32 BEST "BETTER-THAN-I-THOUGHT" METRO
Delhi, India
Journey: Blue Line, Dwarka Sector 12 to Connaught Place; a 2005 line on a 12-year-old metro system. Experience: Bang-on-time, fast, safe, clean, perfectly air-conditioned, running every few minutes (right up until 11pm), and costing just 23 rupees (45 cents) for a 40-minute journey. NEvaluation: 10/10. A metro system that serves a city of 10 million is a major achievement. A metro system that does it this well is a miracle. Addendum to chief executives of Australia's metro systems: do us all a favour – invest in a 23-rupee ticket and see how it's done. delhimetrorail.com
Max Anderson
33 BEST NEW MUSEUM
Aspen Art Museum, Colorado, US
Shigera Ban's provocative museum not only raises the erudition of this already exceptionally cultured town but also places Aspen firmly on the international art map. The boxy $45 million museum, which replaces the 35-year-old Aspen Art Museum on the banks of the Roaring Fork River, is an astounding mesh of materials that seriously pushes the envelope. It is Ban's first American museum, and one that has divided the wealthy resort town. Go for the art, the fantastic food at So Cafe – Aspen's only public rooftop space – and the 360-degree views of the Rocky Mountains seen through mesh-shrouded, peek-a-boo windows. aspenartmuseum.org
Sheriden Rhodes
34 BEST OLD-WORLD CHARM
Governors Coffee House, Suva, Fiji
Revisit the old-world charm of the South Pacific at Governors in Suva, once the residence of a Fijian high chief and Pacific statesman. Inside the restored colonial estate are white vaulted ceilings, wall-to-wall framed vintage photos and posters of movies filmed in Fiji, while old copies of the Fiji Times serve as placemats. Try Fiji's signature dish, Kokoda (raw fish marinated in lime), the stuffed crab back or enjoy a cool cocktail on the shady verandah overlooking the period garden. governorsfiji.com
Sheriden Rhodes
35 BEST EXHIBITION
Jean-Paul Gaultier Exhibition, National Gallery of Victoria
Playful, cheeky, self-deprecating: not the words usually associated with fashion. Jean Paul Gaultier delights in smashing the mould; remember the conical bra he strapped onto Madonna in 1990? Haute couture comes alive with moving catwalks and interactive mannequins, the exhibition has already travelled from San Fran to Stockholm. But in Melbourne, the only showing in the Asia Pacific, Gaultier assures us, it's almost perfect. Make a night of it with the NGV's fantastic Friday Nights program, with DJs and talks, includes admission to the exhibition. Costs $22 adults/$10 children 5-15 years (exhibition only), $28/$10 Friday Nights at Jean Paul Gaultier. Until February 8, 2015. ngv.vic.gov.au
Belinda Jackson
36 BEST BED AND BREAKFAST (OVERSEAS)
Henry's House Siracusa, Sicily
This beautifully restored baroque palazzo can be found on the ancient island of Ortigia, in Siracusa, Sicily. The former nursery school has been decorated with antiques and curios and each guest room is filled with bohemian character. The hotel overlooks a pristine harbour and many rooms having wonderful views; there are also lovely vine-covered terraces for taking in the sun. The hotel is owned and operated by a delightful family, passionate about their neighbourhood and eager to offer tips about what to see and do. Bonus: the mother cooks one of the most lavish and delicious breakfasts I've ever eaten. hotelhenryshouse.com
Lee Tulloch
37 BEST BED AND BREAKFAST (AUSTRALIA)
The Loch, Berrima, NSW
In a world full of hot Airbandb, it's reassuring to know that there are still some inspirational pros willing to take up the fight to the amateurs. The Loch, located in the Southern Highlands of NSW, is a Scottish-themed stylishly and cannily converted horse stables. Aside from the comfortable rooms and a spacious living area on the newly added first floor, The Loch is its Sunday Farm Shop featuring farm-ranged meats, take-home meals, fresh produce and more. There are also antiques and offbeat vintage pieces for sale, all invitingly displayed in the stalls from the property's former equine-focused life. theloch.net.au
Anthony Dennis
38 BEST AIRPORT SWIMMING POOL
Singapore Changi Airport
Why don't all airports have one? A swimming pool, that is. The not entirely well-known open-air pool in Terminal 1 at Singapore's Changi Airport is the perfect place to while away a few hours in transit. The entry charge is a mere $S13.91 which includes use of the pool, jacuzzi, changing-room, showers, lockers, towels, a drink at the bar and free Wi-Fi. Luckily, I'd thrown my swimmers into my hand luggage at the last minute but it would be worth buying a new cossie at the airport, just to use the facilities. The helpful staff even provide plastic bags to repack your damp gear. harilelahospitality.com
Sally Macmillan
39 BEST AIRPORT TOUR
Tempelhof, Berlin
Built by the Nazis in the 1920s, used as a strategic base during World War I, then as a vital lifeline to West Berlin during the Cold War, before eventually being abandoned in 2008, Tempelhof Airport has an incredible history. Tours of the old terminal – an imposing, eerie building – are now available in English, meaning tourists can feel the full history of this place, from its empty arrivals hall to its war rooms and bomb shelters hidden deep underground. tempelhoferfreiheit.de
Ben Groundwater
40 BEST SKI GUIDES
Breckenridge, USA
There's so much terrain at this Colorado ski resort that you could do with hiring an instructor for the day to get an overview, even if you don't want a lesson. Even better, the new Breck Guides program can have you on the mountaintop before the lifts open to the wider public, and you can go off-piste for some great powder skiing – and also get a behind-the-scenes look at the work of the ski patrol and avalanche teams. breckenridge.com/guides
Brian Johnston
41, 42, 43, 44 & 45 BEST HOTELS AND RESORTS
Como Phuket, Thailand
