Travel Blog

Most North Americans have never seen the Northern Lights, but this is the year that could change for you. Scientists say that in 2024, the captivating astronomical phenomenon will be more visible than it has been for years – and for years to come.   Word is getting out. Requests by travelers for trips to see the Aurora Borealis this year have reportedly increased nearly 400% - that’s 4 times the number of adventurous souls wanting to cross viewing the Northern...

Ireland has St. Patrick’s Day, Scotland has…Robbie Burns Day. Scotland’s most celebratory day is in honor of its national poet. If everyone’s a little bit Irish on March 17th, then on January 25th, the date of Robert Burns’ birthday in 1759, everyone’s a little bit of a Scot. Throughout Scotland and among Scottish communities dispersed around the world, January 25 - Robbie Burns Day, or Rabbie Burns Day, or just Burns Night – is the occasion of the year to pull out all...

One of the most coveted holiday destinations in the world, Italy’s Lake Como, just keeps getting more extraordinary. For centuries, the glacial lake located in the northern Italian region of Lombardy, surrounded by the majestic Alps and near the Swiss border, has been famous for its crystal-clear waters, lush greenery, and picturesque landscapes. The serene, scenic… and cooler environment has been attracting the who’s who of Italian society escaping the summer heat of the cities for centuries. And travelers from around the...

Ultra-luxury cruise line, Seabourn, is famous for not just cruising – but helping you live your best life. An expedition cruise to the Arctic may sound remote from luxuries or celebrations, but it turns out that even at the earth’s poles, Seabourn creates moments that elevate already-extraordinary experiences into unforgettable memories of a lifetime. Seabourn recently expanded its fleet, introducing two new kinds of ships: expedition ships, complete with expedition ‘toys’ that allow guests to explore the world from the sea...

A trip to Vietnam is a feast for the senses, with exotic scenery, scents, sounds, fascinating history and culture. It’s also a literal feast. Vietnamese cuisine is a foodie favorite, and it doesn’t have to be high-end cuisine. In fact, one of Vietnam’s can’t-miss destinations is also home to one of the country’s most vibrant street food scenes, offering mouth-watering insights into the country’s culinary treasures. Ho Chi Minh City (HCM), formerly known as Saigon, is a bustling, motorbike-filled, modern Asian city...

 Zodiaks, kayaks and submarines, oh my! Expedition ships are opening up a whole new way of cruising and experiencing the world – even parts of the world you may think you already know! We sailed on board a Viking expedition cruise of the Great Lakes. Both of Viking’s two expedition ships, the Viking Polaris and the Viking Octantis, were designed specifically to sail through the navigational channels of what some call North America’s “Inland Seas.” So they can spend summers showing travelers a...

Japanese arts and crafts are cherished souvenirs from a trip to Japan. And now, one of the country’s most treasured and elegant crafts has a new future – thanks to a luxury jeweler best-known for its aspirational robin’s egg-blue boxes. Tiffany & Co. Japan has launched a new initiative to help preserve gold leaf art skills in Kanazawa, the celebrated home of this craft. Kanazawa is on the western coast of Japan in Ishikawa prefecture, and its name translates to “gold marsh.”...

 It couldn’t come at a better time. The thrills of the holidays have passed, and cold weather, cabin fever, and the doldrums of winter are descending. Everyone needs something to look forward to. Welcome, Wave Season! It’s the catchy name for the cruise travel equivalent to Black Friday. But instead of just a day, it’s a whole season of the best cruise deals of the year. Wave after wave of promotions, offers and perks that make booking your next cruise in the first...

Have you resolved to travel more and to focus more on your health? You can do both by taking a holiday where you can practice the latest activity touted to benefit your mental and physical health. ‘Wild swimming’ is swimming in the open water, whether river, lake or the sea – regardless of the temperature. Swimming with the snow and ice is encouraged! If you haven’t yet heard of the ‘wild swimming’ trend, you may be scratching your head. Isn’t ‘wild...

The EU’s Capitals of Culture program was designed to showcase the cultural riches of European cities that might not otherwise get the attention they deserve. Every year, new cities are designated that represent the incredible diversity of Europe’s landscapes, history, and resulting unique lifestyle heritage of different parts of the union.  A year-long calendar of events brings visitors from their own countries, Europe, and around the world to discover or rediscover what makes these ‘Capitals of Culture’ special. And EU...

