Excursion tips

If you've ever wished you could be a part of an expert-led small-group tour but didn't have multiple days (or thousands of dollars) for the traditional options, there's a new tour in town with prices that start under $100.

Waiting until after Thanksgiving for Black Friday promotions is so 2019. For the past three years, cruise lines have released their pre-holiday deals early and 2023 is following the trend, with several cruise brands having released their offers as early as the beginning of November.

While Vail is justly beloved for its skiing and snowboarding terrain, there’s much more to this Colorado mountain town than snow sports.

With vast swaths of wilderness, communities that are only accessible by boat or plane, and plenty of untamed characters who’ve chosen to live in one of the most rural and dramatic landscapes in the United States, it’s no surprise that Alaska is called the Last Frontier.

If you really want to experience the true magic of winter then head to Finland's Lakeland region. When the cold season strikes the region it transforms into a entrancing winter wonderland. The air turns crisp, the land is blanketed in snow, and silence reigns. Enjoy the beauty of icy crystals and the comfort of a warm fire in a cabin, shared with good company. From embracing the calm of a night devoid of light pollution, to ice fishing and electric snow scooter rides, this region offers a unique winter adventure for every traveler. Here’s a selection of 10 of the best sustainable experiences to help you explore Lakeland like a local during the winter months.

After two pandemic-related delays, we were finally set to take a $34,309 Nile cruise with Viking, leaving Oct. 25 and including several days in Cairo and additional excursions to Jerusalem and Petra, in Jordan. But the war broke out, and the Middle East is very unstable. Viking canceled our excursion to Jerusalem, refunded that money and rebooked our flights for Oct. 29. But we don’t think Egypt or Jordan is particularly safe right now either, especially for Jews. We are older, and are heartsick at not seeing Jerusalem and terrified at the thought of being targeted as American Jewish tourists during this war. Viking still has $29,435 of our money. We only want a voucher to take the same trip in the future. Can you help?

When Regent Seven Seas Grandeur sets sail in November 2023, an impressive multimillion-dollar contemporary art collection with 1,600 works will offer guests a bespoke experience, akin to that of cruising on a floating museum.

There are plenty of dazzling luxury resorts in the Caribbean, but people who like to fly private often like to stay private on vacation. One of those dreamy, secluded getaways is Villa Papillon in Antigua. Listed for $9.5 million, the 9,700-square-foot villa is located at the tip of Reed’s point, overlooking the water. For $8,000 to $12,000 a night (depending on the week), the villa can accommodate up to 12 people—but expect to spend your time on the vast terrace (on a clear day, you can see to Nevis and St. Kitts) or in the infinity pool.

Driving into the North York Moors National Park is a bit like delving into the pages of The Secret Garden — it was indeed these heather-clothed moorlands that inspired Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 1911 novel. Granted, this pocket of North Yorkshire might not be such a secret — its hiking paths, country pubs and historic villages have magnetic appeal, and for good reason. Throw in the Howardian Hills AONB, which sits on the southern edge of the national park, and you’ve got yourself one of the UK’s most idyllic getaways. 

Club Med announced a brand new resort concept on October 24, 2023—an all-inclusive surf and safari resort on South Africa’s Indian Ocean coast that will open in 2026.

I was in the back of a Pretoria junk shop, when I came across a zoetrope under a dusty canvas cover. A predecessor of film, the instrument consists of a metal cylinder that, when sent spinning, sets a series of images pasted in its interior in motion. Inside of that particular model was a sequence of identical chestnut horses, each in a slightly different running position. I turned the cylinder, put my eye to a slot, and the horse began its staccato canter.

If Cappadocia, Turkey had an official postcard, it’d likely be the rainbow of hot air balloons floating above its conical “fairy chimney” rock formations at sunrise when the sky is tinted pink. Most mornings, roughly 150 to 200 hot air balloons ascend above the wildly unique landscape in Göreme National Park, which becomes a popular spot for photographers, too.

Namibia is a land of superlatives and contrasts.

Fall foliage, in most parts of the United States, has reached peak status, with blazing auburn, gold and orange leaves on full display. If you’re eager to squeeze in one more leaf-peeping adventure in 2023, or you want to plan an epic fall foliage excursion for next year, why not switch up your perspective and take in the gorgeous colors from above?

My trip to Jim Thorpe, a small Pennsylvania town often called the "Little Switzerland of America," was an afterthought, a brief stop on the way back to New York City the Sunday after a girls' weekend in nearby Long Pond. About two hours from the city, Jim Thorpe is an easily accessible day trip from Manhattan. 

Fall is shoulder season for Alaska, Mexico, and the Caribbean—and for fall cruises, that means emptier ships which allow booking windows to stay open longer. In other words, now is a great time to snag a last-minute sailing.

Active travel, meaning biking, hiking and multi-sport vacations, have been skyrocketing in popularity since the pandemic. The major tour operators specializing in this field are reporting record traffic and bookings for 2023 and 2024, and this makes a lot of sense, as the pandemic caused a lasting spike in participation in many outdoor sports. Additionally, there are many benefits to active travel - exercise, guilt free indulgence, and seeing the world more deeply at a slower, immersive pace. But within this red-hot category, one niche in particular has been attracting more and more active travelers, both veterans and first timers, and that’s active cruises.

Marble floors, an emerald-green Murano chandelier, a life-size glass horse set against the backdrop of a cascading waterfall: Boarding the S.S. Catherine was like stepping into a meticulously curated room featured on the cover of Architectural Digest.

Is the northern hemisphere’s approaching winter chill making you shiver and crave a tranquil trip to the tropics? Look no further than Tahiti. French Polynesia is easier than ever to reach with more direct flights from the US and the destination’s incredible tropical islands are best explored on a small-ship sailing cruise with Windstar Cruises.

A new sea to table culinary program is coming aboard a fleet of luxury cruise shops.

Experience the wildlife-rich Galapagos on Aqua Mare, the newest luxury ocean vessel of Aqua Expeditions and the first of its kind in this archipelago.