Leisure Lifestyle Edition 2019

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LEISURE LIFESTYLE GLOBAL TRAVELER’S GUIDE TO THE LUXURIOUS WORLD OF LEISURE TRAVEL LEISURE LIFESTYLE AWARDS p. 12 HONEYMOON AND ROMANCE TRAVEL p. 32 BLEISURE p. 32 WORLD’S MOST OPULENT HOTELS p. 40 ASTROTOURISM p. 43 NATIONAL PARKS AND GARDENS p. 46

May 2019

letter ®

OUT OF THE ORDINARY WELCOME TO GLOBAL TRAVELER’s seventh annual publication of the Leisure Lifestyle Edition. Each year it appears after a long winter, when most travelers endured months of dreary weather, long work days and weather-related travel delays. As the days grow longer and warmer, thoughts turn, naturally, to more relaxed schedules and time spent away from the usual pressures of the workaday world. What better time to share with our readers the latest trends in leisure travel and the winners of our Leisure Lifestyle Awards?

Leisure travel encompasses a range of subcategories, linked by the common AWAY FROM IT ALL: Patty Vanikiotis on a catamaran cruise of goal of providing experiences that take us the Na Pali Coast in Kauai beyond the everyday. On page 30, Elyse PHOTO: © PATTY VANIKIOTIS Glickman suggests romantic destinations that provide the perfect setting for launching a new life together, while Ilona Kauremszky reveals how easy — and healthy — it is to combine work with pleasure as she explores the booming popularity of “bleisure” travel.

For some, nothing proves more relaxing than time spent in the great outdoors. They will want to look into the national parks and botanical gardens Debra Bokur writes about on page 46. Don’t worry; for those of you who prefer vacations spent being pampered and spoiled, we’ve got you covered. Kelly Magyarics describes luxury properties across the globe dedicated to granting your every wish in lush, opulent surroundings. And for those who really want to leave the world behind, astrotourism may be just the ticket. As Brandon Schultz explains, a trip to a dark sky protected zone to explore the wonders of the universe provides an unforgettable experience, while a stay at a space hotel may be less than a decade away.

Once you’ve decided what kind of leisure travel experience you want, peruse our list of award winners for the best destinations, carriers, hotels, providers and products to ensure a memorable and rejuvenating trip. You can’t go wrong with these proven travel leaders!

Here’s to enjoying the fruits of your labor and well-earned rest and relaxation with the best the world (and beyond) has to offer.

EDITORIAL Editor in Chief KIMBERLY KROL kim.krol@globaltravelerusa.com Vice President/Digital Director KATIE SKRZEK katie.skrzek@globaltravelerusa.com Senior Editor JANICE HECHT jan.hecht@globaltravelerusa.com Associate Editor/Copy Editor PATRICIA VANIKIOTIS patty.vanikiotis@globaltravelerusa.com Associate Editor ANGELIQUE PLATAS angelique.platas@globaltravelerusa.com Assistant Editor ERICH J. MARTIN erich.martin@globaltravelerusa.com News Editor ALLIE MOORE allie.moore@globaltravelerusa.com Editor at Large HOLLY RIDDLE holly.riddle@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

WRITERS DEBRA BOKUR ELYSE GLICKMAN ILONA KAUREMSZKY KELLY MAGYARICS BRANDON SCHULTZ

ete bios, For compl a.com travelerus al ob gl t visi

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CIRCULATION Specialists JOHN WROBLEWSKI, LOUIE ATSAVES Managers JAYHAWK EVANS, MARK P. FORD, TERESA JACKSON, ANTHONY “SCRAPS” DIMERA Circulation Director MICHELE SHANNON Circulation Manager ANNA PUDZIANOWSKI Research Consultant SHARON STERNE ADVISORY BOARD Chairman MICHAEL DONAHUE, COO MICHAEL KIELY, President CARLOS CAPPUCCIO, Executive Vice President GARY OSWALD, Deputy Vice President Aviation EDWARD JEFFERSON, Deputy Vice President Accommodations STEPHEN DOHERTY, Deputy Director Destinations WAYNE TALLMAN, Vice President Special Events/Photography CHRISTOPHER OTTAUNICK, Secretary MARK LANE, Research Director FRANK LOVERME, Treasurer KEVIN RYAN, Director of Technology BOB HANCOCK, Director of Digital Advancement JARED TORGAN GENERAL COUNSEL THOMAS F. GOLDMAN

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At the Formosa Summer Festival, participants enjoy a series of summer events and tours focused on different parts of Taiwan from June to September each year. The events focus on five different themes: sports, food, summer solstice 235, sand sculpture and railroad travel.

Also of interest to Taiwan-bound travelers this summer are four towns designated with Slow Town status by Cittaslow International. Inspired by the Slow Food movement, these towns were recognized for a slow-paced lifestyle that promotes an improvement in the overall quality of life. Hualien County is one, along with Nanzhuang, Sanyi and Dalin.

In addition, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau Los Angeles Office, in conjunction with Southern California travel agencies, offers creative themed tours of Taiwan’s tea villages this summer, tied into the Taiwan Small Town Ramble and the Formosa Summer Festival. Each of the 368 townships in Taiwan is ripe for exploration and boasts its own character. The tourist office and America Asia Travel Center, SITA World Tours, Super Value Tours can help you discover Taiwan even further.

Learn more at eng.taiwan.net.tw.

letter ® ®

INDULGE AND INSPIRE NOW IN ITS SEVENTH consecutive year, we are pleased to present our Leisure Lifestyle Edition, celebrating the best in leisure travel.

Whether it means a specific destination, cruise line, resort or island, everybody has his or her own definition of leisure travel. Since leisure is largely personal, it’s important to occasionally disconnect and spend time doing what truly puts us at ease.

My No. 1 leisure activity is golf, although I admit sometimes it’s tough to remain at ease while fishing my GOING PLACES: Chris Sager enjoying some leisure time. ball out of the water. Still, I always PHOTO: © CHRIS SAGER look for an excuse to get out and enjoy a round. From a destination perspective, like many of you, I enjoy a classic vacation somewhere warm where I can lie on a beach — and battle the inevitable sunburn.

Within the Leisure Lifestyle Edition, we are proud to celebrate the winners of our annual Leisure Lifestyle Awards. We asked you to vote for the companies and organizations that capture the epitome of leisure in their respective categories, and those who came out on top beat out some fierce competition. Do you agree with the list of winners?

With summer just around the corner, I encourage you to flip through the pages of this special edition to find inspiration for your upcoming getaway. From honeymoon and romance destinations to national parks and botanic gardens around the world, the Leisure Lifestyle Edition offers something for everyone.

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contents

Leisure Lifestyle 2019

32

43

12 Destination: Leisure Global Traveler congratulates the winners of the 2019 Leisure Lifestyle Awards.

40 Over the Top The world’s most opulent hotels tempt with stand-out settings, service, cuisine and spas.

ON THE COVER

32 Isn’t It Romantic?

Choose just the right wedding or honeymoon destination to start your lifelong journey together.

43 In the Stars Look to the sky — and perhaps space — for your next unforgettable adventure.

LEISURE LIFESTYLE

36 Make Bleisure a Breeze It’s easier than ever to combine business and leisure travel.

46 Call of the Wild Your mother was right: Playing outside really is good for you.

40

FX E X P R E S S

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

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GLOBAL TRAVELER’S GUIDE TO THE LUXURIOUS WORLD OF LEISURE TRAVEL LEISURE LIFESTYLE AWARDS p. 8 HONEYMOON AND ROMANCE TRAVEL p. 26 BLEISURE p. 32 WORLD’S MOST OPULENT HOTELS p. 36 ASTROTOURISM p. 40 NATIONAL PARKS AND GARDENS p. 46

COVER PHOTO: AURORA BOREALIS © SCOTT DUNN

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LEISURE LIFESTYLE 2019

May 2019

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 ©2019 FXExpress Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of text, photographs or illustrations without permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

PHOTOS: © PAUL GAUGUIN, © TAHITI TOURISM, © SCOTT DUNN, © TRISARA RESORT

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BEST HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS, INTERNATIONAL: Turkey

PHOTO: © IGOR STRAMYK - DREAMSTIME.COM

© MALDIVES001 | DREAMSTIME.COM BILL HEDGES

The Language of Leisure Global Traveler congratulates the winners of the 2019 Leisure Lifestyle Awards. BY KIMBERLY KROL TOUTES NOS FÉLICITATIONS. Tebrikler. Blahopřeji. Congratulazioni.

Syncharitíria. Herzliche glückwünsche. Parabéns. No matter the language, we’re sending our congratulations to the winners of our seventh annual Leisure Lifestyle Awards. This annual survey honors the best in the world of leisure and lifestyle travel, awarding goods, services, destinations, hotels, airlines and cruises.

Many of this year’s winners take us to one of the most popular continents for leisure travel in the world, Europe. Join us

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LEISURE LIFESTYLE 2019

as we take you on a European adventure through the best in leisure and lifestyle travel.

Let’s say bonjour to our destination winners, some of the best cities, islands and towns around the globe offering the ultimate in leisure travel. Kick back in any of these exceptional, award-winning spots, starting with Turkey, Best Historical Attractions, International, for the second year in a row, and Williamsburg, Virginia, Best Historical Attractions, Domestic.

If it’s more rest and relaxation you seek, Costa Rica takes the top spot for Best Beaches for the second year running. Curaçao is Best Caribbean Island, while Santoríni retains its Best Island in Europe title for the sixth consecutive year. Cook Islands, another fan favorite, wins Best Island Pacific Rim for the fourth year in a row.

On the flip side of the coin, if you prefer powdery white snow to soft white sand, Telluride, Colorado, is Best North American Ski Destination, while Niseko, Japan, reigns as Best International Ski Destination.

Worldwide, seek out these respites: Nashville, Tennessee, Best Leisure Destination in the United States, two years in a row; Botswana, Best Leisure Destination in Africa; Prague, Czech Republic, Best Leisure Destination in Europe; Taipei, two-time Best Leisure Destination in Asia; Bogotá, Best Leisure Destination in Latin/South America; Guadalajara, Best Leisure Destination in Mexico; and Italy, Best Leisure Destination for Groups.

