This summer's record-breaking heat has brought environmental consequences across the US, from coral bleaching in Florida to cacti toppling over in Arizona.
21.07.2023 - 07:50 / roughguides.com / Elton John / Burj Al-Arab
From ancient temples to hyper-modern skyscrapers, these are just a few of the world's most incredible architectural wonders. Whether you're looking to wander lost ruins or explore lavish palaces, you'll find inspiration here.
Towering out of an elm-wooded hillside above Granada, a snowy Sierra Nevada behind, there are few more iconic images of Spain than the ochre-tinted enclave of the Alhambra. Over five thousand visitors wander through the restored complex every day. No amount of words, however, can approximate the sensual charge of seeing the Palacios Nazaríes, the best preserved palace of the Nasrid dynasty, for the first time.
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One of the wonders of the ancient world, the Roman archeological site of Baalbek – a place that, in the words of Robert Byron, “dwarfs New York into a home of ants” – holds awe-inspiring temples, porticoes, courtyards and palatial stone stairways. The Greeks and Romans called it Heliopolis, “The City of the Sun”, a name it shares with another great Classical city in Egypt – but this phenomenal site has no equals.
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Dubai is a desert turned Disney. What was once a sleepy fishing village is now a futuristic cybercity, with sparkling skyscrapers, shopping malls, water parks, golf courses and hotels so flashy that Elton John would be proud to call them home. The iconic Burj Al Arab is a striking 28-storey symbol of new-world bling. One of the tallest hotels in the world, the gleaming building is built on an artificial island, 280m from the mainland, and is shaped like a huge billowing sail.
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Rising like a giant fist above the valleys of Oaxaca, magical, mystical Monte Albán is above all a statement of power. The Zapotecs built their city far from the valleys and without any natural water supply to emphasize their dominance of their people, and nature itself. What remains today is just the very centre of the site – the religious and political heart – and until you reach the top it’s impossible to appreciate the sheer audacity of this place.
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The great temples of the Chola dynasty utterly dominate most major towns in Tamil Nadu. For sheer scale and intensity, though, none outstrips the one dedicated to the fish-eyed goddess, Shri Meenakshi, and her consort, Sundareshwara, in Madurai. Peaking at 46m, the towers taper skywards like elongated, stepped pyramids, their surfaces writhing with an anarchic jumble of deities, demons, warriors, curvaceous maidens, pot-bellied dwarves and sprites – all rendered in Disney-bright colours.
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It’s hard to forget the first time you catch a glimpse of France's Château de Peyrepertuse. In fact, it takes a while before
This summer's record-breaking heat has brought environmental consequences across the US, from coral bleaching in Florida to cacti toppling over in Arizona.
In a country full of hidden gems, it is hard to choose one. But I would highly recommend taking a trip to the south-east of Turkey – “cradle of civilisation” territory – and on the road between Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa, turn off near Yukarıincirli and head 17 miles north to Halfeti for a boat tour of the mighty Euphrates. This region was hit hard by the recent earthquake, but that gives added reasons to visit: a morale boost to the locals, and some help for their struggling economy. On that cruise you’ll get a chance to see the remarkable submerged city of Old Halfeti, as well as the ancient fortress of Rumkale and, if you’re lucky, a karagül, the black rose that is indigenous to this region.Umair
These days, Babba Rivera is practically synonymous with her haircare line Ceremonia. The brand's Instagram feed is filled with shots of her lush brown hair, drenched in guava-scented products; signature pops of hibiscus pink, lime, and tangerine, are both splashed across bottles of deep-conditioners and her envy-inducing wardrobe. In that way, the line between work and personal life is always blurry—something she was reminded of when she recently spent a month working from Mexico City.
Cities usually aren't the first place you'd think of when it comes to clean, pollution-free spaces, but as the fight against the climate crisis heightens, more urban centres are putting sustainability as a priority. From green-powered transport, to waste-free hotels and carbon-neutral goals, these are some of the top cities to visit in Europe with visions of a brighter future.
When you enter The Loutrel, the upscale hotel in Charleston, S.C.’s fashionable French Quarter, you might feel as if you’re on the front porch of someone’s grand old Southern home, instead of a hotel lobby. And that warm and relaxed welcome is exactly how the hotel wants guests to feel when they walk through its doors.
In the heart of the enchanting Chianti wine region in Tuscany, Italy, stands an exquisite 16th-century stone farmhouse called "Villa Ardore." Transformed into a luxurious sanctuary for love and acceptance, this remarkable venue is a testament to the enduring power of passion and the triumph of progress over adversity.
When it arrived in Málaga, Spain, 17 years ago, Finca Cortesin set a new standard for Andalusian hotels with its sumptuous design and vast swimming pools. Now, with Grand Hotel Son Net, the brand has done the same for Mallorca. Designer Lorenzo Castillo oversaw the transformation of the storied palacio that has seen aristocrats, royals, and Lauren Bacall walk its cobblestoned patio. The richly patterned upholstery, 18th-century tapestries, majolica-inspired wallpaper, and shimmering antique mirrors may compel guests to accessorize to match the decor. Here, a few smart choices:
“Travel is just a little bit different for us,” said Kelly Lewis, the founder of Women’s Travel Fest, at the beginning of last year’s festival, a blend of travel inspiration, safety advice, and even airfare tips geared specifically to women.
One of the many irritants of travel-rewards programs is expiring miles. Typically, miles or points expire if there’s no account activity during a two- or three-year period. It’s a policy that’s irrelevant to high-frequency travelers, because they’re constantly on the go, pushing the expiration date forward with every trip. But for the great majority of travelers, who fly infrequently, the danger of allowing hard-earned miles to disappear is clear and present.
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Beachgoers are accustomed to finding small clumps of seaweed scattered around the sand or amongst the waves. But lately, visitors to beaches in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Florida might be surprised to be swimming in far more seaweed than they hoped for on their summer vacation: Sargassum.
The carpet is deep and squidgy, the striped wallpaper has a cheery jauntiness about it and you can almost smell the fresh paint emanating from the baby-blue walls, lined with an eclectic mix of art. The corridor that leads to The Dorchester’s newly renovated guest rooms surely puts a spring in your step.