Feature photo by skino. Photo above by rtarga

Dancing is elemental, and a sure way to reach across barriers of culture and language. Impress the muchachas in South America or the Greek goddesses in Santorini by asking them to dance in their native language.

Here are 50 different languages to get you going.

Photo by zone41

The next time you land on foreign soil, mingle with the locals and learn some new moves.

No. 1: Burj Al Arab, Photo by jonrawlinson

For some, a hotel is nothing more than the place you lay your head when not at home. For others, hotels are works of art and luxurious paradises where your every wish is granted.

If you fall into the latter category and dream of a combination of art, decadence and world-famous architectural design, consider the following the next time you book.

1. Burj Al Arab

Most have heard of the bending curves of this ultra-lavish hotel on the Arabian Gulf, but it’s only fair to mention it here again as it is one of the most eccentric forms of hotel architecture to date.

The Burj Al Arab is 321 meters of pure luxury and exclusive service. British architect Tom Wright conceived the billowing hotel in 1993.

Where: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

What: Luxury hotel with helipad on the gulf

Designed by: Tom Wright

More: www.burj-al-arab.com

2. Hotel Marqués de Riscal, The Luxury Collection

This is a smart fusion of award-winning wine and avant-garde architecture. Spain’s Rioja vino is a favorite for many and a visit to the region makes for an interesting trip in rural Spain, especially if staying at Hotel Maqués de Riscal.

The hotel’s flamboyant style is signature Gehry, who has left his artistic imprint on other parts of the country as well.

Where: Spain’s Rioja wine country

What: Luxury hotel and vineyard

Designed by: Frank O. Gehry

More:www.marquesderiscal.com.

3. Park Hyatt Tokyo

Photo by wili

This upscale hotel has 178 rooms and a mere 23 suites with views of Yoyogi Park. Designed by Kenzo Tange, who has made many contributions to Tokyo’s skyline, this hotel made a famous appearance in the United States in the film, Lost in Translation.

Where: Tokyo, Japan

What: Luxury hotel with interior design by John Morford

Designed by: Kenzo Tange

More: www.tokyo.park.hyatt.com

4. Wynn Hotel

Photo by kathika

From the outside Wynn is a striped giant, new and sleek in a town that is the definition of over-the-top. As the Wynn P.R. reps are quick to mention, the hotel holds five stars, five diamonds and Michelin seal of approval.

True, it’s not an easy task to obtain all these bells and whistles and most would agree that Wynn is the cream of the crop when it comes to staying in Las Vegas.

Where: Las Vegas, Nevada baby!, USA

What: Luxury hotel and casino

Designed by: DeRuyter O. Butler

More: www.wynnlasvegas.com

5. Phinda Getty House

Unlike most of the hotels listed here, the Phinda Getty is a lodge which architect Nick Plewman attempted to blend into the surrounding environment. The lodge is set on a private game reserve in South Africa looking over grassy landscapes and onto volcanoes in the distance.

Photo by ricoslounge

Where: KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

What: Luxury lodge and reserve

Designed by: Nick Plewman

More: www.phinda.com

6. Inn at Price Tower

Built in 1956, the Price Tower is famous because it’s a Frank Lloyd Wright building. Only recently did interior architect Wendy Evans Joseph turn eight floors of the tower into a 21-room hotel.

The tower is owned by the non-profit group, Price Tower Arts Center.

Where: Bartlesville, Oklahoma, USA

What: Hotel of historical significance

Designed by: Frank Lloyd Wright

More: www.pricetower.org

7. The Four Seasons Hotel, NYC

Photo by paulkhor

New York has some of the best hotels around and so it is no small feat that the Four Seasons’ Manhattan Hotel is one of the best in New York City. Pritzker prize winner, architect I.M. Pie is the talent behind this top-of-the-line hotel, which is located on 57th Street in the city’s shopping and financial district.

