25 Ways to Travel the World in 2022
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It’s time to make your New Year’s resolution: I will actively fill in the gaps in travel that I’ve had for the past
two years.
There are wonderful choices this year for wine lovers, cruisers, non-cruisers, divers, golfers, island hoppers and pretty much every sort of traveler. Here are some fabulous options to get your wanderlust instincts flowing.
Please note that with changing Covid protocols, restrictions may apply and can change. You should always check the ‘Exit and Entry Requirements’ for a particular country on the Department of State website before booking.
NORTH AMERICA
An Adrenaline High at the U.S.’s Newest National Park
Aside from “Country Roads, Take Me Home,” how much do you know about West Virginia? West Virginia, which borders five states (Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio), is now the proud home of the newest national park in the USA, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Adventures on the Gorge, the premier outdoor outfitter and only resort located adjacent to the park, will entice your inner adrenaline junkie with their daily adventure pass. Priced at only $199 per day, this is the ticket for anyone who loves thrills and challenges. You’ll take advantage of both AOTG’s gorgeous setting and facilities as well as the nearby New River, one of the oldest in the US, with serious whitewater rafting, the challenging Tree Tops Zipline, and for those not afraid of heights, The TimberTrek Adventure Park, a climbing and ropes course that you do on your own. Add to that the possibility of rock climbing, mountain biking and paintball and you can pretty much max out your adrenaline cravings. For that reason alone, you should plan on several days to give you just a bit of downtime between adventures. Adventures on the Gorge has you covered with accommodations in an outback cabin and dining on-property, too. Pricing varies by day. The extra good news? AOTG will now pick you up at the Amtrak station in Prince, so you can leave your car behind.
Mardi Gras with a Texas Twang
Louisiana isn’t the only place that lays claim to holding a Mardi Gras celebration. After a year off, Mardi Gras Southeast Texas is back, returning to Beaumont for the second time. From February 24-27, you’ll have a chance to throw some beads, join a Krewe or simply watch the floats, all done up Texas style, huge and festive. The “Cajun capital of Texas,” Beaumont, just an hour and a half from Houston, will fete the holiday as it knows best with Cajun and Texan food, parades, carnival rides and games and entertainment headlined by country singer Tyler Farr and rap artist Nelly. For a convenient hotel with a friendly staff, small restaurant, bar and gym, book the Hilton Garden Inn.
When you reserve three or more nights at a Salt Lake lodging property through the West of Conventional program, you’ll receive two free mid-week Salt Lake Ski Super Passes at the area’s acclaimed Alta, Snowbird, Brighton or Solitude slopes. For the perfect complement to a gorgeous day of skiing, you can choose two Salt Lake Brewery passes to any of Salt Lake’s 14 artisanal breweries or two Salt Lake Connect Attractions passes that include choices like the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Natural Curiosity and the Clark Planetarium Dome Theater.
Can’t wait to go sailing but not ready to pull out your passport? Try a special-interest Windjamming cruise on one of the Maine Windjammer Association’s nine hand-built tall ships. In the middle of coastal Maine, America’s largest fleet of Windjammers offer a thrilling multi-day adventure at sea. Select a classic cruise or a specialty cruise ranging from wellness and yoga to wine appreciation, a musical voyage, or a sail with culinary master classes. Cruise prices start at $200 per night, depending on the vessel and special theme.
Book a one-night stay at the art-filled The Saint Kate, Milwaukee. Dubbed The Arts Hotel, the Saint Kate features a notable collection of modern art in various galleries in the hotel. Works by local and nationally acclaimed artists in permanent residency and revolving exhibits invite exploration of the corridors and rooms where innovative and electric pieces light up the night. To celebrate your self-guided art tour, you’ll have a duet of Champagne at the bar before you retreat to your art-filled room where you’ll find retro touches like a record player (you can borrow records from the vinyl library in the lobby) and a ukulele. Just around the corner, outdoor art installations like the kitschy Bronze Fonz statue give you a thumbs up as you explore along the Milwaukee River, noting new construction that mixes with the city’s gorgeous cast-iron buildings. Walk a little further toward the Third Ward where you’ll find Jokester, a giant red solo cup sculpture that’s perfectly on brand for Milwaukee's beer culture. Rates start at the Saint Kate at $211 per night per room.
