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We're just back from Edmonton, Alberta, and we're impressed. 

You know, as in Canada, that seemingly perfect, totally pretty country just north of the very messy United States?

We're thinking that's a very nice place to be right now.

- Pavia + Jeralyn

Photo: Banff & Lake Louise Tourism / Paul Zizka Photography

Edmonton Takes Canada's Food Scene by Storm

Is the cool upstart Canadian capital on your travel radar? It should be.

Bisha Hotel Toronto Does Retro Right

Bisha Hotel Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Modern, $$$

Pour another Rob Roy and settle in at Bisha Hotel Toronto, where geometric prints and moody color schemes are giving off all the right kind of glam vibes. Harkening back to the height of retro decadence, this is disco meets fashion, a decade reimagined with quality materials and lush textures, creating a space that feels luxurious and casual at the same time. The lobby gives a nod to a bygone era of power players and glamour models, with crushed velvet paneled walls trimmed with jet-black lacquered wood and an etched golden reception desk with matching backdrop wall. Bold, boundary-pushing art choices — a fuchsia Jeff Koons sculpture in the lobby, a framed Damien Hirst scarf for Alexander McQueen in the lounge, Andy Warhol pop art prints in corridors, powerful Maxine Bocken photography in washrooms — are abundant. Named for famous artists — the Nina, the Frank, the Grace, the Stella — the rooms are fitted out with the same luxury retro styling.  Armoires, cocktail carts, and custom beds, alongside prints of supermodels and magazine covers in silver, black, and white frames, evoke the feel of a vogueish residence. Audacious and provocative, Bisha Hotel emboldens and empowers.

Vibe: Artistic and sophisticated with a nod to the sultry 1970s.

Standout Detail: The food scene. With K?st, Mister C Bar, Akira Back, and French Made all on site, you won’t need to go further than the ground floor to find a tempting, decadent bite.

This Place Is Perfect For: Global citizens, artful movers, and influencers; the elevated fashion, art, and design will appeal to power players and fashion and media crowds alike.

The Wild Side of Manitoba

Summer is prime time to look north — way up north.

Vancouver's Best Restaurants

Ask restaurateur Elizabeth Blau. She knows better than anyone.

Tofino: The Happy Place for Surfers and Hippies

And quite possibly for you, too.

Fathom's Pavia Rosati x Monica Rich Kosann

Sharing the places she loves — enough to wear as jewelry.

We talk a lot at Fathom about why we travel. For the food, we sometimes say. (Always a good idea.) Or for the culture. For the family. For the adventure. Today, on the 75th anniversary of D-Day, we tip our chapeau to those who traveled to France for the freedom.

- Pavia + Jeralyn

Photo of Étretat, Normandy, by Laurent Gence

A Favorite New Hotel in Paris

Hôtel des Grands Boulevards
2nd Arr., Paris
Trendy, $$

Nestled between the historic Bourse and trendy Sentier neighborhoods, just steps away from the energy of Strasbourg Saint-Denis, I discovered Hôtel des Grands Boulevards, the latest Parisian lifestyle masterpiece from the Experimental Group, creators of the Experimental Cocktail Clubs and the Grand Pigalle and Henrietta Hotel. Built shortly after the French Revolution, l’Hôtel des Grands Boulevards was once a cinema before becoming a bourgeois residence. Its history permeates the air. I walked through the long entry and felt I had found a secret enclave. The elegant and contemporary décor was done by famed designer Dorothée Meilichzon, who preserved the building’s history, including select elements from the era of Louis XVI, mixing interior and exterior elements; playing with vegetation, trellises, gates, and a fountain. The evocative rustic atmosphere is reminiscent of the 18th century, balanced with the pomp of the Grand Siècle. Cast-iron stoves, faded blue faience tiles, and red marble make an appearance — Meilichzon’s trademark retro accents are omnipresent.

