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Belgraves, Thompson Hotel's first European outpost, has opened in posh Belgravia, London.

THOMPSON LANDS IN LONDON

London - Belgraves, Thompson Hotel's first European outpost, has opened in posh Belgravia. The hotel, a short walk from Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Hyde Park, brings a traditional British slant to Thompson's hip Manhattan vibe. There are no outrageous design touches in sight. Instead, rooms play it on the comfy side with LCD flat screen TVs, white and grey marble bathrooms, Penhaligon's toiletries and king beds bearing Thompson's signature Sferra linens. English chef and restaurateur Mark Hix put together the menu at Hix Belgravia, the 80-seat restaurant featuring dishes inspired by his world travels. If you can't get a reservation, try to sneak in a cocktail at Mark's Bar, Hix's second watering hole in London, which also leads to the hotel's cigar garden. thompsonhotels.com

SOUP FOR YOU

New York - Share a meal with real New Yorkers using SoupNextDoor. The inventive site brings together friendly foodies with professional chefs and local hosts by planning community dinner parties that range from five to 40 people. Sign up online, search for a meal that suits your style and budget (they typically don't cost more than $40 a person, are BYOB, and can meet dietary restrictions), and prepare to make friends. When enough people sign up, you'll receive an e-mail with instructions on how to get there. Most of the chefs have trained as caterers or at such top restaurants as Savoy and Yuba. soupnextdoor.com

A NOBLE DETOX

Cancun - Ditch the cayenne cleanse and detox like the Mayans at Esencia. Situated on Xpu-Ha, 20 minutes south of Playa del Carmen, the luxury boutique hotel has launched the Duke and Duchess Detox program (named after the hotel's original stately owner, Duchess Rosa d'Ferrari). Signature treatments were inspired by the practices and recipes of the ancient Mayans. Every exfoliation and acupressure massage uses oils made from ingredients grown in the hotel's organic garden. Aloe and cucumber scrubs and lime-infused lymphatic drainage rubs are only part of the regimen. You can sign up for hatha yoga classes and steams in the Temazcal, a Mayan sweat lodge, too. hotelesencia.com

NO NEED TO PACK

Miami - The newly renovated Shelborne now lays claim to one of the most stylish hotel gift shops in South Beach. GuyandGirl boutique is a white-washed lobby level shop that stocks swank sundries like champagne and Supergoop sunscreen. If you forgot to pack chic beachwear, don't fret. This is the place to pick up a pair of Tom Ford sunglasses, swimwear by We are Handsome and a pair of handcuff bracelets by New York-based jewellery brand Medium Spicy. shopguyandgirl.com



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