Marvelous Mexico

Sand, sun, and fun are three good reasons why Mexico continues to be a popular escape. But there are even better reasons why the country has been crowned ‘Destination of the Year’ by Travel + Leisure magazine. Travelers will always head back to old favorites such as Cancun and Puerto Vallarta (what’s not to love?), but we would like to point out a few other hot spots.

Mexico City, or Ciudad de México (CDMX), is one of the liveliest North American capitals for cuisine, culture, and sports. Food tours will show you the best spots for tacos, tlacoyo, and why you shouldn’t go home without ordering sweet, jiggly nicuatole for dessert one night. The art scene – even the street art – is worth exploring, don’t miss the contemporary exhibits of Museo Tamayo and Museo Jumex, and one of Mexico’s largest galleries, Kurimanzutto. And why not live like a local and take in a live football (soccer) game – CDMX has many teams, but the top four are: América, Guadalajara, Cruz Azul, and Universidad Nacional.

In Baja, stay north if you want to skip the non-stop party of Los Cabos and go out adventuring instead. The Espiritu Santo archipelago in the northwest is known as "the world’s aquarium." This protected marine park is rich in biodiversity. Accommodations in nearby La Paz are well known for their off-the-grid authenticity, but new hotels have opened that also bring off-the-grid refinement. Head out for a day of whale watching, snorkeling, and diving, or shred the dunes with a sandboard (think snowboarding on warmer hills).

In Quinta Roo (just north of Belize), you’ll find Lake Bacalar -- nicknamed the Lagoon of Seven Colors. With a name like that, it’s no wonder visitors often call the area one of the most beautiful in Mexico. The water here changes color – from dark blue to pale purple -- depending on the depth of the limestone below and where the sun sits in the sky. The 26-mile long lagoon and laid-back local vibe make it an excellent spot to kick back in a new crop of boutique hotels that focus on sustainability without sacrificing frills. 

What Are Your 2022 Travel Resolutions?

We hope that you were able to ring in the new year safely and joyfully! With 2021 in our rearview mirror and travel becoming less restrictive, planning your 2022 escapes with a travel advisor will still be your best defense against change and uncertainty in trip planning.

A travel advisor is a travel specialist, and you always want to work with someone who is an expert in their area. Someone who knows how to get you out of a jam when your flight is cancelled or rerouted; someone who knows just the right chalet or hidden inn with the most incredible view for that month-long vacation in paradise; someone who knows how you like to travel and can recommend a hotel you never would have discovered on your own.

This year, Far and Away will continue to have your back and make travel a seamless experience. Let us help you make that dream trip a reality; We will certainly make it much easier for you to enjoy.

Planning and preparation are essential before you head for the airport.

Contact us for assistance! #Bookhuman:)

Barge experiences we love...

Picture yourself on the deck of your own private riverboat, taking in the serenity of the French countryside as you sip from a Grand Cru vintage. Then imagine sharing this incredible journey with – and only with – the friends or family that make travel special.

Barge cruising is perhaps one of the most intimate and luxurious ways to experience a country: to float along its rivers and canals with their behind-the-scenes views, and to do it aboard a luxury hotel barge that accepts anywhere from four to 12 guests. It’s perfect for a private charter. The barges are spacious, inviting and the level of service and culinary skill of the ship’s chef and crew will surprise you.

These shallow bottomed barges – outfitted with generous room sizes (some even boast four-poster beds) - will moor just about anywhere. And with such a small group on board, voyages can be tailor-made to suit you all. You’ll be immersed in the countryside: Perhaps a stop to go horse riding along the many trails of Languedoc? Or dining with vintners in Burgundy after a tour of their exclusive cellars? Maybe sampling vintages from a family-run Champagne vineyard is on your bucket list?

These historic barges once plied European waterways delivering cargo; by the 19th century, the canal network of Europe had links to the English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea. When water transport declined, some ships were scrapped, but the best were kept and restored or retrofitted into five-star floating hotels.

