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Tenerife is known for its many micro-climates, from wet to arid desert, each one coming with its own unique flora, fauna and visual experience. A visit to the island’s famous Teide National Park allows you to witness all of them. Located at the base of an active volcano atop Tenerife’s highest point, Teide is a spectacle that must be seen to be believed. The desert-like terrain likens itself to another planet with vegetation that only grows here and nowhere else in the world. Climbing the twists and turns of the roads that lead to Teide is daunting, but magical. On the 90-minute journey, you will witness rainforest, deciduous forests and the ancient laurisilva forest, which is extinct on mainland Europe and holds claim as some of the oldest surviving forest in the world. Arriving to Teide the impressive Teide Peak volcano instantly puts your surroundings into perspective. Flowering shrubs and trees that only bloom once in a lifetime bend and sway in a way reminiscent of Dr. Seus drawings from childhood. Rock formations and boulders are impressive and small creatures, like lizards, dart in and out of small caves. After your visit, stop by the small café for a Canarian coffee and pastries while soaking-in the impressive views. You’ll never be able to erase this experience from your mind once you’ve witnessed Teide, it’s just impossible.

Throughout the central Fes medina and around the city you will notice a plethora of feline friends roaming the streets and alleyways. They sit patiently waiting for a bite of fish to drop from a seafood stall, they nap on egg cartons underneath the shade and they rub against you in an effort to get a little attention. The cats of Fes are adorable and live on the streets. The residents respect them and generally feed and water the little creatures which makes them happy. As a visitor you will see cats of all colors coexisting here – they are an integral part of the fabric that makes up the city and have become an iconic symbol of the streets. It’s a beautiful sight to witness.

With all the options to get between Victoria, British Columbia and Vancouver, Helijet is by far the quickest, most luxurious and scenic. The helicopter service, which runs frequently back and forth between downtown Victoria and downtown Vancouver, offers their clients the best of on-the-ground and in-the-air service. Frequented by diplomats and local VIPs, the service caters to those who know how valuable their time is, and appreciate Helijet’s convenience. On a recent trip between Victoria and Vancouver, we were taken to the company’s airport just a stone’s throw from downtown Victoria on Dallas Road. Checking-in was swift and easy, relaxing for a few minutes in Helijet’s lounge of leather chairs and snacking on granola, fruit, water and coffee. Just a few minutes after arriving, baggage was checked and we were boarding the flight. Our captain met us at the door and we were escorted out into the open space, up a few steps and into the shiny blue and white flying machine. It was all quite glamorous. Lift-off happened almost immediately and we were soon on our way for a 30-minute flight across the Salish Sea, over the islands and into a glassy and stunning downtown Vancouver. The views were spectacular and the ride was a smooth as can be. We landed safely downtown and were met by a driver and taken to our hotel. It couldn’t have been easier. Flights through Helijet are reasonably priced and worth every dollar. You get so much more than transportation with their service. Be sure to bring your camera or prepare you phone for a lot of picture-taking. With views like this, you just can’t help it.

