The 7 Most Beautiful Beaches in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula

Story About Yucatan Peninsula

Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula is the most popular travel destination in the country, home to the legendary Riviera Maya and hot spots like Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, plus the island of Cozumel, a popular Western Caribbean cruise port of call. Whether you're looking for all inclusives and high energy, or laid back, off-the-beaten track exploration, the cultural and gastronomic hub of Mexico's southeast, picturesque towns and jungle environments, the mystique of 18 archeological sites and four historic 'Magical Towns' and a hundred intriguing cenotes or natural pools, chances are, your holiday will also involve beach time. Lots of beach time.The state has almost 250 miles of some of the highest rated beaches in the country. These 7 consistently... more

Social Media Safety Tips for Spring Break and Beyond

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Spring Break is high season for family travel, and with every member of the family more digitally connected than ever at home and away, that means posting about good times on vacation. Not so fast, warns one insurance company, which is advising travelers of the risks of ‘over-sharing.’ A new survey commissioned by the Allstate insurance company revealed that almost one-third of social media users post content about their vacation plans online. That’s before AND during, not just afterwards, and that’s the trouble.According to the insurance provider, “sharing that you’re away could expose your home to a break-in.” It points out that announcing in a public place for friends – and the not-so-friendly – to see that your home is... more

Four Seasons Opens Resort on 3000-acre Pacific Seaside Nature Reserve in Mexico

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The Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo recently opened in one of the most unique and rare locations: along a pristine, 6-mile stretch of coastline, part of a 3000-acre nature reserve on Mexico’s Pacific coast. Just 2% of the landscape will be developed, with the resort company saying it’s committed to preserving “the natural landscape, celebrating Mexico’s rich heritage and providing the ultimate luxury travel experience” at the property. 'In Tamarindo, Four Seasons guests will feel connected to the jungle, the ocean, and to one another. The Resort immerses guests in the wonders of the natural world,' says Christian Clerc, President, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. 'We are deeply grateful to our owner-partners, whose family has cared for this land for generations, and are... more

Sailing Into Beautiful St. Barths

Story About Saint Barthelemy

In a world of over-exposure, St. Barthelemy retains its luxe mystique as one of the most exclusive, most chic islands in the Caribbean. Off the beaten track, and with French flair, this tiny island has an outsized reputation and appeal for those in the know. Maybe it’s partly because of its (several) names. The French Caribbean island’s long and formal name is hardly ever used, in favor of its nickname, whispered among the high-end travelers and yachters who gather in this chic island destination.So is it St. Barts? St. Barth? Or St. Barths? However you spell it, add it to your list of bucket list tropical islands.But how to arrive – especially in style? With no direct flights from mainland North... more

Shaking Things Up: Margaritaville Resorts' Margarita Month

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National Margarita Day is February 22, but Margaritaville resorts has declared the whole month of February Margarita Month. It’s launched an annual, month-long event that celebrates the (un)official cocktail of the laid-back. If a light-hearted, flip-flop wearing tropical escape is on the agenda to reconnect with your loved one, Margaritaville resorts are the place, and of course, a frosty margarita is how you toast that moment you ease into your lounge chairs on the beach.With their iconic, oversized flip-flip lobby sculptures and tapping into the “searching for my lost shaker of salt” mood, three Karisma - Margaritaville resorts are filling February with exclusive tastings, contests, rallies, live DJ sets, special food and cocktail offerings, spa services, and much more than “booze... more

4 Ways to Fall in Love with Caviar on a Seabourn Cruise

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If you ask past guests what they remember most about their Seabourn cruise, chances are that caviar will come up. Complimentary caviar has been a signature of Seabourn since its earliest days, and the delicacy has become woven into the tapestry of the luxury Seabourn lifestyle and some of the most memorable moments of any Seabourn cruise. Here are some of the ways you’ll fall in love with caviar on your next Seabourn cruise:Complimentary Caviar ServiceWhenever and wherever the urge for a formal service of caviar strikes you while you’re on board a Seabourn cruise, one call or word to a staff member is all it will take for your desires to be answered – along with your beverage of... more

Europe's Most Romantic Cities, Ranked in Time for Valentine's Day Travel Planning

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Planning a romantic escape with your sweetheart to Europe? This new list of the continent’s most romantic cities may help you narrow down your list – or add a few unexpected entries. A European yacht-charter company has analyzed data showing how many ‘romantic’ hotel and restaurants per capita can be found in a list of European capital cities to determine which best set the scene for love. The list may surprise you – it turns out, some of Europe’s smaller capitals have higher per capita numbers of intimate hotels and restaurants, that can make them ideal for a romantic getaway. For example, maybe you guessed that Paris would top the list of most romantic cities. In fact, the City of Light is... more

This Alpine Resort Has the World's Highest Snow Maze

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Move over corn mazes! The winter version of the classic fall countryside activity is the snow maze. And one ski resort has laid claim to the highest alpine snow maze in the world. Colorado’s Copper Mountain snow maze opened mid-January, and with a base elevation of over 9700 feet, the snow maze’s location on the mountain next to one of its lifts puts it in record-breaking territory.The 2500-acre alpine resort about 75 miles west of Denver has already been blessed with over 140 inches of snow this season.Even so, the snow used to build the 8000-square foot snow maze was farmed. It was brought in from Rosi’s Run, part of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team Speed Center, a training venue... more

