Leisure Lifestyle Edition 2015

globaltravelerusa.com | $35.00 Globility ®

Special Edition

leisure lifestyle ’s GUIDE TO THE LUXURIOUS WORLD OF LEISURE TRAVEL LEISURE TRAVEL AWARDS • Romantic getaways • Travel Fitness Outdoor Tours • Driving across america • Hotel Innovations Travel apps • Airline and hotel partnerships

Discover the magic of Taiwan with China Airlines Travelling can be relaxing without the noisy crowd.

With open arms, Taiwan welcomes you to start your relaxing journey onboard China Airlines’ brand new 777-300ER aircraft.

For great fares and latest deals to Taiwan and Asia, visit www.china-airlines.com | 1-800-227-5118

Globility

The Art of Leisure

T

he best in luxury leisure travel is back for a third consecutive year, highlighting Global Traveler’s Leisure Travel Awards and so much more.

Our 2015 Leisure Lifestyle issue inspires and excites the romantics, the fitness fans and the driving enthusiasts among us while delving into the coolest hotel innovations and travel-friendly apps available to today’s luxury leisure traveler.

Needless to say, if I can combine all of these in one trip, I’m a happy guy. I’m not the most fitness-focused individual, but my wife surely is — happy wife, happy life, as they say. Any travel experience we embark upon together must have a romantic component, be fitness-friendly and include stays at hotels or resorts that deliver a creative or clever approach to making our stay unique and memorable.

Case in point: We attended a traditional Scottish wedding about 15 years ago, flying to Glasgow and — my favorite part — driving to Edinburgh. An awesome opposite-side-of the-road experience with an endless number of roundabouts led us to Dalhousie Castle just eight miles outside Edinburgh.

This romantic fairy-tale castle dating back to the 15th century was converted into a Scottish bed & breakfast with fewer than 35 guestrooms. Think Braveheart and you get the idea. From the well-appointed rooms with canopy beds to the Aqueous Spa, steam room/sauna and award-winning dining in The Dungeon Restaurant (located in the former dungeon), this getaway had all the goods: romance, fitness and creative innovations that provided a vacation we’d never forget.

What about you? Jump into this issue and find some new experiences to quench your travel thirsts, whether for romance, driving across America or checking out cool hotel and resort amenities — and maybe staying in shape along the way.

Enjoy the ride!

Advertising Publisher/CEO Francis X. Gallagher tel 267 364 5811 ext 200 fran.gallagher@globaltravelerusa.com Director of Sales and Marketing David E. Katz tel 267 364 5811 ext 205 | cell 267 884 1650 david.katz@globaltravelerusa.com Senior Vice President Richard T. Evans tel 267 364 5811 ext 203 dick.evans@globaltravelerusa.com Vice President CARLY N. ALLEN tel 267 495 6287 carly.allen@globaltravelerusa.com Advertising Manager Olivia Falcione tel 215 816 8177 olivia.falcione@globaltravelerusa.com Digital Sales Manager Robert Setzman tel 267 364 5811 ext 212 | cell 215 301 6869 rob.setzman@globaltravelerusa.com Account Executive Matthew McNeal tel 267 364 5811 ext 207 matt.mcneal@globaltravelerusa.com Marketing & Sales Assistant Holly Godbey tel 267 364 5811 ext 211 holly.godbey@globaltravelerusa.com

International Representatives China Alexander Glos tel 86 21 6095 6570/71 | fax 86 21 6095 6574 aglos@i2i-m.com.cn

Middle East Lenora Bennis tel 971 4 425 3300 | cell 971 52 846 6212 lenora@themediavantage.com

Egypt Carmen Doyle and hassan shehab tel 61 0 403866188 carmen.doyle@afrozinternational.com hassan.shehab@afrozinternational.com

Philippines lorie fernandez tel 632 687 5699 | fax 632 635 7882 lorie@eastgatepublishing.com

France, The Netherlands Jeremy Praderio-Regie tel 09 54 20 09 50 | cell 06 07 96 54 15 j.praderio@pema-group.com Germany michaela justi tel 49 69 56 02 01 21 | fax 49 69 56 02 01 23 | cell 49 171 20 29 502 justi@mediasalescompany.de

David E. Katz, Director of Sales and Marketing

Greece nikos karambinis tel 30 21 0691 5650 n.karambinis@impact-media.gr India Maitreyee B. Angelo tel 630 357 4833 | cell 630 631 3121 mbangelo@gmail.com Japan Hidetada Kochi tel 81 3 3222 7811 | fax 81 3 3234 1140 kochi@mediahs.com

Scandinavia Will Nicholson tel 46 7 68 94 86 02 | will@vision-network.eu South Africa margie ogilvy tel 27 44 384 0800 | ogilvy@mweb.co.za South Korea jeff hwang tel 82 31 703 7782 | fax 82 010 6347 9117 gng@gngcom.co.kr Spain Luis Andrade tel 34 91 788 2001 | fax 34 91 395 6396 landrade@luisandrade.com Thailand nartnittha jirarayapong tel 6626 355185 ext 14 | cell 6681 6438923 noo@njintermedia.com Turkey Gurkan Kinaci tel 90 212 559 9670 | fax 90 212 661 7660 cell 90 532 213 0390 | gurkan@divamed.net United Kingdom joanna percy tel 44 207 286 6048 | cell 44 778 556 3050 joanna@jpmediasales.com

CORPORATE OFFICE

310 Floral Vale Blvd., Yardley, PA 19067 tel 267 364 5811 | fax 267 364 5796

globaltravelerusa.com

2015 | Leisure Lifestyle | 3

contents

Globility

®

EdITORIAL Editor in Chief lIsa Matte lisa.matte@globaltravelerusa.com tel 781 331 5423 Managing Editor KimberlY KrOl kim.krol@globaltravelerusa.com digital director KatIe sKRZeK katie.skrzek@globaltravelerusa.com Senior Editor JaNIce hecht jan.hecht@globaltravelerusa.com Associate Editor/Copy Editor Patricia VanikiOtis patty.vanikiotis@globaltravelerusa.com eFlyer Editor/Associate Editor MONIQUe BaRRett monique.barrett@globaltravelerusa.com digital Content Producer DeBRa BOKUR debra.bokur@globaltravelerusa.com Social Media Consultant samantha hardcastle

ART Art director tRaceY cUlleN tracey.cullen@globaltravelerusa.com Staff Photographer chRIstOPheR P. OttaUNIcK christopher@globaltravelerusa.com Special Events video Editor VaNce PIccIN

6

ContriButors

22

26

KristY alpert

IlOna KauremszkY

Beth Blair

Dale leatherman

Debra BOkur

Karin leperi

terrY Gardner

For complete bios, visit globaltravelerusa.com

Circulation Specialists JOhn wrOblewski, lOuie atsaves Managers JaYhawK eVaNs, MaRK P. FORD, teResa JacKsON, aNthONY “scRaPs” DIMeRa Circulation director Michele shannOn Circulation Manager anna PudzianOwski Research Consultant sharOn sterne

26 The great Outdoors Get out of the office on an adventure tour that will change your life.

BY MONIQUE BARRETT

BY DALE LEATHERMAN

42 Have App, Will Travel with a world of information at our fingertips, mobile technology changes the way we plan and take trips.

BY KRISTY ALPERT

18 Love Is in the Air Follow your heart to a romantic getaway with someone special.

BY DEBRA BOKUR

22 Exercise Your Options hotels focus on fitness to help guests stay in shape while traveling.

BY BETH BLAIR

COO Michael KielY Treasurer Kevin RYan Secretary stephen DOhertY vice President Asia edward JeffersOn vice President Corporate giving James BOlger vice President Europe waYne tallman vice President Middle East/Africa GarY Oswald

Drive cross-country on scenic byways to discover the real america.

46 Twin Perks creative airline and hotel collaborations make travel doubly rewarding.

BY KARIN LEPERI

BY TERRY GARDNER

Subscriptions tel 818 286 3134 | gbtcs@magserv.com

tel 267 364 5811 ext 202 | kim.krol@globaltravelerusa.com

36 What’s Your Pleasure? wake-up to turn-down, hotels innovate to meet guests’ every whim.

BY ILONA KAUREMSZKY

4 | Leisure Lifestyle | 2015

Chairman Michael DOnahue President carlOs cappucciO

vice President Latin America/Mexico/Caribbean Frank lOVerme

32 The Roads Less

Traveled

Advisory Board

vice President Special Events and Photography christOpher P. Ottaunick

Contact Us general Inquiries/Issue Requests tel 267 364 5811 Public Relations KimberlY KrOl Letters to the Editor letters@globaltravelerusa.com Reprints ed Kane | FosteReprints tel 800 382 0808 ext 31 | edk@fosterprinting.com

COvER PHOTO: Lindblad Expedition’s seasonal charter, sea cloud PhOtO: © David Vargas/lindblad eXpeditiOns

Global Traveler is published monthly by FXexpress Publications, Inc., 310 Floral Vale Blvd., Yardley, Pa 19067. the U.s. subscription rate is $42 for one year, $79.95 for two years, $121.95 for three years.

Postmaster: Please send changes of address to Global traveler, 310 Floral Vale Blvd., Yardley, Pa 19067

globaltravelerusa.com

PhOtOs: © silversea cruises; © whitneY Peak; © austin adventures

6 A World of Leisure Global Traveler congratulates the winners of the 2015 leisure travel awards.

A COLLECTION OF 350 HOTELS & RESORTS IN 40 COUNTRIES ACROSS THE GLOBE At Melia Hotels International, we provide global hospitality services and experiences, focused on excellence, responsibility and sustainability.

Our hotels are known for offering world-class accommodations, distinguished architecture and design, customized personal service, elevated amenities such as spa and golf, and always exceptional dining, all set in the world’s most revered urban and resort locations. Discover Gran Meliá, ME by Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts, INNSIDE by Meliá and TRYP by Wyndham hotels offering a wide range of distinctive luxuries designed and attributes to fulfll the needs of the world’s most sophisticated and successful business travelers.

For information contact your preferred travel agent or 800.33.MELIA | www.melia.com | GDS Codes: ME/SM/WT

A World of Leisure

Global Traveler congratulates the winners of the 2015 Leisure Travel Awards.

BY MONIQUE BaRREtt

F

or the third year in a row, Global Traveler steps out of the boardroom to explore the business of leisure travel, recognizing the world’s best leisure destinations, airlines, cruises and hotel groups in this year’s Leisure Travel Awards.

Nominations in each category came from Global Traveler’s elite Globility Board as well as highly experienced magazine staff. From these nominations, Global Traveler’s esteemed Advisory Board selected the final winners.

Best IslAnd in EurOPe: Santoríni

PhOtO: © ben GOODe | Dreamstime.cOm

Best BeACHes:

Best IslAnd PACifiC RiM:

PhOtO: © AleXanDer ShalamOv | Dreamstime.cOm

PhOtO: © PrzemYslaw SKibinsKi | Dreamstime.cOm

Turks and Caicos

6 | Leisure Lifestyle | 2015

Fiji

globaltravelerusa.com

Best CAribbeAn IslAnd: British Virgin Islands

Photo: © sean Pavone | Dreamstime.com

Winners’ Circle Best BeAcHes turks and caicos Best CAribbeAn IslAnd british virgin islands

Global Traveler’s Globility Board consists of well-traveled subscribers who act as a direct link between the magazine and our readers. These savvy world travelers serve as a conduit for information about our readers’ interests and insights in leisure travel that goes far beyond the data we can garner from our surveys and research.

Whatever your tastes, you’ll find in the winners’ circle somewhere and something to inspire your travels, from the coastal charms of the British Virgin Islands and Greece’s beautiful island of Santoríni to adventurous activities such as skydiving in New Zealand and up-close encounters with wilderness on cruises with Lindblad Expeditions.

It is with great pleasure we announce the 2015 winners. Congratulations to those deemed the very best the leisure travel world has to offer.

FOR TRAVELERS SEEKING to relax and rejuvenate with sun Best Adventure and sand, look no further than Turks and Caicos, earning the Best DestinAtiOn: Beaches award with stretches of uncrowded sand across 40 unique New Zealand islands and cays, eight of which are inhabited, in the inviting waters Photo: © Dan brecKwoldt | Dreamstime.com of the Atlantic Ocean.