Drifting peacefully through the Loire Valley, or Provence, or Burgundy, or along the Canal du Midi, a UNESCO heritage site, may be what your group needs to reconnect and celebrate the better things in life.

Keep it Green...

Sustainable hotels are at the forefront of environmentally friendly practices within the travel industry. Below is a shortlist of hotels showcasing the efforts of many. These properties are lean, green, luxury machines!

Inkaterra Hotels Collection - First founded in 1975, this collection of seven stunning hotels in the Amazon and Andes Mountains was the first Peruvian business to be certified carbon-neutral. Founder Jose Koechlin explained that his company’s greatest asset to staying green is the natural environment surrounding each property. Each hotel also boasts one facility onsite dedicated to conservation and biology. Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica has a butterfly house, while Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo has a rescue center for South America’s only native bear species.

Turtle Bay Resort - A mainstay of Oahu’s North Shore, Turtle Bay Resort has been devoted to sustainability for over a decade after establishing a Green Committee in 2009 to reduce the property’s carbon footprint. Their efforts are widespread, from installing a solar roof to partnering with the surrounding community to source fresh produce. After a year-long closure, Turtle Bay reopened this July after a series of significant upgrades. Guests can enjoy a new lobby, adult-only pool, and ocean bungalows with an exclusive concierge service.

Forestis Dolomites - A Small Luxury Hotels of the World designated property, Forestis Dolomites effortlessly blends contemporary design with the property’s natural surroundings. Locally owned and designed, the hotel runs entirely on renewable energy. In addition, each of the 62 guest rooms is equipped with biodegradable amenities. Visitors can rest easy knowing that luxury doesn’t come at the cost of the environment.

Dynamic Africa is calling you...

2020 saw Africa emerge as a top international destination, and 2021 is no different. Whatever type of vacation you’re looking for, there’s a destination on the continent that will suit your travel style.  

Want to take a safari? Check out the Serengeti in Tanzania! This corner of northern Tanzania plays host to the second-largest terrestrial mammal migration in the world, making it one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa. Looking for a beach vacation? Check out Zanzibar! Situated on Africa's eastern coast, Zanzibar's beaches are unforgettable — white sand and turquoise waters galore. Not to miss in particular are quiet beaches like Matemwe and Pongwe. Zanzibar City’s Stone Town is also a must-visit for a dose of local history.  

In the mood for a culinary adventure? Look no further than Morocco. The country’s capital of Marrakesh is a melting pot of North African and French cuisine. Couscous, tagine and kefta top the list of dishes visitors should try. Another must is a stroll through the city’s medina—a UNESCO World Heritage site.  

Ideas for the Vaccinated and Non-Vaccinated Traveler

Knowing where in the world you can even travel these days is a constant struggle. While monitoring ever-changing entry requirements is my job to handle during the trip planning process, keeping up on your own is highly suggested. Visiting the CDC’s  "Travel Recommendations by Destination" page is a good place to start. That said, here are some destination ideas for the vaccinated and non-vaccinated traveler.  

Vaccinated travelers —As a vaccinated person, you are rewarded with more options and can occasionally bypass the negative COVID test entry requirement to be admitted to some countries. Go island-hopping off the coast of Greece, or explore the historically beautiful streets of Vienna. Iceland and Tahiti also top the list of countries open solely to vaccinated travelers.  

Unvaccinated travelers — While this isn’t encouragement to not travel abroad, remember that domestic destinations are your friend! The U.S. is a big place, and there are plenty of historic cities, white sand beaches and national parks to explore within our borders. With low infection rates and open borders, African countries like Botswana and Tanzania are perfect to check a safari off your bucket list.  

The Evolution of the Wellness Getaway

Wellness looks different to every traveler.

For some, a hiking adventure through the Himalayas is the key to rejuvenation, while for others, it's a week spent at a farm learning how to cook healthy food. It could be completely unplugging or using the latest technology to achieve healthier skin. Long story short, the copy-and-paste style wellness retreat is not what the modern traveler is looking for anymore.

