It’s that time of year again. Leaves are changing colors, shoulder season trips are in full swing, and international airlines are sharing what new routes travelers can expect next summer.
25.09.2024 - 14:45 / matadornetwork.com
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After a nine-plus-hour flight, I tend to look a little unkempt. While it’s mostly due to the fact that I can’t afford to fly Business Class and therefore get almost no sleep, it’s also because airplane bathrooms don’t give much opportunity for a pre-landing glow-up. The fact that I’ve started traveling in my sweats for comfort certainly doesn’t help either. So when the electric Mercedes SUV from Versante Hotel came to pick me up at Vancouver International Airport after a seemingly interminable flight from Amsterdam, I felt much too bedraggled for the occasion. The lovely driver, who in his dressy uniform looked way more deserving of a private ride in a fancy car than I did, didn’t seem to notice. He put away my suitcase, open the back door for me, and made polite conversation while I sank into the cushy leather upholstered seats. Let me tell you: This is an excellent way to end an exhausting trip. And all you have to do to get this special treatment is to simply book a room at the Versante Hotel.
The Versante Hotel is a 14-storey boutique luxury hotel situated in the city of Richmond, a suburb of Vancouver where the international airport is located. The hotel is less than 10 minutes by car from YVR, and 30 minutes from Downtown Vancouver by car or Skytrain. (The nearest Skytrain station, Bridgeport, is a 10-minute walk from the hotel.) If you prefer to get around the city on two wheels, the Versante Hotel also offers complimentary bike rentals, as well as e-bike rentals for an additional charge.
While the Versante Hotel opened in July 2021, in the space of three years, there has not been a single airport hotel in Vancouver that managed to match the level of service, comfort, and modern luxury that it offers. Even the well-established Fairmont Vancouver Airport, widely purported as the best airport hotel in North America because of its unmatched location inside the airport, could learn a thing or two from the Versante Hotel — especially when it comes to decor.
I’ve stayed multiple times at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport and while there’s no denying that it’s extremely comfortable and full of great amenities, it needs a refresh. The reception is dark and sleep-inducing, and the guest rooms are beige in every sense of the term: they lack color, dynamism, and originality. The rooms’ patterned carpets are sad and tired, and the bathrooms and their bizarre saloon doors have an outdated look.
Compared to it, the Versante Hotel is a breath of fresh air.
The rooms at the Versante Hotel are not only bright, fun, and creative, with colorful walls and patterned
It’s that time of year again. Leaves are changing colors, shoulder season trips are in full swing, and international airlines are sharing what new routes travelers can expect next summer.
Autumn is a big season for hotels, especially those that represent the winds of change. In New York City, Standard International debuts its latest hotel concept, The Manner—which feels less like the hedonistic Standards of yore, and more like any of the city’s growing number of fabulous private-members clubs. Across the country in California, a beloved Laguna Beach icon enters an exciting new chapter. Salt Lake City is finally getting a new lifestyle hotel—just in time for another ski season. And the country’s first ultra-sustainable, “carbon positive” hotel opens its doors in Denver to set an example for hotels everywhere. There’s a lot happening, and a lot to explore—where will you go first? These are the most exciting new hotel openings of fall 2024.
A popular low-cost air airline is expanding globally. Southwest Airlines recently announced a partnership to offer international flights by partnering with carriers who operate international fights in Southwest markets. “Southwest is formalizing partnerships with international carriers to expand its network and connect Customers with more global destinations to generate additional demand for travel across the Southwest network,” Southwest shared in a news release. The launch of this new international flight program will take place in 2025, with Icelandair as the first partner airline, and will depart from the Baltimore, MD (BWI) airport. There, travelers can fly on Icelandair to Iceland, where they can connect to a variety of European destinations including Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Dublin, Oslo, Prague, Rome, and more. Icelandair is a discount carrier that operates international flights, and similar to Southwest, does not have a first or business class section on their aircraft. “The partnership will unlock many exciting travel options for our customers, and our extensive network in Europe will open for Southwest customers,” Icelandair President and CEO Bogi Nils Bogason said in a statement. “As part of our strategic focus on expanding our global partnership network, we seek out airlines known for exceptional service and connectivity.” As an example, a traveler would start their journey on Southwest from Nashville to Baltimore, and then continue on Icelandair from Baltimore to Iceland.
Low-cost Icelandic airline Play is making it easier to travel this fall and winter with $99 flights to popular cities across Europe.
Hotel tech startup Mews said Thursday that it has secured $100 million in venture credit to fuel more acquisitions.
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Craving fresh mountain air? How about lakeside seclusion or a view of the ocean from bed? New Hampshire dishes up all of these and more. Whether you’re hankering for a ski break in the valleys or dreaming about that glorious fall foliage, this scenic northeastern state will deliver the goods. Save time scouting for accommodation and choose an Airbnb New Hampshire rental from our guide of the state’s best.
Train travel has been growing in popularity for the past couple of years and there’s no sign showing that this trend is going to stop any time soon. According to Eurail, the big boss of train travel in Europe, “more than 1,237,000 Interrail and Eurail Passes were sold in 2023, a 25 percent growth from 2022.” To satisfy the ever-growing demand for rail travel, new train operators are popping up and offering new exciting routes, especially crowd-pleasing overnight routes. That’s the case of rail operator European Sleeper which launched in May 2023.
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If you’re looking for a cruise but don’t like the sound of a mega-ship, river cruises offer more intimate, handcrafted experiences, taking guests to parts of the world inaccessible to larger vessels. There’s a bunch of luxury river cruise companies providing five-star service, dining, and accommodation. One of the better in Europe is Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours. With nearly 40 years of experience, Scenic’s routes range from an architectural journey through the Douro Valley in Portugal to the French vineyards and romantic towns in Budapest. They offer a range of routes, but one of the most popular is the 15-day Romantic Rhine and Moselle itinerary. It explores two of Europe’s most enchanting river valleys, lesser-known historical sites, and includes a classical concert in a UNESCO-listed church in Trier, Germany.
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