With the spring weather upon us, we have our hearts set on Europe. Whether you’re traveling to London for the Olympic Games or hoping to stay as far away as possible, we have a suggestion for every traveler’s delight.

For the Olympics:

The Halkin

London, UK

The Halkin is a hidden gem in Belgravia. Clean lines and impeccable service define the London favorite, along with its award winning nahm restaurant serving up authentic Thai fare. Guests can even order this haute Thai cuisine for room service!

What’s New: Celebrating its 20^th Anniversary this year, The Halkin has certainly made its mark on the London hotel scene. To celebrate, The Halkin has partnered with William Curley, renowned patissier and chocolatier, to fashion a Couture Chocolate Afternoon Tea. This is a Champagne tea service inspired by the chocolatier’s new book, Couture Chocolate, and will include a selection of chocolate patisserie, homemade scones with clotted cream and preserves, and a selection of freshly made sandwiches.

Rates: Rates start at £260 ($422) per night.

Metropolitan London

London, UK

This well known London hotel is famous for its Met Bar that first opened in 1997 and set the trend for the ultimate great night out in the heart of London! Now the Met Bar has re-opened its doors with a whole NEW look featuring an expanded and innovative cocktail menu and classic seasonal British cuisine. For the first time, the Met Bar ended its “Members-Only” policy, making it accessible to all from early in the day to late at night.
What’s New: The new COMO Shambhala Urban Escape offers key Asian-inspired therapies as well as a resident acupuncturist. Among the treatments on offer are the Dr. Perricone facials (the COMO Shambhala Urban Escape is the only spa in the U.K. to work with this popular U.S. product line) and COMO Shambhala PURIFY facials, suitable for men and women.

Rates: Rates start at £229 ($372) per night.

For the Culture:

Orient-Express Afloat in France

France

Discover the French countryside from a new perspective with Afloat in France, a small fleet of luxury barges ideal for a group of family or friends on vacation. Fashion an itinerary that matches the interests of the crowd (think golf, cycling, or antiques), and relax in Orient-Express style over fine French dining and wine while meandering through the ever-changing scenery.

What’s New: Explore the finest vineyards from the Rhône Valley to Gevrey-Chambertin on the new seven-day “Wine Discovery Tour” aboard the Napoleón, which features instructive tastings, wine-centric French dinners, and guided walks through some of the region’s most famous vineyards. To ring in the new tour, each “Wine Discovery Tour” attendee is rewarded with a free one-night stay at a luxury five-star hotel in Paris.

Rates: Rates start at €4,450 ($5,825) per person, based on double occupancy of a cabin.

Le Pavillon des Lettres

Paris, France

The charming Pavillon des Lettres, an impossibly chic retreat for art and literature lovers, is the perfect alternative to Paris’ traditional hotels. Combining art, literature, and fine design, each of the hotel’s 26 rooms is devoted to a letter of the alphabet and a corresponding international writer (think B for Baudelaire or H for Hugo).

What’s new: Crazy Horse Cabaret, the avant-garde icon of provocative Parisian nightlife, celebrates its 60^th anniversary in 2012 with Le Pavillon des Lettres. Together they are offering a package that includes amour-inducing accommodations and VIP tickets to the show.

Rates: Rates start at €265 ($351) per night.

Crystal Cruises Royal Explorer Sailing

Stockholm to London

From the old-world charm of Stockholm’s Gamla Stan to Helsinki’s cutting-edge Ice Bar, revel in the rich cultural life and fascinating museums of these Baltic capitals. From August 14 – 25, spend 11 days exploring these spectacular lands with Crystal Symphony, with calls in St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; Berlin/Warnemünde, Germany; and Copenhagen, Denmark.

What’s New: Fresh from a $15 million drydock, Crystal Symphony will be showing off her newly redesigned public spaces. Guest chefs Orjan Johannessen and Odd Ivar Sovod will also be joining the cruise, along with wine expert Eugenio Jardim and mixologist Simon Ford to celebrate the Crystal Wine & Food Festival.

