"I think Phnom Penh has become far more confident in its own voice. A few years ago, much of the retail and lifestyle scene felt either NGO-adjacent or heavily expat-driven. Now there's a noticeable shift toward Cambodian-led creative businesses that are designing for a more discerning local audience."
The Leica Vibrant mode was in its element here, pulling stunning color out of these flamboyant buildings that surrounded the central canal. The telephoto camera has excellent image quality, and while the 3.2x-4.3x optical zoom range did seem limited, a quick punch to the 8x mode produced exceptionally usable results.
Forget Phuket's reputation as a backpacker's paradise. There's a whole lot more to Thailand's largest island than its nightlife scene, with a clutch of white sand beaches fringing azure waters, a scattering of historic temples, a cheerful town center lined with colorful 19th-century shophouses, and markets slinging everything from street food to spices and knick-knacks for your suitcase. Whatever you seek from an island getaway, you're sure to find it here.
Island escapes have long been associated with tranquillity, crystalline waters lapping powder-soft sands on which palm trees rustle and hammocks sway in the breeze. Brits feel particularly drawn to island adventures, as the many thousands of votes in Condé Nast Traveller's Readers' Choice Awards display. 2025's frontrunners included the Isles of Scilly in the UK, the Greek island of Naxos, and the Brazilian Fernando de Noronha, while the Turks and Caicos claimed the title of the best islands in the Caribbean and the Atlantic.
These are the Condé Nast Traveller Wellness & Spa Guide winners for 2026: the top-level retreats and medi-clinics, the most-results-driven health centres and the slickest spas. Well-being has never been more at the forefront of our minds than now, and there have never been more excuses to practice wellness on a daily basis. From sound baths in the Maldives to recovery lounges in Napa Valley, 2026 is set to see boundary-pushing wellness trends in the travel world.
Everybody's dreaming about being a digital nomad these days, especially since so many of us got a taste for remote working during and after the pandemic. While there are certain spots that are more popular for those dreaming of a change of scenery - Bali, anyone? - more and more countries have been launching their own digital nomad visas , giving remote workers far more options than were available just a few years ago.
Deserted white sandy beaches, a 15-seat chef's table serving a farm-to-table Michelin-starred tasting menu, silence broken only by crashing waves, and not a cocktail bucket in sight. Oh yes, this is Phuket, but not as you might know it. For those willing to go against the grain and head north over the bridge, it's just 20 minutes to Iniala Beach House, but a world away from the island you think you know.
As an American who's traveled to 44 countries over the last 30 years, I've seen my fair share of unforgettable places. But if I had to choose one place to visit again and again, it would be Bali, an island and province in Indonesia that combines vibrant culture, natural beauty, and a pace of life that feels both energizing and restorative. After spending a month on the island in 2023, I fell in love. Here's what made my trip to Bali so special.
Tucked away in the Wat Ket area, a quiet pocket of Chiang Mai well clear of the chaos of the Old Town, at 137 Pillars House you're close enough to dip in when you want to, but far enough out that the noise never follows you back. It's the kind of neighbourhood where mornings start slowly, perhaps with a quick trip to the nearby Lung Khajohn Wat Ket, one of the city's best rice roll spots, or a plate of Neng's Clay Pot Roast Pork (insanely delish!), before retreating back to the calm of the hotel gardens.
