Holiday Hype

Cotton House Hotel
There can't be many hotels that house a parlour lined with gleaming walnut cabinets where you can order a set of candy-coloured, hand-stitched shirts, but that's all part of the charm at this new Marriott Autograph property, set in an elegant mansion on the city's Gran Vía. It's a fabulously ostentatious spot, dripping with original Belle Epoque features such as the cotton-flower-shaped chandelier above a sweeping marble staircase that rises to the first-floor reception rooms, where there are 19th-century parquet floors worn glossy with age and carved wooden ceilings inset with cherubic friezes. With all this grandeur it could have ended up feeling a bit formal, but designer Lázaro Rosa-Violán has lavished his customary irreverent touches on the place: a pair of power-blue leather armchairs in the library to match a marble-toned Moroccan rug; chintzy cushions scattered along a bench; floor-to-ceiling windows to draw in sun beams from the hotel's patio de manzana. Although this traditional light-giving space has been vamped up with decking and banana palms, the smart apartments that surround it give a real sense of having landed in the bosom of the beau monde. Here, a classic Mojito is a perfect sharpener to a light lunch, before a snooze by the rooftop pool or under the high-thread-count sheets in your coolly minimalist room.

Hotel Brummell
A metal staircase that zig-zags down one wall looks thoroughly East Village New York, but the cobbled courtyard feels more Marrakech-meets-El Born. The pale-blue rooftop pool, surrounded by Norwegian sun beds, has a Scandinavian, minimalist vibe while antique wooden artefacts and plants from Sri Lanka lend the place a certain calm. At its heart is the PaloCortao restaurant, whose menu highlights the best of Spain – fresh Andalusian squid, Galician beef, Iberian ham, paella made with Catalonia’s famous Ebro Delta rice – plus Peruvian-style ceviche in the summer months. Tables out in the attractive stone courtyard are highly coveted. Guest perks include free classes at the adjacent yoga studio and a free weekly evening running club that takes you up the hill of neighbouring Montjuïc.

Favignana, Egadi Islands, Italy

In the early mornings, in the room like a ship’s cabin, I wake to the murmur of wind and a streak of brilliant sun cutting across the wall like a spear. When I throw open the shutters, silvering sea seems to flood the room. Across swathes of blue Mediterranean, ferries shuttle back and forth to the mainland. I have been coming to the Egadi archipelago, scattered off the far western end of Sicily, for years. Ferries from Trapani and Marsala make the crossing to Favignana, the largest of the three islands, in 40 minutes. On misty mornings, the isles emerge like ghosts on a porcelain sea. Favignana feels halfway to North Africa. It is not pretty, but it is bleakly beautiful, with an edge-of-the-world feel.

Istria, Croatia
A favourite cycle ride takes me past the harbour and round the curve of the shingle-shored bay to where the coast blurs into pine forests and small coves, and amid the trees, the zombie ruins of a Seventies beach club, concrete table-tennis tables slowly sinking into the undergrowth. Afterwards, I’ll return for plates of clams and glasses of Malvasia wine at La Puntulina, where tables teeter on the edge of rocks and the sea turns silver in the evening light. Rick Jordan

Clearwater Beach
This Gulf Coast beach is a magnet for tykes and tots (and their parents), thanks to its clear, shallow waters, pillow-soft sands, colossal playground, and Beach Walk Promenade, ideal for bike rides and rollerblading. When sun fatigue strikes, consider a respite inland at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and ogle the new spectacular dolphin complex, home to rescue dolphin Winter (of Dolphin Tale fame) and all her rescue pals (including four other dolphins plus sea turtles, river otters, stingrays, and nurse sharks). Stay for the nightly, festival-style sunset celebration at Pier 60, where street performers delight as the sun sets.

Bahia Honda, Florida Keys
Sitting at the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico is a 524-acre beach park with some of the finest stretches of sand in the Florida Keys. At mile marker 37 of US-1/Overseas Highway, Bahia Honda is an essential stopping point on any road trip between Miami and Key West. There are both secluded and more trafficked spots for sunbathing and excellent opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and snorkeling. On the beach, be sure to look up: the largest intact section of Henry Flagler’s elevated overseas railroad is an eye-catcher.

Waikiki Beach, Oahu
Waikiki is not only the best-known and most versatile beach in Hawaii, it is arguably the most famous city beach in the world. It can get crowded, of course, but it still manages to feel fun and laidback. Instead of neon signs and intrusive beach traders, you'll find gentle waves, luxurious oceanfront resorts, and beach boys ready to give surf lessons. Those views of the Diamond Head crater certainly don't hurt either.

Austria
Considered to be one of the best places for honeymoon, Austria reflects the best of the European culture. This is an ideal place for honeymooners who want to immerse themselves in the vibrant culture and architectural history of this European country. While witnessing beautiful towns of Austria and embracing the peaceful vibe, the place gives a chance to enjoy a romantic dinner with your partner.

Japan
This is one of the best honeymoon places in the world which is ideal for people who want a romantic and relaxing vacation. A vacation in Japan makes a surreal experience altogether which consists of exploring the main cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. Alongside that one can also enjoy a view of the traditional gardens and witness the cherry blossom trees if planning a trip during the spring and fall.

