Maybe you’re that guy who can’t take the heat—sweatily clinging to the AC all summer, just waiting for January’s powder to arrive again. Dream a little dream of Iceland with me, where the weather changes as drastically as the landscapes. I arrived in Reykjavik in early February to one of the largest snowfalls they had […]

I may be alone on this, but have you ever stood on a balcony overlooking a pool and wondered if you could jump far enough that you’d land in the water? You know, the sort of thing James Bond might do. Where: La Residence Phou Vao, Luang Prabang, Laos Why: Truthfully, you’d never make it. […]

It’s hard to see the differences between two hotels in a similar location without doing a little on-site research. I did just that this spring, and am happy to report that there’s a spot on the beach outside Hoi An suitable for all wallet sizes. High: The Nam Hai 800 USD and up (high season)  The […]

The first time I saw this pool I was moved to tiers. Okay, lame dad joke. What are you going to do, throw me in the pool? Please do (just make sure it’s this one). Where: Amankila, Bali, Indonesia Why: Trickling down the steep green hillside, everything about this resort is delicious and dramatic. Raised […]

While my lens is zoomed in on this amazing plate of fresh Mozambican crab, your imagination can zoom out and picture the rest of the scene. Cloudless skies, calm seas lapping the shore, ocean breezes ruffling my linen shirt and a toothy grin stretched wide across my face. Where: Londo Lodge, Quirimbas Archipelago, Mozambique What: […]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen my wife happier than she was at La Clé des Montagnes. It was the kind of happy that spills out in giggles and wows, the kind you try to bottle and carry with you as protection against harder times. La Clé des Montagnes is not open to the public […]

While the safari experience is what most travellers focus on, Africa has its share of great cities too. Cape Town is where our Africa planners threaten to move permanently every January. Here we break down two of our favourite places to stay on both ends of the spectrum. High: Ellerman House 1,180 USD and up […]

Where: Jack’s Camp, Makgadikgadi Pans National Park Why: Shaded under a campaign tent in the most handsome shade of pink, it’s the perfect salve after a morning spent walking with the bushmen under a blazing Kalahari sun, or a dusty sunrise quad-bike excursion into the open-air museum of the pans. Greg Sacks has constructed a little […]

Warning: Do not operate heavy machinery after eating this dish. Where: Riquewihr, France What: Potatoes with bacon and melted Munster cheese. This is one of those drop-dead simple dishes you could so easily make at home. Except for the fact that your potatoes, bacon and Munster won’t be as divine as they are in this […]

Sure the Olympics are based around sport, but the great thing about them is that they also highlight all the other amazing attributes of a city. If high diving or long jumping don’t turn out to be your cup of tea, why not get artistic at one of the Tate galleries? London is lucky enough […]

We’ve all been there. You’re on vacation and walking by a local restaurant or food stall, and are either captivated or disgusted (or both) by what you see. Your brain says try it but your digestive system screams and runs away. What to do? Do you take that chance, knowing that in 12 hours you […]

A good pool is great at holding a lot of water. A great pool is good at that, plus it can hold its own as a piece of architecture. Where: Blancaneaux Lodge, Belize Why: If you spring for a deluxe cabana at this rustic luxe lodge, they throw in a private plunge pool. But you […]

Where: Tasting Table’s Lobster Roll Rumble, New York City What: When 20 restaurants famous for their lobster rolls come together under one roof, it’s a recipe for delicious, delicious success. Want them with mayo? You got it. Just butter? That too. Can’t decide? No problem. I don’t think I’ve ever been so simulaneously overjoyed and […]

Under the watchful eye and pursed lips of the head dada (traditional Moroccan female cook), I was sweating bullets and tripping over my own hands and feet, even when doing something as basic as peeling a carrot. Really. I thought the cooking class we had scheduled at Dar Les Cigognes was going to be a […]

Ever found yourself looking for a shop and finding not one, but about fifty of the same name? Probably not, but in Hanoi this is par for the course. With a serious disregard for copyright issues in Vietnam, knock off businesses are everywhere. On our first trip to Vietnam my wife and I travelled independently, […]

The infinity pool: there’s a reason it has graced the cover of about 14 billion travel magazines. The illusion of floating in your own private sea is priceless. Where: The Nam Hai, Hoi An Why: Sometimes you need a vacation from your vacation. After whipping around the scooter-frenzied streets of Saigon or exploring the crowded […]