Featured Image Courtesy Mandarin Oriental

1. The resort has its own museum. Plenty of hotels have museum-worthy exhibits and some are so enamored of their heritage, they liken the entire premises to a museum. But the Al Bait has actually opened its own, purpose-built museum. In two generous galleries, the museum tells the story of Ibrahim Bin Mohammed Al Midfa, who lived in one of the four old homes that form the foundation of the new resort. Images picture Al Midfa and his family and tell how they accrued wealth from the pearl trade and rose to prominence in the government. Glass display cases exhibit artifacts from his life – from a replica of the dagger he wore at ceremonies to the pens he used to compose poetry to books from his library. Another exhibit memorializes the location of the post office that stood on this site. In another room, the door to Al Midfa’s original home stands against a far wall, no longer providing egress to any actual place, but to an imagination of the past.

2. The staff-guest ratio is extremely high. One of the most significant factors in a guest’s experience at a resort is related to the number of staff per room. In Asia, where the ratios are highest in the world, you typically have two staff for every room at the most distinguished resorts. At Al Bait, there will be 3.4 staff for every room. Numbers don’t tell the whole story, of course, but what this does mean is that a stay at Al Bait, which means home, is going to be a lot like a stay at home – a home, that is, if you’re used to having three or four different people waiting on you every day. The team is led by General Manager, Patrick Moukarzel, who has opened seven different luxury hotels in a career that has volleyed between the Arabian Peninsula and Egypt; with stops in China, Malaysia and Thailand for good measure.

3. Families are going to love the resort. While the bright lights and big city of Dubai continue to lure the glamorous jet-set, Sharjah is cultivating a quieter crowd, and setting up as a particularly attractive destination for families. It’s a dry destination, for starters, which means happy hour can be all about time with the kids. There are a number of museums within walking distance, and a number of museums that would likely rate a spot on any kid’s bucket list of things to do in Sharjah. To wit, the Al Montazah Water Park, where there’s a whole host of pools and rides for a range of ages. Kids can explore the emirate’s aquatic life, animals, fauna, and flora at the Sharjah Natural History and Botanical Museum. They can learn about art at the Children’s Art Park, and about the emirate’s biodiversity at the Islamic Botanic Garden. At an archaeological site in the desert outside town, dune buggies will ferry families to Camel Rock, the Faya Dunes and the Mleiha Desert. In other words, your kids will never be bored here, and will be enticed to spend some quality time away from their tablets!

4. It’s an easy place for groups to sequester. Now that ‘togethering’ is a thing for families who like to gather two or three generations for holidays, for groups of friends on celebration vacations, and for business people who would just as soon carve out their own space for work and play, some hotels are better than others in answering the demand. At the Al Bait, the heritage home is world apart within the larger resort, with four bedrooms and two suites that can accommodate twelve people. No other guests will have access to this part of the resort, or to the comfortable common areas of its majlis, or salon.

5. Al Fikker Square is the best place for a selfie. Like it or not, every hotel has a sweet spot where guests, guided by some invisible hand, are apt to migrate for a selfie or the most Instagrammable angle. At the Al Bait, this one’s easy, thanks to the resort’s windtower, an architectural structure that is to Sharjah what the lighthouse is to New England and the obelisk is to Egypt. Just outside the resort’s Arabic restaurant there is a sitting area in Al Fikker Square. The windtower looms in the background, like something out of the Middle Ages. Once upon a time, the wind tower, or barjeel, was depended upon to ventilate living quarters. These days, air conditioning, has supplanted the wind tower as a more effective way to stay cool, but technology has its place. No one’s ever going to stand up against an air conditioner for a selfie.

If you are not yet convinced, take a closer look for yourself and discover why this unique boutique property is creating a lot of buzz, and is sure to become a favorite getaway for this area. Be sure to also explore several of their promotions happening this year, including the Explore In Style: Art Retreat; Seasonal Offer: Arabian Tales; and Tee Off In Style: Game of Mind. Learn more: https://www.ghmhotels.com/en/al-bait-sharjah

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In recent years we have seen many of the small to mid-size ships focusing more on the quality of the cruise experience, over the quantity of cruisers that can be packed onto a single ship. Several of these cruise lines have managed to create unique opportunities for a “cruise ship” within the cruise ship, which provides an elevated level of services, and is often a great option for many travelers seeking all of the conveniences of a large ship, but with the personalized services of a bespoke luxury cruise experience. The Haven, for example is a beautifully designed option with Norwegian Cruise Line and the Royal Class Suites with Royal Caribbean International brings all the elements of luxury and home together for this suite experience.

