https://www.scmp.com/rss/15962/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Why might we want to stay here? It may have growing ambitions but Laos is still a country where life moves at a gentle pace - and even with its brand new hotels, the capital, Vientiane, is no exception. Guests at the Settha Palace Hotel tend to relax Laotian style, in elegant surroundings with a touch of nostalgia. It is the venue of choice for a discerning elite, right in the heart of the city, and is within walking distance of the main attractions, shops, restaurants and spectacular sunsets... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/1679547/settha-palace-hotel-vientiane-elegant-touch-nostalgia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/1679547/settha-palace-hotel-vientiane-elegant-touch-nostalgia?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2015 14:10:55 +0000 Where is it? Just 2½ hours from London, the Welsh capital has a new image: dynamic, forward looking, listed among the world's top destinations for alternative tourism. Arts, culture and sports compete with upmarket shopping, but top prize for regeneration goes to Cardiff Bay, where a new freshwater lake reflects one of the trendiest waterfronts in Europe. Landmarks abound along the shore, none more iconic than the lofty St David's Hotel, poised at the tip of a small peninsula. Rising to seven... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/1123140/hot-spots-st-davids-hotel-cardiff?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/1123140/hot-spots-st-davids-hotel-cardiff?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Jan 2013 16:00:00 +0000 What is it? Barely an hour's drive from the Estonian capital, Tallinn, and just four kilometres from quiet beaches, Vihula Manor Country Club and Spa is tucked into Lahemaa National Park. You're unlikely to meet a bear as you wander through its 50 hectares of park and woodland, but you might spot migrating cranes and superbly restored historical buildings. So, what's special about it? How about 800 years of history - from Danish knights to the von Schubert family, whose coat of arms hangs above... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/1117597/hot-spots-vihula-manor-estonia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/1117597/hot-spots-vihula-manor-estonia?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Jan 2013 16:00:00 +0000 A hot spot, did you say? Absolutely, and not just for the luxury. Tucked into the Arenal Volcano National Park, the Tabacon lies at the foot of Costa Rica's best known volcano, and makes the most of the natural hot springs gushing out of its lower slopes. But don't expect to see an eruption; after decades of activity, Arenal recently entered a dormant phase, and in pristine rainforest, the Tabacon offers little more than relaxation. Combining the elements of water, fire, earth and air, the... https://www.scmp.com/article/1000792/tabacon-grand-spa-thermal-resort-costa-rica?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1000792/tabacon-grand-spa-thermal-resort-costa-rica?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 May 2012 16:00:00 +0000 East End, did you say? That's right. The East End is increasingly trendy these days and you can expect this grand Edwardian building to sweep you off your feet. Clad in white Portland stone, with a neo-baroque facade and turreted dome, this is the 2011 winner of the Astonishing Architecture Award (Hotel Club) and the nearest five-star venue to the 2012 Olympic Stadium (about 10 minutes by taxi; and there are still vacancies during the Games). It's just a few minutes walk from Bethnal Green tube... https://www.scmp.com/article/997090/town-hall-hotel-london?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/997090/town-hall-hotel-london?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Mar 2012 16:00:00 +0000 What is it? Opened in the spring, St John Hotel is not quite the new kid on the block you might expect, being a long-established venue with promises of seafood etched in bold letters on its fa?ade. Fortunately, it's all in French, so only those who speak the language may question an absence of lobster or mussels on the menu inside. The lettering belongs to the building's former incarnation, as Manzi's fish restaurant, which was gutted and refurbished under the direction of Fergus... https://www.scmp.com/article/985323/st-john-hotel-london?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/985323/st-john-hotel-london?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Nov 2011 16:00:00 +0000 Maca Bana, what's that? In Arawak, it means 'dwelling in the trees'. Nestling in tropical gardens, on the edge of a cliff, this boutique villa hotel in Grenada is the perfect hideaway: lush, intimate and with views to live for, stretching all the way to Grand Anse Bay and the country's pretty capital, St George's. The sunrise over the mountains is gorgeous and long Magazine Beach, pure Caribbean indulgence. On site are seven luxurious 'banas' - villas with one or two bedrooms - an... https://www.scmp.com/article/976083/maca-bana-grenada?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/976083/maca-bana-grenada?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Aug 2011 16:00:00 +0000 'Don't stand still,' warns Manolo, our guide, 'your shoes might melt.' Nervous smiles, shifting feet, I can feel the heat on my big toe. 'Here,' says Manolo, as he scrapes lava grit from the surface. 'If you can hold it for a minute, you can keep it.' I hold out both hands but give up on the count of 10. Timanfaya is awesome; temperatures can reach 140 degrees Celsius just 10cm below ground and, above, there are hectares of 'bad lands' created by eruptions. The last one was in 1824, though... https://www.scmp.com/article/965874/devils-advocate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/965874/devils-advocate?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Apr 2011 16:00:00 +0000 Khardung La has its head in the clouds and its height in doubt. Is this really the world's highest road pass? The sign at the top reads '18,380 feet' (5,602 metres) but some say that refers to the old mule track higher up. Measurements abound, with different results, but those who make it to the top stand firm: barring a few dirt tracks in neighbouring countries, this Himalayan pass, in northern India's Jammu and Kashmir state, is the highest drivable road in the world. Once a permit has... https://www.scmp.com/article/697625/higher-purpose?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/697625/higher-purpose?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:00:00 +0000 Dragon Mountain to Afrikaners, Barrier of Spears to the Zulu, the Drakensberg is South Africa's highest range. Sunsets are spectacular, rare species thrive in the wilderness and at 2,874 metres, the highest pub on the continent greets you with beer and mulled wine, and views to die for, come sun or snow. But to enjoy your drink on the 'roof of Africa', you must negotiate the vertiginous drive up to the Sani Pass, along a mule track masquerading as a road. Antelopes bound on the slopes, protea... https://www.scmp.com/article/678457/detours-sani-pass?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/678457/detours-sani-pass?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:00:00 +0000