Poseidon Expeditions announced that it is suspending cruise operations aboard its 114-passenger expedition vessel Sea Spirit for the balance of March and April 2020. The expeditionary cruise company is rebooking Arctic cruises for 2021.
PROVIDENCE, RI — Poseidon Expeditions announced that it is suspending cruise operations aboard its 114-passenger expedition vessel Sea Spirit for the balance of March and April 2020.
Postponed until 2021 are a sub-charter in the mid-Atlantic and a cruise along the coastline of Portugal, Spain and France. All sales and reservation offices are available to provide assistance to booked and prospective passengers and to answer questions about upcoming Spring and Summer 2020 cruises and future cruises.
“We certainly understand the COVID-19 related concerns and questions from our travel partners and the travelers booked on our upcoming cruises. There’s no question about it: things are changing daily. We are looking at each cruise on the calendar’s horizon, and will factor into our decision-making all issues pertaining to Coronavirus-related bans, travel advisories, flight availability and any other matters that potentially might affect the health and safety of our guests, staff and crew,” said Steve Wellmeier, managing director of the company’s US office.
Following the successful completion of the company’s 2019-20 Antarctic season this past week, the Sea Spirit is currently heading north from Montevideo, Uruguay, where it disembarked passengers March 19.
“At the present time, Poseidon remains committed to its schedule of cruises in the Arctic this season. But we are giving our booked passengers and travel partners the benefit of the doubt in rescheduling their summer cruises. Those passengers with existing reservations for the upcoming season may re-book or transfer their booking to a 2021 Arctic departure, beginning from 60 days and up to seven days prior to the 2020 scheduled departure date. Final payment for 2020 Arctic voyages is pushed back from 90 days to 60 days prior to departure, and deposits on new bookings for 2020 Arctic programs are reduced from 20% to 10% of the cruise fare,” said Wellmeier.
For the next 2020-21 Antarctic season, final payment is due 60 days prior to departure rather than the customary 90 days, and deposits on new Antarctica business are also reduced from 20% to 10% of the cruise fare.
While the Russian Federation recently announced that its borders are closed to all foreign travelers until May 1, the company’s three voyages to the North Pole aboard the nuclear-powered icebreaker 50 Years of Victory remain scheduled for operation, beginning with the July 12-24, program from Murmansk, Russia. Final payment conditions are changed from 90 days to 60 days prior to the departure date.
The company recently updated its Coronavirus Travel Policy, and will continue to do so as the situation warrants.
For inquires and questions, travelers and their agents can contact the company’s North American sales and reservation office at SalesUSA@poseidonexpeditions.com or by telephone at 347-801-2610.
With offices in the US, UK, Germany, Russia, Cyprus and China, Poseidon Expeditions is a leading provider of polar expeditions in the cruise industry. The company is committed to safe and environmentally responsible polar travel. It is a member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) and the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO).
Many travel suppliers – from tour companies to airlines to hotel companies and travel agents – are responding to the coronavirus to best assist travelers. Many tour companies for example, are waiving cancellation fees or allowing rebooking to a different destination or a future departure; many airlines are waiving cancellation and change fees. Among the different strategies to continue to travel are to look to outdoors adventures – national and state parks, dude ranches, cottages on the beach, bike tours, camping (koa.com)/glamping (glampinghub.com), hiking, rafting.Travel counselors can help you choose destinations, styles of travel and organize the logistics.
NEW YORK(March 6, 2020) Leading luxury and experiential travel network Virtuoso® has been closely monitoring the impact of coronavirus, collaborating and consulting with its travel agency members across the world as well as its preferred partners. Since COVID-19 first surfaced late last year in Wuhan, China, the virus has become a global epidemic and a disruption to the travel industry as well as the global economy. To date, people have tested positive for the virus in 73 countries, including the United States; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued new Travel Health Notices to China, Italy, Iran and South Korea; and travel plans for many are in disarray.
For those who have a vacation
booked in the coming days, weeks or months, it’s valid to feel some
trepidation. Fears of contracting the virus, or even being quarantined, are
valid. Virtuoso agency owner Josh Bush agrees and says the biggest concern his
clients express is not getting sick, it’s getting stuck.
Ultimately, choosing to go forward with your travel plans is a personal call. But how do you sort through the information to make the right decision? These really are the moments when having a travel advisor is key. Seamless trip planning and travel perks aside, an advisor is a traveler’s number-one advocate. Through years, if not decades, of personal relationships, advisors have access to real-time information and can arm their clients with the facts needed to make confident decisions, provide informed answers to any “What would you do?” concerns, and handle the logistics that sometimes can’t be avoided, from last-minute flight changes to spring break contingency plans.
Virtuoso took the opportunity to
consult with some of its 22,000 affiliated travel advisors worldwide to get
their insights into what travelers should know as they assess their options.
“Right now, we’re letting
travelers know we’re here to support them in making the best decision for their
family and giving them the facts to help make that decision,” says Virtuoso
agency owner Cristina Buaas.
Here’s what Virtuoso advisors are
doing: They are not panicking. They’re staying positive, because
this too shall pass. They’re carrying on with their own travel plans –
responsibly, of course, by heeding CDC warnings and being extra diligent about
hygiene (wash those hands!). Most importantly, they are dealing with the
COVID-19 outbreak by taking care of their clients. Here is what they want you
to know:
Protect your travel
investment as you would any other – by seeking professional advice.
