Travel in county Hall

The CEO of property management company Vacasa wrote to employees today that there would be a “significant restructuring of the company” and layoffs because the vacation rental market is “in for another difficult year.”

As Star Wars fans around the world celebrate May the Fourth, what better way to immerse yourself in the galaxy far, far away than by visiting real-life locations that served as backdrops for some of the most iconic scenes in the saga? Solos was founded in 1982 and now offers a wide range of holidays for globetrotters. From Costa Rica to Canada, Africa to America, India to Iceland, Croatia to the Caribbean, Uzbekistan to the UK, and Norway to New Zealand, Solos has divided its holidays into easy-to-select categories depending on interests. Solos is also keen to challenge the assumption that solo travel is purely for single people. Regardless of age, ability, circumstance, background, gender – there really is something for everyone – especially on these exciting trips below.

It’s already spring, which means summer is just around the corner. Not only does summer mean beach vacations and hot weather, but it also means celebrating Pride. The Stonewall Uprising began on June 28, 1969, in response to a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in New York City's Greenwich Village. Queer people fought back against the police, and the subsequent uprising lasted for six days. One year later, thousands marched from the Stonewall Inn to Central Park in what we now know was the first Pride parade in the United States.

On a leafy stretch near Kolkata's Southern Avenue, the three-level designer store Bombaim is a hive of activity. Young locals breeze through its centuries-old doors, trying on silks and gowns, admiring the space's bones. Large windows allow ample sunlight to stream through, illuminating the mulmul curtains that fall from the ceilings. Outside, lush tejpatta, or bay leaf, trees grow. The Art Deco grills and the city's signature khorkhoris, or louvered windows, reflect the store's previous life as a turn-of-the-century residence. Bombaim's owner, Richa Kanoi, made a point of preserving its historic splendor. “The launch was more about celebrating the space than the clothes,” she says.

Offering an eclectic mix of urban sophistication and leisurely activities, the Uptown Birmingham District is a bustling area known for its entertainment, dining and shopping options, featuring diverse restaurants and boutiques. Uptown is a district that anchors the northern end of downtown. Adjacent to the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) in downtown Birmingham, Uptown boasts modern architecture, green spaces and attractions like The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, Topgolf, Protective Stadium and City Walk.

Amtrak is bringing back — and expanding — its seasonal service between New York City and the Berkshires this summer, and has started selling tickets for the picturesque ride.

Many great wine brands are owned by multinational corporations, with more small winemakers opting to sell every year. It’s not often that a winery goes the other way— the realities of regaining control are daunting to say the least. But James Hall, founder and once again owner of Patz & Hall, a critically acclaimed Sonoma chardonnay and pinot noir specialist, has done just that. Earlier this year, he purchased his winery back from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, which has owned the brand since 2016.

The 180-key hotel will open in June 2024, doubling the available accommodations in the New Jersey town.

The enormously popular Palm Springs Modernism Week with its open house tours may have just passed, but no worries if you couldn’t make it. So rich is the city’s and the surrounding Coachella Valley’s architectural heritage that there’s no end to discovering more on the masters who, beginning nearly a century ago, made all of today’s cherished Desert Modernism happen.

First invented in 1965 on Washington’s Bainbridge Island, pickleball has morphed from a casual backyard sport to a global sensation that’s taking the world by storm—and in the mid-2020s, this beloved activity is gearing up to become more popular than ever. While the sport has been popping up at world-class resorts all across the United States, courts have extended to some of the east coast’s most cosmopolitan cities as well, with the New York-based CityPickle leading the charge. Established in the summer of 2021, this lavish lifestyle brand made waves by opening Long Island City’s first indoor pickleball club, with multiple seasonal popups spanning from Brooklyn down to Philadelphia.

Amtrak is adding more trains to its schedule along the busy Northeast Corridor, owing to major strides in ridership after pandemic setbacks between 2020 and 2022.

While many athletes are busy training for the Olympic Games in Paris this summer, there is another race that is affectionately dear to Parisians—that of the annual Waiter's Race—and it is also making a comeback in 2024.

Albania has been announced as the Official Host Country of ITB Berlin 2025. On Wednesday, 6 March 2024, Albania’s Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro and Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO of Messe Berlin, signed a partnership agreement on the Albanian stand in Hall 1.1. Afterwards, the minister introduced the CEO to various regions and local specialities.

Seychelles is set to dazzle attendees at the world’s largest travel trade show, ITB Berlin 2024 at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds.

There’s only one city in the world where you can sleep with yogis on Monday, rent an artist’s studio on Tuesday, and slumber under the stars on Wednesday. Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, already stuns with its medieval old town and offbeat attractions but choosing a one-of-kind accommodation experience rounds off a trip to this Baltic city. These are the most unique hotels and Airbnbs in Vilnius that’ll inspire you to stay in.

Anyone who’s set foot in America’s Deep South will know ‘Southern charm’ is no myth, and Savannah — Georgia’s oldest city — embodies just this. Situated at the mouth of the Savannah River in the east of the state, the city has retained its ‘olde world’ atmosphere since its founding in 1733 through its well-preserved cobblestone streets, pre-Civil War architecture, horse-drawn carriages and manicured parks. Meanwhile its more modern array of offerings, including quirky ice cream parlours, moody speakeasies, cosy coffee shops and independent bookshops, have all helped earn its more recent nickname of the ‘Hostess City of the South’. Its urban beauty is also undeniable. Though ravaged by naval blockades during the Civil War, Savannah is said to have charmed Union general William Sherman so much that he saved it from the fires being set by his soldiers during the battle, and instead offered the city as a Christmas gift to President Abraham Lincoln. Today, Savannah plays a much larger role than just being easy on the eye; it’s a vibrant cultural and historical hub for the state and the perfect jumping-off point for various coastal adventures.

It’s been four days since the most emblematic of French monuments has been closed and it could stay that way “for several days, even weeks,” according to the Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT), the union representing the Eiffel Tower workers.

In our A Total Trip series, writers document what they spent on a recent getaway. In this edition, Daniel James Clarke shows us how far his money went on a long weekend in Tartu, Estonia.

Kyoto offers a tantalizing glimpse of ancient Japan – which is why it's one of the most popular destinations in the country. Might we suggest escaping the temple crowds by exploring an alluring spot nearby?

Delve into Local Strolls, a series where writers reveal their favorite walks in their hometowns. Each route offers a snapshot of urban life, guiding you to lesser-known attractions and cherished local spots. Here, Cristian Bonetto explains why an aimless stroll through South Melbourne reveals some overlooked delights.

Start in the Christmas-card-perfect Clifton village, with its boutique shops and cafes, then venture to the observatory, where Brunel’s suspension bridge lies before you. Follow the contours of the gorge for more precipitous views, spotting climbers, peregrine falcons and goats along the way. Continue to the sea wall and you will be rewarded with sunset views over distant Wales. Follow the winding road back across the broad and beautiful Downs, sunset at your back.Helen