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Travel News You Can Use
By Cynthia David
Climb aboard the fast, efficient trains of Trenitalia to explore Italian cities brimming with art, history and culture. Listen to opera in a Roman amphitheatre in romantic Verona. Visit the convent of Santa Maria della Grazie in stately Milan for a peek at Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper. In Pisa the bell tower still leans, but it’s just one of several Romanesque buildings in the Piazza dei Miracoli. Naples’ historical treasures include the Castel dell’Ovo and National Archaeological Museum. Genoa’s historical centre culminates in the splendid UNESCO-recognized Renaissance buildings along the Strade Nuove. The Mole Antonelliana, home of the National Museum of Cinema, is the symbol of Piedmont’s elegant capital, Turin. Create your itinerary at trueitalianexperience.it/en
After a refurb, one ultra-luxury boutique hotel in the postcard-pretty Swiss Alps is ready to spoil its guests. Ultima Hotel Gstaad, which reopened on November 29th, has a refreshed spa and new partnerships that redefine alpine luxury. Find cutting-edge wellness with science-driven treatments by Augustinus Bader, featuring their transformative TFC8 formula, and organic therapies from Seed to Skin Tuscany, blending natural elements with innovation. Fitness enthusiasts can enjoy personalized programs at Workshop Gymnasium, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, while the boutique now showcases Sporty & Rich’s chic leisurewear collection. Spanning three interlinked timber chalets, the property features 11 suites and six private residences with marble ensuites and private lounges. ultimacollection.com/our-collection/ultima-hotel-gstaad
Perched high above the Aegean Sea in the village of Imerovigli, five-star Kivotos Santorini stands out like an elegant black gem amid the Greek island’s white landscape. The 10 suites and villas combine a modern minimalist design with bold, dark colours that echo the hotel’s stone and cave-like feel. Each room offers a clear view of Santorini’s famous sunsets and the volcanic caldera that created the island. Enjoy a champagne breakfast in your room and dine on fresh local seafood at night. Ideal for a romantic escape. KivotosHotels.com
After a meticulous six-year renovation, the Old War Office in the heart of Whitehall where Sir Winston Churchill once worked has reopened as the site of London’s first Raffles Hotel. Among the 120 guest rooms and suites are several Heritage Suites, once the offices of political and military leaders. Corner suites are named for notable women and female spies, while the stunning Whitehall Ballroom can host 600 guests. The Raffles London at The OWO is also home to 85 private residences, London’s first Guerlain spa spread over four floors and a collection of restaurants and bars including three sumptuous dining experiences by Argentina-born Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagreco. theowo.london; raffles.com/london
When counting sheep doesn’t work, try meditating with real sheep during a three-day wellness retreat on a Scottish farm located in Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. Enjoy nature while practising mindful, calming interactions with snuggly sheep and lambs. The weekend also includes yoga, sound healing, forest bathing and afternoon tea with naughty sheep. If your passion runs more to outdoor swimming, join a Wild Hebridean Swimming Adventure on the Isles of Mull and Iona. Owner Emma MacDonald takes guests on sunrise and sunset dips and adventure swims at idyllic beaches off the beaten track. Teawithnaughtysheep.com/stays; swimdynamics.co.uk/adventures; VisitScotland.com
If you love soaking in mineral-filled hot springs, Utah is the place to be. The state has 106 known hot springs with temperatures above 25 C. Crystal Hot Springs, an hour north of Salt Lake City, has the highest mineral content in the U.S. Homestead Crater, in the Heber Valley near Park City, resembles a beehive-shaped, limestone dome where visitors soak, practise paddleboard yoga, snorkel and scuba dive. You can even earn a diving certificate here. At Meadow Hot Springs, near Bryce Canyon National Park, three pools sit in a farmer’s field. The deepest attracts divers to its underwater cave. And Mystic Hot Springs, near Capitol Reef National Park, boasts two swimming pools, vintage bathtubs to soak in and a music festival! VisitUtah.com
From the beaches to The Strand, Southern California’s Huntington Beach delivers an exciting food scene. Ola Mexican Kitchen, with its second-floor ocean view, serves the city’s freshest fish tacos: tender pieces of lobster, lightly battered rockfish, or blackened shrimp slipped into house-made tortillas. Ola is also a top contender for the city’s best margarita, offering the perfect sweet-sour balance blended or on the rocks. Other contenders include Solita Tacos & Margaritas, Fred’s Mexican Café and Baja Sharkeez. Beer and wine drinkers should head out on the Surf City USA Barrel Trail, a tour of 14 craft breweries, distilleries, wine bars, taprooms and eateries in Huntington Beach including family-owned Matter of Craft. SurfCityUSA.com
Singles often put off bucket-list trips hoping to find the perfect travel companion. If you’re over the age of 18, forget waiting and join one of G Adventures’ 13 Solo-ish Adventures. Explore popular destinations like Costa Rica, India, Peru, South Africa and Vietnam safely and easily with a small group of fellow travellers. You’ll prepare dinner together, meet the locals and make new friends and memories. “Pinch-me” moments include kayaking with penguins in Cape Town, a dinner in Jaipur’s Amber Fort and zip lining through the forests of La Fortuna in Costa Rica. gadventures.com/solo-ish
In a pre-celebratory 25th anniversary bash of Quebec City’s Ice Hotel (Hôtel de Glace), chefs at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac invite you to indulge in a three-course Nordic-inspired dinner, served Friday and Saturday, available for bookings until March 15 in North America’s only restaurant built of ice and snow. Why not spend the night tucked into a winter-proof sleeping bag in a magical room with access to hot tubs and saunas under the stars? Many couples tie the knot in the ice chapel, an architectural marvel. Quebec-cite.com/en/businesses/hotel-de-glace
With the third season of red-hot TV series The White Lotus scheduled to air in 2025, luxury stays in the filming location of Thailand are expected to be in demand. If you can’t get a reservation at set location Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas, stay nearby at the Aleenta Phuket – Phang Nga offering similar features: beachfront infinity pool, pool villas, wellness spa, and delectable dining options. As Phuket becomes even more crowded with White Lotus fans, choose Aleenta resorts in nearby Chiang Mai or Hua Hin, the “Hamptons of Thailand.” Aleenta.com
More Canadians than ever are taking to the seas, rivers and canals to unwind. In fact, cruise passenger numbers are up nearly 18% compared to pre-pandemic. River cruises are popular for their leisurely pace and tendency to dock in the heart of smaller, off-the-beaten-path destinations. Travel advisers at Flight Centre Travel Group also report an increase in itineraries that offer an extra night or two in port destinations. Cultural experiences and connections with locals have also become top priorities when booking a cruise. Flightcentre.ca
Travel expert Cynthia David provides updates on the tourism industry in this curated collection that appears in every issue.