“It’s important to give my clients all of the facts about
their trip, their destination, and the policies of their travel supplier,” says
Virtuoso agency executive Amanda Klimak. “I then help them make a decision
about travel based on the facts. I also recommend they speak to their personal
physician to discuss the risks based on their medical history. Then I let them
know I’m here to help, no matter what they decide.”
A travel advisor knows if or when airlines, hotels, cruise lines and tour operators have waived change and cancellation fees (many have): “The entire travel industry is in uncharted territory now due to coronavirus,” says Virtuoso agency executive Mary Kleen. “As travel advisors, our current role is to listen to travelers’ concerns and provide the most up-to-date options so they can make informed decisions at a minimal cost.”
It’s still OK to travel.
While advisors have seen an
increase in postponed or cancelled trips to Italy and Asia, travel has not come
to a screeching halt. Travelers are choosing closer-to-home locations,
including the
Caribbean, Costa Rica, and Mexico. “I do have some clients switching from Northern Italy
to Spain, but other than that, if it’s not on the Department of State list,
they’re going,” says Virtuoso agency executive Tania Swasbrook.
“One couple exchanged a tour to
Italy for a great one in New Orleans,” Virtuoso agency executive Ange Wallace says. “My
recommendations include a Natural Habitat Adventures polar-bear
expedition in Churchill,
Canada, this fall; the national parks; a healthy stay at Canyon Ranch, Miraval, or another wellness resort; a Blackberry
Farm and Blackberry
Mountain combo trip; or
somewhere in South America – the Galápagos
Islands, Colombia and Peru are all fun places to explore with lots of outside
time and low crowds.”
Base decisions on
timelines, not headlines.
Buaas recently suggested the
wait-and-see approach for a traveler planning to take her children to Greece this summer. The situation is evolving rapidly – if
you’re traveling to Europe in June and your tour, cruise, or hotel has a 30-day
cancellation policy, for example, you don’t have to make a decision until May.
“Our advisors have spent 60
percent of their time in the past week fielding questions about COVID-19,” says
Bush. “Very few of those conversations result in cancellations, and that’s
because the situation is so fluid and not definite. We are advising travelers
to wait and see, especially if there is little or no financial risk to do so.”
Plan now, travel later.
“Traveling is meant to be fun and educational,” says
Wallace. “If you’re going to be worried and anxious about your trip, find
something that you’ll be comfortable with and enjoy. If that means you sit out
travel in the short term, that’s fine. But while you’re waiting, look forward
to the recovery, because it will come, and you’ll need to be ready to jump on
that trip you’ve been drooling over.”
To avoid losing out on future travel opportunities, Wallace
reminds her clients to start planning now. “Book 2021-2022 trips now, because
everyone else is and you will have trouble finding space. Many travel companies
have relaxed deposits, cancellation penalties and cancel for any reason waivers
to encourage those willing to start thinking about the next window of
opportunity.”
Travel insurance is always
a good idea.
While “cancel for any reason”
(CFAR) travel insurance policies may partially cover trip cancellations and
adjustments related to the coronavirus outbreak, there are some restrictions,
and the policy has to be purchased within 21 days of making an initial trip
deposit. (Ask your travel advisor to check with your travel insurance provider
to confirm.) If you want to book a trip for later this summer, advisors
recommend that CFAR policy. But for those who already have the trip on the
books and are outside of the policy’s 21-day window, it’s not too late to at
least add some travel insurance: “For those who are still planning on
traveling, make sure you have travel insurance that will cover medical expenses
should you become ill while traveling,” Klimak advises.
Practice good travel
hygiene.
Wash your hands! As soon as you get through security at
the airport, make a beeline to the restroom to scrub, Swasbrook advises. Cash
frequently changes hands, so she also recommends using credit cards that you
can wipe down with a sanitizing cloth. While at it, wipe down airplane surfaces
and wash your hands before and after using the restroom on the
plane.
As a rule, Wallace recommends taking veranda accommodations
on any cruise and requesting hotel rooms with a balcony or outside terrace so
that you have access to fresh air.
Be prepared.
Buaas refers travelers to the CDC and U.S. Department of State websites for the latest information, and Klimak
tells her travelers to sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which shares your contact information with the nearest
U.S. embassy and sends travel alert notifications. The STEP app is worth
downloading prior to traveling – and while you’re at it, you can swipe that
phone with an antibacterial wipe.
Virtuoso® is a leading international travel agency network specializing in luxury and experiential travel. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 1,100 travel agency locations with more than 22,000 elite travel advisors in over 50 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Drawing upon preferred relationships with more than 2,000 of the world’s best hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, tour companies and premier destinations, the network provides its upscale clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. $30 billion in annual travel sales make Virtuoso a powerhouse in the luxury travel industry. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com.
NEW YORK –In celebration of International Women’s Day on
March 8, the United States Tour
Operators Association (USTOA) is
highlighting women-focused itineraries offered by its tour operator members.
Spanning the globe from Iceland to Ireland, Japan to Chile, each program offers
small group, immersive experiences that allow guests to pursue a passion or
check a box on their bucket list.
