Holistic Visionary Vandana Brings Energy Healing Experience to the Maldives

Whatever your preconceived notion of Saudi Arabia as a travel destination is, it’s about to be get a major renovation. Imagine Sindalah, for example, a 7-star private-island resort with three ultra-luxe resorts, 38 high-end restaurants and multiple superyacht marinas. Or Qiddiya, a futuristic city of 600,000 people rising from the desert floor, dedicated to e-sports and gaming. How about Trojena, a space-age ski resort built above the high desert? Or The Red Sea, a vast waterscape of 50 luxury resorts and 8,000 hotel rooms spread across 22 islands in a Maldives-style archipelago—powered entirely by wind and solar energy? Also in the works is The Rig, a $5-billion adventure theme park built on an off-shore oil platform. In addition, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a cruise destination, having recently bought a $300-million ship. Across the Kingdom, new roads, airports, golf courses and cruise terminals are rising from the sand. The map is literally being redrawn in real time.

Maltese independent hotel firm Cornithia has hired a new CEO, Simon Casson, the previous Europe, Middle East and Africa president of Four Seasons. Casson steps into the luxury hotel owner-operator while it is still feeling the sting of the pandemic four years ago.

With glamorous overwater bungalows, five-star resorts, and a decadeslong reputation for indulgence and luxury, the Maldives are known as a vacation destination for the rich and famous.

Experience the ultimate in barefoot luxury this year by seeking out 2024’s most highly anticipated new island resorts.

Roots tendril out of the grassy banks, piercing the surface of the water, while giant dragonflies skim the heads of water buffaloes cooling off in the 46C heat. Nearby, African sacred ibises stand regally in the shallows and vocal laughingthrushes nestle between the seven-foot reeds. My eyes are locked on the watery scenes — I’m hoping to spot a crocodile nostril or a slinking scale, at least. 

Corsican Places invites adventure enthusiasts to embark on a journey through Corsica’s stunning landscapes with its 2024 walking holidays now on sale. Offering a choice of eight self-guided itineraries, ranging from moderate leisurely strolls to one of Europe’s most challenging treks, customers can immerse themselves in some of Corsica’s most breathtaking scenery and bucket-list adventures.

While credit cards and loyalty programs are a great way of increasing purchasing power on the travel items you buy, there is another way to enhance travel rewards—buying stock in a company. In some cases, very little investment is needed to recoup much greater rewards—sometimes just one share.

Global campaigner the Conservation Collective is making waves across the Mediterranean, helping visitors protect the region’s increasingly under-pressure ecosystems. Its Sicily Environment Fund supports local hiking company Astrid Natura and Collettivo Rewild Sicily to train more walking guides, who will focus on the benefits of rewilding. Walking tours with qualified naturalist guides can also be booked with federescursionismosicilia.it.

Gone are the days when the Maldives was almost exclusively a honeymooner’s paradise. Today, across the 200-odd resorts that pepper its many postcard-perfect islands you’ll find family retreats, adventure-focused resorts and ultra-chic hideaways. In the lagoon at the heart of a cluster of Maldivian Anantara properties, you’ll find all three.

The Maldives is a dream destination for many travelers, including honeymooners, wealthy families, and even budget explorers like me.

Japan is a country where you can see beautiful natural landscapes throughout the four seasons. Especially in winter, various regions in Tohoku and Niigata are adorned with majestic natural beauty, as they are covered in a pure white veil of snow. In addition to the accumulating snow, the artistry of snow and ice, nurtured by the harsh cold and unique natural conditions, also adds a special touch to the winter scenery.

Visitors to the Florida Keys can now discover the island chain’s unique eco-attractions and rich natural world by tapping into the free Florida Keys Eco-Experience Trail pass. The mobile-exclusive digital pass enables users to find and check in at local businesses while exploring the environment and wildlife of the continental United States’ southernmost island chain.  The easy-to-use pass features only-in-the-Keys attractions, sites, and marine adventures, all designed to help visitors connect with the natural surroundings.