Trip tips

When you first look through the airplane window and down at the Azores, you’ll be left speechless. From this very first glimpse, you’ll understand why many call this Portuguese archipelago the “Hawaii of Europe” and the “Islands of Colors.”

Ever wonder how much someone's vacation really costs?

Welcome back to another episode of the TravelPulse Podcast! 

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will sweep across areas of North America.

The story of England stretches back more than 5000 years (and likely many more). Which means its impossible to escape the past here.

In my late 20s, I left my beloved Philadelphia apartment near friends and favorite restaurants and moved to the suburbs closer to my boyfriend and work. Then my boyfriend moved to Texas for a job. After five months of long distance, the pandemic hit, and I started working remotely from his home in Houston.

If you ask French people what they think of the SNCF, the French national railway company, many will complain about how often the employees are on strike (not that often, really). However, you won’t hear many grieve about the frequency of the trains, the extent of the network, or the price it costs to ride the rails. That’s because the rail service in France is exceptionally good. I’ve been riding trains all over the world for over 20 years and, in my opinion, few places can match the rail service you get in France other than maybe the extensive rail network in Japan.

Situated between the waters of Lake Winona to the south and the finger-like channels of the Mississippi River to the north, the city of Winona, Minnesota, is best experienced outside. And while out-of-staters might assume this dynamic changes during the winter months, nothing could be further from the truth. Visitors to and locals in Winona know the joys of bundling up, grabbing a warm beverage, and communing with the season’s outdoor wonders.

Salt lake city is the best outdoorsy big city in America, with easy access to skiing, climbing, hiking, biking, and — because of the lake from which it got its name — even on-water activities. These combine to make SLC the perfect basecamp for your Utah adventures, and these are the top Airbnb Salt Lake City rentals to host your stay.

Massachusetts may measure in at just 27,363 square kilometers, but what this historic state lacks in size it certainly makes up for in biodiversity. From the craggy peaks of the Berkshires to the tip of Provincetown, classic New England fauna can all be found in abundance across the commonwealth—but when it comes to winter birdwatching in particular, it’s best to head east. Carved eons ago by moving glaciers, Cape Cod serves as a top summer vacation destination, while the dead of winter brings ample opportunity for birdwatchers hoping to lengthen their life list. With winter in its final throes, don’t miss out on the last few weeks of cold-weather birding across this stunning Bay State region.

Last year a record number of Americans visited Turkey (or Türkiye, the new official national name). This was no coincidence.

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.

Hawaii may be a known destination for honeymoons and weddings. But, the Aloha State is also a fantastic getaway for solo travelers looking to connect with nature. While there’s plenty of solo adventures on the islands — surfing, snorkeling, hiking, to name a few — solo travelers to Hawaii also have their pick of group tours that could include everything from whale watching tours off the coast of Maui to ATVing on red dirt paths through Kauai’s lush green pastures.

The tropical Indonesian island of Bali has enticed travellers for over a century with its coralline seas, sacred volcanoes, mist-shrouded lakes and vibrant living heritage. A favoured holiday destination for antipodeans, Bali's irresistible beaches beckon backpackers, surfers and families alike. The south-coast areas of Seminyak, Kuta and Canggu, close to the airport, are where most visitors flock to, but it’s even better when you roam a little further.

Nine trains leave Kraków each weekday to climb up to Poland’s premier mountain retreat, Zakopane. In 1936, the fastest trains to Zakopane took under 2½ hours. Almost a century later, after infrastructure renewal work lasting several years, just one of those nine trainsmatches the 1936 time. Such is the state of railways in some parts of rural Poland.

River cruise line American Queen Voyages has shut down, canceling all future cruises and instructing future guests to apply for refunds.

Looking for a cool way to vacation in Canada this summer? How about a road trip hitting all the highlights of Alberta, the big Western province where the prairie meets the Rocky Mountains.

Following our college graduation last May, three of my best friends and I traveled to Greece for eight days.

Despite Norway’s dominance at the Winter Olympics, Scandinavia isn’t the first place you might think of for a skiing vacation in Europe. Iconic destinations such as the Alps in France, Switzerland, and Austria often overshadow the Nordic countries when it comes to winter sport getaways.

The State Department poured a bucket of cold water on spring break 2024 when it recently issued warnings for several popular spring destinations.

My husband and I love traveling together despite our sometimes conflicting definitions of vacation. I like to read with a cocktail in hand while he enjoys flying through the trees on a zip line.