Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2017 i Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, Hong Kong & Macau

1 Holly Robertson WRITER The Kampot Express Page 40 — “The train from Phnom Penh to Kampot is a journey to another era,” Robertson says, “starting with the oldworld charm of the restored 1960s carriages and carried on by the grand yet decaying buildings in Kampot town center.” Amid the relaxed, easygoing vibe, “I love its mix of colonial architecture and top-notch restaurants, ringed by mountains, pepper farms and rice fields.” Visit Twenty Three for “a decadent cheese soufflé well worth the indulgence.” Likewise the guilt-free shopping at Dorsu: “any of their ethically made basics make a great addition to your wardrobe.” Twitter: @robertson.holly. 2 Rachna Sachasinh WRITER The Place: Jaipur Page 108 — “Jaipur is all about beauty,” the Chiang Mai–based writer says. “Even freight trucks are in gorgeous…

“Faster! Go faster!” Mr. Thanh, the watersports director, has been hollering in my ear, which really feels like the opposite of goodpassenger behavior, and when he jumps off and starts swimming to shore, his exhortations echo in my wake. “Faster! Farrrrrrther!” If he says so. It’s been a while since I last drove a Jet Ski, >> so I’m psyched to practice cutting and swerving at increasingly high speeds through these mini whitecaps on water that is clear to at least a meter. There’s the occasional fishing boat bobbing to my east; on the dunes of the mostly empty shoreline to my west are a couple of local hotels and a few beach-shack eateries; and above...? Right above me is a plane heading in the same direction, surprisingly close. It’s…

THE DISH I COULDN’T TELL IF DESMOND TAN WAS CRYING from jetlag- induced delirium, sweating from the spicy food or both. We were diving in to sea bass with mustard greens and vibrant herbs that I couldn’t name, all steamed in a banana leaf. It was complex yet comforting, hitting every note from sweet to sour to bitter. Tan, a San Francisco area–based Burmese restaurateur, and I were at Shan Yoe Yar (fb.com/ shanyoeyar; mains K2,700–K15,000) in downtown Rangoon, a stop on our tour of Burmese cuisine. The restaurant specializes in the food of the Shan ethnic group in the country’s northeast. Combining seasonal vegetables, foraged herbs and hearty meats, the dishes defy modern borders and reflect Laotian, Thai and Chinese influences. Opened in late 2013, the restaurant in an 80-year-old…

TOP 10 Cities Overall 1 San Miguel de Allende Mexico 92.12 2 Charleston South Carolina 91.5 3 Chiang Mai Thailand 91.40 4 Kyoto Japan 91.13 5 Florence 90.75 H 6 Oaxaca Mexico 90.41 7 Hoi An Vietnam 90.31 8 Cape Town 90.24 9 Ubud Indonesia 90.13 10 Luang Prabang Laos 90.10 TOP 10 Islands Overall 1 Palawan Philippines 93.15 2 Hilton Head Island South Carolina 90.83 3 Boracay Island Philippines 89.67 4 Galápagos Islands Ecuador 89.20 5 Santorini Greece 89.19 6 Maui Hawaii 89.17 H 7 Kauai Hawaii 88.72 H 8 Ischia Italy 88.53 9 Hvar and the Dalmatian Islands Croatia 87.75 10 Bali Indonesia 87.61 H T+L ONLINE WANT MORE WORLD’S BEST AWARDS? Head to tandl.me/ worldsbest for photos, extended lists and videos. From safari lodges to Caribbean beach…

TOP 10 International Airlines 1 Singapore Airlines 90.56 H 2 Emirates 90.24 H 3 Qatar Airways 87.22 4 Cathay Pacific Airways 86.11 H 5 Japan Airlines (JAL) 85.58 6 Virgin Atlantic 85.42 H 7 Air New Zealand 85.34 8 Korean Air 85.08 9 All Nippon Airways (ANA) 84.54 10 Eva Air 84.32 TOP 5 International Airports 1 Singapore Changi Airport 90.64 2 Hamad International Airport Doha, Qatar 86.05 3 Dubai International Airport 85.30 4 Incheon International Airport South Korea 84.46 5 Hong Kong International Airport 83.81 TOP 5 Car-Rental Companies 1 National Car Rental 80.23 H 2 Enterprise Rent-A-Car 79.20 H 3 Hertz 77.69 H 4 Avis Car Rental 75.90 H 5 Alamo 75.87…

