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A night in the exclusive Hotel de Glace
For just three months of the year between January March, Quebec is host to an extraordinary structure that rises from the wintery landscape to form the winter wonderland that is the magnificent Hotel De Glace. Photography by Xavier Dachez and Luc Rousseau
Destinations Hotels
A premier stay for business in Hungary
For the business traveller in Hungary, a trip to Budapest will leave you wanting much more of this remarkable city, as will a stay at its premier lodgings; the Intercontinental Hotel Budapest
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A quick guide to Marmis
Nestled on Turkey’s south west coast, the resort town of Marmaris offers the luxury traveller an exuberant Mediterranean getaway
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A rollercoaster ride
Its inflation is raging, the stock market has been one of the globe’s worst performers recently – India’s economy has been like a roller coaster ride of late. By Costa Ionas
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Abu Dhabi
Its sister city of Dubai may draw all the yearning glances, but Abu Dhabi is where the real work gets done. More than half the wealth of the UAE is generated in this pleasant city that has an elegance born …
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Albuquerque
Albuquerque is a charming and understated city where traditional south-western USA meets an underground alternative culture that’s full of rewards and surprises for those willing to scratch beyond the surface. There are strong Hispanic and Native American influences here, too, …
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Amarillo
If you’ve always dreamed of playing cowboy for a day, then Amarillo is the city for you. A popular stop on the US major 1-40 route, this Texas gem retains a strong Old West flavour that’ll have you strutting down …
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Amsterdam
Famed for its coffee houses and red light district, Amsterdam’s not-so-well-kept secret is also one of the most picturesque capitals in Europe. Laced with peaceful canals lined with leafy greenery and elegant terraces, there’s a great deal of joy to …
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Antigua
Antigua’s impossibly blue seas and sandy white beaches are so postcard-perfect that you’re torn between the urge to dive into the still, inviting ocean or simply stand and stare, absorbing sunshine that seems to soak you to your core. Neighbouring …
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Aruba
Nestled in warm Caribbean waters off the north coast of Venezuela, Aruba can sometimes feel like a smaller state of the USA. It remains, however, a Dutch protectorate with its own distinctive local flavour beyond the package resorts. With a …
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Atlanta
The self-styled capital of the New South, Atlanta is a modern economic powerhouse, home to the global headquarters of Coca Cola, AT&T and CNN among others. The glittering evening skyline is as breathtaking as anything New York has to offer …
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Austin
One of the greenest in America, Austin also tops polls for the least stressful and most friendly city in the country. Southern hospitality meets a lively student culture, while Town Lake in particular is regularly host to top class performers …
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Austria
Landlocked Austria is a mountainous country, with 65 percent of its terrain above 500m altitude. It’s charms were most famously captured by the Sound of Music; but while that rustic idyll still lingers in some of the high alpine valleys …
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Bahamas
Stretching from Cuba towards the Florida coastline, the Bahamas consists of over 700 islands which present a plethora of opportunities to sail, dive, kayak, swim, cave, ride horses or simply lounge on beaches, plus any other water or sand-based activity …
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Bahrain
The freshwater springs that extend beneath the Persian Gulf have attracted settlers to Bahrain for four thousand years – not just for the drinking water, but for the pearls that they encouraged. Today the economy is based not so much …
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Baltimore
It was Francis Scott Key who, upon witnessing the failed bombardment of Baltimore by the British in 1812, composed the poem The Star-Spangled Banner that was later to provide the lyrics for the American national anthem. Baltimore has never forgotten …
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Bangkok
An electric train slides slowly through a dusty yard, inches from apparently deserted market stalls. Within seconds of its passing retractable canopies are being pulled back over the line and the place is alive with patrons as if nothing had …
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Barbados
Like most Caribbean islands, Barbados excels at white beaches, blue oceans and tropical palms. There are countless water sports on offer – the Atlantic-facing east coast is legendary among surfers – and some excellent hiking trails away from the main …
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Barcelona
As the sun sets over an azure Mediterranean sea, a Spanish guitar samples the flawless acoustics under a balcony in Gaudi’s gorgeous Park Guell. Downtown, the party is just getting started; Barcelona comes alive at night, when the ultra-hip populace …
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Bath
The first view of Bath from the top of the emerald valley in which it sits is one that lives long in the memory; perfectly preserved, it looks almost like a museum model of a sixteenth century settlement. There’s been …
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Baton Rouge
There’s a friendly student atmosphere to this sleepy Sun Belt city filled with laid back Cajun joie de vivre. Far removed from the charged frenzy of New York or the ostentation of Los Angeles, the subtropical warmth has bred a …
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Beijing
Few cities have served as the cultural and political centre of an area as large as China for so long; and while the likes of Rome and Constantinople have faded in their influence, Beijing is perhaps more important than ever. …
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Belfast
At the turn of the twentieth century, Belfast was a booming industrial port and the biggest city in Ireland. The Titanic was built here, at the Harland and Wolff shipyards, one of the biggest contemporary shipbuilders in the world.Then came …
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Belgium
Belgium has been called the ‘battleground of Europe’, as successive English, Dutch, French and German armies have all fought each other within its borders; the cemeteries of Ypres, were 300,000 died during WWI, are perhaps the most poignant reminders of …
