Travel in city Old

On the heels of Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week—which takes place in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia from January 15–21, 2024—there are two other Restaurant Week events happening this month throughout Northern Virginia.

As 2024 kicks off, it's time to plan some of the most mind-blowing adventures the world has to offer – using the opportunity to uncover new parts of yourself along the way.

Further frequencies will be added between Zurich and various existing European destinations including Alicante, Madrid, Naples, Venice and Vilnius.

While the allure of popular tourist cities like London, Barcelona or Paris is undeniable, if you're seeking a destination less frequented by the masses, a more off-the-beaten-path adventure could be just what you're looking for. Here are six suggestions of lesser-known holiday spots.

Looking for the perfect holiday escape? Consider Croatia. The country offers an impressive range of winter festivities that are perfect for kids and adults alike. Here are five great cities that put on an amazing show for the holidays.

Bristol’s maritime past is superseded by its legacy as the hometown of Banksy whose murals have inspired waves of activism since the 1980s. Expressed through its cyclable neighborhoods, second-hand shopping, and plant-based dining scene, Brizzle’s green philosophy makes it a mint destination in the United Kingdom for couples, families, and nomads.

With its high-end resorts and spas, luxury department stores, and clean-cut golf courses, it is no wonder Scottsdale, Arizona, is such a popular destination — especially for bachelor and bachelorette parties. This being Arizona, it’s in the middle of the desert, but it’s far from the cartoon desert of Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner. For proof, all one has to do is consider the culinary scene and see just how good desert dining can be.

Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, floats off the western coast and is bordered by the Andaman Sea. Comprising alabaster-white beaches, snorkeling in crystalline waters, and a splash of cultural sights, Phuket is a Thailand-in miniature destination with something to offer revelrous backpackers as well as honeymooners, and families. These Airbnbs in Phuket with private pools and million-dollar views give you a preview of the third outing of White Lotus.

Sitting on the shores shores of the Caribbean, the Hyatt Regencyis a stunning hotel located in the city of Cartagena, Colombia. Combining modern elegance with breathtaking views and world-class amenities, this property is the perfect destination for both leisure and business travelers, allowing you to immerse yourself in the rich culture and history that Cartagena is known for.

No first trip to Edinburgh would be complete without a visit to Edinburgh Castle. The world-famous icon of Scotland is part of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site and is the most popular paid tourist attraction in the country. Dominating the skyline of the city, the fortress looms over the streets below from its position on the Castle Rock. Due to its strategic location, it has been a royal residence, a military stronghold, and a focus of countless sieges and battles. It also offers stunning panoramic views over the city of Edinburgh. Due to the size and walkability of the city center, the best way to explore Scotland’s capital is on foot. That means, if you are looking for a central Airbnb, you’ll be no more than a 30-minute walk from the Royal Mile — the main street leading to the castle gates. The Airbnb near Edinburgh Castle rentals we’ve selected here are steeped in history, have views of the iconic site, Superhost status, and five-star reviews from past guests.

There’s never a bad time to visit Germany’s 2,000-year-old city. Cologne straddles both banks of the Rhine and is lined with riverside botanical gardens and sculpture parks. With over 100 museums exhibiting everything from perfume to chocolate, there’s little wonder Köln is considered the German cultural capital. Winter kicks off in November with the annual Cologne Carnival which takes a brief hiatus when the yuletide markets claim the limelight before resuming and going out with a bang in February.

Nothing epitomizes French luxury quite like staying in a castle. While Villa Le Castel might not be a castle in the traditional sense, it’s about as close as you’ll probably ever get. Located in the heart of Vallauris, a town renowned for its pottery and ceramics, Villa Le Castel is a magnificent villa that’s the perfect blend of comfort and opulence. The villa has six bedrooms, each with its own character, and the decor combines modern luxury with traditional elegance.

If you’re a scrolling fiend (or have ever skimmed a rack of French postcards), you’ll be familiar with the photogenic landscapes of Provence. This southeastern province of France is where you’ll find fields of lavender and sunflowers, world-class rosé wineries, and the glamorous Côte d’Azur beach resorts. Close to the beach and vineyards, these luxurious Airbnbs in Provence give you the best of both worlds.

Poland’s landlocked capital has a complex history that has seen the “Phoenix City” bounce back from conflict over multiple conflicts. Modern Warsaw is a mishmash of restored medieval structures and cutting-edge skyscrapers among which stands Varso Tower – the tallest building in the European Union.

First-time visitors to Croatia are often startled by the striking turquoise hue of its sea and see-straight-to-the-bottom waters.

I'd seen images of baby Krishna atop a banyan leaf in pop devotional art posters all over India. Yet it was only on a dusty lane in Jaipur's Old City that I witnessed the leaf of the banyan tree deliver something divine in person. “That's outstanding,” said Chintan Pandya as he tasted a piece of kesar pista makhan—a seemingly simple bar of saffron-tinted butter topped with bits of crushed pistachio—picked off the dried leaf. “No…mind-blowing.” Licking his fingers, America's most acclaimed Indian chef passed the bar to me. “Here, use your hands.”

Edinburgh is like a scene from a storybook, its spiky turrets, soaring towers, grand squares and cobbled streets every inch the sort of places dragons and princesses would inhabit — not to mention, of course, one particularly famous boy wizard. The city was J K Rowling’s home while she wrote most of the Harry Potter books, and it’s not hard to see the spark of inspiration for her world of magic. Kids’ imaginations have been known to run away with them as they wander the higgledy-piggledy medieval streets of the Old Town up to Edinburgh Castle or march through regal Holyrood Park to the extinct volcano hilltop of Arthur’s Seat, which towers above elegant Georgian streets in the east of the city centre.

Northern California’s historic Gold Country is booming—for the second time. This string of former mining towns in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada burst onto the scene in 1848 during the fabled gold rush.

Celestyal has announced the addition of three new countries—Croatia, Montenegro and Italy—as well as six new ports—Kefalonia, Katakolo and Corfu in Greece; Dubrovnik in Croatia; Kotor in Montenegro and Bari in Italy—for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

Porto Veneziano Hotel is an ideal place to stay, as it is just a ten minute walk from the center of Chania, Crete and the Old town. The most popular tourist attractions are accessible with a walk or by bicycle, as it has been awarded the “Bike Friendly” badge.

Rethymno is located in the middle of the island of Crete. It is one of the best preserved Renaissance cities in Greece. In the framework of promoting sustainable development and alternative tourism, Rethymno awarded as a bike friendly destination and is now one of the cities bearing the label “Bike Friendly”, that is, a city friendly to cyclists.