I have fond memories of flying when I was a little girl. My mom would ensure my sister and I were dressed up and had something warm to take on the plane, double check that our favorite stuffed animals and travel games were packed (Mad Libs for me, coloring books for my sister), and get us to the airport in plenty of time so we could watch the people come and go.

We'd board the plane, fight over who got the window seat, and meet the cabin crew. If we asked nicely, we could go visit the pilot and even get a pair of wings to pin our clothes and show off to our friends when we returned home. We counted the clouds in the sky, and wondered how close are were to the stars. Flying was a delight. It was exciting and thrilling. It was civilized, dignified and something to look forward to. Flying made travel fun.

While flying has certainly changed over the years - even I can admit it's not as fun as it was when we were kids - the team at Virgin Atlantic aims to bring back a little of the glory days of flying.

I checked into my flight to London and was handed a red card with directions to the lounge on it. I had about two and a half hours before my evening flight and wanted to grab a bite, check emails, and freshen up. The Virgin Atlantic lounge is located in Terminal E on the bottom level, just next to the Aer Lingus lounge and below the gates. In true Virgin style, the lounge made a fashionable first impression.

Finding the perfect memento from your trip overseas doesn't have to be difficult. To help ensure you bring something unique home, Virgin Atlantic launched a commercial art gallery - in the sky.

Upper Class passengers flying between New York and London can view and purchase a series of one-of-a-kind paintings by renowned British street artist Ben Eine straight from their onboard seats onboard, and at Virgin Atlantic’s clubhouses at JFK, Newark and Heathrow.

Eine’s signature style of typography started on the streets of London, and became famous in the US when David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, gave President
Barack Obama an Eine original on his first trip to Washington DC.

Not sure where to stay on your 2013 vacation? Make this the year to try something new.

HotelChatter released its very extensive annual calendar of 2013 expected hotel openings. There's a lot to digest here, so take some time to thoroughly read through this list. The hotels range from big and beautiful to luxury boutiques and B&Bs and the destinations are far and wide around the globe. (Pictured right: the B Hotel South Beach, opening in February.)

If you need some inspiration, check out my picks for the top places to travel in 2013, and then head over to the HotelChatter Master List of Worldwide Hotel Openings and make your reservations.

PHOTOS: Top destinations for 2013

Happy travels!

The view of Bermuda on arrival to Hamilton International Airport.

It's the dreaded question that creeps up every year after Thanksgiving: "What do you want to do for New Year's Eve?" This year I planned ahead. I was prepared for the question and I had an answer, along with airline tickets and a hotel room. Within a week, I had two friends in tow. We were going to Bermuda to ring in the New Year.

And why not? It's a quick 2 hour and 15 minute flight (non-stop from Boston, thanks to Delta), the US dollar is 1:1 against the Bermudian dollar, the beaches are pink, the water is turquoise, and even in the winter it's still warm enough to swim in the ocean that surrounds this 22-mile long island. It's home to some famous faces (Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, David Bowie and Iman, Ross Perot, to name a few), it's calm waters make it a great spot for water sports, and the hotels offer everything from golf lessons to spa services to breakfast on the beach.

For less than $350, I grabbed a round-trip ticket from Boston to Bermuda, booked a hotel room at The Mandarin Oriental, Elbow Beach, and was on the beach by lunchtime.

I'll continue to post about the happenings from this luxury boutique island over the course of the next few days but in the meantime, here are a few photos to get you thinking about booking a Bermuda vacation in 2013:

The bedroom at Elbow Beach. All the 98 guest rooms are situated in "cottages" with ocean views, and range in price based on their location to the ocean.

The on-the-beach view from one of the guest rooms at Elbow Beach.

Bermuda has great waves for kite surfing. You can organize water sports activities with any hotel or resort on the island.

Meet Marvin, one of the bartenders at the Sea Breeze Terrace at Elbow Beach. He's famous for remembering the preferred drink choices of guests.

Ocean view dining at Sea Breeze Terrace. Add a dark and stormy for the ultimate Bermuda experience!

The Great Wall of China. Photo copyright: MelanieNayer.com

Did you travel this year? If so, you were part of the record 1 billion people who traveled (or will travel before the year is up) across an international border as a tourist in 2012, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council.

The London-based council calculates that the 1 billionth traveler will cross an international border by Dec. 13. What border? Where will they be? Who will they be? We'll know in three days. In the meantime, the council is predicting that China will continue to be a top traveled country, and that the U.S. and France remain the two largest destinations for world travel.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization cited Paris, London, New York, Turkey, and Singapore as top five destinations in the world.

So what's behind this boost in travel? Travel experts say it's a combination of things, including the perceived perception of a more peaceful world, and the prosperity of people in Asia, who have lifted their incomes above middle-class levels in the past year.

Readers: What was your favorite place to visit in 2012? Where are you planning to travel to in 2013?

Source: The HuffingtonPost

Paris is known for its designer shopping, high-fashion and couture culture, and those who travel to Paris know all the elements well. Soon, Paris will be home to one more iconic offering: a flagship Tiffany & Co. store.

