Posts tagged with "travel"

Women’s History Month Road Trip

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CELEBRATE WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH AT SITES THROUGHOUT THE U.S.

Curated by the Holiday Rambler^® Brand

This March, Women’s History Month is the ideal time to pack up the RV and delve into the history-making impact women have had on the United States for hundreds of years.

Exploring several Women’s History Month stops is comfortable and easy in a Holiday Rambler. Holiday Rambler motorhomes are known for their innovation, quality, and value, and have received numerous industry awards.

The 2021 Nautica model from Holiday Rambler just earned Best New Model from RV Pro and Top RV Debut from RVBusiness. Nautica is a Class A Diesel motorhome that is less than 40’, and is built on a Freightliner Custom Chassis^®. While the Nautica is shorter in length, it still boasts a roomy interior with lots of storage. Amenities include an electric fireplace, stainless steel appliances, pantry storage and full-extension drawers, a master bedroom suite with a skylight shower, and an exterior entertainment center with a 50” LED TV.

Holiday Rambler is a brand within REV Recreation Group, Inc., which is a subsidiary of REV Group, Inc. For more information, visit their website.

Each ‘Women’s History Stop’ has been researched but, due to COVID-19, be sure to call ahead to confirm hours of operation and secure tickets, since many sites require advance reservations. There are additional museums and sites that honor remarkable women but many, such as the Rosa Parks Museum, are closed or have gone virtual. For in-person travel, please be safe – wear a mask, practice social distancing, and wash hands frequently.

Statue of Liberty, New York, NY

The Statue of Liberty is one of the country’s oldest and most famous women. At a graceful 305’ tall, she is a towering symbol of American freedom. The statue was sculpted by French artist Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi and gifted to the United States by France in 1875 to commemorate the countries’ alliance during the American Revolution. In her right hand, Lady Liberty holds a torch above her head. In her left hand, she carries a tablet inscribed with JULY IV MDCCLXXVI (July 4, 1776 in Roman numerals), the date of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

The statue can be viewed from various vantage points along the Hudson River. For an up-close- and-personal look, take the ferry that departs from Battery Park to Liberty Island where the Statue of Liberty stands.

RVers can stay overnight at Liberty Harbor RV, which also delivers views of the Statue of Liberty and is next to Liberty Harbor Marina.

New-York Historical Society Museum & Library, New York, NY

The New-York Historical Society includes a Center for Women’s History with a plethora of exhibits, information, and artifacts from women who have shaped the United States.

“Women’s Voices” is a multimedia digital installation that includes profiles of: Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina Supreme Court Justice; Barbara McClintock, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist; Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to receive a medical degree in the U.S; Misty Copeland, a trailblazing dancer and principal ballerina; and Chien-Shiung Wu, the Manhattan Project physicist who was snubbed by the Nobel Prize committee.

RVers can stay overnight at Liberty Harbor RV, which also delivers views of the Statue of Liberty and is next to Liberty Harbor Marina.

Women’s Rights National Historical Park, Seneca Falls, NY

The fight for women’s right to vote began in upstate New York with the suffrage movement. In July 1848, two brave and determined women, Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, organized the first Women’s Rights Convention with approximately 200 women in attendance at Wesleyan Chapel.

At the Women’s Rights National Historical Park, “meet” the five women who organized the convention and Sojourner Truth, a former slave who became an abolitionist and women’s rights activist. Learn more about the convention, its organizers, and what they thought would happen after the convention.

Outside, the park includes Wesleyan Chapel (where the convention was held), the homes of three suffragists (Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Jane Hunt, and Mary Ann M’Clintock), and Declaration Park & Waterwall, which features the text and signers of the Declaration of Sentiments. The Declaration was written by Stanton to protest women’s inferior legal status and included 11 resolutions for equal rights.

Be sure to check the park’s website to experience one of the many ranger talks (conducted outdoors) about the pivotal events that happened on the park’s grounds.

RVers can spend the night at Hejamada Campground & RV Park, nestled in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of upstate New York.

The National Susan B. Anthony House & Museum, Rochester, NY

Susan B. Anthony can be considered one of the world’s greatest revolutionaries. She dedicated 50 years of her life to the women’s suffrage movement and was arrested for voting in the 1872 Presidential election in Rochester. After a two-day trial in 1873, she was convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of $100 and court costs. The museum shares Anthony’s inspiring story and preserves her National Historic Landmark home, which was the headquarters for the National American Woman Suffrage Association during her time as president of the organization.

She died at age 86 in 1906 after giving her “Failure is Impossible” speech in Boston.

RVers can spend the night at Southwoods RV Resort about 30 minutes from Rochester.

Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum, Washington, D.C.

Born 200 years ago in 1821, Clara Barton’s humanitarian legacy continues today with the American Red Cross. In 1881, at age 59, she founded the American Red Cross and led it for 23 years.

Prior to establishing the Red Cross in the United States, Barton dedicated years of her life to the soldiers of the Civil War. She initially began by collecting much-needed supplies and later traveled to the front to deliver them and provide assistance in any way she could. Barton put herself in constant danger as she went to the major battles of the war to nurse, comfort, and care for wounded men. For her constant self-sacrifice, she came to be known as the “Angel of the Battlefield.”

After the Civil War, Barton established the Missing Soldiers Office to locate Union soldiers who hadn’t returned home. She and her team initiated searches on behalf of the women who were looking for their lost husbands or sons. Barton and her team wrote more than 100 letters a day to contacts in the U.S. Army and family and friends of the missing. By December 1868, she and her team had located more than 22,000 missing soldiers.

Visit the preserved rooms where Barton lived and worked during the Civil War and where she and her team spent thousands of hours in the Missing Soldiers Office.

RVers can spend the night at Cherry Hill Park that offers full hook-up sites.

Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

Just outside of D.C., Arlington National Cemetery is worth a visit since a number of pioneering women have been honored with a burial at the Cemetery.

Lt. Ollie Bennett was the first female medical officer commissioned in the U.S. Army. During World War I when she joined the Army as a contract surgeon, she was told there were no uniforms for female surgeons, so she had to design one herself. (Section 10, Grave 10938-LH)

On February 14, 1870, Seraph Young became, according to many accounts, the first woman in the United States to vote under a women’s equal suffrage law. Two days earlier, Utah (then a U.S. territory) had passed legislation granting women the right to vote. Young, a schoolteacher, became the first woman to cast a ballot when she exercised her newly granted right in a Salt Lake City local election. (Section 13, Grave 89-A)

Major General Marcelite Jordan Harris retired in 1997 as the highest-ranking female officer in the Air Force and the highest ranking African American woman in the Department of Defense. A graduate of Spelman Academy, she was commissioned in 1965, rising through the ranks to become the first African American female brigadier general in the Air Force in 1991. Many of her assignments represented “firsts” for women in the Air Force. (Section 30, Grave 621)

RVers can spend the night at Cherry Hill Park that offers full hook-up sites.

