Inspiring getaways from California to Zanzibar

This round-up of the world's most exceptional hotels and retreats is packed with awe-inspiring photos and tantalizing descriptions of the world's greatest getaways. While few will visit them all, this collection provides a dizzying array of exotic destinations for the armchair traveler.

Highlights include a California inn where Liberace would have felt right at home, and shabby-chic bungalows on Highway 1 in Big Sur. Choose from luxurious residences nestled on the Ubud hillside overlooking the Ayung River in Bali, or oceanside bungalows on a Brazilian archipelago. Go camping in 'royal style' in the Indian desert, or opt for a luxury tented camp on an island in the best game-viewing location in Botswana. Relax in a hand-woven banda on Zanzibar, a hotel-museum full of contemporary art on the Sicilian coast, or a sumptuous Provençal spa retreat in the south of France.

"If Leni Riefenstahl had done nothing but visit Africa and bring back her photographs, her place in history would be secure." -Kevin Brownlow, from the introduction

When she was in her early sixties, Leni Riefenstahl began traveling frequently to the African continent, where she has worked on various film and photography projects over the last half century. Her favorite destination was in Sudan, where she lived with and photographed the Nuba tribespeople, learning their language and becoming their friend. The Nuba were a loving and peaceful people who welcomed Riefenstahl as one of their own. Her images of the Nuba, as well as of the Dinka, Shilluk, Masai, and other tribes, are gathered in this monumental book. Riefenstahl remembers her experiences in Africa as the happiest moments in her life. Her beautiful, skilled photographs represent a landmark in the extraordinary career of the 20th century's most unforgettable artistic pioneer.

* Interview by Kevin Brownlow
* Extensive bibliography and biography section

Get The Most Out Of Berlin!
Angelika Taschen has produced an insider's guide to the best of Berlin, with recommended hotels, shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars. Now everyone can experience the German capital like a true Berliner. The tastiest cuisine, the hippest, most intriguing stores, and the sleekest accommodations—they're all listed here. A pocket-sized street map of Berlin helps you find all the hotels, restaurants, and shops described in the book.

Highlights include hip nightspot Green Door, where one rings the doorbell to gain entrance; the silent movie star lifestyle at the Pension Funk;  the Hotel de Rome in a converted 19th century bank; how to reserve your cabin at the Eastern Comfort Hostelboat on the River Spree; oriental delight at Edd's, the best Thai restaurant in Berlin (perhaps Germany); Barcomi’s, a New York-style deli with delicious cakes and coffees; The Corner Berlin, a designer concept store to rival Paris's Colette; experimental store Bless, "publicizing artistic values through products"; and the must-see luxury department store, Quartier 206.