After passing through the Grand Restaurant, a collaboration with Giovanni Passerini, the celebrated Parisian chef of Restaurant Passerini, I immediately booked a table for dinner, opting to dine at the trellis-like bar: The menu of French-Italian country classics set within a covered courtyard was hard to resist. I also had my eye on the dimly-lit cocktail bar, featuring creative libations listed on the menu according to their strength, served with or without spirits.

Taking the elevator to the fourth floor, I settled into my room, a spacious design haven reminiscent of a chic Parisian apartment. My Art Deco bed exhibited a regal canopy amid natural elements, including exposed wood beams and wooden night tables. The plush feather bed was fit for a queen, and certainly made me feel like one. One of the hotel’s two terraces was in view. I perched myself at the window to take it all in.
 

A Dreamy Family Holiday in Normandy

What began as a short visit tturned into a long-term love affair.

The Best French Beauty Products Online

Why is the world convinced that French women know all the secrets to being and staying beautiful? Because they might?

Handmade in France: A Road Trip

On a journey through the southwest, we find weavers, ceramicists, woodworkers, and other gloriously old-timey artisans.

Then when you're ready to go, we'll even book your trip.

See? It's like you're on vacation already.

Scroll down for a quick tour.
 

Away we go,

Pavia & Jeralyn

P.S. Don't forget to add us to your contacts so we don't get stuck in spam and you always get your vacation fix.

Where to Go in 2019

Why Do You Travel?

Best of the Best: The Fathom Travel Awards

Travel Anywhere (And Avoid Being a Tourist)

Destination Guides

Fathom Travel Concierge

Shopping, the French Way

Add The City of Light to Your Summer Agenda

Get Social with LE BHV MARAIS

Fathom co-founder Pavia has been in London for the past few weeks. It was not far enough to go to escape the melodrama of American politics. The race for Prime Minister is hot and bothered, as is the mystery behind the leaked memos written by ambassador who dared tell his truth. But in lighter news, she's sees lovely new things in town — a reminder, not that we need it, of how much we love the Brits and their ways. Save this email for your next hop across the pond.

Pavia + Jeralyn

Quirk Meets Quaint at This Charming 16th-Century Cotswolds Inn

Artists Residence Oxfordshire
Southleigh, England
Cozy, $$ (From $155)

When a set of friends with impeccable taste recommend a hotel in the countryside, my interest is piqued. When another set of friends with equally impeccable taste and a kid recommend the same hotel, then I start checking the calendar for the best time to get away. For this is my life now that I have a four-month-old – when I travel, I travel with a bath seat. And while I now have baby needs when it comes to a mini-break, I still have my needs (i.e. a stylish, comfortable, unpretentious place with a bit of character). With that, my husband, baby, and I set off to Artists Residence Oxfordshire, two hours outside London, and found all our needs truly met.

Style: A charming 16th-century former farmhouse complete with thatched roof ... and ceramic penguins at the door. Quirk meets quaint right from the start, underscored by short wooden doors and sizable mirrored cross studded with light bulbs (one of the multiple artworks scattered throughout the property) opposing the entryway alcove.

Standout Detail: The pub. It is a den of coziness and the heart of the property. A delightful inglenook fireplace takes center stage (there is another fireplace in the bar area). With its inviting nooks and funky art, it is the perfect place to escape to once you’ve finally settled your baby to sleep upstairs.

This Place Is Perfect For: Couples (book the Shepherd’s Hut, a stunningly converted standalone trailer for the ultimate romantic mini-break), families in the baby stage (the kids require little entertainment and the sleep-deprived parents require immediate access to a lovely pub). The hotel is working on providing more activities for bigger kids like guided walks and a glamping site.

Take the High Road in Scotland

If Heaven doesn’t have single malt and salmon fishing, then I'm not sure it's worth the price of admission.

What was it that Cole Porter sang long ago?
"I love Paris in the summer. When it sizzles."
Plus ça change.... 

Pavia + Jeralyn

A Guest Walks Into a Bar in Paris ...

