Leisure Lifestyle Edition 2016

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Leisure Lifestyle 2016

SPECIAL EDITION FOR LUXURY BUSINESS TRAVELERS

LEISURE LIFESTYLE ’S GUIDE TO THE LUXURIOUS WORLD OF LEISURE TRAVEL

Š 2016 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved. Flight schedule subject to change.

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EDITORIAL Editor in Chief KIMBERLY KROL kim.krol@globaltravelerusa.com

Bucket List

Vice President/Digital Director KATIE SKRZEK katie.skrzek@globaltravelerusa.com

A

s art director of Global Traveler, I have experienced the grand opulence of the Taj Mahal, admired the view of Dubai from the heights of the Burj Khalifa and felt the excitement of riding through the desert on the back of a camel.

Well, sort of. I haven’t actually been to all of these places — yet. For now, I depend on Global Traveler’s writers to transport me through their own experiences. And I have the pleasure of choosing the best photos to give readers a glimpse of what beauty these far-off lands hold.

But the Leisure Lifestyle Edition differs from our monthly issues. Instead of gathering photos of locales, we emphasize the voyage. When traveling for leisure, it’s not only about the destination — it’s about planning your trip, deciding how to travel and where to stay once PLUNGE INTO TRAVEL: Tracey at Taughannock Falls, you’ve arrived.

Ulysses, N.Y. This year, our Leisure Lifestyle Edition gives PHOTO: © TRACEY CULLEN you plenty of ideas for where to go. Peruse this year’s Leisure Lifestyle Award winners and you’ll find a plethora of options for your next trip. If you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for, read Barbara Radcliffe Rogers’ article about heritage travel on page 20. Perhaps researching your family history will point you in a direction you hadn’t thought about.

Once you decide where to go, it’s time to start planning. Laura Daily’s article about airline vacation companies provides insight into the great deals available through airline packages. They can even take care of those pesky little details. Then it’s on to choosing a hotel. Picking the wrong hotel for your stay can put a damper on your fun. Read about hotel collections on page 32 to help you choose wisely.

Some planning depends on your travel companions. If you are an LGBT traveler, check out Mark Chesnut’s article on page 38 about planning a trip with a dedicated LGBT tour operator. Or maybe you’ll decide to go alone. We explore the up-to-date options for today’s solo traveler.

No matter where you go or who you go with, I hope this Leisure Lifestyle Edition helps you plan a great vacation. And if you’re still undecided about your next adventure, read next month’s issue of Global Traveler to add some destinations to your bucket list. I know my bucket is overflowing!

Tracey Cullen Art Director

Senior Editor J ANICE HECHT jan.hecht@globaltravelerusa.com Associate Editor/Copy Editor PATRICIA VANIKIOTIS patty.vanikiotis@globaltravelerusa.com Assistant Editor HOLLY RIDDLE holly.riddle@globaltravelerusa.com Digital Content Producer DEBRA BOKUR debra.bokur@globaltravelerusa.com News Editor ALLIE MOORE allie.moore@globaltravelerusa.com Intern DAPHNE GOULD intern@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

CONTRIBUTORS KRISTY ALPERT MARGARET BACKENHEIMER JOE BAUR RON BERNTHAL BETH BLAIR DEBRA BOKUR J.D. BROWN MARK CHESNUT ELLEN CLARK LAURA DAILY SUSAN FINCH EUNICE FRIED LOIS FRIEDLAND MARY GALLAGHER TERRY GARDNER

DEBORAH GEIGER MARLENE GOLDMAN JACK GUY BECCA HENSLEY MEGAN HILL STEPHEN JERMANOK AKHIL KALEPU ILONA KAUREMSZKY SHARON KING HOGE DALE LEATHERMAN TIM LEFFEL KARIN LEPERI IRVINA LEW FELICITY LONG KIM FOLEY MACKINNON

JUSTIN MASTINE-FROST GREGORY D. MCCLUNEY SHARON MCDONNELL WILLIAM J. MCGEE ALLIE MOORE CHADNER NAVARRO RICHARD NEWTON VICTORIA ABBOTT RICCARDI KATHY RODEGHIER BARBARA RADCLIFFE ROGERS STILLMAN ROGERS MEGAN ROWE CARLEY THORNELL SUSAN VAN ALLEN ALLISON VOIGTS

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2016 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 3

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Luxury Leisure at Its Best

W

ith our fourth consecutive Leisure Lifestyle Edition, we are excited to announce the winners of Global Traveler’s Leisure Lifestyle Awards and also offer insights on heritage travel, airline travel companies, the hotels of the future and so much more.

We all know technology advances at an incredibly fast pace — by the time we get comfortable with the way things are, we have to quickly learn to use the next innovation. Technology in ON A SPREE: Banu at the Dubai Mall, Dubai, U.A.E. travel is no different. I am curious to see PHOTO: © BANU YILMAZ how tech developments in the hotel and airline industries will ease my travel.

I’m also eager to take my solo travels to the next level with tips from this edition.

Last year I traveled to eight different countries and countless cities. I hope to break that record in 2016. The highlights of last year’s itineraries included Dubai with its fascinating skyline, London and its posh history, Cancún and its glorious beaches, Sweden and its love of anything outdoors, Munich and its beer-drinking marathon at Oktoberfest, and Switzerland and its grand expertise in all things related to time.

Only four months into 2016, I already have two countries under my belt and two more coming up. My first-ever visit to Portugal left me longing for more. Its warm people, its history deeply rooted in every cobblestone and the incredible food scene provide enough reasons to go back and enjoy the popular green wine and Porto — I hope very soon. I’ve put a few more bucket list items on the itinerary this summer: Iceland, Ibiza and maybe even Thailand.

As the saying goes, I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list! Where will your travels take you this year? Explore this issue and share your adventures with us, your Global Traveler family.

Banu Yilmaz

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2016 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 5

contents

8

What’s Your Pleasure? Global Traveler honors the winners of the 2016 Leisure Lifestyle Awards.

52

BY KIMBERLY KROL

20

Quest for Heritage Following the footsteps of your ancestors brings destinations to life.

BY BARBARA RADCLIFFE ROGERS

8

26 The Great Escape Consider the

perks of airline vacation packages when planning your next getaway.

BY LAURA DAILY

26

32 Extraordinary Stays Inspired by the

next generation of travelers, hotel collections and lifestyle brands redefine hospitality.

BY VICTORIA ABBOTT RICCARDI

BY MARK CHESNUT

44

Going Solo Discover the changing landscape of independent travel around the globe. BY DEBORAH GEIGER

on the cover globaltravelerusa.com

Leisure Lifestyle 2016

SPECIAL EDITION fOr Luxury buSINESS TrAvELErS

leisure lifestyle ’s GuiDe TO THe luXuriOus WOrlD OF leisure TrAVel

44

COVER PHOTO: PADDLEBOARDING ON A PAUL GAUGUIN CRUISE PHOTO: © PAUL GAUGUIN CRUISES

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 ©2016 FXExpress Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of text, photographs or illustrations without permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

6 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 2016

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PHOTOS: © CADILLAC, © LAWRENCE WESLOWSKI JR | DREAMSTIME.COM, © STEVEN PRORAK | DREAMSTIME.COM

38

Leading the Way Tour companies attract LGBT travelers with creative itineraries and indulgent options.

© 2016 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Westin and its logo are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates.

You Don’t Need More Vacation Days.

You Need Better Ones.

It’s time for a better vacation. From our reinvigorating SuperfoodsRx™ menu to the revitalizing Heavenly Bed®, at Westin Resorts, every element of your stay has been designed to enhance your well-being.

Book a better break at westin.com/resorts WA I K I K I

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FORT LAUDERDALE

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MANY MORE

BEST LUXURY CRUISE LINE: Silversea Cruises

PHOTO: © SILVERSEA CRUISES

What’s Your F Pleasure?

Global Traveler honors the winners of the 2016 Leisure Lifestyle Awards. BY KIMBERLY KROL

or the fourth consecutive year, Global Traveler takes a closer look at the world of leisure travel, recognizing the world’s best leisure destinations, airlines, cruises, hotels, other travel providers and luxury goods to name the Leisure Lifestyle Awards winners for 2016.

Nominations in each category came from Global Traveler’s elite Globility Board as well as highly experienced magazine staff.

From these nominations, Global Traveler’s esteemed Advisory Board selected the final winners.

Launched in 2012, Global Traveler’s Globility Board consists of

BEST LUXURY VEHICLE:

BEST HOTEL RESTAURANT:

Cadillac

Al Mahara at Burj Al Arab Jumeirah

PHOTO: © CADILLAC

PHOTO: © JUMEIRAH HOTELS

8 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 2016

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BEST SHOPPING IN THE WORLD: The Dubai Mall

PHOTO: © TEA | DREAMSTIME.COM

WINNERS’ CIRCLE BEST HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS • Spain • Greece • Turkey • India • Egypt • Israel • Italy • Jordan • United Kingdom • Peru BEST BEACHES • Turks and Caicos • Roatán, Honduras • Cayman Islands • Krabi, Thailand • The Big Island, Hawai’i • Phuket, Thailand • Lopes Mendes, Brazil • Mykonos, Greece • Seychelles • Sanibel Island, Fla.

well-traveled subscribers who act as a direct link between the magazine, our clients and our readers. These savvy world travelers serve as a conduit for information about our readers’ interests and insights in leisure travel that goes far beyond the data we can garner from our surveys and research. Our Advisory Board comprises well-traveled executives from a variety of industries.