Le Palais Selman , or The Selman as it’s known, is a newer property in the beautiful Moroccan city of Marrakech, truly fit for the luxury-minded, fashion-forward traveler. This is not an over exaggerated statement as the hotel is furnished with invaluable artifacts from the home of late designer Gianni Versace which are mixed with personal pieces plucked from the homes of the hotel’s owner. Pulling-in, down a stone drive ladened with desert palms, you are aware of the experience awaiting inside. Fountains and bronze statues of Arabian horses greet you as the staff members welcome guests with wide grins. You are instantly at home. The Selman is grand, large in scale and design, but intimate in execution. With only 61 rooms, suites and riads (personal homes), make no mistake that this is a boutique hotel experience. The property is privately owned and, therefore, makes it known that, as a guest, you are instantly welcomed as part of the family. The general manager, Karim Fehry Fassy, personally greets many at the door of the hotel as it’s his mission to make each person feel as if they are the king or queen of the castle. Check-in is done in-room, for those who wish not to be seen, and Romain, the “experience manager”, introduces himself. He is, shall we say, your advocate while on property. Romain will organize everything from dinner reservations, a hammam treatment in the hotel’s incredible spa or a private helicopter charter into the Sahara desert. As guest at the hotel, you will notice throughout that no detail has been left unattended. Jacques Garcia, the property’s designer, challenged himself to stick to Moorish heritage while infusing international style and glamor into the space without being overdone. Ebony-stained plasterwork, antique rugs and the most perfect mosaic can be found in every corner. Fuchsia, purple and gold add bright pops to each public area. This hotel is sprawling, seductive and truly a sexy environment – one where it’s easy to feel completely to yourself and not bombarded by other guests staying on-property. Whether you’re in a standard room (which is anything but standard), a suite or one of the five personal homes, called riads, your experience will be outstanding. Each guest room is decorated in a way that reflects the public spaces of the hotel, many with large balconies, sitting areas, daybeds, oversized bathrooms with free standing showers and tubs as well as my favorite, televisions which are disguised by a dark and smoky mirror. The influence of horses is everywhere as the hotel’s trademark is its award-winning Arabian horses. From many rooms you can see their stables as the horses reside on-site. The Selman offers guests the opportunity to witness a fantastic horse experience led by one of the master trainers – this is not to be missed. Photos of the horses dot the hotel and rooms, which adds an exotic air to the place. The Selman offers a spa to rival most in Marrakech, Espace VItalité Chenot, which guests will find to be a true haven of relaxation, wellness and beauty. The incredibly long and visually stunning pool is outfitted with personal, butler-attended cabanas where you can relax with a seasonal cocktail and snack. The Selman has three on-site restaurants and bars: Assyl (restaurant) which is inspired by Ottoman and Andalusian flavors with a Moroccan twist, The Pavilion (restaurant) which is a casual place to have lunch poolside with fresh, seasonal international cuisine and The Selman (bar) which offers music nightly. The Selman often has a DJ spinning tracks in the evening, creating the perfect environment to sip cocktails and mingle with friends. You don’t have to leave the hotel to get a well-rounded and delicious culinary experience in Marrakech. With so many luxury hotel options in Marrakech it’s often difficult to choose one that will suit your needs. The Selman is different. It’s not a hotel, it’s a palace. And, in a palace, things are not done the typical way. You will notice this and you will like this. The Selman is young, decadent and truly a monumental experience you will want to return to again and again. There’s just no place like it.

On site at the beautiful Le Palais Selman in Marrakech, lies two of the most beautiful Andalusian-style stables , designed by Jacques Garcia, where thoroughbred Arabian horses engage in a beautiful ballet for their guests’ enjoyment. A private breeding program run by the hotel is responsible for these fabulous creatures, their coats black, white and chestnut shining intensely in the desert sun. As a guest of the property, or for those staying elsewhere, you can organize a private show where the master trainers will encourage the horses to rear, leap and pose for you to witness their majesty. As this is a private experience, it can be tailor-made to your enjoyment. You can opt to spend time with the horses in the stable or have a breakfast in the nearby fountain while watching the show. After, see the caretakers hose the horses down for a cool break – which they love. There simply isn’t another experience like this in Marrakech. Whether you’re a horse lover or not – you will be impressed with the sheer beauty and gentleness of these creatures that call The Selman home.

Volubilis is a partly excavated Roman city situated near Meknes, between Fes and Rabat, and is an easy day trip from Fes. Built in a fertile agricultural area, it was developed from the 3rd century BC onwards as a Phoenician settlement. The city grew rapidly under Roman rule from the 1st century AD and expanded to cover nearly 100 acres surrounded by walls. The city erected a number of major public buildings in the 2nd century, including a basilica, temple and triumphal arch. Its prosperity, which was derived principally from olive growing, prompted the construction of many fine town-houses with large mosaic floors that are still on view today. The ruins of Rome and Athens are beautiful but see hordes of tourists trying to snap the perfect pictures throughout the year. Volubilis is nearly empty, most of the time, which means you will often have the entire place to yourself. My favorite part of the city are the mosaic floors and one very intriguing stone depicting a large male, ahem, penis, where legend has it that the men of the city would compare their own nether regions to in an effort to declare their manhood. Don’t miss the opportunity to see this incredible place.

