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Dubai is all about the future, with an ambition that's evident in its many new skyscrapers and shopping malls, but this glimmering emirate hasn't forgotten about its past. Visitors hoping to pick up some local history need only to head over to Al Fahidi Fort, which houses the Dubai Museum. Completed in 1799, the restored fort contains artifacts dating back 3,000 years, along with life-size dioramas on what life was like in Dubai before the oil wealth came flooding in. Traditional Arab houses are painstakingly recreated down to the finest detail, and scenes of the merchants and fisherman along the creek and in the bustling souk evoke a simpler era. Among the most impressive exhibits is an overview of the ancient pastime of pearl diving, including the weights and scales used to determine the value of what once once the region's hot commodity. It's an eye-opening destination for those who thought Dubai was invented some time around 1997. Starwood has properties throughout Dubai, including the Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Dubai, the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, and Le Méridien Dubai.

There's no question that Shanghai is a 21st century city, with glimmering new skyscrapers sprouting up like weeds almost overnight, but those who seek the China of yesteryear can still find it just minutes from the city center. Qibao Ancient Town is only about two square kilometers in size, but it contains an absolute treasure trove of history. Built more than a thousand years ago during the Five Dynasties period, Qibao has houses, temples, gardens, and shops that look much as they did so many generations ago. The action centers around two canals that run through town, as well as its main street, where visitors will find art galleries, antique shops, a calligraphy shop, and even a traditional Chinese shadow puppet theater. As far as the name is concerned, Qibao means "seven treasures" in Chinese, referring to a fable that describes a gold lotus scripture, a magic tree, a large bell, a golden rooster, a Buddha, a jade chopstick, and a jade axe. And while only two of these items can still be found today (the scripture and the bell), most visitors will find that the town holds treasures more numerous to count. Starwood has eight hotels in Shanghai, including the luxurious St. Regis Shanghai.

There's no shortage of ancient ruins in Rome, but most seasoned travelers have done their time at the Colosseum and Pantheon. Those willing to venture beyond the city center can encounter some of the best-preserved ruins in all of the former Roman Empire at the Ostia Antica, a seaport town that reached a peak of 75,000 residents nearly two thousand years ago. Ironically, ancient Rome's harbor city is three kilometers from the sea. For centuries it was situated at the mouth of the Tigris River, but so much silt accumulated over the years that dredging was futile and it became landlocked. But deep water or not, Ostia Antica stands today as one of the best examples of a mid-sized Roman port town found anywhere. Its colorful frescoes, vast amphitheaters, public baths (with amazingly advanced plumbing), and rows of warehouses attest to the industrious nature of Romans throughout the ages. Ostia Antica is a short train or taxi ride from Starwood's Rome properties, including the Westin Excelsior, Rome.

As the story goes, the spiritual teacher known as Buddha gained enlightenment after sitting under a Bodhi tree and meditating for 49 days. Statues and images of the Buddha in his meditative pose can be found throughout Asia, but there are few more impressive than the Big Buddha on Hong Kong's Lantau Island. Located at the Po Lin Monastery, the Tian Tan Big Buddha graces the top of Muk Yue Peak, and visitors who climb to the top of the three-story exhibition hall to its pedestal are rewarded with a spectacular panorama of Hong Kong as well as the benevolent protection of this 2,500-year-old ascetic. In addition to the Buddha, the monastery has several historic and culturally rich buildings, including the Ancestral Hall, the Lotus Pagoda, and the tantalizingly-named Diamond Cave. You won't find many actual diamonds there - it's the place where Buddhist ceremonies are held - but isn't enlightenment worth more than a diamond? Of course it is. Guests at the W Hong Kong or any of Starwood's Hong Kong properties will enjoy an afternoon exploring this spiritually charged destination.

Vienna has long been associated with great classical music, and there are few more enduring musical traditions than the Vienna Boys Choir. The most famous youth choir in the world was founded more than five centuries ago to provide music to accompany church mass and be enjoyed by the Viennese royal court, and it proved so successful that many of its alumni grew up to become accomplished composers and conductors in their own right. What started as a group of six boys, two basses, and a choirmaster back in 1498 is today divided into four different touring choirs named after the native composers Bruckner, Haydn, Mozart and Schubert. While the boys' otherworldly voices can be heard at venues around the world, there's nothing like seeing them perform in Vienna. Venues such as the Hofburgkapelle, the Vienna State Opera, and the Vienna Concert House provide an elegant backdrop to the beautiful music. Starwood has three properties in Vienna, including the Hotel Imperial, Vienna, the city's grandest hotel.

