The 15 best things to do in New Orleans

Oct 2, 2024 • 7 min read

With holiday travel approaching using airline miles and points is a smart way to avoid a possible hefty price tag. However, certain award currencies provide better value than others during peak travel times.

The days are getting shorter and the nights cooler, marking the beginning of the “winter season” for airlines. By a quirk of the industry calendar, airlines’ official winter schedules begin at the end of October and run through March. And new schedules mean new routes.

Every year, Condé Nast Traveler readers weigh in on their favorite hotels, airlines, cruises, islands, and more in our annual Readers’ Choice Awards. Luggage is also among the categories you voted on this year, applauding the brands you trust the most for durable, practical suitcase and bags. After all, no matter the trip—be it a safari, cruise, city escape, or weekend in the woods—you need something to carry your belongings. And for many of us, that same carry-on, duffel bag, or backpack becomes our trusty travel companion for years at a time. Below, find your fellow readers’ favorite luggage brands, plus a few of each brand’s most popular pieces of luggage, should you be looking to add a new roomy weekender or sturdy suitcase to your collection.

Sep 30, 2024 • 3 min read

Sep 27, 2024 • 10 min read

There’s never a wrong time of year to visit the Berkshires, the mountainous stretch of western Massachusetts located just 140 miles north of New York City. You can thank the fall’s vibrant display of foliage, summer’s Tanglewood music festival that draws crowds from all over the world, and a steady tide of new hotel openings to take advantage of as cozy winter getaways and for ski season. The region also has strong roots as an artists community, with a robust community of galleries, independent boutiques, and museums. And for city dwellers looking to stretch their legs, the Berkshires is also home to scenic hiking trails and winter slopes for every activity and ability level.

Not all oceanside vacations are created equal, and one trip to Wilmington and our island beaches will show you why we’re the crown jewel of coastal getaways in the Carolinas. With the city’s historic River District and Riverwalk, along with three island beaches just minutes away, there’s plenty to explore. Expect to encounter turquoise waters, exceptional sand, one-of-a-kind nature escapes, and award-winning chefs and breweries — just a few of the many attractions you’ll fall in love with on this slice of the North Carolina coast.

Bachelorette parties tend to be big extravagant parties. That’s why New Orleans is the ideal bachelorette party destination: There’s live music, seafood restaurants, drinking is allowed on the street — and of course, you can’t miss out on the rowdy atmosphere of the Bourbon street bars. So make the most of your time you need a New Orleans bachelorette party airbnb that is comfortable and stylish — and a pool doesn’t hurt either.

Delta Air Lines and Scandinavian Airlines have launched a close partnership to expand flights to Northern Europe, just weeks after the European carrier joined the SkyTeam alliance. 

During segregation, Lincoln Beach was the one place on Lake Pontchartrain In New Orleans where Black people were allowed to swim. Live acts like Fats Domino and Nat King Cole drew crowds to a recreation area that included a roller coaster and swimming pools. But with passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, Black New Orleanians were finally allowed to swim at nearby Pontchartrain Beach. Lincoln Beach closed not long after.

Airline loyalty programmes are famously big business - but how much do you actually understand about how they work?