This holiday season brought many fun memories for me — and one I’m happy to soon forget. The day after Christmas, my entire family was struck by a virus that kept us down and out for two days. Luckily, there were no travel plans in the works since none of us were able to leave our beds to even answer the phone. Being bedridden allowed me to catch up on some movies, and I caught one of my favorite classics on Sunday night, The Sound of Music. That sure helped nurse me back to health.

Perhaps it was the songs that helped me relax, maybe it was the beautiful scenery of Austria, or perhaps I was thankful that I don’t live in pre-World War II Austria. Either way, the movie made me remember there’s a world worth getting healthy to see! It also reminded me of my most recent trip to Vienna this fall. While the Sound of Music showed us a pre-war Salzburg, I found a taste of modern hospitality in Vienna at the Das Triest Hotel. The service at the hotel, designed by Sir Terence Conran, is hard to beat.

Das Triest is a modern boutique that caters to the stars. However, if you’re not of rock star status (like myself), you will still be treated like one without any pretentious attitude. Its warm and welcoming staff balanced the award-winning minimalist design. From check-in to checkout, the hotel staff went out of their way to make sure every need of mine was met. I started off each morning with a 5-star breakfast. I was centrally located in Vienna and could get anywhere I needed without traffic or trouble. While my stay was for pleasure, I saw many guests traveling for business, and I would make this property a must-stay on my list for any future trips to Vienna.

Now that I’m back on my feet and ready for the New Year, I look forward to upcoming travels for Global Traveler taking me to the Middle East and Asia. Stay tuned for stories from GT as we report to you on the best of travel throughout 2010 from all around the world. Happy New Year!

— Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher