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Milan’s Hotel Principe di Savoia, part of the esteemed Dorchester Collection, sits on the beautiful Piazza della Repubblica in the heart of the city. A testament to luxury and attentive service, the hotel is our pick for the best Milan has to offer in luxury accommodations. Offering 301 rooms and suites, each decorated in the air of 19th-century Lombard designs, rooms are spacious and beautiful. The suites, in fact, are taken to an entirely different level as many have multiple areas which include sitting rooms, offices and cozy bedrooms with large marble baths attached. Rooms feature high speed internet, a refrigerated bar and Milan’s most incredible bathrooms (fantastically spacious showers, included) stocked with toiletries from Acqua di Parma. I was welcomed to my suite with a chilled bottle of prosecco and chocolate-dipped fruit, which ws a lovely touch. The hotel, though large, feels intimate. The cooridoors are well-planned and outfitted with warm furnishings and art. A rooftop fitness center, called “Club 10”, offers a heated swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam bath, state-of-the-art exercise equipment and a spa with an extensive treatment menu. If you’re into wellness and taking care of your body, you’ve found Nirvana in Milan. Hotel Principe di Savoia is also a choice for dining if you’re staying with them or even if you’re just visiting the city. Their two restaurants, Acanto and the Thierry Despont-designed Il Salotto, offer Milanese and international fare which is delicious. Breakfast is served in Il Salotto and is one of my favorite hotel breakfasts due to its wide array of food offerings that are sourced from Italian producers. Breakfast pastries are sinful. Overall service is what makes this hotel great. There is no request too big or small for them, which is important in the world of luxury. I had several small requests and they were met with excitement and willingness. My two days at Hotel Principe di Savoia were relaxing and comfortable – just like I had hoped it to be. If you’re traveling to Milan, don’t miss it.

Pejacevic Castle, which is more a manor than castle, is a beautiful and surprising museum located in the town of Virovitica. Pejacevic was built in the late baroque style in the early 1800s and rose to fame as the home of Dora Pejacevic, Europe’s first female composer. She lived here with her family – her image, and personal belongings, are everywhere. Strolling around the rooms, you might bump into the composer’s piano, the family’s wooden wardrobes or some of Dora’s personal possessions. These are not under lock and key, but open for the public to enjoy. Some of the rooms have also been dedicated to educating the public on the area’s wildlife and traditions, housing artifacts that show what life was once like at Pejacevic. The museum is open year round and is slowly being renovated. I suggest stopping-in to visit the home of Dora and to learn more about her life in Eastern Croatia.

The Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is an icon in the city, but new in the eyes of luxury hotel goers by way of a multi-million dollar renovation which has left the hotel in tip top shape for those who expect nothing but the best. As a property opened in 1923, the grandeur and charm of what has been a place frequented by sitting presidents, heads of state, celebrities and others, remains. What guests are left with is the perfect combination of old and new, to soak-in the history and legend, while still enjoying the five-star modern amenities that makes this hotel great. 226 guest rooms, ball rooms, a state-of-the-art spa and gym, three restaurants, a bar and other public areas have been re-imagined and decorated to a tee, meshing seamlessly with their surroundings in this urban, seaside rainforest. Walking through the hotel you might notice white linens with splashes of palm leaves by the sparkling pool, ornate oil paintings in the lobby and Cipriani restaurant, wall-to-wall marble in the spa or warm wood textures in the antique furniture selected for the rooms. Every area, whether big or small, makes sense and pleases those who know good design. Things that remain the same, and have been constant at the Copa, include service and attention to detail. The army of staff go above and beyond to make your stay memorable. There are other luxury properties in Rio de Janeiro and a handful of new properties opening over the next several years, but the Copacabana Palace has a firm grasp on what it means to please their guests. The concierge will organize a sunrise picnic at the base of Christ the Redeemer, a private car and tour of the fabled Confeitaria Colombo downtown or a lifting Biologique Recherche facial in the spa. No detail is left unnoticed. Rooms at the hotel, whether the penthouse suite or standard guest room, come with a level of comfort only the Copacabana Palace can offer. Views of the city or sea, a welcome fruit bowl with tropical varieties from the Amazon, a plate of brigadeiros and fresh still water daily. Housekeeping is attentive twice per day with the morning make-up and the evening turn-down. Rooms are cozy, no matter the size and feel like a room in your home – a place to get truly comfortable in and let all your cares slip away. We love the Copacabana Palace – there’s no comparison in the city. For those looking for the perfect hotel in Rio de Janeiro that brings the past, present, and offers you extreme comfort and luxury, look no further than the glittering white walls of the legendary Copa.

