SmarterTravel Spotlight: Courtyard Marriott Bonaire Dive Resort

A lot has been happening in the Indian Ocean in recent years, with new hotels, wildlife breaks, private island escapes and tours offering the inside scoop on local culture. From Tanzania to Sri Lanka, via the Seychelles, the Maldives and Mauritius, here's what you need to know.

It may be the middle of summer, but Club Med is thinking ahead to ski season and putting vacations on sale up to 40 percent off.

While many already consider summer their favorite time of year, Ocean Casino Resort—the iconic 20-acre Atlantic City hotel gracing the Atlantic City Boardwalk—has been making this season one for the books with festive offerings, new food and beverage outlets, and one-of-a-kind collaborations.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with 44-year-old Denmark native Torbjørn "Thor" Pedersen. It has been edited for length and clarity. Although world travel isn't well-documented, record-keeper Harry Mitsidis told Condé Nast Traveler that about 199 people had traveled to every country; claims appear to be based on the honor system, the magazine reported. Pedersen spoke to Insider while he was still on his journey. He finally returned home to Denmark on July 26.

One of the most visited national parks in the US is the Grand Canyon National Park, with nearly five million visitors per year. Of those millions of tourists, only about five percent dip below the rim and broaden their exploration. Further, of the five percent that hike below the rim, only about ten percent actually make it to the Colorado River. This is the magic of a backpacking trip to one of the most beloved national parks in the country. You don’t have to go far to have the place to yourself.

Acqualina Resort & Residences in Sunny Isles Beach, just north of Miami, is among my favorite properties in the world and one of that’s beloved by my entire family.

Located at the confluence of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, Isla Mujeres serves as a treasure trove of North American biodiversity, with bottlenose dolphins, sailfish, and green sea turtles all thriving in its surrounding waters—yet one animal in particular has long suffered due to human activity. Though they play a prominent role in the local marine ecosystem, sharks are often unnecessarily culled due to their reputation as mindless killing machines, and in the Quintana Roo area, the animals have historically been targeted by the local fishing industry as well.

Royal Caribbean already operates the world’s largest cruise ship—Wonder of the Seas—but next January it will break that record with Icon of the Seas, which boasts 2,805 staterooms (including more than 1,800 with balconies) and 179 suites. Nearly 1,200 feet long, Icon of the Seas has 20 decks and features a 55-foot-waterfall, multiple pools and waterparks and a “chill island” and a “thrill island”—depending on a passenger’s vibe.

Marriott has long been known as a corporation with a conscience.