One of the great joys of travel is trying new foods and exploring the restaurants and markets of an unfamiliar destination. However, travel can be expensive, even before considering the rising costs of trendy restaurants. Where do you go if you’re a foodie on a tight budget?

When we travel to an urban center, we’re often looking for the whole package — history, culture, exciting cuisine, modernity, antiquity, and everything in between. It sounds like a tall order, but the world’s best cities offer these attributes and more.

Rivers are all the rage. Travelers are increasingly interested in seeing the world on cruises through smaller waterways. A significant selling point is how river cruises allow guests to experience destinations in a deeper way. For instance, sailing Myanmar’s Irrawaddy River lets you explore a destination at a significant turning point in its history, while itineraries on the Rhine River showcase the charming villages and towns that line the waterway. In addition, these trips are heavy on cultural offerings and insider access, with excursions to museums, villages, wineries, and restaurants. The ships—intimate and often luxurious—are also appealing. While you might not encounter jaw-dropping waterslides on most lines, many river ships offer cabins with balconies, premium dining experiences, and spas. For example, Viking Cruises features an innovative Explorer Suite, complete with a wraparound terrace and heated bathroom floors. Every year, for the GoTravelDaily survey, readers weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise lines, and more. Readers rate individual cruise ships on their cabins/facilities, food, service, itineraries/destinations, excursions/activities, and value. These assessments generate results for the cruise lines in various categories, including river cruising. This year, top honors went to Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection—a line recognized for its style and elegance. Staterooms are plush and border on opulent. Even its new ships, such as theMaria Theresa, launched last year, take design cues from the past. Uniworld isn’t the only cruise company expanding its fleet; at least 11 new river ships debuted in recent years. Lines like Tauck, Viking Cruises, and AmaWaterways have all recently added new ships while expanding their itineraries. For instance, AmaWaterways has introduced wine-themed cruises—led by experts—along popular rivers like the Douro, Danube, Rhine, and Rhone, allowing guests to indulge in tastings with someone else at the helm.

Choosing the right hotel when visiting a major city can be a daunting task, as the range of options is often vast and varied. To help identify the very best urban stays in Australia and New Zealand, GoTravelDaily asked readers to rank their favorites based on facilities, location, service, food, and value.

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.

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?

10 things you need to know before going to Barcelona