The Ritz-Carlton Spa At Grande Lakes Orlando Named #1 Best Hotel Spa… Again!

Following the success of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and The World’s 50 Best Bars, 50 Best has just announced The World’s 50 Best Hotels in 2023, marking the brand’s first global launch since 2009.

S

Terry and Al Hershey can afford to live anywhere they please after their successful careers—she in the corporate offices of Time Warner, he running businesses in medical device manufacturing and contract research and development. So, when they loaded up their 34-foot RV at their Bonita Springs, Florida home and hit the road to scout a second retirement locale, they headed to what might sound like a surprising place: Traverse City, Michigan, a small town (population 16,000) 250 miles northwest of Detroit, that sits on a bay opening to Lake Michigan. In 2021, the Hersheys moved into a 132-year-old, 5-bedroom Victorian three blocks from Grand Traverse Bay, where they spend six months a year with their goldendoodle and Aussiedoodle. Now both 76, they hike, bike, kayak and motorboat and can choose from scores of musical performances a year at the nearby Interlochen Center for the Arts and by the Traverse Symphony Orchestra. “We wanted a summer base,” Terry explains. Why not spend all year in Traverse City? They don’t mind the cold (they lived for many years in Colorado), but find the lack of sunshine during the winters in Traverse City too dreary, she says.

This August, my four daughters, two sisters, and mom all hopped on a train from Michigan to Chicago with one special purpose in mind: to visit the American Girl store.

After several delays, Brightline is launching its high-speed rail service between Orlando and southern Florida in just over a week.

Would you wait hours in line at Disney World to meet a cartoon character?

Shanghai is known for its forest of skyscrapers with the world’s third-largest megatower leading the charge. Travelers wary of heights will find a medley of things to do at ground level including the historic waterfront, trendy Xintiandi, and the ancient Yu Garden. In terms of where to stay in Shanghai, the city is a playground of high-rise luxury hotels with infinity pools, rooftop bars, and awesome skyline views. The best hotels in Shanghai, China, are near or within eyesight of The Bund.

Scattered across the US are pockets of dark skies that offer some of the best stargazing experiences in the world. Within these often protected and designated areas luxury hotels are catering to the astro-tourism market with expert lead stargazing experiences. Situated in areas with low levels of light pollution and excellent air clarity, the night sky over these properties is so pristine you can enjoy it from the comfort of your hotel room or balcony. But these stargazing hotels have stepped it up by offering a range of astrological events, in-room telescopes and binoculars, outdoor skybeds, and even an on-site observatory. With a focus on the outdoors, these are not only some of the best resorts in the US, they run some of the top dark sky experiences in the nation.

I'm a big fan of Gordon Ramsay. I've watched his shows for years, eaten at his Las Vegas restaurant, and even interviewed him for a story once — I'm happy to report he was nothing like his "Hell's Kitchen" persona in person.

In the run-up to ITB China, DidaTravel shares impressive year-to-date China growth data, both inbound and outbound. §  DidaTravel outperforms the market with remarkable +40% growth[1] in China outbound hotel bookings year-to-date vs. 2019’s pre-pandemic figures (and +292% growth comparing the same period 2022). §  Meanwhile the company is registering +124% inbound growth in hotel bookings into China, year-to-date Vs. 2019. §  DidaTravel will be exhibiting at ITB China, stand H23.

Of all the art exhibits NYC has to offer, some of the best come not from the permanent collections of storied establishments but instead, the temporary shows at museums, galleries, and other more unconventional spaces. As summer comes to its inevitable close, several new shows are opening around the city—some celebrating great masters, others with an eye for the contemporary and/or the unsung. Plus, some of summer's tentpoles—Africa Fashion at the Brooklyn Museum, for example—will run all the way into October, so if you haven't made your way to them yet, there's still time. Of the myriad options, we've rounded up some of the best to hit now or in the coming weeks—we're certain you'll find something to your liking. 

With more than 300 glorious days of sun and majestic landscapes to match, it’s no wonder Colorado beckons to outdoorsy types.