Where: New York, New York, USA

What: Metropolitan luxury hotel

Designed by: I.M. Pei

More: www.fourseasons.com

8. Shanghai’s St. Regis

Bustling Shanghai has reinvented itself and continues to build as the world looks to China with curious eyes. K. Jeffries Sydness’ Shanghai’s St. Regis Hotel is a fine example of just how chic Shanghai has become.

The hotel’s silvery towers jump up like an exclamation mark, as if to say we’re it and then some!

Where: Shanghai, China

What: Metropolitan luxury hotel

Designed by: K. Jeffries Sydness

More: www.starwoodhotels.com

9. Le Meriden Lingotto

Once a Fiat car factory, this hotel is an example of a popular blend of architecture in Europe which mixes the old with the new. A competition was help to see which architect would bring the old factory into the 21st century, and the winner was Renzo Piano who took on the 800,000 sq. foot factory and transformed it into the successful hotel you see today.

Where: Turin, Italy

What: Design Hotel; old meets new

Designed by: Renzo Piano

More: www.starwoodhotels.com

Feature photo discoverfun. Photo above rageforst

It’s summer, and no matter where you are, there’s no better time to explore and enjoy the spirits of the world.

You already know the Capirinha, the mojito, and the pisco sour… it’s time to challenge the bartender with one of these exotic cocktails!

In our guide to the world’s best cocktails, we take you from the Americas to Africa in search of lesser known libations.

10. Michelada:

Legend has it that the Michelada, a Mexican cocktail that boasts beer as its unlikely main ingredient, evolved in the 1950s, when the Mexican beer company Tecate introduced beer in cans.

The marketing innovation, which allowed bars to advertise cerveza bien helada (or “real cold beer”), eventually took on the name the “chelada,” with “mi” (“my”) eventually tacked onto the front.

The practice of squeezing a lime wedge and adding salt to beer is modified in this cocktail, as a tall frosty beer glass is rimmed with lime and salt and then dipped in a chile seasoning.

Add beer to a mix concocted with a dash of Tabasco or other hot sauce and a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Sprinkle a bit more of the chile on top for a fiery finish.

Ask for one at Pachamama’s in Lower Baja California.

9. Violette Royale:

This simple cocktail is a blend of 4 ounces of champagne and a half ounce of Crème de Violette (violet liqueur), which was not available in the U.S. until recently.

Crème de Violette, which is imported from France and Austria, is made of macerated violets from the Alps and has a deep purple color that makes an impressive cocktail with a distinct taste.

Find it on the menu at Hotel Costes Bar in Paris, which has an outdoor courtyard.

8. Elderflower-Pear Martini:

The best cocktails have a back story—preferably one about how difficult the ingredients are to source—and like the Violette Royale, the Elderflower-Pear Martini is made with a liqueur made in limited quantities and which was only recently made available in the States.

St. Germain, the elderflower liqueur, is made of elderflowers that are collected for just a few days each spring. The liqueur is perfect for a summer drink; mix 1.5 ounces of St. Germain with 1.5 ounces of pear vodka and top with champagne.

Serve in a martini glass garnished with a pear slice. Ask for it at Deep Blue Bistro (which doubles as an art gallery on the waterfront) in Sydney, Australia.

Photo by ilmungo

7. Peppermint Somras:

Mint is a classic ingredient in many summer drinks around the world—from the Cuban mojito to the Southern U.S. favorite, the mint julep—but it’s also an ingredient in peppermint somras, an Indian cocktail.

Blend 1.5 ounces of white rum, 1.5 ounces of simple syrup, 2 ounces of cocktail sour mix, and 2 ounces of orange juice. Macerate 6 peppermint leaves and garnish.

Ask for it at the Vie Lounge in Mumbai, which offers outdoor drinking on the deck with impressive ocean views.

6. Nectar of the Gods:

Lithuania isn’t famous for its cocktails, but maybe it should be. In addition to offering a variety of local beers, Lithuania also makes its own liqueurs, including the honey based blend known as Krupnikas and the fruity Palanga and Dainava.

