FSMagic: Luxury Travel & Vacations

TANZANIA

Tanzania, the largest country in East Africa, boasts not only incredible safari destinations but also some of the best beaches and islands anywhere in Africa. Known as one of Africa’s top spots to view wildlife, Tanzania is home to what is widely considered one of the greatest wonders of the natural world: The Great Migration, when more than two million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles migrate through the Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystems. Imagine, too, the wonder of going on one of the most popular and accessible of the safari trips in Tanzania. Known as the Northern Safari circuit, this well-established route includes nationalparks, game reserves, conservation areas, and private concessions. Among them: the world famous Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater (a geographical marvel), Tarangire National Park, and Lake Manyara National Park. You might also consider a trip to the Tanzanian coast and the Indian Ocean, with its white sandy beaches stretching for miles and crystal clear waters exceptional for warm water diving and snorkeling. The adventure of a lifetime awaits you.

MEXICO

One of the world’s great civilizations, Mexico is a mélange of cultures, combining indigenous tribal and Spanish traditions, among other influences. Split into tropical and temperate zones, its landscapes are just as diverse. You can visit mountains and jungles, the shimmering blue coastline of Baja California, the iconic cactus-strewn deserts of the north, and the Mayan villages and gorgeous beaches of the south. You can climb volcanoes, watch whales, swim underground, and tour tequila farms. And sprinkled throughout, you will find richly adorned colonial churches, ancient ruins and pyramids, and a sophisticated cuisine that has little in common with the fast food world of nachos and burritos. Mexico City, with its upscale shops, renowned museums, sophisticated restaurants, and nightlife offers a blend of old and new architecture, and many first-time visitors are surprised to find that the county is far from being a developing nation. Visit and see this surprising and fascinating country with new eyes. It’s a surprising and wonderful delight!

Argentina

With outstanding natural sights and one of the world’s hippest cities, it’s obvious why Argentina has long held travelers in thrall. Just think: Tango, gauchos, fútbol, Patagonia, and the Andes, to name a few of the country’s highlights. Wine lovers can sample world-class Malbecs at Mendoza's heady, high-altitude vineyards while adventure seekers can revel in spectacular canyons. Nature lovers will marvel at the thundering torrents of Iguazú Falls, and top-notch outdoor activities beckon in Patagonia with its glaciers and wildlife. Then there’s Buenos Aires, an urban adventurer’s delight with its thriving foodie scene, chic shopping districts, and vibrant nightlife. Something for everyone, to be sure!

St. Barth

Celebrities, models, and socialites retreat time after time to the tropical paradise of St. Barth’s for a good reason: This historic French island is truly magical, blending the sophistication of St. Tropez with the low-key lifestyle of the Caribbean, making it exclusive yet unpretentious. St. Barth has a unique brand of laid-back luxury that breeds instant converts. Explore the port village of Gustavia, stop for drinks at Le Select, and end the day at a premier restaurant overlooking St. Jean Bay. Make one trip, and you’ll find yourself immediately hooked. With quality cuisine, beautiful hiking, great hotels, and a distinctive European spirit, it’s an island paradise just waiting for you.

CUBA

With rolling mountains and dazzling shores, live music, vintage cars, and its classic cigars, Cuba captivates visitors with its abundant tropical pleasures and cultural treasures of a bygone era. White-sand beaches entice sun worshippers by day while clubs pulsing with Afro-Cuban jazz own the night. Check out Old Havana, Fabrica de Arte Cubano, and the Gran Teatro de la Habana then explore El Nicho Waterfalls and Varadero Beach. Strolling through the capital city is a highlight with its vibrant culture and colorful architecture. Consider Cuba for your next vacation destination for the romance, history, and excitement of its fascinating shores.

SPAIN

You want to go to Spain, with its flamenco dancers and soaring cathedrals, but we have to ask you, “Which Spain?” The hip and energetic Spain of Barcelona and Madrid? The historic Moorish Spain of Granada? The spirited mountainous region of the Basque Country? With its captivating and diverse regions, Spain has inspired many of the world’s most prolific artists, from Antoni Gaudi and Pablo Picasso to fashion icons such as Manolo Blahnik (yes, that Manolo Blahnik), and its national and natural treasures are sights to behold.

