Top Travel Days of 2024, Living La Villa Life on Mexico’s Rivera Maya

In October, I headed to Mexico to meet up with my Largay Travel Family, hosted by Villas of Distinction. But first I needed two days of Me Time to unwind, get a spa treatment, swim in the ocean, dine on great food and enjoy some spicy margaritas, all at the fabulous all-inclusive adults-only property, Le Blanc Spa Resort in Cancun. Then it was off to Rivera Maya to jump into cenotes, zipline, dance with a mariachi band and snorkel, as they wined and dined us in style! Our group stayed at four different gorgeous villas which were linked together and lined the beach. Each villa had an authentic Mexican style and were adorned with art and each had a pool overlooking the beach. One even had a pickleball court in its large courtyard! With an amazing chef and staff, the villas offered us a wonderful place for lounging and enjoying each other’s company without a care in the world. One night’s entertainment meant that I even got a chance to pretend I was in The Blue Man Group!

–Lisa Leavitt

Thank you for reading our Top Travel Days of 2024. We’re here at ActiveTravels to help you create the Top Travel Days in 2025! Let’s start planning together!

Club Med Quebec Charlevoix to Open in December

Club Med Quebec Few industries have been impacted more than travel this past year and a half. Navigating through the dizzying array of restrictions and requirements is no easy feat and can leave this eternal optimist exhausted and disheartened. But then I read about a new hotel opening in an area of the globe I’d like to check out and I’m just as excited as I was 30 years ago when I first entered the travel world, writing a story on the hotel Robert Louis Stevenson stayed when visiting Levuka, Fiji in the late 19th century. This pandemic has been a long slog, yet remarkably hotel groups continue to build and invest in the travel industry. That alone gives me a glimmer of hope.

Opening December 2021 is Club Med’s first foray in Canada and it’s a beauty. Having written about skiing Le Massif for the Boston Globe, I’ve had the good fortune to witness the exquisite views of the St. Lawrence Seaway from the slopes. Located 90 minutes northeast of Québec City in the Le Massif de Charlevoix region, the four-season all-inclusive mountain resort is spread across 300 acres. The new Club Med offers 302 rooms and a private luxury space featuring 25 suites. All-inclusive dining features the main restaurant, Le Marché, the gourmet lounge, Le Chalet, and the family restaurant, Terroir & Co, where kids and parents will enjoy fondue and raclette, local Québec cheeses and charcuteries, freshly baked cookies, and Québec’s famous maple taffy. Aside from ski-in/ski-out access, guest will enjoy ice skating, dogsledding, and sugar shack visits in the winter; biking, guided hiking tours, and whale watching in the warmer months. Let ActiveTravels know your dates and we’ll check availability and package together with Quebec City.

Le Germain Montreal Exterior Now a Colorful Mural

Le Germain Hotel Montreal MuralIf you’re one of the many Americans finally crossing the border into Quebec to get a much-needed dose of French flavor, then don’t miss the Mural Arts Program that starts today. A guided tour will bring you to more than 20 impressive works of street art along the Saint Laurent Boulevard. Also take a slight detour to Mansfield Street near the McGill University campus to see the fabulous exterior of the Le Germain Hotel Montreal. Artist Michelle Hoogveld has created a multicolored 171-foot work of art aptly named Dazzle My Heart that will no doubt liven up this downtown corridor. Better yet, spend the night at the property which recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation.

Boston’s Newbury Hotel Makes an Impressive Debut

Boston's Newbury HotelOne step off Newbury Street into the reception area of the The Newbury Boston and you’ll notice the stairwell that always took up a good portion of the lobby is no longer there. It’s been replaced by a gem of a small library with books stocked by nearby Trident Booksellers and the Boston Public Library and art selected by Boston public relations executive Lynne Kortenhaus who doubles as a talented curator, as evidenced by the works displayed throughout the property. A six-pack of Yousuf Karsh photographs peer down at you from the left, including portraits of people who had significant impact on the city like architect I.M. Pei, who designed the JFK Library. You’ll also spot Tennessee Williams, who legend has it spent a good deal of time in his room penning a play called “A Streetcar Named Desire” back when the hotel was The Ritz Carlton.

To read my latest story for Everett Potter’s Travel Report on the new Newbury Hotel, please press here.

The Wilburton Now Offering Exclusive Vacation Home Buyouts

The Wilburton in Manchester, VermontLast time I stayed at the Wilburton Inn, I tried belly dancing, sang children’s songs in a big singalong, and learned about the history of conflict resolution from ancient Greek times to the present. No, Manchester, Vermont’s Wilburton Inn is not your typical New England inn. Come here for a stay and you leave as part of the multi-talented Levis family, who have now been running this mansion in the mountains a mind-boggling 33 years!

The bucolic 30-acre destination resort recently rebranded as The Wilburton and is now featuring eight vacation homes to accommodate groups of 6-100 for buyouts, weddings and reunions. The Battenkill Valley Mansion, located on its own private five-acre estate just half a mile from The Wilburton, is a sprawling 15-bedroom mansion ideal for groups of up to 34 guests. It was built as a wedding present for the daughter of the Chicago railroad tycoon who built The Wilburton. Additional vacation homes on the property include the eight-bedroom Reunion House, three six-bedroom homes (Equinox Views Villa, Strawberry Hill Villa and Green Mountain House) and the two-bedroom Innkeepers Cottage. All vacation homes feature fully appointed kitchens, dining rooms, fire pits and washer-dryers, making them ideal for summer and foliage Vermont getaways.

