High above the St. Lawrence River, the steep green roof and tall brick tower of the Chateau Frontenac has become the symbol of Quebec City, and the favorite lodging of kings and queens.

Portugal’s beautiful pousadas are not limited to Portugal itself, but the extraordinary restoration and re-purposing of fine historic buildings make them recognizable even an ocean away.

Potsdam, just outside the German capital of Berlin, fairly gleams with restored glory as it celebrates the 300th birthday of Frederick the Great in 2012.

The beauty of lodgings at the manor houses and country estates affiliated with Solares de Portugal is that each is operated by the owner, who lives there and is the host. Because of that, at Casa de Mogofores, we were introduced to Bairrada DOC wines.

Porto de Galinhas isn’t a town with a beach; it’s a beach with a town. Beach towns have never been my favorite destinations, so I was surprised at how much I liked this little Brazilian beach town just south of Recife.

It’s hard to get too much of a good thing when it’s an overload choice of all the arts and in a glorious mountain setting with perfect summer weather.

By combining several expenses of a trip into one price, travelers can often cut travel costs by as much as one third. Look for packages before buying air tickets, reserving hotels or renting a car.

What could be better than a two-level private villa poised above a lively plaza in the heart of the monumental center of Seville, with views of three UNESCO World Heritage buildings?

It was gold, mined right underneath this city that gave Ouro Preto the world’s largest collection of Baroque architecture. It is Brazilians who give it the grace that charms today’s travelers.

“The Rock” – as Newfoundlanders call their island home – is one of the loveliest places on earth. Soaring cliffs drop into the sea, often with tiny fishing villages caught in a little cove beneath them.