I visited Japan and the highlight of my trip was the toilets. Here's why I'm still thinking about them.

In some parts of Europe, high prices and Christmas markets go hand in hand. But in others, this year’s soaring costs have come as a shock.

Japan may be small, but with its captivating blend of tradition and modernity, and its bustling cities and stunning countryside, it offers a mighty experience to visitors. No matter when you choose to visit, a wealth of experiences await you.

The Tokyo skyline is known for its ulta-sleek 5-star hotels perched high above the city overlooking walled gardens, centuries-old royal palaces, and majestic Mount Fuji. But the soaring cityscape was taken to new heights this year with the addition of Bulgari Hotel Tokyo, which occupies the 40th-45th floors of Tokyo Midtown Yaesu ultra-skyscraper.

Japan has a reputation as an expensive place to travel, but it’s an image that doesn’t hold up on the ground.

In the US, embarking on a train trip means taking the track less travelled. Once the symbol of technological advancement and westward expansion, the country’s railroads have had a hard time moving into the modern era. But when you ride the rails in the US, you’re afforded the opportunity to peel back the layers of this land and experience it on a human scale. 

This is not a story of “Airbnbust,” but instead we’re talking about a correction of the “Airbnboom” that has taken place since the highs of the pandemic.

To reach the top of the Waldspritz sledding run above the village of Grindelwald in the Swiss Alps, I hiked 90 minutes into the backcountry, dragging a small runnered sled by a rope to roughly 7,400 feet.

Holidays in hot places? That’s old hat. How about chilling out – truly – on your next big trip?

Great food may not be the main objective for a visit to Cairo, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be sought out. The good news is it's easy to do so, as Cairo has a vibrant dining scene that celebrates Egypt’s cuisine and culture. Now more than ever, restaurants across the city have blossomed in new directions, embracing everything from casual street food classics to fine dining, as well as elevated international flavors drawn from Japanese and Mediterranean cuisines (and beyond).

One of the best ways to get to know a country is through its food and beverage offerings. For the holiday season, check out these excellent wines from under-the-radar wine regions in different parts of the world (which we should be drinking more from!) for your wanderlust wine-loving friends who are eager to try something new. Note: All wines mentioned are available in the United States.

A ragged ‘S’ off the north coast of central Japan, Sado — the country’s sixth-largest island — is a lesser-known destination for most travellers, yet it embodies many of the finest elements of Japan’s culture and history. As a former place of exile, disgraced aristocrats and scholars were sent to Sado to live out their days. With thriving gold mines and lying on a busy shipping route, Sado once contained a broad mix of Japanese society in miniature — home to samurai warriors and working-class merchants. Its geography is also a microcosm of Japan, with emerald-green lagoons, cedar forests and the grand Osado mountain range. Sado is an overlooked gem, with its temples, tub-boats and toki (crested ibis birds) providing a nature-filled getaway. Combined with a city break in Niigata on the mainland, a visit here allows travellers to experience the best of Japan.

In August 1944, the coastal Breton city of Saint-Malo was nearly wiped off the map. The opening scene of the Netflix limited series All the Light We Cannot See conjures the ferocity of the battle: an American squadron traverses the English Channel in darkness, dodges anti-aircraft fire, then releases its bombs on the Nazi-occupied French port.