Romantisme, maisons en ruine belle Époque, authentique médina et nourriture exceptionnelle donnent une allure particulière à Tanger. Des minarets décorés s’élancent dans le ciel nocturne, ponctué par un million d’étoiles, le jasmin du jardin de la Kasbah, juste en dessous, parfume l’air, tandis que l’appel du muezzin à la prière rompt sporadiquement le silence. Debout sur le toit-terrasse, regardant à travers la ville je me sens loin de la maison, comme immergé dans le cadre d’une histoire magique de «Mille et une nuits». Pourtant, la vérité est que je suis à moins d’une heure du sud de l’Espagne dans la

When it comes to the hippest of hotels, there really cannot be anywhere more ‘cool’ than the original ‘IceHotel’ in Sweden, reconstructed each winter from the Arctic’s ice and snow. There are igloos and then there is ‘IceHotel’. Located 200 kilometres within Sweden’s Arctic Circle, this is undoubtedly the most luxurious property made of ice. It can be found in the isolated community of Jukkasjärvi. This Swedish village is in Lapland, the archetypical Christmas winter wonderland that not only encompasses northern Sweden but also Norway and Finland. Inspirational beauty Here the glistening snow crunches under foot and the air is

 Since hosting the Olympic Games, the dynamic capital of Catalonia has continued to welcome change, maintaining its position as one of the world’s top ‘City Break’ destinations. Athletic bullfighters, dressed to kill in their elaborate, flamboyant, and heavily embroidered ‘suits of light’ are no longer part of Barcelona’s arts and entertainment; the six hundred year old tradition of fighting bulls is now banned here. Whether for animal welfare or simply as a rejection of Spanish culture is hard to decipher, but either way it is a powerful indication of how Barcelona has a clear sense of identity and is not

From the Andalusian warmth of Seville to the cold waters of the Cantabrian Sea, the ‘Ruta de la Plata’ is one of Spain’s great journeys Looking out there is nothing but the silvery grey sea, stretching to a distant horizon; whilst above me, casting a huge shadow is a colossal yet elegantly curved structure of concrete some eight metres above my head. Immense in size and weight, yet somehow it is just suspended there, framing a view of ever changing light. I’m standing beneath Eduardo Chillida’s modern sculpture ‘Elogio del Horizonte’ (Eulogy to the Horizon) on Spain’s Cantabrian Coast. It’s

Enjoy a cool Yule of winter sports and après ski in the mountains of Andalucía’s Sierra Nevada The ground starts to fall away below me, and within a minute the snow clad rooftops of the village shrink within the stunning landscape of rock and snow. The sky is clear with light bouncing off the steep, brilliant white mountainsides. It’s strangely peaceful as I glide through the air, with just the occasional light shudder as the cabin passes over the steel towers bolted onto the rock below. I’m riding one of the twin gondolas that run from Sierra Nevada’s ski resort

Andrew Forbes travels through northern Spain, discovering the magical ‘Camino de Santiago’ in timeless elegance aboard the TransCantabrico ‘Gran Lujo’ Train. For over a thousand years people have been taking the spiritual and meditative journey along the ‘The Way of St. James’ to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Santiago de Compostela.  As one of the great cities of pilgrimage on the planet, Santiago de Compostela has captured the imagination of generations, and still now it is a magnate for those looking for a moment to escape the demands of modern life. Yet we’re not about to embark on an

Travel like a King throughout the heart of historic Andalucía on board a restored Royal Train, discovering UNESCO treasures With rolling countryside of olive groves; rugged mountain ranges; renaissance cities; and ancient capitals, there is no doubt that there is a great deal to experience in the heart of Andalucía. Yet is it possible to enjoy much of it in just a week? The answer is a resounding yes, if you let the train take the strain. For many, the thought of taking the train for pleasure, rather than just as a means to reaching a destination is alien. Anyone

My enchanting suite was evocatively called ‘Java’; just one of the magical guest rooms at Can Xuxu, a luxury, boutique property that provides a highly personalised experience for its privileged guests. The 19th century finca is described as ‘a boutique villa, combining the atmosphere of a private residence with the service of a luxury hotel’. The owner and host, Alexandre a former fashion designer, has brought his French flair to the island with the creation of Can Xuxu. Here he has successfully pulled together the Ibiza laid back chic style with modern, ethnic and Mediterranean touches. ‘Java’ is one of

 Dubai has become a maelstrom of construction, commerce, and tourism. Yet there is one place to shelter from this desert storm; the exclusive, luxury Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve of ‘Al Maha’ Dubai has redefined luxury tourism, not just in the Middle East, but across the globe, offering an extraordinary mix of high quality hospitality. Its rapid growth and the move towards higher volume tourism does not mean there is no where left for the elite to enjoy. There is still a magical corner of this sparkling Emirate that offers genuine exclusivity and tranquillity; a place where one can rediscover the