There comes a point in adulthood when the word “getaway” changes meaning. In your twenties, it’s about escape and indulgence. In your forties, especially when you’re a married mother of two, it becomes an act of self-preservation. The very thought feels luxurious, but also tinged with guilt. You weigh the freedom against the worry of leaving small children behind, in my case, with Grandpa for two nights. You hope it will bring peace, but quietly wonder if you’ll spend the entire time thinking about what’s happening back home.

I should have known better. When my closest friends, photographer Jana Schuessler and model-turned-wellness coach Séverine Keimig, invited me on a side trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, I knew it would be precisely what I needed. 

My husband, ever the patient and emotionally intelligent partner, joined us as driver, security, and impromptu videographer, turning what was meant to be a girls’ getaway into something deeper. It becomes a hybrid of friendship, reconnection, and retreat. Our destination was the Hotel Yellowstone Jackson Hole, a name that promised grandeur and delivered something even better: calm.

Like any modern traveler, I did my due diligence beforehand, scrolling through online reviews. A few people complained about the dim bathroom lighting and service that didn’t feel “five-star.” Upon arrival, I realized these criticisms completely missed the point. This is not a fluorescent, buttoned-up luxury property; it’s a sanctuary.

The lighting is soft and amber, the kind that invites you to soak in the deep, freestanding tub and forget about perfection. After a day of hiking in the shadow of the Tetons, you don’t need a vanity mirror. What you need is serenity. The service, too, was quietly impeccable: attentive without intrusion, refined without pretension.

From the moment we arrived, it felt less like check-in and more like homecoming. There was no imposing front desk, there was just a rustic-chic table, comfortable seating, and huckleberry cocktails served with genuine smiles. The warmth was immediate; it set the tone for the days ahead. Each of us stayed in individual suites set in different buildings, which lent a sense of privacy and peace. 

The floor-to-ceiling windows framed the Tetons like a living painting—an ever-changing masterpiece of light and shadow. The private balcony became our sacred space for coffee at sunrise and wine at sunset, the kind of rhythm that recalibrates your sense of time.

It’s remarkable how quickly you remember yourself in a place like this. My husband and I found ourselves laughing again, our conversations stretching long past the hour, rediscovering the quiet intimacy that often gets buried under the noise of routine.

The hotel’s amenities struck the perfect balance between indulgence and mindfulness. My husband found joy in the state-of-the-art gym, where mountain views transformed exercise into something almost meditative. The indoor pool was serene, and the 24-hour sauna became our evening ritual, a place to let the body release what the mind no longer needed. Everywhere we went there were small, thoughtful touches: boxed water, fresh juices, tea, fruit, and in the evenings, curated wine and charcuterie. You never had to ask for anything. Everything you needed was already there, like an unspoken understanding of what modern travelers crave most: ease.

Breakfast at Olivia’s, the hotel’s restaurant, was nothing short of transcendent. Steak and eggs Benedict redefined comfort; huckleberry-stuffed French toast was indulgent without apology; and the power smoothie, approved by our wellness guru Séverine, was “perfectly nourishing.” It was the kind of breakfast that turns into conversation, that stretches into laughter, that reminds you what good company and good food can do for the spirit.

The true magic of this place lies in its equilibrium—the way it allows you to experience both glamour and groundedness. One moment, you’re sipping a craft cocktail on the rooftop terrace at golden hour, and the next, you’re wrapped in a blanket by the fire pit, gazing up at a sky so dense with stars it feels unreal. Jackson Hole has a way of stripping away everything performative, leaving only what’s real: connection, stillness, awe.

So to those who might nitpick about lighting, I’d say this: you’re missing the point. You don’t come to Wyoming for precision; you come for perspective. You come to breathe differently, to remember the sound of your own thoughts, to rediscover the quiet rhythm of your life. The Hotel Yellowstone Jackson Hole offers something rare: not just luxury, but space…the kind that allows you to be fully present.