One common thread among this year’s winning cruise lines: they’re either growing their fleets with new vessels or dramatically refitting older ones. As part of a multi-year expansion, Crystal Cruises debuted the Crystal Esprit, a 68-passenger yacht that sails to Croatia and the Caribbean, as well as Crystal Mozart, a 154-passenger river ship that plies the Danube. Both are marked by cream, blue and silver-gray palettes that feel smartly contemporary. One year ago, Cunard’s 2,691-guest Queen Mary 2 received a US$132 million, Art Deco–inspired revamp of its public spaces, cabins and restaurants. “The renovation is great,” one reader said. “The ship is the only way to do the transatlantic.” And in 2015, Viking Cruises debuted Viking Star, a 930-passenger vessel with a Scandinavian-inspired look—think blond woods and Eames chairs—that has…

You arrive in Florence clutching the inevitable checklist: to stand before Michelangelo’s David, to marvel at the Botticellis in the Uffizi, to scale Brunelleschi’s Duomo and take in a terra-cotta skyline that remains little changed since the Medicis rose to power. But it’s during the moments in between when you fall for the town. Maybe you discover an inventive restaurant in a crumbling palazzo. Or stumble upon the studio of an artisan applying medieval techniques to his new creations. Suddenly it hits you: there’s a renaissance happening here! In recent years, Florence has taken bold steps to temper the effects of mass tourism that leached Venice of its soul—discouraging daily tour buses, reasserting its cultural relevance by inviting contemporary artists like Jeff Koons to show work alongside the old masters.…

TOP 3 Cities 1 Quebec City 88.59 2 Vancouver 86.02 3 Victoria British Columbia 85.85 TOP 3 Islands 1 Vancouver Island British Columbia 85.95 2 Gulf Islands British Columbia 85.37 3 Cape Breton Island Nova Scotia 84.98 TOP 5 City Hotels 1 Magnolia Hotel & Spa Victoria, British Columbia 93.69 2 Loden Hotel Vancouver 92.33 3 Auberge Saint- Antoine Quebec City 92.32 4 Wedgewood Hotel & Spa Vancouver 92.07 5 Rosewood Hotel Georgia Vancouver 91.91 TOP 5 Resort Hotels 1 Fogo Island Inn Newfoundland 97.76 2 Manoir Hovey North Hatley, Quebec 96.96 3 Post Hotel & Spa Lake Louise, Alberta 95.64 4 Wickaninnish Inn Tofino, British Columbia 91.64 H 5 Nita Lake Lodge Whistler, British Columbia 91.30…

A survey developed by the editors of Travel + Leisure, in association with digital marketing firm Wylei, was made available at TLWorldsBest.com/intl from November 7, 2016, to March 6, 2017. Readers were invited to participate through Travel + Leisure magazine, T+L tablet editions, newsletters, social media and travel and leisure.com. Wylei maintained, monitored and kept the survey website secure, and also collected and tabulated the responses. To protect the integrity of the data, after the survey closed, Travel + Leisure and Wylei screened the responses to identify fraudulent votes, which were eliminated. Respondents were asked to rate airlines, airports, car-rental agencies, cities, cruise ships, destination spas, hotels, hotel brands, islands, tour operators and safari outfitters on a number of characteristics. For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent,…

I started where everyone does, in the mythic Athens, the tourist Athens. But when I reached the Acropolis, I kept walking: past the stands selling archaeological schlock, past the spectators on Segways, into the park that surrounds Philopappou Hill. I took a seat on a rock ledge overlooking olive trees, where a few smart Athenians had strung hammocks to watch the sunset. Someone was playing a bouzouki. Someone else was practicing the trumpet. Everywhere there were ruins. The yawning sun cast the whole park in a strange sepia glow. I followed ancient stone pathways to the western edge, clambered down a dirt trail, and emerged in Petralona, a neighborhood that felt like it was in an entirely different city. It had bougainvillea, jasmine, cats, funky 1960s apartment buildings. Everyone was…

