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CUBA LOOSENS TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

Havana, Cuba -- On Monday, Cubans will no longer need an exit permit and a letter of invitation from someone in another country to travel abroad.

Shortly after Fidel Castro took power in 1959, stringent travel laws were put in place to stem an exodus from Cuba.

Now Cubans will require only a passport to travel internationally and can stay abroad for two years -- more than twice as long as the previous restriction -- without losing their property or ability to return to the island.

Doctors and other professionals who the government said owed Cuban society for their training will also be able to take advantage of the looser restrictions. Also for the first time, Cubans will able to travel abroad with their young children.

But officials have said military officials, who might possess government secrets, and sports stars, who could earn a fortune overseas compared with their salaries in Cuba, will still face added restrictions.

It was unclear whether members of dissident organizations, long prevented from receiving honors and awards abroad, would also be able to travel with greater freedom.

"If you remove the exit permit but you require Cuban citizens to revalidate their passports, the question is: Will everyone get a passport back and therefore be free to travel, or will there still be controls?" U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson said in October after the new travel policies were announced.

On Friday, a State Department spokeswoman said in a statement that the United States was working to address any increase in the number of Cubans seeking visas to come to the United States.

U.S. officials have said that at least for the time being, the Cuban Adjustment Act, or "wet foot, dry foot," will remain in place. The act allows Cubans who arrive on U.S. soil to remain in the country.

With the loosening of travel restrictions, Cubans officials again called for an end to the policy.

10 HOTTEST DESTINATIONS

Whether you're looking for culture or just a reason to party, you'll want to make sure these European destinations are on your radar in 2016.

Thanks to a slew of new galleries, hotels and museums paired with festivals, fairs and more, there's plenty to keep you busy across the Continent in the coming year.

Corsica, France

It's France, but not as we know it.

 A petite island a couple of hundred kilometers from the French mainland, Corsica flies under the radar for the most part -- and that's part of its appeal.

 Hillside Mediterranean towns are blissfully crowd-free compared to the streets of tourist hot spots like Cannes and Nice, and you'll have most beaches entirely to yourself.

Liverpool, England

If you've heard Liverpool mentioned only in reference to its football club, you're missing out.

 Besides London, it's arguably the most exciting destination in England at the moment, offering plenty of reasons to party well into the New Year.

Having just celebrated the 50th anniversary of The Beatles' first record -- the Fab Four formed here in 1960 -- Liverpudlians are looking forward to another installment of International Beatle Week in August, commemorating the music and lives of one of the most influential pop groups of all time.

The festivities continue at the freshly minted Museum of Liverpool, where a new theater (opening in early 2013) will host music and drama events alongside insightful exhibitions and film screenings, many of them free.

 Museum of Liverpool, Pier Head, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool, England; +44 (0) 151 478 4545; www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

Reykjavik, Iceland

The fact that it's one of the most affordable destinations in Europe aside, Iceland's capital is cool on many levels.

Kissing latitude 67 degrees north, the isolated island of volcanoes and glaciers is home to equal urban drama: the Harpa Reykjavík Concert Hall and Conference Centre opened here not long ago and is now the official home of the Icelandic Opera and Iceland Symphony Orchestra.

 Local favorite Björk has also been known to belt out a tune or two in the shimmering glass-clad building, embedded with colored LED strips.

While the glowing hall is pretty, it's hard to beat the lights in the night sky. Until April, Reykjavik and much of northern Europe are forecast to be treated to some of the best showings of the Aurora Borealis in history.

 The Winter Lights Festival (February 7-10) will bring music, performances and food to help you get in the mood.

 Harpa Reykjavík Concert Hall and Conference Centre, Ingólfsgarður Austurbakki 2, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland; +354 (0) 528 5050; en.harpa.is

Wishes for smooth journeys in the new year

Istanbul, Turkey

Turkey's biggest city delights visitors with some of Europe's hippest hotels and boutiques, not to mention a booming contemporary arts scene.

In 2013, Istanbul will host a handful of forward-thinking fetes, including the inaugural edition of Art Istanbul International at the Haskoy Yarn Factory (September 14-17), showcasing exciting new works from Turkey, the Middle East and beyond.

 September also heralds the larger Istanbul Biennial (September 14-November 10), curated by renowned critic Fulya Erdemci.

 Creative hoteliers are flocking to the city in response, which means that visitors can look forward to 2013 outposts from the likes of Shangri-La, Raffles and Hilton, among others.

 Haskoy Yarn Factory, Kırmızı Minare Sokak 7-11, Sütlüce, Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Turkey; no tel; no website.

