Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, they say, but can you rank places that practically every traveler finds beautiful?
One travel company in the U.K. wanted to answer that question, so they brought in some science and technology to help. They presented volunteers with dozens of images of famous natural destinations. An eye-tracking software recorded data about which images the volunteers looked at, and for how long. The more longing glances and lingering stares determined which destinations were the most eye-catching.
Of course, the most stunning photo can’t beat the real thing. If you haven’t already, here are what science has determined are the most beautiful natural wonders in the world to add to your bucket list this year.
The good news: a third of the top 15 most eye-catching natural destinations are close to home in North America, including number one.
That’s Peyto Lake, in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies in Alberta near the Icefields Parkway. The glacier-fed lake’s calling card is its almost surreal turquoise hue – achieved without filters, simply through the effect of glacier water source! Hikers as well as driving visitors can get breathtaking views and photos of the lake, with the money shot coming from a vantage point hundreds of feet above the water.
Water-adjacent sites make up 2nd and 3rd place – although they are on opposite sides of the world. Meeru Island in the tropical paradise of the Maldives, and the 95-mile, fossil- and atmosphere-rich Jurassic Coast in England are ranked 2 and 3 respectively.
The top U.S. result is one of its National Park, too, and with so many wondrous ones to choose from, would you have guessed Yosemite would be ranked the most beautiful American natural destination and number 4 in the world? The park in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, three-quarters of a million acres in size, is renowned for its dramatic waterfalls off granite cliffs, giant sequoia trees, thriving wildlife, and winding roads and trails between vista after vista.
Speaking of drama, yes, the Grand Canyon is on the list too, coming perhaps surprisingly in 15th place.
One other mainland North American natural wonder makes the top 15, too. And although Niagara Falls (number 6) is part of an urban setting that grew up around it, the Falls that mark the border between the U.S. and Canada are no doubt a natural wonder. They remain not only one of the top tourist destinations on the continent, with record-breaking volumes of water spilling over its edge, have been harnessed to supply electrical power for the region.
Iguazu Falls, that form the border between Brazil and Argentina and make up the largest waterfall system in the world, come in at number 12, and other water-world wonders that ranked among the most beautiful include another vividly colored Lake Tekapo, New Zealand at number 5; and its Lake Matheson at number 13; the otherworldly Puerto Princesa Underground River in the Philippines (number 8); and Phang Nga Bay, Thailand at number 14.
They’re all on our list of life-changing places to explore. What’s on your list?
Contact one of our Travel Professionals to discuss your wonderful, short- and long-term travel plans! Keep the dream alive…
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Anantara, the luxury hospitality company that connects travellers to the indigenous, grounds guests in authentic luxury, with over 40 hotels and resorts located in Asia, the Middle East and Europe, has had success this year hosting other types of guests – the pachyderm kind.
The company’s charitable foundation, the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) works in partnership with local communities on environmental, social and cultural conservation.
As a result of one of those partnered programs, The Cardamom Tented Camp in Cambodia recently recorded the return of a small herd of wild elephants to its conservation area, after elephants had been absent for over five years from the region.
As they are in neighboring Thailand, elephants are a beloved – even sacred – and culturally significant creature in Cambodia, even as their wild populations are threatened by development and the industrialization of processes that used to use working elephants.
In a piece of rare, happy news coming from travel during the pandemic, forest rangers in the conservation area in Cambodia discovered and photographed elephant footprints and droppings. The evidence of elephant inhabitants occurred inside the nearly 45,000-acre forest concession, which the camp protects with help from The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF).
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic Anantara guests, via the GTAEF, continued to support the ongoing maintenance of the camp and its team of rangers despite borders being closed to tourism. Anantara Angkor Resort in Siem Reap also donated supplies directly to the eco lodge throughout the past year.
GTAEF wildlife experts estimate that a herd of nine elephants, consisting of four adult females, their calves, and one young adult elephant, make up the new herd in the conservation area. Members of the herd have also been captured on motion-sensored cameras nearby. The organization hopes the elephants will make themselves at home in the safety and security of the conservation area.
There’s more good news besides. The Lodge manager, who is also a wildlife photographer and conservationist, reports the return of a group of 15-18 otters to the Preak Tachan river beside the camp. This species of otter is native to Cambodia and is one of three species that are globally threatened and at risk of extinction due to human activities. So their appearance is hoped will allow Cambodia to play a role in the global conservation of otters.
The Cardamom Tented Camp is located in Southern Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountain range. It’s a non-profit eco lodge resting within 18,000 hectares of pristine land, and opened in late 2017. Proceeds from the camp are used to fund rangers that patrol the concession, protecting against deforestation and illegal poaching. Since funding began, the protected haven and wildlife in it have thrived. That’s as development has continued in the region.
Guests often see otters, macaque monkeys, kingfishers and hornbills from their boat when they travel to the camp, which is only accessible by river. The camp offers multiple hiking trails for adventurous guests to join the rangers on guided wildlife and bird spotting hikes through up to 5 miles of forest before returning via kayak with rest stops at the main ranger station in each direction.
