A little promo email showed up in our inbox this week for the gorgeousness that is The Tides Hotel, reminding us how alluring Miami can be… when it’s not hurricane season, of course.

The queen of modern hotel decor, Kelly Wearstler redesigned the interior of this South Beach luxury spot last year, and we’ve been dying to visit ever since.

Tufted sofas and glamorous chairs as pool decor? So ridiculous, and so chic.

The room interiors are part retro south beach and part hollywood glam.

The bar beckons with sumptuous coral coloring and intimate spaces, and the restaurant is all class.

We’re thinking as soon as those pesky winds die down, we might just need to hop a plane…

With a three-day weekend coming up next week, we’re on the hunt for a road-trip-worthy destination here in Cali. Our first nominee? The Canary Hotel in beautiful Santa Barbara.

Recently purchased by the owners of the infamous Shutters and redesigned by Michael Smith, The Canary is sure to be a big hit in Old Town.

The simple and luxurious bedrooms, like the lobby, were designed to be ‘Alhambra meets Pacific’, and each room even comes with a yoga mat to encourage some inner peace. While we love the inside…

… it’s the pool that really calls to us. Panoramic views of the Santa Ynez Mountains while we lounge in the sunshine? Love it.

And as the day cools down, we can still take advantage of the patio by cozying up to the fireplace on “the perch”.

If your vacation time is winding down like ours, but you still want to pretend you’re basking in the Tuscan sun, or enjoying the sights of India, maybe a little spritz of these location-inspired perfumes is all you need to trigger your sweet summer memories…

Summer in the Hamptons smells just like this scent from Hampton Sun with fresh floral and citrus mixed with sea grass and musk.

Been basking under the Tuscan Sun? Ferragamo’s latest scent, Tuscan Soul, will arrive next month, just in time to keep the memory of citrus groves and countryside alive.

Perhaps your vacation was a little more spicy and exotic, like Hermes’ Un Jardin Apres la Mousson ~ a blend of pepper, vetiver, coriander and ginger inspired by the Kerala region of India. The spice is well balanced with a freshness that gives the scent its name.

For something completely different, why not a perfume inspired by aloewood, which has been burned for centuries in Japan. The Dark Amber & Ginger Lily creation from Jo Malone is a modern interpretation of Kohdo - an ancient Japanese ceremony - and uses Kyara wood and cardamon to mimic this musky scent.

Source: Travel & Leisure Magazine.

Tomorrow, the games begin for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. And while we’d love to attend, it simply didn’t make the cut for our summer plans. However, if we were to visit… you’d better believe we’d be staying here:

The Commune by the Great Wall has several homes and villas tucked into the hills surrounding one of the most amazing sights in the world - the Great Wall of China.

Imagine gazing at this view over breakfast (or lunch… or dinner…).

You can choose to dine in the common areas, which also include a swanky little lounge..

Or stay tucked away in your private home or villa. With rooms like these, you might not want to leave…

Serene, simple and modern, the rooms are made to take advantage of the beautiful surroundings.

Not to shabby, right? Well, while you’re watching synchronized swimming (c’mon, you know you’re gonna tivo that), we’ll be admiring this scenery. See you in Beijing!

It’s monday. It’s a bit grey (or is that just LA smog?). So instead, at least for today, we’d rather be living here…

The amazing home - yes, HOME - of John Hardy (of jewelry fame), his wife, and two girls. Seriously. Can you imagine that being your living room?

Featured here, the home brings together traditional patterns and designs of Balinese culture infused with their own designs (like the hanging chair above) creating an exotic and eclectic look also a hot trend in fashion and interiors right now. And the girls even have their own ‘wing’ of the house (shown above) all to themselves.

Stairs lead to the master bedroom where fabric panels provide privacy as needed without interrupting the amazing view. Yep… we’d definitely leave la la land for a few days to move right into this tropical home… wouldn’t you?

Whether you’re staycationing this summer, or jetting of to some exotic locale, what better way to arrive at your favorite resort or beach house than toting some fabulous luggage?

Our absolute favorite set right now is the safari styled collection from Globetrotter, available through J.Crew.

Looking for something classic, but a bit more practical? The Black Label collection from Samsonite features a gorgeous herringbone set - our favorite piece it the duffel that zips all the way down the side.

Feeling impractical? Go white with selections from Valextra.

With any of these fabulous pieces, you really can’t go wrong, and you’re sure to make an entrance!

Philip Treacy is best known for his exuberant hats, worthy of British royalty and Kentucky Derby style…

So you can imagine what the master designer came up with when asked to create an environment for the The G Hotel in his hometown of Galway…

The incredibly glam Cocktail Bar:

The pop optic Pink Lounge:

A more soothing palette for the Grand Salon:

And the royal Blue Lounge:

Philip explains his glamorous vision behind this project, “…a good hat, no matter how much it costs, has the ability to make the wearer feel like a million dollars. Walking into the g has the same effect… for each of them, it is their moment on the red carpet.”

Of course, luxury also means giving your senses a break. When exhausted from that whirlwind of eye candy in the common spaces, you can go relax in guest rooms made to refresh.

So how does all this opulence fit into a town that looks like this?

The g’s website says of the town, “Steeped in history yet with a decidedly forward-thinking attitude, it has earned the reputation of being the unofficial arts capital of Ireland”. And the design that has come out of Treacy’s creativity is certainly a work of art indeed.

You want a relaxing week (or two) in Tuscany. He wants a Ferrari. No room for compromise? No problem.

Red Travel is saving relationships and booking luxury tours of Italy by combining the hottest cars with the coolest spots in the Mediterranean.

You can choose from the latest Ferrari models to zip around Rome, Florence, Tuscany, and more in.

And Red Travel will book you a room at any number of fabulously fancy hotels around the country.

Looks like we solved that problem! Don’t worry, you can thank us later by taking us for a spin.