March 2022 Global Traveler

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ABU DHABI p. 56 ADELAIDE p. 62 ANCHORAGE p. 54 BUENOS AIRES p. 68 COLORADO p. 64 GLASGOW p. 58 GUAYAQUIL p. 48 THAI ISLANDS p. 72 THESSALONIKI p. 60

GT TESTED READER SURVEY AWARDS EVENT RECAP p. 32

FABLED FJORDS

Mythic waters overflow with beauty and legend in Scandinavia. p. 70

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR ®

On an Adventure: Kimberly traveling PHOTO: © KIMBERLY KROL INLANDER

Ready to Roam

A

s I stood at the entrance to The Peninsula Beverly Hills’s Verandah room to welcome our guests to the 18th annual GT Tested Reader Survey awards, I could sense everyone’s excitement and smiles (even under masks!) at being back to the business of in-person events. Reuniting together at a favorite, familiar space after two years apart brought a special energy to the party. I think that buzz is evident in the photos from the night, which you can enjoy on the following pages. Turn to page 32 for more on the night’s festivities.

You can also view more photos, videos and interviews from the night on our social media channels.

Find us on Twitter (@gtmag), Facebook, Instagram (@globaltravelermag), LinkedIn and more to check them out. If you are already a devoted follower on our social media, you’ve noticed we’ve made changes to our accounts to allow us to better serve you — stay tuned for more. We hope you also explore the social

media channels of our sister brands, trazeetravel.com (@ trazeetravel) and wherever family.com (@whereverfamily).

And if there’s more you’d like to see us do across social media — even if that means coordinating a company-wide TikTok dance — send your suggestions to our social media coordinator, Mary Melnick, at mary.melnick@ globaltravelerusa.com.

I think you’ll all really love our article on page 42 highlighting influential women in the travel industry; I know I did. Learn more about the inspiring stories of women such as Harriett Chalmers Adams, Jeanne Baret, Elizabeth Cochran Seaman, Freya Stark, Krystyna ChojnowskaLiskiewicz and more. March marks International Women’s Day, and as always, I am in awe of the amazing women I come across in my daily life. My travels have introduced me to some savvy fellow female travelers, many of whose work you will read on the following pages. It’s an honor to work at a women-led company. I’m proud to lead an editorial team of smart, strong, exceptional women: Tracey, Jan, Patty, Katie, Mary and Aoife, thank you for inspiring me every day. As the famous quote says, Here’s to strong women: May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.

—Anonymous We also take off around the globe in this issue to Guayaquil, Ecuador; Anchorage, Alaska; Abu Dhabi; Glasgow, Scotland; Thessaloniki, Greece; Adelaide, Australia; Colorado; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Scandinavia; and the Thai islands. Join us next month as we look at the best credit cards for travel in 2022 and take a bucket-list journey through some of our national parks. Until then, keep traveling and inspiring!

EDITORIAL Editor In Chief Kimberly Krol Inlander kim.krol@globaltravelerusa.com Vice President/Digital Director Katie Skrzek katie.skrzek@globaltravelerusa.com Senior Editor Janice Hecht jan.hecht@globaltravelerusa.com Associate Editor/Copy Editor Patricia Vanikiotis patty.vanikiotis@globaltravelerusa.com Social Media & Editorial Coordinator Mary Melnick mary.melnick@globaltravelerusa.com Associate Editor Aoife O’Riordan aoife.oriordan@globaltravelerusa.com ART Art Director Tracey Cullen tracey.cullen@globaltravelerusa.com Staff Photographer Christopher P. Ottaunick christopher@globaltravelerusa.com Special Events Video Editor Vance Piccin

COLUMNISTS Jack Guy Kelly Magyarics WRITERS Kristy Alpert Susan Barnes Ron Bernthal Teresa Bitler

Debra Bokur Marlene Goldman Jack Guy Eugenia Lazaris Kelly Magyarics Greg McCluney Sheryl Nance-Nash Richard Newton Terry Ward

For complete bios visit globaltravelerusa.com

CIRCULATION Special Projects Manager John Wroblewski Specialist Louie Atsaves Managers Jayhawk Evans, Mark P. Ford, Teresa Jackson, Anthony “Scraps” Dimera Circulation Director Michele Shannon Circulation Manager Anna Pudzianowski Research Consultant Sharon Sterne ADVISORY BOARD Chairman Michael Donahue COO Michael Kiely President Carlos Cappuccio Deputy Vice President Aviation Edward Jefferson Deputy Vice President Accommodations Stephen Doherty Deputy Director Destinations Wayne Tallman Vice President Special Events/Photography Christopher Ottaunick Secretary Mark Lane Research Director Frank LoVerme Director of Technology Bob Hancock Director of Digital Advancement Jared Torgan Vice President of Corporate Giving Jim Bolger Director of Emerging Markets & New Business Frank Wood

GENERAL COUNSEL Thomas F. Goldman CONTACT US General Inquiries/Issue Requests/Reprints info@globaltravelerusa.com Subscriptions tel 818 286 3134 | gbtcs@magserv.com

Kimberly Krol Inlander Editor in Chief

Public Relations kim.krol@globaltravelerusa.com Letters to the Editor letters@globaltravelerusa.com Global Traveler is published monthly by FXExpress Publications, Inc., 309 Floral Vale Blvd., Yardley, PA 19067. The U.S. subscription rate is $42 for one year, $79.95 for two years, $121.95 for three years.

As of publication, the destinations and venues mentioned in this issue were planning to reopen or are currently operating, but many may have restrictions or limitations in place to address current public health concerns. Always check in advance to confirm current requirements and restrictions.

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LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER ®

ADVERTISING Publisher/CEO Francis X. Gallagher tel 215 919 8988 | fran.gallagher@globaltravelerusa.com Advertising Manager Haley Fogarty tel 215 932 0284 | haley.fogarty@globaltravelerusa.com Account Executive Western Region and Asia Maria Angeles tel 215 932 1621 | maria.angeles@globaltravelerusa.com Account Executive Southern Region and the Caribbean Carrie Cox tel 215 932 0861 | carrie.cox@globaltravelerusa.com Account Executive Mexico Mariana Zenizo tel 52 55 6560 1152 | marzenizo@gmail.com Advertising and Production Manager Yasser Ogando tel 267 884 1650 | yasser.ogando@globaltravelerusa.com

Hit or Miss: Francis enjoying a round of golf (left), and a room service meal that wasn’t up to par PHOTOS: © FRANCIS X. GALLAGHER, © MIKE RUSSO

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Back on Track

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f exemplary service and luxury travel are to survive, we will need to demand them. Globility Board member Mike Russo recently sent me a picture of his room service meal during a five-night stay at El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort. He said the rest of the hotel was terrific, but the room service left much to be desired. Although the quality of the food was high, the service and presentation were poor, to say the least. This reminded me of my stay last July at Hilton Los Angeles Airport. The room service was similar if not worse — hardly edible. Time for the industry to address these standards and make improvements.

I was pleased this was not the case in December at The Peninsula Beverly Hills. I ordered room service the final day, and it was delivered as one would expect, on china and by friendly staff — on par with a fine restaurant.

This makes a nice segue into our GT Tested Reader Survey awards gala at The Peninsula Beverly Hills Dec. 14, when we gathered to honor the reader-voted winners, who pride themselves on their attention to detail and service. As we come out of the COVID-19 crisis, it is a fine time to return to fine service. As airlines return to better in-flight catering, menus and wine, we hope this is a signal the Global Traveler Wines on the Wing business- and first-class wine competition can resume in 2022. We are fielding airlines’ participation.

The Peninsula put on a superb spread for our event, and a perennial favorite, Peking duck, proved a big hit.

Please see the recap article on page 32 featuring great photos of the winners and, well, everyone having a good time — evidence of our dedication to get back to

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face-to-face meetings and events. Be sure to check out our videos of the event and interviews with winners on our social media platforms. Our team worked tirelessly to produce them for your enjoyment.

We feel 2022 will see a further resumption of travel, especially as countries work on reopening and more people around the world are vaccinated. In the past several weeks I have had many meetings with top players in the business and luxury fields, including IHG Hotels & Resorts, United Airlines, oneworld and others, indicating we are learning to deal with and work around issues to turn the flow of travel back on.

Tourism Ireland launched the theme “Press the Green Button” to welcome back tourism. Who does not want to travel to Ireland?

I am pleased to announce our launch of a more user-friendly digital edition of Global Traveler, which nicely complements our print edition. We will also add a special WhereverFamily digital edition in May and a Trazee Travel digital edition in October, designed to complement their respective websites, whereverfamily .com and trazeetravel.com. More than 500,000 subscribers will enjoy access to these two special digital issues.

So let’s applaud the industry’s return to great luxury and service and, as consumers, let’s demand it. Enjoy your next destination!

Australia Charlton D'Silva tel 61 2 9252 3476 | charlton.dsilva@pubintl.com.au France Géraldine Roger tel 33 1 88 32 62 61 | cell 33 7 81 22 02 36 | groger@asset-media.com India Vimal Anand tel 91 124 4932020 | cell 91 98100 71000 | vimal@gmnindia.com Indonesia Sarah Hutabarat tel 62 21 29704008 | sarah@mediaman.co.id Japan Yoshinori Ikeda tel 81 3 3661 6138 | yoshinori.ikeda@pacific-business.com Korea Jeff Hwang tel 82 31 702 7782 | cell 82 010 6347 9117 | gng@gngcom.co.kr Malaysia Ester Chai tel 60 3 7722 1968 | esther@fitzgerald.com.my Singapore Peggy Thay tel 65 83768345 | peggy.thay@pubintl.sg Slovak Republic (Eastern Europe) Zorka Sipkova tel 421 948094611 | zorka.sipkova@pubintl.eu South America and the Caribbean (excluding Peru and Colombia) Ana Torres de Navarra tel 305 205 3303 | ana@colibri-media.com Spain Olga Martínez tel 34 91 320 0497 | cell 34 669 10 12 73 olga.martinez@aboutim.es Taiwan Keith Lee tel 886 2 2523 8268 | leekh@ms4.hinet.net Thailand Janya Limmanee tel 66 2 0514694 | janya.l@jpp-thailand.com Turkey Elif Mengu cell 90 532 255 83 24 | elif@catalyzismedia.com United Arab Emirates (UAE) Rosy Kachouh Nawfal cell 971 55 607 8163 | rosy@i-repme.com

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March 2022

CONTENTS

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32 features

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PLUS:

March 2022

ABU DHABI p. 56 ADELAIDE p. 62 ANCHORAGE p. 54 BUENOS AIRES p. 68 COLORADO p. 64 GLASGOW p. 58 GUAYAQUIL p. 48 THAI ISLANDS p. 72 THESSALONIKI p. 60

GT TESTED READER SURVEY AWARDS EVENT RECAP p. 32

32

Above and Beyond Global Traveler celebrates the 2021 winners of the GT Tested Reader Survey awards.

42

FABLED FJORDS

Mythic waters overflow with beauty and legend in Scandinavia. p. 70

COVER PHOTO: SOGNEFJORD IN NORWAY PHOTO: © ALEFRA1994 | DREAMSTIME.COM

Inspiring Journeys Follow in the footsteps of adventurous women who made travel history.

business destinations 48

Destination One: Guayaquil Transformational projects boost Guayaquil’s international allure.

54

58

9–5: Glasgow Engage business contacts with culinary and cultural adventures in Glasgow.

60

After 5: Thessaloniki When the sun goes down, Thessaloniki comes to life.

Stateside: Anchorage Anchorage opens the door to all that is wild in Alaska.

56

MICE: Abu Dhabi Ambitious, adaptable Abu Dhabi brings people together in a big way.

MARCH 2022 globaltravelerusa.com

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March 2022

CONTENTS

in every issue 10 14 16 18

Mail Call News Reviews One on One Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills Technology Wine & Spirits Spas Golf Chefs Cruising Diversity Airport Update Ecotourism Sports Preview

20 21 24 26 28 30 76 78 80 81 82

70

70

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leisure destinations 62

Neighborhoods: Adelaide Adelaide’s West End thrives as a hip urban hub close to nature.

64

Friends & Family: Colorado For family ski fun, Snowmass and Beaver Creek steal the show.

68 70

Bucket List: Fjords of Scandinavia Mythic waters overflow with beauty and legend in Scandinavia.

72

Kicking Back: Thai Islands Discover plenty to smile about in Thailand’s exotic islands.

FX

EXPRESS

P U B L I C AT I O N S , I N C .

Global Traveler and Globility are registered trademarks of Global Traveler magazine and of its parent company, FXExpress Publications, Inc. Global Traveler is not affiliated with any commercial interests within the travel industry. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor can the publisher accept responsibility for errors or omissions. The magazine cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited articles, photographs or other material. AAM member 04-0361-2. AAM audited circulation 111,517. ISSN 1551-7187 ©2022 FXExpress Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of text, photographs or illustrations without permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

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PHOTO: © LUKASZ JANYST | DREAMSTIME.COM

Tours: Buenos Aires Hit the highlights with online itineraries and the city’s free app.

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MAIL CALL

Q&A WITH JANICE HECHT, SENIOR EDITOR With the anticipated return to international travel, many people once again plan special trips they postponed during the pandemic. I, for one, dream of returning to Ireland and seeing Scotland for the first time. Are you planning to visit a bucket-list destination or celebrate a milestone by traveling abroad this year?

Tell us. Email us at letters@globaltravelerusa.com

In our January/February 2022 issue, we asked: Are you planning any travel for special events this year? A few readers wrote in: My wife and I scheduled a trip to Bermuda this summer as we have both wanted to go there for several years and experience Bermuda Carnival. We love vacations near the beach and always dreamed of seeing the famous pink-sand beaches of Bermuda in person.

I also love to see marine life up close, so I hope to take a few snorkeling trips to spot some colorful fish and reefs. My wife has had a fascination with caves since she was a kid, and when we discovered Bermuda is home to some of the most beautiful, we made a plan to see these spectacular caverns. We are beyond excited to not only relax but also to explore the island and create amazing memories.

TIMMY DAVIS, VIA EMAIL My niece is getting married this summer and, to my delight, decided to have a destination wedding with her closest family and friends. She and her fiancé decided to host an intimate ceremony in Hawai’i on Waikiki Beach. They have always loved the beach and wanted to do something extra special for their wedding.

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My husband and I will fly over and stay at Hilton Hawai’ian Village Waikiki Beach Resort along with some of our other relatives. My niece plans to have her wedding on the very beach she and her fiancé once walked several years ago, and the ceremony venue will be decked out with flowers and elegant fabric. I have never been to Hawai’i and am thrilled to be able to see the beauty of the state.

ALYSON HESS, VIA EMAIL

Q&A TIME — AGAIN In our December 2021 issue we asked: As the holidays approach and many of us plan on spending time with family, what are you most excited about for the holidays this year? A reader wrote in after our last issue went to print, but we still wanted to share her thoughts: My husband, children and I booked a threeday Bahama cruise for the end of December with Royal Caribbean.

We initially planned this cruise for last December, but the pandemic put a halt on all travels. Now that cruises are back up and running and require passengers to be vaccinated, my entire family not only had a safe trip but were so excited to visit the Bahamas for the first time.

STACIE PHELPS, VIA EMAIL

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MAIL CALL

MEDICAL TOURISM

Health Connections

HEALTH CONNECTIONS: COMBINE MEDICAL VISITS WITH CROATIA’S WORLD-CLASS WELLNESS CULTURE

Combine medical visits with Croatia’s world-class wellness culture. BY DEBRA BOKUR

PHOTO: © GEORGERUDY | DREAMSTIME.COM

B

ordered by the Adriatic Sea, Croatia’s natural beauty, history and wellness offerings have made it a sought-after destination for health-minded explorers.

Travelers who long to experience the culture of grand spas and thermal springs are perpetually drawn here, and medical tourists have grown aware of Croatia’s desirability as a destination for affordable surgical procedures available at respected hospitals and clinics.

Dentistry is one of the major draws bringing medical tourists to the shores of this scenic country, along with cosmetic procedures, oncology, dermatology, ophthalmology and stem cell research and services. As a built-in bonus, the country’s many leisure offerings, from historic castle tours to excursions along trails through peaceful forests, provide an ideal setting for recovery.

The recipient of multiple awards for excellence, including accolades from the European Commission, St. Catherine Specialty Hospital in Zagreb was recently named a Scientific Center of Excellence for Personalized Medicine in the Republic of Croatia.

Offering advanced diagnostics, a variety of orthopedic procedures, sports medicine and spinal surgeries, the hospital acts as a teaching hospital affiliated with several major medical universities and medical centers.

The Specialty Hospital Medico in Rijeka, which attained accreditation from the American Accreditation Commission International, provides care in the areas of radiology, dermatology and venerology, plastic surgery, gastroenterology, pulmonology, cardiology, nephrology, endocrinology, gynecology, urology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, otorhinolaryngology and neurology. This private hospital is also the teaching center for University of Rijeka School of Medicine.

Naturally, choosing a hospital meeting the highest standards should be rule of thumb. The U.S. Department of State notes the quality of medical care at some facilities — including public hospitals and clinics — may vary to a large degree. The State Department also cautions before signing on any dotted lines for a surgical procedure, you should be aware that in the event of malpractice within Croatia’s medical system, legal options for foreigners are limited.

Medical travelers should also verify emergency medical facilities are available at their clinic or hospital of choice.

As a prep for a hospital stay or once you’re through with the

In our November 2021 issue, Debra Bokur wrote a piece on Croatian health care in our former Medical Tourism column. One reader, Jennifer Edwards, wrote in asking for more information regarding the article: “I’m very much interested in stem cell treatment and wondered if writer Debra Bokur came across any reputable facilities that offer that.”

Bokur responded: DENTISTRY IS ONE OF THE MAJOR DRAWS BRINGING MEDICAL TOURISTS TO THE SHORES OF THIS SCENIC COUNTRY, ALONG WITH COSMETIC PROCEDURES,

Croatia is one of the European countries making significant investments in stem cell research and therapies. Two of the hospitals mentioned in the story are at the forefront of this study and practice: the award-winning St. Catherine Specialty Hospital in Zagreb, recognized by the European Commission; and Specialty Hospital Medico in Rijeka, which also serves as the University of Rijeka School of Medicine’s teaching center.

ONCOLOGY, DERMATOLOGY, OPHTHALMOLOGY AND STEM CELL RESEARCH AND SERVICES.

business side of your journey, you can address the gentler side of wellness at one of Croatia’s legendary thermal or mineral spring spas. At Istarske Toplice thermal resort, located beneath a cliff in Sv. Stjepana, medical travelers can enjoy a wellness complex, medical center and dental clinic along with luxury accommodations and a pool where waters rich in sulfur, sodium and calcium collect. In addition to soaking in the waters, guests can partake in related water activities including inhalation therapies and curative mud treatments. Elsewhere, those not feeling up to a session of soaking can instead opt for viewing. In Varaždinske Toplice, the lovely ancient baths of Aquae Iasae are located at the site of a historic Roman forum, perfect for contemplating Croatia’s ancient connections to health and well-being.

NOVEMBER 2021 globaltravelerusa.com

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the world but hurting the environment as I do so. For so long I have tried guilt-free modes of travel, but these initiatives only go so far in terms of truly helping the planet. The small green plans many companies make don’t really do anything to enact the much-needed change the travel industry needs to implement in order to help the environment.

When I read news like EVA Air’s sustainability goals, however, I begin to feel more at ease. EVA Air isn’t simply making an empty promise but vows to commit to

EVA AIR AIMS FOR NET-ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS In the Dec. 1 issue of eFlyerUSA, we told readers about EVA Air aiming to reach netzero carbon emissions by 2050. We asked: Do you think more airlines should implement similar practices? Are you more likely to fly airlines with these types of sustainable goals? One reader shared.

I often face the dilemma, whenever I travel for business or leisure, of wanting to see

GLOBALTRAVELERUSA.COM

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If you have a computer or smartphone, you can connect with GT.

Visit our website to access past and present articles, reports, guides, hot travel links and deals and video interviews, as well as forms for subscribing to the magazine and our eFlyer newsletter.

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May 2011

THE SOURCE FOR LUxURY BUSINESS TRAVELERS

ABU DHABI

GT APP

A HALF-CENTURY OF BUILDING CASTLES IN THE SAND

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IMMORTALIZED BY PAINTERS AND POETS ALIKE

kicking back | COOK

ISLANDS

fine vines

Torrontés Tango

FAMILY BUSINESS MEETS ROMANCE IN THE WHITE CITY

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

I

n 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, Powered by round, well-structured body; a fruit-filled taste 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.

