The Dylan Amsterdam – Canal-Side Calm & Beauty in Amsterdam’s Golden Season
Evening canal reflections near The Dylan Amsterdam, in the city’s historic Nine Streets district. Photo courtesy of The Dylan Amsterdam.
Why Now: October marks Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary, with city-wide cultural events and historic tributes unfolding just steps from The Dylan. The hotel’s recent redesign and seasonal culinary offerings make it a compelling choice for travelers seeking both celebration and serenity. Autumn’s golden light and canal reflections set the stage for intimate exploration and design-driven indulgence. Just in time for the season’s shift, The Dylan’s Autumn Escape includes a stay in a luxurious room or suite, daily breakfast at Bar Brasserie OCCO, and a €50 dining credit valid across its restaurants, with rates starting from €600 per night.
Located in the heart of the “9 Streets” district, The Dylan Amsterdam offers a rich stay for design and culture lovers. Its Serendipity and Loft rooms blend historic architecture with contemporary minimalism, featuring bespoke furnishings by Format Furniture and interiors by Studio Linse. The secluded inner garden becomes a timely haven, perfect for catching the last sunrays while enjoying a signature drink from their creative cocktail menu.
Two-Michelin-starred restaurant Vinkeles and the new six-seat chef’s table até present menus shaped by global traditions and local flavors. Bar Brasserie OCCO’s High Wine pairs four seasonal amuse-bouches with four curated wines, offering a flavorful glimpse into the brasserie’s evolving menu. The Les Clefs d’Or concierge team crafts personalized itineraries that blend festivities with quiet elegance, from Museum Night and canal concerts to candlelit walks and private gallery visits.
Ananda in the Himalayas – Ayurveda, Yoga & Renewal in the Himalayan Foothills
Sunrise yoga at the pavilion at Ananda in the Himalayas, set in the Himalayan foothills. Photo courtesy of Ananda in the Himalayas.
Why Now: Autumn is the perfect time for a reset before the year’s end, when post-monsoon skies clear, the Himalayan air turns cool, and Ananda enters its most restorative season. Ideal conditions for open-air yoga, meditative walks, and Ayurvedic cleansing align with the retreat’s 25th anniversary and expanded wellness offerings.
Set on a 100-acre estate overlooking the Ganges and Rishikesh, Ananda’s integrative approach spans Ayurveda, yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and emotional healing. New programs address diabetes, women’s health, hormonal balance, sleep issues, diagnostics-driven care, and more. Signature offerings include Panchakarma, Ayurvedic Rejuvenation, and Dhyana Meditation, alongside the Yogic Detox and Holistic Yoga journeys, blending therapeutic asanas, pranayama, and classical yoga paths to support resilience and spiritual growth.
Guests can begin their day with sunrise terrace sessions, forest-immersed movement, or silent walking meditations. Evenings invite reflection through sound healing or candlelit journaling. The retreat’s culinary program complements the healing journey with sattvic meals and herbal infusions. For wellness travelers, Ananda offers not just rest, but restoration, where falling leaves mirror the release of fatigue, and each breath becomes a quiet return to self. Explore more: anandaspa.com
Imperial Hotel, Tokyo – Tea Rituals, Vegan Menus & Elegance in the Heart of Tokyo
The Toko-an Room at Imperial Hotel Tokyo, where traditional tea ceremonies unfold. Photo courtesy of Imperial Hotel, Tokyo.
Why Now: Tokyo’s foliage peaks from late October through November, transforming nearby parks into golden sanctuaries. The Imperial Hotel’s autumnal offerings, including its award-winning vegan menus and sukiya-style tearoom, provide a refined lens into Japanese culture and seasonal grace.
Steps from Hibiya Park and Ginza, the hotel invites travelers to explore plant-based French cuisine at Les Saisons, Teppanyaki-style vegan courses at Kamon, and seasonal curries and desserts at Parkside Diner. Aromas of roasted sesame, yuzu, and miso drift through the dining spaces, while delicate textures and umami-rich flavors evoke the season’s quiet depth. In the Toko-an Tea Ceremony Room, centuries-old rituals unfold in a space designed for stillness. Tatami mats, soft lantern light, and the earthy scent of matcha create a meditative atmosphere.
As the Kyoto expansion nears, autumn marks a pivotal moment for the brand. Imperial Hotel, Kyoto, opening in spring 2026, will be a 55-room boutique property housed in the restored Yasaka Kaikan. With views of the Higashiyama Mountains, the hotel blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design that breathes with the seasons. It’s a moment of quiet transformation, where tradition deepens and new horizons unfold. Explore more: imperialhotel.co.jp/en/tokyo
Culinary Backstreets – Spring Flavors & Cultural Depth in Every Bite
Empanadas and sauces featured on Culinary Backstreets’ newly launched Buenos Aires food tour. Photo courtesy of Culinary Backstreets.
Why Now: While the Northern Hemisphere cools, Buenos Aires blooms into spring, making it a vibrant alternative for autumn travelers. Culinary Backstreets’ newest tour, Backstreet Bites of Buenos Aires: Cafés, Parrillas and Beyond, launched on September 10 and offers a full-day journey into the city’s layered food culture.
Spanning four miles of mostly flat terrain, the 5.5-hour tour runs Monday–Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for small groups of 2–7 guests at $135 per person. Guests sample medialunas, empanadas, locro stew, fugazzetta pizza, and dulce de leche gelato, with each bite revealing the city’s immigrant spirit and improvisational soul. Stops include bodegones, parrillas, spice shops, and century-old cafés where lingering is ritual and Belle Époque interiors whisper of the past.
The tour begins with cortado and conversation, then winds through Corrientes Avenue, a cultural artery lined with bakeries and pizzerias. Guests sip vermouth in a classic bar, share milanesa sandwiches shoulder-to-shoulder with locals, and end the day in a hidden cellar beneath a flower shop, where contemporary flavors nod to Buenos Aires’s port-city soul. Explore more: culinarybackstreets.com
Hotel Belmar – Eco-Luxury & Creative Immersion in Monteverde’s Cloud Forest
Hotel Belmar in Monteverde’s cloud forest, surrounded by lush greenery and forest trails. Photo courtesy of Hotel Belmar.
Why Now: Late September marks the tail end of Costa Rica’s green season, bringing lush landscapes and a quieter rhythm to Monteverde. It’s a time of soft forest haze, golden afternoons, and quiet reflection. This time of year is ideal for forest bathing, creative immersion, and slow travel. With redesigned rooms and an ongoing artist residency program, Hotel Belmar offers a soulful escape before peak travel begins.
An intimate boutique eco-lodge, Hotel Belmar reimagined its rooms with Costa Rica’s NAAS Interior Culture, blending mid-century elegance with natural textures and locally crafted art. Velvet headboards, polished wood, and organic fabrics create a serene atmosphere that mirrors the forest’s layered beauty. Guests engage in SAVIA forest bathing, canopy dining, and agro-adventures at the carbon-neutral Finca Madre Tierra, or unwind with craft beer tastings and spring-fed jet pool soaks.
The Artist Residency Program invites creatives from around the world to live and work on-site, offering a rare window into the artistic process. Through open studios, workshops, and exhibitions, travelers connect with Monteverde’s culture amid natural grandeur where sustainability meets style and every detail reflects the land’s quiet magic. Explore more: hotelbelmar.net