The Florida Keys’ highly anticipated Isla Bella Beach Resort officially opened to guests Monday.

The five-star oceanfront resort is the first full-service luxury hotel in Marathon and the largest newly built private waterfront hotel in the Keys. Located at the entryway of the iconic Seven Mile Bridge, Isla Bella Beach Resort is two hours from Miami and just an hour from Key West.

Highlights include 199 rooms and suites ranging from one to five bedrooms, one mile of private beach, five swimming pools, four dining outlets and more than 24,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

Isla Bella Beach Resort also features convenient on-site water sports, a fishing pier and a marina. A full-service spa, fitness center and a marketplace retail and cafe concept will be added in May.

The 4,000-square-foot spa will feature a relaxation room along with five dedicated treatment rooms, a lounge, couples massage room, steam room and a spa garden. The Spiaggia Suite will offer guests hair treatments, makeup application and other services while the 1,000-square-foot fitness center will boast state-of-the-art Peloton treadmills and bicycles in addition to free weights and other equipment.

The Beach Bar will offer a menu of fresh seafood and other dishes designed to pair perfectly with cocktails as well as daily live music. Part oceanview restaurant and part poolside grill, The Burger Palace overlooks the beach and will serve comfort foods like burgers, hotdogs and fries along with crisp salads and snacks.

Il Postino is an Italian restaurant specializing in hand-made Neapolitan pizza from a traditional wood-fired oven, fresh pasta and more while The Marketplace–opening in May–will be the hub of Isla Bella Beach Resort’s social activity.

Activities and experiences available to guests will include complimentary kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling and fishing as well as games such as badminton, bocce, croquet, giant chess, cornhole and volleyball, among others.

Dallas is often associated with football, rodeos and oversized barbecue. A sports lover’s mecca, the city is home to five professional sports teams: The Dallas Cowboys (NFL); Dallas Stars (NHL); Dallas Mavericks (NBA); Dallas Wings (WNBA); FC Dallas (MLS) and the Texas Rangers (MLB) plus NASCAR and Indy racing. The area also boasts over 200 golf courses.

Although Dallas attracts almost 25 million visitors each year, visitors to this friendly city can also discover a wide array of off-the-beaten-path attractions that are generally less expensive and not as crowded as the more famous tourist sites. Thus, they can provide a very enjoyable experience for visitors.

Katy Trail is ideal for joggers, bikers, skaters and walkers.

VISITDALLAS

You can explore the many city trails that literally take you off-the-beaten-path by walking the Katy Trail, which is linking the people of Dallas in an exciting new way. Once an abandoned railroad line, the trail has become one of the most iconic destinations in the city. Joggers, bikers, skaters and walkers take advantage of the trail runs through the densest part of the city from the West End and the American Airlines Center in the south, through the heart of urban Dallas past Knox Street, up to SMU and Mockingbird DART Station in the north. The trail also hosts a number of events each year

Pecan Lodge is a popular eating spot.

The Deep Ellum District is a hotspot for those looking for music, eclectic dining or to capture the perfect picture at one of the many murals that are scattered throughout the neighborhood. Established in 1873 in an area east of downtown Dallas as a residential and commercial neighborhood, the area was one of Dallas’ first commercial districts for African-Americans and European immigrants. As such, Deep Ellum is one of the most historically significant neighborhoods in the city.

Known as Dallas’ “most independent neighborhood,” the Bishop Arts District affords visitors the opportunity to explore boutiques, grab a drink and catch a classic/indie flick at The Texas Theatre. The Bishop Arts District is home to over 60 boutiques, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, theaters and art galleries. Located in the heart of North Oak Cliff and only five minutes from downtown, the district lays claim to one of Dallas’ most unique neighborhoods with historical shopping full of great finds, good eats and good ol’ Oak Cliff charm. The area is populated with many independently-owned businesses, and many of the shops stay open late on the weekends to provide a fun shop, stroll, and eat environment for visitors.

Are you ready for a rousing round of games on Fighters Row? Then head over to the Cidercade, where 170 arcades await. Featuring a mix of both new and retro, the emphasis here is on games that are competitive and that are specially designed for two or more players. Although food is not available on the premises, a variety of food trucks make their presence known throughout the week. As its name implies, Cidercade features 30 in-house made ciders along with wines on tap.

The Samurai Collection is a truly unique attraction.

SAMURAI COLLECTION

Perhaps one of the most unexpected yet truly unique tourist attractions found in Dallas is the Samurai Collection which houses one of the largest displays of samurai armor and artifacts in the world. Comprised of almost 1,000 objects, the collections include armor, helmets, masks, horse armor and weaponry, and features several masterpieces that are sure to “wow” visitors. In 2011, 140 pieces from the collection were compiled for an exhibition to tour Europe, Canada and the U.S.