Become a Certified "RumMaster" on the Caribbean Island with the Oldest Surviving Distillery

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There’s enjoying tropical rum cocktails when you’re in the Caribbean on vacation… then there’s becoming an actual “RumMaster.” Now you can spend a day with kindred ‘spirits’ immersing yourself in the history and the practice of rum on an island with a rich rum history and a growing unconventional rum scene. St. Kitts Tourism has launched its “Kittitian RumMaster” program a pair of courses led by two of the island’s prestigious rum experts. Travellers to the island who complete both courses are given a certificate – imagine waving that at home at your next cocktail party as you shake up some rum.While many of the islands have a long history with the spirit distilled from cane sugar, as St. Kitts’ minister... more

Top 10 New Ships to Watch for in 2023

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The New Year comes with the anticipation of another exciting 12 months of new ship inaugurals, which will introduce design, technology, cruise lifestyle and environmental innovations that will shape the future of how we cruise. In 2023, $11 billion worth of new ocean ships alone will debut around the world, adding close to 40,000 new berths to the global cruise fleet.Here's our top 10 list of 2023's new ships we think will really 'float your boat!'1. Explora IThe luxury, small-ship new cruise line by MSC, Explora Journeys is scheduled to launch in the summer with the inauguration of Explora I, the first of 6 identical sister ships sailing out over the next few years. Explora I holds less than 1000 guests, and... more

Three New Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts Let You Holiday in Style in Latin America

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Waldorf Astoria hotels’ name and hospitality still reflect its founding family, the legendary Astors, who for more than a century were the pinnacle of American high society. The Astor legacy of good living is expanding worldwide and especially in Latin America, where three new Waldorf Astoria hotels and resorts are setting new standards in travel style. CANCUN, MEXICO The Waldorf Astoria Cancun opened in November 2022. The 173-room ultra-luxury resort is set on 100 acres of idyllic Caribbean coastline with panoramic views of the ocean from every room, which also all have private balconies and an outdoor soaking tub. It’s the second Waldorf-Astoria Hotel & Resort in Mexico, joining Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, but it’s the company’s first newly built... more

Did you Know? The Leaning Tower of Pisa is... 'Straightening Up!'

Story About Pisa

Will it soon be named the Perfectly Ordinary Tower of Pisa? Will the Tuscan city whose claim to fame is an off-kilter tower fall into obscurity without tourists keen to snap photos of themselves pretending to prop up the Tower of Pisa? Those are the questions we’re asking ourselves with the news that the so-called Leaning Tower of Pisa is creeping upright.The cause for the notorious tilt in what may be the world’s most famous architectural fail was a mystery for hundreds of years. Building on the now-famous bell tower began in the late 1100’s, and the 186-foot structure began to sink on one side even while under construction.With the benefit of modern science and technology, experts now say it... more

Pretty in Pink: Where to Meet the National Bird of the Bahamas

Story About The Bahamas

The Caribbean flamingo is an iconic symbol of the tropics, with its vivid pink plumage standing out against a backdrop of turquoise waters, green palm leaves, and pastel-colored buildings. In the Bahamas, where it’s the national bird, flamingos have made a strong comeback thanks to conservation projects. The Islands of The Bahamas may be one of the best places in the world to get up close to this iconic, almost cartoon-like wading bird.Fun facts: the same carotenoids that make carrots orange and ripe tomatoes red also make flamingos pink. They are also found in the microscopic algae that brine shrimp eat (which is why shrimp turn pink when you cook them) and as flamingos eat the algae and brine shrimp,... more

Tropical, Travel-Inspired Cocktails to Ring in Your New Year

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Mulled wine, snowballs, and spiked eggnog may headline the list of festive favorites for many cocktail drinkers, but why not switch it up and greet the New Year by projecting your tropical travel resolutions? Here are our picks of some sunny, island-inspired sips to take you into next year – and hold you over until your next sun-kissed vacation. Cheers!The Bahamas: Goombay SmashThe Goombay Smash is a rum-based cocktail with a historic pedigree in The Bahamas. While the original recipe may remain a secret, versions of the drink have spread to all of The Bahamas' major islands, impressing locals and visitors alike with its strong fruity flavor.(Photo courtesy of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation)Recipe for a shareable... more

Made You Look: The Quirkiest, Most Creative Tourism Marketing Campaigns of 2022

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Now that we’re traveling again, destinations around the world have been wooing visitors back – with promotional videos from the weird to the wild to the wonderful that have been vying for the attention of international travelers like us. In 2022, did any of these campaigns make you look - or want to book? Iceland Wants to “Out-Horse Your Email” In a clever play on the word ‘outsource’, in its not only quirky, but incredibly cute video, Iceland promises to 'out-horse your email' to Icelandic ponies that have been trained to write your out of office reply while you’re on vacation in Iceland so you never get distracted from your exploration of the country. (Image, top, via youtube.) CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE... more