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When selecting one of the many places to explore in Athens, Greece – one cannot overlook the iconic Acropolis . The Acropolis is an ancient citadel located on a high rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance, the most famous being the Parthenon. The word acropolis comes from the Greek words ἄκρον (akron, “edge, extremity”) and πόλις (polis, “city”). While there is evidence that the hill was inhabited as far back as the fourth millennium B.C., it was Pericles in the fifth century B.C. who coordinated the construction of the site’s most important buildings including the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheionand the temple of Athena Nike. The Parthenon and the other buildings were seriously damaged during the 1687 siege by the Venetians in the Morean War when the Parthenon was being used for gunpowder storage and was hit by a cannonball. Today, the ruins stand as one of the most visited spots in the country and symbolizes the importance of Greek culture and society in the role of the spread of democratic societies across the planet. You can visit here on your own or with a guide, stopping at the foot of the hill to see the beautiful new Acropolis Museum. The museum houses many of the relics and fragments found by archaeologists on the Acropolis and around Athens. The museum is a stunning work of architecture in itself and serves as a spot to educate yourself about the importance of the hill before trekking-up to the ruins. The entire experience will take roughly a half-a-day, and it will be one of your best spent in the city.

In a small area of St. Baths dubbed “Le Cul-de-Sac”, sits a whitewashed boutique hotel catering to those who understand and appreciate extreme luxury. As you wind through St. Barths twisty roads from the small airport in Gustavia, you come upon what looks like a dream, or a picture from a postcard at the very least. The elegant and incredibly designed Le Sereno meets you with a warm welcome and encourages you to unpack your bags, unwind and stay awhile. Checking-in to Le Sereno is easy. A chauffeured vehicle meets you at the airport and delivers you straight to the reception desk where the hotel’s young and attractive staff gather your details and escort you down, layer after layer, landscaped gardens and wooden tiers which all lead to the oceanfront and garden bungalows. Mine, bungalow 9, featured an incredibly private garden engulfed in cactus, palms and hibiscus flowers. The front patio with lounge chairs and white candles captured my attention and drew my eye to the sliding glass doors which opened to my modern room. The bungalow featured a slew of textures. Rock, granite, porcelain, linen, cotton and wood – it all married beautifully to create an atmosphere of tropical chic – something the hotel has clearly grasped. The bungalow was well outfitted with a flat-screen television, ample closet space, a king-sized bed and open bathroom with a stone and glass shower – one that I barely wanted to leave while lathering-up before dinner. As the sun set, the front desk called to inform me that dinner reservations had been made at the restaurant on site. Dressed in a denim oxford and casual white linen pants, I felt perfectly at home in the clean white space overlooking the moonlit waves rolling-in over the beach. The food throughout dinner from the house-made sushi to the impeccable miso glazed sea bass was outstanding. And, let’s not neglect the “hot from the oven” French baguettes served before the meal. It is a little slice of Paris – Caribbean style. Le Sereno has made sure every guest will enjoy his or her time. With amenities like a white sand beach, staffed seaside cabanas, beverage and food service by the pool and both paddle boats and boards for guests’ use, there is nothing short of fun here. I chose to spend the entire day poolside gazing out over the crystalline waters with a detox green juice in hand. I stopped only to explore the waves with my paddle board – the perfect afternoon. Service at Le Sereno is top-notch. There really is nothing they have missed. It is an experience that I can truly call “flawless” and one I will repeat soon. Go and stay for a few days to see what I mean. My only regret is that I did not stay longer.

One thing you can count-on throughout travel in Israel, especially in the young city of Tel Aviv, is interesting architecture. The city’s 4,000 or so Bauhaus buildings collectively called the “White City” are recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Explore this aesthetic patrimony at the Bauhaus Foundation Museum. You can’t miss the museum’s two-hour walking tour, conducted in English, Hebrew and German – it will give you an incredible overview of one of Tel Aviv’s most iconic sites.

Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico is known for a cluster of buildings that make up an important area dubbed a world heritage site. The central library at the university is covered in murals from artist Juan O’Gorman.The murals are colorful and stretch from ground to sky, making a strong statement on campus. The southern wall represents Mexico’s colonial past, the eastern wall represents the contemporaneous world and the western wall represents the university and its place in modern-day Mexico. Visitors can walk around the campus and enjoy every tile used to create these incredible works of art.

