Warsaw had never been on my travel radar. But when my friend asked me to join him on a birthday trip, I thought why not?
One of his favourite bands was playing, the flights and hotels were affordable, and we figured that, if nothing else, there would be some good pubs and bars.
Truth be told, we were pretty clueless about the Polish capital. Friends who’d visited the country before had spent long weekends in Gdansk or Krakow. When we told them we were instead heading to Warsaw, their response was one of surprise.
Determined to make the best of our trip, we set off on a late-October morning, wrapped up and ready for what we envisioned would be a cold and grey week ahead.
Little did I know that Warsaw was about to become my new favourite holiday destination.
We found out pretty quickly that our grey vision of Warsaw was wrong. The city centre is a beautiful mix of old and new with so much to see in every direction. And, perhaps most surprisingly, it felt warmer and drier than the UK we’d left behind.
The city was extensively rebuilt after World World II and has undergone major modernisation in recent decades. The resulting jumble of streets and buildings meant it wasn’t always easy to find our way around on foot. CityMapper was our friend, and there was no shortage of bars to drop into for a quick drink while we gained our bearings.
The public transport system was easier to get to grips with. There was a Metro station 10 minutes’ walk from our hotel, and from there it was a short journey to Warsaw Central.
This landed us right by the Palace of Culture and Science, the sixth-tallest building in the EU. I had been urged to see it by my girlfriend, who has a keen interest in Soviet-era architecture. Despite her enthusiasm, I wasn’t quite prepared for how impressive it was as a structure, standing tall and holding its own against the modern skyscrapers and shopping malls in the area.
We paid the small fee of 25 złoty (around €5.70) to go up to the viewing terrace, which towers 114 metres over the city with breathtaking views that were well worth the money.
We weren’t sure what Stalin would have made of the Green Caffè Nero that now greets you at the entrance, however.
A short walk away, Złote Tarasy shopping centre continues the capitalist shift with Polish and international brands, and major restaurant chains like Hard Rock Cafe and McDonald’s.
Warsaw’s Old Town is small compared to those of many other European capitals - but it’s no less worthy of a visit. It was meticulously restored after WWII to revive centuries of Polish culture - an effort that has earned it UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
Dominated by the stunning Royal Palace, the main square is a sight to behold.
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Though her work on Saturday Night Live keeps her tethered to New York City, comedian Chloe Fineman can most often be found criss-crossing the country to film in Los Angeles or back to the Bay Area, where she grew up. Recently, for her campaign with Nütrl Vodka Seltzer, she got to see a new place: Mexico City. “First of all, my brain still can’t understand how it’s a three-hour flight from LA [and five hours from New York], so I could meet all my friends in the middle,” she says. “And it was the most beautiful city. We saw luchadores wrestling, and the food was unbelievable. Some of the best meals in my life were in Mexico City!”
It’s the time of year when nature is waking up across Europe, with great gardens and parks coming into bloom. From multi-coloured tulip displays in Dutch gardens, to cherry blossoms in parks in Germany or freshly verdant chateaux gardens in France, we want to know where you’ve been impressed by floral displays in spring or early summer.
A recent British Fashion Council report confirms the fashion industry’s significant contribution to the UK economy. In 2021, the estimated £28.9 billion gross value added contribution to the economy was similar in size to that made by the car industry. And the driving force behind the industry has been London Fashion Week, the semi-annual event that just celebrated its 40th anniversary this month.
Altree Developments, a Toronto-based, multi-generational, full-service development company is set to redefine luxury living in St. Maarten and today announces they have launched sales at their newest development, Vie L’Ven (life to life), a luxury resort and residences with 280 units, that is slated for completion in 2028. “Vie L’Ven seamlessly coalesces the influences of both French and Dutch cultures which are truly represented in this incomparable development through exceptional living, dining and wellness experiences,” says Zev Mandelbaum, founder of Altree. “Serving as a love letter to St. Maarten, Vie L’Ven encourages homeowners and guests to embrace living life to the fullest, while soaking in the island’s natural beauty and tranquility, where European culture blends effortlessly with Caribbean aptitude.”
Mountain lovers can experience the new must-visit winter destination as COTTON CLUB ANDERMATT throws open its doors offering guests luxurious comfort, winter sun, and an immersive experience in the clear, bright, Alpine glow – Switzerland’s coolest new location. The brainchild of Norwegian entrepreneurs Christian and Merete Marstrander, COTTON CLUB ANDERMATT brings the COTTON LIFESTYLE to life. Known for their passion for both snow and sand, the Marstranders have created a forward-thinking vision of hospitality that has now arrived in Andermatt. With world-class service, meticulous attention to detail, and a dedication to ensuring each guest feels the special effect of the Cotton Club lifestyle, they have transformed Andermatt into a winter destination like no other.
Holland America Line is elevating its award-winning Alaska Cruisetours in time for the 2024 season with room upgrades at McKinley Chalet Resort and a new, included tour in Dawson City, Yukon. Alaska Cruisetours combine an Alaska cruise with an overland tour to Denali, and Holland America Line is the only cruise line that extends those tours into the Yukon. Balconies will be added to 28 river-view rooms at McKinley Chalet Resort — Holland America Line’s hotel property at Denali National Park — upgrading them to the Denali Suite category. In addition, a new Deluxe category of non-balcony rooms with suite amenities is being introduced. For the excursions, guests on select Denali and Yukon Cruisetours will have a new “Klondike Gold Tour” that expands on the region’s famed gold rush experience. The tour visits the original discovery claim site that launched the gold rush and Gold Dredge 4.
Enjoy a brisk walk in Lenox, MA, polar plunge into the Atlantic Ocean and warm up inside a cedar sauna in Rockaway, NY, cozy up in a minimalist cabin in the Catskills, experience a Japanese-influenced menu in the Hamptons. For those New Yorkers and East Coasters looking for a proper reset this winter without the long travel time, below five spas and wellness retreats, ideal for a long weekend getaway.
When my husband and I started toying with the idea of taking my teenagers on a whale-watching expedition cruise, we had no idea what to expect. While we’d cruised on several major cruise lines in the past, hopping on a 100-passenger ship run by National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions felt far different than anything we’d done before.
The Super Bowl helped MGM Resorts post three of the top five days in revenue it has ever recorded at hotels on the Las Vegas Strip, executives said Tuesday.