Vacation packages for family

Ten exceptional properties, representing a variety of global regions and styles, have been honored as the world’s best hotels. They were feted as the year’s Best of the Best at Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas. Virtuoso surveyed its 11,400-plus travel advisors to identify the winners. Editors of the network’s award-winning VIRTUOSO LIFE magazine identified the nominees on which Virtuoso advisors voted. With more than 1,100 hotels, resorts, villas and private island retreats in over 100 countries, the competition to be one of the world’s best hotels is stiff. This year’s Virtuoso Best of the Best winners are:

On a recent visit to Sydney I ventured beyond the city to discover the Central Coast and stay at Pretty Beach House. Despite having lived grown up in Australia and travelled to more than 70 countries in the world, until this trip I still had not discovered this part of my home country. A few years ago I made a promise to myself to see more of Australia. Too often we go in search of foreign destinations, cultures, food and languages different too our own. Too often we forget what is in our own backyard. Since then I have travelled to the Northern Territory to discover the true Aussie outback, visited many of the secret islands of Australia including Norfolk Island and the beautiful Lord Howe Island . I have slept under the stars when heliswag camping in the Flinders Ranges and travelled to the world renowned Kangaroo Island to see more kangaroos than I have in my lifetime. Pretty Beach House For this journey, I wanted to take time to switch off, relax and take ...

Mexico City’s colorful neighborhoods and parks sprawl across 570 square miles – after all, it’s one of the biggest cities in the world – tempting travelers to focus on bits at a time, instead of tackling the entire metropolis in one go. On a recent visit I collected Insta posts of architectural wonders such as the Palacio Postal, sipped mezcal cocktails, and said hola to Frida at the Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera Y Frida Kahlo. Between long walks along CDMX’s tree-lined streets, I retreated to my perch in the new skyscraper-based Sofitel Mexico City Reforma. Here’s what I loved about my stay. Culture Combination After a soft open last November, the 275-room hotel recently hosted a bass-thumping debut party in its 40th-floor event space to celebrate officially marrying the city’s Mexican culture with the French brand’s joie de vivre . The first Sofitel in Mexico – and the newest luxury hotel in Mexico City in about a decade – it exhibits a balanced combo of the French and Mexican cu...

More than mansions and glam, the Palm Beach area is a serene beach getaway. Palm Beach, Florida has always been associated with wealth. Even my driver from the airport commented on this stereotype. But my worries about elite snobbery were way off-base. Says Virtuoso travel advisor Deborah Director, who’s based in nearby Boca Raton, “I find there to be a disconnect between the perception and reality of Palm Beach. The people there are gracious and quite welcoming.” This hospitality and kindness is exactly what I found during my stay, along with all the elements of a great beach vacation: gracious hotels, great shopping, relaxing spa treatments, fun tours, and more. Although the town is Palm Beach County’s most recognized destination, known for its famous locals and luxury lifestyle, surrounding towns such as Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Jupiter are worth exploring, too. Here are five must-do’s for making the most of your visit: Take a tour. Cruising the Intracoastal Waterway with ...

It might be daunting, but it can be done. You, yes you, can learn how to ski…as an adult. Kids shouldn’t be the only ones to love snow days. From great beginner-friendly resorts to necessary gear and the best après-ski cocktails, we answer your questions. How should I get started? Beginners should take a minimum of three days of lessons with an instructor. (Pro tip: An instructor that’s not your partner or relative.) “Skiing is like learning to ride a bike,” says Atlanta, Georgia-based Virtuoso advisor Laura Madrid. “But once you do, it’s all downhill, so to speak.” And if you only ski once a year or every few years, start off with a lesson “to help sharpen your technique and recall best practices,” says Madrid. For beginners and experts alike, learning never stops. What advantages do I have over those kids on the magic carpet? It will humble and reward you in equal measure, as long as you have patience, a good attitude, and diligence. Chicago, Illinois-based Virtuoso advisor Shaw...