Oct 2, 2024 • 7 min read
23.09.2024 - 19:31 / lonelyplanet.com
Sep 22, 2024 • 4 min read
Who doesn't love a luxury hotel? Even if you're priced out from regular five-star stays, the grandeur of a well-appointed, beautifully designed accommodation demands appreciation. For those of us who have had the privilege to stay in one (or a few or many), there is a singular joy, a feeling of luck, that for just one (or two or a few or many) nights, you're royalty.
So if you're a hotel addict like we are at Lonely Planet, disappear into the second annual ranking of the World’s 50 Best Hotels, recently announced in London. Last year's number one, the stunning Passalacqua in Lake Como, Italy, has been dethroned as the number one hotel in the world in favor of the Capella in Bangkok, Thailand. Overlooking the Chao Phraya River this hotel has 101 rooms, suites and villas, a Michelin-starred chef, a stunning spa and concierges who can plan you an itinerary for your time in the city. The combination of elegance, spare design and impeccable service result in a sublime stay, a serene place to recharge or enjoy a cocktail in a chic and happening bar.
The list's collective judges are part of the The World’s Best 50 Hotels Academy, a body of 580 international travel experts (with a 50/50 gender balance!) from the hotel and travel industries who vote anonymously on the best properties globally.
The winningest continent is Asia, with 14 entries entries, including three other Bangkok hotels: the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok (12), the Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River (14) and the Siam (26). Europe is the region with the second-most wins featuring 12 properties, including the stunning new entry Borgo Santandrea (20) in Amalfi, Italy.
North America's top country, Mexico, features three hotels: Chablé Yucatan (16), Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya (18) , the One&Only Mandarina (29) in Riviera Nayarit and Hotel Esencia (47) in Tulum.
The US has four entries on the list: The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel (30) and Aman New York (37), both in New York City, Four Seasons at the Surf Club (34) north of Miami, Florida, and Hotel Bel-Air (35) in Los Angeles, California.
Other delightful new entries for this year include the Lana in Dubai (24), Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town (28) in South Africa, Suján Jawai (43) in Rajasthan, India, and the Tasman in Hobart, Australia (49).
Additional highlights from our favorite hotels and the full list follow.
Bulgari Hotel Tokyo
Making its debut on the list, the Bulgari Hotel occupies the 40th to 45th floors of the Tokyo Midtown Yaesu skyscraper. Centrally located and within walking distance of many of the Japanese capital's top sites, the ultra-luxe property has 98 rooms and suites, the Michelin-starred Il Ristorante - Niko Romito, along with a bar,
Oct 2, 2024 • 7 min read
The days are getting shorter and the nights cooler, marking the beginning of the “winter season” for airlines. By a quirk of the industry calendar, airlines’ official winter schedules begin at the end of October and run through March. And new schedules mean new routes.
Every year, Condé Nast Traveler readers weigh in on their favorite hotels, airlines, cruises, islands, and more in our annual Readers’ Choice Awards. Luggage is also among the categories you voted on this year, applauding the brands you trust the most for durable, practical suitcase and bags. After all, no matter the trip—be it a safari, cruise, city escape, or weekend in the woods—you need something to carry your belongings. And for many of us, that same carry-on, duffel bag, or backpack becomes our trusty travel companion for years at a time. Below, find your fellow readers’ favorite luggage brands, plus a few of each brand’s most popular pieces of luggage, should you be looking to add a new roomy weekender or sturdy suitcase to your collection.
I love visiting kitschy or unique tourist landmarks on a road trip or weekend getaway. In fact, after visiting all 50 states solo, I've enjoyed my short visits to nearly all the major tourist attractions in the United States.
When the Van Cortlandt family acquired their sprawling Hudson Valley estate in the late 1600s, they couldn't have imagined that it would one day host a jack-o'-lantern festival with pumpkin sculptures including a Kraken, moving windmill, and Statue of Liberty.
Not all oceanside vacations are created equal, and one trip to Wilmington and our island beaches will show you why we’re the crown jewel of coastal getaways in the Carolinas. With the city’s historic River District and Riverwalk, along with three island beaches just minutes away, there’s plenty to explore. Expect to encounter turquoise waters, exceptional sand, one-of-a-kind nature escapes, and award-winning chefs and breweries — just a few of the many attractions you’ll fall in love with on this slice of the North Carolina coast.
There are two types of train trip: The long, slow, and often luxurious train journey that takes you through beautiful scenery that you book specifically to spend time on the rails; and the speedy, no-nonsense, cheap train ride you take to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible. In the first category, you’ll find grand trips like Australia’s The Ghan, South Africa’s Blue Train, and Britain’s Caledonian Sleeper. In the second, there are trips from London to Brussels in just two hours, from Rome to Venice in four hours, and from Miami to Orlando in three hours. And if you’re a train traveler who belongs to the second category and likes getting places fast without flying, there are plenty of trains in this world that do just that at speeds previously unimaginable on land, including the fastest train in the world and its closest competitors.
If you’re one of the lucky ones with tickets to the Oasis reunion tour, all that remains is finding rock star-worthy digs. With the concerts coinciding with summer in the United Kingdom and Ireland, the best vacation rentals come with outdoor space or proximity to urban parks and beer gardens. These Guest Favorite Airbnbs in Manchester, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and Cardiff are pitch perfect for the Oasis Live ’25 Tour.
Fall is the ideal time to visit Montana if you’re looking to get away from the crowds and into nature. The shoulder season welcomes the colorful displays of foliage, crisp, clean air, rivers teeming with fish, and active wildlife. Because Big Sky Country is vast, we’ve put together some top spots to see fall colors in all their glory. From the shimmering golden tapestry of aspen groves and deciduous trees in the southwestern and central regions, to the golden hues of the wheat fields against the backdrop of the setting sun over the northern and easter plains, here are some of the best places to visit in fall and where to stay.
I think of myself as a well-traveled individual with a very solid knowledge of geography and tourist sights. Most of the people at Matador Network see themselves in the same way. After all, we live and breathe travel day in, day out. Yet, apparently, none of us know much about Germany.
A full slate of labor strikes are planned throughout Europe this month, which could impact both plane and train travel.Both flights and trains could be delayed as a result of the various labor actions in the coming weeks. Here’s a breakdown of the locations where strikes are expected to take place and when.
Sep 23, 2024 • 6 min read