Tony Bowles, Contributing Columnist

Jun 18, 2019

24 min read

The Ultimate Summer 2019 Travel Guide for every kind of vacation

When it comes to singling out the best vacation spots and compiling our annual summer list of the places we’re most excited about in the coming months, narrowing down the field is easier said than done. Whether you are looking for some time to unwind with a lover, go to Switzerland or turn up the heat in Miami, we have something for everyone. Take a look at our exclusive offerings on packages and travel essentials that every traveler will need this summer!

July 22 is National Hammock Day and Mahekal Beach Resort in Playa del Carmen is celebrating all month long! To slow things down a bit and keep with the spirit of “hammocking,” Mahekal is offering a “Swing in the Sun” escape — starting at $195/night and providing travelers with 50% savings along with breakfast and lunch or dinner daily, $200 resort credit for 5+ nights and early check-in and late checkout.

Unlike other high-rise or corridor accommodations in the area, hand-laid, hidden stone pathways lead guests to their private, palapa-style bungalow touting crochet hammocks swaying from the open-air terraces. Kick back and relax (cold margarita in hand, of course) with unparalleled views of the Riviera Maya jungle or Playa del Carmen’s longest stretch of beach.

“Swing in the Sun” • Starting at $195/night* • Bookable July 7–29 • For travel July 29, 2019 — Oct. 31, 2020

  • 50% off palapa-style bungalow accommodations with breakfast and choice of lunch OR dinner daily
  • $200 resort credit on six nights or more
  • Early check-in & late checkout
  • Crochet hammocks for use on private open-air terrace
  • *Please note: the pre-sale is July 1–6, 2019. Everyone who books during the pre-sale will enjoy a welcome amenity and two drinks at any of the property’s three pools.

Perched above the soothing waves of Kapalua Bay, Cliff House at Montage Kapalua Bay gives visitors a unique twist on rooftop cocktails. With breathtaking views of the Pacific and neighboring islands, the intimate venue hosts seasonal Champagne Hale: a collaboration with well-known Veuve Clicquot champagne brand.

This pop-up bar and lounge is perfect for guests and locals to drink in the best view of Maui’s sunsets while sipping a selection of champagne cocktails perfectly paired with light bites sharing the best flavors of Hawaii such as Bigeye Tuna tartar, Kualoa oysters or Maui vanilla panna cotta.

Perfect for a summer getaway, adults-only all-inclusive oasis, Hilton Playa del Carmen boasts all-suite accommodations, each with private balconies or terraces and hot tubs, some featuring special options such as swim-up suites and beachfront walkouts. Beach butlers and romance concierges ensure guests have everything for a relaxing getaway. For the ultimate in relaxation, SPAzul offers a specialty set of ancient restorative treatments including a Temazcal stone steam bath.

Adventurous guests will enjoy daily snorkeling and scuba lessons in the coral-laced waters, rooftop tennis games, kayak sightseeing, or classes on traditional salsa dancing. The seven gourmet restaurants and cocktail lounges include a dedicated Tequileria and Cigar Club for pre-dinner tastings or a nightcap, while the Life Fitness center is equipped with Stott Pilates to work it off the next day.

Opening on August 12th and encompassing the entire 57th floor, the Spa is a sanctuary of wellness. The Spa includes a lifestyle boutique, fitness centre created in consultation with celebrity fitness guru Harley Pasternak, and a spectacular 30,000-gallon (136,000 litre) indoor infinity pool.

Spa Director Verena Lasvigne-Fox has created an inspiring wellness menu incorporating top products exclusive to Philadelphia. Coupled with the rhythmic and meditative sounds of singing crystal bowls, the effect will be one of pure bliss and relaxation among the clouds. Lasvigne-Fox is an award-winning Spa Director with more than 15 years’ experience overseeing up to 16 spas for Four Seasons across Europe and the Middle East.

Southern Charm

Suite Escape Package

Experience for yourself the luxury of our casually elegant Suites with this special midweek offer. Relax, unwind and enjoy the luxurious touches of the resort including garden or stunning water views when you stay in a Suite for 2 nights or longer.