Rates: Check here for current pricing and special offers

For the Cuisine:

Park Hyatt Milan

Milan, Italy

Cozily situated in the heart of Milan next to the Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, this hotel is a natural favorite for visiting celebrities, design mavens, and vacation travelers alike.

What’s New: After a recent collaboration with the famous English fashion designer, Paul Smith, Park Hyatt Milan now serves their culinary creations upon beautiful, hand-painted dishes designed specifically for the hotel by Smith.

Rates:  Rates start at €540 ($715) per night.

Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme

Paris, France

Recently accepted into the prestigious Palace Hotels Group, the five-star Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme offers a sensual, understated elegance that extends throughout the hotel – from the lavish rooms and suites to the captivating social areas and exquisite spa.

What’s New: Refreshed and ready for spring, guests can enjoy lunch or dinner on the terrace in an intimate and confidential ambience in the most glamorous neighborhood in the city. Make sure to try the chef’s newest creation, the Non-coupable, a guilt-free dessert that features fresh market strawberries, a base of low-fat cheesecake and cream, finished with a tangy spark of crystallized thyme and lemon.

Rates: Rates start at €1180 ($1550) per night.

For the Scenery:

La Réserve Ramatuelle

St. Tropez, France

Located just outside St. Tropez, this stunning property, with 360° views of the Mediterranean Sea, is an intimate, elegant getaway that is ideal for discerning travelers.

What’s new: La Réserve Ramatuelle just added four new health and wellness programs that combine medical assessments, personal training sessions, physical activities, and personalized diets for a total care approach.

Rates: Rates start at €650 ($861) per night.

Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa

Interlaken, Switzerland

Located in the picturesque mountain setting of the Bernese Oberland, this five-star hotel and spa, known as one of the most beautiful hotels in Switzerland, is in the ultimate location for a summer vacation. Whether visiting for a wellness weekend or a family holiday, the unique grand hotel atmosphere is sure to provide memories that last a lifetime.

What’s New: Offering everything from snacks to cakes to tasty drinks, the hotel has recently renovated its outdoor dining area, the Victoria-Jungfrau terrace, adding a new lighting system designed to create the perfect atmosphere for dinners under the starry, summer night sky. With the addition of 110 seats, the terrace can now accommodate up to 150 guests.

Rates: Rates start at 443.10 CHF ($488.16) per night.

Forget the Hallmark card or the flowers and take Mom away for a real treat. We’ve put together some suggestions for a Mother’s Day she won’t soon forget.

Where: One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos, Mexico

What: Get Mom a weekend of spa treatments in paradise.

When: Mother’s Day Weekend

Why Mom will love it: Mothers and daughters can unwind in the privacy of a double Spa villa at the ESPA spa complete with private garden, rain showers, outdoor Mexican daybeds, and whirlpool baths to relax in after a treatment. Special for the weekend are Mother-Daughter Soul-to-Soul moments ($640 for two) that include a Mother-Daughter yoga or salsa experience, an ESPA age-defying radiance facial or intensive facial, a spa lunch, and full use of the heat experience and relaxation area, or the Enduring Memory Mother’s Day Experience ($355) with a two-hour holistic body ritual, an in-villa 30-minute experience including a foot ritual, bath, and relaxation time, a spa lunch, and full use of the heat experience and relaxation areas. And all of this with her now favorite child.

Where: Inn on the Alameda, Santa Fe, New Mexico

What: Show Mom how much you care by sending her to the welcoming Inn on the Alameda for a weekend of adult-only relaxation.

When: Mothers Day Weekend

Why Mom will love it: With the Please Your Parents Package, Mom and Dad can enjoy a weekend away from the kids in Deluxe Accommodations at the Inn, including the Inn’s signature continental breakfast, afternoon wine hour, and one box of yummy bizcochitos, the official New Mexico state cookie.

Rate: Nightly rate is $220 plus tax per room per night. With a regular rate of $270 plus tax, this package has $50 nightly savings and applies to the Inn’s Deluxe Rooms only. The stay must include Mother’s Day, Sunday May 13, 2012, but there is no minimum night stay requirement. The offer is subject to hotel availability.