For something a touch more thrilling, it’s adventure you’re looking for. You can find it in Thailand, a three-peat winner for Best Adventure Destination, International, and Alaska, claiming the title of Best Adventure Destination, Domestic. If you’re in the mood for a

BEST HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS, DOMESTIC: Williamsburg, Virginia

PHOTO: © WANGKUN JIA - DREAMSTIME.COM

WINNERS’ CIRCLE BEST HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS, DOMESTIC

BEST ADVENTURE DESTINATION, DOMESTIC: Alaska

PHOTO: © ROUSSIEN - DREAMSTIME.COM

BEST LEISURE DESTINATION IN THE UNITED STATES: Nashville, Tennessee

BEST BEACHES: Costa Rica

PHOTO: © SIMONDANNHAUER - DREAMSTIME.COM

PHOTO: © PAUL BRADY - DREAMSTIME.COM

1. Williamsburg, Virginia 2. Washington, D.C. 3. Boston, Massachusetts 4. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 5. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 6. Savannah, Georgia 7. Charleston, South Carolina 8. New Orleans, Louisiana 9. Charlottesville, Virginia 10. Big Sur, California

BEST HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS, INTERNATIONAL 1. Turkey 2. Egypt 3. India 4. Spain 5. Jordan 6. United Kingdom 7. Israel 8. Greece 9. Italy 10. Peru

BEST BEACHES

long weekend getaway, Austin, Texas, and Dublin, Ireland, might be options. They won Best Weekend Destination in North America and Best Weekend Destination in the world, respectively.

Next up, we say ciao to our cruise line winners, starting with Celebrity Cruises, Best Family Cruise Line. A regular on this list of winners, Silversea Cruises sets sail with two awards this year, Best Luxury Cruise Line and Best Cruise Line Suites, for the fourth and second years, respectively.

Find adventure on the high seas with National Geographic Expedition Cruises, Best Adventure Cruise Line. Or take to a smaller body of water with Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, Best River Cruise Line for the second consecutive year.

For a more intimate experience, our readers recommend Paul Gauguin Cruises, the four-time winner of Best Small-Ship Cruise Line. If it’s a grander experience you’re after, Cunard, another four-time honoree, is Best Large-Ship Cruise Line.

Princess Cruises and Seabourn Cruise Line both take two nods this year. Princess Cruises is Best Cruise Line Entertain-

BEST LEISURE DESTINATION IN MEXICO: Guadalajara

PHOTO: © SHANE ADAMS - DREAMSTIME.COM

1. Costa Rica 2. Cayman Islands 3. Fiji 4. The Big Island, Hawai’i 5. Phuket, Thailand 6. Lopes Mendes, Brazil 7. Mykonos, Greece 8. Turks & Caicos 9. Krabi, Thailand 10. Honolulu, Hawai’i

BEST ADVENTURE DESTINATION, DOMESTIC 1. Alaska 2. California 3. Grand Canyon 4. Asheville, North Carolina 5. Portland, Oregon 6. Hilton Head, South Carolina 7. Salt Lake City, Utah 8. Nashville, Tennessee 9. Albuquerque, New Mexico 10. Montana

LEISURE LIFESTYLE 2019

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Discover the World’s Most Coveted Destinations With Paul Gauguin Cruises JAMES A. MICHENER CALLED BORA BORA “the most beautiful island in the world,” and Moorea is believed to have been the model for his Bali Hai, immortalized in song in the musical South Pacific.

Painter Paul Gauguin came to Tahiti for inspiration, and W. Somerset Maugham’s novel The Moon and Sixpence was inspired by that artistic journey. French Polynesia continues to create wonder in those who visit — and you can experience it in just one week on our best-selling itinerary.

As the specialists to this idyllic region, Paul Gauguin Cruises reveals the ancient traditions, breathtaking scenic beauty, easygoing spirit and warm hospitality of French Polynesia as no one else can.

We have also been given the honor of being voted

Global Traveler’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Line 2019, for the third year in a row, as well as various other industry awards.

Designed specifically to sail these turquoise waters, The Gauguin also brings on board the Polynesian culture and joie de vivre that only the experts to the region can share. You’ll also enjoy extraordinary value, with luxurious ocean-view accommodations, all meals plus select wines and spirits in restaurants onboard, room service, watersports, private beach retreats and entertainment included throughout your voyage.

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as many other specialties. Throughout the year, a series of lectures will enlighten guests of the ship about marine science and wildlife conservation in the South Pacific and beyond. Additionally, during the summer months and holiday season, our littlest guests and their families will learn to value nature through an experiential family program in conjunction with South Pacific marine education and conservation foundation, Te mana o te moana.

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consecutive year, and Best Family Resort Chain in the World, third consecutive year; and Sandals Resorts International, Best AllPrague, Czech Republic Inclusive Resort, second year in a row.

PHOTO: © XIN HUA - DREAMSTIME.COM Finally, join us in a big hallo to the rest of the best in the 2019 Leisure Lifestyle Awards.

In a category all its own, Abercrombie & Kent is king as Best Tour Operator. Catch your tour from any of the following awardwinning airports and airlines.

Long layovers are no problem at Zürich Kloten International Airport, Best Airport for Layovers, while Hong Kong International Airport offers lots to do as Best Airport for Recreation. See more with a stopover program; might we recommend TAP Air Portugal’s? The airline is the inaugural winner of Best Stopover Program.

Tahiti is the holy grail for leisure travel, ment and Best Cruise Ship Excursions. This is the fourth year so let Air Tahiti Nui, Best Leisure Airline, take you there. Air it’s captured the excursions title. Seabourn’s accolades include Canada receives twice the praise this year, as Best Airline for Best Cruise Line Dining and Best Cruise Line Spas.

Onboard Entertainment and Best Premium-Economy Class.

Rounding out the cruise line category, Norwegian Cruise Enjoy delicious cuisine on Swiss International Air Lines’ first Line’s Latitudes Rewards Program earns Best Cruise Line class, dubbed Best Airline Onboard Menu. And, of course, we Rewards Program, and Port Canaveral, Florida, is Best Cruise can’t forget the furry members of the family. Delta Air Lines Port. doesn’t either, which is why the carrier won Best Pet-Friendly Olá to the hotel and resort winners. We start with Meliá Airline.

Hotels International. The hotel’s fifth consecutive win as Best Before we say auf wiedersehen, au revoir and addio to our Luxury Leisure Hotel Group in the World also earns it Quint winners, we recognize Volvo, Best Luxury Vehicle; Patek Status recognition, awarded to companies achieving the same Philippe, Favorite Luxury Watch Brand; Hertz, Best Leisure award for five consecutive years.

Car Rental; and Johnnie Walker Blue, Best Liquor Brand for the When booking hotel accommodations for that much-needed second consecutive year. vacay, these are the top spots, according to our readers: The In whatever language and wherever in the world, congratuRitz-Carlton, Best Hotel Chain Resorts; Westin Hotels & lations to the 2019 Leisure Lifestyle Awards winners!

Resorts, double winner for Best Pet-Friendly Hotels, second BEST LEISURE DESTINATION IN EUROPE:

WINNERS’ CIRCLE BEST ADVENTURE DESTINATION, INTERNATIONAL 1. Thailand

2. Taiwan 3. India 4. South Africa 5. New Zealand 6. Chile 7. Colombia 8. Australia 9. Jordan 10. The Galápagos Islands

BEST LEISURE DESTINATION IN THE UNITED STATES 1. Nashville, Tennessee

2. Asheville, North Carolina 3. Charleston, South Carolina 4. Napa Valley, California 5. Miami Beach, Florida 6. Chicago, Illinois 7. San Francisco, California 8. Austin, Texas 9. New Orleans, Louisiana 10. Sedona, Arizona

BEST LEISURE DESTINATION IN AFRICA 1. Botswana

2. Kenya 3. Morocco 4. Zanzibar 5. South Africa 6. Seychelles 7. Reunion Island 8. Uganda 9. Zambia 10. Namibia

BEST INTERNATIONAL SKI DESTINATION: Niseko, Japan

PHOTO:: © ANTHONY BROWN - DREAMSTIME.COM

BEST LEISURE DESTINATION IN EUROPE 1. Prague, Czech Republic

2. İstanbul, Turkey 3. Lisbon, Portugal 4. Seville, Spain 5. Rome, Italy 6. Porto, Portugal 7. Paris, France 8. Florence, Italy 9. Venice, Italy 10. Krakow, Poland

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THE PROCESS

Global Traveler conducted a survey of its readers Oct. 1, 2018–Jan. 31, 2019, with open-ended questions for the best in many categories of leisure, luxury and lifestyle travel.

This survey ran in the magazine, as an insert to subscriber copies, as a direct mail questionnaire, online at globaltravelerusa.com/leisureballot and emailed during the period in question. Only those questionnaires where more than 50 percent of the questions were completed were counted. Those with less than 50 percent of the questions answered were discarded. Surveys completed by employees of the magazine or individuals associated with the travel industry were not accepted.

CRUISE LINE OF THE YEAR: Silversea Cruises

PHOTOS: © SILVERSEA CRUISES

WINNERS’ CIRCLE BEST LEISURE DESTINATION IN ASIA 1. Taipei, Taiwan

2. Seoul, South Korea 3. Singapore 4. Tokyo, Japan 5. Phuket, Thailand 6. Hong Kong 7. Bangkok, Thailand 8. Ho Chi Minh City 9. Osaka, Japan 10. Bali, Indonesia

Cruise Line of the Year For the second year in a row, Global Traveler is pleased to name its Cruise Line of the Year. Congratulations to Silversea Cruises!

Nominees for this honor were compiled by Global Traveler, with the final winner selected by our Globility Board, a vetted group of well-traveled magazine subscribers.

The all-inclusive, ultra-luxury cruise line was an obvious choice for the Cruise Line of the Year title. A perennial favorite on the survey, Silversea Cruises consistently delivers on its promise to offer an unforgettable voyage in the most beautiful destinations in the world. With a staff-to-guest ratio of nearly 1:1, cruise-goers can expect personalized service, fine dining and luxury suites. Ten intimate luxury ships traverse more than 900 destinations worldwide.

Silversea Cruises recently announced its new culinary enrichment program, S.A.L.T., an acronym for Sea and Land Taste. It will include ship-based and shoreside enrichments tailored to the specific destination. Think market trips, winery visits, chef demonstrations and more when the program launches on Silver Moon in August 2020. The cruise line also announced its first-ever expedition world cruise and upgrades of its in-suite television programming.

We’re eager for the future of this year’s Cruise Line of the Year. Congratulations, Silversea!

BEST LEISURE DESTINATION IN LATIN/SOUTH AMERICA 1. Bogotá, Colombia

2. Panama City, Panama 3. Santiago, Chile 4. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 5. Mendoza, Argentina 6. Lima, Peru 7. Quito, Ecuador 8. Cusco, Peru 9. Machu Picchu, Peru 10. Buenos Aires, Argentina

BEST LEISURE DESTINATION IN MEXICO 1. Guadalajara, Mexico

CRUISE LINE OF THE YEAR 2019 Silversea Cruisess

2. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 3. Cancún, Mexico 4. Mexico City, Mexico 5. Merida, Mexico 6. Isla Holbox, Mexico 7. Playa del Carmen, Mexico 8. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 9. Cozumel, Mexico 10. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

BEST LEISURE DESTINATION FOR GROUPS (FOUR OR MORE) 1. Italy

2. Ireland 3. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 4. Park City, Utah 5. Costa Rica 6. Cartagena, Colombia 7. Napa Valley, California 8. Montréal, Canada 9. Nashville, Tennessee 10. Dubrovnik, Croatia LEISURE LIFESTYLE 2019

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MEDALLIONCLASS GOES GLOBAL With six MedallionClass ships, Princess now offers MedallionClass cruising on all Caribbean voyages starting in the fall of 2019. Also, this summer, Royal Princess debuts in Alaska, bringing with her the MedallionClass experience. There are also voyages to the Mediterranean, British Isles, Scandinavia and Russia, Panama Canal, Canada and New England, Australia and New Zealand, Mexico and the California Coast.

