Travel

By Stefanie Cohen

The singer clutches the microphone and belts out a Russian folk song, her long blond hair swinging side to side. Men in black and women in 3-inch heels and sparkling jewelry groove on a parquet dance floor. Thick Russian accents waft over the clatter of clinking vodka goblets, plates piled high with smoked salmon and caviar-lined banquet tables.

By Leaya Lee

Cheesesteaks. “Rocky.” Tastykakes. Most visitors to Philadelphia partake in one or all of these things the city is famous for, whether by running up the Art Museum steps and pumping their fists in victory or by chomping on greasy cheesesteaks and shrink-wrapped mini cakes.

By Heather Corcoran

For those looking for an excuse to drop everything, put on a bathing suit and bake in the sun, it turns out there may never have been a better time to take a vacation. Scientists are finding that some rays might be the key to beating the winter blues. And with the islands of Bermuda only a two-hour flight away from New York, this British archipelago off the coast of North Carolina is a convenient spot to recover from the winter doldrums.

By Michelle Sacks

Say the name Copacabana in a crowded room, and most people will either think of oiled-up near-naked Brazilians or a showgirl called Mona who Barry Manilow made famous. But there is another Copacabana, secreted away on The Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca, which is both deliciously unknown and spectacularly beautiful. Like many South American destinations, getting there is no mean feat. But even the longest, sweatiest ride aboard the most dubiously held-together bus should not deter you from making the trip.

By Heather Corcoran

For those really looking to get away from it all, the usual tourist spots won’t cut it. So when it’s too packed in Paris or crowded in Cancun, the most intrepid travelers are heading to remote destinations in Southern Asia, South America and Africa. These travelers are willing to endure hardships like uncertain medical care, possible political unrest and risky water supplies for a taste of adventure.

By Sylvie Bigar

St. Barth is known as one of the more expensive Caribbean vacation spots, but it’s possible to visit without breaking the bank.

Some of the bad stuff you hear about St. Barth is true. It is a hassle to get to, can be very expensive, and is a bastion of sometimes annoyingly French culture—in the afternoon, Gustavia, the capital, feels like a ghost town; it is time for lunch and “la sieste.”

By Catherine Wigginton

Before you become so fed up with the New York winter that all you can think about is finding a beach, think about heading to the high country for one of these luxury ski getaways. From Aspen to Dubai, you can rent spacious suites or your very own mountain chalet, private chef included, amid world-class skiing and other festive snow activities. And when you’re not knee-deep in powder, you’ll have your choice of the finest après ski, gourmet meals and spa treatments from around the world. For the right price, the resorts below promise to make your ski vacation as extreme or as relaxing as you’d like.

By Diana Rosenthal
As joyous as the holidays are, the season is often stressful. Spend your late December recovering from the shopping, cooking and celebrating at one of these spas.

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, Japan

By Steven Threndyle

With the countdown to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games well underway, BC ski resorts have spent millions of dollars in the off-season ramping up improvements to infrastructure and facilities, building new lifts, opening new terrain, unveiling luxurious lodges, and introducing new programs that will cement the province's reputation as a world leader in winter vacations. Whether you're blasting down mile-long cruising runs at Whistler, slaloming through the snow ghosts at Big White, taking air at Kicking Horse, or revelling in hip-deep powder at Fernie, you'll notice major improvements at virtually every resort in the province this winter.

By Caroline Slaughter

If Charlottesville was a person, a doctor might diagnose it as bipolar. On one hand, it’s a college town hosting the party-loving University of Virginia. But it also has a more conservative side with polo matches and classic architecture. This split personality makes it a good travel destination for those who can’t decide whether they want nightlife or culture.