Mountain City's Travel Blog

It begins as a dream, swimming around in your head.It can apply to a weekend, several weeks of your life, even months. The vision takes place in an unknown land.Then it becomes official. You commit yourself; you are booked. The dream shifts into high-definition technicolor.  You’re enjoying the first third of “A Third. A Third. A Third.” It’s the bits and...

It begins as a dream, swimming around in your head.It can apply to a weekend, several weeks of your life, even months. The vision takes place in an unknown land.Then it becomes official. You commit yourself; you are booked. The dream shifts into high-definition technicolor.  You’re enjoying the first third of “A Third. A Third. A Third.” It’s the bits and...

New digital border processing and hall at SXM airport mean arriving for your next trip to the Caribbean’s famous twin-nation island will be faster, easier, and better than ever before. But you do have to get online and fill out the new forms before you check in to your flight to St. Maarten.Mandatory Digital Forms for Travel to St. MaartenSt....

Following the recent inauguration of its pioneering coastal China cruises, Viking has announced six new itineraries in Asia that will expand exclusive access for its guests to Japan and China, with Tibet in 2025. The new voyages will explore iconic destinations in China, such as Shanghai, Beijing, Xi’an and Lhasa in Tibet (Xizang), as well as Osaka, Japan. Each voyage...

If you thought sailing to small islands and boutique harbors in idyllic tropical places was just for billionaires in their private yachts, think again. Even you can feel like a billionaire on one of Emerald Cruises’ two new mega-yachts. We sailed aboard the Emerald Sakara on a ‘yachtsman’s itinerary’ from San Juan, Puerto Rico, weaving through the U.S. and British Virgin...

Silversea is taking a groundbreaking approach to ultra-luxury Antarctic expedition cruising – literally! The cruise line has broken ground on a hotel in Puerto Williams, Chile, to create a seamlessly deluxe experience for its guests on their voyages to the White Continent.Silversea is the only cruise line that homeports from Puerto Williams during the Antarctic season. And the new, 150-room...

Atlas Ocean Voyages, the small-ship cruise line that expanded the concept of expedition cruising from remote, polar exploration to include concepts like its ‘Epicurean Expeditions,’ has debuted “The Explorer’s Table.” It’s a new, specialty dining option only available to guests on its ships in Antarctica and the High Arctic. An exclusive Omakase-style dining experience, The Explorer’s Table will present global culinary...

During a spectacular naming ceremony in Civitavecchia – the port for Rome, Italy – Explora Journeys launched Explora II. The September, 2024 event marked the debut of the second of six ships by the lifestyle ocean travel brand of the MSC Group. Explora Journeys promises guests the opportunity to experience an “Ocean State of Mind,” connecting you with both the...

The first and only luxury hotel company to take to the sea has welcomed Ilma, its second newbuild, ultra-luxury ‘superyacht’. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s latest small ship is host to fewer than 500 guests in its 224 ‘airy and intuitive’ suites, all with private terraces providing direct access to the sea. The Ilma also offers guests world-class dining curated by MICHELIN-starred...

Stop and think before you nonchalantly pack all your digital devices on your next trip to Mexico. A growing number of reports warn tourists that Mexican border officials are increasingly enforcing old laws about entering the country with electronic items – and it’s costing unsuspecting travelers hundreds of dollars in import duties. In our increasingly digital world, the number of devices...

The only surviving ancient Wonder of the world is still sharing new secrets – thousands of years after construction. No wonder experiencing Egypt’s pyramids is one of the bucket list trips of all time for so many travelers. The ancient Egyptian pyramids we can all picture are located on the Giza plateau in Cairo, which is home to three main pyramids that...

One of the most remarkable things about sailing aboard the Scenic Eclipse in the Antarctic is the contrast between the wild remoteness just outside… and feeling like you’re a guest at a chic boutique hotel in any stylish urban hot spot in the world. One minute, you’re in a zodiac heading towards a colony of penguins on an ice and snow-covered...

Windstar Cruises’ brand-new ship debuts in early 2026, and reservations have opened for Star Seeker’s inaugural season in Alaska, Japan and the Caribbean. The small ship cruise line last sailed in Japan and Alaska in 2023. Star Seeker is currently under construction in Europe and is scheduled to debut at the end of 2025 and join Windstar’s 6-ship fleet in January...

The pickleball craze continues! Not content to dominate community parks around North America, the sociable, ‘tennis light’ paddle sport is taking root in holiday destinations – not just on land resorts and hotels, but also at sea, and, in the latest twist, overwater! Pickleball on the Rivers of EuropeAmaWaterways made waves when it became the first river cruise line to introduce...

A new selection of activities for visitors to Australia allow you to experience the country’s history and nature, with the added richness of Aboriginal culture.  Australia’s Aboriginal people are the island continent's original inhabitants, with a history that dates back over 65,000 years. That makes them one of the world’s oldest continuous cultures. A revival of Australian indigenous cultural practices, oral...

Being a dog lover is a 24/7/365 thing, but the annual International Dog Day on August 26 gives everyone – including hotel companies – an excuse to recognize the canine companions in our lives. More hotels than ever are pup-friendly, and for International Dog Day, a couple of hotel companies are creating tail-wagging fun and rolling out the red carpet...

Marriott Cancun, An All-Inclusive Resort, has opened its doors to guests. The newest resort for Marriott Hotels is more proof of two growing travel trends: multi-generational family vacations and redefining the increasingly popular all-inclusive holiday. There are 600 Marriott Hotels around the world, and this marks the first all-inclusive in the namesake chain of hotels that’s part of the mega hospitality...

Your next vacation may be the perfect time to take up shinrin-yoku, or ‘forest bathing.’ Wellness fans around the world are embracing the Japanese practice of immersing yourself deeply into the atmosphere of the woods, and the broader concept of spending more time in nature to improve your health and well-being.  Renowned for their centuries-old practices of ritualized baths in...

Gin is in! Cocktail culture is back, and one of the original ingredients of cocktails is having a renaissance, too. MSC Cruises has ‘tapped’ into the of-the-moment trend that’s seen a boom in types of gin and new gin cocktails. The cruise line is introducing new drinks fleet-wide to join in its lineup of cool summer sips. For many, fun and sophisticated...

There will soon be two new places in the U.S. to visit China’s iconic and endearing national animal. The giant panda, with its unmistakeable black and white markings and adorable fuzzy features, is a keystone species and symbol of global conservations efforts – and it’s one of the ‘bucket list’ animals many people want to experience in person.  A pair of...