Monterosola Winery is a 25 hectare hillside estate in the heart of Tuscany, Italy, between the world-famous wine-growing regions of Chianti and Bolgheri. It is a family owned and run vineyard with a brand-new architect-designed state-of-the-art cantina. Monterosola makes award-winning organic wines by combining old traditions with modern technology. Besides the reds they sent me, I received two bottles of white wine to taste. Here’s how they are described:

They Say: Cassero 2018 – “A sophisticated single variety Vermentino, straw yellow colored with youthful green highlights. Enjoys an elegant and consistent aroma with hints of white flowers, grapefruit, pear, white peach and a pleasing minerality. Fresh and well balanced on the palate with a lingering light finish.”

I Say: Cassero is a dry white wine made with the Italian Vermentino grape, which I first tasted (and loved) in Sardinia. It has 14% alcohol, is light and drinkable with a floral bouquet, tree fruit and citrus notes, and a medium acidity – ready to drink now. $15

They Say: Primo Passo 2018 – “A warm light golden color. Intense and elegant aromas come to the fore, ripe apricot, peach, citrus zest and minerality evolve into a hint of sweet spice. A generous, silky and balanced wine with an authentic personality. Remarkable aftertaste.”

I Say: Primo Passo is a blend of three grapes: Viognier, Grechetto, and Manzoni Bianco, the last two (even though Grechetto is originally Greek) being typical for a Central Italy white blend. Its fruity bouquet only hints at the flavorful and dry goodness this winner brought to the table. $28

The Meal: I have the ability to read a recipe and know if I want to cook it and who I want to cook it for. Ever since being served the Brazilian fish stew Moqueca in a whole pumpkin, I wanted to recreate that presentation, just not necessarily with fish. The October issue of Food & Wine magazine has a recipe for rice cooked in a whole pumpkin that I knew would be perfect for two old family friends with discerning taste. Since they also like white wine, they were perfect for this Monterosola Bianco tasting one sunny October Day.

In this age of pandemic dining, a warm early afternoon offered the perfect opportunity for an alfresco meal on the patio. My guests are always game guinea pigs when it comes to my penchant for trying out new recipes on company. Thank goodness, because it did not go as smoothly as planned, although it could have been far worse . . .

Prepping the pumpkin was easy enough, and the simplicity of the recipe had me thinking it would be a breeze. Rice, curry paste, coconut milk, and water are mixed and poured into the hollow pumpkin. Then it gets baked with the top on for one hour at 350 degrees. Easy as pie, right? It was in the oven and well on its way through the first phase of cooking when guests arrived.

We opened the lightly chilled Monterosola Cassero and sipped the delicious wine while nibbling snap peas in a hummus dip with toasted baguette slices and a side of brie. There was crunch, green, and my own smooth garbanzo & sesame paste to pair with the light “summer is still here” Cassero. After the first satisfying tastes of wine, I excused myself to finish the next cooking phase.

Once out of the oven with the filling bubbling, I stirred in fresh green beans, fish sauce and salt, replaced the top and popped the pumpkin back into the oven for another 45 minutes. Then it was back outside for more good conversation and wine. Part way through, I took the pumpkin out of the oven to come together. I opened the Monterosola Primo Passo then, so we could taste the two whites side-by-side. It was touch-and-go which was preferred as we finished the cocktail hour, but the Primo Passo definitely got to shine later.

The main course was beautiful straight out of the oven, and the fragrance filling the kitchen had everyone eager for a taste. I should have quit while I was ahead. The pumpkin split open moving it to a serving platter, so there was no photo op. Saving face, I scooped the insides into a bowl and we took that and a salad to the table. Unlike the wines we tasted, the meal never lived up to the fragrance. It was bland and so undramatic looking out of the pumpkin. The kindest remark was that at least I’d used fresh green beans, not canned or frozen. But they only knew that because the beans were very much al dente! I’ll know better if there is a next time.

Not every meal can be a success, and not every bottle of wine approach perfection. But the Monterosola whites delivered what they promised, a flavorful and delicious addendum to an otherwise unremarkable meal. They were the hit of the afternoon!

The Monterosola winery offers concerts and events in its various performance spaces, with fine dining to accompany their superior organic wines. I can’t wait until it is safe to travel again. After the pumpkin near-failure, I think I want my next wine tasting with their superb Italian food. Tastings and tours can be arranged through the Monterosola website.

The post Monterosola White Wine Paired With Vegetarian Brunch appeared first on Traveling Archive.

I’ve always been interested in pre-Columbian Amerindian cultures. I’ve developed a pretty good, though rudimentary, understanding of the Incas in Peru’s Andes, but I was weak on the Aztecs in Mexico City, and the Maya in the Yucatán. I also learned a bit about early Spanish Colonial Cities in my Mexico City and Yucatán tours.

A special thanks to my most esteemed photographer, Deb Roskamp, who gave life to my articles.

So here’s my very subjective list with an extra about Mexico City’s courageous Padre Po thrown in.

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

A Piece of Paradise: Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region in Italy, Part I

London, Paris, Berlin and Udine. Yes, Udine. And let’s not forget about Grado, Salice and Trieste, most definitely Trieste. This is Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy, spread across the far northeastern corner of the nation. I first read about this stunning region of diverse landscapes, languages and cultures over 15 years ago and swore that someday I would see it for myself. This June I finally did.

A Piece of Paradise: Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region in Italy, Part II

Just as the early morning sun had penetrated the Adriatic Sea’s marine layer, my driver arrived to take me to the Venice airport for my flight home to the U.S.   PortoPiccolo proved to be the ideal location to end my journey of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Located minutes from Trieste, devoid of Roman roads and medieval streets, the upscale seaside resort was the perfect venue to simply relax and reflect about my exploration of Italy’s Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region.

Mexico

Viva Mexico City – Eight Days in the Capital of Mexico

And then the rains came down, blessing this magical and sacred city of 21,321,000 million inhabitants, giving them a gentle reprieve from their bustling and productive lives. It has been said that Mexico City has a perfect annual spring temperature, making it an abundant produce belt for Mexico and the rest of the world.

A Profile in Courage — The Story of Padre Pro

Padre Pro’s last request was to be allowed to kneel and pray. When the firing squad’s shots failed to kill him, a soldier shot him at point-blank range. Pro had been falsely accused in the bombing attempt of former Mexican President Álvaro Obregón, and had become a wanted man. Betrayed to the authorities, he was sentenced to death without the benefit of any legal process.

A Yucatán Land Safari

People watch in awe as the morning sun first breaks over the ruins of Chichen Itza, a Maya city considered one of the new seven wonders of the world. A shaman conducts a purification ritual in the small contemporary Maya town of Nolo, while a farmer cuts branches off an Agave plant which will be stripped and made into rope (sisal) at the Hacienda of Sotuta de Peon…

Palaces & Museums

Henry VIII and Hampton Court Palace

When one invokes images of English King Henry VIII they’re generally of a grossly obese and egoistical king, who was no stranger to the royal casting couch, despite his marrying a number of his conquests. But this is not the Henry of early years; an avid hunter and sportsman, a helpless romantic, sublime dancer, and highly educated man who actually composed his own songs and played numerous musical instruments.

The Museums of Tulsa, Oklahoma

As I stood in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma I was amazed by the lushness of its greenery and sense of cosmopolitism. This was my first trip to Oklahoma, and in my naiveté, I had thought the whole state was one big Dust Bowl. Perhaps I had seen John Ford’s film adaption of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath too many times, but that image had been branded in my mind.

The post My Own Private 2018: A List of my Favorite Trips appeared first on Traveling Archive.

So when I got a chance to test drive a new, 2018 Wrangler JL Sport for a week I jumped at the chance.

My getaway began when I picked up the keys to a shiny, black 2-door. The new JL model replaces the outgoing JK and is designed to celebrate Jeep’s off-road history, while improving comfort and on-road driving.

Jeep has always represented the ultimate in capability and open-air freedom, and our all-new 2018 Wrangler protects that important legacy and takes it into the future,” said Mike Manley, Head of Jeep Brand – FCA Global.  “The all-new Wrangler is instantly recognizable as a Jeep, staying true to the original, yet it is better in every way – delivering even more rugged capability, more ride comfort, more fuel efficiency courtesy of several advanced powertrain options, more interior comfort, more safety and more technology.”

New on 2018 models, the front windshield and grill are slightly more slanted for aerodynamics, the square backlights are set in, and there are air extractors behind the front fender flares to help cool the engine.

The Jeep Brand badge has been moved from the hood back to the side of the aluminum fender – a look reminiscent of past models. Add to this a set of 17-Inch, polished granite crystal wheels, side steps for easy entry, and a slick black soft top with tinted windows and the rugged, luxurious beast I was driving was looking pretty awesome.

After a quick walk-around, I opened the power doors, hoped in the driver seat and pushed the start button. That’s right; the new Wrangler has a push button start, which is something new to me. I then headed for Azusa Canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains.

