The top hidden-gem destinations to visit alone, according to a full-time solo traveler who's been to 43 countries

Following a record 350 submissions, we are delighted to announce that the winners of the 2024 Skift IDEA Awards have now been confirmed.

Riots have erupted throughout England and Northern Ireland over the past week in the wake of the killing of three children in a small town near Liverpool.A 17-year-old attacked the children with a knife while they attended a dance class. In
 addition to three dead, eight other kids were wounded in the incident, per media reports.While
 the alleged perpetrator was born and raised in Britain, rumors had initially circulated on social media that the individual was an immigrant.
 Since then, more than 400 people have been arrested in connection with violent riots taking place and the U.K.’s National Police Chiefs’ Council has implemented a “united and robust policing response” throughout the country.The
 riots in the country started in Southport, England, but have since spread to Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Leeds, Belfast, London, and other locations. Media reports have also indicated that the protestors have expressed anti-immigration and Islamophobic
 sentiments during the riots. Amid these protests, the media has released images of police in riot gear and backdrops of smoke and fire. And now, a flurry of countries have begun issuing travel advisories for the U.K. In an update issued as of August 5, Australia is recommending that its citizens “exercise a high degree of caution” when traveling to the United Kingdom. “Avoid areas where protests
 are occurring due to the potential for disruption and violence,” says the Australia advisory. “Monitor the media for information and updates. Follow the instructions of local authorities.”
 Additionally, the UAE, Nigeria, Malaysia, India, and Indonesia have issued new U.K. travel warnings amid the spate of violence.While the United States has not yet released its own updated advisory for the U.K., American travelers
 may naturally be wondering whether it’s safe to visit at the moment.

In an effort to speed up the process for its citizens who fly, Australia has said it will join the United States airport security programs.

Delta Air Lines is now rolling out fast, free Wi-Fi by T-Mobile on select long-haul international routes, with most transatlantic flights to be in service with free Wi-Fi by the end of the summer. 

Aug 9, 2024 • 7 min read

Racheli Evanson had a magical childhood. She grew up on Turtle Island in Fiji, which was immortalized in popular culture when it appeared in the 1980 Brooke Shields film Blue Lagoon. Racheli’s American father, Richard, purchased the island in 1972 and turned it into a private resort, where Racheli, her siblings, and her Fijian mother lived until she left to attend boarding school in Australia. Now living in Brisbane with her partner Will Perrins, an Australian in industrial property development, she works remotely for the resort, and the couple has traveled there many times. So there was only one place where Will wanted to propose—and only one destination where they knew they’d marry.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kayla Sommese, a Taylor Swift fan who traveled from Los Angeles to Vienna to catch Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. It has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified her expenses.

Aug 7, 2024 • 8 min read

Australia and the United Arab Emirates are on a growing list of countries warning that travel to the UK may be a safety risk.

Aug 5, 2024 • 6 min read

My husband, Andrew, retired early after we sold our business. We live in Melbourne, Australia, but now we spend a lot of time traveling.

August has just begun and with it comes the final hurrah of summer—but the savings aren't stopping yet for eager travelers looking to end this season on a high note. This month we're seeing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity courtesy of a Marriott and Blade collaboration, where guests who book suites in New York City can avoid the traffic by hitching a complimentary ride on a helicopter to and from the airport. For travelers still looking to beat the heat, head across the equator with Air New Zealand's offer of round-trip flights for as low as $998 to some of Australia's most popular cities—Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne—from LAX and SFO.