More than a hundred flights have been delayed and dozens cancelled today from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport due to a severe cold snap.
31.12.2023 - 23:47 / forbes.com
As a travel and food writer, I am beyond lucky that my work takes me to dozens of dreamy destinations both near and far each year. But the very best trips make me reluctant to walk out the door for the last time, wishing I could hit a rewind button and begin the trip all over again even while I’m still there.
From a sexy, sparkling skyscraper with a bird’s eye view of Tokyo to a 12th-century castle overlooking the Tuscan countryside—a modern B&B built into a scenic hillside in Willamette Valley wine country to Julia Child’s storied house (and kitchen!) in the charming Provençal countryside, here are the most memorable places I traveled to in 2023. If I can’t restart these epic trips all over again, at least I can relive the memories, revisit my photos, and recommend these extraordinary hotels for those of you brainstorming destinations for your own travels in 2024 and beyond.
Tokyo, Japan: Bulgari Hotel Tokyo
Tokyo’s soaring cityscape was taken to new heights this year with the addition of Bulgari Hotel Tokyo, which occupies the 40th-45th floors of Tokyo Midtown Yaesu ultra-skyscraper. And if I had to pick just one trip from 2023 that I could start again from scratch, this opulent aerie with incredible views of Japan’s capital city would be it.
It’s the eighth hotel property in the Bulgari Hotels & Resorts collection—part of the iconic Italian jewelry brand founded in 1884—which also includes hotels in Bali, Beijing, Dubai, London, Milan, Paris, Rome, and Shanghai.
From spacious guest rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows to the serene 20,000-square-foot spa, and the smartly stylish Il Ristorante dining room, each and every elegant space reflects Bulgari’s signature Italian style tailored to the Japanese aesthetic. But two sexy spaces are truly jaw-dropping: the 40th-floor pool with jewel-like emerald green mosaic tiles and an 80-foot lap pool, and the Rooftop Bulgari Bar and Terrace Gardens, which offers breathtaking views of Tokyo from the vantage point of the 45th floor.
Venice, Italy: Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido Resort
Globetrotters looking to time-travel to a more glamorous era would be hard-pressed to find a more majestic destination than Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido Resort. Opened in 1908, the majestic Moorish-style Venetian palace quickly became the destination for the international jet-set thanks to its unparalleled position on the beach in Lido, overlooking the sparkling Adriatic.
Then, in 1932, the Hotel Excelsior became even more glamorous when it hosted legendary Hollywood stars including Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, John Barrymore, and Joan Crawford for the first-ever Venice Film Festival. Today, photographs of the film stars and directors, royalty, global leaders, artists, and other
More than a hundred flights have been delayed and dozens cancelled today from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport due to a severe cold snap.
Strikes are a regular occurrence in Europe, as employees withhold their labour to fight for better pay and conditions.
It’s a new year, but when it comes to world-class food and drink, it’s still the same ol’ London. Meaning there's no Shoreditch—err...shortage of options across this perennially dynamic cityscape. With literally thousands of restaurants and bars worth exploring, there’s obviously no way we can include everything on one measly list. So the task here is to highlight some places that are doing something especially awesome this winter season. Whether you’re in town for a short stay, or a longtime local, check out what’s on below and you’re certain to be satisfied.
While we were growing our family, my husband and I raised our kids in the Middle East, starting from when our oldest child was a toddler up through her middle school years. Since we were already on that side of the Atlantic, halfway around the world from our native United States, we seized the opportunity to travel and experience nearby locations.
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Strikes are a regular occurrence in Europe, as employees withhold their labour to fight for better pay and conditions.
A passport is more than permission to travel across borders; holders of the world's most powerful passports have access to different ways of living that other passport holders do not. Heading into 2024, new data reveals not only the passports that give access to the most countries, but also where you might find a better quality of life.
Airline safety is at the forefront of many people's minds after a fiery Japan Airlines collision with a Japanese Coast Guard plane in Tokyo.
Strikes are a regular occurrence in Europe, as employees withhold their labour to fight for better pay and conditions.
Both to bolster their local economies and as a means of combatting overtourism, an increasing number of global destinations are charging tourists taxes or fees just for visiting. You’ll frequently find them tacked onto your hotel bill, but sometimes they’re collected immediately upon arrival.
In 2023, travel came back with a vengeance, with travel bookings climbing to near pre-COVID-19 numbers, according to a recent Prosper Insights & Analytics survey. But many destinations struggled to manage the heightened influx of tourists, and some governments actively took measures to limit the quantity of visitors. Among the changes: new or increased tourist taxes, campaigns aimed at discouraging problematic visitors, and attendance caps at popular attractions.
Strikes are a regular occurrence in Europe, as employees withhold their labour to fight for better pay and conditions.