Grand Pigalle Hôtel
Paris, France
Classic, $$ (from $200)

Anyone can mix a drink. But, even when using the same ingredients, a deft hand will take a cocktail from good to exceptional. The same can be said creating a hotel. When the team behind the joint is the very one responsible for the best mixology in Paris, the results are bound to be smooth, well-balanced, bright, and a little bold. The Experimental Cocktail Club, a group of French friends making American-style cocktails at namesake bars in NY, London, and Paris, continue to hone their hospitality chops (well over a dozen venues and counting) with Grand Pigalle Hôtel.

The boutique hotel in South Pigalle is imbued with the neighborhood's stylish, hedonistic attitude. Designer Dorothe?e Meilichzon (who also designed the group's Henrietta Hotel in London) has mastered the art of creating warm, cozy haunts. She gave the classically Parisian building its deco-inspired layouts, metallic wallpaper, martini-glass motif carpets, festive brass light fixtures, and sumptuous patterned fabrics.

Rooms are chic and charming. The restaurant is lively hub run by one of the city's most adored New Paris chefs, Giovanni Passerini, who gives the bistro an Italian accent. There's a bar — of course! — serving small-batch, artisanal, top-shelf treasures and non-interventionist wines.

The One Parisian Department Store Where You Could Spend the Whole Day

There's no shortage of good shopping in Paris. But if you're short on time, consider Le BHV MARAIS. Inside the 160-year-old department store on the Rue de Rivoli, the Parisian lifestyle is on full display — and it's fully accessible and available to all shoppers — whether they are local, or just feeling local while vacationing in Paris.

Inside the Ultimate Paris Shop

We're taking you on a tour inside LE BHV MARAIS.

The Best of Everything in Paris

Overwhelmed by too many options in the City of Lights? No need. Because we narrowed them down for you.

Today is Ferragosto in Italy, the midpoint of August, when the whole country takes a holiday. If you haven't had enough summer yet, consider a mid-week escape to the Berkshires. Or go see what all the fuss is about in Italy. It's gonna be over before you know it.

- Pavia and Jeralyn

The Gilded Age Fantasy Is Thriving at Blantyre

Blantyre
Lenox, Massachusetts
Opulent, $$$$ (from $645)

At the turn of the 20th century, when the well-heeled needed a place to rest their heads as they shuttled between seasons in New York, Palm Beach, and Newport, they settled on a wooded area of the Berkshires where the spring and fall temperatures were just right. (You know how the well-heeled are...)

Today, only a dozen of these Gilded Age "cottages" remain, including Blantyre, a country resort and estate just outside Lenox, Massachusetts. And you're welcome to come for a visit and pretend that time is standing gloriously still.

I spent a weekend here in June with my husband and friends, imagining this beautiful Tudor House, with its perfectly appointed decor — crystal carafes set for wine, elaborate chandeliers, and overstuffed sofas — was all mine. I indulged my fantasy of living in an Edith Wharton novel.

Hotel Style: Gilded Age glory. Come here to unleash your inner robber baron and pretend you've earned a spot on Mrs. Astor's list of 400.

This Place Is Perfect For: Couples, especially from the northeast, who want a romantic getaway for a few days.

Standout Detail: The ground floor of the Manor House, and especially the Music Room. And don't miss the daily tour with David Pupo, the director of membership and concierge services who does double duty as the in-house historian. He's been coming to the estate since he was a local kid swimming in the pool.

La Dolce Vita for a Dime on the Italian Riviera

To experience the riviera as something other than a touristy (or costly) affair, head to Santa Margherita Ligure.

Amalfi Without the Tourists

Finds that are old, new, and classic.

A Family-Friendly Guide to Puglia

It's no secret that Italy is one of the most family-friendly places on Earth. Awesome Puglia may be the family-friendliest spot on the boot.

Summer is primo Italy season for Fathom readers. (Because you know nobody does vacation better than the Italians.) If you're heading to Florence and Tuscany, save this email — a guide to the new hotel on the scene, a beachy retreat, our downloadable itineraries, and more.