And as amazing as the destinations will be, Princess guests are in for an equally incredible experience on board as an array of Medallion-enabled features will allow them to get more out of their vacation with characteristics designed to make every element of their vacation more hassle free and enjoyable.

CURBSIDE TO POOLSIDE IN A BREEZE The MedallionClass experience begins soon after you book your cruise, when you upload your essential travel information using the OceanReady™ App. Once you arrive to board at the cruise terminal, you’ll go from curbside to poolside in a breeze and start your vacation sooner.

BEST W-FI AT SEA Even if you are on vacation to get away from it all, you can still stay connected, even while sailing across the sun-splashed Mediterranean or through the historic Panama Canal. Princess MedallionNet™ delivers land-like connectivity so guests can post photos of Alaska’s amazing glaciers or a stunning Caribbean beach, text, video chat, and stream their favorite shows and sports and more.

DRINKS AND MORE DELIVERED ON DEMAND Once you’re onboard, you’ll discover a world of enhanced features, like drinks, food and more, on demand. Using your smartphone you can order your drinks anytime, anywhere and have them delivered right to your location — even to your stateroom, where you can toast an amazing sunset right on your balcony!

FIND YOUR WAY — OR TRAVEL MATES Don’t waste your vacation wandering — you’ll never get lost on board with our way-finding directions that guide you exactly where you want to go whether you use the touchscreen portals around the ship or your smartphone. And if you need to find a travel companion, or are a family with children, you’ll be

able to locate them anywhere on board — all using your smartphone or touchscreens around the ship!

LET THE GAMES BEGIN With Ocean® Casino, guests can wager real money on games, like slots, poker, roulette, even bingo.

For family fun, try PlayOcean® for trivia, a word jumble, an interactive ship-wide digital scavenger hunt and more.

And there are more exciting features on the way, which will make the guest experience unlike any you could find on other cruise lines. Get ready to ride the next wave of vacation travel when you experience the incredible possibilities of a MedallionClass™ cruise, exclusively with Princess®! Visit princess .com/MedallionClass to learn more.

Princess.com | 1-800-Princess Travel Advisor

Special Achievement Awards

OUTSTANDING SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: Celebrity Cruises

PHOTO: © CELEBRITY CRUISES Each year, in addition to our Leisure Lifestyle Awards, Global Traveler acknowledges those travel companies going above and beyond.

Our Special Achievement Awards recognize leaders in innovation, environmental initiatives and community outreach. Congratulations to this year’s honorees!

Celebrity Cruises’ two-year partnership with the Malala Fund began in April 2017 and aimed to secure 12 years of safe, free, quality education for every girl. Both Celebrity Cruises and Malala Yousafzai, a Nobel Laureate and U.N. Messenger of Peace, share a commitment to diversity, inclusion and gender equality. Its dedication to these causes earned Celebrity Cruises the Outstanding Social Responsibility title.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport knows a frequent traveler’s life can be hectic. Its effort to help busy travelers earn rewards through its ATLRewards program is the reason the airport won Outstanding Customized Services. Once enrolled, members earn points for shopping, dining and parking at the airport; they’re rewarded with airline miles, hotel points and other offers.

United Airlines is an equity investor in Fulcrum BioEnergy; the company is currently planning its second biofuel plant in Gary, Indiana, to convert solid waste into low-carbon, renewable transportation fuel. Construction will begin in 2020, and the project will create 160 fullOUTSTANDING CUSTOMIZED SERVICES: time jobs and 900 construction jobs. For ATLRewards Program at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport this and its position at the forefront of PHOTO: © ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT the airline industry biofuels movement, United Airlines is the 2019 winner of Outstanding Environmental Initiatives.

Having completed the first phase of its three-stage development process, New .

Istanbul Airport is soon to be among the world’s leading airports and is this year’s Outstanding Innovations honoree. By ultimate completion, it will add two more runways for an operational capacity of 30 million. The airport saves more than 30 tons of CO2 yearly and features space for a variety of retail and dining outlets.

OUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES: United Airlines

PHOTO: © UNITED AIRLINES

OUTSTANDING INNOVATIONS: New İstanbul Airport

PHOTO: © NEW İSTANBUL AIRPORT

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LEISURE LIFESTYLE 2019

OUTSTANDING SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Celebrity Cruises

OUTSTANDING CUSTOMIZED SERVICES ATLRewards Program, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

OUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES United Airlines

OUTSTANDING INNOVATIONS .

New Istanbul Airport

BEST ISLAND PACIFIC RIM: Cook Islands

PHOTO: © SORIN COLAC - DREAMSTIME.COM

BEST CARIBBEAN ISLAND: Curaçao

PHOTO: © IZABELA 23 - DREAMSTIME.COM

BEST WEEKEND DESTINATION IN THE WORLD: Dublin, Ireland

PHOTO: © ATTILA TATÁR - DREAMSTIME.COM

WINNERS’ CIRCLE BEST WEEKEND DESTINATION IN NORTH AMERICA

BEST WEEKEND DESTINATION IN THE WORLD

BEST INTERNATIONAL SKI DESTINATION

BEST ISLAND IN EUROPE

1. Niseko, Japan

1. Santoríni

1. Dublin, Ireland

2. Whistler, British Columbia, Canada 3. Courchevel, France 4. Gstaad, Switzerland 5. Lech, Austria 6. Meribel, France 7. St. Moritz, Switzerland 8. Verbier, Switzerland 9. Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy 10. Zermatt, Switzerland

2. Ireland 3. Mykonos 4. Sicily 5. England 6. Capri 7. Elba 8. Crete 9. Sardinia 10. Jersey, United Kingdom

BEST CARIBBEAN ISLAND

BEST ISLAND IN THE PACIFIC RIM

1. Curaçao

1. Cook Islands

2. Aruba 3. Grand Cayman 4. U.S. Virgin Islands 5. Saint Lucia 6. Bahamas 7. Nevis 8. Jamaica 9. British Virgin Islands 10. St. Vincent

2. Phuket, Thailand 3. Okinawa 4. Fiji 5. Bora Bora 6. Japan 7. The Big Island, Hawai’i 8. Hong Kong 9. Maui, Hawai’i 10. Tahiti

2. Bermuda 3. Belize City, Belize 4. Québec City, Québec, Canada 5. Lisbon, Portugal 6. London, England 7. Cartagena, Colombia 8. Vienna, Austria 9. Paris, France 10. Rome, Italy

BEST NORTH AMERICAN SKI DESTINATION

1. Austin, Texas

1. Telluride, Colorado

2. Savannah, Georgia 3. Charleston, South Carolina 4. San Francisco, California 5. Las Vegas, Nevada 6. Nashville, Tennessee 7. New Orleans, Louisiana 8. Asheville, North Carolina 9. Miami, Florida 10. New York City, New York

2. Vail, Colorado 3. Aspen Snowmass, Colorado 4. Jackson Hole, Wyoming 5. Alta, Utah 6. Park City, Utah 7. Beaver Creek, Colorado 8. Breckenridge, Colorado 9. Winter Park, Colorado 10. Whistler, British Columbia, Canada

LEISURE LIFESTYLE 2019

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

The Tahitian Dreamliner

Air Tahiti Nui’s new Boeing 787s bring the Tahitian experience to the skies.

AIR TAHITI NUI, THE LEADING CARRIER to French Polynesia, debuted livery and cabin interiors last year for its four new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The Tahitian Dreamliner took its first flights in November 2018 between Tahiti and Auckland, followed by three weekly flights from Tahiti to Los Angeles.

Inside and out, the Tahitian Dreamliner embodies the spirit of the islands, providing a fully immersive passenger experience. The aircraft livery tells the story of Tahiti, beginning with two bright red lines on the sides to represent the flag and the 118 different islands of French Polynesia and its people. The ocean, the lagoon and the skies over Tahiti inspired the three different shads of blue throughout. Lastly, a collection of native tattoos on the rear tells more about the islands and people.

The designs include a tiare flower surrounded by ripples of water and birds, representing friendship; a manta ray for wisdom and protection; a whale for strength and abundance; a seagull, representing freedom; a Tiki and Tiki eye to provide symbolic protection for the flight; ocean waves to symbolize home; and fish hooks for prosperity, abundance and luck.

Onboard, passengers enjoy the benefits of the Dreamliner aircraft: more vertical sidewalls for added shoulder and head room; a stronger composite

fuselage to pressurize the cabin to 6,000 feet; higher humidity level than other airplanes; innovation purification system; large windows positioned higher and dimmed at the touch of a button; Smoother Ride Technology; and a 60 percent smaller sound footprint.

The new aircraft also allows Air Tahiti Nui to continue integrating its socially conscious initiatives, including ecological wheat straw cutlery, the use of recycled plastic and lighter-weight dishes to optimize fuel consumption.

Across three cabins, the Tahitian Dreamliner accommodates 294 passengers, who all enjoy Panasonic’s most advanced in-flight entertainment system, available at every seat through a multi-touch

screen. Guests stay connected with Panasonic’s eXConnect satellite broadband and on-board WiFi. Poerava Business features 30 seats in a 2-2-2 configuration, as well as the airline’s first 180-degree, full-flat seat. Onboard amenities include a range of storage areas, individual touchscreen remote, personal lighting, a privacy divider, a duvet, a large pillow and a luxury amenity kit.

Also a first for Air Tahiti Nui is the introduction of the Moana Premium premium-economy cabin, with 32 seats in 2-3-2 layout. Extra legroom complements the Z535 seat by ZODIAC Aerospace, with a unique recline motion that cradles the passenger. Moana Economy now boasts Z300 seats, also from ZODIAC Aerospace, the best next-generation, long-range economy-class seats in the industry.

The Tahitian Dreamliner is already receiving accolades; the aircraft was recently awarded Best New Livery in TheDesignAir’s 2018 awards, which highlight the best developments in the aviation industry. A judging panel and TheDesignAir readers voted for the Tahitian Dreamliner for its ability to enhance passenger satisfaction and begin the Tahitian experience before the passenger even boards the plane.

To learn more, visit tahitiandreamliner.com.

Welcome to Travel Inspired by Tahiti.

