Around The World in 80 Ways Your Romance Travel Expert RSS Feed

The April Fools of Travel Destinations

lynn.elmhirst@gmail.com (Lynn) — Mon, 06 Apr 26 14:40:41 +0000

World travel is easier than ever. But it seems world geography is not! Some destinations remain stubbornly — and even hilariously — confused by travelers, media, and even governments. The result is a mix of comedy, branding opportunity, and unsuspecting travelers finding themselves in the wrong place.

In some cases, people simply don’t know the difference, and it’s a case of mistaken identity and some embarrassing social media posts. Others are tiny spelling errors that have landed travelers on the opposite side of the world from where they expected to be. There are cities, countries, and regions that regularly get confused.

Admit it: even an intelligent and savvy traveler like you gets some of these destinations mixed up!

So what better time than April Fools to run through the hit parade of trickster travel destinations?

Australia or Austria?

Australia and Austria are as different as two countries can be. And in different hemispheres!

Australia is a young, vast, sun-drenched country defined by distance—beaches, reef systems, and cities like Sydney that feel plugged into the Pacific. It’s long-haul, laid-back, and larger-than-life.

Old World Austria is compact, landlocked, and classically European—Alpine peaks, imperial history, and cultural heavyweights like Vienna and Salzburg.

Yet their confusion is so persistent that Austria’s tourism board leaned into it with the now-famous line: “No Kangaroos in Austria!”

Sweden or Switzerland?

This is possibly the most politely awkward confusion in global travel.

So common, in fact, that Visit Sweden launched an entire campaign to address it—complete with a straight-faced “negotiation” video proposing a formal division of national identities.

The messaging is brilliantly deadpan:

Switzerland has banks; Sweden has sandbanks

Switzerland has yodelling; Sweden has a silent nature

The Swiss keep the watches; the Swedes offer the luxury of forgetting about time

It’s funny because it’s true. The confusion shows up in headlines, speeches, and travel plans more often than any half-experienced traveler would like to admit.

Grenada or Granada?

“Tomayto”, “Tomahto.” Grenayda, Granahda. Two destinations thousands of miles apart, and cultural worlds apart.

Grenada is a Caribbean island nation where there’s nutmeg in the air, rainforest spilling into the sea, and long, languid afternoons on Grand Anse. It’s called the “Spice Island” for a reason.

Granada, on the other hand, is a city in Spain: Moorish palaces, tapas culture, and the architectural marvel of the Alhambra rising above the city like a mirage.

One is barefoot, the other is baroque.

Dominica or Dominican Republic?

This is less a mix-up and more a recurring travel identity crisis. They’re both countries, and both in the Caribbean. But that’s where the similarity ends.

Dominica (dom-in-EE-ka) is volcanic, rainforest-thick, and defiantly underdeveloped. You go here to hike, to soak in hot springs, to earn your cocktail off the beaten track. You have to work a little harder to vacation in Dominica. You won’t find direct flights from North America. Instead, you connect on Island Hopper Airlines through regional hubs like Barbados, San Juan, and St. Lucia.

The Dominican Republic is a hub. It’s one of the Caribbean’s largest countries and most popular beach resort destinations —built for sun-seeking travelers, with resort areas like Puerto Plata and Punta Cana, and a rich colonial history in Santo Domingo. All-inclusive resorts line the country’s beaches, and airlines and packaged tour operators serve the country well.

Slovakia or Slovenia?

Here’s a quick test: can you place these two Central European countries on a map?

Slovakia and Slovenia don’t just sound similar—they both fly under the radar of popular European travel destinations, so they’ve gotten used to handling the non-stop cases of mistaken identity.

Embassies have long reported receiving each other’s diplomatic pouches. Invitations to official events have arrived in the wrong capital. Trade documents, cultural exchanges, even the occasional VIP correspondence—misaddressed, misrouted, and then, very politely, forwarded along. The postal services of the two countries meet regularly to exchange misaddressed mail!

Meanwhile, the destinations themselves couldn’t be more distinct. Slovakia leans into its Danube River culture, castles, and Carpathian drama; Slovenia into alpine lakes and storybook perfection—hello, Lake Bled.

Baltics or Balkans?

This one is a classic travel-writer slip—and a reminder that “similar-sounding” regions are not all created equal.

The Baltics are the three countries on northeastern Europe’s Baltic Sea coast: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. They share a common history shaped by Northern and Eastern Europe and are today known for compact capitals, medieval old towns, and a blend of Nordic and Eastern European influences. Cool, composed, and increasingly design-forward. Think Tallinn’s medieval perfection, Riga’s Art Nouveau swagger.

The Balkans refer to a broader region in southeastern Europe that includes countries such as Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia. The region is culturally diverse, shaped by Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian histories, and ranges from Adriatic coastlines to inland mountains. Sunshine and history weave through a tangle of cultures that stretch across southeastern Europe, from Adriatic coastlines to inland capitals shaped by empires.

Same opening syllable. Entirely different narratives.

The Moral of the Story

It always happens to someone else you can laugh at - until it’s you landing in the wrong country. Even the most seasoned travelers can be tripped up by a familiar-sounding place and a hastily confirmed booking.

Work with an expert travel advisor, and always double-check your travel documents.

Happy April Fool’s Day… and

START YOUR TRIP (TO THE RIGHT DESTINATION!)

By: Lynn Elmhirst, travel journalist and expert

Images: Getty

Celebrity River Cruises Reveals Experiential Approach to Shore Excursions

lynn.elmhirst@gmail.com (Lynn) — Mon, 06 Apr 26 14:40:41 +0000

The hotly anticipated new river cruise line has shared how it’s planning to offer its guests a new way to experience the river communities of Europe when it debuts in 2027. Four curated categories of exclusive and included shore excursions reveal how guests will river cruise, Celebrity-style.

Local insiders lead the Storyteller Series and Skillmaster Series, while the Keys to the City Series gives guests the tech-driven power to explore on their own with insights curated to their own interests and passions. Available once per sailing, the Celebrity Takeover Series delivers one-of-a-kind, bespoke experiences.

The shore excursions are available across all 2027 and 2028 Celebrity River Cruises itineraries, and pre- and post-cruise stays in Prague, Budapest, and Amsterdam.

Storyteller Series: Included locally led experiences that go beyond what guidebooks can capture

Celebrity River Cruises' Storyteller Series offers experiences guided by residents, artists, and cultural insiders who call each destination home. Guests can choose from multiple included experiences at each port, each balancing iconic landmarks with hosts’ personal favorites and hidden stories only locals know. Here are a couple of examples:

Amsterdam

A canal captain will share Amsterdam's centuries-long relationship with water, showing guests an unseen side of the city’s iconic waterways. Guests will cruise hidden passages, through the eyes of someone with deep family ties to the region, as they admire the city’s oldest building, Oude Kerk, board a legendary Dutch trading ship, and learn about modern canal engineering.

Prague

Guests who enjoy discovering a city through food and drink will be led through the city’s rich brewing traditions by a local brewer. From the brewer’s unique perspective, guests will explore historic breweries like the bustling U Vejvodu Tavern, as well as beer-infused artisanal shops. Taking a journey that blends history and hospitality into every pour, the brewer will show guests how centuries-old recipes shaped the city’s culture of connection and celebration.

Skillmaster Series: Included, hands-on experiences invite guests to actively participate in local culture

Guests craft, cook, and create alongside the artisans and makers who shape each destination's cultural identity in shore excursions like these:

Budapest

A local Mamika (grandmother) will lead aspiring culinarians through generations-old Hungarian recipes from her own home kitchen. After selecting ingredients at the local Central Market Hall, guests will uncover dishes that bring Budapest’s soul to the table through Mamika’s treasured family recipes and cooking secrets.

Amsterdam

A local artist leads a painting class that immerses guests in Van Gogh's imagination. After exploring the famed painter’s works at the iconic Van Gogh Museum, guests will discover the settings that influenced some of his greatest pieces while learning some of the techniques he used to turn emotion into color and movement into meaning.

Keys to the City Series: Included independent digital discovery tools with complimentary behind-the-scenes access and stationed local hosts

Through an innovative digital platform, guests access curated route maps tailored to specific interests such as art, history, food, and architecture.

Interactive maps, audio guides, and video content lead guests off the beaten tourist path to interest-led locations, where stationed local hosts provide behind-the-scenes access and exclusive experiences at working studios and craft sites, creating moments of surprise and delight. For example:

Bratislava

Architecture enthusiasts will follow their curiosity to St. Martin’s Cathedral, hearing from a local historian who brings its coronation past to life, before hiking to Bratislava Castle to see how the fortress has watched centuries of change, then pausing beneath the modern span of the UFO Bridge with an architect who explains its bold vision.

Uncover the city’s authentic Slovak flavors from raising a glass in a traditional Slovak pub while a generational brewer pours his stories into every craft drop, to tasting delicate sweets in a family-run pastry shop where the baker shares recipes passed down through decades. Guests will curate their adventure, shaping their own path to uncover the stories of cities exactly as they choose.

Celebrity Takeover Series: Included one-of-a-kind experiences for bucket list memories

Once per sailing, these exclusive, bespoke experiences transform must-see European attractions and unassuming plazas into elevated private events available only to Celebrity River Cruises guests. Celebrity says these are “indulgent bucket-list experiences” designed to be the defining memory of your river cruise

Pre- and Post-Cruise Stays the Celebrity Way

Celebrity River Cruises guests can extend their journey with multi-day pre- and post-cruise stays that carry the same locally-led, small-group discovery philosophy as every sailing.

Available in Prague and Budapest beginning in 2027, and also Amsterdam in 2028, each stay includes daily small-group tours with local hosts, premium hotel accommodations, dedicated concierge service for dining reservations and private experiences, daily breakfast, and airport transfers.

The result is a seamless, end-to-end journey from arrival to departure with no gap between the onboard Celebrity River Cruises experience and the destination discovery that defines it.

Bookings for 2027 and 2028 pre- and post-cruise stays in Summer 2026 open, and all other destination experiences will open for booking in 2027. Celebrity River Cruises sailings are on sale now.

START YOUR TRIP!

Images: Celebrity River Cruises

Free Pre-Cruise Hotel and Transfers on Select 2026 Greece Star Clippers Sailings

lynn.elmhirst@gmail.com (Lynn) — Mon, 06 Apr 26 14:40:41 +0000

The Greek Islands remain one of the world’s most captivating sailing destinations. Star Clippers’ 2026 Greece sailings invite travelers to experience this timeless region the way it was meant to be explored—under sail aboard a traditional tall ship, gliding between islands and arriving directly into the heart of historic ports.

Reserve select 2026 Greece sailings by April 30, 2026, and receive one complimentary pre- or post-cruise hotel night in Athens with breakfast and a complimentary transfer between the hotel and ship (or reverse) to allow you to explore the Greek capital before or after your voyage.

Cruising Under Sail

Unlike conventional cruise ships, Star Clippers’ authentic sailing vessels travel under wind power whenever possible, bringing guests closer to the maritime traditions of the Mediterranean. With expansive teak decks, open-air lounging spaces, and a relaxed yacht-like atmosphere, the company’s ships offer an intimate way to explore the Greek Islands and smaller ports often inaccessible to larger vessels.

The special promotion applies to select 2026 Greece itineraries aboard the 166-guest Star Flyer, sailing round-trip from Athens (Piraeus). Each itinerary highlights different island regions of the Aegean, combining scenic sailing passages with stops in picturesque harbors and historic coastal towns.

Featured Sailings Include:

Northern Cyclades (July 11 and August 1), a seven-night voyage that explores some of the most celebrated islands of the Aegean. Sailing round-trip from Athens, the itinerary includes visits to iconic destinations such as Mykonos, known for its whitewashed architecture and vibrant waterfront; Amorgos, home to the dramatic cliff-side Monastery of Hozoviotissa; and Sifnos, an island celebrated for its culinary traditions and charming harbor villages.
Fares start at USD 2,410 per person, double, including port charges.
Southern Cyclades itinerary (July 18 and August 8), offering a blend of legendary islands and dramatic volcanic landscapes. Guests can experience Santorini’s famous caldera views, explore the medieval Old Town of Rhodes, and enjoy relaxed sailing between the islands with time on deck as the ship moves under wind power through the Aegean Sea. The voyage also includes a stop in Hydra, where cars are banned, and transportation is primarily by foot or donkey, preserving the island’s timeless character.
Fares start at USD 2,410
Sporades Highlights seven-night itinerary (July 25 and August 15) focuses on the lush islands of the northern Aegean, including Skiathos and Skopelos, where pine forests meet turquoise waters and traditional villages along the hillsides with views of the sea. Guests also visit Poros, a charming harbor town just off the Peloponnese coast known for its neoclassical architecture and relaxed waterfront cafés.
Fares start at USD 2,410

The Magic of Cruising on a Sailing Ship

Each voyage combines the romance of traditional sailing with modern comforts. When the wind fills the 56,000 square feet of sails, guests can hear the snap of canvas while enjoying sweeping views of the Aegean from the ship’s open decks—an experience that evokes the golden age of sailing while delivering the amenities expected by today’s travelers. Guests are invited to learn about sailing from the crew, climb the crow’s nest, help hoist the sails, or simply watch as the crew manages lines and rigging — a hands-on experience no conventional cruise can offer.

During the week-long itineraries, days may include stops for swimming, exploring historic harbors, browsing local markets, and enjoying Greek cuisine ashore. Evenings aboard ship are relaxed and convivial, often featuring open-air dining, cocktails under the stars, and live piano music in the lounge.

More About Star Clippers

For more than 35 years, Star Clippers has been introducing travelers to the thrill of modern tall-ship sailing to remote ports in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Central America. The company operates three of the world’s largest and tallest sailing vessels: Star Clipper and Star Flyer are traditional clipper ships with modern amenities carrying 166 guests each, while the 227-guest Royal Clipper holds the Guinness World Record as the largest and only five-masted, fully-rigged sailing ship in service today. All three ships have expansive teak decks, swimming pools, informal dining, convivial tropical bars on deck, and piano lounges.

*** Images courtesy of Star Clippers

*** Terms & Conditions apply; ask us for full offer, itinerary, pricing, and date details

“Modular” Itineraries from Riverside Luxury Cruises Allow you to Build Your Best Trip

lynn.elmhirst@gmail.com (Lynn) — Mon, 06 Apr 26 14:40:41 +0000

Rather than sticking to the classic, week or 10-day river cruise format, Riverside Luxury Cruises is making waves with its “modular” cruises. The goal is to give guests more flexibility, freedom, and choice – a “Build a Cruise” approach to European river cruising.

Here’s how it works:

Riverside offers sailings of three, four, and five nights that can easily be added to other vacation plans along with the classic seven-night itineraries. Longer sailings are also available, ranging from 10 all the way to 23 nights.

Now, we can help you tailor your river cruise by sailing length, departure days, and embarkation cities that best suit your personal plans and easily combine land vacations with an amazing luxury sojourn on some of Europe’s best rivers.

WATCH VIDEO, TOP: TOUR RIVERSIDE MOZART,

ONE OF THE LARGEST RIVER CRUISE SHIPS IN EUROPE

The approach also opens a wider range of embarkation and debarkation possibilities along Europe’s rivers. On the Danube, for example, travelers can choose itineraries that begin or end in cities such as Vienna, Budapest, or Passau, including round-trip sailings from Vienna—an option not commonly offered in traditional river cruise programming.

Because Riverside sailings operate on a variety of departure days throughout the week, travelers are not limited to the standard Saturday-to-Saturday cruise schedule. That opens up more flexibility in flight dates, too.

ASK US HOW YOU CAN PLAN A RIVER CRUISE THAT FITS YOU, NOT THE CALENDAR!

Sample itineraries

A short exploration of the South of France | Scenes of Southern France With Rhône Delta | 4 days/3 nights | Departures from April to October 2026
A grand tour of Europe’s rivers | Three Rivers: Rhine and Main With Upper & Lower Danube | 18 days/17 nights | Departs May 6, 2026, and Sept 2, 2026
A Vienna-to-Vienna roundtrip | Danube Serenade: Iconic Capitals & Wachau Valley | 8 days/7 nights | Departures from April to November 2026

WATCH VIDEO HERE: GET A ‘TASTE’ OF

RIVERSIDE LUXURY CRUISES’ AWARD-WINNING DINING

More About Riverside Luxury Cruises

Riverside Luxury Cruises is Europe’s newest and most luxurious river cruise line, offering distinctive vacations on the Rhine, Rhône, Danube, Moselle, and Main rivers. The all-suites Riverside Mozart, Riverside Ravel, and Riverside Debussy offer the largest average suite size, all with king-size beds, the highest staff-to-guest ratio, and up to five onboard restaurants. Guests can choose active tours from a menu of Riverside Choice excursions; take out a pedal- or e-bike, stored on board, for self-guided exploration; and bask in a rejuvenating treatment in the onboard FEHI Spa. On all itineraries, the ships stay late or overnight in some of Europe’s most captivating towns and cities, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the destination’s culture and social life. Throughout, every member of Riverside’s exceptional staff and crew delivers intuitive, personalized service for an all-inclusive, luxurious experience.

On board, guests enjoy butler service in every suite; gourmet cuisine made with high-quality, fresh ingredients a la minute; premium wines and spirits included; complimentary StarLink broadband Wi-Fi; unlimited shore excursions to immerse in Europe’s history, cultures, and landmarks; prepaid gratuities; and complimentary ground transfers.

Despite its status as a newcomer in river cruising, it’s already stacking up awards:

Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards for 2024,
Cruise Critic’s 2023, 2024, and 2025 Editors’ Pick Award for Best Dining in the River Category and
Best River Cruise Line for Luxury in 2025.

*** Images courtesy of Riverside Luxury Cruises

*** Video: Best Trip TV

*** Terms & Conditions apply; ask us for full itinerary, pricing, and date details.

Why is it Called ‘Easter’ Island?

lynn.elmhirst@gmail.com (Lynn) — Mon, 06 Apr 26 14:40:41 +0000

You likely already know that’s a trick question. This tiny dot in the eastern South Pacific Ocean, but technically a territory of Chile, is actually properly called Rapa Nui.

The world over, Easter Island has been synonymous with exotic mysteries of an impossibly distant, long-lost civilization and mind-boggling human endeavor.

It may be the most remote inhabited island on the planet. Only a few thousand people live on this remnant of oceanic volcanoes sticking out of the sea, and that's the first miracle itself. The closest inhabited island is 1300 miles away (Pitcairn Island with only 50 people), and the nearest continental point is Chile, over 2000 miles away. Local tales say a 2-canoe Polynesian expedition around AD 700 was the start of Rapa Nui's extraordinary story.

Today, Easter Island is on the map as one of the corners of the millions of square miles of the Pacific Ocean known as Polynesia – the other corners for easy reference are Hawai’I and New Zealand. And it’s on the map of global travelers who want to come face to face with the island's nearly 1000 moai at its UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Monuments to the Past

These stately, solemn statues were carved during a 500-year period in the island's history, beginning a thousand years ago. The moai share artistic characteristics with Polynesian carvings, confirming the origin tale of the Rapa Nui people. Chiseled with only stone tools out of volcanic rock in the 'quarry' of an extinct volcano, each statue took a team of half a dozen artisans about a year to complete. The largest is over 30 feet long and weighs 90 tons. They were an incredible feat of creativity, production, and organization.

You probably think of them as 'Easter Island heads'. But the moai actually have torsos, and some even have complete lower bodies; they were just buried up to their necks over the centuries by shifting sands.

These monumental statues represented deceased ancestors. And only about a quarter were originally installed; others were left in the quarry or remained en route to their intended locations. All but 7 faced inland, the spirits of the deceased 'watching over' the living and their lands. The 7 facing the sea stood as wayfinders for seafarers.

Many moai were toppled after the mysterious collapse of the Rapa Nui society in the 19th century. In recent decades, local and international efforts have restored and re-mounted a number of moai. This dot on a map in Chilean Polynesia still seems as awe-inspiring and as full of hidden secrets as when explorers first arrived.

Timing is Everything

Which brings us to: Why is it called Easter Island? The Dutch explorer who was the island's first-recorded European visitor arrived on Easter Sunday in 1722 – he came upon it while searching for another island. (He must have been pretty lost!) So 'Easter Island' it was dubbed, and its current official Spanish name in Chile is still Isla de Pascua, while its Polynesian name is Rapa Nui, in the local language: the 'naval of the world'.

There's more to Rapa Nui than the silent witness of the moai to the island's past. Visitors experience the local version of Polynesian culture, explore pink-sand beaches, caverns, and dive sites, cycle, hike, or ride horses across prairies and volcanic hillsides, and even surf on those waves so distant from other shores.

How to get there? You can fly from both Chile and Tahiti, participate in tour packages offered by expedition and exotic travel experts, arrive by small or expedition cruise ship, or by private yacht.

There may be nowhere else in the world where a traveler can feel the greatness of human achievement and small in the face of a culture so far across the waves.

START YOUR TRIP!

By: Lynn Elmhirst, travel journalist and expert.

Images: Getty

Discovering the Future of Wellness Travel in Sweden

lynn.elmhirst@gmail.com (Lynn) — Mon, 06 Apr 26 14:40:41 +0000

Recently in Sweden, I experienced ancient wellness practices intertwined with new science and artistic sensibilities. In many ways, Sweden wrote the book on wellness as a way of life and a travel destination. And my stays at two sister hotels in Stockholm proved the country is in the vanguard of redefining wellness travel again.

In case you missed it, in 2025, Sweden became the first country where doctors can prescribe travel for wellness. The global leader in quality of life, renowned for its thousands-year-old sauna culture, is an inspiration for wellness lifestyle – and a beacon for wellness travelers… and now this:

The “Swedish Prescription”

In a wellness ‘first,’ Sweden has become the first country where patients can download a medical referral form to take to their physician for wellness travel to the country!

The Swedish Prescription isn’t a marketing gimmick. The program is rooted in deeply-held Swedish beliefs and practices, like

‘fika:’ social rituals of connecting with loved ones;
‘lagom,’ or achieving balance, moderation, and sustainability in your way of life;
love of getting outdoors, no matter what the weather, and of course,
sauna and thermal hot/cold practices,

all of which combine to create meaningful and scientifically supported health benefits.

Hagastrand and Hotel J: Beyond the Spa Hotel

All that said, why would anyone go to Sweden in the winter, far enough north that the sun rises after 8 am and sets mid-afternoon?

I went to spend a week immersed in the wellness experiences at 2 of Stockholm's Nobis Hospitality Group hotels: Hagastrand and Hotel J.

The company has set a new gold standard for wellness travel, following a three-year renovation program, masterminded by Alla Sokolova, its Head of Wellness.

“I think every human being has an innate wish to be in their best form,” she explained to me. Her vision for the wellness program at the hotels is for a stay there to be part of a “never-ending learning journey” to help create winning conditions for guests to achieve their maximum performance, their best selves.

HAGASTRAND SPA AND HOTEL

When it re-opened in Fall, 2025 as part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, Hagastrand Spa and Hotel was already billing itself as a “new social wellness destination” in Sweden’s capital. A post-modern building attached to a historic military barracks in the quiet, seaside location of Stockholm’s Royal Park, Hagastrand re-launched with a 27,000 square foot, cutting-edge wellness center with some practices that are the first of their kind.

If you’re imagining a clinical, white-jacketed, James Bond-style European health retreat, think again. Instead, Hagastrand offers warmth, along with a masterful and welcoming blend of ancient practices and advanced therapies, including modern technologies that deliver wellness experiences to guests in one-of-a-kind ways, all under one roof.

There’s also a focus on music, “a universal language” that “everyone can relate to,” Alla adds.

“Tuning our bodies and our minds,” as she puts it.

Hagastrand’s facilities incorporate both traditional Nordic and international wellness practices, as well as sensory design and the newer concept of ‘biohacking.’

Along with treatment rooms and private suites you expect to find in a spa or wellness center, Hagastrand’s includes:

Underwater therapeutic music in its 18-meter indoor pool;
A Thermal center, with multiple saunas, including herbal and hammam, and also:
- Sweden’s first "Event Sauna," one of the few in the world, for up to 60 guests. As an ‘event,’ one of Hagastrand’s trained sauna masters invites guests in the wellness center to join them in a paced series of rituals where the sauna master employs herbs, music, infused ice, and spoken word to lead guests through a wellness journey that changes every time.
- Scandinavia's largest snow room for cryotherapy
Experience showers, red light therapy, and neuro-acoustic massage loungers.
Gongs, handmade in Italy, including a giant (as tall as a person) gong at the end of the pool played by hand by sauna masters, and
- in the ‘Gongmatic’ room (pictured, top), a ‘self-playing’ gong – also the first in the Nordic countries – which plays in timed performances as guests lie on warm ceramic lounge beds. The audio art installation immerses guests in vibrations and invites them to embark on a meditative journey.
Cardi suit – like a giant diving dry suit with hands and feet, except that a therapist fills this suit with carbon dioxide. The therapy increases blood flow to the cells, resulting in improved oxygen delivery, performance, and rest. Cardi suits are already used extensively by high-performance athletes, but are rarely available to the wellness-seeking public – including me!

The state-of-the-art wellness experiences flow harmoniously with the new versions of familiar practices and are woven seamlessly into a hotel stay that includes warmly Nordic accommodations, stylish bars, and a fine dining restaurant (no restricted, seaweed smoothie diet here unless you wish!) that even drew a member of the Swedish Royal Family while we were dining one evening.

HOTEL J

Sister property Hotel J draws inspiration from its location on the Stockholm archipelago in a Newport, Rhode Island-type neighborhood of illustrious and historic seaside homes.

The nautical and natural themes run deep, from stunning water views and terraces overlooking the sea, extensive gardens that are not just visual but also harvested for wellness herbs and botanicals, and, of course, its wellness offering.

Hotel J’s Sauna by the Sea is a ritual all the more memorable for its location in the Panorama Sauna perched on rocks rising from the waves. The sauna itself is on the second story, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing the perfect vantage point over the sea to become part of your herbal-infused sauna ritual. And a cold plunge into a wintery sea is just steps out the door to conclude your authentic Swedish sauna!

But we also got off property, accompanied by ‘nature therapist’ Lisen Sundgren, who took us on a Swedish interpretation of that famous Japanese wellness practice, ‘forest bathing.’ During a walk in a nature reserve next door in the twilight, where dimming sight helped sharpen our other senses as we were guided to literally feel, hear, and smell the woods. We ended up on a rocky lookout over the sea and the lights of Stockholm on the opposite side of the archipelago, sipping her homemade Swedish rosehip soup and communing by the mystical twinkles of lamp light.

SANCTUM

From the primal forest… to a wellness rave!

In another ‘first,’ Hagastrand and Hotel J’s parent company has introduced ‘Sanctum’ to the Nordics as part of its wellness experience offering. We were invited to the launch party at the Nobis Hospitality Group’s event space at the Stockholm Opera House.

Sanctum hosts these ‘wellness raves’ around the world for a growing community drawn to the euphoric release of its hour-long, high-intensity, music-led 55-minute sessions that combine HIIT, Kundalini yoga, breathwork, and meditation. Ours in Stockholm was candle-lit in the awe-inspiring historic surroundings… in complete silence, with sound healing, music, and guidance delivered through headphones.

***

Embracing the widest interpretations of wellness lived through ancient traditions, Nature, technology, art, and the most welcoming Scandinavian culture and lifestyle… these Swedish hotels are setting the stage for a new global approach to wellness travel.

The Nobis Hospitality Group’s founder gives all the credit for the hotels’ pioneering wellness journeys to Head of Wellness Alla Sokolova – a risk, but a calculated one, with a simple foundation of beauty and hospitality.

“Everybody today is talking about longevity and all these things, and sometimes it's too much,” Alessandro Catenacci, owner and CEO of the family-owned Nobis Hospitality Group, told me.

“I hate the word ‘trend.’”

He acknowledges that the groundbreaking wellness offerings of the two hotels are “a new thing for us,” but “things are not so complicated usually if you do it in the right way.” He points out that wellness practices are a natural way of life for Swedes.

“We are a sauna family.

“And this is very important because you, you can't go on doing things if you don't like that. I love it, really.”

Hagastrand and Hotel J may be on the leading edge. But advanced wellness experiences for travel are no longer a novel trend.

As more travelers intentionally incorporate their wellness practices from home into their travels to new destinations, and expand their wellness horizons while traveling, wellness hospitality will take the lead from Hagastrand and Hotel J in helping us discover the destinations’ best experiences to hone our mental, physical, and spiritual health.

START YOUR TRIP!

Images and story by: Lynn Elmhirst, travel journalist and expert

Save up to 35% on HX Expeditions’ 130th Anniversary Offer

lynn.elmhirst@gmail.com (Lynn) — Mon, 06 Apr 26 14:40:41 +0000

HX Expeditions, the world's first and longest-running expedition cruise company, is launching a 130th anniversary offer to commemorate more than a century of exploration, science, and seeing the world differently.

Offer Details

Booking window: March 24- April 30, 2026
Travel window: April 20, 2026 – March 31, 2028
Save up to 35% on an expedition cruise OR
Get a free upgrade to a suite on Antarctic voyages.
All discounts are capacity-controlled and subject to availability.

LET US HELP YOU PLAN YOUR HX EXPEDITION CRUISE AND SAVE!

Specific Discounts:

Antarctica: Up to 25% off | Cabins from $9,512 pp; Suites from $13,613 pp
Galápagos: Up to 30% off | Cabins from $6,751 pp; Suites from $8,847 pp
Alaska: Up to 35% off | Cabins from $3,636 pp; Suites from $5,950 pp
Greenland: Up to 15% off | Cabins from $8,801 pp; Suites from $12,367 pp

The offer includes an additional 5% off on Alaska sailings, including itineraries launching this summer, with the offer available upon request

the new 10-day Alaska’s Inside Passage: Fjords of the Great Land (from US $3,636) and
13-day Alaska’s Inside Passage: Where the Mountains Meet the Sea (from US $5,120)

With HX’s Adventure is All-inclusive promise, each voyage includes:

Daily landings, guided activities, and immersive excursions
Programming led by the expert HX Expedition Team
All meals, select beverages, and onboard amenities
Special 130 years cocktail (2026 sailings only)
Limited‑edition 130‑Year Ocean Bottle (2026 only)
Exclusive 130th Anniversary badge (2026 sailings only)
Access to science, culture, and wildlife content inspired by HX’s 130‑year legacy of exploration and research

More About HX Expeditions

HX Expeditions, the world's first and longest-running expedition cruise company, has been guiding curious travelers on mindful adventures since 1896.