Shanghai
One of the largest, most populous, and most important cities in not just China but the world, Shanghai has something for everyone to enjoy.

Lying at the point where the Yangtze Estuary joins the East China Sea, the city’s skyline is dominated by a myriad of skyscrapers. Hidden away among them though are an astounding array of architectural styles, with Buddhist temples on display alongside Art Deco edifices.

Jaipur
Lying in the northeast of the country, ‘the Pink City’ – as it is known – is one of India’s most popular tourist destinations, and with good reason.

Although it is primarily known for the massive and majestic Amber Fort, the city boasts a whole host of beautiful palaces, temples, and monuments. Of these, Jantar Mantar and the City Palace are the undoubted highlights on show.

The capital of Rajasthan state, Jaipur is colorful and chaotic in equal measure; this is what makes it so fun to explore. With rickshaws whizzing past you and gorgeous rose-colored buildings wherever you look, Jaipur serves as a wonderful introduction to India’s many riches.

Na Pali Coast, Hawaii
Kauai has one of the world’s most gorgeous coastlines, with towering waterfalls and isolated crescent beaches. Just be prepared to put in a little effort to soak up its wonders: Na Pali can only be seen from a helicopter, catamaran, or a rather grueling hike.

Antarctica
That’s right, we put an entire continent on here. Although 99 percent of Antarctica is covered with ice, the landscape still manages to be stunningly diverse—surreal blue glaciers, active volcanoes, the rough waterways of the Drake Passage, and 360-degree views of untouched snow. And those views are made even better when an emperor penguin or humpback whale makes an appearance.

Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt
More than 3000-year-old, the 7th wonder of the ancient world, the Great Pyramid of Giza is 479 feet tall from a 754 sq feet base. It is still a mystery for the scientists who are trying to figure out how the ancient Egyptians moved, carved and erected the block which weighed about 60 tons.

The historical site is absolute of interest to more than 35 million people visiting these wonders of the world.

Bologna, Italy
Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region and the largest city in Northern Italy. Bologna is known for its tasty food, ancient architecture, medieval town and the old University of Europe. This city is also famous for inventing a meaty ragu sauce, used in two tasty regional dishes: tagliatelle and lasagna.

Tyresta National Park
The park is a recreational gem for both Swedish locals and travelers visiting in the area. There are numerous opportunities for engaging the wilderness, whether on the water or within the forests. Escaping into the pristine wilderness is often the highlight for the majority of visitors.

Rondane National Park
The diverse mountain region with varied arid landscapes and chances to see one of Norway’s last remaining herd of reindeer is often considered the highlight of the park. Mountains, waterfalls, and stunning valleys are all possible highlights. Ten peaks reach summits of at least 6,560 feet (2,000 m).

Iguacu National Park
Iguassu Falls is without question the highlight of Iguacu National Park. The national park offers a variety of exciting ways of seeing and experiencing the falls with some activities increasing the sense of adventure.

Madidi National Park
The highlight of Madidi National Park is the diversified biodiverse ecoregions with the accompanied abundance and array of flora and fauna species. For the more adventurous traveler who wants to explore the Amazon region and experience a wide range of wildlife, Madidi is a targeted destination.

Puglia, Italy
Tucked away in Italy’s heel is this beautifully rural region, famed for its delicious food, quiet beaches and peaceful countryside, just made for exploring.

Alentejo, Portugal
Wildflower meadows, pristine lakes and extraordinary bird habitats: Portugal´s Alentejo region has a lot to offer and is the ideal family holiday destination to discover charming towns like Evora, Beja and Estremoz.

Alberta, Canada
Alberta’s turquoise lakes and snow-capped mountains have always attracted crowds, but there’s a new draw as international travelers return: a spotlight on the area’s Indigenous heritage.

Fort Edmonton Park, Canada’s largest living history museum, is now home to the Indigenous Peoples Experience, a 30,000-square-foot immersive exhibit exploring First Nations and Métis culture. For a deeper dive into the region’s thriving Métis community, head to cultural interpretation center Métis Crossing, which recently debuted its new wildlife park and will open a 40-room boutique lodge accented with Métis artwork this month. Later this winter, the property will also launch Whispers from the Stars, an evening experience where Métis knowledge holders will tell stories of the constellations.

Balearic Islands, Spain
Rugged landscapes, a laidback lifestyle, and Ibiza’s infamous party scene have long drawn travelers to the sun-bleached shores of the Balearic Islands. Over the past year, though, the archipelago off the east coast of mainland Spain has refocused its ambitions toward art.

Last summer’s opening of Hauser & Wirth Menorca (pictured)—a new arts center and the gallery’s latest international outpost—was just the starting point. Located on the historic Illa del Rei in Manorca’s Mahón harbor, the site has taken over an 18th-century naval hospital and outlying buildings. With eight galleries, a restaurant, shop, garden, and an outdoor sculpture trail with works by Frank West, Louise Bourgeois, and Eduardo Chillida, it puts the sleepy Balearic island on the international art map with big-name exhibitions, educational activities, and sustainable initiatives.

