Travel

(CNN) — The sun is just dipping below the horizon as a steady line of four-wheel-drives, and a few plucky little sedans, pour into the Al Qudra oasis on the outskirts of Dubai. The sky is tinged red, the sun a scorching orange, setting the vast lakes that interrupt the desert ablaze with color. It’s

(CNN) — American student Nicole Erickson was about to embark on an epic round the world trip. Ahead of her lay two years of adventure that could change her life forever. But fate had different ideas. The life-changing event happened before she’d even departed: she encountered a total stranger on a ship, and something unexpectedly

(CNN) — Extreme weather is being blamed for a terrifying incident that left one tourist stranded on a 260-meter-high glass-bottomed suspension bridge in northeast China’s Jilin province on May 7. The bridge is located in the Piyan Mountain Cultural Tourism Scenic Area outside the city of Longjing. According to a statement posted on the Weibo

(CNN) — In a Parisian hotel 45 years ago, some of France’s biggest wine experts came together for a blind tasting. The finest French wines were up against upstarts from California. At the time, this didn’t even seem like a fair contest — France made the world’s best wines and Napa Valley was not yet

(CNN) — Florida’s new law prohibiting businesses from asking whether employees or customers have been vaccinated against Covid-19 may take a toll on its cruise business. The CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. said Thursday it could cause the company to suspend Florida departures and move its ships elsewhere. “At the end of the

(CNN) — When Florence’s Uffizi gallery reopened this week after another government-imposed lockdown, it was with a fanfare. After a six-month closure for renovations, the second floor of the gallery — home to 15th- to 17th-century works of art by the likes of Titian, Caravaggio and Tintoretto — has finally reopened. The area — which

(CNN) — Travelers from the UK have been given the go ahead to visit Portugal, Gibraltar and Israel from May 17 when months of restrictions making it illegal to travel abroad for a vacation will come to an end. The UK government has finally revealed the 12 countries and territories that will be designated “green”

On March 31, the Italian government issued a decree that would see cruise ships and large commercial vessels banned from the Venetian lagoon, and calling for tenders to be sought to construct a new port outside the lagoon. Yet just 15 days later, MSC Cruises announced that the MSC Orchestra would be heading up the

(CNN) — It’s not been an easy year running a travel news desk. Openings, closings, ever-changing guidance — there’s been a lot for CNN Travel to monitor. What it has made us, however, is Covid travel experts. Now that the world is starting to open back up, we’ll be sharing our knowledge with you through

(CNN) — Raffaele Esposito, the 19th century Neapolitan credited with inventing Italy’s most famous type of pizza, may be turning in his grave: Rome has a new vending machine which slides out freshly cooked pizzas in just three minutes. Buyers using the flaming red “Mr. Go Pizza” machine can choose from four different kinds of

(CNN) — My travel bucket list before the pandemic: hike to Everest Base Camp, cruise to Antarctica, try to visit every prefecture in Japan. My travel bucket list after the pandemic: go to my hometown and spend time with my parents. I know I’m not the only one. While nostalgia has always played a significant

(CNN) — The beautiful islands of French Polynesia have officially reopened their borders to tourists. The group of Pacific islands, which include popular beach getaways Tahiti and Bora Bora, opened their borders on May 1 to travelers from around the world. Though that’s good news for people eager to find a vacation spot this summer,

Bangkok (CNN) — Ah, tattoos. For some, they’re the ultimate holiday souvenir. A permanent symbol of an enriching experience in a foreign land, a work of art to gaze upon as you recall a time and place that left an indelible impression not just on your soul, but on your skin as well. For the

(CNN) — Visitors to Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, will be able to skip temperature checks at the park from May 16. The company has announced on its website that it’ll be phasing out on-site temperature screenings for cast members starting May 8 and for guests on May 16. “Since reopening, we have

(CNN) — In a career that’s spanned more than 60 years, Robert Ballard has conducted over 150 underwater expeditions and made countless significant scientific discoveries. But the renowned oceanographer says he’s made peace with the fact that he will probably always be known as “the man who found Titanic.” According to Ballard, his mother predicted

The Goop founder and Oscar winner heralded the 2022 return of her Celebrity Cruises partnership by sharing a photo of herself wearing a bikini on the beach while staring off into the distance. “I am always happiest by, in or on the sea! In 2022 my @goop team and I are going to join @celebritycruises

(CNN) — Created in 1971 from the creaking remains of the classic US railroads that helped build modern America, Amtrak has often lived a precarious existence. Subject to the whims of politicians in Washington D.C. and constantly under pressure from the well-funded and hugely influential oil, automotive and airline industry lobbies, the national passenger rail

(CNN) — When the European Union recently announced that vaccinated Americans will be allowed to enter the EU this summer, many US travelers celebrated, eager to dust off their passports for a long-awaited trip abroad. But for many families in the EU separated from loved ones in non-EU countries — some for a year or

(CNN) — Imagine casting off most of your worldly possessions to live on a sailboat you bought on the Internet — perhaps without even seeing it, or knowing how to tie a knot or hoist the mainsail. For some newbie sailors who embarked on boat life during the pandemic, the past year provided an unexpected

(CNN) — Nupur Gupta was nearing the end of a two-week stint teaching at a yoga retreat in Goa, India. It was February 2019 and the weather was balmy, bathing Goa’s famous beaches in a warm glow. The sea glistened, invitingly. In between yoga practice, Gupta always made time for a swim. On this particular