With headquarters in London and a global team of just under 1,000 professionals, HX operates a fleet of five modern ships, offering voyages to over 250 destinations across more than 30 countries. Renowned for its pole-to-pole expeditions, HX combines sustainability, science, and education to create transformative travel experiences.

Pioneering in sustainability, HX was the first cruise company to eliminate heavy fuel oil, ban unnecessary single-use plastics in its operations, and launch hybrid cruise ships.

The company also supports scientific research, donating over 1,900 free cruise nights to onboard scientists, and runs the HX Foundation, providing grants to community projects focused on education and marine conservation.

*** Images: HX Expeditions

*** Terms & Conditions apply; ask us for full offer, itinerary, date, and pricing details.

Equine Travel Experiences to Celebrate Year of the Horse

lynn.elmhirst@gmail.com (Lynn) — Mon, 23 Mar 26 18:55:50 +0000

Whether you are a devotee of the Chinese/ Lunar calendar, for many of us, horses are our spirit animals, and the Year of the Horse reminds us why. Since the earliest civilizations – is any other creature so well-represented on the world’s cave walls, ancient scripts, wall carvings? - Humans around the world have fallen in love with the majesty, power, elegance, intelligence and awe-inspiring beauty of horses. Not to mention utility. Horses became invaluable companions in agriculture, early industry, war and transportation. In connection with what may be human’s / history changing relationship with a single animal.

As technology advanced, our relationship with horses everywhere has changed… but in many places, our love affair with horses and riding traditions continues.

Here are just a few of the best experiences in some cultures with rich, storied equestrian traditions. As a spectator or an active participant, here are places to celebrate your inner equine spirit.

Spain

In sun-washed Andalusia, horses are woven into the fabric of history, life, and human drama. They even become high art at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art.

Here, gleaming Andalusian stallions perform intricate dressage choreographed to Spanish music — precision elevated to poetry, with distinctive historic costumes that remind us that to be Spanish is to ride (pictured, top).

The main attraction is the performance itself, but visitors can tour the stables, watch training sessions and even book riding lessons with school-trained instructors for a deeper connection.

It’s refinement rather than raw adventure — and utterly mesmerizing.

Austria

Beneath the extraordinary chandeliers at Vienna’s palatial, Baroque Spanish Riding School, legendary Lipizzaner stallions perform their famed “airs above the ground” — levades, caprioles, equine dance movements that seem to defy gravity.

The atmosphere is hushed, reverent. Attend morning exercise sessions for a more intimate look at training in progress.

Visitors cannot ride the Lipizzaners themselves, but private carriage tours in Vienna and riding schools throughout Austria allow travelers to connect with the broader equestrian culture.

Its heritage is preserved in military tailcoats and centuries-old tradition.

England

Meanwhile, English polo is outdoor summer theatre -with a competitive edge and Royal pageantry.

At Guards Polo Club near Windsor and Cowdray Park Polo Club in West Sussex, the British season unfolds on immaculate emerald fields. Spectators sip the classic British polo cocktail, Pimm’s punch, picnic beside the pitch and stroll out to stomp divots between chukkas.

The matches are fast and tactical — ponies pivoting sharply, mallets striking with precision.

Travelers can attend major tournaments as spectators, book hospitality enclosures, or – if you’re a rider - arrange beginner polo lessons at affiliated clubs outside tournament play.

It’s sport wrapped in ceremony — linen, horsepower and long golden evenings.

Chile

In Chilean Patagonia, horses aren’t a novelty or a nod to history — they’re part of everyday ranching life.

On remote Argentine estancias, herding days unfold on horseback across grasslands beneath Andean peaks. Gauchos ride with effortless authority over the landscape, horse and rider equally proud. Rivers are crossed without fuss; sheep are herded with quiet whistles.

Travelers don’t just watch — you can jump into the saddle too. Ride alongside working gauchos on half-day, full-day or multi-day estancia programs. No elite experience required; the horses are steady, the pace immersive rather than intimidating. You’re traveling at the speed of sheep, after all.

Evenings end with asado around an open fire and the deep sleep of a day spent outdoors. You won’t need reminding to forgo your devices and stop worrying about wifi. Patagonia teaches rhythm.

Morocco

Few silhouettes are more cinematic than an Arabian horse against the Sahara sands. On your next trip to Morocco, forgo a camel ride in favor of a horse expedition.

Canter along Atlantic beaches near Essaouira or venture inland for guided desert treks across golden dunes. Fabled Arabian horses are spirited but sure-footed, led by Berber guides who balance adventure with safety.

You may even witness a fantasia — ceremonial horsemen charging in synchronized bursts of thunder.

***

Make the Year of the Horse the year you reconnect with the ancient, primal human tie to hoofbeats in the world’s epic landscapes and cultures.

START YOUR TRIP!

Images: Getty

Polynesian Pearls: The Most Romantic Souvenir from the World’s Most Romantic Travel Destination

lynn.elmhirst@gmail.com (Lynn) — Mon, 23 Mar 26 18:55:50 +0000

Inky, luminous, and subtly sophisticated. There’s a reason Tahitian “black pearls” are among the most sought-after additions to a jewelry box and a coveted memento of what may be the most exotic and romantic escape. Entire honeymoons are designed around visiting exotic lagoons, choosing an heirloom piece of jewelry and returning home with an iridescent miracle of nature in a velvet box.

A Pearl of a Gem

Unlike mineral gems, pearls are organic, marine miracles, created individually inside oysters. If an irritant, like a grain of sand, somehow ends up inside an oyster, to protect itself, the oyster coats the irritant with layers of nacre, slowly transforming it into something luminous and magically iridescent.

Tahitian pearls(often called “black pearls,” though they’re rarely pure black) come from the black-lip oyster, Pinctada margaritifera. These oysters thrive in the warm, pristine lagoons of islands such as Bora Bora, Rangiroa and Taha'a.

From Natural Treasure to Coveted Statement Piece

Long before the modern era of pearl cultivation, natural pearls were treasured throughout the Pacific, found rarely and randomly in wild oysters harvested for food.

European explorers arriving in the 18th and 19th centuries quickly recognized their value. By the early 20th century, overharvesting wild oysters nearly depleted local populations.

The turning point came in the 1960s and ’70s, when Japanese pearl cultivation techniques were successfully adapted for local oysters. Pearl farming became a cornerstone industry across the Tuamotu and Gambier archipelagos. Today, Tahitian pearls are one of French Polynesia’s most important exports—and one of its most elegant ambassadors.

Their value lies in three things: rarity, size, and color.

Tahitian pearls are saltwater cultured, often larger than other types of pearls, displaying natural dark body colors with luminous overtones: peacock green, aubergine, silver, blue, even hints of rose. That depth of color is not chemical dyes; it’s biology and environment working together.

In an era of mass-produced mementos, Tahitian pearls remain natural, deeply tied to place, and a true heirloom treasure.

5 Tips for Shopping for Tahitian Pearls in French Polynesia

As a symbol of love, elegance and travel sophistication, pearls are investments you want to cherish for a lifetime and pass along as heirlooms. You want to shop wisely.

Walk through Papeete’s municipal market, browse high-end boutiques in Bora Bora, or visit a working pearl farm on Rangiroa, and you’ll see the range—from simple single-pearl pendants perfect for daily wear to dramatic strands worthy of black-tie evenings back home.

1. Grading basics

Four factors matter most:

Luster (the glow): The sharper and brighter the reflection, the more valuable the pearl.
Surface quality: Fewer visible blemishes generally mean higher value.
Shape: A perfectly round shape is rare and most expensive. Near-round and baroque shapes can offer excellent value.
Size: Larger pearls command higher prices—but only if luster and surface are strong.

Experts suggest that if you must prioritize one thing, prioritize luster. A slightly smaller pearl with exceptional glow will outshine a larger dull one.

2. Black is the new black… or is it?

True Tahitian pearls display natural dark body colors with complex overtones. If a pearl looks flat, jet-black, and inexpensive, it may be dyed freshwater. Ask directly: Is the color natural? Reputable jewelers will say yes—and put it on your receipt.

3. Look at the drill hole

Ask to see the pearl closely. Around the drill hole, color should be consistent. Heavy dye often pools at the edges in treated pearls (less common in certified Tahitian pieces, but still worth checking).

4. Compare in natural light

Boutique lighting flatters everything. Step near a window. The pearl should still glow, not look chalky.

5. Ask for documentation

French Polynesia has strict export regulations for Tahitian pearls. Your purchase should come with:

A detailed receipt listing pearl type and size
Disclosure of any treatments (Tahitian pearls are generally not dyed)
Certification for buying higher-value pieces

Are they worth the price?

Tahitian pearls are among the most valuable cultured pearls in the world because of their rarity, natural dark colors, and the time required to grow them—often 18 to 24 months.

Prices can range from a few hundred dollars for a modest pendant to several thousand for exceptional, round, high-luster pieces. The key question is not just price—it’s whether the pearl has strong luster, pleasing color, and craftsmanship to match.

If it does, you’re not just buying jewelry. You’re buying a natural, marine treasure.

Perhaps that’s why Tahiti's “black” pearls endure as Polynesia’s most meaningful souvenir: subtle, luminous, and forever linked to water, time, and your memories of the lagoons and shifting tides of your trip to a once-in-a-lifetime destination steeped in romance.

START YOUR TRIP!

By: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/travel journalist

Images: Getty

Princess Cruises Celebrates Margarita World Record – and Winning Celebrity Partnership

lynn.elmhirst@gmail.com (Lynn) — Mon, 23 Mar 26 18:55:50 +0000

Cruise lines love to break records – competing for the biggest ships, introducing firsts-at-sea, and of course, creating record-breaking events that give thousands of guests the chance to make history… well, until the record is broken again!

Princess Cruises is no stranger to world records. In 2024, the cruise line set a record for the largest pizza party at sea, with guests consuming over 60,000 slices across 16 ships. The event marked a partnership with 13-time World Pizza Champion chef Tony Gemignani, who developed exclusive artisanal pizzas for the fleet.

Now they’ve done it again, shifting from a favorite food to a favorite holiday cocktail.

And their margarita world record is one piece of an even bigger celebrity partnership mosaic.

On February 17, 2026, during a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise from Galveston, Texas, the Regal Princess became the location for another record-breaking party. The event turned the ship into a floating fiesta for the ship’s 3500 guests to celebrate Princess Cruises’ most popular cocktail.

Over 8 hours, the guests did their part to help break the Guinness World Record for most margaritas sold in 8 hours.