A chain of more than 60 picturesque islands in the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, the British Virgin Islands picks up the Best Caribbean Island award this year with its picture-perfect resorts and hotels as well as miles of golden beaches. B.V.I. visitors have an endless variety of beach choices as well as all types of accommodations, from private islands to exclusive resorts, villas and even small hotels tucked away on a cay.

The crescent-shaped island of Santoríni earns the Best Island in Europe title for the second consecutive year, delighting leisure travelers with the deep blue waters of the Aegean, famous postcard-perfect sunsets, colorful beaches with black and red sands, and archaeological delights like the impressive ruins at Akrotiri and the historic city of Manolas on Thirassia.

With its turquoise waters, ultra-luxury resorts, glittering sands and pristine natural environment, it’s no wonder Fiji earned the Best Island Pacific Rim achievement. The secluded set of 333 islands in the heart of the South Pacific welcomes guests with warm Fijian hospitality and keeps them coming back with world-class hotels on beautiful shorelines and memorable activities in pristine, warm waters. Visitors enjoy snorkeling, diving, thrilling jet boat rides and whitewater rafting, as well as breathtaking hikes through lush forests.

If you’re seeking action and adventure, look south of Fiji to New Zealand, named Best Adventure Destination this year for its various activities that thrill and inspire travelers. Those seeking a dose of adrenaline will find any kind of action-packed option you can think of — and even some you haven’t — including bungee jumping, skydiving, caving, canyoning and zip-lining, all against a backdrop of incredible idyllic landscapes. globaltravelerusa.com

Second Consecutive Year

Best IslAnd in EurOPe santoríni Second Consecutive Year

Best IslAnd PAcific RiM Fiji Best Adventure DestinAtiOn new zealand Best HistOricAl AttrActiOns israel Best SMAll SHiP Cruise Line silversea cruises Third Consecutive Year

Best LArge SHiP Cruise Line royal caribbean international Best Cruise Line EntertAinMent celebrity cruises Best Cruise Line Dining Oceania cruises

2014 2015| | Leisure LeisureLifestyle Lifestyle | | 77

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

the ALOHa sPirit Hawaiian airlines brings the world to Hawai’i with island hospitality.

For 86 years, Hawaiian Airlines has linked the world to Hawai’i with its signature Mea Ho’okipa onboard hospitality. Meaning “I am host,” the airline’s brand of service engages passengers in a warm and friendly celebration of the culture and people. Hawaiian Airlines serves 11 U.S. gateway cities, including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Oakland, San José, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle and New York City. In addition, Hawaiian’s international flights include service to Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti.

Hawaiian Airlines is the ideal carrier for international travelers looking to spend a few days in paradise. From North American gateways, guests traveling to further distances such as Australia or New Zealand can enjoy a free stopover option in Honolulu. Want to hike

Diamond Head crater before witnessing the Sky Tower in Auckland? How about relaxing on Lanikai’s pristine beach before embarking on your final leg home? With Hawaiian Airlines’ complimentary stopovers, travelers can soak up the sun and enjoy island cuisine before reaching their final destination. Dual destination vacations are the perfect way for travelers to make the most out of their long-haul trip.

In 2014, the airline celebrated a decade of service to Australia, and is proud to be the only U.S. carrier offering service to Brisbane. This year, Hawaiian adds 6,200 seats to the route between Honolulu and Brisbane, following the successful addition of a fourth weekly flight in 2014. Customers can travel with ease knowing that Hawaiian offers First Class, Extra Comfort and Main Class cabins to choose from, all of

which receive complimentary meal service inspired by Executive Chef Chai Chaowasaree’s local, signature dishes. Hawaiian Airlines continues to be the only U.S. carrier still offering complimentary meals on all international and domestic flights.

Guests experience the sights, sounds, tastes and Aloha spirit of Hawai‘i from the moment they step aboard Hawaiian Airlines. It’s no wonder they’ve remained Hawai‘i’s biggest and longest-serving airline for more than eight decades. International travel can be lengthy and sometimes burdensome. Hawaiian Airlines understands this, which is why they offer international travelers a plethora of complimentary enhancements including free stopovers in Honolulu, finely crafted meals, newly-designed amenity kits, in-flight entertainment on hi-res LCD touch-screen monitors and more. Travelers connecting to any of their 11 international cities can experience the beautiful island of O’ahu at no additional airline cost. All done with the peace of mind of a reliable arrival, as Hawaiian has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for the past 11 years.

Learn more at hawaiianairlines.com.

Where the world meets Hawai‘i.

Join us on any of our 11 international routes – including Beijing, Tokyo and Sydney – and experience the authentic Hawaiian hospitality of our home. Learn more at HawaiianAirlines.com.

G L O B A L T R AV E L E R ’ S “ B E S T L E I S U R E A I R L I N E ” 2 0 1 5

Best Cruise Line Dining: Oceania Cruises

PhOtO: © Oceania cruises

Winners’ Circle Best LuXury Cruise Line norwegian cruise Line Best Adventure Cruise Line Lindblad Expeditions Best FAMily Cruise Line Disney cruise Line Best River Cruise Line Viking River cruises Third Consecutive Year Best LuXury Leisure HOtel grOuP in tHe WOrld meliá Hotels International Best HOtel CHAin ResOrts westin Hotels & Resorts Best Lifestyle Leisure HOtel grOuP in tHe WOrld Vida Hotels and Resorts Best Leisure Airline Hawaiian Airlines

10 | Leisure Lifestyle | 2015 2014

For history and archaeology buffs, Israel takes home the top prize, earning Best Historical Attractions with some of the world’s most famous historical sites. The country offers a plethora of opportunities to explore its extensive history stretching back thousands of years. Visitors can get a glimpse of the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Israel Museum, explore the evocative ruins in the desert fortress of Masada and discover the sacred site of the ancient Western Wall.

Best SMAll SHiP Cruise Line: Silversea Cruises PhOtO: © silversea cruises

CONSISTENTLY SAILING the high seas best is Silversea Cruises, earning the Best Small Ship Cruise Line award for the third consecutive year. The ultra-luxury cruise line offers itineraries that encompass all seven continents, including voyages that cruise to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, both polar regions and more than 800 destinations in between. Maiden ports recently announced for next year’s itineraries include Summerside, Prince Edward Island; Rockland, Maine; Le Marin, Martinique; Shimizu, Japan; Rijeka and Rab Island, Croatia; Bremerhaven, Germany; Ullapool, Scotland; and Kalmar, Sweden.

Taking home Best Large Ship Cruise Line this year is Royal Caribbean, featuring its new Quantum class of ships, Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas, each capable of carrying 4,180 guests. Royal Caribbean’s innovative Quantum class ushers in a new era of cruising with an array of first-at-sea features and amenities, including a skydiving simulator, the world’s first robotic bartenders, bumper cars, superfast wireless connectivity, partnerships with celebrated chefs and futuristic entertainment.

Speaking of entertainment, the Best Cruise Line Entertainment achievement goes to Celebrity Cruises.

Celebrity offers a scintillating onboard experience, entertaining passengers from sunup to sundown with custom productions, award-winning European-style circus shows and classic tribute performances that rival Broadway, West End and Vegas shows. An array of guest entertainers such as aerialists, acrobats, comedians, singers, instrumentalists and magicians provide additional amusement.

Oceania Cruises, awarded the Best Cruise Line Dining honor, offers vacations that thrill the palate with the finest cuisine at sea, ranging from authentic Italian fare at Toscana, classic steakhouse dishes at Polo Grill, continental cuisine in the Grand Dining Room and made-to-order American favorites in the Terrace Café. Guests on board Oceania’s celebrated Marina and Riviera ships have access to French fare at Jacques, globaltravelerusa.com

emba rk

on a

jo u r ne y

of

di s cove ry

VIKING RIVER CRUISES, a Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler award winner, offers the best itineraries on the rivers of Europe, Russia and China. Enjoy exciting cities, rich cultural experiences, fine dining and deluxe accommodations on board the most modern ships — with everything from meals to shore excursions included in your fare. And our award-winning Viking Longships® have raised the bar yet again with full-size veranda staterooms, the largest suites in Europe, al fresco dining and more. Come discover for yourself why Viking® truly is the world’s leading river cruise line.

2016 Early Booking Discounts. See your Travel Agent or visit vikingrivercruises.com

THE WORLD’S LEADING RIVER CRUISE LINE...BY FAR® CST: #2052644-40

contemporary Asian delights at Red Ginger and private vintage wine and gourmet fare pairings at La Reserve by Wine Spectator.

Luxury is the name of the game for Norwegian Cruise Line, winning the honor of Best Luxury Cruise Line with the addition of one of the most exclusive and luxurious cruise penthouses available: The Haven. Hidden away at the top of the ship, this new exclusive enclave acts as a ship within a ship, providing guests with the utmost privacy and tranquility. Exclusive benefits include the personal service of a concierge; a 24-hour butler; access to a private pool, sundeck, hot tub and fitness area; and an array of delicious extras, such as 24-hour room service, special menus, gourmet treats each evening and invitations to an exclusive breakfast and lunch.

For cruisers seeking adventure, Lindblad Expeditions is the answer, taking home Best Adventure Cruise Line for its authentic exploration and adventure cruises around the world. Lindblad offers a fleet of 10 small ships that sail to unique destinations like Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands and offer once-in-a-lifetime excursions such as hiking in search of Komodo dragons in Indonesia or through a Patagonia ice field.

Named Best Family Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line is making waves with high-tech ships that offer families the opportunity to reconnect, give kids the chance to experience magical fantasy worlds only Disney can create, and provide settings where adults can relax and recharge.

The family-friendly line offers cruises to classic getaway destinations on ships that feature kid-friendly experiences like production numbers from the animated hit Frozen this summer. For adults, indulgent amenities range from elegant dinners to world-class spas to exclusive adults-only pools.

Viking River Cruises was named the Best River Cruise Line for the third consecutive year. The European line significantly expanded its fleet last year, christening 18 vessels across four countries in five days, and ordered 12 new river vessels for this year, including 12 award-winning 190-passenger Viking Longships. Viking plans to launch two new itineraries highlighting the scenic beauty along the Rhine River during spring this year as well as debut its first ocean cruise ship, the 930-passenger Viking Star, this April.

12 | Leisure LifestyLe | 2015

Best LuXury Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Line

PhOtO: Š YehuDa bernstein | Dreamstime.cOm

Best Adventure Cruise Line: Lindblad Expeditions

PhOtO: Š michael s. nOlan

globaltravelerusa.com

Best Lifestyle Leisure HOtel grOuP in the WOrld: Vida Hotels and Resorts PhOtO: © AYaaD DamOuni

Best HOtel Chain ResOrts : Westin Hotels & Resorts

PhOtO: © The westin bahrain CitY Centre

WHEN IT COMES TO offering the best leisure accommodations on land, Meliá Hotels International receives the top honors with the Best Luxury Leisure Hotel Group in the World achievement, with more than 350 hotels in 35 countries on four continents under eight brands. These include premium brands Gran Meliá, Paradisus and ME by Meliá hotels in dynamic markets worldwide. New luxury openings for this year include the 132-room ME Milano in Italy, the 130-room ME Miami and the 201-room ME Caracas in Venezuela.

Westin Hotels & Resorts takes home the Best Hotel Chain Resorts prize this year. Whether you’re lying on a beach in Bali or golfing in globaltravelerusa.com

Abu Dhabi, Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ Westin brand offers a modern hotel resort experience complete with instinctive service and a rejuvenating atmosphere. Signature amenities designed with guests’ well-being in mind include the comfortable Heavenly Bed, delicious SuperFoodsRx and state-of-the-art WestinWORKOUT studio as well as spas with an array of signature treatments and restorative therapies.

Vida Hotels and Resorts earns the Best Lifestyle Leisure Hotel Group in the World honor with its boutique hotels that cater to the modern leisure traveler who demands all of the modern luxuries of travel but none of the fuss. Part of the Emaar Hospitality Group, the Vida brand consists of two hotels, Vida Downtown Dubai and Manzil Downtown Dubai, offering the latest technology, including check-in via iPad, and delicious cuisine inspired by Middle Eastern and international fare. Emaar plans to roll out the new hotel chain in its key global markets in the future.

