Happiness Is Just Around The Bend

Today’s travelers are increasingly savvy about their environmental impact on destinations.  In fact, according to the Center for Responsible Travel, green travel is expected to rise to 25% of the world’s travel market. “Consumers are demanding higher environmental standards in all parts of their lives, including travel,” says Emily Deemer, marketing and sustainability manager at Virtuoso tour operator Natural Habitat Adventures in Boulder, Colorado.  “Ecotourism makes business sense because it helps to preserve a travel company’s greatest assets: the environment, the culture, and the livelihood of host communities.”

The Virtuoso editorial team is on the road often, reporting stories, checking out new hotels, or vacationing with family and friends. In 2018, we had our passports stamped in Thailand, Italy, Kenya, Germany, Peru, and beyond – and after logging all those miles, we’ve learned a thing or two about how to travel well. As a result, you’ll always find these six items in our carry-ons; they make long-hauls, hotel stays, and city adventures a success.   OneAdaptr Twist + World Charging Station, $45, amazon.com “My Twist+ World Charging Station ensures I never have to Google which adapter I need and then rummage through an alphabet’s worth of options in my trip-gizmo bag. A quick twist configures the plugs for some 150 countries’ outlets, but best of all, I can snap my MacBook adapter and my phone into two of four USB charging ports to juice everything up in one spot.”  – Justin Paul, senior editor Pacifica Stress Rehab Coconut & Caffeine Facial Mask, $4, pacificabeauty.com “Late ...

From travel tips to perfectly mapped out days, plus great hotels and fascinating personalities – and why using a Virtuoso travel advisor makes travel better – here are 16 of our most popular posts of the year. Our most shared post? An interview (by senior editor Joel Centano) with Paul North, an Undersea Specialist with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic who spends six months a year in cold climates from the Arctic to Antarctica, delving into frigid seas while capturing stunning photos and videos to share with guests during onboard presentations. Dream Job: This Undersea Specialist Captures Stunning Images in Frigid Waters 16 Habits of Well-Traveled People A Perfect Day in Prague Traveling with Kids: One Family’s Yearlong Journey Ended with Finding a New Home Why We Love Tulum’s Hotel Esencia The Great Beauty of Bogota’s Street Art 7 Secrets to Make the Most of Your Virtuoso Travel Advisor Dream Job: Caribbean Hotelier Karen Whitt Paris, In Five Neighborhoods Five Re...

Steph Korey and Jen Rubio know something about life in transit. Not only has Away, their direct-to-consumer luggage brand, enjoyed a rock star launch (literally – Jay-Z is a recent investor) but these travelers at heart and successful entrepreneurs spend enough time in out-of-office (for work and for pleasure) to have their travel favorites sorted. Away luggage founders Jen Rubio and Steph Korey. (Portrait by Jessica Antola) STEPH BEAUTY PRODUCTS : Airplanes can be really drying. I use Glossier ’s rosewater spray and moisturizer together. You feel like you’re in a spa even though you’re in Row 47J. I sometimes put on sheet masks on the plane. You look like the grim reaper but it’s so moisturizing and feels so good that I do it anyway. I use Dr. Jart ’s. I also pack travel-size versions of my usual shower products by Fekkai and Aesop . TRAVEL UNIFORM : I love Outdoor Voices clothes for long flights. Everything is soft and comfortable but still chic so you don’t look like a slob. I...

By Pam Morton Senior Manager, Digital Marketing Virtuoso Some years ago I asked a bartender in a Helsinki hotel bar his definition of a typical Finnish drink. He said, “Anything with vodka!” But another patron chimed in with his favorite twist: a recipe for vodka with cloudberry liqueur. The next day I went to the outdoor market and bought cloudberries. I discovered the delicious taste of raspberry crossed with red currant. I was officially hooked on Nordic cuisine. And adventurous travelers to the Nordic countries will be too. As you travel the Scandinavian countries, ranging from Iceland across the map to Finland, take advantage of these 5 hot trends in Nordic cuisine.

It’s one of the most elusive quests for travelers. How can you save money on holiday travel? Fortunately, Virtuoso has seven novel money-saving ideas for you. Virtuoso’s global PR director, Misty Ewing Belles, shared strategies to save money on holiday travel on NBC’s TODAY Show Dec. 11. Discover her insider tips below:

Millennials love group trips with friends, especially with customized, unique experiences A 20-something’s vision of the perfect vacation looks very different from a 40-something’s. Ditto a 50 year old versus an 80 year old. How do different generations travel? A study by Virtuoso has uncovered how four generations choose to vacation. Virtuoso examined booking data for clients over the last six years, conducted focus groups with its travel advisors and included research from partner Wealth Engine. The results clearly demonstrate how generations travel in their own unique way.