Newly opened JAIMINI (fb.com/jaimini.india; prices from Rs7,500) commissions local miniaturist painters to focus on fresh subjects. Traditional court and battle scenes, flora and fauna are replaced with vintage cars, modern monuments and holy men from different faiths. Painter ROHINI SINGH (rohinisingh.co.in; studio visits by appointment; prices Rs15,000– 60,000) uses block prints on canvas and traditional wasli (layered, handmade paper), issuing a contemporary take on Jaipur’s old-world visuals. Recent works are inspired by the frescoed interiors of palaces in northeastern Rajasthan’s Shekhawati district.…

INDIA BEAT An agency that fashions bespoke itineraries based on interest and budget. The charming, knowledgeable guides rattle off local lore and crack jokes. Tap them for hardto- find and appointment-only access to the likes of famous textile designer Brigitte Singh, and private lessons with blockprinting masters in Bagru village. indiabeat.co.uk. THINGS TO DO This online portal curates cool happenings, activities and bespoke experiences, including cycling tours, jeep safaris, arts and craft lessons, golfing, festival hopping, cooking classes and private excursions to hidden spots. Peruse and book their selections directly. thingstodoinjaipur.com. SANGHMITRA VOYAGES The Welcome Ambassador, a handpainted vintage Hindustan Ambassador that cruises the sun-streaked countryside, is the city’s best-looking ride. Be chauffered in it to the Aravali Hills for a morning trek followed by serviced breakfast, private yoga in a historic…

IF YOU’VE NEVER BEEN TO PALAWAN, START MAKING PLANS TO VISIT. IT’S A corner of the Philippines that begs to be explored for its multi-hued seas, abandoned beaches and serrated-edge rock outcrops. Home to a land- and seascape that slows your internal clock, which is reason enough for our readers to choose it as their favorite island in the World’s Best Awards (page 53). After a couple of visits—you can’t go just once—what stands out in my memory is not the seclusion or the crystal clear seas but an Italian resort owner. The panorama of sheer cliffs and colorful seas sweeping across his beachfront was a view most would kill for. Despite this, he was grumpy, hilariously so. That said, what I wouldn’t give to be sitting on that beach…

COCKTAILS FLAVORED by spices from a Nyonya granny’s garden. A dance floor in a neo-Japanese subterranean bar. A lounge with Chino-Latino flare to spare. KL now has a crop of Asian-themed bars on its radar, encouraged by enthusiastic barmen inspired by the spices, produce and art that surround them. Shelley Yu’s This Peranakan bar and restaurant is a charmer, matching Straits Chinese culture with a dash of irreverence. The gin-based cocktails steal the show, peppered with fruits and herbs that wouldn’t look out of place in a Nyonya grandmother’s spice cabinet: salted pineapples, dried sour plums and jackfruit leaves. Try the Roselle Spritz, squeezed from the roselle plant typically grown in Malaysian gardens. The drinks are creative, but when it comes to cuisine, Shelley Yu’s sticks to classic Malaccan Nyonya…

IT WAS NEVER Sofia Sanchez de Betak’s intent to start a travel-inspired fashion business. On her jaunts across the globe, the Argentina-born, New York City–based creative consultant would buy handmade jewelry and clothing, only to get home and never wear them. She started having pieces altered for everyday use, and the idea for her clothing and accessories line, Chufy, was born. The inspiration for her new Argentina collection, however, came from a little closer to home. “I grew up wearing gaucho clothes in the country, so I took them for granted,” de Betak says. But when her riding garb drew compliments, something clicked. Working with craftsmen and designers in Argentina, de Betak uses refined materials—buttery leather instead of sturdy hides, linen in lieu of gabardine—and more feminine cuts for her…

CHARTREUSE RICE PADDIES and tree-covered hills ease by as I gaze out the window on the four-hour train journey from Phnom Penh to the southern riverside town of Kampot. Arriving at the tumbledown station, before bumping along a dirt track in an outsized tuk tuk, I’m prepared for the possibility that Kampot is little more than a rural backwater. But the approach belies the increasingly cosmopolitan nature of this emerging destination, with a boom of new café, bar and restaurant openings propelling this historic port forward. Set on the banks of the winding Praek Tuek Chhu River in Cambodia’s south, Kampot has long attracted foreigners, from the Malaysian and Chinese merchants plying their wares before French colonizers stamped their presence on the port town, to the Americans, Aussies and Europeans…

