New Data Reveals America’s ‘Most Neighborly’ Cities

We all know the upcoming holiday travel season will likely be stressful. But how stressful, exactly? A new calculator can help you determine that very specific number. FlightsFinder, a flight comparison search engine, created the “Flight Stress Calculator” just in time for us all to book flights to head home for Thanksgiving and beyond to help us find the chillest travel days or, at the very least, prepare for what’s ahead. 

While I was born and bred here in New Zealand – or Aotearoa, the country's Māori-language name – I’ve spent enough years away to understand how it’s a destination that can feel comfortingly familiar and completely strange to visitors all at once. 

While many Americans associate kaleidoscopic fall foliage with New England, Seattle also brims with autumnal appeal with cool, crisp air and a stunning backdrop of tree-covered hills and mountains. Also: where else can you take in awe-inspiring views of Mount Rainier, knock back a chambong (champagne glass-beer bong hybrid), savor spicy Laotian chicken laap, and retire to a plush room overlooking Elliot Bay in a single day?

Holiday tradition usually dictates staying home for a large gathering with the extended family. But celebrating away can be an exciting prospect. You might not think it, but spending the holidays somewhere else can be much less stressful than hosting or staying with relatives. A vacation rental provides a neutral territory and a much-needed break from your normal holiday routine. All you need to do is to choose a festive place to go. A good place to start is with the country’s most popular Christmas cities. New York City, Santa Claus, Williamsburg, Park City, and Santa Barbara are the most sought-after destinations in the US for the holidays, and these are the best family-friendly Christmas Airbnbs perfect for a Yuletide gathering.

New York is one of 23 states where recreational marijuana is now legal. Travelers aged 21 and older may possess up to three ounces of cannabis (24 grams of concentrated cannabis) and consumption is permitted in most public spaces where smoking and vaping are allowed. Limitations still apply and you might feel more comfortable saving your dispensary haul for the end of the day – nodding off on the subway isn’t going to do you any favors. Get a bite of the Big Apple high life and revel in some post-hike hashish at these cannabis-friendly Airbnbs in New York State.

Ruidoso, New Mexico, population about 8,000, sits in the Sierra Blanca Mountain range at an elevation of 7,800 feet. Though small, it has a big draw for travelers thanks to its history, Indigenous and Spanish culture, family-friendly atmosphere, opportunities for outdoor adventure, and central location near Carlsbad Caverns, Lincoln National Forest, White Sands National Monument, and more. It’s the type of mountain town where you can actually find relaxation unlike some of the more visited mountain towns in states like Colorado and Utah.

A group of former Americans filed a class-action lawsuit against the United States to recover $1,900 paid through the process of renouncing their citizenship, arguing that the fee is too costly.

Want to get a jump on planning next year’s vacations? OvationNetwork, a luxury travel agency that’s part of the Virtuoso group of travel advisors, recently revealed its list of the 24 best places to travel in 2024. Among the destinations recommended are Sardinia, Italy; San Sebastián, Spain; Jeju, South Korea; and Ha Long, Vietnam (above), a UNESCO World Heritage site where a junk boat voyage is a must.

A land of snow-capped mountains, mirror lakes and lush forest, New Zealand comes up on many travelers’ bucket lists.

You're not imagining it, cruisers: Fares for cruises have been jumping this year — to record levels. And it looks like cruise pricing is only going higher, barring some sort of economic downturn that causes a significant dent in demand.

Touring New England in search of autumn’s changing colors has become so popular it has sprouted its own subculture of “leaf-peepers.”

It's October, which means the leaves are changing, giant skeletons are taking over suburban lawns and people are apple-picking pretty much anywhere an apple grows.