- Elegant Accommodations
- Save 30% off Suites with a two-night minimum stay
- Based on availability, blackout dates apply

Nothing says summer like the birthday of America and no one celebrates the 4th of July quite like Montage Palmetto Bluff. The resort stretches the Fourth of July into a week of festivities kicking off celebrations with the annual Village Green Parade showing off an array of elaborately-decorated golf carts and bicycles all sporting their red, white and blue. Additional programs include a one mile Freedom Fun Run, a Southern evening Fish Fry, air rifle shooting at the Shooting Club, water balloon tosses, tournaments in tennis, bowling, fishing and more and plenty of time spent outdoors. Travelers looking to celebrate the Fourth of July to the nth degree with plenty of flare and a Southern twist will love every second of Montage Palmetto Bluff’s extravagant celebrations!

Chattanooga is an emerging destination in the South, offering travelers a number of outdoor activities for travelers of all ages, with beautiful hikes, waterfalls, caves, and family-friendly fun including the Chattanooga Aquarium, Zoo and more. The city also has a growing reputation as “the South’s Silicon Valley.” With all the young talent moving there, there’s been a surge in great food & drink (Easy Bistro, Alleia, Chattanooga Whiskey distillery, plus tons of local breweries) and places to stay, including The Read House hotel, which recently reopened this past fall following a $28 million renovation.

The beautiful, fully-renovated, Gatsby-style 141-room property is one of the most historic places in the South, has been around since the 1800’s, and is home to so many stories, legends & even a few ghosts. Did you know there was a duel in the lobby of the hotel at one time? The hotel features spacious rooms, top-notch service, and an ideal downtown location. Both Chattanooga and The Read House hotel make for fun-filled, action packed a great weekend getaway or weeklong vacation — and is budget-friendly compared to other southern cities. Rates at The Read House start at just $165 per night. We’d love to host you for an overnight stay so you can experience the property and the destination.

It’s officially patio and festival season in Atlanta, and there’s no better home base than the new Hotel Clermont for enjoying all the city has to offer. Opened in June 2018, the hotel is one of very few boutique hotels in the city and has a history dating back to the 1920s C so if you want a true ATL experience, this is your spot. Whether you’re traveling in for the Piedmont Park Jazz Festival in May, a concert at the Tabernacle or State Farm Arena, or just to explore the city C Hotel Clermont is centrally located in the colorful Poncey-Highland neighborhood, just steps from Ponce City Market, ample shops & nightlife destinations, and the BeltLine C Atlanta’s former railway corridor that’s now a popular urban trail connecting neighborhoods.

Not to mention everything located in the hotel itself C don’t miss its award-winning French-American bistro, Tiny Lou’s, the rambling rooftop bar featuring the city’s best skyline views, or the Clermont Lounge C the South’s oldest strip club beloved by many a celebrity (including Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro and the late Anthony Bourdain). It’s located in Hotel Clermont’s basement and operated under independent ownership C and truly an experience you can only find in ATL. Book your stay here.

Music City is in the spotlight this summer, hosting the NFL Draft in April, Nashville Predators and Nashville Sounds games, and of course,offering one of the largest fireworks displays in the nation for 4th of July. There are free and paid events happening virtually every day throughout the week and weekends, including Live on the Green, a free concert series held on Thursdays in downtown Nashville. Enter Fairlane Hotel, located just blocks from Broadway, Live on the Green, the Arts District, Printer’s Alley and Bridgestone Arena (and not too far from Nissan Stadium), as the premier accommodation for guests looking for something different.

The luxury boutique hotel boasts 81 spacious, retro-modern rooms complete with era-appropriate décor and playful details, including peekaboo showers and floor-to-ceiling windows. The impressive 4,000 square-foot Penthouse is reminiscent of a 1970’s crash pad, featuring a floating interior fireplace surrounded by inviting ottomans while smoked mirrored ceilings are subtly suggestive in the Penthouse West bedroom. A wraparound terrace provides an outdoor escape with a dedicated dining area and soft, communal seating enhanced by unparalleled views of Music City.