“USTOA tour operators
have a collection of itineraries created by women, for women, that are packed
with hands-on adventures and singular experiences. Each vacation provides much
more than a traditional getaway, with opportunities to explore a new
destination with like-minded travelers,” said Terry Dale, president and CEO of
USTOA.
The collection of small group, women-only trips in 2020 include:
Incredible Iceland with Northern Lights – smarTours’ seven-day,
women-only tour through Iceland takes travelers through Reykjavik and Vik, with
opportunities to see the Northern Lights, Seljalandsfoss & Skogafoss
Waterfalls, and more. Departure is available on October 29 starting at $2,399
per person.
Authentic Ladies Tee Time – Authentic Vacations offers a nine-day tour
of Ireland’s five-star golf courses, designed for a private group of women who
are interested in golfing the Emerald Isle’s lush landscape, experiencing fine
dining, and relaxing at spas. Private group tours are available starting at
$3,248 per person.
Japan Zen – The Art of Simple Living – Perillo’s Learning Journeys’
11-day women’s journey explores Japanese culture in Tokyo and Kyoto,
where guests will attend meditation sessions, stay in a traditional ryokan inn,
and participate in sake tastings and cooking classes.Departure is available on
May 31 starting at $5,475 per person.
Chile with Patagonia – SITA World Tours’ six-day,
women-only adventure through Chile and Patagonia takes guests to Chile’s wine
country in Casablanca and Curacavi and a day in Torres del Paine National
Park, with trip extensions available to Easter Island and Buenos Aires. Departure
is available on November 12 starting at 3,810 per person.
In addition to better access to attractions, activities and lodgings, a benefit of traveling with a well-established tour operator is the additional layer of safety and security and ability to respond to changing situations at the destination.
Representing nearly $19
billion in revenue, the member companies of U.S. Tour Operators Association
provide tours, packages and custom arrangements that allow 9.8 million
travelers annually unparalleled access, insider knowledge, peace-of-mind, value
and freedom to enjoy destinations and experiences across the entire globe. Each
member company has met the travel industry’s highest standards, including
participation in the USTOA’s Travelers Assistance Program, which protects
consumer payments up to $1 million if the company goes out of business.
As a voice for the tour operator industry for more than 40 years, USTOA also
provides education and assistance for consumers and travel agents.
This is huge for New York State’s tourism and recreational
opportunities: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s is proposing a $300 million plan
to reimagine the Erie Canal by creating recreational activities on the Canal to
boost tourism and recreational
fishing, mitigate flooding, enhance irrigation and restore wetlands.
“When the Erie Canal was created in the
19th century it set the state and the nation on a path to
prosperity, and this year we will repurpose the canal to fit our state’s
21st century needs,” Governor
Cuomo said. “This bold and visionary plan to transform
this historic waterway will build on the success of the Empire State Trail (750
miles of connected bikeways), grow tourism across Upstate New York,
improve resilience of today’s Canal communities and ensure the
economic sustainability of the waterway into the future.”
“The canals have played a crucial role in New York’s history and
growth, and with the implementation of these new exciting projects, the canals
will remain a vital force and make a positive contribution to the economic
well-being and quality of life in the 225 communities they travel through,”
said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul.
A first phase of funding starting this year – through the New
York Power Authority Board which oversees the Canal Corporation as a subsidiary
– includes a $100 million economic development fund to invest
in communities along the Canal and a separate $65 million investment
in solutions that will help prevent ice jams and related flooding in the
Schenectady area.
The remaining $135 million of the plan’s funding will subsequently be allocated
to research recommended by the Reimagine Task Force, as well
as to solutionsrelated to flood mitigation,
invasive species prevention and ecosystem restoration.
New Economic Development Fund for Canal Communities
In the first phase of the program, a $100 million economic
development fund will support projects that adaptively reuse canal
infrastructure to enhance water recreation, tie the Canal’s new
recreational improvements to the Governor’s Empire State Trail,
celebrate historic canal structures, and develop unique canalside
attractions and activities. Roughly $25 million of that will be allocated
immediately to a set of initial projects:
Connecting Communities: The “Brockport Loop” project in Monroe County will
connect SUNY College at Brockport to the Empire State
Trailand the village of Brockport through
the transformation of a canal guard-gate into a
pedestrian bridge and overlook, with a supporting grant of $2 million
from the Ralph Wilson Foundation.
Celebrating “Iconic Infrastructure”:Interactive, hydro-powered illumination of Canal “movable
dams” – initially in
Amsterdam and Canajoharie in the
Mohawk River valley – will celebrate the Canal’s
heritage and its history as an engineering marvel.
Expanding Water Recreation: A new whitewater destination, at the north end of Cayuga Lake near Seneca
Falls, will rely on existing water control infrastructure to construct an
active water sports course adjacent to the Montezuma National
Wildlife Refuge, to increase eco-tourism and sport visitors to the region.
Adapting Industrial Property for New
Uses: Winner of the Reimagine the Canals competition,
a canalside pocket neighborhood, will be developed by Madison
County in Central New York at a former industrial
property in Canastota along the Old Erie Canal –
demonstrating a new model for 21st century canalside living.
Developing Destination Accommodations: The
historic Guy Park Manor, on the Mohawk River in
Amsterdam, will be reborn as a hospitality destination and a
pedestrian bridge constructed
across the already-existing Canal lock will provide
access to additional overnight accommodation along the Empire
State Trail on the opposite side of the river.
