Digital Fasting: Why You Should Go Device-Free on Your Next Holiday

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Word this summer of the introduction of the world’s first phone-free tourist resort island in Finland highlighted a growing holiday trend: digital fasting.  You read that right. Wellness travel has offered vacationers opportunities to undertake juice and other fasts on retreat trips to benefit their physical health. Now, with growing awareness of the benefits of unplugging from our devices, we could be seeing more opportunities for digital fasting on our vacations. “We encourage visitors to put their phones away voluntarily and to focus their senses on nature rather than on their phones. This is a great initiative that could be implemented in other nature and recreational destinations, too,” Joel Heino, Manager, Outdoor Recreation and Visitor Management at Parks & Wildlife Finland, says. “People are... more

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Christmas Markets, NYE, Ice World and Gala Balls: Why Visit Vienna in the Winter

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Don’t wait til spring or summer to visit Austria’s capital. Some of its most unique experiences take place during the frosty months, where one-of-a-kind local events warm your heart and reveal a side of Vienna you can’t see any other time of the year.   Viennese Christmas Markets:Advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas, is a magical time in Vienna, with the historic city center and shopping streets in their festive best. The city’s most beautiful squares, streets and parks are transformed into Christmas markets, each with its own distinct atmosphere. The largest, and considered one of the most beautiful in Europe, is the Wiener Christkindlmarkt (Viennese Christmas Market), combining romance and nostalgia. There’s a popular Herzerlbaum (heart tree) for you... more

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These Resorts have been Named Top in the Caribbean for the 30th Time at the 30th World Travel Awards

Story About Caribbean

30 times in 30 years. That’s an incredible vote of confidence in the resort chain named “The Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Brand” for the 30th time at the 30th annual World Travel Awards. It wasn’t the only win for Sandals Resorts International, either. It scored 13 more prestigious awards.  Sandals Resorts International is the parent company of two luxury, all-inclusive resort chains: couples-only Sandals resorts, and family all-inclusive Beaches resorts. In addition to the company as a whole winning top honors, individual resorts also brought home the gold. The all-new Sandals Dunn’s River (pictured), which opened its doors in May of 2023, celebrated its first wins as the Leading Luxury All-Inclusive Resort and Caribbean's Leading New Resort. You need to experience Sandals’ newest Jamaican resort to... more

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Air France Celebrates its 90th Anniversary with - What Else? High Fashion

Story About Paris

Ever since it was inaugurated in October, 1933, Air France has been flying high as an international beacon of the uniquely French art of travel and art of life. 90 years later, flying to France on the airline remains the best way to become immersed in French “savoir vivre” and elegance before you even touch French soil.  Since its creation, the company has been celebrating excellence, French-style, a “je-ne-sais-quoi” recognized around the world. So, to mark its 90th anniversary, the airline asked Xavier Ronze, head of the costume design workshops at the Paris Opera ballet, to create a collection of five iconic dresses embodying the company’s legendary history. Each dress is a unique interpretation of the different hallmarks of the airline – aircraft... more

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The Best Way to Experience the Most Romantic River in Europe

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It is extraordinarily charming to cruise any of the rivers of Europe, but they call it “The Romantic Rhine” for a reason – at least three reasons! And on my most recent sailing on the Rhine on a Viking river cruise, I was reminded of why the Rhine is one of my – and many seasoned river cruisers’ – favorites.  On 'The Romantic Rhine,' you can see, taste, and listen to a perfect tapestry of Northern European culture. And a river cruise is the very best way to experience it. It’s one of the most popular river cruises for new-to-river-cruise travelers, and also one that many experienced river cruisers return to, time after time, in different seasons, including Christmas market season!  Unpack... more

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Ports of Call You Can't Miss in the Eastern Mediterranean’s Newest Cruise Hub

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The Mediterranean is full of ancient maritime cultures, but some seaside countries are just recently becoming popular cruise destinations. One up-and-coming cruise hub in the eastern end of this historic sea offers the best of Mediterranean, modern European, and Middle Eastern cultures and lifestyles. Not to mention the spiritual attractions of the home of Jewish, Christian and Islamic faiths.  And the best news is that more and more cruises are calling in Israel’s ports and also embarking and disembarking from Israel, allowing for pre- and post-cruise explorations of this bucket-list country.  Here are Israel’s two main cruise ports – and their top attractions, although many attractions of Israel are accessible from either port, especially if you have overnights in port, cruise-tours, or... more

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The First Caribbean Resort to Get an Ocean Pool

Story About Turks and Caicos Islands

Why choose between a dip in the sea and basking in a resort pool? The Caribbean now has its first resort ocean pool that lets you do both at once.Tapping into saltwater sources for swimming pools is not exactly new. Over a hundred years ago, seaside communities, especially in Australia and also Europe, started tapping into the ocean to provide residents a way to cool off.Even on rocky shores, an ocean pool could provide a secure space and constantly refreshed water, with waves washing into a pool where swimmers could safely swim. In some places, ocean pools had the added benefit of providing a saltwater swimming environment free of sea life, in places where sharks were abundant in the open... more

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Explore Egypt from These 3 Four Seasons Hotels

