<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Vacations That Give Feed</title><link>https://vacationsthatgive.gttwl2.com/</link><description>A feed about blogs, place, products and testimonials etc.</description><copyright>2026 vacationsthatgive.gttwl2.com All rights reserved</copyright><ttl>1800</ttl><item><guid isPermaLink="false">77d99b41-cbb8-43b7-846a-6e8bb7c5c95c</guid><title>Why This Mexican Mountain Town Keeps Getting Voted &#39;Best Small City In The World&#39;</title><link>https://vacationsthatgive.gttwl2.com/blog/why-this-mexican-mountain-town-keeps-getting-voted-best-small-city-in-the-world</link><description>&lt;div&gt;When you think of Mexico, famous beach towns may come first to mind. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;But Mexico is more than its coasts.&amp;nbsp;And one place, the ‘Heart of Mexico’, half a day’s drive northwest of Mexico City in the Colonial Highlands, has again been named ‘Best Small City in the World’*.&amp;nbsp;It’s just the latest recognition of the charms of San Miguel de Allende.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;6000 feet above sea level in Mexico’s high sierra, with cool, comfortable temperatures and clear mountain air, it’s a far cry from the country’s beach atmosphere – and lifestyle.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Every winter, Canadians, Americans and Europeans flock to San Miguel.&amp;nbsp;Many have second or permanent homes in the city. And it’s more than climate that draws them.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;World Heritage&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Founded in the 1500’s by a Franciscan monk, San Miguel’s core retains its historic streetscape and a sweeping collection of masterpieces of Mexican Baroque architecture – some considered the best in the country.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In San Miguel, Spanish colonial, indigenous and Creole influences converged in a melting pot and a truly one-of-a-kind culture that honors both European and Latin American heritage.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;San Miguel’s colonial center has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. More than individual buildings, the entire neighborhood is preserved so that cathedrals and homes, shops, and public buildings are maintained in their original form.&amp;nbsp;The area preserves its heritage status by insisting even commercial signage doesn’t intrude on the historic atmosphere.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn1.gttwl.net/attachments/Screen_Shot_2020_10_22_at_9_12_44_AM_63770591679830622.png&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;History Meets Lifestyle&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Part of San Miguel’s charm is that it’s a terrifically walkable city.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Wear sensible shoes to wander cobblestone and flagstone narrow streets lined with tile-roofed homes in brilliant hues of yellows, oranges and reds, the grander architectural marvels that integrate heavy wooden doors, arches and wrought iron, shady parks full of playing children and local food vendors, and plazas that frame architectural delights and provide a gathering place for residents and visitors today.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Cafes and restaurants and vendors line the streets and plazas to fulfill your appetite for a café con leche or simple, inexpensive taco… all the way to inventive international cuisine that caters to the global tastes of San Miguel’s expat community.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn1.gttwl.net/attachments/Screen_Shot_2020_10_22_at_8_54_55_AM_63770590554117103.png&quot;&gt;Nearly a third of the hotels considered best in Mexico are in San Miguel, including a perennial first place winner, the Rosewood San Miguel with its famous rooftop terrace overlooking the city – especially magical at night when the monuments are lit!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn1.gttwl.net/attachments/Screen_Shot_2020_10_22_at_8_57_22_AM_63770590726204490.png&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Artists’ Colony&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It was WW2 that put San Miguel on the map for foreign visitors and residents. After the war, US veterans covered by the GI Bill started coming to the city to study in its noteworthy school of fine arts, the Allende Institute. Artists, musicians, a host of culture creators took root in San Miguel, as well as expats and travelers who supported the growing cultural community.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Today, San Miguel still has a famously rich arts scene, based on a critical mass of thriving art galleries, an abundance of live music and theater, and an engaged community that participates and supports the city’s unique creative lifestyle.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;That also makes San Miguel a famous shopping destination, especially for modern and folkloric art, so plan ahead with space in your luggage!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn1.gttwl.net/attachments/Screen_Shot_2020_10_22_at_8_53_03_AM_63770590425150676.png&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Get Out of Town&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;In the area surrounding San Miguel, you’ll find ranch hacienda wineries and even be able to follow a wine route, discover a village that’s the cradle of Mexican independence and taste its famous ice cream in some unheard-of flavors, relax in natural thermal pools, as well as explore other artists’ colonies and cultural centers with festivals and shows that fill the calendar of residents and visitors to the Mexican Highlands.