The Streetcar Experience to Be Desired package takes you on a nostalgic trip through New Orleans on a private streetcar. Running along the 19th-century St. Charles line, your streetcar will be customized with music and décor to suit your special occasion. A local historian awaits your arrival, ready to share the sights and sounds of the Crescent City as you explore one of its most charming neighborhoods. After, at the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans, you’ll indulge in a wine-paired dinner at Miss River, Alon Shaya's "love letter to Louisiana," before retreating to your suite to relax and recharge. Once home, you'll receive an online album with professional photographs from your Streetcar Experience to be Desired. Price varies by date.
For an unforgettable Fourth of July. The Claremont Hotel in Southwest Harbor, Maine invites you to an indulgent three-night stay on their luxurious houseboat in Somes Sound, the location of the only fjord in North America. Priced at $25,000, the “Ultimate Nautical Escape” features a floating suite with king-size bed, bathroom with shower and a fully stocked kitchenette. But you won’t be doing any cooking -- your personal Boat Butler will stock all cabinets with breakfast essentials and deliver a picnic lunch and spectacular dinner each day. The Boat Butler will also light the gas fire pit each night, set out charcuterie and Champagne, coordinate a massage on the upper deck, arrange a sunset serenade, and attend to any whims. You’ll also receive a departure gift bag of the hotel’s signature items.
The Take Your Time package at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa gives you all the time you need to relax and rejuvenate in the New Year in the midst of beautiful Sonoma Valley. Wine, golf and hot springs are taken at a slow pace to encourage the pure act of enjoying the moment. While you could venture off-property to explore the vineyards of the area, you just might want to languish in the European-style spa or maybe add a second round of golf to your already packed “relaxation” schedule. If you book by January 5, 2022, you’ll get 30% off any stays until October 31, 2022.
If leaving the US still doesn’t fit your needs, Stay One Degree and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group have teamed with the Stay & Sail experience for a Miami on-the-water and from-the-sea package, with two nights at the Mandarin Oriental, Miami and a full-day or overnight yacht cruise. To make this combo program even more glam, you’ll be transported to and from the marina via private limousine. The customizable package is priced from $16,000 based on four adults and can be booked by emailing momia-reservations@mohg.com.
Return to the magic of Broadway with a show-and-stay package at two New York City hotels. Crowne Plaza HY36 gives guests who purchase three Broadway tickets 50% off the final night of a minimum two-night stay plus a curated welcome bag and two complimentary Broadway-themed cocktails at their on-site restaurant. Located in the middle of the Theater District, the InterContinental New York Times Square discounts travelers half off their third weeknight stay, a Broadway history walking tour with Broadway Up Close, and a specially curated Broadway playlist.
If you love train travel, you now have two luxe options in North America. Rocky Mountaineer offers two-day, luxury glass-domed train journeys that showcase the gorgeous scenery of Canada and the Western United States. Rocky Mountaineer’s four rail routes connect Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies towns of Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper or the Rockies to the Red Rocks between Denver, Colorado and Moab, Utah. To add to the sensory experience, you’ll enjoy fine cuisine and a relaxing sojourn. Pricing for the Canadian routes begins at $1,271USD per person with the US route priced starting at $1,399USD per person.
Member of Relais & Châteaux, boutique Quebec City hotel Auberge Saint-Antoine extends an invitation for dining in a terrace side greenhouse and a comfy winter stay with the Stars & Pillows package. The overnight package is priced starting at $725 per night and includes accommodations in a terrace room with a four-course private dining and wine experience for two in a heated outdoor greenhouse. Enjoy a romantic candle lit dinner with views of the St. Lawrence River, Chateaux Frontenac and Vieux Quebec. Should you decide to capitalize on the romantic appeal of the experience, the concierge will arrange an elopement under the stars with an intimate ceremony in the greenhouse.