Fairlane Hotel is offering several deals for travelers this summer, currently featuring 15% off the Best Available Rate plus a $25 food & beverage credit for select dates this summer. Other offers include $100 dining credit for guests staying two nights or more, as well as the ‘Let the Good Times Roll’ package which includes:

● In-Room Bar Cart Stocked w/ Local Whiskeys & Bourbons

● In-Room High-Fidelity System w/ Assortment of Vinyls

● $50 Lyft Luxe Credit

Turn Up The Heat

Centrally located within the popular communities of Golden Beach, Bal Harbour, and Aventura, the newly renovated Solé Miami, A Noble House Resort is a Sunny Isles Beach boutique resort offering various services and amenities including beachside concerts, an oceanfront pool, water sports and a daily fireside happy hour on the beach with build-your-own, complimentary s’mores.

Designed by Dupoux Design, the resort features 249 contemporary guest rooms and suites each with a private terrace and floor to ceiling windows, and where guests can choose from a variety of rooms overlooking city lights or sweeping ocean views — add 6,500 square feet of exquisitely appointed, naturally-lit banquet and meeting rooms and Solé Miami is lavish without the attitude. The best of everything Miami, shimmering over turquoise waters, Solé Miami is minutes away from the culture and night life of South Beach and the Art Deco District, as well as world-renowned shopping at the Bal Harbour Shops.

Just outside the hustle and bustle of South Beach and Downtown Miami, Aventura is the perfect locale for a summer staycation. Located in the heart of the city and minutes away numerous golf courses and white sandy beaches, Aloft Miami Aventura features loft-inspired rooms, a fully stocked W XYZ Bar, grab and go food options, an elevated pool roof deck, weekly “Live at Aloft” music events, pet programming (as dogs under 40lbs stay free of charge) and more. Plus, in-state residents can take advantage of the Florida Summer Sale, receiving up to 20% off for stays through September 30.

Proudly situated on a sprawling beachfront site in northeast Florida, the historic Ponte Vedra Inn & Club offers boundless luxury and picturesque views of the Atlantic Ocean. Featuring 249 lavishly-appointed guest rooms, oceanfront pools and nearly a dozen dining venues to enjoy, this posh resort seamlessly blends recreation with elegance. The ideal destination for spring vacations, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club offers a myriad of opportunities for adventure, including paddle-boarding, flat-tire beach bicycling, ocean kayaking, daily children’s activities and more.

In the center of the vibrant golden triangle of Los Angeles, Montage Beverly Hills combines the glamour of old Hollywood and the sleekness of modern luxury at The Rooftop Grill. Filled with fresh flavor from local Californian ingredients, and well-known for its endless mimosas, The Rooftop Grill is the perfect oasis in the center of a busy city, offering visitors unobstructed views of the Hollywood Hills and skyline of Los Angeles. When not soaking up the views, guests can sip a cocktail while splashing in the rooftop’s mosaic-tiled, saline pool and lounging in the curtained cabanas.

June 23rd marks National Pink Day, a holiday celebrating the trendy color that has been made fashionable in all areas of life (and Instagram feeds!) What better way to celebrate the bubblegum-hued holiday, than with The Don CeSar, aka Florida’s “Pink Palace.”

The hotel is offering an additional 20% off current packages(including Dream. Eat. Beach. Repeat; Spalidy Package; Girlfriend Getaway; Sun and Sand; All-Inclusive Experience and Food & Fun). The promotion is valid for reservations booked between June 23–30, for stays through December 31, 2019, when using promo code PINK.

Nestled on Miami’s famed Collins Avenue, Dream South Beach boasts a lust-worthy location, situated directly behind the former Versace Mansion and just steps away from pristine beaches and premier nightlife. The Art Deco-inspired hotel offers 107 contemporary guestrooms — including a 2,000-square-foot duplex GuestHouse Presidential Suite outfitted with a private roof deck, bar and outdoor shower. Dream South Beach also features the Shala Spa, and two highly acclaimed dining and nightlife venues: Naked Taco, a cheeky restaurant serving inventive Mexican fare; and HIGHBAR, a playful 1970’s-themed rooftop lounge fitted with an infinity pool and Atlantic Ocean views.