Oh Parma, the glorious city of ham – famous the world over for its succulent prosciutto, architecture, shopping and surrounding countryside. What an amazing place. Here you can tour significant architectural marvels like the Palazzo della Pilotta, the Parma Cathedral, the unique Baptistery, the Santa Croce and the beautiful Teatro Farnese. But, don’t get too wrapped-up with history, there’s so much more to discover. Parma is a known shopping destination with fantastic streets and small boulevards lined with local Italian designers, specialty boutiques and markets selling regional food items and wine. You can easily spend a week wandering through these shops, never boring of their offerings. Many local markets source family cured ham, pancetta and prosciutto which are purchased directly from people who have been curing meats for over one hundred years. Parma is not a place to run around from site to site, this can be done in a matter of a day. But, what Parma offers visitors is more a feeling that is felt by simply sitting and observing the way of life. Bike riders rolling through the streets, Italian grandmas carrying their market finds home for dinner – it’s all very slow and romantic. Located only an hour from Bologna, Parma is worth a day or two of your time to experience an authentic corner of Emilia-Romagna.

A town surrounded by the Po River delta and ancient walls built in the 15th and 16th centuries with the beautiful Castello Estense lying at its center, Ferrara is a city where the old is very much integrated with the new. Arriving to Ferrara you’re instantly struck by the beauty of the brown stone, terra-cotta and brick buildings which were built as far back as the 11th century, as well as the legends of the famed Este family who ruled here for centuries. The Este family’s fingerprint is everywhere to be seen and heard around the UNESCO-protected Ferrara. The city’s current town hall served as their original residence and their castle, erected in 1385, is still surrounded by a moat filled with water (don’t fall in)! Other palaces, known as the Quattrocento – or built in the 15th century, were constructed by the family and their architects, and still dot the city’s landscape today. The Este family later moved to nearby Modena and Ferrara was then left to be ruled by the church. As a visitor to Ferrara it’s highly recommended to hire a guide if you’re a history buff. Here you can learn about the Este Family, the important Jewish community which once thrived here, the unique architecture and culture. For those who love food, Ferrara is a small epicenter of culinary tradition where local specialities like cappellacci di zucca (a nutmeg flavored ravioli stuffed with butternut squash) can be enjoyed. I recommend spending a couple of hours with a guide and then wandering around by yourself to soak-in the quaint streets, gelato stands and street performances, which happen often here. If you’re an art lover, the Giovanni Boldini Museum offers a look into the work and life of one of Ferrara’s greatest painters. If you’re seeking a luxury stay in Ferrara, I recommend a few nights at the beautiful and elegant Villa Horti della Fasanara , which is at the center of town and surrounded by a stunning park. All 6 rooms are well done and offer a boutique and attentive experience. Ferrara is a destination in itself, a place where you can spend many days and never tire of its charm. Some liken the city to Florence without the crowds – which can be maddening in the summer season. I was there in August and the city felt peaceful. I could easily steal a quiet corner to my own without much effort. Personally, I can’t wait to return to Ferrara – and urge you to visit as well.

Situated at the heart of beautiful Gundulić Square in a baroque building from the 1600s, the Pucic Palace is Dubrovnik’s manor of luxury, and a place where those who feel a need to experience extreme comfort while being wrapped in history will be most at home. With just 17 rooms and two suites, this boutique hotel understands service. The staff, who learn your name within your first moments at the hotel, make it their mission to exceed your expectations. Arriving to the sometimes crowded Ploce gate in the middle of August can be a challenge. Old Town Dubrovnik is the most visited part of the area and region, and the main gates become jammed a bit in the heart of the season. With your bags in tow, it might be easy to fear shlepping them through the pathways and crowds to find your hotel. The Pucic Palace doesn’t put their guests through that experience, thank God. They send a porter to meet you and escort you comfortably, baggage free, to their front door – a mere five minute walk through town. Checking-in is easy and can be done in your room if you’d like. The rooms, all uniquely furnished and outfitted with one-of-a-kind details, are luxurious and comfortable. My room was filled with original oil paintings and period pieces that looked as if they had just come from the Christie’s auction block. Bags were delivered promptly and I settled-in by taking a shower in the marble bathroom with a spacious tub/shower combination. The hotel informed me that breakfast would be served in Cafe Royal, one of their three restaurants. Breakfast left me wanting something more, but was a standard offering of eggs and other specialties to enjoy. The Pucic also offers two other restaurants, Defne and the Wine Bar, for additional food options. After breakfast, I headed to the perfectly located market, which is held almost daily just outside of the hotel’s door. Here you can buy everything from Croatian candies to homemade liquor, lavender and other items. It’s all very quaint. If you visit in the summer, June and September being ideal, the hotel offers entry into the exclusive Baje Beach Club and EastWest Beach Club. This is heaven, as you can waltz right onto the pebbly beach, plop yourself in a chair and order a cocktail. Why not? If the beach isn’t your thing, the hotel will organize a day on a boat or a sightseeing tour to nearby Mostar, Bosnia or Kotor, Montenegro. Staying at the Pucic Palace is a very nice experience where you are situated at the heart of the city and within easy walking to everything Dubrovnik has to offer. It’s intimate, cozy and feels like a true home away from home. I’m greatly looking forward to visiting again soon.