Victor Hugo was one of the leading French thinkers of the 19th century, prolific in the fields of arts, letters, and politics. Today, most people today know him for his work as a novelist, and his two most famous books, Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame have made him an enduring legend around the world, with stage and screen adaptations too numerous to mention. Visitors to Paris who are curious to see where Hugo made his magic should visit the Maison de Victor Hugo, the artist's home between 1832 and 1848. It was here in the former Hôtel de Rohan-Guéménee where he penned some of his greatest masterpieces, including much of Les Misérables, a depiction of the lives of the wretched poor that he had seen so much of in the wake of Napoleon's final defeat. The museum is divided into different periods of Hugo's life, with documents, photos, and manuscripts, as well as original furnishings from his living quarters. There's even a library filled with all of his published work, including several biographical works on Hugo. It's an inspiring stop on the French literary map, and a short jaunt from several Starwood properties, including Le Méridien Etoile.

The Port of Houston is one of the busiest shipping ports in the world, with thousands of tons of cargo coming and going every day, representing billions of dollars of commerce annually. Fortunately for most of us, you don't need to pilot a supertanker to experience this man-made industrial wonder from the water. Visitors to Houston who are curious to see what such a massive maritime operation looks like can simply hop on board the Sam Houston Boat Tour for a 90-minute guided tour. Named for the famous Texas military commander, the Sam Houston sails along the Houston Ship Channel and past international cargo vessels to give passengers an amazing view of the operations at the Turning Basin Terminal. The tours are free, but reservations are required in advance, and can be made online or by calling 713-670-2416. Starwood has properties throughout the Houston area, including the luxurious St. Regis Houston.

The Art Institute of Chicago is at once a school and a world class museum, with a collection of masterpieces that's nothing short of staggering. It's been one of Chicago's top attractions since it first opened in 1893, but rather than rest on its laurels, the museum has continued to evolve throughout the years, and visitors today can be among the first to walk through two brand new galleries. Designed by the Renzo Piano Building Workshop, the Alsdorf Galleries provide a home to the museum's Indian, Southeast Asian, Himalayan, and Islamic Art, which in the past was only accessible to the public during special exhibitions. The Impressionist Galleries, meanwhile, got a dramatic makeover to celebrate the return of the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection - including masterpieces by Monet, Gauguin, and Degas - following a loan to the Kimbell Art Museum in Forth Worth, Texas. Renoir's 1881 painting Two Sisters (pictured) has never looked better. The museum is located in downtown Chicago, and is convenient to several Starwood properties, including the W Chicago - City Center.

[image via Art Institute of Chicago]

The Buenos Aires football team known as Boca Juniors is one of the most storied franchises in all of sports history, with eighteen championships going back nearly a century. Its fans are as passionate as any in the world, showing fanatical devotion to their idols in blue and gold, a team that has brought so much joy - and occasional heartache - into their lives. If you're in town during football season, drop by a home game at Estadio Alberto J. Armando, where stars like Diego Maradona once electrified the crowds. But if the team is on the road, you can still have the Boca experience. The Museo De La Pasión Boquense (Passion of Boca Juniors Museum) houses a treasure trove of historical objects and memorabilia dedicated to the Boca Junior legacy, from jerseys and cleats to computer terminals where visitors can call up any stat from any player, ever in history. There's even a 360-degree video experience that puts you in the middle of the action. It's as intense as football gets. Starwood has five hotels in and around Buenos Aires, including the luxurious Park Tower, Buenos Aires.

Leo Tolstoy is arguably Russia's most famous writer, and his seminal novel, War and Peace, has been required reading since it was published in the late 1860's. The gripping tale of Russian society during the Napoleonic era - along with Anna Karenina, a stunning work of realist fiction - catapulted Tolstoy from life as a young nobleman to the premier chronicler of the Russian experience. For those who've caught the Tolstoy bug, there is the Tolstoy Museum in Moscow, with memorabilia from his life as well as extensive original manuscripts written in his own hand. Located in a grand Russian Empire-style building on Prechistenka Street, it's an essential stop for any fan of Russian literature. A staff of Tolstoy experts is happy to explain the stories behind the various texts, and gives a regular series of lectures on his life and works. Who knows, the experience might make your postcards home that much more poetic. Starwood has three properties in Moscow, including the luxurious Le Royal Méridien National.