Innholdsfortegnelse for Nov/Dec 2018 i AFAR

WE HUMANS HAVE AN unfortunate tendency to be shortsighted: to think only about the here and now. Tomorrow’s problems? They can be dealt with tomorrow. People and places outside of my normal sphere? Not my concern. Intellectually we know that what happens on the other side of the globe can have a profound impact on us and that our own actions have far-reaching consequences. We say we don’t want to pass the world’s problems on to our children. But we don’t always act that way. We launched AFAR in part because we believe that inspiring, guiding, and enabling people to travel in a deeper way makes it more likely that those people will see beyond themselves and act for the greater good. The world of travel is full of people…

Your Hotel Will Truly Feel Like Home Hyper-personalization will follow you into your hotel room. Hotels are embracing technologies such as voice command and facial recognition—both forms of AI. In China, the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts group is teaming up with Chinese search engine Baidu to create Smart Rooms that allow residents to control lighting and curtains via voice command. And Marriott has launched a pilot program at two Chinese hotels that uses facial recognition for check-in. Hotels are also partnering with other companies to offer more personalized service. Concur, which owns the travel-planning apps TripIt and Hipmunk, has discussed with hotel partners the possibility of offering preprogrammed rooms based on your profile. You’ll plug your preferences into an app such as TripIt, and when you arrive, your room will…

Traveling for wellness once meant heading off to a retreat where you might purify yourself by following a restrictive diet or spend your days meditating. Those sanctuaries are still available, but now, getting or staying healthy doesn’t require removing yourself from your day-to-day life. It can be as easy as checking into a mainstream hotel. “We want to have on the road what we can access at home: our yoga routine, healthy food,” says Anne Dimon, president of the new Wellness Tourism Association. “You want to return from a trip feeling better, not worse.” A growing number of brands offer guests ways to restore themselves during their stays. Six Senses, which operates 16 hotels around the world from Portugal to the Maldives, offers spa treatments and wellness coaching along with…

According to the Plastic Pollution Coalition, we discard more than 30 million tons of plastic a year in the United States alone, and only 8 percent of it is recycled. The rest winds up in landfills and the oceans. Now hotels, cruise lines, airlines, bars, and entire cities are joining the movement to reduce plastic consumption, targeting straws, water bottles, cutlery, bags, and even those mini shampoo bottles we all love to take home.…

REGISTER TODAY Join AFAR Sailings on its maiden voyage. This one-week summer cruise with Silversea calls at some of the Mediterranean’s most idyllic ports in France, Italy, and Spain, and you’ll be among an exclusive small group of guests with access to private lunches and yacht tours alongside AFAR’s very own tastemaker, EVP/CRO Ellen Asmodeo-Giglio. On board the all-inclusive Silver Shadow you’ll experience the very best accommodations and finest amenities, such as spacious suites, butler service, and signature Relais & Châteaux culinary selections. You’ll enjoy special programming both in ports and on board, as well as discover the region’s art, architecture, and history on private tours. For exclusive AFAR amenities, book this cruise now at afarsailings.com/silversea. EXPLORE THESE PORTS: BARCELONA SÈTE ST.-TROPEZ ST.-FLORENT, CORSICA LIVORNO OLBIA, SARDINIA NAPLES ROME LEARN…

José Andrés may be a renowned chef with 31 restaurants and five cookbooks, but he comes from humble roots: The Spanish-born restaurateur’s parents were both nurses. “They didn’t make a lot of money, but they taught me what it meant to give to others at the most critical times,” Andrés says. That sense of selflessness was so deeply ingrained in Andrés that when a devastating earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, he knew he couldn’t just sit around and watch the bad news unfold on TV. Within weeks he was in Port-au-Prince on the first of dozens of trips he would make to the island. Those experiences inspired Andrés to launch World Central Kitchen (WCK), a nonprofit specializing in humanitarian food aid and culinary education. In the years since, he has…

NASA RECEIVED A record number of applicants for its 2017 class of astronauts—18,300 people for 12 slots. That’s an acceptance rate of less than 0.1 percent. Though companies such as SpaceX and Virgin Galactic are trying to make space travel more widely accessible to non-astronauts, the trips will be expensive and no one knows for sure when they’ll actually happen. Scottish photographer Robert Ormerod began to wonder, “How do all these people dreaming of outer space fulfill their dreams when it’s so hard?” So he embarked on his own terrestrial mission to document the world of space enthusiasts. For the project, titled “Above Us the Day,” he watched amateur engineers launch their own rockets at the annual International Rocket Week in Ayrshire, Scotland. He met a pair of Icelandic brothers…

