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Jillian Dara

Contributor

Bio:

Jillian is a travel and culture journalist with an enthusiasm to learn from the world. She traces her wanderlust back to eight years old when her family relocated to the island of Bermuda. Since then, she has lived in London, Santiago, Boston, and New York City. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Jetsetter, VICE Munchies, and VinePair. Jillian’s simple pleasures include a hotel with an ocean view, a symmetric charcuterie board, and a dry martini—dirty. Follow her on Instagram @jilliandara.

Recent Articles
  • Room Request! Habtoor Palace Dubai

    Room Request! Habtoor Palace Dubai

    Inside a new luxurious Middle Eastern resort that blends past and present

    In a city as dazzling and sprawling as Dubai, it’s easy to forget that the metropolis of superlative structures was once entirely desert. Rapidly developed over the last 40 years–and still a skyline of cranes and construction in progress–the majority of hotels embrace the modernity of the future, rather ... More

  • Room Request! Casa Altamar

    Room Request! Casa Altamar

    Discover a unique boutique hotel in the heart of Riviera Maya

    In 2012, Tulum became instantly recognized by Instagram as the trendy overflow from Cancun’s all-inclusive tourist draw; but then, Tulum itself began overflowing. So what happens when the overflow overflows? Nestled just north of the Tulum Hotel Zone in Riviera Maya, Casa Altamar found the ... More

  • Room Request! Faraway Nantucket

    Room Request! Faraway Nantucket

    Visit this seaside retreat with a colorful history

    At the heart of Nantucket’s historic center, Blue Flag Partners transformed a former 17th century Meeting House along with three guest houses—the Roberts House, the Manor House, and the Gate House—to create the boutique, Faraway Hotel. The 62-room property, as well as ... More

  • Room Request! The Tides Beach Club

    Room Request! The Tides Beach Club

    Guests can enjoy beach views, stellar cuisine and stylish Jonathan Adler-designed suites at this Kennebunkport, Maine hotel

    Kennebunkport, Maine is renowned for its beachfront homes that don’t shy away from overstated grandeur and opulence. Especially along the miles-long Goose Rocks Beach, where picture-perfect villas are accessorized with wrap-around porches just steps away from the sand. Tucked into this assembly of homes sits More

  • Room Request! The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas

    Room Request! The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas

    After a $100 million renovation, the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas is a must-visit luxury vacation spot

    At the end of 2019, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas revealed two years and $100 million worth of a redesign; a complete transformation of shared spaces and experiences all washed in a dreamy beach-chic aesthetic. The timing unfortunately aligned with the onslaught of the global pandemic; however, ... More

  • Room Request! Mandarin Oriental, Boston

    Room Request! Mandarin Oriental, Boston

    A revitalized Boston mainstay offers guests a warm welcome with luxury laced throughout

    A neighborhood icon in Boston’s Back Bay since 2008, the Mandarin Oriental, Boston recently revamped to provide guests an upgraded experience of checking into the likes of a private residence. Champalimaud Design spearheaded the $15 million renovation to evoke a classic New ... More

  • Room Request! Life House, Nantucket

    Room Request! Life House, Nantucket

    Enter a boutique inn with eclectic and bespoke decor that will revive your inner bohemian spirit

    Life House, Nantucket is the island’s newest hotel and the first northeast property in the brand’s collection. Developed with New England-based Blue Flag Partners, the duo transformed the oldest inn on the island into a timeless and exclusive boutique property with just ... More

  • Room Request! Pier One Sydney Harbour, Autograph Collection

    Room Request! Pier One Sydney Harbour, Autograph Collection

    Visit a luxurious waterfront hotel in the heart of Australia's most bustling city

    Nicknamed as the "Harbour City," it is no wonder that tourists visiting Australia seek to stay as close to Sydney Harbour as possible. The body of water is not just a city landmark, with Sydney CBD developed around it, but it is also home to the Opera House and ... More

  • Explore The History of The Thompson Washington D.C.

    Explore The History of The Thompson Washington D.C.

    Embrace the industrial-chic aesthetic of this new hotel

    In typical fashion for Thompson Hotels, the brand’s newest property is working to revitalize an emerging neighborhood—this time in, Washington D.C.’s Old Navy Yard. The Thompson Washington D.C. opened its doors in January 2020, blending into the former shipyard—the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy—with ... More

  • Room Request! AC Hotel New York Times Square

    Room Request! AC Hotel New York Times Square

    Visit an oasis in the center of Manhattan's busiest intersection

    Not many properties can seamlessly fuse minimalism and luxury while avoiding pretension. Yet upon spinning into the simply mod, sizable lobby of AC Hotel New York Times Square—amidst New York’s busiest cross streets—I somehow find myself transported; relaxed, comfortable, and right at home. The Spanish corporation’s chain ... More