I stayed in a 400-year-old hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland, where suspected witches were once burned at the stake

As our boat glided along the Seine, the Eiffel Tower came into view, glittering against a piercing blue September sky. The captain popped a bottle of Champagne and handed me a generous pour. I leaned back against the leather seat, letting my skin drink in the sunshine before taking a sip and letting the bubbles fizz and flit across my tongue. The captain waved me toward the front of the boat, gesturing for me to pose for a photo. I raised my glass and grinned, thinking there couldn’t be a more fitting first snapshot for an American food writer visiting Paris to retrace Julia Child’s footsteps.

“We,” says the Brocher, face lit by fire and dark with soot, “have creosote in our blood.” In their blood, on their hats, on their boots, down their backs – the Brochers, and in particular the Clavie Crew, have creosote everywhere, except in their whisky. They take that with water, a substance they otherwise disdain as being fine for quenching a thirst but a terrible thing to allow near a bonny flame.

Before we met him, we expected that Matthew Goode would have a certain refined British humor, and it turns out we were right. His success with hit series like Downtown Abbey and The Crown, blockbusters like The King’s Man and Leap Year, and cult films like Match Point and Stoker has not affected the actor’s open and affable attitude. Now he adds another credit to his list as he stars alongside Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button in Hackett's new autumn-winter 2023 campaign.

The best hotels in the world become so because they know how to enchant and surprise their guests; thinking through every aspect of the stay, from decor to food and service. It’s not a surprise to learn that they are also able to source and curate superb gifts.

When I started planning my trip to Luxembourg earlier this year, I had one thing in mind: affordable luxury.

When did your thirst for adventure begin?Adventure has been with me my whole life. I spent my earliest years on the island nation of Fiji, where my parents, who were themselves very adventurous people, were working at the time. They once recalled seeing me wandering out into the shallow ocean, lost in my own private quest. Me being a toddler, this was obviously quite alarming for them, and even when we returned to England, the only way they could stop me from putting myself in danger was to quite literally tie me to a rope. Had they not, I would have been off scrambling up some rock face.

From Elvis and Frank Sinatra to Sia and Leonardo DiCaprio, Palm Springs has been a chic escape for decades and the desert resort area in Southern California is always reinventing itself for a new generation. (As anyone who has attended Coachella knows.) For a sneak peek at what’s ahead for Palm Springs in 2024, veteran Forbes travel writer Jim Dobson reveals the hot hotels, spas and restaurants to check out next year.

On the windswept islands of Orkney, where the North Sea meets the Atlantic, a story every bit as gripping as the Norse sagas is unfolding.

This two-hour train trip gets seriously scenic after Coleraine, when it partly follows the coast and Lough Foyle. As it runs along Downhill Beach, the sands and turbulent ocean are just outside the window, with the domed Mussenden temple perched on the cliffs above. On through farmland and past views of craggy Binevenagh – a towering cliff on the edge of the Antrim plateau – it will offer views of wintering geese, whooper swans and waders on the shores of the lough.

The world’s first inland surfing resort is coming to Scotland and will certainly make waves among legions of surf aficionados. Lost Shore Surf Resort opens in the Fall 2024 and will include luxury lodges, unique accommodation pods, restaurants, spa and shopping. But the state-of-the-art Surfing pool is the real highlight.

Imagine taking nearly three months to meander across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, reveling in the romantic atmosphere of first-class train travel all the while. From your individual suite on board—or a seat in a gleaming bar car—you’d soak in the unique landscapes of each continent that whoosh past your window, making stops to explore historical marvels, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and picturesque cities.

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday.