Travel Bug
By Susan Campbell
A different kind of travel bubble
The protected pachyderms at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Sanctuary and Resort in Thailand must get a big kick out of having the chance to observe humans in their natural habitat for a change when guests spend the night in these transparent suites on the edge of their preserve. The opportunity to sleep in one of these unique, fully furnished deluxe “Jungle Bubbles” made of transparent high-tech polyester fabric is one of the many exotic experiences offered by this resort set upon an award-winning elephant camp that conducts scientific research and conservation programs. It’s offered as a single night experience for resort guests, and they also have a treehouse spa and offer Mekong River cruises. (And no worries, the bubble bathrooms are not transparent!) Visit: www.anantara.com/en/golden-triangle-chiang-rai
Tailored small group adult-only adventures in Europe
Austin Adventures has many thoughtfully curated and well-organized tours throughout Europe, including many adult-only, small group explorations of England, France, and Ireland. Each tour is accompanied by a well informed local travel guide that will take you to the most famous attractions as well as the less-travelled local secrets for true regional flavour. They also offer adult-only small group tours on bike and on horseback with additional activities like hiking, kayaking, parasailing, and more, but they can always tailor your specific tour to your level of physical fitness and skill. And each trip includes fine food and distinctive accommodations. Austin also has tailored tours to appeal to specific types of travellers like solo, women only, small friend groups, and
couples. For all their itineraries, visit: www.austinadventures.com/travelers/adult-only-vacations/
Why sleep on a train going nowhere?
If you’re a real ferroequinologist (train buff), then this unique stay in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, offers you a wonderful ‘whistle-stop’ stay. The Train Station Inn is a unique collection of rail car rooms made from vintage repurposed Canadian-built boxcars and cabooses surrounding a beautifully restored 19th-century train station. The interiors have been thoughtfully designed for maximum comfort with amenities like fireplaces, Smart TVs and air-conditioning, and each rolling stock room is decorated with eclectic rail memorabilia. Onsite, the Baggage Room Bar serves up locally crafted beers with live music, and there’s a dining car and café with locally roasted coffee. The region is full of hiking and cycling trails, cute little antique shops, art galleries, museums, and historic sites. Visit: www.tatatrainstation.com
No time for wasting away at this new Margaritaville
Opened summer of 2021 is the brand new Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau, and chances are good you won’t have much time to be ‘wasting away’ Jimmy Buffet style there with so many fabulous pastimes this property has to offer. It’s a family-friendly all-inclusive of 300 rooms, including 68 suites, with 11 restaurants ranging from fast food to fine dining, an ideal oasis for sunny multigenerational vacation escapes this winter with direct flights from Toronto commencing soon. Kids will adore the Fins Up Water Park, replete with a FlowRider Surf Simulator while adults will enjoy the Graycliff Sky Lounge and St. Somewhere Spa, and all ages will love the excellent location on snow-white Junkanoo Beach steps from downtown’s best historical and cultural attractions. Visit: www.margaritavilleresorts.com/margaritaville-beach-resort-nassau
A sleek new spot to stay and play in Montreal
Humaniti Hotel Montréal, one of Quebec’s first Marriott Autograph Collection hotels, now offers globetrotters a stunning new place to stay amid the arty downtown grid. Boasting “audacious architecture,” as they describe it, the gleaming towers have certainly reshaped the Montreal skyline with a modern, sophisticated stay of 193 well-wired, cosmopolitan rooms and suites with abundant natural light provided by floor-to-ceiling windows. You are welcomed by an elegant, ethereal lobby featuring works by Canadian artists, and on-site amenities include a rooftop pool and multi-level fitness centre, a signature h3 Restaurant and Lounge offering regionally inspired cuisine and award-winning craft cocktails and a wine cellar offering over 3,000 wines, a 3,000- square-foot Hémisphère Ballroom, and a luxurious Spa Humaniti. Accessible rooms are also available in many configurations. Visit: www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/yulak-humaniti-hotel-montreal-autograph-collection
Susan Campbell is an award-winning travel writer originally from Ottawa, but now based in Montreal. Her work has appeared in hundreds of major print and web publications throughout North America. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @suectravel.
