Two of Sydney’s most iconic buildings have been given an edgy, contemporary makeover, and re-opened as QT Sydney, a landmark hotel which opened in 2012. Created from the heritage-listed Gowings Department Store and adjacent State Theatre buildings in the heart of Sydney’s central business district, the hotel has got off to a magnificent start.

The magic of the most creative and sophisticated design takes shape in the new Magic Hotel in Bergen, Norway. The distinguishing mark is that of famous New York designer Karim Rashid, who designed every single part of the hotel, furnishing the rooms, corridors and the hall. The philosophy behind the project is that of offering a designer solution accessible to all, in a position that affords a spectacular view of both the city centre and the surrounding mountains.

A stay in the mountains is romantic and soothing, especially if spent in places designed to meet all expectations of a peaceful oasis, far away from chaos of the metropolis. Dorfhotel Beludei, in Santa Cristina, crowned by the enchanting panorama of the Val Gardena, a paradise for hiking and skiing, responds perfectly to this ideal.