French Polynesia is the world’s friendliest nation, says US publication Condé Nast Traveler, and it shows at every level – if you run into the islands’ President, Edouard Fritsch, which is possible as he’s an out-and-about person, he’ll treat you as a long-lost friend.

Windstar President Chris Prelog has just completed the most whirlwind week in a career at sea that started 25 years ago.

Stay in the epitome of island luxury and absorb serious Galapagos-level conservation thrown in, for free. This is at The Brando, on 77-hectare Onetahi private island in French Polynesia’s Tetiarøo atoll. Marlon Brando fell in love with the atoll when filming on Tahiti. He bought it and it’s still owned by his family.

Manhattan West is an area of Manhattan that even many New Yorkers have yet to discover, and it shows the very best that the US can offer. A total eight-acre development that incorporates Penn Station and runs west to the Hudson. Centrepiece is Magnolia Court, a delightful lush-grass garden, surrounded by one’s favourite stores, Apple, Peloton (two stores, actually) and Whole Foods. As an outer circle, five high-rises house offices and residences. A sixth building, rising only 22 floors, is The Pendry Manhattan West.

Hark back to the past in Hong Kong. Yes, it is coming back to life again. The Marco Polo German Bierfest may have been cancelled but Rugby Sevens is still scheduled for 4-6 November. And as restrictions are being removed there are many financial gatherings planned as frustrated global CEOs can now, after over two years, meet their Asia counterparts in person.

Connecting through travel has never been more vital, said CEO Lindsey Ueberroth at the Preferred Hotels and Resorts’ regional meeting at The Londoner, 20-21 September 2022.

New York’s most iconic club, The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel, maintains its top-ranking status thanks to an Aussie. Managing Director Marlene Poynder hails from Perth.

Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River epitomises cultural lifestyle. What was originally going to be a walkway from the main building down to the river, all of a six-metre total drop, has been turned into a 400 sqm white infinity Art Space.

A leisurely tour on Chicago River is a unique experience for all ages, from about-tens to the near-centenarians. Great for multi-generationals and also for girls-day-out, before hitting the Windy City’s Mag Mile, along Michigan Avenue, for a spot of sophisticated retail.

If ultimate style is tradition brought up to date, Bvlgari Hotel Paris epitomises success. The brand goes way back, to 1884, when Greek silversmith Sotirios Boulgaris opened a jewellery shop. Today LVMH owns what has become big-brand Bulgari (though the hotels like to be called Bvlgari).

Southern California is glamour and sun and feeling better about life in general. You have it all at Fairmont Century Plaza, Los Angeles’ icon hotel, a 15-floor crescent-shaped building designed by architect Minoru Yamasaki in 1966 (seven years later he completed the World Trade Center).

Hotels are increasingly becoming experience centres that happen to have beds. At Hotel De l’Europe Amsterdam the experiences are ABC, art, books and cigars, with canals, food and drink and lovely service thrown in.