If you’re the kind of traveler who believes every destination (in fact, every good moment in life!) becomes even better with a glass of something effervescent (excellent life choice), this guide is for you. Sparkling wine isn’t just a drink; it’s a cultural passport. The wine of celebration and occasion is produced in vineyards around the world, and depending on where you land, the name for those bubbles changes just enough to make you want to fit in like a local when you order it.
Here’s how to ask for your favorite bottle of bubbles around the world.
In France, sparkling wine is woven into everyday life as the wine to drink as an aperitif before a meal, the little glass you have when you get together with friends, and of course, the beverage of celebration.
Don’t limit yourself to ordering Champagne, the sparkling wine produced exclusively in the region of Champagne. Peruse the wine list for sparkling wines made in other regions of France, which are called Crémant.
Feeling extra French? Lean in and request “des bulles” (literally “some bubbles”). Well, aren’t you charming?
Although France lays claim to the mother of all sparkling wines in Champagne, Italy, too, lives for sparkling wine. Veneto’s Prosecco is the country’s proud ambassador of sparkling wine and moods. For something more refined, look for Franciacorta or Trentodoc.
But the Italian word you’ll hear everywhere? “Bollicine”, their delightful nickname for “little bubbles.”
Believe it or not, England produces sparkling wine – some of the best in the world! In 2025, as the BBC reported in such a British way, “an English fizz became the first non-Champagne to be named the world's top sparkling wine.”
English sparkling wine is having a fabulous moment. So spread your wings a little in the UK and try the local bubbles instead of Champagne or prosecco. Take your cue from that BBC article and ask for a glass of “fizz.”
Head to Barcelona or San Sebastián and order Cava, Spain’s crisp traditional-method bubbly. In Penedès, you may spot Corpinnat, a premium label worth splurging on. And if a server asks if you’d like “vino de aguja,” it means lightly fizzy, perfect for an afternoon by the sea.
Ask for Espumante, especially in Bairrada. Locals may casually call it “vinho com bolhinhas” (wine with little bubbles). It’s as charming as it sounds, especially when paired with a sunset over the Atlantic.
In one of the New World wine capitals, the go-to phrase is “bubbly.” It’s cheerful, informal, and perfectly suited to a country that also invented Sparkling Shiraz, perhaps the most festive red on earth. If you hear Aussies asking for “bubbly,” “sparkling” or “fizz,” you know good times are ahead.
Next-door New Zealand produces top-tier traditional-method sparklings (often labeled Méthode Marlborough), but everyday chatter sticks to “bubbles” or “fizz.” Best enjoyed after a hike, a beach day, or… honestly, anything.
South Africa’s premium traditional-method wine is Méthode Cap Classique, or MCC. But among friends you’ll hear: “Shall we open some bubbly?” The answer is always yes, especially in Franschhoek’s sun-soaked tasting rooms.
In Brazil, locals order Espumante, sometimes shortened to “espuma.”
In Argentina, the common term is Espumoso or simply Espumante, perfect with empanadas or a rooftop sunset in Buenos Aires.
From “bollicine” in Italy to “bubbly” in Australia, every destination has its own sparkling personality, and learning the local lingo is half the fun.
Wherever your travels take you, we hope you celebrate the world of bubbles and find the opportunity to toast every country’s version.
Images: Getty
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by Lynn on 12/29/2025
It’s official: ‘FOMO’ is out. And ‘JOMO’ is in. After years of racing through “bucket lists,” something quieter is reshaping travel. We’re no longer chasing the Fear of Missing Out on travel experiences. Instead, we’re discovering the Joy of Missing Out — and we’re not alone.
According to a recent survey for Norwegian Cruise Line, over 70% of travelers are moving away from fast-paced sightseeing and toward more restorative, meaningful escapes. Nearly half confessed they’ve come home from past trips feeling more exhausted than refreshed — and now, 77% say they intentionally plan slower vacations.
That’s the spirit of slow travel: choosing presence over pressure, savoring moments instead of stacking them. And being a little easier on the planet at the same time.
Here are some of the loveliest ways – and places - to embrace it.
Slow travel begins with permission: pick one destination and linger.
In Tuscany, a boutique heritage hotel becomes your “home base,” while locally guided Vespa tours, a market-and-cooking experience, and skip-the-line museum tours give you insider access to the best of local life.