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Belize
A small country with a hot, Caribbean climate, Belize is one of the greatest biodiversity hotspots on the planet. With its western borders consumed by the central American jungle and its eastern shore lined by the second longest coral reef …
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Bergen
The winding terraces of white and ochre can be be viewed from well outside the harbour, like scatterings of autumn leaves amid a green and golden forest, draped across seven hills and seven fjords. Welcome to Bergen; Norway’s most beautiful …
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Berlin
Once a city that symbolised division, Berlin has spent the two decades since the fall of the famous Wall making up for lost time; it has become one of the most diverse, tolerant and downright animated cities in Europe. Only …
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Bermuda
Notorious for the famous Bermuda Triangle, where countless ships have disappeared over the centuries, Bermuda was once known as ‘Devil’s Island’ by the sailors who knew its treacherous waters. Yet it is blessed with a gorgeous Caribbean climate, long strips …
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Bilbao
The Basque are reckoned by some anthropologists to be the oldest culture in Europe; long before the Romans came they roamed the hills to the south and east of Bilbao. The city itself wasn’t founded until the 14th century, but …
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Bolivia
Draped partially over a high Andean plateau and partially over the southern Amazonian rainforests, Bolivia is a bustling country full of contrast and energy. Travelling there is not easy – the elevated terrain and the poor quality roads make driving …
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Boston
Historically one of America’s most revolutionary cities, the unofficial capital of New England remains a forward-thinking and liberal leader in contentious political issues. There are hordes of higher education facilities lurking amid twisting streets, creating a highly educated and discerning …
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Botswana
Botswana is one of the most developed and successful nations in Sub-Saharan Africa, and one of striking contrasts; deserts, deltas, salt plains and hundreds of kilometres of rolling safari make it a paradise for budding explorers. It is also one …
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Brazil
Think of Brazil and think of the hedonistic festivals, samba bands marching in the street and the world’s best footballers playing keep-up on the beach. Brazil is carnival country, full of exotic flair. Certainly, it lives up to its reputation …
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Brisbane
With a welcoming subtropical climate and a long strip of stunning, sandy and surprisingly clean beaches a stone’s throw from the city centre, its not hard to see why a thousand Australians a year are migrating to Brisbane. Yet as …
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British Virgin Islands
When Columbus sighted them in 1493, he named them ‘Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgins’ after the legendary sea goddess. They quickly became a sailor’s paradise; steady trade winds guided seamen to their sheltered channels, where they could relax on …
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Brussels
The Walloon-Flemish cultural fault-line that runs through Belgium is nowhere more evident than in Brussels, where even the central university was split into French and Dutch speaking halves when the Walloon community gained legislative power. It’s ironic that a city …
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Bucharest
There’s something decidedly melancholy about Bucharest’s turbulent history. Once lauded for the leafy boulevards and extravagant classicism that made it a dreamy, romantic city, scandalous reconstruction projects under post-war communist rule saw the large scale destruction of much of its …
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Budapest
How do you like your capitals? Well done, with a strong hint of the medieval, winding cobbled streets and Gothic domes, smothered in classical character? Or medium-rare and full of life, with modern boulevards and busy plazas, hip boutiques and …
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Buenos Aires
The most European of South America’s cities, the ‘Southern City of Light’ has taken a bit of a beating in recent years. When the economy of Argentina collapsed in the late 90s, the government was forced to remove the peso …
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Bulgaria
Bulgaria is a country caught in transition, slowly switching its gaze from west to east; hidden behind the Iron Curtain until the late 1980s, it is now one of the newest members of the EU. It is rapidly becoming one …
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Cairns
Founded in 1876, Cairns was originally established in order to export the gold that had been discovered west of the bay. The swamps and mangroves were cleared and filled with dried mud and sawdust and subsequent agriculture on the reclaimed …
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Cairo
The area around the head of the Nile Delta has been populated for millennia; this is perhaps the most fertile land in Africa and the cradle for the great civilisation of the ancient Egyptians. Modern day Cairo, however, is a …
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Cambodia
Cambodia is a country of misty mountains, ancient pagodas, tropical sanctuaries and long-abandoned cave temples. It has also seen one of the bloodiest genocides of the twentieth century. After emerging from 30 years of turmoil in the late 1980s Cambodia …
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Canada
A country of superlatives, the main problem with Canada is knowing where to start. Do you go with the vast national parks, crammed full of ice-capped peaks, majestic glaciers, crystal lakes and a host of unique and exciting wildlife? Or …
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Canberra
Good-looking, refined and spectacular in spring, Canberra was little more than an aboriginal meeting point at the turn of the century. It wasn’t the obvious choice for Australia’s federal capital; rather, it was born out of compromise between Melbourne and …
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Cape Town
Few cities can boast such stunning surrounds as Cape Town, or such an iconic natural monument as Table Mountain at their heart. More than just a pleasing wallpaper for the horizon, the spectacular scenery is something of an adventure playground …
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Caracas
As a gateway to Venezuela, Caracas is often overlooked in a country so full of other natural riches. Yet while time may stand still in some of the country’s other beauty spots, you rarely have a chance to catch your …
