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True fact: People blessed with wanderlust can’t sit still for long. When current events hold us back, we get antsy. And just like a rubber band poised on the tip of an index finger, the more you hold us back—the harder, faster, and farther we’re going to fly when you let go. Right now, our travel deserve quotients are high. Here’s how we’re filling them ...

Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew

Doubling Down on Holidays

Big, loud family celebrations are in this year as we catch up on quality time with our cherubic little nieces and nephews. And those who prefer silent nights are finally feeling the sweet sense of freedom to spend the holidaze where they please.

The Warm Glow of London

Few cities do Christmas better than London with festive markets, outdoor skating rinks, and beautiful lighting displays. Oxford Street kicks things off in November with 27 “curtains of light” comprised of over 200,000 glittering bulbs.

London’s Regent Street shopping mecca started its Christmas light tradition in 1954 and continues to delight with 300,000 dazzlers and golden angels with outspread wings.

Covent Garden, the 19th-century produce market, sports over 115,000 glittering lights, just blocks away from Lamb & Flag, Charles Dickens’ former haunt. In Kensington, The Churchill Arms goes all out, covering its exterior with 80 Christmas trees festooned with 22,000 lights.

Christmas at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew features over one million lights, 12 Days of Christmas Trees, and a 22-foot-high Cathedral of Light tunnel. This year, there will be several new installations including one replicating the Northern Lights.

Regent Street

A Holiday Cruise Comeback

We may not have awkward office parties anymore but we’ve got holiday cruises! And the ships are going all-out to make sure we have the time of our lives sharing the distinctive joys of getting together with family and friends.

Tricks & Treats Who knew spooky Halloween cruises were such a big deal? We’re looking forward to Celebrity’s Trick-or-Treat Candy Scavenger Hunt and Disney’s Halloween on the High Seas. “Patch, the Pumpkin Pirate” will be aboard Carnival cruises. And Holland America Line is serving up eerie adult cocktails, like the Vampire Martini.

Giving Thanks Savvy Thanksgiving cruisers are set to sail with all the turkey and trimmings and none of the clean up. Guests aboard Holland America ships will fill up on Master Chef Rudi Sodamin’s Apple & Pear Pie while they watch a live screening of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, featuring giant balloons, glitter, floats, live performances, and more!

Joy to the World Disney’s Very Merrytime Cruises celebrate with a life-size gingerbread house. Castaway Cay is expecting “snow” flurries. Royal Caribbean has recreated the “North Pole.” Princess Cruises is setting sail with carolers.

Over in Europe Avalon Waterways’ Christmastime on the Danube will visit Christmas markets in Vienna, Passau, Regensberg, and Nuremberg. While Rhine river cruises take in the charming winter markets of Breisach, Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Rüdesheim, and Cologne.

New Year’s Eve Perhaps the most popular holiday cruise is the one with a countdown to midnight. This year, we’re really looking forward to glasses of bubbly, balloons and confetti, glittery dresses, dancing to live music, and belting out Auld Lang Syne. There’s not a cruise line in the industry that’s going to sit this one out. VIDEO VIDÉO

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Disney’s Very Merrytime Cruise

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Carnival’s Patch the Pumpkin Pirate

Someday

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Leave the winter blues behind and soak up some sun on a spectacular Caribbean vacation. Our fall and winter season offers eight luxurious ships, including our two newest, Celebrity Edge® and Celebrity ApexSM, along with exciting sailings that range from 4- to 12-nights. Step up to The Retreat®, our most luxurious experience, for a stunning suite with an exclusive restaurant, lounge, and sundeck, plus butler service, premium drinks, streaming Wi-Fi, shore excursion credit, and onboard credit.

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CONTACT YOUR TRAVEL ADVISOR FOR YOUR EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS WHICH INCLUDE: $100 Shore Excursion Credit for Concierge and AquaClass® guests

NOTICE: Prior to booking, please consult all applicable U.S. Centers for Disease Control travel advisories, warnings, or recommendations relating to cruise travel, at cdc.gov/travel/notices. If a certain threshold level of COVID-19 is detected onboard the ship during your voyage, the voyage will end immediately, the ship will return to the port of embarkation, and your subsequent travel, including your return home, may be restricted or delayed. Health and safety protocols, guest conduct rules, and regional travel restrictions vary by ship and destination, and are subject to change without notice. Due to evolving health protocols, imagery and messaging may not accurately reflect onboard and destination experiences, offerings, features or itineraries. These may not be available during your voyage, may vary by ship and destination, and may be subject to change without notice. VIDEO VIDÉO

Nature to the Max

Ever since the scientists told us we were safer outside, travelers have been taking their gratitude out on nature and all her glories. Okay, maybe that’s just the social media influencers. But we do love our health and wellness. And we’ve got gratitude to spare.

