Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
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by scott kearnan In travel, as in fashion, there are trends. Just as seasonal styles become in vogue, certain global destinations suddenly become hot spots. So if you���re looking to book a getaway abroad, why not set your sights on places where the in-the-know go? �� We talked to North Shore travel experts to find out which far-flung locales are in high demand with locals. They shared top choices and some close runner-ups���and we���ve provided a few New England getaways that are equally enticing, no matter what type of travel you seek. NSJanFeb13_FE_Travel.indd 139 Grape Expectations South Africa is rife with stunning vineyards. LUXURY ESCAPES South Africa For upscale globetrotters, the trend in travel is to choose a trip that is highly personalized, says Middleton���s Patricia Shachat. Her agency, The Travel Corner, belongs to Virtuoso, an esteemed consortium offering clients exclusive travel experiences. Shachat says luxury travelers want those one-of-akind packages that earn big bragging rights. She cites one recent escape to South Africa that began with restful evenings at The Twelve Apostles, a Cape Town luxury resort. Then came whale watching and cage diving with great white sharks in the town of Hermanus. At night, the travelers retired to a cliff-top hotel. Next up were culinary tours and wine tasting through the valleys of the Cape Winelands and Stellenbosch, a well-known oenophile paradise. Finally, they embarked on a six-day safari through national parks and luxury camps to spot the P la n B Chile is on the radar for ���Big Five���: lion, leopard, rhino, elmany well-traveled clients ephant, and buffalo. Sounds fit for a lately, says Shachat. Granted, they���re not fat cat. 12apostleshotel.com. backpacking through the country like starry-eyed college students; they���re looking for unique, adventurous activities, like those accessible from the adobe-style town of San Pedro de Atacama. Horseback riding through the desert and hiking the Inca Trail, anyone? Local love: Want opulence? Head over to the Blantyre in Lenox, part of resort-filled Western Massachusetts. The English-style estate, which earned the top spot in Cond�� Nast Traveler���s list of America���s best small hotels, sits on 117 acres that offer everything from luxurious spa treatments to relaxing rounds of golf and from tennis in the summer to ice skating in the winter. Blantyre.com. English Charms: Blantyre, in Lenox, MA. Photo courtesy of Blantyre (right) North Shore experts identify top international travel trends and the best places to experience them. Plus, our local picks���no passport required. 11/20/12 3:53 PM