Sample some sushi poke on your food tour.

VISITDALLAS

The food throughout the greater Dallas area is as appetizing as you’ll find anywhere else in the country. The Taste Your Way through Dallas Tours are a great way to satisfy your taste buds by experiencing the sheer variety of food options. Start your Dallas visit by joining Food Tours of America as they take you around Uptown Dallas discovering local restaurants, from casual to upscale. Or join Dallas by Chocolate and Dallas Bites! Food Tours on a very sweet tour of Dallas. Join the locals at a brewery tour. Dallas is home to several microbreweries. Some of the most popular options include Community in the Design District (try the Mosaic IPA), Four Corners in Trinity Groves (try El Chingon) and Deep Ellum Brewery. Don’t miss a visit to Trinity Groves, a restaurant incubator concept that features up-and-coming chefs and restaurateurs in Dallas. With more than 14 restaurants it’s hard to choose where to go.

Traveling off-the-beaten-path is a great way to explore any city because a treasure trove of surprises may await you. This is especially true for the unique attractions throughout Dallas.

From Oslo to London to Lyon back to London…it was a tough couple days of travel. However, it was made easier by my first-ever trip to the Rhône Valley. I had only one destination, the Domaine of Jean-Louis Chave, and it would end up being a memory of a lifetime.

When we landed that morning, it seemed we brought the frigid weather of Oslo with us to France—about as cold as it ever gets there, per Jean-Louis. We were welcomed inside and Jean-Louis made a plan. His father Gerard was still around and about (and quick as a whip, I might add). We bid him adieu and hopped in Jean-Louis’ truck for a tour of the famous hill of Hermitage.

We sat at the foot of the hill and looked up, where the giant signs of Jaboulet and Chapoutier stand out. Each producer now makes millions of bottles a year—not of Hermitage, of course, but their significance and contribution to the appellation and the entire region cannot be ignored. I asked Jean-Louis why he didn’t have a Chave sign on the hill, but that is not his style: he just lives on it. After that, I just listened.

The terroir of Hermitage—much like the terroir of Burgundy—makes it unique.  Chave gets fruit from seven different vineyards, and within those vineyards, he gets both white and red grapes, depending on the soil. The diversity and differences of soils on the hill of Hermitage are one of the great characteristics of the vineyard. The south-facing slopes—some very steep—are another: without them, there’s no Hermitage. The S-shape that the Rhône river takes here created this unique hillside vineyard.

Hill of Hermitage is a sight to behold.

We started driving in the vineyards. We came awfully close to some steep declines with an awful amount of big bumps in the road next to them. “Don’t worry,” I told myself, “Jean-Louis drives these paths every day, you aren’t going to fall and roll over and wipe out 5% of the production of Hermitage in the process … don’t worry.”

The key to the hill is the complex range of different soils, from granite and clay to pebbles and dusty earth. Sometimes you could see the earth change colors in the middle of a vineyard, like L’Ermite, and that could mark where red grapes stopped and whites started. All these soils with their different personalities lend themselves to unique expressions in the grapes. Chapoutier and others have promoted the concept of single vineyards like Le Meal and L’Ermite; however, for Chave, the true nature of Hermitage results from a carefully constructed blend from all parts of the hill. This was evident when we tasted the 2016, where each vineyard was aging separately in the barrel.

For the whites, we first tasted from the Les Rocules vineyard, where the oldest vines for the whites reside. Jean-Louis told us that the vines were so old, he couldn’t even tell which ones were Marsanne and which were Roussanne, but he estimated that his blanc is about 80% Marsanne. Les Rocules was delicious, deserving of a bottling on its own—so decadent, so rich, so plump and succulent with its sweet fruit, with lots of old-vine character. When we tasted L’Ermite, the vineyard in back of his home way up high on the hill, the contrast was amazing. This was a dry and spiny white, with lots of backside and a meaner personality compared to the seductive, “life of the party” that was Les Rocules. The yin and the yang were immediately obvious. The vineyards show a bit of each other’s character, in a fill-in-the-blanks kind of way.