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Park, Church Creek, MD

Harriet Tubman, who was born into slavery in Maryland and escaped to freedom in Philadelphia, is the Underground Railroad’s best-known conductor. She risked her life many times, returning to Maryland to rescue at least 70 enslaved people, including her parents, brothers, family members, and friends. After the American Civil War broke out, her bravery continued as she became an armed scout and spy for the Union Army. In her later years, Tubman was an activist in the movement for women’s suffrage.

To see where Tubman was born, lived, labored, and where she fled from, follow the scenic, self-guided driving tour of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway that includes 45 sites. The Byway winds 125 miles through the beautiful landscapes and waterscapes of Maryland’s Eastern Shore and continues for 98 miles through Delaware before ending in Philadelphia. A free map and audio guide are available on the Byway website.

On the Byway, don’t miss the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Park in Church Creek, MD, to learn about Tubman’s life and how her upbringing equipped her with essential outdoor skills that allowed her to successfully lead dozens of people out of slavery.

RVers can spend that night at Fort Whaley Campground with a variety of amenities, including a private pool, dog park, and catch-and-release lake.

Helen Keller Birthplace, Tuscumbia, AL

The life of Helen Keller was full of hard struggles and amazing accomplishments. When Keller was just 19 months, she suffered a severe illness that left her blind and deaf. When she was six years old, her parents hired Anne Mansfield Sullivan as her teacher. Sullivan, who had partial vision, was 20 years old and a graduate of the Perkins School for the Blind. Miraculously, in less than a month, Sullivan was able to reach Keller through sign language and open the world to her.

Keller became one of history’s remarkable women. She dedicated her life to improving the conditions of blind and the deaf-blind around the world, lecturing in more than 25 countries. Wherever she appeared, she brought courage to millions of blind people.

When visiting Keller’s birthplace, do not miss the water pump where Keller had her life-changing breakthrough. While cool water gushed over Keller’s hand, Sullivan spelled “water” into her other hand. Suddenly, Keller connected the spelled word with the flowing liquid. Keller immediately began touching the elements around her, wanting to learn their names. Keller’s home includes her complete library of Braille books, her original Braille typewriter, plus mementos and gifts from her travels around the world.

RVers can spend the night at Heritage Acres RV Park in Tuscumbia.

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, Fort Worth, TX

The National Cowgirl Museum is the only museum in the world to honor the courageous, resilient, and independent women who helped shape the West. Hands-on activities for adults and children, along with computer-enhanced archival photographs, bring these trail-blazing women and the rough-and-tumble time to life. Through a hologram, hear from sharpshooter Annie Oakley and learn about the Wild West Shows that traveled the globe from the 1880s to the early 20th century.

Be sure to visit the Hall of Fame that honors modern-day cowgirl Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, along with the winningest female roper in the world, an American equestrian and Olympic show jumping medalist, a cowboy hat designer, and a country music superstar.

RVers can spend the night at Sandy Lake RV Resort. The resort offers pull thru sites, sites with concrete patios, a fitness center, swimming pool, and dog park.

Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum, Atchison, KS

Amelia Earhart demonstrated that the sky’s the limit for women. She was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland. During her flight to circumnavigate the globe, Earhart disappeared on July 2, 1937 somewhere over the Pacific. She was just 39 years old. As a champion for women in aviation, Earhart was instrumental in the formation of The Ninety-Nines, an organization for female pilots.

Visit her childhood home on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River to get a glimpse of life inside the Earhart family. Another Earhart attraction is an earthwork portrait of the aviator created in 1997 by Kansas artist Stan Herd. Made from plantings, stone, and other natural materials, the one-acre portrait is on a hillside overlooking Warnock Lake. A viewing deck is on a nearby hilltop.

RVers can spend the night at Basswood Resort, a beautifully secluded spot with modern amenities.

Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural & Educational Center, Salmon, ID

This center pays tribute to Sacagawea (c. 1788 – 1812) and her important contributions to the team that surveyed the Louisiana Purchase and Pacific Northwest. Sacagawea was a bi-lingual Shoshone woman who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery expedition in 1805–1806. Her skills as a translator were invaluable, along with her intimate knowledge of the difficult terrain. Remarkably, Sacagawea made the arduous exploration while caring for her infant son, Jean-Baptiste, who had been born just two months earlier.

The Interpretive Center is part of a 71-acre park that includes a bronze statue of Sacagawea holding Jean-Baptiste and two scenic walking trails.

RVers can spend the night at Elk Bend RV Park located on a scenic Western drive. The area is famous for its abundant wildlife – elk, eagles, bighorn sheep, deer, and mountain goats.

Bennington Museum, Bennington, VT

While the museum is closed during Women’s History Month, it is reopening April 2 – just a few days after the month officially concludes.

Anna Mary Robertson “Grandma” Moses (1860–1961) started painting in her seventies and within years was one of America’s most famous artists. Moses, known as a folk artist, painted scenes of rural life that captured an idyllic, bygone era of the United States.

The Bennington Museum has the largest public collection of paintings by Grandma Moses and a collection of artifacts from her life, including an 18-century tilt-top table she used as her painting table and her paint-stained apron. In addition, the museum is now home to the schoolhouse where she studied as a child.

About REV Recreation Group

REV Recreation Group, Inc. (RRG) is a REV Group® company and a leading manufacturer of Class A Gas and Diesel recreational vehicle brands. This company has one of the best and longest standing distribution networks in the industry and boasts some of the industry’s most recognized and iconic brand names such as American Coach, Fleetwood RV, and Holiday Rambler. REV Recreation Group is headquartered in Decatur, IN, which is also its principal manufacturing location. In addition, RRG operates two state-of-the-art service and repair centers and a genuine parts online warehouse.

About REV Group, Inc.

