I've been on 4 ultra-luxury cruises — here's how they compare and how to pick the best ship for you

Nov 25, 2024 • 5 min read

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.

More airlines are flying single-aisle Airbus A321neo family planes across the Atlantic.

If you were looking to this list to help you narrow down your options for the best places to go in Africa in 2025, we’re going to apologize right now: Given the abundance of thrilling new openings to choose from, chances are, when you finish reading, your travel wish list will be longer than ever. But before you blow your budget entirely, a good place to start could be figuring out your “why”—what is it that excites you most about your next trip, and why do you travel?

Nov 21, 2024 • 6 min read

I never had a big plan to move to France.

United Airlines has brought back its popular discount for college-aged travelers — offering generous savings on select flights to Europe and India with no blackout dates.

Antigua is a former British colony with a big-hitting cricket reputation, a food scene that's big on flavor, and a beach for every single day of the year. The larger of Antigua and Barbuda, this is an island with some of the best beaches in the Caribbean—not to mention scenic coves, rollicking beach bars, and even one sandy spot with a red phone booth straight out of London that will have you think you're seeing a mirage. It's utter fly-and-flop perfection, but delve a little deeper and you'll find a myriad things to do beyond the sand. Here are our suggestions.

If you must be gay—and, dear reader, you really must—then it’s only natural that you’ve found yourself here, consulting our list of the best destinations for LGBTQ+ travelers to visit. While it’s true that queerness may be temporarily masked for survival reasons and that travelers should be prepared to compromise on aspects of their presentation out of respect for local customs and mores, sometimes that’s just not going to work. Many countries around the world are safe and fabulous destinations for openly LGBTQ+ travelers. (Admittedly, we're speaking generally here; it’s important to note it only takes one incident perpetuated by one bad actor or group to soil an individual’s trip—and that can happen anywhere.) So what are the places where you don’t have to put your most authentic self away?

Nov 15, 2024 • 7 min read

Whale!” Mark shouted at breakfast. The rest of us passengers, the ship’s captain, and the naturalist guides stood up at once. We lifted the binoculars strapped around our necks and scanned the horizon from the sundeck. The Bolivar Channel is the best place to see whales around the Galápagos Islands, and eagle-eyed Mark, with his patience and determination, had spotted a splash nearby. A fin appeared and we all gasped and whooped.

Editor’s note: In September, Hurricane Helene barreled through the Southeast and devastated parts of North Carolina. Recovery efforts are still underway, particularly in the severely affected areas of North Carolina’s mountains and foothills, while less-impacted areas prepare to welcome fall tourists, recognizing that the state’s visitor economy will depend on a strong return of businesses, services, experiences, and other tourism essentials. Visit North Carolina has shared an interactive map indicating which areas of the state are safe to visit and which should be avoided as they work hard to rebuild. Now, more than ever, visitors to North Carolina are encouraged to travel responsibly and support local businesses as they explore the state’s open areas. Find more information at Visit North Carolina’s website.