TRAVEL GUIDE | NOVEMBER 2018 WARM-WEATHER GETAWAYS All dressed up: Grand Kadooment Day celebrations in Barbados. HOT SPOTS WHERE TO SOAK UP THE SUN IN THE YEAR AHEAD Poolside tranquility in Grand Velas Riviera Maya’s Zen Grand section. JUST BEACHY Keep those winter blues at bay by planning a trip to warmer climates. Peruse the locations, trips, and sailings in the following pages for a sunny reprieve, anywhere from one of the many island paradises in the Caribbean to the sun-kissed destinations of the South Pacific. Wherever you choose to go, we have the connections and experience to take your trip to the next level. The world’s finest travel agencies and advisors are Virtuoso®. IN THIS ISSUE: WARM-WEATHER GETAWAYS HOTELS & TOURS .........................................................4 Places to stay and things to do. CRUISE LINES ...............................................................28 Pick your itinerary and sail away. PLUS 2 What Daydreams Are Made Of Warm welcomes and travel intel. 6 Page-Turners Recommended beach reads and a reef-safe sunscreen. 30 Gear Up Five sunglasses for perfecting your cabana ensemble. 32 Goods to Go A few things to take on your next getaway. 44 Postcard Highlights from the South Pacific. On the water with Windstar Cruises. NOVEMBER 2018 1 WHAT DAYDREAMS ARE MADE OF This year set your sights on the lands of warmth and good weather, where sun worshippers go for rest and relaxation. A sunny locale is a classic choice – one we’ve yet to see go out of style – but today’s travelers crave more from a vacation destination than just the basics. Luckily, your Virtuoso travel advisor can enhance your getaway to include active excursions, special tours, and other perks, on top of time by the pool. Enjoy, and don’t forget the essentials: sunscreen, a good book, and the quintessential floppy sun hat. A Roman holiday. 2 WARM-WEATHER GETAWAYS TRAVEL INTEL Survey Says More Americans are getting up from their desks and out on vacation, according to a recent study by the U.S. Travel Association. While the trend is encouraging, 52 percent of the country’s work-weary still report leaving unused vacation days on the table. (Your Virtuoso travel advisor has ways to remedy that!) Here, a few other depressing findings: ■ Americans forfeited 212 million vacation days in 2017 – equal to $62.2 billion in lost benefits, or $561 per employee. ■ What keeps them from taking vaca- tions? Nearly two-thirds (61 percent) of workers cite the fear of appear- ing replaceable. Other top barriers include a heavy workload and lack of coverage at work (56 percent each). ■ Workcations – travel with the intent of working a regular schedule in a remote location – appeal most to millennials (39 percent), while few- er than one-fifth of baby boomers (18 percent) are excited by the idea. ■ Employees who feel that their com- pany culture encourages vacations are significantly happier with key components of their lives than those who don’t. What are you waiting for? Life is short – take the trip! Clockwise from top: Camels in Egypt, a Cuban selfie, the view from Puerto Rico’s Cueva Ventana, and beach time in Thailand. (CAMELS) UCHAR/GETTY IMAGES, IMAGES, UCHAR/GETTY (CAMELS) IMAGES OGPHOTO/GETTY RICO) (PUERTO NOVEMBER 2018 3 HOTELS & TOURS Heat up your travel wish list with the hotels, resorts, tours, and destinations in the following pages. Whether your speed is sipping mezcal poolside in Mexico or exploring tropical bike paths in Thailand, this issue has something you’ll like. Celebrating traditions on Hawaii’s Big Island. 4 WARM-WEATHER GETAWAYS FAT CAMERA/GETTY IMAGES CAMERA/GETTY FAT NOVEMBER 2018 5 PAGE-TURNERS ONE FOR THE ROAD Women lead the way on these solo adventures. Author Aubrey Daquinag kicks back in Marrakech. Travel blogger Aubrey Daquinag shares her photographs and sense of curiosity in Wan- der Love: Lessons, Tips & Inspiration from a Solo Traveller. The result is a gorgeous picture book of global exploits from Mexico to Moroc- Laurie Apgar Chandler was in co, sprinkled with an eclectic mix of tips on her forties when she discovered must-visit markets, mindful travel, and how to a passion for paddling. At age stay stylish on the road. amazon.com. 53, she tackled the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, the longest inland water path in the U.S. Being present in the moment is not always possible Upwards: The Story of the First when you’re in the company of others. Alone Time: Woman to Solo Thru-Paddle Four Seasons, Four Cities, and the Pleasures of Sol- the Northern Forest Canoe Trail itude by New York Times travel columnist Stephanie follows Chandler’s impressive Rosenbloom explores four themes, each in a distinc- journey along 740 miles of tive place and time, that reveal the many benefits of wilderness waterways between traveling alone, be it savoring a delicious meal or being New York and Maine. open to moments of serendipity. barnesandnoble.com. maineauthorspublishing.com. GREATER GOOD Burnin’ Up Reef-safe