The hotel collection, Preferred Hotels and Resorts, is known for operating some of the most luxurious and awarded lodging properties on the planet. Their portfolio includes the gorgeous Ashford Castle in Ireland, the rustic and charming Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, and the opulent Fullerton Bay Hotel in Singapore, among many others. Preferred Hotels and Resorts also recently launched a new collection, Beyond Green, a portfolio of lodgings that are both sustainable and active members of their local communities. The rewards program for both Preferred and Beyond Green is the I Prefer membership program. To further their commitment to…
Author: Keith Langston
These days, everyone wants to earn points through loyalty programs. Let’s face it, this isn’t the Jet Age anymore. The glamor of air travel is gone. Now, cramped seats, no meals, and disgruntled passengers are the norm. In order to experience some of the luxuries airlines have to offer, you either need to pay the big bucks, or earn miles (points) through an airline’s loyalty program. But not all programs are the same. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know about every major US airline and their loyalty programs. Delta SkyMiles Delta SkyMiles members can earn points…
The past few years have seen a rise in new airlines attempting to join the competitive US market. Airlines like Avelo and Breeze launched domestic routes and have been successful. In December, Avelo even added new routes to its network, taking the airline to 18 destinations. America is also getting a new long-haul carrier too. Northern Pacific Airways, a new low-cost airline based in Anchorage, Alaska will provide flights from North America to Asia. The airline will link cities in New York, Florida, California, Texas, and Nevada to destinations in Japan and Korea, all while connecting through Anchorage. This isn’t…
As the new Omicron variant continues to spread at lightning speed (the US reported almost 190,000 COVID cases on December 28th alone) it’s time to demand proof of vaccination in order to fly. The government’s first duty is to keep America safe. By not mandating vaccinations, COVID is able to continue spreading, enabling the pandemic to continue, disrupting everyone’s lives, and forcing many to grapple with the suffering and pain of losing loved ones to the virus. To date, the country has reported over 815,000 deaths in just under two years. The main importance of requiring vaccinations to fly is…
Due to the new Delta and Omicron variants of the coronavirus – which are spreading across the nation at alarming speeds – more cities have enacted indoor vaccine/testing requirements in order for patrons to visit restaurants, bars, and more. Currently, Boston, New York City, Washington DC, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle all have mandates in place. Here’s a closer look at their specific rules: BOSTON – Starting January 15, 2022, Boston will require that all patrons have at least one dose of a COVID vaccine in order to enter restaurants, bars, gyms, theaters, and arenas. Come…
The US State Department announced on December 20th that passport prices will increase by $20 for all passports, both new and renewals. According to Afar, the new passport prices will be as follows: ~ Adult (16 and older) and applying for the first time: $165 ~ Adult (16 and older) and renewing their passport: $130 ~ Under 16 and applying for a new passport: $135 In a Twitter post from the State Department, it says that prices are increasing in order to “ensure we continue to produce one of the most secure travel and identity documents in the world..” However,…
Dr. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the U.S., gave some encouraging news this week about holiday travel. According to Travel Pulse, during a segment on CNBC, Dr. Fauci said that, if following precautions, air travel can be relatively low risk for vaccinated travelers. On the show The Squawk Box he said, “If I had to I would have no problem getting on an airplane. I’m vaccinated. I’m boosted. I know we have to wear a mask on an airplane…There’s no doubt that fabric masks work. The N95 is the best one, but they…
AAA has just released their annual holiday travel predictions, and from their findings, it’s going to be a busy year. According to the agency, almost 110 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles between December 23rd and January 2nd. That’s about one in every three Americans. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, traveling by car is still the most popular option of travel, with AAA saying over 100 million people will be traveling via automobile. 6 million will be flying, and 3 million will be taking other modes of transit, such as trains, busses, and cruises. This amount is…
President Joe Biden just signed a new Executive Order into law on Monday, December 13th. Among the objectives listed in the order is that the State Department will create a safe and secure online portal that Americans can use to renew their passports. Currently, passport renewal services must be done in-person or via the mail and can take between 8 and 11 weeks. However, according to Travel Pulse, the new online renewals will only take 5-7 weeks. According to the official declaration from the White House: The Secretary of State shall design and deliver a new online passport renewal experience…
San Luis Obispo, commonly referred to as SLO, is a community located along California’s Central Coast. The region is known for its beaches, mountains, wineries, and local shops and cafes. Now, the tourism board has teamed with the Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo (EcoSLO) to create the Keys for Trees program. Sustainable tourism has become one of the hottest trends of post-pandemic travel, and while eco-resorts and off-grid hotels are great, it’s difficult to transform already-existing properties into carbon-neutral destinations. However, that’s where the Keys for Trees program comes in. 1% of all tourism revenue in SLO will be…
