New, Regal Suites and a Dior Spa For Scotland's Only Luxury Sleeper Train
An overnight rail journey through the landscapes of the legendary Scottish Highlands on the Royal Scotsman, A Belmond Train, is getting even more baronial. Two new Grand Suites will debut on the train in 2024 that mirror the atmosphere of a luxury Scottish country house and capture the magic of Highland culture and lifestyle. When you’re not with fellow guests dining in one of the two wood-paneled dining cars and enjoying live evening entertainment, or off board excursions including wild swimming, foraging,...
3 New Attractions That Bring New Perspective to Hong Kong's British-Era History
While travel was paused during the pandemic, Hong Kong kept evolving. Three attractions give new and returning visitors fascinating insights into the city’s British era. Two reinvent an iconic Hong Kong experience, and the other provides visitors access to a part of Hong Kong that’s been closed to tourists – until now.The Renewed Peak TramHong Kong’s Peak Tram has been transporting people to the cool, greenery-covered heights of Victoria Peak since 1888. It’s one of the oldest funiculars in the...
Flying's Never Been so Fun: Check Out these First-Class 'Hotel Suites' in the Sky
Airlines are making it harder and harder to deny yourself the pleasure of first-class travel, especially on long-distance, overnight flights to Europe where you want to arrive feeling well-rested and refreshed. No longer is the first-class cabin just about seats that are bigger, farther apart and lying flatter with food service on china rather than plastic - incrementally better than sitting farther back on the plane.Two European airlines are launching fully-enclosed, private suites above the clouds catering to each passenger’s...
How These Hotels in Japan are Celebrating Cherry Blossom Season
Early spring in Japan spells ‘sakura,’ or cherry blossom season, when the entire country is awash in the lacy, pale pink blooms on millions of cherry trees lining rivers, avenues, mountainsides and park walks. A culture obsessed with seasonality values perhaps cherry blossom season the most, and this may be the best time to immerse yourself in Japanese traditions. Sakura season has been celebrated for centuries in Japan, and the ancient ritual of 'hanami,' (literally meaning flower-viewing) parties and picnics still...
The Wine Region You Can’t Miss on a Danube River Cruise in Hungary
King Louis XIV of France called it the ‘wine of kings, the king of wines,’ but remarkably, this Hungarian wine remains under the radar for many wine lovers today. For over a thousand years, Tokaj wines were served to royalty, and now, they are a treasure for modern travelers to Hungary to discover. A perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in Hungary’s Tokaj wines may be before or after a Danube river cruise beginning or ending in Budapest. The wine region...
More Than 150 New ‘Nazca Lines’ Discovered in Peru
This ancient wonder of the world just keeps getting better – and more mysterious. Researchers have recently discovered 168 more geoglyphs carved into the ground in the Nazca region of Peru, three hours south of Lima. Like the 358 other Nazca lines already recorded to date, the new ones are believed to date back 2000 years. Most of the designs etched into the arid ground are made up of straight lines, but amazingly, others depict people, local plants and wildlife including hummingbirds,...
This is How One River Cruise Line is Marking the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, From London to Paris
2024 marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings of Allied troops in France to liberate Europe from Nazi occupation. For travelers with family members who served in Normandy, as well as those keen to immerse themselves in history, one river cruise line has created an itinerary to commemorate the milestone with perspectives from both sides of the Channel. I've made a river cruise pilgrimage to Normandy and visited the American, British and Canadian D-Day Landing Beaches. It was not...
Ventures by Seabourn Give Guests a New Point of View on Luxury Cruises in Alaska
A cruise to Alaska is all about Nature. ‘Ventures by Seabourn’ let you cruise in the lap of luxury – and also get up close and personal with the dramatic scenery and spectacular wildlife of the waters of America’s Last Frontier. Cruising may be the best way to experience Alaska. Seabourn’s ultra-luxury small ships take you closer and into more remote ports that larger ships can’t access. The ultra-luxury cruise line has also developed a program to allow active cruise travelers...
Hong Kong Wants to Buy You a Drink - and Toast its East-Meets-West Culture
Hong Kong’s doors are open to visitors again, and to celebrate, it’s offering travelers who come to the city in 2023 some ‘welcome back’ perks – plus, it’s unveiling a host of new and resuming cultural events and attractions. “Hello Hong Kong” is inviting new and returning friends of one of the most vibrant, eclectic, and unforgettable cities in Asia to rediscover – or learn for the first time – what puts Hong Kong on the map for savvy travelers. Hong...
First Ritz-Carlton Property in Italy Coming to Lake Como
There are over 100 Ritz-Carlton ultra-luxury hotels in 35 countries - but amazingly, none in Italy, one of luxury travel's top destinations. That's about to change. This elegant hotel brand is set to debut in one of Italy's most elegant locations. Ritz-Carlton is re-imagining and restoration of one of Italy's most acclaimed destinations for luxury travelers: the former Hotel Grande Bretagne in Bellagio. Expected to open in 2026, the spectacular waterfront property features breathtaking views of Lake Como.Lake Como is...