With the weather warming up and spring travel season rapidly approaching, now is the perfect time for a trip abroad that offers al fresco dining, cultural attractions, and plenty of options for outdoor exploration.
Lisbon, the sun-drenched harbor capital of Portugal, has long been one of Europe's best-kept secrets. Here, antique trolley cars share winding roads with shiny new Peugeots, and historic churches outfitted with tile frescos mingle among modern art galleries, boutique hotels, and chic outdoor tapas restaurants.
The ABC islands, part of the greater Dutch Antilles, hover just above South America on a sunny stretch of the Caribbean miraculously outside the region's Hurricane belt.
For centuries Istanbul was one of the most pivotal trading ports in the world, connecting Europe and Asia and acting as an incubator for everything from fashion to innovative political thought.
New York City, home to 245 hotels, ranging from chic boutique spots to The Plaza, is filled with luxury options for visitors. In fact, more than any one person could possibly sample, though we would relish the opportunity.
Very few would call Times Square romantic. The lights, the crowds, and noise all can have a cumulative effect of drowning out the senses, rather than heightening them. But as we found last Valentine's Day, one nearby hotel really can transport you, albeit temporarily, outside the city's bustling center.
There are several misconceptions western travelers often have about visiting South Africa. The most popular being that the country has issues with crime, is difficult to navigate, or is inhospitable to tourists.
Fondly referred to as “Queen of the Caribbees” for its prized role as one of Great Britain's leading colonial sugar producers, the island of Nevis, one half of St. Kitts and Nevis, is easily imaginable as the crown jewel of an empire.
There are few hotels in New York City that can boast being equally fit for a visiting family as for a world-weary ambassador. However, such is the case with the resplendent Mark Hotel on NYC's posh Upper East Side.
To those in the west, the country of Qatar is an endless source of mystery. While some may have trouble pronouncing the tiny, oil rich nation's name (Kut-tar), even fewer seem to know about its culture.
There's nothing like a weekend trip to New York City to make the world traveler's heart flutter. Except perhaps one that also feels like a mini-voyage abroad.
Sometimes it is possible to make a good thing even better. Known as one of the most luxurious hotels in a town already synonymous with breezy good taste and rustic elegance, The St. Regis Aspen has been offering guests a uniquely haute-homey mountain retreat since 1992.
