gulp...

only kidding!

Spot

Staraya Derevnya

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Halemano off-the-grid eco resort. Cafe Attitude party on Sunday nights. Laulima Farms farmstand. drive there and ask around for directions...

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Tortola is hard to reach but once you get there its a pure and rugged paradise. little secret coves and surf breaks. lots of rum punch. Stay in Carrot Bay at Sebastian's and go for the full moon party at Bomba's shack. 

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to get to this remote settlement you have to take a 4-wheel drive shuttle, as cars are not allowed. Its an architectural squat, all the houses were built illegally on government land. they're really cool looking and many are for rent. It's totally off the grid and at night little restaurants and bars lit by candles open up. sort of Burning Man meets Taliesin.

eccentric villa alert!

Count Panza's spawling 18th century “ville di delizia” (villa of delights) is now a museum containing an impressive collection of art from California's Light and Space movement of the 1960's. Panza was an early collector of James Turrell and Robert Irwin and invited the artists over to do several on site commissions which now are on display. 

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Yab Yum hotel, La Plage restaurant, Jade Jagger boutique

Surf's up...

this little village on the Cote Basque is pretty near paradise. Traditional Basque farm houses, crumbling 1920's casinos, and Michelin starred cafes line the rocky cliffs. Guethary is so small and friendly that you can meet almost everyone at the local hangout Le Madrid, which also rents out rooms upstairs. 

surf's up...

dont forget your mocassins and leather mini! Byron Bay is known for its music scene and surf breaks. Homegrown boutique Spell and the Gypsy Collective carries boho-beach staples from feather headdresses to Native American turquoise.

Sleep

The Chateau Marmont is the gypset grand dame of hotels. Spanish architecture dusted with decadence. rock on!

surf's up...

gentle surf breaks on all sides of the peninsula with medieval ruins amongst the green hills. stay at a yurt at Botelet Farms. in July the Port Elliot festival on the grounds of an old abbey is a boho must...subtropical climate so not as cold as the rest of England.

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Cuixmala rents barefoot chic bungalows and casitas, formerly the homes of the Goldsmith clan..

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Cafe Sa Fonda for drinks late afternoon to late night, Hostal Villa Verde to snooze

Hangout

It's a national park so the scene is limited and development has been checked. Only 200+ people are allowed on the archipelago at any one time, but, there’s a mini scene raging at one or two of the small lux boutique hotels.

Sleep

Pousada Maravilha, its owned by an ex-Formula One race car driver playboy type, which sort of sets the tone or try the more low-key Pousada do Zé Maria.

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stay at the Genghis Khan Polo Club.. It's sort of like a Lux African safari meets Burning Man

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Hotel Miranda, The Pirate bar, Gitoniko restaurant

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a little fishing village turned international party playground. its jet set but people act gypset, which is good. you can meet everyone at the bar at La Huella, a very chic Uruguayan meets African style restaurant on the main beach.

spiritual hub

while the rest of Bali seems to be getting more and more overrun and tacky, somehow Ubub-- perhaps because of its inland location-- just seems to get better and better. it's the spiritual and eco center of the island with progressive cusine, healing centers, and hotels. STAY: Bambu Indah (boutique eco hotel run by Green School founder John Hardy)  EAT: Alchemy Cafe (avant guarde raw foods cafe)

Bohemian romance alert...

Marrakech is certainly one of the most romantic places ever, in bohemian terms. Great lighting (dim and red) exotic architecture and clandestine riad hotels behind fortress walls. The Riad El Fenn, in the medina, is nearly perfect in design and vibe.

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The Trasiera is a bohemian lux family run hotel in a converted, 16th century estate. yoga classes courtesy of gypset daughter Amber Scott.

Shop

Imogene + Willie a boutique in a former service station is one stop shopping for house brand jeans, cowboy boots and groovy country western ephemera.

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make sure to stay in Shela town (not Lamu town) The Peponi Hotel has the coolest/only bar, tiny with just a few seats, but you can meet everyone. it's a Muslim island: bring a sarong. Katy Barker has a great swahili-modern villa to rent.

surf's up...

Nihiwatu is a eco-lux surf resort on the remote Indonesian island of Sumba. It was bought by financier Chris Burch (Tory's ex) a few years ago and now there are about 20 private villas done up as luxuriously as you can go considering the property is run on generators with its own water purifying system in the middle of the jungle. The main focus is on the private peeling wave outfront that is as consistant and clean as a wave pool. 