How many, you ask? Well, raise your salt-rimmed glass to the guests of the Regal Princess, who ordered 3410 handcrafted margaritas. That easily tops the previous record of 2,728 for the iconic lime-and-tequila cocktails.

What’s more, the occasion coincided with Princess Cruises marking the sale of over 1 million of its signature “24K Margaritas” between January, 2025 and January 2026.

The 24K Margarita is the fleet’s most popular signature cocktail, made exclusively with Pantalones Organic Blanco Tequila, co-founded by Matthew and Camila McConaughey.

The million-margarita milestone arrives just over one year after Princess Cruises and Pantalones Organic Tequila launched their fleetwide partnership in October 2024, quickly becoming one of the most successful beverage collaborations in cruise line history.

Camila and Matthew McConaughey are also the godparents of Princess Cruises’ most recently-launched ship, the Star Princess, the newest Sphere-class ship from Princess Cruises. They officially christened the vessel in Fort Lauderdale on November 6, 2025, using none other than a bottle of their tequila. For the world record-breaking, the couple sent a congratulatory video message that was played onboard to the guests of the Regal Princess as the record was announced, with the audience roaring its approval.

While made with Pantalones Tequila, Princess Cruises’ most popular cocktail is otherwise a classic margarita: handcrafted with Cointreau, Grand Marnier, margarita mix, and served over ice in a salted-rim glass.

And in addition to the 24K Margarita, guests can toast their cruise with any of a lineup of handcrafted cocktails created by Princess’s Mixologist Rob Floyd has designed a menu of other margaritas using the McConaugheys’ tequila, too, like

Pants on Fire – with Reposado tequila, fresh lime juice, Campari, smoked paprika and agave
Sea Legs – Reposado tequila, Luxardo Maraschino, fresh lime juice, grapefruit juice, agave syrup and soda
Hot Pants – Blanco tequila, fresh lime juice, pineapple juice, fresh jalapeno and agave
Fancy Pants Paloma – Reposado tequila, fresh lime juice, Fever Tree grapefruit

To ensure your cravings for the cocktail never go unsatisfied, there’s even a roaming ‘Pantalones Organic Tequila Custom Cart’ capturing the ‘spirit’ of the McConaughey brand throughout the voyage.

In just over a year, having one of these cocktails on board has become an essential Princess Cruises experience fleet-wide.

And now, with the margarita world record, Princess Cruises has put a cherry on top of a celebrity brand partnership that’s a template for the kind of wild success that cruise lines – and avid cruise travelers! – are looking for.

START YOUR TRIP!

By: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel journalist and expert

Images courtesy of Princess Cruises

Atlas Ocean Voyages’ New Ship ‘Sails’ Into the Future of Luxury Expedition Cruising

lynn.elmhirst@gmail.com (Lynn) — Mon, 23 Mar 26 18:55:50 +0000

The romance of sailing cruise ships is back, and the new generation of sailing cruise ships has a modern and eco-friendly twist. The latest cruise line to announce it’s building a sailing yacht is Atlas Ocean Voyages, whose new ship – a luxury, expedition sailing yacht – is set to embark on the seas in late 2028.

If you’re imagining historic-looking tall ships, think again. The line’s new Atlas-class vessel is an eco-friendly exploration yacht with hybrid propulsion, including wind power enabled by three carbon masts and solid sails.

When conditions at sea and with the wind permit, these elements will enhance operational efficiency and enable zero-emission cruising, allowing for a silent presence on the water. The new ship is equipped with dual-fuel engines and electric-hybrid propulsion, featuring a large marine battery system that enables high speeds even in light wind conditions, enhancing the sailing experience with virtually silent operation.

Atlas Adventurer is engineered to sail in any waters of the world, including polar destinations, equipped with zero-speed fin stabilizers, two vertical fin stabilizers, a reinforced hull, and Ice Class 1B (Polar Category C) capability.

Accommodating up to 400 guests, supported by a crew of 275, the Atlas-class sailing yacht will also expand the cruise line’s onboard guest experience, including all-suite accommodations across every category, increased space and amenities, and a broader range of dining, wellness, and social offerings, while maintaining the boutique hospitality that defines Atlas Ocean Voyages.

The vessel will include seven dining venues, featuring specialty restaurants and a new culinary studio for hands-on learning and destination-inspired programming. It will also have five lounges, a cocktail bar and social spaces, along with two outdoor bars. Guests will find an expanded fitness and wellness center, a large swimming pool, and purpose-built expedition capabilities, including Zodiacs, luxury motorboats, and a marina platform with an ocean pool for water-based exploration.

“With Atlas Adventurer, we are introducing a new generation of luxury expedition sailing yachts. This vessel serves as a bridge between the wind mastery of the 15th century and the solid sails and electric propulsion of the 21st century,” said Mario Ferreira, Chairman, Founder and Owner of Mystic Invest Holding, Atlas’ parent company.

“The yacht is designed to comply with future zero- emission port regulations and can navigate silently, allowing access to some of the most exclusive and restricted small ports around the world.”

Inaugural Season

Beginning in late 2028, Atlas Adventurer will explore destinations across Asia, including Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, and Africa, including Seychelles, Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa, further extending the line’s global reach while continuing to redefine luxury expedition cruising to remote destinations around the world.

Atlas Adventurer will join the cruise line’s existing fleet of 3 ships that are designed to explore some of the world’s most remote and captivating destinations.

START YOUR TRIP!

Renderings courtesy of Atlas Ocean Voyages.

Discover Your Inner Sailor in St. Maarten

lynn.elmhirst@gmail.com (Lynn) — Fri, 23 Jan 26 21:29:15 +0000

If you love the sounds of sails snapping in the tropical breeze, St. Maarten stands out with two iconic ways to discover your inner sailor: the largest regatta in the Caribbean, and the year-round, hands-on 12-Metre Challenge racing experience even landlubbers can win – and which has been voted the #1 shore excursion in the Caribbean for 15 years!

At just 37 square miles, St. Maarten is the smallest island in the world to be shared by two nations – The French northern part, which is St. Martin, and the Dutch Southern part, which is St. Maarten – creating a destination with European charm and Caribbean flair. 37 beaches mean there’s always water nearby – and it’s one of the sailing capitals of the world.

Annual Regatta: “Serious Fun”

Sailors and spectators come from around the world to St. Maarten’s annual regatta (pictured below). It’s not only the biggest in the region, but it’s also among the world’s leading warm-water races, with a fleet of international competitors that provide fierce competition. 2026 marks the 46th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, and takes place March 5 - 8, 2026.

Over 20,000 visitors gather every year on the island. In addition to recreational sailors and live-aboard cruisers, Olympic medalists, world champions, and charter crews from more than 37 countries join the exciting mix.

Racing takes place across multiple classes: Maxis, Performance Multihulls, monohulls, non-spinnaker cruising boats, bareboats, and the relaxed Island Time class. Courses mix windward-leeward and coastal races, giving competitive classes a chance to tackle up to eight races over four days while cruisers enjoy scenic, less demanding routes.

Participation is open to all – in addition to registering a team of their own, enthusiasts can charter a boat to race locally or even join an existing crew.

Is spectating more your speed? Get close to the action aboard the Official Spectator Boat, which even serves breakfast, lunch, and an open bar!

Often described as “Serious Fun,” the regatta is as much about the shared sailing and shore experience as it is about the competition. While the on-water competition delivers fast, exciting sailing by day, the energy continues each evening at the regatta village in Simpson Bay Lagoon. Open to sailors and non-sailors alike, the Village is the heart of the event’s shoreside festivities, featuring live music, prizes, local and international cuisine, and a lively Caribbean atmosphere with regional and international artists.

12-Metre Challenge: Year-Round Sailboat Racing Even for Amateurs

Even if you miss the island’s once-a-year regatta, and you’ve never been on a sailboat before in your life! You can step – or sail – directly into sailing and sporting history on St. Maarten’s 12-Metre Challenge (pictured, top) any time of the year.

This is not a sailing lesson or a relaxing cruise—it’s an all-hands-on-deck race aboard authentic 12-Metre yachts, the sleek, powerful vessels that once defined the golden era of the America’s Cup racing series.

Participants are divided between 12-Metre yachts and assigned a crew task in a friendly but exhilarating race. Professional skippers and crew handle navigation and safety, while participants get into action—grinding winches, trimming sails, and responding to the captain’s commands as the boats race against each other on a course on St. Maarten’s turquoise Caribbean water.

By the end of the race, no matter whether you’ve crewed the winning or losing America’s Cup yacht in the 12-Metre Challenge, you’ve actually participated in an authentic, thrilling and once-in-a-lifetime yacht race. And you leave St. Maarten with hard-to-beat bragging rights. You can tell all your friends, “I raced an America’s Cup yacht.”

START YOUR TRIP!

Top image: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel journalist and expert.

Second image as credited.

World’s Best Airports for Smart Tech – Where Does Yours Rank?

lynn.elmhirst@gmail.com (Lynn) — Fri, 23 Jan 26 21:29:08 +0000

Technology is “no longer a luxury, but the very pulse of global aviation.” Many lists have ranked airports by wait times, missing luggage, and even wellness experiences. Still, a new one evaluates the world’s airports by how they incorporate artificial intelligence, biometrics, digitalization, automation, sustainability-driven smart systems and more as core operational infrastructure – transforming and improving your journeys.

The 50 Best Airports in the World for 2026 from travel trade publication Travel and Tour World traces how aviation hubs are “meeting the high-performance demands” of today’s travelers, from digital nomads to occasional travelers who expect all the efficiencies of Gen Z technology.

"Crucially, sustainability is no longer a parallel initiative but a core outcome of these smart designs,” the study’s authors say, meaning we can have our cake and eat it too, when it comes to traveling more smoothly and reducing the impact on the planet.

TTW used the experiences of 15 million users to define the new gold standard for technology in airports.

So, Where are the Top Global Smart Airports?

These airports have achieved the highest rankings for embedding artificial intelligence, biometrics, automation, digital twins, and real-time data intelligence across passenger journeys, airside and landside operations, and long-term infrastructure planning.

Four North American airports made the global top 10, and 14 of the 50-airport ranking.

Do your flights into and out of these airports match these findings?