In Seville, stay near orange-scented plazas, take a flamenco class, not just see the show, explore tapas bars with a local guide, and spend sunset wandering the Alcázar gardens.
Time transforms destinations into familiar territory.
Rail journeys reveal sides of a country you might not see any other way.
Cross Canada on a scenic rail itinerary with curated stops along the way. Travel from Paris to Provence in comfort, then join small-group excursions to vineyards and villages. In Japan, a rail pass paired with guided day tours opens mountain valleys and temple towns without the stress of logistics.
The rhythm of the tracks slows down the rhythm of life.
Walking tours invite meaning into every mile.
Follow the Camino de Santiago supported by luggage transfers, charming inns, and expert hosts. Explore England’s Lake District with a local guide who knows the quietest trails. On Japan’s Kumano Kodo, stay in traditional guesthouses and soak in onsen between forest paths.
You notice more because you’re traveling at the speed of curiosity. And connecting with fellow walkers.
Food becomes a story when you stay where it’s grown.
Agriturismo stays in Tuscany let you help harvest olives and dine family-style, countryside estates in Portugal’s Alentejo offer relaxed wine tastings and picnics among cork trees, or vineyard retreats in New Zealand with tastings and behind-the-scenes cellar visits or sheep farms where you do yoga with new lambs.
The land becomes more than scenery; it becomes livelihood.
River cruising is ideal slow travel, with a typical week-long itinerary traveling a route that you could drive in less than a day. Imagine what you are missing!
Take a leisurely river itinerary through the Rhine Valley, with castle towns unfolding at walking speed. Amble off your river cruise ship on France’s Rhone River at your leisure to explore medieval towns, iconic vineyards and wine regions, truffle farms, and olive oil presses.
The NCL study found that more than half of travelers see cruises as ideal for JOMO — especially in the Caribbean, which topped the list for slow-minded escapes.
Onboard, travelers choose their pace: spa time, quiet lounges, sunrise walks on deck, or staying aboard when others go ashore. Logistics are simplified and taken care of, and there are always corners to simply be — which is often exactly what people need.
It’s about doing whatever feels right for you that day.
Image courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line
Think boutique hotels in Sydney near local cafes, with early morning walks in the botanical gardens and behind-the-scenes tours of the Opera House, design-forward guesthouses in Mexico City’s Condesa with guided food walks, or family-run inns in the Scottish Highlands paired with day trips to hidden glens and whisky distilleries.
Belonging happens in the details — and local hosts and guides make curated stays easier and more enriching.
The research echoes what many already feel: travelers want fewer obligations, less travel ‘work,’ more nature, more local experiences, and days that unfold at their own pace.
In a world urging us to hurry, slow travel — and the Joy of Missing Out — offers permission to savor the journey, not just check things off a list.
Images: unless otherwise identified, Getty
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by Lynn on 12/29/2025
Every year, “travel more” is in the mix of resolutions. But what travel resolutions can get you from dreaming of a trip… into the beauty and benefits of real travel experiences?
Surveys consistently show that nearly two-thirds of Americans leave a third of their vacation time unused, and a quarter of workers don’t take any time off at all! That’s despite mounting evidence that travel is a boon for our physical and mental health, relationships, and more.
Here are some additional travel resolutions that may help you on your journey towards making travel a genuine and enriching part of your life in the coming year... and make you feel better about yourself and your trips.
Practice spontaneity
Leave a day unplanned, try new foods, or say yes to experiences outside your comfort zone.
Images: Getty
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by Lynn on 12/29/2025
For the first time, a country’s entire cuisine has been recognized as part of the “Intangible Cultural Heritage” of humanity. It was an astonishing moment at the announcement of UNESCO’s 2025 listings that annually celebrate living cultural traditions – and highlight them for support to ensure they remain alive.
You may be most familiar with UNESCO World Heritage sites: famous monuments or natural wonders. But intangible cultural heritage designations are different. From foodways to festivals, music to fashion, endangered crafts to social customs, this annual recognition doesn’t just protect heritage; it celebrates the ways communities express identity, creativity, authenticity and continuity in a rapidly changing world.
Announced in New Delhi in early December, the latest round of designations inspires us to explore and experience the heartbeat of cultures across all corners of the world.
In the biggest headline of the listings, UNESCO has finally said what the world already knew: Italian cuisine is a global treasure and cultural masterpiece. It’s a historic first for any national cuisine.
