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Trip was so much fun.

I never thought of New Zealand as a place I would want to visit. However, as I was exploring highly rated tours, I read the tour provided by CharlieTheTraveler and i...

It was perfect!

What can I say about my trip to New Zealand? It was perfect! There were so many interesting activities, all of which were included in the price. CharlieTheTraveler p...

I enjoyed walking around Christchurch and learning the history of the city

There was such a perfect balance of adventurous activities and educational tours that I felt immersed in all that New Zealand has to offer. CharlieTheTraveler picked...

I was impressed

CharlieTheTraveler has a great price for the amount of amenities included for the New Zealand trip. I was impressed with the meals that were provided as they were au...

It was evident the company did everything it

CharlieTheTraveler’s tour of New Zealand was remarkable! It was evident the company did everything it could to keep their price low for me without compromising on an...

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58 Stars is a luxury travel agency that creates tailored, seamless, custom travel with insider-style itineraries that leave our clients soul-struck and awe-inspired.

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We work with you to create genuine, custom-crafted travel experiences with a locals’ perspective and a luxurious flair. When your travel is crafted by 58 Stars luxury travel agency, everything is taken care of for you – all you have to do is take it all in.

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Rare interactions are made possible because our connections run deep and far. To us, travel is about the journey and the destination – and the glorious afterglow that happens when you’ve experienced another trip of a lifetime. We are luxury travel agent specialists, but we see it as art.

We – that is, you and us – are a tribe of seekers.

Wanderlust, wonder, and insatiable curiosity courses through our veins. It has for centuries. From the earliest days, like-minded explorers used the same 58 stars to navigate the unknown. They trusted these stars. Revered these stars.

It is with this same confident, expert guidance that 58 Stars brings the world to our clients and brings our clients deep inside the worlds they crave.

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Luxury travel means more to us than just 5-star hotels. It means crafting a personalized travel itinerary and delivering a trip you’ll remember forever…

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58 Stars brings the world to our clients with custom-crafted, luxury travel vacations designed to your exact specifications. We are a luxury travel agency, providing you with options for destinations, experiences, and excursions – you just pick what you fancy. At 58 Stars, the world is entirely yours – and our luxury travel agent specialists are here to help you navigate it.

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Our experts specialize in luxury vacations, travel concierge, and more. Individually and collectively, our global connections run deep and far. To airlines and cruise lines, boutique hotels, local tour companies, global resorts, and more. This gives us an unmatched advantage in delivering unique luxury travel experiences for our clients.

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“I’m fortunate to have spent much time in Europe, having lived in France and explored Italy and Greece extensively.”

My goal is to help you discover new worlds by challenging your senses, enriching your mind, and inspiring your soul.

“I love traveling which led me to become a travel advisor. Exploring new cultures, seeing new places…nothing can beat it!”

More than just booking flights and hotels, Dan crafts unforgettable itineraries, weaving hidden gems and cultural experiences into every adventure.

“As Head of Groups for 58 Stars Travel, I am thrilled to assist you in planning your next journey.” 

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“Well that was extraordinary”

“Well, that was extraordinary. About a year ago our brother-in-law casually invited us to tag along on a family trip in Africa. Our kick-ass nephew Dawit was adopted from Ethiopia five years ago and the whole pack of nephews (four in all: Jack — 19, Luke — 17, Dawit — 15 and Josh — 14) and Steve’s sister Chris and brother-in-law John were all going to Ethiopia to visit with Dawit’s birth family, and were then headed to Botswana to go on a safari. Did we want to go? Steve was unflinchingly a yes vote, and I hedged for 5 minutes and then realized it was a once-in-a-lifetime offer. This is likely the last gasp with the pack of nephews in one place before they scatter to adulthood, and the chance to go to Africa with them on the heels of a visit to Dawit’s motherland? A true wouldn’t-miss-it opportunity. So, Africa we booked! We hadn’t ever planned on going to Africa, and certainly not for a safari (Expensive! Far! How much more impressive could animals be?) but we paid our deposit and figured the year-from-now day would come.”

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• World's Best

Our Readers' Favorite 15 Tour Operators in 2021

Scott Bay is a magazine editor specializing in travel, architecture, and gear. He was previously an assistant editor at Travel + Leisure . His work has also appeared in Wired , Architectural Digest , Wallpaper , Robb Report , Saveur , Daily Beast , and more.

