Posted by David Porter on February 23, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Singapore is a country created by deeply passionate people following their dreams. Today, it’s a place that inspires people to imagine and do the impossible – whether it be in cuisine, architecture, design, adventure, nature, and so much more. Singapore warmly invites you to visit and explore your passions.
And, if you’re passionate about food? Explore this foodie paradise that offers 38 Michelin-starred restaurants, including two food stalls, a first in Michelin Guide’s history! Experience the least expensive place in the world to eat a Michelin rated meal…for just $3!
Sound fun?
To see 5 great ways to see Singapore, click below…
For more information, please call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we’ll reach out to you.
If one of these five offers isn’t your cup of tea, then click here to see over 1,000 travel offers in Singapore.
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Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Posted by David Porter on February 23, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Viking’s Ships Take 10 Categories, including “Best Overall Ship” and “Best for First-Timers,” in 8th Annual Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards
Note: click chart below for larger image.
Viking has become our go-to ocean cruise line for those clients who are not looking a multi-generational cruise or perhaps desire a cruise line without a 5-star focus. In our view, Viking is just like Goldilocks: not too big and not too luxury.
And, it would seem, we’re not alone in this opinion. Take a peek at this recent press release from our friends at Viking. And to read the review from our personal sailing with Viking Ocean Cruises, click here.
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — After a year of dominating nearly every major travel industry award ceremony, Viking® (www.vikingcruises.com) this week received a new set of accolades from the popular online cruise resource, Cruise Critic®. The travel company is today celebrating that its first three 930-guest sister ships, Viking Star®, Viking Sea®, and Viking Sky® received 10 First Place honors in the Cruise Critic® 8th Annual Cruisers’ Choice Awards. Viking’s fourth ship, Viking Sun®, which is in its first months of service, also debuted on the Awards list.
Viking’s four ships won the top three placements in nearly every category where they compete. Viking Sea received First Place placements in six award categories: Best Overall Ship, Best Cabins, Best for Fitness & Recreation, Best for First-Timers, Best Shore Excursions and Best Value-for-Money. Viking Star received First Place Placements in two award categories: Best Dining and Best Service. And Viking Sky, in its first year of service, also received First Place placements in two award categories: Best Public Rooms and Best Entertainment. Cruise Critic is the world’s leading cruise reviews site and online cruise community, with more than 350,000 cruise reviews, covering approximately 500 of the most popular cruise ships. The Cruisers’ Choice Awards name the best cruise ships in the world, based solely on ratings submitted with member reviews published on the Cruise Critic website in the last 12 months.
“Of course we are pleased with every award we receive, and winning the Cruisers’ Choice Awards is a particular honor. Members of the Cruise Critic Community are among the most experienced and well-traveled individuals in the world; they are truly expert voices for the industry, and I thank them. I would also like to thank our entire Viking family, especially our onboard colleagues, without whom these accolades would not be possible,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “For the last 20 years, we have focused not on designing ships with shiny gimmicks, but rather on designing opportunities where our guests can enrich their lives through exploration. We are still a young company, and as we continue to add new ships to our fleet over the next decade, we look forward to introducing many more guests to the Viking way of travel.”
In addition to the First Place wins, Viking’s ships also took the Second and Third Place honors in most of the same categories, meaning Viking overwhelmingly dominated the top third of the Awards for Small-Mid-Size ships. Viking Sky and Viking Star took Second and Third Place, behind Viking Sea, in four award categories: Best Overall Ship, Best Shore Excursions, Best for First-Timers and Best Value-For-Money. Viking Star and Viking Sky took Second and Third Place, behind Viking Sea, in Best Cabins. Viking Sky and Viking Sea took Second and Third Place, behind Viking Star, in Best Dining. Viking Sky and Viking Sun took Second and Third Place, behind Viking Sea, in Best Fitness & Recreation. And in the Best Public Rooms category, Viking won the top four awards, with Viking Sea, Viking Star and Viking Sun taking the Second, Third and Fourth place, behind Viking Sky.