Along the way, I cranked up the impressive Alpine Premium Audio System, with nine speakers, including a waterproof rear subwoofer, on the floor near the tailgate. The stereo is part of the Wrangler’s new Uconnect 4 media system, that comes with a 7-inch touch screen, featuring AM/FM radio, available SiriusXM Satellite Radio, Bluetooth Streaming Audio, Voice Command, Hands-Free Calling, Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The touch screen also doubles as a rear back-up camera when the Jeep is in reverse.

The JL is a Jeep dream to drive. It’s like a mix between a truck, a sports car and a little tank. Mine was powered by the efficient 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, with Engine Stop/Start (ESS) Technology that produces 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. ESS automatically shuts the engine off at full stops, then re-engages for takeoff. The technology is engineered to help deliver an efficient performance, and can be disabled with the push of a button.

The Wrangler also came with a new eight-speed automatic transmission specifically calibrated to optimize shift points and deliver maximum torque to all four wheels. The vehicle gets about 17 city/23 hwy mpg.

When I got in the mountains I pulled into Camp Williams Café and General Store for lunch and to turn the soft top into a bikini top. This brings up another new innovation on the Wrangler. There are no more zippers to mess with. To take off the windows, you simple peel back the Velcro and pull the windows from the slots they are in. This is a big plus.

My next stop was the San Gabriel Canyon Off-Highway Vehicle Area. With more than 160 acres of rocky, sandy, river bottom to climb and play in, this was a great place to test the JL’s new four-wheel drive system. “The Command-Trac Part-Time 4×4 System with the NV241 GII transfer case offers legendary off-road capability and helps you conquer obstacles and tackle slick conditions,” says Jeep.

Other cool new features of the 2018 Wrangler include a front windshield that easily folds down; lightweight, high-strength aluminum doors, hinges, hood, fenders and windshield frame; a magnesium swing gate; and the ability to drive through up to 30 inches of water.

For more information on the new Wrangler JL and other Jeep vehicles, visit: www.jeep.com

The post Cruising, Climbing and Crawling in a New 2018 Jeep Wrangler appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Happy April from the Staff at Traveling Boy

We have designated 2018 to think of those who suffer from great sorry and misfortune. Here are some of our favorite charities.

10 Countries Where the Dollar Goes Furthest in 2018

Courtesy Jamie Moore, SmarterTravel

Your hard-earned dollar can take you to some incredible places where favorable exchange rates and undervalued currencies get you more bang for your buck in 2018. While the greenback isn’t as strong as it was last year, the dollar goes further in several countries you might not have expected.

Transformational Travel

In theory, we’ve always known that travel has the power to transform. On a true journey, the sights, personal interactions and chance to experience local culture can all come together to provide powerful experiences that can be life-changing.

10 Secret French Villages to Discover Before the Crowds Do

Courtesy Sarah Schlichter, SmarterTravel

With tourists and motor coaches crowding their medieval streets, some French villages are in danger of being loved to death. These 10 villages aren’t completely off the tourist map, but they remain unspoiled by mass tourism, and offer visitors a glimpse of everyday life in the French countryside.

2018’s Best Frequent Flyer Programs

With U.S. airlines expected to carry more than 600 million passengers on domestic flights this year and credit card debt levels exploding, we can expect airfare savings to be increasingly important in the months ahead.

TSA says old driver’s licenses OK for air travel until 2020

Transportation Security Administration spokesman Mike England announced that driver’s licenses from all states will be acceptable identification for domestic US air travel until Oct. 1, 2020. Airport signs had previously warned that licenses from some states would no longer be acceptable as of Jan. 22, 2018.

JetBlue’s ‘All You Can Jet’ Pass Is Back

Courtesy Cynthia Drescher

How many free flights can you fit into one year?

Buy one flight, get a full year of flights for free. It sounds crazy, but it’s true for the next two weeks, as JetBlue awards travelers who book even one ticket on their website with a chance to win one of three ‘All You Can Jet’ passes for 2018. Dubbed “AYCJ” for short, the pass allows for unlimited travel from February 1, 2018 through January 31, 2019. Hopefully winners are bursting with wanderlust, as these AYCJ passes will be valid for flights to the more than 100 cities on JetBlue’s route map, including international destinations like Mexico City, Grand Cayman, Bermuda, St. Lucia, and Cartagena, Colombia.

12 Things You Should Never Do in an Airport Security Line

Courtesy Neil Gladstone

If you’ve ever wondered whether airport agents perform a necessary function, take a look at the TSA Instagram account. You’ll find a stupefying collection of objects confiscated from passengers, including axes, crossbows, and handguns (and that’s just in the last few days). Acting foolishly, though, can get you delayed from a flight or even detained. To help explain what you shouldn’t do in an airport security line, we tapped Lewis Sage-Passant, a former British infantry officer who is trained in intelligence and has worked in security and crisis management for several corporations, including Goldman-Sachs. These days, he runs How Safe Is My Trip, a company that creates advisory reports for people going to risky destinations.

Caribbean Hot Spots and Travel Trends for 2018

Courtesy Gay Nagle Myers

Who is going where this winter? And which destinations are trending? Steve Lassman, vice president of villa product and agency relations for Villas of Distinction, ticked off 2018’s five most sought after villa-vacation destinations, two of which — Turks and Caicos and Jamaica — are in the Caribbean.

Together in Spirit – The Best Friends Animal Society

At the core of Best Friends Animal Society’s work is the dream that one day animals will no longer be killed in America’s shelters.

MORE

5 Smartphone Photography Tips from Thanda Safari

Christian Sperka Resident Wildlife Photographer and Field Guide at South African safari destination says you can travel light and photograph like a heavyweight.

MORE

Changi Airport Singapore is Voted the World’s Best Airport for the 6th Consecutive Year at the 2018 World Airport Awards

Singapore Changi Airport has been named as the World’s Best Airport by air travelers for the sixth consecutive  year at the 2018 Skytrax World Airport Awards, held at Passenger Terminal EXPO in Stockholm, Sweden.

MORE

A New Hotel on Skis Is Launched in Finland, Perfect for Watching the Northern Lights in Bed

Northern Finland is the site of a new hotel experience where a well-appointed glamping cabin is towed into a remote wilderness location, deep in the Arctic Circle. The cabin is one of three rooms that are then moved to an optimal spot for lying back to experience the Northern lights from the comfort of your bed.

MORE

México Tourism Launches New Heritage Initiative in Los Angeles

Fresh off a record-breaking year of visitation, the Mexico Tourism Board is rolling out a new marketing initiative, “Viajemos Todos por México,” (Let’s All Travel Across Mexico), with the aim of attracting many of the 35 million U.S. citizens who identify as being of Mexican descent. The campaign, which celebrates Mexico’s beauty and its cultural and natural wonders, is designed to remind Mexican-Americans that those treasures belong to them.

MORE

The World’s Most Popular Travel Experiences, According to TripAdvisor

Courtesy Carl Unger

TripAdvisor recently released its 2018 Travel Trends Report, naming the most popular travel experiences, tours, and activities booked by its users last year. The data points to a shift toward non-traditional and experiential activities as travelers look to expand their options.

MORE

Top 25 Most Interesting Webcams

Selected from hundreds of nominees by a panel of EarthCam producers, EarthCam announces the most unique and compelling webcams of the year.

MORE

Norwegian Named Value Airline of the Year by Air Transport World

Norwegian, the World’s Best Low-Cost Long-Haul Airline and Airline of the Year 2017, was named on Feb. 12 the Value the Airline of the Year’ by Air Transport World, the leading monthly magazine for the airline industry, and will receive the award at the ATW Airline Industry Achievement Awards on March 28.

The global panel of judges were highly impressed with Norwegian’s achievements and entrepreneurial spirit. Norwegian has truly shaken up the all-important transatlantic market, introducing quality service at low prices, and demonstrating that long-haul can be done at low cost.

MORE

Countries That Require Visas for Americans

The State Department’s Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management (ACS) administers the Consular Information Program, which informs the public of conditions abroad that may affect their safety and security. Country Specific Information, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings are vital parts of this program.

MORE

How to Fight Jet Lag

Being outside during daylight, exercising early and avoiding caffeine, alcohol or nicotine before bedtime can help lessen the effects of jet lag after returning home across time zones. Complete recovery can take multiple days.

MORE

Volunteer Vacations with Projects Abroad

Choosing a volunteer vacation abroad is an increasingly popular option among people looking to do meaningful work during their vacation or career break. You can spend as little as 1 week volunteering in over 30 different countries around the world with Projects Abroad. By spending your vacation as a volunteer with Projects Abroad, you are joining a community of fellow volunteers and local people in developing countries – working hard, traveling, and having a good time while contributing to long-term impact.

MORE

The post Smartphone Photography, Top Airports, Hotel on Skis appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Happy March from the Staff at Traveling Boy

We have designated 2018 to think of those who suffer from great sorry and misfortune. Here are some of our favorite charities.

Greece Cuisine, Culture & Wellness Tour

Featuring Celebrity Chef & Mediterranean Diet Advocate, Amy Riolo

Get Global Expeditions (GGEx) is excited to offer a late spring 2018 journey to Greece that will showcase its effusive hospitality, Zorba-like zest for living, staggering beauty, incredible history, contemporary challenges – and its trademark simple, delicious, and healthy cuisine – for which this country is renowned. GGEx’s Greece expert, Alex Safos, and celebrity chef, author, and Mediterranean Diet advocate, Amy Riolo, will lead this delectable, intimate, enlightening, and picturesque tour.

10 Countries Where the Dollar Goes Furthest in 2018

Courtesy Jamie Moore, SmarterTravel

Here are insider tips on the travel destinations where your dollar goes furthest in 2018.

Can’t Be Topped: Neapolitan-Style Pizza Making Wins UNESCO Heritage Status

Courtesy Amy Held, NPR

When a UNESCO World Heritage Site comes to mind, perhaps it has the natural splendor of the Great Barrier Reef or the imposing mastery of the Pyramids of Giza. Now one may look no further than the humble pizza for world heritage status. No, not the frozen kind, the old-school kind baked in a wood-fired oven. Recently, Pizzaiuolo, the art of Neopolitan pizza-making, was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. UNESCO says the designation is meant to safeguard and raise awareness about forms of cultural heritage — often passed down from generation to generation — before they die out.

Traveling Boy’s Fyllis Hockman Wins Silver Excellence in Travel Journalism

The North American Travel Journalists Association’s (NATJA) Travel Media Awards Competition winners were announced February 5, 2018. The Media Awards are given to publications, travel journalists, and photographers whose work was published in print and online media.

Ms. Hockman took the highly-coveted silver for her stunning blog in Traveling Boy, “Exploring Venice: Lost and Found. And Special Finds. Repeat.” in the Byline Travel Column category, where there were over a 1000 entries in the contest.

Seven Seas Mariner Drydock to Complete Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ $125 Million Fleetwide Refurbishment Program

First all-suite, all-balcony ship to return to Alaskan waters more resplendent than ever and offers three-category upgrade for travelers

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, the most inclusive luxury experience, confirmed details for the upcoming bow-to-stern refurbishment of Seven Seas Mariner, the world’s first all-suite, all-balcony cruise ship. After a 20-day drydock in April 2018 at Chantier Naval de Marseille, Seven Seas Mariner will re-emerge with dramatic new culinary experiences, elegant new suite designs, and completely renewed modern guest spaces. After her drydock refurbishment, Seven Seas Mariner will immediately reposition to the Pacific Northwest to take travelers on a fully immersive, luxury Alaska experience.

2018’s Best Frequent Flyer Programs

With U.S. airlines expected to carry more than 600 million passengers on domestic flights this year and credit card debt levels exploding, we can expect airfare savings to be increasingly important in the months ahead.

France and Germany Top New Sustainable Tourism Index by The Economist Intelligence Unit

TSA says old driver’s licenses OK for air travel until 2020

Transportation Security Administration spokesman Mike England announced that driver’s licenses from all states will be acceptable identification for domestic US air travel until Oct. 1, 2020. Airport signs had previously warned that licenses from some states would no longer be acceptable as of Jan. 22, 2018.

JetBlue’s ‘All You Can Jet’ Pass Is Back

Courtesy Cynthia Drescher

How many free flights can you fit into one year?

Buy one flight, get a full year of flights for free. It sounds crazy, but it’s true for the next two weeks, as JetBlue awards travelers who book even one ticket on their website with a chance to win one of three ‘All You Can Jet’ passes for 2018. Dubbed “AYCJ” for short, the pass allows for unlimited travel from February 1, 2018 through January 31, 2019. Hopefully winners are bursting with wanderlust, as these AYCJ passes will be valid for flights to the more than 100 cities on JetBlue’s route map, including international destinations like Mexico City, Grand Cayman, Bermuda, St. Lucia, and Cartagena, Colombia.

10 of the World’s Craziest Landings

Courtesy Ashley Rossi

These 10 airports have some of the craziest landings in the world. Fretful flyers, you’ve been warned.

Flying can be a nerve-racking experience for fretful travelers; however, landings at these 10 airports are sure to frighten even the most frequent flyers. From an airport at the edge of a cliff to sandy beach landings, here are the world’s craziest runways — consider yourself warned.

12 Things You Should Never Do in an Airport Security Line

Courtesy Neil Gladstone

If you’ve ever wondered whether airport agents perform a necessary function, take a look at the TSA Instagram account. You’ll find a stupefying collection of objects confiscated from passengers, including axes, crossbows, and handguns (and that’s just in the last few days). Acting foolishly, though, can get you delayed from a flight or even detained. To help explain what you shouldn’t do in an airport security line, we tapped Lewis Sage-Passant, a former British infantry officer who is trained in intelligence and has worked in security and crisis management for several corporations, including Goldman-Sachs. These days, he runs How Safe Is My Trip, a company that creates advisory reports for people going to risky destinations.

Top 25 Most Interesting Webcams

Selected from hundreds of nominees by a panel of EarthCam producers, EarthCam announces the most unique and compelling webcams of the year.

8 Weird Things You’re Allowed to Bring on Planes

Courtesy Stefanie Waldek

Many travelers know the drill when it comes to packing your carry-on bag for a flight. Make sure your bag fits the size and weight requirements. Check to see if you’re allowed to bring a personal item in addition to a full-sized carry-on. No liquids greater than 3.4 ounces, no firearms, no large sharp objects. There are seemingly endless banned items, but if you read the fine print, there’s actually a whole range of odd things that you’re actually allowed to fly with. Here, we name eight such items.

1. Falcons
2. Antlers
3. Christmas Trees
4. Pies and Cakes
5. Cremated Remains
6. Camp Stoves
7. Parachutes
8. Bowling Balls

Together in Spirit – The Best Friends Animal Society

At the core of Best Friends Animal Society’s work is the dream that one day animals will no longer be killed in America’s shelters.

MORE

2018’s Best Cities for St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations

Courtesy Diana Popa, WalletHub

With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner and at least $5.9 billion expected to be spent for the holiday this year, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2018’s Best Cities for St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations, along with cool stats about the holiday in its St. Patrick’s Day infographic.

To determine the best cities for celebrating Irish-American heritage, WalletHub compared 200 of the largest U.S. cities across 17 key metrics, ranging from Irish pubs and restaurants per capita to lowest price for a three-star hotel on St. Patrick’s Day to weather forecast.

MORE

México Tourism Launches New Heritage Initiative in Los Angeles

Fresh off a record-breaking year of visitation, the Mexico Tourism Board is rolling out a new marketing initiative, “Viajemos Todos por México,” (Let’s All Travel Across Mexico), with the aim of attracting many of the 35 million U.S. citizens who identify as being of Mexican descent. The campaign, which celebrates Mexico’s beauty and its cultural and natural wonders, is designed to remind Mexican-Americans that those treasures belong to them.

MORE

The World’s Most Popular Travel Experiences, According to TripAdvisor

Courtesy Carl Unger

TripAdvisor recently released its 2018 Travel Trends Report, naming the most popular travel experiences, tours, and activities booked by its users last year. The data points to a shift toward non-traditional and experiential activities as travelers look to expand their options.

MORE

Reinventing Travel: FlixBus Celebrates Five Years of Booming Business

Five years ago, inspired by the deregulation of the German bus market, the first FlixBus hit the road with a goal of providing green and smart mobility for everyone to experience the world. Today, over 100 million people have travelled across Europe with FlixBus, disrupting the traditional view of long-distance travel and supporting the shared mobility trend.

The success of FlixBus spans multiple demographics, with 60 percent of users being females who choose the green buses as their preferred mode of shared mobility due to the safety, comfort and price point. Thirty-three percent of FlixBus customers are between 18 and 25 years old.

MORE

Austrian Wine Walking Tour

Herzerl Tours’ Austrian Wine Walking Tour has been nominated by InfoHub.com as their Unordinary Trip of the Month. InfoHub is the #1 travel portal on the Internet specialized in the out-of-ordinary, special interest adventures. The tour is a great opportunity to feel the taste of the genuine Austrian wine culture. Herzerl Tours is offering our guests a special prize!

MORE

Volunteer Vacations with Projects Abroad

Choosing a volunteer vacation abroad is an increasingly popular option among people looking to do meaningful work during their vacation or career break. You can spend as little as 1 week volunteering in over 30 different countries around the world with Projects Abroad. By spending your vacation as a volunteer with Projects Abroad, you are joining a community of fellow volunteers and local people in developing countries – working hard, traveling, and having a good time while contributing to long-term impact.

MORE

Active Gourmet Holidays: Exceptional Travel Experiences

Unique French Cooking Vacation at Marouatte Castle in Southwest France

Active Gourmet Holidays brings its clients a culinary vacation that is set in a 14^th century fortified castle in Périgord Vert, France. Chateau Marouatte is a stunning castle steeped in history and now fully restored as an amazing family home.

Perched on a hill in the Green Périgord, Marouatte enjoys spectacular panoramic views over the surrounding countryside. This majestic environment is the perfect setting for creativity, inspiration and relaxation and has been a songwriting retreat for invited musicians and songwriters for over 20 years. Creating a culinary retreat was a natural next step.

MORE

Ways to Save in 2018

Eight tips to help keep your travel expenses nominal and your wallet fat this year.

Courtesy Lucas Peterson, New York Times

Last year may have been a disappointing Dumpster fire in countless ways, but it was a great year for travel deals — saving money has never been easier or more accessible to more people. Looking forward to 2018, there’s no reason to think it should be any different. Here are eight tips to help keep your travel expenses nominal and your wallet fat.

MORE

Norwegian Named Value Airline of the Year by Air Transport World

Norwegian, the World’s Best Low-Cost Long-Haul Airline and Airline of the Year 2017, was named on Feb. 12 the Value the Airline of the Year’ by Air Transport World, the leading monthly magazine for the airline industry, and will receive the award at the ATW Airline Industry Achievement Awards on March 28.

The global panel of judges were highly impressed with Norwegian’s achievements and entrepreneurial spirit. Norwegian has truly shaken up the all-important transatlantic market, introducing quality service at low prices, and demonstrating that long-haul can be done at low cost.

MORE

Countries That Require Visas for Americans

The State Department’s Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management (ACS) administers the Consular Information Program, which informs the public of conditions abroad that may affect their safety and security. Country Specific Information, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings are vital parts of this program.

MORE

Caribbean Hot Spots and Travel Trends for 2018

Courtesy Gay Nagle Myers

Who is going where this winter? And which destinations are trending? Steve Lassman, vice president of villa product and agency relations for Villas of Distinction, ticked off 2018’s five most sought after villa-vacation destinations, two of which — Turks and Caicos and Jamaica — are in the Caribbean.

MORE

12 Ways to Have a Luxury Vacation for Less

Luxury travel usually means expensive travel. But you can take upscale vacations without breaking the bank. Here are some outside-the-box ways to get almost as much…for a lot less.

By Karen Tina Harrison

Choose Emerging over Established Destinations

It’s very hard to economize in a super-expensive destination. So my advice is: to save money, don’t go there. Think different. Go to a place that delivers a lot of what you love about your fantasy destination, but at real-life tabs.

Here are some ideas

How to Fight Jet Lag

Being outside during daylight, exercising early and avoiding caffeine, alcohol or nicotine before bedtime can help lessen the effects of jet lag after returning home across time zones. Complete recovery can take multiple days.

MORE

The post Catch Up With the Latest Traveling Boy News appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Greece Cuisine, Culture & Wellness Tour

Featuring Celebrity Chef & Mediterranean Diet Advocate, Amy Riolo

Get Global Expeditions (GGEx) is excited to offer a late spring 2018 journey to Greece that will showcase its effusive hospitality, Zorba-like zest for living, staggering beauty, incredible history, contemporary challenges – and its trademark simple, delicious, and healthy cuisine – for which this country is renowned. GGEx’s Greece expert, Alex Safos, and celebrity chef, author, and Mediterranean Diet advocate, Amy Riolo, will lead this delectable, intimate, enlightening, and picturesque tour.

This unique, off-the-beaten path itinerary includes: cosmopolitan, pulsing Athens, with its iconic Acropolis, world-class museums, gamut of cafes and gourmet-to-street food eateries, and spirit of perseverance; the fabled, scenic nearby island of Samos, birthplace of Hera; the philosopher, Epicurus; and famous mathematician but lesser-known “Father of Vegetarianism in the West,” Pythagoras; and the “Blue Zone” island of Ikaria, rugged and wild in the northeast Aegean, where indigenous diet (secret: honey) and lifestyle practices (secret: time is elastic) nurture an active population largely free of chronic diseases and cognitive impairment well into their 90s.

This experiential insiders’ expedition will include hands-on cooking classes, wine-tastings, characteristic dining, olive oil/spice workshops, culinary lectures, cultural enrichment encounters, and independent time for R&R, swimming, shopping, antiquities touring, and sampling the diverse local fare (pastitsio, hortopita, soufiko, gigantes, gyros+fries á la Grecque, baklava, loukomades, outstanding wine, and clairvoyant Greek coffee). Join us and go deeper into this legendary culture through its sincere food and people!

Who: Chef Amy Riolo and Alex Safos
What: Greece Cuisine, Culture & Wellness Tour
When: June 11-22, 2017
Where: Athens, Ikaria, Samos
Why: Learn more on Chef Amy Riolo’s blog
How: Payment information (New Deadline April 26^th)

2018’s Best Cities for St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations

A WalletHub Press Release

With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner and at least $5.9 billion expected to be spent for the holiday this year, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2018’s Best Cities for St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations, along with cool stats about the holiday in its St. Patrick’s Day infographic.

To determine the best cities for celebrating Irish-American heritage, WalletHub compared 200 of the largest U.S. cities across 17 key metrics, ranging from Irish pubs and restaurants per capita to lowest price for a three-star hotel on St. Patrick’s Day to weather forecast.

Top 20 Cities for St. Patrick’s Day

To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-cities-for-st-patricks-day-celebrations/19603/

St. Patrick’s Day Facts

• 819%: Increase in Guinness consumption on St. Patrick’s Day compared to the rest of the year (152.5% more beer is sold overall)
• $1.3 Million: Market value of a leprechaun’s pot of gold
• $5.9 Billion: Amount that will be spent collectively on St. Patrick’s Day 2018 ($40 per person celebrating)
• 33.1 Million: Number of Americans who claim Irish ancestry, second only to German and 7x Ireland’s population

For the full infographic, please visit: https://wallethub.com/blog/st-patricks-day-facts/10960/

México Tourism Launches New Heritage Initiative in Los Angeles

Fresh off a record-breaking year of visitation, the Mexico Tourism Board is rolling out a new marketing initiative, “Viajemos Todos por México,” (Let’s All Travel Across Mexico), with the aim of attracting many of the 35 million U.S. citizens who identify as being of Mexican descent. The campaign, which celebrates Mexico’s beauty and its cultural and natural wonders, is designed to remind Mexican-Americans that those treasures belong to them.

The initiative was first announced on Feb 27 at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE (Platinum Ballroom), hosted by Enrique de la Madrid, Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism, in partnership with the Mexico Tourism Board CEO Hector Flores and Carlos Garcia de Alba, the Consul General of the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles. The day-long series of events included a reception which drew more than 300 attendees, including U.S. and Mexican tourism companies, community and industry leaders, media and other influencers in the Mexican-American and tourism community.

The presentations by the impressive group of dignitaries, was quite illumination: Mexico is the 8^th most visited nation in the world, and that U.S is the #1 nation for tourism to Mexico, followed by Canada, UK, Argentina and Colombia. Statistics show that Mexican-Americans tend to travel internationally 2.5 times more than the average U.S. citizen, meaning that they make up a lucrative travel market that Mexico is keen to capture more of.

The tourism secretary announced last week that a record number of international tourists visited Mexico last year but added that the figure could continue to grow to reach 50 million annual visitors by 2021. “Our mission is to ensure that Mexico continues to sustain its track record of above-industry average growth for many years to come, and this includes seeking new ways to engage specific markets and audience segments that present opportunities for the industry,” said Enrique de la Madrid.

Mexican-Americans are an attractive audience segment for the Mexico Tourism Board, as they tend to travel internationally about 2.5 times more than the average American. Mexico is hoping to capture more of that market, as it encourages Mexican-Americans to visit family or friends in Mexico while also discovering and reconnecting with their heritage. “Most people of Mexican descent live in California,” said Consul General Carlos Garcia de Alba. “And of the 58 counties in California, Los Angeles has by far the largest number of Mexican-Americans.”

The campaign will showcase more than 200 Mexican destinations through “Mexican Routes” guides and offers travelers more than 1,000 tourism packages to Mexico

An integral component of the campaign will be promoting Mexico’s “Pueblos Mágicos” (magical towns).

Author Richard Carroll, a contributor to the travel website, Traveling Boy, spoke earlier in the day. Carroll has lived in Mexico and written books on travel promoting the nation. “Enjoying Mexico’s music and art, their internationally recognized cuisine, and 3,000 year old archaeological sites, are a special travel memory,” said Carroll.

Here’s a look back at some of Mr. Carroll’s past articles about Mexico:

• Take Pleasure in La Paz
• Lift a Fork in Puerto Vallarta
• Playa del Carmen Blossoms
• Las Alamandas Awaits

The tourism secretary and Mexico Tourism Board will also host promotional events for the campaign in New York, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Miami, but chose Los Angeles for the kick-off event, due to the large number of Mexican Americans living in the area.

The “Viajemos Todos por México” initiative is a sub-component of the Mexico Tourism Board’s larger, global “World of Its Own” campaign that launched last year, which focuses on personalizing marketing efforts by country and audience segment.

Mexico enjoyed a healthy surge of visitation in 2017. While final numbers are still being tallied, it is estimated that the number of air arrivals in Mexico from the U.S. grew by more than 9.6 over 2016. In total, a record-breaking 39.3 million international visitors traveled to Mexico in 2017, representing a 12 percent increase over the previous year. The tourism board recently announced it is hoping to welcome 50 million visitors by 2021.

10 Countries Where the Dollar Goes Furthest in 2018

 Courtesy Jamie Moore, SmarterTravel

Here are insider tips on the travel destinations where your dollar goes furthest in 2018.

Japan

Now is a great time to leverage the strong dollar in Japan before prices rise and crowds descend on Tokyo for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. This year, the yen is expected to depreciate 4.3 percent against the U.S. dollar, according to the 2018 Global Travel Forecast by the GBTA Foundation. The forecast also anticipates a 6.3 percent drop in airfare and 4.1 percent drop in hotel rates. Gearing up to host the world for the Olympics, Japan is opening a series of new and revamped hotels in the mountains around Tokyo.

If you go: Don’t miss the temples and hot springs. The luxury KAI Alps Ryokan recently reopened near the Omachi Hot Springs in Nagano. In 2018, you can watch new Olympic venues under construction — including the Olympic Aquatics Centre, the National Stadium, and the Ariake Arena — start to take shape.

Book it: Get prices for Tokyo hotels

Denmark

Denmark isn’t typically chalked up as an affordable travel destination for Americans, but the dollar goes further in 2018. As of January, Denmark’s currency was undervalued against the U.S. dollar by 6.6 percent, according to The Economist magazine’s annual Big Mac Index currency comparison tool. And, although airfare and hotel rates are expected to jump more than 3 percent across the globe this year, they’ll likely fall about a percentage point in Denmark, notes the 2018 Global Travel Forecast.

If you go: Head to Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens for special 175^th anniversary events in 2018. Flights to the Denmark capital are surprisingly reasonable — a recent Airfarewatchdog search for round-trip flights turned up fares like $502 from Seattle in May, $444 from New York’s JFK in May and June, $399 from Boston in April and May, and $421 from Los Angeles in April.

Book it: Get prices for Copenhagen hotels

Brazil

A strong dollar will take you deeper into Brazil’s colorful culture this year, giving you more chances to make your dollar go further while embracing iconic experiences like Copacabana Beach, samba shows, and even World Cup soccer mania. Although Russia is hosting the FIFA World Cup in June, Brazil is the top-ranked favorite, and is sure to draw game-day crowds watching from sunny plazas and bar stools throughout Brazil. This year, the country has loosened travel visa restrictions for Americans, dropping the cost from $160 to $40. Relatively steep declines of 8.7 percent are expected in the country’s 2018 hotel prices. The Global Travel Forecast projection coincides with a booming hotel market in Brazil, where both Hilton and Accor Hotels recently announced expansion plans.

If you go: Tour the national soccer team’s Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. An Airfarewatchdog search found round-trip flights to Rio from Miami for $597 in May and Boston for $716 in April.

Book it: Get prices for Rio de Janeiro hotels

New Zealand

This year, New Zealand’s currency is undervalued by 14.6 percent compared to the greenback, which means you can have fun imagining everything is on sale at 14 percent off. If you’re a Lord of the Rings fan who hasn’t seen the Hobbiton movie set or you’re a nature lover longing to soak in New Zealand’s geothermal mud baths, then 2018 is the year to go to make your dollar go further. Over the next six months, you’ll likely score hotel deals: Airfarewatchdog search data found the average three-star hotel rate in Auckland was $95 per night during that period. Round-trip flights to Auckland start at $726 from San Francisco in May and August and $742 from Houston in June.

If you go: Before you go, watch episode one of BBC’s new Blue Planet II nature documentary miniseries, which debuted in the U.S. in January. It features bottlenose dolphins and rare false killer whales that swim together in the waters off the north coast of New Zealand each spring.

Book it: Get prices for Auckland hotels

Morocco

You need not be a professional haggler to score at Morocco’s marketplaces this year; the 2018 Global Travel Forecast is projecting Moroccan currency to depreciate 7.7 percent against the dollar. The strong dollar will go further in the narrow alleys of the souks in 2018 and, according to the forecast, getting to Morocco will also be cheaper. Experts foresee a 7.4 percent drop in hotel rates and 5.8 percent drop in airfare. For March travel, Airfarewatchdog listed flights from Washington, D.C., to Casablanca for $750 round-trip.

If you go: Skip Marrakech and make your dollar go further by visiting the mosques and medinas in Casablanca instead. “Casa,” as locals call it, is one of TripAdvisor’s 2018 Top 10 Destinations on the Rise. Visitors say it’s Morocco’s most cosmopolitan, Western-feeling city.

Book it: Get prices for Casablanca hotels

Vietnam

Get a beer for only 16 cents per glass in Vietnam’s capital city, ranked the world’s cheapest city to visit in 2018. Price of Travel’s 2018 Backpacker Index listed Vietnam’s Hanoi (#1) and Hoi An (#4) on the annual index of 138 international cities listed from cheapest to most expensive. In Hanoi, get your fill of pho soup and street food between visits to markets and little temples, or sit down at a tourist restaurant where the average meal is under $3. Three-star hotels averag $17 to $55 a night, according to the index. This year the 2018 Global Travel Forecast sees Vietnam’s currency depreciating 7.6 percent against the dollar and airfares dropping 6.3 percent.

If you go: Stay at Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa, ranked #4 on TripAdvisor’s 2018 Travellers’ Choice Top 25 Hotels in the World. On the northeast coast, the Quang Ninh province is the 2018 National Tourism Year host with 51 cultural, sports, and tourism events scheduled.

Book it: Get prices for Hanoi hotels

Costa Rica

Plan your Costa Rica yoga or surf retreat, or book a beach escape in 2018 while the country’s currency is valued 23.7 percent less than the dollar. The Global Travel Forecast expects it to depreciate another 4 percent, making this a good time to make every dollar go further. You’ll get the most for your money in San Jose, which ranks as the #6 cheapest South and Central American city on the 2018 Backpacker Index. Or fly into Liberia in the Guanacaste region, a mid-priced beach area. According to a recent Airfarewatchdog search, three-star hotels in Liberia average $72 per night over the next six months.

If you go: There’s lots to do in San Jose, the country’s capital city that sits at number six on TripAdvisor’s 2018 Top Destinations on the Rise list. Tour the coffee plantations on the city’s outskirts and try fresh-roasted beans at the central market. The new gastronomy market in the city’s Barrio Escalante is worth a stop before you head into the tropical rainforest for ziplining and hiking.

Book it: Get prices for San Jose, Costa Rica, hotels

Argentina

Now more than ever, Latin America’s tourist destinations are offering rich experiences that rival Europe — all for a lot less coin thanks to undervalued currencies. The Argentine peso is undervalued by 25 percent against the strong dollar and predicted to fall 7.7 percent in 2018. Buenos Aires is a bargain compared to Barcelona. And its classic architecture, cafe-lined streets, esteemed museums, and foodie scene are no less enchanting.

If you go: You can find nightly rates of $90 at three-star hotels in Buenos Aires in the next six months. Most people only day trip from Buenos Aires to the iconic Iguazu Falls, but this year you can overnight at the new Awasi Iguazu lodge in the rainforest near the falls.

Book it: Get prices for Buenos Aires hotels

Mexico

Of the countries listed here, the dollar goes furthest in Mexico. The peso is undervalued by 51.3 percent, according to The Economist’s 2018 Big Mac Index. Hotels and flights are also affordable. The average price for a three-star hotel in Puerto Vallarta over the next six months is $92 per night. In Mexico City it’s $104, according to Airfarewatchdog search data. Flights into Mexico City are a particularly good deal: Search data uncovered $224 round-trip flights from Los Angeles in March, $206 from Orlando in March, $263 from Baltimore in March and April, and $230 from Houston in April and May.

If you go: This year, check out special events and the innovative design in Mexico City, named the 2018 World Design Capital. Also try the new space-age Izzzleep Hotel sleep pods in Mexico City International Airport.

The World’s Most Popular Travel Experiences, According to TripAdvisor

Courtesy Carl Unger

TripAdvisor recently released its 2018 Travel Trends Report, naming the most popular travel experiences, tours, and activities booked by its users last year. The data points to a shift toward non-traditional and experiential activities as travelers look to expand their options.

That doesn’t mean travelers are neglecting the old standbys, however. The most-booked experiences include a skip-the-line pass for the Vatican Museums, St. Peters, and Sistine Chapel; the Chicago River Architecture Cruise; and admission to iconic sites including the Sagrada Familia and Eiffel Tower. Here are the rankings:

TripAdvisor’s Most Popular Travel Experiences, Globally

• Skip the line: Vatican Museums, St Peter’s, Sistine Chapel
• Chicago Architecture River Cruise
• Skip the line: Ancient Rome and Colosseum Half-Day Walking Tour
• Rome Hop-On, Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour
• Priority Access: Barcelona Sagrada Familia Tour
• Eiffel Tower Summit: Priority access with host
• Warner Bros Studio: The Making of Harry Potter with Luxury Round-Trip Transport from London
• Empire State Building Tickets
• Murano, Burano, and Torcello half-day sightseeing tour
• Tuscany in One Day Sightseeing Tour

TripAdvisor’s Most Popular Travel Experiences in the U.S.

• Chicago Architecture River Cruise
• Empire State Building Tickets
• NYC One World Observatory: Skip the line
• USS Midway Museum: Skip the line (San Diego)
• New York City PASS
• Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Guided Tour
• Skydeck Chicago: Admission
• Big Bus New York Hop-on, Hop-off
• 9/11 Memorial Museum Admission
• Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Tour

According to TripAdvisor, “historic and heritage experiences saw the most growth (+125 percent in bookings), and culinary travel is an up swinging trend: cooking classes and food tours both appeared among the top five categories, each with 57 percent bookings’ growth. By gross booking value, food tours saw the most growth in 2017.”

It’s important to remember that these numbers reflect bookings made on TripAdvisor, as opposed to trends observed across booking sites. Still, the insight of a popular booking site can help travelers during the planning process. These activities are in higher demand and may be worth booking well in advance of your trip. Lists like this can also help travelers avoid overcrowded activities, if you’re not into crowds.

It’s also a good idea to shop around and read reviews to make sure you select a good provider. You don’t want to end up with random fly-by-night outfit capitalizing on a trend.

The post 2018 Travel Destination Tips and Most Popular Travel Experiences appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Anthony Bourdain’s Most Interesting Places to Eat in America Right Now

Despite getting his start in kitchens, as painstakingly detailed in his memoir Kitchen Confidential, Anthony Bourdain will be the first person to say he doesn’t have much of an interest in restaurants, at least not in the conventional sense.

Countries Difficult for Americans to Visit

In spite of broad generalizations that Americans have no interest in leaving their own borders, US citizens are traveling abroad in record numbers. According to the US National Tourism Office, nearly 67 million Americans chose to take an international trip in 2016. The world may be our oyster, but some countries impose harsh visa requirements that may hinder American tourism.

Beatle Beat Trivia

In the ‘The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Write” by Steve Turner (2017), John Lennon claimed there were two songs which were recycled from previous Beatle songs:

Anytime At All

Yes It Is

Name the previous songs in which they were based.

(answers below)

Every Berlin Neighborhood You Need to Know

Courtesy Erin Porter

Once made up of many small villages, Berlin is a sprawling city that can be confusing to travelers. Each of its twelve districts has its own feel and personality, so here’s what to keep in mind.

“Games of Thrones”-Themed Ice Hotel Opens in Finland

A “Game of Thrones”-themed ice hotel complete with a bar and a chapel for weddings has opened in northern Finland in a joint effort by a local hotel chain and the U.S. producers of the hit TV series.

Shaq Fits the Fun Ship Brand

Former basketball star Shaquille O’Neal is now Carnival’s newly-named Chief Fun Officer. Yes, Shaquille O’Neal. Of course it makes sense for he embodies the kind of people Carnival wants on its ships: social, happy and a tad goofy around the edges.

It Sifts from Leaden Sieves

A winter poem by Emily Dickinson

It sifts from leaden sieves,
It powders all the wood,
It fills with alabaster wool
The wrinkles of the road.

It makes an even face
Of mountain and of plain, —
Unbroken forehead from the east
Unto the east again.

It reaches to the fence,
It wraps it, rail by rail,
Till it is lost in fleeces;
It flings a crystal veil

On stump and stack and stem, —
The summer’s empty room,
Acres of seams where harvests were,
Recordless, but for them.

It ruffles wrists of posts,
As ankles of a queen, —
Then stills its artisans like ghosts,
Denying they have been.

Send Deb your favorite travel poems.

Here’s How Being in Power Messes With Your Brain, According to Science

From the bully on the playground to the big-wig in the corner office, power dynamics are everywhere in our lives.

Courtesy Hilary Brueck, BUSINESS INSIDER

A flood of allegations that powerful men in media, politics, and tech have been abusing their positions of power and preying on those below them have surfaced in recent months. High-profile figures including Harvey Weinstein, President Donald Trump, Kevin Spacey, Matt Lauer, Roy Moore and, Senator Al Franken and have been accused of various kinds of unwanted advances, including exposing themselves to co-workers and employees, groping, and rape. People are starting to wonder: Is there something about the rush of being in power that leads people to commit these despicable actions?

Science suggests that there are unusual things happening in the brains of power-holders.

Hands down, this Canadian gem is our pick for the most hilarious, madcap travel show on the cybersphere.

Here’s a look back as the Travel Guys take on Las Vegas.

Random Acts of Canine Kindness

Cedric the Dog takes a well-earned break after organizing a protest at an alt–right Neo-Nazi rally in Idaho.

Dog Quotations

Discover Your Adventure Personality

Quiz Matches Your Personality To Dream Vacation

Royal Caribbean and the personality experts at CPP-The Myers-Briggs® Company have teamed up to help travelers discover what excites, rejuvenates and fulfills them most on vacation. Adventure for some means zooming down zip lines or traversing mountains – and for others it means exploring exotic cuisines, or making new friends in faraway places. Take this personality quiz, and find out what’s your adventure vibe!

Take the Quiz here

Around the World with Carry-on Luggage Only

Jill Paider travels around the world with only a carry-on suitcase. Here are her top tips for packing light.

MORE

Alcatraz Inmates Survived Infamous 1962 Escape, Letter Suggests

It is one of America’s greatest mysteries: What happened to three men after they pulled off a daring prison break at Alcatraz in 1962? Only the worst criminals were sent to Alcatraz. And for 29 years, it was the most secure federal prison in the country – surrounded by the cold, rough waters of the Pacific. But brothers John and Clarence Anglin and Frank Morris disappeared into the night and have never been found.

MORE

Time Capsule Cinema

Klute – A Look Back

By Walt Mundkowsky

MORE

This Turkish Man’s Terrifying Buzz Cut Is Going Viral on Instagram

Over the past three days, a video of Erkek Saç, from Antalya, Turkey, haphazardly shaving off another man’s hair has been viewed 1.1 million times. It starts off with Saç dangling the aforementioned clippers over the man’s head and letting it buzz off chunks of hair in the process. If Saç held the clippers a couple inches lower or if the cord swung in the wrong direction, this video would have gone viral for completely different reasons.

Read more and watch the video here

The Best Photos of 2017

From Harry to Kendrick to Paris, the year’s best original images that appeared in the pages of ‘Rolling Stone’ and RollingStone.com

From Aguirre, the Wrath of God and The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser to Heart of Glass and Stroszek –  German director Werner Herzog is still obsessively seeking a deeper truth.

MORE

30 Easy, Healthy New Year’s Resolutions

Courtesy Jenny Sugar, PopSugar.fitness.com

New Year’s resolutions don’t have to feel overwhelming and impossible! Here are 30 easy changes you can make this year that won’t take much effort, but will make you feel healthier and happier.

MORE

Where Are They Now

Numerous publications have listed an end-of-the-year in memoriam of the passing of famous figures we lost in 2017. Here’s list of actors that are still with us, but have slipped from the limelight.

MORE

Beatle Beat Trivia Answers

In the “The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Write” by Steve Turner (2017), John Lennon claimed there were two songs which were recycled from previous Beatle songs:

‘Anytime At All’ son of ‘It Won’t Be Long,’ which used same chord progression from C to A minor and back. Plus employing the same bawling vocal style.

‘Yes It Is’  son of ‘This Boy,’ same chords, harmonies & “double-Dutch” words.

The post Humor, Facts & Stats, Trivia and More appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Flight Deal: $69 on Wow Air to Iceland

It’s been noted in the past that not every $69 flight is worth it. Sometimes, they actually end up more expensive than if you had booked with a more traditional airline. But today, one of the few opportunities to get a real deal is back: Wow Air is offering $69 one-way flights to Iceland. That means round-trip fares as low as $200—nearly 50 percent off the usual cost.

Since the northern lights are most active through April, it’s an ideal time to visit Iceland. But there’s much more to do beyond the aurora borealis. You could hop on a tour with Hidden Iceland, an independent travel agency that aims to get you to the most famous spots—Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, the Golden Circle—with local guides who know the best routes to avoid the crowds. Or you could take your trip into your own hands on an Icelandic road-trip, stopping at the lava fields, hot springs, and luxury resorts outside of Reykjavik.

Spanning flights between January 19 and April 24, the deal is available for those flying in and out of Baltimore, Pittsburgh, New York City (Newark), Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco. And yes, you’ll need to take these fares with a grain of salt if you’re not willing to fly according to the airline’s rules. If you want to take a carry-on bag, it will cost you $40 each way, a checked bag will cost $50 each way, selecting a seat will cost around $8, and meals are between $10 and $15. If you do the bare minimum—a personal item, a carry-on, and a meal—on the six-hour flight from the east coast (or nine-hour from the west), it’ll cost you about $100 in fees, which is still reasonable for the transatlantic flight.

How to book: If the possibility of packing your own food to avoid fees hasn’t scared you away, go to Google Flights to see what days Wow Air flies out of your city. When looking at the calendar, the lowest round-trip fares will be highlighted in green, like $220 for New York City or $200 for Chicago. From there you can book directly on Wow, and make the fee-based decisions that work best for your comfort and budget.

2018’s Best Frequent Flyer Programs

With U.S. airlines expected to carry more than 600 million passengers on domestic flights this year and credit card debt levels exploding, we can expect airfare savings to be increasingly important in the months ahead.

To help travelers make the best decisions for their wallets, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2018’s Best Frequent Flyer Programs, which ranks the 10 largest domestic airlines based on 23 key metrics, ranging from the value of a point/mile to blackout dates for rewards flights. WalletHub’s report also features a custom calculator that allows users to personalize the results based on their own budgets. You can find a few highlights from those results below.

• Delta SkyMiles is the best frequent flyer program for the third straight year.
• The average airline rewards program gives frequent flyers 12% off their airline spending. And they’re all free to join.
• Hawaiian Airlines offers the most rewards value to frequent flyers ($19.95 per $100 spent), with Alaska Airlines coming in a close second ($19.87 per $100 spent).
• Four of the 10 largest airlines are offering more rewards in 2018 than in 2017, sweetening the pot by an average of 20%.
• Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways are the only two major airlines whose miles do not expire because of inactivity.
• The Frontier Airlines Credit Card and the Lufthansa Credit Card are 2018’s best airline credit cards, according to WalletHub’s editors.

For the full report, including the custom calculator go here.

Mark Twain’s Travel Quotes

New Year’s Day – Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions.
Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.
Yesterday, everybody smoked his last cigar, took his last drink, and swore his last oath.
Today, we are a pious and exemplary community.

Thirty days from now, we shall have cast our reformation to the winds and gone to cutting our ancient shortcomings considerably shorter than ever. We shall also reflect pleasantly upon how we did the same old thing last year about this time. However, go in, community. New Year’s is a harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody save as a scapegoat for promiscuous drunks, and friendly calls, and humbug resolutions, and we wish you to enjoy it with a looseness suited to the greatness of the occasion.

Make Your New Year Resolutions – Travel-utions

Make 2018 the year you resolve to travel with the World Nomads New Year Travelutions (sorry, we know it’s lame)

Courtesy Phil Sylvester, World Nomads

Travel will make your 2018 one to remember if you follow these New Year travel resolutions.

I Resolve to Get In Shape

There’s nothing like a big challenge on the horizon – say, a Patagonia trek, or a cycling trip through Vietnam, or even two weeks of wearing mostly a bathing suit – to inspire you to hit the gym or go on some training hikes or rides. As part of your trip preparation, make sure to purchase travel insurance for your journey, because injuries and accidents can happen to even the fittest individual.

I Resolve to Improve My Work/Life Balance

Taking time off to travel doesn’t need to interfere with your career. In fact, it can even improve it.

According to a recent survey from the Society for Human Resource Management, nearly 17 percent of American employers now offer sabbaticals (this includes both paid and unpaid). Studies have shown that sabbaticals not only improve employee morale and reduce stress, but they also benefit the company by improving organizational flexibility and allowing aspiring employees to grow and take on more responsibility.

If your employer isn’t on board with sabbaticals yet, those stats might help you make the business case for your extended leave. Career coach Tara Russell, founder of Three Month Visa Coaching and Consulting, says it’s important to think like your boss and “speak corporate” when negotiating your leave. “Your boss doesn’t care that you want to backpack around the world and find yourself – they care that you’ll be a far better and more productive employee when you come back.”

Point out that strategic rest and renewal is essential for personal creativity. And, says Russell, “be ready to emphasize the experiences you plan to pursue and skill sets you hope to establish and/or strengthen during your time off which would ultimately be useful to your employer when you come home.”

Once you’ve made your case and gotten your employer’s green light, start planning with World Nomad’s new Insider’s Guide to Your Ultimate Gap Year. Not just for college kids, this guide offers over 400 tips and guidelines from seasoned travelers on how to make the most of your big adventure.

I Resolve to Learn a New Skill

Maybe you’re determined to become a great cook, or speak fluent Spanish, or learn how to surf in 2018. By taking a course at a destination, you won’t just learn the skill, you’ll also be immersed in the surrounding culture – the colors and smells of the local market, the street signs in the local language, the conversations going on all around you. Studies have shown that people learn more effectively and retain information better when multiple senses are engaged.

As the Chinese proverb says, “Tell me and I’ll forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I’ll understand.”

I Resolve to Give Back

From places devastated by hurricanes, to communities suffering poverty, to wilderness areas suffering the impacts of climate change, there are many places around the world – or even within your own country – that could use your help. One way to make a difference is to go and spend your tourism dollars to help places like the Caribbean recover.

You can also donate to worthy organizations. Through World Nomads’ Footprints program, customers can give micro-donations to projects in destinations they care about.

If you prefer a more hands-on approach, there are many voluntourism opportunities around the globe – but first, make sure the organization is reputable and shares your values, and that the project either matches your skillset or offers training. Check out World Nomads’ Insider’s Guide to Your Ultimate Gap Year for more tips.

I Resolve to Travel More

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Location/Closest City: Atlanta, Georgia
Airport Code: ATL

Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is the busiest passenger airport in the world (Beijing comes in second), with more than 100 million passengers a year, according to a traffic report by Airports Council International. It services the bustling Southern city of Atlanta and is the primary airport for visitors to the Southeast U.S. Plus, it’s only a two-hour flight from 80 percent of the US population. More than Many southern regional airlines operate out of Hartsfield-Jackson and Delta Airlines has its hub here. ATL has 151 domestic and 28 international gates.

Guide to the Atlanta Airport

O’Hare International Airport

Location/Closest City: Chicago, Illinois
Airport Code: ORD

O’Hare was the busiest airport in the United States for years until Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson took that title away in the late 1990s. O’Hare is a major connecting airport for destinations in the Midwest and is a hub for United Airlines

Guide to O’Hare International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport

Location/Closest City: Los Angeles, California
Airport Code: LAX

Los Angeles International is undergoing renovations to help handle the influx of visitors from Asia and the Pacific. Visit their site to check out the latest updates, tips for navigating the airport, and more. Besides being the main airport for travelers to Los Angeles, Hollywood, and Southern California, LAX handles many connections to Hawaii and destinations on the West Coast. Check out this Guide to Los Angeles Airports, including LAX and nearby airports in Burbank, Long Beach, Santa Ana, and Ontario.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

Location/Closest City: Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas
Airport Code: DFW

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is the busiest airport in the state of Texas. Because of the airport’s size, the airport has its own postal code and post office. DFW has also been named one of the nation’s most tech-friendly airports. American Airlines has a hub at DFW.

Guide to Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport

John F. Kennedy International Airport

Location/Closest City: New York City
Airport Code: JFK

The main international airport for New York City, JFK sees arrivals and departures from almost every international airline in the world. While a number of domestic flights are handled at JFK, the nearby LaGuardia Airport (near the end of this list) is NYC’s main domestic airport. American Airlines and Delta Airlines have a large number of connections through JFK, as does the popular, low-cost airline JetBlue Airways.

Guide to John F. Kennedy International Airport

Denver International Airport

Location/Closest City: Denver, Colorado
Airport Code: DEN

Denver International Airport is the largest airport by area in the United States (it’s twice the size of Manhattan!). Many regional carriers, particularly Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines.  Travelers visiting the western states of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Montana, and New Mexico will likely travel via Denver.

Guide to Denver International Airport

San Francisco International Airport

Location/Closest City: San Francisco, California
Airport Code: SFO

With three domestic terminals and one international terminal, San Francisco International Airport is the second largest airport in California and serves as a hub for West Coast travelers to and from Europe and Asia. The hip airline Virgin America has its base of operations at SFO and United has a large hub here. It’s won awards for its green design and efforts to reduce waste, water use, and greenhouse gases .

San Francisco Airport Alternatives, including San Jose and Oakland Airports.

