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It’s not a meander through vineyards, but the 310-mile drive from Rio to Santos has seductive vistas around every bend, lush rain forest, and cerulean waters. Stay overnight at a pousada in Parati’s colonial center. Then, continue on to the Água Branca waterfall to sunbathe and sip caipirinhas. Check In The 18th-century Pousada Arte Urquijo overlooks mountains. 79 Rua Dona Geralda, Parati; 55-24/3371-1362; www.urquijo.com.br; doubles from $125. Don’t Miss A French-Brazilian meal at Merlin o Mago (8 Rua do Comércio, Parati; 55-24/3371-2157).
It worked wonders for 007 and his sexy KGB double agent. Then again, why wouldn’t it? There’s the cinematic journey, passing through glittering ports of call. And the vintage carriages, whose compartments are fitted with mahogany panels inlaid in pearl and Art Deco marquetry. But it’s the black tie-only dining car, complete with four-course, 2½-hour dinners, that truly transports passengers to a bygone era. What could be more luxurious than spending time? Check In Orient-Express www.orient-express.com; five days and four nights (Paris-Budapest-Venice) trips $2,765 per person, double. Don’t Miss A soak in Budapest’s thermal-spring Gellért Baths (4-6 Kelenhegyi út; 36-1/466-6166).
Acadian fishing villages stud the province’s French shore, and the craggy coastline roads have nonstop panoramas. Behind almost every cove are candle-lit restaurants in salt-worn wooden houses. From the art galleries in Peggy’s Cove to the tidal changes in Digby, this rugged shore offers meandering drives, inviting B&B’s, and a sound track of crashing waves. Check In The Victorian-style 100 Acres & an Ox Country Inn is set on extensive wooded grounds. 4172 Cornwall Rd., Union Square; 888/363-6694; doubles from $130. Don’t Miss A sunrise sail on Halifax Harbour.
Sail down the Nile in a two-masted wooden sailboat, or dahabiyya—once a popular trip among the colonial elite. The vessels have been rebuilt and decorated with tapestries, wood-paneled staterooms, and antiques sourced from the souks of Cairo—period refinement at its best. The boutique cruise welcomes only 12 guests on board. Check In Bales Worldwide 44-845/634-5112; www.balesworldwide.com; 12-day trips from Luxor to Aswan, $4,050 per person, double. Don’t Miss Browsing the pungent spices in the Aswan souk.
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