SPRING 2021
A Traveller’s Guide To Paying It Forward
Pod Travel-From Houseboats to Private Islands
Virtual Wellness
FOODIE FILES
Bucketlist Caribbean
CONTRIBUTORS We asked some of our contributors what a year at home has taught them about what travel most means to them.
TARA NOLAN GARDEN INSPIRATION PAGE 34 I
I miss the spontaneity of a last-minute trip and planning my next adventure. I miss all the fresh discoveries that come with arriving in a new town or city. I miss urban adventures and pedalling new trails. Travel for me is the escape and the wonder of a new place.
COVER PHOTO: Varua Te Ora Polynesian Spa Photo Courtesy of: The Brando, French Polynesia
PUBLISHER/ Tammy Cecco EDITOR IN CHIEF CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Jessica Padykula DIGITAL CONTRIBUTING Nicola Brown EDITOR
JESSICA PADYKULA BUCKET LIST CARIBBEAN BEYOND THE ORDINARY, PAGE 31 After more than a year of being grounded, like many others, I miss so many things about travel. But something that stands out the most–and to me what makes travel so meaningful and fulfilling–is how travel consistently pushes me outside of my comfort zone; to do things I would likely never do at home, resulting in renewed confidence and fresh perspectives. From epic hikes through treacherous terrain to navigating the streets of new cities as a solo traveller–new experiences have so much power to change us in the best ways possible.
DIANE SLAWYCH THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF TRIP PLANNING, PAGE 18
The past year has given me time to reflect on how lucky I feel to have seen so much of the world including my own country. Ideally I like to spend as much time in a destination as possible –to see all the sites yes, but also to get a sense of what it’s like to live there. You can read about a place, but nothing beats conversations with local people, about their day to day life or their thoughts on some momentous period in their country’s recent history. I’m also grateful to be from a country as big as Canada, and never more so than now. There are just so many landscapes to see and cultures to experience within our borders. When abroad though, I’m just as happy on a Caribbean beach as I am dealing with the mental challenge of visiting places that are radically different from my own. Travel is the best education I’ve ever had. I never stop learning.
DESIGN DIRECTOR Joyce Padilla DESIGN CONTRIBUTORS Mabel Manzano PRODUCTION Gregory Alexander CONTRIBUTORS Diana Ballon Nicola Brown Martha Chapman Elizabeth Heath Tara Nolan Doug O’Neill Jessica Padykula Chris Ryall Diane Slawych Mark Stevens
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PHOTO CREDITS: 31 Anguilla Tourism Board • 36 Calivigny Island • 42 Varua Te Ora Polynesian Spa, The Brando • 46 Cava & Hotel Mastinell • 48 Guido Coppas
36 42 DISCOVERIES 31 CARIBBEAN BUCKET LIST BEYOND THE ORDINARY
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5 ISLAND DESTINATIONS THAT OFFER SO MUCH MORE THAN SUN AND SAND
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GARDEN INSPIRATION
AWARD-WINNING BOTANICAL GARDEN-INSPIRED PLANTING IDEAS FOR YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE
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LUXURY AWAITS
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COMING HOME TO THE DORDOGNE
FOND FAMILY MEMORIES IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE
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HAVE POD WILL TRAVEL (SAFELY)
FROM HOUSEBOATS TO PRIVATE ISLANDS, 4 FUN AND UNIQUE WAYS TO VACATION WITH YOUR TRAVEL POD
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MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE
SIT BACK AND RELAX–THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL IS LUXURIOUS
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CAVA & HOTEL MASTINELL OFFERS ARCHITECTURAL INTRIGUE WITH A SUSTAINABLE MINDSET—AND A GREAT HOME BASE FOR EXPLORING THE SURROUNDING WINE REGIONS
TRAVELLER’S GUIDE TO GIVING BACK SUPPORTING DOMESTIC AND GLOBAL TRAVEL DESTINATIONS FROM AFAR—ESPECIALLY IN THIS PANDEMIC-CHALLENGED ERA—HAS MYRIAD BENEFITS
JOURNALS TRIP PLANNING
Conrad Bora Bora Nui
TRAVEL PLANNING BENEFITS MENTAL HEALTH
A new poll conducted by the Institute for Applied Positive Research has found that the act of planning a trip can help reduce stress and make us feel better. According to the study, 97 per cent of respondents say having a trip planned makes them happier.
What does your ultimate trip look like? This is the time to explore your interests and do some research. I typically start with a map and guidebooks. I like the Eyewitness series for the colour photos; Frommer’s for its “best of” section; Lonely Planet when I’m on a budget and Fodor’s for higher end hotel suggestions. From there I go a little more niche. Before every trip I check several other resources (mentioned below) from which you may also draw some inspiration.
FESTIVALS THAT ARE WORTH THE TRIP
AMAZING ATTRACTIONS
In advance of my last trip to Holland, I consulted World Heritage Sites: A complete guide to 878 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Firefly) and decided to incorporate a visit to Kinderdijk. Strolling this peaceful natural setting, home to 19 windmills, turned out to be one of the best days of my trip. Does your destination have any UNESCO sites? For details, check whc. unesco.org/en/list.
BUCKET LIST PLACES
I have yet to do the Headhunters’ Trail in Borneo though I did visit the stunning Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain. These are two of the recommendations in the book 1,000 Places to See Before you Die by Patricia Schultz (Workman Publishing) which covers on and off the beaten track wonders around the globe. Other books in a similar vein include two books published by Barron’s: 1001 Historic Sites You Must See Before You Die by Richard Cavendish and 1001 Natural Wonders You Must See Before You Die, general editor Michael Bright.
FIVE STAR DIGS OR THE DOG HOUSE?
