Cruise Alaska This Summer with UnCruise

UnCruise AlaskaAs the world slowly starts to open up again, we’re focusing this week on group trips in North America. We’re hopeful that Canada will open to Americans by July 1st. Europe might also be safe to travel by summer, but more than likely, that will be a last-minute decision for most of our clients. Many outfitters have expanded their North American itineraries this past year to satisfy the growing demand. First up is UnCruise’s trips in Alaska.

By now you might have read that the cruise season to Alaska is over thanks to Canada closing all ports to cruising until 2022. But what you might not realize is that you can fly directly to Alaska and take a cruise that focuses solely on the exceptional scenery and wildlife of the state, not wasting time cruising up the coastline from Vancouver or Seattle. For folks who like their cruises with a dose of activity, it’s hard to top UnCruise, who will whisk you away on Zodiac rafts to sea kayak and hike in or along protected coves. You’re guaranteed to find whales, sea lions, and otters in the water, grizzlies on land, and eagles flying overhead. Please let ActiveTravels know your dates and we’ll find the best UnCruise Alaskan itinerary during that time.

Boston’s Newbury Hotel to Debut in April

The Newbury Hotel to Debut in BostonOne of the first assignments I received after moving to Boston in 1996 was to pen a story for Town & Country magazine on Boston’s grand dame of hospitality, the venerable Ritz-Carlton. Located at the end of Newbury Street, across from the Public Garden, the Ritz occupied one of the most enviable locations in the city and played host to such luminaries as Winston Churchill, Charles Lindbergh, and Rin Tin Tin since its opening in 1927. When it changed ownership to the Taj Boston, I was called back to the property to write a story for Boston Globe Magazine about the new General Manager. Tragically, he had lost his entire family when Pakistani militants stormed the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, where he had worked previously. He now has a beautiful new family and resides in New York.

In other good news, the latest iteration of the Ritz, called The Newbury, will be making its debut next month. Part of the Highgate Hotel Group, which includes both James properties in Manhattan, The Newbury has aligned themselves with master chef Mario Carbone. Carbone runs the Major Food Group, the hospitality company behind such restaurants as Carbone, The Grill and Sadelle’s in New York, Hong Kong and Las Vegas. For the Newbury, he has plans for a fine dining restaurant on the roof and a bar off the lounge called The Street, that will be the perfect place to congregate after shopping Newbury Street or grabbing a Swan Boat ride across the street. With tulips in bloom, the early spring has always been one of my favorite times of year to visit the Public Garden. Now with the opening of The Newbury, I have even more incentive to head downtown.

Incredibly Grateful for the Referrals to ActiveTravels

A Toast to Our Members at ActiveTravelsAs I prepared for this interview with NBC Boston News on Sunday night, I was in a good mood having just had the best week at ActiveTravels since the beginning of this hellish pandemic a year ago. Our bookings last week included a Switzerland multisport trip with Backroads in August, a family getaway to Costa Rica to celebrate a college graduation in May, and a much-needed wellness retreat to the new Miraval property in the Berkshires in April. When I realized that all three of these bookings were with new clients that were referred to us by our loyal ActiveTravels member base, I was even more elated. As we bounce back from a year of PPP loans and little business, I’m entirely grateful knowing that we’re not starting from square one again. Many of you have been with us since the start of ActiveTravels almost a decade ago. We can’t thank you enough for your support over the years and trusting us with your travels! Please continue to spread the word to your friends. It can only help to jumpstart the business after a year in hibernation.

The World is Your Oyster: Liz Coleman of Paul Gauguin Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises to French PolynesiaActiveTravels is excited to announce our new web series, The World is Your Oyster! As the world begins to open up and the pandemic starts to fade in the rear-view mirror, let’s look forward to rediscovering new and exciting destinations across the globe. We have been pent up too long!

To inaugurate the first episode, we speak to one of our favorite people in the travel industry, Liz Coleman of Paul Gauguin Cruises. She tells us all about experiencing the beauties of French Polynesia on a Paul Gaugin Luxury Cruise. If you are celebrating a honeymoon or an anniversary, Liz explains the romantic Tahitian Blessing Ceremony you can enjoy with your loved one while cruising.

Liz also informs us about a very special promotion happening right now, their Two Week Sale, where you can save up to $3,350 per person on a 2021 sailing. This includes roundtrip airfare from LA, an all-inclusive cruise experience including all meals and alcohol and so much more. If you’re not ready to sail right now, rates are very good for their 2022 cruises as well.

If you have a group of people you’d like to travel with and can book 5 rooms or more, we can get you their group rate, a 30% discount!

Have a listen to the video below to hear all about the Paul Gauguin Cruise experience. If nothing else, it will take you away for a few minutes outside of your homes to the wild blue yonder of French Polynesia.

Snow in Love at New Hampshire’s Glen House

Glen House in the White MountainsIf you’re looking for a quick escape to snow country, consider a night or two at the Glen House, the 68-room resort at the base of New England’s largest peak, Mt. Washington. Drop your bags off in the room and then head next door to the Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center to go cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fat-tire biking, or snow tubing down a short hill. Across from The Glen House is the departure point for the Mt. Washington Snow Coach, which travels four and a half miles up the snow-covered Auto Road to the 6,288-foot peak. For downhill skiers, take the quick drive over to Attitash or Wildcat. Through April 17, the Glen House is offering a Snow in Love package that features standard guest room, two welcome cocktails, and dessert for two. A 3-hour drive from Boston, the property is ideally suited for a much-needed getaway. Please let ActiveTravels know your dates and we’ll check availability.