The designation covers more than a set of recipes. It recognizes the everyday traditions behind Italian home cooking, including:
The next time you’re indulging in Italy, you can rest assured you are tasting identity, geography, and centuries of culinary artistry.
Egypt’s ultimate comfort dish, koshary, is hearty, chaotic, and absolutely beloved. Layers of lentils, rice, pasta, spice, and crispy onions are everyday Egyptian life in a bowl.
A celebration that turns entire cities into constellations, Deepavali is India at its most luminous, literally. This festival stitches together family rituals, sweet-making marathons, sparkling markets, and the warm glow of a million oil lamps in a uniquely Indian blend of spirituality and spectacle.
This Haitian heartbeat blends guitars, horns, and irresistible rhythms that make even the shyest listener sway. Compas isn’t just music—it’s movement, joy, and cultural pride wrapped into every note. Travelers will find it echoing from beach bars to late-night dance floors and welcome committees at cruise ports, inviting visitors to learn the steps and feel Haiti’s spirit in motion.
Rich fabrics, hand-stitched embroidery, and centuries-old artistry—Morocco’s caftan is wearable heritage. Whether shimmering in Marrakech’s souks or worn at celebrations, each caftan tells a story of generational craftsmanship. For travelers, exploring ateliers or watching artisans at work offers a beautifully intimate glimpse into Morocco’s cultural elegance.
Delicate, intricate, and endlessly expressive, Tangail sarees are woven poetry. Travelers exploring weaving villages will hear the rhythmic clack of looms long before they arrive—a soundscape of heritage. Each saree reflects community identity and craftsmanship, turning a simple length of fabric into living culture.
These vibrant woodblock prints once decorated Vietnamese homes during the Lunar New Year, each image carrying symbolic good fortune. Today, fewer artisans remain, making this tradition especially precious and designated as a cultural practice that needs urgent protection. Travelers to Bac Ninh province can meet the remaining masters, watch pigments mixed from natural materials, and see how a centuries-old craft colors Vietnam’s cultural story.
Images: Getty
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by Lynn on 12/11/2025
Visitors are crucial to local communities as they recover following October’s Hurricane Melissa, the strongest ever recorded storm to hit the country, with devastating results. The focus now is rebuilding Jamaica’s tourism-based economy and getting people back to work.
That’s where we come in.
Jamaica is back open for business this winter. So you can plan a tropical, Caribbean escape to the island just when you need it most - and Jamaica needs us most.
Maybe even give the gift of travel this holiday season, with double the happiness quotient: for your loved ones, and for the people of Jamaica.
In early December 2025, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism provided an update on the country’s recovery:
Sandals Resorts International, founded in Jamaica, and one of the biggest resort companies in the country, released its own update, with good news for fans of Sandals’ and Beaches’ all-inclusive resort experiences for couples and families.
In a major step forward for Jamaica’s recovery, Sandals reopened five of its Jamaica properties on December 6, 2025.
Sandals Resorts International’s Executive Chairman, Adam Stewart, noted that not only are flights returning from around the world to Jamaica, but also that “Tours and attractions, including the iconic Dunn's River Falls, Negril's famed Seven Mile Beach and Mystic Mountain for fans of Jamaican bobsledding, are all ready and waiting for you."
To reassure travelers that they are ready for guests, the company hosted hundreds of travel advisors and industry partners at Sandals Dunn’s River in Ocho Rios, since, as Stewart says, "Seeing is believing." said Stewart. "And nothing beats the real thing, putting your toes in the sand, tasting the food, feeling the sunshine on your face. Only a genuine experience can offer confidence like that."
Family-run in Jamaica in 1981, Sandals Resorts has deep roots in its home country, where Stewart celebrated the opening of these hotels. "Our guests love this island, and when they come back, they'll feel that same magic the moment they arrive. Jamaica is ready to welcome them home."
Reports say that other Sandals properties in Jamaica, including
Following Hurricane Melissa, the company’s Sandals Foundation led extensive relief efforts in Jamaica, distributing essential supplies (water, food, hygiene kits, building materials) to communities, supporting hospitals and assisting with medical evacuations, providing community aid including setting up kitchen hubs for hot meals, helping fishing communities and supporting mental health initiatives, while also undertaking long-term projects for environmental restoration (like coral reefs) and community rebuilding.