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn1.gttwl.net/attachments/Screen_Shot_2020_10_22_at_8_51_32_AM_63770590349203712.png&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;h3&gt;#DreamNowTravelSoon&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em&gt;*San Miguel de Allende was named “Best Small City in the World” in the 2013, 2017, 2018 and 2020 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards; over 700,000 readers cast votes pre-COVID to determine 2020&#39;s awards.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em&gt;Images courtesy &lt;/em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://visitsanmiguel.com/&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Visit San Miguel&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em style=&quot;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&quot;&gt;Copyright BestTrip.TV/Influence Entertainment Group Inc or Rights Holder. All rights reserved. You are welcome to share this material from this page, but it may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 20 22:18:56 +0000</pubDate><category>Sightseeing</category><image>
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  <title>Why This Mexican Mountain Town Keeps Getting Voted &#39;Best Small City In The World&#39;</title>
  <link>https://vacationsthatgive.gttwl2.com/blog/why-this-mexican-mountain-town-keeps-getting-voted-best-small-city-in-the-world</link>
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</item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">50b0f48c-a2f0-4f21-82b2-a64385783a1a</guid><title>Mount Fuji and 3 Other Mountains You Need to Visit in Japan</title><link>https://vacationsthatgive.gttwl2.com/blog/mount-fuji-and-3-other-mountains-you-need-to-visit-in-japan</link><description>&lt;h3&gt;France has the Eiffel Tower. The U.S. has the Statue of Liberty.&amp;nbsp;But the visual shorthand for Japan is not man-made.&amp;nbsp;It’s Mount Fuji.&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;h3&gt;The Japanese archipelago is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.&amp;nbsp;Chains of volcanic mountain ranges form the spine of the Japanese islands, and mountains have assumed immense cultural and spiritual significance over the millennia.&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Nearly every population center is associated with one or more mountains, where forests of bamboo, Japanese cypress or maple, and fields of wild flowers like azaleas have provided the Japanese with the opportunity to commune with nature.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Japanese culture even has a phrase: &lt;strong&gt;‘shinrin-yoku’, or ‘forest bathing’&lt;/strong&gt; to describe the national practice of interacting with natural spaces and enjoying physical and spiritual benefits.&amp;nbsp;It’s almost always associated with mountain terrain.&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Fuji-San&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;And the grand-daddy of them all is Mount Fuji.&amp;nbsp;Other peaks have names like Asama-yama,&amp;nbsp;using the word ‘yama’ meaning mountain (in English we’d say: Mount Asama). But you would never say ‘Fuji-yama’.&amp;nbsp;Fuji is an almost human character in the fabric of Japanese culture, and is given the personal honorific title: Fuji-san.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;At 3,776 meters (nearly 12,500 ft), its peak is &lt;strong&gt;the highest point in the country&lt;/strong&gt;. Its form is spectacular in almost-perfect volcanic symmetry, dramatically snow-capped nearly half of the year.&amp;nbsp;And unlike many mountains in Japan, Mount Fuji rises from flat plains and so is perfectly framed to be viewed from several stunning vantage points.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn1.gttwl.net/attachments/Screen_Shot_2020_09_24_at_9_40_09_AM_63768174072922672.png&quot; style=&quot;display: block; margin: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Only 100 km (60 miles) south-west of Tokyo, Mount Fuji acquired national significance when early Tokyo became the capital hundreds of years ago.&amp;nbsp;Poetry was written praising its beauty, which was captured by countless generations of Japanese artists. Mount Fuji became one of the earliest images of Japan to other countries and the West.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Fuji-san is considered a holy mountain in Japan&lt;/strong&gt;, and for centuries, people have been making pilgrimages to the summit.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Hundreds of thousands of Japanese climb Fuji every year, and many visitors to the country join them.&amp;nbsp;There are a number of trails to the summit.&amp;nbsp;They all have 10 stations, and most people start at the 5&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; station, the last point where vehicles can reach.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;You can look at hiking Mount Fuji from a purely active-travel point of view, to say you’ve done it, and to enjoy the experience and the view from the top.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;But to make the climb the spiritual experience the Japanese seek, do as most Japanese do, which is make the 7-hour or so &lt;strong&gt;climb during the night to be at the summit as the first, pure rays of the sun illuminate the peak.&amp;nbsp;Sun rise&lt;/strong&gt; is symbolic in Japanese culture (the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’).&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The spiritual approach adds meaning to the historic shrines and teahouses, stone monkey guards at the entrance of the main, Yoshida trail, and the monuments at each historic station on the way up erected by followers of the local, Fuji-ko faith. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mount Asama, Nagano&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;It’s one of Japan’s most active volcanoes.