Plan for a late 2022 holiday to one of the snowiest areas in the world, Tohoku. You don’t have to be a skier to see Japan’s fabled snow monsters or enjoy an après-ski soak in an onsen (thermal hot spring). Walk Japan will have you don snowshoes for an active week without the slopes. You’ll start in Tokyo, where you’ll acclimate to the culture and time difference, and enjoy the city’s diverse cuisine, historical sites like Meiji Shrine and Asakusa, avant-garde museums like the Mori Art Museum and the digital teamLab Borderless interactive experience, or districts like quirky Harajuku or tony Ginza. Or take it all in on one glorious visit to Tokyo SKYTREE, the tallest building in the city. Then you’ll board Japan’s amazing bullet train, the shinkansen, traveling north to the Tohoku region on Honshu Island where your walking exploration begins. Your final stop is Sakata, a historic port town on the Sea of Japan coast. Accommodations are in inns, most of which have the soothing onsens that Northern Japan is known for. The Tohoku Hot Spring Snow Tour has no more than 12 participants, and given the remote area you’re traversing, it’s a perfect social distancing vacation. Check the website for 2022 prices.
Indulge your wine love on a cruise along the Saône and Rhône rivers on the eight-day Sensations of Lyon and Provence itinerary on an Emerald Cruises Star-Ship. The gorgeous Emerald Liberté holds a maximum of 132 guests and celebrates France’s past and present with stops at storied ports including Arles (think Vincent van Gogh), Avignon (le Palais des Papes and the bridge of song fame) and Lyon, the capital city in France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and the country’s gastronomic hub. Visits to the area’s beautiful vineyards and towns are the stars of the itinerary with guided port tours along with guided biking, hiking and canoeing. Most meals are included showcasing the world-class cuisine of the region. Priced from $2,395 per person based on double occupancy, the cruise is offered on multiple dates.
Hide away, enjoy water activities, and eat, drink and take in the beautiful scenery in a setting not overrun with selfie takers. The Portuguese island of Madeira is rich in volcanic hills and pebbly beaches, delectable seafood, bucket list-worthy hiking and canyoning trails, and award-winning Madeira wine. Surf, whale watch, or just hang on the beach – there’s a lot to do or nothing to do if you so choose. Thanks to Inovtravel, there are now nonstop flights from New York to Funchal, Madeira’s capital city, as well as a variety of travel packages to celebrate the new ease of reaching the beautiful Portuguese island. Weeklong packages include flights as well as five-star accommodations and start at $1299 per person.
Appropriately named Decanter Tours will book accommodations and meals to your taste to accompany the ultimate Bordeaux wine tour in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in France. For two to five days, the private guided tour with châteaux visits, wine tastings and minibus transportation has rates beginning at 850€ per person. If appellations like Pessac-Leognan, Saint-Émilion, Margaux, Medoc, Pauillac and St. Estephe are only slightly familiar to you when you book the tour, you will come away with in-depth knowledge so you can create your own wow tasting when you return home.
Has your partner just finished reading “Eat Pray Love?” Then you might want to consider this luxe, “discovery” package for two from Hotel Poseidon Positano. Enveloping you in “la dolce vita,” the package includes a five-night stay in a suite with private terrace overlooking the sea and the dramatic Positano coastline, a three-course lunch or dinner, a couple’s massage, and more, priced at just €2100. You’ll also savor the area’s delights with a welcome bottle of wine, a drive along the Amalfi Coast in the hotel’s vintage VW convertible Beetle (with a driver, of course) and more. The exclusive Italian program can be booked by emailing info@hotelposeidonpositano.it.
Plan ahead for a 2022 sailing on a gorgeous clipper ship with Star Clippers Amalfi & Sicily. On multiple dates from mid-June through mid-October, you’ll sail along the Amalfi Coast visiting stunning Sorrento and Amalfi with a stop in Messina, Sicily. Uncrowding is the norm with a maximum of 166 guests on-board, and the scenery is a photographer’s dream. Plus you’ll have the experience of sailing on a four-masted, 16-sail full-rigged tall ship set up for your personal comfort with expansive teak decks, swimming pools, tropical bars, piano lounges and a lively dining room. The price is reasonable, too, starting at $1,850 per person based on double occupancy. Viva Italia!