Pioneers of the all-inclusive vacation experience in the region, Sandals has 17 beachfront all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica, The Bahamas, Saint Lucia, Barbados, Antigua, Curaçao, Grenada, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, each reflecting the genuine vibe of its island home. From local food favorites and global flavors to butler service and signature suites, including the Caribbean's first Overwater Villas, Sandals makes it easy for guests to go all in on vacation mode. Beyond the resort gates, immersive destination experiences, like a newly piloted Island Inclusive dining program and MINI Coopers for island exploration, raise the bar on the all-inclusive vacation.
Beaches Resorts is the Caribbean playground where families can live their best island life. With all-inclusive family resorts in Turks & Caicos and Jamaica, and soon-to-come locations in Barbados and The Bahamas, Beaches offers fun-forward family all-inclusive vacations - from a dynamic selection of restaurants and vibrant food trucks to all-you-can-enjoy water sports, live shows and epic water parks. Kids discover magic with Caribbean Adventures with Sesame Street®, Kids Camps, and hangouts for teens, while parents enjoy peace of mind with certified nannies, engaging programming and multi-bedroom villas perfect for bringing generations together. As an Advanced Certified Autism Center (CAC) through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), Beaches staff are specially trained to understand and cater to the unique needs of neurodivergent guests, so that every member of the family finds joy, connection, and memories made to last a lifetime.
Image of Sandals Dunn’s River courtesy of Sandals Resorts International
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by Lynn on 12/11/2025
Christmas has traveled around the world – and along the way, it’s picked up local flavors, traditions and folklore. You may have traveled to sip gluhwein at Germany’s Christmas markets, attend midnight Mass at the Vatican, or even been to Bethlehem at Christmas, but you haven’t really experienced Christmas as a global phenomenon until you’ve explored some of the twists and turns the holiday has taken as it's traveled far and wide.
There may be no place like home for the holidays, but traditions like these inspire us to find new ways - and new places - to celebrate the festive season.
In Catalonia, Spain, children nurture a wooden log — complete with a painted face and jaunty hat — by feeding it sweets in early December. On Christmas Eve, they beat the log with sticks while singing songs, encouraging it to “poop” presents. Yes, really. And the parents encourage this! It’s bizarre, joyful, and somehow heartwarming, proving that festive magic comes in all forms.
Forget one jolly man in a red suit — Iceland’s folklore describes 13 mischievous trolls who show up one by one in the days before Christmas. Their names say it all: Spoon-Licker, Door-Slammer, Sausage-Swiper. They leave small gifts in children’s shoes, provided the kids behave on an island believed to be home to countless trolls and elves or “Hidden People” inhabiting the rocks and hills of the Land of Fire and Ice.
In the Czech Republic, single women have a delightfully old-fashioned way to predict their romantic future for the coming year. On Christmas Eve, they stand with their backs to the door and toss a shoe over their shoulder. If the toe points toward the door when it lands, wedding bells might be on the horizon. If not… well, there’s always next Christmas. It’s more fun than swiping left!
Yes, that KFC. Thanks to a 1970s marketing campaign, “Kentucky for Christmas” has become a national ritual. Families order buckets weeks in advance. It’s quirky in a way that only Japanese pop culture can be. And they serve it up with another Japanese staple: ‘Christmas cake,’ a layered sponge cake filled with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. In North America, that’s a summer favorite, but in Japan, its festive red and white (also colors of the Japanese flag) make it part of the Japanese adaptation of Western Christmas.
Christmas KFC is nothing compared to South Africa’s holiday protein twist. In some places, fried Mopane worms (really, large caterpillars) are considered a festive delicacy. They’re often dried and then crisped up with spices, creating a surprisingly savory, almost nutty holiday snack. It’s a tradition rooted in Indigenous culinary heritage, and a new flavor for you to try for the holidays, if you dare. Would cranberry sauce help them go down?
In parts of rural Portugal, families set an extra place at the Christmas table for loved ones who have passed away. Bread or small treats are often left out overnight, in the belief that welcoming the departed brings good fortune for the year ahead. It’s a custom that emphasizes family across the generations during one of the most family-focused holy days of the year.
When it’s 30°C and sunny on December 25, the festive season shifts outdoors. Across Australia, families head to the beach for prawns, cold drinks, and sand-between-the-toes celebrations. Santa might show up on a surfboard. And nobody bats an eye. It’s Christmas… Down Under.
Wherever you travel or gather this holiday season, Christmas proves one delightful truth: the world and its cultures may be vast, but we all love to get together to celebrate.
