Skip to content 
TRAVEL gallery
Travel News You Can Use
By Cynthia David
Old spaces have a new lease on life in Calgary, Alberta as part of a citywide focus on sustainability. In the heart of downtown, 15,794 square metres of unused office space has been transformed into the Element by Westin hotel. Old homes in the charming Marda Loop neighbourhood, meanwhile, are being upcycled into boutique shops and restaurants including Dopo, serving modern Italian cuisine. Calgary’s craft distillery scene is also honouring its past. The Currie Barracks, which housed army stables in the mid-1930s, now houses the Burwood Distillery, while True Wild Distilling has transformed a 1911 power station into Alberta’s largest craft distillery. From historic staircases to repurposed boat materials, every element tells Calgary’s story. TourismCalgary.com
The most exclusive accommodation in Munich is now available for booking. Managed by Kempinski Hotels, the Royal Residence at Nymphenburg Palace offers guests full access to the sumptuous 836-square-metres villa spread over three floors. It features four bedrooms, seven bathrooms, three living rooms filled with priceless art, a dining room set with famous Nymphenburg porcelain, kitchen, home cinema and wine cellar. A private garden with majolica terrace holds 100 guests. Breakfast, airport transfers, 24/7 butler service and use of a chauffeured limousine are included throughout your stay. The Royal Residence can also be rented for exclusive weddings, meetings and events. Overnight accommodation starts from $26,250 US per night. reservation.nymphenburg@kempinski.com
Orient Express Corinthian, the world’s largest sailing yacht, will take to the open sea in June, tracing a course through the French and Italian Rivieras, jewels of the Mediterranean and Adriatic. A triumph of artistry and innovation, the Corinthian’s three tilting, rotating masts harness the wind so efficiently the vessel requires less conventional fuel. An AI-driven detection system minimizes the risk of colliding with marine mammals, while dynamic positioning technology eliminates the need for an anchor to save the seabed. Reserve your journey at orient-express.com/en/sailing-yachts
Hospitality meets contemporary art at the new SonoLux Art Hotel in Old Montréal, part of the Epik Collection. Located in the historic 1914 National Trust building near Notre Dame Basilica, the 36-room boutique hotel immerses guests in art with sculpture, sound and visual installations. Twice yearly, the common areas host art exhibitions. Menus and decor at main-floor LUMI restaurant will complement each exhibition. Subterra, a hidden underground lounge, entertains with music and performances, while guests sip cocktails and sample the curated menu. Sonolux.ca/en
Fancy an artful escape? From Zurich and Geneva to charming mountain towns like Zuoz or Gstaad, Switzerland abounds with elegant art hotels. Each of the 30 rooms at the Hotel Lucerne, for example, feels like stepping into a beautifully designed film set with scenes projected from classic films. The eight rooms and suite at the old town’s Teufelhof Basel have been conceived as works of art and are reimagined every two years by a different artist. Geneva’s chic Hotel Marmont, meanwhile, projects an energetic vibe with its bold contemporary colour scheme, graphic patterns and bespoke wallpaper. Art inhabits every corner of Hotel Castell in Zuoz, from James Turrell’s glowing light installations to Pipilotti Rist’s dream-like Rote Bar. myswitzerland.com
Float your way to wellness at AIRE Ancient Baths in downtown Toronto. Nestled within a restored heritage building of wooden beams and soaring pillars, this candle-lit sanctuary of relaxation marks the Canadian debut of the world-renowned Spanish brand. Nine thermal pools inspired by ancient traditions are each set to a different temperature. Luxuriate in the saltwater Flotarium bath or the invigorating Thousand Jets Bath. Indulge in Toronto’s signature Boreal Forest Experience, a 150-minute ritual incorporating the thermal circuit, exfoliation with pink salt on warm marble, a 60-minute cedar oil massage and scalp massage. Celebrate the new you with a glass of sparkling wine, chocolates and berries. relax.beaire.com/en/aire-ancient-baths-toronto
From jungle trails to plunge pools, Costa Rica’s new eco-resort and horse ranch has it all. Seven years in the making, El Lugar (The Place), lies within 4.9 square kilometres of a verdant rainforest, 90 minutes from San Jose in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí. Land was not flattened, nor were trees chopped down during construction. Ride into the rainforest on horseback, race down a zipline or lean into whitewater rafting. For a gentler pace head out birdwatching, swim in the river or cool off in your villa’s private plunge pool. The 56-room resort defines responsible luxury. el-lugar.com
Used for centuries for healing and meditation, the Himalayan singing bowl is the newest spa therapy offered at the Anam Mui Ne resort in Vietnam’s popular beach town of Mui Ne. Running a mallet along the edge of the metal bowl in a slow circular motion creates a rich, deep sound that resonates through the body. Choose from five different 45- to 60-minute treatments involving up to seven bowls in each treatment. The bowl’s many reputed health benefits include stimulating circulation, alleviating stress and tension, improving sleep quality and promoting emotional healing. Sign up for the complementary hour-long singing bowl session and try it for yourself. Anam’s beachfront resort features 127 elegant rooms and suites, seven with private pools, reflecting the warmth and luxury of a bygone era. theanam.com
Powered by real-time data from millions of daily visitors, the Expedia Group has released its latest travel trends. One of its top emerging destinations is Ucluelet, BC’s stunning year-round coastal destination beloved by hikers and surfers. The report also spotlights a surge in demand for “salvaged stays” combining historical architecture with modern amenities, like Montréal’s Hotel Place d’Armes, a former bank. Farm stay rentals are big, such as the Lakefront Farmhouse in Lincoln, Ontario, 30 minutes from Niagara Falls. And if you’re looking for a “Readaway,” a place to put up your feet and relax, Vrbo recommends the Atlantic Pearl in Nova Scotia’s lobster-fishing village of Port Medway, 90 minutes from Halifax. expedia.ca/unpack26
Norway has long drawn travellers above the Arctic Circle with the promise of dancing Northern Lights. Oslo-based Up Norway takes you into landscapes far from city lights like Ovre Pasvik National Park where the sun doesn’t rise for weeks and the darkness glows. The company’s tailormade journeys across Norway, Denmark and Finland combine nature with upscale lodges and private guides. In the remote Svalbard archipelago, consider skiing, traversing the landscape on a husky-drawn sled or snowshoeing through the frozen night. A photography coach will help you take a piece of the stars home with you. UpNorway.com
Travel expert Cynthia David provides updates on the tourism industry in this curated collection that appears in every issue.
