Athens, Greece, has been one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in Europe. Last year, the city had a record 7 million tourists.
22.08.2024 - 14:30 / cntraveler.com
“I was in Suva, the capital of Fiji, making a film, and our crew took over half of the Grand Pacific Hotel. One day after work, I came back and the pool was full of maybe 40 of the most beautiful men I had ever seen, flapping around in the water. I was like, ‘Who—what is happening?’ It turned out they were the Flying Fijians, the national rugby team, there for the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup. It was just our film crew and their team sharing this hotel, so we became friends—always seeing each other in the hallways, hanging out by the pool with a boom box, playing cards, and drinking lots of beer. It was like I had a bunch of new cousins. I asked them to show me around Suva, and we went to many rugby games, but I'll never forget the intensity of the first time I saw the Flying Fijians play: I was jumping, shrieking, putting my hands over my eyes, and squeezing the arms of the people beside me. Compared to football, which is so start-and-stop, rugby has this constant movement and rhythm. The stands were full, and I could feel the hope for a win and the dread of a loss so palpably; in Suva, whether it's a good or a bad day depends on how their team played the night before. I could smell all this Fijian food, like rourou and whatever they were cooking in the lovo, wafting through the stadium, but I couldn't even eat. I was too nervous for the players. At each end of the stadium, hundreds of kids were peering through the gates, all wearing the white jersey of their favorite player. People who couldn't get tickets sat on a hillside picnicking and trying to get a glimpse of the game. It felt so important to everyone. Most of the people in the stadium were related in some way to a player because it's such a small island, so there's this familial pressure, like, ‘You'd better bring this trophy home, son, or we are going to have a problem tonight at the dinner table.’ They did win, in the end, and it was electrifying.”
Shailene Woodley stars in Three Women, premiering on Starz on September 13.
This article appeared in the September/October 2024 issue of Condé Nast Traveler. Subscribe to the magazine here.
Athens, Greece, has been one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in Europe. Last year, the city had a record 7 million tourists.
Arguably Greece’s most iconic island group, the Cyclades got their name because, if you squint, the 30-odd main islands form a circle, or , around the sacred island of Delos, birthplace of the twin gods Artemis and Apollo. In the southwestern curve of that circle sit Milos, Sifnos and Serifos, three Aegean islands that share a stark, wild beauty owing in part to the minerals that made them mining hubs well into the last century. (Mining continues on Milos, where it vies with tourism as one of the island’s main industries.)
Hostels are my preferred option when I'm traveling alone.
Thoughts of fall travel might conjure up images of cozy cabins and hiking through fiery red foliage. This autumn, however, a wave of new airline routes from the US is shaking up the usual pumpkin-spice-laced doldrums and offering easy new ways to access exciting destinations. Think city escapes in Northern Africa, beaches on tiny Caribbean islands, and lush nature in Oceania.
It once was one of the South's best-kept secrets, but now the word is out.
The night train boom is continuing with a new sleeper across Europe launching in 2025.
Aug 21, 2024 • 10 min read
With summer coming to an end, make the best of it by embarking on a holiday in Türkiye. Perfect for solo travels and family trips, Türkiye offers the most varied experiences in the Mediterranean. From the vibrant cultural tapestry of İstanbul to the sun-kissed shores of the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, each Turkish destination offers a journey filled with many unforgettable experiences, complemented by world-famous Turkish hospitality and cuisine.
As interest in visiting Porto only grows stronger, visitors are finding even more things to do in the city. What was once seen for many as a short trip is becoming a longer break, with exploration outside of the city centre and into neighboring areas. Porto may be Portugal’s second largest city—after Lisbon—but it did give the country its name from the Roman Portus Cale. Centuries later, the city became famous for port, its “divine nectar of the Gods,” tastings of which are highly recommended in any of the port lodges lining the riverside in Vila Nova de Gaia. From there, look across the Douro at Porto’s colorful jumble of medieval houses, soaring church towers, and glossy blue-and-white tiled façades. Here, our selection of the best things to do in Porto can help you weave your way through the city, dipping into its sights, sounds, tastes, and smells to better get under its skin. To be sure, Porto will get under yours too.
2018 was a turning point for Angela Theriac.
If the end of summer has you craving more vacation time, a new offer could be just the ticket. Wizz Air, based in Budapest, recently announced an «All You Can Fly» subscription pass that allows travelers to journey throughout the world for just a few hundred dollars. For a very limited time, the program is only €499 (approximately $537) per year, and the price jumps to €599 (approximately $657) from August 16, 2024. Travelers can begin using their flight pass for flights after September 25, 2024. While the program has the subscription fee, the flights are technically not free. Travelers are charged a small €10 (approximately $11) fee for each flight segment they book, according to the program's terms.
Oneworld Alliance said Thursday that it has been piloting a generative AI tool meant to help users book multi-city trips.