Travel in Georgia

Four European countries now have the world’s most powerful passports.

Sean Parker and his wife love being Airbnb hosts. They started in Ontario, Canada, in 2020 by listing two different properties.

After growing up in the Midwest and moving to the East Coast 10 years ago, I recently visited two Southern states for the first time.

I last checked in at the half-year, highlighting the few brands, ideas, and services that deserved a hat tip for their executions. There were a lot of exciting ideas: At that point, we’d gone from the precariousness of a global pandemic into a full-throttle, growth sprint for luxury. Interest in high-end experiences continued to surge, along with eye-watering room rates.  

While relaxing on a beach with a good book, a cold beverage, and ten toes in the sand can be a recuperative and peaceful way to spend a vacation, sometimes a bold itinerary full of thrilling experiences is needed. Adventure travel is a smart way to go beyond our comfort zones, learn new things, and immerse ourselves into new cultures and landscapes.

£28, Hardie GrantThe second cookbook from food writer Dina Begum is a love letter to Bangladesh. Alongside the selection of tempting recipes are detailed ingredient notes, explanations of distinctive spice blends and advice on traditional preparation and serving, all accompanied by evocative photography of busy street-sellers, verdant landscapes and market produce. Some recipes do feature fish and vegetables native to Bangladesh that might be harder to find in the UK, but the author suggests accessible substitutions for those unable to find a Bangladeshi grocery store.

Sometimes you need a break from reality and the fast-paced lifestyle so many of us live. That reset and breath of fresh air is exactly what I found in central Wisconsin this fall as the weather started to change. Looking out of the plane window on my flight in, all I could see were changing leaves and greenery for miles. In Wisconsin, nature and wellness experiences are readily available for all, whether you’re after adventure, relaxation, or just reconnecting with yourself.

It's no secret that Jamaica excels at white sand beaches and sensual, apricot-colored sunsets. What travelers often overlook is the island's road trip appeal. 

Standing on a frozen ridge at Bosworth Field, my feeling is that there are certainly less attractive places to draw one’s last breath. On this frigid December afternoon, I’m looking out at a mist-shrouded hinterland of crisscrossing fields as a milky orange sun sinks behind a distant smudge of cloud. Somewhere out there on that bleak horizon in August 1485, King Richard III died a violent death, made all the more visceral by the gaudy array of spiked weapons hanging on a wall inside the nearby Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024.

Hilton has some exciting news for 2024. Along with extra points available, 24 new properties will be added to the Hilton lineup in locations worldwide. Some of these new properties will also be the first for the major hotel brand. Here’s a quick preview of the new places to add to your travel list.

It’s been a busy year for the capital’s luxury hotel scene. A string of high-profile, and often high-priced, openings was crowned this autumn when the long-anticipated Raffles London at the OWO flung open its doors, taking over the building that once housed the Old War Office. Beyond such headline-grabbing launches, the accommodation offering in the city remains in rude health, with plenty of character available for travellers looking beyond the very top end of the market. There are boutique hotels squirrelled away in Georgian townhouses, budget pads in the midst of Piccadilly and huge complexes offering a world of bars, restaurants and entertainment across multiple floors. 

Fans of Finnish author Tove Jansson will love the idyllic Pellinki archipelago, where she spent her summers on a tiny island, Klovharun, described in several of her novels. About 50 miles east of Helsinki, Pellinki forms part of a group of islands, linked by bridges and a delightful ferry, which you can explore by boat, car, bicycle, bus or on foot. Walk through the woods to reach one of the quiet beaches, hire a boat to fish or just tootle around the beautiful bays and stay in a traditional, wooden cottage with a matching sauna set among the trees where the only sounds you’ll hear are birdsong and the gentle putter of a small boat passing by. Finnish people know a lot about the importance of connecting with nature and this is a place where you will quickly find yourself reflecting on what really matters in life. Christine

Founded by the Romans in the 1st century, Bath originally went by the Latin name of Aquae Sulis after the Celtic deity of healing and water. The setting was chosen for its thermal springs which later saw Bath evolve into a fashionable spa resort. Grand terraces were constructed during the Georgian era using honey-colored limestone from the surrounding downs. Nowadays, Bath remains a stellar destination for romantic getaways, family vacations, spa weekends, and bachelor/bachelorette parties (locally known as stag and hen dos).

Founded in 1850, Cartersville, Georgia, rests between Atlanta and Chattanooga at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. A charming small city, Cartersville is carving a niche of its own as a cultural and historical hub for tourism. Headlining are a slew of museums: the Booth Western Art Museum, Tellus Science Museum, and Savoy Automobile Museum. In addition, Cartersville is home to two state parks, Red Top Mountain State Park and the Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site. Despite the attractions, the small town feels connected with a welcoming community.

Hilton, the iconic hotel empire whose first property opened in 1919, has once again been named the most valuable hotel brand in the world, remaining above its pre-pandemic brand value and topping the Brand Finance Hotels 50 ranking with $11.7 billion in brand value. The Brand Finance Global 500 rankings assess the value of brands globally based on their financial strength and brand equity. Hilton’s world-class brand portfolio is comprised of more than 7,215 properties, in 122 countries and territories.

The Biden administration’s infrastructure spending blitz has put more construction laborers on the road for work this year, fueling a race by extended-stay hotel operators to win their business.

With the data provided in the CapEx 2023 study, industry decision makers can better evaluate and make informed decisions regarding capital expenditures for their properties and repairs and maintenance spending.

Ascott debuts two brands in Austria in November 2023

Pegasus Airlines launches thrice-weekly flights between Dortmund Airport (DTM) and Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW).

Moving to a new country can be daunting, especially if you don’t speak the language.

A fresh Atlantic breeze blows up the estuary and rustles through a thicket of young lime trees by the Treaty Stone, the rock that witnessed the end of the Williamite war in the autumn of 1691. Just ahead, a seven-arch limestone bridge spans the Shannon River as far as the thick barrel towers of King John’s Castle. To the right, Limerick City’s quays and avenues bustle with new bars, hotels and restaurants. It’s a scene that contrasts starkly with the damp, smoky cityscape depicted in Frank McCourt’s book Angela’s Ashes.