Feature Articles

Bergen has given a warm welcome to its visitors for more than 900 years Ever since the intrepid King Olav Kyrre sailed into the harbour and founded the city in 1070, Bergen has attracted people from all quarters of the world. Some came and went, others decided to make Bergen their home. Bergensers travelled abroad and learned and so Bergen became a melting-pot of cultures and Norway’s most international city.

With cruise lines competing for the consumer’s attention (and their booking dollars), everyone is ramping up to offer more options in a category that’s almost synonymous with cruising—cuisine

If road cycling is your pleasure, saddle up and head to British Columbia. Here, in Canada’s westernmost province, you’ll find a bounty of rural routes plus grand city tracks that showcase endless urban delights. Just how good does it get? Consider that BC boasts some of North America’s most diverse routes: you can pedal by the ocean, or through a famed city park, visit wineries or take in Aboriginal sites on remote islands. You can even two-wheel through a multitude of diverse neighborhoods; the province’s Spirit of 2010 Trail, a corridor of multi-use trails on converted rail tracks that links 27 communities for a distance of more than 750 kilometres, is just the ticket.

Los Cabos Hotels & Resorts Offer Incredible Spa Packages Designed to Elevate Your Vacation Experience

Hey big spenders, pack your euros and dollars and head to Britain. With sterling still struggling, international visitors can indulge in some excellent-value retail therapy across the UK.

Cruise lines, including ultra-luxury lines are offering the lowest fares and hottest deals in decades

Tolkein fans fascinated by the world Peter Jackson captured on film during his Lord of the Rings trilogy continue to travel New Zealand searching for the real Middle-Earth. For many so-called ‘Ringers’, the journey fulfils a life long dream as they re-live favourite scenes, walk in the actors' footsteps, and explore the intricacies of movie production. For others, visiting New Zealand reveals that the mythical Middle-Earth really does exist in the dramatic scenery, wide open spaces, rare flora and fauna of Aotearoa - 'the youngest country on earth'.

Every so often, in my role as editor, an opportunity comes along that is too good to pass up. That is how I got to leave my messy office and my family behind to spend 10 days in South Africa . Had it not been for my wife’s insistence that she would never speak to me again if I passed up the trip, I might have caved in to my guilt and never left. But I am so glad I went. South Africa’s wildlife overwhelmed me. It’s not just the 300-plus bird species or the knockout mammal species that we saw. It’s also that so many of these creatures are endemics, found only in South Africa.

When Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas debuts this winter, passengers will find a total of 46 accessible cabins onboard. Good news for the growing numbers of aging “boomers” and travelers with limited mobility and other physical limitations. Cruising has traditionally been the most accessible vacation/travel option within the global travel industry. Many lines have taken a pro-active approach to accessibility and have dedicated accessibilities departments and coordinators.

Next time you’re passing through a country town, head for the wide verandahs and cheery atmosphere of the local pub. Here you’ll discover the soul of a town; it’s where the beer is cold and the yarns are spun.

Your wellness is our concern. Increasingly, that’s the refrain coming from Australian tourism operators – and not just the ones you might imagine. Wellness can cover anything from spa treatments to art workshops to didgeridoo-led meditations, sleep therapy and yoga.

Most people know that Britain is home to the ‘Mother of Parliaments’, that Queen Elizabeth II lives at Buckingham Palace, and that the Scottish Highlands are malt whisky country. But here we offer a selection of things that you might not know. Aside from being interesting facts, they help make a visit to these intriguing islands even more enjoyable.

Those who love Colorado for its powder-packed slopes and après ski lodges have discovered one of the state’s most prized possessions: Colorado in the summer. When winter surrenders to the abundance of sunshine so common to Colorado, the melted snow gives life to new foliage and feeds the rivers in which summertime activities abound. Such changes in nature give Colorado a new personality from May through September. As ski rental shops close their doors for the season, mountain bike shops, rafting companies and fishing guides gear up for Colorado’s summer specialties.

Wii, karaoke, waterslides and pizza parties at sea. Cruise lines are becoming more kid friendly each season and building more family features into each new ship. Family cruising is good business, and a fast-growing market segment.

The climb to the top of Mount Bishop and Clerk, the highest point on Tasmania’s Maria Island, is said to reward intrepid travellers with panoramic views over the top of the island’s eucalypt forests and out across the Pacific Ocean. To the west, we’re told, lies the Freycinet Peninsula; to the south, over the distant horizon, lies the icy landscapes of Antarctica. We take it on trust. Because the peak we’ve conquered today is a cloud-covered triumph. We hear the ocean and the wind, we can even smell its Antarctic purity, but we can see not much further than arm’s length. That’s enough, though, to peer warily over the edge of the peak and see the beginnings of a sheer drop that leads to oblivion.

The Caribbean consistently ranks #1 on almost every list of “Most Popular Cruises”-and no wonder. With spectacular natural beauty, splendid beaches shaded by coconut palms, interesting shopping, water sports, exotic cuisine, warm temperatures and plenty of sunshine year round, the idyllic setting of the Caribbean is a sure bet for first-time cruisers, honeymooners, families with children, retirees and just about everyone else.

Every cloud has a silver lining – or so the Brits are fond of saying. But as the pound takes a tumble against the dollar and the Euro, the benefits are clear for inbound visitors: Britain is now 25% cheaper for American travellers than it was a few years ago and 15% cheaper for anyone in the Eurozone. So what are you waiting for? Britain is back on the menu for bargain hunters.

Long, leisurely days sailing the world's great oceans; hours in the deck chair reading, plenty of time to enjoy the ship’s fitness gym, library, computer center, casino and lounges, attend lectures and nap. Sound appealing? More time at sea and a slower pace are part of the charm of positioning, or re-positioning, cruises. Seasonal positioning voyages are not for first-time or “port-thirsty” cruisers but are an excellent choice and great value for seasoned cruisers and anyone who truly enjoys longer voyages with extra days at sea.

Great food experiences are the measure of a great holiday for many people and the beginning of a new direction in life for those attuned to food’s transformative powers. Just ask some of Australia’s food and wine specialists, who have settled and thrived in food-focussed destinations around Australia.

With 6,000 miles of sunny coastline easily accessible to U.S. departure cities, Mexico is a fast growing and sought-after cruise destination. In 2008, cruise ships made three thousand visits to Mexican ports, bringing an estimated six million passengers to the country. The future looks even brighter for the Mexican cruise industry with ambitious infrastructure plans that include new ports terminals and expansion of existing port facilities.