Check Out These Resort Openings - You Can Still Plan a Tropical Escape this Winter

Story About Caribbean

Wave goodbye to the winter blues on your way to one of these newly-opened resorts, from adults-only escapes to family-friendly and multi-generational beach vacations. This may be the year to try an all-new destination, or treat yourself to a new kind of holiday that puts a spark in your sun and sand.Adults-Only in the Bahamas: Reimagined Sandals Royal Bahamian After a $55 million renovation, the 400-room, all-inclusive, adults-only Sandals Royal Bahamian has re-launched celebrating the spirit of the Bahamas, with flamingo pink hues and vibes of the islands traditional celebration Junkanoo. An Island Village features stand-alone villas in relaxed beachfront style with pastels, striped awnings, shiplap and private pools and soaking tubs. Guests in beachfront butler suites with soothing neutral colors... more

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Why Taking an Alaska Cruise is 'For the Birds'

Story About Alaska

Bears and whales and other marine mammals are high on everyone’s list for wildlife sightings in Alaska. But we think any trip to America’s Last Frontier is, well, ‘for the birds.’ With more coastline than the rest of the United States combined, as well as parks bigger than some countries, Alaska’s natural treasures include abundant populations of some of the continent’s most interesting, colorful, and majestic birds. You may think, in northern climes, the bird population doesn’t stack up against tropical feathered friends. But in fact, there are birds in Alaska in every color of the rainbow, including vivid blues, reds, oranges and greens.And in every size, from a flame-colored hummingbird only a couple of inches long… to a regal eagle... more

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Celebrate National Chocolate Cake Day with this Cruise Ship Classic

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We often sing the praises of the inventive, entertaining, and sometimes, celebrity-chef driven specialty restaurants on cruise ships. But some of the best culinary experiences cruising are in the main dining room, where talented chefs craft classic, favorite dishes, presented with a sense of ceremony that make dining at sea a true occasion. Take National Chocolate Cake Day. January 27 highlights the appeal of one of the world's most popular desserts, one that's been around since 1765. A comfort food that cheers an ordinary day puts a smile on every face, and is the sweet touch that makes life's milestones all the brighter. A rich, decadent chocolate cake is the kind of mainstay, staple dessert you find on main dining room menus... more

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Sun, Sand, and a Side of History: 7 Historic Sites You Must Visit in the Caribbean

Story About Caribbean

 If you love sun and sand… with a side of history, here are seven Caribbean islands whose history lives on today through preserved and protected UNESCO World Heritage historic sites.Which history-rich destinations top your list for an upcoming beach holiday with a twist?ANTIGUA: “Nelson’s Dockyard” Known for its famous inhabitant, British Admiral Lord Nelson, who lived in Antigua’s Royal Navy Dockyard for three years in the 1780’s, Nelson’s Dockyard is part of a National Park UNESCO site that is comprised of Georgian naval buildings and a walled enclosure. (Pictured, top, courtesy Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority)Historically, for Britain’s Royal Navy far from home in the West Indies, Antigua’s coast and English Harbour were a perfect bolt hole from enemies and... more

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Where in the World to Drink Ice Wine

Story

Don’t let winter stop you from enjoying a wine harvest season! There are two ways - and many places - to celebrate a wine harvest in the New Year. You could travel to the southern hemisphere, where standard vineyard harvests take place during the northern hemisphere’s spring. Or you can embrace winter – and the one, very special wine it creates.Ice wine is a case of making lemonade when life gives you lemons. When winter conditions are just right, grapes freeze on the vine, giving vintners the opportunity to make ice wine. What makes ice wine special? When grapes are still on the vine as the temperatures turn to freezing, it’s only the water content in the grapes that freezes –... more

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Science Says These Are the Most Beautiful Places in the World - Are They Already on Your Travel List?

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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, they say, but can you rank places that practically every traveler finds beautiful? One travel company in the U.K. wanted to answer that question, so they brought in some science and technology to help. They presented volunteers with dozens of images of famous natural destinations Eye-tracking software recorded data about which images the volunteers looked at, and for how long. The more longing glances and lingering stares determined which destinations were the most eye-catching.Of course, the most stunning photo can’t beat the real thing. If you haven’t already, here are what science has determined are the most beautiful natural wonders in the world to add to your bucket list this year.The good news:... more

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6 Exciting Hotel Openings in Cities You'll Want to Travel to in 2022

Story About Paris

These newly-opened hotels aren't just a home-away-from-home, they're gateways to a city's sites, local urban culture, cuisine, and social scene. Start planning your next city adventure today! New York, New YorkHotel: Park Lane Hotel, Preferred Hotels & ResortsWhat Makes it Special:This classic, 47-story NYC Central Park South hotel has been re-imagined and re-opened as a sophisticated, playful, and inclusive hotel in a very exclusive part the city. Celebrated design agency Yabu Pushelberg restored the existing architectural details of the historic, post-war building with bold colors and eclectic textures redefining its mid-century luxury aesthetic. Nearly half of the over 600 rooms have park-facing views, with the other half featuring vistas of the Manhattan skyline. Whimsical murals in guest rooms and public spaces... more