Remote Outpost

Artic Bath Hotel | Sweden Last year, while no one was looking, Sweden opened their newest spa hotel on the Lulu River in the country’s indigenous Samí region. And wow, is it wild.

The hotel’s design celebrates the tradition of moving timber via the river. Most noticeably in the main lodge, which is circular with a central, plunge pool, saunas, steam rooms, and a restaurant that serves pure, local, sustainable delicacies.

Guests are accommodated in 12 cozy cabins set out over the water and on stilts along the shore, featuring floorto-ceiling windows and clean, open, mindful decor. Activities include fishing, husky tours, and Aurora Borealis snow sledding.

Plitvice National Park

Rainbow over Waterfall in Milford Sound

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Raindrops on Roses

Intrepid travelers know that even the craziest weather can make for amazing vacation stories. Snowflakes and icicles bring grins to our faces. A whistling wind can can turn a still scene into a multisensory affair. MUSIC

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And in the rain, greens are more lush, waterfalls gush, the air smells COCKTAIL fresh, and the crowds stay away. Our favorite places that are better in the rain? New Zealand’s Milford Sound and Plitvice National Park in Croatia. VIDEOBOOK

The UNESCO Treatment

UNESCO just announced an epic list of 33 new World Heritage Sites, INTERVIEWdouble the usual number because ENTREVUE the committee didn’t meet last year. Our favorite? Well, we have a lot of favorites. But the one that’s getting heaps of attention from travelers is “The Great Spa Towns MUSIC MUSIQUE of Europe.” Eleven spa towns made the list. If there ever was a year for “taking the cure” this has to be it.

1-ATICO

Imad’s Syrian Kitchen

Soaking Up the Stars

We’re not ashamed to admit that we like to check in on the popular kids before we book a trip. And this year, pop culture has given us a lot of intriguing options to choose from.

Pop Culture: Travel Edition

Foodies who crave seats in the world’s newest restaurants are booking into Imad’s Syrian Kitchen in London, Lisbon’s new rooftop venue Javá, and dining amidst the clouds at 1-ATICO in Singapore.

Back home, we’re watching Nine Perfect Strangers (Hulu) navigate a wellness retreat, the hilarity of Vacation Friends (Hulu), and photographer Jimmy Chin’s latest effort, The Rescue.

Just in time for our personal travel issue, Brandon Stanton’s book Humans is getting rave reviews. And Sweden’s ABBA will release their first studio album in 40 years, Abba Voyage, this November.

On the celebrity front, Ben and JLo sailed in Italy, Kelly Clarkson went to Disney World, Serena toured Versailles, Roger Federer and De Niro are doing a Switzerland ad campaign, Rick Steves is staying home in Washington state. Rebel’s in Paris, and Hawaii-born superstar Bruno Mars just added two more shows in Las Vegas.

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Icons of the Caribbean

Basil’s Bar on Mustique, founded by Basil Charles in 1976, has hosted everyone from David Bowie and Mick Jagger to Prince William and Kate Middleton. But this is no elitist hangout, everyone is welcome. In addition to its star-struck scene, the bartenders are known for serving a wicked rum punch. Best time to go? During the Mustique Blues Festival held each winter.

On Jost Van Dyke, in the British Virgin Islands, Foxy’s Bar is named after long-time proprietor Foxy Callwood who has received many awards, including an order of chivalry from the Queen. The old driftwood bar is known for two signature drinks: Dread Fox, which combines Callwood’s Firewater rum with sour mix and cranberry juice, and Sly Fox, a margarita made with rum. Foxy’s New Year’s Eve party is one of the Caribbean’s best.

Reggae star Bankie Banx is considered the Anguillan Bob Dylan. His Dune Preserve bar is composed of driftwood, shells, and planks from shipwrecks. This hotspot is known for its offbeat selection of homemade rums (centipede rum anyone?) and performances by Banx and his friends. Banx’s Moonsplash is one of the Caribbean’s best music festivals.

