It’s a big world out there. It’s surely snowing somewhere no matter the time of year. Indeed, thanks to the alternating winters in the northern and southern hemispheres, skiers and snowboarders are able to hit the slopes at any time. If you prefer fresh powder to sand and surf – and you’re willing to travel …
Everything you need to know about Krampus – and where to find him
I’m basking in the holiday scene: happy Müncheners sip hot Glühwein around crackling firepits and shoppers pause at Christkindlmarkt stalls selling tiered Christmas pyramids (Weihnachtspyramide) and hand-carved Nativity sets. Suddenly, a cacophony of clanking overpowers the holiday tunes. Heads turn and people point, and I feel a heavy hand ruffle my hair. Turning around I’m face-to-grotesque-face …
When is the best time to visit Panama?
With beautiful islands, a rich Indigenous culture, wildlife-filled rainforests, cosmopolitan cities and two magnificent coastlines to explore, Panama is somewhere to linger, but it pays to consider the climate when planning a trip. Panama lies just nine degrees north of the equator, buffeted by the trade winds of the Pacific and Caribbean, meaning a tropical …
Spend 5 days road-tripping through Southern Scotland
If it’s your first time in Scotland, you’ll most likely choose to land in Edinburgh and work your way north to the Highlands, maybe over to St Andrews, then perhaps up to otherworldly northern isles like Skye. Southern Scotland literally lives in the Scottish Highlands’ shadow. But the dramatic sea cliffs, rolling countryside and star-speckled …
13 of the best things to do in Montpellier, France
Montpellier – nicknamed the surdouée, the wonder child – is a city that buzzes with life and Mediterranean light. In its medieval glory days, Montpellier was a cosmopolitan center of trade and learning with influences from the Arab, Jewish and Christian worlds. But it slipped off the beaten track until the 1980s, when it changed …
Best places to see the best fall foliage in the US in 2025
It’s a universal truth: the turning of the fall foliage is one of the world’s most enchanting natural phenomena, and in the US, it comes in many different iterations. You can drive beneath the amber canopies of New England, watch fiery maples take over the vistas of the northern midwest, or marvel at the golden …
8 dream trips to take in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific
When it comes to bucket list adventures, Australia, New Zealand and the island nations of the South Pacific deliver them in spades. Follow New South Wales’ coastal road for a classic road trip inspired by the surfers of the 1960s or walk Tasmania’s mountains with Indigenous storytellers. Perhaps you’d rather cruise New Zealand’s fjords at sunrise, …
A first-time guide to Île de Ré, France
It’s a wonder Île de Ré exists. For starters, this French island is crêpe-flat (and its beaches are the same color as pancake batter). When the swell comes rolling in along the west and south coasts – this is the Atlantic Ocean after all – it’s difficult to comprehend how the sea doesn’t swallow the …
10 of the world’s best trekking routes
Ask ten experienced hikers to nominate the best treks in the world and they’ll give you ten different answers. Some treks are incredible because of the scenery. Some routes are epic because of the almost superhuman levels of effort and endurance required to reach the endpoint. For some trekkers, it’s all about the destination. For …
10 dream trips to take in Asia in 2025
There is never a bad time to plan your dream trips, and Asia is full of those fantasy-inducing journeys that live rent-free in our imaginations. Will you wander the lavish palaces of India or trek through the jungle in Borneo or the mountains of Nepal? Perhaps a foodie tour of Southeast Asia is more to …