Santorini has many vineyards producing their own, unique varieties of wine each season. And, some of these vineyards offer much more than just wine. Near the beach on the southeast side of the island sits a small, family-owned winery which marries art with wine. A painting studio is attached to the tasting room where visitors can come, purchase a canvas, paint a pastoral scene of the beach and grazing horses – all while sipping on local red or white varieties. What’s better than drunk painting?

Just a quick and beautiful 30-minute drive from Portland you will find one of the most beautiful spots in the Pacific Northwest, Multnomah Falls. A waterfall as magnificent and memorable as any in the country is a towering 611-foot cascade of icy water that pours down jagged rocks and into a large pool of water, running into the nearby Columbia River. According to Native American lore, Multnomah Falls was created to win the heart of a young princess who wanted a hidden place to bathe. Although you can see the top portion of the falls from the highway, to view both tiers you have to walk to the viewing area located in a carved-out opening in the rock face. Tilting your head up in the narrow rocky confines of the steep cliffs, you get a mind-boggling perspective on the sheer magnitude of this waterfall and feel the light mist on your face. Throughout the area, other falls exist and you can easily stop to peek at those too – all beautiful. The region, known as the Columbia River Gorge, is a must for any visitor to Portland.

Jaffa , the ancient city located just south of Tel Aviv, can trace its roots back to the Bible. It is said to have been named for Noah’s son, Japhet, who constructed the beautiful city walls and winding corridors after the Flood. And it is from here that Jonah embarked on his adventure with the whale. This once thriving port has played host to the Roman and Ottoman civilizations. Steeping the area even further in lore, Apostle Peter performed miracles here, and later Richard the Lionheart and Napoleon both laid claim to it. Jaffa is also the city from where the founders of Tel Aviv originated. Today, walking through Jaffa is like strolling through history. Except now, these ancient buildings house art galleries and cafés. Throughout the city, narrow alleyways funnel you past jewelry-makers and fruit vendors into the primary square, where a thriving flea market sells everything from antiques to regional snacks. You must visit while in Tel Aviv.

Fundación/Colección Jumex was created in 2001 and is considered to be one of the most important contemporary art collections in Latin America. Its aim is to promote production, advance research, and encourage critical thinking about contemporary art at an international level. Through its exhibitions and extensive grant and scholarship programmes, Fundación/Colección Jumex works to generate innovative research and curatorial proposals to stimulate reflection about contemporary art worldwide. The collection is based in Ecatepec in the outskirts of the city and opened a new multidisciplinary space in Mexico City in 2013, designed by the British architect David Chipperfield. This is the perfect place to take-in that which is being “talked-about” in the Mexican art world.

2 hours northeast of Athens, Greece, lies the “center of the universe”, otherwise known as Delphi . Considered by the ancient Greeks to be the center of the universe, Delphi was a place sought-out throughout history by visitors from Greece and from other territories further afield. They would come to trade, speak about philosophy and learn from other cultures. The site was believed to be determined by Zeus when he sought to find the center of his “Grandmother Earth”, Gaia. He sent two eagles flying from the eastern and western extremities, and the path of the eagles crossed over Delphi. This story is very beautiful and dramatic, an important part of Greek mythology of course. Earlier myths include traditions that Pythia, or the Delphic oracle, was already the site of an important oracle in the pre-classical Greek world (as early as 1400 BC) and, rededicated, served as the major site during classical times for the worship of the god Apollo. Apollo’s sacred precinct in Delphi was a panhellenic sanctuary, where every four years, starting in 586 BC, athletes from all over the Greek world competed in the Pythian Games. Today, the ruins stand as a testament of time as they barely survived war and were buried under mountains of dirt before being uncovered in the 20th century. Nearby is the Archaeological Museum of Delphi which houses relics – made from marble, gold and ivory – all found at the site as well. Delphi is truly magical and is an absolute “must” for anyone visiting the greater Athens area.

After you’ve spent a couple of days on the beach and exploring the enchanting Mykononian town of Chora, you can make the short hop from the harbor to visit the colorful “Little Venice”. Jutting right up against the blue Aegean Sea, Little Venice is a grouping of small houses and stores lining the sea, with a mere few inches between their foundations and the water. The whitewashed facades are juxtaposed with yellows, reds, blues and more – breathtaking. Here, you can shop in the little boutiques, stop for a bite and walk along the shore to admire the beauty. But, a word of warning, don’t spend too much time here, otherwise you might end-up buying your own little slice of heaven in “Little Venice”.