Images: Getty
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by Lynn on 12/11/2025
Marriott hotels and resorts are inviting you to escape and unwind in the Caribbean and Latin America through personalized treatments, healing rituals, therapies using natural ingredients, immersive sensory experiences, and holistic lifestyle activities that help you balance body, mind, and spirit.
Reset, rejuvenate, and relax in coveted destinations, relying on modern wellness experts who also tap into local, regional and sometimes ancient practices you can’t experience anywhere else.
At W Costa Rica in Guanacaste, nature-lovers can practice shinrin-yoku, the Japanese art of "forest bathing." This mindful walk through a natural setting invites participants to breathe deeply and connect with the surrounding landscape. According to ancient traditions, embracing trees—believed to hold vibrational energy- can help balance emotions and revitalize the body, thanks to the trees' phytoncides and deep-rooted connection to Mother Earth. Studies have shown that the practice reduces stress and reawakens the senses.
At The Mangroove, Autograph Collection, a beachfront hotel in Guanacaste, enjoy a wide range of holistic treatments suited to every traveler—from multi-instrument sound journeys to detoxifying coffee massages—all surrounded by the country's stunning mangroves. For a revitalizing experience, the property offers a sound therapy session featuring Tibetan singing bowls, whose powerful vibrations are known to restore emotional and spiritual balance, a deeply healing experience for both body and mind.
A perfect complement is the Juanilama Flower Massage, featuring a sacred plant in Chorotega cosmology long valued for its calming properties and exquisite aroma. Traditionally used to soothe pain, inflammation, and digestive ailments, the essence of Juanilama envelops the body in tranquility while the ocean views invite the soul to drift peacefully.
Experience a seashell massage inspired by the ocean's natural abundance at The Westin Reserva Conchal on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast. This exclusive Heavenly Spa treatment is designed to balance the body and revitalize the spirit. The ritual combines the soothing warmth of sand-filled seashells with the nourishing benefits of organic coconut oil. As the gentle heat relaxes deep muscles, the oil hydrates the skin and awakens the senses, creating an exquisite experience that restores both body and mind.
At the Spa at Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, on the Papagayo Peninsula, you are invited to reconnect with Costa Rica's natural rhythms through the ancestral wisdom of the Nicoya people, known for their longevity and holistic approach to life. Perched atop a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Spa offers an elevated experience in every sense. Inspired by ancient healing traditions and the power of local botanicals, the exclusive Ritual Sagrado treatment invites guests to transcend the physical realm, awaken their inner light, and return to the roots of simple yet colorful living, creating space to be fully present and self-aware. This deep massage harmonizes body and mind, revitalizing every system through the skilled touch of expert therapists.
Surrounded by nature, The Brown, Autograph Collection in Guatapé, around an hour and a half's drive from Medellín, offers a range of wellness experiences, including outdoor yoga sessions, energy awakening classes, sound bathing, and relaxing massages that leave you feeling completely renewed. It is the ideal destination to reconnect with your body, mind, and the serenity of Guatapé's natural landscape.
Coffee lovers will find their bliss at W Bogota, where the AWAY Spa offers a coffee-inspired ritual featuring San Alberto coffee. The treatment is a coffee experience from start to finish, where guests are first delighted with a welcoming coffee syrup, followed by ground coffee for a body exfoliation, and finally, experience the flavor of San Alberto coffee.
At JW Marriott El Convento Cusco, experience an ancestral ritual inspired by the Inca era. This exclusive treatment uses traditional medicinal plants such as muña, eucalyptus, and other Andean herbs renowned for their healing properties. Combined with natural oxygen therapy, the massage helps alleviate the effects of high altitude, promotes acclimatization, and restores balance between body and mind. Miskychayamuy is the perfect way to welcome Cusco—a soothing experience that harmonizes, revitalizes, and prepares the body to fully embrace the energy of the Andes.
Hidden among Inca stone walls and colonial balconies in Cusco, Andes Spirit Spa, located at the Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection hotel, is a sanctuary of ancient wisdom. Its Andean therapies—such as Samay Inka, Fango del Inka, and Renewal in the Andes—draw from ancestral ingredients like quinoa, coca, muña, and sacred clays from the highlands, combined with energetic rituals and the mystical traditions of the Peruvian Andes. Its signature session, the Andes Spirit Spa Experience, is a three-hour ritual blending exfoliations, body wraps, and massages inspired by Inca practices, offering deep renewal that honors the sacred elements of Pachamama. Combined with a water circuit and thermal loungers, the journey creates a perfect alchemy of earth, water, fire, and air—a way to connect with the Apus and the healing vibrations of this energetic center of the earth. Among its Luxury Therapies, standout treatment Destellos de Oro is inspired by Inca treasures and features a 24k gold body wrap.
