Snow Place Like Scotland

In the cruise industry, January through March is considered “wave season,” a time when cruise lines offer promotions, incentives and, often, their best deals of the year. Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser or a newbie, it’s a smart time to book trips.

It’s not only Hogmanay (31 December) that gives Scots an excuse for a party; Burns Night (25 January) is traditionally the time each year when Scotland’s Bard, Robert Burns, is celebrated on the anniversary of his birth.  Scotland is host to many events to mark the occasion, from music as well as a traditional ceilidh.  Revellers can top the night off with a plate of haggis, neeps and tatties and a dram of whisky.  After enjoying the food, Scotland fans can then follow in the Bard’s footsteps across Scotland, including his birthplace, Alloway in Ayrshire – home to the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum – and Dumfries, which is home to places such as Ellisland Farm (built by Robert Burns as his home in 1788) and the Globe Inn pub (established in 1610 and regularly frequented by Burns and home to some fascinating memorabilia).

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One of the joys of travelling around the UK is the thrill of discovering a truly memorable pub. While often, it’s the simple yet unbeatable combination of well-kept beer and a convivial atmosphere that makes it stick firmly in the mind, at other times it’s the sheer singularity of the pub that does the trick. From pubs that pop up in the most unlikely locations to those with strange histories or curious traditions, the UK is blessed with some truly distinct watering holes. We meet the people at the helm of four of the country’s most striking boozers.

British Columbia’s inland temperate rainforest is one of the snowiest places on earth. Its premier ski town, Revelstoke, holds the North American record for most snow dropped in a single winter—a whopping 80 feet in 1971-1972. And Revelstoke Mountain Resort sees 400-500 inches of snow every season.

Scotland is one of the most stunning destinations, filled with enormous castles, rolling green hills, and magical lochs. Considering my ancestors were from Scotland, I took a road trip from Glasgow to St. Andrews for a customized experience of iconic golf, whisky tasting, and castle hopping, all with a private dedicated chauffeur.

This is part of our global guide to the Best Places to Go in 2024—find more travel inspiration here.

The United Kingdom's Border Force is gearing up to trial "smart" eGates equipped with advanced facial recognition technology at airports, which could eliminate the need for passengers to present their passports upon arrival. (Border Force is the part of the Home Office responsible for securing the U.K. border.)

In certain more remote parts of the country, you’ll enjoy a much safer break.

The benefits of investing in a great travel backpack are numerous. In most instances, they’re just as roomy as your carry-on, with the added perks of allowing for easy access to essentials (no need to unveil the entire contents of your bag to the airport while digging about for your phone charger when you’ve got plenty of pockets to utilize). With a backpack, you can head off to your airport gate with both hands-free for your coffee and boarding pass. And they’re a much better option for hiking and camping trips; nobody wants to lug a suitcase across soggy grass or bumpy terrain.

“When I was at home I was in a better place,” Mr. Shakespeare wrote in As You Like It. I wonder which home of his inspired that line, if any. It’s possible he had given thought to the home of his birth, where also lived in his youth. Amazingly, all these hundreds of years later, that home still exists and, not surprisingly, it’s a museum.

As midnight approaches, dark groups huddle on the freezing slope of one of the seven hills overlooking the soft yellow lights of the city of Edinburgh.