Travelling Guide

Algarve travel guide: what to see plus the best bars, hotels and restaurants there are three Algarves. I’ll call them the Mystic East, the Dead Centre, and the Wild West. Most people flying to Faro will end up at the popular resort towns of the Dead Centre such as Vilamoura, Albufeira and Lagos, leaving a whole lot of Algarve relatively free of visitors. But if you do fetch up in such a resort, a 20-minute drive will deliver you to some of southern Europe’s most scented, empty countryside. Our Mystic East is the borderland. The Guadiana river separates the Algarve – where humility is regarded as a strength – from brasher Spain. Inland, it’s possible to meander for miles through enchanted valleys, hear birdsong, see few people and find peace. The east’s coastal margin is where the ocean is tamed by the sand islands, salt pans and azure lagoons of the Ria Formosa natural park, where flamingos and dolphins abound. The central Algarve coastline has been relentlessly developed,...

20 Libraries So Beautiful They'll Bring Out the Bookworm in Everyone The ingeniously simple concept for the library at Tokyo’s Musashino Art University speaks volumes: it’s made entirely of wood bookshelves, with a glass exterior. Inside, architect Sou Fujimoto’s spiral-shaped design naturally spurs the visitor onward and features light-filled, comfortable corners for reading and easy access to volumes. It’s a reminder that even in the digital age, libraries can be inviting public spaces—and that their beauty extends beyond the gilded, frescoed libraries of old. In Vancouver, architect Moshe Safdie’s Central Library plays with tradition, rising like a modern-day Colosseum. Bridge walkways connect to study areas from a skylit concourse filled with shops and cafés. Libraries often act as such cultural gathering places, whether enshrining masterpieces or hosting present-day events. Visitors turn up at the museum-like Marciana Library in Venice to admire works by Renaissance ...

Top 20 Most Beautiful Beaches You’ll Find Anywhere Whether you’re going on a long vacation, a weekend getaway or just a day trip, what better way to spend your free time than on a beautiful beach? There’s no more ideal way to relax than to stretch out on a beach’s bright sand, frolic in the sparkling water, doze under a colorful beach umbrella, or work on your tan under the hot sun. Here are 20 of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Which ones do you plan to visit?

Finally: Netflix Streaming Becomes Available at Marriott Hotels Gone are the days of watching foreign-language soap operas on your hotel room TV. Today, Marriott Hotels unveiled a partnership with Netflix that allows guests to stream their own content simply by logging into their account on a Wi-Fi enabled widescreen HDTV. The program debuts this summer at six Marriott hotels (all domestic, ranging from New York to Dallas), with expansion to 100 properties earmarked for completion this year. Nearly all of its 300-plus properties under the Marriott flagship brand will have Netflix streaming capacities by the end of 2016; Netflix will also come to Marriott’s other brands (such as JW Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, and Edition) going forward. Why haven’t other brands been able to do the same? Information security is the biggest obstacle—hotels have considered Bluetooth-connectivity but worried that those signals could accidentally cross walls into another guest room, and signing in direct...

Destination Wedding: Hotel de Glace Quebec, Canada The location: Located just outside Quebec City, Hotel de Glace is North America’s first ice hotel. Wedding “wow” factor: Have a fantasy wedding on ice at Hotel de Glace, a hotel made entirely of ice and snow. Because the hotel is rebuilt annually with a unique design, no 2 weddings here will look alike. Exchange your wedding vows in the ice wedding chapel complete with an ice altar and ice pews (don’t worry, they’re covered with deer pelts) that can seat 100 guests. The bride and groom can even rent wedding furs to wear over their gown and tux to stay warm during the ceremony. For an unforgettable wedding night, adventurous couples can spend the night keeping each other warm in a wedding ice suite.

Take a Day Trip to Explore Old-World Luxe Living Take the metro or RER (regional express train) to explore some of the most popular castles or palaces near Paris. Head west of the city to visit Chateau de Versailles (Versailles Palace), the residence of Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI. Take a tour of the palace, walk through the gardens, see Marie Antoinette’s estate and take a romantic row in a paddleboat on the Grand Canal. We recommend stopping at La Petite Venise — one of 2 on-site restaurants — for seasonal dishes and daily specials. Chateau de Vincennes, Chateau de Fontainebleau and Chateau de Rambouillet are a few other notable palatial estates to visit. Or you can go with complete fantasy and explore the castles at Disneyland Paris — just a 35-minute ride from the city on the RER A. Place d'Armes Versailles, 78000 France Get Directions

Witness the Adrenaline Rush of the Tour de France Cheer on cyclists as they wrap up the final stage of one of the largest sporting events in the world, the Tour de France. Competitors pedal the last 85 miles in Paris to finish this 23-day race, which covers more than 2,000 miles of open road with teams of up to 9 bikers. Get up early to camp out along the Champs-Elysees or near the Place de la Concorde to watch the cyclists whiz by and cross the finish line. It’s an experience you don’t want to miss! Avenue des Champs-Elysees Paris, 75008 France Get Directions

