This Year’s European Christmas Capital is…
Rekindle your love of Christmas traveling to the official – yes, official! - European Christmas capital. Each year, the Christmas Cities Network, with support from the European Parliament, designates a different European Christmas capital, recognizing how that destination brings the local essence of the celebration to life for residents and visitors. In 2025, the European Christmas Capital is Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania, one of the Baltic countries in north-eastern Europe. You may think of some of the more famous Christmas destinations – often associated with their Christmas markets, like Nuremberg, Germany, with its mother of all Christmas markets, Strasbourg, France, the largest and oldest in that country, or grand, imperial Vienna, which are all visited by Danube and Rhine River cruises... more
Top Travel Resolutions That May Actually Get You Packing Your Bags This Year
Every year, “travel more” is in the mix of resolutions. But what travel resolutions can get you from dreaming of a trip… into the beauty and benefits of real travel experiences? Surveys consistently show that nearly two-thirds of Americans leave a third of their vacation time unused, and a quarter of workers don’t take any time off at all! That’s despite mounting evidence that travel is a boon for our physical and mental health, relationships, and more. Here are some additional travel resolutions that may help you on your journey towards making travel a genuine and enriching part of your life in the coming year... and make you feel better about yourself and your trips. Travel more oftenMake time instead of waiting for “someday”... more
Where Will the Quest for Wellness Take You This Year?
Wellness travel is being redefined for a new, more aware generation of travelers, and the destinations wellness travelers are seeking combine ancient practices, new approaches and focus on different outcomes. It’s not about counting calories or just getting a massage. Today, it’s about rediscovering your best self — through movement, nourishment, sleep, connection to people and nature, and mindfulness. All within the context of exhilarating travel experiences. If these goals are piquing your travel inspiration, here are some of the best destinations worldwide to tap into a living culture of wellness. Nurtured by NatureIn Sweden, wellness is an everyday rhythm rather than an event. Concepts like lagom (just enough) and friluftsliv (living outdoors) invite you into forests, lakes, and quiet islands. Fika... more
Jamaica Asking Visitors to Return as Island Reopens Following Hurricane Melissa
Visitors are crucial to local communities as they recover following October’s Hurricane Melissa, the strongest ever recorded storm to hit the country, with devastating results. The focus now is rebuilding Jamaica’s tourism-based economy and getting people back to work. That’s where we come in. Jamaica is back open for business this winter. So you can plan a tropical, Caribbean escape to the island just when you need it most - and Jamaica needs us most. Maybe even give the gift of travel this holiday season, with double the happiness quotient: for your loved ones, and for the people of Jamaica.In early December 2025, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism provided an update on the country’s recovery: Jamaica’s 3 international airports have returned to over 85% of... more
Is the Slow Travel Trend For You?
It’s official: ‘FOMO’ is out. And ‘JOMO’ is in. After years of racing through “bucket lists,” something quieter is reshaping travel. We’re no longer chasing the Fear of Missing Out on travel experiences. Instead, we’re discovering the Joy of Missing Out — and we’re not alone. According to a recent survey for Norwegian Cruise Line, over 70% of travelers are moving away from fast-paced sightseeing and toward more restorative, meaningful escapes. Nearly half confessed they’ve come home from past trips feeling more exhausted than refreshed — and now, 77% say they intentionally plan slower vacations.That’s the spirit of slow travel: choosing presence over pressure, savoring moments instead of stacking them. And being a little easier on the planet at the same... more
Regent Launches Epicurean Enrichment Studios; Part of Multi-Million Dollar Refurbishment
The immersive, state-of-the-art culinary theaters feature the ‘Epicurean Passport Series,’ chef-hosted dining, and destination-inspired shore excursions. Epicurean Enrichment Studios debuts in spring 2026 exclusively on board 2 of the ultra-luxury cruise line’s fleet of ships: Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager. The Epicurean Enrichment Studio was inspired by the phenomenal success of the Culinary Arts Kitchen on board Regent’s newer, Explorer-class ships: Seven Seas Explorer, Grandeur, and Splendor. The Epicurean Enrichment Studios are part of thoughtful and extensive, multi-million-dollar refurbishments for Mariner and Voyager. Foodies will love the inspiring culinary experiences that connect them to destinations through flavor, history, and storytelling, from mastering the art of spice blending in India to savoring premium Mediterranean olive oils.Embark on a series of enriching... more
The Wide World of Sparkling Wine: How to Order Like a Local
If you’re the kind of traveler who believes every destination (in fact, every good moment in life!) becomes even better with a glass of something effervescent (excellent life choice), this guide is for you. Sparkling wine isn’t just a drink; it’s a cultural passport. The wine of celebration and occasion is produced in vineyards around the world, and depending on where you land, the name for those bubbles changes just enough to make you want to fit in like a local when you order it. Here’s how to ask for your favorite bottle of bubbles around the world. France: The Capital of the Popping Cork In France, sparkling wine is woven into everyday life as the wine to drink as an aperitif before... more
Swap Stress for Serenity this Season with Locally-Inspired Wellness Escapes in Latin America
