Destinations

Cruiseline Loyalty Programs

2013-12-17

Like the airlines’ frequent flier programs, cruise lines reward loyal customers to encourage repeat business. It’s not likely to influence your choice of cruise your first time out, but on most lines, after you complete your first cruise you’ll be automatically enrolled in said line’s loyalty program, which basically means a bunch of mailings and […]

9 Sparkling North American Christmas Markets

2013-12-16

Christmas trees. Gingerbread houses. Advent calendars. Christmas as we know it is made up of traditions popularized in Germany, and anyone who’s been to one of that country’s legendary Christmas markets knows that a German Yule is hard to beat. Read more

Too Late to Book a Holiday Getaway? Not Necessarily

2013-12-11

We’re into December, when last-minute planners from New York and other scarf-wearing regions start dreaming of spending Christmas break on a Caribbean beach somewhere, anywhere. Or, to put it more accurately, dream of having had the foresight to plan such a trip in August, when prices — both flights and hotel rooms — were still […]

Best Travel Moments of 2013

2013-12-09

I’ve been fortunate enough to have taken a life’s worth of trips of a lifetime and put together vast catalogs of exotic and exciting memories. But what really stands out, and what will leave the most lasting impression, isn’t the staggering scale of landscapes or the lavish architecture of lodges. Don’t get me wrong: I […]

Most Welcoming European City is …

2013-12-06

A visa, toothpaste, spare underwear. All essentials for a decent vacation. But what about something less substantial — a pleasant welcome when you arrive? After all, the friendliness of the people you meet often determines whether your memories of a place are fond or foul. Now welcomes have been rated. Read more

Where To Travel Based On Your Myers-Briggs Personality Type

2013-12-05

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test measures psychological preferences and decision making in order to help people understand their personality type. Based on the theories of Carl Jung, the test is often used to help people make career and life decisions. Read more

Alyeska Resort Biking Trails

2013-12-04

Alyeska Resort in Girdwood has opened a new lift for the 2013-2014 ski season. General manager Mark Weakland said that the new Glacier Bowl Express is a high-speed quad that complements the existing tram and another high-speed lift known as Ted’s Express. The resort also tapped into mountain bike tourism with the addition of the […]

Frankfurt’s Christmas Market Celebrates the Season

2013-11-27

Special events Germany: First noted in 1393, Frankfurt’s Christmas Market opens Wednesday and runs through Dec. 22 in the Roemer. Climb St. Nicholas Church’s spiral staircase for a dazzling view – or to work off calories from the market’s signature marzipan cookies, Bethmaennchen. Read more

Hunger Games is ‘Catching Fire’ in Hawaii

2013-11-25

Jennifer Lawrence might be the celebrity muscle of the “Hunger Games” sequel “Catching Fire,” but viewers will soon find Oahu, Hawaii, to be the superstar of the film. With the next “Hunger Games” movie opening today amid a sea of buzz, fans of Suzanne Collins’ trilogy are lining up to see Katniss and Peeta battle […]

Is This the World’s ‘Sexiest Hotel Room’?

2013-11-18

It’s probably the furthest thing from Hugh Hefner’s idea of a sexy hotel room, or a “Fifty Shades of Grey” weekend getaway, but a white, bright, mother-of-pearl-themed hotel room in London has won an award for world’s sexiest bedroom. The Corfu Suite at the Blakes Hotel in London took the top spot for its “sumptuous […]