IN THE COOK ISLANDS, on Rarotonga, I’m walking along a dusty path, edged There is a suggestion of by a plethora of plants and trees. Fat papayas hang from their umbrella-like sweet mint and an evocation trees; bananas, still green on the stem, invite; and mangos, ripe and ready, have of orange and peach in Finca fallen from their roost. Blossoming bushes waft a perfume, butterflies circle halos La Linda 2009’s ($11) aroma, around my head, and a stream gurgles nearby. A mother sow and her family of followed by a relatively full body 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 and excellent balance. Altogether a here, hiking inland, surrounded by steep hills and much vegetation, I feel like the pleasing, inviting wine. only person left on Earth.

Finca El Origen Reserva 2009 ($12) Luckily, I’m not. I share this walk with one of the Cook Islands’ most Ease body, mind and soul in is clean, crisp and refreshing, offering a famous residents, a larger-than-life figure known as Uncle Pa, once a world typical Torrontés floral flavor with pear the natural goodness of the surfing champion. Though an octogenarian, he wears long dreadlocks, treks and peach overtones and a gentle reminder shirtless and sports a colorful sarong. With rippling muscles and the physique of citrus fruits in the A particularly of a 30-year-old man, he belies aging and serves as the metaphorical poster Cook Islands.

BY mouth.

BECCA HENSLEY harmonious wine. child for his role as this island nation’s most famous healer. An herbalist or The delightful Pascual Toso 2009 ($15) kahuna, he learned from his grandmother about the power of the plants that BEACHSIDE BLISS:herbal notes grow on these less-traveled islands. Intuitive, fearless, with a foot in both the combines keen fruit flavors, Spa treatment on the beach at and a fresh lemony acidity with a trace of past and the modern world, Uncle Pa has helped thousands of people regain Aitutaki Lagoon their health over the years. As we walk, he picks leaves, flowers, berries and honey and floral tones.

PHOTO: © STEVE ALLEN | DREAMSTIME.COM Following its aroma of fresh flowers and ripefruit. He tells me how he makes elixirs or poultices from them; he lets me taste fruit, Colomé 2009 ($15) is a graceful wine with notes reminiscent of grapefruit.

72citric 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 Healing

www.globaltravelerusa.com

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.

ICELAND

ADVENTURE AWAITS IN THE LAND OF FIRE AND ICE

WHAT’S HAPPENING ON GT BLOGS? Updated daily, our blogs offer readers an inside look at the lives and travels of the GT staff. Last

month we featured blogs about everything from seeing spectacular holiday lights to baking cakes, from visiting Philadelphia to spending time with family in Arkansas. globaltravelerusa.com/blog

May 2011 | Global Traveler | 35

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sustainable practices. In publicly setting a goal and timelines, EVA Air holds itself accountable, and I have gained a newfound respect for the airline. I strongly endorse airlines who implement practices and goals like EVA Air, and I believe all airlines should be held to a higher standard of sustainability. I cannot wait to see what else EVA Air does to inspire change in the airline industry.

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NEWS, DEALS AND REWARDS Japan’s Hottest Hotels in 2022

California Welcomes New Experiences, Attractions

Several hotels and resorts as well as countless attractions are coming to California throughout 2022. After more than 30 hotels and resorts opened in the state in 2021, California’s newest hotel openings slated for 2022 include 1 Hotel San Francisco; Conrad Los Angeles; The LINE SF; and Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection in Napa Valley.

Sensei Porcupine Creek, a wellness retreat, is also expected to open in 2022.

In addition to these highly anticipated hotel openings, California will soon be home to more attractions than ever. Presidio Tunnel Tops, set to open in May, will provide visitors with more than 14 acres of new national park land including scenic overlooks and views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Scheduled to open this spring, The Monterey Bay Aquarium will boast its newest display, called Into the Deep: Exploring Our Undiscovered Ocean.

Cultural additions and renovations are also underway. Upon undergoing a complete infrastructure project, Crenshaw Boulevard, one of the foundational locations of the Los Angeles Black community, will feature more than a mile of the neighborhood, highlighting Black art and culture while also boosting the local community through environmental healing, job creation and economic development. In downtown Palm Springs, the new Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza will feature Agua Caliente Cultural Museum to honor the culture and celebrate the history of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. _______ visitcalifornia.com

From Hokkaido to Kagawa, Japan’s three newest hotels are set to make waves. Opened Jan. 14, Hoshino Resorts KAI Poroto in Hokkaido is the latest installment of Hoshino’s KAI line. Situated near the Hokkaido forests and coast of Lake Poroto, the hotel features 42 rooms inspired by the architecture and art of the native Ainu people.

With an onsen on the property, guests can experience the plantbased, mineral-rich hot spring and reconnect with nature.

The Nordisk Hygge Circles UGAKEI is slated to open this spring in Mie Prefecture. Surrounded by trees and waterfalls, the luxury campground will feature three main areas: a “learning field” for excursions and workshops centered around nature and the environment, a rest area with reservable circular cabins and glamping tents, and a section for guests to put up their own tents. Designed by the Danish architecture team Third Nature in a partnership with Japanese engineers, the luxury campground focuses on regenerative tourism.

Opening April in Kagawa Prefecture is Roka, a full-scale ryokan with private open-air baths in each of its 11 suites. With contemporary art pieces adorning the property, Roka will feature a Japanesestyle lounge and restaurant for guests to enjoy. From fresh seafood from the Setouchi region to fresh produce, the restaurant will enhance the guest experience. _______ www.japan.travel

Soulful Traveling Unveils Unique Adventures Travel company Soulful Traveling recently launched four new destinations as part of its program to welcome travelers back to international destinations. The four new itineraries include Brazil: Off the Beaten Path; Ghana: Exploring the Gold Coast; Cuba: Then and Now; and Mexico: Mysteries of the Jungle. Each tour will be guided and customizable.

The guided trips range from four to 14 days and can focus on a variety of topics to cater to each traveler’s interests. Current and past adventures carried out by Soulful Traveling include women’s farming cooperatives, local art and cultural immersion as well as wildlife conservation. _______ soulfultraveling.com

Dorchester Collection will open The Lana in Dubai in the last quarter of 2022 with general manager Caroline-Jane Houston at the helm. Located in the Burj Khalifa District, The Lana will mark the Dorchester Collection’s first property in the Middle East.

With 225 guestrooms designed by Paris-based Gilles & Bossier, The Lana will feature floor-to-ceiling windows, dark marble, rounded furniture and deep soaking tubs. Calming colors of gold, olive and beige will be integrated into every detail, using inspiration from Dubai’s vibrant city life. The Lana will include 21 signature suites for guests, ranging from the Presidential Suite to the Royal Suite.

The Lana’s 30 floors, designed by acclaimed architects Foster + Partners, ensure guests always get a full view of the city and nearby amenities from above.

At a location next to Dubai Creek and Marasi Marina, guests can enjoy all the features of the city and the elegant amenities of the new hotel. The Lana will include a fine-dining Mediterranean restaurant on its fourth floor for diners to fully enjoy the welcoming hospitality of the new hotel. _______ dorchestercollection.com

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PHOTO: © MEL SURDIN | DREAMSTIME.COM

Dorchester Collection’s Newest Hotel Coming Late 2022

Regent Phu Quoc Marked as Vietnam’s Newest Hotel The ultra-luxury all suites and villas resort, Regent Phu Quoc, is Vietnam’s newest hotel and the first hotel to open since IHG’s acquisition of the brand in 2018. Located on the private beachfront of Long Beach on Phu Quoc Island, Regent Phu Quoc includes 176 suites and 126 villas. Each suite and villa features designs aimed at creating a sanctuarylike space for guests with relaxing interiors and scenic views of the ocean.

The hotel offers six dining venues including Oku, a Franco-Japanese Salon de Beouf; Rice Market for traditional Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine; Bar Jade, an innovative cocktail bar; and Ocean Club, a casual beachside eatery. Regent Phu Quoc also offers guests the chance to relax at its spa featuring treatment rooms, outdoor yoga pavilions and multiple swimming pools.

Almost half of Phu Quoc Island lies in a national park recognized as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The prime location of Regent Phu Quoc means guests can explore the natural beauty of the island just steps from their room. _______ phuquoc.regenthotels.com

TAP Air Portugal Launches Non-Stop Punta Cana–Lisbon As of December 2021, TAP Air Portugal has operated nonstop flights between Lisbon (LIS) and the Dominican Republic’s Punta Cana (PUJ) three times a week. The flights run on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Flights departing Punta Cana on Fridays leave at 10:50 p.m. and arrive in Lisbon at 10:20 a.m. the next morning. Returning flights leaving Lisbon at 4:45 p.m. arrive in Punta Cana at 9:05 p.m. the same day. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, flights depart Punta Cana at 11:05 p.m. and land in Lisbon at 10:35 a.m. the next morning. Returning flights leaving Lisbon at 5 p.m. arrive in Punta Cana at 9:20 p.m.

For just $281 one way, TAP Air Portugal operates this route using TAP’s Airbus A330-900neo aircraft featuring the new Airspace by Airbus cabin. _______ flytap.com

Ambassador Chicago Unveils 2022 Offers A JDV by Hyatt Hotel, Ambassador Chicago announced two new offerings for 2022. Guests looking for a relaxing experience in Chicago can book the Unwind in the Windy City offer and stay in one of the hotel’s spacious celebrity suites with an in-room relaxation welcome amenity. This offer also includes the option of a 60-minute in-room massage by Windy City Massage and complimentary valet.

For guests wanting a relaxing but enjoyable shopping experience in the city, the hotel also offers the Lux Shopping Experience. This offer includes a Terrace Suite along with a gift bag from Breitling with gifts like a gift certificate to the Michigan Avenue store. Guests of this offer will enjoy private shopping experiences at local retailers, in-room shopping experiences from local retailers, and brunch with bottomless mimosas. _______ ambassadorchicago.com

PHOTOS: © IHG, © SCENIC

Scenic 2023/2024 Fly-Cruise Early Booking Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours unveiled its new 2023/2024 Antarctica Program with new fly-cruise itineraries along with a special offer. Guests can save up to 20 percent off fares: 10 percent for early booking and another 10 percent for paying for their cruise in full 12 months before departure.

This offer can apply to Scenic Cruises’ new nine-day Antarctica Insights: Fly & Cruise itinerary where guests will travel over the Drake Passage one way by air and return by yacht to Ushuaia and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Guests can also save on the new 16-day Beyond the Antarctic Circle voyage where guests will explore the Antarctic Circle in depth. To learn more about the itineraries and savings or to book a voyage for 2023/2024, call 844 788 7985 or visit the website. _______ scenicusa.com

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SLS HOTEL, A LUXURY COLLECTION HOTEL, BEVERLY HILLS

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: After an early-morning flight from Philadelphia International Airport, I arrived at SLS Beverly Hills in the early afternoon, ready to check in and head to my room to relax a little before dinner that night. When I arrived at the hotel, the nicest doorman greeted me, asking me how my day had been and directing me where to go. The check-in experience was smooth and quick. I headed to my room on the third floor, ready to settle in.

GUEST QUARTERS: My guestroom was some distance from the elevator but not too long a walk. I entered into a spacious living room area with a giant closet on the left-hand side.

Continuing into the room, I found the door to the bedroom on the right; beyond was a bright yellow couch in the living room. Across from the couch a generously sized TV displayed a digital message reading, “Welcome, Mary” — a personal touch I appreciated. A countertop below the TV held a nice set-up of liquors and spirits, while underneath, a mini fridge offered an assortment of drinks both alcoholic and nonalcoholic. Next to the fridge a shelf held different types of savory and sweet snacks.

The living room featured a small table convenient for getting work done or enjoying a quick meal.

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The spacious bedroom featured a comfy king-sized bed where I experienced one of the best sleeps of my life. Across from the bed, a smart TV allows guests to log in to their Netflix, Hulu and other streaming services. Next to the bedroom, the bathroom included a huge walk-in shower, and a lovely vanity provided plenty of shelf space for toiletries and makeup products.

Although the room was amazing, my favorite item was the robe. It felt like I was walking around in a cloud. I wore it every chance I got!

SERVICES/AMENITIES: Since we were in the city for work, I didn’t have much time to explore the hotel. Guests can enjoy a delicious breakfast, including freshly squeezed juices and more, by the cozy fireplace at The Nook. For dinner, Vista Rooftop offers California cuisine and breathtaking views of Beverly Hills.

The hotel features a rooftop pool where guests can relax on a daybed and soak up the sun’s rays by the water. Guests can also head to Ciel Spa to indulge in a range of treatments, full salon services and more. Before you start your day, don’t forget to get in a workout at the SLS Fitness Center.

REVIEWED BY Mary Melnick

SLS HOTEL, A LUXURY COLLECTION HOTEL, BEVERLY HILLS 465 S. La Cienega Blvd.

Los Angeles, California 90048 tel 310 247 0400 marriott.com

PHOTO: © SLS HOTEL, A LUXURY COLLECTION HOTEL, BEVERLY HILLS

The rooftop pool offers the perfect place to take in the amazing views of Beverly Hills and other communities beyond.

-------------------------With two restaurants on property, guests can enjoy two different dining experiences.

-------------------------The hotel isn’t far from The Grove and Rodeo Drive, so guests can explore both during their stay.

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THE BLUFF HOTEL SAVANNAH HISTORIC DISTRICT ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: I flew from Sarasota, Florida, to Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, where my cousin picked me up and drove us to The Bluff Hotel. What better way to enjoy Savannah than with a girls’ weekend in early December, just as the city decorated for Christmas?

Part of the Ascend Hotel Collection, this boutique hotel sits close to the Talmage Memorial Bridge on the edge of the River District. We self-parked; and as we walked inside, hotel staff swiftly greeted us and took us through an easy check-in process. We made our way to the second floor to a room near the elevator but with a nice view of City Hall.

PHOTOS: © CARRIE COX

GUEST QUARTERS: Our King Suite featured separate living and sleeping areas.

In the living room I enjoyed a generous L-shaped sofa, cozy corner chair and wall-mounted flat-screen TV, along with an oversized hardcover book of Savannah on the coffee table. The mini-kitchen offered two barstools and a large wooden countertop which held a nice welcome gift of nuts and chocolates from River Street Sweets and a bottle of Shatter Grenache. The sleeping area offered an extremely comfortable king-sized bed and another cozy corner chair and flat-screen TV. The art above the bed displayed framed photos in black, white and sepia tones depicting local landmarks.

Although a bit minimalist and modern in its design, the extra details of the Savannah-specific coffee-table book and prints elevated this room to its boutique status.

I was surprised to see the bathroom was the same length as the bedroom — and one of the larger bathrooms I’ve recently seen while traveling.

There was no tub, but it featured a large walk-in shower with glass doors at one end; a wide mirror, sink and large countertop at the other; and a toilet in the middle. Amenities included LATHER modern apothecary products, and I couldn’t get enough of the bamboo lemongrass shower gel.

SERVICES/AMENITIES: The Bluff offers a large gathering area with a full cocktail bar called Twin Spades, impeccably designed, but no bartenders were available during the pandemic.

I used the space to work remotely and prepare for my upcoming appointments, enjoying the clean lines and punches of color in the modern art on the walls.

I did take advantage of the complimentary hot breakfast

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

offered each morning and was impressed with how well-stocked it was, allowing me and many other guests to start the day with a full stomach.

Although The Bluff is lovely on its own, one of the best aspects is the location of the hotel. My cousin and I walked to the River District more than once and could easily enjoy the beautiful squares for which Savannah is famous. For those whose feet aren’t quite up for the walk, The Bluff offers bicycles for rent, and the city accommodates with plenty of bike trails and spaces for riding.

REVIEWED BY Carrie Cox

Excellent location to enjoy the Savannah River District and within walking distance of most of the city -------------------------Complimentary hot breakfast with Southern favorites like biscuits and sausage gravy, cheesy grits and eggs -------------------------Spacious suites with separate working, sleeping and eating areas THE BLUFF HOTEL SAVANNAH HISTORIC DISTRICT, ASCEND HOTEL COLLECTION 630 W. Bay St. Savannah, GA 31401 tel 912 629 2001 thebluffhotel.com

MARCH 2022 globaltravelerusa.com

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ONE ON ONE

Antonio Bugarin Acting General Manager, Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills

THE BASICS Name: Antonio Bugarin Title: Acting general manager Company, city: Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills; Beverly Hills, California First job: My first job in the hotel industry was a bellperson at Hyatt Regency Guadalajara.

Where to next: Hopefully a road trip through Spain and Portugal or France and Italy with my wife and daughters!

A LITTLE BIT MORE What actor or actress would play you in a movie of your life? That’s a good question — most of the old-school actors are coming to a point where they aren’t doing movies anymore. No. 1 is Tom Hanks — every movie he does is a

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classic. But there’s also Dustin Hoffman and Al Pacino.

What would you be doing professionally if you weren’t in your current industry? I grew up with a basketball under my arm and a football next to my bed, so I’d love to be a professional athlete.

What is your favorite book, movie or television show? I read Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth during the pandemic, which I think helped me relate to the book even more.

What historical figure, dead or alive, would you love to have dinner with? Personally, my father was historic in my life. I left home at a young age and he passed away, so I’d love to have one more dinner with him. More traditionally historic, Albert Einstein — I’d love to understand how his mind worked.

AS A TRAVELER Tell us about a travel nightmare: Thankfully, I don’t have a lot. Once, when traveling with my family in Toronto, we never received our suitcases, and we were left with nothing. That was a nightmare, but from it, I developed a kit when I was working at a hotel in Los Cabos so other travelers didn’t have the same worry.

The kit had pajamas, basic toiletries and a few other items.

Share a comical travel experience: Once, while driving in Miami, my 4-year-old daughter got herself out of her booster seat. While it was dangerous, today we can look back and laugh at getting pulled over by a cop that noticed and gave us a $63 ticket.

What is your preferred method of travel — planes, trains, automobiles, cruise ships — and why? Automobiles above everything — I enjoy driving, road trips and the freedom to be at my own pace.

What has been the best example of customer service you’ve experienced during your travels?

Unexpected things make a big difference. When traveling in Montréal, we dropped our bags off at the hotel early and set out for a day exploring. My daughter had a sticker of a cookie on her laptop. When we got back to the hotel, near her laptop was a beautiful cookie amenity.

PHOTO: © WALDORF ASTORIA

THE BUSINESS What is your most recent project, and what was the inspiration behind it? Rebuilding the team after the pandemic; COVID-19 and its effects led many people to move to different states and industries.

Now we’re putting the puzzle back together.

What is your favorite aspect of the job? No day is the same as the next! The job and industry are so vast and interesting, and you learn so many different things.

What’s the biggest business risk you’ve ever taken?

Everything during the pandemic was a risk; deciding what to keep and what to pause, we made calculated decisions, examining every pro and con. Also, I’d spent my career working in Mexico, and I wanted international experience. Making the decision to come to Beverly Hills transformed my life and family.

Who is someone you admire professionally in the travel industry? There’s a long list of great people in this industry that deserve recognition. One person who always intrigued me as a true hospitality leader was Jerry Inzerillo. We worked together at One&Only Palmilla, and I always enjoyed talking to him.

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Seoul’s Sustainable Unique Venues Urban regeneration creates popular tourist spots in Seoul.

MANY PEOPLE FIND THE BEAUTY of hanok, a traditional Korean house, in its architectural features, such as roof tiles and wooden pillars, yet the hidden allure lies in the calm ambience as it invites nature into the building with windows and doors. Just like Koreans in old days considered creating harmony between nature and living space of great importance, the city of Seoul transformed a grown metropolis into a people-centered city through sustainable urban planning since the early 2010s. Renewing the city not only brought a better environment to the residents, but also contributed charming tourist spots for visitors.

UNIQUE VENUES ​Unique venues represent the styles, stories and sustainability of Seoul.

As the number of small- and medium-sized MICE events increases during the pandemic, providing participants with differentiated experience becomes ever more important and, as a result, there is growing interest in unique venues. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Tourism Organization newly discovered 18 unique venues in 2021 on top of 53 existing ones that exist only in Seoul to satisfy eventgoers’ demand for differentiated experiences unique to the host city.

They encompass places where MICE organizers and participants can link and communicate while experiencing the splendid scenery, culture, history and daily lives of Seoulites. Unique venues are capable of holding exhibitions, conferences, banquets and performances of various sizes.

SUMSEI Terrarium

SUMSEI Terrarium is an unusual MICE venue that presents an immersive nature exhibition.

With five floors of healing sensory experience, this artificial terrarium reminds us to treasure our environment and strive for sustainability. The simulated nature creates the perfect indoor space for sustainability-related and environmentally friendly events in Seoul.

Sikmulgwan PH

Sikmulgwan PH is a trendy invention of botanical garden as a café and an art gallery.

