Wild swimming has grown into a popular wellness pursuit for travelers seeking a break from urban life. Immersing yourself in lakes, bays and coastal waters reconnects you with nature, calms the mind and refreshes the body. Ireland, ringed by ocean and dotted with inland loughs and lakes, offers abundant options for open-water swimming — from … Read more

IT IS SAID SALT SEA AIR has profound curative powers, so what better place to immerse oneself in those healthful benefits than on an ocean cruise? Spas have long been standard on cruise ships, but many vessels have expanded their fitness and beauty offerings to include programs focused on wellness of mind, body and spirit. … Read more

San Francisco unsurprisingly tops the list as the most expensive U.S. city for business travelers, according to a Business Travel News report that analyzed spending in the 100 largest American cities. Business travelers in San Francisco spend an average of $547 per day, the report found. California cities generally rank high on the list: Santa … Read more

Arrival/Check-In: “Welcome to The Plaza.” That greeting never loses its charm. Pulling up to the curb of this iconic New York City hotel immediately signals an elegant, memorable stay. The $450 million renovation and restoration completed between 2005 and 2008 altered the original lobby layout, making it somewhat less dramatic than in the past, but … Read more

Dublin has nurtured generations of writers — from James Joyce and Jonathan Swift to Oscar Wilde and many more. As you wander the city’s streets, visit historic pubs and explore its museums, be sure to stop at these seven essential literary landmarks that reveal Dublin’s rich storytelling tradition. Begin a literary tour at the Dublin … Read more

FORTY-THREE YEARS represents a large portion of my life, though it is a blink compared with the age of the Pyramids of Giza. Those monuments stood above the surrounding desert for some 4,500 years before I first visited them as a boy in 1976. We traveled from Cairo by taxi, crossing fields and open desert. … Read more

The Hari Hong Kong, sister hotel to The Hari London, has launched an enticing “Live Like a Local” package that every visitor should consider. The hotel reflects the legacy of Dr. Aron Harilela, chairman and CEO of Harilela Hotels Ltd., whose family has contributed to Hong Kong hospitality for more than six decades. © The … Read more

Arrival/Check-In: We arrived at Basel Airport around 10 a.m. on the day our cruise departed. Just past baggage claim we met the Viking greeters and joined a large group that filled two buses to the ship. Although pre-trip information said staterooms would not be available until 3 p.m., we were pleasantly surprised when everyone was … Read more

Handcrafted, award-winning wines are a compelling reason to visit Clos Malverne, a family-owned wine estate in Devon Valley just outside Stellenbosch. Beyond its celebrated vintages, the estate is currently hosting a new, exclusive exhibition titled A Void in the Landscape, which presents paintings and small-scale sculptures by seven notable South African artists. Presented in collaboration … Read more

Starting next summer, passengers on Austrian Airlines will be able to choose a premium-economy option. The Vienna-based carrier is investing €15 million to install premium-economy cabins across its 12 long-haul aircraft. Once the refit is finished, the airline will offer 18 premium-economy seats on each of its six Boeing 767-300ERs and at least 24 premium-economy … Read more