Staying at the Plaza’s Eloise Suite sounds like heaven for little girls—but how do the adults fare? Curtis Sittenfeld (plus three) checks in for a family adventure.
The delicious absurdity of staying in the Eloise Suite at New York City’s Plaza hotel reached its apotheosis at bedtime on our first night. My daughters, who are seven and five—I’ll refer to them here as Fern and Pippi— had put on their pajamas and brushed their teeth. We’d read (from Eloise, naturally), and it was time to turn out the lights. The task was more difficult than I’d expected. On the wall above the king-size bed hung bright pink neon letters spelling out eloise in the book’s distinctive font, and though I flipped various switches and toyed with various plugs, I couldn’t figure out how to dim the neon. While I was on the phone with the front desk, Fern and Pippi noticed, much to their delight, that their shadows on the white bedspread were pink. I can’t say the discovery made it any easier to get them to go to sleep, but it lent a distinctly festive air to our wait for the maintenance man.
Staying at the Plaza had been Pippi’s idea because the classic children’s book series written by Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hilary Knight was popular in our reading lineup. My daughters adored the books’ depiction of an indulged, mischievous, and bitingly funny six-year-old wreaking havoc inside the famous hotel. When I was a child, my favorite part of Eloise was any scene involving her pet turtle Skipperdee. (I loved his miniature sneakers.) But I suspect my girls’ more playful sensibility is revealed by the fact that their favorite part is when Eloise torments her tutor, Philip, by repeating everything he says.
This story is from the December 2016 edition of Travel+Leisure.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2016 edition of Travel+Leisure.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
NATURE'S KEEPERS
Brazil's vast, varied landscapes are home to enigmatic creatures like the jaguar, the spider monkey, and the maned wolf. Stanley Stewart visits three eco-lodges that are leading preservation efforts to help the animals make a comeback.
AS TIME GOES BY
A decade and a half after a life-changing sojourn in Vietnam, a writer returns to track the country's transformations-and his own.
HIGH - MIGHTY
On the fringes of a lesserknown Kenyan park, a new lodge brings you face-to-face with some of Africa's most majestic animals. Paul Brady goes in search of the biggest beast of them all.
GLOBAL VISION AWARDS
THE 26 PEOPLE, COMPANIES, AND NONPROFITS | CHANGING THE WAY WE TRAVEL FOR THE BETTER
High Tea
In Sri Lanka, a new walking trail weaves through mist-shrouded forests and centuries-old estates. Erin Vivid Riley makes the pilgrimage.
Devils' Advocates
Tasmania’s most famous species is under threat—but all hope is not lost. Elizabeth Warkentin heads down under to see the conservation effort up close.
Out of the Blue
Honduras beckons scuba divers, waterfall rappellers, and other thrill seekers. Nora Walsh takes the plunge.
Electric Feel
The easy way to see Switzerland’s peaks and valleys? From the comfort of an e-bike. Tim Neville checks out the newest cycling routes—without breaking too much of a sweat.
The Light Fantastic
How a small city in Arizona played a big part in the Dark Skies movementand in the process, became one of America's best places for stargazing.
MAKE THIS GARDEN GROW
Ross Kenneth Urken and his family roll up their sleeves for a cooking class en plein air at a famed estate outside Paris.