The Best Points and Miles Deals for November 2024

If you were looking to this list to help you narrow down your options for the best places to go in Africa in 2025, we’re going to apologize right now: Given the abundance of thrilling new openings to choose from, chances are, when you finish reading, your travel wish list will be longer than ever. But before you blow your budget entirely, a good place to start could be figuring out your “why”—what is it that excites you most about your next trip, and why do you travel?

Nov 21, 2024 • 6 min read

I never had a big plan to move to France.

Antigua is a former British colony with a big-hitting cricket reputation, a food scene that's big on flavor, and a beach for every single day of the year. The larger of Antigua and Barbuda, this is an island with some of the best beaches in the Caribbean—not to mention scenic coves, rollicking beach bars, and even one sandy spot with a red phone booth straight out of London that will have you think you're seeing a mirage. It's utter fly-and-flop perfection, but delve a little deeper and you'll find a myriad things to do beyond the sand. Here are our suggestions.

Dis-loyalty, one of the most disruptive hotel membership programs in the industry, is here with a November offer you can't afford to miss: You can get 50% off hotel stays at popular brands like The Hoxton, SLS, Mondrian, SO/ and Mama Shelter.

Nov 15, 2024 • 7 min read

Whale!” Mark shouted at breakfast. The rest of us passengers, the ship’s captain, and the naturalist guides stood up at once. We lifted the binoculars strapped around our necks and scanned the horizon from the sundeck. The Bolivar Channel is the best place to see whales around the Galápagos Islands, and eagle-eyed Mark, with his patience and determination, had spotted a splash nearby. A fin appeared and we all gasped and whooped.

To arrive at our list of the Best Places to Go in North America and the Caribbean in 2025, we painted with the broadest strokes possible. Quite literally, because these destinations test the physical bounds of the region. From Alberta to Cuba, and Denver to Greenland (which, yes, is technically part of North America), we’ve left no possibility unturned. Within this wide geographical stretch, there’s also a diversity of travel inspiration—from nature explorations to food and wine trails and cultural immersions. In Alaska, where the much-loved Glacier Bay National Park celebrates 100 years of being made a national monument, Native-run adventures abound on Kodiak Island, where small groups of visitors can share space with the largest subspecies of brown bear in the world. In Canada’s Banff and Lake Louise, a sprawling new wellness center at a beloved Canadian Rockies hotel will offer health and vitality alongside dazzling views. Out and away in Greenland, new access to parts previously untrammeled means more visitors can enjoy its majestic fjords and incandescent northern lights from land and sea. If that doesn’t feel soaring enough, there’s Space Coast, Florida, where you can claim your spot to witness historic rocket launches (and sample more earthly adventures like kayaking through its bioluminescent waters). It’s not all space travel and remote landscapes. If you’re drawn to more intimate experiences, perhaps you’ll consider Barbuda: the 62-square-mile gem in the eastern Caribbean Sea will come alive with fresh energy (there’s also a new Nobu Beach Inn arriving) as its airport reopens after the devastation of 2017’s Hurricane Irma. Or maybe Alexander Valley, California—where the establishment of a new wine region is underway—calls out to you, for Cabernet Sauvignons that rival the best of ‘em and gastronomic delights that range from Michelin-star meals to family-style spreads. In the end, whatever catches your fancy, we hope that you’ll bookmark this list, and use it to plan where you’ll visit in North America and the Caribbean in 2025. See you out there! —Arati Menon

River cruising is “having a moment,” as Zane Kerby, president and chief executive officer of the American Society of Travel Advisors, said earlier this year at ASTA’s sold-out River Cruise Expo in Amsterdam. 

Nov 11, 2024 • 8 min read

The best time to visit Vietnam—one of two fabulous Southeast Asian countries that ranked in the top 10 list of best countries in the world according to Condé Nast Traveler readers—is whenever it (probably) won't rain. Vietnam is a study in bustling street scenes in cities like Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, beautiful natural destinations like Hạ Long Bay, and beaches where you can unwind or party the night away. As such, you'll want the weather to cooperate, no matter which part of the long, coastal nation you end up visiting. To get the inside scoop on the best time to visit Vietnam, I spoke to two of Condé Nast Traveler’s Top Travel Specialists: Tisha Neufville of Neufville Travel, and Catherine Heald of Remote Lands, both of whom count Vietnam as a country of expertise in their capacity as travel advisors. Here, they break down when to visit, how long to stay, and where to go for your first time.

Nov 5, 2024 • 7 min read