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Dar Ahlam the best tent camp Morocco

STAY IN YOUR OWN PRIVATE TENT CAMP IN THE DUNES OF THE SAHARA

[THE SAHARA, MOROCCO] — I was sitting there polishing off my second Negroni — a Negroni in the frickin’ Sahara Desert — watching the blazing sun rapidly sink over the darkening horizon when here comes Ahmed, barreling over the lip of the nearest dune, in bare feet (!). Huffing, he says “Monsieur Dan, we have one more surprise for you tonight. Please come. Oh… and bring your camera.” As if I needed more surprises that day… we start charging off through the sand towards the quickly setting sun. We follow a path along the dune ridges, lanterns illuminating the way, the darkness arriving freaky-fast, almost like a light switch. We top the lip of the ridge and I shriek like a little girl. Ahmed giggles with excitement. We’re

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Dar Ahlam best luxury hotel morocco

DAR AHLAM–AN AMAZING KASBAH IN A MOROCCAN DESERT OASIS

[SKOURA, MOROCCO] — This is my overview of an incredible stay at the mind-blowing Dar Ahlam a luxurious kasbah in a hidden palm oasis on the edge of the Moroccan desert. A hotel review of Dar Ahlam luxury hotel, the best boutique hotel in Morocco. Located in Skoura, Dar Ahlam is the perfect luxury hotel to explore the Sahara. __________________________ After a long, bumpy slog over the Atlas Mountains from Marrakesh, I got out of the dusty Mercedes van in an indiscriminate parking lot outside a great mud-walled compound. Steep walls up to the sky. This is it? I wondered under my breath. This is the place I’ve heard so much about? And then, with silent porters in linen tunics grabbing my bags, a great

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Ballooning in Alentejo Portugal

GO BALLOONING HIGH ABOVE ALENTEJO PORTUGAL

[ALENTEJO, PORTUGAL] — Here’s a post overview of ballooning over Monsaraz in Portugal’s Alentejo region. Balloon over the best hilltop top of Monsaraz and the Alqueva reservoir. _____________________________ The ancient town of Monsaraz sits high on a hilltop in Portugal’s Alentejo regio, the tallest point for miles around. Just miles from the Spanish border and surrounded by thick castle walls, it overlooks one of the most beautiful parts of inland Portugal, including the giant Alqueva reservoir — the largest manmade lake in Europe. Some consider Monsaraz one of Portugal’s most picturesque villages and it is one of it’s oldest. People have been living in this region since pre-historic times, with ancient monoliths strewn all over the land. Then the Romans came and took over, then

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Best beaches in Comporta best things to do

THE PERFECT BEACH VACATION IN COMPORTA PORTUGAL

[ALENTEJO, PORTUGAL] — Here’s my recap of the best beaches in Comporta Portugal. Comporta is the best beach vacation in Portugal. Here’s what to do in Comporta. And the best things to do in Comporta. ___________________________________ About an hour south of Lisbon later, after crossing the broad bays of the swollen Targus river, the road flattens out into lowlands. You start to see familiar names you’ve read about on the autostrada exits. Setúbal. Estuário do Sado. Alcácer do Sal. Yup, we’re on the right path. Bright yellow signs indicate the Algarve to left.  But we’re not heading there this trip. And then you see it. Comporta. That’s us. You pull off the highway and head for the salty air. Suddenly you’re dunked into a sea

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Best restaurants in Comporta

YOU SHOULD EAT HERE IN COMPORTA PORTUGAL

[ALENTEJO, PORTUGAL] — We’d spent our first day in Comporta at Pégo Beach, one of the best beaches in the area. Still a little jet-lagged after arriving the night before. We rented chairs and lulled ourselves to sleep with the waves while quietly reading/not reading  our books. The sun was high, it was the end of June, but the steady breeze kept the temperature in the 70s. Unbelievably perfect. Families played beach games as we shake-and-baked in the soft warm sand — so opposite from the rocky beaches of France and Italy. Around about noon, my stomach growled. “I believe it is time for us to eat,” I said, knowing that one of the best restaurants in Comporta sat not 70 meters from where we