McCarran International Airport

Location/Closest City: Las Vegas, Nevada
Airport Code: LAS

Although the glitz of Las Vegas is minutes away, travelers need not leave the McCarran International Airport to gamble, as there are more than 1,000 slot machines available to avid gamblers right inside the terminals. Airlines that serve LAS include low-cost carriers like Southwest and Spirit, as well as United, American, and Delta.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Location/Closest City: Phoenix, Arizona
Airport Code: PHX

Serving Phoenix and points in throughout the Southwest, Phoenix Sky Harbor has 120 gates in three terminals. It’s also dubbed “America’s Friendliest Airport” for its stellar customer service. The main airlines here are U.S. Airways and Southwest.​

Guide to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

George Bush Intercontinental Airport

Location/Closest City: Houston, Texas
Airport Code: IAH

United Airlines’ largest hub is at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, but it is far from the only carrier that services this busy Texan airport. Alaskan, American and Delta airlines also service the airport. The busiest routes to and from IAH include points in Central and South America.

Caribbean Hot Spots and Travel Trends for 2018

Courtesy Gay Nagle Myers

Who is going where this winter? And which destinations are trending? Steve Lassman, vice president of villa product and agency relations for Villas of Distinction, ticked off 2018’s five most sought after villa-vacation destinations, two of which — Turks and Caicos and Jamaica — are in the Caribbean.

“Villa bookings to the Turks and Caicos are growing rapidly, as guests are looking for islands with wonderful white sand beaches, staffed villas and award-winning restaurants, and the Turks and Caicos checks off all these boxes,” Lassman said. With growing air service from the U.S. and Canada, “it’s easier than ever to get there,” he said.

He said that a villa vacation in Jamaica, meanwhile, “continues to provide the best value of any Caribbean villa experience. Staff, including a chef, butler, housekeeper and laundress are included in the cost of most Jamaica villas, making each villa personalized vacation with a staff to cater to everyone’s need.”

Another big draw for Jamaica is the variety of activities available, from snorkeling and scuba to hiking, ziplining and viewing Jamaica’s 27 native species at the Rocklands Feeding Station wildlife attraction.

In its 2018 Luxe Report, Virtuoso advisers offered insights into 2018’s biggest destinations and what to expect in travel for the year ahead.

Virtuoso’s research showed that unspoiled natural beauty continues to motivate travelers, who also want to explore new destinations, push beyond their comfort zone and challenge themselves to try something unexpected, like swimming with mantas, shark dives, ziplining, ballooning or hiking.

All those activities can be found and experienced in the Caribbean, yet Cuba was the only Caribbean destination to appear on any of Virtuoso’s lists of top global, millennial, family, emerging, adventure and honeymoon destinations.

Cuba fell into one of Virtuoso’s top five emerging destinations, and the country’s visitor numbers this year are evidence of its growing global popularity, including U.S. travelers. The island was expected to top 4.7 million visitors by year’s end, up from four million last year.

I spoke with Ellen Carpenter, editor in chief of Ink Publishing, a travel media company producing numerous consumer travel publications, including several airline inflight magazines.

“Although some of the Caribbean islands experienced one of the worst hurricane seasons in recent years, many believe that the region will maintain its strong position in the vacation industry as islands recover and reopen, which several already have,” Carpenter said.

“There are plenty of islands that endured minimal damage and are expecting a big year ahead,” she added. “We are putting that message in many of our stories that appear in our publications.”

She cited Puerto Rico as an example of one of the hardest hit islands, “but that doesn’t mean one shouldn’t go. Voluntourism is picking up steam as an important trend in travel, and we find that this type of travel experience is really appealing to millennials. There are many opportunities to help out and contribute on the islands still rebuilding and recovering.”

As far as trending destinations, the Bahamas, specifically Baha Mar in Nassau, has generated reader interest and comment in recent months, according to Carpenter. Also on her readers’ radars is St. Kitts and the Turks and Caicos.

Trending for Carpenter’s readers who are Caribbean travelers are cross-generational trips involving grandparents and grandkids, large family gatherings and travelers seeking wellness information.

“The issue of sleep is a big trend now: how to get enough sleep, what products assure a good night’s sleep, techniques to encourage sleep,” she said, citing the Six Senses Spa Punta Cana at Puntacana Resort & Club in the Dominican Republic as an authority in the sleep movement, with treatments designed to encourage good sleep habits.

Carpenter credited social media as driving a lot of travel decisions, especially to the Caribbean. “Most of the region is easy to get to from many U.S. gateways,” she said. “People post their photos, others see them and it creates interest in the destination and the desire to visit. The region has a variety of accommodations at all price levels, and for the luxury travelers the choices are enormous.”

12 Ways to Have a Luxury Vacation for Less

By Karen Tina Harrison

Choose Emerging over Established Destinations

It’s very hard to economize in a super-expensive destination. So my advice is: to save money, don’t go there.

Think different. Go to a place that delivers a lot of what you love about your fantasy destination, but at real-life tabs. Here are some ideas.

In a Posh Destination, Stay Outside the Tourist Center

OK, so you have your heart set on a Big Apple visit. Here, even a four-star hotel will cost several hundred dollars a night.

But in myriad vacation magnets like NYC, good hotels have proliferated outside the tourism hubs. If you’re willing to spend a few minutes on a subway or bus, you can save a bundle on your hotel bills.

You won’t be staying in a deluxe legend like The Pierre New York, but you might find a perfectly cute, cool design hotel. Some examples:
• In New York, Z NYC Hotel is located in Long Island City, a newly gentrified neighborhood that is one subway stop from midtown, and the hotel offers a free shuttle service. Rooms are slick Art Deco black-and-white, all with Manhattan skyline views.
• San Francisco: Oakland is attracting travelers who can’t deal with SFO hotel rates. Waterfront Hotel on Jack London Square delivers mesmerizing bay views, and there’s a shuttle to the BART station.
• Venice the wallet menace: Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) is the… MORE high-ticket tourism and hotel hub of Venice. If you stay a half-hour stroll away in the authentic and residential Santa Croce district, you’ll save around €200 per night at MGallery Hotel Papadopoli

As Sweet as a Suite Is, Go for a Hotel’s Basic Room

If you’re planning a luxury hotel stay mainly to lounge and laze in your cushy room, then it won’t really work for you to skimp on your room category.

But if you’re planning to spend most of your vacation time outside your room, you can save big with a “run-of-house” basic room. And you’ll still get the hotel’s five-star service and plush beds.
• Beware: make sure the room isn’t a lemon: overlooking an airshaft or the parking lot, beside the elevator, above a noisy lounge.
• And be on the lookout for sneaky ways that hotels cut corners.

Stay in a Four-Star Hotel, But Upgrade to the Club Floor

Choosing a hotel that is less than super-luxury is an obvious way to lower your hotel bill.

There’s a way to create a five-star experience in a four-star hotel. And that is by staying on the hotel’s more upscale club floor.

You may be eligible for a club-floor upgrade if you’re a points-accruing frequent guest of the hotel brand. But if you foot it yourself, a club-floor upgrade costs.

You will still be spending less than a luxury hotel room, but the club lounge and its privileges will furnish a five-star experience.
• See what you get with club-floor status, and whether a club-floor upgrade is worth it to you.

Travel Off-Season & Never on Holidays

Popular destinations tend to have high seasons with corresponding prices.

National holidays are always high season.
• You can celebrate holidays at non-holiday rates by leaving the country! I observe the Fourth of July by driving up to the Montreal Jazz Festival. Similarly, American Thanksgiving is just another Thursday in Canada

Family-friendly beach getaways are priciest when families can go: school holidays and breaks.
• You’re just not going to get a good deal then in South Florida, the Caribbean, and coastal Mexico

Flying at less popular times has its benefits, too.
• Fares are lower off-holiday and out of season
• If you’re using airline mileage, you will find far fewer blackout dates during off-season and non-holiday

Upshot: To save bucks, work around busy dates. Some times to avoid:
• The high-season slam in seasonal destinations: Long Island’s The Hamptons in summer, Vail in winter
• Famous events that create top-dollar rates: New Orleans during Mardi Gras or Jazz Fest in…

Go All-Inclusive

All-inclusive hotels and resorts have been gaining in popularity. In a nutshell, they’re easy.
• They include food, drinks, and tips, a significant savings if you tend to splurge on these
• See the pros and cons of all-inclusive plans

Today’s all-inclusives are upscale and elegant. May I present as evidence:
• In Cancun, Le Blanc Spa Resort, Live Aqua, and Secrets The Vine
• In Mexico’s Riviera Maya: Zoetry Paraiso Bonita
• On Mexico’s Pacific Coast: Secrets Vallarta Bay and Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit
• On St. Maarten in the Caribbean: Sonesta Ocean Point and Sonesta Great Bay
• In the Adirondacks: The Point (possibly the world’s most deluxe all-inclusive)

All-inclusive trend: Because luxury travelers like all-inclusive pricing, more and more a la carte luxury hotels are now offering all-inclusive options as well.
• Mexico’s dazzling new design hotel offers an AI plan. Hola, NIZUC Resort on a semi-private island off Cancun.

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