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Cardiff
There’s a Welsh saying, “if you would get ahead, be a bridge”. As a gateway to industrial Wales, Cardiff has certainly done that. It was John Crichton-Stuart, the 2nd Marquess of Bute, who constructed the docks here during the 1830s, …
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Cheap travel to the Canary Islands
If you’ve overlooked the Canary Islands as a land of package holiday blues, it may be time to take a second look at the enigmatic and varied landscape while prices are low, says Andrew Blackall
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Chiang Mai
Bangkok may be the economic heartbeat of the nation, but Chiang Mai is the culture centre of a more authentic Thailand. Older than the capital and littered with ancient pagodas and golden temples, this is also the place to shop …
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Chicago
Approach Chicago by water and the reflected cityscape of towering skyscrapers might leave you speechless; particularly at night when the glittering luminescence makes it appear as the Milky Way fallen to earth. Once famed for the legend of Al Capone …
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Chile
Nestled between the Andes and the Pacific, with over 6,000km of coastline riddled with fjords, inlets and islands, Chile is blessed with an unusual geography that encompasses desert, forest, vast glacier and rolling grassland. It is also a South American …
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China
21st century friction between China and the USA is evidence of just how powerful the Chinese have become. The economy is the second largest in the world and the country has ever increasing influence over world affairs. They also see …
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Cleveland
The Cuyahoga River that flows through Cleveland once had an unfortunate reputation of a river of fire, being so polluted that it actually burned. Yet modern Cleveland has cleaned up its act in more ways than one; drawing on both …
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Colombia
Shrouded in darkness for many years, the veils around Colombia are beginning to lift – and what a beauty she is. Bathed in equatorial sunshine, her interior is covered in rich Amazonian rainforest and dramatic Andean mountains, her Caribbean beaches …
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Colombo
Neighbourhood kids play street cricket with a few twigs and rounded stone, stopping only to gape at the classic Mercedes that rolls silently past or to ask if you want to join them. Welcome to Colombo, a dash of spice …
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Cook Islands
These fifteen loosely clustered islands are spread over an area three times the size of France, despite having a total land mass that would be comfortably swallowed ten times by Paris. Remote doesn’t even begin to describe them; yet thousands …
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Copenhagen
There’s been a silent revolution in Copenhagen over the last few decades. Long seen as a peaceful, pleasant city, since the 1990s it has increasingly begun to express itself as one of Europe’s leading cultural centres. Until recently its citizens …
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Croatia
Croatia’s warm Mediterranean climate and 18,000km coastline has made it one of the top twenty tourist destinations in the world. Inland, it maintains something of a schizophrenic identity – Roman, Ottoman, Venetian and Soviet influences beneath a newly cosmopolitan feel …
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Cyprus
Cyprus’ excellent infrastructure, hot Mediterranean climate and idyllic scenery make it a popular location for international business. Sun, sea and nightlife attract visitors from all over Europe, but venture further afield and you find the impressive ruins of Salamis, the …
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Czech Republic
Formerly the western half of Czechoslovakia, which was dissolved in 1993, the Czech Republic is still a young country. Since gaining sovereignty, it has become possibly the most successful post-communist nation in Europe, with a highly developed economy and good …
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Dakar
Come live the high life among the trendsetters south of the Sahara, where the fashionistas flock to Senegalese ‘Paris of the South’. Forget the azure seas and strips of gorgeous white beaches that surround the sunny Cape Vert Peninsula; Dakar …
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Dallas
The futuristic towers of Dallas’ central district make for an impressive skyline, in this highly image conscious city made for conspicuous consumption. There are all the upmarket hang outs and fine dining opportunities you might expect from a multi-millionaire’s playground, …
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Delhi
From the moment you step off the plane to the moment you lay down to sleep, Delhi is right in your face; it’s like a four-dimensional Jackson Pollock that’ll make you rue the day you were born with just a …
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Denver
Founded as a coal mining camp in 1859, the city boomed under the weight of inrushing cowboys and gunslingers. Little gold was found, but the prospectors stayed anyway and so the city grew. There’s still a flavour of the Wild …
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Dubai
Dubai puts the glamour into petroleum; with wealth founded on the discovery of rich oil fields in the mid 60s, it’s been busy glitzing its way into the international consciousness as a city unlike any other. It’s ostentation at its …
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Dubrovnik
With a long and glorious history built largely on the fortunes of its port, Dubrovnik once rivalled Venice as the premier maritime city on the Medieval Adriatic. An earthquake in 1667 levelled much of it but there are still a …
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Ecuador
According to Conservation International, Ecuador is officially ‘megadiverse’; there are 1,600 bird species, 16,000 types of plant, 106 genera of reptiles and 6,000 varieties of butterfly, for a start. Nowhere can more be seen than the famous Galapagos Islands, off …
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Edinburgh
With an ominous yet otherworldly presence, Edinburgh castle stands sentinel on its volcanic crag, peering over the twin medieval and Georgian influences of the Old and New Towns below. To find this city in the midst of the harsh and …
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Emden’s maritime heritage revived
Boasting a maritime history revered since the Middle Ages, the city of Emden continues to innovate in the fields of culture, tourism and green energy
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Ethiopia
