A Fresh Perspective on Travel Every Day
Mérida, the capital of the Mexican state of Yucatán, is a captivating colonial city brimming with activities. From its beautiful churches to lively squares, intriguing museums, and delightful restaurants, the friendly atmosphere is alluring, making it an ideal spot to spend a couple of days.
Recently, we had the opportunity to visit a region of the UK we had yet to explore—the historic city of Newcastle. The thought of traveling to Newcastle evokes various associations—celebrated nightlife (thanks to Geordie Shore), a remarkable city to discover, the iconic Angel of the North, and a landscape dotted with numerous bridges. However, the idea of visiting a beach in Newcastle is not the first notion that typically comes to mind. In the British context, beaches are more commonly linked with southern locations such as Cornwall and Brighton, or even more secluded areas like the Isles of Scilly.
Like every great seducer, Corfu knows exactly how to reel you in. With its stunning sunsets, sandy beaches, and clear seas, this Ionian island has become a summertime favorite. However, look past these easy charms to discover what makes Corfu truly magical—the scent of pressed olives, monasteries draped in bougainvillea, and fortresses that rise above bluer-than-blue seas.
Bequia, one of the more off-the-beaten-path islands in the already remote Grenadine Islands in the Caribbean, is a world away from international resorts and artificial smiles. Here, island life continues at a leisurely pace, nestled between steep green mountains and pristine white sand bays. Pronounced ‘Beck-way’, this charming destination is waiting to be discovered.
‘At the end of every street, there’s a mountain,’ the writer Stendhal famously said about his hometown of Grenoble, France. Set amidst three glorious massifs and spliced by two glacial rivers, nature’s divinity is still on the city’s doorstep. Therefore, first-timers should start their journey with its wonderful museums and distinct local cuisine.
At the end of every year, we at GoTravelDaily are busy taking stock of the past 12 months and putting together the It List, our annual collection of the best new hotels around the globe. This year, the competition was fiercer than ever. The 44 hotels and resorts ahead are making waves for different reasons—some for killer design, others for culinary bona fides or an unbeatable location—but all are inspiring the rest of the hospitality world to take note.
The annual family vacation: a chance to make unforgettable memories in far-off places with cherished loved ones. Sometimes, with multiple generations of loved ones. For such a momentous occasion, why not do it in style?
The Alentejo is one of the world’s great unsung culinary destinations. Home to scenic vineyards, olive groves, and fertile farmlands, the Alentejo is in many ways the gastronomic soul of Portugal.
Picture a tropical archipelago of steep, jungle-covered islands, glittering white-sand beaches, hidden lagoons, and luminous turquoise waters. Now throw in pristine coral reefs inhabited by clouds of tie-dyed fish. Place it in a remote corner of Indonesia largely unknown to foreign tourists, and you end up with the Raja Ampat islands: the ultimate tropical paradise.
China may have one Great Wall, but it also boasts numerous impressive city walls. Military defenses have long been a crucial architectural feature in cities throughout the country’s extensive and turbulent history. Nowadays, many still retain extensive walls, providing a terrific way to explore cities beyond Beijing.
Say the word ‘desert’ and chances are that rolling sand dunes and expansive horizontal space spring to mind. In Oman, however, the desert landscape includes a vertical dimension in the form of soaring limestone cliffs incised with canyons. Drive or hike along one of these narrow, arid defiles, and you enter a troglodyte world of ancient cave-dwellings, prehistoric petroglyphs, and old villages that appear to be exuding from the rockface.
Take revolutionary architecture, award-winning cuisine, an outsized musical legacy, and top-flight museums, and wrap them all up in an easy-to-navigate package. Now throw in a population of locals at once cosmopolitan and brimming with Midwestern good humor. That’s Chicago, a city that will roll out the welcome mat and keep you engaged whether you plan to stay a night or a month.
As the renowned launching off point for numerous trips to Machu Picchu, Cuzco often serves as a convenient stop for travelers acclimating to Peru’s high altitude. At 11,000 feet, Cuzco is an excellent location to prepare your body for trekking the Inca Trail or exploring the Sacred Valley, all while enjoying a city filled with historic and modern charms.
‘Up there – can you see them?’ Scanning the evening sky above the jungle, they were alarmingly easy to spot: hundreds ofPteropus vampyrus –or flying foxes – out on an evening feeding mission. With a wingspan approaching 1.5m, the giant bats filled the horizon in a flapping black swarm.
Food is a fundamental element in the travel experience – eating a local dish can evoke ancient traditions stirred into age-old recipes or bring to light new cultural movements whipped into modern fusion cuisine. Today, many of the world’s most food-obsessed countries are making their culinary culture more accessible through hands-on time with local cooks, open tasting rooms, and behind-the-scenes tours.
Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast, a music lover, or a foodie, Chicago’s festival scene has something for everyone. The festival season, lasting from the first hint of warm weather to the beginning of autumn, showcases over 400 neighborhood celebrations alongside numerous multi-day events. Below are some of the most exciting Chicago festivals.
If you’ve been to Wales, you’ll for sure have tried bara brith, the tea-steeped fruit loaf that takes the edge off a soggy day’s hillwalking. You might’ve loved or hated laverbread, the seaweed puree that garnishes many a cooked breakfast. Travelling these hills and valleys, you’ve no doubt nibbled on Caerphilly cheese or warmed up over a bowl of leek-and-lamb cawl.
Sydney, Rio, and Barcelona aside, the beach is not usually synonymous with the city. However, with so many amazing urban areas sprouting near water, it is surprisingly easy to catch a suntan – or ride a few cheeky waves – while enjoying the urban crawl.
In search of some top tips to take your travel writing skills from proficient to prodigious? We chat to a selection of authors appearing at this year’s star-studdedHay Festivalabout how to cultivate captivating travel writing, their favourite destinations to write about, and the travel tomes that inspired them to hit the road.