Travel Inspiration ‘Tis the season of giving and unsurprisingly at Direct Travel we believe one of the best gifts anyone can receive is the Gift of Travel. The Gift of Travel is always the perfect size and is one that continues to give long after the re...
Recipes Gühwein: an essential part of winter in Europe Brighten up the long winter nights the way Europeans have for centuries with an intensely warming and fragrant drink of hot mulled wine fortified with spices, herbs, fruit and fruit juices, hard al...
Travel Tips Rebecca Adams, Direct/Vision Travel’s Director of Supplier Relations, recently sailed with Princess Cruises and shared how the MedallionClass® enhanced her cruise experience. Princess Medallion Your Medallion stores a...
Travel Inspiration 1 - Heli-Hike in Antarctica Heli-hiking, offered on Quark Expeditions’ new Ultramarine Ship, gives adventurers two experiences in one. First, the flight provides spectacular coastal and mountain views. Next, you get to trek or snowshoe...
Recipes It’s that time of year, everything is coming up pumpkin! As the days start to get chillier, cosy up with this pumpkin soup from our friends at St.Anne’s Spa in Grafton, Ontario. INGREDIENTS • 2 finely diced white on...
Travel Inspiration Athens’ New Hotel feels as though you’re staying in an eclectic, eco-friendly, and ultra-luxe art gallery. Everything about this 79-room boutique hotel is playful and smart, from mismatched chairs that resemble sculptures to the restauran...
Travel Inspiration This past September, I traveled to Greece and enjoyed a seven-night cruise on board Azamara. It turns out the biggest hurdle wasn’t navigating the new travel requirements, it was getting myself ready to be part of the world again. For t...
Travel Inspiration Located on a stunning horseshoe bay on the South Western shore of the island of Antigua, overlooking tranquil turquoise waters and swathed by lush rainforest, Carlisle Bay offers a haven of seclusion and relaxation. Sophisticated and contempo...
Travel Tips Rene Schneeberger, VP, Leisure Supplier Management, Direct Travel recent experience as a US citzen traveling to Mexico. Trip: San Francisco to Cancun Date: June 25-28, 2021 Purpose: Apple Leisure Group Annual Meeting Exper...
Travel Tips Rene Schneeberger, VP, Leisure Supplier Management, Direct Travel recent experience as a US citzen traveling to Europe. Trip: San Francisco to France Date: July 22-29, 2021 Purpose: AmaWaterways River Cruise Experience: &...
Travel Tips Rising majestically above the 600 acre beach front resort of Anse Chastanet, Jade Mountain Resort on St. Lucia’s south-western Caribbean coastline is a cornucopia of organic architecture celebrating St. Lucia’s stunning scenic bea...
Travel Inspiration We are here to help! Borders are opening and travel has cautiously restarted. With this new beginning, new travel requirements have been implemented. At first glance these regulations seem daunting, but there is a way to break them down...
Recipes Nothing captures the true passion, culture and taste of Havana like the authentic Cuban Mojito. Ingredients 2 oz. Havana Club 3 Year Old Rum 1 oz. Simple Syrup ¾ oz. Lime Juice (half a lime) 2 Mint Sprigs 4 oz. of Sparkli...
Recipes Make this delicious dessert without turning on the oven. INGREDIENTS FOR THE CRUST 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs 2 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted 1 tbsp. light brown sugar FOR THE CHEESECAKE...
Travel Inspiration Effortless Island Luxury Intimate and Inviting, Curtain blends timeless seaside elegance with toes-in-the-sand charm at Antigua's premiere all-inclusive destination. Relaxation Awaits Tucked away on a rocky promonto...
Travel Tips If you are thinking about visiting continent this summer, here are a few of our travel tips. 1 – A Travel Advisor is essential. Yes, it can be said we are biased, however, while countries are open to travellers, there are still...
Travel Tips It's very difficult to identify the best beach resorts in the Caribbean. The reality is the best resort is the one that suits your needs, therefore, we have broken them into categories. Here are some of our recommendations for the best be...
Travel Inspiration Did somebody say food? An exploration of some of the top European food destinations. Paris French cuisine is rated as one of the world’s finest. So Paris is a foregone conclusion on any list of top food cities. French gastronomy...