As all travelers have likely heard by now, there’s a new COVID variant causing concern for government officials and healthcare workers: the Omicron variant. Since its discovery in mid-November, facts about the new virus have been a mixed bag. On one hand, preliminary, observational testimony from doctors in South Africa claims that the variant is causing less-severe illness in patients. This is great news, however, it’s important to note that most of the patients observed in these claims are young, and none of this information has been peer-reviewed or documented in medical journals yet. But still, it’s a glimmer of…
This holiday season, the Galleria Dallas is celebrating with the nation’s tallest indoor Christmas tree. The Galleria’s tree stands 95 feet tall and is topped with a 10-foot, 100-pound LED star. Adorning the tree is 450,000 LED lights and 10,000 ornaments. The Galleria Dallas is a massive four-story, 1,700,000 square foot mall located on the northern side of the city. The centerpiece of the giant mall is an expansive open space, topped off by an enormous glass dome. For the holiday season, the space’s ice skating rink (yes, the mall has an indoor skating rink) is adorned with a towering Christmas…
If you’re looking for a truly unique and unexpected travel experience, look no further than The Gentle Barn. Headquartered in California, The Gentle Barn is a nonprofit that offers refuge and sanctuary for a variety of rescued animals who need a home. The Gentle Barn, which is actually a sprawling farm that offers an ample amount of space for the animals to enjoy themselves, is home to horses, chickens, peacocks, emus, dogs, and more. But the real stars are the cows. People visit from all over for cow hugging and even cow therapy. Cows are extremely gentle and caring animals.…
Delysia is a prominent chocolatier based in Austin, Texas. They’re known for their exquisite chocolates, as well as their funky personality, often creating unique truffles for the holidays, such as candy corn chocolate truffles for Halloween. Now, Delysia is bringing that adventurous spirit to the Christmas season with their advent calendar. Inside you’ll find 25 chocolate truffles, each one decorated with a number, symbolizing the 24 days of December leading up to Christmas (plus one secret surprise for the holiday itself). What makes the collection so unique is that each truffle is flavored based on holiday culinary traditions from around…
Sweden, a country once known for refusing to create COVID protocols, is now going to implement a vaccine passport program. One of the ways Swedes can show their vaccination status is by getting a small microchip inserted into their thumbs. While it may sound like science fiction, the story has been confirmed by NPR, who states that the chip is about the size of an uncooked grain of rice and costs $180 to have inserted. On top of recording someone’s COVID vaccine status, these chips also can hold info like gym memberships, rail tickets, boarding passes, and more. Is this…
Within the last few days, the news has been abuzz with reports of the newest coronavirus variant, referred to as the Omicron variant. With so much news coming out so fast, it’s important to know what is known and what isn’t yet known about the Omicron variant and how the world is reacting. Here’s what we know: ~ The variant, which was first discovered in South Africa, has been classified as “High Risk” to public health by both the WHO and CDC. According to NPR, “The World Health Organization is warning that the new omicron variant of the coronavirus…
During the holidays, there are two types of people: Those who want to run away to sunshine and warm weather, and those who want to experience all that winter has to offer, surrounded by snow, lights, and the smell of pine. Fortunately for travelers, Arizona offers both. Whether you’re looking to escape into the mountains or enjoy the desert sun, Arizona is an awesome holiday destination. Add to that a wide array of events taking place throughout the state, and you have a truly outstanding holiday getaway. Here are some of the awesome events taking place this year.  Las…
The Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS) has released the numbers for the world’s greenest cities. The rankings take into effect things like the percentage of trash recycled, the amount of sustainable energy sources used, and unique aspects local to each community like walkability, amount of mass transit that reduces the need for cars, and more. Naturally, Europe dominates the list, with Scandinavia having a particularly large presence. Here are the five greenest destinations around the world you can visit. 5.) Reykjavik (87.30%) In many reports and studies, Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, is regarded as the greenest city in the world,…
The White House has announced that children aged 5-11 will be able to start receiving the COVID-19 vaccine sometime this week and that the program will be fully operational starting next week. According to CNBC, there are an estimated 28 million children aged 5-11 in the USA. The dose they will be receiving is 1/3 the amount of the adult vaccine. According to the AP, “By vaccinating children, the U.S. hopes to head off another coronavirus wave during the cold-weather months when people spend more time indoors and respiratory illnesses can spread more easily.” But this will also likely have…
Earlier this year, the US stated that it would allow passport holders to declare their gender as M, F, or X, for those who don’t identify as either male or female. Now, according to the AP and other sources, it’s been revealed that America has finally issued its first passport using the X gender designation. According to Los Angeles Magazine, the government didn’t state who the recipient of the first passport was, but that activist Dana Zzyym independently revealed themself to be the passport holder. Zzyym is an intersect activist from Colorado. They served in the US Navy and later…