Dubai International (DXB) Middle East
Singapore Changi (SIN) Asia-Pacific
San Francisco International (SFO) North America
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) North America
London Heathrow (LHR) Europe
Vancouver International (YVR) North America
Istanbul Airport (IST) Europe / Eurasia
Toronto Pearson International (YYZ) North America
Doha Hamad International (DOH) Middle East
Seoul Incheon (ICN) Asia-Pacific
Tokyo Haneda (HND) Asia-Pacific
Los Angeles International (LAX) North America
Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Europe
Cape Town International (CPT) Africa
Bengaluru Kempegowda International (BLR) Asia-Pacific
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) Europe
Orlando International (MCO) North America
Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) North America
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Asia-Pacific
Tokyo Narita (NRT) Asia-Pacific
New York JFK (JFK) North America
Berlin Brandenburg (BER) Europe
Munich Airport (MUC) Europe
Miami International (MIA) North America
Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) Asia-Pacific
Denver International (DEN) North America
Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) North America
Shenzhen Bao'an (SZX) Asia-Pacific
Brussels Airport (BRU) Europe
Hong Kong International (HKG) Asia-Pacific
Rome Fiumicino (FCO) Europe
Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) Europe
Helsinki-Vantaa (HEL) Europe
Abu Dhabi Zayed International (AUH) Middle East
Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) Australia / Oceania
Zurich Airport (ZRH) Europe
Madrid Barajas (MAD) Europe
Vienna International (VIE) Europe
Chicago O'Hare (ORD) North America
Oslo Gardermoen (OSL) Europe
Barcelona El Prat (BCN) Europe
Copenhagen Airport (CPH) Europe
San Jose Mineta (SJC) North America
Washington Reagan National (DCA) North America
Milan Malpensa (MXP) Europe
Riyadh King Khalid (RUH) Middle East
Kuala Lumpur International (KUL) Asia-Pacific
Lisbon Humberto Delgado (LIS) Europe
Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta (CGK) Asia-Pacific
Houston George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) North America

According to the report, these airports represent the most advanced, end-to-end smart airport ecosystems in operation today.

From biometric-enabled passenger journeys and AI-driven air traffic coordination to digital twins and autonomous systems, the airports featured in this year's list are shaping the future of your flying experiences around the world through capacity optimization, passenger satisfaction, and environmental performance.

START YOUR TRIP!

Images: FRA and YYZ; courtesy of Lynn Elmhirst, travel journalist and expert

Top 10 Souvenirs from the French Riviera

lynn.elmhirst@gmail.com (Lynn) — Fri, 23 Jan 26 21:29:01 +0000

France’s legendary Côte d’Azur has long been a fabled coastline of sunshine, glamour, and the good life in true French and Mediterranean style. It’s irresistible! And of course, you’re going to want to bring some of it home as gifts or ways to re-live your vacation in one of the original chic holiday destinations.

From pastel fishing villages to seaside promenades, Roman roads to Provencal markets, yacht harbors to turreted castles and maritime forts, the French Riviera landscapes blend sea, sun, herbs, vines and stone.

We cruised in true French Riviera fashion aboard the luxury yacht Scenic Eclipse during the exquisite early summer months, gliding into historic ports alongside private yachts in truly authentic Côte d’Azur style.

Scenic Eclipse in good company among other yachts in port in Monte Carlo

French fashion houses in Saint Tropez

’m a big fan of experiences over ‘stuff,’ so my souvenir list is heavy on things you can use, consume… and share as you break bread with those you cherish, not things that you’ll have to dust!

Olive Oil

Ranging in color from green to gold, Riviera olive oil reflects sun-drenched terraces and ancient groves clinging to rocky hills above the sea. Smooth yet peppery, fresh, cold-pressed virgin olive oil captures Mediterranean light, limestone soils, and the essence of Provençal flavor. Olive cultivation here dates back to Roman times, making oil one of the region’s oldest and most essential food traditions. For an extra touch of luxe, splurge on genuine, truffle-infused olive oil!

Lavender

Lavender is another irrepressible visual of the South of France: pale violet fields rippling in warm summer breezes under Provencal sun. Renowned as a calming scent, lavender has been used for medicine, perfume, cuisine and more. Lavender became a symbol of Provençal life long before visitors made it an essential souvenir of any trip to the region, in the form of dried blooms, oils, drawer sachets and more.

Herbes de Provence

Herbes de Provence are the aromatic harvest of the Riviera’s scrubby hillsides: thyme, rosemary, oregano warmed by its endless sun, amplified by the region’s pale rocks. Originally collected from the wild, they evoke the essential flavors of Provence, and sun-dried herbs enhance mouth-watering cheeses, olive oil, fish, salads and veg. Up your grilling game with some herbes de Provence and become the envy of the neighborhood.

Herb and lavender vendor at the tres chic outdoor market in Saint-Tropez

Fleur de Sel and Sel de Camargue

Hand-harvested fleur de sel mirrors the Riviera’s intimacy with the sea. Delicate crystals form on sun-warmed salt pans, capturing mineral brightness and coastal breezes. Once more valuable than gold in antiquity, sea salt underpinned Mediterranean trade and preservation for centuries.

Sel de Camargue is an even more specialized salt from the marshes of the delta draining from the South of France into the Mediterranean Sea, a unique ecosystem inhabited by pink flamingos and wild black horses. Pink salt flats are kissed by the winds of the “Mistral” and result in a moist and mineral-rich, iconic component of Riviera cooking rooted in seafood and vegetables.

Foie Gras de Canard / Terrine de Canard

Foie gras and duck terrines reflect the Riviera’s celebratory side—festive tables, long lunches, and aperitifs overlooking the sea. Though originating inland, these dishes became staples of French festive culture, symbolizing hospitality, abundance, and ceremonial meals you’ll want to bring home, safely canned, for your next cocktail party/ charcuterie board for that authentic flavor of France.

Tins of Sardines

Sardines are the iconic dish of humble fishing villages – even now, these destinations have become magnets for travelers seeking a French Riviera lifestyle. Preserved in olive oil, sardines embody coastal thrift, nutrition, and tradition, served simply on fresh bread, sometimes with ripe tomatoes – and always wine! The 19th century brought canning, and soon after, in the French way, decorative and collectible sardine tins or ‘boites’ that often line the walls of simple seaside bars and restaurants.

Wine

Of France’s many diverse wine regions, Riviera wines reflect sunlit slopes above the sea, producing fresh rosés, whites, and light reds shaped by maritime breezes and rocky hillsides. Often enjoyed chilled – ideal for an afternoon on the deck of your yacht or at a seaside café, they mirror the region’s relaxed aperitif culture and seafood-forward cuisine.

Calissons

Don’t forget to bring home the sweet side of the French Riviera! Calissons—rounded diamond-shaped sweets of almond, candied fruit, and icing—are Provence’s answer to almond paste/ marzipan, lightened and scented with summery fruits like melon. Traditionally associated with weddings and religious celebrations, calissons date back to the 15th century. Just one at the end of a meal transports you to the sunny markets of the region.

Marseille Soap

Marseille-style soap dates to the Middle Ages, when olive oil soaps became regulated and prized across Europe for their purity and delicate scents of local flowers and herbs. Now, as then, they are a refined and indulgent element to add to cleansing rituals and everyday life.

Perfume

This souvenir is maybe the most personal and the least about sharing – well, maybe you share it by wearing it for that special someone. Perfume from Grasse, in the hills above the Riviera, is the world capital of perfume. With its origins in the 17th century, and still surrounded by fields of rose, jasmine, and orange blossoms used as precious ingredients in some of the world’s most famous and treasured scents, perfume from Grasse remains one of the most special gifts you can give yourself. You can even learn to make your own signature scent!

I even got to meet a perfume rose farmer and help with the harvest!

START YOUR TRIP!

Photos and Story: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel expert and journalist.

Windstar Debuts First of a New Class of Ships: Star Seeker

lynn.elmhirst@gmail.com (Lynn) — Fri, 23 Jan 26 21:28:33 +0000

Small-ship cruise line Windstar has christened the first newbuild ship to join its fleet. Star Seeker represents a new class of ships and a new era for the small-ship cruise line, which is already looking forward to the ship’s twin, Star Explorer, to expand its fleet even more.

Star Seeker’s Debut in 2026

Star Seeker is home to just 224 guests and crafted to reflect Windstar’s hallmark style—intimate, immersive, and effortlessly elegant. It features 112 beautifully appointed accommodations—most featuring private verandas or floor-to-ceiling infinity windows, including two new aft-facing Horizon Owner’s Suites with wraparound balconies.

Designed for comfort and elegance, suites include walk-in mosaic glass showers, fully stocked mini-bars, and premium amenities in top-tier categories.

Onboard, guests can enjoy

five included dining venues,
a full-service spa with a dramatic two-deck entrance, and
a reimagined Marina with direct ocean access.

Windstar Cruises debuted its newest all-suite yacht, Star Seeker, with a splash at its Miami Christening Event on January 15th. Following the ceremony, Star Seeker departed on an 8-night Star Seeker Christening Sailing from Miami to San Juan, with stops in the Dominican Republic and the British Virgin Islands.

In 2026, Star Seeker will explore the Caribbean and Alaska before sailing to Japan and Southeast Asia, with an emphasis on immersive travel in Thailand and Vietnam.

In 2027, Star Seeker will revisit Alaska — with itineraries like 7-Day Scenic Alaska and 10-Day Alaskan Splendor— and Japan with its 10-Day Grand Japan itinerary, the introduction of a new Destination Discovery Event in Tomonoura, and the addition of a brand-new Mystery Cruise.

Up Next: Star Explorer

Star Explorer, the sister ship to Star Seeker, debuts in December 2026, bringing Windstar’s signature small-ship style to some of Europe’s most captivating, and hard-to-reach, destinations year-round.

Carrying just 224 guests, Star Explorer is designed to sail where larger ships simply can’t, gliding into river ports and city centers like London on the Thames, Bordeaux, Rouen, and Caen, while also exploring the British Isles, Ireland, the Baltics, Norway’s fjords, France, Northern Spain, and Portugal.

Her itineraries are deeply immersive and port-intensive, with longer stays and overnights in destinations such as Stockholm, Tallinn, Bordeaux, San Sebastián, and Biarritz, plus Windstar firsts like Puerto Banús, the marina gateway to Marbella.

On board, the atmosphere is relaxed and refined—mirroring Star Seeker—with 112 spacious suites, many with either private verandas or infinity windows, including two new Horizon Owner’s Suites, World Spa by Windstar, and Windstar favorites like Yacht Club Café, Basil + Bamboo, Amphora, and the signature Marina with complimentary watersports, open dining, and a warm, attentive crew.