Where: The Peninsula Spa, New York

What: An amazing ESPA “Spa-Cation” without leaving the island

When: Perfect for the week before or after Mother’s Day

Why Mom will love it: Play hooky and take your mama out! Without hopping on planes trains, or automobiles, have a spa-cation right in the city. You and mom can indulge in a 60-minute treatment, a special lunch, and complimentary use of the pool and fitness center. It’s available Monday-Thursday for $285 per person.

Where: White Elephant and Brant Point Grill, Nantucket, Massachusetts

What: Breakfast in bed is a nice gesture, but we bet Mom will enjoy the “Best Brunch on the Island” even more!

When: Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Why Mom will love it: From the Benedict Burger to the make-your-own Bloody Mary bar, a Sparkling Station for mimosas, and a brand new tapas station, this brunch is complete with all of Mom’s favorites.

Rate: Brant Point Grill’s Mother’s Day Brunch is $55 for adults, $25 for kids ages 6-12 and $5 for kids ages 3-5. Combine your brunch with a stay at White Elephant and enjoy special Hot Dates Cool Rates, starting at $195 per night.

Where: Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, Avon, Colorado

What: Located in the heart of the Colorado Rockies, this luxury chateau-style resort features many amenities, including the 30,000 square-foot Allegria Spa, with a full-service fitness center, slopeside pool and hot tubs. This world-class spa is offering the “Her Day, Her Way Mother’s Day” package, an exceptional package for moms to unwind on their special day.

When: Mothers Day, Sunday, May 13, 2012.

Why Mom will love it: Spoil Mom with an extra luxurious spa escape with the “Her Day, Her Way Mother’s Day” package that includes a 50-minute Swedish Massage; choice of one of three select treatments (25 minute Sweet Lavender Body Scrub, 30 minute Custom Facial or Express Manicure & Pedicure); champagne; take-home spa gift; and access to Aqua Sanitas, the health club, the pools and hot tubs.

Where: Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos

What: Max and relax with Mom for a stress-free weekend away

When: Mothers Day Weekend

Why Mom will love it: Stress is a fact of life for mothers and daughters alike, which is why Parrot Cay has designed a Stress Management Wellness Package to target and relieve sources of tension and worry. Professional consultants will take things down a few notches with deep relaxing therapies, enlightening outdoor pursuits, and smart tips to put some of the carefree “island life” of Turks & Caicos into the home routine. Let the experienced personal fitness trainers convert pent-up stress into a productive mother-daughter workout, and follow it up with mind- and body-balancing yoga and meditation.

• Rain or shine, this is one event that no one wants to miss. On April 26, 2012, as part of the 2012 Park Hyatt Masters of Food & Wine, Park Hyatt Seoul will be offering a Korean ethnic earthenware Onggi class followed by a reception and full course dinner with exclusive, locally-produced caviar and sturgeon complemented by an excellent wine selection.

Anantara

• Make downtime fun in Thailand with Anantara activities: chef-led Thai cooking class and market tours at Anantara Lawana on Koh Samui, 120 minutes of bliss with the Pearl of Andaman signature treatment at Anatara Phuket Villas’s Anantara Spa, a Floral Foot Ritual, Traditional Chinese Herbal Back Massage, and Pearl Facial.

Crystal Cruises

• Take advantage of a rainy day at sea to try an onboard enrichment program at Crystal’s Creative Learning Institute. Take a crash course in a foreign language with Berlitz, taste wine with the Society of Wine Educators, or create a work of art with Crystal’s Masterpeice Art Program, the most comprehensive art program at sea.

La Réserve Ramatuelle

• April marks the re-opening of La Réserve Ramatuelle. Dedicated to health, the hotel has indoor and outdoor fitness options that include an indoor pool and a fitness center with Technogym equiptment – guests can stay fit rain or shine! In April, La Réserve is offering the third night free for any reservation of two nights!

Geejam Hotel

• While it might be raining outside, at Geejam it’s always jammin’ no matter the weather. The hotel has its own recording studio where guests can learn the recording process and record a track on the mic.

Orient-Express

• Rain is a fact of life in Scotland; lucky for us, the Scots have had centuries to figure out how to make the best of it. Orient-Express’ The Royal Scotsman’s new season is sure to entertain during April showers with elegant Scottish dinners, breathtaking views, and the quiet comforts of private Edwardian-style carriages.

