10 of the best hotels in Rio de Janeiro, from party houses to beach boltholes

Rio de Janeiro is a great destination any time of the year, but some seasons are better for different types of travelers.

Such is Mumbai's geography, stretching for more than 25 miles down India’s west coast, that it’s crucial to choose your area carefully. Colaba, on the southern tip, is a popular spot, with abundant sightseeing and restaurants. Further north, Bandra is packed with cool bars, while Juhu’s selling point is its three-mile stretch of golden sand. Hotels on the beach often come with rooftop pools, ideal for watching the sun set over the Arabian Sea. Here are 10 of the best.

Austria’s cultured and charismatic capital Vienna is anything but one-dimensional; the city changes with the seasons.

Hailing from the idyllic shores and boundless horizon of the Indian Ocean, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is set to offer European and international travellers the best of Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

The capital of Egypt has more than enough charms to fill a traveler’s itinerary, and even more fascinating sites stretch far out from Cairo in all directions.

The roads of Puerto Rico serve as a stage.

Sydney is blessed with dozens of beautiful beaches to swim, surf or simply sunbathe on the sand.

Once the preserve of expats, the notion of Thanksgiving is increasingly embraced in the U.K. as both a gentle practice of seeing family or friends but also as a form of autumnal appreciation; an adult-orientated extension of harvest festivals that most schools still hold in Britain. While adhering to the understandable and delicious importance of turkey and cranberry sauce, top chefs also use Thanksgiving to bring British ingredients to the table. Here are some of the best places to celebrate Anglo-American relations this year

An island that lures with its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, Bali is a destination that should be visited at least once in a lifetime. Known for its rice terraces, lush jungle, sandy beaches and Hindu temples, it offers a plethora of experiences and appeals to a range of travelers — from surfers and yogis to honeymooners, families and spiritual seekers.

Whoopie pies probably won't save humankind. But a stop at DonnaSue Bakes + Cooks in Vermont's Champlain Islands is sure to boost your faith in humanity. As soon as my mom and I see the large handwritten letters spelling out “PIE” on a sun-faded shed off Route 2 in the town of Grand Isle, we hit the brakes on our bikes. A sign next to a Betsy Ross flag informs us that Sunday business hours are “by chance.”

Brockencote Hall, Chaddesley Corbett, WorcestershireYou might think you’ve rolled up at a luxury Loire valley chateau when you arrive at this Victorian manor in landscaped parkland. There’s nothing too luxe about the price, though, with B&B from £138. Spend what you save on a nine-course tasting extravaganza in the restaurant, perhaps matching it with a flight of wine. A normal two- or three-course dinner might feature local produce such as Worcestershire duck breast with confit duck hash and artisanal cheeses. There’s plenty to do during the day – fishing, tennis, or a stroll around the 29 hectares. The 21 bedrooms range from contemporary classics to feature suites.Doubles from £138 B&B, nine-course dinner £85, brockencotehall.com

Of all the places to travel with children, Spain is up there with the best of them.