While the open space on the first floor is dedicated to artwork and lush plants, the second floor’s café can be used for small meetings. Also, the third and fourth floors are available for diverse exhibitions and events.

​ EOUL INDUSTRIAL TOUR GUIDE S The Eco Space category of the Seoul Industrial Tour Guide provides a list of places to inspire urban planning if you prefer a more direct observation and experience. For example, Seoul Upcycling Plaza is the best place to experience firsthand how to use upcycling materials by participating in various workshops. You can browse the Material Bank for many ideas for upcycling different materials. The Seoul Industrial Tourism Guide can be downloaded from the Seoul Convention Bureau website at miceseoul.com/pdflibrary.

Seoul Book Bogo

Seoul Book Bogo, Seoul Treasure Den for Books is a second-hand bookstore promoting Seoul’s independent bookstores and the independent publishing industry. The Den also serves as an event venue, hosting small lectures and meetings among the bookshelves and conferences, or events in a separate conference hall.

TECHNOLOGY

Home Sweet Home Feather your nest with the latest smart devices.

BY JACK GUY

EPSON HOME CINEMA 3800 This home projector offers the chance to get cinema-like performance in your living room with no need for a separate sound system. It boasts an enhanced 4K image — not as sharp as top-of-the-range models but close enough most people can’t tell the difference — as well as enough brightness to be used in any light conditions. That versatility, along with strong, built-in speakers, makes this projector a great option for those who want a larger image without having to invest in an entirely new setup in a dedicated cinema room. $1,700. epson.com

SONOS ARC Anyone looking to upgrade the sound on their home entertainment system should seriously consider Sonos Arc. It’s been on the market for a while now, but no rival has managed to dislodge it from its perch as the best-reviewed sound bar at this price point. Equally strong streaming music or TV, the Arc can easily combine with the rest of the Sonos range to build out a connected sound system using your home WiFi network. It offers Dolby Atmos for cinematic surround sound and connects to popular home assistants, to boot. $899.

DYSON PH04

GOOGLE NEST WIFI

This combined air purifier and humidifier combats dry air resulting from heating and air conditioning and removes pollutants like formaldehyde. Perfect for those with allergies such as hay fever, the PH04 removes allergens, gases and odors from the air inside your home and can be controlled using the Dyson Link app or virtual assistants such as Alexa.

Powerful enough to work well even in larger rooms, the system cleans itself, so you can switch it on and forget all about it. $900.

Building out a smart-home system without ensuring a strong WiFi signal will likely lead to frustration due to spotty coverage or variable speeds. Adding Google Nest WiFi points means you can provide a good connection all over your home, and each one also acts as a smart speaker with Google Assistant.

Adding one router will cover properties up to 1,292 square feet, while those with larger homes can simply add more points as necessary, each controlled through the Google Home app. From $149.

dyson.com

store.google.com

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PHOTOS: © SONOS, © EPSON AMERICA, INC., © DYSON, © GOOGLE

sonos.com

WINE & SPIRITS

Sipping in Seattle Uncork and unwind at the region’s wineries and tasting rooms. BY KELLY MAGYARICS

W

ashington wine is somewhat of an anomaly. Much of the industry is centered in the Columbia Valley, where the rain shadow that falls east of the Cascade Mountains blesses the region with a warm, sunny, dry climate where Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Riesling thrive.

Yet many of the state’s wineries and tasting rooms lie closer to the coast — good news for oenophiles visiting Seattle.

Thompson Seattle makes a smart base from which to plot your swirling and sipping. Across from Pike Place Market, the boutique hotel offers jaw-dropping views of Puget Sound, especially from the rooftop bar The Nest.

The closest wine region to the Emerald City is in Woodinville, a 30-minute drive north — perfect for a daytrip. Chateau Ste. Michelle first planted its flag here; it’s joined today by 130-plus wineries and tasting rooms across four districts: Downtown, Hollywood, Warehouse and West Valley. If you linger overnight, rooms at the luxury Willows Lodge feature gas fireplaces, soaking tubs and private patios overlooking lush gardens.

Next door is Sparkman Cellars, launched in 2004 by Chris and Kelly Sparkman. Right before the pandemic they relocated to this site, the former home of Red Hook Brewery, allowing them to expand production and visitors to spread out over bites and flights. Top expressions include the citrusy, mineral-driven 2021 Pearl Sauvignon Blanc; the bright and fresh 2021 This Old Porch rosé; and the 2019 Wonderland Grenache, described as Washington’s Pinot Noir for its Burgundian funk. Winemaker Linn Scott also has fun with Portuguese varietals including Touriga Nacional and a Port-style dessert wine.

Nearby, Matthews Winery gleans inspiration from Bordeaux, apparent in the easy-drinking, Merlot-dominant 2018 Cuvée and the structured 2019 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, with whiffs of dried strawberries and winter spices. Visitors to the airy tasting room can enjoy a seated-style tasting of any four wines, and staff may invite guests to pick produce and flowers from the organic farm in season.

In the industrial Warehouse District, affable owner Lisa

Warr-King Parker, who pursued her second act after 20 years in the high-tech marketing world, oversees the Warr-King Wines’ cozy tasting room. While her winery focuses on terroir-driven offerings, her philosophy is far from serious or esoteric. Just like a mischievous kid, she believes, wine has life. Crisp green apple and kiwi shine through in the unoaked 2020 Leilani Chardonnay; the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon hails from Red Mountain, a vineyard boasting acid-setting cool nights; and the 2018 Tenacity presents a lively, fruity Bordeaux blend with a purpose, donating some proceeds to a STEM program for girls. Don’t miss the vending machine that doles out cheese and charcuterie instead of candy.

Back in Seattle, overlooking Elliott Bay, marvel at the local producers you now recognize on the wine list at AQUA by El Gaucho. Sip a flute of Yellowhawk Rosé Sparkling while perusing the menu of Niman Ranch-raised beef and Pacific Northwest seafood prepared by executive chef Maggie Trujillo. Fire & Vine Rosé from Walla Walla matches the pomegranate saké mignonette with local raw oysters, while fragrant Thai mussels and clams complement the aromatic Long Shadows Poet’s Leap Riesling. And alongside tender grilled sea bass, the restrained DeLille Cellars D2 offers delicious proof you should always bet on Washington red.

Sparkling Style: Champagne by the fire at AQUA

by El Gaucho PHOTO: © VISIT SEATTLE

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Shattering the Glass Ceiling WINiT by GBTA drives positive change for women in travel-related industries.

INSPIRE. IGNITE. INVEST. The 2022 WINiT theme embodies not only the spirit of the organization, but also the ethos of the women and men behind it.

WINiT by GBTA is a diverse network of professionals focused on driving positive change for the career mobility of women in travel-related industries, offering unique career development opportunities such as leadership, education, training, mentoring and inspirational networking events.

The WINiT Strategic Advisory Board created opportunities to break new ground — and the proverbial glass ceiling — by outlining specific programs and objectives focusing on five key pillars: • One-on-One Mentorship Program (Launching Q2 2022) • Male Allyship and Support • Education • Navigate Return to the Office and the Road • Community Connections: Networking, Gala, Convention “The 2022 programming provides an opportunity for members to engage with WINiT in new ways, led by the one-on-one mentor program, which was specifically designed to complement the GBTA Ladders group mentoring program,” said Michelle (Mick) Lee. “We are focused on expanding our global membership and ensuring powerful programming for women of all levels and across every stage of their career.”

For more information about WINiT by GBTA, visit gbta.org/membership-communities/winit.

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SAVE THE DATE WINiT by GBTA’s upcoming events tackle important topics like career advancement, inclusive and diverse cultures, recruitment and best practices for job search.

----------------March 9, 2022

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WEBINAR – Meet the WINiT Strategic Advisory Board Virtual

GET TO KNOW THE LEADERS BEHIND WINIT BY GBTA

The WINiT Strategic Advisory Board interviews tied to the International Women’s Day theme, #BreakTheBias. Join the full board for an open Q+A with webcast participants.

----------------August 14, 2022

Leadership

WINIT SUMMIT DOROTHY DOWLING BWH I Hotel Group

MICHELLE (MICK) LEE BNY Mellon

BETH KINERK Avis Budget Group, Inc.

Glass Breakers CHRISTLE JOHNSON Johnson Downie, LLC

MARY ELLEN HESS Corporate Travel Management

PATRICIA HUSKA Amex GBT

LAURA SMITH Hertz Corporation

TARA KETCHAM Enterprise Holdings

DAVID HILFMAN Travel Industry Advisor

KELLY KUHN CWT

The WINiT Summit brings together business travel professionals to help change and impact the careers and lives of women in travel-related industries. The halfday session is dedicated to career development, education and networking.

----------------October 27, 2022

WINIT AWARDS GALA (In-person) New York, New York

Strategic Advisory Board Members AILEEN FURLONG United Airlines

(In conjunction with the GBTA Annual Convention, in-person) San Diego, California

MALAIKA MYERS Hyatt Hotel Corporation KRISTEN SHOVLIN Delta Air Lines

JOHN SNYDER BCD Travel

DENISE TRUSO PayPal

ALISON TAYLOR American Airlines

RITA VISSER GPO Oracle

The third annual WINiT Awards Gala recognizes women, men and companies driving positive change for the career-mobility of women in travel. The amazing work of these individuals and companies will be celebrated in the Big Apple.

SPAS

Wellness Wonderland

Reboot at Lake Austin Spa Resort in Texas Hill Country.

On the Water: Guests arriving by boat PHOTO: © LAKE AUSTIN SPA RESORT

LAKEHOUSE SPA LAKE AUSTIN SPA RESORT 1705 S. Quinlan Park Road Austin, TX 78732 tel 512 372 7300 lakeaustin.com

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BY BECCA HENSLEY

n the grassy shores of Lake Austin, my husband and I spar — with swords. Don’t worry. We’re not really in danger of slicing one another if we take a misstep, which frankly happens each time I step forward when I am supposed to move backward. In fact, we’re wielding bokken, wooden swords used primarily for martial arts weapon training. Along with other guests, we attempt to follow the footwork and bokken swings demonstrated by our instructor, who softly leads us in bokken practice’s most elementary steps. “It takes hours a day for years to become an expert,” he reminded us when we faltered. The swords, meant to represent real weapons in shape and weight, play a large role in Japanese martial arts training, disciplines from kendo to aikido.

We’ve joined this class on a sunny morning just as the emeraldgreen lake begins to glimmer and a light wind caresses the leafy realms of the trees that edge it. As if wanting to witness our clumsy

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dance, a blue heron ceremoniously circles above us before landing on the adjacent floating yoga platform. Joining it to stare, a family of ducks waddle from the water. There’s no sound but the soothing repetition of waves tickling the lake’s lips like whispering bells — and our unharmonious grunts as we heave our bokken upward to slice the air. Not as easy as it looks but strangely satisfying and wholly calming in the end, this outdoor class, Bokken-do, one of Lake Austin Spa Resort’s abundant litany of daily complimentary activities, reigns as more than a workout. It’s meant to bring participants to a state of mindfulness, a union of mind, body and spirit, a place of inner power and tranquility. Attempting it, albeit oafishly, works. We finish calmer, with our curiosity satisfied and our biceps firmed.

The pursuit of contentment on some level brings most guests to Lake Austin Spa Resort, which for decades has garnered a top spot on every annual, worldwide spa and resort “best” list.

Visitors check in for a plentitude of reasons: to ease a life transition, to jump-start a new wellness program, to bond with family and friends, to mull over a big decision, to receive expert beauty treatments, to learn new things and to simply eat well and have fun. Thirty minutes from downtown Austin on an expanse of nature as green as a park, it spreads across 19 lakefront acres, most of them undeveloped.

Intimate, built to evoke an elegant, familial lakefront residence, the snug hideaway has only 40 guestrooms, each breezily adorned with cheerful custom fabrics and sophisticated finishes. With front porches for gazing at the water-filled panorama, some rooms also have private back gardens, complete with meditative Zen fountains. Throughout the resort little nooks of repose beckon, such as hammocks strung over the water or between trees, a tree house-like classroom, a floating yoga deck, a boat dock crowded with gear from kayaks to paddleboards, an immense garden and three pools — one of them indoors, ensconced in a barn.

Fitness and wellness classes take place in the pools, on the lawn and in various studios on campus. In the retreat’s main house, a state-of-the-art gym faces the water, a swankily curated gift shop tempts, a demonstration kitchen holds cooking classes, a restaurant serves conscientious (but tantalizing) cuisine, and various sitting rooms offer cozy corners for confabulation or board games. The 25,000-square-foot LakeHouse Spa itself, the destination’s crème-de-la-crème sanctum, accessed by a labyrinthine path, caps a hill. With some of the top U.S. therapists at the ready, the spa proffers more than 100 unique treatments from lavender scrubs to caviar facials to Ayurvedic rituals such as shirodhara.

On our visit to Lake Austin Spa Resort, we decide to take advantage of the retreat’s spectacular arrival-by-boat option. Boarding a mini-yacht (they call it a water taxi) near downtown, we speed through crystalline waters, past stunning homes and bucolic nature in our private transfer. On the water, beneath the big Texas sky, the spa adventure begins long before we reach the spa. Approaching shore, at last, already relaxed, we float into the retreat, understanding instantly the resort’s ethos: Water heals. While our stay involves yoga, meditation, bokkendo, paddleboarding and finally finishing that elusive novel, I also check into the LakeHouse Spa’s interiors to try The Regal by Valmont.

Created exclusively for the spa in collaboration with Valmont, a peerless Swiss skincare company, the $1,050 treatment requires nearly three hours to complete. An insanely coddling facial which guarantees exemplary results, it involves five masks, four types of massage (500-year-old

Kobido-style, for one), an LED light treatment, HydraFacial exfoliation and myriad other layers, not to mention lavish creams made from the DNA of sturgeon. I leave the spa looking 10 years younger, ready to board the boat with a few other guests for Lake Austin Spa Resort’s daily Wind Down Wine Cruise just in time for sunset. On the dock, the blue heron, ever-approving, looks on.

Points of Repose: Scrub massage (top), and spa pool (bottom) PHOTOS: © LAKE AUSTIN SPA RESORT

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GOLF

Game On!

Meet up for friendly competition at Heron Creek Golf & Country Club. BY FRANCIS X. GALLAGHER

Double or Nothing: Hole 9 – Marsh PHOTO: © FRANCIS X. GALLAGHER

HERON CREEK GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB 5301 Heron Creek Blvd.

North Port, FL 34287 tel 941 240 5100 heroncreekgcc.com

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f North Port, Florida, sounds familiar, it is likely due to the disappearance and murder of Gabby Petito last year. Brian Laundrie, her fiancé, ended his days not far into the Carlton Reserve, part of Myakka River State Park. The park is a mecca for hiking, kayaking and spotting animals like alligators and birds. Heron Creek Golf & Country Club lies south of the park in a residential community.

With Heron Creek’s three nine-hole courses — Oak, Marsh and Creek — players can easily switch up the combinations to make distinctly different 18-hole layouts. Ohio native Arthur Hills, who died last year at age 91, designed Heron Creek. Designing more than 200 courses, many in Florida, Ohio and Michigan, Hills believed in risk and reward holes. I looked forward to playing with a good friend, George Hofmann, and his son, Cole. George and I together ran the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Red & White Ball in Philadelphia, raising millions of dollars for LLS through the generosity of our airline and hotel friends at Global Traveler.

Like many during the pandemic, George relocated to Florida’s West Coast, settling in Cape Coral to enjoy the weather and outdoor activities.

Heron Creek proved the perfect location to meet, with me coming from Sarasota and George from Cape Coral.

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HOLE 1 – OAK 515 yards, par 5 It was a cold day with a chance of light rain, which we saw in the early part of the game, making for a nasty start on a long and difficult par 5. Arthur Hills would have laughed to see us in action. On this dogleg left, an elongated pond runs along much of the fairway’s left side. George duffed a shot short, while Cole hit a fantastic drive center. My ball looked as if it would skip into the thick line of trees on the right, but it rolled nicely to land right of the cart path, about even with Cole and in a good position for my second shot. With my 3-wood I sent the ball sailing but farther right than anticipated. The hole has lots of moguls and feels a little Scottish in design.

I continued favoring the right side, which meant I did not land on the green in regulation but putted out for a bogey. Cole joined me with the same score, and George took a “snowman” 8. A lackluster start to a cold, wet day.

HOLE 7 – OAK 400 yards, par 4 The tee box sat behind a large pond which we had to carry to reach the fairway, and it seemed the farther right you aimed, the longer the pond extended. With a slight gust in the air, we drove our tee shots; one by one they looked as if they would clear the water but were knocked down by the wind. We decided to reshoot — since the group in front was playing slowly, we had nothing to lose. George went in the drink and decided to advance to the kindly placed ball drop area. Cole cleared the pond, taking a left aim. I replicated Cole’s plan and shot over the water, hitting the left bunker but jumping out. For my second shot I hit a nice 7-iron, landing a little short but rolling off a downside hill near the green to within eight feet of the cup.

Unfortunately, I missed the putt but was happy with my redo par.

HOLE 9 – OAK 536 yards, par 5 Closing out the first nine on the Oak, we were pleased the wind died down and the rain stopped. At one point I had been tempted to change out of my shorts into my back-up emergency long pants, but I held firm.

The ninth hole is another dogleg left with a pond edging the left side but is flat as a prairie, with houses on the left across the pond. Any severe duck-hooks and we would be buying new window panes. I kept my calm as George caught the water and Cole sailed right but in play.

I drove toward the two right bunkers but stayed in the fairway. From here we all limped toward the green, with George and Cole adding up penalty shots and miss-hits. I made it to the green in four and two-putted for bogey, just fine for the ninth.

HOLE 1 – MARSH 522 yards, par 5 Moving on to our next nine, the weather had improved but the pace of play had not. The ranger said he might force the group to skip a hole. We wondered, why wait? Three holes were open in front, and the group behind us planned to play

all 27 holes, and they were going to miss their tee time. Pace of play is the first rule of golf; the second is: Whoever hits the shortest ball should be at their ball before all others. As we had a little time, we decided to wager on the holes and started a dollar-per-hole game to get our competitive juices flowing.

This demanding par-5 dogleg right has areas of brush and fairway sand traps. After George and Cole made decent drives, my line drive came just short of the bunkers.

My second shot with my 3-wood stayed on the right, clipping a tree and landing behind a trunk. All I could do was get out and flip up the ball, avoiding the large sand trap. No great scores at the start of the competition: A pair of double bogeys between me and Cole resulted in a carry-over, making the hole worth $2.

HOLE 2 – MARSH 434 yards, par 4 Off the tee you need to negotiate your way around wetlands on the left while staying inbounds on the right. The rest of the team hit equally good drives; George and Cole seemed to have their mojo back. My approach was spot on, landing squarely on the green, which made the boys a bit nervous. Cole also had a clean shot to the green and we both carded pars, pushing the wager again. Make sure you avoid two bunkers on the right short of the green — they proved the ruin of George.

HOLE 9 – MARSH 412 yards, par 4 Cole held the lead, and I suggested we make the final hole double or nothing.

If either George or I won, the debts would be erased. Game on!

I drove my ball right and into an overgrown section behind a little tree.

George said I could never hit the ball, and I said, “I will pretend the tree is not there.” I hit a great 7-iron shot but landed just short of the green. George was behind me and took a shot, more of a placement to the fairway. Cole drove over the marsh toward the green, which lies in direct position from the tee box over the water. Miraculously, he made it. When we were all on the green, it was anyone’s guess who would win. Cole and I two-putted, but George made a long putt to clear our debts with Cole. What a guy, and what a day at Heron Creek!

Long Shot: Hole 9 – Oak (top), and Francis with George and Cole (bottom) PHOTOS: © FRANCIS X. GALLAGHER

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CHEFS

From the Source Chef Niven Patel showcases his farm-fresh produce at THēsis Hotel Miami. BY KIMBERLY KROL INLANDER

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WHICH FOOD IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE? AND, ON THE OPPOSITE END OF THE SPECTRUM, WHAT IS ONE INGREDIENT OR FOOD YOU HATE TO USE? My guilty pleasure is pasta — any kind of pasta, but particularly pasta with a good amount of butter and Pecorino cheese. When I have that, life is good! On the other end of the spectrum is yellow mustard. I don’t understand the fascination; it’s assertive in flavor.

WHAT DISHES WOULD YOU SERVE AT A PRIVATE DINNER PARTY? I’d go

WHAT WAS THE FIRST MEAL YOU EVER PREPARED ON YOUR OWN? I had to convince my family I wanted to go to culinary school. They were skeptical, so I prepared a seven-course meal for 10 family members.

