ultratravel BARCELONA SYDNEY ECUADOR NAPA VALLEY TANZANIA ® YOUR GUIDE TO HEAVEN ON EARTH COME SAIL AWAY PARIS AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TRAVEL TIPS FROM IVANKA TRUMP U.S. EDITION/$10 ULTRA intelligence PROGRESSIVE VISION Smack in the middle of Shoreditch—London’s rebelcreative center—the latest Ace Hotel continues to spread the boutique chain’s industrial-chic aesthetic and pragmatic work-and-play credo. The 264 rooms have an understated charm, with vintage furniture, bespoke stationery and oak tables, some even including C.F. Martin & Co. acoustic guitars and Rega turntables with a selection of vinyl. Meanwhile, the ground level has a gallery space and a café serving Square Mile coffee, as well as a restaurant, juice bar FOOD FEST GURU Lee Brian Schrager is a true bon vivant: not only does he love wine and food, but he’s worked tirelessly to share his passion with the world-atlarge. Almost 13 years ago, he founded the muchlauded South Beach Wine & Food Festival—plus a New York offshoot eight years later—that have kept foodies of all stripes engaged and ravenous. We caught up with him to discuss food trends and what’s new at this month’s NYCWFF. —Tali Jaffe What do you think of the restaurant scene shift to Brooklyn? It’s fantastic—from Roberta’s and Kutsher’s to the Arancini Bros and Antica Pesa, plus so many more. There’s definitely a huge market for great restaurants there. What food trend are you excited about now? The playful approach and twists that everyone is giving to desserts. Which trend have you happily seen fade away? Putting bacon on everything imaginable. How has the NYCWFF changed since it began? The festival began in 2008 and is now going into its sixth year. We do events at various locations throughout New York City and are happy this year to centralize some of our most popular events in the Midtown area. The festival has grown in recognition and hosts a great balance of renowned chefs, winemakers and spirits producers, as well as pop culture personalities. Why did you decide to move the festival to Midtown? We’ve been able to create a real central hub for our signature events at Piers 92 and 94 in Midtown. The festival’s offerings evolve every year. What are some of the new events being introduced this year? A great line-up of chefs for our Bank of America sparkling pool at international the Beau-Rivage DinnerThe Series, including and the hotel’s Salle Rotonde (inset) representation from Alex Atala, Yotam Ottolenghi and Matt Abergel; Jets + Chefs: The Ultimate Tailgate presented by Diet Pepsi and hosted by Joe Namath and Mario Batali; Oktoberfest presented by Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors and hosted by Andrew Zimmern, with sponsorship by The Village Voice; and Ronzoni presents La Sagra Sunday Slices sponsored by Time Out New York, hosted by Anne Burrell and Adam Richman. Who are some of the most promising female chefs (in the U.S. or elsewhere)? Katie Button in Asheville, North Carolina, is one my current favorite female chefs, and I’m incredibly fond of Michelle Bernstein, Hedy Goldsmith, Christina Tosi and Sherry Yard. 24 ultratravel and flower shop. Ace is also opening new hotels in Los Angeles and Panama later this year. —OS ULTIMATE GETAWAY Opening this December, within the Maldives’ cluster of idyllic islands in the Indian Ocean, is the lush Maalifushi by Como resort. The Shambhala Retreat has eight, ocean-facing spa treatment rooms, plus a pool, steam rooms and an open-air yoga pavilion. And divers rejoice: there’s plenty of opportunity to explore these waters, where you might even spot a majestic whale shark. —OS The Domus Civita in Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT Any family who has endured cramped hotel rooms knows that renting a house is a far better option when traveling with children. But finding a chic, kid-friendly home or apartment can be equally frustrating. Enter Kid & Coe, a new travel company with access to homes listed by other families around the globe, from major European and American cities to exotic escapes like Sayulita and Trancoso. All properties are approved by the Kid & Coe team, and each is professionally photographed and furnished with curated guides to the area’s best kid-friendly restaurants, sights and even nannies and drivers. —Henley Vazquez The pool at Castello di Casole On a recent trip to the Tuscan hotspot Castello di Casole, I was struck by how fondly the staff spoke of their boss, CEO and founder of Timbers Resorts, David Burden. They referred to him as a brilliant businessman, a bold visionary and, most importantly, a modest and kind man. (Someone also said: “Robert Redford meets Steve Jobs.”) See for yourself. —Alyssa Shelasky You have 14 Timbers locations—from Mexico to Ireland. Do you travel nonstop? At this stage in my life, travel is all about family, especially with six children and five grandchildren! For work, I travel two to three times a month and almost always for short duration. What’s your in-flight entertainment? Books about extreme life experiences. I read “Matterhorn” by Karl Marlantes on my way back from Italy last week. I was a Marine in Vietnam and this is as true an account as you can get. Alternatively, any comedy with Paul Rudd or Kristen Wiig, and I am cracking up out loud. What is the most underrated job at a hotel? Front-door valet and housekeeping. Arrival at the property and arrival at your accommodations can easily be taken for granted, yet if something is really wrong or really great, it leaves an indelible impression. If you could invite five guests, dead or alive, Flywheel's new Dubai outpost faces to one of your properties, who would itDubai. be? the Burj Khalifa in downtown First and foremost—my mother, who passed in 1998 (she was wild in many ways and is probably entertaining in heaven). If we go famous, then how about John West (a deceased former life mentor/business partner of mine, formerly the governor of South Carolina and ambassador to Saudi Arabia), Richard Branson, Robert Lutz (the pioneering auto executive), Elon Musk and Steve Jobs. Now that is a mix! What are some of your life mottos? “Chin up, nose down.” “Make dust or eat it.” “Never let them see you sweat.” “To negotiate, be prepared to live with letting go.” “Show respect and mean it.”