Travel

10 of the best virtual travel experiences: readers' tips

Winning tip: A bird’s eye view of Norway One of my joys of travelling is listening to music on a train while watching a new country spool by outside the window. During lockdown I discovered how to replicate this experience while confined to the house: by watching drone footage of faraway places on YouTube. My favourite was Flying Over Norway, an hour-long feature flying above fjords, bays and fishing villages. The footage offers a bird’s-eye...

A woman ditched city life to spend 5 years living alone in a Utah ghost town where there's no running water

Artist Eileen Muza traded Chicago for an abandoned town in Utah, which she has been slowly transforming into an art hub.

These Real-Life Castles Feel Like an Episode of Bridgerton—and You Can Rent Them

Give Lady Whistledown something to talk about.

The Mom's Guide to Asheville

If you weren’t tempted by our recent kid-friendly road trip guides to the Hudson Valley or Marfa, Texas, perhaps a magical mountain town could tempt your family’s fancy? Because tucked away in the mountains along the Blue Ridge Parkway is the hidden retreat of the east: Asheville, North Carolina. The little city is a haven

What the COVID-19 vaccine could mean for the future of travel

While airlines and governments could require travelers to have proof of a coronavirus vaccination, a blanket requirement raises a few issues.

Sustainable tourism key to Cumbria’s new carbon neutral plan

Across Cumbria local communities, businesses and grassroots organisations are being mobilised to map out ways that they hope will help it become the UK’s first carbon-neutral county. The county has targeted 2037 to decarbonise, an ambition initially supported by £2.5m of national lottery funding, which was awarded last August and will be drip-fed over the next five years from this month.. Tourism will be an area of focus, alongside housing,...

Journey to the ends of the earth: exploring the poles

The allure of North and South Poles has driven a handful of adventurous souls to risk their lives to reach these far-flung, frozen destinations. The poles are a story of firsts, with each person striving to be the first to reach the poles by air, ship, ski, snowshoe, dogsled and even by bike. Today, as climate change melts the once permanent ice, countries vie to control the resources that lie below or within the icy lands and waters, while polar explorers strive to raise awareness about the looming crisis.

The most tricky roads around the world

Rain, ice, cliffs, distractions—driving dangers abound, but sometimes it’s the road itself and its geographic location that make driving difficult, if not impossible. Dare to take a turn along these terrifying highways, byways, and tunnels? Warning: not for the faint of heart.

Luxury resorts in the Maldives hire 'Barefoot Booksellers' to run their quaint island bookshops. Meet 2 women who got the gig.

Aislinn Shivakumar and Alice Spencer are living the dream, having left lockdown in London behind to become "Barefoot Booksellers" in the Maldives.

What to pack for a cruise 2021: the essentials while out at sea

Off sailing around the Caribbean, the Mediterranean or up the Norwegian coast to see the Northern Lights? Here’s what you need to take with you

At least 3 critically endangered gorillas tested positive for the coronavirus at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park

According to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the gorillas are believed to have caught the coronavirus from an asymptomatic staff member.

The most spine-chilling airplane disappearances

Aircraft have become truly enormous over the years, with the largest one on this list, the Boeing 777-200ER, weighing nearly 300 tons at takeoff. How is it, then, that these massive machines can disappear without a trace, especially with all the sophisticated search-and-rescue technology at our disposal? In the wake of the bizarre airplane disappearances that follow, this question has given rise to equally bizarre theories ranging from military blunders to alien abductions.

The sunniest cities in the world

When dreaming of a sunny vacation spot, the Caribbean and Central America are often the first to spring to mind. Surprisingly, the sunniest city in the world is a lot closer than you think. Vacationers in search of vitamin D won’t be caught in the rain, thanks to our list of the 25 sunniest cities in the world.

My voyage through a world of language in just one word: snow

A few years ago I spent a winter on Upernavik, a rocky island of 1,000 inhabitants off the north-west coast of Greenland. I’d been invited to Baffin Bay as part of a programme for international writers and artists to create new work about climate at one of the most northerly museums in the world. The museum director emailed a warning in advance: the winter was better for introspection than exploration. Sure enough, I found I couldn’t leave the...

11 things you should never put down the drain

From paint and pasta to pills and oil, here are some things you should never put down your drain if you want to avoid health risks and clogged pipes.

Sea change: New Zealanders take to the water as Covid restricts holiday horizons

The Best Kid-Friendly Airbnbs to Book for a Socially Distanced Getaway

Staying at an Airbnb has long been a go-to plan for traveling families. And since hotels are still going to be on the back burner in 2021 (sigh), vacation rentals are going to continue to be more relevant than ever for a safe retreat. Finding one that crosses off all your family-friendly must-haves and perhaps

Historical photos of famous monuments under construction

Whether completed in record time or stretching out for more than a century, the world’s most famous structures are today so integral to the landscape that it can be difficult to conceive of the often herculean efforts required to bring them into being. Here are historical photos documenting some of the most well-known monuments before they became landmarks.

