Mail Call

Q&A WITH MARY MELNICK, SOCIAL MEDIA AND EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Happy New Year! With the new year come new adventures. This year I am hoping to travel to Clearwater, Florida, for a Philadelphia Phillies spring training game. Are you planning any travel for special events?

Tell us. Email us at letters@globaltravelerusa.com

Q&A TIME

In our December 2021 issue, we asked: As the holidays approach and many of us plan on spending time with family, what were you most excited about for the holidays? A few readers wrote in:

My wife and I never liked cold weather; we try to follow warm weather and soak up the sun, even in December. Last year we were unable to travel anywhere warm because of the pandemic, but this year we booked a flight to Saint Lucia for some much-needed relaxation.

We stayed at Jade Mountain Resort for a few nights to enjoy the gorgeous views and amazing amenities, about which we have heard so many great things. My wife was particularly excited for the spa, whereas I looked forward to exploring the area and resting in the sun by the pool.

RYAN SHELTON, VIA EMAIL

Last holiday season we had a rather mellow gathering due to the pandemic, so this season we are most excited to have our family and friends come together. Sometimes we have taken our family and friends for granted, but this pandemic taught us we must cherish our time with them, and so that is exactly what we intended to do.

The vaccines allowed us to all meet up for the holidays for the first time in two years. We typically spend our Christmases in Minnesota because our children love the snow. My sister loves to host a grand Christmas feast, and so we all flew or drove to Minnesota to spend the special holiday break together.

MARLIE DAVID, VIA EMAIL

FIRST CLIMATE-POSITIVE HOTEL BRAND

In the Nov. 24 issue of eFlyerUSA, we told readers Inkaterra Hotel was named the first climatepositive hotel brand in the world by GreenInitiative. We asked: Do you think more hotel brands should strive to become climate-positive? One reader shared feedback.

After reading about this exciting announcement on Inkaterra’s accomplishment, I began researching other hotel brands on their way to becoming more sustainable and eco-friendlier in their approaches. As we hear and read more about the negative impacts of climate change, the travel industry, I believe, must adapt to help the environment and our planet so we, as travelers, can still see the world in a guilt-free manner.

If more hotel brands strive to match Inkaterra in terms of becoming climate-positive, the tourism and travel industry would see long-term benefits.

VICTORIA BELL, VIA EMAIL CONTACT GT

DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE? THOUGHTS ON A RECENT GT ARTICLE?

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JETBLUE BUNDLES FLIGHT, CRUISE, HOTEL BOOKINGS

In the Nov. 10 issue of eFlyerUSA, we told readers about JetBlue’s new initiative to allow customers to book a flight, cruise and hotel in one place. We asked: Are you more likely to fly airlines that bundle hotels and cruise lines for a smoother experience? One reader shared feedback.

There have been more trips than I can count where a flight to a cruise port was delayed and made me miss my departure time for the cruise. The difficulty in getting the cruise line and airline to communicate with one another and help me to not miss any more of my cruise was stressful and time-consuming, and I vowed never to do this sort of travel again. However, upon reading about JetBlue’s new initiative, I was curious and looked more into the details.

Long story short, I booked a flight and cruise for next year with the comfort of knowing that, should any delays or issues arise, JetBlue ensures everything is taken care of.

MIKEY WHITTAKER, VIA EMAIL Q&A TIME — AGAIN

In our November 2021 issue, we asked: What was your favorite place you’ve traveled to this year? A reader wrote in after our last issue went to print, but we still wanted to share his underrated destination suggestion:

Because travel restrictions were still quite strict earlier in the year for international travel, I decided to fly domestically and travel out West to finally visit Death Valley and the Grand Canyon.

I had seen images of both locations before, but nothing compared to actually standing there in person and taking in the vast views. Death Valley looks like another planet, and I could not get over just how dry the air and ground were (something I am not used to, coming from a city by the ocean). The Grand Canyon will forever be one of my favorite places I have visited as well, now that I can finally say I have seen the expansive system of rocks and canyons.