The top airline to take leisure travelers to destinations where they can unwind and relax is Hawaiian Airlines, earning the Best Leisure Airline award with warm hospitality in the air and on the ground. As Hawai’i’s biggest and longest-serving carrier, Hawaiian provides the very best Hawai’ian hospitality on non-stop service to the islands from 11 U.S. gateway cities, along with the nation’s most on-time service, leading in punctuality for the 11th year in a row. In addition to expanding its continually growing fleet, the carrier’s plans for this year include opening six renovated Premier Club lounges for its frequent-flyer members, featuring premium amenities like free WiFi and refreshments.

2015 | Leisure Lifestyle | 13

There’s more to a memorable beach vacation than just a picturesque backdrop. When you visit a Westin resort with amenities focused on your well-being and activities unique to the area, you see and experience more. So you get the most out of your vacation.

The Westin Puntacana Resort & Club

Š 2015 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Westin and its logo are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates.

GUIDE TO A BE T T E R BREAK

DISCOVER MORE It’s easy to explore when your resort has adventure around every corner. The Westin Puntacana Resort & Club, for instance, offers paddleboarding, kitesurfing, and horseback riding. There’s even hiking through an ecological reserve right off the beach.

FUEL UP FOR FUN To keep up with your vacation, dive into a delicious SuperFoodsRxTM menu full of energizing foods designed to help you eat well and keep moving.

REST AND RECHARGE Recover from the sun and sand by climbing into a comfortable Heavenly® Bed and restore your mind and body for whatever adventure tomorrow holds.

EXPLORE THE WORLD Visit over 30 unique beach destinations around the globe.

Discover your better break at westin.com/resorts

Special Achievement Awards OutstAnding CustoMiZed ServiCes etihad airways

OutstAnding EnvironMentAl InitiAtives american airlines

OutstAnding InnovAtions china airlines

OutstAnding SoCiAl AWAreness british airways

OutstAnding EnvironMentAl INITIATIVES: American Airlines PhOtO: © american airlines

OutstAnding InnovAtions: China Airlines

OutstAnding SoCiAl AWAreness: British Airways

PhOtO: © china airlines

PhOtO: © british airwaYs

F

or the second year in a row, Global Traveler recognizes four brands that raise the bar in the travel industry and excel in customized service, environmental initiatives, innovation and community involvement with the Leisure Travel Special Achievement Awards.

Etihad Airways’ new Residence cabin available on its Airbus A380 aircraft and Flying Nanny service earned the carrier the Outstanding Customized Services honor. In addition to a living room space, bedroom and en-suite bathroom complete with a shower, the carrier’s Residence cabin comes with a personal butler fully trained at London’s Savoy Butler Academy to offer customized service tailored to guests’ requirements. To bring serenity to the skies, Etihad’s Flying Nanny program on all its long-haul flights offers nannies trained in child psychology and sociology on call to feed and entertain children in all classes with tours of the plane, hand puppets, origami, face painting, magic tricks and games.

For its strong commitment to making travel environmentally friendly, American Airlines takes home the Outstanding Environmental Initiatives honor. The carrier became the first major airline to join the U.S. Environmental

16 | Leisure Lifestyle | 2015

Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders program and is dedicated to a 30 percent reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.

China Airlines’ unique Family Couch seating earns the airline the Outstanding Innovations achievement. Available on the airline’s new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in economy class, this pioneering family-friendly feature allows three seats to combine into a single flat surface, enabling families and couples to enjoy the comfort of lying flat on their backs on long-haul flights.

British Airways receives the Outstanding Social Awareness honor for its dedicated investment in the community, supporting more than 40 charities through its Community and Conservation program and Flying Start charity partnership with Comic Relief UK. The carrier’s Flying Start program focuses on raising money to give children living tough lives in the United Kingdom and around the world a helping hand with access to education and vaccinations for babies and children against deadly viruses.

Here’s to our 2015 Leisure Travel Awards winners; may their pristine beaches, action-packed itineraries and luxurious accommodations encourage you leave the office and go explore. Congratulations!

globaltravelerusa.com

S U C C E S S S T O RY

Hotel Shangri-La at the Ocean in Santa Monica, California offers 70 lush life luxury rooms, suites and meeting space, most with ocean views, in an updated moderne Art Deco elegance from the golden age of Hollywood.

Taking care of business includes complimentar y wifi, 24/7 fitness center, pool and Jacuzzi or add valet parking and a dry spa to suit. Ocean view lobby dining is complimented by Penthouse Suite 700, Santa Monica’s only in/outside rooftop lounge. Extend your stay with family or friends and walk to the beach or shopping.

Hotel Shangri-La is anything but ordinar y, convenient to Los Angeles International Airport, the greater c o m m e rc i a l c e n t e r s a n d i s a m e m b e r o f S m a l l L u x u r y H o t e l s o f t h e Wo r l d . L OYA L - T i s o u r g u e s t rew ard s pro gr am w ith com p l ete detai l s at ou r web s i te u n der s p eci al offers Call now for details, or visit us at Shangrila-Hotel.com, and we’ll drop everything to assist you.

At The Ocean S A N TA M O N I C A , C A L I F O R N I A

1301 Ocean Ave. Santa Monica, California 90401 | 1.800.345.STAY | reservations@shangrila-hotel.com

LOvE MEdICInE: A couple toasting with wine in Varenna on Lake Como, Italy PhOtO: © astra490 | Dreamstime.cOm

Love Is in the Air andscape and geography have a powerful effect on mood. Whether your heart beats faster on a tropical island, within the cobbled courtyard of an ancient village or beside a deep blue lake, a romantic getaway is the ideal time for reconnecting with your partner. Heading toward a distant horizon can serve as potent medicine for deepening the bonds of intimacy and replenishing your chi. If you happen to be on the hunt for a peaceful destination — whether you’re looking for a little quality togetherness or a honeymoon hideaway — here are a few exceptional destinations to consider.

posh, modern resorts.

Beginning in the west, discover tiny Orta with its tranquil vibe and lakeside Piazza Motta. Next comes deep Maggiore, straddling the border with Switzerland, then Lugano, featuring perfect walking paths reachable by funicular trains. Como includes the stunning town of Bellagio and the Lover’s Walkway near Varenna’s shoreline, while Iseo is presided over by the ancient Church of Madonna della Ceriola atop a promontory on the lake’s own island, Monte Isola. Grand Garda lies in the east, known for stunning Stresa, long a retreat for European nobility.

With easy access by rail from Milan, lake visitors can choose to forgo rental cars and opt instead to move at a more leisurely pace aboard the looped ferry and boat services that provide a romantic transportation option from village to village. Tour companies specializing in private, bespoke getaways in the Lakes District — from honeymoons and wine tours to luxury escapes — include Zicasso Handcrafted Travel and Cellar Tours.

ITALY’S OFFERINGS IN THE realm of romance have long inspired poets and composers. Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast are a given, but less known and equally swoon-inspiring are the watery dominions of the northern Lakes District. Italy’s seductive lakes are edged by small, charming villages backdropped by castles, mountains, villas and gardens.

Lodging options range from historic and sublime to quaint inns and

NORTHERN LIGHTS, ASTOUNDINGLY beautiful landscapes and wild coasts make Iceland an excellent choice for romantic escapes.

While Reykjavík and other parts of the country have plenty to offer, it’s the western coast that beckons to adventurous lovers. Hiking on the Snaefellsnes Glacier is a great way to begin. Author Jules Verne used the glacier in his book Journey to the Center of the Earth as the location of

Follow your heart to a romantic getaway with someone special. BY DEbRA BOKUR

L

18 | Leisure Lifestyle | 2015

globaltravelerusa.com

a crater granting access to a mythical world within a world.

Wild West Tours can take you at least as far as the glacier and also help personalize excursions that can include Jeep drives around the Waterfall Circle and Dalir Circle, or organize cultural excursions to explore caves, natural thermal pools, Icelandic heritage and local theater.

Make base camp at Hotel Búðir, serenely isolated on the beach of the hauntingly beautiful Snaefellsnes Peninsula, an area populated mainly by seals and seabirds. Arranging weddings atop the nearby glacier and bespoke honeymoon stays are the forte of the boutique property’s skilled team. Eclectic and elegant, Hotel Búðir also boasts one of Iceland’s most renowned fine-dining restaurants, specializing in world-class wines and local ingredients such as seafood, lamb, wild cloudberries and the country’s iconic Skyr, a cultured dairy delicacy.

Built in 1948, the 28 double guestrooms include one suite and eight queen rooms on the attic level.

The Bath Priory Hotel offers one of the city’s most enchanting addresses, from the formal gardens and vine-covered walls to the individually designed guestrooms, gourmet dining and cozy spa. Choose from the Crescent Suites, located in a separate building behind the main hotel, with individual access and additional privacy. Bathrooms

FEW SETTINGS ARE AS DREAMY as an English garden in full bloom. Throw in a city known for its splendid romantic literary history, and who knows where the weekend will lead? Bath — once home to author Jane Austen and the setting for her novels Persuasion and Northanger Abbey — has plenty of lovely corners to slip into, including the ancient Roman temples and baths in city center. Say hello to Minerva, Roman goddess of magic, wisdom and poetry; then head next door to the fabulous Thermae Bath Spa, where you can soak in Britain’s only natural thermal waters while savoring views of the city’s spires from a steamy rooftop pool.

WATER PLAY: A couple by Skógafoss waterfall in Iceland’s Golden Circle (top), and The Roman Baths at Bath, England (bottom) PhOtOs: © martinmarK | Dreamstime.cOm, © Oliver TaYlOr | Dreamstime.cOm

globaltravelerusa.com

2015 | Leisure Lifestyle | 19

massage tables. At Four Seasons Hualālai at Historic Ka’ūpūlehu, a tropical garden and a soothing stream surround the spa’s outdoor relaxation area. The new, über-private couple’s hale features a Japanese cedar soaking tub, dual showers and a private garden for lingering over a romantic meal.

Along with The Orchid and Four Seasons, luxury accommodations can be found at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa and Hilton Waikoloa Village. For true romance, choose the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel’s exclusive Hapuna Villa and enjoy a luxurious escape in a palatial 8,000-square-foot oceanfront villa built for privacy. The mini-estate includes butler services, a fully equipped gourmet kitchen, a private infinity pool and a host of amenities with a private chef available upon request.

ROMAnTIC REndEZvOUS:

An intimate dinner at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii PhOtO: © The FairmOnt OrchiD, Hawaii

of rose marble have double showers, and bedrooms and sitting rooms feature the latest in technology, Vispring beds, opulent fabrics, handcrafted wood paneling and heritage color schemes.

Fresh flowers are everywhere, and the hotel’s experienced staff is well-equipped to help plan an anniversary, honeymoon or other special event.

HAWAI’I’S ROMANCE CREDENTIALS are the stuff of fairy tales, and walking barefoot beside a stretch of emerald sea beneath a tropical Hawai’ian sky has likely inspired more than one declaration of love. On Hawai’i Island’s Kohala Coast, a stretch of fabulous resorts incorporates the island’s unique landscape into sense-of-place experiences perfect for a lovers’ rendezvous. Queen Kaahumanu Highway links mystical petroglyphs, fields of black lava, top-tier golf courses and plenty of wide beaches along the western coast.

At The Fairmont Orchid, couple’s massages are delivered in outdoor hales (huts) while a nearby waterfall provides a soothing natural soundtrack and the scent of gardenias and wild orchids drifts on the ocean breeze. The hales feature clear panels in the floor that allow views of colorful koi fish swimming in perfect view from the

20 | Leisure Lifestyle | 2015

IN TAHITI, TROPIC latitude and longitude merge in blissful perfection. Almost two islands, Tahiti consists of a larger main area — Tahiti Nui, or Big Tahiti — separated by an isthmus from its smaller end — Tahiti Iti, or Small Tahiti.

Romantic ambience emerges as a natural extension of the landscape thanks to miles of beaches, legends of love and mystery, sultry breezes and a panorama of waterfalls and turquoise lagoons.

Sumptuous accommodations and superlative service can be found at the InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa, where room choices include a collection of over-water bungalows and an expansive over-water Motu Villa. The Deep Nature Spa offers a host of marine-inspired therapies incorporating ancestral rituals and traditional massage techniques, along with the signature Tahitian Wave by Algotherm exfoliating scrub, soothing wrap and relaxing massage.