The luxurious and iconic Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia is the grand dame of the city, welcoming you into her inner walls of comfort and service. This beautiful landmark, which has been a symbol for the city since 1908, stands proudly in front of Victoria’s harbor, its bricks and slate covered in green ivy and its gardens overgrowing with colorful flowers that perfume the air. Pulling-up from the airport, just a mere 30 minute away, the hotel welcomes you with a smile and open door into its grand lobby. The Empress was designed by Francis Rattenbury in the chateau style for Canadian Pacific Hotels. The structure, always a point of luxury, was originally conceived for the business passengers coming through Victoria – offering them a home-away-from-home environment in which to relax, unwind and recharge. Over the years, the hotel had many owners and even faced demolition due to the expenses incurred in keeping the property functioning properly. But, with the citizens’ of Victoria support and protest, The Empress was saved and protected forever as a “National Historic Site of Canada”. Today, The Empress is a member of the wonderful Fairmont Hotel brand and is run like a well-oiled machine. From the moment of check-in and throughout your stay, you understand why guests return, year after year, to the hotel. The service desks in the lobby are well-staffed as are the four dining options: The Bengal Lounge, The Empress Room, The Veranda and the Afternoon Tea Experience. One of the most incredible ways to witness the service at the hotel and experience a bit of its history is to indulge in the Afternoon Tea experience where you can sip exotic blends of tea from around the globe and munch on finger sandwiches and freshly baked scones – delightful. Rooms at the hotel are large and comfortable – some with city views and some with harbor views. The hotel offers a large amount, 477 to be exact, of rooms and suites. Each one is done in a traditional English-country style with soft and muted colors, as well as floral patterns. Beginning in October of 2015, the rooms will be renovated to help bring them to a place closer to the expectations of luxury travelers. They will be modern and clean in design, while still retaining the DNA of the hotel. But, until then, they are very well-equipped and comfortable with wonderfully cozy beds, large bathrooms and coffee and tea for guests’ consumption at no charge. The Empress offers a spa with indoor pool and treatment rooms for guests to use and partake in a day of relaxation. This is the perfect respite for the morning after arrival. If your sights are on adventure, the concierge will help you arrange an afternoon out in the nearby Gulf Islands, exploring the city or whale watching on the open sea. The Empress makes it their mission to aid in creating the most memorable stay. My favorite part of the stay was the morning breakfast. The large spread is served a-la-carte or buffet style with everything under the sun to enjoy. The breakfast here gives you energy to take-on exploring the city or nearby area. I fell in-love with the sticky buns as well as the oatmeal served with honey that comes from the hotel’s own bee hives. Overall, staying at The Empress is a fantastic experience and one that is a “must” for any first-time, or returning luxury traveler to Victoria.

Serving as a blueprint for other colonial Spanish cities that came after it, those like Cartagena, Colombia and Antigua, Guatemala, San Cristóbal de La Laguna stands as an impressive reminder of the beauty and evolution resulting from Spain’s fingerprint on the Canary Islands and beyond to Latin America. Walking through La Laguna, as it’s known, is like stepping back in time when Spanish settlers and pirates first came to the area. The wealthy families who settled here constructed impressive buildings and outposts reminiscent of their homes on the mainland, and began anew. Today the city invites you to stroll through its quaint plazas and streets, stopping at one of the many cafes or restaurants to enjoy local delicacies. Shops selling Canarian treasures like pottery, wine and honey are plentiful. The colors and architecture of La Laguna must be witnessed firsthand. For any European or American interested in the history of how certain cities of today came to develop and function, La Laguna can offer a beautiful insight into our past, present and future.

A mere 45-minute drive from the center of Marrakech lies the beautiful Atlas mountains where you can explore deserted roads, deep canyons, riverbeds and UNESCO villages – all in the course of one day. Leaving your hotel after breakfast allows you ample time to get to the mountains and plan your excursion. The twists and turns in the road lead you over the hills and to blueish-green rivers splicing through ancient terrain. Small villages built of local stone seem to blend into the landscape in a chameleon-like manner, making it difficult to pick them out from the boulders that surround them. As a visitor, you can witness life as it was long ago, locals living off the land with goats and making the most of their seasonal crops. Along the way, you might spot roadside stands selling quartz or amethyst found nearby, or Moroccan handicrafts. Fossils which have been dug-up after thousands of years of being buried are readily available for purchase – at much more reasonable prices than your local antique store. If so inclined, you can stay the night in the mountains, in luxury, at Sir Richard Branson’s Kasbah Tamadot . This hotel is incredible. Don’t miss a day in the Atlas Mountains while in Marrakech – the experience will stay with you always.

