Important Passport Advice For Travel this Year
Don’t let this happen to you! I know a family who recently missed their holiday – and lost nearly everything they’d spent on their vacation – all because of a completely avoidable travel document snafu. It happens more often than you think – but it shouldn’t happen to you. Here’s the sad story: For their first trip as a family, the parents got the kids their first passports but planned to travel on their own existing passports, which were still valid from their honeymoon a few years ago. They knew their destination didn’t need a visa, so they thought they were good to go. Wrong. The couple has a travel journalist friend (ahem!) who had been at their wedding and did some quick mental... more
UNESCO and Relais & Châteaux to Boost Biodiversity through Cuisine
The UN agency championing the world’s cultural and scientific treasures, and the prestigious association of hundreds of independent, unique hotels and restaurants throughout the world, have joined forces to support global conservation and biodiversity through global culinary traditions. The director-general of UNESCO points out, “Never in history has nature experienced such dramatic decline. One million species – of the eight million identified to date – are facing the threat of extinction. With one voice, UNESCO and the Relais & Châteaux Association are calling for us all to change our perspectives and practices with regard to food and reestablish a balance between humankind and the environment.""I see gastronomy as a powerful vector for change and we must fundamentally rethink the way we approach... more
Study on a Cunard Crossing Reveals Surprising Benefits of ‘Slow Travel’ at Sea – On Your Brain!
Want to improve your memory, problem-solving skills and ability to focus? A recent study aboard a Transatlantic Crossing on the Queen Mary 2 found that even a few days at sea gives cruise travelers measurable and surprising cognitive benefits – in addition to relaxation. For over 180 years, British luxury cruise line Cunard has been sailing the fabled, week-long Crossing between New York and Southampton, UK. That cruise experience defines what’s now being dubbed ‘slow travel.’ ‘Slow Travel’ Sea DaysThe iconic version of the trip involves no ports of call, giving you the luxury of time: no pressure to be anywhere at a specific time, the pleasure of being immersed in the company of your fellow travelers, filling your days with walks... more
“Adventure Capital of the World” Set to Become First Carbon Zero Destination
Queenstown, New Zealand, is once again pioneering an exciting new travel trend. It’s already on the map for global travelers as the birthplace and “Home of Bungee Jumping” and the “Adventure Capital of the World.” Now, Queenstown is at the leading edge of finding ways to continue to offer its signature, adrenaline – and power–fueled – outdoor activities to the world… without emitting any carbon at all. And it says it can do it in just half a decade, by 2030.According to the local tourism board, “When Queenstown becomes the first carbon-zero visitor destination, we’ll be joining a long tradition of local firsts. We’re the birthplace of commercial bungy. Tandem skydiving and paragliding were pioneered here. The first commercial jet boat... more
Travel Good News Stories to End – and Start – the Year Right
It feels like we could all use some good news right now – and luckily, this year, travel has provided us with lots of reasons to feel hopeful and uplifted and that doing something we love – travel – can also be doing something good. The world of travel is showing us that not only can travel be good for us, it can also be easier for us and easier on the world whose travel treasures we seek to experience. Travel is good for you By now, it’s pretty well-known how travel is good for our spirits and stress levels. A study conducted on one cruise line shows ‘slow travel’ at sea can even boost our brain function - from memory, to... more
France’s Christmas Miracle: Spectacular Reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris After Fire
Restored to its former glory and beyond, Notre Dame de Paris has risen from the ashes of a 2019 fire that many feared meant the end of an era for one of the most joyous historic cathedrals in Europe. The December 7, 2024 reopening ceremony and resumption of Masses felt like a Christmas gift to the world, not just for the church-going community, but also for those of us who have fallen in love with travel to Paris and France. The five-year restoration project was massive in both care and scale. Coming in at over $800 million, with work still to be done, it tapped thousands of masters of ancient craftsmanship and even the ancient forests of France. Both were needed... more
New Battleship Memorial Exhibit at Pearl Harbor for 80th Anniversary of End of WWII in the Pacific
December 7, 1941, is remembered annually for the attack on Hawai’i’s Pearl Harbor that drew the USA into World War 2. But September 2, 1945, is just as important in American history. That date in 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, with the formal Japanese surrender ceremony aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Two moving battleship memorials at Hawai'i’s Pearl Harbor symbolically bookend America’s War in the Pacific. The USS Arizona, sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor, remains the final resting place of 900 of the ship’s 1177 sailors who lost their lives that day. The USS Missouri, the location of the ceremony where the war ended, ultimately returned to Pearl Harbor after decades of... more
VIDEO: Baking Festive Sweets Aboard a Viking Christmas Market River Cruise – with Recipe!