In October, Cardamom Tented Camp was included in the Green Destinations’ Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories in the world. In 2019 the camp won the PATA Gold Award for Ecotourism and was a top three finalist in the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. In the same year, it was listed in National Geographic UK’s invitation-only listing of top 36 eco-hotels around the world that are leading by example.
At the end of 2021, Cardamom Tented Camp is once again open and operating with a unique business model. Part of the income from the lodge’s operation goes towards the funding of 12 forest rangers who protect the area from loggers, poachers and river sandbank dredgers.
Fully vaccinated travellers can now enter Cambodia and it has nearly 90% of its population fully vaccinated, one of the highest rates in Asia. The ideal time to visit this idyllic corner of the world is between December to April as the southwest Cambodia region near the Thai border enjoys blue skies and rain free days.
Talk to your Travel Professional about planning a visit that supports the wilderness and wildlife of South-East Asia.
Start Your Trip!
Images courtesy Anantara Hotels & Resorts, Cardamom Tented Camp and The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF).
©Copyright BestTrip.TV/Influence Entertainment Group Inc or Rights Holder. All rights reserved. You are welcome to share this material from this page, but it may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The most famous teen wizard of all time has magicked his way into the hearts and book collections of a generation of kids and their parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents.
And it’s been 20 years since the first film - Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – filled theaters and gave us another way to immerse ourselves in the Harry Potter universe.
In addition to anniversary specials airing this holiday season, you can revisit the life of the young wizard and his friends in film locations across the U.K. From castles to cathedrals and moors and markets, even to the Warner Bros. Studios themselves, you can make your next trip to Britain a celebration of Harry Potter every Potterhead member of the family will enjoy.
So dust off the books, fill up a bowl of popcorn to enjoy again the magic on film, and contact your expert travel advisor about making Harry Potter part of your next trip to Britain – no broomsticks required!
Scotland
Glenfinnan Viaduct, Lochaber
It’s one of the most distinctive and iconic travel images from the Harry Potter films. This thousand-foot-high viaduct (pictured, top) is no figment of film designers. Just like Harry and his friends did en route to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, you can board the Jacobite steam train – used as the Hogwarts Express train in the movies – and travel by rail across the dramatic Highland Scottish landscape.
Glencoe, Argyll
Scotland’s ‘most romantic’ glen has done double duty as a location for some of the most memorable scenes in Harry Potter films. The Quidditch matches were filmed in front of Glen Nevis, and its fantastic Steall Falls featured in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’s Tri-Wizard Tournament. You may not be able to pick up a match of Hogwarts-style broomstick ball today in Glencoe, but it’s a famous for hill walking and as an entry point into the Scottish Highlands.
England
King’s Cross Station, London
The Hogwarts Express train – that then travels across the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland - departs from Platform 9¾ of London’s King’s Cross Station. The actual film location (there being no real Platform 9¾) is the arched wall between platforms 4 and 5. On the west side of the station near the entrance to platforms 9, 10, and 11, you can also spot a wall marked ‘Platform 9 ¾’ and a trolley disappearing into the world of magic. Get into the real Harry Potter spirit at the shop selling all the round glasses and Hufflepuff hair scrunchies you could ever need.
Bodleian Library and Christ Church College, Oxford
Harry Potter films revisited famous Oxford University many times. Its magnificent, 1602 Bodleian Library serves in the film as the Hogwarts library, and the Divinity School as the Hogwarts hospital, where anyone falling off a broomstick or touching a cursed opal necklace went to get patched up. Visitors today have to keep solemn silence when visiting the library still used by the Oxford student body today.
Durham Cathedral, Durham
Professor McGonagall's classroom, where she teaches fledgling wizards to turn animals into water goblets, was filmed in Durham Cathedral’s Chapter House. The same Norman-era cathedral’s cloisters appear in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone as the snowy quad where Harry Potter got Hedwig the owl flying.
Alnwick Castle, Northumberland
In the first film, Madame Hooch’s broomstick flying lesson takes place in the Outer Bailey of this real-life medieval castle. The new Harry Potter legacy continues for current visitors to the castle. Broomstick training still occurs and you can also see wizardry magic shows or join a tour with a costumed guide sharing behind-the-scenes stories from filming.
Bonus film location trivia: Alnwick Castle was also the location of Downton Abbey’s 2014 Christmas special, and there remains a dedicated exhibit that includes photography, costumes and props from that filming.
Leadenhall Market, London
What’s now an optician’s in the lyrically named Bull’s Head Passage in Victorian-era Leadenhall Market, for Harry Potter purposes was the Leaky Cauldron wizard pub. Behind it, the filmmakers devised Diagon Alley shopping street with spell books and potions that enticed Harry.
Leadenhall Market serves up no magic today but is a great shopping destination for real life visitors to London today.
Warner Bros Studios, Leavesden
Harry Potter came to life through the magic of film in the Warner Bros Studios just outside of London. You can find a model version of the whole of Hogwarts. The 1:24 scale construction was used for filming the exterior and aerial shots of the school and is filled with props used in the productions for real die-hard fans of the Harry Potter films.