When it comes to leisure travel and luxury lifestyle habits, what suits your fancy? Maybe it is sightseeing historic attractions or hitting the high seas on a pampering cruise. Perhaps it is shopping ’til you drop at high-end stores, or it might be renting a car and going on a luxurious road trip. Whatever your pleasure, we’ve highlighted the best of the best among all the areas of leisure lifestyle and travel.

With great pleasure we announce the 2016 winners.

Congratulations to those deemed the very best in the world of leisure travel.

BEST HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS: Spain

PHOTO: © VLADIMIR SAZONOV | DREAMSTIME.COM

IN REGARDS TO historic attractions worldwide, the competition is stiff. From ancient ruins to world-famous architecture, there’s plenty to see. For 2016, Spain reigns supreme as Best Historical Attractions. We’ve got visions of the Alhambra, El Escorial, Sagrada Familia and more dancing in our travel-planning brains.

For some, leisure means being active. Adventure-seekers chose India as Best Adventure Travel Destination this year.

Safaris, rafting, bungee jumping, trekking, scuba diving, cycling, skiing — you name it, chances are you can partake of your favorite activity throughout India.

For an active pursuit of a slightly different nature, work out your wallet at The Dubai Mall, named Best Shopping in the World. One of the largest in the world, The Dubai Mall boasts 1,200 stores and opened in 2009. Aside from shopping, the complex includes a hotel; multiple cinema screens; restaurants; cafés; more than 14,000 parking spaces; valet services; an ice rink; an aquarium; an indoor theme park and more. globaltravelerusa.com

BEST ADVENTURE TRAVEL DESTINATION • India • Chile • South Africa • Thailand • Alaska • Argentina • New Zealand • California • Hawai’i • Israel BEST CARIBBEAN ISLAND • U.S. Virgin Islands • Grand Cayman • British Virgin Islands • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Curaçao • Puerto Rico • St. Lucia • Nevis • St. Barth’s • Jamaica BEST ISLAND IN EUROPE • Santoríni • Ireland • Sicily • England • Capri • Mykonos • Elba • Crete • Mallorca • Sardinia

2016 2016| | LEISURE LEISURELIFESTYLE LIFESTYLE | | 99

WINNERS’ CIRCLE BEST ISLAND PACIFIC RIM • Cook Islands • Bali • Bora Bora • Tahiti • Okinawa • Phuket • The Big Island, Hawai’i • Hong Kong • Mau’i, Hawai’i • Japan

BEST ISLAND IN EUROPE: Santoríni

PHOTO: © HARIS VYTHOULKAS | DREAMSTIME.COM

BEST SHOPPING IN THE WORLD • The Dubai Mall • Mall of Asia, Philippines • Villagio Mall, Doha • Ala Moana Shopping Center, Honolulu, Hawai’i • Istanbul Cevahir, Turkey • Wafi Mall, Dubai • Galleria, Houston, Texas • Siam Paragon, Bangkok, Thailand • Mall of America, Bloomington, Minn.

• Mall of the Emirates, Dubai BEST FAMILY CRUISE LINE • Celebrity Cruises • Royal Caribbean International • Disney Cruise Line • Norwegian Cruise Line • Holland America Line BEST LUXURY CRUISE LINE • Silversea Cruises • Crystal Cruises • Cunard Line • Regent Seven Seas • Celebrity Cruises • Paul Gauguin Cruises • SeaDream Yacht Club • Seabourn Cruise Line BEST CRUISE LINE SUITES • The Haven by Norwegian • Queens Grill Suites, Cunard Line • Crystal Cruises Penthouse • Royal Loft by Royal Caribbean International • Celebrity Cruises Penthouse Suites • Owner’s Suite, Silversea Cruises • Regent Suite, Regent Seven Seas • Oceania Cruises Owner’s Suite • Princess Grill Suites, Cunard Line

For pure, unadulterated relaxation, pull up your lounge chair and slather on the sunscreen in any of these award-winning locales: Turks and Caicos (Best Beaches, second consecutive year); U.S. Virgin Islands (Best Caribbean Island); Santoríni (Best Island in Europe, third consecutive year); and Cook Islands (Best Island Pacific Rim).

SET SAIL WITH a number of accolade-earning cruise lines, achieving recognition in this year’s winners list for everything from family-friendliness and food to suites and excursions.

Celebrity Cruises earns the No. 1 spot in the Best Family Cruise Line category with programs for kids that span all age groups, including Toddler Time, Fun Factory and X Club. The cruise line achieved Autism Friendly Cruise Line status, awarded for efforts to ensure products and services are inclusive.

Previously an honoree as Best Small-Ship Cruise Line, Silversea Cruises this year captured the title of Best Luxury Cruise Line. The intimate ships are all-inclusive and all luxury, sailing to more than 800 destinations across all seven continents. Also serving up luxury, The Haven by Norwegian

BEST ADVENTURE CRUISE LINE • Lindblad Expeditions • American Safari • Windstar Cruises • Quark Expeditions • Azamara Club Cruises BEST SMALL-SHIP CRUISE LINE

• Paul Gauguin Cruises • Azamara Club Cruises • Seabourn Cruise Line • Crystal Cruises • Viking River Cruises • Oceania Cruises • SeaDream Yacht Club • Windstar Cruises • Regent Seven Seas • Hurtigruten Cruises

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BEST FAMILY CRUISE LINE: Celebrity Cruises

PHOTO: © CELEBRITY CRUISES

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WINNERS’ CIRCLE BEST LARGE-SHIP CRUISE LINE • Cunard Line • Norwegian Cruise Line • Celebrity Cruises • Royal Caribbean International • Holland America Line • Princess Cruises BEST RIVER CRUISE LINE • Viking River Cruises • Tauck • AmaWaterways • Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection • Avalon Waterways

BEST SMALL-SHIP CRUISE LINE: Paul Gauguin Cruises

PHOTO: © PAUL GAUGUIN CRUISES

is the winner of this year’s Best Cruise Line BEST CRUISE LINE DINING: Suites. The ship-within-a-ship includes Azamara Club Cruises fine amenities and 24-hour butler service.

PHOTO: © AZAMARA CLUB CRUISES Looking for adventure on the high seas? Two-time Best Adventure Cruise Line winner Lindblad Expeditions is your answer. This year the cruise line celebrates 50 years of sailing to the Antarctic. For river cruising, Viking River Cruises earns the top spot for the fourth consecutive year.

Ships large and small entice seafaring travelers, but our bets are with Paul Gauguin Cruises and Cunard Line, Best Small-Ship Cruise Line and Best Large-Ship Cruise Line, respectively. Paul Gauguin Cruises sails to destinations in Fiji, French Polynesia, Melanesia, Indonesia and Tahiti, among others. Cunard Line travels throughout the world, including its popular trans-Atlantic cruises.

What you do and see on and off the boat are just as important as the means of transportation, so we honor cruises lines exceeding expectations in the realms of entertainment, dining and excursions.

From Broadway shows to 3D movies, Royal Caribbean International, Best Cruise Line Entertainment, certainly offers something for everyone. Azamara Club Cruises’ six distinct dining options helped earn the line Best Cruise Line Dining accolades. And for off-shore fun, Princess Cruises, Best Cruise Line Excursions, whets every appetite.

But what about rewards? Frequent cruisers understand the benefits and perks associated with multiple journeys on the same provider, and they find the Mariner Society by Holland America Line does, too. globaltravelerusa.com

BEST CRUISE LINE ENTERTAINMENT • Royal Caribbean International • Celebrity Cruises • Cunard Line • Princess Cruises • Disney Cruise Line • Norwegian Cruise Line BEST CRUISE LINE DINING • Azamara Club Cruises • Royal Caribbean International • Celebrity Cruises • Oceania Cruises • Cunard Line • SeaDream Yacht Club • Norwegian Cruise Line • Seabourn Cruise Line • Viking River Cruises • Regent Seven Seas BEST CRUISE SHIP EXCURSIONS • Princess Cruises • Silversea Cruises • Royal Caribbean International • Celebrity Cruises • Norwegian Cruise Line • Cunard Line • Holland America Line BEST CRUISE LINE REWARDS PROGRAM • Mariner Society, Holland America Line • Latitudes, Norwegian Cruise Line • Crown & Anchor Society, Royal Caribbean International • Captain's Club, Celebrity Cruises • Captain's Circle, Princess Cruises • World Club, Cunard Line • Castaway Club, Disney Cruise Line BEST LUXURY LEISURE HOTEL GROUP IN THE WORLD • Meliá Hotels & Resorts • Belmond • The Waldorf Astoria • Conrad Hotels & Resorts • Westin Hotels & Resorts • Four Seasons • Marriott Hotels & Resorts • Hyatt Hotels • The Peninsula Hotels • The Ritz-Carlton

2016 || LEISURE LEISURE LIFESTYLE LIFESTYLE || 11 2016 11

WINNERS’ CIRCLE BEST HOTEL CHAIN RESORTS • Westin Hotels & Resorts • The Ritz-Carlton • St. Regis Hotels & Resorts • Four Seasons • Hyatt Hotels • Sheraton Hotels & Resorts • InterContinental Hotels & Resorts • Montage Hotels & Resorts • Marriott Hotels & Resorts BEST PET-FRIENDLY HOTEL • Loews Hotels & Resorts • Kimpton Hotels & Resorts • The Peninsula Hotels • Westin Hotels & Resorts • Sheraton Hotels & Resorts • W Hotels • The Ritz-Carlton • Mandarin Oriental • Marriott Hotels & Resorts BEST LIFESTYLE LEISURE HOTEL GROUP IN THE WORLD • Vida Hotels and Resorts • Andaz • W Hotels • Indigo Hotels • Meliá Hotels & Resorts BEST FAMILY RESORT CHAIN IN THE WORLD • Wyndham Hotels and Resorts • Loews Hotels & Resorts • Disney Resorts • Kimpton Hotels & Resorts • Westin Hotels & Resorts • Hyatt Hotels • Sheraton Hotels & Resorts • JW Marriott • Omni Hotels & Resorts BEST FAMILY RESORT IN NORTH AMERICA • Mohonk Mountain House • Westin La Paloma • Disney Grand Californian Hotel • Rocking Horse Ranch • Cloister at Sea Island • St. Regis Monarch Beach • Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island • Inn at Palmetto Bluff, Montage • Sanctuary at Kiawah

BEST LUXURY LEISURE

ON LAND, WE celebrate a number HOTEL GROUP IN of hotels bringing the best of the best THE WORLD: Meliá Hotels & Resorts to luxury leisure travelers — and their PHOTO: © MELIÃ HOTELS & RESORTS four-legged friends, too.

