Travel may be a little tricky these days, but you can still traverse the globe with these delicious drink recipes to try at home.

Today's cocktail hails from the USA – Cosmopolitan

What is it?

Synonymous with style, sophistication and TV’s Sex and the City, this pink concoction of cranberry juice, lime, Cointreau and vodka served in a martini glass is recognizable to fashionistas at 50 paces.

Origins

“The Cosmo” as it's affectionately known, started life in small drinking subcultures in the US, though its official creator is hotly disputed. It became the “it” cocktail for a generation of women and gay men in the late 1990s, peaking as the frequently referenced drink of choice for Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte before fizzing out of favor to become a standard on the classics menu. That’s fashion for you.

You’ll need (serves 1)

1fl oz (30ml) vodka (the best you can get – citrus-flavored vodka also works well)
½fl oz (15ml) Cointreau (can be substituted with Triple Sec)
¾fl oz (25ml) cranberry juice (use more or less for personal preference and aesthetics; in addition to flavor, the amount of cranberry defines the cocktail’s pink hue)
A squeeze of fresh lime juice
Ice
Twist of orange peel, to serve

Method

Step 1: Put a martini glass in the freezer to chill.
Step 2: Put all the ingredients (apart from the orange peel) in a cocktail shaker, fill with ice and shake hard for about 20 seconds.
Step 3: Strain into your chilled martini glass.
Step 4: Peel a loop of orange zest over the top of the drink, hopefully catching a little orange oil in the glass as you do so.
Step 5: For a bit more flamboyance, hold the orange peel with your thumb and forefinger and flame gently with a match for about 20 seconds, then add the burnt peel to garnish.
Step 6: Enjoy, in fabulous fashion.

Tasting notes

For the authentic Cosmopolitan experience, slip-on designer heels, an eye-catching outfit, accessorize with your best bling. This is all about working it. Virtually grab a couple of friends or a hot date and indulge in the pretty pink cocktail. The first sweet sip – the refreshing cranberry and lime juice – initially masks the alcoholic effects of the vodka and Cointreau. But after a few, almost anyone may be looking fabulous.

For additional cocktail recipes, check out our Destination Drinks page .

This article was originally published in April 2020 and updated in November 2020.

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Destination Drinks #7: Cosmopolitan 

Want a taste of international travel without leaving your kitchen? Try making one of Japan ’s most recognisable and perhaps best-loved dishes, katsu curry.

What is it?

Second only to ramen as Japan’s favourite food, katsu curry is a complete meal of pork cutlet doused with curry sauce served with rice and a side of shredded cabbage. This recipe is for katsu curry with pork, but chicken, as well as vegetables (flattened and coated in breadcrumbs), are also popular variants.

Ingredients (serves 4)

For the curry sauce:
1 tsp cumin seeds, ground
1 tsp coriander seeds, ground
1 tsp fennel seeds, ground
1 tsp turmeric, ground
1 tbsp curry powder
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 medium onion, peeled and diced
1 tbsp honey
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice flour or plain flour dissolved in 2 tbsp of water

For the pork cutlet:
4 pieces pork loin (approx 500g/1lb)
250g (9oz) Japanese panko or ordinary breadcrumbs
1 large egg, beaten
Plain flour for dusting
Oil for frying

To serve:
Plain boiled rice
Finely shredded cabbage

How to cook

Step 1: Prepare the pork cutlet by flattening each with the back of a knife or a rolling pin to tenderise the meat.
Step 2: Dust each cutlet with flour, dip in the beaten egg then coat with the breadcrumbs. Refrigerate for at least half an hour.
Step 3: To make the curry sauce, dry-fry the spices and curry powder in a saucepan for a few minutes to release their aromas, then add the oil, onion, honey and soy sauce and cook for a few minutes until the onions have softened.
Step 4: Add the flour mixture and cook until the sauce has thickened. Set aside.
Step 5: To cook the pork cutlets, fry them in a pan with oil over medium heat, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Cook both sides of each cutlet until the crumbs are golden. Drain the cooked cutlets on a wire rack or paper towel.
Step 6: Serve the pork cutlets with plain boiled rice, topped with the curry sauce and garnished with the shredded cabbage.

