Book It: Four US hotels where (American) dreams come true

From Disney drenched magic to the rugged Californian coast, welcome the to the land where dreams actually do come true...

The Four Seasons Resort, Orlando

Best for… family luxury

The low-down: There is no better way to experience Orlando than from this sprawling resort within the Disney park. With a lazy river, three swimming pools, waterslides and a brilliantly-equipped kids’ hangout, it’s the perfect post-park retreat. Little ones can splash about in the fabulous paddling pool fountains, while big kids swish down slides and even bigger ones unwind on sun loungers. Cold flannel? Tropical fruit? Delectable cocktail? It’s all coming your way. Disney movies are also played on the huge poolside screen while the audience bob about in the water or kick back under an umbrella.

If it’s serenity you’re after, the adult-only pool might be more your vibe — and of course the magnificent spa. There’s a sprinkling of Disney magic on-site too, with regular visits from Mickey and co at breakfast and views of the nightly fireworks, best enjoyed from your own balcony (if it’s in the right direction) or the fabulous top-floor restaurant, Capa. With an open kitchen serving Spanish-inspired dishes and dramatic interiors, it’s a special night out. In the lobby, Lickety Split serves deli food in quick, slick style while Revello pairs Italian fare with a buzzy vibe. As the resort is officially part of the Disney World complex, guests also have access to the parks in ‘magic hours’ — before the gates open to the public.

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Out and about:The last time I stepped foot in Disney World I was nine years old, and in the interim nothing yet everything has changed. It still oozes that same sense of wonder, perhaps magnified through the eyes of my children — and also through my own awe and appreciation as an adult of what a mammoth yet perfectly-oiled operation Disney World is. What’s changed is the addition of two parks — Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom have popped up in the last 30 years — and, more recently, the tech upgrade. You can now plan your days by booking fast passes for rides as well as restaurants and other experiences via the My Disney Experience app, which can then link to a MagicBand bracelet. The band allows you to navigate your way around the parks with a tap of the wrist and with the Memory Maker function you can save snaps taken by park photographers too. Mickey has done a good job on his tech development.

You can also now explore the parks with your own VIP Guide, through the Disney VIP Tour Services. The guides plan the most efficient, enjoyable way for a group (up to 10 guests) to tick off everything on their hit list. It’s a pricey extra (see below) but removes the schlepp factor completely. The guides collect you from your hotel, park up behind the scenes at the parks, (where you’re welcomed with water and snacks), then whisk you into the park through a back entrance. They dart and dive through the crowds and to the front of every queue. Now that’s Disney Magic.

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Here’s what not to miss in the parks:

Magic Kingdom: If I could bottle my five-year-old daughter’s delight as the parade came singing and dancing by, I would. It’s Cirque de Soleil meets Disney fantasy… a magical mix. It’s a Small World is the same as I remember it as a child, but has lost none of its charm, and in a similar vein Peter Pan’s Flight and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Poo are also perfect for younger ones. The classic Tomorrowland Speedway is brilliant family fun, while Space Mountain and Splash Mountain tick the adrenalin-buzz box.

Animal Kingdom: Pandora - the World of Avatar is the highlight of the park, and possibly of the whole of Disney World. This 4D experience is so immersive it’s hard to believe that you’re sitting practically still astride a machine as you feel yourself swooping and gliding, wind in your hair, through the most breathtaking scenery on the back of a ‘banshee’. It’s mesmerising. Na’avi River Journey, another Avatar themed ride, is one of the most impressive and beautiful of all the family rides in Disney. And, who’d have thought, Animal Kingdom also has plenty of real animals too — from lions and giraffe to an artist pig who paints with his snout.

Hollywood Studios: This is the right stop for Star Wars fans, but not to be overlooked is the Toy Story Mania! Ride, where you shoot laser bullets at mad looking toys and moving targets. What’s not to love? This is also the park for live shows, from the Muppets in 3D to Mickey live on stage.

Epcot: Girls in their princess dresses flock to Frozen Ever After, where you are whisked through the Disney film aboard an ancient sailing boat. But saving the best for last, absolutely not to be missed is ‘Soarin Around the World’. Feel like you’re gliding through the air over the world’s most iconic landmarks. Utterly enchanting.

Stella loves: Open-air Disney movies by the pool.