New Ships, New Era, Same Windstar Warmth

The two new ships will bring the Windstar fleet up to 8. In addition to the new Star Seeker, Windstar Cruises operates a fleet of six intimate ships, split between three classic sailing yachts (Wind Class) and three all-suite motor yachts (Star Class). Both styles – wind or modern small-ship cruising – allow Windstar guests access to smaller ports and off-the-beaten-path cruise destinations worldwide, including the Caribbean, Tahiti, Europe and the Panama Canal.

The Windstar Fleet:

NEW Star Seeker
Wind Class (Sailing Yachts): These are traditional sailing yachts with sails, offering a romantic maritime experience, with capacities for around 148 guests.
Wind Star, Wind Spirit, Wind Surf (the largest sailing yacht in the world).
Star Class (All-Suite Yachts): These power yachts feature larger suites and modern amenities, with capacities from 212 to 310 guests after renovations.
Star Pride, Star Breeze, Star Legend.

START YOUR TRIP!

Image courtesy of Windstar Cruises

Regent Launches Epicurean Enrichment Studios; Part of Multi-Million Dollar Refurbishment

lynn.elmhirst@gmail.com (Lynn) — Tue, 30 Dec 25 19:00:29 +0000

The immersive, state-of-the-art culinary theaters feature the ‘Epicurean Passport Series,’ chef-hosted dining, and destination-inspired shore excursions. Epicurean Enrichment Studios debuts in spring 2026 exclusively on board 2 of the ultra-luxury cruise line’s fleet of ships: Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager.

The Epicurean Enrichment Studio was inspired by the phenomenal success of the Culinary Arts Kitchen on board Regent’s newer, Explorer-class ships: Seven Seas Explorer, Grandeur, and Splendor. The Epicurean Enrichment Studios are part of thoughtful and extensive, multi-million-dollar refurbishments for Mariner and Voyager.

Foodies will love the inspiring culinary experiences that connect them to destinations through flavor, history, and storytelling, from mastering the art of spice blending in India to savoring premium Mediterranean olive oils.

Embark on a series of enriching experiences designed to deepen your appreciation for global cuisine and cultural traditions.

The experience on board Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager will begin each cruise with an open-house, sparkling wine reception, where guests may meet the resident chefs and sign up for programs and events around the following 5 pillars of the Epicurean Enrichment Studio.

The 5 Pillars of the Epicurean Enrichment Studio: Ship and Shore

Epicurean Passport Series
The cornerstone of the Epicurean Enrichment Studio program is the Epicurean Passport Series, which features destination-focused, immersive lectures focusing on a region’s culinary history, signature ingredients, and recipes. Participants will also receive a keepsake passport stamped upon completing each culinary region, along with illustrated recipe handouts. The program offers exclusive culinary experiences across more than 20 distinct culinary regions, including Polynesia, Southeast Asia, Iberia, India, and Patagonia, ensuring that every destination becomes an opportunity for gastronomic discovery.
Chef’s Circle
Available exclusively to Epicurean Passport Series participants, this dynamic programming varies by region and chef instructor, ensuring fresh and relevant experiences throughout each voyage, with epicurean trivia competitions, author-led book readings and signings, expert mixology classes, culinary film screenings, and captivating storytelling sessions.
Chef’s Table
The Chef’s Table program is made up of 2 elements: intimate small-group culinary lectures and cooking demonstrations led by Regent's chefs. The culinary lectures will cover sophisticated topics such as Olive Oils 101 or Spices of the World, allowing for direct Q&A. The casual and convivial cooking demonstration by the chef will be reflective of regional cuisine, for example, paella in Spain, biryani in India or Scandinavian Gravlax, offering a memorable and interactive culinary experience.
Chef-Led Epicurean Enrichment Tours

With this carefully curated collection of over 70 culinary shore excursions, guests join Regent chefs in exploring destination highlights such as vibrant local markets, prestigious vineyards, and authentic kitchens, with optional post-tour recaps conducted in the Epicurean Enrichment Studio to expand upon the day's discoveries.
Chef-Hosted Dining

Invitational-only dinners, seating no more than eight guests, with Regent’s culinary team in the ultra-luxury cruise line’s exquisite specialty restaurants. Each evening begins with a cocktail hour and culinary insights into the different cuisine served on board.

More About Regent Seven Seas Cruises 

Carrying between 496 and no more than 822 guests, the line’s perfectly sized ships - Seven Seas Explorer, Grandeur, Mariner, Navigator, Splendor, Voyager, and Prestige, which is scheduled to be delivered in 2026 - form “The World’s Most Luxurious Fleet.” Offering immersive exploration in more than 550 destinations across seven continents, guests travel the world in luxurious space featuring sumptuous all-suite accommodations, nearly all with private balconies, which are among the largest at sea. Regent’s heartfelt personalized service can be found throughout lavish public areas and expansive outdoor spaces, or while savoring incomparable culinary experiences in a range of specialty restaurants and al-fresco dining venues.

Guests cruise in all-inclusive luxury, with amenities such as unlimited shore excursions, exquisite cuisine, beverages including fine wines and spirits, entertainment, Starlink Wi-Fi, free valet laundry, gratuities, a one-night, pre-cruise hotel package for guests staying in Concierge-level suites and higher, and more. In addition, Regent’s Ultimate All-Inclusive Fares include round-trip flights with the flexibility to choose desired air class, transfers between airport and ship, and exclusive Blacklane private executive chauffeur service for guests to personalize their journeys.

START YOUR TRIP!

Images courtesy of Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Top Travel Resolutions That May Actually Get You Packing Your Bags This Year

lynn.elmhirst@gmail.com (Lynn) — Tue, 30 Dec 25 19:00:29 +0000

Every year, “travel more” is in the mix of resolutions. But what travel resolutions can get you from dreaming of a trip… into the beauty and benefits of real travel experiences?

Surveys consistently show that nearly two-thirds of Americans leave a third of their vacation time unused, and a quarter of workers don’t take any time off at all! That’s despite mounting evidence that travel is a boon for our physical and mental health, relationships, and more.

Here are some additional travel resolutions that may help you on your journey towards making travel a genuine and enriching part of your life in the coming year... and make you feel better about yourself and your trips.

Travel more often
Make time instead of waiting for “someday” — even if it’s short trips over long weekends that don’t use many vacation days.
Plan (and actually use) vacation days
Scheduling and booking trips early helps you commit, and money already paid is an incentive to follow through.
Save intentionally for travel
Create a “travel fund,” cut small expenses, or use reward programs strategically towards a specific travel goal.
Focus on one “dream trip” - even if it’s not going to happen this year
Turn your bucket-list trip from a daydream into a reality — whether that’s Japan, an African safari, or the Greek islands – by working with a travel advisor to build a real plan, then taking concrete steps towards making it happen.
Explore closer to home
Discover close-to-home gems instead of only flying long-haul. Creating a travel habit and mindset will make bigger trips feel more achievable.
Travel slower
Spend more time in fewer places, avoid rushing, and experience daily life instead of checklist sightseeing.
Prioritize wellness
Combine rest with exploration — spa retreats, forest bathing, yoga trips, hot springs, or hiking escapes.
Be more sustainable
Plan trips that support local businesses, communities and natural treasures, pick eco-certified stays or tours, stay in properties with real commitments to sustainable construction and operations, and make conscious choices like eating locally-grown food, choosing reef-safe sunscreen and offsetting flights.
Plan to learn something while traveling
Cooking class, language lessons, wine tastings, history walks, photography workshops — travel with purpose.
Practice spontaneity
Leave a day unplanned, try new foods, or say yes to experiences outside your comfort zone.
Travel with people who matter
Multi-generational trips, reunions with friends, or meaningful solo journeys to reset. Create memories with those you care about most.
Document travel better
Keep a journal, organize photos, or make short videos — instead of letting memories disappear into your phone.

START YOUR TRIP!

Images: Getty

Swap Stress for Serenity this Season with Locally-Inspired Wellness Escapes in Latin America

lynn.elmhirst@gmail.com (Lynn) — Tue, 30 Dec 25 19:00:29 +0000

Marriott hotels and resorts are inviting you to escape and unwind in the Caribbean and Latin America through personalized treatments, healing rituals, therapies using natural ingredients, immersive sensory experiences, and holistic lifestyle activities that help you balance body, mind, and spirit.

Reset, rejuvenate, and relax in coveted destinations, relying on modern wellness experts who also tap into local, regional and sometimes ancient practices you can’t experience anywhere else.

COSTA RICA

At W Costa Rica in Guanacaste, nature-lovers can practice shinrin-yoku, the Japanese art of "forest bathing." This mindful walk through a natural setting invites participants to breathe deeply and connect with the surrounding landscape. According to ancient traditions, embracing trees—believed to hold vibrational energy- can help balance emotions and revitalize the body, thanks to the trees' phytoncides and deep-rooted connection to Mother Earth. Studies have shown that the practice reduces stress and reawakens the senses.

At The Mangroove, Autograph Collection, a beachfront hotel in Guanacaste, enjoy a wide range of holistic treatments suited to every traveler—from multi-instrument sound journeys to detoxifying coffee massages—all surrounded by the country's stunning mangroves. For a revitalizing experience, the property offers a sound therapy session featuring Tibetan singing bowls, whose powerful vibrations are known to restore emotional and spiritual balance, a deeply healing experience for both body and mind.

A perfect complement is the Juanilama Flower Massage, featuring a sacred plant in Chorotega cosmology long valued for its calming properties and exquisite aroma. Traditionally used to soothe pain, inflammation, and digestive ailments, the essence of Juanilama envelops the body in tranquility while the ocean views invite the soul to drift peacefully.

Experience a seashell massage inspired by the ocean's natural abundance at The Westin Reserva Conchal on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast. This exclusive Heavenly Spa treatment is designed to balance the body and revitalize the spirit. The ritual combines the soothing warmth of sand-filled seashells with the nourishing benefits of organic coconut oil. As the gentle heat relaxes deep muscles, the oil hydrates the skin and awakens the senses, creating an exquisite experience that restores both body and mind.