Travel Tips Enjoy this fresh and delicious recipe, ready in just 30 minutes! This recipe is one of the most searched recipes on FoodNetwork.com and the #shrimpscampi has more than 134,000 posts on Instagram. Ingredients: Kosher salt 1...
Recipes This cocktail is regal and delicious and suitable for any king or queen. Ingredients: 4cl Don Julio Blanco Tequila 2cl Cointreau 3cl Strawberry puree 2cl Agave syrup 2cl fresh lime juice Dash of balsamic vinegar Pinch of groun...
Travel Inspiration It is in some ways hard for us to grasp that it’s already been 12 months since the world stood still mid-March 2020, when cruise lines voluntarily suspended all operations globally. Few of us could have predicted that it wou...
Travel Inspiration Plan your next Florida vacation with personalized experiences for everyone! Florida is a top destination for vacationers around the world and for good reason! The weather is warm and the activities are endless. Many people decide to take the...
Travel Inspiration Whether you call it hiking, tramping, or trekking in your corner of the world, it is frequently named as one of the top reasons for visiting New Zealand. Aotearoa New Zealand offers an abundance of tracks available to choose from, varying in ...
Recipes Something a bit different for this St Patricks Day: Irish Buck Cocktail Irish Buck Ingredients 1 1⁄2 oz Irish whiskey 1⁄4 oz Fresh lime juice 2 oz Ginger ale Add the whiskey and lime juice to a Collins glass f...
Travel Inspiration Private Lambay Island Whiskey Expereince Enjoy a private tour and experience like no other with an exclusive visit to Lambay Island and Distillery. Owned by The Barings from 1904 to present day, the residents of Lambay Island live off-grid &...
Travel Inspiration Cap Maison Resort & Spa On a magnificent oceanfront bluff high above picturesque Smugglers Cove on the north end of Saint Lucia, Cap Maison Resort & Spa’s incomparable setting is a prize. The exclusive resort is unique ...
Recipes This Spicy Sausage Rigatoni is so simple and SO GOOD. Chewy tubes of rigatoni swimming in a delicious sauce made of Italian sausage, San Marzano tomatoes, red wine, and spices. Add some crusty bread to sop up some of the sauce! INGRE...
Travel Inspiration California Canyon Ranch, Woodside Set among centuries-old redwoods just south of San Francisco, Canyon Ranch Woodside is a new form of intimate, immersive, and elevated retreat experience. Woodside artfully orchestrates your connec...
Travel Inspiration It’s no secret that Covid-19 has brought a lot of hardship and isolation to travel advisors. When Direct Travel and its Canadian division Vision Travel started Town Hall zoom meetings for its advisors across North America six months ago...
Travel Tips Direct Travel is pleased to announce the appointment of Nicole Goodheart to the newly-formed position of Director, Leisure Operations. Goodheart was most recently the Leisure Operations Manager at CWT Vacations in the United States. ...
Travel Inspiration With countless miles of coastline, nearly 6000 islands, unparalleled history and amazing cuisine, it could take an entire lifetime to explore. With the experts at Direct Travel along with Azamara’s Destination Immersion approach t...
Recipes Here is a simplified version of normally time-consuming apple strudel pastry so you can enjoy this traditional Viennese treat at home. Ingredients 1 sheet (1/2 box) frozen puff pastry, thawed Flour for dusting ½ C (...
Travel Inspiration To wrap up a year marked by widespread change and industry challenges, Direct Travel, Inc. is launching a community-driven initiative of celebration and renewed hope with its Holidays for Heroes giveaway. The contest will provide 10 winners w...
Travel Inspiration Close to home or far-flung: There’s a private stay for every type of travel. As we dust off our suitcases and venture back into the world, there’s a certain peace of mind to be found from settling into a private villa. Lu...
Recipes Fall has arrived and with it everything pumpkin. Ingredients 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tbsp granulated sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed 1/4 to 1/3 cup ice water FOR FILLING: 2 kg sugar-pie pump...
Travel Inspiration We recently asked Rene Schneeberger, Vice President Leisure Supplier Management, for what he saw as the biggest trends in travel as we navigate these challenging times. Here are his thoughts. The upcoming holiday season i...
