First LEGO Parade at Sea, Only Over-Water Swing and More on MSC World America

Story About Caribbean

Building family fun on a cruise vacation couldn’t be easier. When the new MSC World America launches in April, 2025, it will have an over 10,0000 square foot kids’ area, complete with an enhanced partnership with LEGO that will offer first-at-sea experiences. Plus the only over-water swing ride – the ‘Cliffhanger’ - towering over 160 feet above the ocean - and other ‘can’t miss’ experiences for families. One of seven districts on the upcoming ship, Family Aventura is the destination for kids 0-17 in rooms tailored to different age groups. MSC says it’s the Italian family-owned cruise line’s largest and most technologically advanced kids’ area yet, dedicated to giving even the “smallest guests the freedom to express their creativity, play, socialize... more

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Peloton to Provide Hotel Chain Guests Equipment, Video Classes and Rewards for Working Out

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Health is its own reward, but a hotel company has teamed up with one of the biggest brands in fitness to give members points for staying fit while on the road – and make it easier than ever. Hyatt and Peloton’s new partnership is breaking new ground for those who take their wellness goals seriously – even while they travel. Travelers benefit a number of ways: Peloton is outfitting over 800 Hyatt properties with the company’s equipment, andproviding access to a curated set of non-equipment-based Peloton video classes, from stretch routines to bodyweight workouts, for guests to participate via their room TV’s at nearly 400 properties; and“World of Hyatt” loyalty members get points when they use Peloton equipment at Hyatt properties.  The extra... more

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Explora Journeys' New Onboard Experiences Elevate Luxury, Small-Ship Lifestyle

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Explora Journeys has unveiled a program that allows guests to customize their life on board, interact with others, access moments, and delight in pop up entertainment that will transform their voyages and take their shipboard life to new heights.  The acclaimed new, small-ship luxury sister cruise line of European brand MSC has debuted a series of activities and entertainment programs aboard its first ship, EXPLORA I. Ranging from interactive activities and exclusive events to performances that don’t repeat even if a guest is aboard for two weeks, they exemplify what fans of small-ship, ultra-luxury cruising love most.  Industry-First Digital ActivitiesUsing QR codes throughout the ship, guests can engage in unique daily activities on your devices, including Explora Journeys Trivia, Crosswords, and Word... more

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This Scandinavian Capital is Paying Visitors to Travel Green

Story About Copenhagen

Copenhagen is putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to sustainable travel. The tourism board of the capital of Denmark is rewarding you to make green choices when you visit this summer as part of a pilot program that could lead the world in helping both locations and visitors to benefit more from travel.  More popular destinations are struggling with growing numbers of visitors and their impact on the environment and local lifestyle. Instead of restricting visitors or imposing surcharges, famously eco-friendly Copenhagen has come up with a program to treat travelers for taking actions that benefit everyone. CopenPay is a new initiative “transforming green actions into currency for cultural experiences,” says Visit Copenhagen. The city wants to inspire... more

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Floating Restaurant and Food Festival Make a Splash in this Caribbean Destination

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St. Martin is re-staking its claim as the culinary capital of the Caribbean with a splashy new eatery and the return for the 4th year of what’s become a signature gastronomic event in the region.  The French half of the dual-nation island of St. Martin and Dutch Saint Maarten is home to Grand Case, a seaside town with a long, idyllic beach and long sunsets. It boasts a perfect setting for romantic beach restaurants, which, given its French connection, deliver cuisine to the exacting standards of mainland France. No wonder Grand Case is on the tasting travel bucket list for foodies in the know. Balaou Restaurant Now Grand Case has a new restaurant “landmark” – but it isn’t on the beach. Instead, it... more

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The Best Beaches to Discover in Mexico's Nayarit

Story About Nayarit

Nayarit’s stunning Pacific coastline, rich culture and lifestyle, seafood and traditional Mexican cuisine and charming towns have made it a magnet for beach vacation lovers. But which is the best beach for a holiday of lounging, swimming, snorkeling, diving and wildlife watching? One of the most popular areas is the Riviera Nayarit, a 200-mile stretch of coastline that includes the luxurious resort town of Punta Mita, the surf-friendly Sayulita, and the tranquil beaches of San Blas. Luxury hotels and resorts in the area include:·     St. Regis Punta Mita·     Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita·     Conrad Punta de Mita And Nayarit is famous for its selection of all-inclusive resorts, like:·     The adults-only Secrets Bahia Mita Surf & Spa·     Dreams Bahia Mita Surf & Spa·     Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit·     Occidental Nuevo Vallarta·     Hard Rock... more

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Top Travel Destinations Inspired by the World’s Wellness “Blue Zones”

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Interest in global "Blue Zones" is stronger than ever. The regions in the world where people live much longer and healthier lives compared to the global average are not just inspiring people to take a hard look at the overall wellness of their lifestyle – they are even inspiring people’s travel plans!  “Blue Zones” is a term first coined by researchers who identified mysterious pockets of populations around the globe that were outliers in health and longevity, with a well-above ‘normal’ percentage of people living past 100 years old. They started looking for patterns and explanations about why and how groups of people in certain places not only live longer lives – but better lives for longer.   Was it something special... more

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Eastern & Oriental Express Unveils New Design, Michelin-starred Chef, Malaysia Wilderness Routes by Rail