REV Group (REVG) is a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of specialty vehicles and related aftermarket parts and services. We serve a diversified customer base, primarily in the United States, through three segments: Fire & Emergency, Commercial, and Recreation. We provide customized vehicle solutions for applications, including essential needs for public services (ambulances, fire apparatus, school buses, and transit buses), commercial infrastructure (terminal trucks and industrial sweepers) and consumer leisure (recreational vehicles). Our diverse portfolio is made up of well-established principal vehicle brands, including many of the most recognizable names within their industry. Several of our brands pioneered their specialty vehicle product categories and date back more than 50 years. REV Group trades on the NYSE under the symbol REVG. Investors-REVG

Japan’s Most Unique Museums

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With an incredibly rich history, it’s no wonder that Japan has more than 5,700 museums across its 47 prefectures; and with so many to choose from, travelers are bound to find some unexpected surprises among them. Below are some of Japan’s most interesting museums that travelers can visit, once travel restrictions are lifted.

Cup Noodles Museum – Kanagawa Prefecture
A fun destination for kids and adults, the Cup Noodles Museum in Kanagawa Prefecture is full of exciting activities. Along with interesting exhibitions, such as a replica of the shed where instant noodles were invented and a small collection of modern art pieces made from Cup Noodles, visitors can make their own personalized cup noodle at the My Cup Noodles Factory. At the My Chicken Ramen workshop, guests can make their own instant ramen noodles from scratch. The Noodles Bazaar also gives visitors a chance to try out nine different noodle dishes.

Towel Museum of Art – Ehime Prefecture
An incredibly unique institution, the Towel Museum of Art in Ehime Prefecture is the world’s first towel museum dedicated to the art of towel manufacturing. Inside, visitors can find galleries and displays showcasing intricate traditional towels, art made from towels and an exhibition on the towel-making process. The museum gift shop features a wide array of original goods and local products available for purchase.

TOTO Museum – Fukuoka Prefecture
Japan’s famous TOTO brand is best known for its bathware and in celebration of its 100th anniversary, the TOTO Museum was opened in 2017. The elegant two-story building leads visitors through the history of TOTO, especially focusing on the evolution of its toilets. From the first ceramic flush toilet seat that was developed in 1914, to modern toilets with bidets and heated seats, guests can learn about the company’s evolution, spanning more than a decade. While the museum’s signage is in Japanese, visitors can download the museum’s app for an English audio guide or to translate the signs.

Omiya Bonsai Art Museum – Saitama Prefecture
Located in the heart of the Omiya Bonsai Village, the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum is home to more than 120 bonsai masterpieces and bonsai-related artifacts, such as woodblock prints, books, bonsai pots and more. Art pieces are selected in accordance with the season and around 50 pots of bonsai are always on display in the garden and gallery. After visiting the museum, travelers can wander around the village and check out local artisans and stores. The village was originally founded in 1925 when the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 forced bonsai nurseries and garden industry workers in central Tokyo to relocate.

Yokote Masuda Manga Museum – Akita Prefecture
The first manga-themed museum in Japan, the Yokote Masuda Manga Museum showcases the artwork from manga artists across Japan and the world. The museum houses around 400,000 original illustrations from around 100 artists in the permanent exhibitions. The museum also pays honor to the works of Takao Yaguchi, whose work helped highlight Akita Prefecture and attracted visitors. Guests can enjoy a large library of manga and read to their heart’s content for free.

For updates on travel restrictions to Japan, please visit this website.

ABOUT JAPAN NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANIZATION (JNTO)

As the official tourism board of Japan, JNTO is involved in a wide range of promotional activities to encourage international travelers to visit Japan. Through a variety of campaigns and initiatives, JNTO is inspiring more American travelers to visit Tokyo, Kyoto and beyond.

For more information about travel to Japan, visit JNTO on its Website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

CruiseCompete Expands Cruise Offerings

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CruiseCompete Adds 2 More Expedition Cruise Lines to Its Collection of Cruise Offerings

Expedition Cruise Ship requests are up 148% over 2019 according to the travel experts at CruiseCompete. The destinations offered by these expedition lines include Antarctic, Arctic, Asia, Africa, Canada, Europe and all the Americas (Central, North, South). To see a comprehensive listing of expedition, explorer and yacht types of ships visit All Things Cruise here.

CruiseCompete, the premier online cruise marketplace since 2003, lauded by the press and consumers alike, has added two more expedition cruise lines to its expansive offerings:

The lines added are Atlas Ocean Voyages and Lindblad Expeditions. Click to see Atlas Ocean Voyages Cruises’ expedition ship World Navigator.

See Atlas Ocean Voyages expedition cruise specials here.

About
Atlas Ocean Voyages is innovating the industry by focusing on authentic, active and adventurous experiences in some of the world’s most captivating destinations, such as Antarctica, Baltic, Mediterranean, and Central and South America. The line’s luxurious and intimate small ships will bring inspired travelers on exciting itineraries for invigorating at-sea and shoreside adventures, while employing the latest sustainability technology to help preserve the waters they ply for future generations to enjoy. Read more on their website.

Lindblad Expeditions and the Lindblad Legacy of Respectful Tourism

When Lars-Eric Lindblad set out with the first groups of expedition travelers in the late 1950’s, he was following his passion to discover unknown places and to share the unique cultural and environmental aspects of these places with others. These first adventure travel expeditions led many to define him as the father of “eco-tourism.”

CruiseCompete welcomes Atlas Ocean Voyages and Lindblad Expeditions to our collection of expedition cruises. Browse all cruise lines and expedition ships on CruiseCompete here. Expedition ships on CruiseCompete are designated with an (E) after the ship name to signify Expedition. Click here to search all cruises on CruiseCompete.

CruiseCompete member-advisors are the most well-educated, forward-thinking and trusted cruise specialists in the industry. It’s simple to use: Find the desired cruise. Request quotes. Compare personalized offers, prices, upgrades, cabin credits and more. Contact member-advisors with questions and to book. If you’d like more information or assistance planning a future cruise or a cruise tour, please visit CruiseCompete and try the Virtual Cruise Advisor™ or Live Help.

About CruiseCompete
CruiseCompete has been the premier online cruise marketplace since 2003 (see media praise here).

Consumers come to CruiseCompete to research and book cruise vacations. Almost 2 million users have generated close to 4 million requests from consumers, and member-advisors have delivered nearly 18 million quotes since 2003. They can compare offers from trusted travel advisors, see consumer reviews of advisors and agencies, and then contact travel advisors directly for more information and to book cruises. CruiseCompete is a member of the Family Travel Association, the leading authority and resource for family travel information, and is home to the Sea Tales 2020 Family Cruise Travel Planner at Travel Resources.