One&Only Ocean Club

• On foul weather days, watch “the Table Cloth” of clouds sweep across Table Mountain from the Vista Bar at One&Only Cape Town, then take a stroll to the V&A Waterfront and dive with the sharks – indoors! – at the Two Oceans Aquarium.

Park Hyatt Tokyo

• Stay high and dry on the 41^st floor while indulging in some sweet temptations. Every weekday afternoon, the Peak Lounge offers a tea plate and sweets buffet showcasing quintessential Japanese confections, such as warabi mochi sprinkled generously in sweet toasted kinako and a panna cotta accented with sakura sauce and macaron.

The Wauwinet

• Borrow The Wauwinet’s complimentary Hunter Boots to explore Nantucket on a rainy afternoon. Watch the storm roll into the bay or take a short walk to the Whaling Museum and check out the 46-foot skeleton of a sperm whale that washed ashore in 1998.

Le Pavillon des Lettres

• Take advantage of the rain and catch up on your reading. There’s no better place than the intimately luxurious Le Pavillon de Lettres, Paris’ first literary hotel.  Guests can curl up by the fireplace or read from one of the hotel’s many iPads, loaded with international bestsellers, in the privacy of their rooms.

Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa

• Let the rain be your excuse to take a break from the outdoor activities available at the Victoria-Jungfrau and indulge in the signature treatment at the hotel’s ESPA Spa, the authentic Swiss Alpine herb poultice massage. The herbal foot ritual, full-body poultice massage, and relaxing head and scalp massage are guaranteed to relax you from head to toe.

Guinot

• When rain has one homebound, get that face ready for summer. Start with a gentle exfoliation with Gommage Grain d’Eclat, follow with quick swipe of refreshing Lotion Hydra Fraîcheur toner, and finish off with 10 minutes of the smooth and gentle Hydra Sensitive Face Mask (voted Best Overall Face Mask by NewBeauty).

ESPA

• Rainy days and Mondays get you down? Make the best of an April shower and take a “Spa-Cation” at the Peninsula Spa. This includes a 60-minute ESPA massage, a special lunch, and complimentary use of the pool and fitness center.

Inn on the Alameda

• Let it rain, let it rain!!! While rainfall in Santa Fe is negligible, when it does rain, it pours! Take shelter in the Inn’s cozy Agoyo Room and enjoy a Turquoise Margarita or a New Mexican wine while sitting in front of the roaring fire.

Shakti

• While April showers are nourishing the earth, Shakti guests can nourish their souls by sitting in meditation with Buddhist monks in a Sikkimese monastery, meeting with a real medicine man in a remote Ladakhi village house, or creating a bespoke itinerary featuring customized adventures.

Royal Mansour Marrakech

• April showers may be cold and dull, but traditional Moroccan hammams are not! At 27,000 square feet, Royal Mansour’s two-story spa features thirteen treatment rooms, a fitness center, gymnastics area, a salon, two hammams, and an indoor swimming pool. Try out their signature Slimming Body Massage to prepare for the summer ahead!

Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens

• A little rain never spoils the party in Costa Rica! Don’t fret – the almost-daily showers usually don’t last more than a few minutes, leaving just enough time to sample a sommelier-selected assortment of 33 South American wines and Latin American tapas at Nostalgia Wine Bar at Nayara, near the Arenal Volcano in the heart of the rainforest.

Springtime is officially in full-bloom in Toronto, Canada’s biggest city, and it’s time to get out and enjoy it! Just a quick flight a way, Toronto is the ideal weekend getaway. Perfectly situated in the heart of the fashionable Yorkville area and surrounded by high-end retail stores and five-star restaurants, a weekend at the Park Hyatt Toronto is just what the doctor ordered. Its close proximity to downtown’s most renowned sites makes it the perfect home base for your visit.

