Hotels and Lodging

If you are adventurous and want to immerse yourself in a country’s culture and cuisine, DIY travel may be for you. Having the freedom to spontaneously linger or detour is a huge benefit of this type of adventure. 

Helen Harper’s letter “National Trust Sites, England” (Nov. ’15, pg. 27), about tours by the Royal Oak Foundation, motivated me to write with more info. Many travelers, even if they’re Anglophiles, might not know about England’s National Trust (P.O. Box 574, Manvers, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, S63 3FH, U.K.; phone +44 0344 800 1895, www.nationaltrust.org.uk). 

Militants occupied a popular hotel in the city of Bamako, the capital of Mali, on Nov. 20, holding at least 170 people hostage for nearly 24 hours. The militants killed 22 people and injured 14 before Mali security forces, with the assistance of visiting foreign soldiers from the US and France, recaptured the hotel. Two militants were killed and two more were detained.

Two Islamist groups claimed responsibility for the attack, but officials could not confirm either claim.

Hong Kong is one of my favorite spots to visit, and I’ve stayed in hotels there in most years since 1969. A Special Administrative Region of China, on its southeastern coast, Hong Kong is a multicultural city.

One of the best locations to stay in the city is the Victoria Harbour area of the mainland’s Kowloon Peninsula, where I stayed during my one-week visit, July 4-10, 2015. 

Marriott International announced on Nov. 16 that it will merge with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. When complete, the merged company will operate more than 5,500 hotels around the globe, including the brands Sheraton and Ritz-Carlton, making it the world’s largest hotel chain.

These are among cultural experiences offered to guests of The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto (Kamogawa Nijo-Ohashi Hotori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-0902, Japan; phone +81 75 746 5555, www.ritzcarlton.com/en/properties/Kyoto).

• “Samurai Experience” — learn kenbu techniques with real swords while traditionally dressed. ¥8,000 (near $67). 5-6:15 p.m. every Tues. and Thurs.

• “Sushi Masterclass” — make maki rolls with chef Masahiko Miura. ¥3,500. 3:30-4:30 p.m., second Sunday each month.

Located at the confluence of the Yarapa and Cumaceba rivers in the Peruvian Amazon, the Treehouse Lodge (US contact in Bountiful, UT; 435/879-5839, www.treehouselodge.com) comprises eight bungalows connected by suspended walkways radiating from the central lodge, all built in the forest canopy at heights of 25 to 65 feet.