CruiseCompete CruiseTrends™ offers monthly stats for an inside look at consumer trends and what consumers want in cruise vacations.

CruiseCompete takes top honors in Travel + Leisure’s “Top 60 Best Apps and Websites for Travelers” with an honorable mention. The Wall Street Journal praised CruiseCompete as “Best Cruise Travel Site,” The New York Times says, “… independent travel advisors compete to offer you the best deal,” following similar praise from Travel + Leisure, Kiplinger and The Washington Post. The Street says, “Score luxury cruises at bargain prices.”

For more information, please visit their website. To check out group cruise options, click here.

CruiseCompete is an Iowa limited liability company, is not a travel agency or owned by a travel agency.

Travelling Tips from the Experts

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When this epidemic is done and travel resumes, where do you want to head? Make your dreams a reality with our travel tips to start you on the road to greatness.

So, Done any Good Travelling Lately?

No, it may not be the best time for any overseas, or even local, travel. And the rest of the year will probably not see much of an improvement with this pandemic around. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t keep dreaming, right?

The great thing about travel is that all these fantastic places that you’ve been longing to see are not going anywhere. And just like those beautiful sights, sounds and smells, the fact that travelling costs money isn’t changing either. We can’t all be lucky enough to have a job like my friend Stan, who travels the world on income made from the fastest payout online casino he bets on, and which you can read more about here https://new-casino.ca/articles/fast-payout. Though that does sound tempting.

For the rest of us, we need to save, to scrimp and maybe even to borrow to fund our dreams. But that’s OK, because we have a whole host of travelling experience here in the office, and we’re more than happy to share all our tips to get you in the traveling zone.

Money, Money, Money!

Those sexy Swedes were right about one thing; it’s a rich man’s world. Travelling is going to cost you a pretty penny and saving up is the first thing that you need to be doing. Look at it this way; every sacrifice you make before you go is another cool thing you can spend your coin on when you’re away. And trust us, you won’t regret it.

The silver lining to a pandemic is that you’re more limited than usual to find all those exciting things that you normally spend your money on. No more concerts, no more dinners out, no more buying rounds of shots for the entire bar of strangers every weekend. Yes, it sucks, don’t get me wrong, but you need to look for the positive in a bad situation sometimes.

So, instead of seeing all that money building up in your bank account and spending it on Amazon, save, save, save. Then spend your time researching all the amazing places you’re going to visit in New Zealand or Peru or Cambodia or wherever your first trip will take you.

Do Your Research

Many are used to flying by the seat of their pants when they are touring the world. And we’re not for a second implying that that’s not a good idea, not essential for the soul sometimes. But all too often, we’ve come back from a trip only to find that when we decided to drive 8 hours inland to see that wicked cave system, we missed one of the very things we went all that way to see.

It’s a great idea to ensure that the time you’re planning on going (not that it’s a great time to book anything into any calendar right now!) is good weather wise too. Koh Samui is not that great when there’s flooding from the monsoon season in October, trust us.

Travel guides are easily accessible online these days, like Lonely Planet and even Trip Adviser. And online searches of the country’s official tourism page is definitely advisable too.

Start Making a List

Now you’ve started looking into all the cool things to do, start making a list of the things you definitely don’t want to miss. Also, make a note of them on a map so you can start to get a good feel for where they are in relationship to each other. Not only is it good to slowly start to navigate your way around the country, but it’s perfect to start seeing things that are in between.

Hopping from one place to the next is always relatively easy via public transport or tourist buses, so you’ll be able to visit that awesome lake on your way to the glaciers, or that pristine beach, or the forest your friends keep going on about.

Referring back to your list whilst you’re on your journey will make sure that those last minute detours won’t cost you an even better surprise.

Learn a Little of the Lingo

Just a simple “good morning” in the local language will break down social barriers faster than money can buy. And it’s just as important as “thank you”, which you may never use in your everyday life anymore, but will open so many more doors on your travels. Oh, and it works wonders when you smile at the same time.

Language goes hand in hand with local cultures too, so when you’re learning when Ramadan is for your Egypt trip, delve a little into the customs and rules that coincide with it. Again, so important when it comes to mixing with the locals. You may just find yourself at the dinner table in the middle of the street, breaking bread with the entire community who have had all the food supplied by the wealthier tenants. Now that’s a story to tell your friends.

Balance Your Guard with Common Sense

Now we’d be the last to say that nothing ever happens when you’re travelling, no one gets in any trouble in Sudan. But if you don’t let your guard down just a little, you may as well just read the guide books and stay on your sofa. The paranoia that you’re a constant target will leave you with regrets when you get back home. So, play it safe but don’t forget why you’re there.

Paying too much for the fruit at a street stall or being ripped off on that $8 sarong is not worth battering an eye at. Instead, go with the flow and focus more on local scams that will matter. Checking with the front office crew about which bars to avoid, the areas that are notorious for pick pockets and how safe the subway is at night are things worth worrying about.

Being smart about how you hold your bag, where your valuable are and what’s going on around you whilst you’re in the marketplace, is better than avoiding that culture at all. You’ll only travel there once, trust me, so make it count.

Aviation Consumer Protection Policy Recommendations

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Priority Early Actions for the Department of Transportation

COVID-19 Health Protections. In the wake of the recent mask mandate for commercial air travel, the administration should immediately issue clear, enforceable requirements for other COVID-19 protections on aircraft and in airports. Such requirements should be based on the best available science and should apply to all U.S. airlines, all foreign airlines operating to, within, and from the United States, and all U.S. airports. The protocols should include enforced social distancing in airports and onboard aircraft, including empty middle seats between strangers; requirements for consistent state-of-the-art aircraft cleaning procedures; as well as consistent, fair, and sensible policies on testing, screening, and quarantining passengers and workers.

Flight Refunds. The administration should strengthen and expand existing DOT rules on passenger flight refunds, particularly during “force majeure” situations such as a global pandemic. In addition, the DOT must vigorously enforce these refund regulations with U.S. airlines, foreign airlines, and other ticket sellers, including resolving outstanding claims that have not been settled, in some cases since March 2020.

Unfair and Deceptive Airline Practices. The Administration should promptly review the new DOT rule, rushed to approval in late November, that created procedural hurdles for unfair and deceptive practices regarding rulemaking and adjudication. Implementation should be suspended, and steps should be begun to rescind it. This ill-conceived rule is totally unnecessary; its only effect is to make it more difficult for DOT to exercise its own authority to protect the traveling public against abusive airline practices.