From a recent Huffington Post article, here are George Hobica’s 10 favorite things to do in Toronto this spring and summer. Here are some of our favorites from that list:

1. Get high – EdgeWalk, the city’s newest attraction is not for the faint of heart. For $175, extremists can get the best view of the city…and then get pushed out of a 116-story tower.
2. Get a little tipsy – While Ontario’s booming wine industry is still flying somewhat under the radar, it’s not due to quality. According to George, “it’s because Ontario’s oenophiles are too busy getting high on their own supply to figure out how to export the stuff.” The best vintages come from the vineyards that line the scenic back roads of the Niagara Peninsula, less than an hour from the city.
3. Eat Dim Sum – with nearly 50% of Toronto’s population born outside the country, there is an immense array of restaurants, and many of them hail from Asia. While most tourists head for Chinatown, the best Dim Sum is found in the suburbs north of Highway 401.
4. Get wet – no trip to Toronto is complete with making the pilgrimage to Niagara Falls. Whether you choose to hit the casinos or not, a cruise aboard the historic Maid of the Mist steamboat is definitely in order.
5. Catch up with Brad & Angelina – In September, the annual Toronto International Film Festival brings A-listers from all over the world. Can’t make it in September? No worries, the festival’s TIFF Bell Lightbox theater complex has an impressive selection of films and events occurring throughout the year.
6. Knock your socks off – Make sure to sneak in a visit to the Bata Shoe Museum, home to more than 12,500 shoes from all around the world.
7. Get down – The real fun happens after dark. George’s one rule for Toronto’s funky nightlife: “West is best.” Start along Queen Street West and end in the Parkdale neighborhood’s Grand Electric, a bustling, mod-Mexican cantina.

Love art, but hate the long lines and the crowds of tour groups that are inevitably at every major art museum? What’s a true art aficionado to do? Well, this recent article in Departures gives the best advice – skip the marquee museums and seek out some of the world’s most fabulous privately owned art museums.

Experience true luxury – pair a visit to one of these privately owned collections with a stay in an ultra-luxe hotel. By the end of your trip, you’ll feel like royalty.

For the 20th Century Latin American art-aficionados, take a trip to South America’s most popular city, Buenos Aires, Argentina, to visit the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires. MALBA’s permanent collection showcases towering figures of the Latin American art world such as Diego Rivera, Antonio Berni and Frida Kahlo. Currently, its temporary collection, “Bye Bye American Pie”, features works from artists like Nan Goldin, Larry Clark and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Get pampered like Argentinean royalty while staying at the Park Hyatt Buenos Aires – your personal butler will make sure of it.

For the contemporary art enthusiasts, a trip to the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing, China is in order. Due to the global spotlight on artists like Ai Weiwei, China has transformed into a hotbed of new galleries and museums. Featuring works by China’s most celebrated contemporary artists, this world- class collection, founded by Belgian collectors Guy and Myriam Ullens, strives to fosters a “dialogue between China and the rest of the world”. Housed in a jaw-droppingly fabulous 1950s Bauhaus factory complex, architecture aficionados will be equally impressed. Part of the tallest skyscraper on Chang’an Avenue and a symbol of the new China, the luxurious Park Hyatt Beijing is the perfect home-away-from-home for the most discriminating aficionados.

Perhaps our favorite private art museum, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, is the perfect way to spend a few hours in the port of Venice while sailing with Crystal Cruises. Housed in the former home of lifelong gallerist, art patron and collector Peggy Guggenheim, the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni islocated right on Venice’s Grand Cana land is a work of art itself. Its classical triple arched facade decorated with stone lion’s heads and charming alfresco sculpture garden pay tribute to this romantic city. This private museum features works by the luminaries of the 20th century, including Georges Braque, Piet Mondrian, Robert Motherwell, and Jackson Pollock. In addition to Peggy’s personal collection, the museum also houses works bestowed by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.

Located in the eastern province of Zhejiang, Park Hyatt Ningbo Resort and Spa is a relaxing retreat set on the banks of Dong Qian Lake. Just two and a half hours from Shanghai, the culturally rich and scenic region is dotted with tea plantations, ancient Buddhist temples, caves, stone carvings, and working fishing villages.

