Sometimes I have to pinch myself. I’ve been a full-time travel writer since 2008, and that has allowed me to stay the night in some of the finest hotels the world has to offer. Just for fun, because I’m in Mexico as I write this and it’s raining, here are ten of the most luxurious places I’ve bedded down for the night. Hotel Hassler Roma, Rome. My daughter and I stayed here in, oh, 2012 or 2013 and had a room that looked down on the Spanish Steps. We had a small balcony and bought a bottle of wine and Read more
Saint Lucia
As Holland America’s 2026 Alaska season ends, the cruise line is looking ahead to next summer’s milestone season celebrating 80 years of exploring the Great Land. For eight decades, Holland America has built a depth of knowledge in Alaska, helping shape an experience that brings the destination to life both on board and ashore. That expertise gives guests more ways to see Alaska’s wildlife and witness its glaciers than any other cruise line, from immersive wilderness exploration to signature glacier-viewing. That deep Alaska knowledge comes through in the details of the journey, from fresh, local seafood served on every Alaska Read more
Canadians claim to be the best hotel guests in the world. But they’re still swiping the odd hotel bathrobe or smuggling food from the breakfast buffet. A study by Hotels.Com found that 88% of Canadians consider themselves considerate guests, and that 44% of Canadians voted themselves the most courteous guests in the world, while ranking Americans as the rudest hotel guests (42%). Yet 27% of Canadians admit they sometimes smuggle food from the breakfast buffet or swipe hotel bathrobes and slippers. How Canada Ranks the World’ Most Polite Guests, by Country Canada – 44% Japan – 22% Sweden – 11% Read more
CANADA’S TOP TEN ATTRACTIONS LISTED: I HAVE MY DOUBTS A new study carried out by QR Code Generator examined 96 of Canada’s well-known tourist attractions and created an index based on weighting three different factors to determine which tourist attractions and their provinces are most popular based on Tripadvisor reviews. The rating, the number of reviews and the percentage of five-star reviews for each were used to calculate an overall index score out of 100 and then create a ranking to determine the top ten. The most popular tourist attraction in Canada is Stanley Park, located in British Columbia, with an index score of 92.5. Stanley Park is one of Read more
The Caribbean’s best beach bars, Air Canada adds direct flights to the Canary Islands, new Hyatt Unbound Collection hotels near Niagara Falls and in Santa Monica, Seattle and the Dominican Republic, plus early packages for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Today’s blog post covers tons of ground. BEST BEACH BARS IN THE CARIBBEAN I’ve been a big fan of the Caribbean for many years. There’s an amazing variety of islands and things to see and do, as well as great beaches by the bucketful. (Here’s a story I posted in 2024 on top Caribbean beaches). As someone who Read more