MALCOLM HINES, VIA EMAIL

kicking back | COOK ISLANDS

fine vines

Torrontés Tango

Argentina’s signature white will have all your senses dancing.

in an attempt to describe Torrontés, argentina’s signature white wine, some have compared it to Pinot Grigio, viognier, even Riesling. but none come close. Made from the grape of the same name, Torrontés is like no other. it begins with an aroma that conjures up a bouquet of flowers (the honeyed, perfumed Muscat of alexandria is one of its ancestors), hinting that a sweet wine will follow. but no, Torrontés goes toward dry and fruity with a tangy and spicy edge. it is the perfect aperitif and equally right with shellfish, niçoise salad, chicken, other whitemeat dishes, lightly flavored cheese and many asian foods. as americans discover this intriguing wine, they will also discover that, with a myriad of choices, even the most attractive

Torrontés usually costs under $20. and what are the most attractive Torrontés? among two dozen that i’ve recently tasted, these are my favorites. Xavier Flouret Flaca 2008 ($18) is one of the most elegant Torrontés, with a delicate floral nose that hints of apricot and peach; a dry, round, well-structured body; a fruit-filled taste Powered by and vibrant acidity; and a long, delicious finish. its Muscat ancestor comes to the fore in lo

Tengo 2009’s ($11.50) vivid, flowery aroma. it goes on to be a clearly focused, intensely flavored, bright and satisfying wine. There is a suggestion of sweet mint and an evocation of orange and peach in Finca la linda 2009’s ($11) aroma, followed by a relatively full body and excellent balance. altogether a pleasing, inviting wine. Finca el origen Reserva 2009 ($12) is clean, crisp and refreshing, offering a typical Torrontés floral flavor with pear and peach overtones and a gentle reminder of citrus fruits in the mouth. a particularly harmonious wine. The delightful Pascual Toso 2009 ($15) combines keen fruit flavors, herbal notes and a fresh lemony acidity with a trace of honey and floral tones. Following its aroma of fresh flowers and ripe fruit, Colomé 2009 ($15) is a graceful wine with citric notes reminiscent of grapefruit. 72 globaltravelerusa.com JUNE 2017 The pale-shaded Dominio del Plata’s Crios 2009 ($13.50) has a lilac-scented aroma with peach overtones followed by a dry, tangy taste. 

Art of IN THE COOK ISLANDS, on Rarotonga, I’m walking along a dusty path, edged by a plethora of plants and trees. Fat papayas hang from their umbrella-like trees; bananas, still green on the stem, invite; and mangos, ripe and ready, have Healing fallen from their roost. Blossoming bushes waft a perfume, butterflies circle halos around my head, and a stream gurgles nearby. A mother sow and her family of cartoonish piglets join me on the road. Not one but 10 roosters crow in competing symphonies — though early morning is long past. The sea lies nearby, but here, hiking inland, surrounded by steep hills and much vegetation, I feel like the only person left on Earth. Ease body, mind and soul in Luckily, I’m not. I share this walk with one of the Cook Islands’ most the natural goodness of the famous residents, a larger-than-life figure known as Uncle Pa, once a world surfing champion. Though an octogenarian, he wears long dreadlocks, treks Cook Islands. BY BECCA HENSLEY shirtless and sports a colorful sarong. With rippling muscles and the physique of a 30-year-old man, he belies aging and serves as the metaphorical poster child for his role as this island nation’s most famous healer. An herbalist or kahuna, he learned from his grandmother about the power of the plants that BEACHSIDE BLISS: grow on these less-traveled islands. Intuitive, fearless, with a foot in both the Spa treatment on the beach at Aitutaki Lagoon past and the modern world, Uncle Pa has helped thousands of people regain their health over the years. As we walk, he picks leaves, flowers, berries and PHOTO: © STEVE ALLEN | DREAMSTIME.COM fruit. He tells me how he makes elixirs or poultices from them; he lets me taste INFO TO GO

A variety of international airlines fly to Rarotonga International Airport on the Cook Islands’ main island. In December 2016 Air New Zealand began weekly non-stop flights on its comfortable Boeing 777-200 aircraft, which offers a new premium-economy option, from Los Angeles (LAX), making the trek from the United States easier than ever.

www.globaltravelerusa.com May 2011 | GLOBAL TRAVELER | 35

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