Expressing Our Feelings RECIPE RECETTE

If you’ve been reading the news lately, you know that travelers are ... having feelings. We think expressing our bottled up sentiments can be healthy and healing—when they’re channeled in the right direction of course. COCKTAIL COCKTAIL

Smash It Up In Vegas

In these pent-up times there’s nothing like blowing off steam. Maybe that’s why some travelers are taking their frustrations out on obsolete tech, empty liquor bottles, and other breakables— BOOK LIVRE in Las Vegas’ aptly named “wreck rooms.” Options include Sin City Smash, The Wreck Room, and Axe Monkeys, whose trademarked tagline is “Cheaper Than Therapy.” Proprietors provide the old printers, fax machines, and bottles—along with the bats, hammers, and crowbars used to destroy them. Customers provide the rage. Prior to doing battle, enraged customers are outfitted with overalls and helmets, as well as eye and ear protection; the walls are padded. While some go solo, others opt for a “Premium Smash” date night, or share their rage with up to six friends. When the smashing is done, typically after 10 to 30 minutes, clean up is on the house. VIDEO VIDÉO

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MUSIC MUSIQUE “So much fun smashing out your feelings,”

said Nate D. from Indiana.

Celest Falls, Peninsula Papagayo Camino de Costa Rica

Else Kientzler Botanical Gardens Lankester Botanical Gardens

Living la Pura Vida

With the sloth as its national symbol, Costa Rica – now officially the mellowest country on earth – hosts three million visitors a year. And they’re not all surfers. Vacationers and expats alike flock to the 12th happiest country in the world for its simple, easy, pura vida vibe.

Four Seasons' private jet journeys include a stay on the nation's lush Peninsula Papagayo. The whimsical Igloo Beach Lodge in Manuel Antonio, is attracting the beautiful beach club crowd. Nine cruise lines have returned to the island nation's ports. For remote workers, the big news has been special visas for digital nomads and their families. Rumor has it, even Apple Pay will soon be there.

Four Seasons, Peninsula Papagayo

Previously blocked, superyachts above 24 meters are plotting a fresh course for Costa Rica's 800 miles of tropical coastline. “On behalf of the people of Costa Rica, we welcome you with open arms,” said Costa Rica’s President Carlos Alvarado Quesada upon signing the yacht-friendly bill into law. Of course, eco-travelers are flocking to the rich coast's renowned ecospheres to fill up on butterflies and botanicals. Some are also taking on the Camino de Costa Rica, a hiking trail that meanders from Barra del Pacuare on the Caribbean Sea up to an elevation of 7,154 feet before weaving its way down to the town of Quepos on the Pacific Ocean.

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Gorges du Verdon, ProvenceCOCKTAIL COCKTAIL

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Furka Pass, Switzerland Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

Perpetual Motion

Travelers who’ve had their fill of sitting still are seeking out places where they can move freely, feel the wind in their hair, the sun on their faces, and the satisfying pull of acceleration.

Motorcycle Meccas While few are choosing to go full Ewan McGregor and ride 13,000 miles from Argentina to Los Angeles, many ardent motorcyclists are donning their leathers and taking to evermore interesting roads. And they’re loving every hairpin turn along the way.

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Clocking in at 1,600 miles (2,600 km) Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way is the world’s longest coastal road. From the Inishowen Peninsula to Kinsale, County Cork, this exhilarating drive combines spectacular cliffs, bays, beaches, and estuaries with castle ruins, friaries, and classic Irish pubs. Highlights include the Great Pollet Arch, Doonamo Point, the Ring of Kerry, and “the wild heart” of Connemara. At almost 8,000 feet above sea level, Furka Pass is one of Switzerland’s highest alpine passes. The drive’s greatest claim to fame is a chase scene in the 1964 film Goldfinger, in which James Bond maneuvers his Aston Martin through the switchbacks in pursuit of the villainous tycoon. Best place for a pit stop? Rhone Glacier, for a cool walk into its 100-meter-long ice grotto.

Provence’s Gorges du Verdon, often called the Grand Canyon of Europe, was carved by glacial activity and fast MUSIC MUSIQUE moving river water at the dawn of the Quaternary period. Today, rock flour in the river gives it a striking turquoise hue that attracts travelers from all over the world. The best time to drive the narrow “French balcony road” is off-season or in the morning before the crowds.