Today’s announcement from Cruise Critic caps an impressive list of recent accolades for Viking. In 2017, the company was named the #1 ocean cruise line in Travel + Leisure’s 2017 World’s Best Awards – and was voted the Best River Cruise Line by Condé Nast Traveler in the publication’s 2017 Readers’ Choice Awards. Town & Country named Viking’s ocean cruises “Best for Design” and “Best Overall, Contemporary Luxury” in the magazine’s recent Cruise Awards. It also named Viking’s river cruises “Best for Suites” and “Best for Design.” And in its 10th annual Editors’ Picks Awards, Cruise Critic honored Viking with five awards, more than any other river or ocean cruise line. Viking was recognized in the river and luxury ocean categories, with awards that point to key differentiating factors for the brand: Best for First-Timers, Best Enrichment, Best Shore Excursions, Best Spa and Best-Value-for-Money.
Viking’s Ocean Ships
Viking’s all-veranda ocean ships have a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons, have 465 staterooms and host 930 guests. Classified by Cruise Critic® as a “small ships,” Viking’s fleet includes Viking Star, Viking Sea, Viking Sky and the new Viking Sun which will be officially christened on March 8 in Shanghai. Viking will welcome two more sister ships in the next two years, including Viking Orion® in June 2018. With the arrival of Viking Jupiter® in 2019, Viking will be the largest small ship ocean cruise line. Four additional ships are also on order for delivery starting in 2021, which will bring Viking’s ocean fleet to 10 ships by 2023.
The Viking Difference
Designed for discerning travelers with interests in history, art, music and cuisine, Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers guests “the thinking person’s cruise” as an alternative to mainstream cruises. Ships are small to get guests closer to their destination, with more time in port and more overnights. On board, guests find serene Scandinavian spaces, where every room is both beautiful and functional, quiet and filled with light. With the most al fresco dining opportunities at sea, featuring regional cuisines and always-available American classics, Viking’s guests can truly dine in their destination. A focus on cultural enrichment brings immersive experiences ashore and on board. And only The Viking Way provides guests with itineraries that feature Local Life, Working World and Privileged Access experiences.
In addition, Viking offers the best value at sea, with each cruise fare including much more than what competitors offer—an included value of more than $200 per person per day for an average cruise. Every cruise fare includes an exterior stateroom, a complimentary shore excursion in each port of call, all onboard meals, and all port charges and government taxes. Guests also enjoy many complimentary amenities as part of their fare, including: beer and wine with lunch and dinner service; alternative restaurant dining; Wi-Fi; self-service laundry; access to the Thermal Suite in the LivNordic Spa; and 24-hour room service.
For booking information click here or call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we will reach out to you.
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Posted by David Porter on February 23, 2018 · 4 Comments
Travel Advisories and the Most Dangerous Countries for American Travelers
OK. This is information we all want to know. Right?
But, it is equally important to understand this information before we simply go off willy-nilly and write off a whole country before you have an understanding of the facts behind the numbers. Deal?
After all, if the United States were on this list, then we all know that there is a world of difference between traveling to the south side of Chicago versus some small farming community in the heart of our nation. Right?
The same can be said of Mexico. Mexico is a very large country, and certainly, some of the border areas are indeed dangerous. However, the vast majority of Mexico is filled with safe areas with locals very friendly to America travelers.
Further, the information in the charts to the right is distilled from many years of information and as we all know, time changes things.
Further, while Mexico shows up with the highest number of Americans killed, you must also understand that vastly more American travel to Mexico than any other nation in the world. Therefore, again, just looking at these numbers and making quick judgments is unfair.
For example, the article that I am sharing my reference material from shares that over 71 million people visited Mexico producing a death rate per capita of .84, while Pakistan has a per capita death rate of 3.54.
Therefore, Pakistan is significantly more dangerous than Mexico.
So, here’s your homework.