Innsbruck, Austria

The Austrian capital may steal the spotlight from the rest of the country -- let's face it, Vienna is one beautiful city -- but Innsbruck deserves a place in the sun.

Encircled by the Alps, the city offers the ultimate access to some of Europe's best ski fields: hop on a funicular in town, zip past jaw-dropping railway stations designed by Zaha Hadid and you'll find yourself flying down untrammeled snow in no time.

 Visit early in the year and you'll share the slopes with the world's snowboarding elite for the 20th edition of the Billabong Air & Style (February 1-2).

 White stuff aside, Innsbruck offers equal allure during its warmer months, when visitors jump on bikes and cycle between historic hillside towns.

Crete, Greece

It may be one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean, but Crete offers plenty of intimate experiences, plus plenty of reasons to party -- the island is celebrating a century of union with Greece in December 2013.

 Away from the blissful beach resorts, still extremely good value thanks to the country's recent economic woes, chilling of another kind is in full swing.

Crete is developing a reputation as one of the region's finest wine producers, with a growing catalog of extremely drinkable native grape varieties: Vilana and Vidiano, Dafni and Kotsifali, Mandilari and Thrapsathiri.

 The best bit? Many of the vineyards are wedged between languid towns where predictably good tavernas dish up uncomplicated, but classic, Cretan fare for a handful of euros.

Helsinki, Finland

The World Design Capital in 2012, Helsinki continues to push creative boundaries.

In Narinkka Square, the freshly minted Kamppi Chapel of Silence resembles a wooden egg, dressed in fir and with a halo-shaped skylight beneath which you can sneak a moment of quiet contemplation.

 Another eye-opening building will soon feature pine, larch and spruce rooms: the upcoming Kulttuurisauna will be the first public sauna to open in the city in some 50 years.

And on the outskirts of Helsinki in Espoo, the WeeGee Exhibition Centre is now home to The Futuro, an elliptical plastic house showcasing the space-age architecture and design of the late 1960s.

An equal spectacle will unfold at sea in 2013 when Helsinki hosts the Tall Ship Races for four days (July 17-20), welcoming more than 100 imposing vessels on their voyage from Denmark to Poland.

 WeeGee Exhibition Centre, Ahertajantie 5, Espoo, Finland; +358 (0) 9 8163 1818; www.weegee.fi

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Near, far, wherever you are, you've no doubt heard a lot about Belfast -- and the legendary cruise liner it launched.

The ill-fated Titanic, which went down just over a century ago on April 15, 1912, was built and floated in Belfast and you can still visit the old Harland and Wolff Shipyard where the luxurious vessel was brought to life.

 Today, the area has been reinvented as the Titanic Quarter -- Europe's largest urban regeneration scheme -- and is now home to the spectacular Titanic Belfast complex.

Newly opened, the space showcases an impressive collection of memorabilia, taking you from the conception to the destruction of the ship, and also hosts activities for the Titanic Belfast Festival (April 2013).

 If that doesn't float your boat, book in for one of Titanic Walking Tours' excursions, where you'll learn yet more about the Titanic and how it changed the city forever.

 Titanic Belfast, Queen's Road, Titanic Quarter, Belfast, Northern Ireland; +44 (0) 28 9076 6386; www.titanicbelfast.com

Amsterdam, Netherlands

It's a bit obvious as a Euro hot spot, but there is a reason -- well, there are many -- why Amsterdam is a must-visit in 2013.

 For a start, the Rijksmuseum will open once again on April 13, welcoming visitors after 10 years of renovations.

 Highlights of the made-over space will include a dazzling new pavilion dedicated to Asian art, as well as lighter, brighter and impeccably restored halls, cupolas and galleries.

Other milestones over the course of the year include the reopening of the Van Gogh Museum (April 25), just in time to mark Vincent's 160th birthday and the gallery's 40th, and the 400th anniversary of the city's canal ring, which was added to the World Heritage List in 2010.

 Celebrations will be in order.

 Rijksmuseum, Jan Luijkenstraat 1, Amsterdam, Netherlands; +31 (0) 20 674 7000; www.rijksmuseum.nl

 Van Gogh Museum, Amstel 51, Amsterdam, Netherlands; +31 (0) 20 570 52 00; www.vangoghmuseum.nl

Berlin, Germany

Come October 2013, Berlin will be much easier to fly into, thanks to the highly anticipated (and well overdue) opening of the Brandenburg Airport, replacing three other airports at a cost of more than €4.2 billion (US$5.4 billion).

 Needless to say, it will be one of the most modern terminal buildings in the world.

 And when you do finally touch down you'll be pleasantly surprised to find that Berlin is home to some of the most affordable five-star hotels in the world at the moment.

