‘Ditch’ the Boots: Switzerland’s Barefoot Hiking Revival
Switzerland’s famous for its snowy peaks and picturesque slopes. It’s home to some of the world’s chicest ski resorts and 40,000 miles of summer hiking trails. The Swiss have elevated outdoor Alpine lifestyles to a national art form… and the image you might have is a global elite clad in equal parts stylish and highly technical gear. Not so fast. Switzerland Tourism...
The Only Country Celebrating the Autumn Equinox as a National Holiday
Many cultures have fall festivals, but only one makes the arrival of astronomical autumn a national holiday: Shubun no Hi. What’s more, Japan does it twice a year, also making March’s Vernal Equinox Day the holiday Shunbun no Hi. Shubun no Hi, or Autumnal Equinox Day, falls around September 22 or 23, when the sun crosses the celestial equator and day...
From Epic to Film to Real Life: How to Take your Own Greek Odyssey
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey put one of the world’s oldest travel stories back on the big screen in 2026—and launched Greek voyages back into our travel imaginations. It might be the year’s biggest inspiration for ‘set-jetting': planning your own dramatic exploration of Greece inspired by the film. Homer’s epic follows Odysseus making his way on a ten-year voyage home across a...
2 New Openings Continue to Redefine All-Inclusive Resort Vacations
Two new Caribbean resort openings show travelers just how far the concept of the all-inclusive holiday is stretching, with lifestyle hotels translating their unique identities into all-inclusives and focusing less on buffets and the beach and more on wellness retreats, culinary travel, and immersive cultural experiences. In Cancun, Mondrian is taking its famously design- and culture-driven hotel concept all-inclusive for the...
Baroque to Biohacking: the New Wellness Scene in Vienna's Luxury Hotels
Vienna has spent centuries perfecting the art of living well. Coffee and cake in chandeliered cafés. Music, art and architecture on an imperial scale. And, increasingly, some serious pampering behind the doors of the Austrian capital’s luxury hotels. But these days, “wellness” during your trip to Vienna can involve much more than a massage.The city’s luxury hotel spas still deliver plenty...
Four Seasons Opens 2nd Resort in Greece; 3rd on the Way
Greece’s ancient coastlines, history and modern lifestyle retain evergreen travel charm; no wonder Four Seasons has opened its second Greek resort - and its first on a Greek island. Four Seasons Hotel Mykonos is a tranquil beachfront retreat just 20 minutes from the island’s lively town and its renowned social lifestyle. Set above Kalo Livadi Bay, the new cliffside hotel features contemporary...
New Zealand Attracts a New Generation of Lord of the Rings Fans on 25th Anniversary of Film
Twenty-five years ago, moviegoers got their first glimpse of Middle-earth — and savvy travelers discovered that it looked remarkably like New Zealand. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring premiered in 2001, the first chapter of Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels. All three movies were filmed back-to-back in Jackson’s native New Zealand, with more...
VIDEO From the Bridge: Meet the Captain of the Paul Gauguin in Tahiti
What’s it like to captain a ship that sails year-round in exotic French Polynesia? I got to ask the captain of the Paul Gauguin during a visit to the bridge on a week-long voyage around the Islands of Tahiti. It’s a bucket-list trip for many of us – and rightfully so. Nowhere in the world compares with the tropical romance of...
European Cruising After the Christmas Markets: River and Ocean
What cruises give you the warmest welcome in Europe’s coolest months? River and coastal ocean cruising doesn’t completely stop when the Christmas holidays start. In fact, Europe’s “quiet season” is becoming a season of its own for cruisers. It’s true that most Christmas markets pack up around Christmas Eve, although some extend through the holidays. But then come New Year’s celebrations,...
Lights Out on One of the Hottest New Travel Trends
For generations, travelers have organized their days around daylight. Get up. See the sights. Take the photos. Then, as the sun sets, the day starts wrapping up. One of travel’s fastest-growing trends turns that itinerary upside down. And the lights off. Noctourism or Astrotourism? “Noctourism” – or nocturnal tourism – is the growing appetite for travel experiences after dark. Noctourism can intersect with astrotourism,...