&amp;nbsp;You can almost always see smoke curling into the air from Mount Asama, in the Northern Japanese Alps in the prefecture that hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn1.gttwl.net/attachments/Screen_Shot_2020_09_24_at_9_41_58_AM_63768174239794620.png&quot; style=&quot;display: block; margin: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;A bonus of a hike up Mount Asama is that most people start from the chic, forested, summer-retreat town of &lt;strong&gt;Karuizawa&lt;/strong&gt;. Japan’s Imperial Family have their summer home there, and other elite Japanese have followed their lead, making it a stylish vacation destination as well as a cool retreat from sweltering summer heat in nearby Tokyo.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The 4 hour climb to the summit takes you through cool, dense forests in the lower ranges, then above the tree line where the view opens up in a spectacular way.&amp;nbsp;After your hike, an outdoor natural hot springs located at the trailhead is the perfect way to ease any climbing aches away in the fresh mountain air at 2000 meters (6500 feet)!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn1.gttwl.net/attachments/Screen_Shot_2020_09_24_at_9_42_13_AM_63768174183045449.png&quot; style=&quot;display: block; margin: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;One of the most unforgettable experiences at Mount Asama is in the wake of its massive, 1783 eruption.&amp;nbsp;In addition to a Buddhist temple in memory of those who perished, the lava field is now a park. It is like a sci-fi movie set, where trails take you through a ‘forest’ of stark and jagged lava formations and superb views of the volcano in the background.&amp;nbsp;The park is memorably named &lt;strong&gt;Onioshidashi, ‘The Place Where the Devils Emerged from the Earth’. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Shiretoko Mountains, Hokkaido&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;While the southern parts of Japan are tropical, its northern island prefecture, Hokkaido, is more like Russia and Alaska at similar distances above the equator.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Shiretoko Mountains are the feature of a National Park known for its unspoiled beauty, variety of wildlife and its drifting sea ice where visitors can take &lt;strong&gt;ice walk tours&lt;/strong&gt; in winter. As sea ice drifts along the peninsula, brave visitors walk along a seeming conveyor belt of ice - with a few polar dips in between!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn1.gttwl.net/attachments/Kamuiwakka_1_63768174434913037.jpeg?fm=webp&quot; width=&quot;521&quot; style=&quot;display: block; margin: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The park itself is dotted with hot springs. One very special hot spring phenomenon is &lt;strong&gt;Kamuiwakka Hot Waterfall&lt;/strong&gt;, a unique cascade of hot water at the river’s head that can only be reached by foot. Visitors wade through warm water that increases in temperature higher up the river. Walking over waterfalls and upstream feels like discovering unexplored, mystical emerald-green terrain, and your final reward is the source of this hot shower called ‘Water of the Gods’ in the local indigenous Ainu language. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: rgb(38, 40, 42);&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mount Aso, Kumamoto&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Japan’s largest active volcano&lt;/strong&gt; looks downright tame, covered in a smooth rolling layer of green felt. Mount Aso’s 100km (60 mile) caldera is one of the world’s largest, and there are several smaller volcanoes inside.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn1.gttwl.net/attachments/Mt_Aso_1_63768174393407313.jpeg?fm=webp&quot; width=&quot;540&quot; style=&quot;display: block; margin: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Like most active Japanese volcanoes, you need to check before you go if you hope to climb. Mount Aso’s peaks are occasionally closed due to volcanic activity. Helicopter tours are a popular way to view the steaming crater. And the nearby Aso Volcano Museum explains the volcano’s activity and its status in Japan as a deity. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;A bonus of a trip to the area is the chance to see local&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Akaushi&amp;nbsp;cattle&lt;/em&gt;, prized for their high-quality wagyu (‘Kobe beef’)&lt;/strong&gt;, freely roaming the plains. It’s one of the few places in Japan where you can go horseback riding, along trails that ribbon the picturesque landscape. You might be a little sore after your ride, but no worries, because the volcanic activity means the area has many hot springs Two are inside Mount Aso’s crater itself!&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Japanese, like mountain cultures the world over, associate peaks, fresh mountain air, and outdoor activity with purity and good health.&amp;nbsp;In the aftermath of a global pandemic, mountain escapes have a special resonance. A trip to Japan focusing on its revered alpine experiences is a spiritual and wellness journey for the times. &lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;#DreamNowTravelSoon&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em&gt;Mount Fuji images courtesy of JNTO;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em&gt;Mount Asama image courtesu of JNTO;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em&gt;Kumiwakka courtesy of JNTO; &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em&gt;Mount Aso image: Tom Vining, Unsplash&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em style=&quot;color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;Copyright BestTrip.TV/Influence Entertainment Group Inc or Rights Holder. All rights reserved. You are welcome to share this material from this page, but it may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 20 22:12:50 +0000</pubDate><category>Outdoor Activities</category><image>