Story About Malaysia

The legendary Eastern & Oriental Express, a Belmond train, captures the essence of ultra-luxury train travel’s history and modern opulence like never before, with revamped interiors, a new culinary curator with two Michelin stars, and eye-opening, one-of-a-kind journeys through Malaysia. NEW DESIGN AND ELEVATED ONBOARD EXPERIENCESThe revamped Eastern & Oriental Express reflects both the heyday of luxury train travel and the different landscapes the train travels through in Malaysia. It boasts eight sleeping carriages, two restaurants, a Piano Bar, and the open-air Observation Car.  The cabins – Pullman, State, and Presidential – are air- conditioned, cherry-wood paneled sanctuaries. The Pullman cabins draw inspiration from Kuala Lumpur, featuring red and blue accents resembling the city's skyline; the State cabins reflect Penang's marine locale... more

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Shell-ebrating World Turtle Day! The Top 10 Places to Travel to See Turtles

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May 23 is World Turtle Day, to celebrate and protect what may be the planet’s most captivating reptiles. Here are some of the best places to see turtles in the wild – and some tips to help protect turtles and tortoises in ways their own protective hard shells can’t.  World Turtle Day is the brainchild of the non-profit organization American Tortoise Rescue. Tortoise is the name given to terrestrial turtles, often found in arid environments. No matter what name they go by, all the members of the turtle family, whether they live in land or water, are set apart from all other reptiles by their bone or cartilage shells, which are – fun fact – extensions of their rib cage.... more

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The Best New Bridgerton Filming Locations for Your Next Trip to Britain

Story About United Kingdom

Regency romance has returned to our screens and reminded us to plan trips to Britain to fulfill our own Bridgerton-inspired fantasies. Season 3 of the wildly-popular and genre-bending Netflix series has introduced yet another romantic relationship among a member of the tight-knit family of Georgian-era aristocrats – and more real-life historic locations around England. The country’s quintessential Regency period location is the spa town of Bath, which has had a starring role in Bridgerton since Season 1. But the actors get around. From stately homes to iconic English countryside, from London, to rural Surrey to Oxfordshire and beyond, here are places to include on your next trip to the U.K. to follow in their fictional characters’ footsteps. Hampton Court Palace, SurreyThe former... more

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New Travel Rules for Dogs Entering (or Returning to) the U.S. Take Effect This Summer

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It’s a dog’s life when it comes to traveling with man’s best friend. More and more people consider their canine companions something they can’t leave home without – even when traveling internationally. But new rules for both American pooches returning home, AND pets of visitors coming into the U.S. will mean dog owners have more hoops to jump through. The new rules could affect your summer vacation plans. Effective August 1, 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is implementing new regulations for dogs at entry points into the U.S. The new rules are designed to prevent dogs with rabies from entering the country. Rabies is a deadly disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Although there are treatments if... more

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This Hotel Gives You Access to Rome's Gardens and Private Villas with Top Horticulturalists

Story About Rome

Rome’s iconic history, culture, and ‘dolce vita’ come to life in its green spaces, and one of the city’s luxury hotels is letting guests immerse themselves in some of its legendary gardens and access private villas guided by local horticultural experts. Imagine visiting the renowned Borghese, Vatican and Tivoli gardens as well as some of the Eternal City’s private homes with the most exceptional floral displays, and even meeting the owners! The Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese has arranged for guests to have the opportunity to get private tours led by a boutique, bespoke Italian travel company’s expert guides to immerse themselves in the city’s most elegant life al fresco. All while staying in the sophistication of the historic, five-star hotel in the heart... more

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New National Park in the Caribbean is the Seahorse Capital of the World

Story About The Bahamas

Of all the creatures of the oceans, seahorses may be one of the most magical and endearing. And now, a new maritime preserve in the Caribbean with the densest population of seahorses in the world has been designated to protect this weird and wonderful fish. Seahorses are indeed fish! But they are unique among fish species, with that distinctive upright posture, horse-like head, prehensile tail that can grasp onto things… and bony armor instead of scales. If you were asked to invent a mythical sea creature, it might be a seahorse.  They use long snouts to suck up small crustaceans and plankton. And in many species, it’s the male that becomes pregnant, following courtship that involved intricate dances, with seahorse couples... more

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Four Seasons Yachts' Inaugural Sailing Season and First Ship's Suites Revealed

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Have you heard? The ultra-luxury hotel company is taking to the seas. In anticipation of its debut, the new cruise line is unveiling the incredible, ground-breaking, multi-story glass 'funnel' and other suites guests will call home, as well as the first 10 voyages of the as-yet unnamed new small ship.  Inaugural Season Voyages: Caribbean Waters and Mediterranean SeasThe first of the Four Seasons Yachts is due to set sail in 2026. In its debut year, Four Seasons Yachts will explore more than 130 destinations across over 30 countries and territories. Naturally, guests of the upcoming Four Seasons Yachts can enjoy extended and customized itineraries with pre-and-post hotel and overland programs at their favorite Four Seasons hotels and resorts. The first Four Seasons Yacht,... more

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Travel Tips as World-First Tourist Toll Takes Effect: Venice Visitors Must Now Pay to Enter City

Story About Venice

It’s historic travel news: in what the country’s tourism board is calling a “unique experiment,” the famous canal city of Venice, Italy, is implementing what it labels “a daily access fee.” The controversial ‘visitor’s tax’ takes effect April 25 after years of debate and delay. The move is a pilot project that officials hope will ease the pressures of “over-tourism” in one of the most popular and vulnerable historic city destinations in the world. If successful, supporters hope the tourist toll will allow the city to become more liveable for its own residents – which in turn, will nurture the famous Venetian lifestyle that visitors to the city come in search for. Venice has already – again, after years of debate and... more

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