Surf's Up...

Mancora is a little town in the north of Peru. On the surface it seems like a dusty, Texas frontier town with an occasional oil rig. But hang out a bit and you'll discover gentle surf, groovy travelers, and little road side cafes serving Nobu worthy cuisine that references Peru's large Japanese population and varied topography. stay at Del Wawa, a rustic but cool Polynesian styled  surf hotel over looking the town break.

secluded utopia

Located on a private, unspoiled beach on Turkey's Datcha Peninsula, Bonjuk Bay is an inspired luxury glamping compound. it's a cool scene with organic cuisine, toned and groovy yogis, and beautiful internationals practicing tantra and sound healing. check out their calandar for special events. http://bonjukbay.com

Art Oasis in the desert

a town of artists and creatives in the Texas desert. rent a bike and peddle around the arid, stark landscape that inspired minimalist auteur Donald Judd and other resident artists including Jeff Elrod and Christopher Wool. STAY: hotel Saint George EAT: The Capri SEE: Donald Judd's Chinati Foundation and Ballroom Marfa, a contemporay art gallery

Cuba! Cuba!

to have fun in Havana all you have to do is meet people. Put out good energy and the city will open up. You will end up going to restaurants in private homes, art exhibits, and late night parties with dj's creating mixes you've never heard anything like. And there's not a speck of traffic. STAY: Hotel Paseo 206 (a few guest rooms in an impecciably restored colonial building with a well liked restuarant)   EAT: La Guarida (the classic spot in a dilapidated grand palazzo) DO: stay up late 

seeking info????

I've been hearing positive buzz about Oman.. if anyone has been and has info please get in touch   info@gypset.com thanks! Julia 

seeking info...???

Friends of mine that are into evironmentalism and animal conservation tell me that Madagascar is great. If anyone has any info please get in touch info@gypset.com       thanks! Julia

Hippie paradisse

a lively Mexican beach town with left-leaning inhabitants-- mainly surfers, artists, and bon vivants from the US, France, Italy and Guadalajara. Everyone walks around barefoot- surf boards under one arm and a plate of tacos in another. The town center is deocrated with brightly painted builidngs, hearts, and dreamcatchers. A little plaza in the center has mariachi bands, fire dancers and festive restaurants and bars. STAY: Hotel Hafa or Villa Amor SHOP: Pachamama

Island paradise

with no cars or stress, Panarea is easily one of the chicest islands in the Med. But chic in the right way. In the summer understated aristo Italians and boho internationals swim in the sea and stay up late dancing under the stars and wandering the pathways lined with white washed homes and flowering bougainvillea. It's not at all pretentious. the attention is on the elemental beauty including a view of the active volcano a few miles away on the island of Stomboli. STAY: Hotel Raya PARTY: Bridge Sushi TIP: rent a little boat and putter around the island MUST DO: Sunset on the terrace of Hotel Raya

summer party

Montauk used to be a little known blue collar enclave on the tip of Long Island. But then Andy Warhol and Peter Beard showed up in the '70's and its been gaining momentum ever since. perhaps too much momentum, depending on who you ask. Come for the surf, the beach, and raw nature. In the summer the surf in Ditch Plains is compared to Waikiki-- small, well shaped party waves that fit dozens of surfers at once. In the evening go back to the beach to watch meteor showers and join cheerful bonfire parties with drum circles and paella. STAY: Crow's Nest  EAT: Salivar's sushi SURF: Air and Speed surf shop-- for gear and intell

by surfers, for surfers

if you're a surfer or like to be around surfers you've found the right spot. on the Nicoya peninsula, miles and miles of surf breaks to suit every level. the apres scene is off-the-hook cool. Natural food restaurants serving progressive probiotic cusine, late night beach parties, and interesting people from around the world all gathered on this tropical stretch of coastline to have a good time. They've essentially created a idyllic community based on the love of the ocean and respect to the planet and hooking up with each other. STAY: Florblanca EAT: Koji's sushi DO: surf and beach

Beatnik Rajasthan

Jaipur reminds me a bit of the Beatnik scene in Greenwich Village or Tangier in the 1950's. Eccentrics hang out at cafes and bars in secluded courtyards attended by formal waitors. It's very quirky and costumey and eveyone has a bit of an edge and murky backstories. It's not really a pretty place-- a dusty desert town with the constant din of traffic-- but the architecture can be grand and there's a lot of romance. STAY: Niwas Naraian Palace (the sort of chelsea hotel of Jaipur, a run down former palace) DRINK: Bar Paladio. sit outside with peacocks EAT: Anokhi cafe