It’s rare for a travel editor to leave a property with a single, honest regret, but mine was missing dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. We had long-standing plans in town with local friends, but after experiencing the exceptional morning service and culinary artistry at Olivia’s, I know we missed something special. That regret, however, has turned into a promise…a reason to return. Some trips are defined by what you do; this one was defined by what it made you feel. And what it left me with was a quiet certainty: that we would come back, not just to revisit the Tetons, but to return to ourselves.

Hotel Yellowstone — An ELETOM Quick Guide

Vibe: Adults-only boutique sanctuary on East Gros Ventre Butte with true, unobstructed Teton views. Intimate, design-forward, and quiet—built for reconnection, not scene.

Location (drive times)

• Jackson Town Square: 4.9 mi
• Snow King Mountain: 5.3 mi
• Teton Village / Jackson Hole Mountain Resort: 13.3 mi
• Grand Teton NP (Moose Junction): 15 mi
• Grand Teton NP (Moran Junction): 33 mi
• Yellowstone NP (South Entrance): 60 mi

Suites (600 sq ft each room, all with private balcony)

• Reflection Suites (12): Pond & resort views
• Vista Suites (6): Mountain/valley views (west-facing sunsets)
• Grand Teton Suites (14): Direct Grand Teton views (north-facing)
• Grand Reflection Suites (4): Pond + Grand Teton views
  In-room touches: RH furnishings, Calacatta marble baths, oversized soaking tub, gas fireplace, heated floors, Toto Washlet, glass shower + towel warmer, king bed (luxury mattress), Nespresso, drawer fridge, DigiValet iPad room control.

Eat & Drink

Olivia’s Restaurant & Bar

• Breakfast standouts: Steak & eggs Benedict, huckleberry-stuffed French toast, power smoothies.
• Lunch: Living Room patio (summer) or dining room (winter); small plates, Wagyu burger, craft cocktails.
• Dinner (the one to book): Wagyu Tenderloin, Elk Saltimbocca, Bison Ribeye, Forage Mushroom Pappardelle; thoughtful wine list; sunset-to-starlight views.
  Nice touch: Self-serve hydration and snacks by day; wine & charcuterie in the evening.

Wellness & Fitness

• Spa: Destination-inspired treatments, red-light therapy, infrared sauna, cold-water therapy; two couples’ rooms with Himalayan salt booths.
• Gym: TechnoGym cardio with class access (bring your login), free weights, yoga mats—wall-to-wall mountain views.
• Pool: Heated indoor negative-edge pool with jets; retractable floor-to-ceiling windows for mountain air.

Signature Experiences (partnered with Backcountry Safaris)

• Wildlife Safari (Grand Teton / Yellowstone) with Oxbow Bend breakfast, Old Faithful & Grand Prismatic stops, and picnic by the Firehole River.
• Snake River Float → Private Ranch UTV day with fly-fishing and gourmet picnic.
• Half-Day Wildlife Safari + Fly-Fishing combo (custom drift boat).
• Sunrise/Sunset Toast Safari with champagne and light bites.
• Private E-Bike Tour & Picnic in Grand Teton NP.
• Whitewater Rafting (elevated guide service).
• Fly-Fishing (half or full day) on the Snake.
  Winter programming to come. Plenty to do in the town of Jackson and it is Skiing season! 

Good to Know

• Adults-only
• Suites are clustered across four quiet acres—it feels private.
• Lighting is intentionally soft and soothing (spa energy, not makeup mirror).
• Best for: Couples, close-friend getaways, and anyone craving perspective with polish.

Getting There

• Airport: Jackson Hole (JAC) — ~12 miles / ~23 minutes to the property (traffic dependent).
• Address for GPS: 1775 N East Butte Road, Jackson, WY 83001
• Wheels: Rent a car—the butte location rewards flexibility.

Reservations & Social

• Reservations: (307) 733-8098
• Website: HotelYellowstoneJH.com
• Instagram: @HotelYellowstoneJH
• Facebook: /HotelYellowstoneJH

Pro tip from our stay: book dinner at Olivia’s to catch golden hour sliding into stargazing—then end the night by the fire pit with a blanket and a glass of something you actually taste.

_{ELETOM Travels: Keep visiting eletom.com as we share our travel trips with our team and friends…where real experiences are made and life is being truly lived!}