Note: If you’re looking for our most recent recommendations, check out the 2023 list of our favorite tour operators .

This year's World's Best Awards survey was open for voting January 11 through May 10, 2021, as destinations around the world were lifting COVID-19 restrictions. Survey rules have always allowed readers to reflect on their travel experiences over a three-year period. We hope that this year's honorees will inspire your own travels as you get back out into the world.

Linking up with the right tour operator can take an amazing trip and turn it into a trip of a lifetime . This might seem like magic, but their in-the-know expertise and long-standing relationships open the doors for the seemingly impossible — a private Jeep safari with a professional tracking team in the depths of Torres del Paine or one-on-one cooking classes from a chef that runs a Michelin-starred restaurant in the south of France. And if any group has traversed the world enough to discern the best tour operators out there, it's the readers of Travel + Leisure .

Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city or resort based on their locations and amenities.

The companies that made the list have the skills and connections to create itineraries that reflect their clients' personal interests. No. 3 VBT Bicycling Vacations curates two-wheeled trips all over the globe . One reader said, "Their staff make all the difference." No. 2 Mountain Lodges of Peru puts together highly personalized trekking adventures to Machu Picchu. As another reader exclaimed, "This is the way to visit Machu Picchu!"

But at the top of the list is Quasar Expeditions. Though primarily known for its cruises (the company won the small-ship ocean cruises category this year), it also operates a roster of dynamic safari-style excursions in South America. Read on to find out what sets it apart and which other companies join it on this year's list of the best tour operators in the world.

1. Quasar Expeditions

Quasar Expeditions is for adventurers. The highly specialized itineraries are designed to make guests feel like they're James Cook or Charles Darwin. "Quasar Expeditions' guides are the ultimate, passionate gatekeepers to the Galápagos Islands," one reader said. "Their enthusiasm and love of the islands and the wildlife encourages you to share in their passion and desire to conserve the natural beauty and habitat of the area while still allowing low-impact tourism." Another raved, "Excellent isn't a high enough rating to describe our experience with Quasar Expeditions. Extraordinary in every way!" And while Quasar is best known for its Galápagos trips, it gets high marks for its Patagonia itineraries, which takes guests into the best parts of Chile's Torres del Paine and Argentina's Los Glaciares — two of South America's most spectacular national parks.

Score: 99.58 More information: quasarex.com

2. Mountain Lodges of Peru

Score: 98.93 More information: mountainlodgesofperu.com

3. VBT Bicycling Vacations

Score: 98.70 More information: vbt.com

4. Classic Journeys

Score: 98.60 More information: classicjourneys.com

5. TCS World Travel

Score: 97.55 More information: tcsworldtravel.com

6. Black Tomato

Score: 97.25 More information: blacktomato.com/us

7. Inside Japan Tours

Score: 96.84 More information: insidejapantours.com

Score: 96.72 More information: tauck.com

9. Wilderness Travel

Score: 95.71 More information: wildernesstravel.com

10. Trek Travel

Score: 95.71 More information: trektravel.com

11. Geographic Expeditions

Score: 95.70 More information: geoex.com

12. Thomson Family Adventures

Score: 94.89 More information: familyadventures.com

13. Greaves

Score: 94.74 More information: greavesindia.com

14. DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co.

Score: 94.64 More information: duvine.com

15. Odysseys Unlimited

Score: 94.39 More information: odysseys-unlimited.com

See all of our readers' favorite hotels, cities, airlines, cruise lines, and more in the World's Best Awards for 2021 .

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Where would you like to stay in Mexico? IN AN ALL INCLUSIVE RESORT

You could be climbing a Mayan ruin, descending a formidable Cenote, swimming with a friendly dolphin or simply strolling through a small colonial town.

Mexico is a blend of peoples, cultures, landscapes, worlds old and new, and of legacies of the vanquished and the conqueror. The mix is so enchanting you'll hardly notice when you fall under its spell. But no matter where you are, it won't be long before you realize that what makes this country so alluring is its diversity.