One of Africa’s most dramatic landscapes, Ethiopia packs in spectacular waterfalls nestled amid lush green forests, Martian deserts strewn with jagged boulders, hot volcanic springs and some of the highest mountains on the continent. It’s sprinkled liberally with a healthy …
Destinations Hotels
European airport hotels for easy international business
We all know that a hectic schedule can be stressful, but with Radisson Blu’s international portfolio of stylish airport accommodation, you can be sure that the business of travel is well and truly taken care of
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Fez
This is the oldest of the imperial cities in Morocco and was at the centre of Arab influence during the Renaissance era, while many Moroccans still see it as the true cultural heart of their country. It doesn’t bare its …
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Finland
Summer in Finland is a golden season full of optimism, when the towns are alive with good cheer and festivals and the gentle warmth of the sun makes the national parks and tranquil lakes most accessible. Yet much of Finland …
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Florence
For the sheer romance of the Renaissance, it is hard to look beyond this sumptuously stylish city; if this were a beauty pageant, meet the new Miss World. Florence’ wealth was built on the fortune and stewardship of the Medici …
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France
The Eiffel Tower may be the most iconic symbol of a country famed for its fine dining and sophisticated culture, but while Paris may be world-renowned there is far more to France than that. There are over twenty world heritage …
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Geneva
Nestled between the Alps and Jura where the great Lake Geneva flows into the Rhone, the second largest city in Switzerland occupies an idyllic spot within view of Europe’s highest mountains. It’s been called the world’s most compact metropolis, yet …
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Germany
Germany is an economic powerhouse, a model of forward planning and efficiency, not to mention the fifth largest economy in the world. Everything runs like clockwork and the lasting sentiment of many visitors is ‘why can’t we do things like …
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Ghana
Ghana’s economic wealth lies in its rich gold deposits and cocoa farms, but for the traveller its real value is in its people. Once an integral part of the slave trade it is today home to six main tribal groups, …
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Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a tiny colony with a population of around 30,000 which has been under British administration since the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, following the War of Spanish Succession. The town takes its name from the famous Rock of Gibraltar, …
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Glasgow
The story of Glasgow is familiar, at least; an industrial-era metropolis that fell upon hard times after the war and has reinvented itself during the later twentieth century with a series of urban regeneration projects. But that would do the …
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Greece
Warm, hospitable and friendly, Greeks love to roll out the welcome mat and wear their hearts on their sleeves. Trying to get anything done, however, can be a singularly frustrating experience. Passions often run high, particularly after the economic collapse …
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Hanoi
Few cities in Asia combine such a heady concoction of influences old and new as Hanoi, an enigmatic and strangely romantic city that charms you with its cultivated chaos and unexpected moments of clarity. Stilted pagodas and 11th century totems …
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Havana
Havana was once described as a cemetery of cinemas; not to mention bookshops, theatres, markets and much more. At the forefront of Latin Culture, the cultural scene was once a rival for New York and Paris, yet the advent of …
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Helsinki
The near-Arctic wilderness of Finland is not the first place you’d look for a high-tech capital of industrial design, but Helsinki is just that. Perhaps its something in the clean, Baltic air; more likely its the tap water, which is …
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Ho Chi Minh City
After ceding to communist rule by the Vietnamese People’s Army in 1975, the city of Saigon was renamed to honour the late leader Ho Chi Minh. Yet it remains Saigon in the popular imagination, and few but officials will call …
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Hong Kong
Hong Kong became a colony of the British Empire after the first Opium War of the 19th century, before being return to the Chinese in 1997. Today it is a special autonomous region of the Republic of China and one …
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Hungary
Nestled in the packed heartland of Europe, Hungary is often overlooked by nations further west, yet this former world power still has a lot going for it. Split by the glorious Danube, it’s varied and forgiving terrain provides ample opportunities …
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Iceland
Iceland is often referred to as the island of ice and fire. One of the most volcanically active places on earth it is also one of the most unique landscapes. From the giant geysers at Geysir and Gullfoss to the …
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Ich bin ein Berliner
Kennedy wasn’t the only the foreigner to make his mark on the German capital with this phrase – a generation of architects also cut their teeth here to make the city proud. Today, Berlin’s prominence in the field of innovative buildings knows no boundaries. By Emma Holmqvist
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India
India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, full of optimism and ripe with new business opportunities. Yet stroll a few minutes from the high towers of Mumbai or Kolkata and it’s like a different planet. Every …
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Indonesia
This vast archipelago sprawls across 5,000km of the equator, with 17,500 islands and 300 distinct ethnic groups descended from Chinese, European, Indian, Malay and indigenous stock. There are 742 known languages, yet the common Bahasa tongue and shared education have …
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Israel
Israel is a long-contested land that was born of political compromise after the end of World War II, but its roots go back as far as the biblical state of Zion. Jerusalem at its heart attracts millions in pilgrimage every …
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Istanbul
Few cities have collected as many names as Istanbul; Byzantium, New Rome and Constantinople to name but three. This was the capital of successive Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires and has had major influence both in the worlds of Islam …
