If you are planning a trip to Japan this summer, you’re not alone. New research has revealed the most popular destinations for the coming peak travel season – and there are a few surprises.
01.03.2024 - 09:17 / forbes.com
If you’re looking to escape for a long Easter weekend this year, Italy is always a great idea–especially Florence, where the dawn of spring marks an ideal time to visit the city before the summer crowds descend.
This year, Grand Hotel Minerva, one of the city’s chicest and most storied hotels, is offering a special Easter weekend package. With a minimum two-night stay in a suite or deluxe junior suite from March 31 through April 1, you’ll enjoy a delectable Easter lunch at the hotel restaurant, La Buona Novella, as well as a champagne welcome, daily à la carte in-room breakfast,early check-in and late checkout (subject to availability), housekeeping assistance for packing and unpacking, and complimentary ironing service. Those booking a suite will also receive a complimentary transfer to or from the Florence airport or railway station.
Nestled in a prime position in the heart of town and presiding over the elegant and historic Piazza Santa Maria Novella–named for the 14th-century basilica at the eastern corner of the square–the 97-room hotel is within walking distance of some of the city's most iconic landmarks, including the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, and the Uffizi Gallery.
Beyond its enviable location, the Grand Hotel Minerva–part of Collezione EM, a family-owned Italian luxury hotel brand that most recently opened Violino d’Oro in Venice to worldwide acclaim late last year–boasts a fascinating past and impeccable pedigree. Housed in a 13th-century palazzo that was once home to the monks of Santa Maria Novella more than seven centuries ago, the hotel has hospitality roots that date back to 1848, when the building–which in the ensuing centuries had been home to several aristocratic Florentine families–was reborn as an inn for weary travelers. After becoming a full-fledged hotel in the early 1900s, its most esteemed incarnation began in 1958, thanks in large part to the Venetian architect Carlo Scarpa, one of the most influential talents of the 20th century in Europe. That year, “the Maestro,” as he was known, transformed the property into what would become an enduring symbol of Italian modernist architecture, while leaving the breathtaking frescoes and original hand-painted wooden beams found in a few of the hotel’s most dazzling suites as testament to the building’s remarkable past.
These days, the property’s singular elegance manifests from the moment you enter the lobby and hear the grand piano playing quietly in the background, while well-heeled guests sip negronis in leather-wrapped chairs and velvet sofas in the achingly elegant Bistrot Bar. Simultaneously a top-tier home-away-from-home and modernist museum, the hotel pays homage to Italy’s incomparable creativity at every turn: the works of
If you are planning a trip to Japan this summer, you’re not alone. New research has revealed the most popular destinations for the coming peak travel season – and there are a few surprises.
Blessed with a balmy Mediterranean climate, white sands and sparkling waters, Sardinia is one of southern Europe’s most alluring beach destinations.
Planning the perfect summer trip can take weeks of research, preparation, and organization to ensure it goes off without a hitch. But before you get to the planning and booking phase, you'll need to decide where to go. There's a seemingly endless amount of great options out there, and while there's nothing wrong with heading to the same familiar spot over and over again, sometimes you want to get a little off the beaten path and go somewhere you haven't been before. Whether you're in the mood for a nature escape with jaw-dropping vistas, hiking paths, and secluded lodges, or are looking for a big city excursion surrounded by trendy restaurants, unique neighborhoods, and great shopping, we've got ideas for you.
As for much of Italy, Sardinia promises an unforgettable family adventure that blends pristine natural landscapes with mysterious archeological sites, flavorful food and welcoming people, all set in the captivating atmosphere of the Mediterranean Sea’s second-largest island.
The Scotland-based company Slow Adventure advocates a more mindful approach to activity holidays. Options include climbing and yoga in the Italian Alps, mountain biking in Sweden and horse riding and rambling in Iceland. On the Finnish Happiness trip, guests stay in log cabins by a lake in Lapland and activities include canoeing under the midnight sun, hiking, swimming, swamp foraging and daily saunas. On all trips, 5% of the fee goes to local conservation projects, which in Finland could mean helping protect the rare Saimaa ringed seal, preserving forests or supporting a children’s environmental charity.From £876 for five nights, slow-adventure.com
Storybook beaches, hissing volcanoes and granita in spades: Sicily offers what every kid dreams of.
Milan Fashion Week showcases innovation and creativity in Italian fashion design. But the introduction of designer Federico Cina’s Tortellino Bag may be the first time a handbag in the form of a pasta shape has taken center stage at the exclusive event.
Seville is one of the most beautiful and liveliest cities in Spain, with a cerulean blue sky and streets bathed in year-round sunshine.
Digital nomadism has shot up in popularity recently. While many destinations have simple citizenship requirements in place, the country a person hails from can still significantly impact their travel opportunities.
MADEIRA IS, FOR THE 10TH TIME, THE BEST ISLAND DESTINATION IN EUROPE. PORTO SANTO IS THE BEST BEACH DESTINATION AND THE MADEIRA PROMOTION ASSOCIATION THE BEST TOURISM ENTITY. Funchal will host two international World Travel Awards galas in November this year.
Chocolate Easter eggs were first made in 19th-century Europe, where chocolate-making had become popular and the tradition quickly spread worldwide, becoming a key part of Easter celebrations for many cultures. Today, the dazzling array of flavors, textures and designs to choose from can be overwhelming so here are thirteen of the best, including luxury, artisanal, hand-painted and avant-garde flavor combinations.
The World Travel Awards celebrates the best in the tourism and hospitality industries every year. This year, travel professionals and the public selected the nominations for the best new hotels in Europe that offer the ultimate destinations for travelers.