When American Express Travel researchers asked customers whether they prefer “lesser-known” vacation spots to the world’s top destinations, 79% of respondents said “yes!” It seems these savvy travelers love finding spots before they get too popular. Reasons they gave for preferring hidden gems over popular tourist spots include: Wanting to discover trending destinations before they go viral Believing that hidden gems offer more direct cultural…
Analysts at Expedia Group Media Solutions surveyed the world’s youngest generation to see how this demographic influences family travel. They found that a new niche has been added to the list of Baby Boomers, Gen Xs, Millennials, and Gen Zs: Gen Alpha, covering anyone born between 1995 and 2010. By 2025, Two billion kids will comprise the Alpha generation and every one of them is…
The University of Exeter, the British Trust for Ornithology, and the University of Queensland teamed up to conduct a study that got attention from the international mental health community: People living in neighborhoods with a preponderance of birds “are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, and stress.” It didn’t matter where study participants lived—urban or suburban neighborhoods. As long as birds show up regularly,…
Given statistics that prove medical care and lifestyle improvements are helping us live longer, it stands to reason that married folks who have found ways to grow together are celebrating more milestone anniversaries than ever before. According to a feature article in the Norfolk (VA) Daily News, the practice of getting married right out of high school has all but disappeared. Over the past 50…
No matter where you live, there’s probably an Independence Day reminder on your calendar. In the U.S., July 4th is sacrosanct because it stands for more than just background barbecues, fireworks, and a day off work. It’s a nationwide salute to the men and women of the 13 states who fought to make sure that an official Declaration of Independence was enacted on July 4,…
If you’ve been preparing for a visit to Belize, you may have run into what we like to call “The battle of the beaches”! This nation has so many delightful ones that competition is stiff. For repeat visitors who have favorites, prepare for an earful of information that explains exactly why one beach is better than another. Do enough research before making a decision and…
You can toss a coin, throw a dart at a map or go directly to Placencia, Belize where everything you need and want is at your fingertips. Imagine yourself planning a vacation to Massachusetts and wondering if you should stay in Boston or on Cape Cod! Both are amazing but you’ve got to choose one. These days travelers confront the same dilemma after deciding to…
When considering a vacation on a peninsula, are you drawn to the idea of enjoying endless beach access on two coasts? One of the most appealing (and closest) isthmuses is found in Belize where the Placencia Peninsula not only offers two lovely playgrounds but it’s home to a long list of enjoyments that have nothing to do with water. To experience this navigable peninsula, choose…
If you’ve ever discussed travel proclivities with others, it probably took less than 10 minutes to see how diverse expectations are, even among people you know well. Some grew up taking family holidays and they stick to those traditions. Others are all about finding new places, people, and experiences. In fact, everyone develops a travel style that is unique. By answering these questions, you can…
The notion of “re-charging” has undergone quite the evolution over time, say lexicologists. The word’s original meaning comes from 15th-century France where the verb was used to designate the process of reloading vessels and then applied to the invention of the battery in 1876. It took until 1921 for the concept of recharging to make the figurative pivot defined as the restoration of fitness and…