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Italy
From the ancient Roman Empire to the heights of the Renaissance, Italy has been a hub of culture and knowledge. Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Marco Polo, Francis of Assisi – Italian alumni read like a who’s who of history. It …
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Japan
With an economy worth $4.4trn, Japan is the third richest nation in the world. Filled with high-tech bullet trains, peaceful rock gardens, dazzling neon signs and ancient pagodas, it is a colourful clash of old and new, west and east, …
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Jordan
A stone’s throw from the holy city of Jerusalem, Jordan is a land steeped in history, religious or otherwise. Periods of Greek and Roman conquest preceded the Byzantine period and Crusades; castles and carvings from all eras litter this wondrous …
Conferencing Focus
Just the ticket
If you ever wondered how your business meeting could become more adventurous, look no further than disneyland paris’ comprehensive (and rather fun) set of conference solutions
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Kathmandu
Nestled amongst the might of the Himalayas on an improbably green plateau, the “Land of Gods” is a bizarrely bewitching city that surprises as much as it seduces. Many arriving in Nepal for its vast natural wonders overlook the equally …
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Kenya
Kenya has an embarrassment of natural riches; beautiful coastland, dramatic mountain ranges, epic rolling plains, rich and vibrant rainforest, arid desert and teeming coral reef – Kenya has it all. It is perhaps most famous for its spectacular safari, yet …
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Latin liaisons
The cities of Brazil offer a wealth of sophisticated conference facilities alongside vibrant traditions, we find out why Brazil has been named Best Destination for MICE and Best Destination for Cultural Tourism in South America
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Lima
As a nation, Peru suffers from a veritable embarrassment of riches when it comes to natural beauty and pre-Columbian heritage. So for a long time Lima has simply left the rest of the country to it and gotten on with …
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London
“If you’re tired of London, then you’re tired of life”. That was the verdict of Samuel Johnson. And its true; this most cosmopolitan of cities continues to attract immigrants from around the world who often find it very hard to …
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Los Angeles
With Hollywood studios arguably as important as the Whitehouse in everyday American lives, it was perhaps inevitable that L.A. should become the preserve of dreamers and immigrants, thousands who flock to the city each year for their own little bit …
Destinations Hotels
Luxury apartments in Vienna
Enjoy all the comforts of luxury hotel services with space for living the way you want to at Boarding House OrchideenPark’s beautiful apartments in Vienna
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Mackinaw City
The name Mackinaw City is a bit of a misnomer; with a population of just 859 in the 2000 census, it is little more than a village. Positioned at the southern end of the Mackinac Bridge – one of the …
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Malta
With a hot Mediterranean climate and glimmering coastline, Malta is an ideal resort even without its 6,000 years worth of neolithic ruins, ancient temples and medieval churches. Branded as the ‘island of sun and history’, the Republic of Malta is …
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Marrakech
The majestic Atlas Mountains are a fitting backdrop for this impressive Imperial city, whose ancient walls of mud and straw rise like molten gold from the surrounding red plains. Swaying palms line sweeping plazas pulsing with merchants and street performers, …
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Mexico
Following the inception of agriculture around 7,000 BC, Mexico was home to an array of successful civilisations, including the Olmec, Aztec, Zapotec and the Maya. The great temple at Chitchen Itza, the most impressive legacy of the latter people, is …
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Miami
Miami loves to flirt; but be careful with her, because this isn’t your regular date. Behind the gorgeous good looks flaunted shamelessly to the world there’s a catalogue of eccentrics that make this far more than just another seaside resort.There’s …
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Minneapolis
The sight of half ton trucks and bands of ice fisherman parked in the middle of Lake Harriet at 6am on a winter’s morning can seem bizarre at first, but it’s quintessential Minneapolis in its demonstration of simpler pleasures; most …
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Monaco
Travelling through Monaco can sometimes feel like entering a crazy, high class circus, as 30,000 individuals, predominantly wealthy foreigners, are packed into 1.95km2 of the second smallest country in the world. A constitutional monarchy since 1911, it’s foreign policy and …
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Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo is popularly believed to be capital of Monaco but is in fact little more than another administrative division. That said, the signature casino is perhaps Monaco’s most famous building, and it is also the site of Monaco Cathedral, …
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Morocco
An Islamic nation with centuries of history, Morocco is a unique blend of Africa and Europe. Historical influences dating back to the Romans are still visible in the architecture. The cities of Fez and Marrakech are colourfully chaotic, dizzying and …
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Morocco’s business reforms
With the Arab Spring having inaugurated a new era of democratic reform in Morocco, how will the country’s new representatives tackle tricky economic issues, and do they really have the solutions? Suleiman Al-Khalidi reports
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Moscow
The Giant Bear of Russia has long been shrouded in mystery, but the city of Moscow feels somehow far more familiar. The imposing behemoth of the Kremlin and the view from Red Square in particular have become iconographic images of …
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Nairobi
With so much else on offer – from the world famous safari to the dramatic mountains and gorgeous coast – Kenya’s vibrant capital often gets overlooked. The country’s natural riches are so openly flirtatious that few take the time under …
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Nashville
