Author: Lauren Mulvey

With each passing year, as climate change adversely affects global communities, travelers who appreciate the world in all its wonder are becoming more eco-conscious. There are many ways that frequent travelers can adopt more green practices. Avoiding short-haul plane travel, purchasing carbon offsets, being respectful of over-visited destinations, and practicing eco-friendly tasks are good for you and good for the Earth. Here are six popular destinations around the world that are committed to sustainability. Germany According to Forbes, Germany has long been committed to sustainability, adopting a plan to develop diverse attractions to promote sustainable tourism back in 2017. In…

We have often suggested that travel is very good for people, and that couples who enjoy traveling together have a better chance of staying together. Experts have been studying the effects of travel on couples for years, and the news is good. Research highlights four main points about the impact of travel on long-term relationships.  Number one: one to two extended leisure vacations a year help maintain romantic relationships.  Duh! When you and your partner are keeping your noses to the grindstone all year long, the stressors of daily life can push unwanted wear and tear on your relationship. Vacations…

While the hamburger may seemingly need little introduction, this American culinary icon has complex global ancestry. In his encyclopedic 2017 book The World Is Your Burger: A Cultural History, British entrepreneur and burger obsessive David Michaels identifies ‘Isicia Omentata,’ an ancient Roman patty of minced meat, pepper, wine, pine nuts, and fish-based garum sauce as the genesis burger. With other burgers vying for the original burger title, including the celebrated Middle Eastern kibbeh ball of bulgur, ground meat, and spices, and Mongolian horse meat and mutton tartare in the 13th century, Germany emerged as the cradle of the modern hamburger.…

With 120 islands, 177 canals, and 391 bridges, Venice is a truly entrancing and must-see global destination. However, last year the floating city introduced a tourist entry fee to combat the negative effects of mass tourism. Now Venice is doubling entry fees for 2025, just one of the latest self preservationist acts by a city heavily affected by tourism year-round. Last April, Venice began charging day-trippers an entry fee of just over €5 to enter Venice from Italy’s mainland. Now, day visitors to Venice on certain specified dates must pay €10 for entry. For the 2025 tourist high season around…

For digital nomads and remote workers, it’s great news that more and more countries offer digital nomad visas these days. According to Conde Nast Traveler, there are around 66 countries which offer digital nomad visas. Digital nomad visas are temporary permits that allow visitors to stay in countries around the world while they work remotely. These are mutually beneficial for nomads and the countries hosting them, as the digital nomad population boosts local economies. It’s great for digital nomads too, who have the opportunity to settle in at different destinations, get to know a place, and not feel like they…

Travel expenses can quickly become a burden if you don’t know where to look for deals. For foodies who like to travel, much of their daily spending goes toward dining out. Whether you’re into Michelin star restaurants or intimate bistros, you’ll likely spend a pretty penny while traveling, but you don’t need to drain your wallet at every meal. Here are five destinations where you will discover street food and affordable restaurants where your money goes a bit further.  Marrakech, Morocco  Marrakech is not only famous for its vibrant colorful buildings and ornate palaces, but also for its culinary scene.…

Encompassing distinct styles from the southern, central, northern, and northeastern regions of the country, Thai cuisine denotes a complex, layered, juggle of ingredients and cross-cultural influences brought to order by balancing salty, sweet, sour, and spicy tastes. Discover our favorite Thai restaurants in the USA from New York City to Los Angeles and points in between! CHAO KRUNG THAI (Los Angeles) The Los Angeles region is home to the world’s largest Thai population outside of Thailand. Communities include Thai Town, just east of Hollywood, where this 1969 pioneer, one of the first Thai restaurants in town, set the stage for…

Offering famous Modernism Architecture Tours and featuring the esteemed Palm Springs Art Museum, the Palm Springs area is a hub for west-coast art. Now, it’s time to mark your calendars because between March 8 and May 11, you can join the biennial art celebration of Desert X in Coachella Valley.  Each year, Desert X brings site-specific art installations to Coachella Valley, and for their fifth year The Desert Biennial’s exhibition reflects on the desert’s “deep time evolutions reframing ideas and wilderness.” it will also explore themes of “Indigenous futurism, design activism, colonial power asymmetries, the impress of humanity on the…

The city council of Worcester Massachusetts has voted overwhelmingly to become a sanctuary city for transgender and gender-diverse people. The resolution to become an official sanctuary city passed by a 9-2 vote. The decision follows the departure of nonbinary city council member Thu Nguyen who cited the “discriminatory and toxic” environment and the “transphobia” of the city council’s culture as reasons for leaving. Upon their leave, Nguyen said “I wish to have felt safe on this council floor, but I don’t.”  Nguyen also claims that Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty had misgendered them on the council floor, while another council…

If you’ve been saving your money to embark on an adventure, you’re in luck. Here are some unconventional and affordable ways to travel that will help you appreciate the journey and savor the experiences along the way. Volunteer Travel  Volunteer travel is arguably one of the most ethical forms of tourism. Wwoofing, Workaway exchanges or Worldpackers opportunities allow travelers to connect more with the communities they visit rather than just passing through. Volunteer travel involves an exchange of work for accommodation, food and cultural experiences in your desired destination. This could mean you stay in an Italian villa in Tuscany and…

