Did you know that Lebanon has some of the best preserved Roman ruins in the Middle East? The ancient city of Heliopolis, now known as Baalbek, was a place of worship of Venus, Jupiter, and Bacchus. This shot features the six remaining columns of the Temple of Jupiter. Thank you to Nick Kembel of Nick […]
The hottest thing to pop up in Beirut’s Clemenceau district is a new delivery and catering kitchen called JAI. The blood, sweat and tears of Beiruti-born Chef Wael Lazkani, Jai offers a little taste of South East Asia in the heart of Beirut. It officially launched in February 2013 and has fast become a firm […]
There is something oddly reassuring about sipping Afternoon Tea away from the shores of Britain. The whole process is very well done by many hotels, and here are our top picks in the Middle East. In addition to enjoying this fine English tradition, this indulgence allows you to enjoy the splendor, décor and hospitality of some of the best hotels […]
Croatia We’re seeing a real rise in bookings for Croatia, and this must be due in no small part to the emerging presence of impressive design hotels like the dramatic Monte Mulini in Rovinj and the stunning Hotel Bellevue in Dubrovnik. I visited Pula many years ago when it was part of Yugoslavia, and you […]
Tripadvisor has released its ’10 hidden gems for wining and dining’. Making the shortlist are the following: 1. Enoteca de Belem, Lisbon, Portugal 2. La Vineria Bollicine, Sorrento, Italy 3. Chez Marcel, Paris, France 4. Voyager Estate, Margaret River, Australia 5. The Wine Cellar, Willemstad, Curacao 6. Rust en Vrede, Stellenbosch, South Africa 7. La […]
Beirut, Lebanon has long been known as the “Paris of the Middle East”. Certainly, the bloody civil war that raged there from 1975 until 1989 took a toll on the city, but the residents and leaders are taking an aggressive approach to not only rebuilding, but also making it better than it was before. Beirut […]
When the beaming smiles of the doormen at Four Seasons Hotel Beirut dazzle their very first guests, the city will take another step forward in its renaissance as a 21st Century metropolis. After ten years in planning and five years under construction, the hotel opens as a gleaming statement of intent for visitors to enjoy […]
The MENA Travel Awards held earlier this month celebrate the best of the luxury travel industry in the Middle East and North Africa (hence the MENA bit). There were many nominees and awards so below I’ve given a short summation by listing only the platinum winners; the United Arab Emirates dominates the honours: Platinum winners […]
