Travelling the Cammino Basiliano: the Serre and Aspromonte massifs

As a family sat vigil over a coffin containing the body of an elderly relative, the wooded hills around their apartment building in Palermo burned from wildfires. Winds blew the blazes closer, torching cars, dumpsters, sheds and electricity poles. Then the flames licked the apartment building, forcing its inhabitants to flee.

Just when you thought the Boston vs. New York City rivalry couldn’t get any more heated, TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel’s parent company) released a controversial study stating that Regina Pizzeria, located in Boston’s Little Italy neighborhood, is the best pizza restaurant in the U.S.

If you want to stay at the best hotel in the United States, head to the French Quarter Inn in Charleston, South Carolina. And if you’re looking for the best bargain hotel stay in the world, it’s in a small town in northern Spain. That’s according to TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards, which just shared the best hotel ratings for multiple categories heading into 2019.

Travel to Europe is going to get slightly more complicated in 2021. Starting that year, visitors from the U.S. will need to get an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) approval before entering countries in the Schengen zone. According to the delegation of the European Union to the U.S., the measure is not a Europe visa, but an authorization that “will enable us to get more comprehensive information from travelers coming from visa-exempt, third-country [nations] arriving at the Schengen external borders.”

When the legendary host of Jeopardy! passed away on November 8, 2020, the world honored Trebek’s showmanship, philanthropy, and vast reserves of knowledge. But the travel community mourned one of their own.

Autumn enthusiasts are constantly on the hunt for that first sign of changing leaves. Fall looks a little different in every part of the country and dedicated leaf peepers don’t want to miss a thing. From golden aspens amidst the Rocky Mountains to classic New England foliage along the East Coast, here are seven destinations where leaf peepers can catch the best fall colors.

Holland America Line will launch a 42-day cruise across the Atlantic Ocean and around Europe and the Middle East from Florida next year, inspired by a journey the cruise line took nearly 100 years ago.

Lake Como, or Lago di Como, is what the Riviera is to France: An area of the country that is so beautiful and serene it has attracted the rich and famous for centuries. (It is no secret that George Clooney has a swanky villa along the lake.) All these wealthy celebrities have managed to create a bubble of luxury around this magnificent part of northern Italy by building immense and luxurious villas along the lake’s shore, but if you’re a non-millionaire traveler who wants in on the action, worry not, there are ways to have a good and affordable time on the shore of Italy’s most famous lake.

Staying the night in the smallest country in the world, Vatican City, would likely be a bucket-list item for many travelers if it were possible. Unfortunately, it isn’t. There are no hotels in Vatican City and you certainly can’t pitch your tent on St. Peter’s Square. However, there are hotels very, very close to the Holy See, some with unparalleled views of St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world.

From the comfort of these luxurious hotels near the Statue of Liberty, you can marvel at the grandeur of the iconic statue bathed in the golden glow of sunrise or under the twinkling stars right from the comfort of your accommodation. These hotels not only provide an unforgettable visual treat but also place you in the heart of New York City, where you’re just steps away from other major attractions such as the Empire State Building. Visiting the Statue of Liberty should be planned in advance — after all, it is one of the most famous landmarks in the world. Opting for a hotel on or close to the water means you can roll out of bed at sunrise and get a little head start before the crowds hit. The hotels here have been selected for location, but also five-star amenities, service, and an overall exceptional rating from guests.

Repeated heatwaves and growing fears about the climate crisis may spell the beginning of the end for the Mediterranean as a holiday destination, according to a report published by the European Travel Commission.