Part of Bologna’s rich heritage is food, especially pasta, and here you can find various establishments which allow you to learn how to make regional pasta specialties like tortellini and tagliatelle. One of these establishments is also a restaurant, “Uova e Farina” , which allows an in-depth look at the work that goes into making fresh pasta. Though easy once you get the hang of it, if I were making homemade pasta for my guests – I don’t think there would be a price high enough to compensate me for my efforts. But once through, the smiling faces of those enjoying your hard work makes it all worthwhile. At Uova e Farina I learned how to make tortellini and tagliatelle using farina and eggs in the traditional manner with a lot of eggs and a lot of elbow grease. Afterwards, I ate my through each helping smothered in a rich Bolognese sauce made by the chef that morning. Delicious.

Although the Ebola virus has now been officially cleared from the three countries it ravaged over the past year-and-a-half (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone), visitors have been cautious in making travel plans to the continent of Africa for fear of coming in contact with the disease. Brussels Airlines, who has championed Africa for nearly its entire existence for its beauty, rarity and tourism potential, stepped-in during the throws of the problem to support the countries severely affected, as well as the visitors who travel often to and from the region. Brussels Airlines mounted an effort that it continues to support, the “Africa Is Not Ebola” campaign (#AfricaIsNotEbola), to combat the fear surrounding travel to the continent. The campaign was created to help educate potential travelers about the virus and, simultaneously, show them that Africa, as a whole, is not synonymous with the disease. Serving 19 destinations in Africa, Brussels Airlines knows Africa better than most any other carrier in Europe, Asia or the Americas. I spoke with their VP of Sales for the region, Mr. Philippe Saeys-Desmedt, about the airline’s commitment to Africa, the courage it took not to pull out during the outbreak and the future of the continent in terms of tourism. IC: When did your love affair with Africa begin? PS: I lived in the bush as a kid. My love affair began at the beginning of my life, really. I’ve lived in many countries throughout Africa. IC: When did the airline’s relationship with Africa begin? PS: It began in 1923. The aircrafts at the time couldn’t make long-haul flights so it had to stop in many of the countries on its way to a destination. The airline always had a good relationship with those countries. IC: Why was it important for the airline to offer service to Africa from the beginning? PS: Belgium has always had a large presence in Africa and it was always a priority to serve its colonies, historically. IC: Africa is a changing, growing continent and, with that, can sometimes come instability. Why has the airline remained dedicated to serving the continent throughout often unstable circumstances? PS: There is a real attachment for us there. In 2012 we served 8 destinations in Africa. The success was so quick, our board decided to invest in more long-haul routes. Africa is our second home and our employees, both in Europe and Africa, feel that relationship strongly. We now have 17 destinations in Africa, 19 including two in Morocco. We’ve always felt at ease in Africa. IC: During the recent Ebola outbreak, Brussels Airlines was one of the first airlines to deliver medical supplies and medical staff to the affected areas, why didn’t you pull out and avoid the risk? PS: Panic happens when you don’t think. There was an epidemic, we had two options – stay or leave. What happens when you leave? Aid will not arrive, three countries would have been left completely alone. If you stop flying, people will continue to travel, but in an unregulated way. The danger of spreading the disease is more. We decided to think about it in a scientific way with the help of the American CDC and organizations in Europe. We took risk assessments and implemented very strict guidelines as to the criteria that had to be met for sanitation and the criteria of who could and couldn’t travel with us. During the epidemic, we transported 100,000 people without a single case on board. IC: When you were facing harsh criticism from passengers and the media, why did you soldier through and continue to offer service to west Africa? PS: Doctors without borders, the CDC – they’re not crazy. They gave us advice and we followed it. We had meetings and took strong measures. We followed the guidelines, sometimes doing sanitation checks twice. We had thermometers, we refused people if they had elevated temperatures. 18 months with no cases on-board proved us right. Africa is our second home, you don’t just leave when something goes wrong. IC: How is the airline’s relationship with Africa changing now and in the future? PS: Every country in Africa where Brussels Airlines is present, has a country manager. They’re job is to have contact with the government – the Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Tourism. We want to work with the governments to promote tourism, to help promote the infrastructure needed to sustain it. We are focusing on Sierra Leone and Liberia. We are also focusing on East Africa, increasing frequencies to Rwanda and Uganda. Flying twice or three times per week is not acceptable anymore, we want to make these long-hauls daily. IC: Which destination in Africa, that you serve, has a strong potential for tourism? PS: Cameroon is a beautiful country. It is such a magical place and has so much to offer.