A river cruise on the Rhone allows you to indulge in French cuisine, culture, scenery and lifestyle – and you’re going to want to take the best of the best of the region home! Our river cruise on the Emerald Liberte on the Rhone took us from Lyon, north on the Saone river, then down the Rhone to some of the most charming and storied towns in the south of France. Naturally, I picked up treasures along the way to cherish...

They’re calling them ‘Bubbles of the Sea.’ Celebrating with sparkling wine is a year-round event on many cruise lines. But Hurtigruten is taking celebratory sparkling wine to another level: down. Norwegian coastal cruise line Hurtigruten is sister cruise line of eco-conscious expedition cruise line HX / Hurtigruten Expeditions. Its ‘Bubbles of the Sea’ (or ‘Havets Bobler’ in Norwegian) program involves submerging bottles of sparkling wine at a depth of 112 feet off the coast of Norway for six months. The purpose of...

The all-inclusive trend keeps growing! All-inclusive resorts used to be all about packaged beach vacations. But more and more people are tuning into the benefits of all-inclusives, especially the ease of paying upfront once, then putting your wallet away and not having to think about keeping to your holiday budget, even as you enjoy food and drinks, entertainment and activities and amenities that enrich your holiday and give you opportunities to connect with loved ones and friends during your vacation....

Winter chalet popups by celebrity tastemakers are making the coldest season warm and cheerful for travelers across North American hotels and resorts in the IHG family, including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Vignette Collection and Hotel Indigo. Until the end of February 2024, every hotel and resort in IHG is transforming into a welcoming winter wonderland with larger-than-life lobby installations created by renowned tastemakers Corey Damen Jenkins and Grammy-award winning musician Maren Morris. Instead of hibernating for the rest...

A Christmas market river cruise in Europe may be the very best way to capture the magic of the season. Our Viking Christmas on the Rhine river cruise from Switzerland to the Netherlands took us to four countries, each with its own Christmas markets, traditions, flavors and specialities.  WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE with highlights of some of the best Christmas markets on a Viking Christmas on the Rhine river cruise! On our Viking “Longship,” we sailed from Basel, Switzerland, into a mediaeval...

Take a break from planning Christmas festivities and shopping and treat yourself to Christmas cheer, Fairmont-style. Get into the spirit of the season with a dozen merry programs at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts throughout North and Central America– from ugly sweaters to a Thirsty Elf, a Home Alone tribute in New York, and Holiday Hula in Hawaii.  In a nod to the 12 Days of Christmas, 12 of the family of hotels and resorts have devised their own unique ways to...

Mexico is more than beaches. It’s also a country rich in folklore, traditions, culture, history, nature and cuisine. And some of Mexico’s towns have such a concentration of significance and authentic experiences for visitors, they’ve earned the label “Magical.”  As of 2023, 177 towns in Mexico have been designated “Magical Towns,” or “Pueblos Magicos” by the Mexican government. The program empowers local communities to celebrate and share their unique characteristics, and towns are provided a budget to help maintain the special...

The newest Four Seasons resort will change the face of one of the Caribbean’s most popular islands.  Famous for affordable, all-inclusive beach resort vacations, the Dominican Republic’s latest resort will put it on even the most discerning luxury traveler’s map.  The Four Seasons Resort and Residences Dominican Republic at Tropicalia is underway on 60 acres of pristine beachfront of Playa Esmeralda on the country’s northeastern Samana Bay. Scheduled to open in 2026, the 95-room resort will lead the way for a new...

Black Friday is one of the best times of the year to book travel – for more than one reason! Not only will you find some of the best deals of the year, but they allow you to give one of the most precious gifts to your loved ones during the festive season.  Break free from giving things that become worn out, obsolete, forgotten or worse – landfill! – and think about how the gift of travel will enhance your relationship...

Not the Eiffel Tower. Not Rome’s Colosseum. Or even Barcelona’s magnificent Sagrada Familia cathedral by Gaudi. The attraction voted Europe’s best in awards dubbed the “Tourism Oscars” also earned the title of Europe’s Leading Beer Tour Visitor Experience 2023.  Ireland’s Guinness Storehouse is one of the highlights of a visit to Dublin, and walks visitors through the history and the making of one of the world’s most beloved beer brands and Irish cultural icon. Who doesn’t have a pint of Guinness...