Some like Paris in the springtime, but Paris in the winter isn’t bad either. True, the city can be rather gray and cold during the winter months, but Parisian city officials do a good job of keeping spirits high by setting up various family-friendly activities throughout the city. Here are a few things you can do en famille : 1. Go Ice-Skating Every December, two large ice-skating rinks appear in the city almost overnight. One rink is set... 

It’s a question many people ask us. In tomorrow’s Independent on Sunday , we will reveal what we look for in a hotel to give it the Mr & Mrs Smith seal of approval. Of course there’s subjectivity when discussing style, and people define luxury differently. Excellent service and elegant surroundings are fairly obvious measurements, but now more than…  Read More →

After our Caribbean jaunt last week , Smith’s Hotel of the week team is turning its attention to Denmark’s cultured capital, Copenhagen , to admire that doyenne of design dens, Avenue Hotel … Style Couture comforts Setting Green, historic Fredericksburg Why this week? A sparkling wintry wonderland , Copenhagen’s one of the best destinations to spend the run-up to Christmas. Festive markets abound – including the famed fairytale... 

The first thing that must be said about Christmas in St Petersburg is that while Christmas falls on December the 25th for those of us from the West, in Russia it is on the 7th January . This is because the Russian Orthodox church still uses the Julian calendar which Russia as a whole followed until after the Communist revolution in 1917 (Interestingly, this is also why the commemorations for the October revolution take place in November). Skiing... 

Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort and Spa All Inclusive By Vanessa Aleksic I’ve taken two Mexico vacations in recent years — the first to Dreams Cancun Resort & Spa All Inclusive several years ago to celebrate my son’s birthday and my in-law’s anniversary, and the second just recently (without kids and in-laws) to Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa All Inclusive in Riviera Maya to celebrate my birthday. When I arrived... 

New York’s Fashion District just got some stylish new digs: the glass-and-steel Strand Hotel, and the latest property by Atlantic Stars Hotels and Cruises, the Newport-based company that also keeps the Park South Hotel near Madison Square Park. With a nod to its location, the Strand’s 177 rooms are curated with vintage Conde Nast fashion prints,  Read More →

Travel Photography If you like traveling and taking pictures, check out the Lonely Planet Community Blog and learn more about the travel photographer’s rights . Another info for the fans of photography: Solo Traveler is running a “ Stop & Stare” travel photo contest . The prize is a $150 gift certificate from Hotels.com . Holiday Travel Gifts If you have travelers on your Christmas shopping list and need some present ideas,... 

Waldorf Astoria gets new competition this week in Park City with the opening of the St. Regis Deer Crest Resort. The Starwood resort offers exclusive ski-in, ski-out access to Deer Valley, while ski butlers are on hand to store equipment and warm boots. Full butler service — a St. Regis signature, of course — only  Read More →

Kudos to Honeymoons/ Romantic Travel contributor Jeryl Brunner , whose lavish article in the December 2009 issue of Travel & Leisure reveals the secret spots where celebrity couples frolic in winter. Virtually visit a few of the hot celebrity spots here: Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Florida (Kanye West, Rihanna, Martha Stewart) Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos (Demi & Ashton & Bruce) Las Ventanas, Mexico (JLo, Leonardo DiCaprio,... 

Looking for the perfect music to take on your trips? Well, there’s Mr & Mrs Smith’s new In bed with… CD , of course, but you may need some additional inspiration. Here, our very own TuneSmith, DJ Rob Wood ,  the brains and ears behind our albums, makes his essential monthly recommendations… ————————————————————————————– ALBUM OF THE MONTH Originals – Volume 4 compiled... 

Spending the holidays in New York ? Well there are many ways to ring out the old and ring in the new in the city that never sleeps. Here’s a tip – they don’t all include a ball drop and tons (literally, tons) of confetti. FAMILY FRIENDLY Start the evening with ice skating at Rockefeller Center then head over to Serendipity 3 for their world-famous frozen hot chocolate . (Of course, you can also get…  Read More →

By Melissa Fuller Traveling “far away” in my own neighborhood is one of my favorite things to do. This week I went sailing — practically in my own backyard — without even having to book a San Francisco hotel . I went out with OCSC , a San Francisco-based sailing club and charter company that offers classes, training and certification for nonprofessionals like me. If you are one of those people with sea water in your veins, this... 

Despite laying claim to the world’s tallest tower, things aren’t exactly looking up for Dubai these days. The Persian Gulf emirate is in debt and the cranes that worked 24 hours a day to expand this Middle Eastern hub have ground to a halt. Nonetheless, this man-made fantasyland — complete with an indoor ski mountain in the midst of the desert — will appeal to honeymoon couples with a sense of adventure and a nose for... 

This morning I received a phone call from a consumer who is spending a few days in Barcelona with his girlfriend. It appears last night he had his wallet and mobile phone stolen from a pickpocket in a crowded bar and he wanted some advice. Report thefts straight away I advised him to report it straight away to the police, contact the company that he purchased …  Read More →

ART BASEL MIAMI Date 3–6 December Place Miami Beach , United States Style Pretty as a picture Setting Spectacle-on-sea The sister event to the original Swiss show, Art Basel Miami is an absolute must for anyone involved in the art industry, and an inspiring opportunity for interested amateurs and curious hobbyists. The main venue - the more-impressive-than it sounds Miami Beach Convention Centre – showcases painting, sculpture, drawing,...