They loved it, and the rest is history.

IF YOU COULD DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE IN ONE DISH, WHICH DISH WOULD IT BE AND WHY? Seven years ago, I

started a small garden in my backyard, and today it’s a full-on farm run by one farmer and my family. I’m all about the best, freshest ingredients and how to best highlight and showcase them. There’s nothing better than controlling what you bring into your restaurant.

Right now, the dish on our menu that best highlights my style is a green chickpea hummus served with eggplant.

WHICH CULINARY TREND WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISAPPEAR? I think it might already be disappearing, but the fascination with kale. Kale is good, but there are much better greens options!

MAMEY, ORNO THēsis Hotel Miami 1350 S. Dixie Highway Coral Gables, FL 33146 tel 305 667 5611 thesishotelmiami.com

PHOTOS: © ORNO MIAMI

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spoke with Chef Niven Patel just after he came in from harvesting vegetables from his at-home farm — yes, farm — known as Rancho Patel. Patel and his family grow 35-plus varieties of greens, fruits and vegetables in the area surrounding their Homestead, Florida, home. This produce then stocks his two on-site restaurants at THēsis Hotel Miami, including the New American Orno, the island-minded Mamey and Mamey on 3rd, the hotel’s rooftop space.

With Mohamed Alkassar, Patel also runs Alpareno Restaurant Group, dedicated to empowering restaurant workers through camaraderie and teamwork as well as giving back to the local community. Alpareno opened Orno at THēsis Hotel Miami in October 2021 following Patel’s success at Mamey, previously opened at the property.

Named one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs in 2020, Patel’s role as family man extends beyond working Rancho Patel. Both his and his wife’s families hail from the Indian state of Gujarat; they welcomed twin daughters in June 2020.

back to my roots; there’s something special about a good, homecooked, Indian meal. Many people aren’t familiar with Indian cuisine, so I’d expose them to something different with a meal full of flavors and textures.

There would be pakora, like vegetable fritters made with patra leaf, chickpeas and onion; and a basmati rice with yogurt sauce and curry leaf.

2022 GT Tested Reader Survey Awards Ballot Please write in your personal favorites, based on your own experience, on the line next to each of the following categories.

HOTEL BEST

AIRLINE BEST

Overall Best Airline in the World ____________________________________________________ Airline Alliance _______________________________________________________________________ Aircraft Type ________________________________________________________________________ Airline Website ______________________________________________________________________ Fastest-Growing Airline – Trans-Pacific _____________________________________________ Best Corporate Program for Business Travelers _________________________________ Best Airline for . . .

Business Class __________________________________________________________________ International First Class ________________________________________________________ Domestic First Class ____________________________________________________________ Onboard Service _______________________________________________________________ Lounges ________________________________________________________________________ Flight Attendants _______________________________________________________________ Flight Attendant Uniforms _____________________________________________________ Airline Cuisine __________________________________________________________________ First-Class Seat Design _________________________________________________________ Business-Class Seat Design ___________________________________________________ Airline Cabin Cleanliness ______________________________________________________ Best Frequent-Flyer Programs Overall Best Frequent-Flyer Program __________________________________________ Elite-Level Program _____________________________________________________________ Bonus Promotion ______________________________________________________________ Award Redemption _____________________________________________________________ Customer Service ______________________________________________________________

BEST AIRLINE BY LOCATION Best Airline in . . .

Africa____________________________________________________________________________ Australia and New Zealand_____________________________________________________ Central/South Asia and India _________________________________________________ China ___________________________________________________________________________ Eastern Europe _________________________________________________________________ Europe __________________________________________________________________________ Mexico __________________________________________________________________________ The Middle East ________________________________________________________________ North America __________________________________________________________________ North Asia (excluding China) ___________________________________________________ The South Pacific _______________________________________________________________ To South America and Central America ____________________________________________ To Japan _____________________________________________________________________________ Trans-Atlantic Airline ________________________________________________________________ Trans-Pacific Airline _________________________________________________________________

AIRPORT BEST Overall Best Airport in the World ___________________________________________________ Overall Best Duty-Free Shop in the World __________________________________________ Airport Staff/Gate Agents ___________________________________________________________ Airport Dining _______________________________________________________________________ Airport Parking ______________________________________________________________________ Airport Shopping ___________________________________________________________________ Fastest-Growing U.S. Airport ________________________________________________________ Best Duty-Free Shops in . . .

Asia _____________________________________________________________________________ Africa____________________________________________________________________________ Europe __________________________________________________________________________ The Middle East ________________________________________________________________ Best Airport in . . .

Asia _____________________________________________________________________________ Africa____________________________________________________________________________ Europe __________________________________________________________________________ The Middle East ________________________________________________________________ North America __________________________________________________________________ South America __________________________________________________________________ * Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions

Best Individual Hotel in the World ________________________________________________ International Hotel Chain _________________________________________________________ Domestic Hotel Chain _____________________________________________________________ Lifestyle Hotel _____________________________________________________________________ MICE* Hotel ______________________________________________________________________ Hotel Website _____________________________________________________________________ Best Frequent-Stay Programs Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World __________________________________ Elite-Level Program ___________________________________________________________ Bonus Promotion ____________________________________________________________ Award Redemption ___________________________________________________________ Customer Service_____________________________________________________________

HOTEL BEST BY LOCATION Best Hotel in . . .

Asia ___________________________________________________________________________ Europe ________________________________________________________________________ South Korea __________________________________________________________________ The Middle East ______________________________________________________________ The United States ____________________________________________________________ Japan __________________________________________________________________________ Singapore _____________________________________________________________________ Best Hotel Chain in . . .

Asia ___________________________________________________________________________ Europe ________________________________________________________________________ Latin America _________________________________________________________________ Mexico ________________________________________________________________________ The Middle East ______________________________________________________________

OTHER BEST Overseas Delivery Program ______________________________________________________ Rental Car Company ______________________________________________________________ Tourism Destination ______________________________________________________________ MICE* City ________________________________________________________________________ WiFi Service ________________________________________________________________________ Luggage Brand ____________________________________________________________________ Hotel App __________________________________________________________________________ Airline App _________________________________________________________________________ Best Small- to Mid-Sized Business Program _____________________________________ Best Offshore Business Location _________________________________________________ Best Credit Cards Overall Credit Card ________________________________________________________________ Small-Business Credit Card _______________________________________________________ Credit Card Special Events _______________________________________________________ Credit Card Rewards Program ____________________________________________________ Credit Card Design _______________________________________________________________ New Credit Card Launch __________________________________________________________ Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card ________________________________________________ Promotions ___________________________________________________________________ Benefits _______________________________________________________________________ Redemptions _________________________________________________________________ Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card________________________________________________ Promotions ___________________________________________________________________ Benefits _______________________________________________________________________ Redemptions _________________________________________________________________ Cruise Line Affinity Credit Card ___________________________________________________

PLEASE MAIL THE COMPLETED SURVEY TO: Kevin Ryan, Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP, 1800 JFK Blvd., 20th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103 | Or FAX to 215 545 4810 Or vote online at globaltravelerusa.com/gt-tested-awards-ballot Name Street Address City Home Phone

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CRUISING

Solo Voyages Cruise lines adapt policies to accommodate those traveling alone. BY KRISTY ALPERT

A Jump for Joy: Kristy enjoying a solo Antarctic journey PHOTO: © KRISTY ALPERT

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s the crew lined the gangway, glaciers and mountains filled my view, and I snapped a selfie to document the surreal moment from where I stood at the north bank of the Beagle Channel in Ushuaia, Argentina. I was destined for Antarctica, and the ship in front of me would be the vessel that brought me to my seventh continent.

That solitary picture proved I had chosen to venture beyond my comfort zone, but more importantly, it served as a stark reminder I was completely alone: no friends, family members or loved ones to hold my bags or take photos for me. I had come alone and was about to embark on my first solo cruise of my life.

I prepared for my first solo journey by assuming I would be the only single traveler on board that Polar Latitudes ship. Little did I know I would soon be surrounded by a group of six other solo cruisers — of all ages, races and life stages — who would form our own little cruise family during that 13-day voyage. Together we shared

globaltravelerusa.com MARCH 2022

in the excitement of our Antarctic journey, rejoiced alongside one another as we celebrated birthdays and life changes and, yes, took pictures for each other without having to ask.

Although solo travel on cruises has risen in popularity over the decades, historically it has been reserved for the wealthy or those willing to pay nearly 125–200 percent of the published per-person price (also known as the single supplement). But all that is changing as savvy cruise lines welcome solo travelers with new amenities and increased incentives. Today nearly half of all people taking trips with Intrepid Travel are going solo, and luxury tour operator Adventure Life reports a dramatic increase in its single traveler cruise bookings.

“The rise in solo cruising has followed the rise in solo travel in general,” explained Monika Sundem, CEO, Adventure Life, “and the trend has only grown as cruise operators have made their policies more solo-friendly. They now understand that by reducing or waiving single supplements, ships will be closer to fully booked than with a

RIVIERA RIVER CRUISES

Get on Board: Kristy on the Polar Latitudes ship (above), and MS Thomas Hardy Riviera River Cruise ship exterior (top right) and balcony suite (bottom) PHOTOS: © KRISTY ALPERT, © RIVIERA RIVER CRUISES

strict single supplement policy. Four cabins with solo travelers in them is much preferred to four unoccupied cabins.”

Sundem notes many of the cruise operators Adventure Life partners with have begun to offer single share programs as a way solo cruisers can avoid the single supplement altogether. These programs include an option to share a cabin with another traveler of the same gender for half the price of the room, even if a cabin-mate can’t be found.

Many cruise lines — like Windstar and Princess Cruises — offer a reduced single supplement, with solo travelers paying a fraction of the full price for a private cabin, while Norwegian Cruise Line was the first to build staterooms and common areas specifically for single

cruisers, launching its studio staterooms in 2010. The studios measure about 100 square feet but come with perks like access to the singles lounge and plenty of meetups, happy hours and solo traveler bar crawls. Other cruise lines quickly followed suit, and now Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, P&O, MSC, Cunard and Holland America Line all offer single cabins on some or all of their fleet.

Not only staterooms get more solo traveler-friendly; shore excursions and onboard entertainment are getting in on the single fun, too. Riviera River Cruises, for example, now tailors programming to solo travelers that includes options like walking tours with expert local guides or guided wine tastings in Burgundy.

River cruises ride the solo traveler wave as well, with Riviera River Cruises currently the only cruise line to offer a dedicated solo traveler cruise. On those cruises, every cabin on the ship is reserved for solo travelers, without any single supplement or extra fee.

“We entered the North American market about four years ago and wanted to differentiate ourselves from other river cruise lines,” said Marilyn Conroy, executive vice president of sales and marketing in North America, Riviera River Cruises. “One of the ways to do that was to focus on a growing market that our competition wasn’t focusing on: the solo traveler. In addition to having at least five cabins on every departure with no single supplement, we decided to offer our solo traveler cruises, with no single supplement across all cabin grades throughout the ship.”

Conroy notes single travelers come from all walks of life; and although a number of its solo cruisers are single, many of them aren’t. “They may have different interests than their spouse and want to go on a trip on their own, or they want to go with a friend but not share a cabin,” she said.

“In my view, the solo cruise trend will continue and grow,” added Conroy. “More and more people want to travel with friends but have their own cabin or want to travel on their own and be around other solos. The single population has grown significantly over the past five years, and there’s no reason why this trend won’t continue.”

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FEATURE | GT TESTED READER SURVEY AWARDS

Above A and Beyond Global Traveler celebrates the 2021 winners of the GT Tested Reader Survey awards.

BY KIMBERLY KROL INLANDER PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTOPHER OTTAUNICK AND NICOLAS BATES

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fter celebrating our 2020 awards virtually, the team at FXExpress Publications, Inc., returned in 2021 to Los Angeles and The Peninsula Beverly Hills to celebrate the winners of our 18th annual GT Tested Reader Survey awards, live and in person! The event also marked the 10th year the beautiful Peninsula Beverly Hills served as our host venue.

It was truly a night to remember — for so many reasons — as we celebrated those travel companies consistently going above and beyond, as voted by our readers. In addition to honoring the GT Tested Reader Survey awards, we also feted the Airline and Hotel of the Year and introduced the inaugural winners of our Outstanding Diversity & Inclusion in Travel awards.

A number of sponsors joined in the festivities, including United MileagePlus, United Club Infinite Card from Chase, United Explorer

Card from Chase, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card from Chase, IHG Business Edge, Air Canada, Hertz, Fiesta Americana and Marriott Bonvoy. United Club Infinite Card from Chase and United Explorer Card from Chase sponsored a Dom Perignon raffle. The lucky winners included Edyth Adedeji of Delta Air Lines; Matthew Atalay Mason, Turkish Airlines Corporate Club; Cathy Choi; Aybike Tebbe, Turkish Airlines; and Eric Ludwig. The night’s entertainment was provided by Liz Watts & Co. We were also honored to welcome Scott Linebrink on behalf of Water Mission. Following a 15-year career in professional baseball, Linebrink joined the organization to help end the global water crisis. Water Mission focuses on building safe water, sanitation and hygiene solutions around the world so everyone has access to clean, safe water. Learn more at watermission.org.

Be part of the action as we recap the night’s festivities on the following pages.

WINNERS’ CIRCLE Best Overall Airline in the World Singapore Airlines Best Airline Alliance oneworld 12th Consecutive Year Best Aircraft Type Boeing 787 Best Airline Website aa.com Fifth Consecutive Year Fastest-Growing Airline, Trans-Pacific United Airlines Best Airline for International First Class Korean Air Best Airline for Business Class Turkish Airlines Fifth Consecutive Year Best Airline for Domestic First Class American Airlines Seventh Consecutive Year Best Airline Lounges Delta Sky Club Third Consecutive Year Best Airline for Onboard Service Asiana Airlines 18th Consecutive Year Best Airline for Flight Attendants Asiana Airlines 18th Consecutive Year Best Airline Cuisine Etihad Airways Second Consecutive Year Best Flight Attendant Uniforms Emirates Best Airline for Security Swiss International Air Lines Best Business-Class Seat Design Korean Air

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WINNERS’ CIRCLE Best First-Class Seat Design All Nippon Airways Second Consecutive Year Best Corporate Program for Business Travelers Turkish Airlines Corporate Club Fourth Consecutive Year Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness Air Canada Second Consecutive Year

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Best Overall Frequent-Flyer Program United MileagePlus 18th Consecutive Year Best Frequent-Flyer Elite-Level Program American Airlines AAdvantage – Executive Platinum Best Frequent-Flyer Bonus Program United MileagePlus Ninth Consecutive Year Best Frequent-Flyer Award Redemption United MileagePlus Best Frequent-Flyer Customer Service Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

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Best Airline in North America Air Canada Third Consecutive Year Best Airline to South America LATAM Airlines Group Best Airline in Mexico Aeromexico 12th Consecutive Year Best Airline in the South Pacific Air Tahiti Nui Fourth Consecutive Year Best Airline in Europe TAP Air Portugal 11th Consecutive Year

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1. Scott Linebrink; Luc Bondar, president, MileagePlus, vice president, marketing & loyalty, United Airlines 2. Scott Linebrink; Mo Holden, vice president, marketing, JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Audra Dallitis, senior director, card acquisitions, Marriott International 3. Doug Abbott, director, IHG Business Edge, InterContinental Hotels Group 4. Mats Winter, director, product design, Air Canada 5. Parool Shah, vice president, global brand public relations, Marriott International 6. Javier Cano, area general manager, Marriott International 7. Dragan Drobnjak, sales director, North America, Aeroflot 8. Edith Segura, marketing manager, Aeromexico

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WINNERS’ CIRCLE Best Airline in Eastern Europe Aeroflot Second Consecutive Year Best Airline in Africa Royal Air Maroc Best Airline in the Middle East Etihad Airways Second Consecutive Year 3

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Best Airline in North Asia China Airlines Ninth Consecutive Year

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Best Airline in Central/ South Asia & India Air India Eighth Consecutive Year Best Airline to Japan Japan Airlines Best Trans-Atlantic Airline TAP Air Portugal Second Consecutive Year Best Trans-Pacific Airline All Nippon Airways Second Consecutive Year

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1. Scott Linebrink; Kathryn Kilburg, senior director of redemption products, loyalty, Marriott Bonvoy 2. Scott Linebrink; Rafael Lizarraga, chief commercial officer, Posadas 3. Nick Panza, vice president, Americas, Air Tahiti Nui 4. James Thomas, DEI director, Alaska Airlines 5. Dae Seung Kim, deputy general manager, marketing and sales, Asiana Airlines 6. Sean Lutkenhouse, corporate sales manager, American Airlines; Kaori Kinoshita, corporate sales manager, American Airlines 7. LaTonya Smothers-Lawson, regional marketing manager, Celebrity Cruises 8. Angie Kocerka, director of marketing & air service, Chicago Department of Aviation

Best Overall Airport in the World Singapore Changi Airport Sixth Consecutive Year Best Airport in North America Chicago O’Hare International Airport 18th Consecutive Year

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Best Airport in Asia Incheon International Airport Fifth Consecutive Year Best Airport in Europe Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Fourth Consecutive Year Best Airport in the Middle East Hamad International Airport Fifth Consecutive Year

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WINNERS’ CIRCLE Best Airport in South America El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá Fourth Consecutive Year Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents Turkish Airlines Sixth Consecutive Year Best Airport Dining Chicago O’Hare International Airport Second Consecutive Year Best Airport Shopping Miami International Airport Third Consecutive Year

1. Scott Linebrink; Audra Dallitis, senior director, card acquisitions, Marriott International, accepting on behalf of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card from American Express 2. Yasser Ogando, advertising and production manager, FXExpress Publications, Inc.; Scott Linebrink 3. Edyth Adedeji, director of Southwest regional sales, Delta Air Lines 4. Vincent Frascogna, vice president, Americas, Etihad Airways 5. David Skwarek, senior advisor, accounts, Intelsat (Gogo Commercial Aviation) 2 6. Fay Georgousis, public relations executive manager, Greek National Tourism Organization 7. Takeshi Morita, vice president marketing & sales, the Americas, Japan Airlines 8. Marco Scherer, general manager, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants 9. José Silva, CEO, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts 10. Atif Elkadi, deputy chief executive officer, Ontario International Airport

Fastest-Growing U.S. Airport Ontario International Airport, Ontario, California Fourth Consecutive Year Best Duty-Free Shopping in the World Dubai Duty Free 15th Consecutive Year Best Duty-Free Shopping in Asia Incheon International Airport

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Best International Hotel Chain The Ritz-Carlton Best Domestic Hotel Chain Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts Best Lifestyle Hotel Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants Best MICE Hotel LOTTE HOTEL SEOUL Seventh Consecutive Year Best Hotel Website hilton.com Second Consecutive Year Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World IHG Rewards Club 17th Consecutive Year

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ADVERTISEMENT

Full Speed Ahead O’Hare International Airport celebrates the completion of its modernization program, among other exciting developments.

DESPITE THE SUBSTANTIAL impact of the pandemic on the aviation industry, Chicago is excited about the future of air travel and is working just as hard as before to invest in its airport infrastructure.

The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) recently joined government officials and airline

executives at O’Hare International Airport to celebrate the completion of the O’Hare Modernization Program, or OMP. This concludes the 16-year, $6 billion investment that transforms the airfield into a modern configuration, reduces delays and paves the way for future terminal redevelopment.

It’s a tremendous achievement for the airport and one of the largest runway reconfiguration projects in the world. The development incorporated the construction of four new runways, the extensions to two existing runways, the building of two new airport traffic control towers and the relocation of numerous facilities at O’Hare International Airport. The most recent project extends Runway 9R-27L by approximately 3,290 feet to make it 11,260 feet and the second-longest runway on the O’Hare airfield.

Since the beginning of OMP, national airspace system impact delays attributable to O’Hare reduced by 64 percent. Further the investment led to the creation of tens of thousands of jobs and work for diverse businesses of all sizes.

The completed runway reconfiguration also offers a more balanced airfield with three runways on the north airfield, three on the south airfield and two crosswind runways. This gives the airport more options in the airport’s constructive dialogue with regional leaders to ensure no community takes the brunt of runway noise.

To commemorate the accomplishment, a set of murals were painted by teens at a program held with the Chicago Park District as part of First Lady Amy Eshleman’s My CHI. My Future program. The free summer series connected Chicago’s youth with safe and engaging spaces throughout 15 communities across the south and west sides and featured activities, games, food and more. The murals will go on display at O’Hare.

These final phases of OMP are part of the O’Hare 21 capital program — Chicago’s vision for a modern airport that will be an efficient and accessible international gateway to the world and to Chicago. Through this $8.5 billion investment, O’Hare will be transformed from curb to gate and meet the needs of the traveling public through the 21st century and beyond.