Gaze in awe beyond turquoise seas. All Inclusive Vacations, To the Best Resorts in Cancun

The wide range of amenities and activities in Cancun are practically limitless, the all-inclusive oceanfront resorts captivates fun-loving families while simultaneously catering to couples who seek solitude at the Grand Oasis Cancun, Oasis Cancun Lite, Oasis Sens and the Oasis Palm.

We Specialize in One of a Kind Custom Experiences A Full Service Luxury Travel Agency

5 STAR ESCAPES TRAVEL, VOTED BEST TRAVEL AGENCY 4 YEARS IN A ROW!

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THANK YOU, TYLER AND EAST TEXAS! 

Kelly Brady, CTA, DS/ Travel Advisor Background

I don't know whether I chose travel or travel chose me.  My desire for adventure, culture and history was my reason for pursuing a career as a travel advisor.  Twenty five years later, my passion and enthusiasm remains the reason I love my dream job!  My goal is to provide life enriching experiences with travel.  My expertise is in planning private excursions for clients approaching each trip with a new perspective and commitment. 

I love to craft trips including honeymoons, multi-generational families, cruises including rivers in destinations such as the Caribbean, French Polynesia, Europe, Asia and Australia.

My career in travel began as a graduate of the American Airlines Travel Academy in 1993.  My additional professional certifications include Certified Travel Advisor, Destination Specialist, Luxury Lifestyle Specialist, Tahiti Specialist, Aussie Specialist, South Africa Specialist, Paul Gauguin PEARLS specialist, AMA Waterways Specialist.

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Five Star Travel & Cruises

Welcome to five star travel & cruises.

Welcome to Five Star Travel & Cruises. Five Star Travel & Cruises was started by Jeanne and Rich Rozycki in the spring of 1999. Since then, Five Star Travel has provided excellent customer service to thousands of travelers to all parts of the globe. Jeanne and Rich turned have Five Star Travel from a startup into one of the premier travel agencies in the St. Louis region.

For the past 23 years, Five Star Travel and Cruises was a huge part of their lives. Although they loved and cherished every minute (well, mostly ), they were ready to take on the next adventure in their lives, being Grandparents!

With that being said, Jeanne and Rich are taking a step back from some of the day-to-day operations and have graciously turned that over to Aura Travel (formerly Totally Trips). While they will continue to book travel for the foreseeable future, this will give them the opportunity to spend some more time with family.

We at Aura Travel hope to continue their legacy for many years to come. You can expect the same great level of service you have always received from Five Star Travel. A solid house is not built on sand, but on a firm foundation. Jeanne and Rich spent years building that foundation, and we are lucky enough to continue building it. So, it is with a happy heart that we say congratulations to Jeanne and Rich! May life be as kind to you in your next adventure as it has been to you in this one!

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11 Tips To Book a 5-Star Hotel for the Price of a Motel

H otels in the 5-star category are ranked highly for a reason. They typically offer beautiful views, great food, top-notch customer service and expansive beds that are so comfortable you may never want to get up. Stays at these spots don’t typically come cheap, though. Prices vary by destination, but it’s not at all shocking to shell out hundreds and hundreds of dollars per night on a room at a luxury hotel or resort.

See: 7 Biggest Ways You’re Wasting Money While Traveling

Learn: How To Get Cash Back on Your Everyday Purchases

Fortunately, staying at a 5-star hotel doesn’t have to be an unattainable extravagance. There are more than a few ways to book a room at one of these fancy and upscale places for the price of a motel (or, almost). Let’s explore 11 tips from travel experts .

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Go Off-Season 

Perhaps the most reliable way to save on a 5-star hotel is to go off-season, when the hospitality sector is desperate for travelers. 

“This is when you will get the best deal,” said Keri Baugh, a New England-based travel writer who runs the family travel blog Bon Voyage With Kids . “For some locations like Florida, this is September, right when the kids go back to school. Other locations have different shoulder seasons. But think about when most people travel, and do the opposite, and sometimes you can get a really good deal on a five-star resort; or if they are running a special — say with a night or two free — this can bring your average price down significantly.”

Join Hotels’ Vacation Club Membership Programs 

Baugh is a Marriott Vacation Club member, a Disney Vacation Club member and a member of Marriott Bonvoy Rewards. These memberships can significantly reduce costs of fancy hotel stays. 

