I stay in lots of boutique and chain hotels when I travel but the W Hotels are my favorite.  I love them for their consistent features: dim lighting, ubiquitous dance music, Bliss Spa products, lavish bathrooms, and cozy beds.  The unique elements at each hotel make me forget that I’m staying at a chain and give the properties a boutique feel: unusual layouts, luxurious building materials, and art installations.  Even the buildings themselves are a focal point, often historic or skyscrapers.

Currently, there are 68 W Hotel locations listed on whotels.com, some of which will be opening over the next few years. My goal is to stay at every single one around the world, take some pictures and share my thoughts.  To start, look for my upcoming reviews of the W in Minneapolis, Seattle, Istanbul, and Hong Kong.  In the meantime, apply for the Starwood American Express card so that you can start earning points to stay at them for free!