New York Travel Writers Association

26/01/2025

NYTW president Barbara Peterson reminds AFAR readers that despite some well-publicized accidents, "compared with driving, air travel is hands down the safer way to get from point A to point B... Last year, there were 11 fatal air accidents [worldwide], with a total of 318 people killed," she reports. By contrast, "there were approximately 34,000 deaths from road accidents in the USA alone."

That said, which airlines are the safest in this surprisingly safe industry? And which are the least safe? has determined the top and, while we're at it, the bottom 25 -- and Peterson explains what all this actually means for you.
https://www.afar.com/magazine/worlds-safest-airlines?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=012125TheseAretheWorldsSafestAirlines&utm_content=Final&utm_term=Daily%20Wander%20Newsletter%20%28365%20Actives%29
- Traveling IQ Harvey Chipkin

Last year was the worst year for air safety since 2018 due to the deadly Jeju Air crash in South Korea. Yet air travel remains one of the safest forms of transportation, and a new ranking rates the world’s 25 safest airlines.

23/01/2025

"The small Central Florida city of Winter Park...is home to the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by famed designer Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933)," writes Linda Cabasin, whose visit the collection lights up the dark days of winter. And talk about convenience,"The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art (aka the Morse Museum) displays everything from brilliantly colored lamps to an entire chapel designed by Tiffany," and it's just 45 minutes from the theme parks of Orlando. https://sideofculture.com/2025/01/the-morse-museum-in-floridas-winter-park-tiffany-treasures-and-american-art/
Traveling IQ VISIT FLORIDA Visit Orlando Barbara Peterson Harvey Chipkin Rollins Museum of Art via Side of Culture
Photograph by Raymond Martinot

20/01/2025

"I’m thrilled to announce that my new book, National Geographic’s '100 Train Journeys of a Lifetime: The World’s Ultimate Train Rides,' will be published by Disney Penguin Random House on October 7, 2025," writes NYTW member Everett Potter. "Researching, riding, and writing the rails for this book has been a labor of love and the culmination of exploring six continents by train over the last three decades.

"As an expert for National Geographic for the past decade, it’s been my privilege to lecture to hundreds of avid rail fans who’ve explored Switzerland and Italy with me. Now I’m happy to spread the word about some of my favorite train journeys in the world, from the Swiss Alps to the Andes, the Canadian Rockies to Africa."

National Geographic Travel Disney

18/01/2025

"The coming year boasts dozens of [LGBTQ+] itineraries, including large ship charters and more intimate riverboats,” writes member Matthew Wexler aka Wexler Writes.
🛳️
For GayCities: Your Gay Travel and City Guide he explores the best LGBTQ+ cruises and port cities in the world -- and he chooses well.

Link: https://www.gaycities.com/articles/76134/best-lgbtq-cruises/?utm_source=gaycities&utm_medium=directlink&utm_campaign=directlink&utm_content=Best+LGBTQ%2B+cruises+%26amp%3B+port+cities+in

Photo: Shutterstock- Traveling IQ LGBTQ+ Gay Cruisers - ALL Cruise Lines

16/01/2025

"Once upon a time, newlyweds went straight from the nuptials to their honeymoon.," writes Allison Tibaldi for USA TODAY Travel. But nowadays, she explains, many are opting for a brief, local, stress-free getaway -- a mini-moon -- followed several months later by the longer, more traditional honeymoon.

So relax after the wedding. Exhale. And here are 12 regional getaways where you can do it:

https://10best.usatoday.com/interests/travel-tips/12-mini-moon-ideas-destinations/
Traveling IQ Barbara Peterson Harvey Chipkin Visit Arizona Hotel Valley Ho Go Visit Hawaii OUTRIGGER Reef Waikiki Beach Resort I LOVE NEW YORK Visit California Post Ranch Inn Door County Visit Wisconsin White Lace Inn Amelia Island VISIT FLORIDA Visitez Montréal et Québec / Visit Montreal and Quebec city Relais & Châteaux Hamilton-Turner Inn Visit Savannah Visit Portland Maine Longfellow Hotel Deer Valley Resort The St. Regis Deer Valley Ski Utah Wickaninnish Inn

Going on a honeymoon right after the wedding can be taxing. These mini-moon ideas offer a relaxing and budget-friendly post-wedding getaway.

12/01/2025

"In today's whirlwind world, chill has a lot of charm. Menorca (also known as Minorca), Spain’s easternmost Balearic Island... may lack the glitz of her party sisters, Mallorca and Ibiza, but that’s exactly why you should visit," writes Ivan Quintanilla in GayCities: Your Gay Travel and City Guide.

"Menorca makes for a perfect relaxing wind-down to your European vacation, with flights under two hours from most European hotspots." He adds that "there is no major q***r scene on the island, but Menorca is still very LGBTQ+ friendly -- "this is Spain, after all."

