Wellness tips

Spring always seems to awaken in us a welcome sense of rejuvenation and fresh starts, as well as the chance to renew our (too often ignored) relationship with nature. Wellness is important for travellers, and Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler has made it a priority to provide you with a much-needed break from everyday life with its self-care and connection programs, which range from fun and family-friendly outdoor activities to nutritious culinary adventures. Here are just some of the wellness experiences on offer currently at the Four Seasons in Whistler.

If the residents of Munich look pleased with their lot, it’s little wonder. Not only is this cosmopolitan city a fantastic place to live, it also serves as a great base for exploring the nearby mountains and lakes, as well as other cities and countries. When you've had your fill of art collections, parks and rollicking beer halls, head a little farther afield for new cultural thrills and outdoor adventures.

The hustle and bustle of Los Angeles can take its toll on Angelenos, most of whom work hard and play even harder. For a large percentage of LA residents wellness is a top priority, and they are willing to try the latest trends in healthy eating and exercising, many of which originate here. When seeking peace and tranquility, Los Angeles residents often flee to destination wellness spas and holistic retreats. The following luxurious west coast retreats are ideal for Angelenos who want to relax and decompress.

Traveling during severe weather can be nerve-wracking, as travel delays and safety risks may occur. Several steps can help you prepare for inclement weather and seek shelter at various destinations.

Miami’s been given a wild culinary glow-up over the past few decades, the titterings of which began when Gianni Versace, in all his fashionable prescience, chose to hang his hat in South Beach, with celebrities like Madonna, Sly Stallone and Lenny Kravitz following suit — indulgent palates in tow. 

It would be an understatement to say that there’s a lot more to do in Dublin than drink your weight in pints at Temple Bar — the city is rich with deep-rooted history and offers an incredible English literary scene that easily rivals any other big English-speaking city. The pint at the end of the day is really just a bonus.

Based in Tucson, Ariz., the boutique Desert Vintage has specialized in rare designer clothing since Salima Boufelfel and Roberto Cowan took it over in 2012. Many of their offerings — a century-old Fortuny evening robe or an Azzedine Alaïa suede wraparound top, for example — “can be a bit demanding to wear,” says Boufelfel. So when she landed in New York to open their Orchard Street outpost in 2022, she set out to complement their period pieces with her own designs. The collection, which is named Ténéré (“desert” in Tuareg) in a nod to both Boufelfel’s Arizona origins and Berber heritage, is meant to be worn across seasons and settings: There are airy crinkled chiffon dresses, sleeveless caftans stitched with antique African trade beads and double-pleated Italian-linen trousers. The silk lounge sets — available in a range of sandy shades, as well as a poppy red — are modeled after Desert Vintage’s best-selling 1920s loungewear ensembles, which, Boufelfel notes, “always fly out the door and look amazing on everyone.”

Step into the lobby of The Global Ambassador in Phoenix, Arizona, and you are bound to smile. It is open, airy and refined, with comfortable sofas, a Euro-style espresso lounge and a stylish lobby bar where laughter bubbles up like champagne, as cocktails (and mocktails) flow freely. An enticing glimpse of the playful Pink Dolphin poolside restaurant and Barbie-inflected outdoor pool is a wink at the fun ahead.

Last year, when Micha Pycke, 40, and Albane Paret, 39, bought an apartment in Ostend — a once run-down Belgian seaside town that, in recent years, has become a favorite of artists and designers — they knew they wanted the place to be, says Pycke, “something more than an Airbnb or holiday home.” Instead, the couple, who co-own the Ghent-based arts- and design-focused communications agency Club Paradis, envisioned what he calls “a new kind of space”: essentially, a gallery where guests could stay overnight. To that end, they’ve filled the 1,000-square-foot two-bedroom, which is on the eighth floor of a ’60s-era building overlooking the North Sea, with works by some of their favorite artists and designers, many of whom are also their clients. In the living room, a lacquered wood coffee table by the Dutch designer Linde Freya Tangelder’s studio, Destroyers/Builders, sits atop a limited-edition rug by the Swiss textile artist Christoph Hefti woven with images of foxes. In one of the bedrooms, a copper-colored, ruched-felt tapestry by Rooms Studio — a women-led company from Tbilisi, Georgia — hangs above a Duo seat by the Belgian team Muller Van Severen for Valerie Objects. And if you like something, you can probably take it with you; most of the pieces are for sale, and Pycke and Paret are also happy to connect guests directly with designers. . —

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month – and if there is anything that travelers are seeking nowadays, it’s wellness. Let’s face it – health is the new wealth – and following on the most recent travel trends of sleep tourism and quiet luxury – people in general are seeking ways to travel in order to combat stress, depression, fatigue, burnout, and trauma.

Of all the ways to explore southern Germany this summer, the most memorable is not by train, bus or hire car but by boat. Lake Constance, nearly 40 times bigger than Windermere and two hours south-west of Munich by public transport, is a wonderful water world ringed by harbour towns, and it makes an idyllic break from the Bavarian capital.

This year, Italy’s hotel world is upping the ante when it comes to its many standout luxury offerings, with a plethora of new openings and property updates giving even more choice to visitors. From Italy’s mountainous peaks to its azure waters in the dramatic south of the country, here is Part 2 of Italy’s latest hotel news from the centre to the south of the country.

There’s nothing like tanning on the beach or bar-hopping into the night in Barcelona—but between all of the sun, sand, and sangria, the city has a lot to offer culturally-minded travelers hoping to grasp a better understanding of the pulse of the city and its unique history.

Ross Clarke recently returned from Fuerteventura where he was researching for the upcoming Canary Islands guidebook (publishing November 2024). This is his ultimate guide to planning your holiday to Fuerteventura.

Reserved front of stage access with plenty of room to dance on your own with Renee Rapp or freestyle with Megan Thee Stallion? Check. All-day noshes prepared by Boston’s top chefs—think grilled swordfish belly, ginger-lime crab cakes, and Wagyu Beef Sliders? Check. An open bar featuring specialty cocktails, beer and wine? Check. Boston Calling, the city’s annual music festival, just keeps getting better – especially if you’re a Platinum ticket holder.

Whether it is the outstanding Renaissance monuments or authentic, regional cuisine, Italy’s appeal has long been far-reaching. As a country, it has never had to ‘hard sell’ itself to tourists, with the country being a perennial favourite destination for travellers. As well as having more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other country (59 in total), its rich culture, architecture, art and beloved gastronomy is a source of inspiration for tourists across the world.

Dubai’s skyline seems like a fierce competition with each new building more daring and futuristic than the one before. But Madinat Jumeirah shows sometimes the best way to win is to go in a different direction altogether. The resort draws from the past to create an ancient Arabian village with sand-hued, low-rise structures and traditional design.

A mind-boggling glimpse into layers upon layers of Earth’s planetary past, Canyonlands National Park is Utah's largest – and least visited – national park, even though part of it sits a short distance away from Arches National Park, a 40-minute drive from the town of Moab.

For more than half a century, Thailand’s state-owned tobacco monopoly mass-produced cigarettes at a sprawling industrial estate in Bangkok. A steady stream of heavy trucks brought raw tobacco into the heart of the city and hauled millions of cigarettes away.

Joining Silversands Resort Grand Anse, the architecturally impressive Silversands Beach House has made its debut and more openings are on the horizon.

Sleeper trains are making a welcome comeback and it’s easy to see why; they’re more environmentally-friendly and sustainable than air travel, as well as being a fun and, often, comfortable way of traveling.