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Ras Abrouq Beach is located 50 miles west of Doha on the edge of the Ras Abrouq Reserve, which also known as Bir Zekreet. This remote, rocky beach is popular with windsurfers and campers who come for the picturesque half-moon bay and the striking limestone outcroppings that are shaped like gigantic mushrooms. Ras Abrouq is a few miles away from Film City—an abandoned film set—and close to a nature reserve where you can spot Oryx, gazelle, and deer. There are no facilities, no paved roads, no nearby gas stations, and no stores to buy water. If you’re making the trek out to Ras Abrouq, bring a four-wheel drive vehicle and be sure to pack plenty of water. The things that make this beach hard to access, however, are what make it worth visiting. The place is worth a trip just for the limestone formations, the silence, and the clear water.

There is no dearth of accommodation in the bustling city of Mumbai but if you are looking for a hotel that offers an experiential escape from the chaos of the metropolis, then JW Marriott Juhu is it! The hotel boasts of several spacious suites overlooking the famous Juhu Beach. Rooms are equipped with modern amenities and everything you might expect of a luxury hotel but it’s the view we love the most - just watch the sun set over the Arabian Sea as you sip on a sundowner or two in your private oasis. The hotel is also famous for something that’s characteristic of Mumbai as a city - film stars! JW Marriott is fondly called ‘The Bollywood Hotel’ by locals and it lives up to the claim. Several Bollywood stars and television starlets frequent the hotel and you will spot them walking in and out of restaurants at all times of the day. There are a variety of dining options here - Saffron offers delectable Indian fare, the Bombay Baking Company boasts of a selection of light bites and salads, while the Lotus Cafe offers expansive buffet style meals. Our favourite? Their Oriental restaurant Dashanzi - do not come back without sampling the sashimi platter or avocado tartare. Drop by Dashanzi for a meal even if you aren’t staying at the hotel - the nuanced taste of Oriental delicacies and meticulous presentation makes a meal at Dashanzi an experience to remember!

Fuwairit Beach is one of the most accessible beaches in Qatar. 60 miles north of Doha, drive off of Al-Shamal Road (the main highway) to find a place where small eroding hills roll right up to the water’s edge. The area’s sandy bays are perfect for picnics, but there are no facilities or restaurants nearby, so you will need to pack accordingly. Fuwairit is popular with westerners, and it is not uncommon to see a few bathing suits here.

It may be only 22 miles west of San Juan, but Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve feels a world away. The resort has a spectacular location on a three-mile stretch of beach on Puerto Rico’s north shore, where Clara Livingston once ran a sugar plantation—and Amelia Earhart visited before departing for her fateful world tour. In 1958, Livingston sold the property to Laurance S. Rockefeller, who turned it into the first of his legendary Rock Resorts. Known for his green streak, he designed the hotel to respect the local beauty, mandating that buildings could not be taller than the surrounding palm trees.

The Ritz-Carlton—which reopened in October 2018 after a meticulous restoration following Hurricane Maria—pays homage to that original vision. Here, every room is beachfront, with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors that disappear into ocean views, plus deep soaking tubs, outdoor showers shaded by gardens, and either spacious balconies or private plunge pools. As part of the property’s renovation, rooms were refreshed with a color palette that amplifies the natural beauty just beyond the doors. Additionally, the grounds showcase 3,000 new plant species, the spa is offering new locally inspired treatments and cuisine, Encanto Beach Club Bar & Grill features a refreshed dinner menu, and the Positivo Sandbar debuted an omakase and ceviche bar directly on the sand. There’s even an entirely reimagined signature restaurant, Coa, which serves farm-to-table fare cooked on the grill. Still standing strong on the verdant, 1,400-acre grounds are the five 18-hole championship golf courses. The biggest challenge is pulling yourself away from the luxury of the resort to tee up a shot.