What should visitors do there? Where to stay? And where to have a drink or three? That and more is right here: https://www.gaycities.com/articles/94098/this-islands-a-hidden-gem-unspoiled-by-a-horde-of-tourists-get-there-before-they-do/?fbclid=IwY2xjawHwDAZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHWb3eReDhPrB3waCzvowpIGJArUu3Vu8K8rm8FI2FyAPStEzkaitwFspEw_aem_BBv-OofcpCQ1kBWlhjmVvw
- Traveling IQ Barbara Peterson Visit Spain Bodegas Binifadet Menorca Hauser & Wirth Harvey Chipkin

Menorca may lack the glitz of her party sisters, Mallorca and Ibiza, and that's exactly why you should visit. It's a relaxing wind-down.

12/01/2025

Birthday boy aka NYTW treasurer Roger Cox a few years ago with tennis great John Newcombe.

Blast that ball past the other guy, and you just might end up hobnobbing with a legend. Enjoy your day, Roger!

- with Traveling IQ Barbara Peterson Harvey Chipkin

09/01/2025

"On a continent struggling with over-tourism, Slovenia is the hidden Europe, a welcoming yet half-forgotten country that vigorously embraces adventure travel. I learned this on a recent walking trip with Backroads, which brought me through the legendary vineyards of Goriska Brda... to the heart of the Julian Alps," writes Everett Potter for ForbesLife. Let's follow his trail:
https://www.everettpotter.com/2025/01/slovenia-is-europes-best-kept-secret-a-paradise-for-adventure/
Traveling IQ Visit Slovenia Barbara Peterson Harvey Chipkin

On a Backroads walk through Slovenia, I discovered a little-known Alpine country with a rich culture, untrammeled and full of surprises, with a mandate for outdoor adventures.

05/01/2025

"Every four years, the French coastal town of Les Sables d’Olonne on the Atlantic coast of France enters the world stage as home to the epic single-skipper sailing race known as the Vendée Globe," writes Cathie Arquilla.
This is a 24,000-mile race -- the world's longest race of its kind. But why go to Les Sables d'Olonne when the sailboats and the attendant brouhaha are not in town? Because this is France at its most authentic.
https://www.gonomad.com/245729-les-sables-dolonne-sailing...
Traveling IQ France Tourism GoNOMAD Cafe Harvey Chipkin Barbara Peterson

03/01/2025

Mark Thompson is high on his visit to Switzerland. Some winterwonderland photos here: https://www.mrnystyleandtravel.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabMkG2UKZNl4aFcp3D5U-JINcHwcQjJNSQHhzPO8ekgC2Sq6JzG6nOMDJ0_aem_QJSra8N-Kqrx0YJ0BBlewQ
Engelberg-Titlis Traveling IQ Harvey Chipkin Kempinski Hotels OutThere magazine Barbara Peterson

30/12/2024

"Travelers in Northern California are about to get a nonstop flight to the Azores, a lesser-visited Portuguese island paradise," writes NYTW Pres. Barbara Peterson in AFAR. "This offbeat routing is one of a trio of seasonal routes that TAP Air Portugal is launching for the summer of 2025, which will also include flights from its newest U.S. gateway, Los Angeles."

Good timing, because Portugal is hot! For more details on flights to the Azores, Lisbon, and Porto, see this: https://www.afar.com/magazine/tap-adds-3-new-u-s-flights-to-lisbon-porto-and-the-azores

Traveling IQ Visit Portugal TAP Air Portugal Harvey Chipkin Portal D'Ouro

The Portuguese carrier has unveiled a fresh lineup of new flights from major U.S. gateways to dreamy destinations throughout the country, including hopping cities like Lisbon and Porto and a beautiful island escape.

29/12/2024

"We'll always have Paris," says Rick (Bogie) in "Casablanca," but Beverly Stephen wants you to have it even better: https://issuu.com/showcasepubs/docs/hres_holiday2024/60
Traveling IQ Harvey Chipkin France Explore France Fondation Louis Vuitton Musée Carnavalet - Histoire de Paris Musée Rodin Pierre Hermé Guy Savoy La Cuisine Paris Barbara Peterson

25/12/2024

"Egypt needs travelers," writes Clint Brownfield from Egypt. And it's not just Egypt. "Some in our group added on Jordan before our Nile cruise, and only five people were at Petra in addition to them."

Exploring the Nile River Valley with AmaWaterways, he adds "Our ship holds just over 100--only 20 are on the boat. We have a full crew, and they've treated us like royalty."

In the first photo the man on the left is the cruise director, Muhammed. Our friend and colleague, on the right, appears to have morphed into some Middle Eastern big shot.

Jan. 2nd edit: See New York Travel Writers Association's comment, below.

Traveling IQ Barbara Peterson Experience Egypt Harvey Chipkin