Tribes Destinations Travel Feed

Made You Look: The Quirkiest, Most Creative Tourism Marketing Campaigns of 2022

Tue, 17 Jan 23 16:50:55 +0000

Now that we’re traveling again, destinations around the world have been wooing visitors back – with promotional videos from the weird to the wild to the wonderful that have been vying for the attention of international travelers like us.

In 2022, did any of these campaigns make you look - or want to book?

Iceland Wants to “Out-Horse Your Email”

In a clever play on the word ‘outsource’, in its not only quirky, but incredibly cute video, Iceland promises to 'out-horse your email' to Icelandic ponies that have been trained to write your out of office reply while you’re on vacation in Iceland so you never get distracted from your exploration of the country. (Image, top, via youtube.)

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

'Nothing ruins your vacation like work,' explains the video, before showing seven adorable and iconic Icelandic horses hoofing it over a giant keyboard and typing emails with their toes. They’re joking – but not joking! On the tourism board’s web site dedicated to the gag, you can actually pick one of three horses to write your own out-of-office email. Visit OutHorseYourEmail.com to try it!

“Spooky” Sweden

In a tie-up with Hallowe’en, Sweden’s creative campaign called ‘Spellbound by Sweden’ includes a two-minute ‘horror’ film with ‘Sweden’ as the narrator, explaining “this place is my soul,” as she tells the tale of a man visiting a forest and encountering a traditional Swedish folklore character of an irresistible forest nymph.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

The twist on dark storytelling ‘Spellbound by Sweden’ web site explains: “We’d like to invite you to experience our country’s nature in a way you’ve never done before. Sweden’s nature has always been an integral part of our culture and played a central role in Swedish folklore. Inspired by this heritage, internationally-celebrated author John Ajvide Lindqvist has brought some of our mythological creatures to life in a chilling tale and audio story – only available for listening to in our Swedish nature.”

Happy Cheesy Belated Birthday to Vilnius, Lithuania

Admit it: you didn’t know the capital of Lithuania! The lesser-known destination is playing up its under-the-radar reputation by inviting people around the world to celebrate its 700th anniversary in 2023, even if they don't know what or where Vilnius is!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

'After most of the world forgot Vilnius' last 699 birthdays, we came up with a solution for its 700th,' the cheesy, late-night infomercial-style video says, offering up a 'belated birthday e-card collection,' with the video displaying various cards before asking you to send your own, “shamelessly and in style,” which you can actually do at this web site.

This isn’t the first quirky tourism campaign from the city that’s trying to put itself on your travel map. Previous campaigns have called the city 'the g-spot of Europe' and rewritten a Christmas carol.

Vienna: The Way to your Heart is Through your Stomach

The capital of Austria is playing up all the stomach clichés: the old wives’ advice that the ‘way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,’ Napoleon Bonaparte’s famous quip that an army ‘marches on its belly,’ and in its own short film, Vienna tourism gives visitors permission to travel on their bellies, playing up its culinary reputation.

Vienna is giving visitors permission to let themselves go during their trip to the city, with the hero of its video a walking belly (yes, that's right), which has left its fitness-focused human, Harry, because he no longer feels welcome.

Visiting Vienna’s iconic destinations and enjoying lots of food, eventually, the Belly is reunited with Harry, and they together enjoy a Viennese restaurant. 'The most beautiful way to love yourself is to indulge,' the video ends.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

No One Upstages the Grand Tour of Switzerland – Not Even Anne Hathaway and Roger Federer

Anne Hathaway and Roger Federer parkour-ing across Swiss glaciers? Synchronized swimming through a crystal-clear lake? You won’t see that in this video by Switzerland Tourism. The video portrays a film screening session where the American actor and Swiss tennis great are viewing a theoretical tourism video in which they both star, and have performed crazy feats.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

But the director has chosen only all the heroic wide shots of the scenery, with the two celebrities indistinguishably tiny in the shots, proving that even Roger Federer and Anne Hathaway can’t upstage the incredible vistas of the Grand Tour of Switzerland, a 1020 mile road trip taking visitors to 46 top attractions and past 22 lakes, 5 Alpine passes and 13 UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Find out more about the Grand Tour of Switzerland - and Switzerland’s celebrity spokesperson Roger Federer’s favorite

places at www.myswitzerland.com/roger.

