Great Hotels Aren't Afraid to Embrace Playfulness

Travel doesn't have to be complicated—have fun. [Travel + Leisure: Notes From the Field]( [Travel + Leisure: Notes From the Field]( 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]( 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. [Jacqui Gifford - Editor-in-Chief]( 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]( [Travel + Leisure Logo]( [Facebook]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [TikTok]( [[Check out our new podcast Lost Cultures: Living Legacies]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 {EMAIL} 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. [Dotdash Meredith]( Travel + Leisure is part of the [Dotdash Meredith]( publishing family.