Dive Into Local Tradition at the Caribbean’s Only Channel Swim

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For nearly a quarter century, it’s been the premiere open water swimming event of the Caribbean. And again this March, swimmers from around the world challenge themselves on the Nevis to St. Kitts Cross Channel Swim – the only channel swim in the Caribbean. The 2.5-mile expanse of scenic water of the “Narrows” strait between the sister islands might not represent the longest or most difficult channel swim in the world, but it might be one of the prettiest. With Nevis’ famous, verdant volcanic peak behind them, intrepid swimmers start at Oualie Beach in Nevis and end at Spice Mill Restaurant in Cockleshell Bay, St. Kitts. Along the way, they may spot sea turtles or rays sharing the stunning, sparkling, jewel-toned waters... more

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This Popular Ocean Cruise Line is Launching River Cruises!

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If you love Celebrity Cruises on the seas and have always thought of taking a river cruise, mark 2027 on your calendar. That’s when Celebrity River Cruises is launching – and you can book your place on one of the first European river cruises by this ‘modern luxury’ cruise line this year! In an announcement that took cruise and travel fans completely by surprise, Celebrity Cruises has revealed it has ordered a whopping 10 river cruise ships right out of the gate. The cruise line tells us their river ships will have the same atmosphere, hospitality, award-winning food and beverage experiences, and elevated design and style as Celebrity’s beloved Edge-class ocean ships. It adds the upcoming fleet of river cruise ships will... more

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Attention Cruise Travelers: Save During Wave!

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Welcome to Wave Season!  Wave after wave of promotions, offers and perks that make booking your next – or your first! - cruise irresistible. Cruise lines compete to outdo each other during Wave, and that gives you the opportunity to save money, get some extra perks to spoil yourself – or sail into new cruise horizons! Navigating WaveWith all the different kinds of discounts, promotions, perks and savings, it’s important to understand their differences, relative values, and especially, to compare deals ‘apple to apple’ to make sure you’re getting the best deals on the best cruise for you. An expert travel advisor is your best bet to help you maximize your cruise travel budget and ensure you make the most of Wave... more

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Important Passport Advice For Travel this Year

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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

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‘Cultivate’ Your Green Thumb in the Gardens of Britain This Year

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The coldest weeks of the year inspire dreams of lush blooms and garden idylls, which just happen to be the calling card of the essential English lifestyle. Plan a trip around one of Britain’s dazzling flower shows and visit iconic gardens at stately country homes. 2025’s Flourishing Flower Show CalendarGet your horticulture on at one of Britain’s flower shows, with their rich tapestry of blooms and garden artistry in 2025. From ‘cutting’ edge designs to rare plants to dramatic installations and serene oases, Britain’s garden shows celebrate gardening traditions and push horticultural boundaries. Discover the latest plant varieties, take part in gardening workshops, pick up tips and the latest nifty gardening tools, and enjoy family-friendly activities, often live music and local food... more

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“Adventure Capital of the World” Set to Become First Carbon Zero Destination

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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

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Travel Good News Stories to End – and Start – the Year Right

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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

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Study on a Cunard Crossing Reveals Surprising Benefits of ‘Slow Travel’ at Sea – On Your Brain!

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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

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UNESCO and Relais & Châteaux to Boost Biodiversity through Cuisine

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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

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VIDEO: Baking Festive Sweets Aboard a Viking Christmas Market River Cruise – with Recipe!

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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

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New Battleship Memorial Exhibit at Pearl Harbor for 80th Anniversary of End of WWII in the Pacific

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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

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New, ‘Suite’ Stays at Sandals Resorts Take Your All-Inclusive Beach Vacation to Another Level

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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

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France’s Christmas Miracle: Spectacular Reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris After Fire

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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

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Belmond Launches First Luxury Sleeper Train in England and Wales

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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

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How to Get the UK's Mandatory, New Electronic Entry Permit for Your Next Trip to Britain

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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

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