Journey into light

The first person I asked, “hey, how would you feel about getting a hair transplant in Türkiye?” replied, “uhhh…weirded out.”

NEOM is central to Saudi Arabia’s push to encourage tourism and emerge as one of the world’s leading vacation destinations. Al’Ula and mega-projects inside of NEOM such as The Line and a new island destination called Sindalah have been the biggest locations to make headlines lately, but there are other moving pieces equally worthy of getting excited about. Take, for example, Leyja, a mountainous region within NEOM slated to be developed as a major tourism hub with three new futuristic hotels built right into the mountains.

JOHN F. KENNEDY International Airport is a beacon from America’s largest city to the world. Located in Queens, New York, not far from Rockaway Beach and Arthur Ashe Stadium, the airport is a major hub for flights across the Atlantic, as well as continental flights in all directions. Due to its urban location, there is no defined “airport hotel village” at JFK like there is for hotels near the Denver airport – but that doesn’t mean there aren’t great hotels near JFK Airport. These are the most convenient JFK Airport hotels with the best amenities and overall experience, whether you’re simply looking for an overnight before or after a long travel day or are in town for a few days and want to stay near the airport.

An Aboriginal healer, dressed as a Jedi and wielding a glowing blue boomerang like a lightsaber, beckons to me. Inching my way along the shadowy corridor of Flinders Street Station’s third floor, I find twisted tree roots carved into haunting sculptures, ancient spirits cast in red neon lights, and an ochre termite mound rising from the centre of a cavernous ballroom. A woman’s mournful singing floats in the darkness. 

As a kid, I’d write letters to George Bass, an American professor of underwater archaeology who used to contribute to National Geographic magazine. He actually responded, and we carried on this correspondence for many years — me begging him to take me along on one of his expeditions, him always finding a reason not to. Until, many years later [following Mensun’s studies in ancient history and archaeology], he asked if I could be on the Greek island of Kos in a week’s time. I didn’t ask any questions. This was my open door, and I walked through it.

Belmond, the luxury company behind the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE), made a historic announcement this week that will delight those who love luxury European luxury train travel. The company said that in June 2024, the VSOE will travel to the Italian Riviera for the first time on a three-night experience that links Paris and the Ligurian coastal resort of Portofino. Once in Portofino, guests check into the Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, for two nights.

With its expansive views, vast national parks and small towns that offer a glimpse into local life and culture, Kenya is the perfect place to take a road trip.

This year my family decided to skip the traditional turkey ‘round the table Thanksgiving. We figured let’s not take a few days off and treat this long weekend like a mini-vacation. Stuffing, be damned! So we took to Palm Springs and spent four gloriously sunny days at The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa and possibly developed a new tradition in the process.

Discover a remote tropical paradise offering romance and exploration. Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres is an idyllic haven on an expansive stretch of pristine white-sand beach with stunning oceanfront infinity pools and easy access to some of Mexico’s most beautiful natural treasures – the nearby islands of Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy National Park.  

Perched majestically above the picturesque village of Zermatt, Switzerland, Chalet Zermatt Peak is an opulent mountain ski chalet which boasts breathtaking vistas of the iconic Matterhorn, a skier’s paradise. The chalet has recently been named the “World's Best Ski Chalet 2023” for the fourth year running by the World’s Ski Awards 2023.

EIC’s Global Events Barometer reports group hotel nights now equal 2019 bookings.

In November, which marked the seventeenth consecutive record month for Air Serbia, the most popular destinations in the region were Podgorica and Tivat, in Western Europe Zurich, Paris, Rome, and Milan, while in the broader Euro-Mediterranean zone, the most popular services were to Istanbul, Athens, and Barcelona.