Mid-Week Escape: Uxua Brazilian Resort

Take me here now. PLEASE!

I’ve been following the progress of this sweet Brazilian resort and am so excited to finally share it. Uxua Casa Hotel has all the elements I love to find in a hotel: It’s lovingly created by a private owner, its dripping with local flavor and has a great design aesthetic. See, I’m not that hard to please.

Here’s the deal: Uxua was started by the fashionable Wilbert Das, the former creative director of Diesel. He traveled to the remote Trancoso region of Brazil, fell in love with it, bought some property and decided to share his special place with a quiet Brazilian resort. And importantly, he also wanted to incorporate the village into his resort. He built the hotel so it would mesh with and even aid the community. Four of the hotel’s colorful “casitas” face the 1586 town square and were original fishermen cottages. In the 16th century missionaries cleared the rain forest to establish the town for the native people and apparently not a whole lot has changed over the years.

Today, guests can watch locals do capoeira, the Brazilian martial-art in the town square, and take lessons from townspeople. Or they can go fishing for dinner then learn to clean and cook their catch in the local style. But mostly it’s the resort’s position on the town square that allows visitors to become a part of town life, at least for a week or two. Lets go, eh?

And of course the design is fantastic. Here are more photos of Uxua…

In Paris and Need a Manicure?

Sometimes you need a manicure AND a drink. Well good news: The Paris hotel Pavillon de la Reine just started offering manicures in it’s library lounge on Saturdays.

The hotel is in the trendy Marais district on the Place des Vosges so you may spot some fashion insiders in the armchairs next to you. Manicures are open to the public and just 25 euro (or about $33). Then there’s the little manner of the plane ticket…

Sex and the Next City: Marrakech, Morocco

Make like Samantha, Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte and head to Morocco, suddenly the hottest destination on the map. Although Morocco plays Abu Dhabi, UAE, in the movie “Sex and the City 2,” which opened yesterday. But never mind that, Morocco has been absolutely everywhere in the last six months. Popping up in Vogue fashion spreads, on the pages of Bazaar magazine (with a spread on jewelry designer Paloma Picasso’s Marrakech home), and on travel pages of many a newspaper (The New York Times this month touted Casablanca’s contemporary art scene). So what does all this mean?

It’s time to head to Morocco.

Read the rest of my story on Luxist.com.

Top 10 Treehouse Hotels

Fancy a Swiss Family Robinson experience but with indoor plumbing? Treehouse hotels not only get you up close to the local wildlife-your neighbors could be anything from Howler Monkeys to flying tree frogs-they can also offer seclusion for a romantic getaway or excitement for adventure-seeking families. While some of our top ten treehouse hotels have saving the environment firmly on their agenda (the eco-friendly Post Ranch Inn in California relies completely on solar power), others don’t compromise on the luxuries that come as standard in a five star hotel (the Four Seasons accommodations in the Seychelles, above, have private infinity pools). But the one guarantee that comes with every treetop property on our list is a knockout view. Just don’t forget your binoculars!

Read the rest of my story and see its slideshow at Aol Travel.