SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL

WELLNESS

Natural Connection

A new collaboration between Red Carnation Hotels and Tata Harper Skincare brings the balms of the Green Mountain State to the wilds of southern Africa. Harper’s 100 percent organic, cruelty-free, hyperpotent botanicals – sustainably produced on her Vermont farm – now feature in signature spa treatments at Botswana’s 12-suite Xigera Safari Lodge, along with South Africa’s 18-room Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat and the seaside, 70-room Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa in Cape Town. Highly recommended: Harper’s 90-minute cocoon ritual, which includes a full-body wrap rich in pomegranate enzymes and honey.

Tata Harper products at Xigera Spa and (right) Nikko, Japan.

CRUISING INSIGHTS

ON SECOND THOUGHT

Opting for less-visited locales can help curb overtourism and spread tourism dollars – and lead to fresh discoveries and deeper cultural connections. Here, Virtuoso advisors weigh in on alternate destinations for your next vacation.

 IF YOU LIKE: MAUI

THEN CONSIDER: LANAI

Lanai is great for those who have been to Hawaii but want to experience a more authentic and cultural feel. The island doesn’t have a single stoplight, and traffic and overcrowding aren’t issues. Stop by the Lanai Cat Sanctuary to visit or volunteer. It’s the only rescue organization on the island, which is one of the nation’s most isolated. – Abby Lagman, Las Vegas

 IF YOU LIKE: KYOTO

THEN CONSIDER: NIKKO

A two-hour train ride from Tokyo, peaceful Nikko showcases UNESCO-listed temples and shrines, and is surrounded by sacred mountains. Wander the historic streets of Nikko Fudoson and soak in traditional hot springs. Lakes, waterfalls, and lush forests are also easily accessible from this small yet vibrant city. – Lisa McLachlan, Manly, Australia

 IF YOU LIKE: BARCELONA

THEN CONSIDER: GIRONA

Roughly 60 miles northeast of Barcelona, Girona also offers excellent Catalan cuisine, contemporary galleries, and a quintessential Spanish vibe, but in a much smaller, more walkable, and less touristed setting. It’s alive with history too: Winding cobblestoned streets lead to medieval walls, Roman ruins, and one of Europe’s bestpreserved Jewish quarters. – Carlo Rappa, London

Back to Business

The return of large cruise ships to the Bahamas bodes well for the country’s economy, but a sustainable postpandemic recovery largely hinges on the health of its small businesses. Acts of kindness and group efforts help too. “Getting back on your feet is easier when someone has extended a hand to help pull you up,” says Josh Carroll, vice president of destination development for Royal Caribbean Group, which operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea, and is partnering with the Nassau-based Access Accelerator Small Business Development Centre to give $500,000 in grants and low-interest loans to Bahamian tourism businesses. The support is the latest salvo in the group’s broader mission to mitigate the pandemic’s financial toll in the regions where it sails, including throughout the Caribbean and Alaska, where recent grants buoyed local tour providers and nonprofits such as the Fairbanks Community Food Bank.