A New, Underwater "Ocean Highway" for Galapagos

At 2021’s Climate summit in Glasgow, something pretty extraordinary for one of the natural world’s greatest treasures happened. Neighboring countries Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica and Panama got together and agreed to create an ‘ocean highway’ to allow threatened marine species in and around the richly and uniquely biodiverse Galapagos Islands to safely travel to the territories they need to survive.  The Galapagos Islands famously inspired the pivotal works about evolution of species by Charles Darwin. The Islands are part of...

Masking Up for Fun: the World's Top Carnivals

“Carnival” and “Mardi Gras” evoke some of the world’s most legendary, annual, pre-Easter parties. The two events are related, with a shared origin and even some of the same cultural traditions. Carnival is a whole season, but Mardi Gras is one special day. They are celebrated in countries with strong, historic Catholic traditions.The calendar tells all. Pre-Easter, devout Catholics observe Lent, a time of solemn prayer and self-denial. Lent begins on the Wednesday 40 days before Easter.Mardi Gras means ‘Fat Tuesday.’ The Tuesday...

Where in the World to Drink Ice Wine

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...

Why Taking an Alaska Cruise is 'For the Birds'

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...

Celebrate National Chocolate Cake Day with this Cruise Ship Classic

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...

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

Hike Europe's Most Famous Ancient Trail During This Jubilee Year

Only once or maybe twice a decade, the Camino de Santiago becomes an even more remarkable hiking journey through Spain. Pilgrims and tourists have been hiking the “Way of St. James,” as it translates, since the 9th century. It’s a 500-mile (800 km) route across northern Spain to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, the spiritual home of the apostle James who preached in Spain, became its patron saint, and whose remains were returned here and enshrined.The route...

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

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...

Better Sleep is the Travel Trend We Need Right Now

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 Good Travel News We All Need at the End of 2021: Elephants Return to Conservation Area and Eco-lodge in Cambodia

Anantara, the luxury hospitality company that connects travellers to the indigenous, grounds guests in authentic luxury, with over 40 hotels and resorts located in Asia, the Middle East and Europe, has had success this year hosting other types of guests – the pachyderm kind. The company’s charitable foundation, the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) works in partnership with local communities on environmental, social and cultural conservation.  As a result of one of those partnered programs, The Cardamom Tented Camp...