For the second consecutive year, Meliá Hotels International was voted Best Luxury Leisure Hotel Group in the World. The brand offers more than 90 hotels in major cities in Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, the United Kingdom and throughout Asia, Africa and the Americas.

Also winning for a second year in a row, Westin Hotels & Resorts takes BEST PET-FRIENDLY HOTEL: the No. 1 spot for Best Hotel Chain Loews Hotels & Resorts Resorts. With a focus on well-being, PHOTO: © DAMEDEESO | DREAMSTIME.COM a visit to a Westin resort guarantees to help guests feel their best. Experience what makes Westin a winner by taking part in the brand’s innovative partnerships and programs and its six pillars of well-being: Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well and Play Well.

For furry guests, Loews Hotels & Resorts proves a winner. Voted Best Pet-Friendly Hotel for its Loews Loves Pets program, the brand offers dogs and cats welcome gifts including a name tag, bowl and special treats; a “pet in room” sign; loanable pet accessories; a gourmet room service pet menu and other services.

Another two-time winner is this year’s Best Lifestyle Leisure Hotel Group in the World, Vida Hotels and Resorts. Vida, meaning “life” in Spanish, embraces a philosophy of youthful vitality, offering all the modern luxury a traveler desires but without all the fuss.

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts operates upscale, full-service properties in both business and leisure destinations worldwide, with a number of the resorts dubbed kid-friendly for their amenities and programming, and for which the brand has been named the 2016 Best Family Resort Chain in the World.

When it comes to families, two other resorts top the charts in this year’s Leisure Lifestyle Awards: Mohonk Mountain House, in New York’s Hudson Valley, and Atlantis, The Palm, in Dubai. Respectively, they won Best Family Resort in North America and Best Family Resort in the Gulf.

BEST LIFESTYLE LEISURE HOTEL GROUP IN THE WORLD: Vida Hotels and Resorts PHOTO: © VIDA HOTELS AND RESORTS

BEST FAMILY RESORT IN THE GULF • Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai • Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort, Oman • Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai • Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai • Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman • Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Dubai • One&Only Royal Mirage Dubai

12 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 2016

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WINNERS’ CIRCLE BEST HOTEL RESTAURANT • Al Mahara at Burj Al Arab Jumeirah • Yan Toh Heen at InterContinental Hong Kong • Acquerello at St. Regis Venice • NoMi at Park Hyatt Chicago • Tin Lung Heen at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong • Altitude at Shangri-La Sydney • Wing Lei at Wynn Las Vegas • Blue by Eric Ripert at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman

BEST LEISURE AIRLINE: Hawaiian Airlines PHOTO: © HAWAIIAN AIRLINES

BEST LEISURE AIRLINE • Hawaiian Airlines • Air Tahiti Nui • Fiji Airways • United Airlines • Virgin America • Alaska Airlines • Delta Air Lines BEST PREMIUM-ECONOMY CLASS • China Airlines • Lufthansa • All Nippon Airways • EVA Air • United Airlines • American Airlines • Delta Air Lines • Virgin Atlantic Airways • British Airways BEST PET-FRIENDLY AIRLINE • United Airlines • American Airlines • Delta Air Lines BEST LUXURY TOUR COMPANY • Abercrombie & Kent • Cox & Kings • The Ultimate Travel Company • Carrier • Hayes & Jarvis • Wexas Travel • Southern Destinations • ITC Luxury Travel • Kuoni • Trailfinders BEST LUXURY TRAIN • The Royal Canadian Pacific • Venice Simplon-Orient-Express • The Blue Train • The Rocky Mountaineer • Al Andalus Express • Trans-Siberian Express • The British Pullman • Royal Scotsman • Indian Pacific • The Ghan

Another Dubai hotel makes an appearance on this year’s list of winners: Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, honored as Best Hotel Restaurant for its Al Mahara.

The floor-to-ceiling aquarium inside the restaurant is just the beginning of the experience — an experience that is about to be reinvented with an aesthetic renovation set for June to September 2016, reopening October 2016 under Chef Nathan Outlaw.

THE ALOHA SPIRIT kicks off the second leisure travelers board a Hawaiian Airlines aircraft. The airline, voted Best Leisure Airline for the second consecutive year, offers meals and drinks, in-flight entertainment, snacks and new Extra Comfort seats

on its Airbus A330s. Also this year, Hawaiian Airlines will outfit A330 premium cabins with 180-degree, lie-flat seats.

The award-winning design of China Airlines’ newest Boeing 777-300ER helped earn its premiumeconomy cabin Best Premium-Economy Class in this year’s Leisure Lifestyle Awards. The cabin features seating with fixed backshell and front-sliding seat recline, 12.1-inch personal entertainment touchscreens, power outlets and USB ports, personal storage space and a reading light.

For those leisure travelers flying longer distances with their beloved pets, United Airlines, Best PetFriendly Airline, has you covered with its PetSafe

BEST PREMIUM ECONOMY CLASS: China Airlines PHOTO: © CHINA AIRLINES

14 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 2016 14 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 2016

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program, including a 24-hour PetSafe desk, pet tracking abilities and dedicated facilities and services.

earning recognition as Best Luxury Vehicle.

Overall, the iconic Louis Vuitton has been dubbed Favorite Luxury Fashion Brand, a fitting title for a brand that truly has never gone out of style. Equally as recognizable and classic, Tiffany & Co. is the 2016 Favorite Luxury Jewelry Brand. Rounding out the list of winners is TAG Heuer, Favorite Luxury Watch Brand.

LEISURE TRAVELERS ARE venturing out in other ways these days. For truly immersive luxury experiences, many turn to tour operators. Abercrombie & Kent nabs the top spot as Best Luxury Tour Company. The company even boasts around-the-world private jet tours.

Or opt to travel via luxury train, perhaps on Best Luxury Train winner The Royal Canadian BEST LUXURY WATCH BRAND: Pacific. The fleet of Pacific Railway vintage TAG Heuer business train cars offers 5-star accommoPHOTO: © TAG HEUER dations amid the epic scenery of Canada’s mountains.

Travelers who prefer to take the wheel themselves and hit the open road favor Hertz, voted Best Car Rental for Leisure Travel. Hertz offers a range of vehicle options, from luxury and sports cars to hybrid vehicles, boasting technology including Hertz NeverLost navigation and SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

AN APPRECIATION FOR the finer things in life led to the selection of winners in the luxury goods categories of our Leisure Lifestyle Awards. Redefining the luxury car experience, Cadillac is catching the attention of car buyers,

WINNERS’ CIRCLE BEST CAR RENTAL FOR LEISURE • Hertz • Avis • National Car Rental BEST LUXURY VEHICLE • Cadillac • Tesla • Maserati • BMW • Mercedes-Benz • Land Rover • Acura • Porsche • Audi • Bentley FAVORITE LUXURY FASHION BRAND • Louis Vuitton • Chanel • Armani • Cartier • Prada • Ralph Lauren • Burberry • Dior • Gucci • Tom Ford

BEST LUXURY TRAIN: The Royal Canadian Pacific PHOTO: © THE ROYAL CANADIAN PACIFIC

FAVORITE LUXURY WATCH BRAND • TAG Heuer • Louis Vuitton • Tiffany & Co. • Omega • Movado • Panerai • Ulysee Nardin • A. Lange & Söhne • Patek Philippe • Cartier FAVORITE LUXURY JEWELRY BRAND • Tiffany & Co. • Cartier • Chopard • Chanel • Roberto Coin • Van Cleef & Arpels • Bvlgari • Harry Winston • Dior • Graff

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2016 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 15

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Cook Islands The Best Island in the Pacific Rim

MEITAKI MAATA AND THANK YOU, Global Traveler, for voting the Cook Islands the Best Island in the Pacific Rim. We think it is, too. It’s a pleasure to do our job — to share with the world Polynesia’s best-kept secret, a cluster of 15 islands reminiscent of Hawai’i before high rises and traffic lights.

We may have been chosen because our islands possess the kind of natural beauty that makes your heart swell — dramatic mountains, enchanting rainforests, sprawling caves, crystal lagoons teeming with fish. The flowers and sunsets are flamboyant and the air is clean, purified by coconut palms, breadfruit trees, taro plantations and flame trees named for an annual explosion of red blossoms.

Or maybe it was because there’s so much to do here, from hiking in the jungle to paddleboarding in the lagoon, and so much to learn about a heritage rooted in community, music, love and the earth. Here, you’re

closer to the soil, the sea and the stars — you can study medicinal plants, catch your fish and eat it, cook dinner in an underground oven.

You’re invited to learn about Cook Islands culture and to let it change your perspective of what it means to be human.