What Memphis is to Rock ‘n’ Roll, Nashville is to Country – and like it or loathe it, the most popular music genre in the US is big business round here. The neon lights of Lower Broadway say it all; …
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Nepal
Nepal, home to eight of the world’s ten highest mountains, is a hiker’s paradise that attracts mountaineers and thrill-seekers from all over the globe. The Kathmandu valley is home to some of the most striking sculpture and architecture you are …
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Netherlands
One of the world’s earliest parliamentary democracies and once the hub of a great trade empire, the Netherlands today remains one of the most liberal countries on the planet. One fifth lies beneath sea level, reclaimed by the famous dykes, …
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New York
New York is about far more than bricks and mortar, or even the people who inhabit it. It’s importance to the nation runs deeper even than its status as the world’s second biggest financial centre. The streets aren’t quite paved …
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Newcastle Upon Tyne
Newcastle has often felt on the English margin; tucked away on the north-east coast, closer to Scotland than most other English cities yet with a dialect that remains the closest thing to Anglo-Saxon in the country. Subsequent wool, coal and …
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Norway
At the end of the last ice age, as polar caps retreated, the Sami were so enamoured with the ice that they followed it all the way north and still dwell there today, in the Sápmi region of Scandinavia. The …
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Orlando
It was 1965 when Walt Disney announced his plans for the Magic Kingdom, and he chose Orlando over candidates such as Miami because its inland location was protected from hurricanes. The decision has proved the most pivotal in Orlando’s history; …
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Ottawa
Canada may have had some bad press over the environmental implications of exploiting its vast natural resources, but its capital Ottawa remains one of the cleanest, greenest cities in the world. At the confluence of three great rivers and with …
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Pakistan
At the heart of southern Asia, bordered by China, India, Afghanistan and Iran, Pakistan is a hidden gem full of wonders rarely seen by many westerners. In large part this is due to years of turmoil; an uneasy relationship with …
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Paphos
It is Ovid’s Metamorphoses that first recount the story of Pygmalion, the legendary Cypriot sculptor who carved a female statue out of pure ivory before falling in love with it, believing it fairer than any woman on the island. He …
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Paris
Budapest has been called the “Paris of the East”; Buenos Aires the “Paris of the South”. The city has long set the standard as the centre for high culture; it’s a capital of cuisine, the home of fine art and …
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Pensacola
Pensacola has a claim to be America’s oldest European settlement – however, the initial site colonised by the Spanish in 1559 was decimated by a hurricane weeks later and shortly thereafter abandoned. It was another 135 years before the French …
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Perth
Perth is one of the most isolated metropolitan areas on the planet – geographically, it’s closer to Singapore than Sydney and the nearest big city is over 2,000km away. It’s the capital of Western Australia and despite the state covering …
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Peru
Peru has a fascinating historical legacy; home to some of the oldest known civilisations since 6000BC, it was conquered by the Incas in the 15th century before the Spanish took control in the 16th. Few places on earth is this …
Destinations
Philadelphia
The Independence National Historical Park, quietly ensconced within Philadelphia’s sprawling borders, is widely regarded as the most historically significant square mile in the US; this is, after all, where the country itself was conceived. Indeed, this has been an almost …
Destinations
Philippines
A former colony of both Spain and the US, the Philippines today is an eclectic mix of east and west. It is the second largest archipelago in the world, with over 7,000 islands and a richly diversified marine fauna, making …
Destinations
Phnom Penh
The creases that line Phnom Penh’s crumbling facade belie a hidden beauty that once made the city the “Pearl of Asia”, one of the most captivating in the East. War and revolution damaged much of its former grace, as it …
Destinations
Phoenix
For more than a millennium, the ancient Hohokam tribe tended the desert in which Phoenix now sits, irrigating it with a series of canals bringing water from the rivers running from the White Tank Mountains. Then, in the centuries preceding …
Destinations
Pittsburgh
Colloquially known as “The Steel City” due to the former prominence of the industry, Pittsburgh has successfully reinvented itself as a diverse centre for sectors such as healthcare, technology and financial services. There’s a fresh and refined feel that belies …
Destinations
Port Elizabeth
In the early 19th century, the land around Port Elizabeth was settled by 4,000 British settlers looking for new opportunities in the South African hinterland. Encouraged by the South African government, the settlement grew into a diverse mix of ethnicities …
Destinations
Portugal
Sun-kissed beaches, golden medieval castles and quaint seaside villages surrounded by olive groves; Portugal cultivates a rustic, hedonistic image. The vast forests and glistening rivers of the interior and the winding cobbled streets of Lisbon and Porto do little to …
Destinations
Potosi
The city of El Dorado eluded generations of Spanish treasure hunters but in Potosi, founded in 1545, they found their very own Silver City. The peak that dominates the horizon is known as the Cerro Rico, or ‘rich mountain’, once …
Destinations
Prague
There’s more than a millennium of architectural heritage crammed into this breathtaking city, and its so beautifully preserved that you sometimes feel like you’re walking through a larger-than-life museum exhibit. The capital of the Czech Republic for more than 1,100 …
Destinations
Puerto Rico
Rolling mountains covered in lush, green rainforest, gushing waterfalls and secret rock pools that spill over hundreds of hiking trails that wind across the interior; Puerto Rico is a tropical paradise for the outdoor lover, even before you get to …
Destinations
Quebec
The winding cobbled streets lined with ancient looking patios, where stylish Quebecois sip coffee and play chess with their compatriots, have a distinctly rustic feel by day; by night, the soft amber glow of the gorgeous city lights feel like …
Destinations
Reykjavik