Rooms from £443 per night; fourseasons.com/orlando

Guests from UK & Ireland can exclusively enjoy Walt Disney World’s six parks from just £27 per day with fantastic offers from the Walt Disney Travel Company when you buy before you fly.

Pricing for a Walt Disney World VIP Guide varies between $425 (£322) and $625 (£474) per hour, depending on the season (valid admission is required for each park and not included in the price of this tour). Call 00 1 407 560 4033 to book.

For further information on Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disney Parks and to book your visit, visit the Walt Disney Travel Company website or call 0800 16 90 737.

For more information on Orlando got to visitorlando.com

Words by Naomi Greenaway

• Read the full review: Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort

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The Carlyle, New York

Best for… a high glam city break

The low-down: After a day of shopping, head to Bemelman’s Bar for a cocktail while listening to twinkling sounds of live music; or go to Café Carlyle to have a quintessential New York cabaret experience – both will transport you to a bygone New York fantasy. And with some of the suites hosting the best views in the city, no one would blame you for never leaving the hotel.

Out and about: Head to Eleven Madison Park, crowned the World’s Best Restaurant in 2017. The menus is dedicated to all things local: Oysters, Scallops, duck and beef. Try the Sturgeon presented as a take on a New York City Bagel. Museum Mile is a couple of blocks away. Spend a day hopping between the Metropolitan Museum of Art,The Frick Collection, The Met Breuer and the Guggenheim.

Stella loves: The Sisley-Paris spa - A luxurious intimate spa with magnificent design elements to guarantee you leave relaxed.

Rates from £435 per night; rosewoodhotels.com

Words by Carla Bradley

• Read the full review: The Carlyle

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Sound View Greenport, Long Island, New York

Best for…beach escape

The low-down:While many New Yorkers will attempt to flee for The Hamptons when the summer heats begin to ravage the city, Long Island has far more to offer. Discerning aesthetes – such as Jonathan Adler and Jenna Lyons – have been enjoying weekends away on the northern tip of the island, North Fork, finding wares in vintage shops and sampling the wine from the area’s plentiful vineyards. Among the gently rolling fields is Sound View, a beach-side motel that has been hosting Manhattanites since the 1950s, but has been recently revamped with bespoke cabinets, elegant bathrooms and an irreverent wit. The whole joint looks out across The Sound – as the local stretch of the Atlantic is known – the light and breeze of which means it’s near impossible not to relax from the minute you check-in.

Sustenance is on offer in the sensitively renovated dining rooms and bar – still with the original piano – and it’s just too tempting to watch the sunset from the deck (niftily accessed from each room) with a cocktail.

Out and about:Two hours away from the city, North Fork has just enough attractions to keep you occupied for a lazy 48 hours. One could easily spend a whole day cycling around the vineyards (Sound View has bikes to hire, and the cycling is easier than it looks); one, the delightfully bohemian Croteaux, serves rosé exclusively in its pretty garden. Greenpoint, a five-minute drive away, is a charming harbour town with more farm-to-table eateries than one could accommodate in a weekend, as well as friendly local bars, so it’s also worth packing up some local goodies for a picnic up at the Orient (at the tip of the island).

Stella loves: Eating breakfast in the bright, airy dining room, surrounded by the ocean.

Rates from £146 per night; soundviewgreenport.com

Words by Alice Vincent

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Ventana Big Sur, California

The low-down: Perched high above Highway 1, the recently renovated Ventana Big Sur resort looks over the blue Pacific on one side, and the mountains of the Californian coastal region on the other. The eco-focussed hotel is a perfect base for exploring Big Sur, Monterey and Carmel. The "tents", scattered among the giant redwood trees, offer such luxury that it would convince even those who don't like camping. Spend a morning at Pfeiffer Beach, and glance upon McWay falls before heading back to try one of the complimentary yoga, tai chi or pilates classes. Later take a hike through the forest, leaving you ready for a feast at the Sur House restaurant. Sip on a cocktail whilst watching the sun set into the expansive Pacific Ocean before retiring to one of the hotel’s 59 rooms, suites and villas for an uninterrupted night's sleep (no mobile phone signal here!).

Out and about: Trust us, discard any ambitions of leaving the resort and just lap it all up until the time comes to go home.

Stella loves: The complimentary evening s'mores.

Rates start at £510 per night; ventanabigsur.com

• Read the full review: Ventana Big Sur