On the site of the first Welsh Parliament, stands an Edwardian country house hotel. Llangoed Hall was the last of our stops during a recent summer trip to Wales. Of all the remarkable properties we experienced while in the United Kingdom, Llangoed Hall in Llyswen, Powys, was the best in terms of showcasing an ideal mix of a perfect countryside location, a fine dining restaurant on-site, vast manicured grounds, tasteful interiors and exceptional service.

In the past I have recommended Qatar as an airline which I find to be one of the best in the world. Far superior to other Middle Eastern airlines like Emirates and Etihad, the service standards on Qatar are exceptional.

In October of 2011 we visited the all-inclusive, exquisite Four Seasons tented camp in Chiang Rai, Northern Thailand, just South of Burma and west of Laos.  We love the Four Seasons brand having experienced it in Bangkok, Kohsamui, ChiangMai, Chicago, Singapore, the Maldives and Mumbai and were not in the least bit worried about the service aspect of this adventure even though it was located in the infamous Golden triangle, once known for its opium trade. At the airport, we were greeted by the Four Seasons tented camp staff and were transported to th