Animated Australia’s Warm Welcome

In another celebrity mash-up that is a tourism take on Toy Story, Australia tourism’s quirky animated video, titled 'G'day,' stars Australian actress Rose Byrne as Ruby, a toy kangaroo (which of course, is one of the country’s iconic creatures) and Canadian actor Will Arnett as Louie, a toy unicorn (which isn’t a real creature at all, let alone Australian or even Canadian).

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

The two stuffed animals escape from a Great Barrier Reef gift shop and travel to scenic Australian destinations like Nitmiluk Gorge, Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef and the Sydney Opera House.

'Down Under, 'g'day' is the start of every good adventure,' explains Byrne at the end, in real life. 'It's our way of saying, 'If you're not a friend yet, you will be, mate.''

The People - Literally – ‘Make’ the Destination in the Philippines

No celebrities – and no actual scenery. The Philippines took a different approach with its video, deciding to not actually show any real imagery of the actual country.

Instead, dancers in second skins move in choreographed formations to recreate some of the country’s famous landscapes, projected in color onto the dancers’ bodies, to communicate to viewers and visitors that – literally - “The people make the destination – it’s more fun with you”.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

All the audio was recorded in 23 locations across the Philippines, from crashing waves in Samar to mountain hikes in the Cordilleras to T’boli instruments from South Cotobato.

START YOUR TRIP!

All images via their respective tourism authorities' videos on youtube.

Tropical, Travel-Inspired Cocktails to Ring in Your New Year

Tue, 17 Jan 23 16:50:55 +0000

Mulled wine, snowballs, and spiked eggnog may headline the list of festive favorites for many cocktail drinkers, but why not switch it up and greet the New Year by projecting your tropical travel resolutions?

Here are our picks of some sunny, island-inspired sips to take you into next year – and hold you over until your next sun-kissed vacation.

Cheers!

The Bahamas: Goombay Smash

The Goombay Smash is a rum-based cocktail with a historic pedigree in The Bahamas. While the original recipe may remain a secret, versions of the drink have spread to all of The Bahamas' major islands, impressing locals and visitors alike with its strong fruity flavor.

^{(Photo courtesy of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation)}

Recipe for a shareable pitcher:

11 oz dark rum

11 oz light rum

11 oz coconut rum

11 oz apricot brandy

46 oz pineapple juice

Mix in a pitcher before serving over ice with a fruit garnish.

St. Martin: Guavaberry Kir

Guavaberry is one of St. Martin’s most famous flavours and exports. Boasting a complex flavour profile including woody, sweet, and spicy notes, Guavaberry is carefully cultivated on both the French and Dutch sides of the island and used in jams, spreads, and spirits.

This simple cocktail, a take on a French kir royale combining black currant liqueur and champagne, highlights the incredible flavour of St. Martin’s Guavaberry Liqueur.

^{(Photo courtesy Nicola Blazier / Jesson + Company Tourism Marketing)}

Recipe for a glass:

1 oz St Maarten Guavaberry Liqueur

5 oz champagne

Pour pre-chilled liqueur into a frozen champagne glass. Top with chilled champagne and dress with a small curl of orange skin.

Antigua & Barbuda: Hibiscus Sangria

Nothing says lazing around in the sunshine like Sangria, which originated in the Mediterranean sun of Spain. This version, from Antigua and Barbuda in the Caribbean, draws on the local flavor of refreshing sorrel. Sorrel is a tangy, intensely aromatic brew with a trademark red colour derived from the plant of the same name - a close relative of Hibiscus. Sorrel drinks are the holiday drink in the Caribbean!

Recipe for a pitcher or punch bowl:

1 bottle of red wine

1 cup of sorrel juice

1/2 cup of hibiscus tea

1/2 cup of brandy or rum

Assorted fruits (pineapples, oranges, limes, grapes)

Brew your own hibiscus tea: place several (2-3 fresh or ¼ cup of dried flower) petals in a teapot and cover it with boiling water; allow to steep for approximately 5 minutes. Strain and bring to room temperature (preferably the tea should be chilled).