Further Recommendations

Revamp the Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee (ACPAC) so that it better represents consumers. As we and other consumer advocates wrote to Secretary Chao in October 2020, the ACPAC is fundamentally broken. It is supposed to be a forum for bringing consumer interests and concerns to DOT. But in its current formulation, it does not effectively represent consumers or adequately address issues of concern to the traveling public. This Committee should be reconstituted in a way that provides a true consumer protection voice to the Department, with members who advocate on behalf of consumers.

Family Seating. The administration should issue rules to ensure that families with young children always sit together inflight without incurring additional fees or being required to purchase upgraded tickets. Congress directed DOT to issue such a rule in 2016, but left in a loophole giving the Department the ability to decline to regulate if such regulation is not “appropriate.” Consumer complaints and concerns, as well as a 2018 FBI report on inflight sexual assaults, make clear the need for such a rule.

Airfare Transparency. Implement full airline fare and fee transparency rules so that consumers are always provided “bottom line pricing” for all flights prior to selection, inclusive of both mandatory and “optional” taxes and fees. These rules should apply to all booking channels, whether the tickets are sold through airlines or third-party ticket sellers, and whether they are sold online or offline.

Passenger Bill of Rights. The administration should develop a Bill of Rights that will address the glaring inequities in U.S. airlines’ Contracts of Carriage, documents that are one-sided, binding, intentionally vague, and utterly confusing. Other nations—including Canada and the members of the European Union—have introduced simple, consistent, and easily understood passenger compensation policies for airline flight delays, flight cancellations, involuntary bumping, and mishandled baggage.

Seat Standards. Develop minimum seat size standards for all U.S. commercial aircraft, including regional aircraft operating on behalf of major U.S. carriers. Consumer Reports has documented that economy class seat pitch/legroom and seat width dimensions have diminished in recent decades. This reduces passenger comfort, but also increases dangers of blood clotting, and threatens safe emergency evacuations.

Emergency Evacuations. Conduct a fresh evaluation to revamp the FAA’s emergency evacuation standards and testing procedures for commercial aircraft. In recent years the FAA has relied on outdated computer modeling for such testing, and certain airlines and aircraft types have not been properly tested in more than two decades. These outdated testing procedures fail to account for the seismic changes that have overtaken airline travel in the last 20 years. In addition, there are valid concerns that computer modeling and even actual testing have selectively not accounted for real world demographics, including passengers with disabilities.

Federal Preemption. Work with Congress to eliminate the preemption clause of the 1978 Airline Deregulation Act, so that airline passengers gain more rights on the state and local levels, via state legislatures, state attorneys general, and private right of action.

FAA oversight of aircraft manufacturers. The Boeing 737 MAX crisis highlighted weaknesses in the FAA’s oversight of aircraft manufacturers. In particular, the FAA Inspector Designee program should be reformed so that additional FAA oversight is provided over aircraft manufacturer employees who are tasked with serving the potentially conflicting role as FAA inspectors and certifiers.

Maintenance Outsourcing. The administration should require that airline maintenance work be conducted in the United States, and the FAA should provide adequate surveillance of such maintenance work.

Lush Experiences Luxury Travel Expansion

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TWO PRESTIGIOUS TOUR OPERATORS JOIN FORCES WITH LUSH EXPERIENCES TO CREATE LIFE AFFIRMING MEMORIES FOR TRAVELERS

The Spain Collection and Casablanca Tours are the latest additions to the Lush Experiences roster of luxury travel providers and properties.

Lush Experiences, one of travel’s premier sales, marketing and representation organizations boasting long-held and deep relationships with travel advisors and members, announced that The Spain Collection and Casablanca Tours have become a part of the Lush family of luxury properties and travel experience providers. The countries represented by these outstanding and internationally recognized experiential travel providers include Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

The Spain Collection is world-renown for creating outstanding travel experiences throughout Spain and Portugal, covering areas of traveler interest from nature and sports, to shopping and religious heritage. The group prides itself on creating authentic cultural and traditional connections for its clients, while also supporting local businesses.

“There is no shortage of representation companies to select from but very few stand out the way Lush Experiences does,” said The Spain Collection CEO, Abene Mendizabal. “They share our passion for the region, its history and what it has to offer, and they have the contacts and connections to achieve the business objectives we have set in place to move us forward.”

Casablanca Tours is comprised of native Moroccans residing in the U.S. and as a result, have their fingers on the pulse of what travelers are seeking when visiting the kingdom. Their first-hand, expert knowledge of spectacular sites, fine hotels and food–down to details such as transportation options throughout the country–set them apart from others that serve this multicultural country.

“Knowing the travel industry as I do, it was critical to work with a group that agrees that ‘our special Morocco’ has something to offer every traveler and who appreciates the desire to create the perfect holiday, special occasion or experience of a lifetime. Lush Experiences made that crystal clear to us,” said Souad Seghrouchni, President & Executive Director of Casablanca Tours.

“We are honored to be affirmed and entrusted with the business of two outstanding travel industry veteran providers who share the same passion for travel that we do,” said Brad Beaty, co-founder of Lush Experiences.” When you put your heart and soul into your work as our team does, and respected travel providers like The Spain Collection and Casablanca Tours recognize you for that effort, it is heartening and we are thankful for the trust they have shown in us.”

About Lush Experiences

Lush Experiences is one of travel’s premier sales, marketing and representation organizations, boasting long-held and deep relationships with travel advisors and members. Proud of a client retention rate greater than 90%, one of the highest in the industry, Lush Experiences is all about professionalism, service and your success.

Lush Experiences prides itself on making travel advisor’s work simpler and effortless, approaching its member’s business with a philosophy that “every booking is a relationship.”

Lush Experiences portfolio is comprised of the finest luxury hotels and destination curators throughout the world. From regions including Asia Pacific to Europe to Mexico and the Caribbean, its members are recognized by travelers and travel professionals as being among the most prestigious names in the industry. Also offering destinations services, the experienced team at Lush Experiences treats its clients and relationships as family, and the results show it.

HECKFIELD PLACE: FIRST 100% BIODYNAMIC HOTEL IN UK

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The Georgian Manor Estate Hotel and Home Farm Completes Three-Year Conversion to Holistic Approach to Agriculture.

Heckfield Place, the award-winning Georgian manor estate turned luxury hotel in Hampshire, England (about an hour outside of London), has achieved 100% biodynamic certification; becoming the very first hotel and farm estate in the United Kingdom to receive this designation.