sunscreen Earlier this year, Hawaii’s government passed a bill banning sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octi- noxate – chemicals that contribute to the destruction of coral reefs. The law goes into effect in 2021, but why wait? The zinc sunscreen from Hawaii brand Kokua Sun Care is infused with spirulina, plumeria extract, and other island botanicals. kokuasuncare.com. 6 WARM-WEATHER GETAWAYS IMMERSE INDULGE INSPI RE Port Ferdinand Marina and Luxury Residencies HHHHH Save up to $1,210 per couple plus receive an EXCLUSIVE $100 Resort Credit and Full Daily Breakfast! BOOK NOW Call your Virtuoso Travel Advisor 5 nights from only $1,233 pp to make your reservation today! Visit Barbados @Barbados @visitbarbados www.visitbarbados.org BTMI Travel Catalogue_Warm Weather Getaways.indd 1 20/08/2018 11:33 BELMOND CAP JULUCA ONE&ONLY PALMILLA Bespoke on Maundays Bay Anguilla, West Indies Travel available through December 31, 2019 Virtuoso Exclusive Experience Includes: • Upgrade upon arrival, if available • Continental breakfast for two daily • $100 hotel credit, once per stay Enjoy one of Cabo’s • Early check-in/late checkout, if available only swimmable beaches offering complimentary • Complimentary Wi-Fi nonmotorized water sports. Please connect with your Virtuoso travel advisor for best available rates. Nights on Us Los Cabos, Baja California, Mexico Travel available through May 1, 2020 With reserved beach lounges and chaise-side food service, you’ll never want to leave the sand. Virtuoso Exclusive Experience Includes: • Complimentary nights based on length of stay • Upgrade upon arrival, if available • Breakfast for two daily • Private chauffeured round-trip airport transfers • Two 30-minute Virtuoso Exclusive Spa Experiences, per booking • One round of golf for two, including greens fees and cart rental, once per stay Please connect with your Virtuoso travel advisor for best available rates. ANDAZ MAUI AT WAILEA Spend more nights at this ultra-mod beach pad. After a sunrise yoga class, head out for a rain-forest hike and a dip in a waterfall pool. Later, help blend your own apothecary oil for an indulgent spa treatment before noshing on Japanese fare created by Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. From farm- fresh dining to fun ways to explore the Wailea Coast, Andaz is the perfect fit for your modern lifestyle. Fifth Night Free! Wailea, Hawaii 5 Nights • Travel available through December 20, 2019 Virtuoso Exclusive Experience Includes: • Five nights’ accommodation • Fifth night FREE • Upgrade upon arrival, if available • Breakfast for two daily • $100 spa treatment credit, once per stay • Early check-in/late checkout, if available Please connect with your Virtuoso travel advisor for best available rates. Beachfront Villas are particularly lavish, with full gourmet ADVISOR Maui’s best pool complex includes TIP kitchens, private plunge pools, and direct access to the three cascading infinity pools. warm sands. 8 WARM-WEATHER GETAWAYS GOGO VACATIONS ADVISOR TIP Here comes the sun. Kids can learn about sea turtles and take cooking classes on Nevis. Casa de Campo Discover sugar-soft sands and sheer serenity at Four Seasons Resort Nevis. There’s plenty of features an authentically repli- adventure as well, from snorkeling with sea turtles to hiking iconic Nevis Peak. Extolled as the cated sixteenth-century village “Caribbean’s most complete resort,” Casa de Campo, in the Dominican Republic, entices with with artisan studios. Getting three Pete Dye-designed golf courses, an equestrian center, and its own beach. Bed pavilions around Phuket is easy with complimentary bikes. magically float on lotus ponds at Banyan Tree Phuket, where pool villas offer bespoke sanctuary. Find renewal at the holistic spa, and play golf on Thailand’s top-ranked course. Find renewal at the Four Seasons Nevis’ Garden of Eden-like spa. Jet cannons add a playful touch to the Phuket pool. Play the Caribbean’s top golf course at Casa de Campo. Four Seasons Resort Nevis Casa de Campo Banyan Tree Phuket Charlestown, Saint Kitts and Nevis La Romana, Dominican Republic Phuket, Thailand 4 Nights • Travel available through 4 Nights • Travel available through 5 Nights • Travel available through December 18, 2018 April 20, 2019 September 30, 2019 (blackout dates apply) Virtuoso Exclusive Experience Includes: Virtuoso Exclusive Experience Includes: Virtuoso Exclusive Experience Includes: • Four nights’ accommodation in a • Four nights’ accommodation in a • Five nights’ accommodation in a Nevis Peak View Room Pete Dye Golf Lodge Room Banyan Pool Villa • Fourth night FREE • Unlimited rounds of golf • Fifth night FREE • Buffet breakfast daily • $100 resort credit per room, per stay • Buffet breakfast daily • Up to $250 in resort credits • $200 resort credit per villa, per stay • Phuket Thai Cookery School class • Transfers • One complimentary nanny service • Private transfers up to four hours (up to two children) Virtuoso rates from $955 per person.