Combine red wine, sorrel juice, and hibiscus tea with brandy or rum in a large pitcher or punch bowl. Add sliced fruits of your choice to the mixture and let steep half a day before serving. When serving, include a mixture of the fruit.

(Pictured, top, image courtesy of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority).

Hawaii: The Mai Tai

Often mistaken as Hawaiian, tiki is actually imaginary, made of a collection of romanticized concepts of Polynesian and South Seas culture, including humanoid teak carvings, coconut shell bikini tops, grass skirts, pineapples… and powerful cocktails featuring pineapple, coconut, rum, and other tropical flavors. Tiki and tiki bars have become shorthand for ‘Pacific Island getaway’ and they abound in Hawaii.

A staple in any tiki bar, the Mai Tai is the perfect Summer drink - or your drink of choice during a visit to America’s Pacific island state. You’ll be carried to Hawaii’s clear blue waters after your first sip of this fruity concoction.

^{(Image courtesy of Hawaii Tourism)}

Recipe for a single glass:

1 oz spiced rum

1 oz coconut rum

1 tsp grenadine syrup

2 oz pineapple juice

2 oz orange juice

Combine the rums, grenadine, and juices in a cocktail mixer with ice. Shake and strain into a glass of ice. *Party Tip: make these up a pitcher at a time with a bucket of ice and garnish handy.

Garnish with wedges of fresh pineapple on a skewer topped with a cherry.

With these 4 recipes delivering up the taste of tropical travel, why not dress up in beach wear and make your NYE party tropical beach-themed!

And to actually get away from winter weather, ask us to help you plan the perfect sun-kissed, island vacation for the New Year.

Happy New Year!

Image credits as noted.

Pretty in Pink: Where to Meet the National Bird of the Bahamas

Tue, 17 Jan 23 16:50:55 +0000

The Caribbean flamingo is an iconic symbol of the tropics, with its vivid pink plumage standing out against a backdrop of turquoise waters, green palm leaves, and pastel-colored buildings. In the Bahamas, where it’s the national bird, flamingos have made a strong comeback thanks to conservation projects. The Islands of The Bahamas may be one of the best places in the world to get up close to this iconic, almost cartoon-like wading bird.

Fun facts: the same carotenoids that make carrots orange and ripe tomatoes red also make flamingos pink. They are also found in the microscopic algae that brine shrimp eat (which is why shrimp turn pink when you cook them) and as flamingos eat the algae and brine shrimp, they also turn flamingos’ feathers pink!

No wonder a group of flamingos is called a ‘flamboyance!’

Here are three of the best places in The Bahamas to see a flamboyance of flamingos in all their glory:

Ardastra Gardens, Nassau

Ardastra Gardens in Nassau (pictured, top) is the only wildlife conservation center in The Bahamas. Don’t miss the Flamingo Show which happens three times a day, when the adorable stick-legged birds march into a white-picket-fence enclosure for some up-close viewing.

So vivid and oddly shaped, it’s tempting to think of flamingos as coming from the imagination of someone like Dr. Seuss – but they are a quirky wonder of nature, and during the Flamingo Show, these majestic birds will walk right up to you with their beaks held high in an orderly procession. Don’t miss out on this stately avian parade!

Baha Mar, New Providence Island

Maybe you’ve heard of puppy yoga or even goat yoga. The Bahamas takes stretching to the next level with Flamingo Yoga! Practice your poses with the flexible-necked birds at the Baha Mar luxury resort complex.

Image Courtesy of Baha Mar

The flamingos here are known to be friendly, and at times, goofy as they try to mimic your yoga poses right next to your yoga mat! The Flamingo Yoga sessions take place on Saturday mornings and can be booked through the Baha Mar spa.

Flamingo Cay, Nassau

Flamingo Cay is a habitat that helps preserve the flamingo population. You can walk alongside the flamingos every morning as they make their leisurely way down to the white sand beach or ask about a more intimate experience at the Flamingo Encounter.

Inagua National Park, Great Inagua

Inagua National Park was established in the 1960’s by The Bahamas National Trust as a conservation project for flamingos. The 220,000 acre park is home to the world’s largest breeding colony of West Indian (Caribbean) flamingos.