Initiate the magic of your trip by contacting one of our Travel Professionals today!
Images courtesy Visit Britain
Located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea, the twin-island tropical paradise of Antigua (pronounced An-tee'ga) and Barbuda (Bar-byew’da) should be on the radar of any traveler looking for a beach escape away from the masses with a different beach for every day of the year, and two distinctly different island experiences.
At just over 100 square miles, Antigua is the largest of the Leeward Islands. Its rich history includes Nelson’s Dockyard, the only remaining example of a Georgian fort, and UNESCO World Heritage site. The island’s calendar prestigious events includes Antigua Sailing Week, Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta and the local version of Carnival.
Little sister island Barbuda is a couple of dozen miles north-east of Antigua; only a 15-minute flight away or a short sail. The secluded, romantic island is famous for its pink-sand beaches and the largest Frigate Bird Sanctuary in the hemisphere. It also punches above its weight in attracting global celebrities, including actor Robert De Niro, one of the partners in the upcoming Nobu Beach Inn, to accompany the celebrity-chef Nobu Restaurant on the island.
Perhaps nothing combines Antigua and Barbuda’s culture steeped in British traditions and Antiguan-style Caribbean flavor, than its holiday black rum cake.
Visit Antigua and Barbuda and one of the country’s luxury resorts, Carlisle Bay, share with us an Antiguan version of a Caribbean holiday staple: black rum cake.
This version of the rich, moist and morish fruit cake is made using only local rum from the island's very own Antigua Distillery: a leading distillery renowned globally for their English Harbour Rum. The deep noir of this decadent dessert is achieved through the wonderful caramelization of soft sandy white sugar and cups of 5-year English Harbour rum.
It’s the perfect Christmas and fall holiday treat to warm you from the inside out with a touch of tropical decadence.
Carlisle Bay’s Black Rum Cake Ingredients
1lb unsalted butter
1lb white sugar
6 free-range eggs
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp vanilla extract
1lb plain flour
1 tbsp baking powder
4 tbsp food browning
1lb dried blend mixed fruits, mainly cranberry, raisin, currant, dried citrus
2 cups English Harbour 5-year rum
Method
Cream butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add free range eggs and vanilla extract and mix.
Sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg together. Combine dry mixture to sugar, butter, egg mix until all incorporated. Add the browning & dried fruits and mix thoroughly.
Finally add the rum, taste and add more if you wish for a stronger flavor.
Place in a greased baking tin of your choice and cover with greaseproof paper. Bake at 280 degrees (Fahrenheit.) for 40-60 minutes, checking regularly til set. The ideal internal temperature of the cake is 205-210 degrees Fahrenheit.
For a truly authentic Antiguan confection, soak your dried fruit in the rum for as long as possible in advance. It is not unheard of for Antiguans to start the soaking step in January or even ahead of baking! But don’t worry if you haven’t started a whole year in advance, this rum cake will be a winning treat on your holiday table.
Serving
Rum goes in the cake - and with the cake when served! Treat your family and holiday guests to a shot of vintage English Harbour Rum on the side, drizzle the cake with rich cream and rum-infused caramel sauce; and you could even go as far as to pour more English Harbour Rum on top, the more the merrier!
What other travel recipes have become part of your culinary repertoire?
No matter what your family traditions, wishing you a happy holiday season!
Images courtesy Carlisle Bay
Club Med pioneered the all-inclusive vacation in Europe and the Caribbean - and now, it’s taking that pioneering spirit to Canada.
The first all-season, all-inclusive resort in Canada has opened in the Charlevoix region, north of historic Québec City.
Club Med Québec Charlevoix is the company’s first mountain resort in North America. It’s in the mountains above the mighty St. Lawrence River - a stunning position offering a panoramic view - that in some seasons includes whales swimming by - where guests can also get out on the water in warmer months.
Spread out over 300 acres in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of pristine and preserved Nature that provides four seasons of wonders and outdoor activities for guests, the resort offers families, couples, singles, and groups with 302 rooms and 25 5-star suites, as well as all-day gourmet dining and open bar options with local and international specialties, and après- ski activities and entertainment.
The resort’s modern architecture honors the landscape while maximizing the views, and its design reflects the region’s landscape and environment, including motifs to emanate comfort, warmth and the local spirit.
All the resort’s rooms and public areas serve up scenes of the river or mountain. The interior design concept is an ode to Québec’s traditions. Every space showcases a specific season that is integrated through textures, shapes, materials or colours. Throughout the spaces, elements reminiscent of the region and its traditions are carefully integrated, including canoes and one-of-a-kind carpets as well as a custom quilt, now displayed in the main lobby.
Guest rooms include pieces reminiscent of the warmth and comfort of ancestral homes and feature furnishings that pay homage to the surrounding nature.