In the countryside of Piacenza, Italy, between Parma and Modena sits an ancient castle-manor which has been lovingly turned into a hotel for those seeking a quiet, art-centric retreat in the country. Locanda Re Guerriero is special to say the least. Arriving to its cypress-lined drive and seeing its expansive lawns stretching out to empty fields provides a moment of solace. But, this is not a typical country hotel. The lawns are dotted with beautiful sculptures in both traditional and modern art forms. The stables and other buildings have been converted to hotel rooms and filled to the brim with both local and international art. All of this, layered with friendly and attentive Italian service from the staff, makes for an incredible stay. Behind the hotel sits another private manor which has also been restored by the hotel’s owner. It stands as a significant example of what can happen when traditional Italian renaissance architecture mixes with modern art from across the world. In fact, the cellar of the manor is filled with countless replicas of the famous terra-cotta warriors found in China. The building Functions as an event space and private home for the hotel’s owner. This unique and somewhat eerie place can be rented as the backdrop for your next event. Legend has it that the count who owned the manor hundreds of years ago was murdered in his room for growing too close to one of his staff member’s wives. But, don’t worry, there was no sign of hauntings by myself or the group I was traveling with. Instead, we experienced nothing but spacious rooms with original details and a home-like atmosphere with a delicious breakfast in the morning. It was all so very magical.

Parmigiano Reggiano is a serious business – not just a family-run pastime one might think. Although the process of making the cheese hasn’t changed much since the days of the monks nine centuries ago, the marketing and price of this dairy-filled work of art has. Today, the consortium of Parmigiano Reggiano represents over 450 small artisans who adhere to the strict guidelines laid out through Italy’s laws, and also help bring the artisan’s hard work and efforts to market internationally. Thank God. On a recent trip to the Parmigiano Reggiano factory near Parma, I saw firsthand how a cheese master initiates, nurtures and perfects his or her skills to become the best in the game. The factory produces and ages thousands of wheels of cheese a year, maintaining rigorous testing to be sure that only the best is brought to market. Through a very intense process, the raw daily is boiled, cooled, stirred and molded into an incredibly decadent wheel of perfection. I was able to view this process as well as tour the storage rooms where the cheese is aged and tested. Working with a man whose sole job it is to test each wheel to ensure it meets the guidelines for sale, I was able to use a small metal hammer to tap the cheese and listen for flaws like hollow areas. What a remarkable and delicious experience.

Sitting in what couldn’t be a better location in central Bergen, Norway, Hotel Det Hanseatiske , is a picture-perfect place to hang your hat while visiting the gateway to the fjords. The hotel, which is an integral part of the city’s heritage and a part of the Finnegaarden group of buildings, is connected to a museum of the same name, which celebrates the Hanseatic architecture and history in the area. With 37 rooms, this cozy place invites you in to relax. From the outside, it’s obvious the structure of this small property is a part of the city’s architectural fabric, which has made the area famous worldwide. The red wood shimmering in the sun as it has for over 300 years. Inside, the hotel has been refurbished using local materials as well as modern materials like glass panes to give it a light and bright feeling. Each room is decorated differently and is well-equipped with spacious interiors, modern bathrooms with rain showers, large flat screen televisions, WiFi and the most comfortable beds. Downstairs, just off the main lobby, three restaurants: Casa del Toro, FG Restaurant and Finnegaardsstuene, are offered to give guests the opportunity to eat local and enjoy both regional specialties as well as international cuisine. Breakfast is served in the FG dining room and is composed of a large buffet-style smattering of Norwegian salmon, meats, cheeses, cereals, eggs and bread. It’s simple, but satisfying. Hotel Det Hanseatiske is really the perfect mix of modern Bergen and Bergen as it was during the time of the Vikings. For those who appreciate good service, friendly staff and a little history – you can’t find better in the area.

The Andersen Boutique Hotel in Copenhagen is a colorful experience worthy of anyone looking to be centrally located in a comfortable place to call home during their trip. Outfitted with acrylic ghost chairs set along a bank of tables adorned with candy-colored cotton lanterns, you instantly know you’re in a fun and young environment the moment you walk in. Walls accentuated with turquoise, pink and royal purple are a feast for the eyes. A revolving gallery of art, most recently paintings of rock and roll legends hang on the walls. The staff at the hotel are all young and kind, welcoming you with information about the hotel, the surrounding area of Vesterbro and a map of sights around Copenhagen. Rooms at the Andersen are comfortable – some have sitting areas and views of the city. Keeping with the color theme, furniture in the room is bright and placed neatly on wooden floors. Bathrooms are large – with open showers, ample storage and vanities. The Andersen is a wonderful option for those who appreciate an effort to provide a youthful environment, comfort and a good location in the middle of town.