Krupnikas can be mixed with champagne, vodka, or gin in a dizzying number of combinations to produce cocktails that are simultaneously complex and light. Ask for Nectar of the Gods at the Sky Bar in Vilnius, which offers views of the city skyline from the 22nd floor.

5. African Obsession:

More local liqueurs can be found in South Africa, center of production for Amarula, a crème liqueur made of a fruit, marula.

To make it at home, mix 1.5 ounces of Amarula with 1.5 ounces of Crème de Cacao, 1.5 ounces of Amaretto, and 1.5 ounces of milk or heavy cream. Shake with ice and strain into a martini glass.

Belly up to the Oceanside bar at Baraza in Cape Town if you want to experience the African Obsession in the place where it was invented.

4. Cransoma:

Terrible name, to be sure, but a delicious and refreshing cocktail. Celebrate the Beijing Olympics with a nod to the key ingredient in this cocktail, lychee liqueur.

Mix 2/3 ounces of strawberry liqueur with 1/3 ounces of cranberry vodka, 1/3 ounces of lychee liqueur, 1 and 1/3 ounces of apple juice, and 12 ounces of tonic water. Shake and serve in a hurricane glass with a peeled lychee.

Going to China? Ask for the cransoma at Beijing’s Emergency Room Bar.

3. Portuguese Daisy:

Portugal, of course, is famous for its port, so it’s no surprise that porto has found its way into the country’s signature cocktails.

The Portuguese Daisy is made with 2 ounces of port, 1 ounce of brandy, 1 ounce of lemon juice, ½ teaspoon of superfine sugar, and ½ teaspoon of Grenadine, shaken with ice and strained into a lowball glass.

Try it out at Resto in Lisbon, which provides sweeping views of the city and outdoor drinking in the courtyard.

2. Tel Aviv Summer:

The name says it all. Vodka, tequila, cachaca, lemon juice, red grapefruit juice, and a hint of lemongrass are mixed together in this refreshing drink.

Ask for it at the unfortunately named Betty Ford Bar in Tel Aviv.

1. Jus de Bissap:

You probably don’t want to make this one at home, as the complexity level is high and the variety of ingredients makes the work involved intense, so swing by the Awale Bar in Cote d’ Ivoire’s capital, Abidjan, to enjoy this light, summery cocktail made of hibiscus flowers, ginger, vanilla, mint, orange flower water, lemon juice, and pineapple juice.

What’s your favorite cocktail? Leave a comment below!

Photo by Brayan Collazo Alonso

*All facts are accurate as of this posting. As always, check before you go!

10. Casa de la Musica

Casa de la Musica is one of the best places for live music and local culture in Havana. With shows every night of the week and a punishing schedule (4 PM -7 PM and 10 PM – 2 AM), you’d be lying if you came home and said you weren’t able to find any place with live local music and dancing.

Address: Galiano between Neptuno y Concordia, Centro Habana

9. El Delirio Habanero

If any night spot in Havana can legitimately be called laid back, El Delirio Habanero is it. This is a great spot for a romantic evening. El Delirio Habanero is a piano lounge that doubles as a performance space hosting comedians and cabaret. Popular with locals and tourists, its location on the fourth floor of the National Theatre offers fantastic night views of the city and, especially, the impressive Monumento a la Revolucion.

Address: Plaza de la Revolucion, Paseo y Calle 39

8. Café Cantante Mi Habana

Located conveniently next door to El Delirio Habanero, Café Cantante Mi Habana is an excellent place to test your dancing skills before taking to the floor at some of the hot spots on our list.

Address: Plaza de la Revolucion, Paseo y Calle 39

Photo by Brayan Collazo Alonso

7. El Tropical

El Tropical isn’t the kind of place that makes guidebooks. (Watch the excellent documentary “El Tropical,” available on Netflix, to understand some

of the reasons why. Really. Watching the film is mandatory.) And that’s exactly why you should go… but only if you’re ready to dance for hours and if you’re the kind of person who likes to live on the edge. Best experienced with a local. If you need a hook-up, send me a line.