Newcomers to look out for include the 232-room Waldorf Astoria Berlin (opening February), as well as boutique properties Bikini Berlin and Leonardo Hotel Berlin Mitte. The Waldorf will be part of a large retail complex with upscale boutiques, a cinema and office space and will feature a spacious rooftop terrace and bar.

 The Leonardo will resemble a glass-and-metal pyramid and has been designed by notable German architect Eike Becker.

BEST NEW CRUISE SHIPS

Seagoing vacations have come a long way since TV's sunny Love Boat sailed across 1970s screens. These days, passengers can snuggle up to an ice bar, learn cooking with a Michelin-starred chef or plummet down theme park-size waterslides, all from the comfort of stylish, seagoing resorts.

More than 200 passenger vessels ply the world's rivers and seas, and each year brings a new fleet of ships setting sail for new destinations and sporting new amenities. There truly is a cruise ship for every type of traveler. Families, for instance, will appreciate the 4,000-passenger Disney Fantasy, with "enchanted'' art that interacts with guests, over-the-top stage shows and an adults-only zone.

But cruising isn't just about the ships themselves. For many travelers, what matters most is the places they take you. New ships are indeed sailing far and wide, along the Mekong River through Vietnam and Cambodia (Uniworld's 60-passenger River Orchid), past historic castles lining the Danube River (the 190-passenger Viking Longships), and even to the Arctic Circle on Compagnie du Ponant's luxe mega-yacht Le Soleal, which departs on its maiden voyage in June 2013.

Wherever you go, whatever the ship, at some point you'll likely find yourself standing on the deck, a glass of champagne in hand. You'll pause to admire views of pirate islands and whales and icebergs going by. Or you'll experience the thrill of sailing into Venice's Grand Canal or Hong Kong's futuristic harbor. And for the moment, at least, you're the admiral of all you see. Read on to find the ship that suits your cruise personality.

Disney Fantasy

Launched: January 2012

Capacity: 4,000

Great for: Kids of every age.

Destinations: From Port Canaveral, Florida, to the Caribbean, with stops in St. Maarten, St. Thomas and on Castaway Cay, in the Bahamas.

Highlights: "Enchanted" art that interacts with guests; over-the-top stage shows, such as "Aladdin—A Musical Spectacular;" a waterslide that juts beyond the edge of the ship; and (phew) adults-only areas. disneycruise.disney.go.com.

Oceania Riviera

Launched: May 2012

Capacity: 1,250

Great for: The food-obsessed.

Destinations: From Miami to the Caribbean in winter; Venice, Rome, Istanbul and Athens in summer.

Highlights: Restaurant by Jacques Pépin; Napa-worthy wine cellar; hands-on cooking classes in the Bon Appétit Culinary Center; chef-led culinary tours. oceaniacruises.com.

Carnival Breeze

Launched: June 2012

Capacity: 3,690

Great for: Thrill seekers.

Destinations: From Miami to Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos, Aruba and other Caribbean ports.

Highlights: Touted as a Fun Ship 2.0, it holds a full water park, a 4-D interactive movie theater, a Guy Fieri burger joint and a comedy club with acts curated by George Lopez. carnival.com.

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Celebrity Reflection

Launched: October 2012

Capacity: 3,046

Great for: Urban sophisticates.

Destinations: Winter and spring from Miami to the Caribbean; summer from Rome to Greece and Turkey.

Highlights: AquaClass Spa Suites, which have full-time butlers and private verandas; a lawn club with grills and live grass; a Turkish hammam. celebritycruises.com.

Uniworld River Orchid

Launching: January 2013

Capacity: 60

Great for: Soft adventurers.

Destinations: The Mekong River, from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, Vietnam, including stops in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Highlights: Panoramic open-air restaurant; high staff-to-guest ratio; an exterior promenade; sampans (small boats) on loan; film screenings; VIP check-in at onshore hotels. uniworld.com.

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Norwegian Breakaway

Launching: April 2013

Capacity: 4,000

Great for: Stuntmen and the people who love them.

Destinations: Year-round from New York; winter to the Caribbean, Florida and the Bahamas; summer to Bermuda.

Highlights: A ropes course, including a "walk the plank" (with a harness) feature; large aquatic park; restaurant by chef Geoffrey Zakarian; Rock of Ages Broadway production; three-story sports complex; oceanfront "boardwalk" lined with bars and restaurants. ncl.com.

Royal Princess

Launching: June 2013

Capacity: 3,600

Great for: Revelers of every age.

Destinations: Summer Mediterranean sailings from Barcelona and Venice; winter Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Highlights: "SeaWalk" cantilevered over the ship's edge with a private bar; enormous upper-deck pool with an evening light show; private poolside cabanas at an adults-only pool. princess.com.

