Luang Prabang

Are These Really the World’s Top Cities?

Published July 13, 2017 | By Clark Norton

Kyoto’s Kinkaku-ji Zen Buddhist Temple of the Golden Pavilion. Photo by Dennis Cox/WorldViews

Barcelona, Spain. Udaipur, India. Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Rome and Florence, Italy. Santa Fe, New Mexico and Charleston, South Carolina, U.S..

Luang Prabang, Laos. Ubud, Indonesia (Bali).

Cape Town, South Africa. Hoi An, Vietnam.

Kyoto, Japan. Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Oaxaca and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

What do these cities have in common? If you said “very little,” you’;d be right, but you’d also be wrong.

They were all voted into the top 15 of the “World’s Top Cities” by the readers of Travel + Leisure Magazine. The criteria included sights/landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping, and overall value.

Where are the Usual Suspects?

Notable absences include London, Paris,. Venice, Prague, St. Petersburg, Istanbul, Jerusalem, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Vancouver, Hong Kong…not even such trendy destinations as… Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Baby boomer travel, Cities, Europe | Tagged Barcelona, Cape Town, Charleston, Chiang Mai, Florence, Hoi An, Kyoto, Luang Prabang, Oaxaca, Rome, San Miguel de Allende, Santa Fe, Siem Reap, Ubud, Udaipur | 7 Comments

Finding Wellness Travel in All the Exotic Places

Published June 6, 2016 | By Clark Norton

Laos’ Pak Ou Caves are a site for Mekong River-based meditation. Photo from Travel Laos.

In recognition of Global Wellness Day — June 11 this year — I thought it would be apropos to mention a few of the more unusual ways to promote health while traveling. As a baby boomer, I’m prone to the usual stiff joints and other nagging ailments, and love the idea of medical tourism, even if it’s mostly an excuse to go somewhere exotic.

Water-based Meditation.

While I don’t practice meditation, I have a few good friends who do, and they always seem focused and calm. Does meditation have this effect, or are naturally calm and focused people drawn to meditation?

I don’t know, but I do know I could use a little more calmness and focus in my life, and I love being on water, so maybe I’ll try:

The Mekong Spa at Belmond… Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Asia, Baby boomer travel, California, cultural travel, health, Luxury travel, Medical tourism, Wellness travel | Tagged andBeyond Vamizii, Calistoga, Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France, Connaught Hotel, Costa Rica, GoldenEye, Jamaica, Laos, London, Luang Prabang, luxury spas, Meditation, Mekong Spa at Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao, Mozambique, Napa Valley, Nayara Springs, Silverado Trail, Solage Calistoga, Spas, St. Bart's, wellness travel, yoga retreats | 2 Comments

According to government and private surveys:

Leading-edge baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1955) and seniors account for four out of every five dollars spent on luxury travel today.
Roughly half the consumer spending money in the U.S.--more than $2 trillion--is in the hands of leading-edge baby boomers and seniors.
Baby boomers (born 1946-1964) travel more than any other age group.
When asked what they would most like to spend their money on, baby boomers answered “travel” more than any other category, including improving their health or finances.