Globetrotters have a new favourite South American destination: Colombia! Whether you’re a solo or business traveller, honeymooner, family with kids or a digital nomad, this stunning country combines nature (more than 1,900 bird species and 3,600 butterflies), wellness and ancestral traditions with a progressive, sophisticated culture. The landscape varies dramatically over six regions. Discover snow-capped mountains next to pristine beaches, a desert that meets the Caribbean Sea and national parks both remote and in the midst of a cosmopolitan city. Plan your visit soon before word gets out! Colombia.travel
The stately Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, rising above Old Québec City and the St. Lawrence River, has won the 2022 Global Hotel of the Year award at a glittering ceremony in Antalya, Turkey. The iconic hotel also won gold in the Luxury Castle Hotel category, and its gourmet Champlain restaurant was chosen regional winner for fine dining in North and Central America. Winners of the World Luxury Awards are selected by the public in an online vote and reflect the hard work and dedication of hospitality staff in every corner of the world. While staying at the Château, be sure to check out the Moment Spa. Fairmont.com
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has launched a new Premium Comfort class on its daily Toronto to Amsterdam route. Of the 318 seats aboard the B787-10, 28 have been designated Premium Comfort. The new cabin features lighter, wider seats with more legroom than a standard seat, a larger screen and a variety of refined menu items and beverages served on reusable or recyclable serving ware. Passengers receive a premium blanket and pillow and a complimentary amenity kit. In Canada, KLM flies to Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton and Montreal, with convenient connections between cities. KLM.com
Looking for the perfect winter beach getaway? Check out these top picks for sea, sand and sunshine from marketing firm Development Counsellors International (DCI). In Barbados, soak up the sun at Bathsheba Beach, also a top surfing location. In Belize, San Pedro promises pure white sand fringed with palm trees. Sun worshippers in Montecito, California head to Butterfly Beach, where you can swim, surf, sunbathe and, with luck, see a Hollywood star. In San Francisco, head to Baker Beach at sunrise to watch sea lions and porpoises frolic then stroll along the nearby trail. In Miami, three kilometres of pristine sand await at Sunny Isles Beach. When not relaxing, play a round of golf at this popular Florida sun spot. visitbarbados.org; travelbelize.org; visitcalifornia.com; miamiandbeaches.com
Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital’s newest five-star hotel, has launched the first subterranean bar into the city’s already lively bar scene. Metropole Underground, discreetly located in the hotel basement, is inspired by the sophisticated Art Deco vibe of early 20th century Paris. The original Paris Metro was also a major inspiration, with cast iron replicas of sculptural and decorative elements. Enjoy premium drinks, light gourmet bites and nightly live entertainment from bands to DJ beats. For amazing city views, visit the hotel’s FiveFive Rooftop Restaurant & Bar. hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/cambodia/hyatt-regency-phnom-penh/pnhrp
When singer Eric Clapton performed outdoors in Bahrain in 2013, 2,000 tickets sold in minutes. Plans took shape for a permanent open-air concert venue to attract big names for local and international visitors. Last spring, Clapton returned to play for 10,000 fans at the spectacular new Al Dana Amphitheatre, carved from the rock of the Sahkir desert on the site of the kingdom’s Grand Prix racetrack. Eco-friendly touches include recycled rubber flooring and corporate boxes fashioned from shipping containers. A limestone wall behind the sunken stage gives way to views of desert, mountains and the setting sun. aldana.com.bh
Swiss Alps retreat 7132, renowned for its thermal baths, is offering four new wellness experiences. Improve your physical and mental well-being with a therapeutic massage in the heart of a high-altitude forest surrounded by fir trees and lush ferns. Enjoy a rejuvenating night-time swim in the healing waters between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. Or don your swimsuit and float in the pool or relax in a lounger while watching arthouse movies and Hollywood classics. For an ultra-luxe, once-in-a-lifetime experience, take the hotel’s helicopter to a remote glacier for a romantic Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne tasting followed by a nine-course menu at the two-star Michelin 7132 Silver Restaurant. 7132.com
Toronto-based KPMB Architects + Montreal’s Daoust Lestage Lizotte Stecker have won the contract to build Montreal’s new Holocaust Museum. The competition attracted submissions from 32 architects in nine countries. Larger, more modern and more interactive than the current site, the new museum will rise on Saint-Laurent Blvd., once the heart of Montreal’s Jewish community. Jury members said the winning design demonstrates the team’s strong understanding of the museum’s mission to educate people of all ages and backgrounds about the Holocaust and spread awareness about the perils of antisemitism, racism, hate and indifference. The new Montreal Holocaust Museum is expected to open in 2025. museeholocauste.ca/en
Deep in the Lower Zambezi National Park, the beauty and cultures of Zambia are on full display at the Lolebezi safari lodge, one of the sustainable camps from the African Bush Camps collection. Each of the eight sustainably conscious designed accommodations has a private shaded outdoor room and river-view infinity pool. Printed bed throws are inspired by acacia seedpods and boldly carved doors echo the abstract motifs decorating Tonga homes in the Zambezi Valley. Other design elements, which were created by both local and South African artisans, include reed curtains, print throws, and a custom-made mosquito net. Guests can enjoy bush basket lunches using rustic basketware for tapas. Dining has its specialty too. After your return from exploring with African Bush Camp guides, guests gather around the lodge’s large bespoke dining table made from acacia camelthorn wood and copper legs. Africanbushcamps.com/camps/lolebezi