This pioneering accreditation culminates a three-year process of conversion to biodynamics, an alternative form of agriculture that adopts a “closed loop” and holistic approach to farming–eschewing the use of chemicals to regenerate soil health to preserve the land for future generations, and to produce healthy and nutrient-rich foods. As biodynamic growers, Heckfield uses the cycle of the moon to determine when to carry out cultivations. For growing a root crop such as carrots, the team works when the moon is in an earth constellation (goat, bull or virgin). For leaf crops, such as lettuce and spinach, they cultivate when the moon is in a water constellation (crab, scorpion or fish). For flowers, the focus is when the moon is in an air constellation (twins, scales or water carrier) and to encourage fruiting, the moon will be in a fire constellation (ram, lion or archer).

Heckfield’s Farm now provides in myriad of ways for the hotel: from flowers, beautifully arranged by its floral consultant Kitten Grayson Flowers along with its in-house florist, to rotating arable crops and organic produce that inspire the seasonal menus at the hotel’s restaurants Hearth and Marle, led by Culinary Director Skye Gyngell, who champions a root-to-plate ethos.

In 2020, the Heckfield Home Farm opened its own micro-dairy to produce milk, cream and butter for the hotel and local community from the estate’s Guernsey herd, along with 90 sheep and 20 pigs. An average of 400 chickens and 20 beehives provides eggs and honey.

The farm serves as a shining example of the self-sustaining relationship between the land and the house and captures the essence of the hotel’s unique approach to luxury hospitality in its role as custodians for the 438-acre estate to ensure a sustainable future for the land on which it resides.

“Being certified as biodynamic allows us a clearer framework and positive intent; if we choose chemical-based agriculture as the program for our soils, we will destroy the very life we all depend on,” says David Rowley, Head Market Gardener, Heckfield Estates. “Alternatively, we can choose to feed our soils, encourage all the microbiology and the beings and cycles, seen and unseen, picture the farm 100 years in the future–what would we like our grandchildren to see?”

For more information about sustainability at Heckfield Place and its Home Farm, please visit their website.

ABOUT HECKFIELD PLACE:

A Georgian family home dating to the 1700s, Heckfield Place has been lovingly restored to its classic origins and rewoven into its surrounding 400 acres of farmland, ancient heather and woodlands. The estate’s farm, two walled gardens and orchards nourish renowned chef Skye Gyngell’s epicurean cuisine, bringing the outside gloriously into the property’s three restaurants–Marle, with its outdoor balcony overlooking the property, the Sun House, a unique space for up to 30 guests in the Upper Walled Garden, and the open-flamed Hearth. Aiming to be as sustainable as possible, the estate has a biomass energy center to power hotel water and central heating; an aerobic digester to process all recyclable waste and provide compost for the garden and pellets for the biomass energy center; harvest rainwater and capture spring water. As part of the Assembly, the hotel’s event rooms can host up to 120 guests and the new state-of-the-art, Dolby Atmos surround sound cinema can accommodate 67 viewers. There is also an extensive wine cellar and tasting room, as well as the full service Little Bothy Spa.

Las Vegas-Based Tour Provider

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When Bindlestiff Tours owner Rachel Urban opened the Las Vegas-based adventure tour company nearly 10 years ago, she sought to offer adventurers the most immersive experiences throughout the Southwestern United States, Alaska and Western Canada. In the days leading up to the pandemic, Bindlestiff Tours was doing just that. Business was booming and the company welcomed thousands of international visitors each year.

Then borders closed, shutdowns began and the international tourism industry dried up. As reservations were cancelled and trips delayed, many tour operators opted to close their doors entirely. Yet, Bindlestiff made the bold, yet tough, decision to remain open last year as one of the only fully operating national park tour companies in Las Vegas during the height of the pandemic. Today, Bindlestiff continues to fight challenges created by the pandemic while still welcoming drive-market travelers to keep the business afloat.

“Like many small businesses in the tourism industry, we’re fighting every day to keep our operation running while safeguarding our staff and customers’ health and well-being,” said Urban.

With group size limits, mask enforcement rules and social distancing guidelines differing state by state, Bindlestiff’s high operating and cleaning costs for their spectacular multi-state tours through Nevada, Arizona, Utah and California have risen while the number of guests they are able to accommodate continues to remain restricted.

Navigating which national parks and campsites are open also presents another obstacle for Bindlestiff Tours. A spike in COVID-19 cases often leads to sudden park or campsite closures or limited access to certain destinations which creates challenges in how Bindlestiff times tours, according to Urban.

Last-minute tour reservations and cancellations also add to the company’s dilemma of planning how many guests they are able to welcome on a given day.

“While it certainly has been difficult to accommodate travelers visiting Las Vegas on a whim, it brings us such gratitude knowing there are still domestic tourists searching to get away and immerse themselves in nature,” said Urban.

The immersive tour operator celebrates the small victories such as welcoming travelers from neighboring states, even if group sizes remain small, and continues to offer flexible booking conditions, value tour pricing and additional traveler options.

Among these additional options are Bindlestiff Tours’ new multi-day, self-driving camping tours and private, custom single- or multi-day tours from Las Vegas.

The self-drive camping tours, also available with hotel upgrades, offer travelers an opportunity to socially distance under the stars. According to Urban, these tours are designed for guests interested in driving to the national parks of the American Southwest on their own, while still receiving expert guidance and an immersive, personalized adventure.

Guests are provided with all the necessary camping equipment and tour guides assist with camp set-up in scenic locations. Expert tour guides meet guests at key locations throughout the tour and escort groups on remote hiking trails to spectacular viewpoints while providing live interpretive wildlife and nature content throughout the adventure.

According to Bindlestiff, guides also facilitate evening campfires and locally sourced, fully catered al fresco dining options at camp or for hotel guests.

To enhance the self-drive experience, Urban says guests can download the recently reconfigured Bindlestiff Tours mobile app. Now featuring tour narrations in English for domestic travelers in addition to multiple languages for international visitors, the app allows travelers to access additional details, instruction and information.

For families or groups of friends of four or more interested in experiencing national parks in a more intimate setting, Bindlestiff also offers private, custom tour options. These tour packages are pre-made and offer exclusive one-on-one attention from a dedicated, expert local guide. Guests may select day tours or multi-day outdoor camping tours or the comfort of hotel accommodation. Guides escort groups on a completely private tour throughout the experience. Guests have the option to choose from classic itineraries or request a custom-tailored tour and add on other areas of interest, according to Urban.