After the barrel tasting, Jean-Louis popped a few bottles of white, beginning with the 2015 Chave Hermitage Blanc, which had been bottled about four months ago. What a delicious wine! 2015 was a hotter vintage, and the sweetness of the fruit came through immediately: loads of yellow fruits and sunshine, with exotic pineapple and mango aromas, and a delectable spice behind it. It was rich, balanced and still elegant. Jean-Louis told us there is a post-bottling window in which the wines are just delightful before they close up and go into hibernation. Everyone knows the age-worthiness of his blancs; sometimes they can be downright screechy in their intensity. This 2015, however, was ready, willing and able. (95+)

Next up was a 2009 Chave Hermitage Blanc. This was an immediate left turn from the 2015, showing off a gamy and waxy personality, full of anise and wild flavors. It was almost a bit peculiar compared to the seductive 2015. Its texture was intense, and with a little air, it started to settle down in the stable, so to speak. It still had this pungent character, but less with time. There were a lot more minerals and stones on the finish of this gamy 2009. (93)

There was one more white to be had, and what a white it was: the 1982 Chave Hermitage Blanc. I was in awe of this spectacular white. Its yellow hues were not only in fruit but also in straw and wax. There was a dust of the earth in its nose that balanced perfectly with its fruit. It was still fresh despite being 36 years old: This was a white wine still on the rise! Its richness permeated my mouth, and its minerals made me smack my lips. This was a golden goose of a wine, sparkling in its nose with musk and fruit, and shining even more on the palate with its delicious flavors and balance. Bravo! (97)

For those who think of only red when they think of Rhône, Jean-Louis will convince you to come over to the white side.

In 2018, there were more than 300 cruise ships on the high seas, and this year, 21 new ships are launching. With those numbers, it’s hard to know where to begin when you’re trying to figure out where to go on a cruise vacation — whether you’re a novice cruiser or a seasoned sailor.

That’s where Cruiseline.com comes in. The website’s new Member’s Choice Awards analyzed more than 30,000 online reviews in order to determine the best cruises for every travel personality. And the good news is that no matter what you’re looking for — a solo trip, a family vacation, a food adventure — there’s a ship for you. Here are the winners.

Best for First-Timers

Royal Caribbean clearly knows how to deliver when it comes to first-time cruisers. The line also won the category in 2015, 2016 and 2017. You can get the scoop on other great cruises in “The 20 Best Cruises To Take In 2019.”

1. Royal Caribbean
2. Celebrity Cruises
3. Carnival Cruise Line
4. Princess Cruises
5. Norwegian Cruise Line

The new Celebrity Edge is a game-changing cruise ship.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CELEBRITY CRUISES

Best for Solo Travelers

According to Cruiseline.com, Celebrity’s “refined yet relaxed style made it the preferred line of single and solo cruisers for the second year in a row.” You can read about why the new Celebrity Edge is great for women travelers in “Why This Billion-Dollar Cruise Ship Is The Ultimate Ship For Women.”

1. Celebrity Cruises
2. Royal Caribbean
3. Carnival Cruise Line
4. Holland America Line
5. Princess Cruises

Celebrity Cruises was voted best for couples. Pictured here: Francisco Vargas and Benjamin Gray, who were legally married on the Celebrity Equinox.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CELEBRITY CRUISES

Best for Couples

Celebrity Cruises was voted best for couples — all couples. In 2018, Francisco Vargas and Benjamin Gray became the first same-sex couple ever to be legally married at sea on a major cruise line, in a historic ceremony hosted onboard Celebrity Equinox.

1. Celebrity Cruises
2. Royal Caribbean
3. Carnival Cruise Line
4. Cunard
5. Holland America Line

An aerial view of the Celebrity Flora, which will be cruising the Galapagos.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CELEBRITY CRUISES

Best for Groups

In addition to couples, Celebrity Cruises is the top line for multi-generational cruises. This is the second year Celebrity has won the group category.

1. Celebrity Cruises
2. Royal Caribbean
3. Holland America Line
4. Carnival Cruise Line
5. Princess Cruises

The Disney Dream, which blends the elegance of early 20th-century ocean liners with contemporary design.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID ROARK

Best for Families with Young Children

According to Cruiseline.com, “Disney continues to be the undisputed best line for kids,” winning with a massive margin. MSC Cruises was a newcomer to this list this year, thanks to its programs with LEGO and more. You can read more about MSC Cruises .

1. Disney Cruise Line
2. Princess Cruises
3. Royal Caribbean
4. Carnival Cruise Line
5. MSC Cruises

Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Best for Teenagers

Cruiseline.com attributes Royal Caribbean’s win to its focus on keeping passengers active — a hit with restless teens.

