Backpacking tips

Finding the best graduation gift can be tough. You want to celebrate this important milestone with a thoughtful gift that both acknowledges the graduate’s accomplishment and is practical and useful for the next chapter in their lives. While some may be shopping for a graduate they don’t know very well, others are searching for the right gift for a person they know inside and out—either way, we have you covered. Whether they're stepping into the professional world, furthering their education, or pursuing their passions, our curated list of 37 unique gifts ensures that every graduate receives something truly special to mark this achievement. This selection includes the latest tech gadgets, luggage for the jet-setting grad, and travel accessories that will help make their next trip smooth and comfortable.

Whether you’re hopping on a plane en route to a dreamy, faraway beach or road tripping for a closer-to-home sandy retreat, packing the right bag helps ensure you have just what you need to make your trip to the beach as easy and relaxing as possible. Of course, a solo traveler’s idea of the best beach bag can be quite different from someone on a family vacation who is in charge of carrying everything for everyone. We’ve got both of those needs covered, and everything in between.

As a first generation Taiwanese immigrant, Kathy Yen says she feels a “profound significance” being an Asian American business owner.

For adventurous moms who love the outdoors, get them something they really want this year. Rather than the traditional flowers, perfume, or home goods route, why not show the intrepid mothers in your life how much you really see them and care about their interests and passions?

It’s time to leave your work-from-home set up and not just for a stint into the office. Business travel is once again trending and many of us have not restocked our travel bags in years. Now is the perfect time for a travel closet refresh and these items will help you look your best and be better prepared for that next official meeting.

The backpack is an ideal accessory for travel but in many cases function overrules form with sturdy zippers, industrial strength fabrics, and cheerless colorways. Designers and luggage producers have sensed this disparity and now customers can find a range of cool offerings—backpacks that get the job done but don’t scream “I’m going hiking today.” These are some of the travel world’s top options for both style and substance.

American Airlines has loosened its rules for customers to carry on a pet.

Those who want to help others while vacationing, sign up for one of many international charity projects

Airline luggage fees have been a hot topic recently, with several carriers raising their charges for checked baggage. How should travelers pack differently as they prepare for their summer vacations? I asked Rob Cooper, CEO of the luggage manufacturer Travelpro, how this will change the way we travel.

Lonely Planet's Destination Editor for Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent, Akanksha Singh, weighs in on which is better for cell phone users on the move in Europe and Asia: physical SIM cards or eSIMs.

When I came across an Instagram photo of waterfalls cascading over rocky red cliffs into turquoise pools, I knew I needed to learn more about this magical place and how I could get there.

Ask any frequent traveler their rules for a trip, and you’ll likely hear the same advice: Never check a bag. Carry-on only. But fitting everything you need, especially for a longer stay, into one small suitcase and one handbag or backpack requires some ingenuity: The maximum dimensions for luggage going into most overhead bins are 22 by 14 by 9 inches, and though the majority of domestic flights don’t have — or at least don’t enforce — weight limits, some international and trans-Pacific flights do (certain Delta flights to Asia, for example, have a limit of 22 pounds, while Hawaiian Airlines’s maximum is 25 pounds). The payoff, if you do get it right: quicker airport experiences that don’t involve the risk of lost luggage and, upon arrival, fewer decisions about what to wear. Here, tried-and-true tips from a few experts.

Shortly after having my first child, with a trip on the books, I remember messaging a mom friend and asking: What do you do about a bag? After all, there was a day not too long ago when the diaper bag was an eyesore. An item on a baby registry, it was clunky and baby-centered, and it marked a short life stage, retiring to a closet a mere matter of years later.

A long weekend is ahead of us and whether you're planning to spend it at an all-inclusive resort or just lounging at home, don't forget to take advantage of the many Presidents' Day sales going on. Many deals have already begun, with some brands offering up to 70 percent off through Monday. To make sure you don't miss out on any of the discounts, we've rounded up the best of the best sales from some of our favorite travel-friendly brands: Brooklinen, Calpak, Cozy Earth, and Monos included. Read on for 47 can't-miss Presidents' Day sales for travelers—from luggage and bags to mattresses and outdoor gear.

Two passengers on a cruise from Miami to the UK were found to be carrying over 100 bags of marijuana, a Department of Homeland Security affidavit says.

The best hiking backpack can feel daunting to find. After all, every hiker knows that when planning an outdoor adventure, organizing your gear and creature comforts can sometimes feel as challenging as the journey itself. You have that pre-trip list down pat: water bottle, check; sun protection, check; bug spray, check. But the perfect bag to carry it all in? Getting that right takes a little more time and research. To help you sort through the best hiking backpacks for your next adventure—whether you're headed on a half-day outing in your local state park, or a weeklong trek through Denali—we looked to some of our favorite outdoor gear brands, and tapped the outdoorsy folks in our sphere to tell us which backpacks they love to sport.

The benefits of investing in a great travel backpack are numerous. In most instances, they’re just as roomy as your carry-on, with the added perks of allowing for easy access to essentials (no need to unveil the entire contents of your bag to the airport while digging about for your phone charger when you’ve got plenty of pockets to utilize). With a backpack, you can head off to your airport gate with both hands-free for your coffee and boarding pass. And they’re a much better option for hiking and camping trips; nobody wants to lug a suitcase across soggy grass or bumpy terrain.

San Francisco is no noob to reinvention. People have said the city is “over” for more than a hundred years. As native San Franciscan Chris Larsen said on local TV news, "We've seen this many times before. You know San Francisco is a story of boom, bust and, kind of, reinvention." Since COVID, the tech elite and their legions of vest and backpack uniformed armies have mostly vanished, leaving downtown and the areas around Market Street in disarray.

One summer, many years ago when I was 17, I met a Dutch girl in a pub who was backpacking around Ireland. She said she was staying in hostels and was off to Doolin in County Clare the next day. Somehow, I hadn’t realised it was that easy to strike out and see the world. The next morning I took the bus to Doolin and began a lifelong love of independent travel and the open road. I never saw the Dutch girl again despite a full search of every pub in the village.

It’s not too late to get some last-minute gifts shipped for folks on your list who enjoy the great outdoors, but want to do it in style. Glamorous camping is made easy with these finds.

With landscapes ranging from glaciers to deserts and home to every adventure activity imaginable, it’s no surprise that Latin America is a prime destination for trekkers. If you’re planning a trip, you’re covered with this travel gear for Latin America list. Whether hiking on glaciers in Argentina, trekking to Machu Picchu in Peru, driving 4WD through the deserts of Chile, or swimming with sea lions in the Galápagos, you’ll be ready for any adventure.