Despite the overall decrease in travelers resulting from the pandemic, Bindlestiff Tours understands the importance of continuing to provide vacationers with spectacular opportunities to visit some of the country’s most breathtaking national parks when they are ready to travel again.

“During the height of the shutdown last year, we were one of the only fully operating tour providers in Las Vegas,” said Urban. “We understand the importance of offering travelers expert guides for incredible experiences they’ll never forget, especially during such a difficult time. It truly brings our team joy.”

As Bindlestiff continues to expand its tour offerings when more people begin to travel again, the challenges of remaining viable and laying the foundation for recovery in a post-COVID economy remains present. This year, Bindlestiff is excited to launch “glamping” tours that allow families and private groups the peace of the great outdoors paired with more elevated living accommodations.

According to Urban, the tour company remains hopeful about the future. She said guests booking trips with Bindlestiff this year have felt reassured about their health and safety – some even going as far as sharing their uplifting experiences on social media.

“Our company is beyond grateful we have remained open throughout these challenging times to welcome those searching to get out of their houses and into the wilderness,” said Urban.

For more information about private custom tours and self-drive tours, visit www.bindlestifftours.com.

2021 Himiway Escape

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By: Emily Bunn and Vaughn Lowery

Himiway knows that their customers require comfort, capability, and fun when looking for a new eBike. The company knowingly advertises: “Kids prefer toys, grown-ups desire power, and elders need support.” Fortunately, their new model of the 2021 Himiway Escape is a moped-style electric bike that provides user-compatible customizations to bikers of any age.

Himiway offers an approachable, non-intimidating way to ride for all of its users–the only thing that will be difficult is deciding when to stop. The Himiway Escape emphasizes both form and function, absorbing impact while providing a controlled biking experience–and looks good while doing it.

The Himiway is the love child of American grit and Asian electronic bike innovation. The company’s founder, Mike Magaruh, has always had a passion for biking and improving his vehicle’s parts to create a more well-oiled machine. In college, Mike travelled to China and was inspired by the popularity of electric bikes. Taking inspiration from South Korean, Taiwanese, Japanese, and Chinese bike innovations, combined with the American desire for all-terrain vehicles, Mike created the first Himiway Cruiser in his own garage in California. When Mike tried riding his bike for the first time, he felt like a tough guy– and who tougher, or more American, than Ernest Hemingway? From that moment, the Himiway title was born and as they say, the rest is history.

Curb Appeal

With a sleek, matte black exterior and satin finish-accoutered with white accents-the Himiway Escape looks sophisticated, capable, and elite. The high quality, no-slip, double-stitched, PU leather handlebar grips provide a touch of sophistication and rugged elegance to the eBike. Without these handlebar grips the wooden handles of the bike can cause splinters, so we recommend this purchase for the best Himiway experience.

Design

Outshined by the sleek, attractive exterior, one of the hidden aspects of the Escape’s design is its invisible battery (here at 360 Magazine, we used a Samsung battery), which sits flush within the side frame of the bike’s body. The battery takes 6-7hrs to charge and can be charged while attachment or while released and unlocked. It has a total battery capacity of 672Wh, and lasts for 45+ miles per charge. Additionally, the Himiway Escape is installed with an integrated, automatic brake light and a large, bright 48V LED headlight, so users can bike safely any time of day. Another notable safety feature of the bike includes the half twist throttle on the handlebars. This throttle prevents accidental activation, protecting users from any possible harm.

The Escape’s pedals have been installed with a dual sided, aluminum crankset. These crankset guards enforce that the bike’s chains stay in place, even when traveling over mountainous topography. The low to the ground design of the pedals makes getting onto the eBike easy. Once users are seated on the Escape, the comfort of the seat’s large, wide design becomes immediately apparent.

One of the most fun features of the Himiway Escape include the rear rack installed on the back of the bike. This rack can also function as an extra seat, so you can bring a friend along for the adventure! If you’re looking for more storage, Himiway offers an optional basket on the front of the bike for purchase for $89.

Technology

One of the most high-tech and helpful features of the Himiway is it’s large LCD display panel between the bike’s handlebars. Positioned at the precise angle to making checking information quick and easily accessible while riding, the LCD display provides battery capacity, an odometer, speedometer, and a wattmeter. If you’re on a long cruise and run out of phone battery needed to access your route, the display also includes USB charging capabilities.

The pedal assist level power adjustment is one of the most luxurious features of the Himiway Escape. This function lets users program their pedal assist settings, and customize the amount of power delivered in each setting. This eBike of the future provides user-curated experiences that make your travels more enjoyable. As they say, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.

Customization

The LCD display panel is customizable, and with modification users can increase the bike’s maximum speed to 28mph, from an original maximum speed of only 22mph. In order to access this top speed, press the plus and minus buttons simultaneously to enter the menu. Once on the menu, press and hold the add and minus button again. Another menu screen should show up with a large “P” on the top of the screen, above four zeros. From here, use the plus and minus buttons to type 0-5-1-0. Use the “I” button to submit the digits.

After that, another the bike screen will enter another menu with a large “LS” on the top section, above “23 inches” on the bottom of the screen. You can also use the plus and minus buttons to change decrease this number to your preferred wheel height. After that, press enter again.

From there, the LCD display screen should show a large another “LS” above the number 90. It is on this menu that users can customize the bike’s speed limit. (While the Himiway cannot reach 90mph, it is the highest value on the speed limit menu.)

To exit these menus and return to the main screen, press and hold the “I” button. For further customization and assembly instruction, check out this review from JoelsterG4K’s Youtube channel.

Durability

Designed with a 6061-aluminum frame, the Himiway eBike is built to endure all the journeys you will take together. With a 330lbs payload capacity, you can pile on the fun with no worries to weigh you down. Designed to decrease the cumulated pressure of both the bike and its rider, the Escape’s 20”X4” Kenda Fat Tires provides tenacious grip and traction on difficult riding surfaces. Kenda Tires are made for performance, and are designed with a reflective white strip so you can ride safely, no matter what time of day. The full suspension design on the bike allows users to be insulated from the impact of rough or rocky terrain, and provides a comfortable riding experience.

Additionally, the Himiway comes with an ultra-sturdy, pre-assembled kickstand. However, we recommend two people to assemble to Himiway, and encourage taking a visit to your local eBike store to double check its assembly.

Performance

The Shimano 750W brushless, geared hub motor and 7 speed gear shift system allows users acceleration and power while riding the Himiway Escape, up to a maximum speed of 22mph. The Escape’s motor has a max torque of 80Nm, so bikers are able to take on any terrain effortlessly.