Possibly we were chosen as the best nation in the Pacific Rim because of the spirit of our people. It’s in the Cook Islander’s nature to be friendly and generous and tourists are greeted not with a handshake but with a kiss on the cheek. The culture of hospitality is reflected even in the Ma–ori term for hello — kia orana — which literally means “I hope you enjoy a long and fruitful life.”

You’ll hear the greeting often when you visit our islands, which are accessible via a non-stop flight from LAX each week, where you can be lagoon-side in no time. There are many flights between the Cook Islands (Rarotonga) and New Zealand (Auckland), so if you’re already planning a trip to Kiwi country, look into combining your journey with a visit to the Cook Islands. We use the same currency and we’re not far away.

“We’re honored to be voted the Best Island in the Pacific by Global Traveler,” said Prime Minister Henry Puna. “With a warm kia orana we look forward to welcoming Global Traveler readers to visit us and share this paradise we call home.”

thank you for voting

THE COOK ISLANDS

THE BEST ISLAND PACIFIC RIM 2016 paradiseincookislands.com

OUTSTANDING CUSTOMIZED SERVICE: EVA Air’s Hello Kitty jets PHOTO: © EVA AIR

Special Achievement Awards OUTSTANDING CUSTOMIZED SERVICE • EVA Air’s Hello Kitty Jets • Paradisus Resorts Family Concierge Program • American Airlines Cuddle Class • Westin Well-Being Movement • Korean Air’s Celestial Bar on Airbus A380 OUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES • Airbus • Munich Airport • United Airlines • InterContinental Hotels Group • Qantas • Marriott Hotels & Resorts • Hilton Hotels & Resorts OUTSTANDING INNOVATIONS • Robotic Bartender, Royal Caribbean International • Botlr, Aloft Hotel Cupertino • InfoGates, Munich Airport • NexGen 777 Cabin Design, China Airlines • Keyless Entry, Hilton Hotels & Resorts • SPG Keyless System, Starwood Hotels & Resorts OUTSTANDING SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY • Air Canada • JetBlue • Marriott Hotels & Resorts • Singapore Airlines • Hilton Hotels & Resorts

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or the third year in a row, Global Traveler recognizes four brands that raise the bar in the travel industry by bringing unique customized services, practicing environmentally friendly initiatives, continually innovating and looking to the future, and encouraging community involvement within their companies. We are proud to present the 2016 Leisure Lifestyle Special Achievement Awards.

When it comes to customization, look no further than EVA Air, winner of Outstanding Customized Service, and its Hello Kitty jets. From check-in to on board, the entire experience is markedly unique by the ubiquitous presence of the popular Sanrio character — found everywhere from the bathroom soap to the butter pats. Jets, each with a different theme and name, service a number of destinations from Taipei (TPE), including Houston (IAH), where the Hello Kitty Shining Star made its debut in 2015.

Airbus, recognized for Outstanding Environmental Initiatives, makes environmentally friendly strides in a variety of ways, including practicing eco-efficiency within product development and operation and launching programs to minimize the environmental footprint of air travel. The company’s commitment to eco-efficiency extends beyond the design process, with a focus on in-service operation through to the eventual retirement of the aircraft.

Shaken or stirred? If you’re at sea on Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas, that determination is at the discretion of a robotic bartender. The mechanical arms earned the cruise line Outstanding Innovations honors, and each set can make two drinks per minute, delivered in plastic cups via conveyor belt. Passengers place orders on tablets. After debuting in 2014, Royal

OUTSTANDING INNOVATIONS: Robotic Bartender, Royal Caribbean International PHOTO: © ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL

Caribbean ordered three more for future ships, including Anthem of the Seas.

A commitment to community led to the 2012 establishment of the Air Canada Foundation, an extension of Air Canada’s dedication to childhood health and wellness and the catalyst behind the carrier being awarded for its Outstanding Social Responsibility. The company supports pediatric hospitals, assists more than 100 charities, raises funds and helps make the wishes of ill children come true.

In the world of travel, anything is possible. For your next leisure travel experience, pick your pleasure — and rest assured any of the winning providers in this year’s Leisure Lifestyle Awards will provide a first-rate, 5-star accompaniment to your experience. We tip our hats to the illustrious companies gracing the winners’ list.

Congratulations! globaltravelerusa.com

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Quest for Heritage

Following the footsteps of your ancestors brings destinations to life.

BY BARBARA RADCLIFFE ROGERS

C

20 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 2016

PHOTO: © KARIN HILDEBRAND LAU | DREAMSTIME.COM

uriosity is the common bond of travelers, and a fascination with the past presents a prime motivator in choosing destinations. Of all the reasons for travel, none inspires more than our search for the past — especially to satisfy our curiosity about our own.

We choose destinations for their historic significance, partly because they include the best-known and most iconic attractions. Think Pompeii, the Great Pyramid, the Alhambra, Windsor Castle, the Berlin Wall or the Colosseum. But heritage travel can set us on a personal journey, one inspired by a family’s roots or some place with a personal connection — a father or grandfather who landed at Anzio or Normandy beaches, or a long-ago ancestor torn from a

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West African village.

A search for family genealogy often leads to larger questions and a broader quest to experience those places our ancestors lived, places that connect us to them generations and centuries later.

Whether it was war, a sense of adventure, religious oppression, capture or potato famine that set our ancestors moving, it forms part of our own story and gives deeper meaning to our travel.

Destinations like Ireland and Germany — once the settings of mass emigration to North America — offer entire centers devoted to tracing family roots. These include passenger lists from ships and help in identifying the towns of origin of those families. At Cobh, the departure port for 2.5 million Irish who immigrated to America in the Great Potato Famine of 1848, the Cobh Heritage Centre makes genealogical records accessible to those with no research experience.

Specialized tour operators help travelers get up close and personal with their family past by combining genealogical research with trip planning. They do the legwork so you can spend your time seeing the places connected to your own ancestors. My Ireland Family Heritage can often pinpoint an exact town of origin based on local genealogical resources and can design itineraries for maximum exposure to Irish culture. Ancestral Journeys of Scotland plans individual trips that begin with research by a Scottish genealogist, providing a customized itinerary with a

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driver and guide.

Those with German ancestry can trace forebears at the interactive German Emigration Center in Bremerhaven or at the Hamburg State Archive, which catalogs 4.6 million passenger records and searchable genealogical data. Set in Hamburg’s Emigration Halls, known as the “port of dreams” to the millions of Germans and Eastern Europeans who departed there for the New World, BallinStadt Emigration Museum tells their stories through photographs, artifacts and interactive exhibits. The German American Connection organizes and escorts customdesigned trips to places with family connections, leading to church records and even living relatives in Germany. Beyond the personal connections, these trips immerse travelers in the arts, handicrafts, foods and traditions that comprise part of their heritage.

Several tour operators specialize in family heritage tours to Italy, especially to Sicily and Calabria, where a great many Italian-Americans trace their roots. Italian Heritage Tours and My Bella Vita Travel both arrange itineraries to towns where travelers can see their ancestors’ original birth records, visit parish churches for marriage and baptism records and meet relatives for the first time.

It’s not always possible to trace specific families. It’s often more practical — and equally rewarding — to trace the roots

TRADITIONAL TOWNS: The city of Cobh in Ireland (left), and the folk dance ensemble Irizema from Calabria, Italy, performing the tarantella dance (right) PHOTOS: © HGABRIC | DREAMSTIME.COM, © ERMESS | DREAMSTIME.COM

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HERITAGE CONNECTIONS: Entrance to slave cells, Elmina Castle in Ghana (top), and tourists at the Anne Frank House, Amsterdam (bottom) PHOTOS: © STEVEHEAP | DREAMSTIME.COM, © OLGACOV | DREAMSTIME.COM

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of an ethnic or national heritage, traveling with others of like heritage to pay respects to ancestors while learning more about their lives and experiences.

Join others with a shared culture to explore Jewish landmarks of Spain, Cuba, Morocco or Eastern Europe.

Momentum Tours’ From Roots to Revival itineraries to Germany and Poland visit sites of the Holocaust and feature the vast Jewish cultural contributions in these countries. Momentum Tours also explores places connected to the fascinating story of Sephardic Jews in Portugal, and independent travelers can follow well-designed walking tours of significant Sephardic sights in towns like Belmonte and Guarda.

Artisans of Leisure’s 10-day Jewish Tour of Sicily visits ancient Agrigento, home to a sizeable Jewish community from the first century through the 15th century. Avalon Waterways offers a Jewish Heritage River Cruise that includes Europe’s largest synagogue in Budapest, Prague’s Josefov Quarter and the World War II ghetto of Terezin.

AmaWaterways’ Jewish Heritage cruises follow the Danube and the Rhine, with special shore excursions visiting synagogues, Jewish museums and other landmarks, including the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.

Holy Land Tours specializes in tours of Christian sights, touring Nazareth, the Yardenit baptismal site on the Jordan River and sailing on the Sea of Galilee. Artisans of Leisure tours explore the Holy Land’s Christian landmarks and significant churches.

Major slave-trading sites in Senegal, Ghana, and other West African countries set the stage for Spector Travel’s Africa Roots and Culture trips. The best known site is Goree Island in Senegal, a holding point for slaves built by the Dutch in 1776 and now housing a museum of the slave trade. Several slave forts in Ghana played an even larger role in human trafficking, including St. George’s Castle in Elmina, where guided tours lead through slave dungeons and a slave auction room. Cape Coast Castle and Museum gives a good introduction to how the slave trade operated.