This eco-friendly, luxury hotel features a unique, modern concrete and stone design in public areas and rooms. The hotel offers beach access, 5 newly renovated poolside bungalows and signature restaurant: Diez y Seis by Executive Chef Jose Icardi. The Shore Club is within 5 minutes’ walk of the dining, shopping and entertainment of South Beach. The Miami International Airport is within a 15 minutes’ drive of the hotel.

Set on 16 acres amid South Florida’s largest private beach, Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort is an oceanfront teen wonderland offering games from life-size connect four to extra-large corn hole. Water activities include a gigantic ocean trampoline and slides, banana boat rides, and more. When not in the water, take to the sand for sports from glow frisbee to tug-of-war, head to the tennis courts for private lessons with a tennis pro or go on a buried treasure hunt with metal detectors.

Getaways

Known for its steep hills, natural beauty, and unspoiled Italian charm, Lake Como is the perfect destination for a quintessentially Italian summer vacation. The stunning lake is surrounded by steep slopes where the villages are built against the hills, leaving no room for massive campaigns, waterparks, karting tracks or other tourist attractions. This makes Lake Como the perfect reprieve from the larger, more commercialized cities like Milan, which become overrun by tourists in the summer.

In July, beautiful blooms take over the city — azaleas, wisteria, rhododendrons, camellias, and bougainvillea cover the towns in soft pastels. Come July 2019, the newly opened Mandarin Oriental, Lake Como will be fully operating.

The dreamy hotel, formerly the Casta Diva Hotel, has a picturesque location, situated right on the beautiful coast of the lake near the lovely town of Blevio. The opulent villas that line Lake Como’s waterfront are the highest expression of the Italian “Bella Vita”: Villa Balbiano and Villa Carlotta are some of the most stunning properties found on the lake.

The tropical, elegant oasis where Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother would retreat, travelers can immerse themselves in the 4-bedroom villa’s rich history, and timeless charm as they receive the “Royal treatment” from the villa’s private staff (personal chef, butler, housekeeper and more). One of The Club’s first villas, Little Hill was built in 1959 by renowned architect Robert Hartley with a one-of-a-kind location perched atop the hill offering both privacy and breathtaking 360 views of the lush landscape. Travelers can rent the historic villa with weekly rates starting at $9,095, or purchase the villa for $6.5 million. Additional information here.

As one of The Tryall Club’s oldest villas built in 1959 by renowned architect Robert Hartley, Little Hill has a one-of-a-kind location perched atop the hill offering both privacy and breathtaking 360 views of the lush landscape. The villa includes the following:

  • 4 private bedrooms (sleeps 8) — all with AC
  • 7 household staff members including a personal chef, a private butler, cleaning staff, a laundress and 3 gardeners
  • Heated swimming pool (deepest point 10 ft.)
  • Indoor/outdoor dining
  • Private balconies and a 100 ft. terrace
  • Complimentary golf cart rides to the neighboring championship golf course, a private shoreline, renowned tennis courts, massage center, fitness center, boutique, market, game room and Kid’s Club.

The Hari in London is less than three years old and is a true game-changer in the London 5-star boutique market, with 85 rooms and suites, a major art and design footprint and an unbeatable location in the heart of the coveted Knightsbridge area. Most excitingly, there is major news in the pipeline, as The Hari is set to go from one independent hotel in London to a boutique hotel brand with the opening of The Hari Hong Kong in 2020.

Set on its own private island in the Venetian lagoon, JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa is the ideal place to sit, relax, and enjoy a summer cocktail. Set beside the resort’s rooftop infinity pool, The Sagra Rooftop Restaurant Bar offers unparalleled views of the Venice skyline. Guests are encouraged to indulge in an aperitivo (Aperol Spritz anyone?) or a signature cocktail such as the Century Negroni, Fosco Negroni or Marco Polo Spritz, and soak up the sunset while snacking on bites like the “Sagra” — a typical festival of food and the namesake for the restaurant.

Overlooking the forests of Valle de Bravo, Mexico — the Hamptons of Mexico City — CINCO Hotel’s RUF bar offers unobstructed views of the village’s colonial architecture, lake and surrounding forest. The rooftop bar boasts a menu of locally-influenced crafted cocktails, perfect for battling the warm central American sun. Signature drinks like the “Culichi,” combining Green Ancho Reyes, lime juice, simple syrup, cucumber and Jamaican salt and signature bites like quesadillas del comal with quesillo, guacamole and epazote, give guests a taste of pure Mexican flavor.