Club Med Québec Charlevoix is home to 25 Exclusive Collection Suites nestled at the top of the resort. Guests staying in the Suites will have access to a private welcome lounge, a dedicated ski room and an Exclusive Collection Space that includes a cozy fireplace, panoramic views of the river, round-the-clock concierge service and a private terrace with whirlpool. Guests in this 5-star space have in-room mini-bars refilled daily, room service, bar and evening champagne service and high-end toiletries.
Club Med Québec Charlevoix has opened in time to celebrate the winter outdoors this season.
Guests have the convenience of ski-in/ski-out slope access. Included ski and snowboard passes and classes encourage every guest to hit the slopes, no matter their skill level. Children four and up, as well as adults, can enroll in group lessons. The resort also offers included, themed ski workshops that improve skill levels while discovering the breathtaking landscape with a professional guide/instructor.
Non-skiers will have plenty to do, too, with included and a la carte activities like Nordic walking, snowshoeing, ice-skating, broomball, ice fishing, a 7.5 km sledge run, dog sledding and snowmobiling.
During spring, summer and fall, guests can discover the vast outdoors with a selection of all-inclusive themed guided hikes and with Club Med’s mountain biking school, with classes for all skill levels. With more than 20km of paths to explore, vacationers can hike, run or bike through the scenic Charlevoix landscape. Guests have complimentary access to a mini-golf and volleyball course in the warmer months. And the most adventurous can even try canyoning, rafting, and kayaking on the St. Lawrence River.
All year round, guests can participate in yoga and meditation and workout classes, and have access to the cardio, spinning and weight rooms.
And the young and young at heart will delight in Club Med’s quintessential circus school complete with juggling, fixed trapeze, acrobatics and trampolining on demand.
Club Med Québec Charlevoix dining options are also an ode to both Canadian and French cuisine. Using local delicacies unique to the region by season, the on-site restaurants give guests the possibility to to appreciate and discover new flavours with farm to table dining experiences. The majority of ingredients will be sourced within Canada and nearly a third will originate locally.
Cozy and intimate Le Chalet with ever-changing regional menus, family-friendly Terroir & Co.’s fondues, raclettes and charcuterie boards make communal dining fun, and main restaurant Le Marché is a gourmet marketplace, with local and international cuisines served buffet style in five dining rooms and two terraces.
And centered at the heart of the resort, Bar Le Météore is a lively space that evolves from a lounge during the day to go-to destination for parties and entertainment at night.
With Club Med’s Amazing Family Program, children and parents can enjoy fun and innovative activities and games designed to create memories that will last a lifetime. There are family movie nights and all-ages yoga classes, too.
Baby Club Med®, Petit Club Med®, Mini Club Med® and Junior Club Med® welcome kids 4 months through 17 years in a fun, nurturing and welcoming environment. Open all day and with nighttime activities, Passworld® spaces features specific sporting and artistic activities for teens.
At 23m long, the resort’s heated pool is the biggest pool in a Club Med mountain resort, boasting a magnificent view of the St. Lawrence River. A kids’ splash pool allows for even more playtime.
Guests can take part in one of the 35 hours of yoga and guided meditation classes the resort offers, before enjoying the outdoor hot tub or hammam to truly decompress.
Club Med Spa by French luxury brand Sothys is inspired by Nordic spas, where visitors can select from an extensive spa menu, including therapies ranging from 30 minutes to five days.
Guests can book its unique Nordic-inspired Cold and Hot Therapy Pathway. The treatment includes a 10–15-minute hot treatment including a hot tub overlooking the St. Lawrence River and a sauna with floor to ceiling views, followed by a 10-15 second cold treatment in the snow fountain or cold shower and resting periods on the terrace with beautiful views that overlook the river in between. Guests will enjoy the many benefits of this unique and calming therapy alongside soothing scenery.
Club Med Québec Charlevoix has been built to the standards of, and is applying for certification by, a number of recognized global charters for its protection of the environment and minimizing impact on the local ecology. In addition, the resort is partnering with a local company to turn food waste into useable biogas, and staff members will be outfitted in uniforms made from recycled materials.
The resort also offers guests opportunities to explore the majestic landscapes and waterways and national parks beyond the resort. An excursion to Saguenay Fjord for whale watching; immersion in French-Canadian culture in historic Québec City, Île d'Orléans with its panoramic views and delicious local farmers’ markets, Baie-Saint-Paul, one of the beacons of the region ranking among Canada’s cultural capitals, or La Malbaie and its bourgeois residences that resemble another century.
At the opening of Club Med Québec Charlevoix, company executives announced another all-inclusive mountain resort in North America - this one at Snowbasin Resort in Huntsville Utah, just 45 minutes from Salt Lake City, slated to open December 2024.
This upcoming resort will mark Club Med’s first-ever five-star resort in the U.S. as well as its first new resort in the U.S. in more than 20 years. Influenced by the surrounding region, the 320-room resort will combine American luxury with Club Med's renowned French savoir faire, along with architecture and design touches that integrate elements from Utah and its treasured history.
With direct ski-in/ski-out access to surrounding slopes in the winter and opportunity to explore more than 3,000 acres of surrounding mountains and valleys in the warmer months through guided activities like hiking programs, mountain biking and Club Med's trademark circus activities.
