Great Hotels Aren't Afraid to Embrace Playfulness

Travel doesn't have to be complicated—have fun.

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Illustration by: Bashel Lubarsky Pink pool toys and Instagrammable moments? I love it when a hotel doesn't take itself too seriously. A recent visit to The Colony Hotel–first opened in 1947, now a landmark mere steps from Palm Beach's famed Worth Avenue–revealed two major trends. One: with weather patterns changing and travelers looking for value wherever they can find it, "seasonality" is becoming mutable, perhaps a thing of the past. Palm Beach in July was hot, but no hotter than my hometown of New York City. The airport, the Colony, and some of the island's top restaurants were all bustling with visitors who didn't feel constrained by a prescribed social calendar. They just wanted to go someplace cool in the style sense. Point number two: great hotels aren't afraid to embrace playfulness. The Colony—voted a top Florida hotel by Travel + Leisure readers—unabashedly uses the hashtag #PinkParadise on social media; hands out scavenger hunt cards to guests (how many Johnnie Brown monkeys can you spot in the lobby wallpaper?); and has a vintage, hot pink, Land Rover Defender ready to whisk you to the beach with all your gear. I definitely took photos in front of said Defender–as did just about every other guest at the hotel. Travel, at its best, pushes people outside their comfort zone and into a state of exploration. It challenges you. BUT. As I found while sitting poolside at the Colony, listening to a DJ spin and watching my son pound frozen grapes for a snack, travel can also be really, really fun, and nothing more complicated than that. From this Issue I've Lived in Wilmington, North Carolina, for 20 Years — Here's Why I Recommend Travelers Visit READ MORE Jacqui's Pick 13 Best Sunglasses for Kids We tested 19 pairs of sunglasses for a period of six months to find the best sunglasses for any child. SHOP NOW On a Return Trip to My Family's Ancestral Home in Kerala, I Found the Beautiful Beaches and Fragrant Spice Markets I Remembered READ MORE This European Country Is Leading the Natural Wine Movement — Here's Where to Drink READ MORE I Traveled Through Northern Spain by Luxury Sleeper Train — Here's How You Can, Too READ MORE I Returned to My Hometown of Houston — and Discovered Some of the Country's Best Restaurants READ MORE Check out our podcast 'Lost Cultures: Living Legacies' Unsubscribe from Membership Updates Manage My Subscriptions We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. This email was sent to jokesbyemail@gmail.com Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe Here Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Help Center Dotdash Meredith, 225 Liberty St, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10281 ©2024. All Rights Reserved. Travel + Leisure is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.