Holiday Gift Guide 2023: The Best Italian Chocolates

Europe’s airports are regularly ranked from best to worst to help travellers make informed choices.

Closets organized by seasons, labeled containers in the pantry, shoes laid out by style and color—we all have that friend or loved one who can’t help but organize every element of their life. If you happen to be shopping for such a person this holiday season, there’s no doubt that they’re just as tidy when they travel. Thankfully, there are plenty of accessories to help them maintain their propensity for orderliness while on the move. From a thoughtfully designed toiletry bag to premium TSA-approved containers, these are the best gifts for organized travelers.

For travelers dreaming of being home for Christmas without airplane delays, a new study has helpful data points that can potentially make your holiday travels hassle-free. 

Skipping the buzz—and the calories – has gotten much more enjoyable. Even in the past six months, the non-alcoholic wine space has improved dramatically, with new offerings showing surprising complexity. My list this year includes a couple of debuts and some old favorites. I’ve noted how these beverages were made – some start with fermented grapes – actual wine—then use complex chemistry to remove the alcohol. These might hew closer to a traditional wine to many palates. Then there are beverages that use a mixture of teas, juices, spices or other elements to give the experience of wine – mouthfeel, complex nose and palate. These alternatives are generally not meant to emulate a particular varietal, but rather give the drinker a pleasing adult beverage to enjoy in situations where you’d normally drink wine. Here are this year’s top picks.

Japan is already primed and ready to be the hottest travel destination in 2024.

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

Gift one of these practical—yet pampering—products to a well-traveled loved one in your life. The following gift suggestions have a dual purpose, meaning your traveler can travel light, yet not skimp on those little luxuries while on the road.

You know who we’re talking about. Maybe they tote an impractical, tiny leather backpack with a fleur de lis stamped on it, name drop the restaurant on Borgo Pinti they frequented while studying abroad in Florence, or have a lot to say about the correct espresso-to-milk ratio of a cortado. There's no questioning it: The traveler who checks these boxes is dreaming of visiting Italy. Luckily, this friend is damn easy to shop for, considering the way Italian craftsmanship touches nearly every single cultural realm—food, wine, literature, film, and fashion included.

Compelling books on travel inspire readers to not only learn about destinations and cultures across the globe, but also, lock in that bucket list trip they’ve been dreaming about. As most travelers can attest, exploring a new locale keeps the brain sharp, curiosities peaked, and humanity intact. Much may be gleaned through reading the memoirs, poems, and true tales of adventurers; seeing beautiful photography; and following writers down the rabbit hole, through verdant valleys, and up and over mountain peaks.

Know someone who feels perpetually drawn to America’s most beautiful spaces? Treat them to a National Park-themed gift for the holidays. From hand-drawn maps to outdoor apparel, these gifts will keep National Park enthusiasts connected to the most cherished landscapes in the country. Some of these treasures might even put new parks on their radar, inspiring their next adventure in the great outdoors.

When it comes to single malt whiskey, America has been, fittingly, like the Wild West. Sure, there are some basic rules that everyone follows—the whiskey must be produced from malted barley at a single distillery in the United States—but after that things have been wide open.

Of the key Alpine ski destinations, Italy offers the best value for money. Here, an espresso can cost €1.50 (£1.30) a shot, and a piste-side plate of pasta €10-15 (£9-13), items that are often 70-100% dearer in the A-list ski areas of France. And a peak-week, February half-term holiday in a three-star hotel can come in less than €1,745 (£1,500) per person half board, including flights and transfers. And that’s not taking some back-of-beyond resort as a point of comparison, either: all these prices are available in or around Canazei in Val di Fassa, part of the vast Dolomiti Superski area. On its doorstep, more than 300 miles of perfectly groomed pistes spin off the central Sella Ronda circuit; explore the area’s outer limits and that total hits 745 miles.