Travel Inspiration How many of these trips of a lifetime are on your must experience list? Direct Travel can help you turn your Dream into Reality. 1. Set Sail on World Cruise Almost every major cruise line offers a world cruise and they are fan...
Travel Inspiration Discover one of Utah’s hidden treasures, Red Canyon Lodge in Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. They’re surrounded by Flaming Gorge’s incredible scenery, abundant wildlife and a huge variety of outdoor recreation....
Travel Inspiration With many Direct Travelers looking for vacations close to home this year; we asked our team of expert travel advisors across the country for their Hidden Gem Hotels and Resorts and they delivered! Here are a few of the properties they r...
Travel Tips While some this year’s grandest travel plans may be on pause, not all vacation hope is lost. As countries and states ease restrictions and hotels, national parks, and other attractions cautiously begin to reopen, the allure of the open ...
Travel Inspiration Nothing will make you feel like an A-Lister quite as much as your own villa. Besides the considerable glamour factor, renting a home away from home has several advantages. Depending on the size of your group, a villa may be better value than ...
Recipes The classic mojito is a traditional Cuban cocktail made with lime, mint, soda, and rum. Enjoy your summer with this refreshing drink. Ingredients: - 3 mint leaves. - 2 ounces white rum. - 3/4 ounce fresh ...
Travel Inspiration There are many reasons to travel solo; maybe you’re single, in a relationship, or want the privacy of your own room while travelling with friends. Regardless of the reason, solo travelling is a unique and rewarding experience that allow...
Travel Tips There is no question that due to COVID-19, celebrations have had to adapt. From virtual birthday parties, drive-by graduations and lawn signs, to creating special meals at home, we found new ways to show how much we cared. This chang...
Travel Tips There’s a lot of talk about travel these days and as can be expected, many questions. Have you flown yet? Which borders are open? Are there restrictions? When should I book my next vacation? While we do have answers to...
Recipes We recently held a Virtual Caviar Conversation with Seabourn Cruises and their partner Regiis Ova. It was extremely interesting, if you were able to attend we hope you enjoyed it too. We have had many requests for Seabourn Chef, Anto...
Travel Tips While your Fourth of July festivities might look a little different this year, what doesn't change are all the amazing things there are to celebrate. Here are some fun facts about our fantastic country: • George Washing...
Travel Tips There’s no denying it is a strange world we live in right now. None of us could have expected this, and everyone is dealing with the unknown in different ways. With #StayAtHome orders starting to lift, the destinations or experie...
Recipes The perfect snack food for your Cinco de Mayo party. Crab Salpicon Tostadas Ingredients: Corn tostadas 500 g of crab pulp 2 tomatoes ½ red onion ½ cup of lemon juice ¼ cup of cilantro Salt and pepper Cle...
Recipes Celebrate Cinco de Mayo and dream of your next Mexican vacation with these Margaritas. For a Spin on the Classic The Cabo Green Margarita is from Esperanza, an Auberge Resorts Collection resort in Los Cabos. 2 oz. silver tequila (100 perce...
Recipes From our friends at Oceania Cruises, this gluten-free vegan dish is perfect as a main course or an appetizer. NOTE: As this recipe uses Metric measurements, we have provided approximate North American equivalents. For best result...
Recipes From the Oscar Bar at the Charlotte Street Hotel located steps from Soho in London. INGREDIENTS30ml Ketel One Botanical Peach and Orange Blossom (or a vodka of your choice)½ a passion fruit½ a peach20ml fresh lemon juice20ml ag...
Recipes Under the Tuscan Sun As summer takes its time to arrive in North America, take a virtual journey to Tuscany with Diane Lane. Murder on the Orient Express Agatha Christie’s classic tale featuring the golden age of train travel in Europe. Did ...
Travel Tips Our Expertise Our Advisors are our biggest asset and your best advocate when planning travel. You are currently hearing about travelers being on hold 6 or 7 hours with some travel retailers or suppliers. When you book with Direct Travel, we ...
Travel Tips From the top of Alaska to the bottom of Patagonia, here are some fun facts about the Western hemisphere we call The Americas that will excite your need for adventure across these beautiful lands! Denali, located in south-centra...
Recipes Raspberry Brownies for Two with Chambord Glaze from Desserts for Two by Christina Lane. Ingredients 5 tablespoons (2.5 ounces) unsalted butter 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon...
