Many resorts and cruise ships slated to make their debut in 2021 were pushed off a year due to the pandemic. So some of the properties we discussed in last January’s Best of the New issue are finally opening, like the Chatwal Lodge in upstate New York. Others like the new Rock House in Turks & Caicos (see below) simply waited until they felt the timing was right. Active adventure tour operators like Backroads had their best year ever. Domestic bookings were up 45% compared to 2019, the last pre-pandemic benchmark year, and virtually all US departures sold out. They continue to expand their domestic product in 2022 and sales in Europe are already better than last year. Here at ActiveTravels, we remain optimistic that we can finally get you over to Europe, Asia, even Africa later this year.

Situated in New York’s NoMad neighborhood (5^th Avenue and 28^th Street), this Leading Hotels of the World property will combine a historic 1907 residence designed by storied architecture firm McKim, Mead & White with a new 24-story addition by Perkins Eastman. Designer Martin Brudnizki is behind the interiors, which are inspired by the Gilded Age with a rich color palette. There will be 153 rooms and suites, four chic restaurants and bars, and a ballroom for star-studded events. Opening Autumn 2022.

New for 2022 is a Multi-Adventure Trip to Portugal, available for couples and all family age groups. Highlights include biking through UNESCO World Heritage towns in Alentejo, hiking in Serra da Arrábida Nature Park, and sea kayaking in secluded bays outside of Lisbon.

Once South Korea opens up to North Americans again, I am signing up for this 8-day gluttonous food tour with Intrepid Travel.

This dreamy new 11-day trip from Natural Habitat Adventures starts aboard a small luxury ship on the largest manmade lake in Africa, Kariba. Then it’s off to safari in Hwange, the crown jewel of Zimbabwe’s national park system, before a stop in Chobe to see the large elephant herds, and the grand finale at Victoria Falls. Not too shabby.

We have to hand it to Natural Habitat Adventures again. We are also liking their U.S. National Parks trips for this coming summer as well as some spring and fall itineraries too. If you are not wanting to travel overseas just yet, check out where Nat Hab is offering trips in the US. This might just be the year to see the wonders of our own backyard.

Their Insider's Journey into Yosemite looks mesmerizing. It's an 8 day immersion into the secret spots known only to their Expedition leaders who understand Yosemite intimately. Stay 3 nights at the legendary Ahwanee Hotel in view of Half Dome, Yosemite Falls and Glacier Point (it's practically impossible to get reservations here on your own), see the 3000 foot El Capitan and the towering sequoias of Mariposa Grove and enjoy a sunrise canoe excursion on Mono Lake. If you journey there from July through early September, you'll experience their wildflower season. If you choose to go from mid-September through early October, you'll enjoy the magnificence of fall foliage. Either way, it will be stunningly beautiful!

For those of you who enjoy flora as well as fauna, it's a big year for floral events.

Floriade is happening in the Netherlands from April 14th until October 9th. This is a huge international Expo which occurs every 10 years. Esteemed horticulturalists from around the globe convene in a different spot in the Netherlands once a decade to propose solutions. This year the theme is Growing Green Cities and countries from Japan to Qatar to Nepal to Indonesia will participate in their designated pavilions with their revolutionary ideas of how horticulture can revive urban sprawl. I was fortunate to see the grounds in October last year and see them preparing for this exciting event.

Another floral event is SuperBloom! A colorful field of flowers will fill the moat at the Tower of London to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of the Queen this summer (June 1st to September 18th). Visitors can wander along a meandering path into the center of the field of flowers and hear the sound installations and see sculptures commissioned especially for this event along the way.

Viking’s first foray in the US will be on the Mississippi River this summer aboard the new Viking Mississippi. Hosting 386 guests in 193 outside staterooms, the cruises will run from St. Paul, Minnesota, to New Orleans and numerous ports in between. The full-length cruise runs 15 days, while several eight-day trips are available. The staterooms will range in size from 268 square feet to 1,024 square feet, and each will have its own private veranda or French balcony, a king-size bed, and 24-hour room service. The ship will have a main dining venue on the first deck, a cafe on the top deck, and a pool at the aft.

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection set a new May 2022 inaugural date for its long-awaited debut of Evrima.

She will now make her Inaugural voyage from Lisbon to Barcelona on May 6, 2022. The ship will have a maximum capacity of 298 passengers while carrying a total of 236 staff members aboard, one of the highest staff to guest ratios in the industry.

ActiveTravels is here to help you with your winter, spring, summer, or fall plans in 2022. Please let us know what interests you and we’ll get the ball rolling.