8 insider tips to know before you go to Philadelphia

A bed bug outbreak in Paris just nine months before the Olympic Games has tourists wondering how to prevent and treat those pesky critters, so Travel + Leisure spoke with experts about what to look out for and what to do if the insects do pop up. 

Philadelphia’s grand history and bustling urban atmosphere make it a fantastic location to explore for any style getaway. From its impressive lineup of awe-inspiring museums, lush parks, inspiring national historic sites, and vibrant dining scene, there’s something to do in the city for everyone. Here’s where to spend the night while exploring the City of Brotherly Love.

Straddling a narrow isthmus between two harbors, Auckland is New Zealand’s biggest and most cosmopolitan city, and getting around by public transport involves a jigsaw of different services on land and sea.

Philadelphia is the sixth-largest city in the US (and the biggest in Pennsylvania), home to the Phillies and Eagles sports teams, delicious Philly cheesesteaks, museums, music venues and tons of American history. So what's the best way to get around and experience it all?

As the birthplace of American democracy — where the Founding Fathers debated and signed the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution — Philadelphia is best known for its rich history. Well, that and cheesesteaks, and that movie about that boxer.

Here’s a sentence I never thought I’d write: bed bugs have taken over the city of Paris, and we are now faced with the prospect that the outbreak could travel overseas. The infestation began just before Paris Fashion Week (yes, these bugs have good taste), when reports broke of increased sightings of the insects in homes, cinemas, trains and even hospitals. Now, questions are being asked about the safety of traveling to and from Paris; what we can do to prevent the spread, and whether the critters are already settling in our mattresses. Below, we answer all your questions about travel and the bed bug spread.

The United States is supersized, from its sprawling big cities to its epic natural splendors. And its citizens? When it comes to friendliness and national pride, we can be a little “extra” too.

One of the biggest mistakes I see people making when they begin their points and miles journey is to rapidly open tons of travel rewards credit cards without any plan for what they're going to do with them. Some cards might entice you with a large welcome bonus, and others will be long-term keepers, but it's possible that after 11 months of using the card and experiencing its benefits, you might change your mind about it and cancel the credit card before the annual fee is due.

Traveling to St Lucia is an experience like no other, from the volcanic beaches and emerald-dipped landscape to the mouthwatering cuisine.

It's been just a year since Japan reopened its borders to international travel after the pandemic. But tourism has rebounded in ways almost no one could have predicted, setting up a potentially record-breaking 2024.

Tick, tick, tick. With just one day before the end of the fiscal year, Congress appears resigned to a federal government shutdown. Should lawmakers fail to pass a funding bill, travelers could feel the impact beginning at midnight on Saturday.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lisa Niver, a 55-year-old travel expert from Los Angeles. The following has been edited for length and clarity.