There are now 35 locations of Eataly, the massive Italian food hall, around the world, with 18 of them in Italy itself. The New York City one at Fifth Avenue and 23rd Street, which opened in 2010, was the first in the United States (it’s been joined by others in Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles, as well as by a second outpost in Manhattan, near the World Trade Center site at 101 Liberty Street). For connoisseurs of all things Italian, this is a must-visit—or, more accurately, a must-shop and must-eat stop. Covering more than 50,000 square feet, Eataly NYC Flatiron includes five different restaurants (plus occasional pop-ups) offering opportunities to graze on antipasti, fish, pizza, and other dishes. A popular rooftop beer hall is open all year round (thanks to space heaters and a retractable roof). While you will want to eat your gelato on the spot, there are also a number of stores where you can buy gifts from biscotti to olive oils to take home a little bit of Italy via New York.

Ollantaytambo’s namesake archaeological site is one of the best examples of Incan architecture in the region. It’s easy to spend a half day exploring the temples and other structures there, especially if you factor in time to hike up beyond the ruins. Meanwhile, the quaint town itself remains much as it was in Incan times, with original houses, streets, and waterways. Some buildings are open to the public, offering a fascinating glimpse into a centuries-old way of life. Most Machu Picchu–bound trains leave from the station here.

Landmark Mall: Landmark is located in Al Gharaffa area to the north of Doha City. The mall opened in the year 2000 and was subsequently expanded in 2008 to its current total floor area of over half a million square foot. The mall offers a relaxed shopping experience with its naturally lit open spaces and its single non-intimidating floor lined up with a mixture of high-end, prestige brands, general consumer brands and smaller new brands. The Mall’s architecture resembles a typical Qatari castle and its shops are popular in Doha for top of the line luxury brands including Karen Millen, Salsa, Prada, Mango, and Dolce & Gabbana. At this mall, shoppers also have a vast choice of global as well as regional eateries, take their children to Circus Land, the mall’s indoor amusement park, or watch a movie in the multi-screen Cineplex. Landmark opens Saturday to Wednesday 09:00 AM - 10:00PM, Thursday to Friday 09:00 AM - 11:00PM

The Cumbemayo Stone Forest, which covers an area of 25,000 sq/mt, is the largest known megalithic building site in the Americas. There is plenty of space for you to get lost and feel as though you’re going several thousand years back in time. The site is surrounded by beautiful water channels, hills, and forest. The aqueduct is a channel finely carved into the stone, more than 1 km in length, with borders and straight angles build in to control flow speed. You’ll also find sanctuaries, caves with stone carvings, and an ancient fortress.

Situated about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Sapporo, this open-air museum—actually a replica village—is one of the best places to learn about the Ainu, northern Japan’s indigenous people. The five houses that make up the site are set right on Lake Poroto, and each highlights different aspects of Ainu culture and lifestyle. Visitors can watch performances of folk dances and songs, explore re-created typical Ainu households and try traditional activities ranging from wood carving to embroidery.

In 1923, the artist Jacques Majorelle acquired a four-acre plot of land just outside the center of Marrakech. Inspired by numerous travels around the country to paint scenes of village life, and funded by painting more illustrious portraits such as that of Pasha Thami el Glaoui, Majorelle was able to build a small studio and house, with enough land to indulge his other passion: ethnobotany. As his career grew, he added a splendid villa, and the garden took on a life of its own, featuring innumerable exotic species from around the world; he added pools and fountains, and, of course, the now iconic, eye-popping Majorelle blue that was lavished on the architecture. The property became so expensive to maintain that the artist was forced to open it to the public until his death in Paris in 1962. The garden gradually fell into a state of disrepair and was slated for development by a hotel chain until French designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé happened upon it during one of their many trips to the Red City. In 1980, they decided to buy it and restore it to its former glory, adding irrigation and doubling the number of plants and gardeners to look after it. They moved into the villa and set about transforming other buildings into what is now the legendary Berber Museum and a boutique. The latter is especially noteworthy for creative director Stephen di Renza’s commitment to reflecting Majorelle’s lesser-known passion for the decorative arts (which is manifest in the exquisite artisanal pieces, leather goods, and jewelry) and Saint Laurent’s inspired use of traditional Moroccan dress, such as the kaftan and djellaba, in haute couture fashion.

