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Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach Recognized with Condé Nast Traveler 2022 Readers’ Choice Award as #2 Resort in the World

The iconic Dubai resort also ranked as the #1 resort in the Middle East

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Condé Nast Traveler has announced the results of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards with  Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach recognized as the  #1 Resort in the Middle East and the #2 best resort in the world .

“Beyond aesthetic, physical beauty and product, lies the true nature and personality of a resort, dictated by people and their philosophy of hospitality,” says Leonardo Baiocchi , Regional Vice President and General Manager, Four Seasons Dubai. “We are passionate about delivering personalized service and moments that live on in our guests’ memories. This vote of confidence from the readers of Condé Nast Traveler is priceless to us and lets us know that we are truly fulfilling our purpose of delivering treasurable experiences.”

Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach is perched on the serene shores of the Arabian Gulf. The Resort can magically transport guests out of the cosmopolitan city by day, relaxing them amid lush greenery, lapping waves and wellness facilities. One’s itinerary for instance could include a concierge-curated shopping expedition, a wind-down session in a butler-serviced beach cabana, and a sunset painting and meditation session. As the sun disappears beyond the horizon, Dubai’s electric energy takes centre stage, with some of the city’s most coveted dining and nightlife destinations playing host to Dubai’s social scene. The likes of the famed steakhouse and celebrity hotspot Nusr-Et and local favourite Coya serve up gourmet dining, while the Mykonian Nammos and the rooftop Mercury Lounge deliver an upbeat atmosphere with craft beverages and live performances.

The rankings for the award were determined by way of responses from more than 240,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers, who were eager to rate the top places they enjoyed in 2022. The Reader’s Choice Awards are widely regarded as the most prestigious accolades in the travel industry, alongside the Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List, which Four Seasons Resort Dubai also earned a shimmering spot on, in 2022.

Travelers interested in learning more, or booking a stay can visit the website or chat with a Resort representative through their preferred application.

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Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, 1165 Leslie Street, Toronto, Ontario M3C 2K8, Canada

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Where to Go for a Less-Crowded European Summer

By Olivia Morelli

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Ah, summer in Europe . Slow mornings spent reading books and trying all the local pastries you can get your hands on; afternoons strolling along the river or exploring quiet neighborhoods; evenings sipping rosé in sun-dappled squares. The only thing that can disrupt the pure bliss of summer in Europe is the threat of heaving streets, packed bars, and overbooked restaurants—a reality that is, unfortunately, all too common in the continent’s most popular destinations.

While we would never suggest avoiding such hotspots altogether, there is a lot to be said for choosing a lesser-known holiday spot during the peak summer months. There's a rapidly growing trend for traveling to alternative destinations, too—#dupe or #dupes amassed 342,000 posts on TikTok as part of the surging interest. Thoughtful travelers are reacting to the world around them —watching the rising temperatures and over-subscribed tourism of popular destinations during the summer, saving those destinations for off-peak travel and, instead, selecting off-beat destinations to visit instead. Below, our editors have put forward their favorite alternative European destinations to try this summer.

Braga, Portugal

Portugal’s oldest city is also one of its most underrated. Despite being in the shadow of neighboring Porto , Braga is a deserving destination in its own right. Pootle along narrow, cobbled lanes to unearth restaurants serving platters of traditional Portuguese dishes— Tabique , for example, specializes in slow-cooked meat and rich and thick sauces with potatoes for mopping, while just outside of the city, Dona Júlia is renowned for its sleek interiors and farm-to-table cooking. To soak up some of Braga’s history, visit Sé—Portugal’s oldest cathedral dating back to 1070—or take a day trip to Bom Jesus do Monte, a picturesque staircase with decadent chapels and pretty fountains.

Where to stay: Braga doesn’t have an abundance of smart hotels, but book Vila Gale for a city-center stay in a building dating back to 1508.

Bordeaux, France

This city may not be lesser-known, but when compared with the number of travelers that flock to Paris during the summer (especially this one), we deem it worthy of a mention in this list. There's world-class wine, proximity to the sea, and more than 350 historical buildings and monuments to visit. It’s largely pedestrianized, so travelers can shake off the blurry haze that settles in after a few wine tastings by exploring foot. Stop to admire the likes of the Grand Théâtre, the Gothic Tour Pey-Berland, or the Basilica of Saint Severinus. Or head into the hinterlands to ogle at some of the country’s top châteaux and wineries dotted along the Gironde.

Where to stay: The Mondrian Bordeaux Les Carmes , just outside of the city, is the perfect place to get a taste of the city and the countryside. See our guide for more of the best hotels in Bordeaux .

Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam ’s cool little sister is finally getting the attention it deserves. Rotterdam , an old industrial port town, has slowly moulded itself into a hub of culture and design. Its climate-conscious outlook is also enticing travelers looking for a new summer city break. Rotterdam committed to cutting its CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2029 and has steadily unveiled new green spaces, eco-friendly design, and pedestrianized streets over the last few years.

Jessica Puckett

Caitlin Morton

Rachel Chang

Where to stay: Hotel New York has a selection of sleek bedrooms overlooking the river Maas in the city’s Kop van Zuid neighbourhood.