Walking the Spirit Tours feature the rich Black heritage in Paris, exploring Left Bank creativity in the era when Paris was the jazz capital and a center for Black writers, artists, musicians, intellectuals and entertainers. globaltravelerusa.com

ty

Globili

L SPECIA N EDITIO g Comin 6 July 201

2016 Global City Guidebook Busy travelers have come to rely on the comprehensive Global City Guidebook for everything they need to know about cities around the globe. The annual guide is a compilation of more than 30 individual city reports all wrapped up in one easy reference. The Global City Guidebook is a keepsake.

HISTORIC WALLS: Hadrian’s Wall, northern England (top), and Checkpoint Charlie, once part of the Berlin Wall (bottom) PHOTOS: © SHIROTOTORO | DREAMSTIME.COM, © ANDREYKR DREAMSTIME.COM

AmaWaterways amawaterways.com Ancestral Journeys of Scotland ancestraljourneysof scotland.com Artisans of Leisure artisansofleisure.com Avalon Waterways avalonwaterways.com BallinStadt Emigration Museum ballinstadt.net Cobh Heritage Centre cobhheritage.com

Equally popular among heritage destinations are those places that represent events or cultures that changed the world. These span not just centuries but millennia, and include the landmark historic sites of ancient civilizations: Ephesus, the Acropolis, Delphi, the Colosseum, China’s Great Wall and Terracotta Army, Machu Picchu, Tikal and the Nile Valley. These archaeological sites let us glimpse ancient cultures, as though their stones could tell the story of the people who built them. Important 20th- and 21st-century sites get their share of attention, especially those connected to the Cold War and World War II as well as to World War I, getting renewed attention during its centennial.

Families find heritage travel especially rewarding, as children engage in the past at living history villages such as Plimoth Plantation, Oslo’s Norske Folkemuseum or Skansen Park in Stockholm, where authentically costumed interpreters go about daily life in homes preserved or reconstructed from previous centuries. History surrounds kids as they walk through medieval half-timbered towns in Germany’s Black Forest or the castle-topped hill towns of Tuscany. Families can get active together, walking atop Hadrian’s Wall and visiting its unearthed Roman army camps.

It’s easy to add a heritage experience to a business trip.

A single historic attraction makes an easy free-time option 24 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 2016

The German American Connection thegermanamerican connection.com German Emigration Center bremerhaven.de Holy Land Tours holylandtourstravel.com Italian Heritage Tours italianheritagetours.com Momentum Tours & Travel momentumtours.com My Bella Vita Travel mybellavita.com

in a city: the Tower of London, Beijing’s Forbidden City or Berlin’s Checkpoint Charlie, for example. Visiting Versailles or weekend touring Normandy beaches makes an easy add-on before or after business meetings in Paris. Germany’s Black Forest villages are close to commercial hubs of Stuttgart and Strasbourg. Stonehenge lies minutes from London’s Heathrow Airport, making it easy to fit in a sunrise tour before a flight.

The quest for heritage sights and experiences lends depth and meaning to travel anywhere, giving new perspectives on

My Ireland Family Heritage myirelandheritage.com Spector Travel spectortravel.com Walking the Spirit Tours walkthespirit.com

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Consider the perks of airline vacation packages when planning your next getaway. BY LAURA DAILY

W

hen a focus group of elite-status flyers was asked why they would book through Delta Vacations, a Diamond Medallion member responded, “I know I’m important to Delta and you aren’t going to screw up my vacation.” That comment neatly sums up the current state of the airline-branded vacation industry.

While business travelers often take a DIY approach or call a travel agent to arrange a vacation, whether for leisure or as

26 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 2016

an add-on to a work trip, those loyal to a specific carrier or airline alliance are taking a serious look at airline-branded vacation companies.

Gone are the days when airline packages meant airfare and a cheap hotel at destinations such as Las Vegas or Orlando, where you once bought a three-day getaway for the price of the airfare alone. The industry sports a new outlook — value, but with luxury style. globaltravelerusa.com

PHOTO: © SUBBOTINA | DREAMSTIME.COM

The Great Escape

In the 1980s, TWA, British Airways and Pan Am actually included tour divisions, recalls Houston-based Kristie England, general manager, Universal Travel. Not known to pass up an additional revenue stream, many domestic and international carriers established branded vacation companies.

By the late 1990s, it became too much of an expense to maintain in-house operations staffed with seasoned personnel versed in all aspects of hotels and resorts, car rentals and sightseeing options.

Now, most airlines typically outsource to wholesale tour operators.

The Mark Travel Corp., exclusive packager for Southwest [Airlines] Vacations since 1989, also runs United Vacations. Ray Snisky, executive vice president, Mark Travel, said the original goal for airlines was to move airline seats. “What started as ‘How do we package to fill a red-eye?’ evolved into ‘How do we better serve our customer and create an ancillary revenue stream?’” he said.

“Today, seat 5A can yield revenue from the seat, hotel, car rental and excursions.”

Bulk buying power translates to advantages for passengers, starting with options for smaller down payments and more generous change and cancelation policies. Business- and first-class tickets may carry discounts similar to prices from a consolidator. Lodging may include incentives such as breakfast and upgrades. United Vacations recently sold a stay at The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa with the fifth night free and a $100 resort credit. globaltravelerusa.com

UP AND AWAY: Some packages include incentives such as breakfast (top) or resort credits which may be used for a relaxing day at the spa (bottom).

PHOTOS: © JAMES STEIDL | DREAMSTIME.COM, © SYDA PRODUCTIONS | DREAMSTIME.COM

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GOING YOUR WAY: Aer Lingus offers packages in Ireland (above), and South African Airways offers an online Safari Planner (left).

PHOTOS: © PIERRE LECLERC | DREAMSTIME.COM, © ROMAN MURUSHKIN | DREAMSTIME.COM

Packages may offer other important perks. A Delta Vacations Cancún package includes flight, hotel, transfer, greeter and a dedicated on-site concierge. “We manage the customer through the entire trip; and if there is, say, a hurricane or you are injured, we can rebook you on the spot,” says Tina Iglio, senior vice president of marketing, MLT Vacations, a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines.

Like other airline vacation companies, Delta Vacations maintains a 24/7 service center with call center staff averaging 15 years on the job. “They’re trained on destinations, stayed at the resorts, taken the tours, plus they know the Delta product and programs,” Iglio says.

What distinguishes airline-branded vacation companies is a more curated package than those offered by standard tour companies. Ciaran Barry, general manager, Aer Lingus Vacation Store, notes customers look for an experiential type of vacation that goes deeper into destinations.

“Travelers want to be totally immersed in the culture, from interacting with the local Irish people to learning how to cook at famous culinary schools,” he says. The Vacation Store product line can also be used as a guide for people to customize and enhance their trip, or experts can design a trip in real time for travelers.

“The perception is we can’t customize, but we can: where to stay, what to do and when to go,” Barry explains. One of Aer Lingus’ most popular packages is the Ireland B&B Vacation.

Travelers can choose from hundreds of bed & breakfasts around the Emerald Isle and can plan ahead or as they travel. Similarly, South African Airways helps tailor a vacation with its online Safari Planner.

28 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 2016

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GES FIQUE VOYA MY MAGNI

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2016 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 29

Here’s a list of several airline vacation companies for your next trip: Aer Lingus Vacation Store aerlingusvacationstore.com Aeromexico Vacations aeromexicovacations.com Air New Zealand Vacations airnewzealand.com/vacations Alaska Airlines Vacations asvacations.com American Airlines Vacations aavacations.com British Airways Vacations britishairways.com Delta Vacations deltavacations.com Emirates Holidays emiratesholidays.com The Mark Travel Corp. marktravel.com Qantas Holidays packages.qantas.com Qatar Airways Holidays qatarairwaysholidays.com South African Airways Vacations flysaavacations.com Southwest Vacations southwestvacations.com United Vacations vacations.united.com Virgin Vacations virgin-vacations.com

MAKE A SPLASH: Waterbike fun at Sandals Dickenson Bay, Antigua PHOTO: © LAWRENCE WESLOWSKI JR | DREAMSTIME.COM

More important to the business traveler? Personalized service, yes, but also the ability to earn not just frequent-flyer miles but significant bonus miles. In April 2015 Delta offered up to 17,500 bonus miles for European packages including London, Paris and Rome. This past winter, United Vacations offered travelers booking five nights or more at Sandals Resorts properties 10,000 United MileagePlus bonus miles.

Airline vacation packages can be a great value, but they aren’t for everyone, says Nigel Osborne, senior vice president, Keytours Vacations and former president, Virgin [Atlantic] Vacations USA. “Ask yourself the right questions. Where do I want to go and where does my preferred airline fly? Am I looking for a weekend tagged on to a business trip, a quick stopover diversion (such as Emirates offers in Dubai) or an extended getaway? Can I use miles or earn them? Will I get a cookie-cutter holiday or a personalized travel experience?”

England points out that most of the time bundling air into a package means a better price and a chance to still earn miles. But travelers need to remember airlines only sell trips to destinations to which they fly; and even if a destination is on the route system, schedules and routing may not be convenient.

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Why should elite-status travelers consider an airline vacation company? Industry insiders agree if you trust the airline, then likely you will receive the same treatment you have come to expect on a vacation it arranges. Plus, it’s the only outlet through which you get bonus miles for every package you book, and you can earn miles and use miles to buy packages.

Now that airline vacation companies have matured and possess a better understanding of their clientele, their future is bright, believes Snisky. “You will see most brands allowing travelers to redeem points for trips, booking the highest-rated hotels — not to mention villas and private homes — in the world and creating bespoke experiences.”