SUPERSAVER The PuLi Hotel and Spa, Shanghai This high-rise hotel in Jing’an district combines the convenience of urban living with the tranquility of a spa resort. This special not only gives you a free night in one of their four spacious suites, but also includes daily breakfast, laundry service and a one-way airport transfer in a limousine. The Deal Pay One Stay Two Suite Promotion: a night in a Junior suite, from RMB7,888 for two, through December 31. Save up 50%. thepuli.com. CITY BANGKOK Mandarin Oriental Rimowa and Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, two icons of luxury in the travel world, are teaming up to celebrate the hotel’s recent restoration. With this special offer, guests who book a night in a Garden room or suite will receive a 35-liter or 85-liter, respectively,…

Their flight attendants are icons of the aviation industry Singapore Airlines flight attendants are well known around the world, not only for their impeccably groomed appearance—there are five approved hairstyles, and eye shadow corresponds to the color and rank of their uniform—and the legendary sarong kebaya that “Singapore Girls” don, but also for their unwavering grace and good service. They are bringing airline food to whole new heights Chefs have spent hours in simulated pressurized cabins tweaking their recipes to ensure flavors aren’t bland when eaten on board. Fly premium economy class or above and choose from a menu of sumptuous dishes ranging from French duck confit to Japanese nigiri sushi, all which have been curated by a panel of eight world-renowned chefs. They even boast a special “Deliciously Healthy”…

TOP 5 Safari Outfitters 1 Rothschild Safaris 98.24 2 Micato Safaris 98.15 H 3 Alluring Africa 98.10 4 Extraordinary Journeys 97.69 5 Deeper Africa 97.52 TOP 10 Tour Operators 1 TCS World Travel 97.94 2 DuVine Cycling & Adventure Co. 97.52 3 Heritage Tours Private Travel 97.05 4 Gray & Co. 96.86 5 Mountain Lodges of Peru 96.72 6 Classic Journeys 96.20 7 Asia Transpacific Journeys 96.13 8 VBT Bicycling & Walking Vacations 95.93 9 Journeys Within 95.90 10 Backroads 95.72 READERS SAY... “Rothschild Safaris took the time to learn what I was looking for, added their own suggestions, and together the trip was perfect.”…

Four of the five top resort hotels in the British Isles this year are in Ireland—a strong showing propelled by passionate hoteliers determined to reinvigorate the country after the 2008 recession. The No. 1 property, Ballyfin, opened in 2011 after a nine-year renovation of a Neoclassical mansion in the Irish Midlands. Owner and Chicago businessman Fred Kreihbel filled the vast library with some 5,000 books and decorated the walls with Irish art from the 18th through the 20th centuries. Also benefiting from a renovation is Ashford Castle, in County Mayo. After acquiring the estate in 2013, the Tollman family, the owners of Red Carnation Hotels, embarked on a US$75 million update that included adding a billiards room and a swimming pool. Rounding out the list are the refurbished fly-fishing haven…

Friday Check in to the Vendue (thevendue.com; doubles from US$150), which is located on humming East Bay Street. Voted the No. 1 hotel in Charleston, this property is known for its rotating art exhibits. Go for an evening stroll in Waterfront Park, then loop down to the historic Rainbow Row houses. Up the street is McCrady’s Tavern, where chef Sean Brock’s escargotstuffed marrow bone is an umamirich dream (mccradys tavern.com; mains US$16–$32). Saturday Wake up with a Southern-style brunch at the Grocery (thegrocery charleston.com; mains US$12–$21). Then head south along King Street, which is packed with quality shops like Blue Bicycle Books (blue bicycle books.com). Follow shopping with a visit to one of the city's many historic homes. For dinner, Le Farfalle serves unconventional Italian, like sorghum pappardelle, and the silkiest ricotta ever…

