Local Strolls: A saunter through South Melbourne rewards the curious

Actor David Harris is currently playing the role of the Duke of Monroth in the long-running Broadway hit Moulin Rouge.

In our A Total Trip series, writers document what they spent on a recent getaway. In this edition, Daniel James Clarke shows us how far his money went on a long weekend in Tartu, Estonia.

In Melbourne, the locals refer to the Australian Open as “The Tennis” because it is an entire experience, not merely a place to watch tennis, but a destination. Located in the heart of Melbourne, it truly is a city grand slam event in the best possible way—the grounds are surrounded by all of the big city perks like shopping, dining and amazing coffee but you’ll also get lovely scenery along the Yarra River which runs through Melbourne. The Open itself is a multi-layered offering, as three-time Grand Slam Champion and First Nation Australian Ash Barty noted during a recent interview, “You can buy a grounds pass and have a full amazing day and never even see a tennis game, there’s just that much going on here.” The word is out and the buzz is real—this year’s open has seen record-setting crowds and the time to plan your visit for 2025 is now. Indeed AOTravel, the official travel provider of the Australian Open, is selling tickets and packages for 2025 right now. They’ll plan the entire experience for you—hotel, dining, transfers and tickets—from takeoff to departure. Here’s what should be on your to-do list for the rest of this week and next year’s slam:

Scattered and remote in the South Pacific, the Cook Islands are a taste of tropical perfection.

This is an as-told-to story based on a conversation with David Purcell, 78, a retired attorney. It has been edited for length and clarity. Purcell was among the dozens of people who signed up for a three-year cruise with Life at Sea — an around-the-world journey that was canceled two weeks before its departure. He and 77 other would-be passengers who have not received refunds are asking the US Attorney in Southern Florida to open a criminal fraud investigation into Miray Cruises, the parent company of Life at Sea.

The Seven Seas just got a bit more crowded: Nine new world cruises have recently set sail, joining Royal Caribbean's ongoing Ultimate World Cruise in a quest to travel around the world in 2024.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was temporarily detained at an airport in Germany after he failed to declare a pricey watch, caught in a little-talked-about travel snag. 

If you’re an American traveler, you’ve likely done this sort of calendar math, spotting where all the paid holidays fall this year and figuring out how to combine them with your own limited paid time off (PTO). 

After the travel frenzy of 2023, all signs point to increasing interest in far-flung destinations, villa rentals, private jet bookings and personal pilgrimages in 2024.

Cruisers typically have to leave their four-legged friends at home when they go on vacation. But one lucky pup gets to come along for an adventure aboard Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Icon of the Seas.

Air travel is incredibly safe compared to other forms of transport but if you're wondering which seats are safer in case of emergency and how to ensure your safety on an airplane, the answer is clear—it depends on the type of emergency but studies show it's usually safer in the middle at the rear of an aircraft.

The holiday season may have come and gone, but «wave season» is officially here.