Spa getaways and yoga retreats have defined wellness travel for decades. Guests would attend meditation classes, get a couple's massage and maybe go vegetarian for a few days—all on the grounds of an all-inclusive resort. This type of wellness travel still exists today, but at the dawn of a new decade—and after a year of many of us being cooped up at home—guests are expecting much more personalization and nuance from a getaway that promises to restore their mental and physical health. With wellness travel growth twice the average of overall tourism at the beginning of 2020, it's clear that the industry has been quick to catch on to evolving desires. 

LAKE AUSTIN SPA & RESORT

Located outside Austin in Texas Hill Country, this 40-room property is set on 19 acres along the shores of its namesake lake. Lake Austin Spa Resort tackles the wellness of guests from several angles—from encouraging them to ditch their phones in their rooms, unwinding with a full-body scrub at the spa, or indulging in the vegetable-forward cuisine at the resort’s restaurant. Being lakeside also allows guests to choose from a lengthy list of aquatic activities—enjoy a scenic boat ride or work up a sweat hydro-biking.

Amankora

Comprising five lodges across Bhutan, this resort system caters specifically to spiritual wellness. Amankora Punakha is surrounded by a beautiful landscape of rice terraces, while visitors can join local monks in prayer. Open to tourists this month, travelers can also visit monasteries and hike to cliffside temples.

While wellness travel is constantly diversifying, the all-inclusive model at its core remains relatively simple—identifying what guests will connect with and then using it to tap into their passions, comfort levels and thought processes to create a program that "gets" them. It's a balance of making an experience feel completely personal yet still being able to cater to many wellness needs. 

With so many different options out there, we can help you find the perfect match to realize your wellness goals.

Why 2021 is the Year of the African Safari 

Despite the uncertainty that dominated the travel landscape in 2020, one thing travel advisors are excited about in 2021 is the ever-popular safari. What’s intriguing about this trip style is that 2021 might be the year to plan your very own adventure. With private tours and small groups in demand, your safari experience promises to be both intimate and highly customizable.

In conjunction with smaller numbers of tourists, the quality of wildlife sightings has skyrocketed. Pre-COVID, throngs of visitors to national parks and nature preserves made hard-to-see fauna more challenging to find. Today, you can easily observe a pride of lions at your leisure without another jeep full of tourists bearing down on you for a piece of the action. In short, to experience a safari in 2021 is to experience a safari like it was 30 years ago—fewer tourists, more quality time with the local wildlife, and most importantly, a vacation perfectly catered to your style of travel.

The chance to stay at lodges normally booked up to a year in advance, such as Governors' Camp in Kenya and &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge in Tanzania, are also a huge draw for booking a safari in 2021. With these destinations likely to be highly in demand for 2022 and beyond, your best bet to experience the unspoiled beauty of the African wilderness is to confirm soon!

You Can't VIP Yourself

It’s a common misconception that using a travel advisor to help plan your vacation is for rookie travelers only. While it’s true that those unfamiliar with the trip planning process will seek out an advisor for guidance, the benefits don’t end once clients become more comfortable. It’s entirely possible to plan a vacation on your own, but there’s a saying in the industry that perfectly explains where my help is invaluable: You can’t VIP yourself.  

Many of us travel advisors have spent years—and even decades—building and cultivating connections. We have put the time and effort into working with only the best properties, suppliers, and tour operators in the business and all our relationships benefit our clients. By working with us, you get top-notch VIP treatment without having to lift a finger.

Our work behind the scenes allows you to have the best possible travel experience without the time, stress, and effort of building relationships with the sometimes dozens of suppliers and operators you’ll come into contact with during a trip. I'm not saying it can’t be done on your own, but ask any of our clients—seasoned travelers and rookies alike—if they’d prefer to enjoy their vacation or stress over the details, and it’s safe to say they’d choose the former.

Even if traveling is second nature to you, having an experienced advisor in your corner is the key to unlocking that next level of luxury and attention to detail. Especially during these uncertain times when many travel plans have been sidelined for months, we want to make sure your travel comeback is the best it can be!

You deserve to be a VIP on your next vacation. 

Let’s start planning!