TOP 10 Islands 1 Anguilla 86.87 2 Culebra Puerto Rico 86.03 3 Vieques Puerto Rico 85.06 4 Virgin Gorda British Virgin Islands 85.03 5 St. John U.S. Virgin Islands 84.38 6 Harbour Island Bahamas 84.36 7 Bermuda 84.10 8 The Exumas Bahamas 84.08 9 Turks and Caicos 83.96 10 Jost Van Dyke British Virgin Islands 83.44 TOP 25 Resort Hotels 1 Kamalame Cay Andros, Bahamas 97.49 2 Jade Mountain St. Lucia 97.03 3 Nisbet Plantation Beach Club Nevis 97.00 4 Curtain Bluff Antigua 96.45 5 Cap Maison St. Lucia 95.16 6 Anse Chastanet Resort St. Lucia 94.59 7 Rockhouse Negril, Jamaica 94.50 8 Round Hill Hotel & Villas Montego Bay, Jamaica 94.33 9 Guana Island British Virgin Islands 94.30 10 Zemi Beach House Anguilla 94.27 11 Couples Sans Souci Ocho…

“JAIPUR IS SLOW LIFE!” my taxi driver declares. All around us, cars, pedicabs, bicycles and cattle are stuck in hardcore commuter gridlock. Horns screech, elephants trumpet, and pedestrians tumble in and out of the disorderly scrum. Young boys jog in between the cars and oxcarts hawking fresh coconuts, marigold garlands, and saris. A horse cart waits patiently next to us, the turbaned driver casting a betelstained grin. My driver responds by pressing on the horn for an unnecessarily long time. Slow life? Sure, in the literal sense. But it definitely doesn’t seem relaxing. After a few days in the Rajasthani capital, however, my taxi driver’s declaration begins to make sense. In spite of the log-jammed roads and dizzy markets, folks here take their time. Like the horse-cart driver who smiles…

Studio Kassa’s (studiokassa.com; prices Rs500–19,000) Arpan Patel and Aarushi Kumar spin old-school handiwork into “art with utility”. The Chappa Chippa lighting is hand-carved wood and brass discs taking cues from wood block-print stamps. In the Cloud lighting line, tear- and waterproof natural paper are tucked and pinned with origami-like precision. Leather bags and brogues get a techy makeover with laser tessellations. And traditional silversmiths have recast industrial metal shavings into futuristic jewelry that looks like it’s molded from Saturn’s rings. + At Kannbar (kannbar.com; clutches from US$120) simple dhurries get jazzed up with metallic threads and edgy motifs that are at once tribal and post-modern. + Ecru's (ecruonline.com; US$10–$680) Nur Kaoukji partners with old city brass-, marble- and glassmasters for ethereal home accoutrements. Gem cutters etch palm fronds onto glass carafes…

THIS MONTH ON TRAVELANDLEISUREASIA.COM VIENTIANE’S ARTISTS ARE MAKING WAVES Find out how a new generation is changing the face of the Laotian capital with their bold, fearless work. DOWNLOAD US T+L TABLET EDITIONS Available on iOS, Android, Win 8 and Zinio Desktop Reader. HOW TO MEET NEW PEOPLE WHILE TRAVELING Making friends is often how we make travel memories. Here’s a look at some hightech ways to go about it. FOLLOW US TWITTER.COM/ TRAVLEISUREASIA FACEBOOK.COM/ TRAVELLEISUREASIA PINTEREST.COM/ TRAVLEISUREASIA INSTAGRAM.COM/ TRAVELANDLEISUREASIA EXPLORE THE MEKONG ON A FOUR-COUNTRY RIVER CRUISE Discover a whole new side of these lands on an intrepid voyage from Laos to China from Pandaw Cruises. KEEP UP WITH US Sign up for our newsletter for monthly highlights and offers from T+L Southeast Asia. TANDL.ASIA/NEWSLETTER CONTACT US TLEDITOR@MEDIATRANSASIA.COM +…