Contact us today and start planning your Club Med exciting vacations!
Images courtesy Club Med
The gift-giving season is close at hand, and this year, more than ever before, travel may be the very best present you can place for someone under the tree.
Experiences vs. Things
Study after study shows it, and we know it instinctively ourselves. Our best memories, the best of times, are about experiences, especially shared experiences with loved ones. Not stuff.
How many presents do you yourself remember? Compared to the smile that appears on your face when you think of your favorite travel moments.
Humans are hardwired to cherish the things that travel is all about: new experiences, once-in-a-lifetime moments, meeting new people who are passionate about sharing their culture, talents, and life experiences with you.
There’s something primal about humans wandering in search of new tastes, new horizons, new ways of living and thinking.
The exploring gene is real. Give your loved ones a new campfire to visit, and new memories to share and remember for a lifetime.
Cherish the Planet, don’t Fill it with Garbage
How many people in your life 'need' anything? Most of us have more stuff than we know what to do with. Even if it’s useful, do we need the newest version? Unnecessary goods become landfill.
Time to step off the object acquisition treadmill and fill our loved ones’ lives with experiences they’ll cherish, not stuff they’ll eventually throw away.
Responsible travel can be sustainable, rewarding… and the best gift of all.
For the Person who has 'Everything'
That’s especially true for 'that' person. The one who says they have 'everything.' Why give them more stuff when you already know they don't want any more of it?
Even the person who has 'everything' still hasn’t experienced everything. Who better to give the gift of travel?
The subcategory of this person is people who are living in small spaces downsizing. The last thing they need or really want is more things to try to find a place for. Travel is the best way to live large in small spaces.
Sharing your Blessings
The pandemic has been so difficult for so many people. For people and communities and countries whose survival depends on tourism, these have been the most difficult times ever.
By giving the gift of travel, and putting local economies back to work, you can directly share your blessings with hard-working people who rely on travel to support their own families.
What’s more, you can give the gift that also gives back. There are responsible, meaningful travel experiences that allow travelers to directly participate in experiences that build communities, people up, and restore the wonders of Nature.
What could be a more heartfelt gift?
Reaping the Rewards of the Return to Travel
Travel is still just getting restarted again. To inspire us to get back into the travel habit, his year, more than ever before, travel providers are offering seasonal deals we may never see the likes of again.
These bigger and better offers are making the gift of travel - for yourself or for your loved ones - irresistible. From hotels and resorts, air-included packages, cruises and guided tours… the promotions are so good - it’s like a holiday gift to you!
How to Give
There are so many ways to give the gift of travel - to yourself, your immediate, or extended family or friends… even to colleagues or business contacts this holiday season.
Whether you want to offer a travel gift card, a flight, plan a specific trip, or get them started on their way, your trusted travel advisor can help you understand all your options and the best ways to give the gift of travel.
#GiftofTravel
11/11 is Single's Day, highlighting the solo lifestyle that applies to more and more uncoupled people. The decision to travel solo is among the biggest decisions a singleton makes.
This year will mark the first time many people decide to travel solo. They'll be deciding whether they should stay home or go it alone.
Travel Professionals agree and have noticed that the trend for solo travel has been growing over the past decade. But, with the last year of restricted travel, it seems that people are less inclined to wait for every detail to be aligned. That includes the detail of having a travel partner. Instead, they are deciding to travel solo!
Booking.com's research indicates that “solo travel is likely to gather even greater momentum as people’s desire to travel will nudge them to take the plunge to travel on their own in 2021”. Their “data pre-pandemic saw only 17%* of travelers were planning a trip on their own, while 30% now say they will be planning a solo trip in the future”.
Tour companies say it’s true: They are seeing more people booking solo trips than in the past and there a several reasons why.
Do any of these scenarios describe you?
The decision to travel solo is, for some, a big one. For others, it's just the logical step given their personality, circumstances, or desires.
Whether your decision to travel solo is easy or difficult, your trusted Travel Professional can help match your solo travel wishes and budget with trips with low or no singles supplements so you can get the most out of your decision to venture into the world solo. That being said, you are never really alone with your Travel Professional!
13 diverse sites with natural and cultural significance, including World Heritage Sites, Biospheres, Global Geoparks and Creative Cities now form a dedicated digital trail.
The world’s first-ever UNESCO Trail has been created to bring together some of Scotland’s most iconic sites.
VisitScotland hopes the new UNESCO Trail will inspire visitors to experience the country’s distinctive heritage, whether they travel to all - or even only one - of the sites.
The UNESCO Trail takes visitors across Scotland to sites featuring the country’s history, its science, music, design and literature achievements, and its spectacular nature and cityscapes.
The designations included in Scotland’s UNESCO Trail are:
Scotland’s UNESCO digital trail can be found online on the VisitScotland’s website.
“There is no other journey like Scotland’s UNESCO Trail and we want to inspire visitors to take a once-in-a-lifetime experience across the country, delving into its history and heritage, experiencing the wonder of its natural assets and the magic that inspires art, music and literature,' one VisitScotland official said.
