5 experts share their favourite cultural destinations in North and South America

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, January 25. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

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A couple who stayed at a hotel in Guangdong, China, is demanding a refund worth 10 times the cost of their room after a cleaner walked in on them while they were naked.

Are you considering planning a trip to South America? Home to incredible natural wonders, including some of the oldest rainforests, the largest waterfall and the driest desert in the world, along with glaciers and the biodiverse Galapagos Islands, this continent has an allure all its own. 

A Victorian favourite once billed as the ‘Queen of Welsh resorts’, Llandudno has kept much of the charm that made it so popular. The curving promenade framing Llandudno Bay, the aroma of fish and chips wafting in the air, pastel-coloured art deco houses lining the seafront and old-fashioned amusements on Llandudno Pier all combine to deliver a quintessential British seaside break. The town also serves as gateway to a wealth of natural attractions in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park and water-based adventures in Colwyn Bay.  And a stay in Llandudno can be combined with a trip to Conwy, across the river of the same name, which has a mighty castle and Britain’s smallest house.

Endless miles of vast land stretch as far as the eye can see, but only a few families own much of it. Almost half of all American farmland is owned by people who don't actually farm themselves. Many of these wealthy families make their fortunes in the lumber and forest industry, with millions of acres in timberland throughout the Pacific Northwest.

After the pandemic hibernation, people traveled the world in droves in 2023 to see all the faraway destinations they missed or never had a chance to visit. For 2024, we anticipate that travelers will make a concerted effort to seek out more meaningful experiences.

Jason Momoa is usually splashed across our screens as Aquaman, but his latest venture is a little closer to home than the DC Universe. On the Roam, a new eight-part docuseries streaming on Max, sees the Hollywood actor travel across the US on his motorcycle—making stops to meet with homegrown artisans and craftsmen, many of whom are his friends and mentors, along the way. From the restoration of a 1936 Knucklehead bike in both Tennessee and North Carolina to guitar restoration with Guns n' Roses very own Slash at Gibson guitars’ headquarters, the show is Momoa at his most authentic, describing himself as “a vagabond, a dirtbag, a roamer” seeking out “the artists who are doing things out of their own shops and back yards.”

The spectacular House of Music is in Budapest’s beautiful City Park. After going through the mushroom-like main entrance, you find a museum dedicated to the history of music. From the beginning of music to the modern day via Gregorian chanting and Hungarian folk, the House of Music is a fascinating place. With a superb audio guide, and for just 1,000 forints (£2.25), it is well worth a visit.Danny Baker

With its myriad health benefits and thrilling sense of freedom, cycling is a great way to get out and explore, be it on a slow-paced ride through a city or a challenging climb through hilly terrain. Fortunately, Europe is crisscrossed with scenic routes to explore, from cycling through olive groves in Italy to pedalling past Portugal’s golden beaches and taking on Spain’s legendary Camino de Santiago. Here, five experts reveal where to go and why.

More than a hundred flights have been delayed and dozens cancelled today from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport due to a severe cold snap.

TTC Tour Brands’ various tour operators are offering up to 25 percent savings on a variety of trips around the world with its annual 2024 Big Tour Sale, going on now through February 15, 2024, and available on each tour operator's website.