Tasting notes

It might seem like a bit of a production line, buying a meal ticket from a vending machine and queueing up for seats at one of Japan’s curry houses, which are likely to serve only one type of katsu curry and have their own cult following. Crisp and juicy deep-fried pork cutlets served with gooey, mildly sweet but still pungent curry, rice to soak up the sauce and balance the crunch, and raw shredded cabbage to refresh the palate, make for a satisfying meal. Despite its richness, the Japanese enjoy katsu curry just as much in the summer as winter, believing spicy foods to be good for stimulating the appetite and wash it down with an ice-cold beer or soft drink.

Other recipes in this series:

Louisiana jambalaya
South Korean bibimbap
Kolkata kati rolls

Have you recreated any of the dishes featured in this series so far? Share your pictures with us on Twitter and Instagram by tagging @lonelyplanet. For more great recipes, check out Lonely Planet’s book The World’s Best Spicy Food .

This article was originally published in April 2020 and updated in November 2020.

How to make Japanese katsu curry

A silence so profound that it’s deafening: if you’ve ever explored the Rockies on a winter day, you’ll know the feeling. Whether you’re wearing skis, snowshoes or just plain old snow boots, there’s something particularly inspiring about fresh snowfall, transforming forest trails and jagged peaks into a picturesque tableau. Throw in a setting as majestic as Estes Park, and you have an experience you won’t soon forget.

Editor's note: Please check the latest travel restrictions before planning any trip and always follow government advice.

The best part about visiting Estes in winter? Unlike Colorado’s crowded ski resorts, you’ll have Rocky Mountain National Park ’s wilderness practically to yourself – during the winter, visitation drops by nearly 90% when compared with the bumper-to-bumper traffic in summer. And from your basecamp in town, you’ll be able to get all the gear you need for a backcountry adventure, before retiring in luxury at the end of the day with a crackling fire and a mug of hot chocolate or glass of wine.

Adventure beckons in Estes Park

One of the easiest ways to get out into the snowy landscape is to strap on a pair of snowshoes. Snowshoes can get you across most trails in the national park, and the learning curve is practically nil – if you can walk, you can snowshoe. Equipment is minimal as well: in addition to the snowshoes, you’ll only need waterproof boots, snow pants or gaiters, and poles.

With some 350 miles of trails outside of Estes Park, choosing where to go may seem overwhelming, so keep it simple and head to Bear Lake, where the trail network can be as short or long as you like, and the front-row views of the Continental Divide are breathtaking.

Alternatively, look out for tours: national park rangers often lead snowshoe walks on winter weekends, and Yellow Wood Guiding leads private snowshoe safaris for small groups. Yup, wildlife is plenty active in winter – you’ll spot elk, deer, wild turkey, and maybe even coyotes and big horn sheep.

Another popular winter activity is cross-country skiing. Its distinctive “kick-glide” motion is harder to master, but once you’ve got it down, you can move faster than on snowshoes. And as anyone who’s tried it knows, it’s quite a workout! Generally, there are fewer trails on the east side of the park that are navigable on cross-country skis, but there are some primo options, including the Bierstadt Lake Trail and the Sprague Lake–Glacier Basin Campground Loop.

Families with young kids will definitely want to head to the YMCA of the Rockies to try out sledding: zip down the bunny slope at Hidden Valley, a former ski resort located within the park. Despite the wilderness setting, it’s still family friendly: you can drive there in your car, and at the base of the run is a bathroom and warming hut. Rent sleds or tubes in town.

Over my head: Going to the backcountry for a first skiing experience

Backcountry skiers and snowboarders, meanwhile, also flock to this area to hike up to the pristine powder and solitude, but it’s not for the inexperienced – avalanches are an ever-present danger in Colorado, and you shouldn’t take the risk if you don’t have proper training and equipment.

And if adventure is your calling, there is even more fun to be had. Learn how to use ice axes and crampons when you sign up for an ice climbing class or a guided trip through the Colorado Mountain School. Climbing the park’s dozens of dramatic ice curtains and pillars will be sure to keep your blood pumping even on the coldest of days.

Whatever way you choose to explore Rocky Mountain’s incredible winter landscape, be sure to check out the current trail and road conditions on the park’s website before you head out.

Estes Park gear rental

There are a few shops in Estes Park where you can get gear, but our pick for a one-stop rental agency is the Estes Park Mountain Shop. They carry all the equipment you could need, plus clothing -  a bonus if you or your loved ones don’t have a suitable coat, snow pants, boots or goggles. Make sure you check up on conditions before you rent gear. Dpending on the last snowfall and where you’re headed, you may only need a setup as simple as boots and microspikes.