Flamingos in Inagua - Image Courtesy of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation

Since the early 1900’s, there had been growing concern about the Caribbean flamingo population, and the establishment of Inagua National park helped flamingos make a comeback from the brink of extinction to a colony of over 50,000 birds today. The park is even helping increase flamingo numbers beyond The Bahamas and is now a designated and protected wetland – as well as a birdwatcher’s paradise for its tremendous flamboyance of flamingos.

Start your Trip!

Image credits as noted. Top image: Ardastra Gardens & Wildlife Conservation Centre

Mexico's Top 5 Archaeological Sites

Tue, 17 Jan 23 16:50:55 +0000

Break away from the beach and inject the wonder of history into your next vacation! Mexico’s ancient past comes alive at archaeological sites around the country that allow you to walk in the footsteps of the inhabitants of highly evolved societies who built pyramids, elaborate cities, and culture rivalling any ancient civilization in the world. Pre-Columbian (the era prior to Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the New World) archaeological sites are true wonders of the world. It’s not everywhere you can enjoy an epic beach vacation and walk back in time over a thousand years.

Every year, Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) reveals the most popular historical monuments and archaeological sites in the country.

Luckily, of the top five, many can be visited from your beach resort or cruise port of call.

1. Chichén Itzá in Yucatán

More than 2 million people visited Mexico’s most famous archaeological and UNESCO World Heritage site this year, making it the most popular historic site in the country. On the Yucatan peninsula, it’s easily accessible from resorts or cruise ports in Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

Chichén Itzá is the ruins of a 4 square mile ancient Mayan city that was once home to 35,000 people and was a religious, military, political and commercial center that dates back 1500 years.

The most spectacular remains are of El Castillo (The Castle), a pyramid rising nearly 80 feet above the city’s Main Plaza. The four-sided pyramid has 91 steps on each side, with a top step that combine for a total of 365 steps – the number of days in a solar year. El Castillo is perfectly aligned with compass directions, and during spring and fall equinoxes (the days of the year when there are equal hours of light and darkness), shadows cast by a setting sun create an appearance of a snake on the staircases – reflecting the carving of the major snake god carved at the top.

Chichén Itzá also has the largest ball court in the Americas, a site 545 feet long and 223 feet wide, where Mayans played tlachtli. It was not a game for the faint-hearted, as carvings on the walls show victors holding the severed head of a member of the losing team.

And don’t miss the Temple of the Jaguars, which once roamed the area and whose form is still represented in front of the imposing building.

2. Teotihuacán in the State of Mexico

About an hour north of Mexico City, Teotihuacán is another vast UNESCO World Heritage Site that normally takes top spot on the most-visited list but was edged out by Chichén Itzá this year.

Teotihuacán is even older than Chichén Itzá, with its famous Pyramid of the Sun believed to have been constructed around 200 AD – 300 years before Chichén Itzá. Historically, it may be even more significant. With a population of 125,000 at its peak before 500 AD, it is believed to be the sixth-largest city in the world for its times. Its masterpieces, still standing today, including the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon with the Avenue of the Dead joining them, represent the greatest architectural achievements of the pre-Columbian era in the Americas. It’s also anthropologically important in that the city also build complex, multi-floor and multi-family residential compounds.

Don’t miss the sensational murals or the chance to take a hot air balloon ride over the ruins to get a completely different perspective and awe at the vastness of the Teotihuacán site. (Pictured, top)

3. Tulum in Quintana Roo

The 3^rd most-visited historic ruins in Mexico this year registered more foreign visitors than Mexican nationals; no wonder since they are so close to popular resorts. Tulum’s archaeological sites are less than 3 miles from Tulum’s town center, less than an hour from Playa, and only one and a half hours from Cancun.

Tulum is the only Mayan city built on a coast – and one of the few protected by a wall, an imposing limestone structure over 2500 feet long and up to 16 feet high.