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  <title>Mount Fuji and 3 Other Mountains You Need to Visit in Japan</title>
  <link>https://vacationsthatgive.gttwl2.com/blog/mount-fuji-and-3-other-mountains-you-need-to-visit-in-japan</link>
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</item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">83bd129d-00ef-4608-9177-896d342c7795</guid><title>3 Hallowe&#39;en Traditions With Roots in Ancient Celtic Ireland</title><link>https://vacationsthatgive.gttwl2.com/blog/3-hallowe-en-traditions-with-roots-in-ancient-celtic-ireland</link><description>&lt;div&gt;Frightful Hallowe’en is many people’s top holiday of the year – but did you know that we can thank ancient Ireland for our favorite Hallowe’en traditions?&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Travel to Ireland these days, and you’ll still be able to connect with the origins of Celtic culture that still swirl in the mists of time in Ireland’s Ancient East.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Today’s Hallowe’en is the descendent of the Celtic festival of Samhain (Sow-ann). The celebrations included feasting on the harvest and lighting fires to mark the end of the season of light, and welcome the days of darkness.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Irish practice of lighting bonfires began on hilltops in Ireland 3000 years ago, with clans and communities gathering to light huge ceremonial Samhain fires.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn1.gttwl.net/attachments/Screen_Shot_2020_10_19_at_3_45_09_PM_63770355943327590.png&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;One of the biggest Celtic festivals of fire was on a hilltop called Hill of Ward in today’s County Meath. Recent archaeological excavations suggest the hill was used for feasting and celebration over 2,000 years ago. What’s more, it was the grandmother of all fires; old manuscripts reveal that the Celts lit a fire here from which all the fires in Ireland were rekindled.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn1.gttwl.net/attachments/Screen_Shot_2020_10_19_at_3_46_22_PM_63770356009384432.png&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;To this day the area around the Hill of Ward, and the nearby Hill of Tara (pictured above) where the High Kings of Ireland ruled, remains one of the centers of Irish Halloween traditions.&amp;nbsp;Every year, a 21&lt;sup&gt;st&lt;/sup&gt; century celebration of Samhain, called the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pucafestival.com/&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Púca Festival,&lt;/a&gt; is held in the region.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Celebrating Ireland as the birthplace of Halloween, Púca events normally include an impressive re-enactment of the symbolic lighting of the Samhain fire, live music and performance, amazing light installations and more. (This year the celebrations will be virtual, with a broadcast of the lighting of the Samhain fires due to take place on 31&amp;nbsp;October.)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Dress Up&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;That period&amp;nbsp;of seasonal metamorphosis involved more than changing hours of light and darkness&amp;nbsp;and lighting of fires for the ancient Celts.&amp;nbsp;They believed that the moment of transition allowed the worlds of the living and the dead to interact – and that shape-shifting spirits could move between worlds.&amp;nbsp;Starting to sound familiar?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;To avoid being pulled into the netherworld in an untimely way, Celts disguised themselves in costumes.&amp;nbsp;That would create confusion and even scare off any ghosts, fairies, goblins or demons roaming this world.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Hallowe’en dress up today may involve superheroes and video game characters – but its origins lay in deceptive and even frightening disguises.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn1.gttwl.net/attachments/Screen_Shot_2020_10_19_at_3_43_53_PM_63770355865125749.png&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Jack-o-Lanterns&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Whatever face you choose to carve into your Hallowe’en pumpkin, you’re following an Irish tradition with New World materials. Before pumpkins existed in Europe, turnips and even large potatoes were hollowed out and carved to serve as lanterns.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Even the name Jack-o-lantern has its origins in and Irish folktale. As the story goes, a man named Stingy Jack played a trick on the Devil, who punished Jack, cursing him to wander all of Eternity with only a burning ember from the everlasting fires of Hell inside a turnip to light his way.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;When Irish immigrants brought Hallowe’en traditions, including the jack-o-lantern, with them to North America, they discovered much larger and already-hollowed-out pumpkins and other winter squashes here that made bigger, better and much easier lanterns than turnips!&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Trick or Treat&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;In old Ireland, it was called ‘souling’. Children and the poor went from door to door, offering songs or prayers for the dead in exchange for money, kindling for fires, or food.&amp;nbsp;The common food treat was a ‘soul cake’: a flatbread that contained fruit.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Today, the Irish celebrate Hallowe’en much like we do, with costumes and visits to neighborhood homes for small gifts of candy, fruit and money.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;But as we enjoy activities we see as fun diversions and cute child’s play, we can also remember their mystical origins in ancient Celtic Ireland.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;#DreamNowTravelSoon&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em&gt;Images courtesy &lt;/em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.ireland.com&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Ireland.com&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em style=&quot;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&quot;&gt;﻿Copyright BestTrip.TV/Influence Entertainment Group Inc or Rights Holder. All rights reserved. You are welcome to share this material from this page, but it may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 20 22:09:27 +0000</pubDate><category>Local Events</category><image>