“Because hotel costs are one of the biggest parts of any travel budget, using either our Vacation Club membership to use points for rooms or a combo of vacation points and cash is often one of the easiest ways to get a luxury resort for either free or for very little money,” Baugh said. “Also, cashing in our Marriott Bonvoy Rewards has gotten us rooms for basically the entirety of a vacation for free. With our Marriott Vacation Club membership, we usually have gotten an oceanfront one or two-bedroom suite — with a kitchen and laundry, which also saves money — every year with our Marriott Vacation Club membership.”

Check Out: 5 Ways To Elevate Your Finances Daily

Get a Credit Card That Allows You To Cash in Rewards Points for Hotel Stays 

Additionally, Baugh has a Capital One card that can be used to cash in reward points for gift cards for places like Hotels.com, which can be used for a variety of resorts, including those that have five stars. 

“Applying that gift card toward the price of the hotel can possibly result in the cost being either free or motel-rate when you average the price per night,” Baugh said.

Buy Disney Gift Cards at a Discounted Price 

If a stay at Disney is in your sights, you can save on their hotel costs by purchasing Disney gift cards at retailers that sell them for less than face value.

“If you buy them at Costco or at Target using their RedCard, you can get the full value of the gift card but at a discounted price (at Target, Red Card customers save 5% on the cost of the gift card but get full value),” Baugh said. “The gift cards have a maximum of $1,000, but if you get enough of those, you could save hundreds of dollars and pay for your vacation this way. Bring in your own food and snacks, and you can save close to $1,000 on your vacation.”

Book a Hotel Undergoing Renovations 

Booking a hotel that’s undergoing major renovations (but is still open) is a stellar way to knock down the price.

“This will require some research and destination flexibility, and you may have to deal with construction noise and views, but some 5-star hotels lower their rates during times of major renovations to compensate for revenue loss due to lower occupancy,” said Philip Ballard, chief communications officer and head of investor relations at HotelPlanner . 

Request the Smallest Room 

Flying solo or don’t mind getting extra cozy with your traveling companion? Request the smallest room. Note: You’ll likely have to call and ask for this, rather than booking online. 

“Some older 5-star hotels rent out smaller, less expensive rooms that used to be reserved for hotel staff,” Ballard said. “These rooms may only be let out during times of maximum occupancy though, so you’ll need to call the hotel and ask if there are any off-the-books rooms not listed online that are cheaper.”

Take Advantage of AAA, Senior Citizen, Military Veteran or Loyalty Discounts

It’s tough to combine all these discounts into the same booking, but using AAA, senior citizen, veteran and loyalty discounts can save you heaps. 

“You typically have to pick just one discount, but if you speak to a sales agent with your online travel agency or the hotel front desk, you may be able to combine discounts if it’s a ‘private, closed-sales environment’ where a real-life human can offer you a special discount because you asked nicely, or because it’s your anniversary,” Ballard said. 

Book a Sunday-Tuesday Trip in a Business District

According to Ballard, a Sunday through Tuesday hotel stay in a financial or business district is another way to save money on your stay.

“These are the slowest and typically the least expensive days for most hotels as weekenders have departed but business travelers have not yet arrived,” Ballard said. “Hotels in a business district will typically offer lower rates Sunday through Tuesday.” 

Sign Up for 5-Star Hotel Newsletters and Other Travel Discount Newsletters

Always be prepared for a steal at a 5-star hotel by signing up for their respective newsletters, as well as other travel discount newsletters. 

“When a unique discount comes around (possibly only once a year), be flexible with your dates and be willing to book immediately to lock in the discount,” Ballard said. “Booking last minute deals can be a very effective cost-savings hack if you’re willing to be flexible.”

For Overseas Travel, Book When the Exchange Rate Is Good 

“If traveling overseas, travel where the exchange rate is most favorable and the 5-star hotels are less expensive,” Ballard said. “For example, it’s relatively cheaper for Americans to travel to Asia-Pacific right now because of the favorable exchange rate. And some of the least expensive 5-star hotels in the world are also in that region, including Kuta or Bali Indonesia; Bangkok or Chiang Mai Thailand, Phnom Penh Cambodia, New Delhi India, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia or Hanoi Vietnam.”

Stay at a Motel but Relax at the 5-star Hotel During the Day

In Ballard’s opinion, probably the best cost-savings hack altogether is to stay at a nearby motel at night but chill at the 5-star hotel during the day.