Much ‘younger’ than Chichén Itzá or Teotihuacán, Tulum dates from the 1200’s. The ‘Castillo,’ or Castle, is perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea, thought to have been built as a watch tower. The Temple of the Frescoes is one of the best-preserved buildings with restored murals representing three levels of the Mayan world: the dead, the living, and the gods. Above the doorway of the temple is a figure with a bird’s wings and tail diving – believed to represent a Mayan god who protected the people.

4. Monte Albán in Oaxaca

Believed to date from an incredible 8^th century BC, Monte Albán is in on high ground in the hills of Oaxaca. The nearest resort area is Huatulco on the coast half a day’s drive away.

Four square miles of the site are occupied by pyramids, temples, terraces, plazas and canals. The Grand Plaza has massive platform mounds at either end, and you can also see a ball-playing court, underground passageways and the most elaborate tombs yet uncovered in the Americas.

5. Palenque in Chiapas

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Palenque’s historic ruins and surrounding jungle together make up the Palenque National Park, which is home to howler monkeys and jaguars.

The site is 400 miles from the Riviera Maya, so you need a three-day round trip from your beach resort to see a site that rivals Chichén Itzá’s importance, especially as its Temple of Inscriptions, with hieroglyphic writings, attest to the mythology and history of the Mayan people. Palenque is also home to a 160 foot-long canal crossing the city that was the first pressurized canal in the world.

Less than 10% of the site, which dates to 200 BC, has been excavated, so many more mysteries and wonders from Palenque have yet to be revealed.

Start your Trip!

Images via Getty

Did you Know? The Leaning Tower of Pisa is... 'Straightening Up!'

Tue, 17 Jan 23 16:50:55 +0000

Will it soon be named the Perfectly Ordinary Tower of Pisa? Will the Tuscan city whose claim to fame is an off-kilter tower fall into obscurity without tourists keen to snap photos of themselves pretending to prop up the Tower of Pisa?

Those are the questions we’re asking ourselves with the news that the so-called Leaning Tower of Pisa is creeping upright.

The cause for the notorious tilt in what may be the world’s most famous architectural fail was a mystery for hundreds of years. Building on the now-famous bell tower began in the late 1100’s, and the 186-foot structure began to sink on one side even while under construction.

With the benefit of modern science and technology, experts now say it was due to an insufficient foundation in weak, unstable soil, which was also softer on the tower’s southern side. In a rare case of artisanal sloppiness in the Middle Ages, the builders just kept going, building the tower eight stories high while attempting to compensate for the southern tilt by making the floors shorter on the north side.

Nice try! Rather than leveling it up, they succeeded in making the bell tower of Pisa curved as well as leaning.

In the centuries since, the Leaning Tower of Pisa has become one of Italy’s most famous landmarks. Unlike Italy’s stunning architectural masterpieces, though, it has stood out for its massive–and increasing! Imperfection–a tilt of over 16 feet and a subsistence of 10 feet!

A 'Stand-Up' Tower

By 1990, its now-5.5 degree lean made officials fearful the whole structure would just topple over. So the Leaning Tower of Pisa was closed to the public–and a stabilization program began to save it from literal ruin.

11 years later, after work involving excavations, temporary steel cables, and draining ground water, stabilization work was complete. It was declared a success: straightening the tower by 15 whole inches. Shortly thereafter, the Leaning Tower of Pisa was pronounced stable, expected to ‘stand’ the test of time for at least a couple of hundred more years.

Cue the cheering – but the story’s not over yet.

Experts have now concluded that the Leaning Tower of Pisa is still ‘straightening up.’

Even after active stabilization ceased, the tower has continued to correct itself. Recently, with new technology, experts were able to confirm that the tower has straightened an additional 1.6 inches on its own since work ceased.

That seems tiny, and it is, but now the tower is ‘only’ just under 4 degrees off vertical.

And experts say they believe that the Leaning Tower of Pisa will one day straighten up completely!

But would a perfectly straight Tower of Pisa have the same allure for travelers? Only time will tell.

Would you go to visit a Tower of Pisa that wasn’t leaning? Luckily, there are a lot of other reasons to visit Tuscany and Italy even without the tale and evidence of botched construction!

Start your Trip to Italy!

