The itinerary: Go holiday window-shopping in NYC
Go window-shopping in NYC
Many of the best things to see in New York City at Christmas are free. For example, Saks Fifth Avenue’s windows at its flagship Fifth Avenue store at 49th Street depict six classic fairytales — Rumpelstiltskin, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty — in Art Deco style. Other stores include Macy’s at 34th Street, Lord & Taylor on Fifth Avenue between 38th and 39th, Tiffany on Fifth Avenue between 56th and 57th, and Bergdorf Goodman on Fifth Avenue at 58th Street.
— The Associated Press
Books: Gifts for travelers
You Only Live Once: A Lifetime of Experiences for the Explorer in All of Us (Lonely Planet, $30), also a lavishly illustrated hardcover, describes experiences rather than places, from tasting the world’s hottest chili peppers to the best birding, safaris, train rides and castles.
Other books out this season from Lonely Planet include Best in Travel 2015 ($15) with lists of top countries, cities, regions, freebies and more for the new year; The Best Place to Be Today ($20), with a recommendation for every day of the year; and Best Ever Travel Tips ($10), a small, cute flip book that offers advice on how to book trips, how to complain, and even what to bring — like a $20 Casio F91-W watch “straight out of 1981” that works “for ages” and will never be stolen.
— The Associated Press
Q&A: Destination Caribbean
Dear Traveler: Where in the Caribbean should I go for winter vacation? I hate sitting around, but I like sports and fitness. I like the Bahamas. I don’t like Mexico.
— Jumpy
Dear Jumpy: Try an all-inclusive resort because they include non-motorized water sports and activities. Watch your airfare prices; while you may find a deal on a resort, it could cost a lot to get there.
A new TripAdvisor list of the top 25 all-inclusives in the world includes many not only from Mexico but also from the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. Some resorts, like DR’s Bahia Principe, are adults only.
— Ellen Creager, Detroit Free Press
Fun fact
De Niro invests in Caribbean
The prime minister of Antigua & Barbuda has appointed actor Robert De Niro as special economic envoy of the twin-island nation in the eastern Caribbean. The appointment comes after De Niro signed a memorandum of agreement for a $250 million hotel investment in Barbuda. Officials said De Niro and Australian businessman James Packer will help renovate and expand a former five-star luxury resort that closed several years ago.
— The Associated Press
This story was originally published December 13, 2014 at 6:00 AM with the headline "The itinerary: Go holiday window-shopping in NYC."