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courtesy of Christopher Elliott

You’ll probably forget something on your next trip. It might be as inconsequential as a pair of socks, or as important as lifesaving medication. But you will. At least that’s what the surveys — and you — say.

More than eight in 10 travelers forgot something while they were on vacation, according to a survey by Minimus.biz, a company that specializes in travel-size products. The most commonly overlooked item? Toothbrushes, followed by clothing and

by José Alejandro Adamuz


One of the best ways to get to know a country is through its markets. What you find is not only its products, but an entire way of life, of feeling, of talking… dare we even say, of falling in love with the place. An entire country is exposed to our senses, through its people and its culture. And so in order to get to know Ecuador better, we’re going to take a stroll through one of the most important markets – not just of the country, but of all South America. Get yo

Aditya Patawari


Being an adventure lover, I have always spent my life searching for spots that are unexplored by most of us. Travelling is something I absolutely love. One such quest one fine day led me to discover Khopoli, a city about an hour and 40 minutes southeast of Mumbai, and I highly recommend it as a day trip or overnight. With a population of around 109,000, easily reachable by rail as well as road, these days it's mostly an industrial center, but it also has a number of interestin

Don Ramey Logan




Northern California offers some of the USA's loveliest road tripping, with scenic views, great beaches, beach towns and state parks as well as attractions such as the Monterey Aquarium and the Carmel Mission. One particularly appealing stretch is the 122 miles (196 kilometers) between San Francisco and the town of Carmel along coastal Highway 1. You can drive it in a little over two hours, but there's so much to see and do along here that you could easily spend a week stoppi

FernandoAH

The year 1819 was part of a turbulent time in Spanish history.. Just five years earlier, the country had thrown off its occupation by the empire of Napoleon Bonaparte but the Bourbon Dynasty's restored King Ferdinand VII had caused outrage by abrogating the liberal constitution in a bid to restore absolute monarchy (enough outrage, in fact, to lead to a military uprising at the start of 1820), and Spain's colonies in the Americas were fighting, with increasing success, for independe

1. First off, make an itinerary: If you are going to be travelling solo, it’s a good idea to make an itinerary so that you always have something to do. Take a look at Google for some of the best things to do in the area, whether it be museums, restaurants or night life. That way you’ll always be busy! Make sure to also note down any admission prices, times and ticket requirements so that you are prepared. Travelling solo means you’ll have a lot of off time where you’ll be lost in your thoughts

The Maldives, a tropical island country in the Indian Ocean, is gaining popularity as a holiday destination. Over the year, many good hotels and resorts have been built in different parts of the archipelago, and here's a list of five of the best three- star hotels in Maldives.

Somerset Inn - Male City

Guests can enjoy free wifi in their rooms, a barbeque and an on-site restaurant. The rooms are air-conditioned and have private bathrooms. Each room features a flat-screen Television set also. You c

Ernest Mettendorf



Two historic forts are situated at each end of the Niagara River. Step back in time to the War of 1812 and witness re-enactments of battles past. The Niagara Falls area of Canada's Ontario province is brimming with history, and Fort George and Old Fort Eire are just two of the many historic sites that are open to the public Wind your way upstream along the Niagara Parkway to where the Niagara River connects to Lake Eire, to find Old Fort Erie. Follow the river downstream awa

A two-hour trip from Tokyo, the region of Oku-Nikko (Deep Nikko), near the small city of Nikko, lets travelers recharge amidst mountains, trees, water and sky; indulge in outdoor activities galore; and immerse themselves in history.

As the warmer weather and the longer days take hold, travelers begin to delight in Japan’s natural wonders and adventure experiences outdoors. The world heritage sites of Nikko, just two hours north of Tokyo, can easily be combined with an overnight trip to Oku-Nikko

Delta Airlines



courtesy of Christopher Elliott

Delta Air Lines is currently the best airline in the United States, according to the latest Airline Quality Rating (AQR). The carrier's victory -- its first in 18 years -- comes against a backdrop of steady service improvement for the entire industry, which could be good news for all airline passengers. Or not.

The Airline Quality Rating, now in its 29th year, is one of the most comprehensive studies of performance and quality of the largest U

photos: ProColombia


by Miguel Martínez Rabanal

Along with cumbia, the folk music form known as vallenato is a calling card of Colombian culture, and its Vallenata Legend Festival is a particularly momentous one, marking its 52nd edition this year April 26-30 in the city of Valledupar, in Colombia's northeast, about an hour and a half flight from Bogotá and just under four hours' drive from Cartagena.

Truth to tell, Colombian culture wouldn't be the same without this music, which goes back more

India is full of "hill stations," charming towns in the hills and mountains founded by the British during the colonial Raj as respites from the heat and dust of summers on the flatlands. And down in the country's southwestern state of Karnataka (known until 1973 as Mysore), the most charming is Coorg (today called Kodagu), well known among Indians for its breathtakingly exotic scenery and lush greenery as well as being India's largest coffee producer.

This small district on the slopes of the w

The New York City borough of Brooklyn continues to gain popularity not only as an attractive place to live but as a very appealing destination for visitors with much to offer in terms of history, architecture, culture, dining, and experiences. The Williamsburg neighborhood has become a particular magnet in recent years, and so a number of elegant hotels have come on the scene to cater to tourists. One of the best is the Condor Hotel, which opened its doors nine years ago; originally catering esp

In the Netherlands province of Holland in April and early May, almost every field in is covered in brightly coloured flowers. These are the bulb flowers most often associated with spring. There are deep blue hyacinths, white and golden yellow daffodils and narcissi, but mostly brash, bold and colourful tulips.

Tulips come in a wide range of colours. They can be the purest white through yellow, orange and red to the deepest purple ... sometimes almost black. ‘Broken’ tulips are bi-coloured, usual

With the popularity of electronic cigarettes continuing to grow, many people who like to vape and also like to travel are unaware of some of the issues in combining the two. Here a several to keep in mind:

Air Travel

If you are flying, you'd be advised to check the rules and regulations of a specific airline beforehand; nearly all now have mention of e-cigarettes on their websites (U.S. residents should also check the TSA website), and some might be stricter than others. In general, though, e-c

by Marita Acosta



Despite its myriad problems, this diverse continent of 54 countries is an amazing mix of nature, adventure, history, and dynamic culture. And nowhere more so than West Africa, with its single largest collection of countries (17) and largest cities, including Lagos, Nigeria and Accra, Ghana - the latter with a population just over 2¼ million.

One of my passions is "creative cities", and what these tend to have in common is a high percentage of young people. Accra has them in spade

SeanPavonePhoto


A resort town of barely 4,000 permanent residents in Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains, this together with nearby Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the eastern USA's top tourism nexuses, a mix of nature, sport, and honky tonk, all with a country-western kind of flavour. And nighttime brings as much fun as the daylight hours.

Downtown Gatlinburg

Visit the shops, attractions, restaurants and watering holes on the downtown strip for

kaprik

As the cradle of Christianity, the Old Continent’s history with Easter is millennia old. And though recently it has evolved from a merely religious observance to an secular cultural (even pop cultural) phenomenon, the mix of elaborate religious pageantry and modern developments like bunnies, chicks, and Easter eggs is quite something to experience during Easter week. Here are a half dozen of my favorites:

Ignatius Tan

Edinburgh

Bunnies, chicks, and eggs are popping up in décor