Top five destinations for flight bookings during the first week of the Big Orange Sale were Amsterdam, Paris, Geneva, Alicante and Malaga.
14.12.2023 - 15:27 / nytimes.com
Outside the tiny town of Simon in Romania’s Carpathian Mountains, an NGO called Foundation Conservation Carpathia is creating a 66,000-acre national park. It’s against that backdrop that the hotelier Bogdan Calulanu opened Matca, a 16-room hotel with 10 private villas. is the Romanian word for “queen bee,” the name a reference to the beekeeping practiced in this honey-producing corner of Transylvania and also to the pastoral serenity of a region that’s barely changed since the Middle Ages.
Reflecting the architectural style of the area’s traditional fortified farms (Transylvania was once the western frontier of the Hungarian Empire and subject to regular raids by the Turks), Matca’s guest rooms are set inside two stone-and-wood farmhouses with interior courtyards. The rooms’ earth-tone color schemes are apparent in natural linen curtains and upholstery, raw oak floors and furniture, undyed wool blankets and reed baskets that contrast with sleek Italian lighting and bathroom fixtures. Stup, the hotel’s restaurant, serves dishes based on the seasonal produce of Transylvania’s small farms, among them mamaliga, a Romanian take on polenta; wild mushrooms; and excellent ewe’s-milk cheeses. The hotel’s Ambrozie spa features a heated indoor pool with spectacular views and offers a range of treatments including phytothermotherapy, a body wrap using fermented hay. Guided hikes, beekeeping lessons and workshop visits with local craftspeople are also available.
For Rodrigo Garcia, the founder of the Paris-based candle brand Amen, candlelight reminds him of the first home he ever lived in. “I come from a small town in Flores, Uruguay, and in the countryside there was no electricity until I was around 10 years old,” he says. Years later, while dining outdoors by candlelight one windy evening in Uruguay, Garcia and his partner, the sculptor Katharina Kaminski, were inspired to create a protective vessel for the flame. Amen’s Light Sculptures are the result of the pair’s creative collaboration, a series of cavernous earthen candles available in three of the brand’s signature scents, each with an intended effect: Vetiver is meant to be calming, sandalwood soothing and eucalyptus invigorating. The varying clay finishes of the pieces were inspired by Kaminski’s travels — her visits to the Moroccan desert and the volcanoes of Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands, led to the collection’s earthen palette of burnt umber, sandy beige and pale limestone. Like all of Amen’s offerings, these candles are made from natural, paraffin-free vegetal wax. Each Light Sculpture provides up to 1,200 hours of candlelight.
Growing up in rural Alabama on his family’s sharecropping farm, the artist Rick Lowe, now based in Houston, spent
Top five destinations for flight bookings during the first week of the Big Orange Sale were Amsterdam, Paris, Geneva, Alicante and Malaga.
China will now be entering into a reciprocal agreement with Thailand for permanent waiver of visa requirements for citizens of the two countries from March onwards.
Moving abroad has been a hot topic in 2023 - especially if you can get paid to do it.
Whether you plan on spending the last few days of the year relaxing in front of the screen for some well-deserved rest, or plotting out your next travel adventure for 2024, there’s nothing like some armchair traveling to get you inspired.
Manchester is located in the northwest region of England. This city has a storied history of originally being known as a hub for industrial manufacturing — but today has transformed into a trendy spot boasting spirited energy, soccer fever, tasty food, a vibrant music scene, and interesting cultural offerings.
Thailand is perfect for families and kids of all ages.
Although it has been years since I’ve traveled in mesmerizing Tokyo, my memories are as vivid as though they had been sparked yesterday—pleasures aswirl in unique flavors and noises, creativity and ingenuity. So when luxury publisher Assouline released the new book Tokyo Chic, I dove into its 312 lush-paper-stock pages, with more than 200 photographs and illustrations, which are bound in an outsize (10-by-13-inches, 6.4-pound) format—a hefty hardcover wrapped in silk. The brainchild of Andrea Fazzari, whose deft imagery and words are love letters to the inimitable capital, Tokyo Chic showcases a massively enthralling—yet strikingly intimate—city. Currently based in Tokyo, Fazzari is a James Beard Award-winning photographer, author and restaurant maven with notable backgrounds in fashion and film. Born in New York City, she has lived in France, Hong Kong, Italy, Spain and Thailand—and speaks four languages. What a sophisticated guide to have at your armchair traveler’s fingertips! Indeed, this coffee table tome would make a treasured holiday gift for those who have already vacationed in Japan or simply dream of doing so.
Everyone loves a new beginning—and that’s the theme we’re seeing with this season’s splashiest hotel openings. In Aspen, a town most known for over-the-top luxury, a design-forward, approachable four-star hotel (with five-star food) sets up shop. A historic, Southern Gothic mansion enters its glow-up era as a contemporary, sceney hotspot in Savannah. And the latest offering from Auberge Resorts gives a compelling reason to extend your next Texas work trip by a night or two. Here, some of the most exciting openings this winter to have on your radar.
It’s believed that the Norwegians invented modern skiing as we know it, and the first destination ski resort was Switzerland’s St. Moritz around 1864—more than half a century before the oldest operating mountain in the U.S. opened. It was the ski loving but mountain-challenged British that popularized the very notion of the ski vacation, traveling to the Alps for food, fun and skiing.
Discover the incredible world of Sweden’s ICEHOTEL 34 this winter. Picture this: 500 tonnes of ice, equivalent to 10 Olympic swimming pools of the finest "snis" – a blend of ice and snow – meticulously crafted over six intense weeks. The journey began in spring, as ice blocks were harvested from the Torne River and stored in an ice warehouse in Jukkasjärvi, awaiting their transformation into a magical experience. The unique creation has emerged from the creative minds of 32 artists, spanning 14 countries from around the globe.
With the new year just around the corner, these new hotels should be on the travel radar. For some, bucket list travel may be the best holiday present of all. Others enjoy the anticipation of planning the trip together, especially if you can redeem hard-earned loyalty points to make the trip more affordable. A handful will be lucky enough to win a free vacation trip, but for everyone else, these are some of the newest hotels worth exploring in 2024.
As the seasons change, there’s no better time to escape the busy city life and take a road trip. The New England region has a rich history, culture, and natural beauty, making it an ideal destination for scenic drives. If you’re in the northeastern United States looking for an escape, here’s an extended weekend guide sharing the best places to visit on a road trip through Central and Western Massachusetts, including small towns, historical landmarks, mountainous terrain — all with a stunning backdrop.