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  <title>3 Hallowe&#39;en Traditions With Roots in Ancient Celtic Ireland</title>
  <link>https://vacationsthatgive.gttwl2.com/blog/3-hallowe-en-traditions-with-roots-in-ancient-celtic-ireland</link>
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</item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">d006188c-db90-404b-b225-faee14daa6db</guid><title>Top 4 Places In The World To Go Hot Air Ballooning </title><link>https://vacationsthatgive.gttwl2.com/blog/top-4-places-in-the-world-to-go-hot-air-ballooning</link><description>&lt;div&gt;Imagine yourself silently drifting along under colourful silk, cradled in a giant basket. You’re part of the breeze and Nature as you tranquilly float on the air over undisturbed scenery below. Your pilot lets the heat in the balloon drop to silently lower you closer to your birds’ eye view… then lifts you to majestic heights over an unforgettable panorama. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;As epic as your photos will be, they will never match the reality of your experience.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;If that is your idea of a bucket list trip, here are 4 of the most magical hot air balloon destinations in the world to make that travel dream come true.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/h2&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Cappadocia, Turkey&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;A hot air balloon ride is so much established as the best way to experience Cappadocia (pictured top), virtually every photo of this region in Turkey features balloons wafting over its legendary chimney rock formations.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Millennia past, the limestone rocks near the town of Goreme eroded into a landscape of fairy spires and pillars. Early people carved subterranean villages with homes, churches and monasteries out of the soft stone formations. Possibly inspired by the mystical atmosphere, it became a monastic center 2500 years ago. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Extraordinary at ground level, the site is other-worldly from the perspective of a hot air balloon drifting across countless minaret-like formations at sunrise. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn1.gttwl.net/attachments/Screen_Shot_2020_10_21_at_6_40_10_PM_63770539246294499.png&quot; style=&quot;display: block; margin: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;The Serengeti&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Dreaming of an African safari?&amp;nbsp;Make sure to add a hot air balloon ride to your trip of a lifetime to Kenya or Tanzania. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Even if you log all of Africa’s ‘Big Five’ list of iconic wildlife that includes the elephant, lion, rhino, leopard and Cape buffalo… as well as other exotic creatures like zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, chimps and gazelles from the back of your guide’s Range Rover, don’t miss the scenes of the Serengeti from the perspective of a hot air balloon.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Floating silently – without alerting or disturbing the animals – over the grasslands and canopy gives you the purest way to experience Nature’s wonders below. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Take a hot air balloon ride in Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya or the Serengeti National Park across the border in Tanzania between July and October, during the Great migration of gazelles, zebras and wildebeests, and be a witness to the incredible scale of this pre-historic phenomenon.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn1.gttwl.net/attachments/Screen_Shot_2020_10_21_at_6_43_51_PM_63770539470620208.png&quot; style=&quot;display: block; margin: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;New Mexico&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;They say it’s the biggest hot air balloon race and festival in the world. For over a week every October, Albuquerque becomes the epicenter of the world of ballooning when it’s taken over by hundreds of hot air balloons during the &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.balloonfiesta.com/&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt;.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Whether you’re lucky enough to be in a basket or observing from the ground, you’ll thrill at some of the highlights of the festival. Don’t miss one of the simultaneous ‘mass ascents’ of hundreds of colourful balloons against piercing blue skies.&amp;nbsp;There are even races - although balloons ‘ride the wind’ and therefore travel the same speed as the wind, pilot expertise can influence speed.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Year round, you can hire local hot air balloon pilots for your own ride over the mountain and desert landscape over the Rio Grande Valley. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn1.gttwl.net/attachments/Screen_Shot_2020_10_21_at_6_45_24_PM_63770539566450775.png&quot; style=&quot;display: block; margin: auto;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Bagan, Myanmar&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Incredibly, there are said to be 5000 temples, monasteries and pagodas built between the 11&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; and 13&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; centuries dotting the plains of Bagan. It was the capitol of a number of ancient kingdoms in this South-East Asian country and is a UNESCO World Heritage site today.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;A sunrise hot air balloon ascent at Bagan gives you a breathtaking vista as the ruins glow golden.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It’s also the best way to get a sense of the astonishing scale of this archaeological wonder and the civilization that created it. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/h2&gt;&lt;h3&gt;#DreamNowTravelSoon&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/h2&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em&gt;Images: Getty&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;em&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em style=&quot;color: black;&quot;&gt;Copyright BestTrip.TV/Influence Entertainment Group Inc or Rights Holder. All rights reserved. You are welcome to share this material from this page, but it may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 20 22:09:19 +0000</pubDate><category>Outdoor Activities</category><image>
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  <title>Top 4 Places In The World To Go Hot Air Ballooning </title>
  <link>https://vacationsthatgive.gttwl2.com/blog/top-4-places-in-the-world-to-go-hot-air-ballooning</link>
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</item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">0795c04e-9c28-4b22-be50-0bd395db0df3</guid><title>A New &#39;Species&#39; of Extreme Thrill Ride: the &#39;VelociCoaster&#39; Takes &#39;Flight&#39; in Orlando</title><link>https://vacationsthatgive.gttwl2.com/blog/a-new-species-of-extreme-thrill-ride-the-velocicoaster-takes-flight-in-orlando</link><description>&lt;div&gt;Florida’s fastest and tallest coaster – along with a pack of fierce Velociraptors – will be unleashed at Universal Orlando Resort in 2021. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;If you – or the kids in your life – have seen all the movies and fantasize about visiting Jurassic Park and its fierce dinosaurs, the &lt;strong&gt;Jurassic World VelociCoaster will &lt;/strong&gt;bring the movies to life in a coaster ride that will take your breath away.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It’s a new ‘species’ of roller coaster, with a series of intense maneuvers that will send you and your family catapulting up to 70 mph and more than 150 feet in the air with the swiftest of prehistoric predators.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Jurassic World VelociCoaster is the world’s first roller coaster based on the blockbuster dino movie series.&amp;nbsp;It features its own original story that spins off from the creatures, thrills and environments on the big screen.&amp;nbsp;You’ll join the original cast – Chris Pratt as Owen Grady, Bryce Dallas Howard as Claire Dearing and BD Wong as Dr. Henry Wu – as you embark on a high-speed chase and feel the rush of the hunt while racing alongside a darting pack of Velociraptors.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Opening at Orlando’s Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park, the Jurassic World VelociCoaster soars to new heights in extreme roller coaster design.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Coasting over more than 4,700 feet of track and reaching heights of up to 155 feet, the coaster’s one-of-a-kind maneuvers will have you twisting and soaring above land, barrel rolling just inches above water, speeding through near-misses and launches in the paddock, and more first-ever maneuvers. All within a Jurassic World environment. You’ll:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Accelerate through two pulse-pounding launches, the fastest reaching 70 mph in 2.4 seconds&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Take a 360-degree barrel roll right above the Islands of Adventure lagoon&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Experience a zero-gravity inverted stall that will send you upside down across 100 feet of track in a jaw-dropping, first-of-its-kind maneuver&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Go airborne during the towering “Top Hat,” which propels riders 155 feet in the air and then immediately plummets into an 80 degree drop – it’s the steepest Universal drop to date&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Brace for a total of 12 heart-pounding seconds of airtime – with the thrilling sensation of weightlessness lifted from your seat – throughout the adventure.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn1.gttwl.net/attachments/Screen_Shot_2020_11_12_at_8_23_36_AM_63772406840378653.png&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;This edge-of-your-seat, dino-engineering marvel is the latest addition to Jurassic Park at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Only in this immersive land can the Jurassic fans in your life come face-to-face with life-size dinosaurs in incredible theme park experiences, including Jurassic Park River Adventure, where a leisure raft ride turns into a daring eight-story plunge to escape a ferocious T. Rex; and Raptor Encounter, where you can get up-close to Velociraptor Blue and the newest additions to the paddock – baby raptors – while learning more about the clever carnivores.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;If immersion into the world of this epic film franchise – or an extreme roller coaster experience – fits your family’s vacation dreams, Jurassic Park at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure should jump to the top of your travel list.