From Paris To Portofino—Inside Belmond’s New Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Train

New non-stop flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Verona (Italy), Narvik-Lofoten Islands (Norway) and Kalamata (Greece). Resumption of service to Minneapolis (Minnesota, USA). Extension through summer of service to Raleigh-Durham (North Carolina, USA), Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) and Tromsø (Norway).

A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveler España. This article was translated and adapted from the Spanish by John Newton. The Mandarin Oriental Ritz Madrid is one of our editors’ picks for The Gold List 2024.

Low-cost Icelandic airline Play is going all out for the end of the year by offering a whopping 50 percent off its already low airfare to Europe.

Lots of our most beloved global cities have underground rivers, long forgotten by most. In London, there is the river Tyburn that runs under Buckingham Palace and the river Walbrook running under the Bank of England. New York has several, such as Minetta Brook in Manhattan, which can still give today's residents problems with flooded basements. In Sydney, there is Tank stream which is today an underground stormwater channel. Many of these streams became polluted by tanneries and other livelihoods of days gone by, serving eventually as sewers or drains, before being permanently diverted underground to make way for buildings and above ground life.

Cunard has unveiled new shore excursions for travelers sailing aboard Queen Anne, the cruise line’s newest ship.

There’s a joke in certain circles, that whenever something goes wrong in Paris, we blame Emily. I think you know of whom I speak.

Paris is the global capital of romance but the 2024 Olympics and Paralympic Games bring yet another reason to summer in the City of Lights. The Games is that rare sporting event that works its magic on all kinds of travelers and adds a unique twist to a vacation. In addition to the Olympic Village in the suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis, major landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, and Place de la Concorde will be transformed into venues. Pencil in a date night at one of these romantic Airbnbs close to the Paris Olympic sites.

The city of Versailles is renowned worldwide for the châteaux, Palace of Versailles and its gardens. Located in the western suburbs of the French capital, just over 10 miles from the centre of Paris, Versailles is a popular day trip, but it’s worth considering an overnight stay. There’s a lot to explore, the Palace of Versailles, often referred to as simply Versailles, is one of the most famous historic monuments in the world and the landscaped gardens are simply spectacular. After a long day admiring the opulent architecture, strolling through the Orangerie and soaking up the history, settle into an Airbnb Versailles rental property and enjoy the city like a local. The Airbnbs below showcases the very best options for solo travelers, couples, families, and groups, who would prefer to enjoy Versailles at a leisurely pace.

The countdown has begun: France will welcome the 2024 Summer Olympic Games from July 26 until August 11 with the Paralympic Games following from August 28 to September 8. Paris and the Île-de-France region form the cradle of the action where the spectacle will kick off at 8:24 p.m. sharp (or, 20:24 – touché).

Belmond, the luxury company behind the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE), made a historic announcement this week that will delight those who love luxury European luxury train travel. The company said that in June 2024, the VSOE will travel to the Italian Riviera for the first time on a three-night experience that links Paris and the Ligurian coastal resort of Portofino. Once in Portofino, guests check into the Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, for two nights.

2023 is coming to a close, which means the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are fast approaching. The opening ceremony is scheduled for July 26, with the Games finishing Aug. 11; the Paralympics will run from Aug. 28 through Sept. 8.

Dubai has completed its journey from the “dot in the desert” to a truly global city that more than 200 nationalities call home. The modern emirate is now so well-connected and cosmopolitan, that its large number of expat residents are truly “global citizens” rather than “Dubians.”