Life tips

Many people on the mainland remain unaware of the truth behind the Maui wildfires. They wrongfully believe that the entire island of Maui is closed – and nothing could be further from the truth. As of this writing, Maui’s upscale resort area of Kapalua is open – and welcoming tourists with its famous warm aloha.

On the train from Zurich to Bad Ragaz, a charming mountain town in eastern Switzerland, you pass mirror-like lakes so still that it’s hard to tell the difference between the sky and the water. Jagged Alpine trees are seen twice, their reflection in the water creating a topsy-turvy landscape. Mountain peaks are upside down and the cobalt of autumnal skies merge into the ice-blue of the lake’s surface.

For more than 25 years, Alberto Avila has been making careteros, or paper maché masks, perpetuating a tradition of Indigenous communities in Ecuador. Typically worn by tribal leaders, the masks are used widely in local festivities. As Avila explains, each mask is intended to reflect “what’s inside” its creator—his first took the form of a devil, a character he identified with at the time, but he’s tranquil, nowadays, and has made more playful versions lately.

During my first night at Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris in June, I noticed something was amiss. The large chair in the corner had been slightly repositioned, the curtains were drawn, and the bed looked tidier than I left it earlier that day.

Monsters might be fictional characters in books and movies, but these ominous, otherworldly creatures are often linked with real-life places.

The Carneros Resort and Spa has many features you'd expect from a luxury resort in the heart of California's Napa Valley: sophisticated farmhouse style, a tranquil spa and extraordinary views of the neighboring vineyards.

It’s certainly an eye-catching shop window, full of interesting artefacts – an old sewing machine stands poised over a sheet of leather, with an oil lamp on one side, ancient shoe moulds on the other. There’s more leather hanging above, with footsteps cut into it. I step into the Tannerie, then lock the door behind me.

For one type of worker, any time outside the office is time well spent — even if they're working.

A woman who left her career in the stock market and opened a CrossFit gym in rural Japan said life in the countryside wasn't as slow-paced as some might think.

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This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Palmar Kelly, 27, a TikTok creator who posts content about working as a sugar baby. It has been edited for length and clarity.

For 31 years, Catherine King and her husband Wayne Adams lived side by side on a floating island in Canada they built with their own hands. 

“I just felt something was wrong,” says Lucilla, a teacher who lives in the small Italian city of Mantova.

Today, London is a bustling, metropolitan city, and the same could be said about the city 100 years ago. 

My relationship with France, much like that with the United States, started in the south and cautiously moved north. Originally from Atlanta, I’ve been in the New York area for the past decade. But even now, I’m still finding my footing—and with each stumble, taking time for myself in France has helped guide me.

Piling onto a tractor-trailer, an assortment of Luxor youngsters leaned into a conversation with a pair of retirees from Europe. "We’re learning English," the youngest said, unabashed by any lack of formal introduction. A tumble of questions followed: "Where you from? You like Luxor? How many kids you have?"

SeaWorld is thrilled to announce it will open one-of-a-kind marine life themed rides and attractions in every SeaWorld park in Spring 2024.

While Captain Sandy Yawn is at the helm of a super yacht for months at a time, she relies on an everyday, tried-and-true method for keeping in touch with loved ones on land: FaceTime

Chef Michel Roux Jr. has announced that his two-Michelin star London restaurant Le Gavroche will be closing its doors permanently in January.

Alison Sinclair’s trip to Turks and Caicos was supposed to be one of the best times of her life. But while on an island getaway with her best friend, she skipped beach time and swimming in favor of the bar, getting so drunk every day that she alienated her friend and they stopped speaking.

Everything about Las Vegas feels indulgent, from the glittering lights on the Strip to the cacophony of casino slot machines and all-you-can-eat buffets. However, perhaps nothing in Las Vegas is more indulgent than the luxury hotel suites that sit high above the Strip.