‘So good I went five times’: travel writers’ favourite discoveries of 2023

Staring at a map of North and South America, from the frozen extremities of Canada down to the Diego Ramírez islands off Chile, it’s hard to fathom the cultural variations that have evolved across the two continents. This is a region of ancient civilisations and lost cities, from the indefinable magic of Peru to the jungle temples of Mexico. Yet it’s also the birthplace of rock and roll, country music and the blues, with a wildly vivacious, deep-rooted commitment to the good times. Just look to New Orleans and the Deep South, where renowned music forms arose beside atmospheric marshlands, in a truly authentic piece of Americana. Here, five experts reveal their favourite cultural locations and experiences across the two continents.

Doha: The 24 teams in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ have confirmed their respective squads for the 18th edition of Asia’s premier national team tournament with plenty of interesting narratives at play.

Mexico is known for its beautiful beaches, bustling cities, colorful towns, and delicious food. When a country has so much to offer, deciding the best time to visit Mexico can be difficult. The truth is that figuring out when to visit Mexico depends on what type of holiday you’re looking to enjoy.

Japan will head to the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ as the top ranked Asian side. The four-time AFC Asian Cup winners maintained their 17th spot in the latest FIFA World Ranking issued last Thursday.

The Asian Cup comes around every four years, but for some countries, the wait is much longer than that.

Architectural Digest released its top 10 “emerging luxury cities” in October. Its criteria — activities, properties, dining, annual income, diversity, and safety — are all geared toward residents. But what do these cities hold for visitors seeking an exceptional vacation?

Surely at some point in your childhood, you sat in front of a globe and spun it around and around until your index finger landed on a random spot. As adults, we rely on content, recommendations, or our own instincts when it comes to visiting a specific destination. To make it a bit easier: Tell us your favorite color and we'll tell you where to travel.

Another year has come and gone, and boy was this was a busy one for airline network planners across the country and around the world.

Southeast Mexico is brimming with archeological sites, biodiversity, and Pueblos Mágicos known for their rich cultural heritage. Many visitors barely make a dent in the region’s offerings, though, by flying to Cancún and heading straight for the beach, perhaps booking an excursion or two to Chichen Itza or Tulum, but generally not venturing further.

Wellness used to be as one-dimensional as a spin class and a smoothie. Diet and exercise are of course still fundamental, but we’ve finally started to embrace a more holistic approach to achieving better health. This means focusing on long neglected areas like a solid sex life, socializing, rest and recovery, and emotional and mental wellbeing. Feeling good now trumps looking good and healthspan—the quality of our years—has become just as important as lifespan. Longevity, the concept of living a longer and healthier life, will be the biggest buzzword of 2024, with wellness clinics as well as sybaritic beach retreats offering the latest biohacks (cryotherapy, infrared light treatments, poolside vitamin IV drips) to optimize our performance. Tantra gurus and sex therapists will be the new must-have in-house expert and artificial-intelligence empowered smart beds are fast becoming an expected amenity.

Up to four million people could travel to see the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 in North America, making it the most significant travel event of the year, according to new research.

Destinations worldwide have increasingly moved to lift visa requirements as part of their strategy to increase visitor numbers — visa processing delays are a major obstacle to the industry’s full recovery.