Thanks to Relais & Châteaux’ Coquillade Provence Resort & Spa in the heart of France’s Luberon Valley, gastronomes have the option for an earthy behind-the-scenes scavenger hunt in one of the world’s most secretive business. Driving your own Mercedes SMART car, you’ll begin your adventure with an early morning visit to the Provence truffle markets in Vaucluse. At La Truffe du Ventoux third-generation truffle hunters Franck and Alexis Jaumard welcome you for an exclusive tour of their truffle farm led by the noses of two resident truffle hounds, Mirette and Polka. You’ll then indulge in a truffle-themed lunch at the Domaine Jaumard where the “black diamond” is the star of the menu. To add more truffles to your day, dinner is at Coquillade’s Avelan fine dining restaurant where Chef Thierry Enderlin prepares a truffle tasting menu showcasing regional flavors with international classics. The tour can be scheduled from mid-November to mid-March at $1,607 for two people.
New Kontiki Expeditions offers a one-week cruise along the Ecuadorian coast, visiting seldom-visited ports and offering a cultural, environmentally conscious adventure. Enjoy sailing on a lavishly appointed yacht with a maximum of 18 guests and attentive service. If you’ve been to the Galapagos, this cruise will expand your Ecuadorian repertoire with coastal ports without the tourist throngs. Kontiki Wayra’s small size glides into harbors that larger ships cannot approach, where you’ll meet with naturalists and locals who will share their chocolate-making secrets, the exclusivity of the Toquilla hat (widely but inaccurately known as a Panama hat), and the blue-footed boobies and other indigenous creatures of the region. If you have a group in mind, you can charter the yacht for a private sail, too. Prices for a week begin at $7245 per person, based on double occupancy.
On the gorgeous Scenic Eclipse, The World’s First Discovery Yacht™, you’ll have a chance to experience the least-populated area on the planet on the 13-day Scenic Antarctica in Depth voyage. Taking a maximum of 200 passengers, the cruise includes two stops in Argentina -- Buenos Aires and Ushuaia -- as part of the itinerary to the frozen continent where the penguins have been wondering what happened to all the people over the past two years. Priced from $14,695 per person based on double occupancy, this is an adventurous voyage, one that you’ll remember forever. Butler service, naturalist lectures and an expedition parka to prepare you for the polar climes are included. Add to that a luxury spa, yoga and Pilates studio, two helicopters and a submarine and you have the makings of a true trip-of-a-lifetime. Multiple dates are available for this Scenic Luxury Cruises special.
You can enjoy a combination Tahitian land-sea holiday with Windstar Cruises’ Dreams of Tahiti. The special package includes round-trip air to Papeete, Tahiti from Los Angeles and one night pre-cruise and one night post-cruise accommodations at the Intercontinental Tahiti Resort. The cruise itself on the four-masted sail Wind Spirit holds only 148 guests and sails for seven days among the gorgeous Tahitian islands. The package is priced starting at $4,552 per guest based on double occupancy and includes meals and water sports as well.
Both experienced and beginning divers will love the all-inclusive package to Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji, the premier eco-luxury and scuba diving destination in the South Pacific. The South Pacific Dive & Rejuvenate Package focuses on meaningful activities designed for guests for a cultural and natural immersion. Included are traditional Fijian storytelling, indigenous healing spa treatments, guided excursions with the resident marine biologist, and diving in the underwater world of the South Pacific. Customize the timing and activities with pricing starting at $330 USD per adult per night.
Louisiana isn’t the only place that lays claim to holding a Mardi Gras celebration. After a year off, Mardi Gras Southeast Texas is back, returning to Beaumont for the second time. From February 24-27, you’ll have a chance to throw some beads, join a Krewe or simply watch the floats, all done up Texas style, huge and festive. The “Cajun capital of Texas,” Beaumont, just an hour and a half from Houston, will fete the holiday as it knows best with Cajun and Texan food, parades, carnival rides and games and entertainment headlined by country singer Tyler Farr and rap artist Nelly. For a convenient hotel with a friendly staff, small restaurant, bar and gym, book the Hilton Garden Inn.