Oaxaca the most relaxing place in Mexico

a sleepy Mexican heritage town, Oaxaca might be one of the most peaceful places in Mexico. Its charming, there's no garbage, and your biggest worry will be which of the many restaurants to eat at. Its fun to visit the out lying pueblos where artisans keep workshops and you can buy traditional pottery and textiles. Or visit a mezcal plantation. STAY: El Callejon EAT: Origen SHOP: LaChicarraCeramica.com for the best pottery 

remote paradise

this remote fishing village in Bahia is mainly inhabited by local Pataxo Indians. There's also the super chic Hotel Vila Naia owned by a Brazilian heiress. It's a collection of luxury beach cabanas, laid back but impeccible service, and a world class restaurant. The town of Corumbao is tiny with a few bars and inspired beach huts made of bamboo and painted in bright Bahian hues. If you want to slip away in rootsy style, slip here.

architectural utopia

this architectural utopia about an hour north of Phoenix in the desert is a must for anyone into utopic ideas. the brainchild of Italian visionary Paolo Soleri (a student of Frank Lloyd Wright) the community was begun in the 1970's and never finished. Now there are about 100 residents who make clay bells to survive. Visitors can rent rooms on http://arcosanti.org  try to go in May when the Form music festival takes over with musical talent including Skrillex and Solange. yes, there are hot tubs.

Burning Man on the sand

Tulum has become an interesting case study; the first beach resort to charge a premium for bohemian design and community. All the cool places cost as much as the Four Seasons minus almost all the amenities. no matter. The food is healthy, there's lots of floor cusions and Moroccan rugs, and almost every hotel offers shamanic massages and soundbaths. Several Burning Man camps have set up hotels and glamping pop ups here with amazing DJ's and a cool crowd of friends. and if you come alone, its really easy to meet people. STAY: Nomade Tulum or Habitas  EAT: Casa Jaguar  DO: get a shamic massage with Minerva at Azulik Hotel. go to a beach dance party at Mexico City based Burning Man camp: Maxa camp

Utopic city

Berlin is perhaps the most gypset city going these days. A vertitable utopia with liberal, creative values and all the things they bring. Sound baths in artist studio, all night parties at makeshift marinas, and private art collections in former bunkers. I like the summer the best when you can take day trips to the outskirts and swim in the abundant lakes and rivers. STAY: SoHo House Berlin, in a grand centrally located former 1920's department store turned communist party headquarters. (see photo below for a look at the suites) PARTY: Cocktail D'Amore with weekend dance parties that last 30 hours. RELAX: Vabali. a Balinese style spa with saunas, pools, and rituals. its co-ed and everyone is naked, which turns out to be a good thing here as people are yogic and toned.

one of the Gypset Seven Wonders...

the birthplace of the intellectual New Age Movement in the 1960's, Esalen continues to operate as both a spa and educational center. Perched on the Pacfic Ocean. it's outdoor natural sulphur hot tubs are legendary (and clothing optional) and only further the deep sense of healing here. There's also organic gardens that supply the kitchen and a revolving door of renegade prgressive types coming through to lecture and save the world. Check in for a few days or months. 

party central

in the past few years Mykonos has quietly joined the boho circuit that includes Tulum and Ibiza. this is mostly thanks to the owners of the ultra gypset hotel San Giorgio and the restaurant club Scorpios which is just a five minute walk away. Now you can easily find your crowd of dj's and entreprenuers and other groovies and party in good company. during the day you can venture out around the island and discover amazing beaches and local fish restaurants. STAY: San Giorgio EVENING HANGOUT: Scorpios  

Barefoot lux

Along with Jose Ignacio (Uruguay) Trancoso is one of the most barefoot chic little beach towns in the Southern hemisphere. Located in Bahia, Brazil this former hippie enclave has been colonized by the fashion crowd who have deep respect for salty hair, guazy caftans, and yoga. The town is magical especially at night when lanterns and candles light uo the grassy quadrado (town square) sprinklied with meadanering musicans and caipoeira dancers. STAY: Uxua, a perfect boutique hotel made up of ten small houses and a pool EAT: Restaurant Sao Jiao Batista, serving upscale Portugese fare DO: buy a bikin and spend the day(s) at the beach