This yachting-obsessed city has more than its share of sophisticated food and art. Best of all, the exchange rate turns the city’s hotels, restaurants, and boutiques into affordable indulgences.

This cluster of 99 islands off Malaysia’s northwestern coast is a relative neophyte when it comes to tourism. Most of the main island remains a nature-lover’s paradise, swathed in mangrove and trop

The Costa Smeralda is legendarily beautiful and exclusive, but sail along the coast or drive inland a stretch—away from the glitz and glamour and 300-foot mega-yachts—and you can find semi-deserted

Along this archipelago of 60 islands—most of them deserted—you can rent a yacht and drift away from civilization. Sleep under the stars; anchor off an empty islet and hunt for conch shells; stop at

If you really want to explore the Grenadines, chartering a sailboat is key; the group's more than 30 islands include the glamorous Mustique, the sleepy Bequia, and many uninhabited.islets.

Nestled between two rivers on giant Chesapeake Bay, Annapolis is celebrated for its historic center—George Washington slept here, for real!—and its maritime mania. A thicket of masts is visible fro

Cruisers can be choosers. Here, seven splashy options, whether you have your sights set on Alaskan glaciers, Caribbean beaches—or simply the kiddie pool on the top deck.

You may not think of yourself this way, but chances are if you’re a traveler, you’re an aficionado of good design. I was having this thought yesterday as I downloaded some novels onto my Kindle for a marathon trip to Asia that begins later this week. I also added locations—even Sanya, on Hainan Island off southern China—to the weather app on my new iPhone and installed a free Skype app, too. I will be packing, beginning tonight (I have greater success in avoiding excess when I stretch this task out over a few days), in my favorite suitcases: one standard black wheelie to check, with a new red luggage tag for identification purposes, and one smaller roll-aboard. The latter was chosen through trial and error—a series of purchases, a couple of them significant—which ultimately led me to the winner: a SwissGear Lugano wheeled duffel bag from Target (available online for $89.99). As for clothing, I have my packable favorites, including a couple of uncrushable pieces from a former member of T+L’s Design Awards jury, Yeohlee Teng, the Malaysian-born, New York City–based fashion designer known for her use of high-tech fabrics and architectural silhouettes.