Perched above the city of Zurich, The Dolder Grand is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, making the already-popular July visiting dates even more special. In honor of the hotel’s 120th anniversary, guests can book theHappy Birthday special package, which includes a one-night stay, 120 CHF credit to be used at either the hotel’s restaurants including Saltz and The Restaurant or a spa treatment. The hotel is home to a renowned 43,000-square-foot spa, designed to restore guests’ bodies and souls to physical balance and inner harmony.

The hotel also includes breathtaking views of Zurich, and features over 120 works of art by Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, Fernando Botero, and other famous artists. Guests can also enjoy intimate culinary experiences at Saltz restaurant, or enjoy innovative cuisine at The Restaurant, a Michelin star dining experience led by renowned Chef Heiko Nieder. This July, guests can celebrate one of Zurich’s best festivals — Züri Fäscht — from July 5–7, bringing musical performances, open-air bars, pop-up restaurants and amusement park rides all a hop skip and a jump from The Dolder Grand!

NYC Staycation Ideas

The New York EDITION and Madison Square Park have teamed up in encouraging travelers to enjoy the outdoors in the Big Apple with a new Picnic in the Park package.

Now through Oct. 30, 2019, guests can reserve two or more nights at The New York EDITION using promo code ZJL in order to book the Picnic in the Park package. This offer includes one picnic blanket and one picnic basket full of good that can be tailored to guests’ preferences, plus a refreshing seasonal beverage. The package also includes luxury accommodations at the hotel, as well as complimentary daily breakfast.

Rates for this package start at $445. For more information and booking, visit editionhotels.com.

While there are 46 Moxy Hotels open globally and over 100 in development, Moxy NYC Downtown brings a fresh perspective to the emerging neighborhood with innovative technology, atypical amenities and intuitively-designed rooms. You may recognize the hotel’s signature half-basketball court or hanging guestroom chairs from Instagram, or its monster 12x25-foot LED virtual window. What differentiates this property is its elevated design, including separate, en suite bathrooms, stereo surround sound and oversized TVs, 10-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Home of the popular, retro-inspired Recreation Bar by leading bar and restaurant operator Jon Neidich, the venue offers guests and locals alike a collaborative co-working space by day and cocktail lounge by night with free-to-play traditional arcade games like skee-ball, Pacman, foosball, and more. Just steps from the World Trade Center, The Oculus, South Street Seaport and Brooklyn Bridge, guests also enjoy the prime location and access to the vibrant neighborhood.

Extraordinary in design and unique in character, Dream Downtown marks an exciting and imaginative concept in full-service luxury travel. Dream Downtown represents a reinvigoration of the Dream brand, pairing chic-cool influences with modern elegance, all while maintaining cosmopolitan glamour, whimsical design and top-standard service. Creating a luxury travel experience that goes beyond the norm of traditional hospitality, Dream Downtown features a specially curated collection of artwork, incredible views of the Manhattan skyline, innovative dining options, a duplex penthouse suite with a glass-bottom Jacuzzi and terrace, and a chic nightlife scene.

Dream Downtown is home to dining and entertainment operated by TAO Strategic Group including PHD Rooftop, a penthouse lounge/club, Electric Room, an intimate lounge and bar, Bodega Negra, a south-of-the-border style Mexican restaurant by chef Michael Armstrong, Natura Café, a California style all day café, as well as Dream Beach, an outdoor glass–bottomed swimming pool with a “beach club.” Philippe Downtown, the hotel’s newest restaurant, is a lively, upscale Beijing-style Chinese eatery with iconic dishes, vibrant cocktails and an extensive wine list.

Whether a New York City local or weekend visitor, New York Hilton Midtown and Sourced Adventures have partnered to offer all-inclusive day trips perfect for venturing out beyond the five boroughs — proving guests can have the hustle and bustle of New York while also escaping for a day full of fun!