Meanwhile, in Urubamba, Peru, nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort, is home to Kallpa Spa, considered one of the country's finest. Enjoy a thermal circuit, underwater beds, a couple's suite witha jacuzzi, and relaxation rooms under a starlit ceiling, all designed to ease muscle tension and activate the body. It is also the only hotel in the region boasting an authentic Andean forest within its grounds.
Images courtesy of Marriott International
Top image: Westin Reserva Conchal
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by Lynn on 11/27/2025
Rekindle your love of Christmas traveling to the official – yes, official! - European Christmas capital. Each year, the Christmas Cities Network, with support from the European Parliament, designates a different European Christmas capital, recognizing how that destination brings the local essence of the celebration to life for residents and visitors.
In 2025, the European Christmas Capital is Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania, one of the Baltic countries in north-eastern Europe.
You may think of some of the more famous Christmas destinations – often associated with their Christmas markets, like Nuremberg, Germany, with its mother of all Christmas markets, Strasbourg, France, the largest and oldest in that country, or grand, imperial Vienna, which are all visited by Danube and Rhine River cruises and land travelers alike. Cities like London and Paris are known for their epic lights, shopping and holiday displays. And of course, the religious pilgrimage destinations - like Rome for a Mass or the Pope’s Christmas message – are perennial favorites.
A visit to one of the European Christmas Capitals can not only connect you to favorite and new local traditions, but it can also give you a quieter celebration than the marquee destinations. At Vilius’ celebrations, locals outnumber tourists, and visitors can discover living local traditions that date back to the country’s pagan times.
“I invite everyone to rediscover that sense of wonder and curiosity, as if you were five years old again. It will also be a wonderful opportunity to learn about Lithuanian holiday traditions and sample some seasonal delicacies, including curd doughnuts, sea buckthorn tea, and hot beer,” said Audrius Vainonis, the Lithuanian Santa Claus at the gathering of Santas in Vilnius (pictured, top.)
The official holiday season in Vilnius begins on November 29 with the lighting of the city’s main Christmas Tree in Cathedral Square. Christmas markets, a sparkling Old Town, and even more festive events will keep the Christmas spirit going strong for over a month.
Christmas Day itself is coming early to Vilnius, which is establishing a new tradition of celebrating Christmas Day twice – with the first “Vilnius Christmas Before Christmas” on December 13, 2 weeks before the big day itself.
Highlights of the special day and the entire season include
City organizers hope these experiences help visitors reconnect with their magical childhood holiday memories – and establish some new ones.
You’ll have plenty of time to soak up the magic in the European Christmas capital. The holiday season will close on January 6 with the Three Kings procession from the Gates of Dawn to Cathedral Square.
Images courtesy of Go Vilnius.
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by Lynn on 11/27/2025
It feels like air travel is more turbulent than ever! From “gate-lice” crowding the boarding zone, to out-of-control kids, to disturbing incidents of “air rage,” inconsiderate and bad-tempered people seem to be even more numerous in the unfriendly skies.
Airlines and destinations are fining, banning, redesigning, and reminding travelers that bad behavior at 30,000 feet will have consequences. In 2025 alone, Canada’s WestJet, Ireland’s Ryanair, and the country of Turkey have all implemented new initiatives to restore civilized jet-iquette.
Are you “on board” with these new moves designed to make your next flight less stressful?
The giant, low-fare, Irish airline is the mainstay for groups of ‘high spirited’ bachelor and bachelorette parties heading to cheap Mediterranean destinations and fans heading for pints and the party atmosphere at soccer tournaments in Europe. In 2025, it announced it would be fining unruly passengers about USD $675. Furthermore, it would sue offenders for costs if a flight ended up diverted. And it’s urging airports to limit pre-flight alcohol sales.
There’s always that person at the back who thinks they deserve to the first off the plane. But if you’re flying to Turkey, don’t even think about standing up before the aircraft comes to a complete standstill. Let alone opening your overhead bin. Turkey’s aviation regulator will slap you with a fine of about USD 70.
