Travel

Must-Visit Destinations in 2018

It’s that time of year when those travel plans start to take shape, as we see out the final days of winter in the UK and look forward to the next adventure. Whatever your travel plans this year – city break or far flung beach getaway – start with the must-visit destinations in 2018.

New Orleans, USA

catahoula hotel

Thirteen years after Hurricane Katrina devastated this city in Louisiana, New Orleans celebrates its 300^th anniversary in 2018. One of the most unique cities in the U.S., New Orleans has been a melting pot of French, Creole, African-American and Caribbean culture (amongst others) for centuries, and has become famous for its food, jazz, colonial architecture and seemingly never-ending party atmosphere. Stay at the Catahoula, a 35-room boutique hotel in a renovated 1845 Creole townhouse where the rooms are contemporary and Peruvian influences are found throughout (don’t miss the hotel’s famous Piscobar).

What to wear in New Orleans

Heights of 33° in June and July alongside a bustling cultural calendar demand a selection of lightweight, airy outfits that will allow you to stay and look cool. In womenswear, look to the flowing, summer-ready, printed silhouettes from Ganni which typically come made from cool, airy crepe that allow your body to breathe in the heat. What’s more, these flowing silhouttes will take you seamlessly from terrace-top daytime drinks to nightime jazz soirées in the city’s bars.

In menswear, opt for looser fits and colourful pieces symbolic of the city’s diversity. The city famously has a rich French heritage, and coincidentally AMI Paris presents one of this season’s most exciting and colourful collections. Pair with cropped trousers from Wooyoungmi and a pair of Ozweegos to provide all-day comfort when getting around the city.

Tbilisi, Georgia

rooms hotel tbilisi

Thanks to a certain Mr Demna Gvasalia, Georgia – and in particular Tbilisi – has been getting a lot of airtime recently. And rightly so. Fifteen years after the Rose Revolution, make 2018 the year to discover the city’s emerging, lively arts and cultural scene, unique take on post-Soviet fashion and blend of ancient, USSR and modern architecture. The place to stay in Tbilisi is Rooms Hotel, where contemporary design comes together with old-world Tbilisi charm and touches of 1930s New York style.

What to Wear in Tblisi, Georgia

In recent years, Tblisi Fashion Week has helped cultivate an increasingly unique street style scene showcasing a mix of souped-up sportswear, loose-fitted tailoring and laidback luxury. But with one eye looking East and drawing inspiration from the post-Soviet fashion scene, the city’s bears a strong streetwear scene that is difficult to match up to. Preparation for your trip to Tblisi should see you step up your streetwear game; take your pick from the finest streetwear brands at Coggles, including exciting new collaborations for SS18 including this season’s Champion x BEAMS collection and the new FILA x Liam Hodges collab.

Santiago, Chile

luciano k

Marking 200 years of independence, 2018 is the perfect excuse to make it over to Chile. Make Santiago your base for exploring the country, whether it’s exploring the Andes, heading to the coast or far south to Patagonia, or stick to the eccentric city, with its distinctive comunas (districts) that differ from one to the next. Stay at Luciano K, an art deco hotel in Santiago’s bohemian district of Lastarria, with a roof terrace that offers the best views across the city.

What to Wear in Santiago, Chile

Famed for its tropic natural beauty, a trip to Chile should involve a bit of travelling out to its stunning National Parks and the coast. With that in mind, pack light but functional clothing including a good selection of swimwear for bathing (or basking) on the country’s beaches or on the banks of its rivers and lakes.

Antwerp, Belgium

hotel o kathedral

One of Europe’s unsung heroes, this year will see Antwerp come into its own with Antwerp Baroque 2018: a programme of street art, concerts, shows and workshops from June until the end of the year, all inspired by artist Peter Paul Rubens who called the city his home. It’s also a city of contrasting architecture, cutting edge fashion (Dries Van Noten still calls Antwerp home) and is home to some of the most exciting cuisine in Belgium. Stay at Hotel O Kathedral for modern Antwerp meets Baroque, right in the heart of the city.

What to Wear in Antwerp, Belgium

A historic city drawing inspiration from its heritage to rebrand itself anew in the 21st century, look to cultured European brands such as Tod’s, Missoni, or Coach to create a cool city look. But if you really want to impress the locals, look to MM6 Maison Margiela for your summer city wardrobe, the fashion house created by Antwerp Royal Academy of Fine Arts alumni Martin Margiela in 1979.