‘The innovative trail not only showcases the breadth of culturally astounding UNESCO designations we have across Scotland but also the exceptional visitor experiences this trail creates.’
Scotland’s pioneering UNESCO Trail not only provides digital information and inspiration to visitors from around the world about the astounding UNESCO sites across Scotland to explore.
It also celebrates businesses and local communities that are committed to responsible tourism and it promotes sustainable travel options.
“Across Scotland, these UNESCO designations are local partnerships and communities that protect and promote their outstanding creativity, cultural heritage and the natural environment. By partaking in the Trail, visitors from around the world will rediscover Scotland’s unique treasures, know they are travelling sustainably, and contribute to the communities who maintain these precious places,” Professor Anne Anderson, Non-Executive Director at the UK National Commission for UNESCO said.
“From the stunning mountains of the Northwest Highlands, the heart of Neolithic Orkney, the vibrant music scenes of Glasgow, to Edinburgh’s outstanding heritage and literature festivals, there is a wealth of people and places waiting to welcome you.”
The UNESCO Trail was designed to support responsible tourism, encouraging visitors to stay longer, visit all year round, make sustainable travel choices, explore more widely and at the right time of the year, and in turn, contribute to the sustainable quality of life of those communities surrounding the designated sites.
Your trusted Travel Professional can help you plan a journey of exploration of Scotland’s most unique and iconic sites and experiences.
Photo credits as noted.
Top photo: Eilean Donan Castle: VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins
The days are getting shorter, the skies are getting duller, and the temperature’s dropping. That’s our cue to start thinking about a beach vacation.
Many people are deciding to 'splash out' on their next vacations and really treat themselves to the very best version of their dream trip.
That’s where your trusted Travel Professional can really add value to your vacation.
We recommend dreaming big! Pick the features that appeal most to you, and work with your trusted travel advisor to help match your top features with an ideal destination and design your best beach vacation ever.
Your travel advisor can also help make sure you are fully up to date on the current travel requirements for your next sun and sand holiday.
Here’s our list of some of the top requested features of an all-inclusive resort vacation. Which of these features would make your all-inclusive holiday dreams come true?
Swim-Up BarFor many of us, our first drink at a swim up bar - whether it’s a margarita, a mudslide or a mojito - is the moment we feel 'Ah!' I’m on vacation. It’s one of the most popular features of beach resorts - but not every resort in the tropics has one.
Generally speaking, the more pools a resort has, the more likely it is to have one with a swim-up bar.
Adults-Only Pools and Other AreasSpeaking of pools, if you don’t like your swim time interrupted by pool noodles, splashing and high-decibel shrieks, it’s time to consider an adults-only resort - or at least one with adults-only areas. That could include not only pools, but lounge areas, sections of the beach, bars and restaurants.
That way, kids can be kids and grown ups can get their rest in, too. Or playtime, because sometimes adults like to have grown up fun. And more adult behavior can have its place without having to worry about being improper in front of someone’s kids - or getting a glare from disapproving parents.
Multi-generational Family TimeSome resorts make a concerted effort to cater to all generations, especially those who travel together.
That can come in the form of adult-and kid areas, where everyone, from parents, grandparents, child-free aunts and uncles, and kids, can all have their own versions of a great tropical vacation.
It can also be different types of accommodation, from connecting rooms or suites with separate sleeping quarters but shared living areas, even to private villas.
The BeachSome sun-lovers enjoy spending their entire holiday at the pool. But for others, they haven’t really been on vacation unless they’re in the sea.
While most resorts have access to waterfront, not all beaches are created equal. Do you want to be on a long strip of a famous beach that goes for miles? Or have access to a smaller, secluded - even private - beach? Must it be a silky, sand beach or are pebbles ok?
Do you need to see the beach from your room’s balcony? Or are you satisfied to have a 10+ minute walk or ride to a distant beach at a very large property?
If the beach is important to you, these are the questions to ask yourself.
On-site Watersports and other ActivitiesHow active a vacation do you want? Do you want to rent jet-skis? Go snorkeling? Play tennis every day? If an active vacation - or lots of time in the water - is your idea of the perfect vacation, your best bet is a resort that already has lots of activities on the property so you have easy access to your favorite activities.
Multiple Included RestaurantsIf you’re a foodie, an all-inclusive with just one buffet might not be up to your standards. Fine dining and multiple international cuisines are increasingly available at all-inclusives throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, and other short-haul tropical destinations.
Make sure to ask your travel advisor if all the specialty restaurants are included, or what the costs of specialty dining is.
Bonus Question for the Super-Savvy: are there any restaurants with air conditioning? Not everyone soaks in the tropical heat with equal pleasure. Some of us just can’t enjoy dinner in a restaurant that isn’t air-conditioned.
Spa and Wellness
Almost all resorts at least have the facilities to get a massage, but after that, your wellness travel experience varies widely.
Some have extravagant spas with huts on the beach, where your massage is accompanied by the sounds of the waves and the smell of sea breezes.