Disney World Will No Longer Offer Free Airport Shuttles to and From Park Hotels as of 2022

Walt Disney World will no longer offer its hotel and resort guests free shuttle services to and from Orlando International Airport as of Jan.

Saga requires all cruise passengers to have coronavirus vaccine

Saga has become the first UK tour operator to tell cruise and holiday customers that they must be vaccinated to travel with them this summer. The over-50s travel firm, which has reported a surge in bookings since the vaccination programme was announced, is taking reservations on condition that customers are fully inoculated, with two shots where necessary, at least 14 days before departure. Passengers will also need to take a Covid test at the...

How intention turns a walk into a pilgrimage – plus 5 British pilgrim trails

When we are set free from our confinement, what are the safe options for venturing out? Last year was the year of walking outdoors, so perhaps – and I may be biased – 2021 will be the year for pilgrimages, given that throughout history people have made pilgrimages at times of crisis? To lay the ground for rediscovery, in summer 2020 the British Pilgrimage Trust (BPT) launched Britain’s Pilgrim Places, a compendium of 600 sites and 100 routes,...

Regina King's powerful 'One Night in Miami' is so good it's destined for Oscar glory

Regina King's feature directing debut is based on a stage play about a fictional night out between Malcolm X, Cassius Clay, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke.

Best eco-friendly and sustainable holidays 2021: travel and save the world

We’ve rounded up some of the best eco-friendly and sustainable options, from traditional camping sites with amazing views to helping endangered animals

From dolphins to rewilding: 11 environment-friendly holidays for 2021

Rewilding centres The idea of rewilding – moving away from current forestry and agricultural techniques and allowing nature to thrive – is gaining ground. One exciting new project is Wild Ken Hill in north Norfolk, where alongside pioneering regenerative farming and traditional conservation practices, a 400-hectare (1,000-acre) area is being returned to the wild, with the reintroduction of beavers, Exmoor ponies and old farm breeds like red poll...

I stayed in a Bali tree house for under $35 per night, and it felt like a fairy-tale

I stayed at Lift treetop hotel in Bali for $27, though the typical price is $75 a night. The room had a king-size bed and was far off the ground.

The world’s oldest restaurants

Eating at a restaurant involves so much more than food. Ambiance plays a huge role and so does history. These restaurants across the world have stuck around for good reason. They’ve got it all and some even date back a millennium! Have you visited any of these iconic spots?

10 songs that bring back memories of my travels: Garth Cartwright's playlist

Song For My Father by Horace Silver I’m a Kiwi who’s lived in London since 1991 and the pandemic made me both yearn for and fear for my family, so far away. To calm my huge angst, especially when my father’s health collapsed in March, I listened to music constantly, obsessively, jazz serving as a balm to my worried mind. Dad died in late June, not of the virus – a fall led to him departing this world. I mourned and celebrated his life with...

A man who lived at a Chicago airport for 3 months before being discovered said he was too scared to fly because of COVID-19, prosecutors say

He was discovered Saturday when two airline employees asked him for identification and he displayed a badge that had been reported missing in October.

Earth from space: Astronauts get the best views

Space: the final frontier. A place where brave astronauts from across the globe are pushing the boundaries of science, making new discoveries, and taking the kind of pictures that put your Instagram game to shame. Yes, from their position in near-Earth orbit these brave men and women are snapping everything from space selfies to jaw-dropping aerial shots of our little blue planet. Don't believe us? Check out some of these stunning shots that prove astronauts get the best views.

A Singapore luxury hotel group is offering guests almost $200,000 in free medical coverage if they test positive for COVID-19 during their stay

The offer currently only applies to travelers from 11 countries, including Australia, mainland China, Germany, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

The best road trips 2021: beautiful scenery, thrilling roads, and exciting cars

From Norway to Scotland, these are the best driving roads in Europe

Mysterious Object Spotted In Area 51 Fly-By

Everything coming to - and leaving - Netflix in February

Get ready to stream new seasons of shows like Tiffany Haddish's "They Ready" as well as films like "Malcolm & Marie" and "Inception."

The wildest place in every state

While the impact of humans can be seen and felt nearly every place on earth, there are still some spots where wildlife and natural beauty persist. These untouched, often protected wilderness areas are located throughout the entire country, and offer a chance for people to reconnect with nature. In alphabetical order, here are the wildest places in every state.

TikTok video dare showing a car parked on railway crossing branded 'staggeringly stupid and dangerous' by police

The police are investigating the 14-second clip showing a car parked on a railway line in Greater Manchester in the UK.