Superlative Skiing on Utah’s Snowbird, Solitude, Alta and Brighton mountains
When you reserve three or more nights at a Salt Lake lodging property through the West of Conventional program, you’ll receive two free mid-week Salt Lake Ski Super Passes at the area’s acclaimed Alta, Snowbird, Brighton or Solitude slopes. For the perfect complement to a gorgeous day of skiing, you can choose two Salt Lake Brewery passes to any of Salt Lake’s 14 artisanal breweries or two Salt Lake Connect Attractions passes that include choices like the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Natural Curiosity and the Clark Planetarium Dome Theater.
Afloat “Down East”
Can’t wait to go sailing but not ready to pull out your passport? Try a special-interest Windjamming cruise on one of the Maine Windjammer Association’s nine hand-built tall ships. In the middle of coastal Maine, America’s largest fleet of Windjammers offer a thrilling multi-day adventure at sea. Select a classic cruise or a specialty cruise ranging from wellness and yoga to wine appreciation, a musical voyage, or a sail with culinary master classes. Cruise prices start at $200 per night, depending on the vessel and special theme.
Surprising Art and Architecture in Milwaukee
Book a one-night stay at the art-filled The Saint Kate, Milwaukee. Dubbed The Arts Hotel, the Saint Kate features a notable collection of modern art in various galleries in the hotel. Works by local and nationally acclaimed artists in permanent residency and revolving exhibits invite exploration of the corridors and rooms where innovative and electric pieces light up the night. To celebrate your self-guided art tour, you’ll have a duet of Champagne at the bar before you retreat to your art-filled room where you’ll find retro touches like a record player (you can borrow records from the vinyl library in the lobby) and a ukulele. Just around the corner, outdoor art installations like the kitschy Bronze Fonz statue give you a thumbs up as you explore along the Milwaukee River, noting new construction that mixes with the city’s gorgeous cast-iron buildings. Walk a little further toward the Third Ward where you’ll find Jokester, a giant red solo cup sculpture that’s perfectly on brand for Milwaukee's beer culture. Rates start at the Saint Kate at $211 per night per room.
New Orleans Nostalgia
The Streetcar Experience to Be Desired package takes you on a nostalgic trip through New Orleans on a private streetcar. Running along the 19th-century St. Charles line, your streetcar will be customized with music and décor to suit your special occasion. A local historian awaits your arrival, ready to share the sights and sounds of the Crescent City as you explore one of its most charming neighborhoods. After, at the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans, you’ll indulge in a wine-paired dinner at Miss River, Alon Shaya's "love letter to Louisiana," before retreating to your suite to relax and recharge. Once home, you'll receive an online album with professional photographs from your Streetcar Experience to be Desired. Price varies by date.
A Houseboat-Turned-Love Boat Near Acadia National Park
For an unforgettable Fourth of July. The Claremont Hotel in Southwest Harbor, Maine invites you to an indulgent three-night stay on their luxurious houseboat in Somes Sound, the location of the only fjord in North America. Priced at $25,000, the “Ultimate Nautical Escape” features a floating suite with king-size bed, bathroom with shower and a fully stocked kitchenette. But you won’t be doing any cooking -- your personal Boat Butler will stock all cabinets with breakfast essentials and deliver a picnic lunch and spectacular dinner each day. The Boat Butler will also light the gas fire pit each night, set out charcuterie and Champagne, coordinate a massage on the upper deck, arrange a sunset serenade, and attend to any whims. You’ll also receive a departure gift bag of the hotel’s signature items.
18 Holes and a Hot Soak in Sonoma Valley
The Take Your Time package at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa gives you all the time you need to relax and rejuvenate in the New Year in the midst of beautiful Sonoma Valley. Wine, golf and hot springs are taken at a slow pace to encourage the pure act of enjoying the moment. While you could venture off-property to explore the vineyards of the area, you just might want to languish in the European-style spa or maybe add a second round of golf to your already packed “relaxation” schedule. If you book by January 5, 2022, you’ll get 30% off any stays until October 31, 2022.
