Fran Miller, Author at Galavante (Travel & Lifestyle Website)

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Articles by Fran Miller

Little Luxuries That Make Grand Hotel Tremezzo Magical

What do you remember most from a luxury hotel stay? Maybe it’s a beautiful suite. It might be an unforgettable view or a remarkable meal. Grand Hotel Tremezzo on Lake Como tends to create memories that feel a bit more personal, and nearly impossible to forget. Since 1910, Grand Hotel Tremezzo has welcomed guests to one of Italy’s most coveted destinations. The hotel is known for its floating pool, sweeping lake views, and old-world glamour. Yet what guests often most…

Beyond Napa: America’s Most Exciting Winery Destinations

Let’s be honest: Napa Valley isn’t merely the heart of American wine country; it’s the headline, the main event, and the afterparty. Napa Cabernets have humbled French châteaux. Napa Pinots have Burgundy watching its back. But, surprise: other parts of the country are making their vinous mark. And, the wines coming out of these places are certainly not consolation prizes. From the Dundee Hills of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, to Washington’s Walla Walla region, and on to the Hamptons, you’ll find…

FOOD, Beverages

South African Wineries to Visit

You may think France and Italy have the market on fine wine, but South Africa gives both regions a serious run for their money. From the sun-drenched slopes of Stellenbosch and the storied valleys of Franschhoek to the cool maritime cliffs of Walker Bay, these are the South African estates worth visiting, and the wines worth adding to your cellar. Anthonij Rupert Winery; courtesy of the winery The Vineyard: Anthonij Rupert Wines The Provenance: Franschhoek Valley, Western Cape Notable Wines: Cabernet…

Best Of The Best

Top Trips With Dad

Forget the tie. This year, give Dad a trip he will actually remember. Even better, choose one he has never considered. These destinations deliver something meaningful: time together, shared experience, and a story you will both keep telling. Photo courtesy of Gleneagles. The Trip: Golf Where It Was Invented The Destination: St. Andrews, Scotland Scotland sets the stage for a proper father-son golf trip. After all, the game began here. Start in Auchterarder, Perthshire. The landscape captures everything you want…

Events & Tastemakers

Charlie and Reed Palmer: Two Generations at the Pass

Professional kitchens rarely produce family dynasties. The work demands focus, long hours, and a voice strong enough to stand on its own. Yet for Charlie Palmer and his son Reed Palmer, a shared culinary passion has carried from one generation to the next. Today, the two work side by side in Northern California at Folia Bar & Kitchen, located at Appellation Healdsburg. Earning A Place in the Kitchen For more than four decades, Charlie has built a reputation as one…

Sonoma Meets Kyoto at SoNoMa by SingleThread

It’s official: SingleThread is taking their show on the road, and they’re going international. They’re not setting up shop in just any locale either, because if you can make it in a country that has more Michelin stars than France, you know that you have serious street cred. SingleThread founders Kyle and Katina Connaughton have never been interested in the obvious move. In building Healdsburg’s three-Michelin-starred farm-to-table landmark (one of the world’s most celebrated restaurants), they did so deliberately and…

The Mark: The Upper East Side’s Power Address

You’ve no doubt seen it in photographs. Each May, couture and camera flashes line the entrance as the Met Gala crowd gathers on its front steps. However, The Mark’s appeal runs deeper than a single night of fashion theater. This iconic NYC hotel refines indulgence into something seamless and instinctive. Donatella Versace & Anne Hathaway prepare for the Met Gala. Photo courtesy of The Mark. The Address The Mark sits at the corner of East 77th Street and Madison Avenue.…

Events & Tastemakers

SingleThread at Ten

A decade ago, Kyle and Katina Connaughton (pictured above) opened a restaurant in Healdsburg, California, with a simple but radical premise. They believed a fine dining experience could root itself entirely in the present moment; in what the farm yielded that morning, in the current season, and in the particular light of a particular day in Sonoma. Ten years on, SingleThread holds three Michelin stars and has expanded to Kyoto. It has become one of the most consequential restaurants of…

Events & Tastemakers

The House of Cecchi: Building Italy’s New Boutique Empire

Beauty has long been an Italian export. Renaissance art, tailored fashion, and delicious cuisine, for instance, have reached global status. Today, a new generation of hoteliers is refining how that beauty is experienced. Among them, notably, is the Cecchi family. A Family Name, Encoded The Cecchis are the force behind the La Gemma Hotel Firenze and the expanding La Gemma Collection. This young, independent Italian hotel group was founded by Massimiliano Cecchi and his four siblings. From that first meticulously restored…

Six Senses Krabey Island

There are beach vacations. And then there’s boarding a speedboat and disappearing into the Gulf of Thailand for 15 minutes en route to your own 30-acre island. Six Senses Krabey Island sits five kilometers off Cambodia’s southern coast, just beyond Ream National Park. It’s close enough to Sihanouk International Airport that you’re poolside before you know it. And Phnom Penh is an easy two-hour drive away via the new motorway. But once you’re here, the outside world slips away. Photo…