If you are considering a visit to any of the countries on this list, then go see what the U.S. State Department is currently advising click here, and then go read this article to understand better the findings behind the numbers presented above.
I struggled to share this information with you because I didn’t want to be an alarmist. On the other hand, If I were taking my bride to a destination on the road less traveled, I would want to go only if informed and with my eyes wide open.
Fair enough? 🙂
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Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Posted by David Porter on February 23, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Forbes Travel Guide Announces 2018 Star Rating Awards
It is impossible for Carol and I to intimately know every luxury-oriented hotel and resort in the world.
Therefore, when we’re providing travel planning services for our clients, we rely on our in-country on-site partners all around the world, our annual Virtuoso Best of the Best Hotels and Resorts, as well as consumer-facing publications like Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast, and the Forbes Travel Guide’s annual star ratings.
While nothing can compare to our in-country partners who are continually in and out of the best hotels and resorts in their regions, we do find value in supplementing our knowledge with the findings of the incognito Forbes Travel Guide inspectors.
Now, before I share with you the findings of this year’s Forbes Travel Guide 2018 Star Award Winners, you should know that through our affiliations with Cadence and Virtuoso, we have complimentary perks for you at nearly all of the hotels in the list which will include:
- Best available rates and often the guaranteed best rates
- Complimentary upgrades, sometimes available at booking or subject to availability at check-in.
- Complimentary resort credits
- Complimentary early check-in/late check-out
- and often more.
To explore the 1,200+ hotels and resorts in our Virtuoso Travel Networks Collection, click here. And further, we have Preferred Partner privileges for our clients at these renowned hotels and resorts:
OK, now that we’ve got the shameless commercial plug under the belt, let’s dive into the 2018 Forbes Travel Guide Star Rating Awards:
ATLANTA, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — As it celebrates its landmark 60th anniversary, Forbes Travel Guide today unveiled its 60th list of worldwide Star Rating winners, continuing its exceedingly selective approach for recognizing the world’s finest properties and rewarding gracious, intuitive service.
The 2018 award winners include 27 new Five-Star hotels, 70 new Four-Star hotels and 76 new hotels in the Recommended category. Other first-time recipients include five Five-Star restaurants, 24 Four-Star restaurants and 10 Recommend restaurants. The list also honors five new Five-Star spas and 29 new Four-Star spas. See the complete list of winners click here.
Forbes Travel Guide now rates properties in 50 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Newly added international destinations for 2018 include: Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Aruba, Chengdu, Dubai, Hokkaido, Jamaica, Kuala Lumpur, Madrid, Marrakech, Okinawa, Panama, Prague, Sanya and Vienna. As Forbes Travel Guide marks its 60th year, it will expand to inspecting in 60 countries in preparation for its 2019 Star Ratings.
“This is a momentous year for Forbes Travel Guide. Our anniversary commemorates 60 impressive years of serving hotels and guests,” said Gerard J. Inzerillo, Chief Executive Officer of Forbes Travel Guide. “As the most trusted source for travelers, we continue to carry out our mission to verify luxury worldwide. We are delighted to honor the 2018 Star Rating recipients, an outstanding collection of hotels, restaurants and spas with a strong service culture. It’s the largest and most global group of Star-Rated properties in our company’s history. We congratulate these properties for their dedication to service excellence.”
To celebrate this year’s awards, Star-Rated winners are invited to Verified, The Forbes Travel Guide Luxury Summit at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hillson February 27 and 28. The summit will feature an all-star lineup of chefs, including: Geoffrey Zakarian and Wilfrid Hocquet, Georgie, Beverly Hills; Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Richard Archuleta, Jean-Georges Beverly Hills; William Bradley, Addison Restaurant, San Diego; Samir Roonwal, The Blvd, Beverly Hills; Hilary Henderson, CUT, Beverly Hills; Kaleo Adams, The Polo Lounge, Beverly Hills; Giuseppe Manco, The Restaurant at Mr. C, Beverly Hills; Craig Strong, Studio, Laguna Beach; Hugo Bolanos, Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air, Beverly Hills; and Derek Poirier, Valrhona. Moët & Chandon, Forbes Travel Guide’s Official Champagne of 2018, will help everyone toast the festivities. Diageo will host the spirits, and Luxe Bloom will provide the florals.