A Double Treat in “The Magic City”
If leaving the US still doesn’t fit your needs, Stay One Degree and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group have teamed with the Stay & Sail experience for a Miami on-the-water and from-the-sea package, with two nights at the Mandarin Oriental, Miami and a full-day or overnight yacht cruise. To make this combo program even more glam, you’ll be transported to and from the marina via private limousine. The customizable package is priced from $16,000 based on four adults and can be booked by emailing momia-reservations@mohg.com.
Hawaiian Island
Indulgence
Bask in gracious Hawaiian hospitality and the serenity of the Fairmont Orchid’s coastal retreat in the tradition of the royals. You can expect only the best with a stay on the resort’s concierge floor with Fairmont’s Gold Experience with privileged services including private check-in and valet services. You’ll never want to leave the Big Island – not only does it offer white and black sand beaches, but it is also home to lush jungles and two active volcanoes at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. History lovers can also follow in the steps of King Kamehameha I and explorer James Cook.
Rock out to the advent of 2022 with an indulgent music-lovers package at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. Designed for two people, the Double Platinum Package includes a two-night stay in a suite, tickets to a show, a VIP Table at the Lobby Bar, a $222 dining credit, a couples massage at Rock Spa & Salon, swag bags and an ultra-exclusive private memorabilia tour. This $2022 package, which must be booked by the end of February, is so special that you have a personal contact to arrange and customize it at pr@hrhcac.com
Bask in gracious Hawaiian hospitality and the serenity of the Fairmont Orchid’s coastal retreat in the tradition of the royals. You can expect only the best with a stay on the resort’s concierge floor with Fairmont’s Gold Experience with privileged services including private check-in and valet services. You’ll never want to leave the Big Island – not only does it offer white and black sand beaches, but it is also home to lush jungles and two active volcanoes at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. History lovers can also follow in the steps of King Kamehameha I and explorer James Cook.
Be a Rock Star in Atlantic City
Rock out to the advent of 2022 with an indulgent music-lovers package at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. Designed for two people, the Double Platinum Package includes a two-night stay in a suite, tickets to a show, a VIP Table at the Lobby Bar, a $222 dining credit, a couples massage at Rock Spa & Salon, swag bags and an ultra-exclusive private memorabilia tour. This $2022 package, which must be booked by the end of February, is so special that you have a personal contact to arrange and customize it at pr@hrhcac.com
Broadway Revealed in New York City
Return to the magic of Broadway with a show-and-stay package at two New York City hotels. Crowne Plaza HY36 gives guests who purchase three Broadway tickets 50% off the final night of a minimum two-night stay plus a curated welcome bag and two complimentary Broadway-themed cocktails at their on-site restaurant. Located in the middle of the Theater District, the InterContinental New York Times Square discounts travelers half off their third weeknight stay, a Broadway history walking tour with Broadway Up Close, and a specially curated Broadway playlist.
The Romance of the Train
If you love train travel, you now have two luxe options in North America. Rocky Mountaineer offers two-day, luxury glass-domed train journeys that showcase the gorgeous scenery of Canada and the Western United States. Rocky Mountaineer’s four rail routes connect Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies towns of Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper or the Rockies to the Red Rocks between Denver, Colorado and Moab, Utah. To add to the sensory experience, you’ll enjoy fine cuisine and a relaxing sojourn. Pricing for the Canadian routes begins at $1,271USD per person with the US route priced starting at $1,399USD per person.
Cozy Northern Exposure
Member of Relais & Châteaux, boutique Quebec City hotel Auberge Saint-Antoine extends an invitation for dining in a terrace side greenhouse and a comfy winter stay with the Stars & Pillows package. The overnight package is priced starting at $725 per night and includes accommodations in a terrace room with a four-course private dining and wine experience for two in a heated outdoor greenhouse. Enjoy a romantic candle lit dinner with views of the St. Lawrence River, Chateaux Frontenac and Vieux Quebec. Should you decide to capitalize on the romantic appeal of the experience, the concierge will arrange an elopement under the stars with an intimate ceremony in the greenhouse.
