A rose-scented region in Azerbaijan’s mountainous northwest, Zagatala attracts travellers seeking a sweet, scenic escape.
28.11.2024 - 12:41 / insider.com / Will I (I)
Around this time last year, I found myself on a two-week trek in the Himalayas, burned out. I wanted to scream into the snowy mountains, "Will I ever find a place where I belong?"
I grew up in the suburbs of Ottawa, Canada, nicknamed "The City That Fun Forgot." I've always wanted to see what was out there beyond my quiet backyard.
After studying political science and journalism at university in Montreal, I spent four months backpacking in South America. The last country I visited on the trip, Brazil, blew my mind. Locals in Rio de Janeiro, where I celebrated Carnaval in 2013, said I was just like a "carioca" — what locals call themselves.
I was amazed by their passion for their music, dancing, and culture — a sense of pride they call "Brasilidade." I'd never experienced anything like that in Canada.
Vowing to return, I went back to Canada and worked at a weekly newspaper, but the call to travel came again.
In 2015, I spent a year teaching English in Madrid and traveled across Europe, India, and Southeast Asia. To make extra money and continue my writing career, I wrote trending news articles for a Montreal-based website that allowed me to work remotely.
After basing myself in Medellin, Colombia, and Oaxaca, Mexico, for a few months each, I returned to Rio in 2018, hoping to feel that spark again. However, the energy wasn't as I'd remembered. There had just been a divisive election that saw former President Jaír Bolsonaro come to power. I continued traveling.
I went on a four-month road trip across the southern United States with my then-girlfriend, a photographer. We teamed up to do stories for top international publications like Time, the Guardian, and National Geographic. We traveled to Morrocco and Armenia so I could write guidebooks for Lonely Planet. I felt like I was living my dream life. Then the pandemic hit.
Unsure of when international travel might return, my partner and I decided to buy an apartment in Montreal.
While I love Montreal, I struggled mentally during the pandemic curfews and the long Canadian winters. In 2022, my partner and I broke up, and I felt the urge to find somewhere to call home.
Last year, I traveled to 17 countries for work and to search for a place to live. Everywhere I went, I asked people why they chose to live in the place they do.
In November 2023, I felt burned out from my search, which culminated in that mountain meltdown in Nepal. To see if I could find belonging with other wandering souls, I took a cruise with digital nomads from Spain to Brazil.
I don't think there's anything wrong with traveling full-time, but I found myself butting heads other passengers who seemed to want to live exactly as they did back home, just more cheaply and
A rose-scented region in Azerbaijan’s mountainous northwest, Zagatala attracts travellers seeking a sweet, scenic escape.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Brandon Chia, 31, a nurse in the South Island of New Zealand. Chia moved from Singapore to New Zealand in 2022. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
Air Canada will add service to Vancouver from three new cities in the United States next year.
The last month of the year has arrived, but that doesn’t mean it is time to give up on earning points and miles in December or on that last push for elite status with your favorite travel brands. Credit cards can help you complete the race, and even if you don’t make the finish line, there are plenty of other perks in store. With all the promotion and benefit news you need to know for December, we’re here with the last of the 2024 loyalty news.
The holidays can be a busy—and stressful—time for many, and Canada might have just the fix. Destination Canada, the country’s tourism board, is offering the chance to experience the joy and beauty of winter in the frozen north by giving away 50 prizes of two economy round-trip tickets each on Air Canada.
The Sunday after Thanksgiving is typically the most crowded day of the year at U.S. airports. 2024's post-turkey travel rush went a step further: It brought the busiest day ever for commercial air travel in America.
A winter getaway may just be a click away. Destination Canada, the tourism department for the country of Canada, and Air Canada recently announced a new promotion that will give away 100 free flights from over 50 cities in the United States to Canada, as a way to celebrate the exciting winter adventures in the north. The promotion, called the “SnOOOw Day” giveaway, will choose fifty winners who can pick a companion to join them in Canada, for the 100 flight total. Travelers can enter in for a chance to win a pair of the flights by visiting www.snowdaycanada.com from December 2 through December 20. The contest is open to any United States citizen, age 21 and over. Destination Canada and Air Canada will notify winners in January 2025, and they will have the opportunity to use the tickets from the time they win through March 2026. “Canadian winter is a time for joy, trying new things, and reconnecting with our inner child. The ‘SnOOOw Day Giveaway’ is our way of encouraging Americans to step away from their busy lives and immerse themselves in the wonder of Canada’s winter landscapes,” Destination Canada’s Senior Vice President of Marketing Strategy, and Chief Marketing Officer Gloria Loree shared in a statement with Travel + Leisure. Air Canada operates non-stop flights to 52 cities in the United States, to their major hubs in Canada, which include Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Destination Canada to offer contest winners the chance to experience the very best of winter in Canada,” Air Canada’s Director of Global Routes Gabriella Lechner shared in a statement to T+L. In social posts about the promotion, Destination Canada spotlights the exciting winter adventures awaiting travelers, including seeing the northern lights, enjoying fresh lobster, and even a thrilling ride on a dog sled.
In 2019, I had a great life on paper: a stable job, boyfriend, and a basement apartment in DC. But I wanted more.
One of the biggest worries when flying is that your luggage will get lost. Arming your suitcase with an AirTag has become quite popular, and Apple has now teamed up with over fifteen airlines to make it even easier to track down your checked baggage.
Holland America Line cruise line is celebrating Black Friday with 25 percent off sale on sailings and other perks for the ultimate holiday at sea.
Depending on your preferred airport or airline, the state of flying today can feel downright shabby. Aging terminals, clunky technology, and dingy aircraft can make the experience feel anything but glamorous. But there’s a bright spot on the horizon: In 2025, there will be plenty of innovation in air travel. At some airports, new procedures will ease passenger stress, while refreshed airline cabins will return a sense of elegance to long-haul flying.
Luxury cruise line Regent Seven Seas Cruises is making it easier to sail in style by offering up to 40 percent off trips across the world.