Comprised of just 10 suites with distinctly different designs, Palácio Belmonte feels more like a dream vacation home than a hotel. The vibe is spot on, given the backstory: A Frenchman traveled to Lisbon looking for a vacation home in the Portuguese capital. He first saw the building from a taxi and thought to himself, “It has nine windows, just like my home in France. I’ll buy it.” It wasn’t until after purchasing the property that he actually set foot inside and saw just how enormous it was—far too large for him and his family. Thus, he set about remodeling the building (which was originally owned by a noble family in the 1400s) with the notion of converting it into a space for visitors.

While it’s not in Mexico City proper, the sacred pre-Hispanic city of Teotihuacan is close enough–about 30 miles– for an easy day trip if you’re interested in architecture, archaeology, and indigenous history. The site’s primary structures, the Temple of Quetzalcoatl and the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, have been designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites, and it is possible to explore the pyramids–and even climb them–either independently or with a guide. After ascending nearly 250 steps on the Pyramid of the Sun, you’ll have a greater appreciation for these ancient structures and the civilization responsible for having built them. In addition to the pyramids, an on-site museum documents the history of the so-called “City of the Gods,” and displays archaeological finds, including pottery, bones, and other important objects.

Possibly one of the finest cocktail bars in North America, everything about the Hawksworth Bar experience dazzles: from the Damien Hirst artwork on the walls to the soft cream leather couches, and the exceptional hospitality and wonderful quality of the drinks. No, it’s not an inexpensive experience, but it’s one worth having if you’re a fan of excellent cocktails created with love. I adore their Hotel Georgia, a beautifully frothy kiss of gin, orgeat and orange blossom water.

This beautiful Parisian cemetery is on the Boulevard de Menilmontant and next to the Metro station Philippe August, in the 20th arrondissement. Upon entrance to the main gate, grab a map so not to get too lost. The art work on the memorials and the stories behind the names on the headstones inspire a mood of great tragedy and romance. The locals call it the la cite des morts (the city of the dead). The cemetery makes the ideal place to explore if you’ve seen a lot of Paris before and want to dig a bit deeper. Seek out the tombs of 1) Oscar Wilde (for all of those declarations and kisses left behind); 2) Georges Rodenbach, a Belgian writer and poet of the 19th century with a breathtaking tomb; 3) Victor Noir, who became more famous in death (by duel) than life. Seek the answer to the riddle of why his tomb is seen as good luck for fertility You’ll also see the gravesite of Gertrude Stein and Alice Toklas, buried side by side in a testament to their love. The list of the celebrity dead goes on and includes Gericault, Piaf, Chopin, Heloise and Abelard. Even Jim Morrison. An afternoon here is guaranteed to leave you grateful for the treasures you found but weren’t expecting.

The Sir Francis Drake Channel, sort of like an inland sea of the BVI, is named for the famed explorer. It’s fitting, as the channel invites exploring with most of the territory’s islands located along it, from Virgin Gorda to Tortola, the largest island in the BVI. Steady but gentle trade winds blow along the Sir Francis Drake Channel year-round, making it easy to navigate the archipelago, either by sight sailing or on a yacht charter—with stunning anchorages around every bend. There are also a few islands just off of the channel including Anegada, the only coral island in the BVI and a favorite of divers, and Jost Van Dyke, the smallest of the islands and, with a population of only 300, a perfect place if you truly want to escape.

The calm seas and winds aren’t only a boon for sailors, but also for anyone interested in water sports. Whether you want to don a mask at the famous Baths on Virgin Gorda, try surfing at Josiah’s Bay, or pursue any other activity on the water, you can expect ideal conditions on most days.