World-Class Fishing and Restored Wetlands
To create world-class fishing in Western New York, the new
plan recommends managing water releases from the Canal to enhance fish
habitat, improve angling opportunities, and extend the fall fishing season in
Lake Ontario tributaries. It also includes funding to expand public
fishing access along key streams in Orleans, Monroe and Niagara
Counties. In addition, it identifies a program to divert Canal water to restore and
re-nourish wetlands in Central New York that were compromised a
century ago by the Canal’s construction. This will allow areas in
close proximity to the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, a migratory
stopover for more than 1 million birds each
year, to be significantly enhanced to further
attract naturalists, locals, and visitors from throughout the region and
beyond.
Ideas in this plan originated from the Reimagine the
Canals Task Force recommendations, launched by
Governor Cuomo in May of 2019 to pursue a
comprehensive investigation of how the 195-year-old Erie Canal
could be reimagined for the 21st century. The Reimagine
the Canals Task Force Report was just released.
The Task Force engaged with municipal leaders, stakeholders, local
business owners, scientists and other experts, along with community
members, to identify opportunities and solutions that support a
new vision for future investments in the waterway. Many of the ideas that the
Task Force explored came from the completed Reimagine the Canals competition, held
last year by the New York Power Authority and New York State Canal
Corporation. SUNY’s Rockefeller Institute of Government, on behalf of
the Task Force, conducted a series of outreach sessions during the summer
in five canal communities – Lockport, Brockport, Schenectady, Utica and
Syracuse – to solicit new ideas from the public at large. Ideas were also
solicited on a Reimagine the Canals website, offering more
distant canal users an opportunity to provide their views to the Task Force.
The “Reimagine” initiative builds on successful
efforts by Governor Cuomo to invest in the canal corridor, including
the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative and successful Taste NY program, which have stoked new industries,
businesses and housing in canal communities. Harnessing the Canal’s full
potential to attract more tourism and recreation is a key focus of the
Initiative. Governor Cuomo and state agency and authority staff
will collaborate with Empire Line communities and continue to consult with
Task Force members and other stakeholders to ensure the success
of projects as they move forward.
There are 1.6 million trips taken annually on the Erie Canal Trailway,
the former towpath used by mules and horses to pull barges in the canals’ early
days. The Trailway is part of Governor Cuomo’s Empire State Trail,
which at 750 miles will be the largest state multi-use trail network when
completed in late 2020. Governor DeWitt Clinton began work on the original
Erie Canal on July 4, 1817.
In addition to investing $300 million in the Canal System, there are
also plans to create two new state parks in the
Hudson Valley, add 4,000 acres of land to parks and introduce a $3 billion
“Restore Mother Nature” bond act.
Meanwhile, registration has opened for the
22nd Annual Cycle the Erie, eight-day 400-mile, fully supported biking/camping
trip, from Buffalo to Albany, operated by Parks & Trails NY, taking place
July 12-19, 2020. For information on
Cycle the Erie Canal, call Parks & Trails New York, 518-434-1583, email eriecanaltour@ptny.org or visit www.ptny.org/cycle-the-erie-canal.
A new bill in Congress will, if passed, enable communities
across America to connect their trails, sidewalks and bikeways to the places
that people want to go – by bike or walking – within and between communities.
But our U.S. Representatives need to hear from us to make it happen.
The Connecting America’s Active Transportation System Act,
co-sponsored by Reps. Jared Huffman (Calif.-2), Daniel Lipinski (Ill.-3) and
Chris Pappas (N.H.-1), will provide $500 million in direct funding annually to
help communities and regions across the country build connected
active-transportation systems to ensure people can get where they want to go
safely by foot, bike or wheelchair.
This proposal, coupled with increases in funding for
Transportation Alternatives and the Recreational Trails Program, would
provide critical resources for communities to build safe, convenient and
accessible places for people to walk, bike and roll.
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s top policy priority is to
create this game-changing opportunity to build a trail and active
transportation system to serve the nation.
“Our research has found that wise investments in connecting
trails, sidewalks, bikeways and other active transportation systems are
creating returns of more than $34 billion in health,
environmental and economic benefits around the country,” said Kevin Mills,
Rails-to-Trails Vice President of Policy. “And that return could even be quadrupled as
more communities have the opportunity to connect their active transportation
systems.
“People across the country want to be able to safely walk
and bike where they need to go. The Connecting America’s Active Transportation
System Act is a major leap forward because it would reshape federal
transportation law to recognize that communities nationwide need safe,
connected trail and active-transportation networks.
“Urge your representative to sign on to the Connecting
America’s Active Transportation System Act.”
By Bill Chalmers & Pamela L. Chalmers, GreatEscape Adventures
Los Angeles, USA – Getting a kick taking an adventure used to be easy: visit South Atlantic’s remote St Helena, scuba dive Mexico’s underground river Cenote, hike up Mount Etna. Been there.
Nowadays, travelers looking for the next great adventure rush must: traverse Karakorum Highway, spend a night at Everest Base Camp, or swim with jellyfish in Palau. Done that.
But for those of us that: have zip-lined across the Grand Canyon, hiked Tasmania’s Overland Track, and are frankly sick of sand in every orifice after Burning Man. What’s next?