In the beautiful neighborhood of Spittelberg, in the buzzing center of Vienna, sits one of the city’s most beautiful and luxurious hotels, Hotel Sans Souci . The building is historic, being built in 1872, and has operated as a hotel for most of its existence. Somehow, you can feel that as a guest. Hospitality flows through the veins of this establishment. Entering the hotel, you instantly feel like you’ve entered a labyrinth of art and disco, in a way, as the interiors were designed by well-known designer, Yoo. Purple and gold are the signature colors and permeate the space. Large objet de art and plush modern furnishing dot the lobby. Guests are welcomed with warm towels, homemade granola bars and a warm ginger tea. The fleet of blonde staff members all smile as you make your way past the Veranda restaurant and into the main reception space. After check-in I was taken right up to my room – a spacious one with wooden floors, a foyer, a main bedroom and large bathroom. It was equipped with a white, light and bright color palette and modern technologies. A large mirror faded into a flatscreen television with the push of a button and the courtyard view was peaceful and beautiful. The staff at the Sans Souci are attentive and try very hard to make your stay memorable. They are willing to do almost anything to assist you with restaurant reservations, theatre tickets and more. One of the staff members met me in the lobby on my second evening to escort me down into the large spa and fitness area. I was impressed as the area features a huge pool, sauna, steam rooms, spa treatment rooms and more. I took a dip in the pool, which was cool and refreshing. The hotel also offers a bar, a restaurant and a lounge. Both locals and guests mingle over cocktails which are expertly crafted by well-trained mixologists. The feel as a guest at the Sans Souci is relaxed luxury – comfortable. It’s easy to unwind here, in a very central and convenient part of the city.

Just north of Tel Aviv, in the luxurious community of Herzliya, lies one of Israel’s most incredibly comfortable and luxurious hotel properties, the Ritz Carlton Herzliya . Traveling to Israel leaves any luxury-minded visitor with the challenge of deciding where to spend most of their time. Travelers can choose from historic Jerusalem, sun-soaked Eilat or the desert. But, Tel Aviv has a particular draw – everything. With world-class shopping, beautiful beaches, interesting museums and thumping night-life, Tel Aviv is the perfect jumping-off point on a trip to Israel. In fact, it’s the perfect long weekend from places like London, Paris and, dare we say, New York. The Ritz Carlton is the only choice for your home away from home in this fantastic city. Pulling-up to the Ritz Carlton Herzliya, you are instantly struck by the unique exterior which was designed by New York-based architecture firm Studio Gaia. The steel and glass-framed exterior reflects the blue from the Mediterranean and leaves you with an instant feeling of calm. The hotel is connected to a large mall with restaurants, cafes and shopping within a two-minute walk. The marina, located in the rear of the hotel, glitters in the sun with white yachts owned by the area’s most affluent residents. Doors swing open and up an elevator you go to instantly find yourself inside a modern and minimally decorated lobby. The lobby is marked by a large living area where guests can enjoy cocktails as well as snacks from the bar. Flower arrangements dot the room and, of course, stunning views of the marina command your attention. I was escorted to a duplex suite on the 9th floor of the hotel, with a terrace large enough to do back flips on – several times over. The desaturated wide-plank wooden floors of the space were the perfect foundation for a living area and open kitchen, outfitted with a sink, stainless steel microwave, Nespresso machine, ding table and two story ceilings. Up the stairs revealed a large bedroom with views of the marina and a glassed-in bathroom overlooking the entire suite – pure heaven. I was welcomed to the Ritz with a “Sparkling Marina” – a champagne cocktail named after the location of the hotel. This was just the start, but set the tone for the stay. Over three days, I experienced the best in hospitality any luxury traveler could ask for. The staff here are very well trained and willing to do anything to make their guests happy. This isn’t always easy to find in Israel, but, at the Ritz, it’s “the way”. Every experience from breakfast in the Kosher restaurant to the bar, showed that the staff here really do care and want to take five-star service to another level. The hotel offers amenities like a full-sized gym with the latest equipment, a rooftop bar and heated swimming pool, shopping, concierge and even residences if you just can’t get enough and really want to call this small slice of heaven “home”. Overall the hotel is fantastic and deserves the accolades it’s received since opening in 2013. If you’re coming to Israel whether to visit family, friends or on a beach holiday just to “get away”, make the Ritz Carlton Herzliya your choice.