The TravelRight Dispatch

POSTCARD FROM OSOYOOS
​I dashed over to the Oliver Osoyoos wine region in the South Okanagan Valley for a couple of days recently to drink it all in. I did my absolute best, visiting nine wineries and tasting 45+ different wines (not without some spitting, I must admit). Canada's only desert sits in the traditional territory of the Syilx/Okanagan people, who have lived in the region for thousands of years. It's a close-knit, fun-loving group, everybody weaving their own story into the fabric of the community. Highlights included River Stone Estate Winery, Nk'Mip Cellars, Gold Hill Winery, Black Hills Estate Winery and Nostalgia Wines, though all our stops were super-cool.

EXCERPT
​Now is a great time to hunt for last-minute cruise deals. And there's no need to "go big" either, as smaller vessels continue to trend. This story below was published by my friends at BOLD Traveller and contains quite a few cruise-clever tips:

Small-Ship Chic
​Imagine slipping down to a floating marine platform at the aft of a yacht, saluting the sun with a yoga session on the top deck, grabbing a quick self-serve cappuccino and ducking back into your suite, or popping into an infinity pool with a foreign port city spread out before you. These are the scenarios driving the small-ship trend in cruising—along with smaller harbours, fancy e-bikes and Missoni fabrics, amped up eco-friendliness, more active adventure and bartenders who know what you're having before you ask. This is your new cruise life.

THE STAY
Spirit Ridge, the Unbound Collection by Hyatt
​OK, there's a lot going on at Spirit Ridge luxury resort in Osoyoos: it's built on sacred land of the Syilx People of the Okanagan Nation and attached to the award-winning Nk'Mip Cellars winery and the Solterra Desert Spa. The complex is home to the Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre and the Sonora Dunes Golf Course is around the corner. Best of all? The Bear, The Fish, the Root & The Berry restaurant blends Indigenous culinary traditions with modern vineyard cuisine. Toss a coin: the beef ribs or the pork belly.

INTEL
Two tips today, both very simple. Tip #1. I bought a new check-in suitcase, a chic Level8 model that I had been wanting for some time. I had to put it on the other credit card so Tim wouldn’t see it. (This in itself could be a tip!) It’s like a work of art in my office now—until the inevitable scuff marks give it some personality. The tip is to only buy a dark-coloured check-in suitcase, because lighter ones show the dirt and make you look common as dirt. There were very cool limited-edition Level8s in two-tone yellowblack and celadon, whatever the hell colour that is, but I knew they would look like crap in two seconds. Tip #2. I packed a tidy roll of bubble wrap in my carryon to visit the Osoyoos wine region. Then, I selected a couple of bottles of wine to bring home, swaddled them in bubbles and checked the bag for my return flight. Piece of piss!

Listen Up, Kids!
​There's a new episode of The TravelRight.Today Podcast every month—fresh travel news and advice to see you around the world and, hopefully, back. The above link is Apple, but, wow, it's everywhere thanks to Acast, including Spotify, Castbox, Castro, Pod Chaser, Rephonic, ivoox, iHeartRadio and more.

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