Bergen, Norway

Hiding behind the shiny prestige of Oslo , Bergen is a nature-lover’s paradise. The city itself is known for its colorful wooden houses—a rainbow of rusty red, royal blue, sunny yellow and earthy green, each stacked prettily along the waterfront. But look beyond the houses for even more breathtaking beauty—even in the summer you might spot snow-capped mountains, which cast long shadows of glittering fjords and hiking trails, providing the perfect playground for a summer adventure escape.

Where to stay: Book into Bergen Børs Hotel for a stylish stay in a 19th-century building.

Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Dalmatian coast is as beautiful as it is overloaded, so head further inland to Bosnia and Herzegovina instead (and return to Croatia’s shoreline in the shoulder season, when temperatures are cooler and crowds are fewer). Mostar is an alluring city break, with its fairytale-like streets, craggy hillsides and ancient stone bridges, complete with surrounding vineyards, waterfalls and mountain hikes nearby.

Where to stay: Stay at Muslibegović House , originally home to a wealthy family in the 18th century and now a glittering museum of Ottoman decadence

A version of this story originally appeared on Condé Nast Traveller .

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Ask a Local: adventurer Omar Samra's guide to Egypt's Soma Bay

By Selina Denman

Omar Samra has always been drawn to big cities – he’s called Dubai, London, Cairo and Hong Kong home. But last summer, the Egyptian adventurer and entrepreneur “did the unthinkable”, moving to the quiet seaside town of Soma Bay on Egypt’s Red Sea coast with his family.

It’s a definite change in pace for a man who has conquered Everest, climbed the Seven Summits, skied to both the North and South Poles, and once rowed 1,000 kilometres across the Atlantic to highlight the dangerous journeys undertaken by refugees, before capsizing in a storm – a challenge captured for Netflix and screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

The founder of Wild Guanabana, an adventure travel consultancy, Samra has travelled to 80 countries as well as “the moon” as an analogue astronaut testing living conditions for Nasa, but says he has comfortably made the switch to “small-town boy”. People often ask whether he gets bored in Soma Bay, and his answer is: never. Here, he explains why.

The coral reef in Soma Bay

Soma's seascape

It’s been nine months since we made this enchanting peninsula by the Red Sea our home: 1,000 hectares of land, 2km by 5km wide, with an 8km coastline, which is astonishing when you think that the great coastal city of Alexandria has only 11km of beach. On one side of the peninsula, brilliant open sea with undulating coves and cliffs, and a rich house reef. On the other side, a calm bay with sandy beaches looking out towards jagged mountains.

Omar's favourite bench

My favourite bench

I’ve found my home on the reef side of the peninsula. The sea here feels untamed and, despite the town’s development, nature is abundant. It’s not unusual to see osprey gliding in the first light or fennec foxes exploring at nighttime. I try to start my day with a short meditation or scenic walk. On the far side of the peninsula, left of The Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge, on the cliff edge, shaded by trees, are several wooden benches facing the sea. Even in the dead heat of summer, a breeze whistles through the branches. If you wake up early enough to catch the sunrise, you’re in for a treat. I won’t tell you which is my favourite bench – I recommend that you explore until you find your own.

S.Cape Beach

If you tire of the rocky cliff views reef-side, you can always hop on a bicycle or take a two-minute car ride around the bay. Here, you’ll be greeted by soft sand and a majestic view of the mountains. The sun sets behind them, showering the entire bay and sky in a show of colours. Guests and residents of Stayr, a stretch of rental villas and chalets, have private access to the beach, with its sunbeds and restaurant. I love taking my dog for a walk down there and, in the summer, people kayak and water-ski. It’s worth knowing you can find a similar view and facilities just around the coast thanks to a strip of hotels – the Kempinski, Sheraton and Robinson.

The jetty at Breakers Diving and Surfing Lodge

Between The Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge and Sheraton Soma Bay Resort is a 1km wooden jetty gently meandering out to sea, protecting the pristine house reef below, and creating snorkelling and scuba diving spots without the need for a boat. I jump into the blue from the end or snorkel between the corals. Almost every time I walk down the jetty, I say hello to a spotted red sea snake and, if I’m lucky, a blue-spotted stingray. Swimming done, I usually sit at The Breakers bar and order the salmon poke.

A dish at Kokomo

I met Omar Fathy, the owner of Kokomo – which also has a branch in Cairo – many years ago. I guided him on an adventure in Costa Rica and, on our way to summit Cerro Chirripó, he managed to concoct a delicious sandwich medley from a few basic ingredients. So, you can imagine my small-town-boy excitement when Kokomo, a smoke and grill house with enviable views of the sea and mountains, opened in Soma Bay. My favourite is the Lebanese-style baked samosas stuffed with grilled eggplant and sundried tomatoes, and the brisket. If you’re big on a hearty breakfast, their oversized fluffy feteer, a glorious layered pastry, is a treat.

A Soma Bay sunset

Sobar Rooftop at the Marina

If you missed sunrise from one of the benches, you absolutely cannot miss a Soma sunset over the bay. Few spots compare with seeing it from the Sobar Rooftop. It’s the perfect place for sundowners with tapas and sushi.