At the Spa at Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, on the Papagayo Peninsula, you are invited to reconnect with Costa Rica's natural rhythms through the ancestral wisdom of the Nicoya people, known for their longevity and holistic approach to life. Perched atop a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Spa offers an elevated experience in every sense. Inspired by ancient healing traditions and the power of local botanicals, the exclusive Ritual Sagrado treatment invites guests to transcend the physical realm, awaken their inner light, and return to the roots of simple yet colorful living, creating space to be fully present and self-aware. This deep massage harmonizes body and mind, revitalizing every system through the skilled touch of expert therapists.

COLOMBIA

Surrounded by nature, The Brown, Autograph Collection in Guatapé, around an hour and a half's drive from Medellín, offers a range of wellness experiences, including outdoor yoga sessions, energy awakening classes, sound bathing, and relaxing massages that leave you feeling completely renewed. It is the ideal destination to reconnect with your body, mind, and the serenity of Guatapé's natural landscape.

Coffee lovers will find their bliss at W Bogota, where the AWAY Spa offers a coffee-inspired ritual featuring San Alberto coffee. The treatment is a coffee experience from start to finish, where guests are first delighted with a welcoming coffee syrup, followed by ground coffee for a body exfoliation, and finally, experience the flavor of San Alberto coffee.

PERU

At JW Marriott El Convento Cusco, experience an ancestral ritual inspired by the Inca era. This exclusive treatment uses traditional medicinal plants such as muña, eucalyptus, and other Andean herbs renowned for their healing properties. Combined with natural oxygen therapy, the massage helps alleviate the effects of high altitude, promotes acclimatization, and restores balance between body and mind. Miskychayamuy is the perfect way to welcome Cusco—a soothing experience that harmonizes, revitalizes, and prepares the body to fully embrace the energy of the Andes.

Hidden among Inca stone walls and colonial balconies in Cusco, Andes Spirit Spa, located at the Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection hotel, is a sanctuary of ancient wisdom. Its Andean therapies—such as Samay Inka, Fango del Inka, and Renewal in the Andes—draw from ancestral ingredients like quinoa, coca, muña, and sacred clays from the highlands, combined with energetic rituals and the mystical traditions of the Peruvian Andes. Its signature session, the Andes Spirit Spa Experience, is a three-hour ritual blending exfoliations, body wraps, and massages inspired by Inca practices, offering deep renewal that honors the sacred elements of Pachamama. Combined with a water circuit and thermal loungers, the journey creates a perfect alchemy of earth, water, fire, and air—a way to connect with the Apus and the healing vibrations of this energetic center of the earth. Among its Luxury Therapies, standout treatment Destellos de Oro is inspired by Inca treasures and features a 24k gold body wrap.

Meanwhile, in Urubamba, Peru, nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort, is home to Kallpa Spa, considered one of the country's finest. Enjoy a thermal circuit, underwater beds, a couple's suite witha jacuzzi, and relaxation rooms under a starlit ceiling, all designed to ease muscle tension and activate the body. It is also the only hotel in the region boasting an authentic Andean forest within its grounds.

START YOUR WELLNESS TRIP!

Images courtesy of Marriott International

Top image: Westin Reserva Conchal

Is the Slow Travel Trend For You?

lynn.elmhirst@gmail.com (Lynn) — Tue, 30 Dec 25 19:00:29 +0000

It’s official: ‘FOMO’ is out. And ‘JOMO’ is in. After years of racing through “bucket lists,” something quieter is reshaping travel. We’re no longer chasing the Fear of Missing Out on travel experiences. Instead, we’re discovering the Joy of Missing Out — and we’re not alone.

According to a recent survey for Norwegian Cruise Line, over 70% of travelers are moving away from fast-paced sightseeing and toward more restorative, meaningful escapes. Nearly half confessed they’ve come home from past trips feeling more exhausted than refreshed — and now, 77% say they intentionally plan slower vacations.

That’s the spirit of slow travel: choosing presence over pressure, savoring moments instead of stacking them. And being a little easier on the planet at the same time.

Here are some of the loveliest ways – and places - to embrace it.

Stay Longer, Go Deeper

Slow travel begins with permission: pick one destination and linger.

In Tuscany, a boutique heritage hotel becomes your “home base,” while locally guided Vespa tours, a market-and-cooking experience, and skip-the-line museum tours give you insider access to the best of local life.

In Seville, stay near orange-scented plazas, take a flamenco class, not just see the show, explore tapas bars with a local guide, and spend sunset wandering the Alcázar gardens.

Time transforms destinations into familiar territory.

Let Trains Tell the Story

Rail journeys reveal sides of a country you might not see any other way.

Cross Canada on a scenic rail itinerary with curated stops along the way. Travel from Paris to Provence in comfort, then join small-group excursions to vineyards and villages. In Japan, a rail pass paired with guided day tours opens mountain valleys and temple towns without the stress of logistics.

The rhythm of the tracks slows down the rhythm of life.

Walk With Intention

Walking tours invite meaning into every mile.

Follow the Camino de Santiago supported by luggage transfers, charming inns, and expert hosts. Explore England’s Lake District with a local guide who knows the quietest trails. On Japan’s Kumano Kodo, stay in traditional guesthouses and soak in onsen between forest paths.

You notice more because you’re traveling at the speed of curiosity. And connecting with fellow walkers.

Stay on Working Land

Food becomes a story when you stay where it’s grown.

Agriturismo stays in Tuscany let you help harvest olives and dine family-style, countryside estates in Portugal’s Alentejo offer relaxed wine tastings and picnics among cork trees, or vineyard retreats in New Zealand with tastings and behind-the-scenes cellar visits or sheep farms where you do yoga with new lambs.

The land becomes more than scenery; it becomes livelihood.

Ride the Rivers

River cruising is ideal slow travel, with a typical week-long itinerary traveling a route that you could drive in less than a day. Imagine what you are missing!

Take a leisurely river itinerary through the Rhine Valley, with castle towns unfolding at walking speed. Amble off your river cruise ship on France’s Rhone River at your leisure to explore medieval towns, iconic vineyards and wine regions, truffle farms, and olive oil presses.

Ocean Cruises: “JOMO” in Motion

The NCL study found that more than half of travelers see cruises as ideal for JOMO — especially in the Caribbean, which topped the list for slow-minded escapes.

Onboard, travelers choose their pace: spa time, quiet lounges, sunrise walks on deck, or staying aboard when others go ashore. Logistics are simplified and taken care of, and there are always corners to simply be — which is often exactly what people need.

It’s about doing whatever feels right for you that day.

Image courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Live Like a Local — Thoughtfully

Think boutique hotels in Sydney near local cafes, with early morning walks in the botanical gardens and behind-the-scenes tours of the Opera House, design-forward guesthouses in Mexico City’s Condesa with guided food walks, or family-run inns in the Scottish Highlands paired with day trips to hidden glens and whisky distilleries.

Belonging happens in the details — and local hosts and guides make curated stays easier and more enriching.

Is Slow Travel for You?

The research echoes what many already feel: travelers want fewer obligations, less travel ‘work,’ more nature, more local experiences, and days that unfold at their own pace.

In a world urging us to hurry, slow travel — and the Joy of Missing Out — offers permission to savor the journey, not just check things off a list.

START YOUR TRIP!

Images: unless otherwise identified, Getty

Where Will the Quest for Wellness Take You This Year?

lynn.elmhirst@gmail.com (Lynn) — Tue, 30 Dec 25 19:00:29 +0000

Wellness travel is being redefined for a new, more aware generation of travelers, and the destinations wellness travelers are seeking combine ancient practices, new approaches and focus on different outcomes. It’s not about counting calories or just getting a massage. Today, it’s about rediscovering your best self — through movement, nourishment, sleep, connection to people and nature, and mindfulness. All within the context of exhilarating travel experiences.

If these goals are piquing your travel inspiration, here are some of the best destinations worldwide to tap into a living culture of wellness.

Nurtured by Nature

In Sweden, wellness is an everyday rhythm rather than an event. Concepts like lagom (just enough) and friluftsliv (living outdoors) invite you into forests, lakes, and quiet islands. Fika social rituals connect you with people. Sauna-and-cold-plunge traditions in hotels and lodges aren’t just cozy; they come with proven health benefits.

In Costa Rica, wellness is woven into the national mindset: Pura Vida — the “pure life.” Misty cloud forests, eco-lodges tucked into the jungle, surf-and-yoga mornings, and volcanic hot springs create space to unplug and breathe.

Iceland delivers a different kind of clarity. Steam rises from geothermal pools against black-lava landscapes. Alternating hot and cold becomes ritual — a reminder that resilience and renewal often go hand in hand.

Traditions of Inner Peace

Some places invite deeper reflection.

In Thailand, healing is hands-on: centuries-old massage, meditation monasteries, and detox retreats that gently reset body and mind.

In India, wellness travels back to its roots. Yoga along the Ganges, Ayurvedic programs in Kerala, and spiritual centers that honor tradition offer journeys that feel transformative rather than trendy.

And in Bali, creativity and community blend with wellness — yoga shalas among rice terraces, plant-forward cuisine, and a sense of spiritual hospitality that feels welcoming, not intimidating.

Healing Waters

The world’s great spa cultures have always known: water is medicine.

In volcanic Japan, slipping into an ancient onsen beneath mountain pines becomes meditation and living history.

In Italy, thermal waters meet slow food, village life, and long walks through history.

And in Hungary, grand bathhouses remind you that rest can be both social and deeply restorative.

Lust for Longevity

For travelers seeking structure — or science — destinations like Switzerland, Germany, and Austria combine alpine air with medically guided programs, high-tech clinics, biohacking, and hiking that feels as restorative as it is breathtaking.

Solar Power

Closer to the beach, Mexico blends spa luxury with cultural ritual: temazcal sweat lodges, ocean-facing yoga decks, and retreats ranging from simple to indulgent.

In Portugal, surf towns, vineyards, coastal walks, and boutique hotels make wellness feel delightfully accessible — and delicious.

Defining your own Wellness Travel

It isn’t just about goat yoga and green juice.

These destinations nurture wellness because they offer:

authentic traditions,
access to nature, from forests to hot springs to the sea
holistic experiences — movement, rest, nutrition, mindset
sustainability that feels respectful
choice — from barefoot retreats to sophisticated medical programs and even ‘biohacking.’

Ask yourself:

Do you crave silence or adventure? Ritual or exploration? A gentle reset — or a deeper shift?

Wellness travel doesn’t tell you who to become. It simply gives you the places, the practices and the inspiration to listen — and begin your wellness journey.

START YOUR WELLNESS TRIP!

Images: Getty