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Other members of the family will find their own thrills in one of the other two theme parks in the trio of Universal Orlando destinations. Universal Studios Florida is home to the technologically-advanced stunt show, The Bourne Stuntacular; and Universal’s Volcano Bay is a tropical oasis that features an actual beach right in the middle of Orlando.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;#DreamNowTravelSoon&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em&gt;Images courtesy Universal Orlando&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em style=&quot;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&quot;&gt;Copyright BestTrip.TV/Influence Entertainment Group Inc or Rights Holder. All rights reserved. You are welcome to share this material from this page, but it may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 20 22:06:55 +0000</pubDate><category>Outdoor Activities</category><image>
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  <title>A New &#39;Species&#39; of Extreme Thrill Ride: the &#39;VelociCoaster&#39; Takes &#39;Flight&#39; in Orlando</title>
  <link>https://vacationsthatgive.gttwl2.com/blog/a-new-species-of-extreme-thrill-ride-the-velocicoaster-takes-flight-in-orlando</link>
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</item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">6dcd7558-b689-4d07-8646-8345c4402a58</guid><title>There&#39;s a New Moon on the Horizon - a Silver Moon</title><link>https://vacationsthatgive.gttwl2.com/blog/theres-a-new-moon-on-the-horizon-a-silver-moon</link><description>&lt;div&gt;October was an extraordinary month for stargazers and amateur astronomers.&amp;nbsp;One single month saw two full moons: a Harvest moon and a rare, second full moon – a blue moon. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;But one other moon appeared in October too – &lt;strong&gt;Silversea’s Silver Moon.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;ql-cursor&quot;&gt;﻿&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Sister ship to the ultra-luxury cruise line’s Silver Muse, it’s the 9&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; vessel for Silversea, and its second new ship to overcome the unprecedented challenges of 2020 to launch this year.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Over 1,000 craftspeople labored in Italy to bring the Silver Moon to life. The 600-guest ship follows in the lines of her sister ship the Silver Muse, celebrating small-ship intimacy and understated, modern Italian luxury that’s loved by sophisticated North American guests.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn1.gttwl.net/attachments/Screen_Shot_2020_11_12_at_9_56_29_AM_63772412252630089.png&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Expanding the Indoors Outdoors, and Re-imagining Favorite Public Spaces&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Silver Moon builds on the successes of the Muse in her public spaces, in many cases incorporating new outdoor spaces to maximize guests’ true maritime experience.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;·&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Guest-favorite &lt;strong&gt;indoor gathering space, Dolce Vita&lt;/strong&gt;, (above) has an updated layout – with the bar repositioned to the center of the space and focal point of shipboard social life: a sophisticated bar by day and atmospheric piano bar in the evenings.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;·&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Silversea’s signature restaurant and salute to &lt;strong&gt;classic French cuisine, La Dame&lt;/strong&gt; has been enlarged on the Silver Moon and enriched with custom-designed Lalique crystal panels, as well as an option for lovers of fine dining to indulge outdoors in the sea air.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;·&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;Kaiseki, where guests enjoy the spectacle of expert sushi chefs&lt;/strong&gt; in action preparing delectable, seasonally-inspired Japanese and Asian cuisine, has elevated, while still minimalist design on the Moon.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;·&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Those who enjoy &lt;strong&gt;a cigar and a snifter will find a new Wintergarden area&lt;/strong&gt; in Connoisseur’s Corner that extends the sophisticated club atmosphere into a sheltered and inviting outdoor space.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn1.gttwl.net/attachments/Screen_Shot_2020_11_12_at_10_14_15_AM_63772413335503480.png&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Suite Life – Silversea Style&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Spacious all-suite, all-butler-serviced accommodations are hallmarks of the Silversea experience. Soothing luxe décor, materials and amenities embrace guests in comfort, and dedicated butlers, stocked in-suite bar, 24-hour in-suite dining make your suite on the Silver Moon feel even better than home.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;S.A.L.T. Program: Immersive Culinary Enrichment&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;One tremendous innovation in the Silversea cruising lifestyle is debuting aboard Silver Moon.&amp;nbsp;The line’s new culinary enrichment programme S.A.L.T. is an acronym of ‘Sea and Land Taste’, and it gives guests the opportunity to explore a range of destination-focused gastronomic experiences—both on-board and ashore.