Airline vacation companies that evolved with time will continue to grow and separate themselves in the constantly expanding travel space, agrees Barry. “More and more people are traveling, and the millennial travel segment is different than the baby boomers in terms of product types and how it engages online,” he says. “Millennial travelers have grown up in a technologically advanced time period and are looking for unique travel experiences to share with their network of family and friends, which may include celebrating New Year’s in Dublin or a falconry experience at a 5-star castle.” globaltravelerusa.com

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BY THE SEA: The Miami Beach EDITION Bungalow Tower overlooking the ocean (left), suite (top right), and lobby bar (bottom right) PHOTOS: Š NIKOLAS KOENIG

Extraordinary Stays

Inspired by the next generation of travelers, hotel collections and lifestyle brands redefine hospitality.

BY VICTORIA ABBOTT RICCARDI

N

ot long ago, a perfect home away from home for many travelers was a room in one of the big chain hotels like Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott, where check-in took place in a shiny marble lobby, a bellboy transported your bags to a heavy-curtained room, and dim bars and spacious restaurants provided a quiet, secluded place for solo drinks and dinner. These brands offered a delightfully predictable experience, so no matter where in the world you traveled, you knew what to expect. In fact, it was the sameness of these properties that gave travelers a welcome sense of security and peace of mind.

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That landscape changed, due in large part to the rise of the millennial generation. Defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as Americans born between 1982 and 2000, this group of 83.1 million now outnumbers the 75.4 million baby boomers and represents more than one quarter of the country’s population.

This new generation will comprise 75 percent of the global workforce by 2025, says a recent Deloitte Millennial Survey, and has strong feelings about what it wants in a hotel.

Innovative, adventurous and extremely tech-savvy, millennials tend to work independently and digitally. Furthermore, globaltravelerusa.com

their concept of luxury lies less in the amenities that come with each room than in the overall experience at each property. Hence the continued proliferation of boutique hotels and the recent explosion of what the industry calls hotel collections and lifestyle brands — fleets of hip, independent hotels under a big-chain umbrella, with edgy names like Aloft, Curio, Unbound and Moxy.

“The world has become smaller, and people have lots more information at their fingertips and are seeking an experience,” says Toni Stoeckl, vice president lifestyle brands, Marriott International, “so we have five different brands to attract different markets. We’re not a company that is trying to be a single something for everyone but, instead, an everything to someone through our different brands.”

In 2010 Marriott collaborated with designer Ian Schrager to introduce the EDITION collection, a group of unique, chic, luxe hotels. That same year, the Autograph Collection made its debut, a portfolio of approximately 100 distinct properties, ranging from an 11-room Colorado hunting lodge to a formerpalace-turned-hotel in Rome. In 2013 Marriott opened its first U.S. hotel under the Spanish label AC Hotels. Two years later it launched the youthful, more cost-conscious Moxy group of hotels; 50 more Moxy properties are in the pipeline.

Of course, Marriott has plenty of company when it comes to introducing boutique-style hotel offshoots. In fact, Starwood Hotels and Resorts was the first big hospitality company to enter the boutique/

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CHIC AND UNIQUE: Artist’s rendering of a Moxy living area (top), and Moxy lobby (bottom) PHOTOS: © MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL

2016 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 33

HISTORIC ELEGANCE: The Liberty, a Luxury Collection hotel, Boston, exterior (top left) and suite (top right); and The Unbound Collection by Hyatt’s Driskill Hotel suite (bottom left) and exterior (bottom right), Austin, Texas PHOTOS: © THE LUXURY COLLECTION, © THE UNBOUND COLLECTION BY HYATT

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lifestyle market when it came out with its line of W Hotels in 1998. The company continued to release more brands — for a total of 11 — such as the tech-forward Aloft brand, constituting the company’s largest pipeline in North America. It also offers the Luxury Collection — which converts existing hotels like The Liberty in Boston to more upscale properties — along with the ultra-premium Tribute Portfolio collection.

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts created several line extensions as well, including the TRYP line and Dolce Hotels and Resorts. Hyatt found success with its Andaz and Hyatt Centric lifestyle brands and recently announced The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, featuring distinctive upscale luxury properties.

InterContinental Hotels Group operates Hotel Indigo and a group of wellness-oriented properties called EVEN Hotels.

Hilton Hotels & Resorts offers multiple brands including Canopy, Curio and Conrad Hotels & Resorts.

But millennials are not the only market for these big-brand offshoots. Many of today’s modern travelers enjoy the edgy

ambience, offbeat design and neighborhood-friendly feel of these properties either because these characteristics capture who they are or represent the fashionable, cool lifestyle they aspire to lead.

“The future of hotels is to deliver experiences,” says Stoeckl, who explains Marriott created each of its new lifestyle brands with a particular traveler in mind. The Renaissance group, for example, appeals to travelers who seek “discovery” both inside and outside the hotel. The Moxy line attracts “fun hunters” who also want good value.

Through extensive market research, Marriott and its various competitors can pinpoint the preferences and habits of each guest, thus enabling the company to respond in a variety of ways, whether it’s coming up with a specific design of a particular hotel, creating a certain social experience or providing unique moments in service or at the hotel’s bar. It is psychographics, not age-driven demographics, that help inform the look, feel and amenities provided at these hotel globaltravelerusa.com

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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.

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.

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. 

Visit the Global Traveler website to access our library of articles, reports, guides, hot travel links and deals, video interviews and to subscribe to Global Traveler and our weekly eFlyer newsletters.

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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.

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.

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. 

www.globaltravelerusa.com

ICELAND

ADVENTURE AWAITS IN THE LAND OF FIRE AND ICE May 2011 | Global Traveler | 35

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CITY LIFESTYLE: Andaz San Diego suite PHOTO: © ANDAZ

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collections and lifestyle brands.

From a business standpoint, these collections provide a financial boon for the big hospitality brands. Having saturated the market with their flagship properties, the offshoots enable companies to grow in a cost-conscious way. Many of the independent brands are constructed in existing buildings, thus eliminating the need to acquire and pay for land and construct a new building from the ground up. What’s more, these offshoots don’t have to include all the expected bells and whistles of the parent brand, like multiple bars and restaurants, a pool, gym and spa. Instead, they can be more forward-thinking and untraditional, such as offering digital check-in and check-out processes, thus cutting back on staff, or ditching the gym or spa. Rather than offering a separate bar and restaurant inside the hotel, many of the independent brands morph the two concepts together to create a fluid eating and drinking area where guests can work, mingle and network over craft cocktails and graze on eclectic small plate offerings. Some brands even limit their food and beverage offerings, such as only having a café on premise, knowing many travelers prefer to delve into the neighborhood to find an Instagram-worthy eatery. Guestrooms tend to be smaller than what you’d find

in the parent brand since these rooms function mainly for sleeping versus lounging. Desks have shrunk since today’s travelers tend to work on their tablets or laptops in the hotel lobby or common area versus alone in their rooms. In their carefully configured ways, these collections provide a local, authentic and unique experience, similar to what travelers love about staying in a real home made possible by red-hot services like Airbnb.

But there is a concern, says Greg Oates, a writer for the New York-based travel trend and data insight company Skift, that in an effort to provide all these chic boutique experiences, the new brands risk becoming just like their parent brands — all the same and predictable. “Simply put, high-concept design has been democratized. The boutique hotel of today is becoming a commodity, no matter how many fashionable designers, architects, chefs and retailers you throw at it.”

Without a crystal ball, it’s hard to know if the expansion of hotel collections will continue at its current pace. But if Marriott’s recent bid to snap up Starwood (making it the largest hotel company in the world) is any indicator of what’s to come, perhaps acquisition and consolidation represent the next big thing. globaltravelerusa.com

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38 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 2016

any studies highlight the spending power of LGBT travelers. So it’s no surprise tour companies continue to sharpen their skills to satisfy even the most demanding vacationer. And that’s great news for consumers as they find an ever-expanding assortment of options in nearly every corner of the globe.

LGBT travelers represent an ever more diverse array of globetrotters, according to John Tanzella, president and CEO, International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association. “It’s extremely varied, just like the ‘mainstream’ community is varied,” he said. “LGBT travel has evolved from ‘one-size-fits-all,’ as every segment in our community has evolved.”

“First and foremost, there is no standard LGBT traveler,” agreed Judy Dlugacz, president of Olivia Travel, the highest-profile company focused specifically on vacation packages and tours for lesbian travelers. Olivia offers everything from cruises on ocean liners and riverboats to resort-style getaways and action-packed adventure

tours. “Sometimes the needs and interests of men and women are quite different, so I can only speak about the lesbian traveler as an expert. Within this group there are so many varied interests and desires on where and how to travel.”

Personalization is key to success with LGBT tours, according to David Rubin, CEO, DavidTravel, an independent contractor with Montecito Village Travel, which is a Virtuoso member travel agency. “High-end LGBT travelers are looking for private journeys that are customized to suit their dates and personal preferences in hotels, timing, touring and exploring interests, shopping and dining,” he said. “If they travel with a group, the high-end LGBT traveler wants top quality and a pace that allows for free time and time to relax. The evolution is toward seeking more bespoke itineraries designed around the experience they are seeking.”

Indeed, the word “tour” shouldn’t scare LGBT travelers who prefer a more exclusive and individualized globaltravelerusa.com

vacation experience. Customized vacations are a specialty at DavidTravel, which sells experiences ranging from cultural visits to India and scuba diving outings in Palau to custom-designed itineraries in destinations that run the length of the alphabet, from Argentina to Zambia.

Inclusion ranks high among LGBT travelers. When booking tours, they need to know they will be treated fairly, according to Jim Smith, president of Florida-based Coda International Tours.

