Caribbean’s Best-Kept Secret, Hotel Upgrade Tips, Lavish Lounge Perks And More

100 Cities, 5000 Ideas for Travel in 2023

Looking for travel inspiration in 2023? National Geographic recently published 100 Cities, 5000 Ideas by Joe Yogerst, which offers off-the-beaten-path recommendations in London, Geneva, Tokyo, Sydney, New York and other great destinations. “There’s nothing I like more than wandering aimlessly through a new city, map and phone in hand,” Yogerst says. “Discovering where a side street leads or what’s on the other side of a park or piazza. Ambling along a famous boulevard in the dead of night when most residents—and other travelers—are snug in their beds. Finding an obscure but captivating museum, a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with divine cuisine, or a neighborhood festival that only the locals know about.”

Airline Lounges with Saunas, Speakeasies and Swimming Pools

Airport lounges may have been closed for most of the pandemic, but many airlines made smart use of the down time by making major upgrades—including adding a sauna (in Finnair’s Helsinki lounge), a speakeasy (at JFK’s Terminal 4) and a swimming pool (in Qatar). Here are some of the most high-flying airport lounge perks around the world.

The Caribbean’s Best-Kept Secret

There aren’t many Caribbean islands that remain relatively pristine—but Bequia isn’t your typical tropical paradise. The second-largest island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Bequia (which translates to “Island of the Clouds”) is a 7-square-mile strip of white-sand beaches surrounded by turquoise waters—and not much to do. There are no major resorts on the island, which makes the chic Bequia Beach Hotel, founded by “accidental hotelier” Bengt Morstedt, the place to stay. Should you get tired of lounging by its saltwater infinity pool, head to Jack’s Bar on the other side of the island, which Mr. Bengt (as he is known locally) also owns.

“The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach—waiting for a gift from the sea.”

TravelWise

Getting a courtesy upgrade on an airline is highly unlikely these days unless you have elite status. But at luxury hotels and resorts, there’s more often wiggle room for a better room. Here are 6 tips for getting a free hotel upgrade. Rule No. 1? Ask nicely.

Holiday Gift Guide: The Best Travel Gadgets

Having the right gadgets and gear can make an already great getaway even better. Here are some great gift ideas tech-loving travelers, including earbuds for sleeping, a magnetic battery pack that attaches to a phone and a portable keyboard that pairs with a tablet.

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