Madrid

As crime and austerity swept through the Big Apple in the early 1970s, New York City’s Mayor John Lindsay took to a podium to declare a “War on Graffiti.” During this time, the city’s subway system was creaking at the seams, barely functioning and covered in graffiti tags from the city’s burgeoning street art scene. Over the coming years, New York City Hall spent an estimated $300 million in an attempt to keep subway trains and stations free of graffiti, forcing artists to work under the cover of darkness while creating ever more elaborate works.

Spain draws swathes of sun worshippers, but as the homeland of Pablo Picasso, Antonio Gaudí and flamenco dancing, it’s also a cultural Mecca. The country has the world’s third-largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There’s also vibrant, cosmopolitan cities to explore, with Madrid’s matadors and Barcelona’s towering gothic cathedrals. We take a closer look at the destination and our stunning portfolio of hotels therein.

Millennials have earned scorn for their impact on a number of institutions. They’re killing soap, they’re disinterested in The Olympics, and they’re even guilty for declining fabric softener sales. While these accusations may or may not be true, this generation has also been earning plaudits for their love of experiential travel, a trend reflected in their eschewing of the stereotypical hard-drinking Spring Break vacation.

Instead, this week-long rite of passage is undergoing a renaissance, bolstered by the desire for more substantial vacations in more culturally rewarding locales. We’re all for this development, and this week on the blog we’re taking a look at seven destinations for a cultural Spring Break getaway.