TODAY I PICKED up my younger daughter’s first passport from a tall, imposing federal building in San Francisco. Alone with my thoughts for a moment in the taxi back to the office, I started to daydream about her future travels. Where will she go on her first solo trip? Will we even need passports by then? When she’s 50, will the great cities of the world resemble those sets in Minority Report and Blade Runner where people jump into flying cars and work on hologram touchscreens? Will robots be running things by the time my baby is a grown-up? The robots haven’t taken over yet. But they are already here, speaking multiple languages and offering directions to weary travelers in airports around the globe. Artificial intelligence is here, too. Whether…

The world’s most visited places continue to feel the strain of overtourism—and they’re bracing for more. In 2016, the United Nations reported that international tourism arrivals surpassed the 1 billion mark and predicted they will reach 1.8 billion by the year 2030. Thankfully, governments and travel companies are finding new ways to help these beloved places cope. Amsterdam and other cities are leaning on technology to redirect visitors to less trammeled neighborhoods. Companies such as Intrepid Travel have devised itineraries to introduce travelers to undervisited countries. (Departures for its Moldova-Ukraine-Romania trip nearly doubled in 2018.) Check out the ways four overvisited places are managing the traffic, and discover alternative areas that will help you avoid the crowds.…

PEEK INTO THE kitchens of France’s leading chefs and you’ll likely see a battery of copper cookware: saucepans, pots, mini cocottes, giant poissonnières made for poaching whole fish. Look closely, and you’ll see the same name stamped on every piece: Mauviel. Since 1830, Mauviel has manufactured tinned copper cookware in Villedieu-les-Poêles (loosely, “God’s city of pans”), on the shores of the Mont Saint-Michel Bay, 190 or so miles west of Paris. The small village (population 4,000) was founded in the 12th century as the home of the Knights Hospitaller, a crusading brotherhood. Craftsmen who learned metalworking from North African artisans settled in the town, and by the 14th century a formal collective of pan makers had been established. Villedieu became so renowned for its copper craft—a loud affair involving lots…

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THE ULTIMATE WELLNESS EXPERIENCE There are some experiences that stay with us—ones that leave a lasting impact. We’re teaming up with Athleta to give away an experience like no other in our first-ever Make It Last Contest. Four lucky winners will each travel with a friend to New Zealand’s otherworldly Southern Alps for an epic women’s wellness retreat. You’ll stay at Aro Hā, a boutique eco-resort in a breathtaking setting, where you’ll join a physically challenging and spiritually uplifting program. HIKE through alpine forests to snow-covered mountains. PRACTICE in Aro Hā’s beautifully designed Vinyasa yoga studio that brings the splendor of the outdoors in. REPLENISH with healing bodywork and vegetarian cuisine. WEAR a new active wardrobe provided by Athleta. For Official Rules and information…

When Evita Robinson was teaching English in Japan back in 2009, she remembers kids running down the hallway at elementary schools in Niigata and skidding to a halt when they saw her. “I was the first black person many of these students had ever seen in real life,” Robinson recalls. “Their universe just slowed down. Like, Oh my god … what is going on here?! I was a Martian to them.” This was hardly the first experience with “otherness” for Robinson. “Being black, you’re always hyper-sensitive,” she says. “‘[You’re always thinking] OK, what are my surroundings? Are there any other black people in the room?’ It’s in our subconscious, because we deal with it every day.” Experiences like these—coupled with her desire to find “a community of people who looked…

With every trip, Sven Lindblad aims to turn travelers into conservationists. “When you see the glaciers and polar bears, and have a conversation about how climate is changing, it enters your psyche in a personal way,” says the CEO of Lindblad Expeditions, an adventure cruise company. Observing the natural world is part of Lindblad’s DNA: He traveled often with his father, Lars-Eric, who took the first travelers to Antarctica in 1966. A decade later, when Sven launched his own travel company, his vision to offer a hands-on experience of the science behind conservation helped to shape the ecotourism industry. Aboard one of Lindblad Expeditions’ 13 small ships, guests track the underwater songs of whales and watch researchers document melting glaciers. Outfitted with high-tech gear, travelers become citizen scientists who measure…

start exploring now! Your Southwest Adventure Starts Here As fall settles in and winter approaches, Scottsdale beckons with ample sunshine and blue skies. For the latest edition of AFAR Journeys, launching on October 15, we’re heeding the call of this Southwestern city and presenting six itineraries full of fresh surprises and old favorites—all curated by longtime local Carl Grupp of Camelback Odyssey Travel. With sunrise balloon rides, cooking classes and wine tastings, the newest restaurants, and the most luxurious spas, you’re sure to find something that appeals to your interests. Use our itineraries to begin planning your Arizona adventure today at: afar.com/scottsdalejourneys…

