Smag31

Though hard to imagine today, there was a time when Barcelona was just a small Roman village (named Barcino) encircled by protective stone walls. Over the centuries, the village grew, culminating in a building boom in the 14th and 15th centuries. The Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter), a beautifully preserved neighbourhood of Gothic buildings, medieval places … Read more

A Downtown Walk Morning Start the day at the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art , taking 90 minutes to peruse the permanent collections and visiting exhibit. On your way out, pop into the gift shop to have a look at the unique crafts. Head north to Bloor St and turn left, walking a half block … Read more

Toronto is a city of neighborhoods, each with a distinct identity, many with an ethnic flavor, making it the most multicultural of North American cities. In Chinatown, wares from energetic vendors compete with shoppers for sidewalk space, and restaurants offer everything from take-out buns to sit-down banquets. The city’s multicultural mix finds its fullest expression … Read more

William Cook joins revelers on an annual hike through vineyards above the Rhône Valley.  Every year, on the first Saturday in September, the inhabitants of Visp, a sleepy Swiss town near Sierre in the Rhône Valley, stage the world’s most scenic pub crawl. This isn’t a drunken stagger down the high street; for the Swiss, … Read more

In each of its many forms, water is undoubtedly the heart of Switzerland It’s easy to regard Switzerland as a land of mountains but, with countless lakes, rivers, creeks, waterfalls and glaciers, it is equally a land of water, despite being landlocked. The source of the Rhine and Rhône, Switzerland is also home to the … Read more

Breathtaking landscapes, natural springs, an endless list of activities, swimmable lakes and world-class saps: it’s so easy to fall in love with Graubunden  Cows in Andeer Lai da Vons Graubunden, located in the east of Switzerland, is the country’s largest and most popular holiday region – a dramatic landscape of seemingly endless mountain ranges topped … Read more

The Crown at whitebrook – Monmouthshire Wales This seasoned performer has been offering food and accommodation in a pretty, 17th-century cottage since 1971. The secret to its longevity seems to be a combination of location – its Wye Valley setting is both idyllic and easily accessible – and wonderful food. Chef James Sommerin’s insprised, Michelin-starred … Read more

St John Hotel – London Fergus Henderson made his name with the nose-to-tail eating concept he pioneered at St John Bar & Restaurant, and the success oh his offal-dominated menus has led to several spin-offs. The latest, the St John Hotel, opened off Leicester Square in spring 2011 and provides a handy West End location … Read more

USA Mondrian Soho, New York Mondrian Soho 9 Crosby Street, New York City Mondrian Soho opened in March 2011 on cobbled Crosby Street and is the tallest building in the ‘hood: a 28- floor glass block (literally, it backs onto Lafayette Street), fronted by a glasshouse restaurant and accessed through a glass tunnel covered in … Read more

Chile The Singular Patagonia, Puerto Bories Chile The Singular Patagonia, Puerto Bories Sleeping in a former abattoir is not to everyone’s taste, but this 57- room heritage hotel is in a former frigorific, a cold- storage plant built in 1915 near Chile’s pretty Puerto Natales. Governed by strict conservation rules, local architect Pedro Kovacic has … Read more

St Regis Bal Harbour Resort, Miami St Regis Bal Harbour Resort, Miami It may be technically in Miami, but the less- then- one- square- mile community known as Bal Harbour is a world apart from the high- volume bling of South Beach. Best known for its clutch of exclusive shops and restaurants, it now has … Read more

USA Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles USA Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles This classic 66- year- old Hollywood hideaway recently underwent a two- year, $100- million renovation. Although the pink- stucco, Spanish- mission- style architecture, resident swans and 12 acres of gardens remain much the same, just about everything else has had a top- to- bottom overhaul. … Read more

Mauritius Long Beach Sugar Beach Resort – Mauritius Long Beach is not a typical Mauritian resort. Developed by Sun Resorts (Sugar Beach, La Pirogue, Le Tousserok), the hotel opened in April 2011 on the 60-acre footprint of the former Coco Beach on the east coast. Its aim: to bring ‘a new vision’ of contemporary chic … Read more

Restaurants Battery Gardens This restaurant offers a New American menu with Asian accents, and panoramic views of the harbor. Battery Park, opposite 17 State St 212 809 5508 Gigino’s at Wagner Park Gigino’s delivers excellent Italian food from the Amalfi coast and dazzling views from the sophisticated dining room and the waterfront terrace. 20 Battery … Read more

A Day Exploring Lower Manhattan Morning Begin at Battery Park for a view of the waterfront, and look into Castle Clinton , an 1807 fort, to see dioramas of a changing New York. Then visit the Museum of the American Indian at the U.S. Custom House. Cross to Bowling Green, the city’s first park, then … Read more

Old and new New York meet at the tip of the island. The city was born here under Dutch rule and became the nation’s first capital after the Revolutionary War (1775–83). At the intersection of Broad and Wall streets are the Federal Hall National Memorial, marking the site where George Washington was sworn in as … Read more

Vietnam – Anatara Mui Ne Resort & Spa Vietnam – Anatara Mui Ne Resort & Spa The views from the entrance of Anantara are first Vietnam resort embody its Sanskrit name, which means ‘without end’. From the rased exception, guests can peer down at the airy L’Anmien restaurant, with it tables and chairs that spill … Read more

Vivanta By Taj – Bekal, Kerala Life is tough at this new, 71- room spa resort in undiscovered north Kerala. Should I order a Mojito or a Mai- Tai cocktail? Take a spa treatment go for a walk on the beach, or a have a gentle kayak on the serene backwaters? Set on 30 acres … Read more

India – Alila Bangalore Hotel and Residence Alila Bangalore Hotel and Residence South India is first urban resort is in the hi- tech hub of Whitefield, 20km from Bangalore’s city centre and home or world- class technology parks, impressive corporate campuses and exclusive residential enclaves to house the multinational workforce. With its South- East Asian … Read more

Wildman Wilderness Lodge – Mary River Wetlands Northern Territory the World Heritage Site of Kakadu National Park A comfortable two- hour drive from Darwin, Wildman Wilderness Lodge is a gateway to the raw, compelling beauty of Australia’s tropical north at a reasonable, half- board price. Its mission is to give travelers an insight into the … Read more