Travel Tips Travel is great for the soul. It expands our worldview, gives us an even greater appreciation of our own home and reenergizes us as it forces us to step away from the treadmill of every day. The only thing is, sometimes the pro...
Travel Tips Updating your travel wish list? Here are some of our top travel trends. Untouristed and Unexpected Destinations With some favorite destinations seeing an untenable rise in demand, the well-traveled luxury set is seekin...
Travel Tips Set among verdant jungle beside a white, sandy beach, Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa is one of Mexico’s top luxury hotels. Here you can start the day with yoga and end with a session in a traditional temazcal sauna. Spend lazy...
Travel Tips Located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, Greenland is the largest island of the world and an exciting destination for all adventure minded travellers. Greenland is also a place of fascinating contrasts, where enduring Inuk and Viking t...
Travel Tips The immensity of the Great Land complements the intimacy of Seabourn Sojourn. Seen from the deck, snowy mountains loom in the blue sky, seeming almost close enough to touch. Imagine the scene, here at the top of the world. Your...
Travel Tips Filled with natural wonders, unique wildlife, and many adventures, Antarctica has become one of the most popular travel destinations among the adventure travellers. Intrepid runs a variety of Antarctica tours between November and Mar...
Travel Tips Europe is a diverse continent filled with incredible experiences. Where you want to explore is up to you but picking your travel style is best left to a professional. What do you want to see? Where do you want to go? Do you want VIP access? L...
Travel Tips Creating a wanderlist is your opportunity to dream big, go beyond and put down everything you want to see, touch or experience. Here are 5 different strategies that we believe can help bring your dreamed wanderlist to life. ...
Travel Tips What to pack in your carry-on? You know about keeping the basics with you: your passport, itinerary, the address where you’re staying, additional travel documents, medications, jewelry, electronics and other valuables. But you ...
Travel Tips Welcome to The Springs Resort & Spa where the word "Vacation" is truly defined. With a spectacular view of the Arenal Volcano, natural hot and cold springs, five unique dining experiences, and an impressive full-service Spa, The Springs R...
Recipes Take the chill out of winter and enjoy this delicious chili recipe. Ingredients: 2 pounds ground beef 2 cloves garlic, chopped One 8-ounce can tomato sauce 2 tablespoons chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon g...
Travel Tips Be brunch ready with this make-ahead casserole. Ingredients ¼ cups pancetta, diced 1 medium onion, diced 1 red pepper, seeded and diced 8 eggs 2 tsp Italian seasoning ½ tsp salt ½ tsp ground mustar...
Travel Tips When it comes to describing wild Alaska, the word ‘beautiful” is often used. Vast, striking landscapes are found over every horizon, from deep and luscious green forests that coat mountainsides to towering off-white glaciers that ...
Travel Tips We are excited to share this guest blog from our valued active travel partner Sherwin Banda, President of African Travel. My Top 7 African Countries Zimbabwe Africa is a wonderful place to experience with family.&nb...
Travel Tips Different Destinations Explore multiple locations with the added perk of only having to unpack once! Cruising is a convenient way to visit multiple destinations without the hassle of moving to different hotels, passing through ...
Recipes Ingredients: - 1.5 kg Chicken cut into pieces - 1 Onion finely chopped - 3 Cloves of garlic finely chopped - 4 Vanilla pods catted in half on the lenght - 1 Sprig of fresh thyme - ½ Teaspoon turmeric powder - 2 Cups crea...
Travel Tips Located 17 minutes from Kona International Airport, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is perfectly situated for all kinds of island adventures. The spirit of Hawaii, from its long-held traditions to its inspired art, informs every detail of our id...
Travel Tips These NYE parties make global headlines for over-the-top pageantry. Sydney, Australia More than a million people gather every year to witness Sydney’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, and the party starts ear...
Recipes In Florence, pizzerias make pizzas with thin crusts and bake them in wood burning ovens. Here is a basic recipe for the crust, plus the ingredients for making a simple Margerita Pizza. Pizzas are also generally individual size so the recipe b...
Travel Tips Exploration comes in all shapes and sizes. From an Arctic hike through the freezing tundra to a bike ride through the Austrian countryside dotted with castles and churches, adventure can be found in all corners of the world. Turn these ...