1. Royal Caribbean
2. Celebrity Cruises
3. Carnival Cruise Line
4. Disney Cruise Line
5. Princess Cruises

Celebrity Cruises – voted best for food – has a new partnership with chef Daniel Boulud.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CELEBRITY CRUISES

Best for Foodies

Celebrity comes in at the top of the list, and it’s no surprise. The brand has a new partnership with chef Daniel Boulud — who is now the global culinary ambassador — and is constantly pushing the envelope when it comes to food. On the new Celebrity Edge, there’s even digitally enhanced dining.

1. Celebrity Cruises
2. Disney Cruise Line
3. Holland America Line
4. Oceania Cruises
5. Viking Ocean Cruises

Flight…..Dare To Dream onboard Symphony of the Seas, whose parent line, Royal Caribbean, was voted best for entertainment.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Best for Entertainment Seekers

“Royal Caribbean is always searching for new acts to wow newcomers and seasoned sailors alike,” says Cruiseline.com. Want to get an inside peek at what it’s like to work as an entertainer on a Royal Caribbean ship? Check out “Behind The Scenes: What It’s Like To Work On The World’s Largest Cruise Ship.”

1. Royal Caribbean
2. Carnival Cruise Line
3. Disney Cruise Line
4. Celebrity Cruises
5. Princess Cruises

The Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea, aboard Harmony of the Seas, whose parent line, Royal Caribbean, was voted best for entertainment.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Best for Adrenaline Junkies

Cruiseline.com calls Royal Caribbean “the ultimate pioneers in onboard activities,” thanks to innovations ranging from onboard surfing simulators to rock-climbing walls to zip lines.

1. Royal Caribbean
2. Carnival Cruise Line
3. Disney Cruise Line
4. Celebrity Cruises
5. Cunard

Celebrity Cruises CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo and crew member Nicholine Tifuh Azirh.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CELEBRITY CRUISES

Best for People Who Love Good Service

According to Cruiseline.com, “Celebrity and Disney regularly dominate this category with a level of service typically reserved for luxury hotels.” Perhaps Celebrity’s win has something to do with the number of women working onboard its ships? You can read more about Celebrity’s commitment to women crew members here.

1. Celebrity Cruises
2. Disney Cruise Line
3. Royal Caribbean
4. Holland America
5. Cunard

A rendering of a Sky Suite on Celebrity Cruises’ Millennium Series ships.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CELEBRITY CRUISES

Best for People Who Don’t Want to Leave the Cabin

This year, Celebrity won the best cabin race. Celebrity has certainly been putting a lot of thought into its cabins. On the new Celebrity Edge, staterooms created by world-renowned interior designer Kelly Hoppen, MBE, have something called an infinite veranda, where a glass wall in your cabin drops down with the touch of a button, turning your living space into a veranda. Celebrity Cruises’ revolutionized Millennium Series ships also have suites redesigned by Hoppen.

1. Celebrity Cruises
2. Disney Cruise Line
3. Royal Caribbean
4. Cunard
5. Viking Ocean Cruises

Sunrise aboard Symphony of the Seas, which was voted best ship overall.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Best Ship Overall

This is the first time in the history of the Cruiseline.com awards that a brand-new ship has been voted best ship overall: Symphony of the Seas, which launched in April of 2018. Fun fact: Symphony of the Seas also happens to be the largest ship in the world.

1. Symphony of the Seas
2. Allure of the Seas
3. Carnival Dream
4. Carnival Breeze
5. Disney Dream

Symphony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International’s newest and largest ship. Pictured here: a view down to Central Park.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Best New Ship

Given that it won Best Ship overall, it’s no surprise that Symphony of the Seas  won Best New Ship. Cruiseline.com members praised its onboard activities, entertainment and service.

1. Symphony of the Seas
2. Celebrity Edge
3. Carnival Horizon
4. MSC Seaview
5. Norwegian Bliss

There’s no better feeling than setting your out of office reply, packing your bag and setting off to explore a new city … except when you get to do it style, traveling in luxury with first class seats, fancy accommodations and five-star food.

While these perks tend to carry a hefty price tag, it is possible to experience them without racking up your credit card bill. We tapped travel experts for their tricks of the trade for upgrading your travel experience on a budget.

FIRST THINGS FIRST: BOOK SMART

Where you decide to go — and what time of year you plan to do it — can make all the difference in how much your trip costs. When it comes to keeping the price down (and having more money to spend on dining and activities), being flexible is key. Since plane tickets often make up a large chunk of the cost of a trip, be flexible with time of year, travel dates and locations, and utilize alerts to snag flights when prices dip. Considering off-season travel can also get you plane tickets and hotels at much lower prices — meaning that bump up to a first-class ticket or a reservation at a five-star hotel may be more attainable.