“LGBT travelers are looking for recognition from hotels, tourist boards, restaurants and other services who are accepting their money,” he said. “They are looking for inclusion in advertising, in literature found in the hotel rooms and generally from the marketing by these companies. The evolution has been from the days of being nervous about asking for one bed to a demand that they be addressed as a married couple, even in countries where gay marriage is not recognized or even legal. Of course, gay travelers TIME TOGETHER: Palau is popular for scuba diving (right), and Olivia Travel offers packages for lesbian travelers (below).

PHOTOS: © ELISEI SHAFER | DREAMSTIME.COM, © OLIVIA TRAVEL

globaltravelerusa.com

2016 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 39

ON TOUR: Bagan temple pagoda, Myanmar (top), and a couple on an Olivia Travel tour (bottom) PHOTOS: © PRESSE750 | DREAMSTIME.COM, © OLIVIA TRAVEL

are not always getting the recognition they are asking for, but little by little it is coming, especially in the luxury market.”

“Over the years, most LGBT travelers have begun to want to be included at the resorts or destinations that non-LGBT travelers enjoy,” agreed Zachary Moses, director of marketing and adventure tour development, HE Travel. The company has been running gay tours since 1973. “The days of the ‘gay only’ destinations are receding into the background. With previously unfriendly destinations now actively courting LGBT travelers, their options have gotten much greater; however, we are losing a lot of what made the experiences uniquely gay.”

In response to the trend toward diversification, HE Travel also expanded its audience. “Several years ago we opened all of our tours to everyone,” said Moses. “Our tours are still designed by and for gay men; however, women also love our trips. Most of our trips still depart 100 percent gay men, but we do have the occasional sister or brother or friend who joins us. It’s made the trips feel a lot more welcome and enriched the experience for our customer base.”

Travelers can choose from an unprecedented variety of LGBT tour packages, according to Tanzella. “Tour operators are leading the way with diversity in the travel industry because they’re the ones coming up with the creative itineraries — whether it’s ‘bear’ travel, eco-travel or adventure travel,” he said. “They’re growing the market. People may still do New Year’s Eve in Rio, but a lot of travelers have already done that, and they’re looking for places they haven’t been — like Myanmar, for example.”

“Asia is a hot destination,” said Tanzella. “A lot of our members are selling a lot of Asia. Safaris in Africa are huge — our convention is in Cape Town in April 2016, and we have quite a few pre- and post-conference safaris.”

For DavidTravel, bestselling destinations for upscale LGBT travelers include South Africa, Bhutan, India, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Chile and Italy. And Rubin said Colombia, Chile, Bhutan, Charleston, Ecuador and New Zealand rank among the hottest emerging destinations.

Moses reported inland Mexico and Colombia are fast-growing destinations for HE Travel. “We’ve added these destinations to our calendar with great response,” he said. As for the next hot tour destination, he said to “keep an eye on Nicaragua; they are gearing up to be the new Costa Rica.”

Dlugacz said Olivia expanded its destination offerings in response to increased demand. “We have seen a greater interest in traveling as a group to more adventurous and cultural places all over the world, and Olivia has added a wide variety of options that are specifically for our guests,” she said. “The enthusiasm is enormous on everything from cruises in the British Isles and Antarctica to riverboats in Europe as well as safaris in Africa, adventures in Southeast Asia, Cuba and so much more.”

One can hardly discuss up-and-coming tour destinations without mentioning Cuba, of course. The Caribbean’s largest island is increasingly in demand for travelers of all stripes as relations thaw between the U.S. and Cuban governments.

40 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 2016

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HOT SPOTS: Street dancers entertain in Havana, Cuba (top), and a growing number of gay tourists seek vacations in Eastern Europe (bottom).

PHOTOS: © KMIRAGAYA | DREAMSTIME.COM, © MAURICIO JORDAN DE SOUZA COELHO | DREAMSTIME.COM

LGBT travelers are no exception — and with some restrictions still in place, Cuba is likely the best place in the Caribbean for LGBT travelers looking for a tour rather than an on-your-own experience.

Cuba is already a hot topic at Coda International Tours, according to Smith. “This is our bestseller and the number one hot destination for American travelers, gay and straight,” he said. “The challenge is infrastructure in Cuba. There are not enough hotel rooms to accommodate interest, and there are even fewer first-class hotels to meet the demand for luxury travel. This is causing prices to rise rapidly.”

Coda International Tours offers multiple tour options in Cuba, including an “all-gay,” 11-day itinerary called Unexplored Cuba that includes airfare between Miami (MIA) and Havana (HAV) as well as a Cuban visa, meals and stops in Havana, Santa Clara, Camagüey, Holguín and Santiago de Cuba.

Coda’s eight-day Cuba! A Woman’s Exclusive itinerary, reserved for women only, stops in Havana, Cienfuegos and Trinidad, with visits to several artists and members of Cuba’s gay community.

Smith notes growing interest in Eastern Europe as well. “Other than Cuba, we have had a strong interest in the Balkan countries: Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, BosniaHerzegovina and Serbia. Now that serious travelers have done Croatia and Slovenia, they are looking at the rest of the Balkan countries where there are few tourist crowds and prices are low.”

With an ever-increasing array of scheduled and customized tours for LGBT travelers, the options are better than ever for crafting the ideal upscale vacation.

Coda International Tours coda-tours.com DavidTravel davidtravel.com HE Travel hetravel.com International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association iglta.org Olivia Travel olivia.com

42 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 2016

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M Y L A G O S M Y W AY

CAVIAR COLLECTIONS | LAGOS.COM RITTENHOUSE SQUARE | 215.567.0770

Going T Solo

Discover the changing landscape of independent travel around the globe.

BY DEBORAH GEIGER

LONE RIDER: Camel ride and desert activities in the Judean Desert, Israel PHOTO: © RAFAEL BEN-ARI | DREAMSTIME.COM

44 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 2016

hroughout my 20s, I traveled around the world solo. From the Dordogne region of France, the rural countryside of England, the Pyrenees in Spain and the idyllic beaches and sun-bleached sand of Bermuda and the Caribbean, I learned a thing or three about traveling alone. First, don’t drink too much. Second, be courageous. Third, never pay a single supplement.

Ten years ago a Google search for “solo travel ideas” turned up some surprising findings, from quietly desperate options (singles cruises) to the downright ridiculous (couch-surfing).

You’d book a trip or cruise and pay a large surcharge, also known as the single supplement, for trip packages, adventure tours and even lean hiking and adventure vacations. But as a solo traveler, you weren’t necessarily single; and if you happened to be single, it didn’t necessarily mean you were on the prowl.

A positive cultural shift took place in recent years after Eat, Pray, Love — the book and movie starring Julia Roberts in which a woman leaves her troubled life behind and travels around the world to find herself — helped to

change attitudes around this incredibly misleading concept.

Solo travel is indeed one of the most rewarding experiences, and the landscape of trip opportunities followed suit.

According to the Visa Global Travel Intentions Study 2015, 24 percent of travelers journeyed overseas independently in 2015 versus 15 percent in 2013. Almost half of the solo travelers polled — 2,485 individuals — were executive-level and out of Asia, China and India in particular. Another trend uncovered: Solo travelers select a definite travel destination 69 percent of the time, whereas other travelers do so 56 percent of the time. Solo travelers know where they are going, and while sophisticated in many ways, they still hunger for adventure yet don’t want to pay additional fees.

“Based on double occupancy.” These words, usually found at the bottom of any enticing travel offer, forever etch themselves in solo travelers’ minds. A nice change of pace, then, when companies like Overseas Adventure Travel say single travelers will never pay a supplement and that on average 40 percent, or two out of every five participants, fit the “solo” category. Overseas Adventure globaltravelerusa.com

M Y L A G O S M Y W AY

CAVIAR COLLECTIONS | LAGOS.COM RITTENHOUSE SQUARE | 215.567.0770

Travel — founded in 1978 in Cambridge, Mass., by a 28-year-old high school teacher who, after returning from a trip to Africa, wanted to offer a more authentic safari experience — realized its mission, featuring group sizes of 10–16 travelers and outstanding cultural experiences for a reasonable cost. Opt for unique picks like the 13-day Safari Serengeti; stay at the Tanzania Lodge & Tented Safari Arusha; and visit epic highlights like Tarangire National Park, Olduvai Gorge, Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Highlands and Crater. Or get your Himalayas fix on the 17-day Nepal & the Mystical Himalayas tour, trekking on stone paths along picturesque hillsides and riding elephant-back through lush jungle. The trip features the cities Kathmandu and Pokhara, a three-night Overland Trek, a two-night River Camp stay and a two-night Jungle Safari. Or take it easy and go island style on the 17-day Java & Bali trip, exploring Indonesia’s mystical islands and cities: the capital, Jakarta; Yogyakarta; Borobudur; Ubud; Lovina; and Sanur.

Founded in 1982, U.K.-based Solos Vacations has designed itineraries across the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Italy since the Reagan administration, averaging 15-person groups.

Be confident in your travel planning, selecting from age brackets including 30s, 40s or 50s to travel in the most age-appropriate group. The 12-day Tempting Thailand adventure tempts indeed, featuring Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Hua Hin, along with visiting ancient cities, local villages and the

46 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 2016

breathtaking scenery of the rural areas of Thailand, completing the tour in Bangkok.

For a true African safari immersion, opt for zero-singlesupplement Singita, a family-owned string of 12 lodges across 45,000 wildlife-rich acres in Africa. Owner Luke Bailes’ grandfather purchased the land in 1925, originally as a hunting ground; today it is a conservation reserve consisting of South Africa-based lodges like Ebony, the first of its lodges, opened in 1993 in the heart of South Africa’s big cat-rich country; plus luxury, ecofriendly villas, lodges and traditional tent-style accommodations.

