ON A RECENT TRIP to Florence, I made a rookie mistake: as I was putting together the last-minute getaway, I neglected to reserve timed tickets to the Uffizi Gallery and the Galleria dell'Accademia. These iconic attractions are known to sell out days if not weeks in advance, so I was more than a little sheepish when I asked the concierge at Hotel Savoy, a Rocco Forte Hotel (rocco fortehotels.com; doubles from $661) if they could do anything to help. Twenty minutes later I had reservations at my preferred times for both-no waiting in ticket lines required. (Turns out, the Savoy's head concierge, Ruggero Vannini, always keeps a few tickets on hold.)
The old-school, real-live-human concierge, it seems, is back. Les Clefs d'Or, probably the best-known association of hotel concierges, saw membership dip early in the pandemic, as some hotels trimmed staff. But that decline has now reversed, at least in the U.S., where the organization saw a 53 percent increase in member applications from 2021 to 2022-a trend that has continued this year.
Esta historia es de la edición July 2023 de Travel+Leisure US.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición July 2023 de Travel+Leisure US.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
OUR PORTUGUESE ADVENTURE
Small plates in Lisbon, fancy soaps in Porto, sandcastles on the beaches of the Algarve... Jessamine Chan and her family fall for a country with something for everyone.
Note Perfect
For centuries, the Italian town of Cremona has been home to the great instrument makers, and its streets continue to ring with music. For Julie Orringer, a family trip becomes a master class in the power of travel.
CREST of the WAVE
On France's rugged Basque Coast, old-school glamour meets shaggy surf culture-and creates an irresistible mix.
Turkish Delight
A major waterfront revitalization project in Istanbul is giving visitors-and locals-a reason to stroll and stay awhile.
Out of the Box
How an Austrian ski and spa town landed on the European art circuit.
Breaking Away
Finding solitude on a peaceful island in the Pacific Northwest.
Wrocław Reborn
After being decimated in World War II, this Polish city has risen from the ashes. On a quest for family roots, Laura Moser discovers a vital cultural crossroads.
It Takes a Village
In the canyons of northern Greece, the people of the Zagorohoria are cementing their home as a playground for outdoor enthusiasts. Eleni N. Gage shares their story.
Explore One of Europe's Coolest Capitals: Tallinn
AFTER EMERGING FROM the intense heat of the sauna, I ran across a wooden deck and plunged into the brisk Baltic Sea. The cold pierced my skin from the soles of my feet upward, like ice water blanching a steamed vegetable. When I surfaced, my travel companions, who'd just done the same, were laughing so hard they could barely stay afloat.
Restore Your Body and Mind in Kyoto
WHEN VICKY TSAI visited Kyoto for the first time in 2008, she booked what she thought would be a simple facial.