Return to Your Zen State at These Green Spaces In addition to the Seine, Parisians take advantage of their parks and green spaces to unwind and relax with friends and family. And if you’re a visitor, you should, too. The City of Light has more than 30 gardens and parks perfect for strolling, playing soccer or people-watching as locals and tourists pass by. Enjoy some of our favorite places to “park it,” such as the Jardin du Palais Royal, Jardin des Tuileries, Jardin du Luxembourg and Parc du Champ de Mars. 113 Rue de Rivoli Paris, 75001 France Get Directions

Work on Your Tan at Paris Plages ('Beaches') Yes, Paris is a landlocked city, but that doesn’t stop it from transforming into a beach town from mid-July to mid-August. Take a stroll along the banks of the Seine to see a full-fledged beach with sand, games, chairs and umbrellas. Sip on a cocktail from one of the open-air bars while you work on your tan. These makeshift beaches are located from Rotonde de Ledoux to Rue de Crimee and from the Louvre to Pont de Sully, a favorite spot with a great view of Notre Dame. Insider’s tip: It’s not uncommon for friends and family to congregate along the river around dusk. Bring a bottle of Bordeaux, some duck pate and artisanal cheese — you’ll fit right in. Paris, 75005 France Get Directions

Summer in Paris: Beyond Bastille Day Celebrated July 14, French National Day, or Bastille Day, commemorates the beginning of the French Revolution and the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789. Celebrations are held all over France, but thousands line up along the Champs-Elysees in Paris to watch the oldest and largest military parade in Europe. These annual festivities aren’t limited to the ground, either; locals and tourists can also look high above the crowds to see the Patrouille de France aerobatics team in action. But Bastille Day isn’t the only thing tourists should add to their agendas when visiting the French capital in the summer. Here’s a quick list of 5 fun summertime experiences you don’t want to miss when vacationing in Paris.

Celebrate that someone special in your life with a sexy weekend getaway guaranteed to set both your hearts aflutter. Whether an island respite complete with spa packages, or a stay in a private villa complete with fireplaces fulfills your idea of a steamy stay, we've sussed out the hottest spots for romance and honeymoons . Turn your sparks to full-blown flames with these 5 romantic weekend getaways. 1. Islamorada, Florida Islamorada's postcard-perfect beaches, turquoise waters and sultry sunsets have long attracted honeymooners and destination-wedding seekers to its shores. Still, any couple could fall prey to Islamorada's charms, making it an excellent romance-fueled weekend getaway. Part of the northern Florida Keys (it’s located just below the wilderness of the Everglades), Islamorada actually comprises 6 tiny islands, earning it the nickname Village of Islands. There's no shortage of stunning accommodations on Islamorada, though the Cheeca Lodge & Sp...

Sea Ranch Lodge Complementing the natural beauty of the Sonoma and Mendocino County coasts in Northern California, Sea Ranch Lodge ’s 19 elegant rooms are designed for relaxation. Enjoy views of the windswept coast from your window seat, cozy up next to the gas fireplace, or escape to your private garden courtyard. Outside, explore the more than 50 miles of trails that wind through coastal meadows and conifer forests, as well as 5 nearby beaches perfect for midday contemplation.

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New York City summer travel guide NEW YORK – If you haven’t visited New York City recently, you’ve got some catching up to do, from the observatory at One World Trade, to the new Whitney Museum, to happening neighbourhoods far from Manhattan. Here’s a look. — WHAT’S NEW For the newest bird’s-eye view of New York, head to the top of One World Trade. The ride up is so smooth, your tummy won’t even flip. A time-lapse video in the elevator shows the evolution of the cityscape over centuries, including a glimpse of the twin towers melting in and out of view. Once you’re up, the initial views are dominated by New Jersey. You’re looking at Manhattan when you spot the Empire State Building. Live guides are available to answer questions, including this one: Which bridge is the Brooklyn Bridge? (It’s the one with the double Gothic arches.) The city’s other just-opened standout is the Whitney Museum, south of 14th Street, on Gansevoort Street near 10th Avenue. But the best part o...

Malaysia tourist arrests: The woman caught posing naked on top of Mount Kinabalu should have respected local customs Eleanor Hawkins, the young woman from Derby currently facing obscenity charges in Malaysia, was barely a toddler at the time I behaved stupidly on Mount Kinabalu. In 1994 I set out to climb South-east Asia’s highest mountain wearing a pair of sandals ill-suited to anything more demanding than a stroll on a beach. The writers of the Lonely Planet guide to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei did not address the question of suitable footwear, presumably concluding that climbers would be appropriately equipped. But the book did make clear that Malaysia is a conservative nation, and visitors should behave with moderation. For a day-and-a-half I cursed quietly as I stumbled uphill in the company of dozens of Malaysian tourists, for whom scaling Kinabalu is a rite of passage. Just below the summit, I wobbled anxiously as I waited my turn, then scrambled to the top. I ...