Aman is well known for its ultraluxury resorts and hotels found in some of the world's favorite cities, like Tokyo and Venice, Italy, as well as destinations as close as Utah and as far as Phuket, Thailand.
25.09.2024 - 14:45 / matadornetwork.com
Staying overnight in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of AlUla has been possible for some years. Since Saudi Arabia opened its borders to tourism a few years ago, the region has welcomed guests with immersive luxury desert stays at sustainable resorts like Banyan Tree and Habitas AlUla and glamping at Ashar Tented Resort. And now it’s possible to stay in AlUla’s Old Town.
In May, Dar Tantora The House Hotel, an eco-conscious hotel, opened its doors in the labyrinthine complex of mud-brick and stone houses of AlUla’s Old Town. Constructed using traditional techniques and local materials, Dar Tantora is the world’s first earth-built hotel and minimizes its environmental impact through features like natural ventilation systems and candlelit illumination.
At Dar Tantora, the celebration of tradition and respect for the UNESCO World Heritage Site is seamlessly integrated with a luxurious experience. The hotel has an exceptional restaurant, JOONTOS, which prides itself on using fresh ingredients sourced directly from nearby farms and suppliers. This not only reduces the hotel’s environmental footprint but also allows guests to enjoy the distinct flavors of the region. The hotel also offers a gym, a yoga and meditation studio, and a stunning infinity pool.
Dar Tantora costs around $356 per person for one night, and it’s worth considering a stay in Old Town coupled with a night or two in the desert — there’s a lot to explore in AlUla, after all.
AlUla’s Old Town offers a glimpse into the region’s past. Inhabited as early as the 12th century and occupied until the 1980s, the town provides an opportunity to explore the area’s history through its remaining structures. The Old Town feels like an open-air museum, a maze of narrow, winding alleys lined with hundreds of mudbrick houses. You can visit the Old Town for free and explore at your own pace. That said, guided tours are available for those who want a deeper understanding of the site’s history and significance. The Old Town also has some exceptional restaurants. For fine dining, book in advance at Suhail Restaurant. The menu celebrates elevated Saudi cuisine and regional ingredients.
When visiting AlUla, you must take a tour of the ancient city of Dadan and archaeological site, Hegra. Consider a half-day tour that combines both these fascinating sites with Jabal Ikmah, a spiritual site of cliff faces and rocks inscribed with thousands of ancient inscriptions.
For adventure seekers, AlUla offers a thrilling array of activities. Soar above the breathtaking landscapes in a hot-air balloon or helicopter, embark on a 4WD tour through hidden valleys to discover the iconic Elephant Rock, and experience a guided stargazing session followed by overnight desert camping.
Aman is well known for its ultraluxury resorts and hotels found in some of the world's favorite cities, like Tokyo and Venice, Italy, as well as destinations as close as Utah and as far as Phuket, Thailand.
In May 2022, I rode the Rocky Mountaineer — one of the world's most luxurious trains. The Canadian train company operates four routes, and I was on its US route heading to Moab, Utah, from Denver.
Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio includes 32 different brands. More than any standout architectural or interior design details, consistent quality and a beloved rewards program tend to keep travelers checking into the world’s largest hotel chain. However, one of the first things that struck me about the Munich Marriott Hotel City West, one of the brand’s newest locations, as I approached from the nearby train station on a sunny June afternoon was its impressive, almost Bauhaus-esque silhouette on Landsberger Strasse, the main thoroughfare that leads into downtown Munich.
Nowhere in the world embodies humanity’s living history quite like the Bosphorus Straight. Cutting 19 miles through Istanbul and northwest Türkiye, the straight is the only shipping channel connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and, eventually, the Mediterranean. As such, it’s an imperative lifeblood for West Asia and the Caucasus, and throughout human history has carried, celebrated, and cursed some of the most powerful armies the world has ever seen. Indeed, if only these waters could talk.
Near the start of 2024, Pelumi Nubi started a solo overlanding trip from London to Lagos, Nigeria. The 4,000-plus mile trip included ferries, long desert drives, and a train that doesn’t run on an exact schedule.
Sipping an Old Fashioned with an unobstructed view of the Tentons without worrying about the kids sounds like heaven on Earth. And you can now do that in style at a stay at Jackson Hole’s first adults-only hotel, Hotel Yellowstone.
The Casbah Coffee Club, a cultural landmark for Beatles fans in Liverpool, England, has recently opened its doors to Airbnb guests. It’s here, in this basement of this home, where The Beatles played some of their earliest gigs.
I think of myself as a well-traveled individual with a very solid knowledge of geography and tourist sights. Most of the people at Matador Network see themselves in the same way. After all, we live and breathe travel day in, day out. Yet, apparently, none of us know much about Germany.
The UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will soon apply to visitors from from Europe, Australia, the US and Canada.
JetBlue announced on Thursday it would open its first-ever lounges, at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS). The new premium spaces are set to debut in late 2025, first at the airline’s JFK Terminal 5 hub followed “soon after” by a JetBlue lounge space in Boston Logan’s Terminal C.
JetBlue recently unveiled plans for lounges at both Boston Logan International Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
My husband and I went on a 10-day luxury African safari trip for our big summer vacation.