Where to cozy up in Estes Park

Once you’ve had your fun and are ready to thaw out by the fire and refuel, it’s time to return to basecamp in Estes Park. The following are a few of our favorite places to eat, drink and sleep.

Stanley Hotel : The iconic white walls of this sprawling complex are set amid the magnificent granite-domed backdrop of the Rockies. It may be haunted, and it’s definitely where Stephen King imagined The Shining, but don’t let that scare you away. In addition to the historic rooms first opened in 1909, there are also apartment-style residences and boutique options at the Lodge.

Rock Inn Mt Tavern : A 1937 landmark that serves porterhouse steaks, bison meatballs, local beers and sustainable wines, followed by a side of live bluegrass on stage. Two woodburning stoves keep Jack Frost at bay.

Seasoned Bistro : Opened in 2017, this newcomer is tops for fine dining in Estes Park. Chef Rob Corey focuses on an eclectic, seasonally driven menu that borrows from culinary influences from across the Americas – from Patagonia to the Caribbean to local pan-fried striped bass. It has a great wine list, too.

Smokin’ Dave’s : Just want to kick back and dig into some buffalo ribs and chile verde over a draft beer? Look no further. Smokin’ Daves is a northern Colorado institution for a reason.

YMCA of the Rockies : If you’re on a family getaway, it’s hard to beat the 860 acres of backcountry terrain at the Y. Rent a cabin with a fireplace and kitchen, then sign up for as many activities as you can handle. Take advantage of the great outdoors with guided snowshoeing, or stay warm indoors with the climbing wall, archery range, roller rink, swimming pool, and arts and crafts. It’s 4.5 miles southwest of Estes Park.

Claire’s on the Park : With an emphasis on fresh, locally sourced ingredients, Claire’s is a good bet to fuel up both at breakfast and dinner. In addition to all the usual suspects, look out for wild-game meatloaf and grilled Colorado lamb chops.

Romantic River Song Inn : For a more intimate choice, consider a night at this 10-room B&B. The secluded location along the Big Thompson River belongs to a 26-acre estate that dates back to the 1920s. Expect rustic luxury and wildlife-watching opportunities right from the front door. It’s 2.5 miles west of town, near the national park entrance.

You might also like:

The great Colorado 'fourteener' road trip
Colorado's best ski resorts are also great for people who don't ski
Colorado’s quirkiest road trip is the San Isabel scenic drive

This article was originally published in September 2019 and updated in November 2020.

Lonely Planet produced this article for Visit Estes Park. All editorial views are those of Lonely Planet alone and reflect our policy of editorial independence and impartiality.

Estes Park: your base for winter adventures in the Rocky Mountains

Geothermal wonders and stunning landscapes have drawn visitors to Yellowstone National Park for almost 150 years, but there’s never been a better time to discover how the park turns into a wildlife wonderland during the winter.

Among the sparkling, crystalline snow the world may appear to be still, but for those who know how to listen, life is clearly thriving in Yellowstone. Alarm calls from crows resonate from tree to tree, notifying other birds when foxes are hunting nearby. As if running from the cold, a hidden river gurgles beneath solid sheets of ice.

Then, a lone howl pierces the crisp, frigid air, its melancholy drone echoing through the valley until a chorus of responses transforms silence into symphony. There are wolves nearby. And the birds aren’t the only ones with a lot to say about it.

Editor's note: during COVID-19 there are restrictions on travel, and some areas are under lockdown. Check the latest guidance before departure, and always follow local health advice.

Historic wolf reintroduction

There is almost nowhere in the US where wolves can be spotted in the wild. Before colonization, America was a nation of wolves. At their peak, there were up to 500,000 of the apex predators living in balance with the other creatures of the land (humans included). They lived in every corner of North America, besides present-day California’s coast. But by the 1960s systematic killing reduced the lower 48 states’ wolf population to only 300. Myths of the wolf’s treachery fueled bounty hunters and vengeful ranchers, and the hatred these stories fostered ultimately made wolf conservation a political challenge.

But in 1995, grassroots efforts won out, and 31 Canadian gray wolves were brought to Yellowstone in an attempt to reintroduce the species to its historic habitat, resulting in what is likely the world’s most famous wildlife reintroduction. A video describing how the reappearance of wolves in Yellowstone after a 70-year absence changed its rivers went viral in 2014, and suddenly public opinion shifted to recognize the importance and the fragility of this ecological paradise.