More information on O’Hare 21 is available at ord21.com.

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WINNERS’ CIRCLE Best Frequent-Stay Elite-Level Program Hilton Honors Diamond Best Frequent-Stay Bonus Program Hilton Honors Second Consecutive Year Best Frequent-Stay Award Redemption Marriott Bonvoy Second Consecutive Year Best Frequent-Stay Customer Service World of Hyatt Best Hotel in the United States The Peninsula Beverly Hills 11th Consecutive Year Best Hotel in Asia SIGNIEL SEOUL Second Consecutive Year Best New Hotel in Asia SIGNIEL BUSAN Best Hotel in South Korea LOTTE HOTEL SEOUL 10th Consecutive Year Best European Hotel Chain St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Sixth Consecutive Year

1. Eoghan Slye, senior vice president, Hertz 2. Scott Linebrink; Luc Bondar, president, MileagePlus, vice president, marketing & loyalty, United Airlines, accepting on behalf of JPMorgan Chase & Co., for the United Airlines co-branded credit cards 3. Maria Krasilnikova, head of global brand, marketing, loyalty, oneworld 4. Amine El Farissi, vice president, Americas, Royal Air Maroc 5. Joey Seow, regional vice president, Singapore Airlines 6. Fern Ottavio, sales and marketing manager, TAP Air Portugal 7. Lauren Rocklin, senior vice president, marketing, The Parking Spot 8. Offer Nissenbaum, managing director, The Peninsula Beverly Hills 9. Ersen Engin, general manager, Turkish Airlines 10. Lee Seow Hiang, CEO, Singapore Changi Airport 11. Thomas LoForese, overseas delivery specialist, Volvo 12. Kristin Shannon, vice president, travel & affinity partnerships, Barclays 7

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Best Hotel Chain in Mexico Fiesta Americana 11th Consecutive Year Best Hotel Chain in the Middle East Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts Fourth Consecutive Year Best Hotel in the Middle East Burj Al Arab Jumeirah Fourth Consecutive Year Best Overseas Delivery Program Volvo Sixth Consecutive Year

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Hertz. Let’s Go! Change scenery, not standards. © 2022 Hertz System, Inc. All rights reserved. CS 222043

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Best WiFi Service Intelsat (formerly Gogo Commercial Aviation) Best Luggage Brand Briggs & Riley 12th Consecutive Year Best Hotel App Hilton Third Consecutive Year Best Airline App Delta Air Lines Best Small- to Mid-Sized Business Program IHG Business Edge Third Consecutive Year Best Overall Credit Card United Club Infinite Card from Chase Second Consecutive Year Best Small Business Credit Card Capital One Spark Miles for Business Card Best Credit Card Special Events United Card Event Second Consecutive Year Best Credit Card Rewards Programs United Club Infinite Card from Chase Second Consecutive Year

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1. Julian Tucker, general manager, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts 2. Ralph Cutié, director and chief executive officer, Miami-Dade Aviation Department 3. Mark Weinstein, senior vice president, global head of marketing & loyalty, Hilton Worldwide 4. Juan Ordoñez, director of onboard services, LATAM Airlines Group 5. Kil Ki-Yon, president and CEO, Seoul Tourism Organization 6. Sunil M. Daware, regional director, Americas, Air India 7. Sawako Oda, vice president, marketing & sales, the Americas, All Nippon Airways 8. Porsche Hsu, marketing director, the Americas, China Airlines 9. Colm McLoughlin, executive vice chairman, CEO, Dubai Duty Free 10. Abdulaziz Abdullah Al-Mass, vice president commercial, marketing and communications, Hamad International Airport 11. Ermanno Zanini, general manager, Burj Al Arab Jumeirah 13. Richard Krulik, CEO, Solo/Briggs & Riley

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Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card from Bank of America 10th Consecutive Year Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Promotions United Club Infinite Card from Chase Second Consecutive Year Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Benefits Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card from Bank of America Third Consecutive Year

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1. Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, FXExpress Publications, Inc.; Vincent Frascogna, vice president, Americas, Etihad Airways 2. Francis X. Gallagher, publisher & CEO, FXExpress Publications, Inc.; Amine El Farissi, vice president, Americas, Royal Air Maroc; Carrie Cox, account executive, Southern region and the Caribbean, FXExpress Publications, Inc. 3. Katie Skrzek, vice president/digital director, FXExpress Publications, Inc.; Rina Nehdar; Kimberly Krol Inlander, editor in chief, FXExpress Publications, Inc.; Tracey Cullen, art director, FXExpress Publications, Inc.; Mary Melnick, social media and editorial coordinator, FXExpress Publications, Inc. 4. Fern Ottavio, sales and marketing manager, TAP Air Portugal; Sean Lutkenhouse, corporate sales manager, American Airlines; Eric Ludwig, member, Global Traveler’s Globility Board 5. Maria Angeles, account executive, Western region and Asia, FXExpress Publications, Inc.; Julian Tucker, general manager, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts 6. Javier Cano, area general manager, Marriott International; Kathryn Kilburg, senior director of redemption products, loyalty, Marriott Bonvoy; Parool Shah, vice president, global brand public relations, Marriott International; Haley Fogarty, advertising manager, FXExpress Publications, Inc.; Francis X. Gallagher, publisher & CEO, FXExpress Publications, Inc. 7. Edyth Adedeji, director of Southwest regional sales, Delta Air Lines; Francis X. Gallagher, publisher & CEO, FXExpress Publications, Inc. 8. Luc Bondar, president, MileagePlus, vice president, marketing & loyalty, United Airlines

Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Redemptions United Explorer Card from Chase Ninth Consecutive Year Best Cruise Line Affinity Credit Card Princess Cruises Visa Signature Card from Barclays Fourth Consecutive Year Airline of the Year Delta Air Lines Hotel of the Year Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants Outstanding Diversity & Inclusion in Travel – Airline Alaska Airlines Outstanding Diversity & Inclusion in Travel – Hotel Marriott International Outstanding Diversity & Inclusion in Travel – Cruise Celebrity Cruises

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Follow in the footsteps of adventurous women who made travel history. BY MARLENE GOLDMAN

“T

here is no reason why a woman cannot go wherever a man goes, and further. If a woman be fond of travel, if she has love of the strange, the mysterious and the lost, there is nothing that will keep her at home … .” — Harriett Chalmers Adams, 1920.

Harriett Chalmers Adams was not on my radar when I hopped on a Greyhound bus solo from Sydney to Darwin in Australia in my early 20s. I had no plan until I answered an ad at a travel center posted by a solo Swiss woman with a car looking for a travel buddy. We drove for a month down the west coast to Perth, camping or sleeping in the backseat most of the way, our own version of Thelma and Louise.

I hadn’t heard of Adams when I spent nearly a year traveling in Southeast Asia mainly solo, or the five months I spent backpacking my way through East Africa on my own, including an ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro with my local guide. But I have nonetheless channeled her spirit and that

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of a host of other intrepid women, many of whom conquered great swaths of the world without the benefits of planes, high-tech trekking shoes, or GPS and Google Translate on their phones.

Adams, born in California in 1875, tracked more than 100,000 miles just in South America, many of those miles on a nearly three-year journey in the early 1900s with her husband traveling on horseback, train and boat. The trip resulted in Adams leading her first lecture for National Geographic and ultimately her 30-year career writing more than 20 stories for National Geographic magazine. She also helped found the Society of Women Geographers and during World War I was the only female war correspondent for Harper’s Magazine in Europe, reporting from the trenches on the French front lines.

Adams set a goal to visit every country that was or had been a Spanish colony. She followed Christopher Columbus’ voyage from Europe throughout the Americas and during her travels met with 20 indigenous

PHOTO: © ALEXEY POPROTSKIY | DREAMSTIME.COM

Inspiring Journeys

tribes on the continent. According to The New York Times, she was likely the first white female to do so. Later, she embarked on Ferdinand Magellan’s sailing route from Spain to the Philippines.

As Adams said: “I’ve never found my sex a hinderment; never faced a difficulty which a woman, as well as a man, could not surmount; never felt a fear of danger; never lacked courage to protect myself.”

Adams wasn’t the first woman to traverse the globe. That distinction could very well go to Icelandic explorer Gudrid Thorbjarnardóttir, born in the 10th century and dubbed the “Far-Travelled.” Her story, which many experts believe to be true, is chronicled in two Old Norse sagas, The Saga of Erik the Red and The Saga of the Greenlanders. Thorbjarnardóttir is said to have made eight successful ocean journeys, including a sailing with her then-husband to North America around the year 1000. She is also said to have crossed Europe twice on foot. A statue of Thorbjarnardóttir created for the 1939 New York World’s Fair remains on display in Glaumbær, Iceland.

Centuries later, French botanist and explorer Jeanne Baret, born in 1740, became the first woman to officially circumnavigate the globe. The catch is she had to make the journey dressed as a man. In 1765 the French government commissioned Louis Antoine de Bougainville to lead a voyage around the world.

Bougainville asked botanist Philibert Commerson to accompany him aboard the ship Étoile. Baret was Commerson’s assistant, but at the time French naval law prohibited women from being on ships. The ship’s captain helped keep Baret’s gender a secret during the journey.

Austrian explorer Ida Laura Pfeiffer also made two sojourns around the world between 1846 and 1855. Dubbed the “World’s First Solo Female Travel Writer,” her adventures took her through Southeast Asia, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. She was a member of both the Berlin and Paris geographical societies and one of the first female travelers to have her journals translated into seven languages.

Another writer, American journalist Elizabeth Cochran Seaman, who published under the name Nellie Bly, upped the ante with her record-breaking trip around the globe in 72 days, which inspired her book Around the World in Seventy-Two Days.

She embarked on her 24,899-mile exploration in November 1889, traveling through England, France, Egypt, the Pacific and the United States using steamships, trains, horses, rickshaws and other local forms of transportation.

One of the most prolific travelers in the early 1900s, Freya Stark explored the exotic remote regions of the Middle East, living by her credo, “I have no reason to go, except that I have never been, and knowledge is better than ignorance. What better reason could there be for traveling?”

Her adventures took her to Lebanon in 1927, Persia as well as northern Yemen in 1940 and to other locales before settling to live in Baghdad. She mastered seven languages and was just as prolific behind the pen, writing a body of alluring travel books including The Valleys of the Assassins: And Other Persian Tales, Letters from Syria and The Minaret of Djam: An Excursion in Afghanistan. Stark was 100 when she died in 1993.

No ode to women pioneers in the sphere of travel would be complete without mention of trailblazing pilot Amelia Earhart, who became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1932. She worked as

Travel Pioneers: Nellie Bly, who traveled around the world using steamships, trains, horses, rickshaws and other forms of transportation (left); and Amelia Earhart prior to her last takeoff (below) PHOTOS: © LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, PRINTS & PHOTOGRAPHS DIVISION; © RECORDS OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD, RG 26, NAID 6708612

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Going It Alone: Pacific Crest Trail; and Cheryl Strayed, who hiked it solo PHOTOS: © RON GREER | DREAMSTIME.COM, © FEATUREFLASH | DREAMSTIME.COM

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a truck driver, photographer and stenographer to pay for flying lessons and bought a yellow biplane she named The Canary. She broke records, from highest altitude climbs to fastest flights. But her attempt to circumnavigate the globe ended in July 1937 when she vanished over the Pacific, never to be seen again.

Bessie Coleman preceded Earhart in flight and was the first African American and first Native American woman pilot. Coleman was not allowed to attend aviation school in the United States because of her color and gender, so she went to aviation school in France and received her international pilot’s license in 1921. A year later she performed the first public flight by an African American woman. Known for performing loop-the-loops and other stunts, Coleman earned the nicknames “Brave Bessie” and “Queen Bess.” She died on a practice run for an upcoming performance in 1923.

French-born Sophie Blanchard, the first female professional balloonist, performed for the likes of Napoleon Bonaparte. She also became the first woman killed in an aviation accident, in 1819, performing over Tivoli Gardens in Paris.

The ultimate pioneers of flight were Russian native Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space in 1962, and Sally Ride, who in 1983 became the first American woman in space.

On terra firma, Annie Cohen Kopchovsky, known as Annie Londonderry, is recognized as the first woman to cycle around the world. On June 25, 1894, at the age of 24, she started from her home in Boston and cycled to Chicago. Her journey included segments on ships to Europe and from Asia back to the United States, but her epic journey lasted 15 months.

Decades later, Dervla Murphy, an Irish touring cyclist and travel writer, in 1963 set off on a seven-month solo cycling journey from Ireland to India, chronicled in her book Full Tilt: Dunkirk to Delhi by Bicycle. Murphy has published 26 books.

On four wheels, Eva Dickson was the first woman to cross the Sahara

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Desert by car in 1932, spending 27 days driving, while Polish sailor Krystyna Chojnowska-Liskiewicz in 1978 became the first woman to sail around the world solo.

Japanese mountaineer Junko Tabei holds the distinction of being the first woman to summit the world’s tallest peak, Mount Everest, in 1975, and then in 1992 the first woman to climb the Seven Summits. During the ascent on Everest, an avalanche buried her all-women team’s camp about 9,000 feet from the summit and knocked her unconscious. She made it to the top 12 days later. Tabei served as director of the Himalayan Adventure Trust of Japan, which focuses on protecting high-alpine environments from the traces left by hikers and climbers.

American hiker Emma Rowena Caldwell Gatewood, known as Grandma Gatewood, at the age of 67 became the first woman to hike the Appalachian Trail solo in one season. She hiked the trail three times in her lifetime. In 2012 she was inducted into the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame.

The scope of influential women in travel continues to inspire, even making the silver screen with Wild, Cheryl Strayed’s story of her solo; three-month; 1,100-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail in 1995 at the age of 26, following her mother’s death from lung cancer and a tumultuous divorce.

Swiss adventurer Sarah Marquis has mounted more extreme solo treks, logging thousands of miles on foot. From 2002 to 2003 she walked 8,700 miles in the Australian Outback over 17 months. From 2010 to 2013 she walked alone from Siberia to Australia, and in 2014 National Geographic named her Adventurer of the Year.

Perhaps New Zealand adventurer Helen Thayer — in 2009 named one of the most important explorers of the 20th century, having walked 1,600 miles across the Gobi Desert and becoming the first woman to travel solo to the magnetic North Pole — said it best: “Anybody can be an explorer if they want to be. You can be an astronaut if you want.

Figure it out, what you want to do, and then go do it.”

2022 Trazees Awards Ballot Please write in your personal favorites, based on your own experience, on the line next to each of the following categories.

AIRLINE BEST

DESTINATION BEST

Favorite International Airline ___________________________________________________________

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Favorite Adventure Destination________________________________________________________ Favorite Foodie City ____________________________________________________________________ Friendliest City__________________________________________________________________________ Favorite Beach Town, Northeast U.S. __________________________________________________ Favorite Beach Town, Mid-Atlantic U.S. ________________________________________________ Favorite Beach Town, Mid-Southern U.S.______________________________________________ Favorite Beach Town, Southeast U.S. __________________________________________________ Favorite Beach Town, Florida (East) ____________________________________________________ Favorite Beach Town, Florida (West) ___________________________________________________ Favorite Beach Town, Florida (Panhandle)_____________________________________________ Favorite Beach Town, Gulf (Alabama/Mississippi/Louisiana)_____________________________ Favorite Beach Town, Texas ___________________________________________________________

AIRPORT BEST

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OTHER BEST Favorite Car Rental Company __________________________________________________________ Favorite Tour Operator ________________________________________________________________ Favorite Luggage Brand________________________________________________________________ Favorite Credit Card ____________________________________________________________________ Favorite Travel Credit Card Design ____________________________________________________ Favorite Cruise Line ____________________________________________________________________

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PLEASE MAIL THE COMPLETED SURVEY TO: Kevin Ryan, Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP, 1800 JFK Blvd., 20th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103 | Or fax to 215 545 4810 Or vote online at trazeetravel.com/trazees-2022-voting

Favorite Hotel Chain in Europe ________________________________________________________ Favorite Hotel Chain in Mexico ________________________________________________________ Favorite Hotel Chain in the Middle East _______________________________________________

Name

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GUAYAQUIL

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ABU DHABI

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GLASGOW

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THESSALONIKI

leisure destinations 62

ADELAIDE

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ABU DHABI

COLORADO

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FJORDS OF SCANDINAVIA

72 Art Appreciation: Louvre Abu Dhabi PHOTO: © ALENA GORODETSKAYA | DREAMSTIME.COM

THAI ISLANDS

DESTINATION ONE | GUAYAQUIL

On the Rise Transformational projects boost Guayaquil’s international allure.

BY RON BERNTHAL

Colorful Horizons: Church on Santa Ana Hill in Guayaquil (left), and Wyndham Guayaquil (right) PHOTOS: © JESSE KRAFT | DREAMSTIME .COM, © STEFANIE PETROPOULOS

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F

ounded during the Spanish conquest in 1537, Guayaquil — the largest city in Ecuador, with a population of about 2.5 million — is the country’s main business center and port.

During the past two decades this tropical city, drenched with the brilliant colors of fruit trees, flowering palms, native plants and wild orchids, took on some of the most comprehensive urban revitalization projects in South America. These all led to new foreign direct investments, safer neighborhoods, historic restorations and an increase in

globaltravelerusa.com MARCH 2022

leisure visitors.

The Malecón 2000 project revitalized about 1.5 miles of riverfront along Río Guayas, stretching from its southernmost point at Mercado Sur to Santa Ana Hill and Las Peñas north of downtown. Featuring restaurants, a museum, a performance space, a movie theater and a shopping mall, the area proves a pleasant and safe place to walk and explore the city. At the northern end, climb the 444 steps leading through small alleys dotted with multicolored houses to Santa Ana Lighthouse and spectacular views.

The once-polluted Estero Salado waterway now offers a waterfront park where bird watchers, joggers and visitors enjoy on-site attractions including a 1,300-foot boardwalk. Another project created Nuevo Parque

LODGING

DINING

Hotel del Parque Enjoy 5-star amenities in a peaceful oasis in Guayaquil Historical Park.

The 46-room Relais & Châteaux property features Ecuadorian furnishings, marble bathrooms and the riverfront Casa Julian restaurant.

Anatto The Peruvian chef sees to the seafood, fish and Peruvian cuisine while the Brazilian chef handles roasts like roasted smoked beef rib.

Try the popular surf and turf grilled loin, prawns, mushroom risotto and salad.

Km. 1½ vía a Samborondón, Av. Los Arcos y Río Guayas, Samborondón $$$$ Oro Verde Guayaquil With 236 luxurious rooms and suites, the property offers stunning bathrooms, high-speed WiFi, a spa, outdoor pool, free parking, airport transfers and six dining venues.

Executive club level rooms include 24/7 administrative assistance.

Av. 9 de Octubre 414 y García Moreno, Guayaquil $$

Histórico, a park located in a mangrove wetland between the Daule and Babahoyo rivers, which merge to form Río Guayas. In 2013 the national government built two modern pedestrian bridges connecting downtown Guayaquil, Santay Island and the town of Durán to allow people to easily make ecotourism trips to areas east of the city.

The city expects its next major project, still in the design stage, to prove even more transformational. Ciudad Nueva Guayaquil will create three distinct districts — Marina, Central and Garden — on the 593-acre plot currently occupied by Guayaquil’s airport, once the airport relocates farther from city center. The present terminal will remain, reutilized as a transportation center with retail and entertainment spaces.

These new mixed-use, live-work districts will all connect via a central boulevard, an extensive linear park with a stream and green spaces offering biking and walking paths, small cafés and social areas. According to

Wyndham Guayaquil This deluxe 175-room property on the boardwalk features large rooms, river views, complimentary breakfast, airport shuttle, parking, WiFi, fitness center, spa and rooftop pool. Walk to shops and Santa Ana Hill Lighthouse.

Calle Numa Pompilio Llona S/N, Ciudad del Río – Puerto Santa Ana $$

Q4F5+C8, Citadel la Saiba, La Saiba, Mz E villa 12, Guayaquil $$$ Mami-T This small eatery on the boardwalk in Puerto Santa Ana serves great fish dishes and the ubiquitous moors, an Ecuadorian rice and lentils dish with cheese, egg or guacamole. The sangria with chopped fruit or a cold local beer pairs perfectly in warm weather.

9, Edificio Riverfront II, local 5 y 9 $$ Terra Market Avant-garde and inspired by Ecuadorian and other Latin American cuisines, the restaurant proves popular with ex-pats and locals. The chefs’ imaginative cooking and selection of creative cocktails offer a lovely experience in a nice location.