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Three new venues form a hub of culinary discovery on Deck 4 of the Silver Moon as part of the S.A.L.T. program:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;• &lt;strong&gt;S.A.L.T. Kitchen&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;is among the largest of eight restaurants aboard Silver Moon. It’s the first large-scale regional restaurant aboard a luxury cruise ship, offering a menu that changes with the destination and a regionally inspired wine list;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;• &lt;strong&gt;S.A.L.T. Lab&lt;/strong&gt; is a test kitchen where guests learn about local ingredients and artisanal techniques, through insightful workshops, tastings, and demonstrations; and&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;• &lt;strong&gt;S.A.L.T. Bar&lt;/strong&gt; allows guests to sample the most authentic flavours of the destination, through a large selection of regional wines, spirits, and other drinks.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn1.gttwl.net/attachments/Screen_Shot_2020_11_12_at_9_54_52_AM_63772412144155615.png&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Silversea’s newest of its Muse-class ships is both the pinnacle of advances in luxury cruise travel in the 21&lt;sup&gt;st&lt;/sup&gt; century and a symbol of the resilience of the hard-hit cruise industry.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;#DreamNowTravelSoon&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em&gt;Images courtesy Silversea&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em style=&quot;color: black;&quot;&gt;Copyright BestTrip.TV/Influence Entertainment Group Inc or Rights Holder. All rights reserved. You are welcome to share this material from this page, but it may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 20 22:06:39 +0000</pubDate><category>Luxury</category><image>
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  <title>There&#39;s a New Moon on the Horizon - a Silver Moon</title>
  <link>https://vacationsthatgive.gttwl2.com/blog/theres-a-new-moon-on-the-horizon-a-silver-moon</link>
</image>
</item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">03d7d5c1-3a1e-45ea-a5a7-205ff424bf1e</guid><title>The Latest Cruise Line To Go &#39;All-Inclusive&#39;</title><link>https://vacationsthatgive.gttwl2.com/blog/the-latest-cruise-line-to-go-all-inclusive</link><description>&lt;div&gt;Nothing is more luxurious than when things are extra simple and extra special. Now you can have that wonderful feeling that ‘everything is taken care of’ on your next big-ship cruise.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Celebrity Cruises has unveiled a new ‘Always Included’ program.&amp;nbsp;Instead of differing promotions and packages,&amp;nbsp;the cruise line is including unlimited drinks, unlimited wi-fi and even daily tips on all new bookings except its Galapagos itineraries.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;This new, all-inclusive approach is making waves in cruising. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Travelers have gotten used to all inclusive beach resorts. But in cruising, ‘all inclusive’ has only been found at the very top end of ultra luxury lines with small and mid-sized ships.&amp;nbsp;Silversea, Seabourn, Crystal Cruises, Scenic, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Atlas Ocean Voyages launching in 2021, are among those ultra-luxury cruise lines that include wine and spirits, gratuities, internet, and in some cases, specialty restaurants, butler service, even flights and shore excursions.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;With ‘Always Included’, Celebrity Cruises is knocking on the door of that exclusive club.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In Celebrity’s case, there are additional variations in the all-inclusive experience on the line.&amp;nbsp;‘Always Included’ is the base level of all-inclusive lifestyle. The ‘Elevate’ package expands to include unlimited premium drinks and adds some shore excursions, while the ‘Indulge’ package tops up ‘Elevate’ even further with unlimited streaming Wi-Fi, as well as onboard spending money.&amp;nbsp;And all guests in the ‘Retreat’ ‘luxury ship within a ship’, all-suite area with private restaurant, lounge, and sundeck, automatically receive ‘Indulge’ level of all-inclusive amenities.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It’s part of Celebrity’s mission to redefine ‘modern luxury’ cruising lifestyle on a big ship level.&amp;nbsp;And it coincides with the launch of the second of its new, 3000-guest ‘Edge’ class of ships.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The brand-new Celebrity Apex has just arrived in Florida, joining its sister ship the Celebrity Edge. Both are easily recognizable with their distinctive, phenomenal ‘Magic Carpet’ (pictured, top),&amp;nbsp;a cantilevered, bright-orange venue suspended off the side of the ship that travels up and down to different decks, acting as a lounge, restaurant, or even tender embarkation center.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Focus on leading-edge, contemporary design, an upscale, on-trend resort atmosphere and lifestyle that’s now all-inclusive… all combine into Celebrity Cruises’ version of ‘New Luxury’.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;#DreamNowTravelSoon&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em&gt;Image courtesy Celebrity Cruises. &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em style=&quot;color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;Copyright BestTrip.TV/Influence Entertainment Group Inc or Rights Holder. All rights reserved. You are welcome to share this material from this page, but it may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 20 22:06:31 +0000</pubDate><category>River or Ocean Cruises</category><image>
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  <title>The Latest Cruise Line To Go &#39;All-Inclusive&#39;</title>
  <link>https://vacationsthatgive.gttwl2.com/blog/the-latest-cruise-line-to-go-all-inclusive</link>
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