To highlight Forbes Travel Guide’s 60 years in the travel industry, the popular Pan Am Experience will land at Verified and transport participants back to flying’s heyday with a retro airline-inspired fine-dining event.
HIGHLIGHTS, TRENDS & FUN FACTS FOR 2018
- By the Numbers – A Breakdown of the 1,609 Winners
- There are 199 Five-Star, 513 Four-Star and 309 Recommended hotels.
- There are 64 Five-Star, 171 Four-Star and 83 Recommended restaurants.
- There are 60 Five-Star and 210 Four-Star spas.
- New and Noteworthy
- In its Forbes Travel Guide debut, the Middle East emerged with big wins. The region picked up four Five-Star hotels (Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Dubai; Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi; Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Financial Centre; Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach). It also tallied an impressive 21 Four-Star hotels and six Recommended hotels.
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- South America captured its first Five-Star hotel. Tucked inside Brazil’s Iguacu National Park amid the Iguassu Falls and the jungle, Belmond Hotel das Cataratas leads the region in service excellence.
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- Marrakech launched with two Five-Star hotels (Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech; Royal Mansour Marrakech), a pair of Four-Star properties (Four Seasons Resort Marrakech, La Mamounia) and two Recommended hotels (Amanjena, Selman Marrakech).
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- New York City seized two new Five-Star wins: Baccarat Hotel and Residences and Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown. The last time the city had a new Five-Star hotel was in 2016, with the addition of Park Hyatt New York. A new Four-Star hotel was added, too: Archer Hotel New York.
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- Munich welcomed its inaugural Five-Star hotel, Mandarin Oriental, Munich. It joined Four-Stars The Charles Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel; Hotel Bayerischer Hof; and Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich, along with Recommended properties Hotel München Palace and Sofitel Munich Bayerpost.
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- Japan had some significant gains. The Ritz-Carlton, Kyotobrought the Japanese city its first Five-Star accolade. Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto and Suiran, A Luxury Collection Hotel snagged Four-Stars awards. Kyoto Hotel Okura earned a Recommended honor. Over in Tokyo, Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyowon a Five-Star award. The Capitol Hotel Tokyu and The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho picked up Four-Star honors.
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- Independent hotels made a strong showing. First-time Five-Star awards went to Le Richemond Genève, Magee Homestead in Wyoming, Meadowood Napa Valley, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort — Falling Rock in Farmington, Pennsylvania and Williamsburg Inn in Virginia.
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- The new Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills is Hilton’s first Five-Star hotel in the Western Hemisphere. The brand also has Five-Star Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund.
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- Rosewood Beijing achieved a Five-Star rating—a first-time win for the brand in Asia. This was Rosewood’s first property in China, opening in 2014. The Peninsula Beijing also scooped up a new Five-Star distinction.
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- Trump Hotels earned Five-Star honors for its D.C. and Vancouveroutposts, which is unusual for new properties. These and other just-opened winners (like Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, and Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown) show that hotels are becoming increasingly vested in their pre-opening strategies, including recruitment and training practices.
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- New hotel wins helps further anchor the Riviera Nayarit as a destination that should remain high on luxury travelers’ lists. The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort earned the Five-Star award, and Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit achieved a Four-Star honor.
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- Forbes Travel Guide made significant gains this year in its global expansion, bringing its ratings to new destinations such as Amsterdam (Four-Star hotels Conservatorium, De L’Europe Amsterdam and Hotel Okura Amsterdam; as well as Recommended properties Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht, The Dylan, Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam, InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam, Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam, W Amsterdam) and Vienna (Four-Star properties Hotel Sacher Wien, Palais Coburg, Palais Hansen Kempinski and The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna; along with Recommended properties Grand Hotel Wien; Hotel Bristol, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Vienna; Hotel Imperial, A Luxury Collection Hotel; Hotel Sans Souci Wien; Park Hyatt Vienna; and The Ring Hotel Vienna).