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History, culture, the romance of travel and 21st century diversity all await you in the ancient destination of Egypt – home to the only remaining entry on the list of the original Seven Wonders of the World, not to mention other archaeological and architectural marvels, markets and local cuisine and lifestyle.  And you can explore Egypt’s antique wonders and modern life in style at three Four Seasons hotels in key Egyptian destinations; including exclusive signature Four Seasons experiences that elevate your visit to create your own wondrous memories.  Cairo: Center of Antiquity and Change  Hotel: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza   The 4500-year old Pyramids of Giza at the outskirts of Cairo are the only remaining of the antique Seven Wonders of the... more

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Four Places You Can Try the Newest Tropical Resort Trend

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The latest craze at tropical resorts will really ‘float your boat.’ Swim up bars have become standard at many of your favorite resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico, and floating trays are the newest way to serve guests who love to hang out in the pool.  Maybe one of the best things about floating trays is that, while swim-up bars are usually just for drinks, floating trays are only limited by the resort food and beverage teams’ imaginations. Plus, individually-crafted trays of snacks, sweets, beverages or breakfasts leave plenty of room for creative presentation. Beautifully and uniquely-designed floating trays elevate make this new resort trend even more special and memorable. Exquisitely crafted and served floating trays elevate something as simple as appetizers for... more

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Flight Delayed? This Airline's App Now Automatically Rebooks You and Even Provides Meal Vouchers

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Let's hope every airline gets on board with a new piece of technology that could make life better for thousands of air passengers. Everyone knows that sometimes, things go wrong when you travel. Flights can get delayed or cancelled, then passengers are left scrambling to figure it all out: new flights, food, even an unanticipated hotel stay until you can get on your way to your destination. It can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate – especially when other affected passengers are all trying to do the same thing. Sometimes tempers even flare. Well, now… there’s an app for that. United Airlines has introduced a new mobile app feature to assist air travelers if their flights are disrupted. The airline’s new self-service digital tool automatically... more

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Hyatt Launches a New, Luxury All-Inclusive Resort Brand That’s Adults-Only

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Luxury yacht transfer to a romantic island resort? Check. Butler service? Check. Terrace whirlpools and fully stocked in-room bars? Check.  That’s just a taste of what the new “Impressions by Secrets” is offering couples at the first of Hyatt’s new adults-only, luxury, all-inclusive resorts in Mexico’s iconic Isla Mujeres off the coast of Cancun.  With a recent new focus on luxury, all-inclusive resorts, Hyatt now offers more than any other resort company: over 120 world-wide. That’s great news for travelers looking to visit highly desirable holiday destinations around the world in an elevated style – but still with the ease of all-inclusive packaging.  In the case of the newest addition to Hyatt’s “Inclusive Collection,” Impressions by Secrets Isla Mujeres sets a high bar... more

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Top Travel Activities that Boost Your Wellbeing

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The newest data reveals exactly what activities you do when you travel have the biggest and best impact on your mental wellbeing.  Let’s talk first about the importance of booking that escape – no matter what you plan on doing. You know you need to get away. But if you haven’t traveled on holiday in a while, take note: new research reinforces studies that have shown how important traveling on vacation is for our wellbeing.  The new study by a British travel company surveyed people in the U.K., U.S., and several western and northern European countries.  Are you surprised that two-thirds of people report that taking a holiday has a ‘very positive’ impact on their mental wellbeing? When you add in those who say taking... more

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Sandals Opens its Newest Resort with the 1st SkyPool Suites in Jamaica and a Return to its Roots

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A completely transformed and all-new Sandals Dunn’s River has opened on a stunning stretch of white sand beach in Jamaica: the site originally handpicked by Sandals’ founder, the late “Butch” Stewart over three decades ago when he began what became a world-famous and award-winning collection of adults-only Caribbean resorts.  Featuring a design Inspired by Dunn’s River Falls, new culinary concepts and the introduction of Jamaica’s first “SkyPool Suites,” the 260-room luxury all-inclusive resort represents a deeply personal and family connection to its alluring setting on Jamaica’s north coast.  “Ocho Rios has been the backdrop of some of my family’s most pivotal moments, including along this very beach where my father grew up and turned a perhaps once unimaginable dream into one of... more

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Ultra-Luxury Hotel Opens in Chicago in the World’s Tallest Building Designed by a Woman

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It’s an architectural wonder 101 stories high in Chicago’s Lakeshore East neighborhood that transforms the Windy City’s skyline. Eleven of those floors make up the newly-opened, ultra-luxury hotel St. Regis Chicago.  Designed by the world-renowned architecture and urban design practice led by Jeanne Gang, the tower breaks new ground as the tallest building in the world designed by a female architect.  The tower’s crystalline form was inspired by nature with its facets of a shimmering gem and its gradient of green-blue glass that reflects the colors of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. The St. Regis hotel captures that design innovation and brings its own glamorous spirit and celebrated rituals to its first location in the U.S. Midwest. It features a unique and distinctive... more

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Oceania Cruises Christens 1st New Ship in a Decade and Introduces new Wine, Spirits and Culinary Experiences

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Oceania Cruises has officially welcomed the 1200-guest Oceania Vista in a glittering event in Malta. She’s the cruise line’s first new ship in more than ten years, and the first of its new, Allura-class of ships.  In a ceremony that included centuries-old blessings on the ship and the souls who will sail upon her, Italian-American chef, author, restaurateur and Emmy award-winning food personality Giada De Laurentiis christened the Vista with the traditional breaking of a bottle of champagne against the ship’s hull. If you have sailed with Oceania before, you’ll know that the cruise line prides itself especially on its culinary experiences, making a chef the perfect godmother of the new Vista.  De Laurentiis will create two signature dishes to be served in... more

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