Onboard our new fleet of Tahitian Dreamliner’s, you’ll be immersed in pure luxury.

Full lie-flat seats in Poerava Business. Spacious 2-3-2 seating in the truly Moana Premium Economy cabin. And all-inclusive Moana Economy that will remind you of the glory days of air travel. Make your dreams come true on Air Tahiti Nui.

TA H I T I

LO S A N G E L E S

PA R I S

T O K YO

AUCKLAND

SYDNEY

BEST FAMILY CRUISE LINE: Celebrity Cruises

PHOTO: © CELEBRITY CRUISES

WINNERS’ CIRCLE BEST FAMILY CRUISE LINE 1. Celebrity Cruises

2. Holland America Line 3. Disney Cruise Line 4. Princess Cruises 5. Norwegian Cruise Line 6. Royal Caribbean 7. Silversea Cruises 8. Regent Seven Seas 9. MSC Cruises 10. Cunard

BEST LUXURY CRUISE LINE 1. Silversea Cruises

2. MSC Cruises 3. Regent Seven Seas 4. Seabourn Cruise Line 5. Paul Gauguin Cruises 6. Cunard 7. SeaDream Yacht Club 8. Crystal Cruises 9. Norwegian Cruise Line 10. Celebrity Cruises

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BEST SMALL-SHIP CRUISE LINE: Paul Gauguin Cruises

PHOTO: © PAUL GAUGUIN CRUISES

BEST CRUISE LINE SUITES 1. Owner’s Suite, Silversea Cruises

2. Princess Grill Suites, Cunard 3. Queens Grill Suites, Cunard 4. Haven Suites, Norwegian Cruise Line 5. Penthouse, Celebrity Cruises 6. MSC Yacht Club, MSC Cruises 7. Regent Suites, Regent Seven Seas 8. Owner’s Suite, Oceania Cruises 9. Royal Loft, Royal Caribbean 10. Penthouse, Crystal Cruises

BEST ADVENTURE CRUISE LINE 1. National Geographic Expeditions

2. Ponant 3. Lindblad Expeditions

LEISURE LIFESTYLE 2019

4. Windstar Cruises 5. American Safari 6. UnCruise Adventures 7. Azamara Club Cruises 8. Hurtigruten 9. Scenic Luxury Cruises 10. Silversea Cruises

BEST SMALL-SHIP CRUISE LINE 1. Paul Gauguin Cruises

2. Silversea Cruises 3. Seabourn Cruise Line 4. Azamara Club Cruises 5. Viking River Cruises 6. SeaDream Yacht Club 7. Windstar Cruises

8. Crystal Cruises 9. Regent Seven Seas 10. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

BEST LARGE-SHIP CRUISE LINE 1. Cunard

2. Viking Ocean Cruises 3. Princess Cruises 4. Celebrity Cruises 5. Royal Caribbean 6. Regent Seven Seas 7. Holland America Line 8. Norwegian Cruise Line 9. Crystal Cruises 10. MSC Cruises

BEST CRUISE SHIP EXCURSIONS: Princess Cruises PHOTO: © PRINCESS CRUISES

BEST CRUISE LINE SPAS AND BEST CRUISE LINE DINING:

BEST CRUISE LINE SUITES AND BEST LUXURY CRUISE LINE: Silversea Cruises

Seabourn Cruise Line

PHOTO: © SILVERSEA CRUISES

PHOTO: © SEABOURN CRUISE LINE

BEST RIVER CRUISE LINE

BEST CRUISE LINE SPAS

1. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

1. Seabourn Cruise Line

2. Viking River Cruises 3. Tauck 4. Avalon Waterways 5. AmaWaterways 6. Aqua Expeditions 7. Crystal River Cruises 8. American Cruise Lines 9. CroisiEurope 10. Pandaw River Cruises

2. Princess Cruises 3. Viking Ocean Cruises 4. Celebrity Cruises 5. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection 6. Crystal Cruises 7. Regent Seven Seas 8. Costa Cruises 9. Cunard 10. MSC Cruises

BEST CRUISE LINE ENTERTAINMENT

BEST CRUISE SHIP EXCURSIONS

1. Princess Cruises

1. Princess Cruises

2. Royal Caribbean 3. Viking Ocean Cruises 4. MSC Cruises 5. Celebrity Cruises 6. Norwegian Cruise Line 7. Disney Cruise Line 8. Cunard 9. Regent Seven Seas 10. Holland America Line

2. Celebrity Cruises 3. Silversea Cruises 4. Cunard 5. Viking Ocean Cruises 6. Norwegian Cruise Line 7. Royal Caribbean 8. Holland America Line 9. MSC Cruises 10. Regent Seven Seas

BEST CRUISE LINE DINING

BEST CRUISE LINE REWARDS PROGRAM

1. Seabourn Cruise Line

2. Azamara Club Cruises 3. Cunard 4. Viking Ocean Cruises 5. Silversea Cruises 6. Celebrity Cruises 7. Regent Seven Seas 8. Norwegian Cruise Line 9. MSC Cruises 10. Oceania Cruises

1. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Latitudes Rewards Program 2. MSC Voyagers Club, MSC Cruises

3. Crown & Anchor Society, Royal Caribbean 4. Club World, Cunard 5. Captain’s Club, Celebrity Cruises 6. Captain’s Circle, Princess Cruises 7. Mariner Society, Holland America Line 8. Castaway Club, Disney Cruise Line

9. Oceania Club, Oceania Cruises 10. Seven Seas Society, Regent Seven Seas

BEST CRUISE PORT 1. Port Canaveral, Florida

2. Port Everglades, Florida 3. Port of Miami, Florida 4. Philipsburg, St. Maarten 5. New York City, New York 6. Bassaterre, St. Kitts 7. Port Los Angeles, California 8. Cozumel, Mexico 9. Southampton, England 10. Venice, Italy

6. Hyatt 7. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts 8. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts 9. Marriott Hotels & Resorts 10. Montage Hotels & Resorts

BEST PET-FRIENDLY HOTEL 1. Westin Hotels & Resorts

BEST LUXURY LEISURE HOTEL GROUP IN THE WORLD

2. The Ritz-Carlton 3. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants 4. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts 5. The Peninsula Hotels 6. Loews Hotels 7. Le Méridien 8. Mandarin Oriental 9. Marriott Hotels & Resorts 10. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts

1. Meliá Hotels International (Quint Status)

2. The Ritz-Carlton 3. Westin Hotels & Resorts 4. The Peninsula Hotels 5. Conrad Hotels & Resorts 6. The Waldorf Astoria 7. Belmond 8. Four Seasons 9. Marriott Hotels & Resorts 10. Hyatt

BEST HOTEL CHAIN RESORTS 1. The Ritz-Carlton

BEST FAMILY RESORT CHAIN IN THE WORLD 1. Westin Hotels & Resorts

2. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts 3. Disney Hotels 4. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts 5. Omni Hotels & Resorts 6. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts 7. Hyatt 8. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants 9. JW Marriott 10. Loews Hotels

2. Westin Hotels & Resorts 3. Four Seasons 4. St. Regis 5. Meliá Hotels International

LEISURE LIFESTYLE 2019

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

UNDISCOVERED LUXURY IN THE COOK ISLANDS

FOR CENTURIES, THE SOUTH PACIFIC has intrigued travelers with appetites for leisure and relaxation. Hollywood, Tiki bars and popular media heightened interest in getaways where you can get a massage on a white-sand beach and forget about the anxieties of your to-do list on the counter at home, thousands of miles away.

Some destinations have become heavily impacted; the cities crowded by people, buildings, traffic and noise. Others maintained a balance between being authentically local, and developed just enough to accommodate those who like to travel in style.

The Cook Islands is the second kind of destination.

We’re still one of the best-kept secrets in the Pacific. Our island nation has just been voted the Best Island in the Pacific Rim by the readers of Global Traveler for the fourth year running.

Air New Zealand, an airline that consistently wins international awards, flies here once a week, non-stop from Los Angeles — often enough to simplify travel planning for North Americans and Europeans, and yet not so often the Cook Islands becomes a too-popular vacation spot.

The trip is an easy one: You can lie flat on one of Air New Zealand’s Business Premier™ beds,

tucking in after a glass (or two) of award-winning New Zealand wine. At dawn you’re in a tropical paradise, waking up to a place of seemingly unreal beauty.

From the airport you’ll be transferred to your beachside luxury villa. The options abound here; among them Te Manava Luxury Villas & Spa, Rumours Luxury Villas & Spa, Waterfoot House and Red Sunset Villa. All offer open living spaces, private pools, spas and expansive views of the lagoon.

If you’re traveling not with family but with colleagues, resorts have boardrooms and lagoonside restaurants to accommodate meetings and conferences — Rarotonga often hosts regional and international events within these spaces.

Comfortable luxury is not limited to Rarotonga.

Air Rarotonga, the domestic airline, operates a private charter service aboard its nine-seater executive jet, with packages that include private chefs and travel arrangements to a 5-star resort like Pacific Resort Aitutaki.

Whether you’re looking to read a book in a hammock on a deserted beach, dine by candlelight with your toes in the sand or learn to paddleboard in one of the world’s most stunning lagoons, our little paradise has it all.

Thanks again, readers of Global Traveler, for your continued votes for the Cook Islands — still the best island in the Pacific Rim.