Absolute Travel can guide you through the splendor and flowerscented landscape of French Polynesia’s largest island with a customized itinerary. Learn about Tahiti’s legendary black pearls at The Robert Wan Pearl Museum in Papeete, gallop along the alabaster beaches, surf and sail on the shimmering water, or go beneath the surface of the waves while snorkeling or scuba diving. Whether resort or intimate lodging, Absolute Travel’s island specialists are happy to handpick a property to suit your mood.

globaltravelerusa.com

ADVENTURE LOVERS: A hanging bridge near Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica PhOtO: © GarY Hartz | Dreamstime.cOm

STUNNING AND QUIXOTIC, PORTUGAL’S network of pousadas comprises castles, monasteries, convents and palaces that have been converted into masterworks of luxury lodging.

Happily, they’re spread throughout the country in such a way that travelers can undertake an entire romantic journey simply moving from one pousada to the next. Begin in Alvito at the Pousada de Alvito, a 15th-century castle that combines Islamic, Gothic and Manueline architecture with gardens and a wide terrace. From here, travel to Pousada de Vila Viçosa, housed within the ancient Convento Real das Chagas de Cristo, built in the 16th century for the Duke of Bragança, replete with frescos and exquisite carvings.

Make Pousada do Crato in the Alentejo region the next stop. The stunning former Santa Maria de Flor da Rosa Monastery now offers a haven of contemporary luxury, with the Gothic castle court and Renaissance convent still intact. For a room with a view, head into the mountains to Pousada de Marvão, located in a tiny walled medieval town.

Local outfitters Tempo Sem Fim and Portugal Green Walks can customize romantic excursions beyond the pousadas themselves including hiking, wine tastings, cultural activities and historic tours.

THERE’S NO PLACE MORE PERFECT for jungle love than a Costa Rican rainforest. The protected park area around the still-active Arenal Volcano offers a haven of waterfalls, tropical birds, caves, rivers and secluded pathways perfect for exploring with someone special. Exquisitely cradled within the Arenal Volcano National Park, Nayara Hotel, Spa and Gardens is so dedicated to the idea of romance, there’s even a romance concierge on staff.

Three-day Romance in Paradise adventures include a choice of villa, suite or casita; tropical flowers and chilled sparkling wine waiting upon arrival; full breakfast buffet each morning; a hot stone massage for two; a private romantic dinner one evening; and three-course dinners at the resort’s Altamira or Sushi Amor restaurants on the other two nights. To ensure good reason for handholding, there’s also a Hanging Bridges Walking Tour and a one-day entrance to EcoTermales Hot Springs for a long, hot soak. Other opportunities for togetherness include whitewater rafting, canyoning, ATV tours, horseback riding and twilight safari floats beneath the jungle sky.

globaltravelerusa.com

Absolute Travel absolutetravel.com

Hotel Búðir hotelbudir.is

The Bath Priory Hotel thebathpriory.co.uk

InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa tahiti.intercontinental.com

Cellar Tours cellartours.com Costa Rican Tourism Board visitcostarica.com The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii fairmont.com Four Seasons Hualālai at Historic Ka’ūpūlehu fourseasons.com Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel princeresortshawaii.com Hawai’i Visitors and Convention Bureau gohawaii.com Hilton Waikoloa Village hilton.com

Italian Government Tourist Board italia.it

Pousadas de Portugal pousadas.pt The Roman Baths, Bath romanbaths.co.uk Tahiti Tourisme tahiti-tourisme.com Thermae Bath Spa thermaebathspa.com

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel princeresortshawaii.com

United Kingdom Tourism visitbritain.com

Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows maunalani.com

Visit Portugal visitportugal.com

Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens arenalnayara.com

Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa marriott.com

Official Gateway to Iceland iceland.is

Wild West Tours wwt.is

Portugal Green Walks caminhoportosantiago.com

Zicasso Handcrafted Travel zicasso.com

2015 | Leisure Lifestyle | 21

IT’S A STRETCH: Many hotels offer yoga classes.

PhOtO: © annems | Dreamstime.cOm

Exercise Your Options

Hotels focus on fitness to help guests stay in shape while traveling. By Beth Blair

H

otel and resort properties respond to guest fitness needs through many avenues including health and wellness programs, in-room workout options and expansive gyms.

Take the new Whitney Peak Hotel in Reno, Nev., opened in 2014, as an example. Mornings start with healthy breakfast options of yogurt, fruit, whole grain breads, cereal and fresh-squeezed juices. In addition to the fitness room, guests can take on a climbing wall challenge or choose from a number of yoga, boot camp, martial arts and aerial silks classes.

22 | Leisure Lifestyle | 2015

“These amenities allow travelers to maintain healthy habits while on the road,” says Niki Gross, the hotel’s managing director.

The AAA Five-Diamond Broadmoor resort in Colorado Springs, Colo., hosts the annual Women’s Wellness Weekend in April. Along with a two- or three-night stay, ladies spend their days listening to guest speakers from Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, enjoying healthy meals and participating in group exercise classes. During off-time, guests can swim, hike, golf or enjoy a massage at The Spa

globaltravelerusa.com

and depart feeling rejuvenated and inspired.

Washington, D.C., offers an abundance of upscale and boutique hotels catering to fitness-loving guests. Savoy Suites Hotel in North Georgetown is home to Urban Athletic Club, while Kimpton’s nine D.C. hotels provide public bikes for guests to use as well as in-room yoga mats. Some properties even make Wii Fits available for in-room use. Capella Washington, D.C., Georgetown has a year-round, rooftop infinity pool with not-too-shabby views of the Washington Monument, the Kennedy Center and the Potomac River.

Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix recognizes the importance of having fitness options available to guests. In addition to an on-site gym, the program provides a long list of fitness and yoga classes, a tennis clinic, mountain cycling and hiking. The “don’t miss” activity is the guided two-mile walk through the Phoenix Mountain Preserve for views of stunning desert landscape and an education about the region’s native plants and wildlife. Phoenix is well-known for its fabulous golf courses, so it’s no surprise the property features two 18-hole PGA courses. The resort boasts eight swimming pools, including the Paradise Pool with a 92-foot-long water slide.

The Boca Raton Resort and Club in Boca Raton, Fla., underwent a $120 million renovation in recent years and is teeming with fitness opportunities. Special to this property is the Cenegenics Medical Institute, the leading authority in age management medicine. According to the resort’s website, the institute focuses globaltravelerusa.com

UP And AWAY: The climbing wall at the Whitney Peak Hotel (top); and bicycling, a popular activity for hotel guests in Washington, D.C. (bottom)

PhOtOs: © WhitneY PeaK, © Americanspirit | Dreamstime.cOm

2015 | Leisure Lifestyle | 23

gETTIng AROUnd: Woman on a rental bike in Paris, France

PhOtO: © ivanbastien | Dreamstime.cOm

on a proactive approach to healthy aging, dedicated to changing the perception of a “disease-oriented approach to a preventative one.” Fitness classes are held seven days a week for guest enjoyment. Outside of group fitness, choices include three state-of-the-art fitness centers, all of which are included in the resort fee.

Also in Florida, Turnberry Isle Miami recently announced its newest spa experience, the Optimal Wellness Program, for visitors wishing for a health-inspired vacation. Programs are available in four- to seven-night packages for resort guests, spa guests, meeting groups and Turnberry Isle club members.

New Life Hiking Spa at The Inn of the Six Mountains in Killington, Vt., is a fitnessfocused resort with get-moving options like early-morning chi kung classes, Fitball, yoga, water workouts, Pilates, boot camp and, of course, plenty of hiking. New Life guests receive the freshest whole-food cuisine, ideal for cleansing the body of impurities and toxins. As for the hiking program, it is tailored to all fitness abilities. The joy comes when guests realize they are capable of more than they ever imagined as they spend their days building stamina, eating healthily and learning about the best in self-care. To encourage guests to take their new healthy lifestyle home with them, New Life provides cooking classes, nutrition and wellness workshops and individual counseling. The spa’s online cookbook makes cooking ideas easily accessible once guests return home.

Of course, travelers don’t have to rely on a hotel or resort to experience the luxury of combining travel with fitness. When Marty Beene of BeTheRunner.com, his wife and 10-year-old-son first visited France several years ago, they purposely incorporated exercise into their trip via a five-day, self-guided tour through Provence. Fitting the adventure in between other commitments turned the trip not only into a memorable experience for the threesome, including watching the Tour de France travel through the town of Arles, but also turned their son into the strongest cyclist in the family, inspiring another cycle adventure. Beene recalls, “He and I planned a spectacular cycling trip to the Maurienne Valley and did four days of intense cycling, culminating in a climb to the top of Alpe 24 | Leisure Lifestyle | 2015

globaltravelerusa.com

d’Huez (for him) during a 90-mile ride.”

Jeff Wilson, host of Real Rail Adventures on American Public Television, confesses he hates running. “But it’s the one sport that requires little in the way of equipment and can be done nearly anywhere you travel in the world. Besides, it’s tourism in fast-forward, allowing you to get a glimpse of the neighborhoods where people actually live instead of just the typical museums and attractions.”

On the topic of safety in unfamiliar cities, Wilson relies on hotel concierges for tips. “Often they will produce maps of good running routes which include local bike trails or pedestrian thoroughfares so as to avoid traffic,” he says.

If you’re not comfortable running alone, seeking out local tours offers another safe way to get some activity in while learning more about the area and culture. Active Island Tours & Events, based in St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, organizes guided running and power-walking tours for visitors. “Our guided running tours are a great way for tourists to see the sights and learn about the islands while getting their workout in on a safe course,” says Elizabeth Stelzenmuller, assistant tour and event coordinator. “Our tour guides steer runners through historic sites and scenic vistas at a steady pace, stopping along the way for photos that will be available at the end of the run.”

Active Island Tours & Events activeislandvi.com Arizona Biltmore arizonabiltmore.com Boca Raton Resort and Club bocaresort.com The Broadmoor broadmoor.com Capella Washington, d.C., georgetown capellahotels.com Fitbit fitbit.com The Inn of the Six Mountains sixmountains.com Kimpton Hotels kimptonhotels.com MyFitnessPal myfitnesspal.com new Life Hiking Spa newlifehikingspa.com Savoy Suites Hotel jdvhotels.com Turnberry Isle Miami turnberryislemiami.com Urban Athletic Club urbanathletic.club

Stay On Track Smartphones, apps and websites offer endless opportunities for tracking food and fitness while traveling. Activity trackers worn on clothes can keep users challenged and aware of their movement and activity throughout the day. Fitbit ($60–150), best known as the electronic pedometer, has been around for a few years and, depending upon the model, allows users to track steps, stairs and sleep while competing with other Fitbit users, as well as linking to other health and fitness apps like food and activity tracker MyFitnessPal. On the more detailed side, Wellograph ($350), the world’s first wellness watch with a sapphire crystal display, provides a glimpse at users’ activity and fitness levels but is much more detailed. Worn as a watch, Wellograph is a running watch, heart rate monitor and activity tracker all in one, tracking heart rate and real-time pulse, steps, pace, speed, distance and calories burned, relaying the information via graphs.

globaltravelerusa.com

Wellograph wellograph.com Whitney Peak Hotel whitneypeakhotel.com

On TRACK: Mobile apps (above) and fitness trackers like Fitbit (left) help motivate travelers to stay in shape.

Photos: © Pressureua | Dreamstime.com, © Stephen Vanhorn | Dreamstime.com

2015 | Leisure Lifestyle | 25

The Great Outdoors

Get out of the office on an adventure tour that will change your life.

combine planning and the unknown. If you choose the right tour company, you can leave the nuts-and-bolts preparation to someone else — and increase the odds all your surprises will be pleasant ones.

Here’s a sampler of ways to travel, places to go and tour companies that may orchestrate your best trip ever.

By Dale LeatHerMaN

‘Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.’ — Mark Twain

OFF THE BEATEn PATH: Butterfield & Robinson walking tour in Iceland PhOtO: © butterFielD & RObinsOn

O

nce upon a time, my photographer and I were preparing for a trip when she remarked, “I just realized I’m going to a place I never heard of, with a name I can’t spell — and I have no idea where it is.”

“Isn’t that marvelous?” I asked, grinning. Of course, I’d done my research on the destination, made all of the arrangements and knew the story angles I wanted to pursue. I simply told her the sort of clothing to pack. The rest was a surprise.

Many years later, I’m convinced the best travel experiences

26 | Leisure Lifestyle | 2015

NOTHING IS SLOWER THAN traveling on foot, which allows you to smell the proverbial roses — and much more. Butterfield & Robinson’s motto is “Slow down to see the world,” but the fine print is all about great food, wine and lodging after a day of walking.