IT WAS CLEAR MY Roman cab driver found my travel plans perplexing. “You’re staying in Todi for the week?” he asked incredulously, in a mix of Italian and broken English, hoisting my suitcase into his six-seater van. “Why not Florence?” With my limited Italian, I struggled to describe why I was so taken by Todi, a walled medieval hill town overlooking Umbria’s Tiber valley. I threw out the few words I knew. “Umbria … olio d’oliva! Farro! Tartufo e vino!” I also rattled off the names of a few other towns I knew I’d be visiting—Orvieto, Montefalco, Trevi—but his puzzled gaze confirmed that I already knew more about Umbria than he did. His reaction wasn’t entirely surprising. Umbria neighbors Tuscany, which no longer requires an introduction. It’s been years since…

THE SILVER WHISPER, OUR SHIP, IS BRILLIANT WHITE, sleek of hull. We finally go aboard on a late afternoon, after spending three action-packed pre-cruise days in Hong Kong. Tonight, we’ll sleep in port. Tomorrow, at sunset, we set sail for two weeks—from Hong Kong to Vietnam, then to Bangkok, then on to Singapore. Our sixth-deck Veranda Suite may be compact, but the closet is bigger than mine in New York. And from our teak balcony we behold Hong Kong’s Symphony of Lights, a nightly hullabaloo of lasers and LEDs erupting over the feng shui–jumbled skyscrapers across Victoria Harbour. Our butler, Ram, appears—extravagantly—in black tails and white gloves. He is young, Indian, slim, and handsome, and addresses me as “Miss Anya” and my partner as “Mr. Barry.” “A butler!” I whisper…

Check out Compass online: afar.com/compass EXPERIENCE BAHAMAS Our most recent AFAR Experiences event took place in The Bahamas from June 15-16, 2018. Guests explored Nassau’s historical roots, thriving art scene, multicultural heritage, and culinary gems, making for an unforgettable two days. LATIN AMERICAN LUXURY ILTM Latin America in São Paolo (May 14-17, 2019) showcases some of the world’s best luxury travel experiences to those representing the continent’s most discerning travelers. If you are a luxury travel brand and this is your target market, find out more at www.iltmlatinamerica.com AFAR TRAVEL TALES We recently kicked off our new event series: AFAR Travel Tales, presented by the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Card from Chase. Through stories of transformative travel experiences, this special event series is designed to spark imagination, create connections, and…

My stomach knotted as I peered across the jagged mountain horizon from the top of Canada’s Little Whistler Peak. The friends who had babysat me all morning on the bunny slopes headed off to ski more difficult routes. They had assured me that there was a manageable trail to the bottom. As a teenager, I was comfortable flinging myself down intermediate runs on the mountains around Lake Tahoe. But after a 13-year hiatus from skiing, I’d lost my daredevil spirit. Somehow, I had convinced myself that conquering one of North America’s most famous mountains would be the quickest way to get over my fear. But as I looked down the narrow trail, all I could see was a wall made out of mountain on my left and a sheer cliff…

The first electric vehicles (EVs) were viewed primarily as commuter cars: small, short-range automobiles that could get you from home to the office but not far beyond, maybe 100 miles. In recent years, however, battery capacity has increased dramatically, allowing for a new fleet of EVs that can go anywhere from 250 to 350 miles before needing a charge. Tesla may grab most of the headlines, but in the next two years, other manufacturers, including Volkswagen, Ford, and Volvo, will release larger, long-range cars perfect for a road trip. Winnebago even has an electric RV in the works. “It’s going to take many years for the average American to have a large-size, fully electric car,” says Gil Tal, the research director of the Plug-in Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Research Center…

