Travel

Travel

We are thrilled to launch this program now to [complement] the many new concessions available to guests that have recently launched under our refreshed Food and Beverage Program and Retail Program,

I fly home for the holidays every single year, which means I've become painfully familiar with all the classic carry-on mistakes travelers tend to make - mostly because I've made every one of them myself. From overstuffing my bag until the zipper begs for mercy to forgetting essential travel accessories that would've saved me from airport mishaps, I've learned exactly what works and what absolutely doesn't.

I recently spent two nights at the Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón in Florida. It was my first time staying in a Ritz-Carlton hotel, and a few things surprised me about the chain. I wasn't expecting to have access to two locations. I was also surprised by some of the amenities. I didn't anticipate developing an appreciation for golf. I didn't think I'd find myself in a lazy river. And I definitely didn't expect to have access to two resorts.

From the glitzy slopes of St. Moritz to Chamonix's dramatic views of Mont Blanc, Europe has no shortage of experiences on the top of every self-respecting skiers' to-ski list. But while these legendary resorts command the spotlight, there are plenty of off-the-radar options offering uncrowded slopes, cross-border lift tickets, and charming après scenes to those willing to take the less-trodden path.

Its tiny size may indicate a destination which can be rapidly explored in just one day, but slowing down to the local pace will reveal far more to see and do than one quick glance: diving the many shipwrecks scattered across the reefs, hiking through the forests of Walsingham Nature Park on your way to discover the Crystal Caves, or exploring local art galleries will all fill a day nicely.

Destination Kohler-tucked in the charming village of Kohler, Wisconsin-may be synonymous with championship golf, but each winter, the resort proves it has just as much draw long after the greens are covered in snow. From Dec. 4 through March 1, Blackwolf Run, one of the resort's championship golf courses, undergoes a complete seasonal makeover for Frozen Fairways, transforming the landscape into one of the Midwest's most ambitious cold-weather playgrounds.

The ornate fireplace is just the icing on the cake for this historic studio apartment that comes flush with vintage accents and an overhead fan to help you beat the swampy humidity in NOLA. The small size is ideal for a couples' getaway or solo trip. And with such a central location on St. Charles Avenue, all of its restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops will be right at your fingertips.

One of the funny paradoxes of trip taking is that it can be an escape from all the headaches back home and also serve as a means of growing as a person so that you are better able to meet your challenges in the place where you actually live-often at the same time. And I think this beautiful contradiction is especially inherent in wellness travel, which had already taken off like a rocket ship before the pandemic

As an American, one of the most striking things about visiting London is that everywhere you look, you're surrounded by history. It doesn't matter if it's Buckingham Palace or a random coffee shop - chances are, wherever you find yourself in England's capital will be older than the United States itself. That's certainly the case with Great Scotland Yard Hotel, part of Hyatt's Unbound Collection, which blends London's historic past with contemporary five-star luxury.

When my husband and I told people we were selling everything we owned to travel full time, most assumed we were either having a midlife crisis or chasing an early retirement fantasy. The truth is, it was neither. It was something we couldn't quite explain at the time, only that we felt called to do it. We were 50-something empty nesters with 35 years of marriage under our belt.

Eurostar Snow journeys require catching a train from London to the charming French city of Lille for a connection that continues towards the peaks of the French Alps. On its way to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, which acts as the gateway to resorts including Tignes and Val-d'Isère, the train stops at Chambéry, Albertville, Moûtiers, Aime-La-Plagne and Landry. Each stop acts as a gateway to resorts via a drive that's considerably shorter than airport transfers tend to be.

At first glance, it may seem like Perfect Day at CocoCay has something for everyone. Royal Caribbean's 125-acre private island in the Bahamas is filled with thrilling adventures and relaxing beaches for vacationers. You'll find overwater cabanas, quiet places to chill, and shorelines bumping party music. Adrenaline seekers can also experience gigantic waterslides, zip lines, and hot air balloon rides.

London Gatwick, the city's second-biggest aviation hub, has confirmed that it is increasing charges in its drop-off zones by £3 in 2026. From January the fee, which allows drivers to stop outside the terminal for 10 minutes, will be £10. This means that Gatwick will have the highest drop-off charge in the UK. The fee has doubled since LGW initially introduced a drop-off charge in 2021; it increased to £6 in 2024 and £7 in May 2025.