BEST AIRPORT FOR RECREATION:

BEST LEISURE AIRLINE:

PHOTO: © HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

PHOTO: © AIR TAHITI NUI

Hong Kong International Airport

Air Tahiti Nui

BEST AIRLINE FOR ONBOARD ENTERTAINMENT AND BEST PREMIUM-ECONOMY CLASS::

BEST STOPOVER PROGRAM: TAP Air Portugal

Air Canada

PHOTO: © TAP AIR PORTUGAL

PHOTO: © AIR CANADA

BEST TOUR OPERATOR 1. Abercrombie & Kent

2. Kenwood Travel 3. The Inspiring Travel Company 4. Elegant Resorts 5. Red Savannah 6. Kuoni 7. Trailfinders 8. Perillo Tours 9. The Turquoise Holiday Company 10. Cox & Kings

WINNERS’ CIRCLE BEST ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORT 1. Sandals Resorts International

2. Paradisus Resorts 3. Dreams Resorts & Spas 4. Karisma Hotels & Resorts 5. Excellence Group Luxury Hotels & Resorts 6. Meliá Hotels International 7. Jade Mountain, Saint Lucia 8. Secrets Resorts & Spas 9. Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resort 10. Hyatt Zilara

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BEST AIRPORT FOR LAYOVERS 1. Zürich Kloten International Airport

2. Singapore Changi Airport 3. Doha Hamad International Airport 4. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport 5. Munich Airport 6. Helsinki Airport 7. Incheon Airport 8. Dubai International Airport

LEISURE LIFESTYLE 2019

9. Denver International Airport 10. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport

BEST AIRPORT FOR RECREATION 1. Hong Kong International Airport

2. Singapore Changi Airport 3. Munich Airport 4. Incheon Airport 5. Denver International Airport 6. Vancouver International Airport 7. San Francisco International Airport 8. Miami International Airport 9. Austin Bergstrom International Airport 10. Zürich Kloten International Airport

BEST STOPOVER PROGRAM 1. TAP Air Portugal

2. Brussels Airlines 3. Finnair 4. Air Canada

5. Turkish Airlines 6. Qatar Airways 7. Etihad Airlines 8. Emirates 9. Ethiopian Airlines 10. Singapore Airlines

BEST LEISURE AIRLINE 1. Air Tahiti Nui

2. Kenya Airways 3. American Airlines 4. Hawaiian Airlines 5. United Airlines 6. Delta Air Lines 7. Fiji Airways 8. Aeromexico 9. TAP Air Portugal 10. Alaska Airlines

BEST LIQUOR BRAND:

BEST LUXURY VEHICLE:

Johnnie Walker Blue

Volvo

PHOTO: © VOLVO

PHOTO: © BRANIFFMAN DREAMSTIME.COM

FAVORITE LUXURY WATCH BRAND: Patek Philippe PHOTO: © PATEK PHILIPPE

BEST AIRLINE ONBOARD MENU:

Swiss International Air Lines First Class PHOTO: © SWISS INTERNATIONAL AIR LINES

BEST AIRLINE FOR ONBOARD ENTERTAINMENT

BEST PREMIUM-ECONOMY CLASS

BEST LUXURY VEHICLE

BEST LEISURE CAR RENTAL

1. Air Canada

1. Volvo

1. Hertz

1. Air Canada

2. Scandinavian Airlines 3. Lufthansa 4. Singapore Airlines 5. American Airlines 6. United Airlines 7. Delta Air Lines 8. Air New Zealand 9. British Airways 10. Japan Airlines

2. Porsche 3. Maserati 4. Cadillac 5. Mercedes-Benz 6. BMW 7. Tesla 8. Lexus 9. Acura 10. Audi

2. Avis 3. Sixt 4. National Car Rental 5. Budget 6. Enterprise 7. Dollar Car Rental 8. Alamo 9. Thrifty 10. Payless

2. Singapore Airlines 3. United Airlines 4. Asiana Airlines 5. Qatar Airways 6. Delta Air Lines 7. American Airlines 8. Emirates 9. JetBlue 10. Korean Air

BEST PET-FRIENDLY AIRLINE

FAVORITE LUXURY WATCH BRAND

FAVORITE LIQUOR BRAND

BEST AIRLINE ONBOARD MENU

1. Delta Air Lines

1. Patek Philippe

1. Johnnie Walker Blue

1. Swiss International Air Lines First Class

2. American Airlines 3. United Airlines 4. Alaska Airlines 5. JetBlue 6. Southwest 7. Hawaiian Airlines 8. Frontier 9. Lufthansa 10. Air Canada

2. TAG Heuer 3. Panerai 4. Cartier 5. Louis Vuitton 6. Tiffany & Co. 7. Omega 8. Ulsse Nardin 9. A Lange & Sohne 10. Movado

2. Patron 3. Grey Goose 4. Maker’s Mark 5. Woodford Reserve 6. Crown Royal 7. Belvedere 8. Bombay Sapphire 9. Bacardi 10. Johnnie Walker Black

2. All Nippon Airways First Class 3. Emirates First Class 4. Asiana Airlines First Class 5. Korean Air First Class 6. Cathay Pacific First Class 7. Air France First Class 8. Korean Air Business Class 9. LATAM Premium Business Class 10. Lufthansa Business Class

LEISURE LIFESTYLE 2019

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2019 GT Tested Reader Survey Awards Ballot Please write in your personal favorites, based on your own experience, on the line next to each of the following categories.

HOTEL BEST

Best Individual Hotel in the World ________________________________________________ International Hotel Chain _________________________________________________________ Domestic Hotel Chain _____________________________________________________________ Lifestyle Hotel _____________________________________________________________________ MICE Hotel ________________________________________________________________________ (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) Hotel Website _____________________________________________________________________

AIRLINE BEST

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

Best Frequent-Stay Programs Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World __________________________________ Elite-Level Program ___________________________________________________________ Bonus Promotion ____________________________________________________________ Award Redemption ___________________________________________________________ Customer Service_____________________________________________________________

Best Airline for . . .

Business Class __________________________________________________________________ International First Class ________________________________________________________ Domestic First Class ____________________________________________________________ Onboard Service _______________________________________________________________ Lounges ________________________________________________________________________ Flight Attendants _______________________________________________________________ Flight Attendant Uniforms _____________________________________________________ Airline Cuisine __________________________________________________________________ Security _________________________________________________________________________ First-Class Seat Design ______________________________________________________________ Business-Class Seat Design ________________________________________________________ Best New Airline Service Launch ____________________________________________________

HOTEL BEST BY LOCATION Best Hotel in . . .

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

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

Best Frequent-Flyer Programs Overall Best Frequent-Flyer Program __________________________________________ Elite-Level Program _____________________________________________________________ Bonus Promotion ______________________________________________________________ Award Redemption _____________________________________________________________ Customer Service ______________________________________________________________

OTHER BEST

BEST AIRLINE BY LOCATION Best Airline in . . .

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

Overseas Delivery Program ______________________________________________________ Rental Car Company ______________________________________________________________ Tourism Destination ______________________________________________________________ MICE City __________________________________________________________________________ (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) WiFi Service ________________________________________________________________________ Luggage Brand ____________________________________________________________________ Hotel App __________________________________________________________________________ Airline App _________________________________________________________________________ Best Small- to Mid-Sized Business Program _____________________________________ 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 ______________________________________________

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

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

Asia _____________________________________________________________________________ Africa____________________________________________________________________________ Europe __________________________________________________________________________ The Middle East ________________________________________________________________ North America __________________________________________________________________ South America __________________________________________________________________

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

State

ZIP Code Email

Isn’t It Romantic?

Choose just the right wedding or honeymoon destination to start your lifelong journey together. BY ELYSE GLICKMAN 32

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LEISURE LIFESTYLE 2019

TO SAY THE CONCEPT of a dream wedding has changed states the obvious. With the world’s continents now open to greater exploration and with a broader definition of marriage, more couples are committed to finding that sweet spot where quality prevails over quantity. In other words, if the wedding march will be an expensive affair, why not invest in a customized experience at a place that truly speaks to you — rather than a banquet room party that could be anywhere, filled with dozens of guests you may not know, followed by a beach resort or city break honeymoon that’s merely nice.

If you and your betrothed are contemplating these questions, you are not alone. Group-focused travel agency TravelersQ.com reports couples like you are more inclined to prefer spending extra

TROPICAL TRADITIONS:

Tahitian wedding PHOTOS: © TAHITI TOURISM

on integrating locally sourced foods, music and other traditions of the destination into their festivities. This approach not only makes a wedding more personalized but also a more unforgettable experience for the entire party, as it will be more immersive, interactive and environmentally friendly.

The Seychelles proves a textbook example of what makes a location desirable, no matter how remote. Because of its location off Africa’s northeast coast, it was long a holiday staple for Europeans while out of reach for Americans until a few years ago, when several airlines (including Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways) stepped up service to the region. Fewer tourists and more unspoiled beaches make the long trip worth the effort, along with its spas, diving, boating, hiking and biking activities. On the cultural front, the Seychelles also has much going for it with its rich Creole heritage, encompassing influences from France, England, Portugal, India and several East African nations.

Everything Seychelles offers inspired Ian Fleming to plot the next phase of 007 James Bond’s storied career in 1958. When not brainstorming inside his suite at the Northolme Hotel overlooking Beau Vallon Beach on Mahé, Fleming headed off on snorkeling

jaunts, jungle trail hikes and searches for Seychellois pirate legends and lore — all scenarios inspiring the stories filling his eighth book, For Your Eyes Only.

Today, Fleming’s island base is the adults-only Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa, the group’s smallest luxury property.

Besides the 007 Bar, other elements that would make Bond feel right at home include the African-influenced beach-chic décor in its 56 dwellings, the stunning main infinity pool and pieces by local artists lining the entire resort. Its location, 20 minutes from capital city Victoria and its port, makes jaunts to La Digue and Praslin islands and fishing and diving cruises a breeze. In addition to an on-site wedding concierge, Seychellois cuisine and ceremony/reception space for up to 50 people, the resort allows couples to design a wedding/honeymoon package to incorporate spa services, a bespoke activity itinerary and even helicopter tours and James Bond cruises.

Tahiti reigns as a well-established wedding/honeymoon destination thanks to its impressive selection of 5-star resorts with plush overwater bungalows and elaborate offers. Couples wanting to delve deeper into Polynesian culture and traditions, however, now have

LEISURE LIFESTYLE 2019

ISLAND SECLUSION:

Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa overlooking the ocean (top left), pool (top right), presidential villa bathroom (bottom left) and guestroom (bottom right) PHOTOS: © HILTON SEYCHELLES NORTHOLME RESORT AND SPA, © ELYSE GLICKMAN

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the option of staging their small wedding, elopement or honeymoon at one of the islands’ Tahitian guesthouses, called pensions. This network of independently owned inns strips away the pomp and circumstance of the big resorts and replaces that with personalized, more familial experiences.

Advantages of this truly Tahitian journey include personal interactions with island residents, with some owners and on-site managers personally welcoming the couple and their immediate family into their “home.”

The hosts enjoy sitting down to meals with their guests and acting as guides on local excursions such as pearl diving, snorkeling, hiking and visiting vanilla plantations, along with other experiences unique to the immediate area.

The mountains, lakes, vineyards and temperate climate of New Zealand’s South Island provide another definition of paradise, offering a wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts (it’s the birthplace of bungee jumping), movie fans (as back lot for the Lord of the Rings series and film and television productions) and wine lovers. Marlborough Lodge, built into a Victorian-era convent, sits at the heart of this splendor. Beyond the interesting ways it repurposed the original buildings, it offers a tailor-made destination wedding site with its photo-ready parklands and gardens, wine country sophistication and dramatic landscapes demanding exploration. Several recent upgrades — including a spa built into the old convent’s chapel — all but guarantee memories will endure, like a good vintage.

The lodge can accommodate wedding parties of up to 40 guests, with overnight space for up to 20, including children 8 years and older. (Children of all ages are welcome with a buy-out of the property, or a family suite can be arranged in advance). Guests can tour the grounds with the lodge’s head gardener to learn about its 154 native New Zealand trees and bushes and vineyards with four grape varietals. As Spring Creek runs through the property, guests can spot various birds, ducks and other indigenous wildlife while touring on foot or by bike.

