The World's Greatest Vacations

7 Tourist Trap Alternatives

2013-07-18

Name recognition is the only thing you’ll sacrifice if you swap out the usual tourist attractions for these lesser-known spots. The rest is gravy: think lower prices, fewer crowds, and more time spent actually enjoying the place you’re visiting. Egypt. The Saqqara Pyramids site is far less crowded than Giza Plateau, despite the fact that […]

French River Cruising Grows

2013-07-17

France is a hot destination in the river cruising world, with a flow of dedicated ships sailing rivers from the Seine and Rhone to the Saone. Scenic Cruises and Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection have announced new vessels debuting there next year, showcasing new designs and enhanced all-inclusive vacations. Uniworld will introduce the new 159-passenger […]

Royal Mums Enjoy Family Fun With Royal Caribbean

2013-07-17

This weekend Royal Caribbean International will host a family weekend event for parent bloggers on board Independence of the Seas. This taste of life at sea will allow families to test out the facilities on board, including rock climbing, and they will experience an exclusive ice skating performance. In January the cruise line recruited a […]

The 10 Best Cruise Ship Suites

2013-07-16

One of the biggest stories in the Cruise World in recent years has been the arrival of a new crop of megasuites on ships: Big, bold and beautiful cabins that can cost tens of thousands of dollars a voyage. As can be seen above in our new photo tour of the 10 most spectacular suites […]

Best Money-Saving Hotel Tips

2013-07-15

Which country has the highest-priced hotels? The immediate answer is the Maldives, according to Hotels.com’s recently released Hotel Price Index. But the real takeaway is that for the past few years hotel prices have been rising across the globe, no matter which country you choose to visit. The average room rate rose by an average […]

8 Buildings Shaped Like Animals

2013-07-12

It’s a Jonah-and-the-whale kind of moment. You wake up, and your guest room appears normal. But as you get your bearings, you realize that you’re in the belly of a reptile — otherwise known as Australia’s Gagudju Crocodile Holiday Inn. The curious trend of zoomorphic architecture — that is, buildings that look like animals — […]

Perfect Lake Vacations Across America

2013-07-11

Lake getaways offer the perfect combination of water warm enough for wading and calm enough for canoeing (not to mention clean enough for moonlit skinny-dipping)—and there are plenty of destinations within a half-day’s drive from major cities… Finger Lakes, New York. Smack in the middle of New York, this collection of more than a dozen […]

Why Traveling for a Greater Purpose Will Make You a Better Individual

2013-07-10

As a traveler, you have two choices: You can buy an all-inclusive package, never step foot off the resort, and return home with sunburn, a hangover, and an extra 10 pounds. Or you can venture outside your comfort zone, leave a place better than you found it, and return with a refreshing new perspective. Being […]

15 Best Islands You’ve Never Heard Of

2013-07-09

Bali? Been there. Virgin Islands? Done that. Twice. While many well known islands inhabit prominent spots on the average bucket list, there’s another group of outposts that only the truly island-savvy know about. These under-the-radar islands have sea views and ocean breezes, but are blessedly lacking in crowds, fabricated attractions and recreation “ambassadors” leading the […]

Top 10 Beachside Bed-And-Breakfasts

2013-07-08

We love the quaint, homey vibe that comes with bed-and-breakfasts. And when they’re located beachside, where mega-resorts are more often the norm, they feel even more like hidden gems. Plan your next getaway — or just dream about it — by clicking through our slideshow of the best B&Bs on the beach. Many dot New […]