Riders can fluidly switch cog sizes to aid riding whatever path suits your personal journey. With over 45mi per charge, the Himiway is perfect for short trips to the store, or long cruises along scenic stretches. The charger is designed on the side of the vehicle, sleekly hidden away until you need it.

When you get to wherever the wind takes you, or if you just need a break, the Himiway Escape’s 180mm hydraulic disc brakes, paired with a full suspension system, allow users to stop at a moment’s notice. The aluminum alloy comfort-grip break levers, with a motor cut off switch, allow for maximum control while riding.

Ergonomics x Additional Features

Compared to other bikes in its category, such as the Rad Power Bikes Radrunner or the Super73 S1, the Himiway Escape shines with its dual suspension system and hydraulic front shocks. These capabilities provide for a much smoother ride than other comparable moped eBikes. Another popular eBike, the Juiced Scorpion, falls flat next to the Escape when considering the Escape’s cheaper price point and more lightweight design.

Modestly priced (and currently on-sale) at a price point of $1,599, the Himiway Escape is the perfect new toy for all outdoor enthusiasts. Upon purchase, the bike also comes with many free, included accessories such as the Himiway Escape rear rack, 16 in 1 multi-function bike repair tool (which includes a Socket Hex Wrench 8/9/10/mm, Slotted Screwdriver, Phillips Screwdriver, Socket Extension Rod, Solid Wrench 8/10/15/mm, Hex Key Wrench 2/2.5/3/4/5/6mm, and Spoke Wrench), full fenders made from durable PVC and stainless steel, and a Himiway bike cap. If you’re in the market for more bike customizations, we recommend you purchase a Bluetooth enabled Tile to keep track of your bike in case of emergency, battery operated horn, cellphone holder, and folding lock–all of which are available on Amazon.

This e-bike is the perfect travel companion, eagerly waiting to join you on all your adventures.

PRE-ORDER NOW

Safety

Once you have your Himiway Escape, you’re sure to get some admirational stares as you cruise in style. However, with an amazing eBike comes great responsibility. In order to make sure you’re keeping your Himiway Escape safe from theft or harm’s way, make sure you’re being extra cognizant to not leave your bike in shady areas that are large hives of bike theft activity. Switch up where you leave you bike so thieves can’t notice your commuting patterns to set up a targeted attack, and utilize multiple bike locks. You can even lock individual parts of your eBike to the bike itself. Further, by anchoring your Himiway to objects stronger than your bike’s frame, and ensuring that the way your lock passes through the bike requires the most effort and damage to be removed, you can deter most criminals looking to avoid a complicated robbery. Further, the parking in well-lit areas lessens the chance of theft since thieves don’t like to be seen in the spotlight. Better yet, bring your bike inside with you if your destination allows.

TREEHOUSES, SAMURAI HOMES & KIMONO RETREATS

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With Japan on the top of many travelers’ bucket lists once travel restrictions are lifted, the country is expecting a tourism boom like no other. This has lead to the creation of many new hotels and resorts, particularly located outside of Tokyo and Kyoto. Along with new properties to open in 2021, many hotels that have opened in 2020 with unique experiences and offerings, and are eager to welcome international guests. Below is a sampling of some of the most unique hotels in Japan:

wanoi KAKUNODATE – Akita Prefecture-Opened March 13, 2020
Renovated from a historical storehouse, wanoi KAKUNODATE offers travelers a step back in time. The town of Kakunodate was known as “Little Kyoto” for samurai residences. Each of the three rooms at wanoi KAKUNODATE highlights this incredible history. The Nishinomiyake Bushigura room, inspired by the ancestor of the Nishinomiya family who was a highly regarded samurai at the time, echoes his story through its design, including tactile tools once used by samurai. The Nishinomiyake Gakkogura room was originally a storehouse for pickles. Guests can experience that history by taking a bath in a repurposed pickle barrel bathtub. The Tanmonogura room is located right next to the samurai residence street. It stands as the oldest of the three storehouses, originally built in the late Edo period.

Nordisk Hygge Circles – Mie Prefecture-Opening Spring 2021
Located in Japan’s Mie Prefecture amidst towering trees and roaring waterfalls, the Nordisk Hygge Circles is a new luxury campground. The campground is intended to be a healing space for guests, while providing a sustainable camping experience. The Nordisk Hygge Circles was designed by Japanese-Danish architecture team Third Nature, who won a regenerative tourism competition launched by Danish outdoor gear company Nordisk. The campsite will consist of three main areas: a rest area with reservable circular cabins and glamping tents, a “learning field” for nature-inspired excursions and workshops, and an area where guests can pitch their own tents.

Nipponia Shirataka Former House of Okuyama – Yamagata Prefecture-Opening April 2021
Renovated from a house that was previously owned by a distinguished Japanese family in the silk production business, this “kimono retreat hotel” offers guests an escape in the rural town of Shirataka while experiencing Japan’s kimono culture. The hotel will span 8,000 square meters with five different buildings and eight guest rooms. Owned by Tomihiro, a 400-year-old kimono fabrics store, the retreat allows guests to partake in traditional craft and local lifestyle activities.

Treeful Treehouse EcoResort-Okinawa Prefecture-Opening Spring 2021
Located in Nago city, in the north of Okinawa island, the Treeful Treehouse EcoResort lives by the ethos of ‘sustainable luxury.’ Using minimal electricity produced solely by solar power, the resort features a number of sleek and design-forward treehouses that are seamlessly integrated with nature. One is completely suspended with 360-degrees views and contemporary interior design, built on the side of Genka River–considered one of the clearest waters in Japan. A passionate environmental project, the resort has engaged with Okinawa locals on various initiatives, including removing man-made concrete to restore the natural landscape, and re-building a watermill in an effort to “improve their area environmentally, culturally, and economically.”

Fauchon Hotel Kyoto-Opening March 16, 2021
A meeting of two worlds, the Fauchon Hotel Kyoto, from the famous French gourmet food company Fauchon, will stand as the company’s first hotel outside of Paris. The hotel will open in the center of Kyoto with 59 guest rooms and suites. Along with its iconic Pâtisserie & Boutique Fauchon, Fauchon Hotel Kyoto will be home to a variety of restaurants and bars, including Salon de Thé Fauchon and Le Grand Café Fauchon. The hotel will also be home to Le Spa Fauchon, which will offer a wide range of body and face treatments.

For updates on travel restrictions to Japan, please visit this website