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.

BETWEEN THE DENSELY FORESTED ZEMPLÉN MOUNTAINS AND FERTILE LOWLANDS OF THE GREAT HUNGARIAN PLAIN, TOKAJ IS PATCHWORKED WITH UNESCO-LISTED VINEYARDS. CENTURIES-OLD CELLARS ARE REVIVING PRIZED WINES THAT PAIR PERFECTLY WITH PAPRIKA-SPICED LOCAL DISHES OF FOREST MUSHROOMS AND MANGALITSA PORK

From city breaks to ski and sauna weekends, head to colder climes for an elegant way to enjoy the season

Ireland’s capital city offers rich history, friendly locals, and of course, a great pint of Guinness

Bilbao is a classic European city break destination: small enough to walk across in an hour and filled with lush parks, bustling pintxos bars (you’re rarely more than 6ft away from a cocktail stick sk

Having never been to Italy before, I was very excited to see what its capital city had to offer – and it certainly didn’t disappoint. After leaving rainy England and landing in Rome’s significantly su