✨ Your Time to Shine

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HAPPY SUNDAY.

Toe-Knee here 👋….you’re friend who TELLS you where to STAY each week.

I've been busy this last month redesigning the newsletter to bring you the coolest, quirkiest, and most jaw-dropping places to STAY around the globe. Here's what's new each week👇🏽.

✨ Weekly Spotlight - Featuring extraordinary accommodations
❗️ Stay or Nay - Would you dare to spend a night in these unique stays?
🫢 “HoTELL” Me the Truth - Reality checks on those hotel photos
👍️ Where to “STAY” - My personal pick of the week

And More, Let’s Go…

💡Trivia Inn-Sight

Which resort is home to the world's largest swimming pool, stretching over 1,000 meters in length and holding 66 million gallons of water?

_{– Scroll to the bottom for the Answer}

_{Weekly Stay}

🛏️ ✨ | Suite Spotlight

👀…Onera Wimberley, a breathtaking $22 million landscape hotel, has just opened its doors in the heart of Texas Hill Country. What started as a humble 10-unit dream has blossomed into a 28-unit luxury retreat. Located just 45 minutes south of Austin, this unique stay offers dramatic Hill Country views.

The journey to opening wasn't without its challenges - from battling permit issues to navigating a debt crisis, they faced it all. But the struggles paid off big time! Their first influencer collab generated over 1.1M views, briefly crashing their booking site. Talk about a grand entrance!

🙀 💯 | Onera WImberly highlights

Unique accommodations and amenities…

• 16 Greenhouse units with native grass roofs and 12 Spyglass units perched up to 35ft high, offering unparalleled views of the Hill Country | Capacity, enough room for 28 groups, plus a 125-person event center.

• Stargazing sessions with expert astronomers, In-room massages, private yoga sessions, Wimberley wine tours & Chef-catered dinners (farm-to-table)

🤠💡 Fun facts: The owner, Ben Wolff, scouted the location with a broken foot and an 8 month pregnant wife. Talk about commitment... | 📸 Follow @onerawimberley

_{Would You…}

❓🤔 | Stay or Nay

👀 Spooky Stays…in the spirit of Halloween, have you ever wondered what it’s like to stay in the hotel famously inspired Steven Kings “The Shining”? You might get more than just room service?

The Stanley Hotel in Colorado, where ghost sitings and stories are part of the package! Don’t be surprised if you hear a mysterious piano melody or see a figure lurking in the hallway (don't worry, it’s probably just your imagination...or is it?). Room 217 is particularly boo-sy!

👺😈  | Haunted Highlights

Room 217 – The Haunted Housekeeper

• 👻 Room 217 is the most famous at the Stanley Hotel. In 1911, a housekeeper, Elizabeth Wilson, survived a gas explosion but legends say she returned in spirit | 👀 Guests report lights turning on, items being moved, and even feeling a presence. Some couples claim an unseen force tucked them into bed or packed their belongings.

🤔💀 Your turn to Shine!  You've booked your stay at the Stanley, you show up at the front desk to find out you're in Room 217... what do you do?

🤯 | TELL me something new

Check-in for the things you need to know

1. Ranked: The top city where international travelers spend the most → #1 City

2. U.S. Passport wait times have not been this short in decades → Only 4-6 Weeks

3. Ever Been Fooled by an Airbnb Listing? 😏 Here’s how hosts stretch the truth → how to spot

🗞️🌍 | Stay News

The best INN-ternet news and updates...

Hotel’s have become notoriously pricey 🤑, whispered rumors suggest that hotels across the United States are employing this digital trickery — See video

Plus, why are we seeing $1,000 a night hotels popping up everywhere? Is this the new normal—yep, welcome to the ultra-luxury era…Discover the trend here

…But wait, most ultra-wealthy travelers won’t pay more than $500 a night on a hotel room, a new survey says

• 📊 24% of respondents capped their budget at $1,000

• 💸 5% set their limit at $2,000

• 🤑 Only 2% would spend up to $3,000 a night on a fancy vacay

🧳 🫠 | Suitcase snippets

Bite-sized lodging news & insights

• The Lodge at Bodega Bay in California's Bay Area has been named the best hotel in the world by Condé Nast Traveler readers, outranking luxury establishments like the Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons.

• Stay inside the action: Universal’s Helios Grand Hotel puts you in the heart of Epic Universe, opening in 2025.

• 17 cozy Inns around the U.S. perfect for your next getaway.

🛎️🗣️ | Check-in chatter

Gossip from the guestbook

• Hotel rates have soared to $200+ nightly in most major U.S. cities, with luxury prices up 30% since 2019 🤨.

• Four Seasons' private jet experience: Drink wine, sail yachts, pet gorillas. 24 days, 9 countries, one eye-watering price tag.

• The common pieces of travel advice you should actually ignore.

👀 📸 | HoTELL me the TRUTH

Behind the Filter

• 🏊‍♂️🫢 This Week’s Hotel Tall Tale: Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills 

Oh, Sofitel Los Angeles, you sly fox! Your photo game is stronger than the WiFi signal. Time for a reality check that'll make your jaw drop faster than the water level in that pool you have... It’s all about dem angles we suppose 🫠 

…Want to share your own hotel reality checks? Send me a reply with your own comparison pics for a chance to be featured!

🌟 | Where to STAY

My Unique Personal Pick of the Week

📍 Location: Joshua Tree, California

🤩 😍 | Guard Tower #1 ^(Airbnb)

1 Bedroom | 1 Bathroom | 2 Guest Beds

• 😃 The Lowdown: Located just minutes from Joshua Tree National Park, The Castle House Estate offers a unique spin on desert accommodation. This HGTV-featured property boasts medieval-inspired "Guard Tower" tiny homes, each custom-designed with circular layouts and rooftop access for stargazing.

• 📝 Latest Review: “Lovely stay at The Castle House Estate. From a girl who needs convincing even to “glamp” this was such a fun and wonderful stay! From the stargazing on the roof to the delicious room service we made great memories at Guard Tower #1”

⭐️ Guest Grade: 4.82 Stars | 145+ Reviews

🧳 💬 | Guest Vibe Check:

Your cheat sheet – the the 'good to know before you go’

🔥 WHAT’S HOT:

• Unique experience: Medieval-inspired Guard Towers offer a one-of-a-kind glamping stay.

• Stargazing: Rooftop access provides breathtaking views of the night sky.

• Location: Close to Joshua Tree National Park and town amenities.

• Amenities: Fire pits, outdoor pool, and sauna add to the experience.

❌ WHAT’S NOT:

• Bathroom situation: Shared bathrooms are in a separate building, which can be inconvenient.

• Weather-dependent: Some features like outdoor showers may be less enjoyable in cold weather.

• Limited cooking facilities: No kitchen access, though room service is available.

• Mobility concerns: Ladder to rooftop can be challenging for some guests.

😲 | Inn-credible Find

The Coffin Gondola

• 🫢…Coffin up the courage for a unique lift? The "coffin gondola" on Sassolungo Mountain in Italy's Dolomites is your ticket to high-altitude thrills! This snug single-seater takes "personal space" to new heights.

🫶  | Thanks for reading

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