Sometimes where you sleep can be as notable as what you do on your trip. Bed in a Tree and Other Amazing Hotels from Around the World by Bettina Kowalewski (Eyewitness Travel) offers 27 unusual options. Among them a glass igloo in Finland, a cave hotel in Turkey, a huge dog-shaped B&B in Idaho and a wine barrel in Germany’s Rhine Valley! The discerning traveller more interested in luxe than offbeat, may prefer to consult Small Luxury Hotels of the World (slh. com) which has over 500 hotels in 70 countries.
Annual events can be fun-filled affairs and also offer a sense of a destination’s culture and history. Although some festivals will undoubtedly have new restrictions post Covid, the destination may still draw more people than normal for special event dates so plan accordingly and consider there could be premiums on hotel rates. Festivals not a travel motivator for you? You may still want to be aware of festival dates so that you can take advantage of visiting when it is quieter and hotel rates may be lower.
FOR THE CURIOUS TRAVELLER
Do you enjoy quirky attractions, hidden treasures and wondrous places? If so, make Atlas Obscura (the book and the website—atlasobscura. com) part of your research. As a follower of all things quirky even I was surprised to learn about the Shrine to Slain Insects in Japan and the upside down house in Poland.
While it may be still too early to book a flight to some destinations, it’s never too soon to begin planning your next dream trip. As research shows, the rewards are worth it.
HAVE POD WILL TRAVEL (Safely) BY CHRIS RYALL
CRUISE CANADA
From houseboats to private islands, 4 fun and unique ways to vacation with your travel pod Pod travel, where a group of friends or family take a trip together, is having a profound effect on how people vacation during the COVID-era. Travelling with family and friends had occurred pre-pandemic for reasons such as budget and convenience, while today travelling in pods is more about safety and shared interests. By staying with the same group and guides throughout the trip, members don’t mingle with other people, thus reducing their risk of exposure to the virus.
FUSTIC HOUSE, BARBADOS
People want to avoid crowds, be close to nature and most importantly, be in a more controlled and safe environment. RV holidays, villa-style accommodations and houseboat rentals are all popular choices for those looking to travel safely in their pods.
TRAVELLIFE.CA SPRING VARUA TE ORA POLYNESIAN SPA
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THE BRANDO
DISCOVERIES POD TRAVEL
LE BOAT
HIT THE ROAD SAFELY WITH CRUISE AMERICA
TAKE TO THE WATER WITH LE BOAT
Canada is a vast country and what better way to explore safely and at your own pace then in an RV or motorhome with your loved ones and friends? Cruise America (cruiseamerica.com) has 133 locations in 33 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces. One-way rentals are available. Hit the open road and choose how far and what stops you make along the way. With so many parks and campgrounds to choose from, Cruise America’s app, online resources and customer service centre can direct you to the perfect spot. Travelling in an RV allows you to control what you eat and what places you visit with no worries about where you place your head at night. Experience Canada’s greatest gifts of nature, from the majestic Rocky Mountains to the coastal cities of Vancouver and Victoria, or check out Atlantic Canada’s colourful fishing villages. Whether you take the road more or less travelled, RV travel will let you treasure the outdoors and those most important to you in a safe and self-contained manner.
Put on your captain’s hat and cruise the lakes, rivers and canals in Canada or eight European countries on one of Le Boat’s (leboat.ca) luxury cruisers or houseboats. Steer your houseboat along Canada’s Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as you explore quaint Ontario towns filled with history, artisan shops, microbreweries and wineries. Le Boat operates a fleet of boats ideal for just a couple, a few couples or group of friends. Cruise where the bigger ships can’t in the canals of France, England or Belgium. Soak up Venice’s beauty, history and romance from the safety of your boat. Each boat is filled with comfortable sleeping accommodations, kitchen and cooking facilities, sundeck and easy to follow instructions that even beginner captains will have no problem navigating. You control the trip’s pace while Le Boat provides tips, itinerary suggestions, destination information and boating guidance and etiquette. Steer a course for family fun and exploration–you can even bring Fido along for the ride!
HAVE FAMILY FUN AT BARBADOS’ FUSTIC HOUSE PRIVATE ESTATE
FIND A PRIVATE PARADISE AT THE BRANDO IN FRENCH POLYNESIA
Fustic House (fusticbarbados.com) is an early 18th century home perched on a coral ridge with stunning views of Barbados’ coastline. This makes for the perfect setting to reconnect, recharge and most of all, relax with family or a group of friends. With only seven well-appointed suites in four separate wings, Fustic House provides the ultimate in comfort, privacy and worry-free vacations. Enter the ornate gates of the 11-acre property and stroll by the immaculate gardens and koi-filled lotus lake. A fully trained and professional staff are at your beck and call including a chef, butler, housekeepers, gardeners, 24hour security and an estate manager. Multiple dining and lounge areas include a natural lagoon-shaped pool, sun deck and equipment for various beach activities from snorkelling to paddle boarding. Fustic House is one of the Caribbean’s finest examples of island charm combined with exceptional design.
Like many of us, Marlon Brando always dreamed about Tahiti. A few years after filming the 1962 classic film, Mutiny on the Bounty in Tahiti, he bought the private island of Tetiaroa and made it his home, developing the island as a centre for research, education and sustainable living. Today that vision lives on at The Brando (thebrando.com), an exclusive, self-sustaining and luxurious private island resort. Guests can relax completely with the utmost privacy and comfort. The resort features only 36 villas (one-bedroom villas are over 1,000 square feet) spread out to ensure every guest has privacy. Not only are you safe and secure on this remote island, but your stay also allows you to immerse yourself in the traditional Tahitian way of life and learn more about the region’s rich culture. The Varua Te Ora Polynesian Spa offers a range of wellness experiences including some treatments inspired by ancestral Polynesian techniques.
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