Lausanne, Switzerland

My first panorama of the city was from above when I ascended from Lausanne’s metro (the only metro in Switzerland). It was breathtaking. Built on three hills, juxtaposed with low valleys that were formerly rivers, the city was exquisite with its rooftops covered in a layer of snow and the air so crisp and clear that steam rose in smoky tendrils from many buildings. A gothic cathedral dominated one hill along the skyline and many more turrets and towers rose up among the colorful buildings to join it.

Italian Lakes: Stresa and Lake Maggiore

Nestled beneath the Alps in northern Italy’s Lombardy region, the beauty of Lake Maggiore is legendary. Here you’ll find a lakeside getaway filled with flowery villas and gardens, perfect for lazy days of aimless wandering. Boat rides and sunshine are obligatory. Seafood and relaxation mandatory.

Palm Springs: High Design in the Desert

There’s no place like Palm Springs when it comes to retro-inspired design culture and iconic modern architecture. Sandwiched in the desert half way between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Palm Springs is an oasis of pure Hollywood glamour fused with a bit of flamboyant Las Vegas spirit.

Seattle City Guide

Your insider’s companion to Seattle’s art and design scene. Explore Seattle’s hottest cultural highlights while eating, sleeping, and shopping in style.

Sweden’s Treehotel

Imagine slumbering way up high in a tree amid a soundtrack of birds and windows that show off sky. Well you can do just that at the Treehotel, located near the arctic circle in the tiny Swedish village of Harads. A town with a population of only 600, this is the perfect place to reconnect with nature in a truly unique way.

Spa Report: The Moroccan Hammam

When in Morocco, you can’t miss the traditional Moroccan hammam, or Turkish-style steam bath. There are a variety of public and private hammams ranging from uber-luxurious spa experiences, like the hammam at La Sultana in Marrakech, to simple public bathhouses.

Beijing Kitchen: Northern Chinese Cuisine at Macau’s Grand Hyatt

Enjoy a gourmet feast of Beijing (Peking) Duck cooked in traditional wood burning ovens, plus more sensational culinary treats at Beijing Kitchen in Macau.

La Sultana Marrakech: A Regal Riad Fit for Sultans

I’ve never set foot in a more beautiful hotel. Words to describe it? Timeless. Graceful. Opulent. Stylish. Unique. Palatial. Every last detail of this hotel is pure perfection. Consisting of 5 riads (traditional Moroccan residences centered around a courtyard or garden) with 28 individually themed rooms total, La Sultana is a shrine to Moroccan design and craftsmanship.

Seattle Culinary Vacations: Top Hotels for Foodies

It’s no secret that Seattle is a gourmet wonderland for foodies. Emphasizing fresh local ingredients, Pacific Northwest chefs are constantly seeking creative combinations of ingredients. Although you’ll fare pretty well in Seattle eating wherever you happen to be once your stomach rumbles, there is definitely something wonderful about staying at a hotel with a restaurant good enough to be a destination itself.

category: hotels