6. Hotel Ambos Mundos Rooftop Bar

The rooftop garden bar of the Ambos Mundos Hotel is a must-see for a few reasons. First, it offers a spectacular view of Havana and its bay. Second, even if you’re looking for a drink and music in the middle of the day, you can have both here. Third, if you happen to be at the bar around 9 PM, you might just hear the nightly cannon firing over at the fort, a tradition. If they have gunpowder, that is.

Address: Calle Obispo #153, corner of Mercaderes

5. Casa de la Amistad

The “House of Friendship” could just as easily be called “Music in a Mansion.” If you’re in the mood for some smoother music than the pumping beats at El Tropical, Casa de la Amistad is the perfect place and it is usually open until midnight.

Address: Paseo #406 between 17 and 19

4. Tikoa

Despite its small size and gritty feel, Tikoa is equally popular with young Cubans and travelers alike. Music is 100% Cuban, with lots of Afro-Cuban vibes.

Address: Calle 23 (aka La Rampa) #177 between N & O.

Photo by Brayan Collazo Alonso

3. El Túnel

Like El Tropical, El Túnel is virtually unknown to tourists and is definitely off the beaten path. And like El Tropical, it is best experienced with a local.

2. La Zorra y el Cuervo

Widely considered among the city’s best venues for Latin jazz, this intimate space has attracted some of the world’s most-loved musicians.

Address: Calle 23 between N & O

1. Callejón de Hamel

Although word of this joint has increasingly spread far beyond the boundaries of the edgy Central Havana (Centro Habana) neighborhood of Cayo Hueso, where it’s located, this is still one of the most exciting places to catch local music and dancing, even if it is only from 12:00 to 3-ish on Sunday afternoons. Keep your eyes open for the roving street bartender.

Address: Hamel between Aramburu & Hospital

Community Connection

*Visit our Before You Go Guide to Cuba to learn more about Cuban music, movies, and culture.

*Read Cuba expert Julie Schwietert Collazo’s article “How to Travel to and from Cuba” at The Travelers Notebook.

*Updated performance calendars for many of the venues on our list are available online.

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Note on the Photos: Brayan Collazo is a Cuban photographer who lives and works in Havana. He has exhibited in New York and Havana and is currently working on a series called “Pequena Habana.” More of his work can be found here.

Feature photo by ruthbruin Photo by ssandars

From the most widely spoken language in the world (Mandarin, Chinese), to the little-known Galego spoken in Galicia, Spain, the following list covers how to say “one more beer please” in 50 different languages.

Try your hand at finding the most sensual-sounding language; this will come in handy when you’re chatting up that gorgeous local! Personally, Latin does it for me.

UPDATE: When this list was first published, readers pointed out enough bad grammar and translation mistakes to keep the State Department busy for a week. Thanks everyone, for chipping in and helping us refine this list! We won’t rest until it’s right, so keep the comments coming.

Best,

The Matador Team

So now that you have circled the world, ordered numerous beers, converted countless currencies, and urinated often, you may rest in a satisfied but sober manner!

Photo by n0thing

Enjoy in moderation.

Community Connection!

Check out Matador’s highly scientific rankings of the world’s Top 10 Rooftop Bars, and Top 10 Local Parties for ideas on where to get your international drink on. Flying solo? Read the Gutsy Girl’s Guide to Drinking Alone.

Still not sure where to travel next? Here are our equally scientific calculations on where to find the world’s Sexiest Women and Sexiest Men – and the Practical Guide To Hostel Sex.

Finally, like many Matador articles, this list grew out of a forum discussion on beer. Matador is the most vibrant travel community on the web – if you don’t have a profile yet, join the community today!

Here’s to international relations!