Phuket's oldest luxury resorts lie on its west coast; by comparison, the east has been slow to develop. Taking a lead now, though, is the new Point Yamu by Como. Located at the end of a peninsula it looks out into the Andaman Sea and the distinctly unpolished limestones of Phang Nga Bay. The whole resort has a serene vibe, just the right side of sterile, as though it's all be designed by Apple. If you want something authentically Thai, then it's perhaps best to look elsewhere but, if you're after some peace, quiet and decadence, then this is place for you. comohotels.com
JL
Royal Pavillions, Qasr Al Sarab, United Arab Emirates
So ugly is the drive to Qasr al Sarab that you're quite in love with the desert resort before you've even laid eyes on it. A colossal incinerator and a seemingly eternal phalanx of dumper trucks do not a scenic route make. It's as though the resort is so good by way of apology for that ugliness, and the new Royal Pavilions are and even grander gesture still. Just 10 of these new units have been built, separate from the main resort, each offering in-room dining, plunge pools and Arabian luxury you've only dreamt of. Best of all, the pavilions are even further out into the gorgeous red sand of the Empty Quarter. royal-pavilion.anantara.com
JL
Sofitel So Singapore
Singapore boring? Have you ever stayed in any of its profusion of out-there boutique hotels, unrivalled anywhere in Asia, let alone the world? The latest, and perhaps last word, in the island state's design hotels, is the Sofitel So Singapore, a product of the normally rather restrained French-based Accor hotel conglomerate. Built inside a grand, former colonial communications building, none other than Karl Lagerfield consulted on aspects of the hotel's design, including Chanel staff uniforms and there's nary a corner of the establishment, including the guestrooms, which doesn't consist of a carefully considered design statement. The floridly decorated rooms feature towering ceilings, featuring quirky light-infused cupolas of domed European buildings. sofitel.com
AD
Ritz Carlton, Kyoto, Japan
Part of the enormous appeal of Kyoto is its age, so any new property or development should be looked at with caution – or, in the case of the city planners, overt hostility. There are all manner of rules and seemingly endless inspections that need to take place before anything is signed off, so even for the Ritz Carlton brand, nothing was easy. Rather than build an entirely new property, they had to acquire the old Fujita Hotel and wholly renovated it, bringing it up to their lofty standards. Now the Ritz Carlton Kyoto, sitting on the Kamogawa River, is arguably the city's finest luxury property, old and new at the same time. ritzcarlton-kyoto.jp
JL
Seahaven Resort, Noosa
A stalwart in Hastings St, Seahaven has enjoyed a $16 million refurbishment and is unrecognisable from its former self. The resort eclipses the big names for blockbuster location, bang on Noosa's Main Beach. Accommodation ranges from studio boltholes to two-storey penthouses, with fully kitted kitchens, rain showers and laundries. Plan drinks on your balcony, overlooking the sea. Seahaven's three swimming pools and its beachfront barbecue. It's a two-minute trot along the beach boardwalk for morning coffee or for dinner at Noosa's sensational restaurants. Sunrise yoga on the beach is de rigueur. seahavennoosa.com.au
Belinda Jackson
46, 47, 48 & 49 BEST STREET ART
Valparaiso, Chile
This Chilean port town is splashed with rich colour, from the riotously painted houses to the street art that litters many walls. Walk Valpo's steep, narrow streets and stairways and you're bound to stumble upon large murals by local and visiting artists. Street art is embraced in Valparaiso, condoned by the local government, which has resulted in a city that can at times feel like an open-air gallery. And admission is free. valpostreetart.com
BG
Buenos Aires, Argentina
In suburbs such as Palermo, Villa Urquiza and Coghlan you'll be hard-pressed to find a city wall that hasn't been adorned with some sort of artwork. There's a huge collective of artists in Buenos Aires – some local, others imported – who express their creative and sometimes political leanings through public artwork. Some is officially commissioned, some not. But it all makes for fascinating viewing. buenosairesstreetart.com
BG
George Town, Malaysia
The decaying, centuries-old walls of this World Heritage-listed gem of an old city precinct, dating to 18th century British colonial rule, are the perfect canvas for a series of capitivating murals. They can be a bit gimmicky, such as "Little children on a bicycle", and you sometimes have to queue to be photographed in front of one, but they brighten what would otherwise remain a profusion of mottled grey concrete expanses. It's surprising to learn that the murals, Mirrors George Town, were created not by an Asian artist but by a Lithuanian, Ernest Zacharevic. tourismpenang.net.my
Berlin, Germany
It began with the wall: as West Berlin residents took to scribbling words of protest on their side of the city's hated divide, so an intrinsically linked culture of street art and protest was born in Berlin. That's no different today, in a city rich with murals that cover entire buildings, beautifully executed pieces that speak political messages and occasionally just creative genius to the city's masses. For the Berlin's best street art, head to the suburb of Kreuzberg. alternativeberlin.com
BG
50. BEST NEW WINE DESTINATIONS
Argentina and Chile
They may not roll off the tongue like Cotes du Rhone or Chianti, but the wine regions of South America – in particular Mendoza in Argentina and Aconcagua in Chile – are fast becoming go-to destinations for wine enthusiasts. Each boasts spectacular scenery in the form of the towering, snow-capped Andes as their backdrop. And each can claim its own specialty grape, with the malbecs of Mendoza and the carmeneres of Aconcagua earning worldwide recognition. A trip here is a journey into the new world of wine, a journey that's rewarded with some very good – and usually very cheap – discoveries. mendoza.travel; chile.travel/en/
BG