Image: CentralITAlliance/ Getty Images

On the Night Train: How to Jump On Board One of European Travel’s Hottest Trends

Tue, 17 Jan 23 16:50:55 +0000

Europe is banning short hopper flights in a battle against emissions. The move is sparking a rail revival – and particularly a renaissance of night trains. This is something to celebrate, if you love rail journeys as much as we do.

Not just for the reduction in greenhouse gases; although Eurostar says that flying from London to Paris emits 14 times more CO2 than traveling the same route by train.

But also to renew our acquaintance with the rhythm of the rails and the soothing clackety-clack that can give you (especially with proper beds and premium bedding) some of your best sleeps ever!

You may be torn about night trains, with a fear of missing out on one-of-a-kind vistas famously delivered on some of Europe’s most scenic train routes. But if you think about it, you wouldn’t have seen that scenery if you flew between European cities on your travels, either.

Plus, some new sleeper train routes are long enough for you to get the best of both worlds, with daylight travel time on either end. And you can mix your European odyssey up, planning sleeper trains for some routes and reserving daylight itineraries for the most spectacular.

Another bonus of train travel is that you arrive in the heart of Europe’s city centers, saving yourself the time, hassle and expense of airport transfers.

From start ups that shake up the formula of night trains with sleek, contemporary designs and local gastronomy, to national rail companies developing new offerings specifically for the new boom in sleeper rail travel around Europe, here are some new and upcoming rail journeys that may open your eyes to why you should embrace the European rail renaissance and ask your trusted travel advisor about some of your best options for your next trip.

Vienna – Salzburg – Munich – Paris

Vienna – Genoa and La Spezia onwards to Monaco, Nice, and Cinque Terre

NightJet

Austria’s national railway is leading the pack in the return of sleeper trains, growing a network of night trains to over two dozen cities in more than a dozen countries on its service called NightJet, which has been around, anticipating the rail revival, since 2016.

Countries connected via this large and growing Austrian sleeper train network include Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland. The overnight Vienna – Paris journey takes about 14 hours.

Until recently, there have been three classes of service in single, double or triple cabins with either a sink or a powder room, or couchettes for four or six passengers and shared facilities, with breakfast for sleeper cabin guests.

In 2023, new trains bring first-class service including charging stations and included wifi, sports equipment storage and private compartments with their own showers and lavatories.

Stockholm – Copenhagen - Hamburg

EuroNight

Sweden’s SJ Trains debuted renewable-energy-powered EuroNight service in 2022 from Stockholm to Hamburg, Germany. In its inaugural season, the train departed at 5:30 p.m. and arrived at 6:30am, passing through Copenhagen en route.

Overnight accommodations range from a seat in a carriage to a bed in a shared couchette to private compartments for two with a sink or a private compartments for three with a shower, toilet and even breakfast. Some compartments are also pet friendly.

Prague to Zurich

CD

Czech national rail company CD launched new sleeper train service between Prague and Zurich via Frankfurt and Basel in late 2022. You can take your pick of deluxe sleeper compartments with private toilets and showers or six-person couchettes for your 14-hour night train to Switzerland.

Brussels – Amsterdam - Berlin

European Sleeper

The new Belgian-Dutch ‘social cooperative,’ European Sleeper, launches in spring 2023 with its first route: Brussels to Berlin via Amsterdam, with service extending further east to Prague in the following year.

Rome – Paris/ Split / Istanbul

Orient Express

With the legendary name of Agatha Christie fame, the Orient Express (not to be confused with ultra-luxury Belmond’s Venice-Simplon Orient Express) launches in 2023 with six new trains in Italy offering six scenic itineraries through Italy’s best landscapes - plus three international itineraries through eight countries, linking Rome to Paris, Istanbul and Split, Croatia.

The rail experience is inspired by Italian mid-century glamor, with deluxe cabins, suites and a restaurant with fine dining and award-winning Italian wines.

Paris – Venice / Milan

Midnight Trains

This French start-up is bringing next-gen, upscale, ultra-modern sleeper cars to 13 European cities from its hub in Paris beginning in 2024, reportedly starting with service to the northern Italian cities of Venice and Milan.

