The first five new coaches for the Caledonian Sleeper arrived in Glasgow via the Channel Tunnel in January as part of the service’s relaunch. These units are the first delivery from Spanish manufacturer CAF, which is supplying a total of 75 coaches. These modern cars will replace the current British Rail–era coaches that have been … Read more

Ports of Call: We sailed MS Antonella on a weeklong itinerary from Split, Croatia, calling at Milna, Bol, Hvar, Korčula, Mljet, the Pelješac Peninsula and Makarska before returning to Split. Embarkation/Disembarkation: This was a round-trip Croatian cycling cruise that departed and returned to Split. A mountain bike was provided for each guest and an e-bike … Read more

If you prefer watching whales glide through warm seas to seeing geese endure snowy lawns, consider these four excellent winter whale-watching destinations: At Surf & Sand Resort in Laguna Beach, California, the Pacific stretches right beyond your doorstep. This charming Southern California beach town is appealing year-round, but its winter highlight is the migration of … Read more

Chef Rudi Scholdis has worked alongside some of the most respected names in the culinary world — including Alain Ducasse and Charlie Trotter — and has prepared meals for dignitaries and celebrities such as Queen Elizabeth, Bill Clinton and Benjamin Netanyahu. Today, as Culinary Director for Silversea Cruises, he oversees a refined dining program designed … Read more

Arrival/Check-in: Hotel Sorella is a brand-new property — so new that some exterior signage was not yet in place, which made the hotel hard to find. Our GPS did not recognize the address, and we drove past the entrance a few times. Once we arrived, staff quickly took our luggage and escorted us to the … Read more

Housed in a restored 13th-century monastery, Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp is a landmark hotel in Antwerp, Belgium, and the city’s first member of The Leading Hotels of the World. Set within the peaceful Botanic Gardens, the hotel occupies five historic buildings and offers 108 guestrooms and suites after an extensive eight-year restoration. Among the accommodations is … Read more

Where better to shake off winter than on a sun‑washed island beach? Renowned for outstanding diving and snorkeling, family-friendly Harbour Village Beach Club on Bonaire in the Dutch Antilles offers private luxury villas, white sand shorelines and an onsite PADI 5 Star Dive Center. The island’s marine environment supports an exceptionally diverse coral reef system, … Read more

In the late 1800s, eyeglass maker George Washington Wells consolidated several small lens manufacturers in Southbridge, Massachusetts, creating what would become the town’s largest optical company. By the early 1900s, Wells led the American Optical Company—known locally as “AO”—which grew into one of the world’s largest eyeglass manufacturers. AO eventually operated multiple factories in Southbridge … Read more

At a time when many airlines are adding fees rather than eliminating them, United Airlines quietly made a customer-friendly change last month: it removed its rebooking fee for certain situations. Previously, travelers who needed to change a flight because of an unexpected event faced a $50 surcharge; as of Nov. 2, 2015, United is no … Read more

Arrival/Check-In: Los Angeles was the final stop on a week-long business trip that included meetings in Miami and Dallas. I arrived at Los Angeles International Airport late at night and, after an easy cab ride, was relieved to reach The London West Hollywood. Tucked into the busy West Hollywood neighborhood, pulling up to this five-star … Read more