You may be among the World’s Most Interesting People, but for jaded travelers who have supposedly done everything and have nothing left on their Bucket Lists, here’s your what’s next eight over-the-top adventures from The World’s Greatest Travelers.
1. A long way to go to maybe be eaten alive! But, head to Cape Town, South Africa and go cage diving with Great White sharks. Come face-to-face with the world’s meanest badest coldest predator along the shark-abundant shores of South Africa. You will be sunk in a cage and given a poker stick for protection. Chances are, you’ll be okay. You’ll probably even see whales and dolphins too—being the smart mammals, they are always interested in watching stupid human tricks.
2. Take A Blind Date with the World – really! – by joining the 2020 edition of The Global Scavenger Hunt. This real-life Amazing Race-like event is for savvy globetrotters who want to test their travel IQ in a competitive setting where they will circumnavigate the globe in 23-days visiting ten countries as a participant in the annual travel adventure competition that crowns The World’s Greatest Travelers. Not for anal Type-A planners though, because you won’t know which country you are going to until you actually get to the airport! It’s the ultimate magical mystery tour. Their 2020 event takes place between April 17 and May 9, 2020. Applications now being accepted. I dare you…
3. Bike from sea-to-sea across a country. No, not across Canada (9,525+ km), but the more manageable country of Nicaragua that is only 568 km (352 miles) from the Pacific Ocean’s San Juan del Sur to Pearl Lagoon on the Atlantic Ocean side. The amazing 13-day mountain bike expedition will take you to volcanos, colonial towns, national parks, rainforests and lakes, as you share the road with trucks, cows, horses, pigs, and chickens. Do it now before the Chinese slice the nation in two ala Panama!
4. For the culinary daredevil in you, while you are in the geographic neighborhood, take in the wild-west of food: a pop-up jungle-to-table extravaganza in the Bolivian Amazon basin along the Beni River. Once every few years, local “back to nature” chefs converge to prepare exotic semi-illegal outside the villages dishes like: crocodile fillets in a coca leaf broth, grilled giant tapir meat served with a cocktail of fermented kecho fruit and cacao beans with a spicy chili pepper twist, paiche (a really big fish—a carp really) served with figs and spicy-sweet beetle larvae. They might also conjure up a purplish fungue—that may or may not have hallucinogenic effects, along with steamed giant river turtles. Caiman sushi anyone?
5. I took this serendipity challenge last year and ended up in Madagascar—pre-plague outbreak. Take the 24-Hours to Anywhere Challenge: It is our belief that with today’s growth of regional air carriers that you can be anywhere in the world in 24-hours. So, pick a destination furthest away geographically from you and attempt to get there in 24-hours. On a bet, I recently went from the San Francisco Bay Area to Antananarivo, Madagascar—17,599 kilometers away! SFO to IST (12:55 hours), then IST-ADD (5:30 hours), followed by a flight between Ethiopia (ADD) and Madagascar (TNR) (4:50 hours). I got to Madagascar in 23 hours and 41 minutes—but I did do it on the night we changed clocks! Tip: Bring a really good multi-media playlist.
6. We humans have gazed in wonder at the night skies before words hit paper; and you don’t have to be an astrophysicist to wonder what’s up. Nigh-sky travel (aka astrotourism) are great adventures to take. We suggest two spellbinding panoramas to be found: 1) Head to the Canary Islands international observatory at Roque de los Muchachos on La Palma for some sensational light pollution-free heavenly viewing. Or 2) for some really deep dark-sky space stargazing at a gold-certified Dark Sky Reserve, head to NamibRand Nature Reserve in Namibia where you can sleep out under the cloudless skies of Africa for a look at infinity…or at least some amazing celestial sights.
7. With age comes experience, and over the years we have suggested how to get higher highs: a lost weekend at an infamous Vegas dive bar, visiting a Bolivian pop-up cocaine bar, a Laotian opium den and how best to enjoy Peruvian ayahuasca. For this year’s vibe adventure, forget BC Bud, Emerald Triangle Kush and Colorado Wedding Cake, take a Jamaican Ganja tour. Turned up bright, the tour will take you and other like-minded and bud-tended friends to Rastafariland, with highlights including: Nine Mile, the boyhood home and final resting place of reggae superstar Bob Marley; Ocho Rios to relax and hike in nature; along with several plantations…aka ganja farms. Pick up is around noon, munchies and rum included, but hotel drop off time is vague.
8. Give peace a chance: start travel podcasting and make some faux press credentials, then head to Damascus and interview the loneliest man in the world: Syria’s Minister of Tourism. From 8 million tourists and 40% growth in 2011, to the nasty civil and chemical war, mostly, behind us, Syria is open for business again. You can visit one or two restaurants still open and err, ruins. Their catch phrase: “Syria … come see for yourself“. We know the UN Weapons Inspectors did. A few travel-related glitches though: all legal border crossings are closed, no FAA-approved commercial flights into or out of Damascus, those beach-side cabanas along the Mediterranean beaches are now refugee tents, and crime might be down, but war crimes are up. Sure, it is dark tourism at its finest, but so too is visiting Venice and Barcelona these days. We double-dare you!
As for us, we’ll be going on the around-the-world event, The Global Scavenger Hunt…better destinations, better experiences and better food. Got any novel adventures to share?