Activities available through the concierge run the gamut from Marlborough Sounds Seafood cruises and winery tours to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre (home of movie director Peter Jackson’s World War I aircraft and memorabilia collection); helicopter tours; kayaking, hiking and biking in Marlborough Sounds; fly-fishing on the Wairu River; and whaleand dolphin-watching tours. The wedding feast itself is a customizable celebration of the South Island’s bounty, with products from area farms and seafood from Marlborough Sounds paired with the region’s world-famous Sauvignon Blanc and other wines.

NATURAL SETTINGS:

The Marlborough Lodge grounds (top), and a Brudepikene wedding in Norway (bottom) PHOTOS: © THE MARLBOROUGH LODGE, © BRUDEPIKENE AS

sCouple a d d me i focuse y g chnolo and te y compan p u o r XOG t u s one o report r y fou of ever ed gs stag weddin e 7 w re in 201 ation destin h gs, wit weddin ll i t s s number 018.

2 n i rising

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WEDDING PARTY:

Rancho San Lucas reception PHOTOS: © RANCHO SAN LUCAS

While Iceland and Canada gain traction among couples favoring cooler climates, Norway just may prove the next great wedding getaway — especially given its consistent high rankings in the World Happiness Report’s annual list of the Happiest Countries (landing at the No. 2 spot in 2018, with Iceland, Canada and New Zealand also placing in the top 10). Companies such as Brudepikene (meaning “the bridesmaids”), based just outside of Oslo in Drammen, specialize in custom weddings using the prodigious palette of Norway.

“The entire country is our workspace,” says cofounder and planner Ann Kristin Nissen. “Those liking a city location will choose Oslo, while others will prefer a natural setting on the western coast or in the northern part of the country with the mountains and fjords. We have a basic package which includes our fee only. From there, we can plan the rest of the wedding based on the clients’ interests and special requests.”

Storfjord Hotel, overlooking the Storfjord and Sunnmøre Alps, is simultaneously luxurious and down-to-earth, making it ideal for an active honeymoon — and if you buy out the entire hotel, a Scandinavian-style wedding. While Stranda Ski Resort lies minutes from the hotel, a cross-country skiing or snowshoeing adventure can start right at its front door. Other activities include private excursions to Hjørundfjord and majestic Geirangerfjord and scenic walks to Hautua. During the summer months, the hotel makes kayaks and bikes available to guests. Nissen also recommends Villa Åmot, an all-inclusive property accommodating up to 23 people whose owners are known for their personal interaction with guests.

With a little research, couples preferring a North American destination will find gems on par with their overseas counterparts in terms of natural settings and original concepts. Cornman Farms, for example, sports an amalgam of English and American country charm 30 minutes outside of Ann Arbor, Michigan (overseen by Chef Kieron Hales, whose résumé includes cooking for British royalty and U.S. presidents). Red Mountain Resort, meanwhile, offers a Peruvian q’ero ayni despacho ceremony to accompany a traditional wedding, vow renewal or elopement against Utah’s fabled Red Rocks. While wedding and honeymoon packages abound in Cabo San Lucas, Grand Solmar at Rancho San Lucas (opened early 2018) brings the region’s abundance of outdoor pursuits, luxuriant spa experiences, cultural activities and chic beach house aesthetic to a more exclusive setting 30 minutes from Cabo’s buzzy center.

Rancho San Lucas’ earthy hues and contemporary furnishings harmonize with the shoreline and desert terrain. Individual suites and villas are quietly opulent, with marble floors, spa-style bathrooms with Jacuzzi tub, fully appointed kitchens and terraces framing the ocean and beach views. The ambience also ensures a rehearsal dinner at Anica and the ceremony and reception will be tasteful and lively. Before and after the big day, the party can enjoy the unspoiled desert and sea with nearby ATV tours, fishing cruises, kayaking, wave runner rentals, stand-up paddleboarding and surfing lessons and diving at Pelican Rock — even a variety of extreme sports activities including bungee jumping, zip-lining, parasailing and fly boarding.

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Make Bleisure a Breeze It’s easier than ever to combine business and leisure travel. BY ILONA KAUREMSZKY TAHOE TREASURES: Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort aerial view of the beach (top) and (bottom, left to right) fire pit, winter mountains and secret cove PHOTOS: © HYATT REGENCY LAKE TAHOE RESORT

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HEAD TILTED SKYWARD, standing on the edge of North Lake Tahoe on this moonlit fall evening, I think the constellations never looked brighter. The universe is in full glory.

So is our small bunch of international conference attendees, doing a double-take into a big Celestron telescope and listening to the starry revelations of an ace local astronomer.

At this exclusive private beach next to the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, the gasps echo across the crystal, still waters of Big Blue as we realize the hairball in the sky appearing in full lens view

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lies about 25,000 light years away. Tony the Star Gazer, a local star tour operator — used to showcasing the galaxy to the resort’s blue-chip group clients like Google — is quick on the scene, ready to reveal some of the great mysteries that lurk above.

I have come to Reno, Nevada, to attend the Nevada Governor’s Global Tourism Summit but also to explore the treasures of the High Sierra in a post-conference trip with other like-minded attendees combining business and pleasure — what marketing gurus aptly coin “bleisure.” It’s the overlapping of the two travel

RELAX AND RECHARGE: JW Marriott Marco Island beach (top) and (bottom, left to right) mini bowling and video game PHOTOS: © JW MARRIOTT MARCO ISLAND

universes; as one company describes it, “the practice of combining business travel and leisure travel into one trip.”

Expedia Group Media Solutions, the advertising arm of Expedia Group, the world’s largest online travel company, unveiled “Unpacking Bleisure Traveler Trends,” an online survey last year that indicates on average bleisure travelers take more than six business trips per year. The report reveals more than 60 percent of those business trips during the last year were extended for leisure purposes. Another illuminating finding shows a dramatic increase by nearly 40 percent in American bleisure travel since 2016, when the company released its previous survey titled “Discover the Untapped Mind of a Bleisure Traveler.”

The biggest differentiator, as one hotel insider points out, is the destination that drives the bleisure request. On Marco Island, the largest inhabited island of the Ten Thousand Islands in southwest Florida, the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort has identified its bleisure guests, the hotel’s largest segment, for years. “I like to say there is no one here at this property that’s on business that really isn’t on bleisure because it’s almost impossible to come to a destination like Marco Island and not take part in some sort of leisure activity,” says Amanda Cox, director of sales and marketing, JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, walking through the newly renovated resort clad in the customary unstructured uniform: sandals with a light, breezy Lilly Pulitzer sun dress.

One of the top bleisure resorts in America, it is deemed a convention resort due to the property’s 60 percent convention business. “But that doesn’t mean guests associated with conventions are never leaving the ballroom,” Cox notes inside the new 10K Alley, a state-of-the-art gaming emporium for kids and adults. To boot, the 810room beach resort has what Cox describes as a “paradise planner,” part of the in-house vacation planning team who helps service business leisure inquiries, with most requests involving beach, water and golf.

The luxury property overlooking the Gulf of Mexico offers sailing and shelling excursions; children’s activities; culinary classes; a full-service spa; two 18-hole golf courses; and the enchanting ecosystem of the Florida Everglades, where people can understand this magical place and interact with dolphins, sea turtles and manatees. Cox adds,

“You would think having a big convention in house, the restaurants would be empty, but that’s not the case here.”

People come early and stay late. Conducting business in resort destinations is where Cox feels bleisure originated.

“It was from people attending meeting events in these phenomenal, once-in-a-lifetime places they wouldn’t normally go.”

Expedia Group cites the top three reasons for extending business trips for bleisure as great entertainment/activity options (48 percent), a bucket list/must-visit location (43 percent) and the destination’s ease of navigation (38 percent). Other points include proximity to the weekend, having great recreation and whether friends can tag along.

In Sedona, Arizona, the Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock, located at the foot of the famous red rocks, rolled out Backpack Breakouts in response to the growing bleisure requests for groups. “The special offering gives [corporate] guests the option to either start their day or end their day in pursuit of the outdoors by foot, bike, off-road Jeep, horse or air, complete with backpack-filled meals to keep them

pedia to Ex g n i d ns, Accor olutio S a i d Me n Group high o cores s e r u s’ bleis rketer a m n o ati destin rly 70 th nea i ‘W : trips lists iness s u b f ere to ces, th percen n e r e f n for co r being ity fo ortun p e p o n ourag is a to enc s n o i t a re by destin r leisu o f g n i nd extend ties a activi g n i t h e highlig o driv nces t e i r e p ex tion.’ visita t a e p re

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energized throughout the adventure at hand,” says Andra Dan, public relations manager of Arizona and New Mexico, Hilton Resorts, based in Phoenix. She notes the property hosted and organized many bleisure experiences for groups of various sizes.

With properties across the United States, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts recently completed a $200 million brand transformation with the tag line, “We’re all business, mostly” — part of a company-wide initiative known as the Accelerate program to make bleisure a breeze for business travelers. The company recognizes work changed with the blurring between work and life. The WorkLife Room — a new U.S.-patented, tech-enabled, design-led room concept — is billed as the “guestroom of the future.” The brand also makes it easy to turn a business trip into a heady getaway that screams bleisure.

For instance, the Crowne Plaza HY36 Midtown Manhattan features a beer garden, making the temptation of New York City’s excitement difficult to pass up.

As business travelers continue to seek ways to unwind before and after meetings, Hyatt Hotels creates unique bleisure opportunities in the company’s loyalty program, World of Hyatt. For instance, Exhale on Demand, a streaming video platform of wellness videos, rolled out this winter. New videos are uploaded weekly for subscribers who can access them on their preferred personal digital devices.

Hyatt also recently introduced FIND, a curated menu of exclusive wellness experiences for loyalty members. The activities are destination-specific and range from private surfing lessons to a hike and yoga among the redwoods to hive-to-table honey harvesting and tasting.

“At Hyatt, our portfolio of brands is positioned to meet guests’ needs for every stay occasion, whether that be for business travel or leisure.

Recently, there has been a noticeable shift in the way corporate travel programs are designed, and there is a greater focus on the individual traveler.

The personal experiences they take away from a business trip can often define its success,” says Gus Vonderheide, vice president of global sales, Hyatt. “This, along with the business travelers’ ever-changing preferences, will continue to create a space for leisure elements to appear in business trips.”

But it’s back at Lake Tahoe outside the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, where I lace up the hiking boots and hit the refresh button. It’s time to explore one of the hiking trails in this lush alpine getaway where Mother Nature smiles upon its bleisure seekers.

PLAY TIME: Hilton Sedona Backpack Breakouts (top), games (middle) and warrior pit (bottom) PHOTOS: © HILTON SEDONA

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Over the Top

The world’s most opulent hotels tempt with stand-out settings, service, cuisine and spas.