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Ponant Le Soleal

Launching: June 2013

Capacity: 264

Great for: Jet-setters.

Destinations: Summer in the Arctic Circle; fall in Russia or Asia, with stops from Japan to Vietnam.

Highlights: Mega-yacht ambience; private butler service; French cuisine; unique itineraries with naturalist guides; Carita spa. en.ponant.com.

Viking Longships

Launching: 2012 and 2013

Capacity: 190

Great for: Culture vultures.

Destinations: The Danube, Rhine and Main rivers.

Highlights: Panoramas from a 360-degree-view sundeck; staterooms whose glass walls slide open, turning them into private verandas; two Explorer suites with wraparound terraces. vikingrivercruises.com.

BEACH BREAK IN BIMINI

Bimini is a tiny land of simple pleasures.

Ernest Hemingway lived on the small island chain in the Bahamas from 1935-1937 and famously drank vodka martinis, extra dry with olives, inside the Compleat Angler Hotel, which burned down in 2006.

"Swim, eat, drink, work, read, talk, read, fish, fish, swim, drink, sleep." That's Bimini, summed up by a character in Hemingway's novel "Islands in the Stream."

Walking along a quiet stretch of white-sand beach, I've come to appreciate this remote retreat of old-school fishermen, miles of mangroves and spectacular ocean views.

The first group of islands in the Bahamas chain, Bimini -- with the small islands of North Bimini and South Bimini at its core -- is only about 50 miles from Miami, but the slow-and-easy lifestyle on the historic atoll feels like a world away.

Adam Clayton Powell, the late congressman from New York who embraced a self-imposed exile on Bimini in 1967, was known for sipping scotch and milk inside The End of the World Bar and referring to Bimini as a "shaggy paradise."

Bimini has always been a tranquil place to escape the commotion of big-city living, a sandy haven where I can sit and listen to the ocean waves gently slapping the shoreline.

"When you look at the ocean in Bimini you can often see a dozen different shades of blue and green," said Capt. Ansil Saunders, an 80-year-old world-renown fisherman, boat builder and local legend.

North Bimini is only seven miles long and less than a mile wide, so walking and biking along the main road -- "The King's Highway" -- is the best way to experience Bimini. With 1,600 residents in Bimini, there are no crowds or long lines and rush-hour traffic is often just a three-golf-cart pile-up in a hotel parking lot.

Take a leisurely stroll through Alice Town, Bimini's main settlement that dates back to 1848, and you'll find a cozy collection of small shops, family-owned restaurants and bars, one bank and plenty of engaging conversation.

What you won't find in Alice Town are traffic lights.

"People come to Bimini because it's a laid-back destination," Anthony Stuart, general manager of the Bimini Tourist Office, said in a recent interview. "They walk the street, sit on the side of the road, meet local people, listen to music and experience good food -- and that includes fresh-baked Bimini bread."

And, Stuart added proudly, "Bimini is safe."

I've traveled to Bimini many times over the years and even though swimming, eating, reading, talking and drinking consumed most of my days, exploring Bimini's enchanting underwater world was also at the top of my to-do list.

Fifty feet beneath the sea, Bimini offers an array of shipwrecks, shark dives, swim-through caverns and tunnels and colorful coral heads resting on the ocean floor. Divers also come to Bimini to explore the fascinating limestone formations that some believe to be the Lost Continent of Atlantis. (Nondivers can also experience Bimini's reefs through daily snorkeling trips. Snorkeling is a fun and easy way to spot angel fish, moray eels, sea turtles and many other forms of exotic marine life. )

"The scuba diving here is great," Saunders said. "The reefs are very beautiful and many people come here to dive with dolphins."

Tourists who venture near the docks may run into Saunders, Bimini's most well-known resident.

Saunders served as a personal guide to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1964, when King wrote his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech on Bimini. King also returned to Bimini in 1968 to write the last speech he delivered, to the sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee, before his death.

Forty-eight years ago, King wrote part of his eulogy in Saunders' wooden boat deep in the Bimini mangroves, a winding swamp of thick bushes and trees where 100 species of fish and marine life fill the murky waters.

"There was such humility about Dr. King," Saunders recalled. "He enjoyed communing with nature in the mangroves. Birds were singing. Stingrays were swimming by. He was inspired. When he first stepped foot on this soil, I could tell there was something special about Dr. King and Bimini."

Bimini is known as the big-game fishing capital of the world. Anglers have been traveling to Bimini for decades to snare bonefish, snapper, tuna and wahoo. The island has become famous for its international fishing competitions and Bahamian guides, like Saunders, are skilled tradesmen.