The company says the experience will offer choices of all-private cars with compartments - including facilities - designed for solo travelers, couples or family/ groups traveling together. As the train pulls out of the station in Paris mid-evening, guests can relax in a dining room, bar or even their rooms with room service to enjoy local and seasonal cuisine, craft cocktails, beer and wine.

Following a luxurious night’s sleep embraced by premium bedding, you’ll arrive downtown in cities like Barcelona, Berlin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, Milan, and Venice the next morning.

Eyes Wide Open: New Daytime Trains to Watch

Slovenia – Graz - Budapest

Hungarian Railways

Launched in late 2021, Hungarian Railways’ train itinerary from Ljubljana, Slovenia to Budapest via Graz, Austria leaves at dawn and again later in the morning for an approximately 8-hour scenic daylight rail journey to Hungary.

Milan - Paris

Frecciarossa

The Italian national train operator's high-speed rail division Frecciarossa launched upscale service between Milan and Paris in late 2021. The new, 7-hour rail journey is both faster and cushier than prior train service between the two destinations, especially if you splurge on the highest class of fares that gets you a plush armchair for your journey.

Madrid - Valencia

Ouigo

France national railway-owned Ouigo debuted high-speed rail service between Madrid and Valencia in late 2022. It has plans to add more Spanish destinations including Cordoba, Seville, Malaga and the Costa del Sol.

Start Your European Trip!

By: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel journalist and expert.

Image: Artur Sniezhyn / Getty Images

Viking's Newest Ocean Ship Named by NASA Astronaut and Aquanaut Godmother

Tue, 17 Jan 23 16:50:55 +0000

Viking Neptune, the river and ocean cruise line’s newest ocean ship, has been ceremonially named by her godmother, retired NASA astronaut, aquanaut and artist, Nicole Stott. The ship’s naming ceremony was a highlight for its World Cruise guests.

Viking Neptune arrived in Los Angeles on the morning of January 8 and departed for Honolulu following its naming ceremony, continuing its voyage from Fort Lauderdale to London spanning 138-days, 28 countries and 57 ports, with overnight stays in 11 cities.

The naming of the 930-guest Viking Neptune also comes as the company continues celebrating its 25^th anniversary.

“Today is a proud day for the entire Viking family as we name our newest ocean ship in Los Angeles, the home of Viking’s U.S. office for more than 20 years,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “The Viking Neptune is a ship named for both the furthest planet in our solar system and the god of the sea—and our newest Viking godmother, Nicole Stott, as a NASA astronaut and aquanaut, also has connections to space and the sea. We are grateful for her many contributions to the scientific community and are proud to have her as part of the Viking family.”

A veteran NASA astronaut, Nicole Stott’s experience includes two spaceflights and 104 days spent living and working in space on the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS). She has performed one space walk and was the first person to fly the robotic arm to capture the free-flying HTV cargo vehicle, the last crew member to fly to and from their ISS mission on a Space Shuttle, and a member of the final flight crew of Space Shuttle Discovery. Nicole is also a NASA aquanaut who lived and worked on the Aquarius Undersea Habitat for 18 days.

Nicole Stott is the author of Back to Earth: What Life In Space Taught Me About Our Home Planet – And Our Mission To Protect It. Also an artist, Nicole painted the first watercolor painting in space—and is a co-founder of the Space for Art Foundation, which unites a planetary community of children through the awe and wonder of space exploration and the healing power of art. Through her work, Nicole inspires everyone’s appreciation of our role as crewmates here on “spaceship” Earth.

As ceremonial godmother of the Viking Neptune, Stott offered a blessing of good fortune and safe sailing for the ship—a maritime tradition that dates back thousands of years. “It is an honor and privilege to be the godmother of the new Viking Neptune. As someone who has been blessed to explore space, the ocean, and some of the otherworldly places on our planet, I understand the importance of broadening one’s horizons through travel. I am very excited for all those who journey around the world on this elegant vessel,” she said.

In keeping with Viking’s Scandinavian heritage and naming traditions, during the ceremony Nicole used a historic Viking broad axe to cut a ribbon that allowed a bottle of Norwegian aquavit to break on the ship’s hull.

