Kyoto has long been considered a tranquil alternative to hyper-stimulated Tokyo, but now the imperial city is taking on a new identity among travelers: a luxury destination that fuses ancient tradition with modern flair. The "old-meets-new" concept is quickly gaining traction throughout Kyoto. A number of companies are restoring historic merchant ... More

It's not surprising that the Wedgewood Hotel in Downtown Vancouver has the refinement of Old Europe: The property's owner, Eleni Skalbania, was born and raised in Greece before opening the family-run boutique hotel in British Columbia 25 years ago. Skalbania lends her personal touch to each of Wedgewood's ... More

The majestic Gstaad Palace—located in the heart of Switzerland’s Bernese Alps—has the air of an ancient Swiss castle. And while it doesn’t quite date back to the 13th century, the hotel does boast a rich 100-year history. Out of Gstaad Palace’s 104 rooms, we were curious to find ... More

Many people claim that Rhode Island is where the American summer vacation was born, and as a native, I believe them. Of course, with its sprawling mansions and moneyed extravagance, Newport usually gets most of the attention in the warm weather months. But locals know that the state’s sleepier South ... More

Paro Valley, Bhutan Where to Stay: Uma by Como, Paro Why we love it: The 29-room resort is decadent, yet culturally authentic; it’s situated on a hillside with a breathtaking view of the Paro Valley What you'll do there: Enjoy a picnic on a peak overlooking a mountainous enclave; relax ... More

Coconut Grove is a tropical village in Miami where you are never far from the ocean and you are more likely to see an ostentation of peacocks (yes, that is what you call a group of peacocks) ... More

In the daisy chain of glittering Caribbean islands known as the Grenadines, Bequia is something of a tropical wallflower. To its north lies Saint Vincent, a bustling resort destination where one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies was filmed. To the south is Mustique, the orchidaceous getaway beloved by ... More

As much as you may love your vacation home, you don't love the hassle of renting it out—the logistics, the risks, the unknown renters, etc. Now there's a great solution: A luxury home exchange that lets you swap your vacation property for others around the world, run by a private ... More

The thing about most private islands is that they’re, well, private. But there are a handful open to visitors who have the means and the will to find them—and get there. One such place is Makepeace Island, located in Australia's Noosa River. The island—yes, its heart shape is completely ... More

When Stephen di Renza came to Fez in 1999 to purchase a riad—a traditional Moroccan house—he was only the second foreigner ever to do so, he says. “I couldn’t believe people weren’t coming here and buying up these beautiful old buildings for vacation homes.” In the past decade, throughout ... More