Experience this ... and that
JUMPING out of a plane over New Zealand, cruising the Norwegian fjords during the summer solstice and travelling from Paris to Istanbul on a luxury train are some of the “must-have” experiences of 2019, from advisors at a luxury travel network.
A new year on the horizon brings with it a blank calendar of travel possibilities.
For thrill seekers, intrepid globetrotters and those with generous travel budgets, luxury travel network Virtuoso has compiled a list of nine must-have experiences for 2019, based on the feedback of their 17,500 travel advisors around the world.
Here are a few of their suggestions:
Skydiving over New Zealand
This one’s for thrill seekers and nature lovers. Consistently named one of the world’s top skydiving places, jumpers will be privy to bird-eye views of the country’s stunning natural landscape- glaciers, mountains, rainforests, rivers and lakes.
Cruise summer solstice
Mark your calendar for June 21 and ring in the longest day of the year, in the land of the midnight sun, while cruising the Norwegian fjords.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the longest day of the year will be Dec 21, and could be enjoyed cruising the Chilean fjords to the South Cape.
Luxury train ride
The vintage Venice SimplonOrient Express is a journey back in time that harkens back to the Golden Age of luxury travel. The 10-night journey from Paris to Istanbul is an exercise in slow travel, taking guests through some of Europe’s most beautiful cities aboard an Art Deco train.
Gastronomic nirvana
There’s a reason Tickets restaurant in Barcelona has a two-month waiting list. It’s one of the most exciting avant-garde dining destinations in the world, where chef Albert Adria (younger brother to the famous Ferran Adria) harnesses the power of science to create culinary wizardry.
Historic travel
Next year the world will honour the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, when American, British and Canadian soldiers stormed the shores of Normandy in France. History buffs may want to visit the beaches where the Allied forces landed during World War II, eventually leading to the liberation of German-occupied France.
Other travel experiences for 2019 include the Rugby World Cup in Japan; a visit to the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru where guests can explore the undersea world by submarine; a glamping experience in Northern Chile during the solar eclipse; and a tour of Croatia’s coastal communities by yacht. – AFP Relaxnews