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Kasbah Tamadot best hotel Atlas Mountains

STAY IN RICHARD BRANSON’S KASBAH TAMADOT IN THE MOUNTAINS OF MOROCCO

[HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS, MOROCCO] — Here’s my review of Richard Branson’s Kasbah Tamadot hotel in the High Atlas Mountain of Morocco. Kasbah Tamadot is one of the best luxury hotels in Morocco and the best hotel in the Atlas Mountain and part of Richard Branson’s amazing Virgin Limited hotel group. It’s only an hour outside of Marrakech, but feels like a world away. ___________________________ Pulling out of the crazy busy dark corners of Medina of Marrakesh, the sky suddenly opens up. Endless palm trees paint the sky like clouds. Vast estates with long pink mud walls line the highway for miles.  And that’s when you first see them, the Atlas Mountains, snow capped even in the 80 degree spring heat. Beckoning from a distance to

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Best hikes in Alta Badia

THREE GREAT HIKES IN ALTA BADIA IN THE ITALIAN DOLOMITES

[ALTA BADIA, TRENTINO] — I’ve been to Alta Badia three or four times now. Here’s my overview of three great hikes in Alta Badia in the Italian Dolomites. A few of the best hikes Alta Badia: San Cassiano, Pralongia, Pre d Costa, Rifugio Scotoni, Lagazuoi. ________________________________ After a four hour hike down the mountain, it was finally time for a late lunch. Stanky and sweaty, I rolled into this cute little rifugio out in the woods, accessible only by foot or the brave souls driving up the narrow less-than-one-lane path — so tight the cars forced the hikers to lean their butts and packs over the wood rail fence lining the lane as they passed. I was hangry by then so hearty venison medallions in

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Best hikes in Val Gardena

TWO GREAT HIKES IN VAL GARDENA IN THE ITALIAN DOLOMITES

[VAL GARDENA, BOLZANO] — Here’s a fun overview of two great hikes in Val Gardena valley of Italy’s Sud Tyrol region. Great hiking in the Dolomites. Two of the best hikes in Val Gardena and the Italian Dolomites. And the best restaurants Ortisei. _______________________________________ We were on a long gondola ride heading up a long valley of undulating hills outside of the beautiful town of Ortisei, no doubt perfect ski runs in the winter. But it was summer, off season, so everything was super lush and green, hardly anybody around. The lift pauses at one skier drop-off then continues on, up up up and over a steep massive wall of granite, still shaded by the stark morning sun, darkening the interior of the gondola so much

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Fernando de Noronha Brazilian paradise

FERNANDO DE NORONHA, THE BRAZILIAN PARADISE NOBODY REALLY KNOWS ABOUT

[FERNANDO DE NORONHA,  BRAZIL] — Here’s an overview of the best things to do on Fernando de Noronha Brazil, and island 200 miles off the coast of Brazil. It’s the Brazilian paradise nobody really knows about. What to do, where to stay on Fernando de Noronha. _______________________________ It had rained all morning.  I was driving like a mad man in my bumble-bee colored dune buggy, down a rutted muddy road to a clearing on the edge of a steep cliff. Not intentionally crazy, mind you, but out of necessity. The little dune buggy was so small and my legs were so long that my knees straddled the teeny rubber steering wheel. I had to steer with my arms between my legs, crab-like. Nearing the edge of

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Half Day tour of Muscat

A HALF-DAY TOUR OF MUSCAT

[MUSCAT, OMAN] — An overview of a half day tour of Muscat Oman, tour of Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. The best things to do Muscat. What to do in Muscat. Muscat is the capital of Oman and sits right on Gulf of Oman, protected by barren Hajar mountains to the south. About 1.4 million people live here, so it’s actually quite small and manageable to get around. It’s an ancient city, rich in history, with people living here since 6,000 BC, Romans visited here, Persians, Portuguese and Ottomans all ruled here at some time. With its brand new airport, people are now flying here to enjoy the warm winters and tan by the pools of the many five star hotels that line the coast. It’s

