Hotels

Japan is filled with tourists and getting more crowded by the day. For those searching for a meditative, contemplative travel experience in the Land of the Rising Sun, there is the ryokan.

My idol Tadao Ando designed the original museum, and also oversaw the recent conversion to its current state as a 7 suite luxury hotel, a sprawling world of class, art, and exclusivity.

Maldives still maintains its position as the planet’s number one destination for couples looking for uninterrupted natural beauty, romance and relaxation. Here we take a look at why and how the magic is maintained.

In my perpetual quest to find ever more fantastic remote destinations, I went to Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost island of her four main islands, in February 2016.

The tiny island of Sri Lanka has endured a lot, both in the past and in recent memory. Torn apart by civil war and a devastating tsunami, this strong and determined little country has fought its way through the hard times and come out on the other side not only with its beauty and culture intact, but also with its eyes on bigger rewards.

A visit to the Middle East should include a stay in one of the most surreal hotels in the world: think living like royalty in an Arabian palace or relaxing by your own personal pool in the desert.

Zighy Bay – a sparkling turquoise beauty lapping upon soft golden sands, surrounded by jagged cliffs – unfurled before me. The hotel – Six Senses Zighy Bay – was as impressive as the scenery.

In general if I have a choice, I prefer ultra-luxe boutique hotels, which tend to have more personalized service than huge hotels – and in Hong Kong, that means Upper House

I expected to be impressed by Naoshima Island and Benesse House…but now that I am actually here, the only way I can describe my reaction is to say I am totally blown away.

Escape plan in place, I set off for the Maldives. Seven resorts in seven nights and a mission to discover what makes each one stand out as a truly extraordinary experience…

With visions of elephants dancing in my head, I headed to Northern Thailand to get a hands-on experience with these gentle giants…

Nothing gives the same air of exclusivity as jetting off to your very own private island resort. Here’s our pick of the most luxurious private island resorts in Asia.