Country tips

It wasn't so long ago that America's most famous winemaking regions, the Napa and Sonoma valleys, attracted only a tiny and somewhat eccentric cohort of tourists. Then came the legendary Judgment of Paris competition in 1976, when two Napa wineries bested some of France's most prominent vintners in a blind tasting, helping to legitimize Northern California as a world-class wine destination.

To visit Finland — named the happiest country for many years in a row — my husband and I traveled by ferry.

Jul 26, 2024 • 8 min read

Hyatt wants to take you on a luxurious camping adventure — almost like a safari.

Jul 25, 2024 • 7 min read

Jul 25, 2024 • 8 min read

The U.S. Department of State issues a limited number of emergency passports on a case-by-case basis for U.S. citizens who need a passport to travel.

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Yusuf and Sumaiya Omar, co-founders of Seen TV . They have no fixed address and travel constantly with their son, Noah. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

I graduated from college two years ago and set a goal for myself to visit at least 50 countries before I turn 30.

Over the coming weeks, some 15 million visitors will descend upon Paris for the 2024 Olympics. And many will linger longer, hitting the country’s hotspots such as the much-loved Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, which already teems with travelers. So if you’ve been eyeing a hotel nestled in the quaint town of Gordes, or dreaming about a dip off the coast of Antibes or Saint-Tropez, you might want to think again. But that doesn’t mean you have to rule out a sojourn to the South of France altogether–other sunny locations including lesser-trafficked Marseille and the Luberon Valley, sans Masseratis and glitzy Gucci slides, are indeed worthwhile for a quiet city break.

From protesters in Barcelona to large cruise ship bans and visitor taxes in Venice, the world's hottest destinations are making it clear that overtourism negatively impacts the quality of life for locals.

According to survey responses from American Express Travel, more people are planning big trips this year — and nearly 70% of them are going solo.

Jul 20, 2024 • 4 min read

Waiting tables a few months at a time is enough for Celeste Cox to fund her travels to bucket list destinations.

Well, here I am again, back in Bangkok, sitting on the same old wobbly plastic stool, outside the same old Chinatown food shop, eating the same old oyster omelet. But there's nothing everyday about this particular dish. Nai Mong Hoi Thod may look like little more than a white-tiled hole in the wall, with a few tables and a fearsome charcoal wok that sizzles and sparks and roars. But appearances can be deceiving. Michelin has designated the restaurant as Bib Gourmand, and its famous omelet—golden, gooey, and studded with sweet-salty bivalves—is a dish of frazzled majesty. As scavenging cats wind between our legs and as tuk-tuks, scooters, and bicycles whiz through air so thick and hot you could scoop it with a spoon, I look at my dining companion, the chef, restaurateur, and writer David Thompson, and grin with sweaty glee. It really is good to be back.

Jul 18, 2024 • 11 min read

Jul 18, 2024 • 13 min read

In 2019, I moved from the US to Ireland and didn't look back.

Jul 18, 2024 • 6 min read

New England’s longest rail trail is now open, allowing travelers in Vermont to walk, bike, and even horseback ride across the state.

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with a digital marketer Aivaras Vilutis, about being a 28-year-old living in Vilnius, Lithuania. The following has been edited for length and clarity.