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La Co(o)rniche best design hotel Philippe Starck

LA CO(O)RNICHE–PHILIPPE STARCK’S HIP HOTEL OVERLOOKING EUPOPE’S TALLEST SAND DUNE

[PYLA-SUR-MER, FRANCE] — A review of Philippe Starck’s amazing design hotel La Co(o)rniche. One of France’s top design hotels, perched overlooking Europe’s largest sand dune, the Dune du Pilat in Pyla-sur-Mer France. Setting The Stage — The Amazing Dune du Pilat I didn’t even know this beast was here. Never heard a squeak of this giant dune before. I actually came here in search of a beautiful hotel which mentioned its prime location next to the Dune du Pilat, about an hour south of Bordeaux. But when I pulled up, holy cow! My dumb fortunate luck led me to yet another amazing natural phenomenon — the largest sand dune in Europe. Almost 3km long and about 110m (300 ft) high, this giant Gibraltar of sand stands between

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Chedi Muscat Best Design Hotel Oman

THE CHEDI MUSCAT–A LUXURIOUS DESIGN HOTEL IN THE MIDDLE OF MUSCAT

[MUSCAT, OMAN]   — Here’s my hotel review of The Chedi Muscat luxury boutique hotel in Muscat Oman. The Chedi Muscat is the best design hotel Oman. And one of the world’s best design hotels. The best luxury hotel in Muscat. ____________________________________ Thursday afternoons in Muscat are busy traffic days. Like in most Muslim countries, where the “weekend” consists of Friday and Saturday, Thursday is everybody’s Friday afternoon and they’re itching to get home to their families. I’d arrived after a long but luxurious 13 hour Emirates flight from JFK to Dubai — that after taking a midnight redeye from Denver to JFK and a five hour layover — then, another five hour layover, then a quick forty minute flight into the sparkling clean, gleaming

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SIX SENSES ZIGHY BAY–A STUNNING ADVENTURE HOTEL ON THE COAST OF OMAN

[MUSANDAM PENINSULA, OMAN] — Here’s my review of Six Senses Zighy Bay adventure hotel on the coast of Oman. One of the best luxury hotels in Oman. A stunning beach resort that you can paraglide into Check-In. ____________________________ When you land in crazy Dubai, the Six Senses driver is there to great you. A kind Indian man from Kerala (as seemingly every helpful service person in this region is), dressed in a nice black suit and tie. As you weave your way through Dubai’s twenty lane highways, the skyscrapers disappear, the highway gets successively narrower, the gigantic 200 foot-long real estate billboards become faded and empty. Sand dunes start to appear. Camels start to pop up, randomly, in the dunes on the side of the road.

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Alila Jabal Akhdar best hotel Oman

THE ALILA JABAL AKHDAR–A HOTEL ON THE EDGE OF A GIANT CANYON IN OMAN

[AL HAJAR, OMAN] — Here’s a fun overview of the absolutely most amazing Alila Jabal Akhdar, the best adventure hotel in Oman. Perched on a the steep edge of a canyon in the remote Al Hajar Mountains in Oman. Looking right out over the Wadi Ghul, “Oman’s Grand Canyon” — the second deepest canyon in the world. Alila Jabal Akhdar is one of the best luxury hotels in Oman. Prepared to be blown away. ________________________________ When I first saw a photo of this hotel when it opened several years ago I just stopped in my tracks — well, stopped turning the page — and went “Woohhhh, where the hell is this???” Oman. Oman? Where’s Oman? “I gotta go there. And stay riiiiiiight here.” And that’s how

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Canvas Club best private tent camp Oman Wahiba Sands

STAY IN A DESERT TENT CAMP IN INCREDIBLE OMAN

[WAHIBA SANDS, OMAN] — Here’s a fun overview of staying in a private tent camp in the desert in Oman. The best private tent camp in the Wahiba Sand desert Oman. ____________________________ We’d been driving all day when we pulled into the scruffy desert town of Bidiyah.  My guide Zubir pulled off to the left side of the road and rolled to a stop in a small gas station, a cloud of dust chasing us to a stop. Two dark Indian men had been waiting for us, squatting against a wall. They knew we were in a hurry, so when he rolled in, they were quick to tackle each tire, twisting off the caps to the air valves and immediately started letting air out of