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Better Sleep is the Travel Trend We Need Right Now

Story

Is your New Year’s resolution to get more rest – and travel more? The good news is that there are travel experiences that let you do both. Lynn Elmhirst, Producer and Host of BestTrip TV, runs down a few of her favorites.  Fogo Island Inn, Newfoundland – Sleep RetreatThe breathtaking Fogo Island Inn, perched on stilts like the fishing huts on the island on the edge of the North Atlantic ocean, has been rated one of the top luxury lodges in the world.  Any trip to the Fogo Island Inn is a retreat into a unique island environment enriched with visiting artists, local artisans and crafters, and centuries-old living off the land and the sea, which curated, hands-on guest experiences bring... more

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First Club Med Mountain Resort in North America Opens; it's the First All-Season, All-Inclusive in Canada

Story About Quebec City

Another, all-inclusive Club Med in Utah to open soon more

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5 Reasons This is the Year to Give the Gift of Travel

Story

The gift-giving season is close at hand, and this year, more than ever before, travel may be the very best present you can place for someone under the tree. Lynn Elmhirst, producer and host of BestTrip TV, explains:Experiences vs. ThingsStudy after study shows it, and we know it instinctively ourselves. Our best memories, the best of times, are about experiences, especially shared experiences with loved ones. Not stuff.How many presents do you yourself remember? Compared to the smile that appears on your face when you think of your favorite travel moments.Humans are hardwired to cherish the things that travel is all about: new experiences, once-in-a-lifetime moments, meeting new people who are passionate about sharing their culture, talents, and life experiences... more

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Malama Hawaii Program: Giving Back on a Trip to Paradise

Story About Hawaii

The Hawaiian Islands may draw you to their other-worldly tropical beauty, South-Pacific culture and warm welcome, legendary beaches and seaside lifestyle. But the most memorable trip to Hawaii may be the one that gives back. The Malama Hawaii Program connects visitors to activities that make a difference to the islands’ land, ocean, wildlife, forests, fishponds, and communities. Malama means 'give back' and it puts you in a position to become part of Hawaii, leave it an even better place… and have vacation memories of a lifetime.It’s about building real relationships between people and place, and enriching your life as well as the destination you visit.The Malama Hawaii Program has brought together a number of hotels and resorts, tour companies, and... more

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Seeing is Believing: Health Protocols are No Barrier to Enjoying a European River Cruise

Story About Eu

If a picture speaks a thousand words, then a video is running commentary. That's why we wanted to share with you exactly what the health protocols on board an Avalon Waterways river cruise in France are in the Fall of 2021. We know some people have already begun traveling again - but others are still hesitant. Maybe you wonder if new health protocols take away from your river cruise experience. Or you wonder if it's safe enough. Lynn Elmhirst of BestTrip TV decided to find an answer to that question. She sailed in October, 2021, on an Avalon Waterways river cruise through the south of France to see exactly what protocols were in place, and how it felt to be... more

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Vienna's New Rooftop Bars

Story About Vienna

Austria’s capital city is famous as a cradle of classical music and high culture, for its skyline shaped by Hapsburg palaces, the Opera House and city symbol Giant Ferris Wheel, for tastes and experiences like chocolate/apricot Sacher Torte and coffee house culture, and even the renowned, high-performing and high-stepping, gleaming white Lipizzaner horses. You may have been to Vienna before, but no matter how many times you’ve been to a city, seeing it from above gives you a whole new perspective. That’s why the string of new rooftop bars in the city on the Danube river – with stunning design and inspiring food and beverage experiences - is so exciting for those of us planning Danube river cruises or guided trips to... more

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This Entire Caribbean Island is now a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Story About Martinique

This small French Caribbean island is known as the Isle of Flowers, the Rum Capital of the World, and now, its land mass, along with the marine zone around it, has become an over 12-million acre globally-recognized eco reserve.Martinique has been inducted into UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program, so now over 5% of the Earth’s landmass is recognized for conservation of biodiversity, environmental education research, and sustainable development. The organization describes Martinique as “the 12th biosphere reserve along the volcanic arc of the Caribbean, one of the world’s 35 biodiversity hotspots. Its richness is unique, as it includes many endemic species living in rare and endangered habitats.”It adds how remarkable the French Caribbean island’s geology is, featuring the 4,583-foot Mount... more

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The One-of-a-Kind Festival that Lights Up Montreal This Fall

Story About Montreal

Montreal is a year-round global capital of celebration. The world’s second-largest French-speaking city (after only Paris) is famous for its cosmopolitan flair, cuisine, fashion, as a UNESCO City of Design, the birthplace of Cirque du Soleil - and a full calendar of top-shelf festivals that wrap the city in energy anytime you visit. A famously active winter city, Montreal’s star shines even when the temperatures fall, with a mid-winter ‘Nuit Blanche’, ‘Igloofest’ and active celebrations of the city, like giant outdoor skating rinks.Summer is high festival season, with marquee events like the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix race which is the most watched F1 race in the world, the world’s largest comedy festival, rock and electronic music fests, the Montreal... more

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