From the Pyrenees to the coast, Spain offers top-notch art museums, world-class hotels, inventive cuisine, music festivals, and exciting nightlife with dancing until dawn. Even so, daily life in Spain moves slowly and runs late. Some could be frustrated by limited store hours and daily siestas, but that’s the point of this laid-back country: Relish the moment, enjoy yourself, eat well, and relax. Spaniards love visitors, hosting strangers drinking good wine, and laughing over a delicious meal. So take a seat at the table! Whether you are looking to escape to a sleep hilltop village in Andalusia or feasting on tapas in Valencia, it’s all here. You can hit tropical islands, too, or ski up north. Your pick.

The best time to visit is generally early summer or the start of fall, depending on your destination because Spain is divided into three distinct weather regions. But we’re here to tell you it’s a year-round destination that is sure to hold you in thrall.

FRANCE

France is where life’s simplest pleasures — a plate of cheese, a glass of wine, a piece of chocolate — are both beautiful and delicious and around every corner. Take Paris, a city for strolling along the Seine, with its artists and cafes, or wandering the Louvre, one of countless number of museums, historic monuments and art galleries. Pop into Chanel for that sweater you’ve been eyeing or jump on a motor scooter to explore some of the city’s trendy outlying neighborhoods. Venture farther to find vineyards and valleys, coastlines and chateaux — all visual and historic feasts. It’s difficult to see all of the country in one go, but you can choose to visit Mediterranean beaches or the canyons of the Pyrenees one time and bike the limestone hills of Provence or the rolling meadows of the Loire Valley another. Climate varies widely across France with temperate weather in the north and Mediterranean-type temperatures in the south (think warm, humid summers). Pack layers and consider catching France in the spring, when the blossoms are out and “mon pays” is at its finest.

ITALY

It goes without saying that if you travel to Italy once, you are destined to return. This country is not something to simply check off your bucket list. It is a place to live, love, and learn all year-round — and most people never get to half of what Italy has to offer.

It’s possible to add day trips onto a simple city trip here, taking in not only the awe-inspiring art and architecture of Milan and Florence, Rome and Venice, but the olive groves and vineyards of the countryside or the sparkling waters of Lake Como and the Mediterranean. The color and hipness here is vibrant, found in the stylishness of urban fashion, the mastery of classic artists and creativity of up-and-coming ones as well as the talent of some of the best chefs and winemakers in the world. Drop your bags at one of the country’s many luxury hotels, then shop and stroll to your heart’s delight before breaking for a long — and by long, we mean loooong — mouthwatering meal with multiple courses of antipasti, homemade pasta, freshly caught seafood and heady wines. But don’t stay still for too long: Italy’s varied geography and long history can lead you from the Roman Coliseum to the crystal blue Tyrrhenian Sea and the southern regions of Campania, Basilicata and Calabria.

The best months to visit tend to be April through June and September though October when the weather is comfortably warm and dry. Most Italians go on holiday in August so expect to find many shops and restaurants shuttered. As the Italians say, “Buon Viaggio!”

GERMANY

Berlin is where the cool kids go, but Germany as a whole has become one of Europe’s best destinations for culture with some of the hippest historic environs around. The fact that tourism has increased dramatically in recent years, however, shouldn’t put you off. This is a big country with lots of room to roam, from the natural beauty and baroque palaces of Bavaria to ultrachic HafenCity in Hamburg and the coastal towns of the North Sea. One day you’ll see a medieval town, the next a cosmopolitan city — all easy to access by car or train in a few days. Berlin, of course, has it all: Hot new art galleries, history (note to self: the Brandenburg Gate), luxury hotels, and cutting-edge cuisine, fashion, design, and music. Young Germans are particularly friendly and eager to share their insider knowledge of what’s going on. Beyond the urban scene, smaller towns and cities are where you’ll find the most beautiful traditional German architecture, with cobble-stoned streets adding to the charm. The country’s temperate seasonal climate means everyone hits sidewalk cafes and music festivals (of which there are many) in the summer and hunkers down inside classic beerhalls with fireplaces by winter. Either way, it’s a win-win.

USA

The United States is famous for its wide array of popular tourist destinations with world-class cities — Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, New York, and Chicago — and the natural wonders of mountains, beaches, deserts, canyons, and forests. From coast to coast, this vast and exciting country has the right mix of welcoming people and opportunities that make travel so rewarding, whether you are seeking unique shopping, great restaurants, world-class accommodations, entertainment or cultural attractions for your luxury getaway. Among the nation’s highlights: Pike Place Market in Seattle, Venice Beach and Hollywood in Los Angeles, Faneuil Hall in Boston, Navy Pier in Chicago, the French Quarter in New Orleans, Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C., Walt Disney World in Florida, the Grand Canyon in Arizona, and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Not to mention the Statue of Liberty to Broadway in New York City! There’s something for everyone here.