And while most travelers center their trips on classic destinations such as Big Sky or Yellowstone National Park, very few venture eastward into the Great Plains. Tucked in this wide-open sprawl is Medicine Rocks State Park, a 330-acre parcel of land that usually slips right under most travelers' radars. Here, the landscape is dominated by the Great Plains Badlands, and the atmosphere is quiet, peaceful, and remote.

On a midsummer trip to Ireland, I saw dolphins in the Irish Sea, sunset by the Liffey, and misty views of the Galtee Mountains. The half-hour train journey to Cobh (cove), through Cork's island-studded harbour, was especially lovely. As the railway crossed Lough Mahon, home to thousands of seabirds, there was water on both sides of the train. I watched oystercatchers, egrets, godwits and common terns, which nest on floating pontoons.

Long layovers have a reputation for being the ultimate travel buzzkill-the fluorescent purgatory between where you've been and where you're headed. But if anyone knows how to turn that in-between stretch into something restorative, it's a flight attendant. After 18 years in the air, Aura E. Martinez has learned that those hours don't have to feel wasted. "I've had my share of long layovers," she says. "And with the right mindset and essentials, they can actually become some of the most restorative and productive parts of the trip."

Last December, the company opened a new store in Kapalua to serve West Maui after the loss of the Lahaina location. Robertson described extremely slow business there this fall, worsened by the closure of the Kapalua Resort golf courses from September to early November. "It was almost like a ghost town up there, until just a couple weeks ago around Thanksgiving," he said.

Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has stayed at that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider both luxury properties and boutique and lesser-known boltholes that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We're always looking for beautiful design, a great location and warm service - as well as serious sustainability credentials.

"When we walked onto the set of the Tipton Hotel, I remember thinking, 'Do hotels like this really exist?'"

Living just over the state line in North Carolina, I've visited Charleston more times than I can count. Most of my memories there are from spring and summer, when the temperature is hot and the azaleas are in bloom. But last December, my family planned a Christmas weekend in Charleston for the first time, and needless to say, it won't be our last.

There was something magical about picking it out, throwing it over your shoulder, and bringing it up to your apartment, despite the pine needles that dropped in the elevator. Still, as an immigrant from the UK, where people literally drag them home or transport them in the back of their vehicle, I still get a kick from seeing cars on the road with a tree strapped to the roof.

Moments after stepping off the bus, I wanted to text my friend: What have I done to you, why did you tell me to come here? As I weaved my way through coach-party day trippers, my initial suspicions dissipated. I came to swim, but Piran offered so much more. Venetian squares provided a delicately ornate backdrop, while cobbled passageways housed bustling seafood restaurants, serving the day's catch.

When it comes to travel, I'm proud to be a carry-on-only gal. It doesn't matter if I'm gone for a few days or a few weeks-traveling with my bag as light as possible is crucial for me, not only for peace of mind, but for constant movement, different forms of transportation, and ease. I also find that the more you travel, the less you need.

If you've ever been on a plane and witnessed the pilots roll on with their compact bags and sophisticated swagger, you'll understand what we mean when we say that they're as close to professional packers as it gets. With most commercial pilots averaging around 700 hours of flying every year, they are used to packing for all types of journeys, from day to multi-week trips.

I'm waiting to turn down the road toward my hotel. The cars in front of me have slowed nearly to a standstill, but not for the standard traffic jam: a group of elk is grazing in the grassy patch at the street corner. People idle by, rolling down their windows to take pictures, making sure to give these unofficial locals a wide berth. In the background, the snow-capped Rocky Mountains rise dramatically behind the town.

Unexpected repairs force TfL to shut Barons Court tube station's platforms through 2026 ianVisits Apprentices join Siemens' Goole Rail Village to build London Underground trains Hull Live Gunnersbury Station has taken one tiny step forward towards getting step-free access, but there's a very long way to go before it arrives. ianVisits There will soon be an Elizabeth line train through the core section of the network every three minutes on Saturdays, as TfL prepares to increase the service. ianVisits

When traveling in Europe, there are so many things you'll likely want to bring home. Some of them are easy to transport like tea towels, jewelry, or fancy salts. But one of the most difficult items to bring back is a special bottle (or several) of wine. In a blog post on his website, travel expert Rick Steves shares a few tips for travelers on how they can safely and securely transport wine home from a European vacation.