Destinations

With photo-ready panoramas around seemingly every mountain bend and countless secondary roads leading off to charming little villages, having a vehicle in Colombia is the best way to explore the fascinating rural heartland of the country at your own pace. While driving here is not without challenges – king-sized potholes, landslides, frequent roadworks and costly tolls

From Samhain and All Souls’ Day to Día de Muertos and good old All Hallow’s Eve (Halloween), the northern hemisphere’s autumnal shift into the long, dark days of winter turns up some creepy and colorful celebrations around the globe; annual holidays that count amongst the world’s oldest and perhaps most misunderstood. Historically many cultures – from

At the start of every November, millions of people across Mexico and beyond celebrate the lives of their dearly departed—with ofrendas (altars), calaveras (skulls), poetry and some of the most colorful face paint in the world. The holiday is known as Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) and has its origins in Aztec and other

With its sun-drenched Mediterranean beaches, World Heritage cities, incredible cuisine, and multi-faceted culture, few countries in the world can tick all the traveler boxes with such a diverse range of attractions as Spain. It is truly unique.  Given Spain’s long and storied past of Catholic monarchies, Muslim caliphates and New World conquistadores one region can

Spain is sculpted by extensive mountain ranges surrounding a high inland plateau and has nearly 6000km (3728 miles) of coastline. This extraordinary geographic interplay means that hikers can enjoy staggering natural tableaus along their routes, featuring rugged cliff edges, granite rock formations, snowcapped mountains, rushing rivers, glacial lakes, deep canyons and turquoise-colored waters fringed by

In Korea, food is for the soul as well as for the stomach. Meals are meant for sharing, and eating is seen as a means to better health and well-being. Known for spicy flavors, Korean food culture is all about the sauces and condiments and, in turn, fermentation – exemplified by the national treasure that

Greece is meant for exploring, and not just by ferry. With your vehicle – rented or otherwise – there is a wealth of history, culture and, yes, beaches to savor.  Away from relying solely on buses and boats, opportunities to leave crowds behind are myriad. Here are five of our favorite road trips in Greece

The 1500 islands, cays and shoals that make up Raja Ampat lie on prime real estate at the heart of the Coral Triangle, a biodiversity hot spot where the Pacific and Indian Oceans collide. Likened to the “Amazon of the seas,” this tropical labyrinth holds one of the world’s highest densities of marine life with

Home to some of the world’s most innovative green spaces, hippest bars, superb museums and next-level hawker food, today’s Singapore is anything but dull. A futuristic skyline looms over a famously clean, increasingly green city-state rich in history and culture that oozes from Singapore’s bursting food courts, incense-scented temples, and heritage shophouse-lined streets. And thanks

Sarnies, toad in the hole, bangers and mash – traditional English cuisine is often as hearty as it is bewildering to visitors. What exactly is a brekkie? Once you’ve mastered the food slang, you’ll find that the food and drink offering in England is extensive, with plenty of regional specialties and individual quirks.  London is

Ocean and desert collide in Namibia to provide adventure playgrounds of water, sand and rock, with each as vast (and wild) as the other. Namibia’s landscapes are epic, both in terms of sheer scale and natural beauty. Imagine singing sands and dunes that climb to more than 300m (985ft) in height and look more like works

Sleeper trains are making a welcome comeback and it’s easy to see why; they’re more environmentally-friendly and sustainable than air travel, as well as being a fun and, often, comfortable way of traveling.  However, it may seem daunting if it’s your first time on a sleeper train. Avid train traveler Monisha Rajesh breaks down everything

Chile may be narrow, but the distance between Punta Arenas, in the south, and Arica, in the north, is about 5000km (3100 miles). That’s about the same as the distance between New York and San Francisco. Needless to say, getting around this fascinating South American country poses some challenges. This long and slender South American

Jordan offers the ultimate place for adventure. Here you can experience rich culture, Arab hospitality and cuisine, ancient ruins, out-of-this-world views, the adrenaline rush of rappelling into a canyon and the serenity of sleeping under starry skies – all in one day. There are so many unique things to do that it can be difficult to

A country famed for its exceptional natural wealth, Colombia promises beguiling natural beauty that spans rugged Andean peaks, wildlife-rich tropical rainforests, vast grasslands of wax palms and sparse, highland paramo.  Following two decades of concerted efforts to strengthen its protected areas, the country now has 59 national parks and protected areas, which span a total

With 200 miles of coastline, more than 170 volcanoes, multiple archeological sites with Mayan ruins and a rich coffee and cacao farming tradition, El Salvador is a wonderland for surfing, adventuring and relaxing.  Unfortunately, the country’s reputation abroad usually has more to do with danger than hiking trails – and understandably so.  Ravaged by a

Bermuda’s eclectic cuisine is a reflection of its history, from the accidental arrival on an uninhabited island by English survivors from the Sea Venture shipwreck, through centuries of the transatlantic trade of enslaved people, to the arrival of Portuguese farmers from the Azores. British, African, Portuguese and West Indian culinary influences, ingredients and traditional techniques

Comfy footwear and a good sense of direction will get you far and wide in Amsterdam. It’s one of the easiest European cities to get around. The Dutch capital’s center is easily walkable since it’s so compact – perhaps a little too so as it tends to get very crowded. Luckily, public transport, connecting central

Set between the beauty of the Caribbean Sea and the craggy ridges of the Blue Mountain range, Jamaica’s attractions range from hidden waterfalls and white-sand beaches, to historical architecture, great food and unique ecosystems. And when it comes to music, sports and culture, Jamaica has even more to offer. Here are the island’s top things to

Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, is captivating in its own right: from the sprawling Fushimi Inari-Taisha shrine to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in the western suburbs. But its location at the heart of the Kansai region makes it a great base for exploring farther afield, including nearby castles and fabled hot springs.  These are the