The title of The World’s Greatest Travelers and free trip around the world to defend their titles in the 2021 event await the travelers worthy enough to win the 16th edition of the world travel championship. The date for the 23-day 2020 Global Scavenger Hunt is April 17-May 9, 2020. Event participation is open but limited; the $25,000 per team entry fee includes all international airfare, First Class hotels, 40% of meals, and special event travel gear. All travelers are interviewed for suitability and single travelers are welcome to apply. For additional information visit GlobalScavengerHunt.com, or contact GreatEscape Adventures Inc. at 310-281-7809.
In the heart of the Costa Rica jungle sits the Pacuare Lodge, a remote rainforest paradise. Western River Expeditions guests raft in with a small group and, once at the lodge, find themselves surrounded mostly by dense jungle and the sounds of the nearby river.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – When it comes to a vacation
in Costa Rica, the experts advise that “you gotta know the territory.” But how
can you if you’ve never been there?
Follow the tips of Western River Expeditions, soon to enter its 59th season of
award-winning adventure travel. Here are a few of many questions this company
suggests you ponder before booking a Western River Expeditions’ 9-Day Costa Rica Vacation Package.
When is the best time to visit Costa
Rica? This is the question that everyone asks and the
answer is, “It depends!” Mid-December to April can often be drier, but due to
this, and the fact that it’s a popular time to get away to warm destinations,
the crowds can be greater. During May through the first half of December, daily
rainfall is more common. It’s a period the locals refer to as “the green
season.” During this period, you might experience different wildlife and fewer
crowds. Generally, the rain doesn’t last all day and guests find periods of
lovely sunshine each day as well.
But here’s a little secret! In some years, visitors reap the rewards of Costa
Rica’s “Little Summer” (Veranillo de San Juan or Little Summer of Saint John)
in July. Because of a little-known weather phenomenon that in-the-know wildlife
lovers are keen to, July is one of the best times to visit Costa Rica. The
secret is a drier break after the rains of May and June that yield flowering
trees and fruits, which attract a lot of wildlife.
Do you appreciate crowds or are you looking for
something more secluded? The time of travel will affect
the crowd levels in popular destinations such as Arenal and Manuel Antonio, but
Western River Expeditions has built in to its Costa Rica itinerary a few days
of blissful seclusion. In the heart of the jungle sits the Pacuare Lodge, a
remote rainforest paradise. Guests raft in with a small group and, once at the
lodge, participants find themselves surrounded mostly by dense jungle and the
sounds of the nearby river. A hike along centuries-old trails to the top of the
Talamanca Mountains brings a visit with the Cabécar Indians, the largest
indigenous group in Costa Rica. This is only one of the eight lodge-based
activities to choose from. Extending a stay at the lodge (optional) gives
visitors even more time to participate in the various experiences offered.
When is the best time to go rafting in Costa
Rica? The Pacuare River (rated among the top 10
rivers in the world by National Geographic) offers 38 Class II-IV
rapids over 16 river miles with the caveat that the excitement varies by how
high and fast the river is flowing. During the dry season of January to
April whitewater rafting in Costa Rica is
more sanguine than during the misting and green months of May through December.
That said, there can always be unpredictable rainfall any time of year that
raises the water levels – and the excitement levels.
Is birding a passion? From a
bird watching tour at the Pacaure Lodge, to the Mistico Hanging Bridges tour
which boasts over 200 species of birds, to the Manuel Antonio National Park
which is home to more than 180 different species visitors will find plenty of
rare picture taking opportunities.
Interested in surfing? Experienced
surfers appreciate the bigger waves of September and October on the Pacific
Coast. Adrenaline-seeking travelers wanting to take optional surfing lessons
while in Manuel Antonio (highly recommended), might appreciate the somewhat
tamer surf during the remainder of the year.
Do you love authentic wildlife viewing? You’ll
likely find wildlife in Costa Rica no matter when you choose to visit. One of
the top destinations on the Western River 9-Day Costa Rica itinerary is the
Manuel Antonio National Park. Home to a variety of mammal species, it is a
thrill to be personally greeted by multiple curious Mono Titi monkeys on a day
tour.
“Our guests experience Costa Rica by the activities they choose, such as river
rafting, zip lining over the rainforest canopy and a 3km walk over 15 bridges
suspended from the ground to the treetops. But guests are also taken to the
base of the Arenal Volcano where they can soak in therapeutic cascading hot
springs, through the sights and sounds of primitive rainforests and jungles as
well as to Manuel Antonio National Park (named one of the world’s 12 most
beautiful national parks by Forbes). This park is home to 109
species of mammals and 184 species of birds. Here on the Pacific Ocean are the
sandy beaches and gentle surf that fulfill the requirements of a great
vacation,” said company CMO Brandon Lake.
The basic rate is from $3,705 per person, double inclusive of transfers,
hotels, activities, 11 meals and most activities. Western River Expeditions’
core Costa Rica program can be arranged for just two people or for up to 25 and
can be customized by lengthening or shortening the trip and by adding or
deleting activities. Year-round departures on a space-available basis can be
tailored to travelers’ schedules.