VIETNAM Start your Vietnam odyssey in one of two cities: the historic capital Hanoi, or Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s steamy southern hub that moves fast and furiously. Hanoi blooms with tranquil lakes and its legendary Old Quarter, a trade center for centuries. Retail addicts will love the night market, and the city is a launch point for two of Vietnam’s best highlights: the karst-studded maritime wonderland of Halong Bay, renowned for junk trips and floating villages, and the charming hill town of Sapa, where emerald rice terraces offer visual manna. Ho Chi Minh City feels more modern, but it is dotted with historic sites like Chinese temples. It’s also close to Mui Ne, a laidback coastline with towering sand dunes. In Central Vietnam, the emerging city of Da…

All hotels want their guests to get a good night’s rest. But few properties go so far as to offer a dedicated team of on-call Sleep Ambassadors—whose mission is to make your room conducive to superior shut-eye— as well as a sleep-tracking app. These are just two of the amenities offered by firsttime World’s Best winner Six Senses, whose nine resort hotels around the globe—from Vietnam to Oman to the Seychelles—have wellness in their DNA. At the spas, guests can undergo a screening to measure stress levels, heart rate and tissue oxygen uptake, among other markers; a personalized fitness and diet routine is created based on the results. Many of our readers raved about the brand’s practices. “Their wellness emphasis, plus the organic food, is over the top,” said one.…

TOP 10 Mega-Ship Ocean Cruise Lines 1 Cunard 87.70 H 2 Disney Cruise Line 87.55 H 3 Princess Cruises 86.64 H 4 Celebrity Cruises 83.67 H 5 Holland America Line 83.60 H 6 Royal Caribbean International 79.45 H 7 Carnival Cruise Line 78.85 8 Norwegian Cruise Line 78.16 9 MSC Cruises 78.00 10 Costa Cruises 75.63 TOP 10 Large-Ship Ocean Cruise Lines 1 Viking Cruises 95.99 2 Crystal Cruises 93.38 H 3 Regent Seven Seas Cruises 91.90 H 4 Cunard 87.51 H 5 Oceania Cruises 87.29 H 6 Azamara Club Cruises 86.89 7 Princess Cruises 86.19 H 8 Costa Cruises 84.3 H 9 Celebrity Cruises 81.55 H 10 Holland America Line 81.28 H 5 Midsize- Ship Ocean Cruise Lines 1 Paul Gauguin Cruises 93.62 2 Seabourn 92.79 H 3 Windstar…

Founded more than 25 years ago, TCS World Travel was the first private-jet-expedition company to offer global tours—and, according to T+L readers, it remains the standard-bearer. Travelers fly to destinations as varied as Thailand, Botswana and Easter Island in the comfort of a Boeing 757 outfitted with business-class or flat-bed seats, depending on head count (the planes seat up to 78). Overnights are in five-star hotels and lodges, with prices for two- to three-week journeys starting at US$89,000 per person, double occupancy. T+L spoke to TCS’s president, Shelley Cline, to find out why the business is thriving. Q: Beyond having an “enrichment” officer, a doctor and a chef on every trip, what else do you offer? A: Our guests are curious, and we try to surprise them. We do private…

TOP 5 Resort Hotels Northeast 1 Twin Farms Barnard, Vermont 97.54 2 Rabbit Hill Inn Lower Waterford, Vermont 96.87 3 Wequassett Resort & Golf Club Chatham, Massachusetts 96.21 4 Blantyre Lenox, Massachusetts 95.83 5 White Elephant Village Nantucket, Massachusetts 95.64 TOP 5 Resort Hotels West 1 Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch Saratoga, Wyoming 98.77 2 Triple Creek Ranch Darby, Montana 98.23 3 Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa Gateway, Colorado 96.24 4 Stephanie Inn Cannon Beach, Oregon 95.64 5 Hotel Jerome Aspen, Colorado 94.78 TOP 5 Resort Hotels South 1 Inn at Willow Grove Orange, Virginia 98.13 2 The Willcox Aiken, South Carolina 96.38 3 Blackberry Farm Walland, Tennessee 96.37 4 Old Edwards Inn & Spa Highlands, North Carolina 95.89 5 Inn & Club at Harbour Town Hilton Head,…