“Forego the expensive hotel all together,” Ballard said. “Stay in a less expensive hotel or motel nearby, and then use the savings to enjoy a pool and spa day at the 5-star hotel as a day visitor. For example, many 5-star hotels allow day passes for visitors to use their facilities or lounge by the pool all day and enjoy the food & beverages for a $50 – $100 fee.”

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : 11 Tips To Book a 5-Star Hotel for the Price of a Motel

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Japan Warns of Elevated Risk of Giant Earthquake After Strong One Hits

The official warning came after a 7.1-magnitude temblor struck off the coast of southern Japan on Thursday.

Strong Earthquake Hits Southern Japan

Shake intensity.

By River Akira Davis Kiuko Notoya Hisako Ueno and Victoria Kim

River Akira Davis, Kiuko Notoya and Hisako Ueno reported from Tokyo, and Victoria Kim from Seoul.

Japan’s meteorological agency said on Thursday that there was a higher-than-usual chance that an immense earthquake could hit the country in the next few days, following a 7.1-magnitude temblor off the southern island of Kyushu.

Japan has long expected a major earthquake to occur along the Nankai Trough off its eastern coast. As of last year, researchers said there was a 60 percent chance that an earthquake of magnitude 8 to 9 — even more devastating than the one in 2011 that laid waste to the country’s northeast coast and knocked out cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant — would occur in the trough area over the next 20 years.

After the 7.1-magnitude quake on Thursday, Japan’s meteorological agency convened a group of experts to evaluate whether it could be related to the long-anticipated bigger disaster, called a “Nankai Trough megathrust earthquake.”

Experts warn that an earthquake between two tectonic plates that converge along the Nankai megathrust fault, which runs from Kyushu north through Tokyo, could cause devastation. It could extensively damage cities throughout Japan, potentially cause a tsunami and lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths.

“The possibility of a large-scale earthquake occurring in the area of ​​the Nankai Trough is relatively higher than usual,” the meteorological agency said in a statement late Thursday.

The risk that an earthquake of magnitude of 8 or higher would occur after one with a magnitude of 7 is particularly elevated for about a week after the initial temblor, the agency said.

Japan’s meteorological agency issued a “caution” level of warning on Thursday. The next step up would be an “alert,” which would advise residents to evacuate from areas deemed a tsunami risk. The agency said it was the first time Japan had issued a “caution.”

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urged people to ensure that they were ready at all times in case an earthquake occurred and they had to evacuate. He told reporters that the government was on high alert.

Earlier on Thursday, a tsunami advisory was issued for coastal regions on the southern Japanese islands of Kyushu and Shikoku after the 7.1-magnitude quake. As of late Thursday evening, the maximum height of waves recorded reached about a foot and a half off the coast of Miyazaki Prefecture on Kyushu.

A handful of injuries but no deaths were reported related to the earthquake. Footage showed images of strong shaking in buildings in Miyazaki Prefecture, but damage in the area appeared to be minimal. The earthquake occurred less than 20 miles off the coast of Miyazaki, according to the United States Geological Survey.

Bullet train service was temporarily halted on Kyushu, and the Miyazaki Airport suspended takeoffs and landings to inspect runways for any damage. Both bullet train and airport operations resumed later Thursday evening.

The Kyushu Electric Power Company said its nuclear power plants were operating normally.

Separate from the heightened possibility of a Nankai Trough earthquake, Japan’s meteorological agency advised being alert for aftershocks of a similar magnitude off the eastern coast of Miyazaki Prefecture over the next week. It said that landslides could also be a risk if there is rain in the coming days.

An earlier version of this article used an incorrect map showing an earthquake on Japan’s west coast. The earthquakes occurred on Japan’s east coast.

How we handle corrections

River Akira Davis covers Japan, including its economy and businesses, and is based in Tokyo. More about River Akira Davis

Kiuko Notoya is a Tokyo-based reporter and researcher, covering news and features from Japan. More about Kiuko Notoya

Hisako Ueno is a reporter and researcher based in Tokyo, writing on Japanese politics, business, labor, gender and culture. More about Hisako Ueno

Victoria Kim is a reporter based in Seoul and focuses on breaking news coverage across the world. More about Victoria Kim

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