“One thing we do differently is that our guides run through the route before every departure, making adjustments for any construction or closures,” says Norm Howe, president and CEO, Butterfield & Robinson. “This also allows our creative geniuses to add something special that can only be done at that time.”

Nearing its fifth decade in the industry, the Toronto-based company offers more than 100 journeys in 40 countries. A favorite walking destination is Iceland, where treks run the gamut from lava fields and volcanoes to coastal trails alongside pounding surf. Offshore, on the scenic Westman Islands, guests visit the globaltravelerusa.com

world’s largest puffin colony and the “Pompeii of the North,” a town entombed in lava in 1973. Most days include a dip in a volcanic hot spring to soothe tired muscles. The company added a new North Atlantic destination, Newfoundland, for 2015.

OUT And ABOUT: Backroads Myanmar bike tour (top), and kayaking in Wyoming with Austin Adventures (bottom) PhOtOs: © bacKrOaDs/JOcK mOntGOmerY; © Austin ADventures

“I CAN’T IMAGINE A BETTER WAY to immerse yourself in the life of a region than to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and satisfaction of traveling under your own power,” says Tom Hale, who founded Backroads in 1979. “These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus, or in a few excursions from a cruise ship or a secluded resort.”

Though Backroads has grown to include other travel modes, two-wheeled adventures are the soul of the company. New for 2015: a fleet of specialized custom titanium bikes, plus electric-assist ebikes. Twenty-five new trips push the company’s offerings to more than 180 itineraries. One of the destinations is Myanmar, a new treat for travelers who have experienced Cambodia and its Angkor temples. Participants on the Myanmar trip cycle through a land of sixth-century temples and pagodas, explore a cave with 2,000 Buddhas and tour remote villages where visitors are still a novelty.

“MULTISPORT OPTIONS SEEM to be taking a strong lead over dedicated biking or hiking programs, and we’re sensing a trend toward more adventure,”

globaltravelerusa.com

2015 | Leisure Lifestyle | 27

r opula ost p m e Th nal natio inter for ation n i g t s de velin s tra n a c i co, Amer Mexi s i 5 1 in 20 to rding acco tor moni Euro nal, a natio r e t n I rch resea t e k mar any. comp

says Dan Austin, founder, Austin Adventures, a company that combines various modes of travel into unique experiences.

Yellowstone National Park is the company’s most popular destination, followed by Alaska and the Canadian Rockies.

Clients are also keen on the African country of Namibia, where they can climb the world’s tallest sand dune; ride horses in the Kulala Wilderness Reserve among ostrich, springbok, oryx and spotted hyena; track endangered black rhinos in the Palmwag Reserve; cruise Walvis Bay with its Cape fur seals and dolphins; and spot historic shipwrecks off the remote Skeleton Coast.

RAFTING WHITEWATER RIVERS was a hot new adventure in the 1960s. The rivers are just as gnarly and unpredictable today, but the experience is mitigated by creature comforts.

“Our travelers seem to be looking for a little softer adventure than in the past,” says Brandon Lake, chief marketing officer, Western River Expeditions, the largest licensed outfitter in the Grand Canyon. “They expect more comforts, and many are interested in the calmer aspects of a trip, such as short hikes to waterfalls or hidden grottoes, relaxing on the beach and learning about geology and Native American history. What they all enjoy is the balance of adventure and relaxation, as well as time to truly disconnect from civilization.”

The Grand Canyon has been the company’s most popular destination for the past 54 years. “Nearly everyone in the world wants to see this natural wonder, and some of them understand the best way to see it is from the river,” Lake says. “Next in popularity is southern Utah. Just above the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River is Cataract Canyon, which winds through Canyonlands National Park. The scenery is similar, and whitewater in early summer months can be larger than in Grand Canyon.

New for 2015 is a Costa Rica itinerary that includes rafting on the Pacuare River, plus time in the jungle and on the beach.”

Grand Canyon trips range from three to seven days of rafting and camping. Cataract Canyon is traditionally a four-day experience, but now there’s a two-day express option. WRE orchestrates a dozen other excursions on western rivers, using vessels ranging from kayaks and paddle boats to row and motorized rafts.

THERE IS NO LACK OF LARGE ships cruising the world’s waters, but travelers who want more intimate luxury/adventure experiences have fueled the rise in small ship cruising. One of the forerunners in that travel niche is Capt. Dan Blanchard, principal and CEO, Un-Cruise Adventures. Destinations include Alaska, Hawai’i, the Galapagos, Mexico’s Sea of Cortez and more.

The experience is like being aboard one’s own yacht with a few

gOIng COASTAL: The boutique cruise ships of Un-Cruise Adventures take travelers to places large ships can’t access.

PhOtO: © un-cruise aDventures/camerOn zeGers PhOtOGraphY

28 | Leisure Lifestyle | 2015

globaltravelerusa.com

TAHITI LOS ANGELES PARIS TOKYO AUCKLAND SYDNEY

On Air Tahiti Nui, “going above and beyond” takes on new meaning.

There’s a point during a vacation when you realize things are unlike anything else you’ve ever experienced. For many, it happens the moment they step on board Air Tahiti Nui.

LOS ANGELES TOKYO

On our award-winning, daily nonstops from Los Angeles to Paris and Tahiti, with connections to Auckland and Sydney, passengers enjoy French-inspired cuisine and are cared for by a cabin crew that is as captivating as the islands they call home.

Global Traveler - Best Airline in the South Pacific 2011 and 2012 Conde Nast Traveler - Readers’ Choice Award Recipient 2011 Travel + Leisure - World’s Best Airline Award Recipient 2011 and 2012

www.airtahitinui.com/us-en | 1.877.824.4846

6200 KM / 38 75 ML

8800 KM / 5500 ML

TAHITI SYDNEY

1338 KM / 2153 ML

AUCKLAND

3900 KM / 2437 ML

PARIS

17100 KM / 10687 ML

SANDS OF TIME: Camel caravan on a Cox & Kings desert tour PhOtO: © cOX & KinGS

Austin Adventures austinadventures.com Backroads backroads.com Butterfield & Robinson butterfield.com Cox & Kings coxandkingsusa.com Un-Cruise Adventures uncruise.com Western River Expeditions westernriver.com

compatible guests — and to-die-for cuisine. Ship sizes range from 11 to 44 cabins, with a passenger/crew ratio of 2:1 or 3:1.

The boutique yachts and small ships explore remote areas that bigger ships can’t access, and all itineraries are flexible.

When whales or other critters are sighted, the ship stops, the next meal is put on hold, and guests go out in small boats or kayaks for a closer wildlife interaction.

“Alaska is our most popular trip,” says Blanchard, “but our numbers are up for Mexico’s Sea of Cortez. What’s amazing is that it’s a remote wilderness where you can travel 100 miles on the boat with no sign of mankind. But it’s easy to get there; our boat is docked about five miles from the Los Cabos airport.”

“The ecosystem is in better shape now than when we started going there over 20 years ago,” he adds. “Since the formation of the Loreto National Marine Park in 1996, the fisheries have been rebounding and the marine mammals have been returning.”

The Sea of Cortez has been described as “the aquarium of the world” (Jacques Cousteau) and the islands in the 800-squaremile Loreto sanctuary as “the second Galapagos.” Depending on the season, Un-Cruise Adventures’ seven-day itineraries include swimming with whale sharks or interacting with gray whales from small boats; snorkeling with playful young sea lions; exploring several islands; and visiting the village of Loreto, founded in 1697.

30 | Leisure Lifestyle | 2015

LUXURY TRAVEL COMPANIES such as Cox & Kings specialize in custom-made trips. It began organizing expeditions to India in 1758, making it the world’s oldest luxury travel company. Cox & Kings has a global presence, with 70 offices worldwide, and its leaders have a keen sense of travel trends.

“Luxury equals time,” says Scott Wiseman, president, Cox & Kings, The Americas. “In just one year we have seen the pendulum swing away from the quick trip and towards longer, more immersive journeys. Rather than ‘country counters’ who are looking to add stamps to their passports, luxury travelers are spending a longer period of time in a destination, ranging from two weeks to 30 days. It’s quality versus quantity, now.

This is especially true for emerging destinations, where they want to experience them in depth.”

Where are the cognoscenti going this year? Latin America.

“Bolivia, Colombia, Nicaragua and Panama have all risen to the top of the ‘must-see’ list,” says Wiseman. “Whether it is new infrastructure, new hotels or new government policies, these trending destinations are ready to welcome travelers on a broader scale. Clients who have been there before are going back, looking for the authentic, off-the-beaten-path experience.

“The fact that a locale may still be fairly young in its tourism development and infrastructure is no longer a deterrent. It is rich fodder for fantastic storytelling and bragging rights back home that no one else will have.” globaltravelerusa.com

MILES TO gO: A road trip through Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona PhOtO: © GarY whittOn | Dreamstime.cOm

The W Roads Less Traveled Drive cross-country on scenic byways to discover the real America.

BY KaRIN LEPERI

32 | Leisure Lifestyle | 2015

hen I was a little girl growing up in Southern California in the 1950s, my parents packed us up every year for a road trip back to their home state of Indiana. In those days, few people had airconditioning in their cars and since we always had to cross an unforgiving Mojave Desert on I-10, we traveled in the cool of night. We also carried gallons of water — not just for us, but in case the radiator boiled over — and an ice chest filled with sandwich makings.

These days, most cars include air-conditioning, and distances don’t seem as brutal. However, one thing stands as a constant: the cross-country American road trip as a rite of passage. For some, it exists as a bucket list item — the pinnacle of all road trips. The open freedom on the road serves as a metaphor for what we have become as a nation. Paul Theroux once said, “The mixed blessing of America is that anyone with a car can go anywhere.

The visible expression of our freedom is that we are a country without roadblocks.”

My daughter, Kosette, made her first cross-country trip solo, driving from Rockville, Md., all the way to the Palouse country in eastern Washington for a summer

university job. She was only 18. I had hoped to share that experience with her, but she chose not to wait for my return from Australia. I worried, but she made it and matured in the process. It reminded me of when, as a newly minted graduate, I traveled solo cross-country to Washington, D.C., and how defining that journey was.

The point is that cars have completely changed the complexion of America, and the U.S. highway and interstate system helped pave America from sea to shining sea. Now it’s possible to see the United States along thousands of miles of road offering natural scenic beauty and historic places that help define our country. Decide what you want to see and then plot your course.

It is all best seen on the open road via a car. The vast beauty yet enormous diversity encountered along the way will humble even the most seasoned traveler, as every state and region offers its own majesty, flavor and note.

From our treasured national parks, famous landmarks and great regional cuisine to homegrown music such as gospel, jazz, blues, country, cowboy, bluegrass, rock ’n’ roll and zydeco — all contribute to the melting pot we know as America. globaltravelerusa.com

THE EISENHOWER INTERSTATE SYSTEM was conceived and built as a network of freeways connecting the United States.

Named after its champion, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, it was authorized by the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956. These days, it is the fastest way to get from point to point.

For Pepper Raper, based in Telluride, Colo., the interstates hold a multitude of surprises. “I’ve encountered freezing weather on I-70, scary tornadoes on I-40 and tropical storms along I-10,” she exclaims. But Raper is also drawn to the individual character of each road and journey. “My favorite part of cross-country road trips is appreciating the vastness and diversity of this country. You can go from swamplands to mountains to plains to desert to even bigger mountains and meet fantastic people, hear great music or see friends along the way.” She also discovered community radio stations as one of the hidden gems of road trips. “You never know what you’re going to find, but it’s always entertaining.”

globaltravelerusa.com

THOUGH OUR CITIES MAY BE ENTICING, it is getting off the interstate and traveling the highways and byways that you get closer to the pulse of America, revealed in the country — the prairies, plains, deserts and mountains — rural places that interstates have forgotten. Raper admits her other favorite thing next to listening to community radio stations is “to jump off the interstate every now and then to take a country road or scenic route. There are some great resources like America’s Scenic Byways that showcase where a lot of them are located.”

For George Percy, based in Tallahassee, Fla., most of his driving in the United States over the last 40 years has been on back roads.

“The main thing I’ve learned is that you can’t get to know America and Americans unless you build time into your schedule to travel more slowly and less directly and find those places you never learned about in school or that confound some of the myths we have about different parts of our country.”

