Once Upon a Lifetime

Uganda, Zimbabwe and Botswana
A safari to spot Africa's Big Five is on many people's bucket lists. Kampala Serena Hotel is the green oasis in the center of Uganda's bustling capital. Thanks to its location at the crossroads of savannah and rainforest, the country plays host to myriad wildlife. The Kampala Serena is the perfect jumping-off point for a safari trip and its rooms, restaurants and bars are appointed with modernity in mind. Its pool, amid red rock sculptures and a waterfall, is an ideal way to gear-up for an adventure-filled journey.

Zimbabwe has experienced political and economic issues in the recent past, but seeing Victoria Falls and visiting some of the game parks are truly a once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Meikles Hotel in downtown Harare has an English country-house-style decor and views of the Africa Unity Square. A trip further afield should include the Edwardian-style Victoria Falls Hotel, which has been called "the grand old lady of the Falls." A ten-minute walk from the waterfall, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the hotel features colonial-style rooms with four-poster beds.

Famed Orient-Express has recently opened three safari camps in Botswana:

• Khwai River Lodge arranges game drives to see the Big Five, moonlight safaris, walking safaris and star gazing. Guests sleep in raised tents that blend into the scenery with stunning views of the Okavango Delta.
• Savute Elephant Camp in the Chobe National Park is comfortably set in the plains frequented by elephants. Guests can lie in the hammocks on their tent's balcony and see herds meander in the distance.
• Eagle Island Camp, located on Xaxaba Island, feels blissfully removed. The lagoon offers stunning birdlife, allowing guests to take peaceful canoe rides to sightsee from a different angle.

Myanmar
On her historic December 2011 visit to Myanmar, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, stated that she was "encouraged by the steps" the government has taken and blazed a trail for Americans and Europeans to begin visiting this Southeast Asian country again. Myanmar has a richly layered culture and history, including seven decades of British colonial rule. The 111-year-old Strand Yangon, located in the country's largest city and once touted as the "finest hostelry East of the Suez", has seen much of this country's fascinating transformation. The rooms marry Burmese style with Victorian British flavor, with local art and artifacts displayed on black-and-white marble floors. Guests can take high tea and listen to Burmese music in the lobby's historic lounge.

Scandinavia
Often overlooked on European tours, the land of the Vikings plays host to sights everyone should see at least once: ice palaces, Northern Lights, sunsets at midnight and reindeer. Oslo's downtown Hotel Continental with its impressive Norwegian art collection, is just steps away from the city's incredible fjord. From Oslo, Stockholm is a beautiful five-hour train ride past lakes and mountains. Guests can enjoy the same views of the Stockholm harbor as Nobel Prize laureates have done while staying at Grand Hotel Stockholm. The Veranda restaurant's smörgåsbord offers a fabulous taste of Scandinavia.

Art connoisseurs can study paintings, sculpture and architecture in photographs and books for years, but nothing compares to seeing a masterpiece in person. Guests of Hotel Villa Magna in Madrid have the opportunity to spend an evening among priceless works of art by Velázquez, Goya and El Greco. The hotel concierge can organize a private evening tour and dinner in the nearby Museo del Prado. In Venice, meanwhile, the Doge's Palace at night is something most tourists only dream of, but Luna Hotel Baglioni can arrange for its guests to privately tour the palace by moonlight-very romantic.

For Foodies
Visitors might arrive at Borgo Egnazia Hotel & Villas in southeast Italy's Savelletri di Fasano thinking all olive oils are created equal, but they will leave knowing better. The hotel can arrange for a visit to an olive oil mill where guests can learn about the complex and ancient process of creating what Homer called "liquid gold".

Style
Every jet-set style maven, at some point in their life, should attend the glamorous Monte Carlo Grand Prix and Rolex Masters tennis championship, both in Monaco's small seaside city. When staying at the Hôtel Hermitage, interested travelers can contact the concierge for access to the race and match, as well as all related festivities. And to dress the part for all these singular experiences, a trip to Rome might be in order. Hotel Lord Byron can arrange appointments at an old-world atelier, providing stylish access to a city that many consider the birthplace of modern-day tailoring.