Yellowstone National Park is known for its prismatic pools and gushing geysers, incredible natural sights that not only inspired the creation of the National Parks System, but also attract more than four million visitors every year. Official statistics show 91 percent of those people visit between May and September, leaving the park virtually empty during the other months, particularly in the heart of winter.

Winter, however, is when Yellowstone is at its best – particularly for wildlife lovers. It isn’t just the lack of people, although that’s always a bonus when visiting any outdoor space. "It’s really breathtaking, to begin with," says Nathan Varley, one half of a husband-and-wife team guiding wildlife-watching excursions in the park through their business, Yellowstone Wolf Tracker. "It is kind of a winter wonderland, from big downy flakes of snow, or crystalline frost that sparkles in the air."

Varley and his wife, Linda Thurston, joined the wolf reintroduction effort in 1996. Today their expertise on wolves and other animals sharing the ecosystem helps Varley and Thurston consistently sell out their popular Winter Wolf Retreats. Attendees soon learn that even though the vast majority of visitors see Yellowstone in its summer clothes, the winter wildlife watchers are the ones reaping the benefits.

Watching wildlife against the snow

The Rocky Mountain weather may turn some off, but it’s a prominent factor in why animal watching is so fruitful in the winter. "Wildlife is easily spotted against the white snow background," says zoologist and writer Cristina Garcia of Travel For Wildlife in her Yellowstone winter gear guide. Similarly, the snow drives bison, elk, and other grazing animals away from the high peaks and forces them to congregate in the valley bottoms. "In Yellowstone the roads follow the valley bottoms, so there’s great access to the wildlife," adds Varley.

This means the average visitor to Yellowstone during the winter potentially won’t even need to leave the vicinity of their car to see a wild wolf and other critters. They are shy animals, rightfully wary of coming close to people, so most encounters will be from a distance. But it’s still a remarkable experience to see the ancient beauty of America firsthand.

It’s also the most interesting time to watch wolves. "They do a lot of howling in winter due to their social dynamics, traveling around as a big pack, making kills more often," says Varley. So not only are wolves more concentrated into viewable, drivable areas, they’re much more active. "That, and the breeding season happens in mid-winter, from the end of January through February, and that brings extra drama to wolf watching."

A vibrant Yellowstone ecosystem

It’s not only wolves making Yellowstone a wildlife hotspot: a wide range of species call Yellowstone home. Together they make up the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states. There are silent mountain lions, playful river otters, fluffy coyotes, moose, Canada lynxes, pronghorn, red foxes and more.

Bison in particular draw the attention of photographers. "The bison herds are persevering, transformed into these abominable snowmen where the snow sticks to their backs," Varley says. But it’s the wolf sightings getting people emotional, and it’s the wolves – the "pinnacle animal" as he calls them ­– bringing in the money.

Wolves are estimated to be worth between $70 and $100 million to the local economy, Varley says. That’s on top of money brought in from the overall tourism industry. "This is just the ones where we were able to identify wolves as being the significant factor in the decision to come to Yellowstone," he says.

Scoping things out: how to spot a wolf

When the snow comes, Yellowstone as a business basically shuts down, but life does not: bears are pretty much the only ones opting out of participating in winter activities. The weather closes a majority of the park, leaving only the north entrance from Gardiner, Montana, open.

The only open road goes from Gardiner to Mammoth Hot Springs, then past Tower Junction and onto the Northeast entrance, which is only an exit in winter. This may seem limiting, but it’s all a winter wolf-watcher needs: this is the road going right through the Lamar Valley, one of the top wolf-watching locations on the planet, and easily the most accessible.

If you go looking for wolves, bring a spotting scope or binoculars, plenty of patience, and warm clothes – you’ll need them to sustain what can be long periods of waiting. Temperatures frequently dip below zero in the daytime, but early morning (between 6am and 11am) is the best time to spot most Yellowstone animals, so plan for even colder.

Guides like Varley and Thurston can be hired along with their spotting equipment, as well as access to the network of professional conservationists, who radio one another with confirmed wildlife sightings.

Know the odds of animal sightings

Wildlife spotting is notoriously challenging, but the odds don’t get better than Yellowstone in winter. With so many species leaving the planet permanently, the US is lucky to house a haven like Yellowstone National Park, where the animals not only thrive, but congregate near a single road for months on end.