HEAd OUT On THE HIgHWAY: Views along the Eisenhower Interstate System PhOtOs: © iGOKapil | Dreamstime.cOm

2015 | Leisure Lifestyle | 33

ALOng FOR THE RIdE: Scotts Bluff National Monument towers above the North Platte River in Nebraska (left); and dog-friendly hotels across the country welcome those who travel with Fido (bottom).

PhOtOs: © zrFphOtO | Dreamstime.cOm, © Dirima | Dreamstime.cOm

Along the way, a lot of things have affected Percy’s appreciation for the United States. “First of all, of course, history rarely happened along the interstate. Back roads take you to older America,” he muses. “Also, most Americans don’t live along interstates; outside of cities, they live along back roads, many of which are still pretty rural. Third, America is very beautiful, but it is difficult to savor the beauty at 70 to 80 mph with only occasional stops. Interstate corridors conform to national standards and often look much the same, especially with eyes straight ahead. Back roads wind through the scenery and small towns that interstates are meant to bypass.”

One of Percy’s favorite drives is along the Platte River corridor through Nebraska. “In eastern Nebraska, US 30, the route of the old Lincoln Highway, the first automobile road across the country, follows the Platte River, which was the principal route followed by Americans moving west — on the Oregon Trail, the Mormon Trail, the Pony Express route, the route of those going to California to find gold, the route of the first transcontinental railroad, the first transcontinental auto highway and one of the first major interstates running east to west (I-80). In western Nebraska, where the Platte River divides into north and south branches, these routes followed the North Platte. Today, that means bearing off US 30 onto US 26 in Ogallala. This is the route that opened the U.S. to settlement west of the Mississippi. When Horace Greeley said, ‘Go West …,’ he meant to go this way.”

AT THE AGE OF 58, a disconcerted John Steinbeck realized he knew more about Europe than the United States. “I discovered I did not know my own country,” Steinbeck writes in Travels with Charley, reflecting on why it was necessary for him to travel the roads of America with his dog as companion.

Nowadays, it is easier to bring your pooch, in large part because hotels are more accommodating than in years past. For many empty nesters, the family dog provides companionship once children have flown the coop. That certainly holds true for Mona Mesereau, based in Fort Collins, Colo. “We downloaded an app called BringFido that lists hotels along the way and checked that app when we got closer to our stopping point,” Mesereau notes. “There were many hotels from which to choose, and the app’s rating system (from one to five dog bones, of course) were based on user reviews. All in all, it’s a great deal easier to travel with a dog than with a child.”

WALT WHITMAN PHRASED IT nicely when he reflected on the sustenance and spiritual renewal he received from the American landscape. “While I know the standard claim is that Yosemite, Niagara Falls, the upper Yellowstone, and the like afford the greatest natural shows, I am not so sure but the Prairies and Plains last longer, fill the aesthetic sense fuller, precede all the rest, and make North America’s characteristic landscape.”

This might be one of the reasons Percy praises the Platte: “When I drive through Nebraska, I like to stop in Cozad. I can stand in one place — at the historic Union Pacific station — 34 | Leisure Lifestyle | 2015

globaltravelerusa.com

HistoriC Route 66 Also known as the “Main Street of America,” Route 66 was the first all-weather highway to link Chicago to California. Along the way, towns and businesses thrived from tourism by offering cafés, diners, motels, drive-ins, souvenirs and attractions that bordered on the unique, outlandish, kitschy and urbane.

Established in 1926, the famous highway covered 2,448 miles that ran through Illinois on to Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, finally terminating in Santa Monica, Calif.

Though Route 66 was the major road for those migrating west, especially during the 1930s Great Depression, it was eventually decommissioned in 1985 when the new Interstate System bypassed many of the towns that depended on business from passerby traffic. Today, the route is affectionately referred to as “Historic Route 66,” and many of the remaining segments of highway are prominently marked for those who care to relive the days of teepee motels, snake pits, chocolate milk shakes and half-buried Cadillac cars.

America’s Scenic Byways scenicbyways.info

and feel America moving past: The station is on the route of the transcontinental railroad; a few feet to the north is the Lincoln Highway; a few feet to the south of the tracks is I-80; and just south of I-80 is the Platte River. Pioneers walked along the south side of the river.

“A little further west is Gothenburg with an original Pony Express station. A bit beyond that is North Platte, where Buffalo Bill had his ranch and the Union Pacific built its first railroad yard for the globaltravelerusa.com

transcontinental railroad. Still further west, on US 26, are landmarks that pioneers looked for — Courthouse and Jail rocks, Chimney Rock and Scotts Bluff.”

The one constant in driving across America is that you not only discover the beauty and treasures of our country and its people, but you may also discover things about yourself in the process. The outcome: We realize we are part of something bigger than ourselves. T.S. Eliot perhaps summed it up best when he said, “The journey not the arrival matters.”

Route 66 nps.gov/nr/travel/route66

LAndMARKS: Route 66 sign (above), and Chimney Rock in Nebraska, a familiar sight to wagon trains heading west on the Oregon Trail in the 1800s (left) PhOtOS: © WeBBinG1 | DreAMStiMe.cOM, © EJwhite | DreAMStiMe.cOM

2015 | Leisure Lifestyle | 35

What’s Your Pleasure?

Wake-up to turn-down, hotels innovate to meet guests’ every whim. BY ILONA KAUREMSZkY

Y

WELCOME WOOF: Beau greets guests at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, Vancouver.

PhOtO: © FairmOnt HOtel vancOuver

our other half has hotel issues. She hates the smell of leftover room service trays in the halls and likes to be discreet with her own late-night room service snacks.

Pillows are another issue. Too many times you’ve heard, “I have a stiff neck; this pillow’s too hard.”

Enter the dawn of the New Age in-room guest experience.

Thanks in large part to social media, hoteliers are experiencing a barrage of real-time comments from travelers who like to dish free advice. Customer personal satisfaction levels are on the rise, and so are hospitality innovations.

Hotels have come a long way since the days of the canine ambassador, a concept then considered ground-breaking, from Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. The luxury hotel brand first rolled out the pooch program in 2001 at the Fairmont Waterfront in

36 | Leisure Lifestyle | 2015

Vancouver as an interactive way for guests to experience the property and surroundings. “To say our guests absolutely love this program would be an understatement,” says Mike Taylor, corporate director of public relations, FRHI Hotels & Resorts, about the resident hotel dogs at select Fairmont properties. Guests can also arrange for a dog visit to their guestroom.

Today, hotels meet every whim. “It’s always been about the experience,” says Mary White, founder and creator, BnBFinder .com, who wrote Running a Bed & Breakfast for Dummies, a guide for innkeepers.

“Innkeepers cater to individual needs and really create the personal touches that help make memories,” she explains, adding that repeat business is one of the tangible results. “A lot of them were road warriors and business travelers before, and they left corporate America. They know what the guest wants to get comfortable.”

In Eugene, Ore., the luxurious Inn at the 5th, a 69-room boutique hotel located in the trendy downtown, incorporates Privacy Butler Service doors as an in-room amenity. The butler can easily deposit guest orders inside a mini-hall between two locked doors, ensuring dirty dishes don’t line the halls: no smells and unsightly views.

In-room amenities have taken a 180-degree turn since the globaltravelerusa.com

roadside motel era with its ubiquitous bathroom amenities of shampoo, conditioner, soap and hair dryers. Guests at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston can now order a selfie stick during their stay. Laura Pettitt, director of public relations, observes, “We really work to anticipate guest needs in advance of the ask. We’d started to see many of our guests extending their arms to get a good shot of themselves in our lobby, and it’s tough to snap photos on your own.” The hotel is considered the first to offer complimentary selfie sticks to digitally minded patrons.

Meanwhile, Hilton Sydney rolled out a Nikon in every suite.

“The No. 1 activity for travelers is taking photos. ... With the luggage limitations, most people don’t travel with their big cameras, so they use mobile cameras which are good but still not as good as an SLR; and with all the [activity] we thought it would be really beneficial to offer this to our guests,” says Florencia Aimo, marketing and communications manager, Hilton Sydney.

She adds that guests can keep the memory card and take home their captured memories.

Hotel locations also pose amenity challenges. On Vancouver Island, hotelier Charles McDiarmid turned a negative into a positive when he opened his 75-room luxury boutique hotel, The Wickaninnish Inn, in 1996. Located on the edge of Western Canada in a rainforest setting, the inn has turned the storm season, which lasts from November through February, into a highlight.

globaltravelerusa.com

“From the ground up, winter storm watching was always integrated in our vision, and that is why every room has an amazing view of the ocean,” McDiarmid says. Guestrooms are stocked with rainwear, rubber boots, umbrellas and binoculars, as well as a boot- and clothes-drying closet for intrepid beach walkers.

Along the fabled Mara National Reserve in Kenya, managers of the eco-luxury Ol Seki Hemingways Mara camp devised an ingenious method to help guests alert staff to in-room emergencies. Since there are no phones, guests can push a red panic button next to the bed; but as camp manager Melinda Rees explains, medical emergencies haven’t been an issue. “So far, it’s just animal emergencies. We had the button pushed when a bush baby jumped around a roof at midnight, having the guest believe a lion was trying to break in to eat them! But the funniest one was when a client pushed the button in order to get a fresh, cold gin and tonic. He declared that getting a drink for sundown was an emergency.”

And with the growing concerns over health, insomnia and allergies, addressing these issues achieves a certain cachet as hotels prominently display allergy-free products and amenities that soothe the soul. To help jet-lagged travelers get a good night’s sleep, nine Trump Hotel Collection hotels have offered a dedicated pillow menu since 2008. For snorers, the luxury hotel brand maintains the airway pillow helps reduce this ailment while minimizing neck and shoulder soreness, and the leg bolster

crop ewest The n ty pitali of hos es includ tions a v o n in sics, to-ba backgets, ch gad e t h g hi menus pillow plump en es, ev and, y ockeling r chann . reams star d

ROOM WITH A vIEW: Looking out at the ocean at The Wickaninnish Inn PhOtO: © wicKaninnish Inn/ AnthOnY reDpath

2015 | Leisure Lifestyle | 37

CHAPTER And vERSE: Guests find plenty of reading material in the Literary Arts Suite at The Heathman (above), and at Streamsong Resort (right).

PhOtOs: © Heathman, © StreamsOnG ResOrt

prompts better circulation in the legs. “We developed an extensive pillow menu to suit every sleeping need of our guests,” explains Jim Petrus, chief operating officer, Trump Hotel Collection. “The most popular request is for the airway pillow.”

The Trump Hotel Collection even added a silk-wrapped, scented pillow from its spa program designed to calm, revitalize and heal weary souls by incorporating such fragrances as sage, orange blossom and ylang-ylang in the pillow.

Moreover, turn-down service goes to a new level. Along the stunning Amalfi Coast in Italy, guests at the Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa receive useful bedtime goodies each night. “The first 38 | Leisure Lifestyle | 2015

night it’s a sun visor to shield from the Italian sun,” explains Peggy Healy Parker, a hotel spokesperson.

The Caldwell House Bed and Breakfast in the Hudson Valley incorporates a pie with its turn-down service in addition to providing guests with complimentary iPads for personal use. “Oh, mint on the pillow, you’re so passé,” begins innkeeper Dena Finneran, describing the miniature pie on the pillow. “We wanted to put the ‘sweet’ back in ‘sweet dreams.’ ” Finneran, a culinary artist, makes every miniature pie herself.

Old-fashioned back-to-basics also play a bigger role with in-room amenities. Opened in January 2014, the Streamsong Resort in the heart of Florida’s Bone Valley literally turns back the pages to yesteryear as guests dive into their in-room bookshelf lined with American classic novels like William Faulkner’s Light in August and Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. “Lodge guests like the ability to unplug from their devices and enjoy one of their forgotten favorite [books] and the warmth it brings to their stays,” says Tom Sunnarborg, a resort spokesperson.

Sunnarborg further explains the back story of the book concept.

“It started in the Streamsong Clubhouse, which opened before our lodge — a year earlier. The rooms are named after influential golf course architects, so we included a few elements in each room to tell a deeper story, including a painting of the architect and a collection of books written by, about or featuring each room’s namesake.”