The lakeside resort features 236 guestrooms, including 17 suites and 10 freestanding villas. All guestrooms have a double daybed next to a large picture window, ideal for relaxing with a view. Each oversized bathroom has a bathtub, vanity area, rain shower, and dressing room.  Designed in the style of a traditional Chinese water village, the low-level, standalone villas have simple plastered exteriors and tiled, gabled roofs. Open courtyards, sky wells, and ponds are scattered throughout the property, echoing Chinese architectural principles.

At Seafood House, the resort’s signature restaurant, enjoy fresh seafood in a fun yet elegant setting. Choose to dine in the main dining room, al fresco, or in one of the ten private pavilions. Most of the pavilions offer a private entrance, lounge, and dedicated butler. For some richer fare, visit the Dining Room, a residential-style restaurant serving Western and Chinese comfort food all day.

Tea House, located in a former ancestral family mansion, is the perfect spot for an authentic Chinese tea experience. In the afternoon, sip on the house’s collection of Chinese and Western tea while nibbling on authentic desserts, cakes, and Chinese savouries. In the evening, visit the Tea House for a stronger blend – signature cocktails, wine, and champagne.

With a heated indoor pool, fully equipped gym, reflexology facilities, steam rooms, saunas, whirlpool baths, and an 85-foot outdoor infinity pool with panoramic lake views, the resort’s Fitness Pavilion is perfect for total body health.

If the serene lakefront setting isn’t relaxing enough, unwind at the Yue Hu Spa which is dedicated to holistic wellness. Treatments incorporate the principles of an ancient Chinese wellness philosophy centered upon the meridian system and on balancing qi (vital energy).

Park Hyatt Ningbo Resort and Spa offers a total of 14,122 square feet of sophisticated event venues, including The Ballroom, a pillar-less event space able to accommodate up to 400 people. For a more intimate gathering, The Salon and The Pavilion are perfect for any exclusive event. www.ningbo.park.hyatt.com

Photo courtesy of worldtennismagazine.com

It’s that time of the year again… time for lists. To-do’s, resolutions, and the New York Times 45 Places to Go in 2012, of course. So, if you’re resolved to travel more this year, use this to check a few things off your list. Here are some of our favorites!

#3 Myanmar – After the release of Aung San Suu Kyi from 15 years of house arrest and the lifting of the boycott against the authoritarian regime that kept the country isolated, Myanmar is ready to share cultural treasures and deserted beaches. Experience the remarkable beauty, romance, and mystery of Myanmar aboard the luxurious Orient-Express’ “Road to Mandalay” as it cruises down the Ayeyarwady River.

#4 London – Between the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Queen’s 60^th year on the throne, the summer Olympic Games, and the 200^th birthday of Charles Dickens, there is a bevy of reasons to visit London this year. For the ultimate posh location, we recommend the Metropolitan London with its incredible views of Hyde Park and award-winning Nobu restaurant. For a more sanctuary-like hotel, the 5-star Halkin in discreet Belgravia may be more up your alley.

#6 Tokyo – It’s no secret that Tokyo had a tough 2011, which is why there is no better time to travel there than 2012. Due to a decrease in tourism and business travel, rates are down without sacrificing luxury and attention to detail. Staying at the “Lost in Translation”  Park Hyatt Tokyo is now better than ever.

#11 Moscow – For those who love history and art, this is the city to visit. Between the reopening of the extravagantly renovated Bolshoi Theater in October and the opening of the Russian Icon Museum, you will find no shortage of things to do here. Located just yards away from the Bolshoi Theater, the five-star Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow is in the prime location to explore this unique city.

#14 San Diego – If you’re looking for good times, good people, and great beer, San Diego should definitely be on your list of places to go this year. If you want to throw in a game of golf before or after your tastings, definitely stay at the Park Hyatt Aviara.

#27 Maldives – It seems that everyone is traveling to the Maldives now-a-days, and it’s no secret why. It’s necklace of 26 tropical atolls in the Indian Ocean make it a place where you can find something that everyone in the family wants to do – scuba dive, fish, surf, or just relax in the pristine sand. There are so many different resorts to choose from – here are our favorites: Park Hyatt Maldives, Anatara Dhigu Resorts & Spas, Anantara Veli Resorts & Spas, Anantara Kihavah Villas, Naladhu, and Cocoa Island.