There’s never a guarantee of seeing anything, but once in Yellowstone, there is no way to escape the call of the wild.

Updated November 2020.

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Why winter is the perfect time to spot Yellowstone’s wildlife

The celebrated journalist, historian and author Jan Morris died at age 94. During her nearly seventy year career, Morris accomplished feats most can only dream of, from climbing Mount Everest with Edmund Hillary to interviewing Che Guevara in Cuba to covering the Suez Crisis to traveling across Oman at the behest of a sultan.

After her big break when she was the first to report Edmund Hillary's successful summit in 1953, Morris went on to write for The Guardian, the London Times, and numerous other outlets, as well as pen book-length works of biography, history and fiction. She was known not only for compelling looks at destinations like New York, Venice, and Hong Kong at pivotal moments, but also a comprehensive three volume history of the British empire – the twilight of which she bore witness to and often reflected on in her other work.

After her passing on November 20, 2020 the Financial Times offered up perhaps the best one-line summary of Morris' storied life, calling her "the Flaubert of the Jet Age." But Morris was more than a mere wanderer – she was an acute observer of both the intimate details of place that immerse a reader in certain places at particular moments in time and the broad, sweeping changes that come as governments rise and fall.

If you want to learn more about who Jan Morris was, and her indelible impact on travel writing, the best place to begin, naturally, is with one or a few of her books. Though there's over forty to choose from, we distilled it down to ten that capture the spirit of her work and offer an irresistible deep-dive into places past – the kind of texts that double as time machines as well as airplanes, transporting the reader in more ways than one.

10 books by Jan Morris that celebrate her storied career in travel writing

Rippling over from southern Germany into Austria, the Northern Limestone Alps are some of Europe ’s most phenomenal mountains. When the first flakes fall, their heights hum with skiers and boarders. No matter whether you’re looking for black runs and rollicking après-ski or a culture-crammed winter break, there’s a city and slope with your name on it.

Excellent transport connections make getting from city hubs to relaxed slopes a breeze, which means you can be schussing down runs on Germany’s highest peak, 2962m Zugspitze, in the morning and imbibing in stein-swinging medieval beer halls in Munich in the evening. Or lapping up the splendor of Innsbruck ’s Hapsburg palaces one minute and racing down the Nordkette slopes the next. Here is the inside scoop on skiing either side of the border.

Editor's note: during COVID-19 there are restrictions on travel, and some areas are under lockdown. Check the latest guidance before departure, and always follow local health advice.

Will COVID-19 impact my skiing in Europe this winter?

Innsbruck, Austria

As cities with Alpine backdrops go, Innsbruck, capital of Tyrol, is tough to beat, thanks to the pop-up book effect of the Nordkette Alps. A funicular designed by Zaha Hadid takes you from city to slopes in no time. The panorama opens up at 2300m Hafelekar, where you can slalom above the spires and rooftops of Innsbruck.

Beyond the city itself, Tyrol is blessed with some of the most varied skiing in Europe. To the west is the austere Arlberg region, home to wild child St Anton am Arlberg, where the first ski club in the Alps was launched in 1901. Experienced skiers head here for hardcore downhill runs (not to mention sublime boarding and off-piste). After a day spent powder pounding, slopeside bars tempt revellers with some of the hottest après-ski in the Alps.

Also just over an hour from Innsbruck are resorts like Mayrhofen in the folksy, ludicrously pretty Zillertal and ritzy Kitzbühel, host of the mother of all downhill ski races in January: the Hahnenkamm-Rennen.

Elsewhere, if you dare, leap into the void on the heart-stopping, hell-for-leather Hafelekar-Rinne in Innsbruck, the Harikiri in Mayrhofen or the knee-trembling Streif with its 85% gradient in Kitzbühel.

Beyond the slopes

Tie in some skiing with sightseeing in Innsbruck. The Gothic Hofkirche and the medieval lanes of the Altstadt, where the Goldenes Dachl shimmers, should be high on your agenda.

Vienna, Austria

Vienna for skiing is by no means an obvious choice, but the Austrian capital is fringed by hills that rise abruptly to mountains in Lower Austria. It’s just an hour-and-a-quarter drive or train ride, for instance, to Semmering, where many Viennese folk let off steam on downhill slopes in winter that have hosted numerous World Cup ski races. Here grandiose peaks fling up from deeply folded valleys and spa hotels invite post-ski relaxation. The most spectacular way to get there it is on the Unesco-listed Semmeringbahn.