Nobu Nashville Is Coming for Music City

Nashville shows no signs of slowing down. In recent years, the city has gained culinary credibility, a booming creative class, and serious investment across its skyline. As a result, Music City has graduated from bachelorette-party cliché to full-fledged lifestyle destination. Against this backdrop, Nobu Hotel and Restaurant Nashville enters the conversation. The hotel is slated to open in 2027 and is already one of the city’s most anticipated arrivals. Announced by Nobu Hospitality in October 2025, the new property will rise along…

Soho House Barcelona

Soho House Barcelona is exactly where you want to be right now. An 18th-century building overlooking Port Vell Marina, old-city streets at its back, boats gliding past out front, and just enough buzz to pull you in. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to cancel your plans in order extend the magic. The brand first opened its doors in London in 1995 as a place for people in creative industries to gather, work, and unwind. Decades later,…

The Forte Family: The Engine Driving Rocco Forte Hotels

Imagine a hotel where the restaurant was shaped by the founder’s daughter, the bath amenities were created by her sister, and the reason the property exists at all is because their brother signed off on the building. That isn’t branding theater. It’s the operating model at Rocco Forte Hotels. Founded in 1996 by Sir Rocco Forte and his sister, Olga Polizzi, the group was conceived after the takeover of the original Forte empire built by their father, Charles Forte. Instead of…

Six Senses Enters the Loire Valley

Just when you thought the Loire Valley couldn’t get more storybook-like, Six Senses moves in. Set to open in 2027, Six Senses Loire Valley arrives about 90 minutes south of Paris, in the heart of the so-called Garden of France. This region already delivers châteaux, medieval villages, and vineyards you actually recognize. In addition, it excels at long lunches that casually turn into dinner. Now add one of the world’s most design-forward, sustainability-driven hotel brands. The result is: a future…

Noma Comes to LA

Noma has long been one of the world’s most talked-about and influential restaurants. Founded in Copenhagen, it revolutionized Nordic cuisine, turning local ingredients into globally influential dishes. It’s more than a restaurant — it’s a research lab, a culinary lab, and a place that asks big questions about flavor, seasonality, and culture. And for a brief stretch this spring (March 11 to June 26, 2026), Noma calls Los Angeles home. Noma LA’s limited residency leans into contradiction and curiosity, inviting the…

G-Wagon Days at Stanly Ranch

Napa Valley has long mastered indulgence. Great wine. Long lunches. Scenic roads that beg for exploration. But until now, it hasn’t offered a reason to really grab the wheel and lean into the drive. Enter the Mercedes-AMG On Road Experience Napa Valley — an exclusive, ticketed program pairing high-performance driving with a stay at posh Stanly Ranch, Auberge Collection. Stanly Ranch sprawls across 712 acres of rolling vineyards with views of the Mayacamas Mountains. The vibe is modern Napa luxury with…

Pendry Natirar

You know a place is pretty special when it makes New Jersey a destination. Not because New Jersey isn’t great, by any means. But it hasn’t exactly been the answer to “Where should we go for the weekend?” — until now. Until Pendry Natirar. And when you consider that it was once owned by the King of Morocco, well… that’s not exactly random real estate trivia. If it passed royal standards, chances are you will approve too. The Backstory Originally…

Nobu Hotel Roma

Rome knows how to do grand hotels, but Nobu Hotel Roma arrives with a different kind of energy. Opened in the former Grand Hotel Via Veneto, this is the brand’s first foray into Italy, and it lands on one of the city’s most storied streets. The result is a hotel that feels worldly, contemporary, and very much of-the-moment, without losing sight of where it is and what it is. Location Via Vittorio Veneto needs little introduction. Once the epicenter of…

Best Of The Best

What’s New in Palm Beach

It could be the perennially perfect weather. Or it could be the way the best-of-the-best restaurants quietly migrate south for the winter, following the crowd that knows exactly where it wants to be. Maybe it’s Palm Royale (because yes, we love us some Carol Burnett) or the renewed attention on Worth Avenue, where shopping is once again a sport. Whatever the reason, Palm Beach is having its moment, again. Polished but relaxed, familiar yet newly energized, these are the places…

Auberge du Soleil

Sometimes, a hotel defines a destination. In Napa Valley, that hotel is Auberge du Soleil. Set high above the Silverado Trail in Rutherford, this adults-only retreat delivers exactly what discerning travelers want from Northern California wine country. If Napa has a gold standard for quiet luxury, this is it. You’ll find privacy, refinement, and sweeping valley views. Overview Spread across 33 acres of hillside vineyards and olive groves, Auberge du Soleil feels intentionally removed from the rest of the valley.…