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Best things to do in Oman

COOL THINGS TO DO IN AMAZING OMAN

[OMAN] — Such a fascinating place, Oman, with the nicest people I’ve run into, across the board. I spent two weeks crisscrossing northern Oman and this post is all about the best places to go Oman and the best things to do Oman. What to do in Oman. Touring the Great Circle Route in Oman. Including the beautiful Bimmah Sinkhole and the busy Nizwa Goat Market. ______________________________ Oman is an Incredible Country Omanis are known for their gentle souls, peacemaking and equal support of friend and foe. People are so nice that even when I arrived at Passport Control, I walked up to the stern looking passport-checker dude. “From where are you?” “The States” “Really?? We don’t get many Americans here. What is your purpose? Where

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Speicherstadt at night

HAMBURG IS HAPPENING

[HAMBURG] — Ha-Ha-Hamburg. Man, what a city. If you asked me a year ago if Hamburg was on my wishlist of cities to visit. “Ummmmm, no.”   But, I didn’t know. This is my quick guide of what to do in Hamburg over a long weekend. I just thought Hamburg was just a big industrial port city in northern Germany. But through the marvels of Instagram, I kept seeing these beautiful shots of this remarkable city, Germany’s second largest and its major business hub, with all of its media, design and shipping headquarters here. Airbus, Unilever, broadcast networks, all here. Like Berlin — which I covered in recent posts — Hamburg has been undergoing a huge Renaissance. Not just updating, but reinventing itself. With massive cool new developments

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Lübeck Perfect Day Trip

LÜBECK–THE PERFECT DAY TRIP FROM HAMBURG

[LÜBECK, GERMANY] — It’s the eerie, fairytale looking architecture of Lübeck that hits you. Makes it almost surreal. Huge, squat high-hat towers dwarfing a bright green lawn. Rust colored tiles tipping to the sky. Little people, tiny in front. The buildings almost look like stone gnomes. Frozen Expedia gnomes, as they should be. As you’re adjust your zoom lens, trying to get a level angle, that’s when you realize it’s not you or your lens, the whole building is a little crooked. This was an old guard house, or toll house — the Holstentor (“Holstein Tower”), that used to protect this rich and prosperous city. They entire old city of Lübeck is built on an island, surrounded on all sides by gently flowing river.  Going back

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Miniatur Wunderland best museum Hamburg

MINIATUR WUNDERLAND–ONE OF THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN HAMBURG

[HAMBURG] — Okay, this was my favorite part of going to Hamburg. Miniatur Wunderland. Hamburg is a great city, but it’s worth a trip here just to see this awesome, quirky museum. Here’s a review of Miniatur Wunderland attraction in Hamburg. It’s one of the best things to do in Hamburg and one of top tourist sites in Hamburg. An entire world done in miniature: trains, cars, airports, stadiums. But this is way, way cooler than just a big model railroad. Dozens of complete themed dioramas spread out over multiple floors of an old warehouse. This is so much fun. Think: a model railroad on steroids. Sure there are lots of “miniature” places around the world, but this one is different and the best I’ve seen.

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what to do weekend in Berlin

WHAT TO DO OVER A LONG WEEKEND IN BERLIN

[BERLIN] — I’ve only been to Berlin three times, but here’s my picks for what to do in Berlin over a long winter weekend. The best things to do in Berlin. How to spend 36 hours in Berlin. Where to eat in Berlin. _________________________ 36 Hours in Berlin The first time I was last in Berlin it was so long ago, it’s scary. Back when I was in college in Rome, when the Wall was around. When Checkpoint Charlie was a real checkpoint. The city just seemed to be numb then, both sides. Mostly old people on the streets, not many. Can’t remember anyone young people. Everything seemed grey and colorless, broken. Eerie. You could roll a bowling ball down the main strassens and not hit

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