Conflict-avoiding Canadian airline WestJet is addressing issues over seat recliners by simply taking the option away. New “fixed-recline” seats in economy aim to stop seat-back squabbles and preserve peace. Less tilt, fewer temper tantrums.
Those new initiatives are just the latest crackdowns on bad behavior:
Ireland isn’t joking when it comes to bad behavior before, during, or after your flight. In addition to Ryanair’s new hardline policy hitting unruly passengers in their pocketbooks, Irish airlines, airports, and police joined forces with a bold message: “Disruptive behavior won’t fly.” Posters, videos, and staff briefings reinforce zero tolerance.
Digital boarding systems now flag passengers who try to board out of turn, cutting chaos before take-off and sparing gate staff the stress of crowd control.
With one of the world’s toughest deterrents against unruly passengers, India has defined three offense levels, instituted bans up to a lifetime, and developed a national registry of flight hooligans shared and accessed by all Indian air carriers.
When air rage soared during the pandemic, America's Federal Aviation Agency stepped up, pursuing thousands of cases and issuing record fines and criminal referrals to the FBI. Although things have calmed down a bit more recently, the FAA remains vigilant in reminding travelers: misbehaving or disobeying crew is a federal offense.
Across the EU and U.K., airports are tightening alcohol access and posting warnings at gates—‘cutting off’ passengers and problems associated with too much pre-flight tippling.
We understand. Airport lineups, extra security measures, and crowding take a toll on all our tempers. You still don't want to be the one wrecking someone else's - or your own! holiday. Here are some tips:
Sigh. When others forget to be considerate of those around them, the best thing the rest of us can do is: never engage. Try to find your own little pocket of serenity and focus on anticipating your enjoyment of your upcoming destination.
Image: Getty
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by Lynn on 11/13/2025
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruise guests are getting a private beach escape on one of Greece’s most famous – and famously busy - islands. The new Royal Beach Club Santorini is set to open in summer 2026. It’s the first Royal Beach Club in Europe, and one part of the Ultimate Santorini Day that also includes tours of the island’s hot spots.
Royal Beach Club Santorini will combine the breathtaking volcanic beaches and Mediterranean beach club culture of this bucket list island with signature experiences featuring villages, Greek spirit and culture to create the ultimate Santorini experience.
Ultimate Santorini Day will include a tour of must-see landmark gems of the island, from the white-washed buildings and blue-domed churches in Oia, to a stroll through the shops, cafes and art galleries in Fira.
Your day includes a scenic ferry ride along Santorini’s breathtaking coastline as you make your way to Royal Beach Club Santorini. Stretch out on the island’s black sand beach, enjoy gourmet dining overlooking the Aegean Sea, and unwind beneath a swaying umbrella on a private lounger. Each pass provides entrance to Royal Beach Club Santorini, which includes access to a volcanic black sand beach along the Aegean Sea, complimentary gourmet beachfront dining, umbrellas, loungers, Wi-Fi, and so much more.
Your day also includes visits to the charming village of Oia and the vibrant capital of Fira, each offering incredible views of the caldera framed by iconic blue-domed rooftops.
The Ultimate Santorini Day and Royal Beach Club Santorini are innovative ways to alleviate congestion throughout the island by better distributing cruise guests arriving in Santorini. Arriving by Celebrity or Royal Caribbean cruise ship to Santorini, you can start your journey in one of three locations, minimizing crowding while maximizing time spent enjoying sights and sounds.
That makes it a better experience for guests and a more responsible and sustainable tourism plan in one of the most popular Greek islands.
Ultimate Santorini Day is featured on a number of Mediterranean itineraries on both sister cruise lines: Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International.
As the first Royal Beach Club experience launches in The Bahamas in December 2025, Royal Beach Club Santorini is the latest in the company’s growing lineup of exclusive land-based destinations, which includes the renowned and award-winning Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Alongside Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas and Labadee in Haiti, Royal Caribbean Group’s pipeline of land-based vacation offerings include Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in The Bahamas (2025), the Southernmost Hotel on Earth The Cormorant at 55 South in Chile (2026), Royal Beach Club Santorini (2026), Royal Beach Club Cozumel in Mexico (2026), Perfect Day Mexico (2027), and Royal Beach Club Lelepa (2027).
Rendering courtesy of Royal Caribbean Group.
Top Image: Getty.
by Lynn on 11/13/2025
Shawna Schrank
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