Ubicados Km. 1.5 vía Samborondón, Edificio Xima local 2 $$

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City of the Future: Artist’s rendering of New City Guayaquil Central District Convention Center (top), and Boulevard South (bottom) PHOTOS: © PERKINS EASTMAN

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Perkins Eastman, the project’s design firm, the multibillion-dollar, 1 million-square-foot project will become a vital part of the city and include a new Guayaquil Convention Center and a Charles Darwin museum.

“This New City vision will be a catalyst for economic growth, cultural activities and entertainment; it will be the spark that begins Guayaquil’s journey to becoming the city of the future,” said Stephen Forneris, a principal with Perkins Eastman.

Guayaquil boasts the largest seaport in Ecuador, handling 70 percent of the country’s external trade. Combined with its industrial and agricultural production, Guayaquil contributes 25 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. The city’s sophisticated consumer base also draws international firms interested in reaching the southern Ecuadorian market.

As an example, in 2021 Bath & Body Works opened an outlet at Guayaquil’s upscale San Marino Shopping Mall, the first of two planned in the country. “In Guayaquil, the Ecuadorian likes the new, the international, the exclusive, and that is what we bring: products never sold here before,” said Fahed Safadi, general manager of the brand in Ecuador. In the same mall, Victoria’s Secret opened last year, and many other globally recognized stores will arrive in 2022.

Global companies operating in Guayaquil include Johnson & Johnson, Nestlé, Deloitte, Audi, IBM, Unilever, Kimberly-Clark, Whirlpool, Cargill, PwC and Anheuser-Busch InBev.

globaltravelerusa.com MARCH 2022

INFO TO GO Guayaquil’s Aeropuerto Internacional José Joaquín de Olmedo, located 4.5 miles from the city center, offers international and domestic flights from a modern terminal building. Best option for ground transportation is rental car (six outlets in terminal) or taxi ($10 one way); drive time is 10–25 minutes depending on time of day.

Many hotels offer complimentary shuttle service.

JUST THE FACTS Time zone: GMT-5 Phone codes: Country code: 593 City code: 4 Currency: U.S. dollar Key industries: Agricultural and beverage processing plants; shipyards; iron foundries; cement and chemical plants; petroleum products; exporting cut flowers, bananas, coffee, cacao, shrimp and fish; pharmaceuticals; construction; tourism

CHECKING IN WITH FELIPE CORREA

Founder and managing partner, Somatic Collaborative design practice and professor and chair of architecture, University of Virginia School of Architecture Many Guayaquil colonial buildings have been lost.

Has the city done a reasonable job of restoring its historic structures?

The Las Peñas neighborhood is a great example of a conservation project that gave this area a new lease on life while also showcasing important samples of 19th-century architecture.

Most of the urban fabric downtown was built in the 20th century, yet one can find several architectural projects of design significance. Three that come to mind are Municipal Palace, Mercado Municipal Sur and the Moorish Clock Tower. All three show the civic dimension of public works projects in the early decades of the 20th century.

Other than the Ciudad Nueva project, what other urban revitalizations projects are in the planning stages?

In the last 20 years, Guayaquil witnessed major

transformations in the rehabilitation and creation of new public spaces in the form of city parks. In addition to Malecón 2000, we have seen projects like Parque Los Samanes which, when fully implemented, will be the third-largest park in Latin America, serving as an important green lung and water management infrastructure for Guayaquil. Such projects are essential in a city that will have to aggressively confront and adapt to sea level rise and the impacts brought by environmental change.

What would you suggest first-time visitors see and do in Guayaquil?

I would take first-time visitors on a tour of the broader aquatic landscape of the city. The ecologies created by the mixing of waters between Daule River and Estero Salado (a salty estuary part of the Gulf of Guayaquil) create one of the most fascinating urban ecologies in the world and is a powerful laboratory on how cities engage their larger natural environment.

As an architect, what cultural attractions in the city do you find especially enjoyable?

I like to visit Centro Cultural Simón Bolívar/El Museo Antropológico y de Arte Contemporáneo. I always enjoy the temporary exhibitions and the larger archaeological collection they keep on display.

Architectural Perspective: Felipe Correa (left), and The Las Peñas neighborhood (right) PHOTOS: © FELIPE CORREA, © IRINA BRESTER | DREAMSTIME.COM

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE Spanish. Indigenous languages are official in regions where they are spoken; English is spoken at most hotels, larger shops, restaurants and businesses.

COMING & GOING U.S. citizens must have a valid passport for visits up to 90 days; for longer visits they must obtain a visa before arrival.

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Daytrips: Galápagos Islands crab and marine iguana (left) and blue-footed booby (below), and new cathedral in the city of Cuenca (bottom) PHOTOS: © SERGEY URYADNIKOV | DREAMSTIME.COM, © PATRICIO HIDALGO | DREAMSTIME.COM, © BURT JOHNSON | DREAMSTIME .COM

DIVERSIONS For many leisure or business visitors to Guayaquil, the Galápagos Islands are a close bucket-list destination.

Flights to Galápagos (one hour, 45 minutes) depart from Guayaquil, arriving at either Baltra Island or San Cristóbal Island. The archipelago of 19 islands lies 620 miles off Ecuador’s Pacific coast and is a protected World Heritage site. Visits to most of the islands require a licensed guide from Galápagos National Park.

The best way to appreciate the destination is with the smaller cruise boats carrying 16–32 passengers. Book multiday cruises at least a few months in advance and arrive in Guayaquil one to two days before your cruise date. Most Galápagos cruise itineraries are quite expensive but well worth the price.

If time allows, plan to visit the city of Cuenca, 8,500 feet high in the Andes Mountains, 3.5 hours east of Guayaquil. As the most important Inca ruins site in Ecuador, the entire Ingapirca complex is a sanctuary and bastion at the same time, with architecture similar to the buildings in Cusco, Peru.

Closer to Guayaquil find many of the best beaches on Ecuador’s Pacific coast located in or near Salinas, a two-hour drive from Guayaquil. The resort town boasts miles of sandy beaches and dozens of small restaurants serving Ecuadorian-style ceviche or fresh shrimp on the grill.

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Travel without leaving your comfort zone Fly to Europe with all the space and privacy you need to relax and arrive refreshed.

A330neo Aircraft Rest assured.

The AirSpace by Airbus cabin offers a more modern, spacious and confortable Executive Class with state-of-the-art full-flat seats.

Economy seating is also completely upgraded, and the new EconomyXtra offers a greater reclining angle and added legroom.

TAP won in Global GT Tested Reader TAP won 2021Traveler's Global2021 Traveler's Award Survey awards as voted by the readers of Global Traveler, as voted by the readers of Global Traveler, www.globaltravelerusa.com. www.globaltravelerusa.com.

Book with confidence

STATESIDE | ANCHORAGE

The Great Outdoors Anchorage opens the door to all that is wild in Alaska.

O

BY GREGORY D. MCCLUNEY

Take a Hike: Walking Flattop Mountain Trail in Anchorage PHOTO: © AMILEVIN | DREAMSTIME.COM

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ne of the most remote cities of North America, Anchorage nonetheless sits at the crossroads of continents and proves as unique as the wildlife and glaciers that surround it. At 1,706 square miles, the city spans an area larger than the state of Rhode Island, with a population of just 291,000. With a half-million-acre state park within the municipality, Anchorage offers easy access to outdoor activities like biking, camping, horseback riding, off-roading and snowmobiling.

Boasting the world’s busiest seaplane base, Lake Hood is far more than a novelty, providing the supply chain and lifeline of the many remote oil rigs, hunting camps and fishing lodges that rely on charter flights for food, equipment, personnel and supplies. Most visitors to Anchorage, however, arrive at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, serving more than 5 million passengers annually and receiving scheduled flights from Asia to the west and Europe to the east, with reliable service from hubs across the United States.

Situated almost equidistant from Tokyo, Frankfurt and New York, the airport also serves as a critical hub for FedEx. Warmed by the Pacific marine climate

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even in the coldest months, the city registers relatively mild mean temperatures for its latitude. Travelers visit Anchorage year-round, often via cruise ships in the warmer months.

In mid-2022 Anchorage will welcome a new airline, Northern Pacific Airways. With Anchorage as its hub, it will connect Asia to the Lower 48. As an added incentive, the carrier will offer stopover options in Anchorage, allowing passengers to explore the city between flights.

The city also welcomes new and expanded hotels and meeting space, including the grand opening of Aloft Anchorage, anticipated for 2023. This 146-room, contemporary boutique hotel will feature the latest connectivity, a 24-hour fitness center and a recharging pool. Meanwhile, Marriott Anchorage Downtown recently completed a comprehensive renovation including a redesign of all 392 guestrooms, dining options and meeting space.

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, perhaps Alaska’s most famous event, will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year, covering more than 1,000 miles of snowy Alaskan terrain. The ceremonial start is scheduled for March 5 in downtown Anchorage, with the March 6 official start near Willow. More than 50 teams are expected to compete this year. Typically, the sleds take from eight to 14 days to reach Nome.

SCENIC DRIVES

Mush!: Sled dogs PHOTO: © SALAJEAN | DREAMSTIME.COM

Anchorage plans to establish a portion of Fourth Avenue as the Anchorage Mushing District. Permanent attractions will honor the sport and famous dogs with a designated Hall of Fame. This spring and summer are anticipated to be the busiest for tourism in Anchorage history, with new airlines, ships and cruise lines sailing to and from the city, bringing almost 1.6 million passengers to Anchorage and Alaska.

From Anchorage, roads are few and far between; in fact, the entire state has only nine designated highways. But travelers who venture from the convenience and comforts of Alaska’s largest city will discover many rewards.

If you don’t want to navigate by rental car or tour bus, the Alaska Railway provides a comfortable alternative. Opt for the famous railroad from Anchorage north to Denali National Park & Preserve, home of Mount Denali, the highest peak in North America. From there head to Fairbanks, with a stop in historic Talkeetna. Relax and enjoy the scenery from your luxury domed rail car — watch for wildlife and wild rivers teeming with salmon.

Drive south from Anchorage to Portage Valley on Highway 1 (the Seward Highway), along the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet, and you’ll encounter beluga whale sightings, eagles in flight, Dall sheep grazing above in the moun-

tains and Arctic terns cruising over the bay. Stop for an easy hike on the Trail of Blue Ice and then visit Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. In Whittier you can take a day cruise on Prince William Sound, gateway to more than two dozen glaciers and home to marine wildlife galore. Then see Portage Glacier up close and personal.

Alaska’s Glenn Highway will take you north and east to Eagle River and on to glacier-fed Eklutna Lake, where you can bike, kayak or rent an ATV. But allow time for two important stops. First, the Alaska Native Heritage Center provides an excellent place to experience native culture established long before Anchorage existed. Native artifacts and guides bring life to exhibits and arts from the indigenous people of Alaska. Then on to Eagle River Nature Center for a chance to get up close to local wildlife and hike trails accommodating all levels of ability. If you have time, stay north on Highway 3 heading toward Denali National Park.

Find it all in one place.

VISITANCHORAGE.NET MARCH 2022 globaltravelerusa.com

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MICE | ABU DHABI

Great Expectations Ambitious, adaptable Abu Dhabi brings people together in a big way. BY RICHARD NEWTON

Art and Adventure : Louvre Abu Dhabi (top), women admiring antique Greek horse statues in Louvre Abu Dhabi (top right), and Yas Viceroy Hotel, built over the Formula 1 Yas Marina Circuit (bottom right) PHOTOS: © OLGA SLOBODIANIUK | DREAMSTIME.COM, © STIHL024 | DREAMSTIME.COM, © OLGA SLOBODIANIUK | DREAMSTIME.COM

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he best-laid plans of MICE and men sometimes go awry. For the global MICE industry, the last two years have been decimated by the pandemic; the majority of events have been postponed or canceled, and many developments have been deferred or shelved.

Abu Dhabi long accepted unforeseen delays are an inevitable cost of ambition. While many of its grand plans have been delivered on time and on budget, others have been beset by delays. Perhaps the most notorious of these is the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi art museum. Originally slated to open in 2011, many complications — including the pandemic — pushed the target date back. Breathtakingly designed by Frank Gehry, it will be a world landmark when it finally opens its doors. The current estimate is 2025.

By comparison, construction of the nearby Louvre Abu Dhabi was relatively straightforward; it opened in 2017, a

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mere five years late. The Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau partnered with the Louvre to create the Bleisure initiative, a portfolio of events and activities tailored for MICE groups. Highlights include the opportunity to host events at the Louvre and the chance to participate in workshops led by local artist Fatima Farah.

The Louvre and Guggenheim museums are located in Abu Dhabi’s emergent Cultural District, north of downtown on Saadiyat Island. Other attractions will include the Zayat National Museum, currently under construction, and the Abrahamic Family House, a complex celebrating Islam, Judaism and Christianity, scheduled (perhaps optimistically) to open this year.

Saadiyat Island is just the latest of a series of developments drawing focus away from the Corniche, the sweeping, five-mile waterfront lined with upscale hotels and resorts, for decades the epicenter of Abu Dhabi. In recent years Capital Centre emerged

UNIQUE VENUES

as a rival district, springing up around Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, the largest exhibition space in the Middle East.

The most recent additions to Capital Centre include Al-Qana, a futuristic marina leisure complex featuring organized fitness and watersports activities, restaurants and cafés; and the National Aquarium, where intrepid MICE groups can arrange to dive with sharks.

Adjacent to Capital Centre, the suburban district of Khalifa City features a number of sporting attractions, including the swanky Abu Dhabi Golf Club, available for corporate events; Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, which regularly hosts international matches; and Al Forsan International Sports Resort, offering a host of participatory events including archery, karting races and paintball.

Although most people think of Abu Dhabi as a city, it is also the largest of the seven states making up the United Arab Emirates and covers an expanse of desert and mountains slightly larger than West Virginia. Not all MICE options here are urban. Desert Islands Resort and Spa by Anantara, situated on Sir Bani Yas Island, 150 miles west of the city (accessible by water taxi or sea plane), is part idyllic tropical beach resort and part safari park. The island is home to 17,000 freeroaming animals, including antelope, giraffes, cheetahs and hyenas. The resort has a dedicated MICE coordinator to tailor events and activities to your requirements.

The pandemic swept away all the old certainties. We now live in an era in which planning must take into account the possibility of an 11th-hour disruption.

Even now, some destinations struggle to cope with this new reality, but Abu Dhabi has the resources and expertise to adapt to a changed world.

Yas Island, one of the component districts of Abu Dhabi city, is a destination in its own right. One of the most recent attractions is the $1 billion Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest indoor theme park.

Its 29 rides make it a popular family attraction, but it also caters to MICE events, from meetings to gala dinners to team-building activities. A more established attraction is Yas Marina Circuit, one of the world’s premier motor-racing venues. The circuit hosts the final Formula 1 Grand Prix each year, usually in November. When major events aren’t scheduled, the track is available for group driving experiences and team-building events (including the chance to participate in a pit stop tire change of a racing car).

A range of corporate packages is available, including access to the racing circuit and catering in a private suite. Another participatory venue, CLYMB Abu Dhabi, an indoor “adventure hub,” features the world’s largest indoor skydiving chamber and the tallest climbing wall in the Middle East. yasisland.ae

MARCH 2022 globaltravelerusa.com

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9–5 | GLASGOW

Gateway to Scotland Engage business contacts with culinary and cultural adventures in Glasgow. BY SUSAN B. BARNES Bigger than Life: Glasgow street art PHOTO: © VANESSA JOHNSTON | DREAMSTIME.COM

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lasgow, or Glaschu in Gaelic, meaning “Green Glen,” traces its development back to A.D. 550 when Saint Kentigern arrived to establish a religious community. Fast-forward about 600 years to 1189, when it was granted the right to hold an annual fair; 800 years to 1350, when it built the first stone bridge over River Clyde; and 900 years when Glasgow founded its first university in 1451.

Needless to say, Scotland’s largest city has been welcoming visitors for centuries.

Today’s international travelers to Glasgow likely arrive at Glasgow Airport, just 15 minutes from the city center via Glasgow Airport Express bus; one-way fares are £8.50 (about $11.50). Taxis (about £45, or $60) and private cars (about £60, or $81) are also available, making transit from the airport to your first meeting of the day seamless. Alternatively, fly into Edinburgh Airport and take an hour’s shuttle ride west. If you are already in the United Kingdom, consider the 4.5-hour train ride from London.

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Once within the walkable city center, the subway offers the easiest way to get around, and First Bus Glasgow operates more than 80 routes across the city.

Want to take in the fresh air? Hop onto one of OVO Bikes’ or Nextbike’s bikeshare rides and get a different perspective of the city. If your business takes you to other areas of Scotland, ScotRail proves a terrific option to get you where you need to go.

Accommodations in and around Glasgow run the gamut, from castles and historic places to trendy spots and healthy retreats. Live like royalty at Crossbasket Castle, a 17th-century luxury hotel, or spend the night in a tower suite at The Sherbrooke Castle Hotel. Rock ’n‘ roll royalty like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones stayed at voco Grand Central Glasgow, an IHG Hotel, attached to Glasgow Central Station; and four stars shine bright just north of the city center at the new Maldron Hotel Glasgow City. Relax after a long day’s work in the new La Chambre Verte at Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel, an immersive overnight experience that surrounds you with

greenery and sound therapy.

Once you’ve recharged and are ready to take on the world, start your day with breakfast at Café Strange Brew in Glasgow’s Southside neighborhood. Indulge in the popular pancakes, which you can order with sweet toppings like poached rhubarb, blood orange or granola, or on the savory side with spring onion and chili, buttermilk chicken and a fried egg. A recent special featured a duck hoi sin pancake. If you’re in a hurry, stop instead at Sprigg for a takeaway of barista-brewed coffee and healthy bowls on the go.

Private meetings over lunch are de rigueur in the business world, and one place you’ll want to make reservations is Ubiquitous Chip, serving Glasgow’s West End for 50 years. Here you’ll dine on Scottish and vegetarian dishes made from inventive, seasonal, locally sourced and foraged ingredients. Another spot to try is The Citizen, housed in the old offices and printing rooms of the Glasgow Evening Citizen newspaper. Try Citizen steak pie and the chicken Balmoral with haggis mousse. For a culinary adventure with a colleague or client, join Eat Walk Glasgow and eat and drink your way across the city.

After work is done for the day, it’s time to let loose. Glasgow was the U.K.’s first UNESCO City of Music, so it’s safe to say the city offers plenty of venues to take in live shows. The Clutha Bar, with a history reaching back more than 200 years, features live music every night; right across the street, The Scotia, founded in 1792, welcomes musicians every Wednesday through Sunday. For traditional Scottish bars with live music, pop into The Ben Nevis Bar, The Snaffle Bit, The Islay Inn and The Park Bar, all in the Finnieston area of the city. Or try Mono, a vegan café that doubles as a music venue popular with new acts.

If you’re ready to celebrate the big deal you just signed, why not toast with a dram of a local pour? There are more than 130 whisky distilleries throughout Scotland, and four of them are close to Glasgow. Enjoy tours and tastings at The Glasgow Distillery Co., The Clydeside Distillery and Auchentoshan Distillery, established in 1823 in nearby Clydebank and the only distillery in Scotland to practice triple distillation. Rum drinkers may opt for Wester Distillery, an independent micro-distillery in the West End. To discover a different side of the city, join Walking Tours in Glasgow for a local’s view of the vibrant street art. Play another tune with Glasgow Music City Tours, which takes music lovers to some of the city’s best venues. If a business golf outing is on the agenda, Scotland boasts more than 600 courses throughout the country, including more than 50 in the Glasgow area alone. Not too far from the city visit famed championship courses like Gleneagles and Prestwick, the original site of the Championship Open.

Scotland is known for its sweeping landscapes, craggy mountains, rugged coastlines, outlying islands and tranquil lochs. If you have time to venture outside of Glasgow when visiting for business, get a terrific taste of all the country has to offer less than an hour away: Loch Lomond. The largest inland stretch of water in all of Great Britain sits in the middle of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, surrounded by villages and rolling countryside. The nature break will have you reenergized and ready to tackle another day.

Taste of Scotland: Clydesdale Distillery (top), The Citizen (middle), and Loch Lomond Golf Course PHOTOS: © THE CLYDESDALE DISTILLERY, © CREATIVE PARROT, © RICHARDJOHNSONUK | DREAMSTIME.COM

MARCH 2022 globaltravelerusa.com

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AFTER 5 | THESSALONIKI

All-Night Afterparty When the sun goes down, Thessaloniki comes to life. BY EUGENIA LAZARIS

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estled along the waterfront of the Thermaïkos Gulf, Thessaloniki (or Salonica to Greeks) sports a laid-back vibe with the perfect blend of metropolitan style and Greek culture. Greece is famous for its nightlife, and the country’s second-largest city will not disappoint. Whether you are in town for business or pleasure, once the clock hits 5 p.m., you are in for a treat of local culture, fun and all-night excitement.