If you like to “kill two birds with one stone”, you’ll need to check out Crystal Cruises. Their ships plan to drop anchor in each of these destinations in 2012: #1 Panama City; #22 Paraty, Brazil; and #36 Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Image courtesy of http://www.airlinesanddestinations.com.

Sydney, Australia, already voted one of the Top 10 Most Beautiful Cities at Night by TripAdvisor, becomes even more stunning this spring (or shall we say fall?). From May 25-June 11, Sydney Harbor will once again transform for Vivid Sydney, the largest celebration of light, music, and ideas in the Southern Hemisphere. For these 17 days, the Sydney Opera House sails will be illuminated by more than 50 light-art sculptures and large-scale installations and projections.

Catch the best views of the event at the newly redesigned Park Hyatt Sydney in the Rocks District, reopening in February. With its incredible views of the Sydney Harbor, you can have the best seat in the house in your own room!

The festival will also feature contemporary music performances at Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House; international creative-industry conferences; and the new Vivid Ideas Exchange, a hub for creative ideas, discussion, and debate at the Museum of Contemporary Art. For more information on Vivid Sydney, visit www.vividsydney.com

For more information on Park Hyatt Sydney, click here.

Beginning in the new year, Park Hyatt Masters of Food and Wine, a global series of seasonally- and locally-inspired culinary weekend workshops will make its official debut at all 26 Park Hyatts. The quarterly Park Hyatt Masters events will take place simultaneously at the turn of each season on the weekends of January 13-15, March 23-25, June 22-24 and September 21-23, 2012.

Through engaging and interactive programming, both resident and visiting gourmands and oenophiles can become ‘masters’ of regional cuisine. Park Hyatt chefs and sommeliers will lead masters-in-training in three hands-on ‘courses’ on the designated day:

In the Field: Interaction with artisanal food or beverage purveyors
In the Kitchen: Onsite cooking and prep workshops
In the Moment: Tips on service and presentation

Sample individual hotel itineraries during the January launch include:

• Park Hyatt Maldives will host a fishing excursion led by the hotel’s Executive Chef and resident Marine Biologist. The following day, guests will collect local produce on a nearby island and visit a local Maldivian home to learn about regional cooking techniques. After returning to the resort, they will enjoy a traditional Maldivian meal using their fresh ingredients.
• Park Hyatt Washington will host a local microbrew tasting with the brew masters at PortCity Brewing Company, a winter tea blend tasting with Certified Tea Master Rodrick Markus, and an intimate cooking class with Blue Duck Tavern Chef de Cuisine John Melfi, highlighting the season’s best ingredients.
• Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi will host an excursion to a local date farm. Following the excursion, guests are invited to a cooking class led by the culinary team where they will learn to prepare the region’s famous hot and cold mezza as well as delicious Arabic sweets.
• Park Hyatt Beaver Creek is partnering with ski legend Chris Anthony and Silver Oak Cellars to host a weekend of great skiing, delicious food, and decadent wine. Après-ski, enjoy tasty Colorado cuisine prepared by 8100 Mountainside Bar & Grill’s Executive Chef, Christian Apetz, and a wine tasting led by Silver Oaks.

Although nothing beats a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal, we wouldn’t mind the chance to experience the culinary prowess of some of the world’s top chefs at Park Hyatt Masters of Food and Wine this week! The event, kicking off today, is making its Chinese debut in the ‘Paris of the East’, where foodies and vinophiles will be wined and dined in high style at Park Hyatt Shanghai November 22-26. The star-studded roster (Michelin star that is!) includes legendary chef Alain Ducasse, Master Sommelier Gérard Basset, and many other international and local food and wine experts. The five day event includes patisserie workshops, personalized tours of Shanghai’s markets, wine tastings, traditional Chinese meals, and the grand finale, a Michelin Star Gala Dinner prepared by Alain Ducasse and the Plaza Athénée restaurant team. Sorry mom, but we might not be coming home for Thanksgiving after all…

For the full calendar of events visit:  http://www.mastersfoodandwine.com/Shanghai-Events-Calendar/default.asp