On an isolated rock constantly contorting between ice and fire, Reykjavik appears to thrive against the odds with weird and wonderful citizens that have one foot in the ancient Viking sagas and the other in the cities trendy clubs and …
Destinations
Riga
There’s a compelling eclecticism about the city of Riga, a city on the verge of a glorious new age of prosperity since the end of the 90s. See Gothic spires next to funky, postmodern street cafes, and fill your boots …
Destinations
Riyadh
Take one sandy, barren wasteland, and pump full of oil. Leave to simmer for fifty years et voila; one pulsing, modern metropolis of dizzying skyscrapers and thriving city streets. That’s the recipe for Riyadh, a heaving conurbation of nearly five …
Destinations
Romania
Perhaps more than anywhere in the world, Romania is a country defined by its rurality. With the world population rapidly urbanising, between 1997 and 2006 Romania actually saw a net migration from towns to the countryside. Rural Romania can appear …
Destinations
Rome
Few cities are as immortalised in international folklore as the Italian capital; even fewer are able to live up to hype. Yet standing beside the Coliseum in Rome, or gazing up at the roof of the Sistine Chapel, or simply …
Destinations
Russia
Spanning eleven time zones and twice the size of the USA, Russia is not a country that can be rushed. Many travellers go no further than Moscow, with its historic old city and lively nightlife, or follow the Volga boatmen …
Destinations
Salt Lake City
From rather modest beginnings in 1847, when it was founded as a Mormon retreat by the prophet Brigham Young, Salt Lake City boomed with the laying of the first transcontinental railway through the town. Originally populated by religious converts, the …
Destinations
San Diego
While the rest of California reeled in the aftermath of the dotcom crash, San Diego continued to quietly get on with business. Though it lacks the wow factor of Los Angeles or the angelic beauty of San Francisco, the pleasant …
Destinations
Santiago
The setting is spectacular; snow-dusted behemoths line the eastern horizon as the mighty Andes run north to south as far as the eye can see. The city itself can appear both congested and sprawling, with five million residents packed between …
Destinations
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has long seemed a mysterious, forbidden kingdom to the west. With riches built on the largest oil reserves in the Middle East, it has become better known for its super-wealthy oil barons than its cultural contributions. Yet the …
Destinations
Seattle
It can be a challenge to sit still in Seattle. Flanked by the Olympic and Cascade mountains and pressed up against the shores of two great lakes, not to mention the verdant forest that has given it the nickname ‘Emerald …
Destinations
Senegal
Senegal only has one major city but don’t let that fool you – nearly half the country is now urbanised and the capital Dakar is one of the trendiest and most fashionable cities in the southern hemisphere. Indeed, it is …
Destinations
Seville
The capital of Andalusia, Seville is a city that screams passion from the moment you arrive. The city’s rich heritage boasts Roman, Islamic and Renaissance influences, not to mention the largest gothic cathedral in the world; yet it is the …
Destinations
Shanghai
It was in 1843 that China first allowed the West into the country; Shanghai was the first city to open. In doing so, the nation opened the floodgates for a new era of trade between East and West that would …
Destinations
Singapore
An Asian island city-state located off the coast of Malaysia, Singapore is the fourth largest financial centre in the world and is often regarded as the most open, business-friendly economy. With a 50 percent expatriate workforce it also has the …
Destinations
Sofia
Sofia is often overlooked by the travellers who go straight for the sand and snow of Bulgaria’s excellent seaside and ski resorts, yet the compact capital boasts two World Heritage sites and remains the cultural heart of the nation. Archaeological …
Destinations
South Korea
South Korea is a subtropical peninsula of misty mountains, towering skyscrapers, precipitously-positioned pagodas and rocky coastal islands. The capital Seoul, known as the ‘miracle on the Han’, is not only a world leader in design and architecture but a buzzing, …
Destinations
Sri Lanka
An island of golden, tropical beaches and tranquil tea plantations hidden in green mountain valleys, Sri Lanka is a cricket-obsessed island off the southern tip of India. Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim influences are overlaid with the legacy of British rule. …
Destinations
St George’s Town
St George’s Town is the oldest inhabited English colonial settlement in the Americas and a UNESCO protected World Heritage Site. It also boasts a gorgeous Caribbean setting with a beautiful harbour and paradisical climate, making it an enjoyable city even …
Destinations
St Louis
You may think you don’t know St Louis, but you probably do; the iconic Gateway Arch is one of the most photographed buildings in America. This charming American city has a happy knack for feeling like home and you could …
Destinations
St Lucia
An independent nation since 1979, St Lucia has a distinctive Anglo-French cultural flavour to mix with its Caribbean roots, due to a long history of colonial disputes between the two empires involving this tiny island. Today it sits like an …
Destinations
St Petersburg
Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, the ground on which this beautiful baroque city stands now was little more than a swamp in the early 18th century. Yet during the reign of Elizabeth, Peter’s daughter, the city flourished into …
Destinations
Stockholm
This 14 island metropolis is a stunning blend of modernity and antiquity. The cobbled streets of Gamla Stan Old Town are the perfect counterpoint the contemporary Jugend and Art Nouveau influences evident in the city hall and central library. Stockholm …
Destinations
Sweden
Once a race of feared warriors and intrepid seafarers, even after the Viking legacy the Swedes became a major world power in the era that followed the Renaissance, conquering almost half the Holy Roman Empire during the seventeenth century. Today …
Destinations
Switzerland
Famous for watches and chocolate, there is in fact much more to Switzerland. A landlocked country with four official languages, it has a diverse culture to match, and whether you fancy dining German, Italian or French you are in for …
Destinations
Sydney
You don’t visit Sydney. You experience it. Passing through its slick layout and perfect weather without eyes glazing green is an impossibility; envy being the overriding emotion when you realise that all these people actually get to live there.As smooth …
Destinations
Tallinn
Few cities manage such a perfect balance of old and new as the Estonian capital. Of all the former communist capitals Tallinn’s cityscape is one of the most untouched by twentieth century rebuilding projects, making the World Heritage old town …
Destinations
Tampa