Tiffany & Co. announced last week that it plans to open a new European flagship store in Paris on the famed Avenue des Champs Elysées. The 10,000-square-foot, multi-level store will be located is expected open in 2014. Tiffany & Co. already has stores in Paris, but none as big as this planned flagship store.

“This is a significant development and sales opportunity for Tiffany & Co. While we have been successful in operating three smaller stores in Paris, establishing this store on the Champs Elysées will be the ultimate symbol of Tiffany as a truly global luxury brand,” said Frederic Cumenal, executive vice president, Tiffany & Co. “This is a preeminent location that firmly places Tiffany & Co. on an international stage, in the heart of a city where people from all over the world come to visit and shop.”

Ciragan Palace Kempinski in Istanbul, Turkey, is the five-star setting for the latest James Bond flick, Skyfall.
James Bond doesn't settle for second best. And why should he? With the best in high-tech, lavish and luxurious side items, it's only fitting that he consistently chooses to stay in five-star hotels, too.

In anticipation of the release of the new 007 film, Skyfall, the hotel price comparison website www.trivago.com and HuffingtonPost put together a list of the top 10 most unforgettable Bond hotels:

Ciragan Palace Kempinski (Istanbul, Turkey) - Daniel Craig, Skyfall (2012): "Skyfall" is Daniel Craig's third performance as James Bond and the 23rd 007 film released. The five-star Ciragan Palace Kempinski in Istanbul is a classic Bond hotel, with a heated infinity pool, spa treatments, hair salon and a boutique shopping arcade. The hotel offers 007-style transfers by limousine, boat or even helicopter and the Palace suites come complete with a 24-hour personalized butler service and a choice of six different pillows.

Hotel Cipriani (Venice, Italy) - Daniel Craig, Casino Royale (2006): Remember when Daniel Craig moored his luxury yacht in Venice in "Casino Royale"? He moors it right outside the Cipriani, Venice's most unique and iconic hotel. Bond visits this romantic city with the devastatingly beautiful Vesper Lynd, but the stay ends in deception and tragedy. Accessible by boat only, Hotel Cipriani is renowned for its unrivalled views over the lagoon, Michelin star chefs and classic Venetian style in the 79 ornately decorated rooms and suites.

Grandhotel Pupp (Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic) - Daniel Craig, Casino Royale (2006): This hotel poses as Hotel Splendide in Montenegro, the location of the legendary poker tournament in "Casino Royale". Grandhotel Pupp is actually located in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, host of an international film festival and popular amongst celebrities for its spa treatments. Follow in the footsteps of 007 and enjoy international cuisine in the luxurious Grandrestaurant Pupp, where Bond and Vesper enjoyed a drink following the poker match.

Dinner in the Sky, a pop-up restaurant started in Belgium, has made its way around the world hoisting diners up for culinary treats in mid-air.

Found in art galleries, train stations, on the street, and dangling in mid-air, pop-up shops are the ultimate solution for the busy people. They've become more than just a fad, especially when it comes to food. Busy travelers, local foodies and workaholics with little time to spare between meetings seek out pop-up restaurants to enjoy fine dining on small budgets.

The best part about these pop-up restaurants? Not only is the food worthy of a game of hide-and-seek, they're a lot cheaper to set up and dine in than restaurants.

According to Departures magazine, opening a new restaurant in New York or the Bay Area can cost half a million dollars, while operating a pop-up usually runs just $2,000 to $5,000 a week. While we can't tell you what it costs local Boston pop-up shops and food trucks like favorites Eat, 3 Scoops, and Fillet of Soul, to operate, it's obvious by the lines formed that they're food is worth traveling around the city for.

Feel like taking a bite from pop-up restaurants in other cities? Depatures recently ranked their top pop-up restaurants from around the world:

Love Ikea? Need a new bedroom set? Flying through Paris? You might get some home decorating ideas from somewhere other than the Musee d'Orsay next time you're in the City of Light. Or you just might cure jetlag thanks to a comfortable place to cat-nap before your next flight.

Ikea just set up a pop-up shop in Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport - and it's for more than just shopping.

If you can't get down to Stoughton to tour to store - or just can't fathom the insane crowds that converge there on weekends for Swedish meatballs - take a tour through terminal 3 if you're flying through Paris this summer and check out what's new from the Swedish home design shop.

The Margravial Opera House Bayreuth in Germany was named to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Photo credit: © Bavarian Department for State-owned Palaces, Gardens and Lakes (BSV)

The birthplace of Jesus, a ninth-century mosque, and the site of Xanadu are part of the latest tourism hot spots, thanks to a new list out from UNESCO that highlights 26 far away, nostalgic, somewhat magical and very endangered around the world.

These locations are the latest entrants on the UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites. The World Heritage designation today protects nearly 1,000 of the world's most stunning cultural and natural sites. The addition of these 26 will hopefully lead to better funding, and thus better preservation, of these sites. Of course, all this is done through the help of tourism, so UNESCO is highlighting these places at "hot spots" for travelers, and why not? What better way to really see the world than by traveling far and away to some of the most remote places on Earth all in the name of history and fascination.

Plan your pilgrimage to one of these new UNESCO sites and you'll find yourself among a Baroque theater in Germany, a piece of land that divided two countries in the 13th century, and rock islands that house hundreds of wildlife species.