Start your evening adventures in historic Aristotelous Square. This waterfront location offers fresh air and a glimpse into local life. Explore the shops or grab a coffee or a bite to eat from one of the many cafés lining the square, and enjoy people-watching before you hit the town. You can easily stroll to nearby sites on foot such as Lefkos Pyrgos, or White Tower, that sits as a beacon on the waterfront. This historic tower houses a museum that stays open until 8 p.m. and lights up beautifully at night. The surrounding neighborhood features stunning gardens to discover, such as Garden of the Afternoon Sun, open around the clock and perfect for a walk in the fresh night air.

For world-class shopping, head to Tsimiski Street, running parallel to the waterfront and lined with an assortment of shops where you can find that special gift or just browse Europe’s latest fashions. Nearby Athonos Square offers traditional meat markets, local handicrafts and plenty of places to grab a bite of traditional Greek food.

Greece is famous for entertainment venues known as bouzoukia, traditional late-night venues that combine live music, drinks and dancing. These spots, found all across the city, range from big clubs hosting well-known Greek singers to smaller settings known as skyladika, which feature local, often unknown talent. The entertainment begins around 11 p.m. and goes until the early hours of the morning.

Thessaloniki is one of Greece’s most LGBTQ+-friendly cities, with a vibrant nightlife that never seems to quit.

Popular nightclubs include eNola, located in the trendy Valaoritou neighborhood, and TS14-Transvestite Café and Bar, where guests can dance the night away from 11 p.m. until early morning, with drag shows, great music and a lively crowd.

However you choose to spend your time after 5 in Thessaloniki, prepare for a night of excitement that will keep you going from sundown to sunup.

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Night Lights: Aristotelous Square (above), and Lefkos Pyrgos (left) PHOTOS: © DUDLAJZOV | DREAMSTIME .COM, © DUDLAJZOV | DREAMSTIME.COM

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NEIGHBORHOODS | ADELAIDE

Good Vibes Adelaide’s West End thrives as a hip urban hub close to nature. BY RON BERNTHAL

Work and Play: Adelaide Convention Centre (top left), Adelaide Central Market (right) and West End Peel Street (bottom left) PHOTOS: © ADELAIDE CONVENTION CENTRE, © AUSTRALIAN TOURISM COMMISSION, HELEN PAGE

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n 2017 Lonely Planet named Adelaide’s West End one of the coolest neighborhoods in Australia. More recently, in a study of 140 global cities, Adelaide ranked No. 3 for best lifestyle on The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2021 Global Livability Index. Located on the west side of Adelaide’s thriving Central Business District, it appears this sun-splashed neighborhood only improves with time.

The West End’s unique pedestrian laneway culture draws residents and visitors with a mix of art galleries, museums, small bars and cafés, live music venues, public art, retail shops and private businesses that give the area a distinct, somewhat hedonistic character. Paradoxically, the West End also includes larger urban structures like Adelaide Convention Centre; South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (part of the neighborhood’s BioMed City hub); and the brand-new, 32-story, glass tower Sofitel Adelaide, a 10-minute walk from the Convention Center.

If all this sounds like a cluttered and noisy neighborhood, it is not.

Greenery surrounds all four sides of the CBD and its 27,000 residents, with the River Torrens (Karrawirra Parri) on the north and four square miles of city parklands hugging the other three sides like a gorgeous green necklace.

The West End boasts an eclectic mix of residential addresses with modern townhouses and apartments, historic mansions and nicely

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restored workers’ cottages on the smaller streets and laneways. Almost every type of service lies within walking or biking distance, thanks to Adelaide’s mid-19th-century founders who, purposely or not, created a “15-minute city” lifestyle today’s urban planners can only dream about.

Fortunately, Adelaide’s city planners never messed with the original scheme, and about 37 percent of employed neighborhood residents walk to work.

The area welcomes visitors with an enjoyable, energetic vibe.

The West Oak Hotel, established in 1838, is the city’s oldest continually licensed venue. No longer a hotel, it offers a beer garden, music, pub food and tapas. Take time to sample the extensive and legendary drinks menu at the Pink Moon Saloon. Cry Baby provides a jukebox filled with 1960s to 1980s rock ’n‘ roll, a good whiskey bar and a packed dance floor. The Adelaide Central Market building opened in 1900 and now houses one of the largest covered fresh produce markets in the Southern Hemisphere, offering locally grown fruit and vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood and beautiful hand-painted murals on the façade.

While the state of South Australia spans 379,724 square miles (roughly the size of Texas and Arizona combined), the West End conveniently sits midway between the cooler temperatures and wineries of the Adelaide hills and the warm beaches west of the city, where sun worshipers and surfers gather year-round. Even Adelaide Airport lies

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Zest for Life European sophistication meets Latin passion in Buenos Aires.

BY ARI BENDERSKY

Art Scene: Couple dancing the tango in front of the sculpture Floralis Genérica PHOTO: © ELULTIMODESEO | DREAMSTIME.COM

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ntil you visit, you may never know the extent of Buenos Aires’ cosmopolitanism. From design and architecture to technology and banking — and across all the arts — Buenos Aires truly has a global feel that rivals Paris, New York and Tokyo. While it’s on the water, Buenos Aires is not a beach destination like Rio but rather a port city — hence locals are called Porteños and have a zest for life and want to share it with all who visit.

Almost as soon as you enter this beautiful Argentine capital, it becomes obvious just how fantastic this energetic metropolitan city truly is. You’ll likely spend most of your time between upscale, classic Recoleta; chic, eclectic and fashionable Palermo; and the romantic and gentrified San Telmo, where you’ll find a sprawling open-air antique flea market each Sunday. But the Central Business District of La Citi, between the San Nicolás, Montserrat and Retiro neighborhoods, is home to the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange, Argentina’s Central Bank and other financial institutions.

No matter where you gather with colleagues and clients, you’ll notice quite quickly

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the European influence on the city’s architecture. Waves of immigrants from Spain, Italy and Germany — and what now comprises the world’s sixth-largest Jewish community — all arrived in Buenos Aires in the 19th and 20th centuries, bringing with them design, culture and gastronomy. All over the city their impact can be observed by simply walking around the neighborhoods and looking up at the homes and buildings. You’ll especially see it at Teatro Colón, one of the most important opera houses in the world, where singer Maria Callas famously performed and which offers group tours. At the Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires, modern and folk art converge in permanent and rotating exhibits. You can experience it in any number of the city’s top spots to watch the romantic, sensual tango shows — and learn a few moves yourself in this, the world’s tango capital. You’ll even encounter it in La Recoleta Cemetery, a neighborhood in its own right where some of the city’s most important residents, including Eva Perón, are buried.

When it comes to business, Buenos Aires’ numerous industries converge. In 2017 the city was named a smart city due to its welcoming attitude toward innovation, entrepreneurship, technology and app development. The newer Buenos Aires Exhibition and Convention Centre hosted the 2017 Smart City

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FRIENDS & FAMILY | COLORADO

Colorado Dreaming

For family ski fun, Snowmass and Beaver Creek steal the show.

BY TERRY WARD

On the Slopes: (Left to right) Snowmass, boys skiing at Snowmass, and Wyld Terrace at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch PHOTOS: ©JEREMY SWANSON, © TAMARA SUSA, © THE RITZ-CARLTON

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articularly when kids are still in their earliest years on skis, goes one argument, there’s no need to teach them to schuss at the grandest resorts. Ostensibly any resort with a chair lift and a ski school (or someone to teach them the basic positions of pizza and French fries) will do. Or will it?

As a mother of two young children, ages 4 and 5 years and just learning to ski, I advise throwing that advice out the window in favor of an utterly stress-free ski holiday at two of the most luxurious and accommodating Colorado resorts. For an epic family ski trip from Denver, embark on a road trip to Snowmass and Beaver Creek, as we did.

Ski vacations with kids require a lot of work, but these two spots excel at making the many moving parts as effortless as possible with top-notch programs, world-class instructors and full-service facilities that do pretty much everything but plant your poles in your turns for you.

After picking up our SUV at Denver Airport, my husband and I set off

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for Snowmass with our young kids, Nico and Gabi. It would be the first time on skis for the three of them, and I needed to make the introduction to my favorite winter sport as appealing as possible to guarantee a repeat family attempt.

The 220-mile drive to Snowmass (about four hours without stops) is a sublime route that travels past many of the famous ski resorts along Interstate 70 before skirting the Colorado River through narrow Glenwood Canyon. Sheer mountains towered above us as our Florida kids delighted at tunnels and our stress levels instantly plummeted — along with our cell reception, for at least a few miles, so keep that in mind if you bring business on the road.

Stop off in Glenwood Springs before you reach Snowmass for a dip in one of the local hot springs. Glenwood Hot Springs Resort has an outdoor pool the size of a football field. But I prefer the intimate experience at nearby Iron Mountain Hot Springs, where 16 smaller geothermal pools, some with pebbly bottoms, provide Colorado River views as you soak.

When we checked into our one-bedroom suite at the ski-in/ski-out Viceroy Snowmass, I knew I’d made the right decision regarding where to stay. The kids beelined it for free hot chocolate served every afternoon in the lobby bar, where

LODGING

DINING

The Rally Hotel This cosmopolitan city pick astride Coors Field in downtown Denver offers bunk suites for families and one of the city’s best rooftop pools.

Aurum Food & Wine Aspen Snowmass A Colorado mountain town favorite, Aurum’s newest outpost opened this season in Snowmass Village. Come for tantalizing New American fare great for sharing, including curried cauliflower and charcuterie plates.

1600 20th St., Denver $$$

the friendly staff delighted them with extra marshmallows and whipped cream. Then we all suited up to soak in the hotel’s slopeside swimming pool and hot tubs, where you can watch the chairlifts flying overhead by day and bask under a star-spangled sky at night.

Aspen Snowmass comprises four ski resorts: Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk, Aspen Highlands and Snowmass. Snowmass has more terrain (98 trails and 3,342 acres) than the other three combined.

More importantly, it offers endless free fun at its base and an excellent children’s ski school.

The Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center in Snowmass Village, a Colorado-themed wonderland for little ones ages 8 weeks to 4 years, offers daycare as well as kiddie ski lessons on the magic carpet bunny slope out front.

I signed my kids and husband up for all-day group lessons and spent the

morning practicing my own turns on the fabulous blue runs off Elk Camp Gondola.

The best part? My family members were up there, too, learning to ski on the magic carpet and the easy green runs at Elk Camp Meadows.

We’d rendezvous at day’s end for s’mores by the fire in the base village — a complimentary tradition scheduled at 3:30 p.m. all winter long — before strapping on ice skates (free to rent) to turn circles around the village ice oval. My daughter called the seal-shaped skate training aid she used to steady herself on the ice a manatee (you can take the girl out of Florida, but …), but otherwise I am quite sure we fit in like Coloradans.

But fitting in all there was to do in Snowmass Village was our biggest challenge of the trip. The indoor family game area called The Collective holds bingo nights, discos and comedy shows and includes The Game Lounge, where you can

The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch Boasting the best location in all of Beaver Creek, this ski-in/ski-out property provides a complimentary shuttle to the base village and a chair lift out the door.

0130 Daybreak Ridge Road, Avon $$$$

110 Carriage Way, Snowmass Village $$$$ Limelight Lounge Relaxed pub vibes, live music, great pizzas and lots of space for the kids to run around make this chill restaurant as popular with locals as with out-of-towners.

Limelight Hotel, 65 Wood Road, Snowmass Village $$

Viceroy Snowmass Suites with kitchenettes and mountain views make an ideal family stay at this ski-in/ski-out property in Snowmass Village, with an excellent on-site spa and restaurant.

Sakaba Switch it up from mountain food with flopping-fresh sushi and Japanese-inspired craft cocktails at this restaurant with a great omakase menu inside The RitzCarlton.

130 Wood Road, Snowmass Village $$$$

The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, 0130 Daybreak Ridge Road, Avon $$$$

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Family-Friendly Terrain: McCoy Park at Beaver Creek PHOTO: © VAIL RESORTS

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gather for more family bonding over foosball, billiards, Skee-Ball and other games (free entry 2–4 p.m.).

From Snowmass, it’s a two-hour drive in the direction of Denver along Interstate 70 to reach Beaver Creek. While its reputation for luxury and excellent terrain for all skier types precedes it, the tony resort town close to Vail got even more of a boost for the 2021/2022 season with the opening of 17 new beginner trails (accessed by two new chair lifts) and 250 acres of terrain at brand-new McCoy Park.

Occupying part of a wildlife sanctuary within the White River National Forest — calving grounds for elk during the spring, when access is closed — the ski area exudes a lovely wilderness feel despite easy access from Beaver Creek’s base.

“We wanted to give beginners the awe-inspiring experience of feeling like you’re back in nature and having a bowl experience,” said John Plack, senior communications manager, Vail and Beaver Creek.

Before tackling it, however, I opted for an R&R day with the family, settling into our slope-side room at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch. The property, opened in 2002 and still Beaver Creek’s grandest dame, grants guests ski-in/ski-out access to more than 2,000 acres of terrain that includes groomed runs, moguls and everything in between.

Steps from the chair lift at the base of a long, ribboning ski run, the hotel’s mountainside terrace boasts one of Colorado’s most lively and scenic après-ski scenes.

Bottles of bubbly pop on repeat at the sprawling open-

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air bar, and there’s live music and, for kids of all ages, nightly s’mores sessions steps from the hot tubs.

Sore from getting my ski legs back after a couple of years away from the mountains, I booked a massage at the hotel’s spa. My therapist, Griselda, gave me one of the best treatments of my life before I decamped for extended relaxation at the spa’s steam room, sauna, hot and cold plunge pools and co-ed grotto pool.

“I’m going to make you feel like a noodle,” Griselda told me, carving canyons of relief into my stressed muscles with her deft fingers and elbows and manipulating my quads in a way she said would help cushion my legs for the next day’s bumps.

The following day I felt every bit the noodle Griselda said I would. But I rallied to get my husband and kids off for their last ski lessons, and I was soon deep in beginner bowl country in McCoy Park.

At the cute Alpine-style Eaton Haus, I warmed up with hot chocolate and views of the mountains stretching to the snowy horizon before I emerged into another bluebird Colorado day. The slopes were all corduroy and soft snowy pillows that promised a lot of fun and little risk — just what I was after.

As the kids perfected their pizzas and French fries, my husband texted to ask when we could book our next ski trip.

But my work was not done. I took a deep breath of that crisp mountain air and exhaled into another easy, breezy descent. For the moment, anyway, that Rocky Mountain high was all mine.

INFO TO GO Denver International Airport is Colorado’s only airport with international service, but regional airports lie closer to Snowmass and Beaver Creek. Both towns also connect by highway to Denver (rent an all-wheeldrive vehicle even though roads are generally kept clear of snow). Aspen/ Pitkin County Airport, about six miles from Snowmass, hosts hundreds of flights per week during winter. Eagle County Regional Airport, 28 miles from Beaver Creek, offers non-stop flights from 14 major cities during winter.

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TOURS | BUENOS AIRES

Buenos Aires on Foot Hit the highlights with online itineraries and the city’s free app. BY TERESA BITLER

B

uenos Aires may be known for its Neoclassical architecture and tango, but the capital of Argentina also boasts impressive urban art, trendy wine bars and high-end shopping. Luckily, the city makes it easy to explore its top attractions by providing a downloadable itinerary on its tourism website (turismo.buenosaires.gob.ar) or on the city’s free tourism app, available from your favorite app store. Depending on current local health concerns, the city also hosts free walking and biking tours.

Whichever method you choose for exploring the city, Plaza de Mayo proves a good starting point. The plaza’s most striking building, Casa Rosada, the pink palace from which Juan and Eva Perón addressed the masses, typically offers free guided tours in English on Sundays with an advance reservation. Even when you can’t get in, though, Free Walks Buenos Aires leads tours in English on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Free Walks Buenos Aires also gives free tours of Recoleta Cemetery, where you can pay your respects to famous artists, writers and political figures, including Eva Perón. You can visit El Ateneo Grand Splendid, a theater-turned-bookstore, and Teatro Colón on your own, though. In the past, Teatro Colón offered guided tours for a fee, but for now you’ll have to attend a performance at the renowned opera house to see its opulent interior.

If you prefer to explore neighborhoods (Buenos Aires boasts 48 barrios), don’t miss La Boca’s colorful buildings or San Telmo’s colonial architecture and tango dancers. The largest neighborhood, Palermo, offers the city’s best street art, boutiques selling South America’s hippest fashions, wine bars and vermuterias specializing in vermouth-based aperitifs. The city’s app and its online itinerary provide tips on things to do in each neighborhood as well as suggestions for where to shop and eat.

The app will also direct you to some of Buenos Aires’ best parks, most designed by French-born landscape architect Carlos Thays. To appreciate his work, stroll through Jardín Botánico, an 18-acre garden with 5,000 species of plants and a greenhouse imported from France in 1900. Or explore Parque Tres de Febrero with its lake, sculptures and more than 8,000 roses.

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Grand Design: Casa Rosada, the executive mansion and office of the president of Argentina (above); and El Ateneo Grand Splendid, a 100-year-old theater converted into a bookstore (left) PHOTOS: © SAIKO3P | DREAMSTIME.COM, © ROBERT MULLAN | DREAMSTIME.COM

GET SOCIAL

PHOTOS: © NAPA VALLEY WINE TRAIN, © ELENATUR | DREAMSTIME.COM, © OCEAN PLACE RESORT & SPA, © JOE RAVI | DREAMSTIME.COM, © UKRPHOTOS | DREAMSTIME.COM, © JEKYLL ISLAND CLUB RESORT, © OLGA LUPOL | DREAMSTIME .COM, © LEONID ANDRONOV | DREAMSTIME.COM, © IGNASI SUCH | DREAMSTIME.COM

Make Global Traveler your travel companion! Like our Facebook page; connect with us on LinkedIn; and follow us on Twitter @GTmag #travelnews and #traveldeals, Instagram @globaltravelermag #snapshots and Pinterest pinterest.com/global traveler for travel updates, deals and more. Share your updates with us by using #globility. If you haven't checked them out lately, here's a sampling of what you may have missed:

Napa Valley Wine Train introduces a new Afternoon Tea Service where travelers can sip three different types of crafted teas and enjoy delicious food while taking in stunning views.

Norway reopens to U.S. travelers with no quarantine requirements.

Melt away stress with a winter getaway to the Jersey shore.

Air France launches new, more ecoresponsible comfort kits.

Windstar Cruises offers foodie guests an exciting lineup of culinary cruises for 2022.

The small-ship cruise line will host three themed cruises this year with James Beard Foundation-affiliated guest chefs.

Jekyll Island should be on your travel list for 2022.

From delicious food to beautiful architecture to stunning sites, Bruges, Belgium, offers something for every type of traveler.

Seek out and explore natural wonders and more aboard Seabourn’s second ultraluxury expedition ship, Seabourn Pursuit.

The British Virgin Islands adds a new island to its résumé. Guests can now kick back and relax at the private, luxurious Moskito Island.

BUCKET LIST | FJORDS OF SCANDINAVIA

Fabled Fjords

Mythic waters overflow with beauty and legend in Scandinavia. BY DEBRA BOKUR

Northern Sights: (Left to right) Eidfjord, Church of Hopperstad, Nærøyfjord Mountains, and Briksdal Glacier PHOTOS: © LUKASZ JANYST | DREAMSTIME.COM, © FEEL4NATURE | DREAMSTIME.COM,© EVERST | DREAMSTIME.COM, © IGOR TEREKHOV | DREAMSTIME.COM

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’m zipped into a bulky, insulated float suit, flying over the icy waters of Norway’s Trollfjord in a rib boat, drinking in the towering cliffs and waterfalls that surround this sparkling strip of water.

My guide slows the boat to a crawl and points overhead to a sea eagle that’s begun to follow us. The reason for the eagle’s interest becomes clear as the guide reaches into a container by his feet and throws a fish into the air.

The enormous bird catches it and departs but remains overhead not far away as we circle through the fjord and head back to shore.

The sea eagles are real, but there’s no shortage of the mystical to be found in the cold, glittering

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waters of Scandinavia’s fjords. Ancient tales abound of noble kings and enchanted maidens, of bloody battles and fierce serpents, of brave Vikings and devious wizards. Though the truth beneath the sagas and stories is for someone else to determine, one thing is certain: The rich mythology pales in comparison to the supreme — and very tangible — natural beauty of these watery landscapes.

