You can get access to the pool by staying at the hotel or by reserving a table at the Pool Bar.

Website: https://www.twahotel.com

Address:Terminal 5, 6 Central Terminal Area, Jamaica, NY 11430