Vaccine passports essential for resumption of international travel

Vaccine passports must become essential travel documents in order to restart international tourism. The recommendation comes from the Global Tourism Crisis Committee, which met in Madrid this week to discuss measures to ensure the safe resumption of international travel. It called for international health and travel bodies to step up the coordination of a standardised digital certification system, as well as harmonised testing protocols. The...

A virtual tour of Peru through films, food, books and music

There’s something fitting about a virtual guide to Peru. For would-be conquistadores, it was a land of fantasy and imagination. The very name of the country would have conjured up illusions of untold treasures, Inca emperors, wild beasts and heathen practices. Lima was the seat of Spain’s South American imperial territories for 300 years; it was where you had to be if you wanted to acquire booty, land, or influence. But it was traversed by...

TikTok Star Noah Beck defended traveling to the Bahamas for a 'reset' with Charli and Dixie D'Amelio during the pandemic - but some fans are still angry

Noah Beck defended a group of TikTok influencers for taking a trip to the Bahamas to "disconnect for a little" during the pandemic.

The spectacular beauty of nature around the world

Unfortunately, given the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, it could be a while before any of us are able to travel. So instead we’ll have to settle for the next best thing: pictures. Take a virtual trip around the world and escape our current situation, even for just a few minutes, through the following photos, which show the spectacular beauty of nature.

Disney World will no longer offer its Magical Express bus service to airport travelers starting in 2022

Starting in 2022, travelers heading to Disney World in Orlando will have to use rented vehicles or ride-share services to get to their resorts.

Recall of the wild: South America's new era of nature-led tourism

In 1947, Christopher Isherwood undertook a six-month tour of South America, concentrating on cultural sites, large cities and hobnobbing with local grandees. The title of the travelogue he wrote about the trip, The Condor and the Cows, sums up how most Europeans felt about South America. While the condor has since been pushed to near-extinction, the cows have persisted: Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Venezuela are still seen by outsiders as...

Don't trust those viral videos that claim to prove Capitol rioters are being added to 'no-fly lists'

Videos of people being arrested or deplaned are going viral on social media. Some users falsely claim the passengers in question are Capitol rioters.

In pictures: Life in Mongolia

Ranked as the 19th largest country in the world, Mongolia is known for its steppes, desert, and mountains. Discover this country through its cities, plains, landscapes, and the daily life of its people.

Sally Rooney's Third Novel Will Be, You Guessed It, an Irish Millennial Love Story

'Beautiful World, Where Are You' will be published in September 2021.

15 wellbeing retreats and detox breaks – for better days ahead

The Clover Mill, Worcestershire Reopening in the spring, this ayurveda retreat in a converted 17th-century water mill in the rolling hills near Malvern offers two-, three- and five-night retreats throughout the year that combine ayurveda treatments, meals, nutritional advice and cooking demos with yoga. Its Rest and Digest retreats in particular are aimed at helping guests to shift their sympathetic nervous system from flight/fight/freeze mode...

The most beautiful bridges in the world

Bridges link the shores of lakes and rivers or simply reduce travel time. In addition to being efficient, these large structures sometimes take on stupefying forms. All over the world, engineers and architects have combined utility and beauty to build the planet's most magnificent bridges.

Many have called for Capitol Hill rioters to be added to the no-fly list, but watchdog groups say the notoriously secretive process is 'unconstitutional'

Little is known about the highly secretive no-fly list, which is maintained by the FBI and has been heavily criticized in the past.

Tell us about your lockdown hobby for the chance to win a £200 holiday prize

Taking up a niche hobby has become a lifeline for many during lockdown. Whether it’s bookbinding or tree-spotting, paddleboarding or quilt-making, new interests have helped people deal with Covid anxiety and the groundhog days of confinement. If you have taken up a new hobby, especially one that has helped you get outside, even if it’s only to the local park or woods, then we’d love to hear about it. Tell us how you got started and why, and how...

Tell us about your lockdown discoveries for the chance to win a £200 holiday prize

Lockdown restrictions have made us see the world in a different way – the fact that we can only go out once a day and explore a limited radius means we are rediscovering our local areas and noticing things that we’d previously overlooked in our pre-lockdown busyness. That can be anything from a historical building, deserted factory or faded adverts painted on the sides of buildings, to animal footprints in the snow or mud, birds in leafless...

10 inspiring hobbies taken up by readers during lockdown

Winning tip: ‘I could be the person I am meant to be’ This is about my autistic daughter’s hobby. She’s nine, and since last March has become an avid birdspotter and photographer. It’s been great to be outside finding nature in the city, and to see her thrive and grow, walking to and exploring local parks. She’s now got an amazing mentor – wildlife artist and photographer Alfie Bowen – and has been winning competitions and had her photos...