Tampa has been blessed with one of the best year round climates on the American continent, attracting a host of outgoing twenty-somethings from across the US. There are over 160 parks and plenty of beaches in which to enjoy the …
Destinations
Thailand
Thailand is a gorgeous country with a diverse natural and archaeological legacy. A tropical climate, white sandy beaches and a vibrant nightlife are all on offer; try diving amid coral reefs and whale sharks at Ko Tao, go jungle trekking …
Destinations
The grand life
“Of all the countries I have visited, the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg is the smallest, but it is the one that has charmed me most and where hospitality has been most simple and cordial”. – Winston Churchill. As the above quote …
Conferencing Focus
The road to success
After successfully establishing itself as a major conference venue, not just in Scotland, but for the UK as a whole, the future for Glasgow as a major business destination looks bright
Destinations
Tokyo
The dazzling Tokyo skyline is perhaps a statement of intent; the mainstream culture of conspicuous consumption that ensconces the city’s leading lights declares that everything has to be new and wonderful and that last year’s gadgets were little more than …
Destinations Hotels
Top stay in Austria: Hilton Vienna Danube
Modern, metropolitan and Comfortable – the charismatic Hilton Vienna Danube provides the perfect stopover in the Austrian capital for business traveller and tourist alike
Destinations Hotels
Top stay in Oman: Millenium Resort
Ideally located Muscat and Seen International Airport, the Millennium Resort Mussanah has a proven track record of delivering premium hospitality services
Destinations
Toronto
It’s a telling statistic that every other citizen of Toronto was born elsewhere. In many ways, this is Canada’s leading city; it’s the richest, most populous and the central hub for many of its leading industries. But it’s also a …
Destinations
Trinidad
Nestled amid Cuba’s verdant green interior, Trinidad is a World Heritage protected town that oozes old colonial charm, with a stunning natural setting that rich with the tropical grace of the Caribbean. More than that, the lack of real infrastructure …
Destinations
Trinidad and Tobago
Lying just a few kilometres from the coast of Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago are two islands on the south-eastern edge of the Antilles archipelago. Formerly a Spanish Colony they were British-ruled from 1802 until dependence in 1962. Today they have …
Destinations
Turks and Caicos Islands
Largely untouched by international commercialism, The Turks and Caicos Islands are a paradisical mini-archipelago in the Caribbean, consisting of two primary groups consisting of 30 islands in total. Discovered by European explorers in 1512 they were largely unsettled by colonists …
Destinations
UAE
The United Arab Emirates is a marvellously contradictory nation, where conspicuous consumption and ostentation hold hands with traditional Muslim conservatism and a Bedouin culture than continues to thrive in the country’s deserts. Dubai, the city which invented the ‘shopping festival’, …
Destinations
UK
The UK is both one nation and four – the English may casually switch allegiance between Britain and England but ask a Scot his nationality and he will always say he is a Scot. Moreover, the UK is teeming with …
Destinations
USA
From Hollywood to Starbucks to the ‘American Dream’, the USA has so relentlessly exported its culture around the globe that many of us feel that we know it already. The country is far from a monoculture though and there remains …
Destinations
Vancouver
Vancouver was little more than a provincial town a century ago and remains young by the standards of many of world’s leading cities. Yet with a population of two million today it frequently tops polls for world’s most liveable city …
Destinations
Venezuela
The Paradise Falls in Disney’s 2009 smash Up may not have been real, but it was inspired by the stunning geology and ‘Lost World’ feel of Venezuela’s Canaima National Park. Angel Falls, an incredible cascade that tumbles from the cliffs …
Destinations
Venice
A busy, bustling, booming San Marco Piazza welcomes you off the boat and throws you in the deep end of this liquid land. The stunning Saint Mark’s Basilica looms across Andrea Tirali’s pavement as you stroll across the plaza, before …
Destinations
Vienna
The concert halls of Vienna have played host to many of the great names in classical composition; Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart and Strauss to name but a few. Grand palaces and parks; sparkling fountains and sweeping boulevards; with gothic, baroque, renaissance …
Destinations
Vietnam
After decades of colonialism, communism, civil war and now rapidly accelerating globalisation, Vietnam today is an emerging market country where the excesses of capitalism have yet to ruin its glorious natural legacy. Forest-covered mountains and verdant rice fields inland are …
Destinations
Warsaw
A popular postcard sold on the streets of Warsaw shows the old town before and after it was razed by the Nazi bombs in the Second World War. On the left is a black and white photograph of pure destruction. …
Destinations
Washington DC
Arrive in Washington and it’s inevitable that you’ll soon be talking politics. Spend any length of time here and you’ll come to appreciate more than ever the world-changing dream upon which the nation is founded. It’s a city of bricks …
Destinations
Wellington
The striking harbour and rolling green hills at the southern tip of Aotearoa’s north island make this a superior setting for the official capital of New Zealand. It may be smaller than Auckland but anybody on the street will tell …
Destinations
Xian
The terracotta warriors of Xian are widely regarded as the greatest archaeological discovery of the twentieth century; 80,000 figures in full battle formation buried beneath the city suburbs since 210 BC. They’ve become more famous than the city itself; yet …
Destinations
Yemen
For centuries, Yemen has been a land of mythology and mystery, a land where Gilgamesh searched for the secret of eternal life and where three wise men came in search of frankincense and myrrh. For so long it has been …
Destinations
Zambia
The African continent comes in many shades and textures, but few feel more authentic than those boasted by the richly diverse Zambian landscape. Nomadic tribes have wandered its landlocked plains for millennia, but only since the 18th century has it …
Destinations
Zimbabwe
If Alice had stopped to think for a moment before disappearing down the hole, she may never have discovered Wonderland and Carroll’s glorious cast of misfits would have remained undiscovered. So too if you dwell too much on Zimbabwe’s satellite …
Destinations
Zurich
It’s easy to stereotype Zurich as a city of rich bankers and underground vaults overflowing with gold. It’s also fashionable to dismiss such as unjustified prejudice and focus on the superb gastronomy and the vibrant entertainment scene, not to mention …