Additionally, now that Vermont is welcoming vaccinated travelers, the resort is offering a special Vaxication Special. Now through June, if you show your vaccination card, the third night is on the house. Lastly, be on the lookout for a special Bridgerton-themed event July 16-19. There will be a formal lawn party with Regency dances, a breakfast hosted by Lady Wilburton (the American cousin of the mysterious Lady Whistledown) a garden tour and promenade, and costume contest. Ooh la la!

Please let ActiveTravels know your dates and we’ll check availability and happily introduce you to the welcoming Levis family and their adorable canine concierge, Jetson.

New Data Based Study on the Best Hotels in Las Vegas

Carriage House, Las VegasMax Tour, a Las Vegas-based tour company that helps travelers visit Antelope Canyon and the Grand Canyon, took advantage of their downtime during the pandemic to create an algorithm that ranks the top hotels in Las Vegas. Scores are based on reviews from TripAdvisor, Google, and other online travel sites, location, price, and entertainment venues. Using the criteria, they collected more than 20,000 data points that would help pick the winners in each price category. In the 4 to 5-Star Category, Cosmopolitan won Best Hotel, Treasure Island received Best Value, and Caesars Palace was Best for Partiers. In the 3.5-Star and Under Category, Carriage House won Best Hotel and Best Value and Flamingo received top billing as Best for Partiers. Thank you, Max Tour, for doing this invaluable research, ideal for ActiveTravels when deciding on the right hotel for our  clients!

Saranac Waterfront Lodge Opens in the Adirondacks

Saranac Waterfront LodgeIf you’re looking for a waterfront escape this summer or fall, consider the new Saranac Waterfront Lodge in the Adirondacks. After more than 7 years of planning and development, the resort had a soft opening this winter. But to take full advantage of this lakefront property, you should check it out during the warm weather months. Saranac Waterfront Lodge features 93 rooms, a lakeside pub, restaurant, pool, hot tubs, fire pits, a fitness center, even electric car charging stations. With the reopening of nearby Hotel Saranac in 2018, these two properties transform Saranac Lake into the Adirondacks travel hub it was a century ago and will compete with nearby Lake Placid. If you’re interested in my boyhood stomping grounds of the Adirondacks, please contact ActiveTravels and we’ll check availability and pricing at these two resorts and design a detailed itinerary that includes recommended hikes, restaurants, and driving routes.

Salt Hotels To Open Hutton Brickyards in May

Hutton Brickyards in KingstonI’ve been a big fan of hoteliers David Bowd and Kevin O’Shea ever since they unveiled their first property in Provincetown, the Salt House Inn. Their sense of style and service was more artisanal than corporate and not surprisingly, it quickly caught on with the guests. Soon they would open a second property in Provincetown, the Eben House, and two more properties in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Their biggest venture yet, Hutton Brickyards, will soon debut along the Hudson River in Kingstown, New York. 31 cabins will overlook the water, joined by a spa, outdoor restaurant, fire pits, biking and hiking trails, and an event space that’s perfect for a wedding or small business retreat. Other activities will include morning yoga, guided kayak jaunts on the river, and a chance to do some beekeeping. Can’t wait to check it out!

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The Trustees Welcomes Guests Back to Two Iconic Inns

Inn at Castle HillThe Trustees just announced the reopening of the two inns they run in Massachusetts on April 2nd. Inn at Castle Hill in Ipswich is a 10-room property located within the Crane Estate and next to Crane Beach. Talk a long walk on the beach by your lonesome in spring and then return to the property for a yummy breakfast. The Guest House at Field Farm is just outside Williamstown, perfect for an art lover’s retreat to the nearby Clark and Mass MoCA art museums. Wander outdoors around Field Farm’s sculpture garden and you’ll have excellent views of the slopes of Mt. Greylock. The six guest rooms are a treat for interior designers, created in the mid-century-modern style.

Hotel Week Returns to Rhode Island April 17-30

Hotel Week in Rhode IslandTop hotels and inns around the Ocean State have significantly discounted their rates April 17-30, just in time to welcome visitors in need of a quick getaway or school vacation trip. The Second Annual Hotel Week features flat rates of $100, $200, and $300 per property as well as packages. For example, your family can spend the night at Newport’s Hotel Viking for $100 and enjoy the indoor pool. Or treat yourself to a cozy room with a fireplace and balcony at the Shelter Harbor Inn in Westerly or a junior suite with breakfast at the Stone House in Little Compton for $200. $300 a night will get you a master junior suite and hot breakfast at the Auberge Collection property, The Vanderbilt in Newport, or a midweek night at the Weekapaug Inn in Westerly, which Travel & Leisure named “One of the Best Hotels in the World.” If you need help with what to do in Rhode Island, pick up a copy of my latest book, New England in a Nutshell, where I include more than 75 entries on Rhode Island.