One pass covers 14 ski lifts and 25 miles (40km) of slopes reaching up to 1774m, which are largely geared towards beginners and intermediates. Besides the usual downhill, there’s a freestyle park, night skiing, tobogganing, ice-skating, snow tubing, and curling. Another must-ski attraction the region is Stuhleck, the highest peak in the Eastern Alps at 1782m.

Beyond the slopes

Vienna is perhaps at its most enticing in winter, when Christmas markets (December to January) twinkle festively, the coffee houses come into their own and the ball season is in full swing (January and February). Combine skiing with a spin of the city’s big-hitter galleries and lavish imperial palaces.

Salzburg, Austria

Remember the mountains near Salzburg that Maria twirled down in the opening scene of The Sound of Music? Well, those same hills are alive with the sound of swishing skis in winter. Salzburg is a cracking base for striking out into the wider region of Salzburgerland. Covering a whopping 470 miles (760km) of pistes, 270 ski lifts and 25 resorts, Ski Amadé is one of Europe’s biggest ski regions, with everything from gentle, tree-lined runs to glorious off-piste.

There’s moderate downhill and good cross-country skiing on the wooded, 1853m Untersberg, straddling the Austrian-German border, right on the city’s doorstep, but things step up a gear further afield. Dramatically set amid the gnarly limestone peaks of the Dachstein range, Filzmoos, for instance, is a fine choice for families, with few lift lines, quaint Alpine looks, and horse-drawn sleigh rides.

Head to lakeside Zell am See and take the cable car up to the 3029m Kitzsteinhorn Glacier, where there’s skiing and boarding 10 months of the year. Enjoy the staggering views of the Hohe Tauern National Park and the distinctive profile of Austria’s highest peak, 3798m Grossglockner. Cool drinks are served at its Ice Camp igloo.

Beyond the slopes

Factor in time for a romp of Salzburg’s hilltop fortress, stately squares, Mozart residences and Unesco World Heritage baroque Old Town.

Munich, Germany

On clear days, tantalising views of the Bavarian Alps puckering up on the horizon from Munich have skiers itching to hit the slopes. And it’s easy to do precisely that. Just over an hour south of the city, the mountains fling up above cute, chalet-lined villages, forested hills and towns topped by onion-domed churches on the German-Austrian border. The skiing here is Germany’s most extensive and the scenery is Christmas card stuff.

Incredible runs can be found at Garmisch-Partenkirschen, with 25 miles (40km) of challenging runs, plenty of charm and an impeccable snow record. It has played host to international races and Olympic ski jumping. A mere snowball-throw away is Germany’s highest peak, 2962m Zugspitze, right on the Austrian border, reached by a cogwheel train and super-steep cable car. The views are out of this world.

Beyond the slopes

Munich is rammed with history and culture – from Old Master paintings at the Alte Pinakothek to blingy treasures at the Residenz palace, and state-of-the-art motors at BMW Welt. And, there are always the beer halls, of course.

Stuttgart, Germany

We can feel you raising an eyebrow at the mention of Stuttgart for skiing, but bear with us. The Black Forest, or Schwarzwald, spreading south of the city offers mile after gorgeous mile of tightly woven valleys, fir forests and half-timbered villages. Snow here isn’t a guarantee because of lower elevations, but when it does arrive it frosts the region into a winter wonderland ripe for a Grimm bedtime story. The low-key vibe makes this a fine choice for families and beginners.

As for the skiing, the downhill is mostly easy and limited to just a smattering of hills, but the Nordic or cross-country ( Langlauf as the locals call it) is wunderbar and far cheaper. Gliding through a snowy forest in quiet exhilaration as the sun rakes through the treetops provides a very different kind of thrill.

Meanwhile, reached by cable car, the bald summit of Feldberg (the region’s highest peak at 1493m) is one of the few places where you can downhill ski. The views reach to the Vosges and French and Swiss Alps. If skiing’s not your bag, check out the snowshoeing tours offered here.

Beyond the slopes

Stuttgart has an impressive baroque square, Schlossplatz and a clutch of decent art galleries. For Black Forest cake and a glimpse of Germany’s highest waterfall and biggest cuckoo clock, detour south to Triberg.

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Article first published in September 2017, and last updated in November 2020.