Others have daily, scenic, included yoga, Pilates, and other sessions for physical and spiritual well being. There are also some resorts with spa menus so those committed to returning from vacation even healthier than when they left can embrace health throughout the day.
Work-from-anywhere Services
A trend that started before the pandemic is now here to stay. More and more resorts have created an environment for those who are able to work and travel at the same time.
From enhanced internet to live-work accommodations and packages, to private rooms where you can book quiet virtual meetings… if you are joining the ranks of digital nomads, there are all-inclusive resorts that you can call 'home' - until you want to move on again!
Treating Yourself to Upgrades
For a really special treat, let your fantasies of beach vacations run wild: private villa with your own splash pool? Overwater bungalow? Butler Service? It’s all available for that unforgettable beach vacation.
By: Lynn Elmhirst, Producer/ Host, BestTrip TV
Austria’s capital city is famous as a cradle of classical music and high culture, for its skyline shaped by Hapsburg palaces, the Opera House and city symbol Giant Ferris Wheel, for tastes and experiences like chocolate/apricot Sacher Torte and coffee house culture, and even the renowned, high-performing and high-stepping, gleaming white Lipizzaner horses.
You may have been to Vienna before, but no matter how many times you’ve been to a city, seeing it from above gives you a whole new perspective.
That’s why the string of new rooftop bars in the city on the Danube River – with stunning design and inspiring food and beverage experiences - is so exciting for those of us planning Danube River cruises or guided trips to Central Europe soon.
Plan for daytime snacks or late-day drinks in at least one of these ‘elevated’ bars with a view!
mariatrink: Laid-back music
This is the most musical of Vienna’s new rooftop bars. Jaz in the City Vienna, located in the city’s sixth district of Mariahilf, is the third hotel in the German hotel chain’s portfolio. The view, if not the music, will make your heart skip a beat.
(Photo credit: Jaz in the City Vienna)
Contemporary design is the backdrop to an immersive music theme. The lobby recreates a record shop vibe, and the rooftop, mariatrink bar has the feel of a luxuriant jazz club, with velvet seating, innovative cocktails and regional dishes. But few jazz clubs can boast mariatrink’s real claim to fame: the panoramic views of Vienna.
www.jaz-hotel.com/hotels/jaz-in-the-city-vienna
Kindred Spirits Rooftop Bar: Drinks with Views of the Prater
Playtime at Vienna’s beloved Prater park… followed by smart drinks at the rooftop bar overlooking it. The boutique Hotel Zoku Vienna opened in June 2021, and its amusement-park-adjacent location is symbolic of its focus: providing a venue for work-life balance. Its special home-office hybrid solution appeals to working road warriors.
(Photo credit: Ewout Huibers Photography & Concrete)
At the top of the building, the Living Kitchen Rooftop Restaurant and Kindred Spirits Rooftop Bar are ideal for a laid-back lunch or after-work drink with a focus on Austrian wine, spirits, and culinary artisans, while soaking in the 360-degree views of Vienna. After dusk, the attractions at the Prater amusement park below twinkle like a sea of colored lights, illuminating the entire atmosphere.
www.livezoku.com/vienna
MQ Libelle: Viennese Modernism and Rooftop Views
It only opened mid-pandemic during the summer of 2020, but it’s already the most popular rooftop bar in Vienna. MQ Libelle (libelle means dragonfly) is perched on top of the roof of the Leopold Museum, home to Vienna’s leading museum of Viennese Modernism (pictured, top). The museum has the world’s largest Egon Schiele collection.
And architecturally speaking the MQ Libelle is a work of art itself. Two of Austria’s most prominent artists were responsible for designing the main elements of the terrace, glass wall, and iconic lighting elements. The drinks and epicurean hotspot is also a new space for art and cultural projects in its own right.
www.mqw.at/en/your-visit/mq-libelle
360° Ocean Sky: a Zoo With a View
Everything about this rooftop bar has a fascinating story. The 360° Ocean Sky is a spectacular rooftop bar and all-day and –evening modern restaurant with pride of place on top of the House of Sea. Whisked to the rooftop in a panoramic elevator, guests enjoy eye-catching drinks overhead, while brightly colored exotic fish shimmer in the waters of the aquarium below.
The building itself is located in a WW2 flak tower that – by its very nature soars above the surrounding buildings, providing fantastic views in every direction.
www.oceansky.at
IKEA at Westbahnhof Station
Your Saturday morning runs to IKEA at home may be more utilitarian, maybe with some Swedish meatballs as a treat.
But in Vienna, right next to the Westbahnhof railway station, IKEA has opened a ‘hus’ social hub complete with green façade and a rooftop terrace that’s open to the public with no obligation to buy a Billy Bookcase or even one of the items on the vegetarian menu.
(Photo credit: Ikea)
Seventy fully-grown trees in giant planters punctuate the space that has a fantastic view over Vienna.
www.ikea.com/at/de/stores/wien-westbahnhof
Chez Bernard Restaurant et Bar: Sustainable and Stunning
The Hotel Motto is scheduled to open in Fall 2021, with a combination of 1920’s Parisian charm, contemporary Viennese lifestyle and Scandi-chic design.