Even though Bimini is still a sleepy little island, change is coming fast. A new casino is almost completed and expected to open sometime in 2013. The casino coincides with a "fast ferry" between South Florida and Bimini that will offer tourists an alternative to flying.

There is only one airport serving Bimini -- South Bimini Airport (BIM). Daily scheduled air service is available to Bimini from Nassau, Grand Bahama Island and Florida.

Where to stay

I like the Bimini Big Game Club and the Bimini Bay Resort.

Founded in 1947, the Big Game Club is situated just off the main road in Alice Town. With 51 rooms and quaint cottages, the hotel also offers a 75-slip marina for tourists who arrive by boat. It's a comfortable, clean and friendly facility within walking distance of Alice Town's restaurants and bars.

The Bimini Bay Resort is a new luxurious property that features 374 Caribbean-style hotel rooms with authentic Bahamian décor. The resort features several upscale and inexpensive restaurants and a popular infinity pool that overlooks the ocean. Bimini Bay Resort is not as close to Alice Town as the Big Game Club, but it's only a short ride by taxi, golf cart or bike to town.

Where to eat

The Anchorage Restaurant & Bar in Alice Town is a staple in Bimini that overlooks the sea. It's a small, inexpensive family-owned restaurant serving genuine Bahamian food. Try the conch fritters and conch salad.

The Bimini Big Game Bar and Grill serves good burgers, fresh fish sandwiches, pizza and steak.

At the Bimini Bay Resort, Sabor is the resort's most upscale restaurant, and Bimini's most fashionable eatery. Try the conch ceviche and fish tacos.

If you're looking for nightlife and club-hopping, stick with Nassau, but if it's serenity near the ocean that sounds appealing, then you might want to consider Bimini -- a stress-free destination for stressed-out travelers.

As one Bimini native once told me: "No rushing, no pressure, no heart attacks."

TRAVEL TIPS FOR

BUSY EXECUTIVES

Like many of you, I travel a lot. Sooo… between business and family, I definitely travel, by planes, trains, and automobiles. Over the years I have learned some travel tips that make life easier.

If you fly, make sure you have two bags that will fit in the smaller regional air craft used today. I have a half bag pull behind that I can place my brief case on top and pull along both easily. I recommend soft luggage and briefcases with lots of pockets and zippers. I use a Samsonite and a Kenneth Cole brief case. In small air craft, my Samsonite pull behind fits below the seat in front of me, my brief case in the overhead. On large planes, my suitcase goes above, and my brief case under the seat. Also, a tip on booking your flight, use Orbits or another site. Don’t purchase on Sunday, it’s the highest priced day; purchase on either Tuesday or Wednesday. The best deal is if you also travel on Tuesdays and Wednesdays whenever possible. That’s the cheapest days to fly.

Don’t rely on airport or hotel Wi-Fi hotspots. The guy next to you may be stealing your information. I have a Verizon Smartphone by Motorola with its own hotspot. I always have a private and secure connection, and the ability to hook up to 8 devices.

Use a rugged laptop. Over the years I have gone through a number of them. I have settled on Toshiba Satellites because they take a lot of abuse and keep on going. I used to purchase other brands every two years. I have now owned 3 Toshiba’s that have lasted more than five years and they still out perform newer models and makes.

Use the cloud. I rely on two services; Dropbox.com for my files; and Doodle.com for scheduling meetings. I feel secure in the knowledge that I can access any file from anywhere, even on my Smartphone if my system goes down by using Dropbox. I can also collaborate with associates on jointly drafted documents. With Doodle, I can easily schedule meetings with small or large groups no matter where I am.

We often drive from Louisiana to Michigan, and vise-a-versa. That’s eighteen hours in the car. With my Smartphone, laptop, and portable printer/scanner, and external mouse, we never miss a beat if clients need immediate attention.

Finally, I travel with a portable GPS device. That way, I can use it in my car, or walking around in big cities. I also don’t need to include one in rental car agreements.

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10 THINGS TO DO EARLY

Different tips for different trips. Not all of these may apply to your journey. But once you know where you want to go, here are some things to get a jump on...

* Obtain or renew your passport.

* Get time off from work.

* Book your transportation.

* Reserve our accommodations.

* Budget! Calculate costs as accurately as you can and make a trip budget.

* Start saving for your trip.

* Gather information about your destination (books, guides, maps, online research, etc.)

* Talk to a travel agent (even if you don't book your trip through one).

* Obtain an international drivers permit.

* Have a medical and dental checkup. Make sure all prescription medications are up to date and filled. Find out what shot's/immunizations your destination may require.