BY KELLY MAGYARICS

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WHAT’S YOUR PENCHANT? A private infinity pool overlooking a deep-blue sea?

Staying in the middle of a thriving city with umpteen on-site restaurants and bars to pique your palate? An Instagram-ready table on the balcony of one of the most romantic cities? Find all this and more at these five ultra-luxe hotels.

THE NAME IN SANSKRIT of Trisara Resort means “garden in the third heaven,” and a stay here will indeed feel like paradise. Located on the northwest coast of Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, its 60 two- to seven-bedroom villas are tucked in exotic palms and foliage and face either a secluded cove on the Andaman Sea or a lush garden.

Outside, a private balcony features lounge furniture and an infinity pool; inside, the warm neutral décor blends traditional Thai design with modern simplicity. High ceilings are inlaid with tropical hardwoods, while a pillow menu assures restful sleep, and a lounge area with a sofa and flat-screen television lets you stretch out. The large bathroom features a deep soaking tub, separate shower, built-in seating and a separate changing area, and there’s even an outdoor shower. (If you crave privacy, set the Angel of Privacy statue

POSH PARADISE: Trisara Resort Ocean View Pool Junior Suite (top) and (bottom left to right) Signature Ocean View Pool Suite, dining and Ocean View Pool Junior Suite PHOTOS: © TRISARA RESORT

outside your separate service door.)

The secluded beach dotted with chairs, umbrellas, palm trees and hammocks lies adjacent to the resort’s large infinity pool, and Jara Spa offers the incomparable Royal Trisara Six-Hand Massage.

Fresh, aromatic Thai cuisine definitely stands out here, too, from wok-fried red snapper with ginger and long beans at The Deck to “mama recipes” like crab, pork and coconut cream dip at Seafood.

For a truly memorable experience, book one of the 14 seats at PRU for a six- or eight-course tasting menu at Phuket’s only Michelinstarred restaurant.

WHEN IT OPENED IN 2017, The Silo Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa, located above the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in the V&A Waterfront, became a stunning addition to one of the world’s already most cosmopolitan cities. Housed on the site of a former grain mill, which remains a focal point, the 5-star hotel’s most gorgeous design elements are its multifaceted windows bowing outward and warmly lit each evening.

The 28 rooms and suites uniquely designed by Liz Biden in an industrial-chic style overlook either iconic Table Mountain or the harbor. All feature plush textures; local artwork; and vibrant hues such as purple, gold, fuchsia and teal. Luxe amenities include a cabinet housing a gratis bar with drinks and snacks, a decanter filled with Cape brandy, and turn-down service with relaxing linen spray and linen pillowcases.

Breakfast at the Granary Café overlooking the harbor on the hotel’s sixth floor starts with a three-tiered tower stacked with warm koeksisters (sugar-coated doughnuts), yogurt and granola, fruit, cheese and smoked salmon. At sunset it’s the spot for a bottle of local Cinsault and braised springbok shank. At the adjacent Willaston Bar, named for the first ship to export grain from the silo complex, local gins and tonics line the shelves to help you find your perfect combo.

During the warmer months, The Silo Rooftop pool and bar beckons with bubbly and oysters, while the five treatment rooms at the spa offer a signature 24 Carat Luminescence Ritual. It all makes for a fabulous sojourn in the Mother City.

IMPECCABLE SERVICE, an unparalleled location in the city’s bustling Central Business District and an authentic Asian experience await at the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, the iconic brand’s flagship property. You’ll never hear the word “no,” and staff personally and truly commit to making your visit as seamless and memorable as possible.

The 434 rooms and 67 suites offer views of the skyline or Victoria Harbour. The furnishings embrace the hotel’s original heritage; rooms flaunt touches like linen bedding, a pillow menu, Bottega Veneta amenities and smart lighting.

The three-floor Mandarin Spa encompasses almost 23,000 square feet, nine treatment rooms, a salon, a barber, an indoor swimming pool, a fitness center, an herbal steam room, a Jacuzzi, a sauna and radiantheated tepidaria. Treatments like the Chinese Meridian Massage incorporate traditional Eastern techniques like cupping and reflexology.

The property includes 10 restaurants and bars, with several of the best on the 25th floor. The chic M Bar shakes up Journey to the West cocktails with Eastern ingredients like pu-erh tea. Pierre ULTIMATE LUXURY: The Silo Deluxe Superior Penthouse (top) and The Rooftop pool (middle), and Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong Lobby (bottom) PHOTOS: © THE SILO, © MANDARIN ORIENTAL

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ELITE RETREATS: Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong restaurant (top left), The Gritti Palace (right), and The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua (bottom left) PHOTOS: © MANDARIN ORIENTAL, © GRITTI PALACE, © RITZ CARLTON KAPALUA

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Gagnaire’s 2-Michelin-starred namesake Pierre serves modern French dishes, and Man Wah is a 1-Michelin-starred restaurant with Cantonese specialties like wok-fried lobster, dim sum and several iterations of prized bird’s nest soup. The latter space is especially glorious after the sun goes down, when the gold lanterns reflect on the windows and seem to float in a futuristic Hong Kong skyline. The effect is surreal and magical, just like a few days spent here.

IF YOU TRULY WANT TO FEEL like a member of the glitterati in the City of Bridges, book a room at The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, a 15th-century noble palazzo on Venice’s Grand Canal. Views span from the island of San Giorgio Maggiore past Punta della Dogana to the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute. Its 61 guestrooms and 21 suites (some with canal views) feature decorative touches like local, hand-blown Murano glass accents, Italian marble, historic fabrics and rare books and curios.

The Gritti SPA offers two double suites with private steam baths decorated in Venetian mosaics and uses Sisley Paris products in treatments like The Phyto-Aromatic Radiance Facial and The Zen Harmony Phyto-Aromatic Body Treatment.

Weather permitting, you’ll want to spend as much time as possible gazing out at the gondolas and vaporetti on one of the world’s most famous waterways. A Vesper martini or the Riva Cocktail with rum, orgeat, orange and grapefruit is a great place to start, sipped along with a plate of cicchetti, the bar snacks that are Venice’s answer to tapas. Once the sun dips, relocate a few steps to a canal-front table at Club del Doge, chef Daniele Turco’s homage to Venetian cuisine, for shrimp with almond cream and shellfish broth, risotto with white truffles, and turbot with Jerusalem artichoke purée and mushrooms.

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As you walk back to your room and come across the autographed photos of former famous guests — from movie stars to musicians to world leaders — flanking the walls, don’t feel too badly about smugly counting yourself among the privileged elite.

LOCATED ON 54 ACRES along one of the prettiest stretches in Kapalua on the island of Maui, The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua underwent a major renovation in 2018, transforming its rooms, lobby, pool and more. All of the luxe hotel’s 463 guestrooms (including 107 residential suites) feature spacious lanais and are decorated in a fresh, modern island style with dark wood flooring, Hawai’ian prints from local artists and other details that drive home an authentic sense of place.

The impressive poolscape stretches 10,000 square feet on three levels, including an adults-only pool, a children’s pool and technologyfilled cabanas. The beach sits just a short stroll away (you can also pop onto one of the golf carts constantly ferrying guests to and from the ocean); after a swim, head to a high-topped bar table at the supercasual beachside Burger Shack for live music, creative riffs on burgers and milkshakes. Adjacent to the pool, The Banyan Tree’s bar shines with crafty garden-to-glass cocktails like a coconut foam-topped mai tai and a bourbon sour with muddled pineapple and serrano chili peppers. Next door in the dining room, nosh on crispy five-spiced duck buns, steamed Hawai’ian snapper and hoisin-braised lamb shank.

The spa draws on indigenous plants, flowers and fruits from its organic garden for treatments like the Tropical Awa Nui Journey, a blissful 110 minutes with a full-body exfoliation, body wrap, Lomilomi massage, scalp massage and foot treatment.

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In the Stars

Look to the sky — and perhaps space — for your next unforgettable adventure. BY BRANDON SCHULTZ CELESTIAL SIGHTS: South Africa’s Leobo Observatory exterior (left) and observatory dome (right) PHOTOS: © SCOTT DUNN

THE SUMMER OF 2017 brought a great darkness to the United States.

Americans united with a shared focus typically reserved for tragedy, but there was no sadness at this event. From the Northwest to the Southeast, a 70-mile-wide arc of night interrupted the daylight as a total solar eclipse enshrouded parts of the contiguous United States for the first time in 99 years. It was the first American eclipse of the social media age, and everyone wanted to be involved.

Hotels along the totality band sold out far in advance (years, in some cases), and those desperate to witness the roughly two-minute event even rented space in strangers’ backyards. Elsewhere, a record number of Americans viewed the eclipse electronically, with a Univer-

sity of Michigan poll estimating 88 percent of American adults watched in some capacity — more than any Super Bowl or even the moon landing. Americans rekindled their love affair with space and, wanting more, sparked a sharp rise in astrotourism.

Astrotourism once referred only to those who paid to enter space as a tourist but has since expanded to include just about any destination or program related to the skies, particularly at night. As interest continues to skyrocket, every player in the industry, from hotels and cruise ships to entire towns and cities, is clamoring to get in the game.

Around the globe, local municipalities are enacting ordinances to reduce light pollution by drastically reducing or even eliminating upward lighting. They encourage the use of warm-color lighting (yellow, orange and red) when light is needed in designated dark zones, preserving the darkness of the sky to such an extent the Milky Way galaxy is once again visible to the naked eye. Though the concept isn’t new (Flagstaff, Arizona, is credited with pioneering the movement as early as 1950), it’s only relatively recently become a tourism selling point. Combine events like the 2017 eclipse with the fact 80 percent of Americans live under too much light pollution to see the Milky Way, and you have a recipe for FOMO (fear of missing out) on darkness that is driving travelers to dark sky-designated parks and reserves in droves.

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SKY WATCH: El Calafate, Patagonia, Argentina (above); and Soneva Fushi’s Ever Soneva So Celestial Observatory, Maldives (right) PHOTOS: © SCOTT DUNN

As dark sky protected zones become commonplace, brands find clientele requesting more specialized astrotourism experiences, leading to an increase of astronomers on hotel and cruise ship payrolls. Remote ranch resort Canyon of the Eagles in Burnet, Texas, opened the Eagle Eye Observatory and employs an astronomer to offer guided use of the sliding-roof facility that opens to allow high-powered telescopes and other high-tech instruments unfettered access to the night sky. The observatory opens nightly, and the astronomer, the property’s only live-in employee other than the resort’s president, keeps the facility open from dusk until the last visitor runs out of questions. It’s one of the property’s most popular amenities.

Even without observatories, hotels and resorts in unique locations take advantage of clear skies by implementing regular astronomy programs, like the Hyatt Regency Maui’s Tour of the Stars. Offered nightly, the program is led by a NASA Ambassador who teaches guests to identify celestial bodies first with the naked eye, then with astronomy

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binoculars and, finally, with a 14-inch reflector telescope. A more intimate Romance Tour includes chocolate and sparkling wine later in the evening, speaking to the growing demand for more personalized experiences not unique to astrotourism but on the rise in travel as a whole.