TOP 10 Cities 1 San Miguel de Allende Mexico 92.12 2 Oaxaca Mexico 90.41 3 Cuzco Peru 89.36 4 Mexico City 88.39 5 Antigua Guatemala 86.65 6 Guadalajara Mexico 85.80 7 Mérida Mexico 85.67 8 Bogotá Colombia 84.68 9 Mendoza Argentina 84.00 10 Buenos Aires 83.96 TOP 3 Islands 1 Galápagos Islands Ecuador 89.20 2 Easter Island Chile 84.92 3 Isla Mujeres Mexico 81.95 TOP 5 City Hotels Mexico 1 Hotel Matilda San Miguel de Allende 91.85 2 Rosewood San Miguel de Allende 90.89 3 St. Regis Mexico City 90.25 4 Las Alcobas, a Luxury Collection Hotel Mexico City 89.50 5 Casa Oaxaca 89.26 TOP 10 Resort Hotels Mexico 1 Resort at Pedregal Cabo San Lucas 96.88 2 Rosewood Mayakoba Playa del Carmen 96.26 3 Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta Riviera…

Growing up on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, I found it easy to mock visitors from abroad. “This place,” they’d whisper. “I can go swimming in the morning, skiing in the afternoon, then kayak home for dinner.” The views, the landscape, the wildlife—that was the refrain. Even in the cities, the scenery dominates. On any clear afternoon, look up from the streets of downtown Vancouver and you’ll see the snowcapped North Shore mountains glowing pink, an ostentatious show of natural beauty so commonplace that most residents barely take notice. There were times when visitors’ compliments sounded like admiration for a two-dimensional backdrop. But B.C. is a complex place, especially when it comes to its aboriginal communities. With a population of just more than 4.5 million, the province is home to around…

OLD CITY The Pink City got its rosy paint job in 1876, and the original walled core still blushes with glorious palaces, forts and temples. The old markets are full of treasure; it’s worth elbowing you way through the mayhem to get your piece of Jaipur’s magic. CIVIL LINES The posh district’s graceful treelined streets and colonial and Midcentury bungalows appeal to dignitaries and design-types. C-SCHEME Teeming with youthful energy, this burb mixes cool cafés and crafty threads with the ubiquitous sidewalk chai wallah, or tea seller. MI ROAD Endless rows of multi-generation jewelry shops, snack stalls and sari boutiques make this iconic street a one-stop shopping (and eating) hub. VAISHALI NAGAR The up-and-coming district's low rents and broad avenues lure fresh start-ups looking for space to flex their creative muscles.…

28 Kothi An airy, harmonious and drop-dead gorgeous Midcentury bungalow in the swanky Civil Lines enclave, built originally as a homestay for clients of the late Munnu Kasliwal, Jaipur’s jeweler to the jet-set. Kasliwal’s provocateur son Siddharth enlisted Lebanese interior designer Nur Kaoukji to update the pad into a slice of heaven, where the city’s artisan roots take a fresh vibe. Endless cups of ayurvedic tea and homemade vegetarian dinners in the starlit garden make you never want to leave. 28kothi.com; doubles from US$140. Mosaics Guesthouse Nestled in Amber, a tiny hamlet 15 minutes from town, featuring four minimalist rooms and bougainvillea-filled garden nooks that breathe Mughal-era grandeur. Fortunate guests may get a chance to see owner and mosaic artist Hervé Vital in action, piecing together masterpieces in his pebble-,…

The power couple behind the city’s modern craft revival likes their together-time old-school. “We start off with dosas (potato-stuffed crepes) and chai at Old India Coffee House (indiancoffeehouse.com; dinner for two Rs300); nibble on fresh gajak (sesame flour ghee and raw jaggery baked into crisp sheets) at Ishwar Ji Gajak Wale (279 Chaura Rasta; Rs300 per kilogram); chew on paan (digestive herbs and spices wrapped in betel leaf) at Special Paan Ki Dukkan (Chaura Rasta opposite Ishwarji; one paan Rs30) and drive up to Suriya Mandir to view the city lights. This was our first date, and it never gets old.” From the glitterati to the imminently wed, the city is a gem bank. Kasliwal pays homage to his famous jeweler father, Munnu, and his clan's prior eight generations of goldsmiths, with coveted…