Marriott hotels and resorts are inviting you to escape and unwind in the Caribbean and Latin America through personalized treatments, healing rituals, therapies using natural ingredients, immersive sensory experiences, and holistic lifestyle activities that help you balance body, mind, and spirit. Reset, rejuvenate, and relax in coveted destinations, relying on modern wellness experts who also tap into local, regional and sometimes ancient practices you can’t experience anywhere else. COSTA RICA At W Costa Rica in Guanacaste, nature-lovers can practice shinrin-yoku, the Japanese art of "forest bathing." This mindful walk through a natural setting invites participants to breathe deeply and connect with the surrounding landscape. According to ancient traditions, embracing trees—believed to hold vibrational energy- can help balance emotions and revitalize the body, thanks... more
VIDEO: A New Kind of Expedition Cruising by Atlas Ocean Voyages: Epicurean Expeditions
Expedition cruises are a fast-growing, life-changing way to see the world in a different way. Atlas Ocean Voyages, with its fleet of small, yacht-like ships that also have polar capabilities, has expanded the definition of expedition cruising in new directions with ‘Epicurean Expeditions.’The ‘classic’ expedition cruise is polar: Antarctica or increasingly, the Arctic. Other remote maritime destinations that have natural or even cultural treasures to discover are also being added to the list of global expedition cruise itineraries for ships equipped with zodiacs for landings off the beaten track of cruising infrastructure.Epicurean Expeditions combine that spirit of adventure with culinary curiosity. We sailed aboard an Atlas Ocean Voyages Epicurean Expedition cruise from Lisbon, Portugal, to the north coasts of Spain and... more
Celebrating World Cocktail Day with a Travel-Inspired Cocktail... or Two
What’s not to love about May 13th? World Cocktail day has two of my favorite words: world, and cocktail.For those of us who love to travel… and love to get into the ‘spirit’ of the moment with a locally-sourced beverage, cocktail recipes can be some of our most cherished travel souvenirs.And drinks at a smart bar can be among our most cherished travel memories. Here are just a couple of mine:The Original Daiquiri at the House of Bacardi, Puerto Rico Rum, lime and sugar are timeless ingredients in the Caribbean. The origins of this classic cocktail go back to an engineer in early 20th-century Cuba who developed its refreshing taste, and the Bacardi family's business sense in creating the world’s most... more
Spring Gardens, Tropical-Style in Costa Rica
'Spring flowers’ takes on new meaning in the tropics.With Costa Rica’s epic biodiversity and commitment to conservation, lush, green landscapes are a given any time you visit. But some of the Central American country’s botanical gems are best discovered not in the wilderness, but in gardens crafted by human hands.Here are five gardens to add ‘color’ to your trip to Costa Rica. Botanical Orchid GardenNorth America has 200 varieties of orchids. Luscious Costa Rica? 1300.The “Guaria Morada” orchid is even the country’s national flower. Its name has a picturesque meaning: “purple country girl,” for its delicate petals with vivid hues. Unlike most greenhouse orchids we buy at home, it’s even scented. Local Tican tradition says the Guaria Morada brings good fortune. Only... more
A Twist on 'April Showers' at This Country's New Year Celebrations
Many modern holiday celebrations put an irreverent twist on their historic – and often more solemn -traditions.Thailand’s Songkran may be one of the most extreme examples of that phenomenon.Ancient Thai culture marked the New Year in what we now call April. The word is Sanskrit, meaning ‘astrological passage’, and it coincides with the rising of Aries and the New Year of the Hindu and Buddhist calendars. Songkran is a three-day ritual, from the 13th to the 15th of April. The final day, April 15th, is considered ‘New Year’s Day’ itself. To help usher in the Thai New Year, we were invited by the Tourism Authority of Thailand to a virtual Songkran celebration via a live feed to events in the country. You... more
Signs of Spring - Worth Traveling For
Spring may be the most hopeful season. There is nothing more uplifting than seeing Nature reborn every Spring. It’s like an assurance that life will get better again, no matter how tough the dark days of Winter – or life – have been.Between March’s Spring Equinox and the start of Summer on the Solstice in June, the days get progressively longer, dousing us in light, and sparking the renewal of life after a long, dull winter. So it’s no wonder that so many ancient cultures celebrate Spring’s light and new life.Or why we are still so enchanted by the signs of the new season. None are quite so colorful as spring flowers peeking through the snow or opening on trees... more
First, Fully Digital Hotel to Open in Northern Europe
It’s in the heart of one of the most historic neighborhoods in London. But this hotel has become a symbol of the future of travel.ibis Styles London Gloucester Road is in Kensington, within easy strolling distance of some of the English capital’s favorite landmarks, like the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum, shopping at Harrod’s and of course, its highest-profile residence, Kensington Palace, where Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge and their three children live, alongside other members of the Royal Family.Surrounded by British tradition, it’s making history of its own as the first, fully digital hotel in Northern Europe.A suite of digital technologies has reinvented making guests feel welcome, by connecting them to actual, human members... more
Cruise Ships: New, Improved, and Coming Soon
The latest designs, innovations, and features, in a sparkling white cruise ship gliding over the waves. If that’s not enough to get you excited about taking a cruise on a new ship, there’s always ‘new ship smell’. A new cruise ship may not have a distinctive scent like a new car, but knowing you’re among the first to experience a new entry to the world’s fleet of cruise ships is a not-to-miss sensation. Not every new ship comes ‘hot off the press’. Some ships are remade during their lifetimes, and their mystique begins afresh. Lynn Elmhirst, BestTrip TV’s cruise expert, lists the ships to keep your eye out for right now, whether new, improved, or coming soon. NEW Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the SeasThe latest... more
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