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Skiers will love these city breaks in Austria and Germany

From a wondrous cave that shines an electric blue when the sun hits to jungle-wreathed mountains that tower above, these five islands are the Caribbean’s best-kept secret. So as you plan your next trip, go beyond the popular Caribbean destinations and turn an eye to those lesser-known locales that are big on culture, breathtaking views and of course stunning beaches that entice you to leave it all behind.

Editor's note: Please check the latest travel restrictions before planning any trip and always follow government advice.

Anguilla

Fringed by shimmering white-sand beaches shaded by coconut palms and sea-grape trees, and filled with colorfully painted, open-sided beach bars serving sizzling barbecues, feisty rum punches and live reggae tunes, Anguilla is the Caribbean dream come true.

The Eastern Caribbean destination’s crystal-clear waters and vibrant reefs offer spectacular snorkeling, glass-bottomed kayaking, and sailing to islets and atolls scattered offshore.

The 33 beaches have a total of 12 miles of powdery white sand, so while there aren’t any bad choices, a few favorite spots include Little Bay in The Valley, Meads Bay and Shoal Bay East.

When it comes to eats, B&D’s BBQ in Meads Bay is a must.

Anguilla is no shoestring destination and authenticity comes at a premium here. Luxury hotels and private villas cater to jet-setters craving a vacation off the radar. Visit outside high season for a more affordable taste of paradise.

St. Kitts and Nevis

This warm and welcoming two-island nation combines some lovely beaches with impressive mountains, activities on land and water, and a rich history. The local culture is mellow, friendly and infused with a pulsing soca beat, and revolves around limin' (hanging out, drinking and talking).

But if the pair offer much that’s similar, they differ in the details. St Kitts is larger and more commercial, from bustling Basseterre and its huge Port Zante cruise terminal to the party strip and resorts of Frigate Bay.

Across the Narrows, tranquil Nevis is a neater package, anchored by a single volcanic mountain buttressed by a handful of wonderful beaches and tiny colonial capital, Charlestown.

Spend the day clambering up a pair of mountains one in St Kitts – Mt Liamuiga and the other Mt. Nevis on the smaller sister island.

Popular spots for local cuisine include El Fredo’s in Basseterre and The Gin Trap Bar & Restaurant in Northern Nevis.

Curaçao

With its delightful Dutch-colonial architecture, thriving art and culinary scenes and excellent museums, Curaçao feels like a little piece of Europe at the edge of the Caribbean. A little piece of Europe, that is, with glorious hidden beaches, wondrous caves, amazing snorkeling and diving, and a wild, undeveloped windward coast dotted with prickly cacti and whiptail blue lizards.

Curaçao also has a surging economy beyond tourism, which means that Willemstad has factories, humdrum neighborhoods and sometimes bad traffic. Catering to visitors is not the primary aim here, which lends the island more authenticity than its neighbors tend to offer.

So if you’re looking for a Caribbean destination that's busy setting its own pace – a place where the adventuring tends to be a bit more unbridled – Curaçao is right for you.

Curaçao's most majestic natural wonder is a hidden cave known as the Blue Room on its western shore, accessible only via the ocean. Sunlight refracting off the water's surface makes the entire cave electric blue. Adding to the hauntingly beautiful scene inside are small schools of fish and the occasional lobster. Entering and exiting the cave can be a bit tricky, so it's best to book a boat or snorkel tour.

For local eats, there’s gastropub Caña Bar & Kitchen in Willemstad, Jaanchie’s in the West End and Pop’s Place in Southeast Willemstad.

Guadeloupe

An archipelago of over a dozen sun-kissed islands, Guadeloupe is a varied place to visit, with everything from deserted beaches to jungle-wreathed mountains. The country's two main islands look like the wings of a butterfly and are joined together by just a couple of bridges and a mangrove swamp.

Grande-Terre, the eastern of the two islands, has a string of beach towns that offer visitors world-class stretches of sand to laze on and plenty of activities. Mountainous Basse-Terre, the western island, is home to thick, lush Parc National de la Guadeloupe, replete with waterfalls and topped by the spectacular La Soufrière volcano.

As well as the “mainland” of Guadeloupe, small offshore islands – Les Saintes, Marie-Galante and La Désirade – give visitors a taste of Guadeloupe’s yesteryear. These are some of the most evocative and untouched destinations in the French Antilles and shouldn't be missed.

