I barely noticed the turmoil in financial markets last April caused by Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs. I was relaxing at Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives. The US president’s trade war had set

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Even by the standards of an emirate that shows all the constructional restraint of a toddler with a trunk of Lego, Dubai is in turbocharge mode. Eminent hotel groups are flooding in as superhotels spring up on man-made islands. Yet for all Dubai’s veneration of the new, decades of innovation have left a legacy of eye-catching and, in some cases, surprisingly affordable sanctuaries in which to bed down, whether you’re based in Burj Khalifa-dominated Downtown, the buzzing Marina or amid the sugary sands of Jumeirah Beach and the Palm. Throughout it all, the hospitality ecosystem seems to hum with a customer-is-king efficiency.

This week’s dream: the dazzling coral gardens of ...

Indulge in lakeside strolls, boat adventures and picture-perfect views

While the beauty of a sunny frosty morning is undeniable, it’s not always guaranteed in the UK. At this time of year, hankering after bright skies, warm swims and not having to layer up to leave the h