ASIA
The Lure of Winter in Japan
Plan for a late 2022 holiday to one of the snowiest areas in the world, Tohoku. You don’t have to be a skier to see Japan’s fabled snow monsters or enjoy an après-ski soak in an onsen (thermal hot spring). Walk Japan will have you don snowshoes for an active week without the slopes. You’ll start in Tokyo, where you’ll acclimate to the culture and time difference, and enjoy the city’s diverse cuisine, historical sites like Meiji Shrine and Asakusa, avant-garde museums like the Mori Art Museum and the digital teamLab Borderless interactive experience, or districts like quirky Harajuku or tony Ginza. Or take it all in on one glorious visit to Tokyo SKYTREE, the tallest building in the city. Then you’ll board Japan’s amazing bullet train, the shinkansen, traveling north to the Tohoku region on Honshu Island where your walking exploration begins. Your final stop is Sakata, a historic port town on the Sea of Japan coast. Accommodations are in inns, most of which have the soothing onsens that Northern Japan is known for. The Tohoku Hot Spring Snow Tour has no more than 12 participants, and given the remote area you’re traversing, it’s a perfect social distancing vacation. Check the website for 2022 prices.
EUROPE
Wine, River and Gastronomy in the South of France
Indulge your wine love on a cruise along the Saône and Rhône rivers on the eight-day Sensations of Lyon and Provence itinerary on an Emerald Cruises Star-Ship. The gorgeous Emerald Liberté holds a maximum of 132 guests and celebrates France’s past and present with stops at storied ports including Arles (think Vincent van Gogh), Avignon (le Palais des Papes and the bridge of song fame) and Lyon, the capital city in France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and the country’s gastronomic hub. Visits to the area’s beautiful vineyards and towns are the stars of the itinerary with guided port tours along with guided biking, hiking and canoeing. Most meals are included showcasing the world-class cuisine of the region. Priced from $2,395 per person based on double occupancy, the cruise is offered on multiple dates.
Madeira Isn’t Only a Wine
Hide away, enjoy water activities, and eat, drink and take in the beautiful scenery in a setting not overrun with selfie takers. The Portuguese island of Madeira is rich in volcanic hills and pebbly beaches, delectable seafood, bucket list-worthy hiking and canyoning trails, and award-winning Madeira wine. Surf, whale watch, or just hang on the beach – there’s a lot to do or nothing to do if you so choose. Thanks to Inovtravel, there are now nonstop flights from New York to Funchal, Madeira’s capital city, as well as a variety of travel packages to celebrate the new ease of reaching the beautiful Portuguese island. Weeklong packages include flights as well as five-star accommodations and start at $1299 per person.
Learn about Wines in Bordeaux
Appropriately named Decanter Tours will book accommodations and meals to your taste to accompany the ultimate Bordeaux wine tour in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in France. For two to five days, the private guided tour with châteaux visits, wine tastings and minibus transportation has rates beginning at 850€ per person. If appellations like Pessac-Leognan, Saint-Émilion, Margaux, Medoc, Pauillac and St. Estephe are only slightly familiar to you when you book the tour, you will come away with in-depth knowledge so you can create your own wow tasting when you return home.
Love, Italian Style
Has your partner just finished reading “Eat Pray Love?” Then you might want to consider this luxe, “discovery” package for two from Hotel Poseidon Positano. Enveloping you in “la dolce vita,” the package includes a five-night stay in a suite with private terrace overlooking the sea and the dramatic Positano coastline, a three-course lunch or dinner, a couple’s massage, and more, priced at just €2100. You’ll also savor the area’s delights with a welcome bottle of wine, a drive along the Amalfi Coast in the hotel’s vintage VW convertible Beetle (with a driver, of course) and more. The exclusive Italian program can be booked by emailing info@hotelposeidonpositano.it.
