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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.