With 2020 underway, there is no time like the present to get started on those new year’s travel resolutions! From once-in-a-lifetime experiences like seeing the northern lights, to life-changing hikes in the Peruvian Andes, thrills like driving a race car and more, ’tis the season to get packing and start finding inspiration for places to check off your bucket list in the new year!
Learn To Surf in Riviera Nayarit
A chic beach resort located on one of the best surf breaks in Mexico’s coveted Riviera Nayarit, W Punta de Mita pays homage to the area’s local surf culture with decor touches like beds with headboards made of surfboards and amenities that include an incredible on-site surfing program. Guests who want to practice their paddle can visit the resort’s beachside WAVE Surf Shop, which offers private and group surf lessons complete with souvenir GoPro photos. The lessons are taught by locals (most of which have been surfing the area since childhood). After a day on the water, guests can browse local boutiques in Sayulita, pamper themselves with locally inspired spa treatments at the resort’s AWAY spa, or feast on fresh made-to-order ceviche from a vintage 1950’s Chevy truck turned beachside bar.
Snorkel Over a Shipwreck in Aruba
It’s time to strap on the snorkel mask and dive feet first into the Caribbean Sea. With its crystal-clear turquoise waters, there’s no better place to make a splash and observer colorful tropical fish. Just off the coast of the One Happy Island of Aruba, lies the Antilla shipwreck from WWII, the largest shipwreck dive in the Caribbean. The wreck spans roughly 400 feet in length, covered by various corals and colorful sponges, with plenty of parts still in tact and visible from the water’s surface. Snorkeling over this beautiful sight is as easy as one-two-three when booking a stay at Aruba Marriott Resort. At this 414-room resort, guests can book the half-day snorkel excursion with De Palm Tours from the ease and convenience of the resort’s lobby and concierge. De Palm Tours even coordinates pick-up and drop-off transportation to and from the hotel at no added cost. Snorkel adventure includes two additional snorkel stops, open bar, lunch, snacks and snorkel equipment. For more information, visit www.arubamarriott.com.
Drive a Real NASCAR Race Car in Daytona
Located directly across from the Daytona International Speedway, The DAYTONA is the best place to experience a classic all-American vacation. For the ultimate racing adventure, book the NASCAR Rookie Experience package, which includes overnight accommodation, a NASCAR driving tutorial, and a bottle of Champagne afterwards back on property. The property also features a design inspired by the area’s iconic racing history such as vintage show cars on display year-round, a full-service restaurant and a bar called The Blue Flame that offers a nod to the Prohibition era with signature Moonshine cocktails.
Visit Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley in Peru
It is no secret that Cusco, Peru is a top destination for travelers looking for a little more than an average vacation! Immerse yourself in culture and history when visiting this unforgettable bucket list destination and stay on preserved historical grounds at the five-star JW Marriott El Convento Cusco. Located at the ideal starting point for those making their way to Machu Picchu, the hotel offers everything travelers need to prepare for the experience of a lifetime- including coca tea to prevent altitude sickness and oxygen-regulated rooms to help guests get acclimated. Once guests are ready to embark on their bucket list Machu Picchu adventure, the hotel offers roundtrip transportation to the train that travels to the Sacred Valley. In addition, the hotel also offers culinary experiences like mixology lessons, cooking classes and guided trips to the local market, as well as photo ops with Panchita, the resident alpaca who visits the courtyard daily.
Hike The Mayan Ruins of Tikal in Guatemala
For travelers with active and adventurous personalities, and those who like to explore surrounded by Mother Earth and the wonders of nature, Flores, Guatemala is the ideal destination. For the ultimate bucket list adventure, stay at Las Lagunas Boutique Hotel, conveniently located near the Mayan ruins of Tikal, Yaxhá and Uaxactún. The 19-bungalow suite property is set on the shore of the Quexil Lagoon in Guatemala's Jungle of Petén and spread across 200 acres of lush, private reserve, and offers the ideal homebase for exploring the region. In addition to excursions to the ruins available daily, complete with friendly guides, snacks and beverages and an optional lunch stop, the hotel also offers plenty of activities for outdoors enthusiasts, including trekking, bird watching trails, kayaking, 4X4 ATV tours through the jungle and visits to Monkey Island, where visitors can get up-close and personal with friendly spider monkeys. For the curious explorers, Las Lagunas is also home to a museum that holds some of the most exquisite Mayan pieces in the world.
Experience the Day of the Dead in Puerto Vallarta
To enjoy one of Mexico’s most colorful holidays, head to Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa to experience Dia de los Muertos, Puerto Vallarta-style. Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated throughout Mexico on November 1, honoring the dead with festivals and lively celebrations. At Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, located between the Banderas Bay and Sierra Madre Mountains, you can join in the vibrant festivities and experience long-held traditions. Unite with the locals to connect the present with the past to remember loved ones. Dance on the streets with your face painted as a skeleton, visit the graveyards, and appreciate the decorated headstones to see the city come alive - to ironically to celebrate the dead. When you’re not out in town exploring, enjoy a tequila tasting led by the resort’s onsite tequila sommelier, relax with a treatment in the Ohtli Spa, inspired by local Huichol traditions, sample local flavors with sunset guacamole and of course unwind with some much-needed beach and pool time, watching the sunset come down on the night where the dead walk among us.
See the Northern Lights in Iceland
Never have I ever seen the Northern Lights...yet. To see one of the most breathtaking sights nature creates for the world to behold, head to Hotel Rangá, Southern Iceland's idyllic countryside retreat ideal for visitors looking to adventure through the country’s myriad of natural wonders – from its highlands and hot springs to its black sand beaches and volcanoes. An advanced, on-site observatory with a roll-off roof and unobstructed darkness easily makes Hotel Rangá one of the best places to stay and see one of the world's rarest global phenomenons: the Aurora Borealis. It houses two high quality astronomical telescopes — for optimal gazing at the sun, stars or planets — and guests can even sign up for Northern Lights wake up calls to ensure they catch every color. Pro tip: opt for on of Hotel continent-themed suites – featuring décor from Africa to Antarctica. Adventurous eaters can also dine at the acclaimed Restaurant Rangá to cross smoked puffin and reindeer carpaccio off their interesting foods bucket list. There is a never-have-I-ever experience around every corner, and Hotel Rangá is as one-of-a-kind as Iceland itself.
Snap an Underwater Picture
Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and buzzing Fort Lauderdale beach walk,W Fort Lauderdale’s WET Deck East rooftop pool has made its mark as the hottest place to mix and mingle in the sunshine state. With its bold art-deco tiling and booming beats from live DJs on the weekends, WET sets the scene for a sizzling and electric day under the Florida sun. Take a dip and strike an underwater pose – WET boasts transparent pool walls, perfectly lending itself to your next Instagram masterpiece. Checkout the deck's infinity-edge hot tub for amazing views of the beach, recharge on a plush chaise lounger, or upgrade to one of the hotel’s daybeds with bottle service for an even more elevated poolside experience. After being sun-kissed by Florida rays, kick it back in a stylish suite, unwind at the new AWAY spa, and cap off the night with colorful cocktails in Living Room. For more info visit www.wfortlauderdale.com
