America’s Foreign Vacations Tell Us Something About the U.S. Economy

Summer is prime time for country fairs – where farmers parade their animals, giant marrows win prizes, local produce is for sale and fairground rides add to the fun. We want to hear about the best rural festivals you’ve been to, whether in the UK or a similar-style event on the continent. The top tip will win a holiday voucher.

When it arrived in Málaga, Spain, 17 years ago, Finca Cortesin set a new standard for Andalusian hotels with its sumptuous design and vast swimming pools. Now, with Grand Hotel Son Net, the brand has done the same for Mallorca. Designer Lorenzo Castillo oversaw the transformation of the storied palacio that has seen aristocrats, royals, and Lauren Bacall walk its cobblestoned patio. The richly patterned upholstery, 18th-century tapestries, majolica-inspired wallpaper, and shimmering antique mirrors may compel guests to accessorize to match the decor. Here, a few smart choices:

Ever dreamed of packing up everything and moving to another country? Here are the most livable cities in the world, according to a study by The Economist.

Travel over the Thanksgiving holiday period was robust, and predictions are for similarly strong demand for air travel during the period between Christmas and New Year’s. For most airlines, that’s good news. For American, however, it’s a potential nightmare.

Looking for a new museum to add to your travel to-do list? TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel’s parent company) has released the Travelers’ Choice Top 25 Museums of 2018, including the top 10 worldwide and the top 10 in the United States, with some surprising frontrunners. The findings also highlight bookable ways to see each winner—think VIP tours and scavenger hunts—with some offering the added perk of allowing you to skip the lines to get in.

For the many travelers who can’t sleep in flight but also can’t afford an upgrade to the front of the plane, a new economy-class bed/seat design could revolutionize the way they travel. Italy-based seat manufacturer Geven debuted its Piuma Sofa — a concept that would turn economy-class seats into a lie-flat bed — at the Aircraft Interiors Expo last week, reports Flightglobal.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on January 25, 2016 and was updated in December 2018. Please consult this article: Do You Still Need to Worry About the Zika Virus for 2019? for the latest info.

Although a lot has changed since the Zika outbreak in 2015-16, Zika is still a concern for some travelers.

You don’t need to be a nature expert to appreciate the seas of colorful flowers that mark the end of winter each year, or to get lost in photos of them. Some of the world’s biggest and best spring flower blooms turn travel-worthy spots like national parks and famous cities into a sea of color.

You’ve likely already heard about the bush fires in Australia that are currently devastating the country. All six Australian states have seen damage from fires, but New South Wales (which includes Sydney) has been hit hardest, where 136 separate fires (including 69 that are not contained) continued to burn this week, according to a CNN breakdown. At least 24 people are dead. And in New South Wales alone, estimates a University of Sydney professor, nearly half a billion animals are dead, too.

Just as we began to head into a semi-normal feeling holiday season, news of a new coronavirus variant, Omicron, began to dominate headlines worldwide. Should travelers be worried about this new variant? We asked the experts to find out.

Are your days of flying domestically using only your driver’s license numbered? They could be, if you don’t have a new type of license. As the deadline for the REAL ID Act looms, it’s vital for you to know if your current driver’s licenses doesn’t meet the new criteria.