Buon viaggio,
Pavia + Jeralyn

How to Wear Italian Modernism in Florence

Grand Hotel Minerva
Florence, Italy
Timeless, $$ ($240)

The Church always has the best real estate. Even in the darkest of times, in the hardest-to-reach places, in the most strict and solemn of monasteries: The views are amazing. This is what you come to realize when you travel throughout Italy, and certainly when you book into the Grand Hotel Minerva in the famous Piazza Santa Maria Novella. Fresh off a multimillion-dollar renovation completed in 2018, the building, which once served as a home for the monks of Santa Maria Novella, is celebrating its 150th birthday.

Operating as an inn as early as the 19th century, the hotel morphed into the Minerva at the hands of primo Italian architect Carlo Scarpa. Scarpa's approach in the 1950s was to marry historical design details from the original building — frescoes, hand-hewn beams, columns — with Italian Modernist architecture — geometric black-and-white marble floors, custom-designed furniture. (Scarpa took his trademark style of past-meets-present to the grave: He's famously buried standing up and wrapped in linen, in the tradition of medieval knights.) For the recent renovation, local architect Piera Tempesti Benelli paid homage to Scarpa by showcasing existing landmarked structures and objects using light, space, and furnishings, and mixing base materials with precious ones. The spaces are a balance between old and new and, at the best of times, feel daring.

The Vibe: Grand Hotel Minerva is a family operation (three generations and counting) and one of the oldest hotels in the city. It feels local — a relevant reflection of the city right now.

Standout Detail: There's no mistaking you're in Italy with this kind of historical-modernist-contemporary design mash-up.

This Place Is Perfect For: Design junkies of all ages and types.

Concierge in Your Pocket: Download Our Florence Guide

Because Fathom readers asked for it, we created perfect guides for your trip to Florence, the Amalfi Coast, Rome, and Venice.

A Secret Shopping Tour of Florence

The bags, the jewelry, the perfume, and more that you won't find anywhere else.

The Under-the-Radar Tuscan Beach Resort

Although nothing along the Italian coastline can count as a secret anymore, this spot draws more Italians than foreigners.

Woodstock 50 is canceled, but you've got a few more Summer Fridays to live your best weekend in the Catskills.

Jeralyn + Pavia

The Beatniks Are Back at San Fran's Hotel Emblem

Hotel Emblem
San Francisco, California
Trendy, $$ (From $199)

In 1948, Jack Kerouac's novel On the Road gave name (and rise to) The Beat Generation, that loose cabal of passionate nonconforming radicals, sexually-awakened hippies, free-roaming hitchhikers, and folks rebelling against the post-war American culture. Sound familiar?

Fast forward 71 years, and today's 21st-century beatniks are as vocal, ready for political change, and hungry for spaces where they can express themselves. They're just usually a little more bougie than their boho forebears. Cue Hotel Emblem, the newest member of the Viceroy Urban Retreats hotel collection, located in the heart of San Francisco's most vibrant neighborhood, where Nob Hill meets Union Square and the Arts District.

Throughout the hotel are outlets meant to incite free expression: old-fashioned typewriters in the writer's dens, communal bar tables, a book butler, and beatnik-inspired texts displayed on the hallway carpet and guest room walls. (And there are plenty of, er, actual outlets for the devices that power their lives.) The uncensored modern design and pattern play travels throughout the hotel, becoming a visual map of rebellious American generations past and present.

Has the hotel taken this theme to the extreme? For sure. Does it also work? Yes. And while room rates might not fit Occupy Wall Street budgets, they can be as low as $199 per night, which is hardly exclusive to the one percent, especially in pricey SF.

The Vibe: A modern rebel with — and without — a cause.

Standout Detail: The hotel's book butler will deliver nightly reading material from beatnik writers like Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg.

This Place Is Perfect For: Boho-cool travelers on the road, extroverts who love to spark a debate, freelancers, and creatives looking to spend less than usual in SF.

