I was very concerned, very terrified. I still don't believe it's real. Singh, who had a layover in Doha while traveling home from a wedding in India, expressed her anxiety about the situation. Though she's been put up in a luxury hotel, she said it doesn't feel like a vacation because she is constantly updating family and wondering when she'll make it home to Texas.
Forget Phuket's reputation as a backpacker's paradise. There's a whole lot more to Thailand's largest island than its nightlife scene, with a clutch of white sand beaches fringing azure waters, a scattering of historic temples, a cheerful town center lined with colorful 19th-century shophouses, and markets slinging everything from street food to spices and knick-knacks for your suitcase. Whatever you seek from an island getaway, you're sure to find it here.
When Mandarin Oriental Qianmen opened its doors in late 2024, the property shone the spotlight on a different side of Beijing. Rather than a sleek, multistory modern building, guests can now immerse themselves in the historic side of the Chinese capital by staying in a hutong, or one of the ancient alleyway networks that have been a hub of local life for centuries-all with Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City (The Palace Museum), and the National Museum of China within walking distance.
As an American who's traveled to 44 countries over the last 30 years, I've seen my fair share of unforgettable places. But if I had to choose one place to visit again and again, it would be Bali, an island and province in Indonesia that combines vibrant culture, natural beauty, and a pace of life that feels both energizing and restorative. After spending a month on the island in 2023, I fell in love. Here's what made my trip to Bali so special.
The hotel is located on the historic Queenhithe Dock on the Thames, a natural inlet where Alfred the Great arrived in 886 to rebuild the city after it was abandoned by the Romans. Queen Matilda was granted the dues from the dock in the early 12th century, hence the name Queenhithe. Nowadays, the Westin London City is a perfect spot for visiting theatres and museums it has a spectacular view over Shakespeare's Globe and Tate Modern, which are just across the river.
On a recent two-week trip to Japan with my fiancé - six cities, six hotels - every stay was gorgeous and perfectly appointed. We wanted for nothing. Except, in most cases, a proper bathroom door. Instead, we spent the better part of two weeks making accidental eye contact through frosted glass and translucent panels while one of us was otherwise occupied. A design choice, apparently. A test of intimacy, definitely.