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The Need for Speed Word is, high-level business negotiations are now being done on closed loop racetracks, as opposed to golf greens. Career climbers are trading in their clubs for racing lessons at top tracks around the world.

Many are heading straight for the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy— home of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Pagani, De Tomaso, Dallara, and Ducati. Some are taking SF90s for a spin on Ferrari’s Corso Pilata. Others are signing up for Lamborghini’s Esperienza Dinamica for Imola Circuit lessons in an ego-boosting Aventador.

Over in Bavaria, the BMW M Race Track Experience rewards supercar enthusiasts with instruction on improving their racing lines and opportunities to drive sections of track usually reserved for professionals. Courses include the “Green Hell” section of the Nürburgring and the legendary Hockenheim circuit, among others.

At the Mercedes-AMG Track Training dealmakers are booking courses in Germany and Belgium on the Hockenheimring, Nürburgring, Nordschleife, and Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. A special winter experience in the Swedish Lapland includes pro and advanced weeks with intense sessions in drift driving on snow and ice.

At the Lotus Driving Academy in Norfolk, England, three back-to-back days of training with instructors on the Lotus Elise S, Evora S, or Exige S nets drivers a “Lotus Licence.” The certification qualifies them to negotiate the Hethel test circuit, a state-of-the-art facility built on a former World War II Air Force airfield. VIDEO VIDÉO

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Remote & Afloat Work@sea is trending too. Knowledge workers are on the move and many are setting up shop out on the ocean. With stateroom availability and favorable pricing aboard freshly relaunched ships, we’re seeing more laptops on observation deck.lounges than ever. MUSIC MUSIQUE

Satellite linked, tech-enabled ships are the obvious choice for digital nomads who need to stay in constant contact. Some ships boast Apple retail shops with the latest gadgets. And most have a multitude of quiet spots and inviting cafes that offer spectacular views.

As the blog posts and reviews roll in, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, and RECIPE Norwegian Cruise Line are all getting kudos from sea-based workers. RECETTE Thanks to a new constellation of satellites, all Princess Cruise ships will COCKTAIL feature land-like connectivity as part of its MedallionNet Wi-Fi service and COCKTAIL Royal Caribbean’s super-fast Voom internet is available on all of its ships. Managing your time well is apparently the secret to getting the best of both worlds. Scheduling work sessions at night and in the mornings before arrival at port enables them to perform well for their employers and see the sights in each port. Transoceanic and repositioning cruises also make great choices.

Palm Island, St. Vincent

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Anse Couleuvre, Martinique

Subtle Sophistication

The first rule of subtle sophistication is slipping away quietly without telling anyone you’re slipping away quietly. There are some things only your travel advisor needs to know.

Haute Beaches

Pssst. Want to know a secret? While the popular beaches might get all the attention on social media, savvy travelers who want to unplug from the world for a while are slipping away to uber-private beaches like the ones we found here.

1. Palm Island or Young Island - St. Vincent & the Grenadines 2. Malmok Beach - Aruba

3. Anse Couleuvre - Martinique, French Antilles 4. Grand Anse or Morne Rogue - Grenada 5. Klein Beach - Curaçau 6. No Name Beach - Klein Bonaire Island

7. Loblolly Bay - Anegada, British Virgin Islands

Seriously Splurgy

This fall, the lure of YOLO is strong. We say, go for it. Some experiences are worth a little extra cash.

Case in point? Indulgent travelers to Coimbra, Portugal, are checking into The Hästens Sleep Spa Hotel for one of the most ultra-upscale sleep experiences on earth. There’s a soothing Hästens app playlist, pillow menu, consulting chiropractor. “From the moment you are here,” the manager purrs, “you don’t worry about anything else.”

Back in New York City, travel documents are getting a facelift at the RIMOWA Passport Studio, where self-service photo booths capture image-conscious travelers in their most flattering light.

But looks aren’t everything, are they? If first class smells a little fresher these days, it could be Sylt, a salty, woody, spicy new scent named for the discreet yet chic island off the north coast of Germany. Opening in 2022, the new Lanserhof Sylt resort and spa promises, “an intelligent symbiosis of cutting-edge medicine, naturopathy, recognized therapy procedures, the latest scientific know-how in a pleasant atmosphere.”

Lanserhof Sylt

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