Beyond the Festival Legend: The Best of Woodstock, New York

The spirit of the Summer of 1969 lives on in the most famous hippie mountain town in America. But it's way beyond, man.

Live the High Life with Five Travel-Friendly, Cannabis-Based Products

Recreational marijuana usage may not be legal in all 50 states, but you can still get your fix with the perfumes, oils, lotions, and accessories that are creating quite the buzz.

Move Over Tulum, Sayulita is Mexico's Hippie Hot Spot

The small town has authentic Mexican charm in spades. Sayulita is where you'll score mind-blowingly delicious fish tacos for a whopping $1.10, shop unique local Mexican crafts, and see some of the coolest signage around.

In the Arizona Desert, a 100-Minute Vision Quest for the Soul

At Tucson's famous Miraval Spa, a shamanic transformational healing ceremony means a deep cleansing of the physical and metaphysical realms.

Come on. When do we not want to be in Paris, Rome, and somewhere along the Amalfi Coast? (Jeralyn is at Lo Scoglio right now, in fact.) Save this email, because it's full of things you'll want to come back for. Like a hotel in Rome where you can feel like a Medici, a new downloadable Paris guide for a Perfect Day in the Marais, a giveaway to Rome (act fast on that one!), a love letter to Capri's legendary Grand Hotel Quisisana, written by a guy who's a legend in his own right.

- Pavia + Jeralyn

Spend Your Roman Holiday In Your Palazzo

Elizabeth Unique Hotel
Rome, Italy
Elegant, $$$ (From €324)

A five-minute walk from the Spanish Steps and Rome's centro storico, the discreet and modern Elizabeth Unique Hotel looks like a private townhouse for a modern-day Medici. Housed in a 17th-century palazzo, the privately-owned hotel fuses the best of old-world Rome with the new-world expectations of a 21st-century traveler through its use of contemporary art and technology. The striking and modern artwork lining the lobby, library, and bedrooms were commissioned by Fabrizio Russo, owner of the nearby Gallery Russo, whose playful curation sets the tone for the hotel's stylish design. Clean lines, world-class Italian sheets, bold velvet fabrics, and private in-room saunas are few of the many amenities availability in the hotel's 33 rooms and suites, six of which are housed in Elizabeth's Mansion, a private palazzo adjacent to the main hotel with its own entry and full-service bar. Situated on a quiet street off the bustling Via Del Corso, you won't miss any of the action and iconic sites of the Eternal City. The ever-present whirr of Vespas and church bells remind you that you're at the center of it all.

The Vibe: Modern Italian elegance.

Standout Detail: Ask for a tour of the hotel's impressive art collection, with modern and contemporary art by acclaimed Italian artists. Fall in love with a piece? Many are for sale through the Russo gallery.

This Place Is Perfect For: History lovers who also love 21st-century amenities. Couples looking for a romantic getaway. Cobblestone enthusiasts.

Win a Four-Day Trip to Rome

We're giving away a city break for two at 5-star boutique hotel Raphaël, $1,000 towards airfare, our new book Travel Anywhere (And Avoid Being a Tourist), and much more.

Why I Love Capri's Grand Hotel Quisisana

The stylish women in the lobby all dressed to emulate Sofia Loren: dark-haired, Neopolitan beauties with small dogs, large glasses, and monumental and deep décolletage set off with emeralds. The lobby was filled with them, and I suddenly felt at home with "my Sophias."

Our New Guide: A Perfect Day in the Marais

Download our guide to have the best time in the coolest neighborhood.

Take a Virtual Tour

Pretend you're strolling through the Marais. No jet lag required.

We're Giving Away 
a Four-Day Trip to Rome

You're dreading the end of the summer.
Wishing you had taken just a little more vacation time.

We know the feeling!

Keep your holidays going: Enter for a chance to win a trip to Rome.

The prize includes:
 

Make leisure time in the capital.

Jeralyn + Pavia