In the coastal city of La Rochelle, located in the Southwest of France, Coutanceau is a household name. This chef, born and raised in this beautiful city, has regarded the seaside as a playground since childhood. He recently opened an 11-room hotel, La Villa Grand Voile.
Essaouira, a seaside resort popular with Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley and Cat Stevens in the Sixties, unblushingly revives its boho-chic past at the Heure Bleue Palais. Experience eclectic hippie elegance at this luxury hotel in the medina.
Just a short ride away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, Hakone is a popular destination to recharge and completely immerse oneself in the surrounding nature. I booked a trip to Gôra Kadan, known for its hot springs (onsen) and gorgeous views of Mount Fuji, for a weekend escape.
To reach the last destination of our trip through beautiful Rajasthan, India, we headed south of Jodhpur, into the Thar Desert. Rising like a mirage in the sand, we arrived at Mihir Garh, the Fort of the Sun.
Le Jules Verne, the Eiffel Tower’s gourmet restaurant 410 feet above the sea, reopened on July 20, 2019, after the operational concession changed hands. Frédéric Anton takes over from Alain Ducasse, coming in with mighty ambitions, but without haste.
Just 25 minutes by train from Paris, the Domaine de Chantilly and L’Auberge du Jeu de Paume provide a delicious and historic cultural experience just a stone’s throw from the French capital.
Sometimes you just have to be honest with yourself: You deserve the best. The Rajmahal Palace, drenched in rich, flamboyant colors and patterns and boasting monumental architecture and a supremely attentive staff, offers a maharajah’s life every moment you are within its walls.
Joann Pai leads us to discover the riches of India. Its first stopover is the Sujan Sher Bagh, nestled in the heart of the Ranthambhore Nature Reserve in Rajasthan. It is the ideal place to meet tigers and experience the luxury camping of the 1920s.
On top of a hill overlooking the beautiful Lake Annecy lies Clos des Sens, a charming property run by the Petit family. Their newly rewarded 3 Michelin-stars restaurant attracts not only locals but also visitors around the world.
Wingen-sur-Moder is a small town in France’s Vosges department, but it is also one of the crystal capitals of the world. For it is home to the glassworks, museum, and hotel-restaurant of the Lalique family, now celebrating 130 years of savoir-faire and creative excellence as French master glassmaker
After the short flight from Vancouver to Calgary, our travelling photographer Joann Pai and her friend Tina hit the road to Banff National Park and the Post Hotel managed by the Schwartz family in Lake Louise. She tells us all about her stay at the heart of pristine beauty in Western Canada.
Our travelling photographer Joann Pai brings us to Royal Champagne, an elegant, newly renovated hotel by a renowned architect, with world class cuisine and a lavish spa.
"If you love black truffles, prosciutto, and wine as much as I do, then Norcia is the place for you. I arrived in a chilly evening, and was immediately welcomed by the smell of firewood. It felt as if I was going to spend an evening at a friend's home. Well, a friend with a 16th century palace."
Intense winds shook the maple tree mere feet from the dock of the tarn and buffeted the side of Gilpin Lake House during my escape from Paris. No matter what, I was prepared to make thorough use of the getaway and reveled in the property’s perfect conditions for peaceful idleness.
Less than an hour outside of Strasbourg in the town of Wingen-sur-Moder, the original home of legendary glass designer René Lalique was transformed into a 5 star hotel and restaurant in 2015.
Nested inside a national park that borders Belgium and the Netherlands, this newly designed heavenly spa resort houses a 2 Michelin star restaurant, where I had one of the best meals of my life.
Soon after receiving their second Michelin star in 2017, Gisela and Heinrich decided to rechristen the family hotel as "Terra - The Magic Place". I visited them to experience the magic. It's an enchantment that directly reflects its innate character: organic, cosmopolitan and creative.
Nishimuraya Honkan is a haven of peace, 150 km from Osaka. Guests come here to enjoy the benefits of its onsen — the thermal bath of volcanic spring water — for its Japanese garden and for its gourmet cuisine of subtle finesse.
Flocons de sel is a 5-star upscale resort with a Michelin 3-star restaurant, yet owners Kristine and Emmanuel Renaut make you feel right at home.