This is truly a unique and unforgettable single-traveler destination, with immense privacy and personal attention.

Classic Journeys, a company whose founders met on a walking tour in Wales, offers a low solo travel single supplement of 15 percent. With approximately a third of all travelers coming solo, you’ll be in good company. “You’re a traveler, not a tourist,” is a tagline for this California-based provider, offering group tours across the world, including destinations in Europe, Cuba, Africa, Asia and North and South America. The six-day Nova Scotia Coasts & Villages tour offers a cultural walking adventure featuring historic seaports, coastal paths and fishing villages, as well as birding, whale-watching and enjoying local cuisine.

The itinerary includes Wolfville, one of Canada’s first English settlements; Annapolis Royal, known as Canada’s birthplace; and Lunenburg’s Kejimkujik National Park, home of the native

AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE: Overseas Adventure Travel tour to Kenya visits a Maasai village.

PHOTO: © OVERSEAS ADVENTURE TRAVEL

globaltravelerusa.com

GO WILD: A canoer on Waterfowl Lake on the Swanson Lake Canoe Trail of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska (top), and a diver and a bluespotted stingray in the Red Sea, Egypt (bottom) PHOTOS: © STEVEN PRORAK | DREAMSTIME.COM, © FRHOJDYSZ | DREAMSTIME.COM

48 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 2016

Mi’kmaq tribe; and concludes in Halifax. Consider the larger-than-life Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula Adventure offering riverside, forest and coastal trails as well as wildlife sightings and unforgettable scenery. The itinerary includes Anchorage and Girdwood, featuring hikes on Denali and Mount Alyeska; Seward, set on the Resurrection River; a glacier walk; and Homer, with a visit to Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and river rafting, before concluding there.

Founded by former Wall Streeter Ken Fish, Absolute Travel provides luxury global tours — including lavish solo

journeys priced for a solo traveler from the outset. Opt for Vietnam in Style, a 10-day adventure visiting Saigon, Da Nang on Vietnam’s central coast, Hoi An, Hue and finishing in Hanoi. Or consider the Golden Tour of Egypt, a 12-day adventure that launches in Cairo with an examination of the city’s icons and proceeds to Sharm el Sheikh on the Sinai Peninsula, enjoying Egyptian coast swimming, diving and snorkeling.

Intrepid Travel takes a fresh perspective, in which solo travel isn’t a theme or trend, it’s simply a choice you make when you book your trip, if available. If not, you simply pay for half a twin room, and you will be paired with another individual. Select from journeys such as the eight-day sailing adventure on the Canal du Midi from Homps to Castelnaudary, France; for a life-changing trip, opt for the 52-day Anchorage to Mexico City adventure, sure to be as epic as it sounds. Intrepid also offers day-long adventures such as the intriguing St. Petersburg Like a Local in Russia or Taipei Night Market Food Tour in Taiwan, making this the ideal provider when you have an extra day or two offshore, solo or not.

Cruise to the farthest reaches in opulence, from Galápagos to Antarctica. With 52 offices around the world, Abercrombie & Kent, founded in 1962 by Geoffrey Kent and his parents, today offers luxury tours to more than 100 destinations. New for 2016: the 11-day Myanmar & the Irrawaddy cruise, starting in Yangon, visiting Heho/ Inle Lake, Mandalay, the Irrawaddy River and Pakokku/ Bagan. Botswana Safari in Style: Special President’s Journey, a 10-day adventure limited to 22 guests, visits Johannesburg, globaltravelerusa.com

2016 GT Tested Awards Ballot

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

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

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AIRLINE BEST Overall Best Airline in the World____________________________________________ Airline Alliance___________________________________________________________ Aircraft Type _____________________________________________________________ Airline Website __________________________________________________________ Best Airline for . . .

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International First Class________________________________________________

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Airline Cuisine________________________________________________________ Security_____________________________________________________________ First-Class Seat Design____________________________________________________ Business-Class Seat Design _______________________________________________ Best New Airline Service Launch___________________________________________ Best Frequent-Flyer Programs

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Eastern Europe_______________________________________________________ Europe______________________________________________________________ Mexico______________________________________________________________

The Middle East _____________________________________________________

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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____________________________________________ Airport in North America___________________________________________________ Airport Lounges__________________________________________________________ Airport Staff/Gate Agents__________________________________________________ Airport Dining____________________________________________________________ Duty-Free Shops__________________________________________________________

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Best Individual Hotel in the World_________________________________________ International Hotel Chain_________________________________________________ Domestic Hotel Chain___________________________________________________ Lifestyle Hotel__________________________________________________________ Airport Hotel___________________________________________________________ MICE Hotel ____________________________________________________________ (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) Hotel Club Floor________________________________________________________ Hotel Website__________________________________________________________ New Luxury Business Hotel in Asia_______________________________________ Best Frequent-Stay Programs

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Asia_______________________________________________________________ Europe____________________________________________________________

Latin America______________________________________________________ Mexico____________________________________________________________

The Middle East____________________________________________________

OTHER BEST Overseas Delivery Program ______________________________________________ Rental Car Company____________________________________________________ Tourism Destination_____________________________________________________ MICE City _____________________________________________________________ (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) WiFi Service___________________________________________________________ Wireless Phone Service in the World______________________________________ Noise-Canceling Headsets_______________________________________________ Luggage Brand_________________________________________________________ Best Photographic Equipment____________________________________________ Credit Cards Best Overall Credit Card_________________________________________________ Best Small Business Credit Card _________________________________________ Best Credit Card Special Events __________________________________________ Credit Card Rewards Program____________________________________________ Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card ________________________________________ Promotions________________________________________________________ Benefits___________________________________________________________ Redemptions_______________________________________________________ Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card________________________________________ Promotions________________________________________________________ Benefits___________________________________________________________ Redemptions_______________________________________________________ Best Cruise Line Affinity Credit Card______________________________________

GETAWAY: Great Stirrup Cay beach, Bahamas, a serene stop on Norwegian Epic’s long weekend cruise PHOTO: © ROMAN STETSYK | DREAMSTIME.COM

Abercrombie & Kent abercrombiekent.com

Intrepid Travel intrepidtravel.com

Absolute Travel absolutetravel.com

Norwegian Cruise Line ncl.com

Classic Journeys classicjourneys.com

Overseas Adventure Travel oattravel.com

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines fredolsencruises.com Grand Circle Cruise Line gct.com

Singita singita.com Solos Vacations solosvacations.com

50 | LEISURE LIFESTYLE | 2016

South Africa; Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe; Livingstone, Zambia; Chobe National Park, Botswana; Okavango Delta; and Moremi Game Reserve. The nine-day Peru: Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley adventure, limited to 18 guests, explores Lima, the Sacred Valley in Cusco and incredible Machu Picchu. The single supplement can run 15–25 percent.

For a vacation on cruise control, a variety of cruise ship operators offer a low or no single supplement. Whether it’s a monthplus-long adventure you seek or a quick and easy weekend getaway, single cruise travel has never been easier.

Grand Circle Cruise Line, a luxury provider featuring 140- to 164-passenger privately owned ships, reserves two cabins per cruise for single bookings, at no extra cost for the solo traveler. Headquartered in Scotland, the line sets prices inclusive of all food, wine with dinner and onshore excursions. The 16-day The Great Rivers of Europe journey visits Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cologne, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Heidelberg, Wertheim, Wurzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Regensburg and Passau in Germany; and Melk and Vienna in Austria.

Trans-Atlantic sailings, Europe, the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Florida — there’s no shortage of destinations offered by Norwegian Cruise Line on the solo travel-friendly Norwegian Epic.

Studio-style rooms feature compact modern design, flat-screen TVs and full-sized beds. Get social with private key card access to The Living Room, a shared private lounge with a bar, two large TVs and comfy seating. Best of all: no single supplement. The 10-day Canary Islands & Morocco from Barcelona visits Tangier, Morocco; Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands; Funchal, Madeira; and Granada and Málaga, Spain. The seven-day Western Mediterranean from Marseille includes Barcelona, Spain; Naples, Rome, Civitavecchia and Florence/Pisa, Italy; and Cannes, France.

And the ultra-fast, three-day Bahamas from Orlando stops at Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas, a perfect and easy long weekend.

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has provided a luxury small cruise experience for group travelers and single travelers alike since 1848, when Fredrik Christian, Petter and Andreas Olsen — the three Olsen brothers from Hvitsten, Oslofjord, in Norway — purchased their first fleet and launched a shipping company. Today many of the company’s single traveler cabins feature bathrooms with both showers and bathtubs, and many include balconies. Select cabin categories and departures have no single supplement. You’ll find the Africa, the Indian Ocean & the Pyramids departure intriguing, featuring 46 nights and 20 ports of call. Departing from Durban, South Africa, the cruise makes stops at Richards Bay, South Africa; Maputo, Mozambique; Port Réunion, Réunion Island; Port Louis, Mauritius; Antsiranana (Diego Suarez) and Nosy-Be, Madagascar; Zanzibar, Tanzania; Victoria, Seychelles; Praslin Island; Salālah, Oman; Aqaba, Jordan; Sharm el Sheikh and Port Said, Egypt; cruising the Suez Canal; Iráklion, Crete; Valletta, Malta; Algiers, Algeria; Cádiz, Spain; and concluding in Southampton, U.K. Or try the Norway Winter, roundtrip from Southampton, U.K, and stopping at Molde, Norway; cruising Rørvik, Torghatten and the Seven Sisters mountain range; crossing the Arctic Circle; and visiting Tromsø, Alta, Bergen and Stavanger, Norway. globaltravelerusa.com

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