Christmas Markets, NYE, Ice World and Gala Balls: Why Visit Vienna in the Winter
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...
These Resorts have been Named Top in the Caribbean for the 30th Time at the 30th World Travel Awards
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...
Air France Celebrates its 90th Anniversary with - What Else? High Fashion
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...
The Best Way to Experience the Most Romantic River in Europe
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...
Oktoberfest on the Beach? Yes, You Can!
Every year, beer lovers look forward to the month that celebrates friendship over a stein of brew. The original Oktoberfest has returned full strength and has also inspired a world of imitators that look nothing like the beer tents and wooded hills of Germany’s Bavaria. Wherever you celebrate, it’s all about the “Gemutlichkeit.” Some call it fellowship, friendliness, or even good times. It’s the atmosphere surrounding you at Oktoberfest as you clink beer mugs with new and old friends. Munich – The...
New Ships Debut on Two Sensational Rivers: France’s Rhone and the Nile
More and more travelers are tuning in to the charms of river cruising through the hearts of some of the world’s most fabulous destinations. Two new ships have just debuted that will make exploring France’s fabled Rhone River and Egypt’s legendary Nile even more appealing. VIKING ATON With the August, 2023 launch of the Viking Aton, the ocean, expedition and river cruise line now has 4 ships plying the historic waters of Egypt’s legendary Nile River. The new, 82-guest ship is identical to...
Here a Ship, There a Ship, Everywhere a New Ship
August, 2023 may go down in the cruise travel history books, with the launch of an exceptional number of new, ground-breaking ships that inspire us to take to the seas – and give us a glimpse into the direction cruise travel, design, and experiences are heading. Five new ships sailed to sea in the first couple of weeks of the month, ranging in size from 100 guests to 4000! And here’s how they rolled out: EXPLORA INot just a new ship, but...
The Best Reasons to Visit Both of New Zealand’s Main Islands
New Zealand consists of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island, and whether you call yourself a nature lover, adrenaline junkie, foodie, wine or culture aficionado, you’ll find reasons to visit both. North IslandWhile New Zealand’s North Island is the smaller of the two islands, it has more people and the country’s major cosmopolitan cities, including the capital, Wellington, as well as Auckland. New Zealand’s famous wine scene is ripe on the North Island, and you don’t even have...
You Can Join the Biggest Search for Scotland's Loch Ness Monster in Half a Century
Scotland’s most famous legend… may not remain a mystery for much longer. A new Loch Ness Centre at the famous lake in the Scottish Highlands is promising to unleash the biggest search for “Nessie” in over half a century. And visitors can join in the quest! Nessie may be the biggest attraction in the Scottish Highlands that no one can prove they’ve ever seen. Reports of a monster in the dark, murky depths of Loch Ness – the largest lake in volume in...
Ports of Call You Can't Miss in the Eastern Mediterranean’s Newest Cruise Hub
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,...