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86 articles about travel, destinations and practical travel tips.

Lagos skyline with towers and bridges under a bright sky
Nigeria

Nigeria Beyond the Headlines: Lagos, Calabar and Sacred Groves

Afrobeats, carnival and a UNESCO grove draw curious travelers. The U.S. advisory is Level 3. Here is an honest first look.

Colorful fruit and juice stalls inside Mercat de la Boqueria in Barcelona
Food & Drink

Europe's Great Food Markets: Boqueria to Borough

Some of Europe's best meals happen under market roofs, not white tablecloths. Here are halls worth planning a morning around.

Orange torii gates forming a path with a stone lantern at Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto
Backpacking

Backpacking Japan for First-Timers

Clean hostels, on-time trains and food that works on a budget. Here is a first Japan backpacking plan that keeps the route simple and the JR Pass math honest.

The Eiffel Tower rising above spring trees and a grassy park in Paris
Travel Insurance

Do You Need Travel Insurance for Europe?

Europe's hospitals look familiar, but your U.S. health plan usually does not follow you there. Here is what Americans should check before a trip in 2026.

Angel Falls plunging from a tepui above rainforest in Canaima National Park, Venezuela
Venezuela

Angel Falls and Beyond: Venezuela's Wild Landscapes

The world's highest waterfall sits on a tepui wall inside Canaima National Park. Here is how the trip works, what else the landscape offers, and the U.S. advisory you cannot ignore.

Jemaa el-Fnaa square in Marrakech at sunset with the Koutoubia minaret on the horizon
Shopping

Shopping in Morocco: Souks, Argan Oil and What to Bring Home

Marrakech and Fes turn errands into an afternoon sport. Here is what to buy, how to haggle without getting played, and what U.S. Customs allows in your suitcase.

Overlook of the rift valley and lake at Thingvellir National Park on Iceland's Golden Circle
Tours

Iceland Tours: Golden Circle, Glaciers and What to Book

Reykjavik operators sell Golden Circle, south-coast and northern lights days by the dozen. Here is how to choose what to book, what to drive yourself, and what 2026 prices look like.

Close-up of a yellow fever vaccination entry on an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis yellow card from a U.S. clinic
Health & Vaccinations

Yellow Fever Vaccine Certificate: Where Americans Need One

The yellow card is the only proof many border officers accept. Here is how the ICVP works, which countries ask for it, and how to get one stamped in the United States before you fly.

Blue Laguna Miscanti beneath the Miscanti volcano in the Atacama Desert, Chile
Chile

The Atacama Desert: Salt Flats, Geysers and Star-Filled Skies

Flamingos on a salt flat, geysers steaming in the Andean dawn and lagoons beneath volcanoes: why northern Chile's high desert is worth the long flight south.

Keep left road sign in four languages beside Indian Ocean Drive in Western Australia
Top Lists

Countries That Drive on the Left: The Full List by Region

Planning to rent a car abroad? Some of the places Americans visit most keep to the other side of the road, including a few that are closer to home than you might expect.

Pastel houses of Rainbow Row on East Bay Street in Charleston, South Carolina
Family Travel

Charleston With Kids: A Family Guide to the Lowcountry

Forts reached by ferry, a carrier deck to climb, beaches half an hour away and a centuries-old oak: how to plan a Charleston family vacation that works for every age.

Kuwait City beach and Arabian Gulf Street seen from the Kuwait Towers
Visas & Entry

Kuwait Visa for U.S. Citizens: e-Visa, Arrival Visa and Rules

Americans can get into Kuwait without an embassy appointment, but the portal, the validity window and a Level 3 advisory all deserve attention before you book.

A giant beef rib, sliced brisket and pork ribs on butcher paper with pickles, onions and coleslaw at Black's Barbecue in Lockhart, Texas.
Food & Drink

The Central Texas Barbecue Trail: A Road Map to Brisket Country

In a handful of small towns southeast and northeast of Austin, smoked meat is still sold by the pound and handed over on butcher paper. Here is how that tradition came about, and how to eat your way through it on a long weekend.

The Brooklyn Bridge and the Lower Manhattan skyline seen across the East River from Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Solo Travel

Solo Travel in New York City: A Practical First-Timer's Guide

Some cities make you feel conspicuous on your own. New York has a habit of doing the opposite. Here is how to plan a first solo trip, from the neighborhood you sleep in to the counter seat you eat at.

A quiet white sand beach and clear turquoise water on Naviti Island in the Yasawa Islands, Fiji.
Fiji

Best Time to Visit Fiji: A Season-by-Season Guide

Fiji is warm all year, so the calendar question is really about rain, wind, crowds and one specific risk that shapes half the year. Here is how the seasons play out and which months suit which kind of trip.

Pages of a U.S. passport filled with entry and exit stamps from Spain, South Korea, Australia and Mexico.
Safety

What Do the State Department Travel Advisory Levels Mean?

France and Cambodia share the same advisory level. Cyprus sits a step above both. The four levels on the State Department map are less obvious than they look, and the fine print matters more than the color.

A road curves past a sandy beach and green hills by the sea on St. Kitts.
Saint Kitts and Nevis

12 Things to Do in St. Kitts and Nevis

Two volcanic islands, one country, and a ferry ride of well under an hour between them. St. Kitts and Nevis combine a UNESCO-listed fortress, quiet beaches and rainforest peaks with a pace that feels far from the big cruise hubs.

The striped arches and domes of the main church at Rila Monastery with forested mountains behind.
Budget Travel

Is Bulgaria Cheap? A 2026 Budget Guide for Americans

Bulgaria has long had a reputation as one of the best-value countries in Europe. In 2026 it also switched to the euro. Here is what that means for prices, and how far your dollars actually go in Sofia, Plovdiv and the mountains.

The Rain Vortex waterfall pours into a pool surrounded by plants inside Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore.
Travel Life

Does a Layover Count as Visiting a Country?

You spent six hours in Doha, Frankfurt or Singapore and bought a coffee in the local currency. Can you add the country to your list? The answer depends on who is keeping score, and the big country-counting clubs do not agree.

A card payment terminal with a Visa card inserted, ready to process a payment.
Money & Tipping

Should You Pay in Local Currency or Dollars Abroad?

The card machine in a Paris cafe or a Cancun hotel asks a simple question: euros or dollars, pesos or USD? One button quietly costs more than the other, and the screen is designed to make the wrong one look safer.

Aerial view of a Maldives island resort with water villas on a turquoise reef
Hotels & Accommodation

Overwater Bungalows: Where to Sleep Above the Lagoon

Invented by three Americans in Tahiti in 1967, the overwater bungalow is now the ultimate island splurge. Here is where to find one, from Bora Bora and the Maldives to the Caribbean, and how to choose the right villa.

The U.S. Capitol dome above snow covered trees and lawns on a clear winter evening
City Breaks

Washington, D.C. in Winter: A Long Weekend Guide

Fewer crowds, free museums and a holiday season that starts in mid-November. Here is how to plan a winter city break in the capital, from the weather to the 2026 tree lighting.

Golden sand and clear turquoise water at Makronissos Beach near Ayia Napa in Cyprus
Cyprus

Is Cyprus Safe for American Tourists?

The island sits in a tense corner of the Mediterranean, and 2026 brought a short scare. Here is what the State Department says now, how the north and south differ, and the everyday risks to plan for.

Travelers below the large departures board in Terminal 1 at Frankfurt Airport
Flights

EU Flight Delay Compensation: What Americans Can Claim

A late flight home from Europe can be worth more than a meal voucher. Here is which flights the EU rules cover, how the amounts are set, what airlines may refuse, and how to file a claim.