UNSEEN TRAVEL AGENCY

 Let me start by saying that I love, love, love our national parks in the United States. They are breathtakingly beautiful and chock-full of opportunities to get outdoors in some of the most dramatic settings on earth. What I don’t love are the traffic jams, the crowds, and the general chaos that often goes along with a national park visit. Sure there are ways to bypass these issues, but sometimes you just have to hit up the Grand Canyon when your kids are on school vacation. I’m definitely not going to advocate for skipping a visit to these national treasures, but I do want to suggest some alternatives for those days when you just need a break from the throngs of people and cars waiting in long lines to catch a glimpse of a lonely moose meandering across a field. Please, dear reader, follow this advice if you can, and explore your national parks with every bit of your heart and soul. BUT, when the going gets rough and the crowds are just too much, here’s your ...

There’s something about warm weather getaways that beckons this time of year. As the frost begins to thaw and we see the first signs of spring, inevitably we begin to plan summer vacations. Which is why VIRTUOSO LIFE dedicated an entire issue to the subject, beginning with the cover story on New Zealand . You’ll also find warm weather inspiration in the article on 25 top beaches. The following are a few examples located in the U.S., but our complete list of 25 encompasses the world. Hawaii Hanalei Bay Beach The Vibe: Hawaii unplugged Read: Tangled Lies by Anne Stuart (set on Kauai) Eat: Teriyaki burger and banana milk shake at Bubba’s (Kuhio Highway; 808/826-7839) Stay: The new 252-room St. Regis Princeville Resort scales a jungle-covered bluff overlooking Hanalei Bay. Nestled near the eastern end of Kauai’s dramatic Na Pali Coast , this eclectic beach curls around a crescent-shaped bay of the same name. The cove attracts more locals than tourists, and the calm, ...

The summer travel season may be winding down. But the fall and early winter travel season is just gearing up. Fall is actually a great time to travel. With summer vacation travel over, fall is low season for domestic and some international air carriers. Virtuoso is in the know about the hottest destinations for those needing to fulfill their wanderlust over the next few months. Tried and true favorites are still attracting the bulk of bookings from Virtuoso’s U.S. and Canadian member travel agencies. But more unique locales are breaking out in comparisons of bookings year over year.

Riding in a ’50s automobile is one experience Cuba travelers might enjoy Since President Barack Obama loosened restrictions on Cuba travel Jan. 16, travelers have been eager to explore the island nation. “We are seeing an even bigger surge in interest,” says Lindsay White, sales manager for National Geographic Expeditions. “To meet the demand for travel to Cuba, we’ve recently added new dates, with more than 40 trips departing through June 2016.” “With the President’s announcement we are engaged with our land and hotel partners in Cuba to obtain space for additional departures through 2016 so that we can meet the high demand for the destination,” notes Terri Burke, director, national accounts for Globus. How can Americans go to Cuba legally?

The Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia triumphed for best design Each year luxury travel’s finest hotels and resorts are recognized for a variety of outstanding qualities – everything from the finest culinary experience to stunning design to an innovative children’s program. At the recent Virtuoso Travel Week conference in Las Vegas, 2014’s shining stars were honored for their excellence as the Best of the Best Virtuoso hotels. With a portfolio of more than 1,000 hotels, resorts, villas and private island retreats in more than 100 countries , it was difficult whittling the final Best of the Best Virtuoso hotels down. Editors of Virtuoso Life, the network’s flagship lifestyle magazine, researched and selected nominees in the ten categories. Then Virtuoso polled its 340 agencies and their nearly 9,000 luxury travel advisors to vote on and ultimately select the winners. The victors are also featured in the September/October 2014 issue of Virtuoso Life. The 20...

I spent my 30th birthday in the Maldives at the adults only resort, Robinson Club Maldives. I had the most incredible experience, so maybe I’m a bit biased, but I honestly think it is the best place to stay in the Maldives. A true tropical island paradise with a secluded, intimate feel and an incredible house reef. So, what did I get up to? What did I see? What are the rooms like? Is the food any good? Allow me to answer all your burning questions. Celebrating in the Maldives Getting to Robinson Club Maldives No matter where you’re coming from you’ll land in the main airport in Male, the capital of the Maldives. From there you’ll either need to take a boat, plane or seaplane to your final destination. There are over 20 atolls in the Maldives with more than 1200 islands, so not all of them will be close to Male airport. ROBINSON Club Maldives is in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll which is quite far from the main airport in Male. So for Ali (my bf) and I to get to RO...

The Paradise Coast, Florida, is located in Southwest Florida. The waters that lap at its beaches are from the Gulf of Mexico. There’s white sands, southern cooking and a whole lot to do. And that’s exactly why I was so excited to visit. Florida has this smell that I love. I know that sounds weird, but some of you will know what I’m talking about. It’s like a mix of sunscreen, Dr.Pepper, tropical plants and humidity in the air. It reminds me of Disneyworld and Chili’s restaurants. So when I stepped off the plane at Fort Myers airport I took a deep inhale and watched my childhood memories come running across the inside of my eyelids. But this time I was in Florida as an adult and it was going to be a completely different experience. Here’s what I got up to on Florida’s Paradise Coast. Exploring Florida’s Paradise Coast The City of Naples Florida A vintage car on one of the many palm tree-lined avenues in the downtown Naples. When my ...