This fall, Live Aqua is opening its newest property, in Mexico’s beloved colonial town of San Miguel de Allende. The 153-room Live Aqua Urban Resort embodies the best of San Miguel, known for its colorful buildings and cobblestoned streets. Just as Live Aqua combines a contemporary attitude with Mexican style, this picturesque colonial town—located about four hours by car from Mexico City—boasts an ever-growing array of world-class restaurants and a lively cultural scene. As with most colonial towns in Mexico, life in San Miguel de Allende is centered around a main square, here known as Jardín Allende. In addition to sidewalk cafés and craft shops, you’ll find downtown’s most recognizable landmark: the towering 17th-century Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, known for its neo-Gothic facade. An aimless stroll starting from the…

1. AdventureWomen New itineraries for 2019 include a 17-day trek to Everest Base Camp and a cycling tour alongside olive groves and the Mediterranean Sea in Puglia, Italy. adventurewomen.com 2. Intrepid Travel New women’s expeditions include hikes in the Atlas Mountains with Morocco’s first female mountaineering guide and intimate trips in Jordan with local Bedouin women, who teach guests how to apply henna and kohl. intrepidtravel.com 3. REI Adventures A nine-day Greek island–hopping trip and a kayaking tour of Washington’s San Juan Islands are among REI Adventures’ women-only itineraries. Coming in 2019: backpacking in Yellowstone National Park and kayaking in the Carolinas. rei.com/adventures 4. Wild Women Expeditions By 2019, choose from 200 tours in 25 countries. Bathe rescued elephants in northern Thailand or live like a gaucho riding criollo horses…

start exploring now! Luxury Meets Adventure Crystal Cruises has long set the standard when it comes to luxury cruises, and the cruise line will soon bring its exceptional style to the world of expedition cruises as well. The 100-suite Crystal Endeavor sets sail in August 2020, and this new purpose-built polar-class ship’s maiden sailings are sure to sell out. Beginning on October 29, AFAR Journeys provides a look at some of Crystal Yacht Expeditions’ itineraries—including the Russian Far East, the islands of Japan, and Antarctica—and how to customize these exclusive cruises to meet your personal travel style. afar.com/journeys/crystal…

Gillian Tans wants Booking.com to be more than a site for travel transactions. Since she was named CEO two years ago, she has transformed the 22-year-old company’s mindset. “We changed our mission,” she says. “[We want] to empower people to experience the world.” For visitors to Booking.com, that means that in addition to hotel listings, they’ll also find local highlights (such as beaches and under-the-radar landmarks) and a wider range of lodging options, such as farm stays and luxury tents. But more work is happening behind the scenes, where Tans is shaping our future travel experiences. “When we changed our mission,” Tans explains, “we actively thought about how we can make sure the world remains worth exploring.” That means protecting the environment, encouraging ethical travel, and making travel accessible to…

1. Deruta In Umbria, the platter on which you serve a dish is as important as the food. Majolica, among the world’s most iconic hand-painted ceramic dishware, can be found in the ancient Umbrian town of Deruta, where locals have manufactured intricately patterned plates, mugs, and bowls for the last 600 years. See 11th-century kilns at the Museo Regionale della Ceramica di Deruta, located in a restored convent. Then visit legendary workshops, including Ubaldo Grazia and Patrizio Chiucchiù, which is known for its one-of-a-kind lusterware (metallic) pieces. 2. Fattoria Il Secondo Altopiano Husband-and-wife duo Emanuele La Barbera and Alessandra Rabitti are among the few goat-cheese makers in Umbria. On a 37-acre organic farm in the Orvieto countryside, they raise 60 goats. Emanuele, who taught himself the craft from French cheese…

“New Zealand Splendors” Seabourn New Zealand is well suited to coastal exploration via cruise ship, but the country tends to get looped in on itineraries that focus more on Australia. Seabourn bucks the trend with two new 16-night New Zealand–centric runs aboard the 600-passenger Seabourn Encore. Sailing round-trip from Auckland, you’ll make about a dozen stops within the country and have the chance to take expedition-style excursions—perhaps a guided kayak and Zodiac outing near Oban, a tiny fishing town on Stewart Island known for its resident brown kiwis. Embarks Jan. 6, Feb. 23, 2019. From $6,299 per person. seabourn.com “Portuguese Pursuit” Azamara Club Cruises Two 17-night itineraries aboard the 690-passenger Azamara Pursuit traverse the Atlantic Ocean between Lisbon and Rio de Janeiro and explore Portuguese history and heritage. On a…