How do you define luxury? For some, luxury travel means chauffeured escorts and Guerlain spas. And, sure, I like those things. But for me, luxury’s about how a hotel or restaurant or destination makes me feel welcomed and seen. Luxury is an emotion above all else. The boutique hotel Sextantio Le Grotta Della Cevita in Matera exudes luxury — far more so than many of the world’s finest 5-star hotels — even though the facilities are distinctly crude. It’s the way the sunlight shines into the bedrooms. It’s the way the dining room smells of strong coffee and freshly baked bread at breakfast. It’s the midday jingle and clank of cowbells in the distance. This is a hotel I think about often.
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