Booklovers find paradise at The Heathman Hotel in rosy Portland, Ore. The luxury boutique property, famous as a location in the globaltravelerusa.com

In TUnE: A vintage-style guestroom complete with record player at The Goodland in Southern California PhOtO: © JOhn ellis

The Caldwell House Bed and Breakfast caldwellhouse.com Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, vancouver fairmont.com Four Seasons Hotel Houston fourseasons.com The goodland thegoodland.com Hard Rock Hotel hardrockhotels.com The Heathman Hotel portland.heathmanhotel.com

40 | Leisure Lifestyle | 2015

Hilton Sydney hilton.com Inn at the 5th innat5th.com Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa monasterosantarosa.com Ol Seki Hemingways Mara hemingways-mara.com Streamsong Resort streamsongresort.com Trump Hotel Collection trumphotelcollection.com The Wickaninnish Inn wickinn.com

Fifty Shades of Grey novel, is also famous for its collection of more than 2,000 signed books from authors like John Updike and Alice Walker available at the on-site lending library. Considered one of the few catalogued hotel lending libraries in the country, it allows guest to curl up in their room with a good page-turner during their stay.

“Something that we find is a fascination for guests is the ability to hold a tangible, autographed piece of someone’s contribution to literary history in their hands. I think it adds another dimension to the guests’ experience when they realize that every author has stayed in the hotel,” explains Felicia Rahm, group sales manager, The Heathman Hotel.

For the musically inclined and DJ wannabes, don’t despair. The Hard Rock Hotel offers a brand-wide audio experience dubbed “Sound of Your Stay” that stocks serious guitars as the new in-room amenity. Guests can choose from 20 Fender guitars, including the iconic Stratocaster, to channel their inner Jimi Hendrix at the Hard Rock Hotel Chicago.

The hotel even supplies a floor amp and state-of-theart headphones. For DJs in the making, guests can curate music in the comfort of their room. Dim the lights and get the party started as the room morphs into a nightclub.

Contact the staff for complimentary use of equipment to kick-start the DJ dream world.

“At Hard Rock we have something that sets us apart from other brands in our industry. Our differentiator is music, and we take it very seriously,” says Christine Nicholson, senior marketing manager, Hard Rock Hotel Chicago. She adds that the package has been a huge hit with guests. “They have expressed exponential interest and excitement in the program, particularly our picks program because it allows them to channel their inner rock star and rock out in their rooms with one of our Fender guitars.”

Head to Southern California and discover The Goodland, where vintage records reign supreme. This new 158-room Kimpton property with its California rock appeal provides Crosley record players in each room. Guests even have access to an in-house record concierge to help them curate a soundtrack during their stay. “The Goodland motto is ‘relax, unplug and tune into the good life.’ We’ve realized that our guests might be tech-savvy at home but come to our property to get away from the hectic-ness of their daily routines. Creating an element of social engagement on the property, sans technology, was really important to us,” says The Goodland general manager Jeremy Wilhide, who sees a new trend in the Santa Barbara area. “People want to disconnect and indulge in a simpler, slightly old-fashioned way of life.”

As hotels up the turn-down service, customizing butler and pillow menu options, in-room amenities are going back to the future and know no bounds.

globaltravelerusa.com

Have App, Will Travel With a world of information at our fingertips, mobile technology changes the way we plan and take trips. By KriSty alPert

A

side from the few paperback purists out there, the days of guidebooks, maps and little black books filled with important numbers and hotel reservations are long behind us. The future of travel has been decided — and it literally rests in the palm of your hand.

In a world where 62 percent of all emails are read first on a mobile device, the connection between technology and travel is undeniably stronger than ever. Today’s savvy traveler relies on a mobile device for more than mere text messages and weather updates, instead using a variety of travel apps to do everything from minimizing the effects of jet lag to navigating a new city with offline maps and insider tips from locals.

According to Apple’s latest App Store statistics, travelrelated apps represent 4.61 percent of all downloads, 42 | Leisure Lifestyle | 2015

coming in as the seventh-most downloaded category of apps. Recent findings from TripAdvisor show 60 percent of the population of almost 2 million smartphone users downloaded travel apps and, of that percentage, 45 percent plan to use the apps for travel planning and research.

Travel apps have only been around for a little more than half a decade, and already these relatively new creations changed the face of travel, streamlining antiquated processes and coming up with ways to make planning and taking a trip simpler and more enjoyable.

In this modern day, when people travel, they quite literally need to access a world of information in order to keep up with and get the most out of their experience.

This includes road maps for street closures and general navigation, city guides with local recommendations and

gOOd TO gO: Travel apps like TripAdvisor have changed the face of travel.

PhOtO: © PrYKhODOv | Dreamstime.cOm

globaltravelerusa.com

updates on the latest openings, airline schedules for flight delays and cancellations, hotel rates to get the best deal at the best location and more.

Although Google Maps may have paved the way for most modern apps when it first launched on mobile phones back in early 2005, the true history of travel apps dates back as far as the DOS-based PC and PDA era, when AutoRoute (later known as Microsoft Streets & Trips) first debuted to a select number of beta testers in 1988. Much has changed since those first navigation-based apps, and most smartphone users have grown accustomed to the plethora of options available at their fingertips.

While frequent flyers and intrepid travelers nonchalantly download these tiny tools like it’s old hat, the allure of these apps isn’t lost on industry veterans like John Samuel, who has worked in the travel industry for more than 28 years and is now senior vice president of Sabre Traveler Solutions. Along with staying close to the latest technology trends and consumer needs, Samuel manages the team in charge of TripCase, one of the most popular travel management apps on the market, and remembers well what it was like before travelers had such access and control over their travel plans.

“With the explosion of the Internet, consumers were given the tools to plan and shop for their own trips,” Samuel recalls. “And as mobile technology advanced, consumers were given the power to do these tasks from wherever they are via their mobile device.

New mobile capabilities then unlocked products and services that

globaltravelerusa.com

consumers could use while traveling. These in-trip apps allow consumers to focus on the reason for their trip. So in addition to planning a trip on your phone, apps now provide travelers with the additional benefit of having critical trip information at their fingertips.”

OVER THE YEARS, different apps developed to support travelers with everything from saving time to saving money, with hotel discounts and navigation tools topping the subcategories for most of the travel apps created. One of the greatest things about travel is that so many moving parts and different aspects of services and activities play a part in creating a single memorable experience, so there are endless opportunities for new travel solutions and helpful applications. In short, it’s not a one-app-fits-all world out there anymore.

“Apps in general have become smarter,” Samuel says. “They leverage your location, social networks and data from other apps to quickly get to the information you need most or would find the most helpful. In other words, services are becoming more personalized and information is more contextual. For example, TripCase knows a user’s current location and where they need to go next. With that data we are able to give travelers the exact directions they need with a single button. This contextual information saves the traveler the headache of rummaging through print-outs or emails to find the address they need, which is especially helpful when the traveler

MOBILE gUIdE: Tourists in Madrid using a tablet instead of a guidebook.

PhOtO: © martinmarK | Dreamstime.cOm

2015 | Leisure Lifestyle | 43

dIgITAL dEALS: KAYAK helps travelers book flights and hotels.

PhOtOs: © KaYak.cOm

44 | Leisure Lifestyle | 2015

is already rushing through the airport carrying luggage, reading signs, fighting crowds, etc.”

Unlike most apps on the market, travel apps are specifically useful for consumers at very precise moments in time (for example, boredom-buster apps like Words with Friends versus travel apps for navigating the London Underground). For the most part, all travel apps can be categorized into two groups: planning apps and in-trip apps. Planning apps obviously run the gamut from booking flights and hotels (Skyscanner or KAYAK) to selecting the perfect seat on the plane to suit your personal needs (SeatGuru). In-trip apps include a broader spectrum, from translation (Lonely Planet Fast Talk and iTranslate) and transportation (Uber and Citymapper) to recommendation apps like LoungeBuddy for finding the best place to chill at the airport or Find.Eat.Drink that tells you where famous chefs like to unwind and dine in your destination.

“TripAdvisor, KAYAK and Waze have taught us new ways to think about things with multifaceted services and incredible data-generating capabilities,” Samuel notes. “Since travel apps are not the kind of apps a user opens every day, when a traveler does spend time with the app, it has to be easy to figure out and beneficial from the get-go. Of course, travelers who are on the road often will feel more comfortable with travel apps and their enhanced features; but when an app is designed well, even the occasional user will find value in it. I believe the purpose of any travel app should be to make the trip experience easier and more exciting for the traveler.”

Some travel apps are even beginning to take the place of mobile devices altogether, offering ways to stay in touch with loved ones and friends while on the other side of the world. Viber, marketed as a social media app, has become a way for more than 460 million users to stay in touch via free phone calls, text messages and voice messages when attached to a WiFi or 3G signal, while WhatsApp remains the most used messaging app, with almost 1 billion users reported at the beginning of 2015. globaltravelerusa.com

MOST TRAVEL APPS ASSIST travelers with a specific aspect of their trip, but awareness of a whole trip is more meaningful. For example, with flight, hotel and calendar details in one app, travelers are able to look at the big picture when deciding whether to stay an extra night or take the late flight out. So far, TripCase maintains the gold standard in this technology, and Samuel plans to leverage his industry connections and travel data to bring the concept even more into the future in the coming years.

“When you have all the details of your trip together, you can get a better understanding of the tradeoffs you’re making when all change fees and current hotel prices are considered,” he says. “That being said, I’m excited to see what comes next in 2015 for travel apps.”

Samuel predicts that, although apps like Airbnb, HomeAway and Uber are not new for 2015, the shakeup these apps have made in the “time-honored eco-systems” of travel (non-traditional hotel arrangements, staying in homes, using local drivers instead of taxi services and so on) may pave the way for other apps to do the same.

Wearable technology is one hot new trend. “When a traveler is in-trip, the ability to get the information they need from just a glance at their smartwatch is a huge convenience,” Samuel says.

Smartwatches, computerized wristwatches, run a series of mobile apps like GPS, radio, Bluetooth, cell functions and more. You can even locate a lost phone with the app Find My Phone.

As technology like Google Now for Android and Siri for iOS devices tap into voice recognition, Samuel envisions growth in this area. “I can see voice recognition technology enhancing the travel app experience as travelers could surely benefit from a more hands-free way of getting information as they run to their flight’s gate while juggling luggage.”

And then there’s the revolution in taking and sharing photos. “As technology has caused consumers to distance themselves from each other, photos are now bringing us back together in a more visual way,” Samuel says. “Pair that with a traveler’s photojournalist-like behavior on trips, and you have endless app features just waiting to be created.”

As location-based services continue to get sharper and more sophisticated, most travel experts agree the travel industry is the prime category for this growing technology. Translation? The future of travel may just be one app away.

globaltravelerusa.com

WEARABLE TECHnOLOgY: Smartwatches are a convenient way to stay connected.

PhOtO: © shaO-chun wanG | Dreamstime.cOm

Airbnb airbnb.com

Lonely Planet Fast Talk lonelyplanet.com/apps/#fast-talk

Uber uber.com

Citymapper citymapper.com

LoungeBuddy loungebuddy.com

viber viber.com

Find.Eat.drink fedguides.com

Seatguru seatguru.com

Waze waze.com

HomeAway homeaway.com

Skyscanner skyscanner.com

WhatsApp whatsapp.com

iTranslate itranslateapp.com

TripAdvisor tripadvisor.com

KAYAK kayak.com

TripCase tripcase.com

2015 | Leisure Lifestyle | 45

Twin Perks

Creative airline and hotel collaborations make travel doubly rewarding.

BY TERRY GARDNER

W

hether you consider yourself a mileage chaser or a perks seeker, you need to keep tabs on airline and hotel partnerships because they frequently change.

Here’s a look at some cool collaborations that can garner you extra comfort, points or miles.

ALTHOUGH DELTA AIR LINES’ bedding partnership with Starwood’s Westin Hotel brand began in 2013, it remains one of the most creative, comfort-oriented alliances we have seen.

Delta offers the Westin Heavenly In-Flight bedding product in its BusinessElite cabin, which is the front cabin on international Boeing 747, 767 and 777 and Airbus A330 airplanes as well as on Boeing 757-200s flying the JFK–LAX/SFO domestic routes. All of these cabins feature full-flat seats except for the 757-200s on the New York–San Francisco route, and those cabins will include them by summer. The special Westin Heavenly bedding includes a Heavenly sleeping pillow and comforter. BusinessElite passengers also receive a lumbar pillow on flights lasting more than 12 hours.