Taiwan has launched a 6-month remote work visa for travelers who want to play as much as they work this year. With Taiwan’s new 6-month visa, digital nomads hoping to explore a new country need only apply by submitting necessary info including a valid passport, travel itinerary, and any supporting documents related to your purpose of visitation.  U.S. travelers could only enter Taiwan as a tourist or short-term visitor without a visa for up to 90 days prior to the introduction of the new visa. The visa takes effect this month, inviting working travelers to come and set up shop and…

A new route between Berlin and Paris now offers travelers high speed transport between the two famous cities, getting passengers there in just 8 hours. The route connects the European Union’s two most populous countries. According to The Independent, the move is also believed to be a sign of the EU’s hopes to attract more people to rail travel. Before the bullet train offering, rides from Berlin to Paris typically took just over 11 hours. The new service, operated by  Deutsche Bahn on an ICE train, will run once a day. The daytime service offers an alternative to a slower…

One of our favorite must-visit destinations is Key West, Florida. Year-round, Key West hosts LGBTQ+ events and festivals including Pride, Womenfest, Bear Weekend, and much more. In Key West, you can create and enjoy a choose your own adventure vacation. Relax on the beach, enjoy amazing food and wine with friends, or discover one-of-a-kind experiences day and night. Here are some of Key West’s annual events to put on your calendar.  Key West Pride – June 2025  Though you can celebrate pride with thousands of friends in nearly any major city these days, Key West Pride is truly something special.…

Hit the slopes in the beautiful Catskills Feb. 7-9 with Hudson Valley’s LGBTQ+ organizers including Big Gay Hudson Valley, Pride Center of the Capital Region and Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center, for NYS Pride Ski Weekend 2025 at Belleayre Mountain in Highmount.  Skiers and snowboarders are welcome to cruise down all of Belleayre Mountains’ 62 trails and enjoy entertainment and special festivities throughout the weekend. Events on the docket take visitors on a tour of an increasingly vibrant nightlife, culinary, and cultural scene in Kingston where the mountains meet the Hudson River. On Friday, Feb. 7 enjoy a cozy DJ…

Travel trends come and go, but the whirling wormhole of social media is stirring with content on an increasingly popular trend: wellness tourism. Users on apps like Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube have grown increasingly obsessed with “self-care.” And nowadays you can find thousands of videos across the web telling you exactly what supplements to take, how to workout, what to eat, what skincare to use, and how to live your most “healthy” life. Realistically it can be overwhelming to try and balance all the unsolicited influencer advice and noise with what your body and mind really need. Some wellness trends…

Each year millions of travelers arrive at airports around the world hoping to grab their luggage and quickly begin enjoying they vacations or starting their business meetings. Also each year, millions of bags go missing at airports everywhere, and unfortunately for travelers whose luggage is lost, this means an interrupted itinerary and additional travel stress. Though travelers cannot necessarily stop their luggage from being lost across international airport systems, new technology allows savvy travelers to track their luggage. Apple has recently unveiled a new feature allowing users to share their AirTag location with third parties, including airlines. This will be…

As major neighborhoods in L.A. continue to lose homes, businesses, and community resources to raging fires, Airbnb and other short-term and vacation rental platforms are offering free accommodations for those who have lost their homes. Airbnb and competitor vacation home company Pacaso are using their vast database of rental properties to match available rentals with displaced families and individuals. Airbnb is executing the assistance through a partnership with 211 LA, a 24-hour hotline for individuals and families in need of aid in health, human, and social services, including housing crises.  They are offering services to residents who have lost their…

Tourist hotspot Florence, Italy has implemented additional measures to limit mass tourism. The latest developments in the city’s campaign against mass tourism include the banning of lock boxes most commonly utilized by residents renting out their properties on short-term rental platforms, and a heaven-sent ban on tour guide loudspeakers. The lock boxes, which allow tourists easy access to short-term rentals without the middleman have been subject to vandalism recently, being taped closed with red Xs by locals, according to CNN. These sentiments have been echoed in various hotspot destinations. Many cities are fed up with short term rentals driving up…

Global efforts to combat mass tourism spill into Mexico as the country’s government imposes a $42 immigration fee per passenger on cruise ships docking in the country. All cruise ship passengers docking in Mexico will now be subject to paying this fee whether they disembark or stay onboard, according to the Associated Press.  According to the Mexican Association of Naval Agents (AMANAC) this fee and an additional $5 per passenger fee imposed by local states makes Mexican destinations some of the most expensive in the world to visit. The association urged the Mexican government to reconsider this new fee warning…

There’s a recipe for an excellent trip abroad: combine friends, food, a bit of history, a taste of culture, and you’ll be cooking up a memorable visit in any part of the world. The internet is thoroughly saturated with travel recommendations and content, and it can be difficult to sort through the muck. Sure you can log into the old reliables, Expedia, Kayak or TripAdvisor to plan your trip, but don’t you want something a little more…personal? Something tailored to you and the experience you’re dying to have?  You’re in luck! There are plenty of emerging apps that can help…