Charleston, South Carolina
Music lovers will have plenty to look forward to at the Spoleto Festival USA, one of the country’s most prestigious classical music events. The opera Omar, which will have its world premiere at Spoleto, explores the life of a Muslim African scholar who was captured on the border of Senegal and Mauritania in 1807 and enslaved in Charleston. Grammy Award winner Rhiannon Giddens co-composed the score with Michael Abels, best known for his work on the films Get Out and Us. Shortly after, the city will join its three main Juneteenth festivals into a bigger and better Lowcountry Juneteenth Experience to wrap up the celebration.

Ever seen those envy-inducing Instagrams of ‘influencers’ posing in kaleidoscopic hammocks while happily pegged into the soothing shallows of an impossibly emerald sea? They were probably taken on Isla Holbox, a drowsy, barefoot island at the northern tip of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, long touted as ‘the new Tulum’. Yet Holbox is still so hard to reach that it hasn’t quite lived up to that characterisation: it still has no designer yoga studios or restaurant waiting lists, and its roads remain unpaved. The island can only be reached via passenger ferry from Chiquila, a three-hour drive from Playa del Carmen, which makes it a reliable place for going off-grid. There’s nothing to do but live the simple life of the 2,000 people who reside here year-round. In August, large pods of whale sharks gather offshore, adding yet more natural splendour to a wonderfully quiet scene.

Leave the southern shore to the package-holiday people and explore the Greek islands’ best-kept secret: Zakynthos’ splashy side. In 2018, the all-suite Olea hotel, on the east coast, filled a yawning gap in the island’s design-led, luxury offerings: all whitewashed minimalism, dangling rattan pod seats and natural, earthy tones. It almost blends into the sleepy hillside where it sits, surrounded by jagged mountains, fragrant pine forests and serene, sandy shores. Yes, it sizzles here in August, but that’s what the hotel’s extravagant, lake-like pool is for — not to mention the Ionian’s cooling waves. In fact, in these circumstances, booking one of the Olea’s swim-up suites makes sense.

Croatia, believe it or not, is still actually an option, even though its picture-perfect medieval cities and extraordinary coastline welcomed 20 million visitors in 2018. And one sometimes suspects that all 20 million turn up in August, when those straight-out-of-a-fantasy-novel fortified towns are bursting at the seams. Thank heavens, then, for Obonjan. This wellness retreat from the team behind the Hideout festival, sprawling across a private island of the same name, got off to a shaky start when it launched in 2016. But the kinks have been completely ironed out, and guests are guaranteed a tempting mix of yoga classes, chill-out music and glamping. Spare some time as well for Sibenik, a short speedboat ride away: a major historic city and a lovely labyrinth of chalk-white stone. A day’s sailing around the Kornati Islands – unpopulated idylls given over to vineyards, orchards, and little else – also supplies some much-needed mellow.

Lake Louise, Canada
Set inside Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies, Lake Louise is a year-round resort destination. On a sunny day, the impossibly blue lake reflects the surrounding snowcapped mountains.

Antelope Canyon, Arizona
Visit in the early morning before the crowds pile in and you’ll see light beams gliding in and out of the slot canyon, making it seem like the walls are on fire.

Pamukkale, Turkey
Pamukkale, which means “cotton castle,” is a stack of white travertine mineral pools in southwest Turkey. The UNESCO World Heritage Site looks over the Byzantine-Roman city of Denizli.

Paris is an incredible city, made up of thousands of small villages, neighbourhood life, independent shops, large avenues and charming little alleys. City of lovers, culture, museums, contemporary art, gastronomy, fashion,... Paris is the destination of the heart of those who are curious, who wander, who like to get lost, who like to get into a cafe, in an alley, in a shop without knowing what they will find there.

Located south of the islands of Corfu and Lefkada, Kefalonia is famous for its sandy coves. Do not miss to visit Myrtos Beach and Antisamos beach. For nature lovers we recommend Melissani Lake, ranked among the best nature wonders in Greece. This year have a holiday in one of the best European destinations, on one of the most beautiful Greek islands.

If you come at the end of August don't miss a costumed boats parade going from Muo to Dobrota, making the bay even more beautiful. If you are passionate for nature, art, history and want to know more about the rich cultural heritage and customs of this region, visit the town of Kotor, the baroque city of Perast and the islet Our lady of the rocks. To live cultural, gastronomic, historical, sporting experiences, but also romantic moments, do not hesitate any longer and stay in Kotor, one of the most beautiful destinations in the world.

Awarded by the European Commission as one of the best sustainable tourism destinations, Soca Valley is a perfect nature destination for families, sportspeople, lovers,... Soca valley is what you need if you are looking for large spaces, gorges and waterfalls, lakes and caves, rivers but also traditions, know-how, incredible gastronomy.

The Canary Islands enjoy permanent sunshine throughout the year. For some of its islands, like Lanzarote, up to 2,500 hours of sunshine a year is reached, a record in Europe. The temperature in winter is never lower than 14 degrees (57 F) and goes up to 20 degrees (68 F) on sunny days.