As Ingrid Asoni, founder, Consciously Connected Tours, notes, “People as a whole are traveling more and more with purpose, wanting to experience things that go far beyond themselves.”

It’s part of the experiential travel movement, where travelers aren’t just looking for a beautiful destination but life experiences and involvement in local communities. Asoni organizes tours to exotic locales like Namibia, Jordan and Morocco, noting the increase in demand for connection to the skies comes from everyday travelers.

“Those who have the greatest interest for trips like these aren’t science buffs looking to tick off the destination on the bucket list. More often than not, they’re everyday travelers looking for something more meaningful and fulfilling,” she says. They’re looking to connect the universe to their individual lives and are searching for that unique experience that will bring the two closer together.

John Spence, president, luxury tour operator Scott Dunn, which tailors individualized itineraries for well-heeled travelers with specific interests, similarly notices the definition of luxury travel is changing in ways that make experiences like astrotourism programs more desirable than high thread counts and plush bathrobes.

“Travelers want exclusive and unique experiences. It’s not about 5-star luxury with gold taps now but, instead, the luxury of spending quality moments with loved ones doing unforgettable activities,” he says.

Spence saw bookings for astro-experiences, as he calls them, triple in the past four years alone. This year, Scott Dunn will offer astrocentric tours of Argentina, which will see its own total solar eclipse in July. Eclipse aside, the company already offers astro-experience tours in

OTHERWORLDLY: The moon (top left) and a shooting star (top right) in the Atacama Desert, Chile; and the aurora borealis (bottom) PHOTOS: © SCOTT DUNN

n ip o A tr n tio Sta a r r o Aur offe will es nris u s 16 ets suns d n . a day y r e ev

Argentina because of its otherworldly landscapes and crystalclear skies perfect for witnessing countless stars. It also operates in similarly perfect astro-touristic environments like Chile, the Maldives and Iceland, where surreal landscapes add to the drama.

And some will go even further. Since the 2017 eclipse, Adventure Life, a tour operator based in Missoula, Montana, experienced increased demand for journeys to Antarctica.

In December 2021 the continent will experience a total solar eclipse, and many are eager to witness it in this most mysterious of lands, especially at a time when it is otherwise daylight 24 hours a day.

But it’s not all about eclipses and stargazing.

Tourism to Alaska rose 30 percent over the past decade, mostly driven by aurora viewing. Auroras, the naturally occurring electrical phenomena of colorful light streams dancing in the night sky — also known as the northern lights — proved

popular since the dawn of travel, but the rise in astrotourism brings them back to the top of many bucket lists. Alaska Photo Treks, a photography-driven tour operator in Anchorage, finds aurora hunting currently accounts for 60 percent of its business.

Meanwhile, Borealis Base Camp, opened in late 2017 just 30 minutes outside of Fairbanks, is entirely aurora-driven, offering accommodation in the form of luxury “igloos” with glass ceilings for ultimate access to the awe-inspiring display. While not every visit to Alaska revolves exclusively around the northern lights, the Alaska Travel Industry Association says operators statewide are expanding astrotourism products to coincide with the exploding demand for aurora viewing.

With international brands opening every pocket of the planet to astrotourism, it’s only natural to wonder what’s left to offer, and Houston-based Orion Span has the answer: a space hotel. Currently in development, Aurora Station expects to be the first accommodation in space, orbiting 200 miles above the Earth’s surface and offering 12-day luxury packages for a mere $9.5 million. Scheduled to launch in 2021, Orion Span hopes to welcome its first guests to Aurora Station in 2022, bringing astrotourism full circle with actual space tourism in the private sector.

The city of Houston, no stranger to space with the Johnson Space Center set to mark its involvement in the 50th anniversary of the moon landing this year, will celebrate with Space City Month in July. The space center now welcomes more than 1 million annual guests, a 23 percent increase over the past three years, and doesn’t expect a drop any time soon. As president and CEO William T. Harris says, “Space exploration is the great frontier, embraced by people around the world. There is tremendous excitement as we prepare to return humans to the moon and for the first human steps on Mars.”

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Call of the Wild Your mother was right: Playing outside really is good for you. BY DEBRA BOKUR MOUNTAIN CASCADE:

Chosi Otaki Waterfall in the Oirasekeiryuu Stream, TowadaHachimantai National Park, Japan

PHOTO:© EYEBLINK DREAMSTIME.COM

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EACH YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES alone, more than 330 million travelers head to national parks and another 75 million more plan vacations to include botanic gardens. Expand those numbers to the world at large, and there’s no doubt a desire to witness what naturalist, author and explorer John Muir called the “grand show” is a real phenomenon, answering some deep call within the human psyche that longs to be immersed in the natural world.

It makes perfect sense: Study after study has shown the measurable health benefits, immune-boosting effects and powerful stress-relieving results of spending time in nature — exactly what legions of travelers specifically seek when planning a vacation. Many experts say the act of seeking out a patch of sky or

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a stretch of garden is a natural response to the time we spend staring at screens, looking for parking spaces and running for trains, a reaction to everyday life that leads seekers on quests to reconnect with the planet on the most basic of levels.

In Japan, the country’s health care system even recognizes a term for nature immersion: Shinrin-yoku, or forest therapy (also called forest bathing), seen as an antidote to stress, depression, feelings of disconnection and the myriad woes that so often accompany modern city living. Travelers to Japan can have their own forest therapy experience while wandering the stunning green pathways of Towada-Hachimantai National Park, Yanbaru National Park and Shimokita Hantō QuasiNational Park. Closer to home, travelers can slip beneath the boughs of the New York Botanical Garden, where regularly planned activities include tours and talks, or spend time at the Denver Botanic Gardens, where year-round programs include drawing classes at the School of Botanical Art & Illustration.

“When we enter into nature with an intent to notice the surrounding wildlife, aesthetics and varying soundscapes, our ancestral wiring quickly becomes triggered, bringing us back to a state of intense connection and belonging,” explains Linden Johanson, LPC, NCC, CCMHC. Johanson, who provides eco-therapy as part of her practice at Multnomah Therapy in Portland, Oregon, explains when we feel securely

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connected, our minds become primed for accepting new ways of thinking that can bring about perspective shifts.

“It can become habit to assign exaggerated importance to our concerns, sometimes resulting in a loss of the creative and empathetic thinking that is necessary for repair and resolution,” she says. “Taking an aimless walk in nature can help us down-regulate our stress systems, thereby freeing up our ability to think more clearly and creatively, which in turn

LEISURE LIFESTYLE 2019

allows us to challenge rigid thoughts, balance perspectives and feel empowered to create effective change.”

There are so many types of national parks and botanical gardens around the world, there’s sure to be a space that speaks to you, whether that’s a seaside setting like India’s Marine National Park in the Gulf of Kutch; the abundance of flora that springs from the sandy surface of the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona; the verdant, palmed landscapes within Rio de Janeiro’s Jardim Botanico; the orchids and ferns of Thailand’s Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden; or Hawai’i’s Na ‘Aina Kai Botanical Gardens, where lotus blooms unfold and giant albatrosses strut in safety. Sydney’s Botanic Garden’s new Behind the Scenes Sensory Tours help visitors engage with nature on a deep level through sight, touch, scent — and even taste.

The wide and wild variety of national parks celebrates the staggering diversity of the planet’s landscapes. In England’s northwest, the Lake District National Park (now a UNESCO World Heritage site) allows visitors to indulge in settings that inspired some of the world’s greatest poetry and stories, from the charm of Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit tales to the nature writings of John Ruskin and the romantic works of William Wordsworth, Percy Bysshe Shelley and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Modern scribes, too, are inspired and moved to write by their interaction with nature. Poet and writer Radha Marcum,

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Elephant in a river in Serengeti National Park PHOTO: © ISSELEE DREAMSTIME.COM

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author of Bloodline and winner of the 2018 New Mexico Book Award in Poetry, finds limitless inspiration in the National Park System of the United States.

“Wild spaces are inseparable from my writing,” offers Marcum.

“Being out in nature is the only reliable way for me to hear clearly what needs to be expressed. Landscapes, for me, are synonymous with voice. Because our planet’s remaining undomesticated landscapes are threatened or undergoing profound change right now, there is a sense of urgency to speak from/for these beautiful places.”

The parks comprising America’s National Park System offer a rich panoply of landscapes and opportunities, from the rocky wonders of Arches, Pinnacles, Badlands and Zion national parks to the fabulous wildlife species that make their home in Yellowstone; from the prehistoric, otherworldly sites at Petrified Forest National Park to the watery mysteries of Everglades National Park and Kenai Fjords National Park and the exciting range of terrains in parks including Acadia, Denali and Grand Teton.

Reestablishing vital connections to nature can even happen in the dark of night. A number of certified Dark Sky Reserves offer visitors a chance to observe and marvel at the astonishing display of stars and planets above us, highly visible thanks to a lack of light pollution interfering with the view. There are currently 12 Certified International Dark-Sky Association Dark Sky Reserves in the world, including the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, Kerry Dark Sky Reserve in Ireland, Pic du Midi in France, Snowdonia National Park and Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales, Westhavelland and Rhön in Germany, Aoraki Mackenzie in New Zealand and MontMégantic in Québec.

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LEISURE LIFESTYLE 2019

While it’s not unusual for busy professionals to feel cut off or separated from the natural world, gardens and parks provide an antidote never too far out of reach. The desire to steep ourselves in nature is a common human compulsion and appears to be a growing draw for travelers of all ages, with a rise in this vacation choice within the 20- to 48-year-old age group.

For maximum impact, consider nudging yourself toward a park or garden setting completely out of your realm of experience. The numerous exotic choices on the African continent include the plains and rivers of South Luangwa Park in Zambia, the savannas and woodlands of Serengeti Park in Tanzania, and the marshes and teak forests of Chobe Park in Botswana. You also can explore the wetlands and wildlife of Hwange Park in Zimbabwe and the acaciadotted grasslands of the Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya where lions, leopards, zebras and elephants abound.

“Natural landscapes are scripted into our DNA,” says Marcum.

“Almost any natural landscape has the power to open up our perceptions, refresh the senses, spark wonder, and instantly expand our notions and feelings about who we are. We crave that open experience. Natural landscapes are powerful contexts that free us to experience more of who we are. Nature offers a special kind of wholeness and healing.”

Regardless of whether you’re drawn to a destination on the far side of the planet or an address close to home, you’re sure to find a garden where you can allow yourself to bloom for a while or a path to stride along where the enormity of the landscape just may help you see the world with new eyes — and perhaps even enhance your physical and mental well-being in the process.

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