Destinations + Hotels to Inspire You

What’s New and Now in Aspen

Aspen’s appeal has always come from the way it blends high style with laid-back energy. It’s where four legendary mountains merge international dining, sparkling hospitality, and shimmering cultural moments. It’s where vintage lodges sit beside next-gen hotels. And it’s where the person brushing past you in a Moncler puffer might well be an A-lister ducking into Jimmy’s for a Woody Creek old fashioned. Aspen reinvents itself season after season, while holding tight to the sumptuous soul that makes it iconic.…

St. Regis Punta Mita Resort

The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort has always been a stunning property. But after its $45 million renovation, this Riviera Nayarit legend isn’t simply refreshed — it’s completely redefined. The resort has shed the formality so often associated with the St. Regis brand. What was once classic has become a bit more contemporary. Now, there’s an ease that captures that sweet spot between luxury and laid-back living. Overview Long a cornerstone of the region’s luxury scene, the resort is located…

Fontanelle Estate Brand

Tuscany has a way of slowing you down. Maybe it’s the ethereal light, or the undulating hills that never seem to end. Or maybe it’s simply the wine. The Fontanelle Estate brand embraces this slower pace. You might arrive at the Castelnuovo Berardenga resort property with an agenda, but once you settle into one of the estate’s two hotels — Hotel Le Fontanelle and The Club House — you’ll likely start to move at the region’s unhurried pace. They call…

Moss: Midtown’s New Club for Mind, Body, and Martinis

New York loves a good members’ club moment, and the next one’s about to land. This November, Moss opens near Bryant Park, delivering five floors of culture and cardio. The five-story haven is equal parts conversation salon, fitness sanctuary, and cocktail-fueled playground. In other words: Midtown, but make it interesting. The space at 520 Fifth Avenue is nothing short of theatrical. Vicky Charles (formerly of Soho House fame) led the design, infusing each room with that mix of cozy and cosmopolitan she’s…

Borgo San Felice Resort

There’s staying in Tuscany, and then there’s becoming part of it. At Borgo San Felice Resort, a Relais & Châteaux property carved from an entire medieval hamlet, you don’t check in so much as move in. Days revolve around vineyards and stone piazzas; evenings around candlelight and Chianti poured by the people who made it. Meanwhile, cobblestone lanes lead to Michelin-starred dining, a botanical spa, and vineyard views that stretch to the horizon. Every building and every corner feels touched…

The Lowell

New York City moves at the speed of a double espresso, yet The Lowell offers a welcome pause. It’s a place where time slows, where martinis are stirred, and where romance unfolds by a roaring fire. This Upper East Side gem—a longtime member of Leading Hotels of the World—subtly seduces with fresh-cut flowers and charming accommodations. Location Discreetly located on East 63rd St., between Park and Madison Avenues, The Lowell blends understated luxury with prime Manhattan access. With just 74…

Forte dei Marmi

If Capri is the show-off and Portofino is the cultured heir, Forte dei Marmi is the quieter and stylish cousin that flies under the radar. Situated between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Apuan Alps, this lowkey Tuscan beach town lures Italy’s beau monde, as it has for decades. The Vibe Forte is, in a word, civilized. The streets are clean. The beaches are private, and the best of them—Bagno Piero, Bagno Annetta, and Taiga—run like members-only clubs (which they often…

Beauty & Wellness

Palmaïa – The House of AïA

If your calendar reads like a cry for help, and you’re feeling fried, Palmaïa – The House of AïA has the antidote. This oceanfront sanctuary, hidden deep within 400 hectares of raw jungle, trades typical resort gloss for something substantive: wellness that actually works. Location The resort is about a 45-minute drive from Cancún International Airport. There are no marked roads or streets to Palmaïa, which adds a layer of security for those seeking privacy and anonymity. You access the…

Heathrow’s Best-Kept Secret: The Windsor Suite

You won’t find The Windsor Suite on airport signage. There is no kiosk attendant pointing the way, no branded escalator, and no lounge map. And that’s the point. This somewhat secret VIP terminal at Heathrow Airport in London rewrites the rules of airport travel—for those willing to drop about five grand for the privilege. Here’s a look at Heathrow’s best kept secret: The Windsor Suite. The Process You enter The Windsor Suite through a private gate, where you are greeted…

Six Senses Rome

As the brand’s first foray into an urban setting, Six Senses Rome marks a departure from its traditional portfolio of far-flung resorts and island hideaways. Known for secluded sanctuaries in places like the Maldives, Bhutan, and the Douro Valley, Six Senses reimagines its resort-style philosophy for the heart of the Eternal City. Here, the spa rituals, wellness programmes, and biophilic design elements evoke a sense of escape—bringing a breath of countryside calm to one of Europe’s most storied capitals. Location…

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