Its rooftop Chez Bernard Restaurant et Bar is flooded with natural light that supports the lush greenery spread across two floors under a striking glass dome. Organic French and North-African cuisine, locally-roasted coffee beans and signature beer brewed from leftover bread from the in-house bakery – along with the views – make this a one-of-a-kind experience.
www.hotelmotto.at
Parliamentary Proceedings with a Twist
The late-19th-century Austrian Parliament, one of the most important buildings on Vienna’s Ringstrasse, will unveil a modern rooftop restaurant of its own in 2022.
(Credit: Parlamentsdirektion / András Pálffy, Ortfried Friedreich und Christian Jabornegg)
It’s part of a huge refurbishment project at the Parliament. Once complete, visitors will be able to enjoy previously unseen views over Vienna’s historic city center from four outdoor terraces. An area with table service, a self-service section and a bistro are all planned. The menu will include a mix of traditional Viennese cuisine and international dishes.
Images Courtesy of the rightsholders as noted and the Vienna Tourist Board
Top image: MQ Libelle: WienTourismus/David Payr / MQ Libelle
This holiday season will be the brightest ever in the most popular tourist attraction in Canada – and one that conveniently spans the border with the U.S. - just as the land border between the neighboring countries is set to be open in both directions.
Beginning in mid-November and running 101 nights all the way to late February 2022, Canada’s largest, free outdoor light festival will take place. It’s the longest Ontario Power Generation Winter Festival of Lights of its 40-year history, designed to keep spirits bright throughout the darkest days of the year.
With over 3 million lights and over 75 spectacular displays providing colourful visuals, Niagara Falls will be transformed into a twinkling winter wonderland along the Niagara Parkway, Dufferin Islands and across the tourism districts. Visitors to this popular annual festival can bundle up and walk or drive through the Festival route to explore the outdoor, socially distanced, self-guided experience.
(Above and top photos: Niagara Falls Tourism)
That’s of course in addition to the nightly, colorful illumination of the Canadian side, Horseshoe Falls. The lights in the winter takes on a fantasy appearance as mist generated by the torrents of falling water freeze as they rise up into the air, creating natural and other-worldly ice sculptures clinging to the Falls.
You may even want to take more than one trip to Niagara Falls for the 2021-22 OPG Winter Festival of Lights. The Festival will be presented in two parts.
From November 13, 2021 – January 9, 2022, over Christmas and New Year, the Festival features favourite 3D animal and holiday themed displays, including the popular Dufferin Islands loop within Niagara Parks. 20 new displays introduced in 2020 will return, including a giant gingerbread house, 20-foot polar bear and fairy tale castle, plus 8 new displays for 2021.
Then from January 10 - February 21, 2022, spanning Valentine’s Day, the new, second half of the Festival showcases winter wonderland and love-themed displays. 3D animals from Dufferin Islands will magically appear in other parts of the tourism district, and holiday themed displays will be replaced with new illuminations.
Two maps – one for each part of the Festival of Lights – are available on the Winter Festival of Lights website so you can plan your trip – or trips – to take in the change in displays during the entire, extended Festival period.
This winter season may be the perfect time to discover the illuminated magic of Niagara Falls. The city has just opened another fascinating attraction with its own, celebrated light show.The Niagara Parks Power Station is a new landmark attraction just south of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls that opened late summer. It pays homage to the incredible power of the water that flows over the Falls - and how the Falls have benefitted residents on both sides of the border, in addition to Niagara Falls’ place as one of the Natural Wonders of the World.The first major power plant on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, the Niagara Parks Power Station was completed in 1905 to produce hydroelectricity by leveraging the power of the six million cubic feet of water that surge through the Niagara River and over the Falls every minute. Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side is the most powerful waterfall on the continent. Beyond its stunning architectural features and landscape design, the power station was one of the first in the world to undertake a major tunnel project, with water entering the structure and dropping 180 feet before being expelled into a 2,000 foot tunnel that emptied into the lower Niagara River, right at the base of the Horseshoe Falls.An engineering and architectural marvel, the station’s generators were the largest of their kind. Power generated from the Niagara Parks Power Station was used to service Fort Erie, Ontario and Buffalo, New York, and the plant remained in operation over one hundred years, until 2006 when it was decommissioned.By day, visitors explore the preserved interior of the historic power station, transformed with new exhibits and guest amenities.
(Photo: Niagara Parks)
Each night, an immersive sight and sound experience “Currents: Niagara’s Power Transformed” brings the building’s story of transforming water to electricity to life. This immersive, family-friendly experience features incredible 3D projection, interactive moments of wonder, and a breathtaking musical score in the heart of the power station.
The dramatic light show at the Niagara Parks Power Station - as well as the newly-extended Festival of Lights - will brighten any traveler’s winter.
Contact one of our Travel Professionals to start your trip and live an incredible winter experience in Canada!