- Stars All Around
- An elite group of 13 properties earned Five-Star awards for their hotel, restaurant and spa. These triple Five-Star winners include: Banyan Tree Macau; The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs; The Cloister in Sea Island, Georgia; Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego; The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong; Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas; Mandarin Oriental, Macau; Meadowood Napa Valley; Montage Laguna Beach; Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island; The Peninsula Hong Kong; Wynn Las Vegas; and Wynn Palace, Macau.
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- Altira Macau and Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong received a total of four Five-Star awards for the hotel, spa and two restaurants.
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- Nüwa Macau won a total of five Five-Star awards for the hotel, spa and three restaurants.
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- Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong and Wynn Macau achieved a remarkable total of six Five-Star awards for the hotel, spa and four restaurants.
- Where the Hotel Stars Shine Brightly
- In the United States, the greatest number of Five-Star hotels is in: California (19), New York (11), Florida (7), Massachusetts (6) and Nevada (5). California gained one new Five-Star hotel this year: Napa’s Meadowood Napa Valley.
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- U.S. cities with the highest number of Five-Star hotels include: New York (10), Beverly Hills (6), Las Vegas (5) and Miami (5).
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- Globally, Macau reclaimed its spot as the city with the most Five-Star hotels (12). Last year, it tied Paris (both had 10). Other cities with the largest number of Five-Star include: Paris (10), London(9) and Hong Kong (8).
- Where the Restaurant Stars Shine Brightly
- In the United States, the greatest number of Five-Star restaurants resides in New York (7), Nevada (6) and California (5).
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- Cities in the United States with the most Five-Star restaurants are New York (7) and Las Vegas (6).
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- Worldwide, cities with the highest number of Five-Star restaurants are Macau (12) and Hong Kong (9).
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- Disney gets its first Five-Star restaurant. Victoria & Albert’s makes fine dining an attraction in Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.
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- The Peninsula Hotels group received its first Five-Star award for a restaurant. French fine-dining spot Gaddi’s at The Peninsula Hong Kong was the winner.
- Where the Spa Stars Shine Brightly
- In the United States, the greatest number of Five-Star spas is located in: California (9), Florida (5) and Nevada (5). California’snew Five-Star spa addition is The Spa at Rancho Valencia in San Diego.
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- Luna y Mar in Los Cabos and The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou mark the first Five-Star spas in their respective destinations.
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- Globally, cities with the most Five-Star spas include: Macau (8), Hong Kong (5), Las Vegas (5) and Shanghai (4).
For details on how Forbes Travel Guide compiles its Star Ratings, click here.
To view the complete list of 2018 Forbes Travel Guide Star Rating winners, click here.
What to do now?
Did you find that looks interesting?
If so, for more information on our exclusive perks at the world’s best of the best resorts, call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online request form (click here) and we will reach out to you.
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Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Posted by David Porter on February 10, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Micato Safaris is the unprecedented Nine-Time Winner of Travel & Leisure’s award for #1 World’s Best Safari Outfitter. Plus, they are in the Travel + Leisure Hall of Fame.
Discover five awe-inspiring getaways from Micato Safaris that let you experience the wonders of Africa and India without choosing between luxury and adventure. Go behind the scenes in legendary locations like the Serengeti, Cape Town, Nairobi, and Jaipur with insider connections and special perks and find out why Micato was awarded Virtuoso’s 2017 Adventure Travel Partner of the Year!
To explore the Micato Grand Safari, the Hemingway Wing Safari, or the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Safari, click below. To see all of Micato Safaris offerings, click here.
For more information, or to book a fun Micato African Safari, please call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we’ll reach out to you.
If you enjoyed this article, sign up for our travel newsletter to keep abreast of our best travel tips, on-location reviews, exclusive travel offers, group travel events, and much more.
Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
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