The concept for the in-flight bedding came about as a result of customer surveys in which passengers told Delta they consider sleep the most important part of their in-flight experience. One can only hope more airlines will follow Delta’s lead. Imagine a business- or first-class cabin with the soothing luxury blend of East meets West in the earth tones of a Nobu Hotel room or the aromatherapy or light therapy provided by an MGM Grand Stay Well guestroom.

Delta might never have grabbed bedding from Westin if its SkyMiles program hadn’t already gotten cozy with the Starwood Preferred Guest Program, known as SPG. Westin is one of Starwood’s many hotel brands which include St. Regis, Le Méridien, Aloft and Sheraton. The airline’s partnership with Starwood rewards elite members of both Delta SkyMiles and SPG with extra miles, points or perks. The Delta SkyMiles/Starwood Preferred Guest Crossover Rewards program gives business travelers the opportunity to stack up rewards which they may eventually cash in for a family trip. If you do not have elite standing in either program, this partnership may give you incentive to reach Gold or Platinum status with SPG or Silver, Gold, Platinum or Diamond Medallion status in Delta’s SkyMiles program.

SWEET dREAMS: Delta Air Lines’ Heavenly bedding (top), and Hotel Sheraton Moscow (right) PhOtOs: © Delta Air Lines, © TOrnadO144 | Dreamstime.cOm

46 | Leisure Lifestyle | 2015

globaltravelerusa.com

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES AND MGM Resorts International teamed up to offer extra Southwest Rapid Rewards points and special perks in MGM’s M life program so that M life members can earn both frequent-flyer points and M life Tier Credits. The one catch is that you need to be a member of both rewards programs to enjoy double rewards.

Rapid Rewards members can earn 600 points for each qualifying MGM stay as detailed on Southwest’s and MGM’s websites.

Perks that all M life members can enjoy, regardless of their tier level, include a discount (usually 15 percent) on room reservations when booked through the M life website, a 5 percent discount at retail shops at MGM Resort properties on the Las Vegas Strip and access to M life Moments. These Moments currently include mixology tasting and training at Monte Carlo Las Vegas, a private cooking lesson at Aureole at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas and a semi-private Motown ballroom dance lesson at the MGM Grand Detroit.

As M life members reach higher tiers in the program, increased perks include room upgrades, buffet line passes, pre-sale ticket access to select events, discounts to select MGM shows and complimentary limo transportation to and from the airport.

IF YOU HAVE STATUS with either Starwood Preferred Guest or Emirates, the Your World Rewards program can help you doubledip on miles, points and extra perks. SPG Gold and Platinum members can earn SPG points on Emirates flights. Similarly, Emirates Skywards members with Silver, Gold or Platinum status can earn Skywards miles for stays at Starwood hotels, which include the Luxury Collection, W Hotels and the eco-friendly element by Westin. Platinum SPG members can receive priority check-in and boarding on Emirates, while Skywards Gold and Platinum members can receive free in-room Internet access, SPG elite check-in and 4 p.m. late check-out.

globaltravelerusa.com

CATHAY PACIFIC FORMED a new international partnership with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group for its top chefs to design seasonal menus for first-class passengers traveling between Hong Kong and New York, San Francisco, London, Paris and other gateways. Chefs are creating menus for 2015 that capture some of the destinations’ unique culinary cultures, ranging from low- and slow-cooked food to molecular gastronomy. Galleys on Cathay Pacific planes feature rice cookers, toasters and steam ovens that make made-to-order meals easier to prepare.

A few years ago, Lufthansa partnered with Ritz-Carlton for its in-flight cuisine and now connects with top chefs from other great hotels. In 2012, the airline partnered with chefs from Mandarin Oriental to design its first- and business-class menus for long-haul

WIn-WIn: Southwest Airlines (top), and Mandalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas (bottom) PhOtOs: © nichOlas burninGham | Dreamstime.cOm, © AnthOnY Aneese TOtah Jr | Dreamstime.cOm

2015 | Leisure Lifestyle | 47

PERKS PLUS: A United Airlines Boeing 777-200 (above); RocketMiles (left), and PointsHound (below) PhOtOs: © bOarDinG1nOw | Dreamstime.cOm, © ROcKetMiles; © POintsHOunD

flights from the United States to Germany. On service from Japan to Germany, chefs at The Peninsula Tokyo design in-flight menus for flights from Tokyo or Nagoya, while chefs at Swissôtel Nankai Osaka create the menus for flights out of Osaka. Two Kempinski chefs collaborate on meals served on Lufthansa to and from India.

British Airways launched its Airbus A380 service to Los Angeles with first- and business-class Tasting Menus crafted by chefs at The Langham, London. The hotel also designed the afternoon tea service for this flight, which seems appropriate since the hotel’s Palm Court introduced afternoon tea in 1865.

United Airlines reached out to The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco for the culinary expertise of Chef Michael Rotondo of Parallel 37. In September, Rotondo will help create new menus for United’s premium service on transcontinental flights from New York to Los Angeles and San Francisco. United’s corporate chefs are led by two chefs who cut their teeth in hotel restaurants including the Drake Hotel and Chicago’s Ritz-Carlton.

TWO WEB-BASED SERVICES — RocketMiles and PointsHound — let travelers earn airline miles with their hotel bookings. Although RocketMiles may currently have fewer options as the new kid in town, it offers lots of miles. Its airline partners include Air Canada (Aeroplan), Alaska Airlines (Mileage Plan), American Airlines (AAdvantage), British Airways (Executive Club), JetBlue (TrueBlue), Southwest Airlines (Rapid Rewards), Turkish Airlines (Miles & Smiles) and United Airlines (MileagePlus). And the amount of miles and points RocketMiles bestows seems generous. For example, when I checked a couple of months in advance, I found a two-night stay in April in Las Vegas could be richly rewarding if I booked through RocketMiles. If I stayed at Wynn Las Vegas, I could earn 10,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards or JetBlue TrueBlue points, or 10,000 American AAdvantage or United MileagePlus miles. The typical bonus is 2,000 points or miles. You can also earn bonus miles or points by referring friends with a special code. If the friend you refer books with RocketMiles, each of you gets 1,000 miles.

Although PointsHound currently has wider coverage and more hotel properties, when I performed several searches, PointsHound seemed stingier with miles.

Most travel experts recommend checking rates on both sites, then choosing the best price even if the points are slightly lower. When I searched PointsHound for 48 | Leisure Lifestyle | 2015

globaltravelerusa.com

GT Tested Awards Ballot

Please write in your personal favorites, based on your own experience, on the line next to each of the following categories.

PLeAse MAiL tHe COMPLeted survey tO: Kevin ryan, citrin cooperman & company, llP, 1800 JFK blvd., 20th Floor, Philadelphia, Pa 19103 | Or FaX to 215 545 4810 | Or vote online at globaltravelerusa.com/gt-tested-awards-ballot

name street address

city

home Phone

email

AirLine Best Overall best airline in the world____________________________________________ airline alliance___________________________________________________________ aircraft type _____________________________________________________________ airline website __________________________________________________________ Best Airline for . . .

business class_______________________________________________________ international First class________________________________________________

Domestic First class__________________________________________________

Onboard service _____________________________________________________

Flight attendants_____________________________________________________

Flight attendant uniforms _____________________________________________

airline cuisine________________________________________________________ security_____________________________________________________________ First-class seat Design____________________________________________________ business-class seat Design _______________________________________________ best new airline service launch___________________________________________ Best frequent-flyer Programs

Overall best Frequent-Flyer Program____________________________________

elite-level Program___________________________________________________

bonus Promotion_____________________________________________________

award redemption___________________________________________________

customer service ____________________________________________________

Best Airline By LOCAtiOn Best Airline in . . . africa_______________________________________________________________

australia and new zealand_____________________________________________

central/south asia and india __________________________________________ china_______________________________________________________________

eastern europe_______________________________________________________ europe______________________________________________________________ mexico______________________________________________________________

the middle east _____________________________________________________

north america________________________________________________________

north asia (excluding china)___________________________________________

the south Pacific_____________________________________________________

southeast asia*______________________________________________________ to central america________________________________________________________ to Japan_________________________________________________________________ to south america_________________________________________________________ trans-atlantic airline______________________________________________________ trans-Pacific airline_______________________________________________________

AirPOrt Best Overall best airport in the world____________________________________________ airport in north america___________________________________________________ airport lounges__________________________________________________________ individual Domestic lounge________________________________________________ individual international lounge _____________________________________________ airport staff/Gate agents__________________________________________________ airport Dining____________________________________________________________ Duty-Free shops__________________________________________________________

state

ziP code

HOteL Best

best individual hotel in the world_________________________________________ international hotel chain_________________________________________________ Domestic hotel chain___________________________________________________ lifestyle hotel__________________________________________________________ airport hotel___________________________________________________________ Golf resort____________________________________________________________ mice hotel ____________________________________________________________ (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) hotel club Floor________________________________________________________ hotel website__________________________________________________________ Best frequent-stay Programs

best hotel rewards Program in the world_____________________________

elite-level Program_________________________________________________

bonus Promotion___________________________________________________

award redemption_________________________________________________

customer service___________________________________________________

Hotel Best By LOCAtiOn Best Hotel in . . .

south Korea________________________________________________________

the united states __________________________________________________ Best Hotel Chain in . . . asia_______________________________________________________________ europe____________________________________________________________

latin america______________________________________________________ mexico____________________________________________________________

the middle east____________________________________________________

OtHer Best Overseas Delivery Program ______________________________________________ rental car company____________________________________________________ tourism Destination_____________________________________________________ mice city _____________________________________________________________ (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) wiFi service___________________________________________________________ wireless Phone service in the world______________________________________ noise-canceling headsets_______________________________________________ luggage brand_________________________________________________________ travel app_____________________________________________________________ travel camera__________________________________________________________ Credit Cards best Overall credit card_________________________________________________ credit card rewards Program____________________________________________ Frequent-stay affinity credit card ________________________________________ Promotions________________________________________________________ benefits___________________________________________________________ redemptions_______________________________________________________ Frequent-Flyer affinity credit card________________________________________ Promotions________________________________________________________ benefits___________________________________________________________ redemptions_______________________________________________________ best cruise line affinity credit card______________________________________ *brunei, cambodia, laos, malaysia, myanmar (burma), the Philippines, singapore, thailand and vietnam

SKY’S THE LIMIT: Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 (above), and the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah (right) PhOtOS: © TOMMY BeAttie | DreAMStiMe.cOM, © BiniK1 | DreAMStiMe.cOM

British Airways britishairways.com

MGM Resorts International mgmresorts.com

Cathay Pacific cathaypacific.com

The Peninsula Tokyo peninsula.com

Delta Air Lines delta.com

PointsHound pointshound.com

Emirates emirates.com

Red Carnation Hotel Collection redcarnationhotels.com

Hilton Hotels & Resorts hilton.com Hotel du Vin hotelduvin.com Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts jumeirah.com Kempinski Hotels kempinski.com The Langham, London langhamhotels.com Lufthansa lufthansa.com Malmaison malmaison.com Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group mandarinoriental.com

50 | Leisure Lifestyle | 2015

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. ritzcarlton.com RocketMiles rocketmiles.com Southwest Airlines southwest.com Starwood Hotels & Resorts starwoodhotels.com Swissôtel Nankai Osaka swissotel.com United Airlines united.com Virgin Atlantic virgin-atlantic.com

the same two-night Las Vegas stay in April, prices were comparable, but PointsHound generally offered fewer than 4,000 miles in most programs except for Hawaiian Airlines, in which case RocketMiles still offered more miles. For example, a stay at Caesars could earn me 5,700 HawaiianMiles through PointsHound with an average rate of $227 per night, while I could earn 6,000 HawaiianMiles through RocketMiles with a rate averaging $234 per night.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC’S FLYING CLUB partnered with some exceptional and unique hotel brands so you can earn miles with more than 20 hotels ranging from Hilton to The Red Carnation Hotel Collection to Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, a brand known for luxury and innovation with hotels in Dubai, Frankfurt, İstanbul, London and Shanghai, among other destinations. Two unique brands in the United Kingdom also partnered with Virgin: Malmaison and Hotel du Vin (1,000 miles per stay), specializing in converting historic properties into hotels. Malmaison Oxford was once a prison, and Hotel du Vin Henley-on-Thames was once a brewery. globaltravelerusa.com

Š 2015 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved. Not available on all flights.

SM

Entertainment streamed directly to your device.