Popular beaches include Plage de la Caravelle in Grande-Terre and Grande Anse in Deshaies on Basse-Terre Island. Get your seafood fix at La Touna (just south of Plage de Malendure) or Couleurs du Monde in Les Saintes. For some classic Creole cuisine try La Roulotte in La Desirade.

Martinique

Volcanic in origin, Martinique is a mountainous stunner crowned by the still-smoldering Mont Pelée, the volcano that famously wiped out the former capital of St-Pierre in 1902. Offering a striking diversity of landscapes and atmospheres, Martinique is a cosmopolitan and sophisticated island that boasts world-class beaches, top-notch hiking, great culinary experiences, an enormous array of activities and some colorful cultural life.

Avoid the busy capital of Fort-de-France and head north or south through some of the island's alluring scenery. The rainforested, mountainous north is the most spectacular, but the south has its fair share of natural wonders, including lovely bays and miles of gorgeous beaches. Add to this a dash of Gallic joie de vivre and you'll understand why so many people love Martinique.

Grande Anse des Salines is the quintessential stunning white-sand beach, while Route de la Trace highlights the country’s best scenery.

Hungry? A few top spots include Le Vieux Foyal in Fort-de-France, Le Fromager or Le Guérin both lunch-only spots in St-Pierre or Ti Payot in Les Anses d’Ariet. Don’t forget a glass of Ti-punch (short for petit punch) a mix of rum, lime and cane syrup – but mainly rum.

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Dubai knows a thing or two about over-the-top hotels – it’s home to the two tallest hotels in the world as well as the self-styled seven-star Burj Al Arab. But now plans for a new floating resort near Dubai Marina have been unveiled, and it could be the next iconic accommodation option in the city.

The floating resort, called the Sea Palace, is being constructed by Seagate Shipyard, an Emirati ship-building company. The resort will consist of a luxury hotel surrounded by six floating houses, which can detach and set sail on their own. The architecture was inspired by glass-bottom boats, and the houses will have see-through floors and furniture designed by Aston Martin. The houses are operated by automatic smart systems and include self-sterilising air filters, solar energy panels and garbage recycling systems.

Dubai Marina © Seagate Shipyard" data-embed-button="images" data-entity-embed-display="media_image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"","image_link":""}" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="f8115118-a166-4d77-a9ef-aee0f2cfc8c1" data-langcode="en" title="Neptune (marina view).jpg"> "I believe this type of project will create a boom in the tourism field", said Mohammed El Bhawravi, the founder of Seagate Shipyard and project owner. The company says that the project is about 65% complete and that the houses are currently in the last stages of construction.

Dubai reopened to travelers in July, and visitors are required to get a PCR test for COVID-19 within 96 hours of their flight’s departure. The emirate also announced new visas for digital nomads and remote workers that don’t require an Emirati sponsor but give visitors access to benefits, such as opening a bank account and enrolling children in local schools, that were previously only afforded to residents.

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If the idea of living in a fairtytale Christmas home appeals to you, you may prepare yourself to secure one of four bookings to the “It’s a Wonderful Lifetime Holiday House" in Connecticut.

The 2100-square-foot house sleeps six people, and it has taken cable channel Lifetime’s holiday movie formula and brought it to life. Guests will stay in a house filled with Christmas trees, wreaths, fake snow, twinkling lights, a Santa letter-writing station, a backyard polar bear lodge and a gingerbread house selfie station. The festive home was created with the help of master holiday decorator and star of The Christmas Edition, Carly Hughes.

As the house is inspired by Lifetime’s 2020 holiday movie line-up, it also incorporates specific elements from movies on offer. This includes a giant nutcracker from A Welcome Home Christmas, a do-it-yourself gingerbread house kit inspired by A Sugar & Spice Holiday, and a special Christmas train set from Feliz Navidad. If you book the vacation home, you'll also be able to watch all 30 Lifetime holiday movies on repeat during your stay.

“We fell in love with the idea of walking into a vacation home and immediately feeling like you were transported into a Lifetime movie,” said Kannie Yu LaPack, senior vice president of PR, public affairs and social media for Lifetime and LMN. “Because we all truly need to escape these days, this incredible opportunity to create a house with Vrbo for families to experience this season is like opening the perfect gift under the tree.”

The "It’s a Wonderful Lifetime Holiday House" will be available for four three-night minimum stays through 27 December and is only recommended for guests within driving distance. Pricing starts at $100 (€84.07) per night with the vacation rental's fees going directly to charity. It will be available to book from 23 November at 1pm EST here.

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