The tour utilizes four distinguished properties selected
for panache, location and comfort. In the gateway city of San Jose is Hotel
Grano de Oro. At Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal Resort guests enjoy a swim-up bar,
local and international gourmet cuisine and they are positioned to explore the
geology of Arenal Volcano and nearby hot springs. While on the Pacuare River
guests enjoy Pacuare Lodge (National Geographic Traveler World’s
Best Ecolodge). Tulemar Bungalows (a Travel + Leisure World’s
Best award winner) in Manuel Antonio National Park offers and ocean and
beaches.
To request a copy of Western River Expeditions’ 2020 catalog and for questions,
availability and reservations, call toll-free: 866.904.1160 (Local:
801.942.6669), or visit the award-winning website at: http://www.westernriver.com/.
Western River Expeditions is an adventure travel company headquartered
in Salt Lake City, with operations and offices in Moab, Utah and Fredonia,
Arizona. Annually from March through October it escorts more people down rivers
on professionally guided rafting trips in Utah, Idaho and Arizona than any
other company. It is the largest licensed outfitter in the Grand Canyon and the
largest single tour provider in Moab, UT, through its division Moab Adventure
Center (http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/).
Western River Expeditions, providing Grand Canyon rafting, Utah and Idaho
rafting, and international multi-sport trips, was founded in 1961 by Colorado
River rafting pioneer Jack Currey. It has been named one of the “Best Adventure
Travel Companies on Earth” by the editors of National Geographic
Adventure magazine. The company is the proud recipient of the
“Best of State” award through Utah’s Premier Recognition and Awards
Program for sixteen consecutive years.
Moab Adventure Center, a major tour company, addresses the ying and the yang of the popularity of Moab, Utah for travelers.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT– Taking ownership – and
responsibility – for a pet, a cause or even a place comes after people feel
vested in the pet, cause or place. Take a place called Moab, Utah, for example.
Every year this region known as the red rock playground is a joyful discovery
for thousands of first-time visitors. But as the word continues to spread about
this breathtaking destination, a new set of challenges arises.
On one hand, it’s a blessing to local businesses and economy that this remote
region of Utah along the Colorado River is so popular. On the other hand, with
every sound of an ATV and even with the quieter pace of a mountain bike or step
of a hiking boot comes the potential to erode the playground’s fragile
infrastructure.
“When our guests depart the river after a rafting adventure, or hike out of a canyon
after canyoneering or
step off a horse after horseback riding, or float over all of this
beauty in a hot air balloon, they’re
forever changed. And they ‘get’ why we ask them to become stewards of this landscape,”
says Brian Merrill, CEO of Western River Expeditions that
guides guests through the rapids of the Colorado River. A sister company, Moab Adventure Center, arranges activities for
people staying for a day or a week in or around Moab.
“I don’t think we have a problem of too many people, but we do have challenges
on how to disperse them at certain times of day and in busy months,” says
Merrill. “Our challenge is to showcase the region in the spring, fall and
winter. The beauty doesn’t go away – but the crowds do.”
The region is expanding infrastructure to keep up with visitor demand. In 2020
an additional 500 lodging rooms are scheduled to come on line. However, since
this infrastructure was approved, both city and county have created moratoriums
on new nightly rentals, including turning a spare bedroom into an Airbnb. To
help disperse visitors, regional and state marketing efforts are trying to
divert people to a myriad of iconic sites beyond the bucket list Arches
National Park and Canyonlands National Park.
“Some long-time locals want the town to go to sleep again. Others value the
fact that things are going well here. Fairly recent transplants bring along a
not-in-my-backyard attitude and want to shut the door behind them. I understand
all these sentiments,” Merrill says. He notes that Western River Expeditions
does have approval for occupancy in a building that will house up to 64
employees, helping the company retain valuable seasonal employees and reducing
the demand on local housing.
Jason Taylor is operations manager for the company’s Utah and Moab-specific
programs. His messaging to Western River Expeditions and Moab Adventure Center
guests echoes that of the Moab Area Travel Council. Additional sustainable
practices include giving guests who are on multi-day outings steel vacuum water
bottles they can take home with them, thus eliminating plastic. Recycling and
using energy-efficient tools are imbedded into the protocol, as is the
importance of hiring locally.
In addition, a major part of what Western River Expeditions and Moab Adventure
Center are doing, according to Brandon Lake, VP and Co-Founder of Moab
Adventure Center, is to help guests understand how to create a low impact
during their guided exploration of the area. “Guides who can teach guests how
and where to hike, ride and drive in our fragile landscapes can make a major
difference in reducing impact over those who explore these same areas on their
own without understanding the damage they may be doing.” This is one of the
many benefits to choosing a local tour company to help you experience Moab.
For a copy of Western River Expeditions’ 2020 catalog, questions, availability
and reservations call toll-free: 866.904.1160 (Local: 801.942.6669) or visit
the website at: http://www.westernriver.com/.
Western River Expeditions is an adventure travel company headquartered in Salt
Lake City, with operations and offices in Moab, Utah and Fredonia, Arizona.
Annually from March through October it escorts more people down rivers on
professionally guided rafting trips in Utah, Idaho and Arizona than any other
company. It is the largest licensed outfitter in the Grand Canyon.
Moab Adventure Center (http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/) is
a division of Western River Expeditions and the largest single tour provider in
Moab, UT. Located at 225 South Main St., Moab, UT the center is a one-stop
resource for a myriad of outdoor adventures. It also boasts a 2,000-square-foot
retail space selling adventure related gear, clothing and souvenirs. For
information and tour reservations call (435) 259-7019 or (866) 904-1163.