Caribbean Destinations to Visit Now

Puerto Rico beachIf you truly need to get some warmth and Florida just doesn’t float your boat, we have the intel on where to go south to get thawed out from the cold and incessant snowfall this winter. Most of you now know that all travelers, even US citizens, need to provide a negative COVID test within 72 hours prior to boarding your flight home. This new CDC requirement, which began on January 26th, can be an obstacle and a nuisance that you may not want to deal with. Please note that since this rule was announced, many of the major hotel suppliers (Marriott, Hyatt, Melia, Velas, Aman, Belmond, Nayara, Iberostar and many, many more) in the Caribbean region have stepped up to offer their guests pre-travel testing. See the list of hotels participating here. If you are curious about all the rules and requirements for the various Caribbean countries, this article offers up-to-date information and is a daily tool we use to help our members plan their travel.

One warm-weather destination we highly recommend is Puerto Rico. Since Puerto Rico is part of the US, not only don’t you need to bring your passport, but the CDC rule of testing within 72 hours of your arrival back home does not apply. This makes for one less hassle on your warm weather getaway. There’s a lot to love about Puerto Rico from the fantastic lodgings available to their glorious beaches, opportunities for relaxation, adventure and exploration in their El Yunque Rainforest and their Bioluminescent Bay. We know the best food tours, surfing locales, wellness hotels and spots for your romantic rendezvous.

Let ActiveTravels know your available dates and we’ll help you pick a great Caribbean resort.

Book Your Backroads Trip Now

Backroads Grand TetonsFor those of you who have credit or interest in booking a trip with the biking and hiking outfitter, Backroads, please note that many of their late summer and fall trips in 2021 are already selling out. This is especially true for North American destinations. We recently checked on trips to both the Grand Tetons and Newfoundland and were surprised to find that they were sold out. There is a possibility that more trips will open up due to demand, but it would be wise to book sooner rather than later. Realistically, this is how it’s going to be for many scheduled trips with outfitters in 2021, selling out early due to pent-up demand. Like most travel companies, Backroads is providing new, more flexible booking policies. Deposits are fully refundable for new reservations on 2021 trips if canceled before 4/1/21 or when final payment is due (whichever comes first).

Please let ActiveTravels know your interest and we’ll be happy to discuss our clients favorite Backroads itineraries around the globe.

Dream Day Itineraries Ideally Suited for 2021: Last Stop, Hawaii

Live Ukulele Music on a Big Island BeachThis week at ActiveTravels we’ve been discussing our favorite Dream Day Itineraries for 2021. For close to a decade, we’ve created hundreds of these detailed day-to-day itineraries that include every aspect of your vacation, from hotels to guided tours to reserved restaurants to best places to stop along your drive. As more and more clients take similar routes, we’re able to get feedback directly from you, refining these itineraries so they’re as close to perfection as can be. We’ve also aligned ourselves with the AXUS app, so all information is now within easy reach on your smart phone.

The final destination we’d like to discuss is Hawaii, where we’ve already begun designing routes for clients this coming summer and winter. We usually recommend spending at least 10 days in Hawaii, with stops at two of the islands. It’s really hard to go wrong with any of the islands. Oahu offers the honky-tonk Waikiki Beach, the history of Pearl Harbor, a wonderful Honolulu Chinatown, and the surfers at the Banzai Pipeline. Big Island has it all, from the Wyoming-like horse ranches of Waimea to the black sand beaches of Kona to the very active volcano at Volcano National Park. Maui offers the best golfing and scuba options, and who can resist waking up at sunrise to bike down Haleakala. Then there’s the serenity of Kauai and the chance to take a helicopter ride or private boat charter near the striking Na Pali cliffs. We work with wonderful scuba and deep-sea fishing charters, horseback riding and hiking guides, cooking classes, historians, even a vulcanologist on the Big Island.

Let us know which North American destination interests you in 2021 and we’ll be happy to dive in!

Dream Day Itineraries Ideally Suited for 2021: Northern California

Dream Day Itinerary to Northern CaliforniaSan Fran is the gateway to so many spectacular locales, it’s often hard to choose. Most of our clients first head to the vineyards and fine dining of Napa and Sonoma. The dilemma is what to do next because all the choices are amazing. You can head east for 5 hours and reach arguably the most scenic locale in America, Yosemite National Park. Just as remarkable is the drive down Big Sur, which starts outside of Carmel, about a 3-hour drive south of Napa. But don’t overlook the seaside village of Mendocino and then a memorable drive through the redwoods at Avenue of the Giants, about a 4-hour drive north of Napa. You can continue on to Eureka and the Lost Coast of California, where the beaches are populated with far more seals than humans. You really can’t go wrong with any choice you make! Give us a week or more and your travel interests and ActiveTravels will get to work creating a memorable Dream Day Itinerary to California.

Dream Day Itineraries Ideally Suited for 2021: Utah/Arizona National Parks

Hiking in ZionOutside of New England, this is probably our second most popular Dream Day Itinerary. Start in Las Vegas and 2 ½ hours later, you’ll be staring up in awe at the rock formations at Zion National Park. We work with fantastic guides to get you up high on the trails or inside a slot canyon on the Virgin River. Another 90-minute drive, you’ll be staring down at the hoodoos at Bryce National Park. From Bryce, you can continue east to Canyonlands and Arches National Parks and Moab, or head 2 1/2 hours south to Lake Powell on the Arizona border, a fantastic spot to rent a houseboat and relax. From Lake Powell, it’s only a 30-minute drive to the otherworldly walls of Antelope Canyon. Another 2 ½ hours south and you’ll reach the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, where we can arrange a private helicopter ride or a small group hike with a guide. Continue on to the red rocks of Sedona (we adore the Enchantment Resort) and you’ll soon be in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area for some more hiking and golfing. Please let ActiveTravels know your dates and we’ll design a fabulous itinerary, including our favorite lodging, guides, backcountry roads, and suggested restaurants.