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

Q&A TIME

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.

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 CONTACT GT

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Globility

\glo ‘bility\ n: 1. The quality of being open to a world of cultures and experiences

MEDICAL TOURISM

Health Connections

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

Bordered 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 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.

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.

NOVEMBER 2021 globaltravelerusa.com 81

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 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 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.

HUGH DICKSON, VIA EMAIL

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

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:

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.

kicking back | COOK ISLANDS

fine vines

Torrontés Tango

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Globility

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ABU DHABI

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