One can find multiple ways to explore this corner of the world.

Whether you make your way by boat, on foot or by car, you’ll encounter a host of memorable spots to add to your itinerary, including a multitude of idyllic coastal towns and villages filled with historic sites and natural wonders.

Norway’s legion of waterfall-framed fjords includes Sognefjord — sometimes lauded as the king of all fjords — where Hopperstad Stave Church, dating to 1130, and Hove Stone Church, constructed in the late 1100s, remain standing in the shoreline village of Vik. Along the Atlantic Road not far from the waters of Moldefjord, you’ll find the small, nearby town of Eide and the Bergtatt marble cave. Take a tour of the cave, conducted on floating wooden rafts that glide across a large subterranean lake and down the many small tunnel streams leading from the main body of water. Numerous candles light the cave from within, and beautiful piped-in music plays in the background

as you traverse the tranquil surface. There’s even an opportunity to drink from the natural spring that feeds the lake.

Norway’s other essential fjords include Eidfjord and the Sheer Mountains, with its The Lord of the Rings scenery and Hardangervidda Nature Centre; the mountain-shrouded Nordfjord, where you can hike at the rapidly receding Briksdal Glacier and enjoy a break for coffee and waffles at the Briksdal Inn; and the breathtakingly lovely Nærøyfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site that features narrow waters enclosed by soaring, snow-covered peaks.

Though Sweden and Denmark have fewer fjords than Norway, several are worth noting — best enjoyed on foot with a self-guided or organized hiking tour.

Located in Sweden north of Göteborg, the hills and slopes rising from Singlefjord brim with the remains of Viking-era ramparts and fortifications, while Sundsvall Fjord, north of Stockholm on the western coast, is popular for seasonal mountain biking and kayaking.

The Limfjord and Mariager fjords in Denmark’s

North Jutland region afford hikers expansive vistas that include a meld of rolling countryside, peaceful valleys, and hiking and biking trails with varying levels of difficulty. The island of Mors, located in the deep waters of the Limfjord, offers a marvelous location for cycling.

Take a boat across the fjord, and let your explorations include an oyster safari, kayaking or sailing, and wandering along the cobblestone streets of charming fishing villages such as Mariager.

While the geography of each of the Scandinavian countries includes the long, narrow inlets and fingery lakes we know as fjords, some are less accessible than others, particularly if you’ve chosen to explore via a land route. Some coastlines near the waters are bereft of easily reachable road networks, making travel via terra firma a tricky enterprise. For many, a less stressful and more intimate way to experience the beauty of fjords is to drift upon their surfaces while on a small-ship cruise.

Viking, Crystal, Hurtigruten and Windstar, among other cruise lines, offer sailing voyages that allow travelers access to Scandinavia’s fjords.

INFO TO GO The main airports from which to access cruise ports are Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL), Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) and Copenhagen Kastrup (CPH). If you’ve opted for a driving route through Norway, both Oslo Gardermoen and Bergen Airport, Flesland (BGO) will put you in proximity of fjord lands. All airports make rental cars available. If you prefer an automatic transmission vehicle, make your request prior to travel. Most cruise lines offer transportation options between airports and cruise departure/arrival ports. Be sure to arrange cruise transfers in advance of travel.

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KICKING BACK | THAI ISLANDS

Sojourn by the Sea Discover plenty to smile about in Thailand’s exotic islands. BY KELLY MAGYARICS Thai Delights: Phuket’s Banana Beach (above), and (opposite page) Big Buddha statue on Phuket, and Phuket Old Town Night Market PHOTOS: © MOSAYMAY | DREAMSTIME.COM, © MR.SIWABUD VEERAPAISARN | DREAMSTIME.COM, © PIERRICK LEMARET | DREAMSTIME.COM

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andy beaches. Vibrant local cuisine. Fascinating history and culture. Visitors who decide on a tropical locale often must choose one of these features and sacrifice the others. Not so in Thailand, where lush, craggy islands burst out of a turquoise sea and offer seemingly endless coastlines.

Abundant seafood from oceanfront restaurants is served up grilled or wok-seared along with colorful vegetables, fragrant herbs and spicy sauces. And towering temples, golden Buddha statues and opulent palaces date back a millennium. The islands in the Land of Smiles will make the beach lover grin, indeed, and they promise

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plenty to explore.

Phuket, though Thailand’s most developed island, yet offers quieter, more laid-back spots, too, especially up north. Spend an afternoon in tucked-away, cove-like Banana Beach, where you can order grilled skewers and cold bottles of Singha from a beach shack and lazily nap under a palm tree. Later, lean back on pillows and catch sunset sea views during a multicourse dinner at Dee Plee, where dishes incorporate ingredients from the restaurant’s spice garden. If you crave a buzzier scene, head south. There you’ll encounter raucous Patong Beach on the west coast, with its bevy of bars, nightclubs, hotels and restaurants, and Phuket Old Town to the east. The latter is home to legendary Blue Elephant’s set menu of royal Thai cuisine. Also check out the bustling night market bursting with souvenir finds including flowy elephant pants, silk scarves and handcarved soaps; be sure to break for a foot massage.

The country’s second-largest island, Koh Samui actually

LODGING

DINING

Kimpton Kitalay Samui This new resort overlooking Choeng Mon Beach pays homage to Thailand’s seafaring people. Many of the accommodations tout private pools, fat-tire bicycles inspire nearby exploration, and five restaurants tempt with local seafood and a laidback vibe.

Dining Room & Chef’s Table The main culinary concept at Six Senses Yao Noi offers sweeping vistas of Phang Nga Bay and fixed-price experiences featuring classic, modern, Southern and royal Thai dishes like star anise-braised pork belly, red curry grilled Wagyu and herb-steamed sea bass.

10/79 Moo 5, Bophut, Koh Samui, Surat Thani $$$$

Six Senses Yao Noi, 56 Moo 5 Tambol Koh Yao Noi, Amphur Koh Yao, Phang Nga $$$$$

Trisara Resort Sanskrit for “garden in the third heaven,” this oceanfront resort features 60 spacious, private-pool villas on three tiers. A palm tree-dotted beach, saltwater infinity pool and signature six-hand massage join exquisite dining, including the Michelin-starred PRU.

Juumpo Named for the owner’s grandfather whose recipes pepper the menu, this restaurant in Phang Nga celebrates the cuisine of the local Baba (ChineseThai) people through dishes like Baba-style coconut milk soup with Thai herbs, and shrimp and fried fish with sweet and sour sauce.

60/1 Moo 6, Srisoonthorn Road, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket $$$$$

1/96 Mu 5, Petchkasem Road, Khuk Khak, Phang Nga $$

V Villas Phuket The 19 luxurious villas with 24-hour butler service and private pools perch atop Ao Yon Bay. Spa treatments harness the benefits of Andaman pearl powder, and Yon | Ocean House serves creative fusion European-Thai coastal dishes.

PRU Phuket’s only Michelinstarred restaurant (Plant.

Raise. Understand.) uses locally sourced and gardengrown ingredients for fiveand seven-course tasting menus. Try the black crab and lemongrass, vanillascented lobster or aged duck and velvet tamarind.

39/39 Moo 8 Wichit, Ao Yon Road, Amphoe Muang Phuket $$$$$

Trisara Resort, 60/1 Moo 6, Srisoonthorn Road, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket $$$$$

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Island Serenity: Tanim Magic Buddha Garden on Koh Samui island (above), and sea kayaking (right) PHOTOS: © TELNYAWKA | DREAMSTIME.COM, © MIKHAIL DUDAREV | DREAMSTIME.COM

INFO TO GO To reach Thailand’s islands, visitors generally connect through Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport; carriers serving this airport include Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Etihad Airways and Delta Air Lines.

From Bangkok, you can book a flight to either Phuket (HKT) or Krabi (KBV) — each about a 90-minute flight — on Cathay Pacific or one of Thailand’s regional airlines like Bangkok Airways, Thai Lion Air or Thai Smile. Reach Koh Samui by ferry or private speedboat, and get around Phuket by taxi or tuk-tuk.

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lies on Thailand’s east coast on Phang Nga Bay. Hop on a songthaew to explore the coconut plantations and rice paddy fields, or board a long-tail boat to visit a local fishing village. After a seafood lunch, take to one of the island’s top beaches: Chaweng boasts powdery white sand and a wide bay, crescent-shaped Lamai’s deep water proves perfect for snorkeling, and Mae Nam’s calm surf matches its low-key vibe. For a more ambitious island adventure, sea-kayak through the caves winding within those imposing rock formations — both the region’s signature geographical feature and the perfect Instagram backdrop.

DIVERSITY

Bridging the Gap

PHOTO: © SHIRLEY HU | DREAMSTIME.COM

PHOTO: © AHA!

The tourism industry looks to tackle issues of gender discrepancies in travel management. BY AOIFE O’RIORDAN

W

hile not unique to the travel industry, gender inequality manifests itself in many forms throughout the tourism sector. Despite women comprising the majority of the workforce, making up almost 54 percent of those employed, they typically work in service and clerical jobs while the smaller percentage of men hold management positions. This is a stark contrast considering women employed in the travel industry have the highest purchasing power.

For women with managerial roles, like Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, president and CEO, Celebrity Cruises, working in a male-dominated field each day can be difficult. “If we are in meetings with people from outside our company, no one assumes I am the president and CEO.” Understanding the root of such discrepancies means looking into the structure and organization of companies in the travel industry. Organizations are not neutrally organized and are instead the “product of history and culture and are influenced by external conditions,” as Ines Claudia Rijo de Carvalho argued in her essay, “Gendering the Tourism Sector: Women Managers’ Experiences in Hotel and Businesses in Portugal.”

Following the World Travel & Tourism Council Summit in 2021, featuring almost 600 international travel leaders and CEOs, attendees created several goals to tackle these issues.

By 2030 private sector signatories agreed to increase female representation in leadership roles within the travel industry by 30–50 percent.

They also agreed to increase the number of female corporate executives and board members by a third. AccorHotels became the first and only hotel group to join the HeforShe campaign in 2015, while at Banyan Tree

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Group, 31 women and 43 men comprise top management. Thirty-two percent of officers on Celebrity Cruises are women, about six times higher than the average.

Michelle Woodley, president, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, noted progressive changes within her company. As a female head of a hospitality brand, Woodley works to ensure women are provided with the same tools to reach managerial positions: “We don’t distinguish excellence by gender, though we realize that diversity of thought and approach is vital to a prosperous workplace. By having both women and men in top management, we receive a valuable mix of perspective in the areas of collaboration, communication style and change management, which helps us overcome barriers and make well-rounded decisions.”

The World Tourism Organization created an action plan to narrow the gap between male and female management roles in the travel sector, listing skills training for women, the implementation of technology and the encouragement of female students in tourism studies as some ways to address this issue.

Travelers can help narrow the gap by joining trips aimed at supporting and connecting women, like Wise Steps Travel’s A Woman’s Journey; supporting women-owned tourism businesses; and visiting websites like fairhotel.org to find out if their travel supports workers and their chance for a better life.

As Lutoff-Perlo noted, “Too many people talk about gender equality, but too few actually achieve it, and too few also create a welcoming and nurturing environment that these women can thrive in. Therein lies the challenge and the opportunity.”

2022 Leisure Lifestyle Awards Ballot Please write in your personal favorites, based on your own experience, on the line next to each of the following categories.

Best Beaches __________________________________________________________________________

Best River Cruise Line _________________________________________________________________

Best Historical Attractions, Domestic _________________________________________________

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Best Adventure Destination, Domestic ________________________________________________

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Best Cruise Line Rewards Program __________________________________________________

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Best Hotel Chain Thailand _____________________________________________________________

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Best Eco-Friendly Hotel ________________________________________________________________

Best Weekend Destination in North America _________________________________________

Best Family Resort Chain in the World _______________________________________________

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Best All-Inclusive Resort________________________________________________________________

Best North American Ski Destination __________________________________________________

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Best Leisure Airline ___________________________________________________________________

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Best Value Cruise Line _________________________________________________________________ Best Cruise Line Suites ________________________________________________________________ Best Adventure Cruise Line ___________________________________________________________

Best Airline Onboard Menu____________________________________________________________ Best Premium-Economy Class _______________________________________________________ Best Luxury Vehicle ___________________________________________________________________ Best Car Rental ________________________________________________________________________

Best Small-Ship Cruise Line (Fewer than 1,000 passengers) _______________________________________________________

Favorite Luxury Watch Brand _________________________________________________________

Best Large-Ship Cruise Line

Best Destination Jewelrey Brand ______________________________________________________

(2,000 or more passengers) ___________________________________________________________

Favorite Liquor Brand __________________________________________________________________

PLEASE MAIL THE COMPLETED SURVEY TO Kevin Ryan, Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP, 1800 JFK Blvd., 20th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103 | Or fax to 215 545 4810 Or vote online at globaltravelerusa.com/leisureballot Name Street Address City

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AIRPORT UPDATE

Keeping It Clean Technology plays a big role in airport sanitizing and disinfecting processes. BY MARY MELNICK

RECENTLY SKYTRAX RELEASED ITS REPORT ON THE WORLD’S CLEANEST AIRPORTS IN 2021. TOKYO HANEDA AIRPORT MAINTAINED ITS GLOBAL LEADERSHIP AS THE 2021 WINNER OF THE WORLD’S CLEANEST AIRPORT.

World’s Cleanest Airport: Tokyo Haneda Airport PHOTO: © KUREMO | DREAMSTIME.COM

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lthough airport cleanliness has always been important to travelers as well as employees, as the pandemic lingers it remains top-of-mind and something people observe closely. Many airports installed extra hand sanitizing stations and implemented enhanced cleaning procedures and other practices.

Skytrax created the Airport Safety Rating, evaluating airports and services to determine the efficiency and consistency of COVID-19 prevention procedures. The evaluation addresses terminal cleanliness, cleaning and disinfection, usage of the staff ’s personal protective

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equipment, social distancing signage (including floor markers and seat distancing), the addition of hand sanitizer dispensers and more.

To evaluate the cleaning process, the evaluation tests high-touch/ contact areas to check whether surfaces have been thoroughly cleaned and highlights where changes to cleaning technique or frequency may be needed.

Recently Skytrax released its report on the world’s cleanest airports in 2021.

Tokyo Haneda Airport maintained its global leadership as the 2021 winner of the World’s Cleanest Airport, with Changi Airport Singapore coming in second and Tokyo Narita Airport taking third.

Mr. Isao Takashiro, chairman and CEO, Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd. at Haneda Airport, said, “Haneda Airport has been selected as Japan’s first airport in Asia at the Skytrax 2021 World Airport Awards. Also, it is a great honor for us to receive the World’s Best Domestic Airport, the World’s Best Airport Cleanliness. As a hub airport with a dynamic domestic and international route network, Haneda Airport plays an important role in Japan.”

Tampa International Airport introduced its TPA Ready program, highlighting the steps it takes to ensure the airport’s safety, with a heavy focus on maintaining the health of employees and travelers.

At Hong Kong International Airport, frequently touched surfaces are cleaned and disinfected every hour. The airport also employs autonomous cleaning robots to ensure a thorough cleaning and disinfection of all public areas and passenger facilities.

Taking a proactive stance with its cleaning and disinfection efforts through technology, Albany International Airport installed fresh-air filtration systems as well as intensive sanitization protocols. It also uses UV lighting to sanitize frequently touched surfaces and areas.

The airport also offers the Wellness Trace app, allowing it to track COVID-19 screening in real time for passengers and employees. It sets protocols for tracking the cleaning of objects and ensures they are regularly sanitized. Passengers can also provide feedback on the cleanliness of their travels.

Take Global Traveler with you.

Global Traveler is now available on PressReader.

Read it on your phone, tablet or notebook.

ECOTOURISM

Nurturing Nature Connect with the abundant flora and fauna of Belize. BY SHERYL NANCE-NASH

Natural Habitat: Spotted moray eel in Belize Barrier Reef (left), and jaguar (right) PHOTOS:© JAMES KELLEY | DREAMSTIME.COM, © MILOSK50 | DREAMSTIME.COM

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cotourism enthusiasts can immerse in the conservation success of the Caribbean island of Belize. More than 70 percent of the country is forested, boasting 103 protected areas, many of them animal sanctuaries. Imagine spending your days feeding howler monkeys, spotting jaguars in their natural habitat and watching more than 500 species of birds. You can even participate in the Green Iguana Conservation Project, aiming to conserve and look after the endangered species in Belize.

Adventurers hike to waterfalls, ride horses and snorkel the Belize Barrier Reef, the largest barrier reef system in the Northern Hemisphere. But the fun doesn’t end when the sun sets. Take a bioluminescence tour — a nighttime trip through a jungle tunnel and mangroves directly into Anderson Lagoon, all aglow. When you’re ready for another evening you’ll never forget, sign up for the Jaguar Preserve Night Time Exploration at the world’s only jaguar preserve, home to some 80 of the cats.

As for where to lay your head after epic days, seek respite in the jungle greenery at Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge in Belmopan, Belize’s capital city. Snuggled in the foothills of the Maya Mountains along the Sibun River and surrounded by 10,000 acres of the Sibun Nature Reserve, Sleeping Giant is the official base camp for National

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Geographic Expeditions in Belize. Take your pick of 31 amazing accommodations, but don’t look for a television in your room: Nature is the show here. The secluded Creekside Cottages, somewhat hidden among exotic plants and gardens, include open-air bathtubs.

Or wake up in a Riverview Room and set your eyes first thing on the Maya Mountains and Sibun River. Start your day slow, chilling in the hammock on your patio. If you really want to treat yourself, opt for a Mountain View Suite, built 78 steps above the main grounds around a cliff with views of the Maya Mountain canopy. Think wildly romantic with a private porch and your own plunge pool.

Come mealtime, make your way to The Grove House, a field-totable restaurant serving up North American and Belizean cuisine with local and organic ingredients from surrounding gardens.

Immerse yourself further in the cuisine and culture with Riverside Maya Cooking Experience taught by the resort’s chef and a local Maya chef. Learn about traditional ingredients and enjoy them in the included lunch.

Complete your mind, body and spirit reset in harmony with nature with an aromatherapy or algae massage, tropical fruit scrub or honey body polish. You’ll be in capable hands, and you don’t even have to leave your room.

SPORTS

Grand Slam

PHOTO: © MIKAEL DAMKIER | DREAMSTIME.COM

Follow the pro tennis tour around the world. BY JACK GUY

T

he tennis season is off to a fascinating start both on and off the court, with plenty more action still to come.

Of the four biggest tournaments on the professional tour, known collectively as the Grand Slam, the Australian Open took place in January, amid the dramatic saga revolving around men’s world No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic’s refusal to get vaccinated and his ultimate deportation from the country — now raising speculation he might be barred from upcoming tournaments as well. Rafael Nadal took the men’s title, while Australian Ashleigh Barty brought the women’s title home.

Next up is the French Open, scheduled to take place May 16– June 5 in Paris. Known as Roland-Garros, the clay court venue sits in the west of the city on the edge of the famous Bois de Boulogne park. Combine your visit to the tennis tournament with a soccer match at Le Parc des Princes, home to France’s top team, Paris Saint Germain, as a perfect trip for sports fanatics.

The next stop on the tennis tour takes us to Wimbledon in London, June 27–July 10. Held at the All England Lawn Tennis &

Croquet Club, the tournament represents a quintessentially English summer event where spectators enjoy strawberries and cream and Pimm’s as they watch the world’s best players battle it out on the grass. You can even split up the tennis by attending the British Formula 1 Grand Prix at Silverstone July 3.

Beginning Aug. 29, the tennis tour descends on New York City for the US Open at Flushing Meadows. Known for its carnivalesque atmosphere, the U.S. event seems less traditional than the sometimes-staid Wimbledon. If you’ve still got energy to burn after the matches, set off to explore the city that never sleeps or pop next door to Citi Field to watch a New York Mets baseball game.

With Nadal now at 21 Grand Slam wins and Djokovic and Roger Federer tied at 20 Grand Slam titles each, which man will continue to break records this year and stand alone in the history books? And in the women’s game, could Ashleigh Barty convert her No. 1 ranking into more titles, or will the young sensation Emma Raducanu repeat last year’s US Open heroics and take home another Grand Slam at the tender age of 19?

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PREVIEW

Coming in May, our first WhereverFamily digital issue will include articles about the best family beaches, trips for animal-loving families, the best family cruises, living history experiences, the best kid- and teen-specific offerings from travel providers … and much more.

PHOTO: © EPICSTOCK | DREAMSTIME.COM

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Live the French way Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills 8555 Beverly Boulevard, 90048 Los Angeles Visit www.sofitel-los-angeles.com

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