Travel in county Gulf

Prepare for the worst, and hope for the best—That’s the motto as the Atlantic hurricane season comes to the Eastern Seaboard in less than two months.

Mobile is one of our Best Places to Go in the North America for 2024, part of our global guide to the Best Places to Go in 2024—find more travel inspiration here.

In order to get the most bang for their buck and to free themselves from the hassles of flying, an increasing number of travelers are choosing to explore the beauty and wonder that lie just a short distance from home. Also, the ongoing chants of “Are we there yet?” from youngsters become a lot more tolerable when driving a manageable distance. The following destinations are ideal for travelers in various parts of the U.S. looking for the budget-friendly convenience of “in your backyard” vacations.

High in the mountains of Oman and along its pounding shoreline, I stumbled onto an unexpected slice of heaven thanks to a friend’s recommendation. I even sprang for a few extra amenities for a mash-up of pauper meets paradise.

From the banks of the Rio Grande to the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, the southern reaches of Texas are renowned for their incredible birdwatching opportunities—but there’s a wide array of species to be discovered in the interior of the state as well. Just 45 minutes from downtown Austin, the city of Bastrop is best known for its high concentration of historic buildings, but beyond the downtown core, the region’s sprawling forests and many water features play host to all sorts of native birds.

Australia saw a record-breaking number of arrivals from India last year.

When you decide to go to Everglades National Park can make a world of difference.

The Amalfi Coast – with its bougainvillea-draped fishing villages and rugged coastal panoramas – tops many a traveler's bucket list.

I had barely unbuckled my seatbelt and was already wondering if I had driven six hours across Texas for nothing. A once-in-a-lifetime river adventure had seemingly evaporated with some disappointing news.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Google Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts

Today I am where I want to be, strolling along almond-fringed beaches that, like cuffs of lace, fall from the dark sleeve of the jungle. Steam rises after a recent downpour and morning sunlight glances off cresting waves silver-threaded with the shoals of sardinella that ride their swell. Coconuts drop with a thud around me and begonia blossoms spiral slowly. This is a fecund forest of vastness that’s so alive you can practically hear the sap rising. I have been walking for more than an hour from my tented suite at the Sundy Praia retreat and seen no one. I have padded across sandbanks in the flipper trail of turtles who have come to lay eggs on these northern shores and clambered over rocky headlands. I’ve scaled the heights – and pushed through the insect drill—of the forest, into the shade of the towering oka. These trees have a presence not unlike Tolkien’s ents, those humanoid-like tree creatures. In Príncipe, it is customary to bury a newborn baby’s placenta beneath a trunk, so that everyone has a tree they consider their own. The forest is venerated and it is sacrilege to fell a tree, a belief embedded in law.

During the unveiling of the Aman Dubai this week, chairman and CEO Vlad Doronin said it will “probably” be the most expensive hotel in the UAE.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Oman have signed a pact to promote cruises across all four destinations. The Cruise Arabia Alliance was forged at this week’s ITB Berlin travel trade show and is the latest development in trying to promote multi-country holidays in the Gulf.

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) and Oman Ministry of Heritage and Tourism in collaboration with OMRAN Group have launched the See Double campaign – their first joint promotion that aims to entice visitors to explore the nature emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and neighbouring Musandam, the governate of Oman, in one experience-packed trip this summer.

Hilton has signed deals for three new hotels in Saudi Arabia: There are two Curio Collections, one focused on “eco” and the other on adventure. And an LXR resort will be an “agritourism” property as part of a tie-in with Saudi’s new farming tourism organization, Dan Company.

Located in Florida's panhandle on its western border, you’ll find the relaxed coastal city of Pensacola. With miles of protected shoreline, the city's picture-perfect beaches are not only a joy to discover, but also considerably quieter than most in the state. Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key are home to sparkling white beaches, mesmerising wildlife and endless unobstructed views of the Gulf of Mexico. From spotting sea turtles to riding waves, discover what these waterfronts have to offer.

There’s a new luxury train on the horizon that is aiming to enter the pantheon of classic trains and iconic rail journeys like the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, the Royal Scotsman, and Africa’s Rovos Rail.

Margaritaville at Sea is once again honoring first responders, military members, and more with its Heroes program — and this time around there's some new perks.

When you check into your spacious suite or villa at the Regent Phu Quoc, a luxury beach resort on an under-the-radar Vietnamese island in the Gulf of Thailand, you’ll be given a standard room tour to get yourself acclimated with your home-away-home. But nothing about Regent Phu Quoc feels or looks standard: The private plunge pool looking to the sea is massive (and so is the outdoor space that surrounds it), the terry cloth robes you get to enjoy during your stay are covered in a whimsical tropical pattern, and everything in your minibar (or in this case fridge and personal pantry) is included in your stay. No pesky little price list to scan just in case that bottle of water is gonna cost you an arm and a leg. The beer, the chocolate bars, the bottles of soft drinks, and the locally sourced coffee and tea are yours for the taking. And Regent Phu Quoc is not the only one; more and more hotels and resorts are starting to gift guests with free minibars, and we couldn’t be more excited. It’d be nice to not have to pay $12 for a small bottle of Evian.

Luxury ecotourism in Saudi Arabia has taken a major step forward with the announcement of Zardun, an exclusive sanctuary resort developed by NEOM, the sustainable region taking shape in the northwest of the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia is preparing to open its first and only alcohol store, according to a report by Reuters Wednesday. The store will be in capital city Riyadh and only sell alcohol to visiting “non-Muslim diplomats,” said Reuters, citing an unnamed source and a document.