By air or by sea: What is the best way to travel?

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You have two options when you want to travel to a foreign country. Land travel can only get you so far. The choice, therefore, is to travel either by air or by sea. If you're not sure of the best way to go, the following are prime considerations when you’re tempted to buy your airplane ticket or save yourself a spot on a cruise ship:

Cost

The price of air and sea travel can be different depending on a couple of factors. Buying a first class ticket on a plane would definitely be expensive but so is a VIP spot on a luxurious cruise ship. If you are a frequent flyer you might get more great deals on airfare, though. There are also good promos that will get you on a ship for a fair price. Ultimately, canvas prices from different cruise companies or airlines to get the best deal.

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Travel time

The ultimate advantage of air travel is that it cuts travel time significantly. It makes the world seem much smaller because access to various parts of the globe is quicker and easier. Obviously, it will take time for ships to reach your destination. If you're not in a hurry to get anywhere, cruising is a great choice.

Safety

Some say that driving a car is more dangerous than flying in an airplane but when you see news about a plane crash, it makes you wonder about the truth to that statement. On the plus side, plane crashes are rare and the pilot, crew, and airplane engineers have the expertise to prevent flight accidents. Sea travel is directly affected by weather patterns. Strong winds or heavy rain can make the voyage pretty dangerous. Proper navigation is a vital part of making sea travel safe for all people involved.

Amenities

Unless you're traveling first class, there isn't much to say about the amenities in an airplane. Even first class has nothing on a cruise ship's features and facilities. There isn’t much to do on a plane and more than half the time you will be fastened to your seat. While watching in-flight movies is probably the most fun you'll have on a plane, ships provide facilities for the comfort and entertainment of their passengers.

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REPOST: Where to Go for a Tropical Weekend Vacation

Many would absolutely love to take a tropical getaway right now to escape the winter chill in the air. This article list places that is warm and breathtakingly beautiful for a perfect tropical weekend vacation.

You’ve heard of SAD—seasonal affective disorder; a condition causing intense irritability, lack of energy, and an unceasing craving for carbs. You probably don’t have it, but that doesn’t mean your winter blues aren’t real: Each year, about half of Americans report feeling down once it gets cold. (The rest moved to L.A.) So we’ve compiled fancy gadgets, restorative beauty products, and therapeutic advice to help you get through.

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Bermuda 
Average winter temperature: 70F

Fly to the British territory, an archipelago less than two hours from New York, and check into the elegant Fairmont Southampton (starting at $369 per night). Ask for a room in the recently renovated east or west wings, where the décor is tropical and the views look out on a turquoise sea. By day, Bermuda is a paradise for divers and golfers; it has more shipwrecks and golf courses per square mile than anywhere in the world. Afterward, lounge at the opulent Grotto Bay Beach Resort spa, a 25-minute cab ride away. Order the signature Natura massage, which combines Eastern and Western techniques, or ask ahead to be pampered with a rubdown on the beach.

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Tulum, Mexico 
Average winter temperature: 82F

Although the Yucatán Peninsula’s become fashionable in recent years, Tulum retains a solar-powered, don’t-check-your-e-mail vibe. Fly into Cancún, where you can hire a driver to take you 90 minutes south to the town’s newest lodge, adults-only boutique hotel Mi Amor (starting at $425 per night). From your private alfresco hot tub, you’ll look out on the Caribbean and deserted beaches. Relax there all weekend or tour the ruins of Tulum’s pre-Mayan city wall; a staircase leads to a private slice of beach for swimming and sunbathing. If you’re feeling social, head to Gitano Mezcal Bar & Kitchen in the jungle for a dinner of whole grilled fish. Or drop by after 10 p.m., when the restaurant morphs into a nightclub, to savor the house mezcal cocktails.

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Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic 
Average winter temperature: 83F

Stay on the less touristy northern coast at Gansevoort Playa Imbert (starting at $595 per night), which opened in December. Each of the palatial rooms is suite- or loft-style, and many include private plunge pools and spacious terraces. Enjoy a Presidente beer (or four) beside the infinity pool, which cascades down three levels into a second pool overlooking the hotel’s crescent-shaped beach. Nearby, the Baia Lounge serves gourmet Mediterranean specialties and Asian-inspired fare from Giancarlo Fiori, a chef trained at El Bulli. The island terrain is stunning—venture offsite to explore the Jarabacoa Waterfalls by foot or horseback.

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Miami 
Average winter temperature: 79F

Just north of the up-all-night atmosphere of South Beach, the 74-room Metropolitan by COMO (starting at $271 per night) is housed in an oceanfront art deco building. Newly updated by Singapore’s COMO Hotels & Resorts, it has mint-green walls, cozy furniture, and eucalyptus-scented face towels that give off a Zenlike feel. Sprawl out on the private beach or by the guests-only pool, then take a free yoga or guided meditation class at the rooftop spa. A juice bar, seafood-to-table restaurant, and the Gin Club—with 30 different artisanal bottles—might keep you at the hotel for the whole trip. If you do want to explore, the staff can arrange paddleboarding, deep-sea fishing, or a yacht cruise leaving from the hotel dock.



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