The views from of mountains surrounding Adelboden are breathtaking. Along the many hiking trails which curve around rivers, through valleys and over meadows, you’ll notice benches for sitting. The benches are strategically placed for rest and to take-in the silence and peace that invades you when here. There’s nothing like it.

Villa Marina , perched on a hill overlooking the sea and Capri’s beautiful port, takes our title as one of the top hotels on the island. Capri has been popular with visitors since the early 1950s, so you can imagine the plethora of options when choosing a luxury property to hang your hat during your time here. But, not all of the luxury hotel options on the island are created equal. Some rise to the occasion and some meet an “okay” standard at best. Villa Marina rises above all of this to truly stand out as a place that offers not only the most incredibly idyllic setting for a stay on the island, but service and amenities that will leave you truly impressed and comfortable throughout your stay. The hotel is a haven set just off a winding road, which takes you from Capri’s port into the center of the village. This advantageous location is a perfect medium to offer guests easy access for days of shopping around town or boating through the crystal blue waters, which have made the island so famous. Entering the main drive, you instantly feel a sense of peace and get the feeling that you are now in the hands of the staff whose intention it is to help you relax and enjoy your surroundings. Entering the hotel’s intimate lobby, you’re welcomed by the reception staff. Bags are whisked away to your room and you’re offered assorted snacks and a welcome cocktail made from sparkling white wine and lemons, which seem to grow everywhere on this island. After an easy check-in you’re led through lush and colorful gardens up a small hill and into the main building which houses most of the 21 rooms and suites, the guest lounge, Ziqu Restaurant and a spa with indoor swimming pool. Up a short elevator ride and the room welcomes you with a spacious interior and a terrace, which looks out over the property and across the azure Mediterranean. My room, which was named Krupp after the artist who spent time on the island (all of the rooms are named after artists who have ties to the island), was large with ample closets, high ceilings, a queen-sized bed dressed in crisp white linens and glass shelves with books for me to peruse throughout my stay. The rooms are filled with items that belonged to these various artists, which offers guests an immediate and intimate relationship with the island. My room was quite comfortable, to say the least, and I appreciated the ample closet space and marble bathroom. Villa Marina offers guests a full-service spa, Spa Stai, with indoor pool, fitness area, Turkish bath, sauna and various treatments inspired by the Mediterranean region. The outdoor pool is a respite for tired feet, soar from walking through Capri’s hilly terrain. The blue and white tile mosaic on the bottom of the pool is representative of tile work found in the Amalfi region. You can also relax with an iced tea in the hotel’s extensive gardens with wafts of lemon, thyme and rose enveloping the air around you. If your itinerary is more active, the concierge will arrange trips into the village with the hotel’s courtesy shuttle or help you plan a day hiking to Villa Jovis or boating around the island. What is special and resonate about Villa Marina is that they seem to make all the important ingredients involved in a “luxury” stay come together seamlessly for their guests. It’s not an easy task and many hotels only succeed at a few. But, here, it’s evident that they have a formula that works, and it’s all headed by Director of Operations, Stefano Ruocco. My recommendation is to make Villa Marina your “home away from home” while in Capri. The only problem you’ll have during your stay is when it’s time to pack your bags and checkout – leaving their little paradise behind isn’t easy to do.

Adelboden’s forests are filled with trees of different varieties. They invite you in to explore their centuries-old stories – which you can see in the roots, bark and leaves of each tree that stands proudly in the ground. From the young to the old, these trees tell a story of the area, the people who have witnessed their great strength and wisdom. Some have grown in confidence and some have fallen. The ones that have fallen have become part of a different story, as moss creeps-up on to their remains and claims them to sustain its own future. But, all is a cycle. And, here, in Adelboden, that message has never been more clear.