How to get around Chiang Mai

Destinations worldwide have increasingly moved to lift visa requirements as part of their strategy to increase visitor numbers — visa processing delays are a major obstacle to the industry’s full recovery.

Kyoto is a relatively compact city with a great public transport network, making traveling around a breeze. Its easily navigable streets and mostly flat ground also mean it's an enjoyable destination to explore by bike or on foot.

One hundred miles east of Los Angeles, Palm Springs is the choice weekend destination of Angelenos. The Sonoran Desert oasis has seen a star-studded population; Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, and most recently the Kardashians have put roots down in Old Las Palmas. Fortunately, Airbnb opens up the hot springs, hiking trails, and golf courses to us B-listers. We’re still waiting for Leo’s villa to hit the platform but until then these Guest Favorite Airbnbs in Palm Springs grant a taste of the superstar lifestyle.

Most first-time visits to Japan entail some variation of the Golden Route, the well-trodden circuit of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. As much as these awe-inspiring metropolises deserve their reputation among travelers, Japan’s quieter prefectures are equally fascinating and often overlooked. In the Japanese countryside, urban frenzy yields to village serenity; warm, rural hospitality wins the day; and whispers of Basho’s bucolic odes still echo through misty rice terraces. Plus, a quick sojourn in the hinterland to unwind in the steamy waters of an onsen refreshes the soul. And it’s not hard to get to whether you want to take a trip solely focused on the quieter areas of Japan or you simply want a quick break from the city.

For anyone who has traveled abroad recently, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that traveling outside the country can sometimes be cheaper than traveling within the States. One of the places that’s true is in Thailand. Currently, $1 is worth roughly 35 Thai baht. Back here in the States, that wouldn’t even get me a pack of gum, but in Chiang Mai, that can get you a motorcycle taxi ride. If you’re traveling to Chiang Mai, Thailand, here is what you could spend a day in Chiang Mai.

Spread across 7,000 islands and dotted with megacities, mountain ranges and mighty national parks, Japan can be a little overwhelming to first-time visitors keen to pack their vacation with major attractions.

I don’t ski anymore, but I will always love the mountain town vibe. I am blessed to have a second home in Bend, Oregon , located on the eastern edge of the Cascades along the Deschutes River in Central Oregon.

Many experiences in Chiang Mai are ideal for the budget traveler – grazing on street food, enjoying relaxing traditional Thai massages, sipping red iced tea, renting a scooter to buzz out to waterfalls and hot springs – but everyone knows that the best things in life are free. And Chiang Mai has experiences by the bucketload that cost absolutely nothing at all.

As one of the world's favorite budget travel playgrounds, Bangkok has freebies galore. From golden temples, captivating monasteries and vast open-air markets to meditation sessions and people-watching on the most famous backpacker strip in the world, the Thai capital can keep you entertained for weeks, even on the tightest of budgets.

With tens of thousands of islands scattered some 5000km (3100mi) from east to west, Indonesia looks like anything but a single country. Vast seas, impenetrable jungles, rugged mountains and rough roads require extra patience for those who want to explore this fascinating archipelago.

Traffic congestion is a part of life in Puerto Rico, where everyone and their grandmother owns a car, and driving is the predominant mode of transportation.

You can cover a lot of ground on your first visit to Jordan, given its small size (it’s less than three-quarters the size of New York State).