Travel Blog

Cyber security is on everyone's minds these days, and travelers in particular can be vulnerable when they are on public wifi networks.Even in your own hometown, every time you login to your local coffee shop's network or restaurant hotspot to do your online banking, pay a bill, do some online shopping or even access apps and entertainment, you open yourself up to all kinds of data breaching or even theft. When you're traveling, public hotel or cruise ship wifi networks are...

For oenophiles (and everyday wine lovers like you and me), it's a once in a generation opportunity to celebrate the wines of a country you might not even associate with viticulture.The Fete des Vignerons (Festival of Vintners or Winegrowers) is held only every 20-25 years, taking over the town of Vevey on Lake Geneva. Yes, Switzerland. The Swiss call their wines one of their best-kept secrets. They are some of the best wines in the world – even if you've never...

The whole cruise travel world is watching as flamboyant entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson launches 'rebellious luxe' Virgin Voyages.BestTrip was there as the famous British lifestyles magnate shared his vision for shaking up the cruise industry and doing things differently… and his announcement of the latest 'first' for Virgin Voyages… and cruising.One thing's for sure: this isn't your grandma's cruise. But just how different is Virgin Voyages? There have been a list of 'firsts' where Virgin Voyages is breaking new ground at sea. Will...

It's been a physical test of spirituality since the Middle Ages.  And more recently, Christian pilgrims have been joined by active travel enthusiasts on the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile (800 km) route across northern Spain to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia.Whether you're making a modern-day pilgrimage for your own spiritual growth, interested in retracing the most renowned historic pilgrimage trail in Europe, or just hiking or cycling this famous trail, here's what you need to know...

The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?"

The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?"

It's no secret that river and small ship cruising is one of travel's biggest trends. What may still be an open secret is the boom in cruising on the inland waterways of North America, with new ships and new itineraries to appeal to every cruise traveler's interests.Maybe you want to try river and small ship cruising in your own backyard before venturing overseas. Maybe you've done it all and realized the incredible cruising experiences opening up in your own backyard!...

If you've ever taken a cruise or traveled to Alaska, you may recognize this place. From sea level in Skagway, Alaska, the White Pass & Yukon railway climbs an incredible 3000 feet in just 20 miles, and all the way to the peak of the Continental Divide – which also forms the natural border between Alaska in the US, and Canada's Yukon. The train began as a route for aspiring gold prospectors to reach the Klondike Gold Rush in the Yukon...

Cool-weather Alaska is one of the hottest cruising destinations. It's in our own backyard, with pristine and inspiring natural wonders, and a sailing season May-September perfectly aligned with family summer vacation time.Oceania Cruises has a twist on discovering America's 'Last Frontier' by sea. Oceania ships are smaller than the mega-ships sailing Alaskan waters. That means they can cruise into small ports and fjords, and get closer to coastal vistas. Oceania's ship in Alaska is the sleek and elegant Regatta. It accommodates only...

Can you believe there's been a whole century of commercial airline flight? We all know about the Wright brothers' historic flight in 1903, and in a little more than a century since that shaky flight, look how far air travel has come! After the fabled use of airplanes and the first Air Forces launched during the First World War 1914-1918, countries clamored to make air travel mainstream. A host of airlines launched in the decade following, some of which are still flying passengers...

Forget about 'surge' pricing on an Uber ride – how about 'submarine' pricing? Hailing a 'ScUber' in Australia's Great Barrier Reef will get you a $3000 AUD charge to your Uber account – and it's worth every penny for the hour-long Uber ride of your life.It's the first underwater ride share in the largest living organism on the planet, a partnership between Uber, and Tourism Queensland. ScUber rides are available for a limited time directly through the Uber app, and cost $1500...

When you're investing half a BILLION dollars in a fleet-wide renovation, you're entitled to call it a 'Revolution'. Celebrity Cruises is undergoing a transformation.You may have already heard about their two new, groundbreaking ships:Celebrity Edge, which, among many firsts, debuted the world's first cantilevered venue at sea, which moves up and down the side of the ship, becoming a different drinks/ dining venue at each deck, including an upscale tender departure lounge at sea level for ports of call accessed by...

It's an exclusive stretch of the Greek coast just 20 minutes south of the capital. In the 60's, this exclusive spot on the Athens Riviera was the epi-center of chic, international jet set lifestyle. And now, the Astir Beach resort area is back, an essential eastern Mediterranean destination for stylish travelers in the know.Recapturing 60's Seaside Retro GlamourThe highlight of the rebirth of the Athens Riviera is the very first Four Seasons in Greece. The Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens...

Cool-weather Alaska is one of the hottest cruising destinations. It's in our own backyard, with pristine and inspiring natural wonders, and a sailing season May-September perfectly aligned with family summer vacation time.Oceania Cruises has a twist on discovering America's 'Last Frontier' by sea. Oceania ships are smaller than the mega-ships sailing Alaskan waters. That means they can cruise into small ports and fjords, and get closer to coastal vistas. Oceania's ship in Alaska is the sleek and elegant Regatta. It accommodates only...

It's a wine-lover's dream river cruise! The world famous wine region of Bordeaux is home to some of the most famous wines and chateaux, grands crus, towns and legends. If you've ever heard mention of Medoc, Chateau Margaux, Saint-Emilion, Cadillac, or how US President and Founding Father Thomas Jefferson became America's first wine connoisseur during his time as ambassador to France… it's long past time you visited Bordeaux.BestTrip's luxury Uniworld river cruise began at the grand, exquisite city of Bordeaux with its...

It was a week at the end of May 1969 that became an iconic, unforgettable moment of 60's counter-culture and protests against the Vietnam War. 2019 marks the anniversary of the legendary time when music uber-star and peace activist John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono booked themselves into Montreal's Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth hotel, and held their 'Bed-in for Peace'. The event resonated around the world, drawing global media who broadcast images of the couple in their pajamas in bed and...

More than 10 million people every year travel to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park – that's more people than visit the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Yellowstone parks combined!  And now there's a whole new view on this breathtaking, seven-thousand foot range of mountains and the dramatic, 'smoky', haze that gives them their name. The forests and ridges of this UNESCO World Heritage Site straddle the states of North Carolina and Tennessee. On the edge of the Tennessee side, at...

The latest Royal news has us all abuzz and reminds us it's time to book a trip to England's capital and home of the British Royal Family. We may not be invited to the latest gathering, but here are 4 places we can immerse ourselves in Royal history and put into context the images we see of the ceremonial events and appearances of the most famous family in the world. Windsor CastleWindsor Castle is outside of central London, but this thousand-year-old royal...

A new river cruise ship has embarked on the Danube, and it's unlike anything else on the rivers of Europe. The word 'revolutionized' gets overused, but AmaWaterways' AmaMagna has overturned how we have come to think of river cruising.It's all about size. If you've ever taken a European river cruise, you've seen your own cruise ship, plus ships from other companies docked side by side in port. Except for paint and branding, they're all pretty comparable.To borrow a trailer park turn...

There's no visit to Argentina's capital without experiencing tango. It is both music and an unmistakable dance, perhaps the most sensual dance in the world.Our Monograms tour of Buenos Aires included an incredible tango dinner show at El Viejo Almacen that took our breath away! A Monograms agenda allows for plenty of free time to explore our own interests (in addition to an orientation tour of the city that includes the world's widest boulevard, the cemetery where Eva Peron (immortalized in...