Recommend July 2015 - (Page 10)

editor's notes ì That's me with my husband at Piaristenkeller Restaurant in Vienna; it dates back 300 years. (Photo credit: Roxy Rico) As I write this Editor's Notes, I'm still thinking of my recent visit to Central Europe with Adventures by Disney-talk about an active and experiential trip. There was an ice cave exploration that had us hiking mountainous terrain amidst the clouds; there was marionette-making in Prague; a falconry show in Austria on the slopes of a lush, green valley; sliding through salt mines in Germany; and lending our ears to chilling castle tales in medieval towns-and that's without delving into all the architectural beauty we feasted on in capital cities like Vienna and Prague. But enough of my good times in Central Europe (although you can read all about the trip on page 18 and see a slideshow on recommend.com, under Eye on the World); I point these particular experiences out because this month is our Active & Experiential issue, and it's these types of experiences that really make a difference in a journey. Taking on active pursuits or engaging in local activities is essential to digging a little deeper when visiting a destination. To truly get to know a destination it's important to explore and get "out from behind the compound wall," as Rachel Wasser, an innovative manager at G Adventures, says in the Mexico piece on page 29. That feature points out that yes, beach vacations on Mexico's two coasts are indeed fantastic, but the country's archaeological wonders are equally enticing. Caribbean Editor Ed Wetschler is on the same page in his Caribbean piece on page 22, in which he writes-no, he demands-that clients "Get Off That Beach Chair!" He points to three resorts in three very different Caribbean hotspots that offer an array of watersports adventures, as well as golfing and even horseback riding. In Carla Hunt's Off-Beat Adventures piece on page 25, she points to "vacations that mix up active adventure with involving cultural experiences." There's cycling along winding rivers and lush paddies in China; tai chi by the lake in Vietnam; and kayaking in New Zealand's South Island. And one of the world's most active vacations takes place in South America, in the Galapagos, which Ed Wetschler writes about with a loving pen on page 31. Read through his onboard review and you'll see how utterly fascinated he was by the experiences, as well as the wildlife and beauty he encountered: "We went snorkeling almost daily. Schools of fish were so thick, I could touch them. Looking down, I'd see harmless whitetip sharks and rays in the sand. Stare ahead, and giant turtles, sea lions, dolphins and penguins whizzed by." E-mail me to let me know how you create cultural, active and adventurous experiences that have your clients exploring a destination in a unique way. -Paloma Villaverde de Rico recommend.com We've got a lot going on on recommend.com, including interviews with top industry executives; slideshows from the many press trips we take; news items from the various trade shows we attend; and lots of offers, FAMs and hotel news you'll want to feast your eyes on. E-mail me at paloma@recommend.com let's get social Hang out with us @Recommendmag and facebook.com/recommendmag. And if you want to see what our editors are up to away from the office, follow them @EdWetschler & @AreanWanderlust. 8 july 2015 group publisher/editorial director associate publisher editor-in-chief managing editor associate editor art director latin america editor caribbean editor cruise editor contributing editor corporate director of marketing marketing associates laurel a. herman terence k. murphy paloma villaverde de rico deserae e. del campo michelle marie arean janet del mastro carla hunt ed wetschler vivian holley sergio ortiz sharon lewen kristina viera amor pagan irizarry production manager estrella bibas ad traffic coordinator daimee feliz chairman/founding editor hal herman president/editorial director laurel a. herman executive vice president gary herman miami corporate headquarters: 5979 nw 151st. st., suite 120, miami lakes, florida 33014, tel: (305) 828-0123; fax: (305) 826-6950 corporate director of sales: garey bell, garey@worthit.com, tel: (305) 828-0123; ext. 181; cell: (770) 235-8225 caribbean, central & south america, south florida, georgia: terry murphy, terry@recommend.com tel: (305) 828-0123; ext. 120; fax: (305) 828-0799 northeast usa, eastern canada, europe, maryland, virginia, D.C.: monique agaliotis, monique@worthit.com, tel: (917) 244-7000 colorado, utah, idaho, montana, wyoming, texas: garey bell, garey@worthit.com, tel: (305) 828-0123; ext. 181; cell: (770) 235-8225 florida, southeast and midwest usa: brenda goodwin, brenda@worthit.com, tel: (305) 828-0123; ext.160; fax: (305) 826-6950 western usa, nevada, new mexico, alaska, arizona, western canada, asia: lisa marie costa, lisamarie@worthit.com, tel: 310-804-9465 hawaii: alan rock, alanrock1@gmail.com, tel: (310) 721-2825 mexico city: renata villa, renata@renatago.com, tel: 011 52 555-255-3212 cancun: margarita alvarez, margarissima@gmail.com tel: 011 52 998 287 1545; fax: 011 52-998 884-1716 RECOMMEND, Vol. 30, issue number 10, (ISSN 0034-1452) is published monthly by Worth International Media Group. OFFICE OF PUBLICATION: 5979 N.W. 151st St., Suite 120, Miami Lakes, FL 33014.Periodicals postage paid at Hialeah, FL and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to RECOMMEND Circulation Department, P.O. Box 171070 Hialeah, FL 33017-1070. RECOMMEND is distributed at no charge to qualified travel agents and tour operators. Paid annual subscriptions are available for $48 in the U.S., $96 in Canada, payable in U.S. dollars in advance. Published for North American distribution. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. Canada Returns to be sent to Pitney Bowes International, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2 Copyright© 2005 Worth International Media Group. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. Recommend is not responsible for unsolicited photography, art or manuscripts. 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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend July 2015

Editor’s Notes
Hotel Desk: Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Loews Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Goway’s IslandsEscapes
Adventures in North America
Romania: Superbly Scenic, Marvelously Medieval
Central Europe With Adventures by Disney
Get Off That Beach Chair!
Off-Beat Adventures
INDABA 2015 (With a Taste of Durban)
A Treasured Journey Into the Past
Small Boats & Big Tortoises in the Galapagos
Windstar Cruises’ Star Breeze
Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa 2

Recommend July 2015