There is still something nostalgic about a transatlantic cruise, and while it might take a few days longer than a direct flight from New York to London, the experience on a ship like the Queen Mary 2 by Cunard provides cruisers an unmatched level of luxury travel – upgrading to the Queen’s Grill provides guests with the ultimate in elevated services and excellence from start to finish. Those looking for a unique luxury cruise option in other parts of the world, consider one of the exciting opportunities with AmaWaterways in Africa that just gets better every year; or a river expedition cruise with Aqua Expeditions along the Amazon River onboard the Aria Amazon; or perhaps explore the bespoke itineraries with travel operators that take care of every detail beyond compare such as a barge cruise in Europe with Abercrombie & Kent, or a small ship cruise with Tauck.

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And did I mention the sunsets? This seems to be a religious experience for the locals, as I was told no less than five times that sunset would be at 8:37 on the day that I arrived, and that I would want to plan my evening around being at the beach during that time. They were not wrong – it was spectacular.

It took me less than a day to wonder why in the world this was my first visit to Naples. A charming downtown area filled with more restaurants and local boutiques than I could possibly experience in a week; amazing public and private golf courses by some of the best designers in the world; locals who were inviting, friendly and eager to share their home with visitors; and the overall feeling of unpretentious luxury at every turn, including the plentiful high-end shopping centers that were overflowing with designer fashions and obtainable luxury finds – all within these shopping centers that were the cleanest I have seen in some time.

Wine is the heart and soul of this region – both with the more famous wine estates and the smaller, family-operated wineries. Many of these establishments offer tasting classes, hikes, guest rooms and wine festivals; with the summer and autumn months being especially popular for travelers in search of their new favorite wine. Make the most of your time by including these festivals, sights, and restaurants into your getaway plans to discover the true treasures of Würzburg. You will not be disappointed, and like so many other visitors over the years, you will most likely fall in love with Würzburg too!

Afternoon Tea, also known as Low Tea, was enjoyed on lower tables, such as coffee tables, while relaxing in comfortable chairs and enjoying the tea service. Typically, you have the option of three Afternoon Tea services: Cream Tea includes the tea with a light selection of scones and cream, Light Tea also includes a selection of sweet treats and/or fruit, and finally the tea service we generally see today is Full Tea that includes all of these along with savory selections and finger sandwiches.

High Tea was originally served on high tables, and included meat and fish dishes, as well as additional heavier dishes. High Tea was for the working class, and served after they returned from work… Of course, many people still use the term “High Tea” to simply sound more regal, without taking the time to educate themselves about the history of this iconic tradition.

Afternoon Tea is a ritual in London, and one that every traveler should make sure to include during their visit. While many choose the traditional service at iconic locations such as Claridge’s or The Dorchester (both never disappoint), London also has local favorites like Cake Boy and Sketch, and new twists on tradition at Ting and Sosharu. Regardless of where you choose to take the time to savor an Afternoon Tea service customized just for you, know that you are enjoying a timeless tradition that dates back to the mid-1800’s. To get you started, we have created this collection of 15 of our favorite Afternoon Tea options in London. Enjoy!

The boutique property will be home to 53 luxury guestrooms and suites, including a luxury hammam (the first in the GHM portfolio) and an array of dining offerings that feature local and international cuisine. Heart of Sharjah seeks to revitalize the heritage district and introduce travelers to its glorious past – transforming restaurants, cafes, art galleries and atmospheric local bazaars where travelers can experience the United Arab Emirates’ cultural and social fabric…

This castle hotel is situated in the heart of Adare Village in County Limerick. Steeped in history and surrounded by medieval ruins, Adare Manor is just a special place. I spent some time here the year before the renovations began, and the passion by the owners and staff here certainly made an impression on me, and I am sure that the “new” Adare Manor will be better than ever…