The Amalfi Coast and Sicily
Plan ahead for a 2022 sailing on a gorgeous clipper ship with Star Clippers Amalfi & Sicily. On multiple dates from mid-June through mid-October, you’ll sail along the Amalfi Coast visiting stunning Sorrento and Amalfi with a stop in Messina, Sicily. Uncrowding is the norm with a maximum of 166 guests on-board, and the scenery is a photographer’s dream. Plus you’ll have the experience of sailing on a four-masted, 16-sail full-rigged tall ship set up for your personal comfort with expansive teak decks, swimming pools, tropical bars, piano lounges and a lively dining room. The price is reasonable, too, starting at $1,850 per person based on double occupancy. Viva Italia!
Truffle Hunting in Provence
Thanks to Relais & Châteaux’ Coquillade Provence Resort & Spa in the heart of France’s Luberon Valley, gastronomes have the option for an earthy behind-the-scenes scavenger hunt in one of the world’s most secretive business. Driving your own Mercedes SMART car, you’ll begin your adventure with an early morning visit to the Provence truffle markets in Vaucluse. At La Truffe du Ventoux third-generation truffle hunters Franck and Alexis Jaumard welcome you for an exclusive tour of their truffle farm led by the noses of two resident truffle hounds, Mirette and Polka. You’ll then indulge in a truffle-themed lunch at the Domaine Jaumard where the “black diamond” is the star of the menu. To add more truffles to your day, dinner is at Coquillade’s Avelan fine dining restaurant where Chef Thierry Enderlin prepares a truffle tasting menu showcasing regional flavors with international classics. The tour can be scheduled from mid-November to mid-March at $1,607 for two people.
SOUTH AMERICA
Boutique Yachting on the Ecuadorian Coast
New Kontiki Expeditions offers a one-week cruise along the Ecuadorian coast, visiting seldom-visited ports and offering a cultural, environmentally conscious adventure. Enjoy sailing on a lavishly appointed yacht with a maximum of 18 guests and attentive service. If you’ve been to the Galapagos, this cruise will expand your Ecuadorian repertoire with coastal ports without the tourist throngs. Kontiki Wayra’s small size glides into harbors that larger ships cannot approach, where you’ll meet with naturalists and locals who will share their chocolate-making secrets, the exclusivity of the Toquilla hat (widely but inaccurately known as a Panama hat), and the blue-footed boobies and other indigenous creatures of the region. If you have a group in mind, you can charter the yacht for a private sail, too. Prices for a week begin at $7245 per person, based on double occupancy.
ANTARCTICA
Antarctica with a Touch of Argentina
On the gorgeous Scenic Eclipse, The World’s First Discovery Yacht™, you’ll have a chance to experience the least-populated area on the planet on the 13-day Scenic Antarctica in Depth voyage. Taking a maximum of 200 passengers, the cruise includes two stops in Argentina -- Buenos Aires and Ushuaia -- as part of the itinerary to the frozen continent where the penguins have been wondering what happened to all the people over the past two years. Priced from $14,695 per person based on double occupancy, this is an adventurous voyage, one that you’ll remember forever. Butler service, naturalist lectures and an expedition parka to prepare you for the polar climes are included. Add to that a luxury spa, yoga and Pilates studio, two helicopters and a submarine and you have the makings of a true trip-of-a-lifetime. Multiple dates are available for this Scenic Luxury Cruises special.
OCEANIA
A Tour of Tahiti
You can enjoy a combination Tahitian land-sea holiday with Windstar Cruises’ Dreams of Tahiti. The special package includes round-trip air to Papeete, Tahiti from Los Angeles and one night pre-cruise and one night post-cruise accommodations at the Intercontinental Tahiti Resort. The cruise itself on the four-masted sail Wind Spirit holds only 148 guests and sails for seven days among the gorgeous Tahitian islands. The package is priced starting at $4,552 per guest based on double occupancy and includes meals and water sports as well.
Diving in the South Pacific
Both experienced and beginning divers will love the all-inclusive package to Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji, the premier eco-luxury and scuba diving destination in the South Pacific. The South Pacific Dive & Rejuvenate Package focuses on meaningful activities designed for guests for a cultural and natural immersion. Included are traditional Fijian storytelling, indigenous healing spa treatments, guided excursions with the resident marine biologist, and diving in the underwater world of the South Pacific. Customize the timing and activities with pricing starting at $330 USD per adult per night.
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