More About the Viking Neptune

The Viking Neptune is the newest ship in Viking’s award-winning ocean fleet of 8 identical sister ships. In April, 2023, Viking will also welcome another new ocean ship, the Viking Saturn. The Scandinavia-design ships with light-filled public spaces and ample al fresco dining options are home to 930 guests in all veranda staterooms.

Although identical to Viking’s other ocean ships, the Viking Neptune is uniquely equipped with a small hydrogen fuel system, making it the cruise industry’s first ship to test the use of hydrogen power for on board operations. Viking is using the small system as a test to determine how hydrogen fuel could be used at a larger scale in future new builds.

Start Your Viking Cruise!

Image courtesy of Viking: Three Viking “godsisters” together in Los Angeles–Nicole Stott, godmother of the Viking Neptune; Karine Hagen, godmother of the Viking Sea; and Sissel Kyrkjebø, godmother of the Viking Jupiter—with Geir Rovik and Viking Neptune Captain Erik Saabye.

Three New Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts Let You Holiday in Style in Latin America

Tue, 17 Jan 23 16:50:55 +0000

Waldorf Astoria hotels’ name and hospitality still reflect its founding family, the legendary Astors, who for more than a century were the pinnacle of American high society. The Astor legacy of good living is expanding worldwide and especially in Latin America, where three new Waldorf Astoria hotels and resorts are setting new standards in travel style.

CANCUN, MEXICO

The Waldorf Astoria Cancun opened in November 2022. The 173-room ultra-luxury resort is set on 100 acres of idyllic Caribbean coastline with panoramic views of the ocean from every room, which also all have private balconies and an outdoor soaking tub.

It’s the second Waldorf-Astoria Hotel & Resort in Mexico, joining Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, but it’s the company’s first newly built property in Mexico.

The room-with-a-view theme continues throughout the resort. All of its five restaurants, even the ballroom, are ocean view. The resort’s design also reflects the sea, with bluestone and carpeting that evokes waves. Guests have a sense of quiet luxury and a sense of place, with refined craftsmanship in tropical woods, raw and polished finishes, pearlescent inlays and other glowing touches like warm metals. The signature Waldorf Astoria lobby clock includes marble, mother-of-pearl, and gem-like finishes. The immense spa offers indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, an outdoor pool and garden.

SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, MEXICO

A third Waldorf Astoria in Mexico opens in 2025, another custom-built property, this time in the colonial city in Mexico’s inland mountains sought after by luxury travelers in the know for its art and social scene, architecture, and history.

Waldorf Astoria San Miguel de Allende will offer 120 hotel guest rooms, wellness-inspired amenities, including a state-of-the-art fitness center with yoga and meditation areas, a lavish and restorative destination-inspired spa, and a rooftop space with pools and relaxation areas with stunning views of the city.

An on-site art gallery and local artisan crafts store will also welcome guests, while family travelers will have access to the hotel’s kids and teens club. The hotel’s culinary excellence complements the array of amenities, to be experienced across three restaurants, two bars and a coffee shop.

Image: Waldorf Astoria San Miguel de Allende, courtesy of Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos.

GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA

The first Waldorf Astoria Hotel & Resorts property in Costa Rica, the new-build Waldorf Astoria Guanacaste (pictured top), also opens in 2025 in a tropical eco-paradise. The 190-guest resort will focus on sustainable luxury with an emphasis on architecture that blends into the dramatic scenery, lush forests and beautiful beaches of its surroundings, and connecting guests with the natural environment. All resort vehicles will be electric.

Waldorf Astoria Guanacaste on the 200 miles of coastline of the Cacique peninsula will offer the perfect backdrop for adventure seekers, sunbathers and nature lovers alike with the area’s impressive volcanic landscapes, intimate beach coves and tropical forests.

Boasting panoramic, sweeping views overlooking the ocean, Waldorf Astoria Guanacaste will feature 190 luxurious guest rooms and suites, culinary excellence, a wellness center with outdoor yoga, and lap and thermal pools, and a cenote-inspired spa with outdoor treatment rooms emulating a tree house.

Start Your Latin America Trip!

Images courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Hotel & Resorts

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Mon, 16 Jan 23 17:42:56 +0000

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Mon, 16 Jan 23 17:36:57 +0000

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