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Located deep in the heart of the Iwokrama Rainforest Preserve, Atta Rainforest Lodge is operated by Wilderness Explorers. It offers accommodation in eight simple, but still comfortable, rooms in a long brick building. Each is equipped with mosquito netting over the beds, and has an attached al fresco toilet and cold water shower (don’t worry, it’s so steamy outside you won’t miss the hot water -- plus showering under the stars at night is a bucket-list worthy experience). Meals are served family style and focus on local staples including fresh fish and meat -- BBQ nights are the best. Everything tastes fresh and delicious and we love how friendly the staff is. At night there is little to do (again no cell signal, limited Wi-Fi, and no TV), so our group amused ourselves drinking rum in the bar and playing charades. The guides will also take you for night walks where you can see cool bugs like the Whip Spider. The real highlight here, however, is doing the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway. Although some canopies were destroyed recently, the remaining ones form a series of suspension bridges and platforms 100 feet above the rain forest floor. Walking across the rickety (but safe) bridge is an adrenaline experience in its own right, but make sure to stop and look around, as the views are magnificent, and you’ll likely hear and see howler monkeys and other indigenous fauna. Note the walk to the platforms is intense and straight uphill -- wear proper shoes and bring water.

This pub was made famous in Jeannie Gunn’s book We of the Never Never and a 1980 film of the same name. Gunn’s husband, Aeneas, is buried in the local cemetery, and the town has completely embraced the slogan “Capital of the Never Never,” even starting a Never Never Festival in honor of the story that put Mataranka on the map. The mock-up of the homestead used in filming is next to the bar’s car park. After you’ve explored the town and swam in one of its many thermal pools, cool down with a frosty beer in one of the outback’s most famous rooms.

Mazatlán is going through a renaissance. “The Pearl of the Pacific” saw its original heyday along with Acapulco during the glamorous 50s and 60s, when Hollywood stars mixed with Mexico’s elite for sun and fun and cocktails. By the 90s, however, Mazatlán was worn around the edges and run down, a forgotten tourist relic while the Caribbean coast’s Cancún rose to world fame. Well, Mazatlán is back, baby-- back to its former glory and more. If your hotel is in the touristy souvenir-filled “Zona Dorada” (Golden Zone), be sure to spend your days in the Pueblo Viejo (Old Town) and its charming, fully renovated historic center steps away from the beach. The cultural scene here is vibrant--live theater and dance performances, tasty eateries, unique boutiques, and several interesting museums. Of course, getting out in the sea and sun will also be a priority. Surfing, sportfishing and horseback riding are all popular here, but the real don’t-miss activity is a whale or dolphin-watching expedition. Onca Explorations (www.oncaexplorations.com) offers popular daily ecotours to observe marine mammals. At the end of the day, a drink at a beachside bar is in order. As you people watch and enjoy the dramatic Pacific sunset, you can ponder whether you’re in the mood for watching a concert at the Teatro Angela Peralta or dancing the night away at one of Mazatlán’s many Zona Dorada nightclubs.

Benjamin Matthews, formerly known as “The Pizza Man” at various Darwin markets now runs an outdoor pop-up Italian restaurant called Cucina Sotto Le Stelle at the Nightcliff Foreshore. Follow the smell of wood-fired pizza mingling with tropical sea air to find in-the-know locals and travelers gathered at checkered communal tables eating squid-ink pasta and chewy pizzas topped with prawns and local veggies as well as salty muscles and other Northern Territory specialties. It’s the best thing that’s happened in this part of Darwin since the Mindil Beach Markets began. Cucina Sotto Le Stelle pops up every Wednesday and Friday at 5pm, but check the Facebook page for updates.

Weekend mornings are typically sleepy in Amsterdam. The town barely wakes up by noon, and many stores and restaurants are closed Sunday morning. Which leaves few options beyond local bakeries and venues serving touristy “English Breakfasts” to satisfy the urge for hearty morning fare. Enter G’s West, possibly the coziest spot in Amsterdam West for weekend brunch. Open Friday–Sunday, the former “bruin café” sits on a quiet street in Amsterdam’s Jordaan. Self-described as “an eclectic hot mess of love, lust, hunger & thirst,” the interior features whitewashed wood, funky furnishings, tablecloths printed with old comic strips, and a bar stocked with antique apothecary bottles and Bloody Mary fixin’s. Order from a sassy menu shaped like an old LP, featuring Foreplay, The Main Act, Happy Endings and Tipsy. Start with oysters on the half-shell or G’s Brunch Dip on Crack, washed down with a Bloody Bacon, Passion in the Morning or Morning Wood cocktail. The Main Act stars classic Eggs Benedict, Challah French Toast and other breakfast dishes, as well as a Chicken Waffle Burger featuring fried chicken sandwiched between sugar waffles. The same fare is offered on a Brunch Cruise that sails every Saturday and Sunday, with pick-up and drop-off at the Homomonument on Keizersgracht. As one of the only spots that serves weekend brunch in Amsterdam, G’s lives up to its URL: http://reallyniceplace.com/. Both the Jordaan venue are available for private parties and corporate events.

From steam trains and stargazing to mineral springs and river hikes, this itinerary captures the state’s landscapes and culture.

Go beyond the highlights with archaeologist-led tours and time with Bedouin families.

Explore Utah’s great outdoors and enjoy locally inspired mountain cuisine.

Journey the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands on a trip that helps preserve and protect the island through epic train journeys, sustainable dining, urban adventure, and the expansive outdoors.

From stargazing in dark sky parks to chasing meteor showers, these travel ideas will excite any astronomy fan.

Crowds may swarm upon it daily from sunrise onwards, but exposure hasn’t dulled the impact of the largest religious monument in the world. Commissioned by King Suryavarman II in the 12th century as the centerpiece of the mighty Khmer empire, the structure is inspired by Hindu sacred design and is estimated to have taken around 30 years to build. The biggest surprise upon visiting might be learning that the vast complex of spires, moats, frescoes, cloisters, and balustrades was constructed in such speedy fashion. You won’t be alone while witnessing it, but sunrise over the iconic temple remains one of the essential experiences in Southeast Asia. A return in the afternoon when the camera-toting hordes have dispersed is also advisable.

Explore West Virginia’s rugged highlands with scenic trails, stargazing, and time in the creative hubs of Davis and Thomas.

A luxury cruise through four countries, featuring historic sites, charming towns, and scenic river views.

On this episode of View From Afar: Live From ILTM, Hermann Elger, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide, explains how rigorous standards, anonymous inspections, and new awards are redefining luxury travel for today’s discerning guest.