Available now, the Summer Adventure package includes accommodations at the centrally located New York Hilton Midtown and the choice of one all-inclusive Sourced Adventures activity including whitewater rafting down the Lehigh River, wine tasting on the North Fork of Long Island, or tubing down the Delaware River — complete with a stop at an award-winning local brewery. This package also includes roundtrip transportation from New York City to the chosen activity, a picnic lunch, and a New York Hilton Midtown Survival Pack (two protein bars, two bottles of water, two pairs of sunglasses, and a bottle of sunscreen).

Plan your summer vacation at the Southampton Inn! The Southampton Inn is classic, unassuming and utterly charming. The Inn offers the personal attention of a bed & breakfast with the services of a hotel. The 90 guest rooms, all with slightly different decor, offer individual temperature control, sparkling tiled bathrooms, refrigerators, and complimentary Wi-Fi.

The grounds consist of several acres of manicured lawns and gardens, with amenities that everyone can enjoy, including a 50-foot heated outdoor pool, an all-weather tennis court, croquet and volleyball, a Game Room for all ages, and Claude’s Restaurant.

West Side The Best Side?

Only an hour south of Los Angeles (pending traffic), Newport Beach is quickly becoming an under the radar destination for travelers of any age to escape the hectic pace of Los Angeles- especially in the warm Summer sunshine. In the last year, Newport Beach has seen an influx of development with projects like Lido House, Nobu, and Malibu Farm, turning the coastal community into a highly regarded food, wine and travel destination. Destinations like Balboa Bay Resort, Newport Beach’s only waterfront resort, are helping to change the scenery of Newport.

Recently renovated and with a new pool bar debuting this summer, the property is an ideal base to explore the surrounding town of Newport Beach, via electric Duffy boat or by paddleboard, all accessible to guests at the property. It’s signature waterside restaurant A&O Kitchen+Bar just welcomed new executive chef, Vic Casanova who will be debuting a new seasonal seafood focused menu in July, just in time for Summer. A&O’s team of experienced mixologists created a new California Distilled menu, the first of its kind, which emphasizes 100% California made spirits and house made cordials, from local producers, some only miles away from the waterfront property.

Montage Laguna Beach just completed a comprehensive resort-wide refresh in April where each of its guests 253 rooms and many of its public spaces were renovated. Set on top of a coastal bluff, Montage Laguna Beach has been a retreat for families, couples and friends for the last 16 years. Other new guest experiences perfect for summer stories include cabana cocktail program with newly planted herb gardens (that double as privacy shrubs) between the cabanas at Mosaic Pool for bartenders, turned urban gardeners, to add organic garnishes to poolside cocktails.

Also new to the property is The Masterpiece Facial, an exclusive Valmont facial, at Spa Montage. Laguna Beach has always been a seaside retreat for creatives and in August the town’s art offerings kick into overdrive with two signature art festivals. The Pageant of The Masters (from July 7 — August 31, 2019) is an event where actors re-create famous works of art live on stage and the Sawdust Arts Festival (from July and August) is a meeting place for local artists to demonstrate and sell their crafts with glassblowers and live painting demonstrations.

Unique Travel Options

Through Airbnb Adventures, travelers will get access to incredible expeditions and connect with local communities, ranging from tracking lions on foot with Sabache Warriors in Kenya, to hunting for UFOs with Nate in the American Southwest, to foraging a beautiful farm-to-table meal in Sweden along the coast.

To mark the launch of Airbnb Adventures, a limited number of guests — for one time only — will have the ability to go around the world in 80 days! Inspired by the Jules Verne classic written almost 150 years ago, this Adventure will take guests across six continents, 18 countries, two oceans, five seas and eight modes of transportation including, of course, a hot air balloon. Mirroring the protagonist Phileas Fogg’s original departure in 1873, guests will embark on their epic journey from London. The Around The World in 80 Days Adventure will be bookable on starting Thursday, June 20 at $5,000 per person.

Founded by a trio of Italian Art Historians, Imago Artis Travel designs bespoke itineraries for travelers to savor the rich culture, art, history, gastronomy and craft traditions of Italy. Over the past two years the company has expanded beyond its base in Rome to offer experiences in destinations all over the country.