E-bikes now put bike tours of the Green Mountains of Vermont within reach (c) Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarnandnear.com
Always popular cycling tours have gotten an extra charge in recent years with the addition of electric bikes, allowing guests to ride hills with ease or get a boost to keep up with others. E-bikes are now available as an option on tours around the globe, from the Green Mountains of Vermont to the Tuscan countryside and Taiwan’s coastline. They’re even making their way off road and onto trails on e-mountain bike tours among the dunes of Namibia and the Alps in Switzerland. E-bikes mean there are no excuses for not taking a tour because you are afraid you can’t do the hills, the knees aren’t what they used to be.
Here are seven bike tours where you can find an electric ride:
E-MTB Safari in Namibia: Pedal across vast plains and seas of sand dunes, along dry streambeds and rocky jeep tracks, and past shipwrecks and surf on the Skeleton Coast on H+I Adventures’ new E-MTB Safari in Namibia. From the saddle of an e-mountain bike, watch for elephants, giraffes, zebras and oryx, and connecting with local communities along the way.
Natchez Trace Path: Biking the Natchez Trace is a cyclist’s dream come true, and why Cycle of Life Adventures offers it four times a year. The ancient path through Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi began as a wildlife and Native American trail, and has a rich history of use by explorers, trappers and traders, post men and Civil War soldiers. An e-bike will ease the few days where the mileage may seem overwhelming.
Tuscan Countryside: On Tourissimo’s cycling tour of Tuscany, Italy, visit some of the region’s most iconic destinations, from Cortona, the delightful hill town made famous by Frances Mayes in her bestselling novel “Under the Tuscan Sun,” to the abbeys, thermal springs and wineries in the countryside outside Pienza. Upgrade to an e-bike capable of covering 70 miles on a charge to go the distance.
Alps by E-MTB: Climb mountain passes and descend to lush valleys on H+I Adventures new E-MTB Tour of Switzerland. Riders will put the country’s seamless transport system to use accessing backcountry singletrack and perfectly built flow trails as they traverse the beautiful Graubünden region by e-mountain bike. Refuel with mid-ride rösti, then unwind with a glass of wine and dinner made with local flavors.
Mediterranean Islands Ride: E-bikes are a great option on Ride & Seek Bicycle Adventures epic cycling tour across Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily. Split into three week-long stages, the tour explores the Mediterranean islands’ history, food, architecture and traditions, as well as their strikingly rugged interiors, white beaches and emerald waters.
Vermont Covered Bridges: Ride through more than a dozen covered bridges on a tour of Vermont with Cycle of Life Adventures. This iconic ride passes through Montpelier, Stowe, Middlebury and Woodstock, climbing from river valleys over the Green Mountains. The optional e-bike rental will help flatten out the roads.
E-Bike Taiwan: On Grasshopper Adventures’ Bike Taiwan tour, guests cycle the length of the country from the northern capital, Taipei, to the southern tip. Along the way, they take in the beauty of east Taiwan’s rugged Pacific coast, exotic hot springs and valleys like the stunning Taroko Gorge. Grasshopper is the first tour operator to offer e-bikes to cyclists in Southeast Asia.
Discover Sri Lanka over nine days, cycling 285 km from the capital, Colombo, through the lush highlands and rainforests down to the southern coast on Grasshopper Adventures new bike tour.
(Bangkok, Thailand) — Discover Sri Lanka over nine days, cycling 285 km from the capital, Colombo, through the lush highlands and rainforests down to the southern coast on Grasshopper Adventures new bike tour. Along the way, enjoy some of South Asia’s best biking, hike through national parks, take a jeep safari to see leopards, monkeys and elephants, relax in luxurious hotels, and indulge in mouthwatering Sri Lankan cuisine. Departures are available in January, February and March of 2020 starting at $2,850 per person double. Pedal-assist e-bikes are an available for an additional $385. For more information, visit https://www.grasshopperadventures.com/multi-day-cycling-tours/sri-lanka-by-bike-tour/
“Sri Lanka is a small island with a big heart known for its highland tea plantations that we will spend days riding through,” said Adam Platt-Hepworth, Grasshopper Adventures CEO. “We will also explore the city of Kandy with its sacred Buddha Tooth Relic, tour Yala National Park where we’ll see elephants, monkeys and leopards, and spend some time on the southern coast.
Tour Highlights:
Visiting The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum
Taking a Sri Lankan cooking class
Cycling through tea plantations
Sampling local delicacies like fresh dates and dried corn crackers
Touring Yala National Park by Jeep and seeing elephants, monkeys and
leopards
Trekking to World’s End Lookout
Hiking UNESCO World Heritage Sinharaja Rainforest
Descending by bike from the beautiful tea country hills to the southern
coast
“This is the perfect tour to see the best of Sri Lanka in just
over a week,” said Platt-Hepworth. “You’ll get a taste of the
highlights and hidden treasures and be blown away by the diversity this small
island nation boasts.”
Grasshopper Adventures is a cycling and active travel specialist, headquartered
in Bangkok. They host more than 25,000 travelers of all ages and abilities on
tours in Japan, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, China,
Uzbekistan, Taiwan, Bhutan and Myanmar. https://www.grasshopperadventures.com
