The tires of our e-bikes rested on the cobbles of what we imagined was an old imperial road. Our early morning cycle had wound up through the meadows and canopies of a nature reserve carved out along the banks of the Tiber River in central Italy. A long stretch of road opened revealing veils of mist rising above the bends of water below. As the road turned steeper still and narrowed, a 13th century castle with hill towns in view just behind it hinted at the medieval history around us, of struggles between barons and popes. This is Lazio, a slice of Italy with all the archaeological, culinary ..read more

Hiking may not be top of mind when travelers consider visiting Cyprus. Most associate the Mediterranean island nation with its beaches and resorts. However, our recent visit to Cyprus illustrates that the country not only offers sea, sun and deep history, but a variety of natural landscapes and geological diversity that makes hiking on the island a delight. With its rocky coastlines, dramatic cliffs, impressive Troodos Mountains, and forests filled with old, gnarly juniper, cypress and pine trees, Cyprus surprises as a hiking destination. Add to that pleasant weather almost all year around tha ..read more

What is it like to go trekking in Bhutan? To go on a Himalayan adventure with wide open landscapes, snow-covered mountain peaks, Buddhist temples, prayer flags, high altitude camping and alpine lakes? We share a taste of trekking in Bhutan with our Druk Path Trek experience — including what you’ll experience day by day, difficulty, how to pack and organize a Bhutan trek, what to expect from a winter trek, and why this is one of the most popular treks in Bhutan. We also share information about the Trans Bhutan Trail, a new trekking route in Bhutan coming available in 2022. Over the last years w ..read more

Have you ever dreamed of traveling to Bhutan or wondered what it’s like to visit this remote kingdom tucked away in the Himalayan mountains? From Buddhist temples and fortress visits, to Bhutanese cuisine to trekking in the Himalayas — all with the Buddhist mysticism and legend that surrounds it — we cover the essential Bhutan travel experiences and places to visit. In addition, we address all the questions from readers about traveling in Bhutan including when to visit, daily package costs, Bhutan visas, and Gross National Happiness. Tiger's Nest, Bhutan's most famous site. And one of its most ..read more

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Choose to Challenge,” a fitting call to action as the world emerges from a pandemic and considers the kind of future it wishes to build.  Companies, governments, communities now have the choice to rebuild deliberately, differently, and more inclusively so that women and marginalized groups have access to resources, support and opportunity. As the tourism sector emerges from the “great pause, it is no exception. Travel and tourism has the opportunity to rebuild with an eye to greater participation from women and greater social impact. This in ..read more

What is Oaxaca food? Which Oaxacan dishes should you seek out and what sort of flavors and spices might you find when you visit this city and region in southwestern Mexico? We spent two months living in Oaxaca to find out and explore Oaxacan cuisine. This Oaxaca Food and Culinary Travel Guide guide shares our favorite Oaxacan street foods, traditional dishes, snacks, drinks, and desserts, plus where to find them in this beautiful culinary city. If Mexican cuisine ranks as one of the world’s great cuisines (it was the first cuisine to receive UNESCO culinary heritage status), it’s certainly aid ..read more

“Is it ethical to travel now?” The relationship between freedom and responsibility might provide you the answer. Popular question these days. The temptation to answer “yes” or “no” misses the opportunity to separate the issues facing travelers, including that our freedom to travel carries with it a personal responsibility – just as it always has. There’s nothing new there. It’s just that the din of the pre-COVID travel party and the freedom cocktail we all shared drowned out most of the conversation about personal responsibility in travel. Then COVID-19 came along and pressed a gigantic pause ..read more

What is Haitian food? Which Haitian dishes should you seek out and what sort of flavors and spices might you find when you visit the country? We went to Haiti to find out. This Haitian Food and Culinary Travel Guide shares our favorite Haitian dishes, snacks, desserts, drinks and where to find them. Before traveling to Haiti, I had little concept of Haitian food. Sure, I had a sense of what it could be: island-informed, African-influenced, of Caribbean character, maybe even a hint of French. As with the country's language, Haitian food has a sense of the Crèole, that is a blend of influences ..read more

How did you research and plan a trip during COVID-19? Did you take any additional travel safety measures or change your behaviors? What's it like to travel now? In this article we address focusing on the stuff in our control while minding the health and safety of others. The lessons apply not only to travel but also to daily life, during COVID-19 and beyond. We touch on decision-making, logistics, managing risk, flexibility, adapting to new information, managing expectations and satisfaction. Navigating research, planning and execution right now: ups and downs. If you’ve followed our social me ..read more

October 2020. We just returned from two weeks in the Dolomites, Italy's Marche region and San Marino. Although our trip was primarily a personal one — to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary — we also wished to see for ourselves what was happening on the ground in travel and tourism (vs. talking about it on Zoom). Our goal: to witness firsthand how businesses are operating and adapting during this time. Here is a summary of those observations, paired with takeaways for destinations and tourism companies. We include some best practices in messaging and operations, considerations to keep up w ..read more