The company’s top class professional guides gain access to some of the most exclusive sites and scenes: visiting medieval castles off-the-beaten track in Chianti, to dinner in a Palace on the Canal Grande in Venice, a Cook-Your-Catch fishing experiencing in Apulia, private tour of La Scala Theater in Milan and much more. The company has partnerships with five-star hotels including Rocco Forte Hotels & Four Seasons and is part of the prestigious Virtuoso Destinations & Experiences Program and On-Site Preferred Partner for Italy.

Eco-luxurious Pikaia Lodge, in the Galapagos Islands is designed for the environmentally conscious and adventurous traveler, who seeks close contact with wildlife and unique natural wonders, while receiving the highest level of comfort and service. Located in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island and perched between two inactive volcano craters with incredible uninterrupted views, Pikaia Lodge is completely carbon neutral and constructed from recycled materials.

The 14 contemporary and elegantly designed suites sit 450 meters above sea level, boasting a stretch of 31 acres of land in the heart of a private wild giant tortoise reserve — the property’s owners planted 12,000 trees to foster this animal sanctuary! Guests can also enjoy quality guided land and marine day programs in small groups and the chance to explore neighboring islands, secluded white sand beaches and fascinating wildlife sites of the Galapagos National Park on board their 105-foot luxury yacht.

The Perfect Travel Essentials

Go anywhere with a Rollaboard® that is all your own. The Crew™ VersaPack™ Global Carry-on Expandable Rollaboard® is designed for total packing versatility and can be personalized with a variety of interchangeable Travelpro® exclusive Zip-In Organizers. Included inside the lid is a removable Zip-In Garment Organizer, ideal for storing folded shirts, dresses and jackets.

Roomy at 18L, yet slimline, this backpack is light years ahead in its hands-free luggage vision. Built to partner the most active, modern traveler, it snugly stores a 2L water bottle for on-the-go hydration. An integrated accessory cord works with exterior gear loops to effortlessly attach helmets, sneakers, climbing gear or yoga mats.

This summer, American Express and MAG USA announced joint plans to bring two new lounge locations, The Centurion Lounge and the Escape Lounge, to Terminal 4 within the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) in the coming months.

The two lounges will provide guests with premium spaces and amenities to ease their travel journeys and will feature a shared entrance, with separate reception areas, lounge spaces and amenities for each location.

This news comes following the announcement of a new mobile check-in feature in the American Express Mobile App through its partnership with LoungeBuddy. Platinum Card and Centurion Members visiting a Centurion Lounge will now be able to begin the check-in process thirty minutes before their expected arrival through the “Find a Lounge” tool within the app.

The Arctic Dreams Cooling Gel Mattress pairs the unparalleled comfort of Energex™ foam with the enhanced cooling properties of TitaniumGel™ for an extraordinary night’s sleep.

Designed to be used as a spoon, Loacker Gelato Wafers are a new and original way to experience gelato! Featuring one layer of the finest Lemon or Vanilla crème filling between two light and crispy Loacker wafers, the wafers are wider than usual to be the optimal spoon size. The Lemon crème filling is made using essential oils from Sicilian lemons and real lemon juice, while the Vanilla crème filling is prepared using genuine Bourbon vanilla pods with no addition of flavorings. Perfect to eat while on the move!

Get more from your protein on the go! Bulletproof Collagen Protein gives your body the amino acid building blocks it needs to repair skin, bones, and joints. Bulletproof’s collagen protein is sourced from pasture-raised cows, without added hormones. Stay Bulletproof on long road trips with single-serve protein packs, easily mixed into plan water, smoothies, coffee, or whatever else you’re having on the go.

Larktale, an innovative stroller brand, launched in the U.S. this April with two stroller models, The Coast & The Chit Chat! Both models are perfect for parents who love to travel with their little ones, as they are light-weight, compact, easy to fold, and are super affordable! Just because you have young children doesn’t mean you can’t travel!

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Tony Bowles is one of the youngest sought journalists in the media world. He focuses on lifestyle, travel, entertainment, food, and more! Based in New York City

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Tony Bowles, Contributing Columnist

Tony Bowles, Contributing Columnist

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Tony Bowles is one of the youngest sought journalists in the media world. He focuses on lifestyle, travel, entertainment, food, and more! Based in New York City

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