Nothing gets you in the holiday spirit like a Christmas market cruise on the Rhine from Switzerland, through France, and Germany, to the Netherlands, in the cradle of so many of our Christmas traditions. It’s a multi-sensory travel experience, from the sights of festive decorations and booths at the markets, twinkling lights and decorations, the scent of mulled wine, and the authentic tastes of holiday treats, at the markets, as well as on board our Viking longship. You’ll be immersed in the joy of the season as you explore markets and cross everyone off your Christmas list with delightful, artisan-made arts, crafts and treats unique to the region. Viking brings Christmas on board, too, with decorations, and lights that twinkle indoors and... more
New, ‘Suite’ Stays at Sandals Resorts Take Your All-Inclusive Beach Vacation to Another Level
Sandals is introducing its first-ever four-bedroom butler villas, brand new ‘Skypool Suites’ with rooftop terraces, more guest-favorite ‘Rondovals,’ as well as re-imagined beachfront and bluff view rooms across adults-only, ‘luxury-included’ Sandals resorts throughout the Caribbean. Now available for booking, these new, ‘suite’ experiences are part of ‘Sandals 2.0,’ and encourage visiting amongst friends, and bringing the tropical outdoors into your living space during your next beach vacation. Sandals Resorts is renowned for all-inclusive luxury romance for adults, with iconic, destination-defining properties in Jamaica, Antigua, Saint Lucia, The Bahamas, Grenada, Barbados, Curaçao and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, each set on a white-sand beach handpicked for its beauty.JAMAICA’S NEW ‘SUITE’ SPOTSCheck out newly renovated villas at Sandals Ochi, including the Two-Bedroom and... more
Belmond Launches First Luxury Sleeper Train in England and Wales
The Britannic Explorer, A Belmond Train, is a new way to indulge in slow travel in the lap of luxury. Debuting in the summer of 2025, it’s the first modern luxury sleeper train to allow you to discover some of the UK’s most spectacular natural landscapes and hidden gems on its three inaugural, three-day routes. Timeless Routes Through the English CountrysideDeparting from London, the Britannic Explorer takes guests to Cornwall, The Lake District, or Wales. The routes are scheduled to allow travelers to combine two regional journeys into one trip: The Cornwall and Lake District routes run from Friday to Monday, while the Wales route runs from Monday to Thursday. By day, optional off-train guided excursions will showcase the rich cultural tapestry,... more
How to Get the UK's Mandatory, New Electronic Entry Permit for Your Next Trip to Britain
Beginning January 8, 2025, American and Canadian travelers to the United Kingdom will be required to apply - in advance of your trip - for the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). The digital application process opens November 27, 2024 for anyone planning to arrive in Britain from January 8, 2025 and onwards. The British government has been introducing the new digital entry permits in a phased approach to a goal of fully digitizing entry into its borders by 2025. Americans and Canadians are now among the groups of foreign residents required to submit and able to apply for an ETA. ETA’s are mandatory for entry into the UK. That includes children and babies. The program is for regular travelers going to... more
VIDEO SHIP TOUR: The Best Places on an Emerald Yacht Cruise to Relax Over a Drink
Three cheers to the yachting lifestyle! Emerald Cruises’ yachts are warm-weather cruising on a whole different scale: small! With only 100 guests, you feel like you’re aboard your own private yacht – that’s designed to make you feel immediately at home as you spend lazy days chasing the sun… and relaxing with something cold in your hand that reminds you: you’re on holiday! WATCH THE VIDEO SHIP TOUR ABOVE: The Best Places on an Emerald Yacht Cruise to Relax Over a Drink Sleek and modern and built with the warm waters of the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the South Seas and other remote corners of the world, Emerald Sakara and her twin ship Emerald Azzurra are sized to sail into off-the-beaten-track ports –... more
Rosewood Debuting Private Island Resort Fusing Ultra-Luxury and Adventure in the Bahamas
Rosewood Exuma opens in 2028, bringing Rosewood’s elevated experiential travel and authenticity to the Exumas. The pristine archipelago of 365 islands in the Bahamas is the destination of the latest addition to Rosewood’s Caribbean portfolio. The private island resort offers next-generation luxury while honoring the character of the Exumas. Rosewood Exuma Within the Exumas, there’s a 124-acre private island called East Sampson Cay, the home to Rosewood Exuma and its 33 suites, all offering dramatic views of the island's pink and white sands and turquoise waters and several sitting directly on the beach. Visitors will discover Rosewood's “A Sense of Place” philosophy at Rosewood Exuma, inspired by the destination. Six unique food and beverage outlets showcase local delicacies, including ingredients grown from the resort's... more
Hotels that Put you at the Heart of Europe’s Top Christmas Markets
The holidays are just around the corner, and nothing gets you into the spirit of the season like a pre-Christmas trip to Europe, where so many of our favorite festive traditions originated. Europe’s Christmas markets, many of which have been around since the Middle Ages, are magical places to embrace the holiday spirit and celebrate in the month leading up to Christmas. Immerse yourself into the Christmas spirit by laying your head just wandering distance from the market, soaking in the ambiance from the festivities, meandering through decorated streets to your home away from home in Europe. From former palaces to historic bank buildings, these market-adjacent hotels bring their own history, style, and romance to the festive winter season, making for bucket-list-worthy stays... more
Embrace the ‘Quiet Travel’ Trend in Laid-Back Costa Rica
If the world seems noisier and more chaotic than ever to you – you’re not alone. As life gets more stressful, online searches for ‘quiet travel’ have shot up like your blood pressure. One of the first places savvy travelers look to disconnect and rediscover tranquillity in nature is Costa Rica. The Central American country’s famous way of living, called ‘Pura Vida,’ has more appeal than ever, embodying a simple, joyful life connected to nature and loved ones. ‘Pura Vida’ translates to ‘pure life’ or ‘simple life’. It's both an approach to life and a greeting in Costa Rica that's used to express a positive attitude and encourage you to take things in stride. Costa Rica’s lush rainforests and pristine beaches... more
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