Recipes You can find these delicious little bites all over Portugal, and once you have tasted them beware, as they are addictive. Easy to make, the rich, eggy filling is pure comfort food. Here, we have simplified the recipe by using puff pastry doug...
Travel Tips How and what you pack often depends on the trip you are embarking on. We have put together a few suggestions for you to consider your next big adventure! Travel Light Try to avoid checking a bag if it is not necessaril...
Travel Tips Micato’s non-profit arm, AmericaShare, was founded over 25 years ago. Dedicated to helping populations in Nairobi, Kenya who have been affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, AmericaShare has made a tremendous impact by providing a bridge be...
Travel Tips Africa’s incredible wildlife is the central reason to go on safari. Micato Safaris share their tips on ensuring your photographs are as vivid as the memories you’ve made. Tips for Taking the Best Safari Photos By Micato ...
Travel Tips It’s no secret that river cruising is one of the hottest trends in travel. More and more our clients are intrigued by the small-ship intimacy, the off-the-beaten waves itineraries and generous inclusions to be found on a river c...
Travel Tips Within the unique world of rail travel, Rocky Mountaineer is so much more than just a train. It’s the key to unlocking a hidden world of unparalleled beauty as you carve through otherwise inaccessible terrain in the Canadian Rockies. &...
Travel Tips Here is what is new for 2020 from some of our cruise partners. Celebrity Apex from Celebrity Cruises The much anticipated Celebrity Apex℠, the second ship in Celebrity Cruises Edge® class series, will make her debut in...
Recipes Enjoy this fresh dessert recipe! INGREDIENTS • 4 cups Frozen raspberries. • 1½ cups Cane sugar. • 1¼ cups Water. • 2 tsp Orange extract. • ¾ c...
Recipes It’s that time of year, everything is coming up pumpkin! As the days start to get chillier, cosy up with this pumpkin soup from our friends at St.Anne’s Spa in Grafton, Ontario. INGREDIENTS • 2 finely diced white on...
Travel Tips By land and by sea, here some of the best ways see Asia. Small Ship Cruising The benefit of exploring Asia on a small ship is the ability to visit multiple countries during one trip. This is a great way to get a taste...
Recipes "Cabo Thyme" Mostly sunny throughout out the year, Cabo San Lucas is the perfect destination if you are looking for relaxation and adventures with friends and family. Refresh your summer with this cocktail re...
Travel Tips Best of the Best in Travel 2019 Recently over 180 members of the Direct Travel team traveled to Las Vegas for Virtuoso Travel Week, the premier travel conference of the year. This year the conference had a record number of attendees, over 6,...
Travel Tips Here are three reasons you should consider this option for your next vacation. 1. Destinations Small ship cruising is all about relaxation, learning, and enjoying your destination. As these boats can access secluded ports, you ...
Travel Tips What is your Luxury? The word luxury is interesting. Traditionally it has been associated with items, for example there are cars and then there are luxury cars. The assumption being the luxury cars have something extra, that while a regular ...
Recipes Classic Bruschetta Bruschetta is one of those rare appetizers that’s loved by all and easy to whip up in a flash. This recipe is best with tomatoes fresh off the vine. Prep Time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 3 slices (3/4 inch ...
Travel Tips Whether you’re looking for a romantic retreat or an eco-adventure, Delta Vacations offers you the benefits, flexibility and service to make your getaway a dream come true. Here is a list with some of the best tour experiences in Saint L...
Travel Tips Expedition cruises are quickly emerging as one of the must-experience trips on travellers’ wanderlists. What’s an expedition ship? It’s a small ship (maximum around 175 passengers) dedicated to visiting some...
Travel Tips To the uninitiated, it appears there are three choices for staterooms; inside, outside and balcony. The reality is on most ships is there is an array of staterooms to choose from leading many guests to ask, "what is the best choice." And like w...
Travel Tips Packing for a cruise presents its own set of challenges so we have gathered together a few of our top tips to help ease packing stress for your next cruise. Plan, Plan, Plan Traditionally cruising comprised casual or "cruise...
Recipes This Australian classic will delight at your next dinner party. Ingredients 4 egg whites 4 drops lemon juice ½ teaspoon granulated sugar, plus ½ cup and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 tablespoon cornstarch ½...