Fall travel: Deals are nearly nonexistent

By Ed Perkins
Posted on November 04, 2022

As suppressed demand surges, fall travel this year is likely to near, or even exceed, pre-pandemic levels. One of the results of high demand is that deals will be harder than ever to find. I’ll do the best I can to point out some of your best bets, but don’t expect to find any “secret” miracle pricing tools. No matter where or how you travel, your trip will be constrained by... READ MORE

Finding companions for older travelers

By Jim Miller
Posted on October 25, 2022

Dear Savvy Senior, My son is getting married in the fall and would love for my parents to attend. But they’re both in their 80s with health issues, so they’ll need help getting there. Can you direct me to any travel escort services that can help us? —Looking for Assistance Dear Looking, Traveling today can be challenging under the best circumstances, but for seniors with... READ MORE

Cultural treats in small-town Andalucia

By Rick Steves
Posted on October 21, 2022

The American image of Spain is Andalucia: the home of bullfights, flamenco, gazpacho and pristine whitewashed hill towns. This southern part of the country feels more quintessentially Spanish than perhaps anywhere else. When visiting this area, I always make a point to venture into what’s called the Route of the White Hill Towns (Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos), a charm bracelet of cute... READ MORE

A blast from the past: Jekyll Island resort

By Alice Shapin
Posted on October 14, 2022

Watching HBO’s “The Gilded Age” during the pandemic, I wished I could be part of that era, if only for a short time — to wander through an opulent mansion, play croquet on a grand lawn, and have a drink beside a crackling fireplace. Jekyll Island — one of the Golden Isles of coastal Georgia, midway between Savannah and Jacksonville — seemed like the perfect setting to... READ MORE

The top U.S. city to visit: Charleston, S.C.

By Barbara Ruben
Posted on October 06, 2022

From sprawling live oak trees draped in Spanish moss, to horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping over cobblestoned streets, to historic houses in pastel hues, Charleston, South Carolina, transports visitors to another era. A thriving culinary scene and proximity to pristine beaches helped inspire Travel & Leisure magazine readers to choose it as the top U.S. city to visit for the 10th... READ MORE

“Voluntouring” for mind, body and spirit

By Glenda C. Booth
Posted on September 29, 2022

At nighttime in Botswana’s pitch-black Okavango Delta, I sat astride a 1,000-pound Nile crocodile while a scientist probed the croc’s posterior. A hippopotamus snorted within earshot. Years later, while visiting California’s Catalina Island, I searched the sand on hands and knees for nurdles, plastic orbs the size of a pencil eraser. On both trips, I was helping scientists with... READ MORE

Time to plan fall leaf-peeping excursions

By Ed Perkins
Posted on September 13, 2022

In case you haven’t already started, it’s time to plan for any fall foliage trips you might want to take. Although New England has pushed the idea that it is fall foliage central, you can find good fall foliage viewing throughout much of the U.S. and Canada — maples, oaks and such east of the Mississippi; aspens in the Rockies. Peak times typically move from north to south between... READ MORE

Paradise Coast: Naples and Marco Island

By Alice Shapin
Posted on September 07, 2022

It had been two years since my husband and I had flown anywhere for a vacation. We felt like bears emerging from hibernation — or maybe more like Rip Van Winkle. So, last spring, not quite ready to travel abroad and risk being stranded if we got Covid, we chose as our first venture the “Paradise Coast” of Southwest Florida. Along this 18-mile stretch are a pair of gems, Naples... READ MORE

3 travel lessons I wish I’d learned sooner

By Liz Weston
Posted on August 29, 2022

Almost every trip I take teaches me something about myself, the world, and what not to do next time. Here are three hard-won travel lessons that may help you learn from my mistakes: Cobbling together flights isn’t worth the savings Whenever possible, I book nonstop flights. Nonstops may cost a bit more, but they avoid the inconvenience of layovers and the stress of possibly missing a... READ MORE

Factory tours abound and are great fun

By Ed Perkins
Posted on August 18, 2022

A factory tour is perhaps the most underrated sort of attraction in the U.S. When I first started writing about factory tours, I highlighted them as the “best free attractions you could find,” but liability and staffing issues have forced many to start charging. Still, the chance to see exactly how some favorite item is made can be fascinating. And, fortunately, you can find an... READ MORE