Author: Lauren Mulvey

Another day has passed and you haven’t bought an old villa in Tuscany yet? Well, you still can. And in fact, small towns in Italy are indeed still paying people to move there. Radicondoli, a village close to the famous small city of Siena was once home to 3,000 residents, but now under 1,000. people live there. According to CNN, around 100 of the village’s 450 houses are vacant. Like many small Italian villages with the same ailment, Radicondoli is hoping to bring more life back into its narrow streets and sloping countryside hills by offering money to those who will…

Doctors in Sweden are now advocating travel as a wellness treatment in a new plan called “The Swedish Prescription.” The initiative partners with Swedish senior professor Yvonne Forsell to identify activities scientifically-proven to help you feel better. It invites people to reap the benefits of Sweden’s unique lifestyle “rooted in balance and with easy access to both nature and culture” making it an ideal location for a mind and body reset. Sweden is consistently ranked as a global leader for quality of life and often named one of the happiest countries in the world. According to Visit Sweden’s official report, “Sweden…

Clear introduced the new eGates system in August, at which time CEO Caryn Seidman Becker said in a statement: “The U.S. should be leading on security, hospitality, and the travel experience.” She went on to say: “This partnership with TSA is a powerful example of how public and private sectors can work together to enhance security and improve the aviation ecosystem.” The new eGates system conducts real-time biometric verification controlled by the TSA. It triggers gate access, conducts security vetting, and enforces government security requirements. Clear’s August statement noted that the system uses limited data and has no access to…

The U.S. Travel Association reports the federal government shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, has cost the country’s tourism sector upwards of $2.6 billion so far. The travel industry was already struggling this year with many travelers opting to avoid travel to the USA for fear of immigration and civil rights crackdowns. Plus, Donald Trump imposed a $250 visa integrity fee earlier this year for all non-immigrant visa holders visiting the country. President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council, Julia Simpson said in a statement: “While other nations are rolling out the welcome mat, the U.S. government…

Travelers to Taiwan will now have to complete a digital arrival identification card prior to departure. The new mandate went into effect on Oct. 1 and requires all travelers to Taiwan to complete their digital arrival cards within three days of their departure date if they are arriving in Taiwan by air or sea. One traveler can submit for their party, ensuring each traveler’s information is provided. Those who do not fill out the arrival card will not be able to proceed with immigration.  According to Travel Pulse, the requirement allows for the elimination of the paper version of the…

Europe’s new Entry and Exit System (EES), which begins this month, will require travelers to provide a fingerprint or face scan for entry to countries in the European Union. Though full implementation of the EES will not take effect until April 2026, border crossings and airports are testing out the new technology this fall. If the system operates successfully, eventually all 29 EU member states will utilize fingerprints and face scans to document traveler movements. According to Travel and Leisure, the new program is intended to “modernize borders, combat identity fraud, and easily identify travelers who overstay their visas.” Data on…

The political group Amsterdam Has a Choice (Amsterdam Heeft een Keuze) filed a suit against the city urging officials to do more to combat mass tourism. According to Travel Pulse, a 2021 bill attempted to curb an influx of stays at 18 million, but reports indicate that in 2024 the city saw 23 million overnight stays, and projections for 2026 are as high as 25 million. A statement from Amsterdam Has a Choice reads: “Amsterdammers are fed up. Local shops are giving way to souvenir shops and Nutella stores. Houses and public buildings are being converted into hotels, and you…

For those of you who appreciate spooky attractions, there are plenty of haunted destinations around the world to enjoy during the Halloween season. Here are six international destinations that are sure to have your heart skip a beat, and make you scream with delight. Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland Scotland is already a perfect fall destination, so it won’t take much convincing for you to book a spooky season trip to Scotland’s old cities that are full of mystery and history. In Glasgow, a swirling cemetery, the “City of the Dead,” or the Southern Necropolis on the south side of the…

Everyone loves to travel, but not all cities are equipped to accommodate travelers with accessibility needs. Here are some of the best ranked accessible-friendly places around the world according to Valuable 500 and more. Denver, Colorado Denver is revered as one of the most wheelchair-friendly cities in the U.S., but the city also hosts many other accessible attractions such as the National Sports Center for the Disabled. This non-profit provides outdoor activities for anyone of any ability. Plus, at the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art, many options have been made for people living with disabilities. These include benches and chairs…

How a community embraces sexuality and self-expression is constantly in flux around the world. In some cities, LGBTQ+ people might feel free to express themselves, and in others, it may threaten their lives. A new report has revealed the most “sexually liberated” cities around the world, and you can visit them to put each to the test. These are the most self-expressive cities in the world where you can embrace your identity according to global research from Erobella. The report incorporates data from multiple categories to render the final ranking. This includes the number of gay bars, presence of anti-discrimination laws,…

A neighborhood in Tempe, Arizona is daring to try something many towns and cities would be too scared to attempt: banning cars. Tempe, a city outside of Phoenix with a population over 190,000 people, isn’t exactly a one-horse town. In a small neighborhood of the city called Culdesac, the country’s first modern car-free neighborhood thrives with bicycles and walkers.  In place of roadways, streets, traffic circles, and stoplights, Culdesac’s car-free 17-acre area is a mixed-use neighborhood with shops, eateries, a doctor’s office, dog park, pool, gym, and co-working space. Here, residents can simply walk to grab a morning coffee, attend an…

Founded on the principles of freedom and acceptance, Providence, Rhode Island, continues to support a diverse creative community. Along with its blend of big city sophistication and small-town charm, Providence is known for its walkability, award-winning restaurants, and dynamic arts scene. Perfectly positioned between Boston and New York City, and easily accessible by car, train, or plane, Providence offers something for everyone, all year long. One of Providence’s most popular cultural events is WaterFire, a multisensory art installation, highlighted by a series of bonfires installed on the three rivers of Downtown Providence. Illuminating nearly two-thirds of a mile of public…

Mark your calendar for Come Out With Pride Orlando 2025 on Saturday, October 18th in Lake Eola Park from Noon – 10 P.M. This Pride celebration is not to be missed and is one of the largest single-day LGBTQIA+ events in Central Florida, drawing in a crowd of over a quarter of a million people from near and far. This year’s theme is “We The People,” which is especially meaningful in times like these when the LGBTQIA+ community is facing many challenges. “We The People” reestablishes that LGBTQIA+ people are and always have been a crucial part of the foundation…

Summer cocktails and aperitifs come and go, but wine is a year-round beverage, with perfect variations for all occasions. Wine lovers can make an easy holiday all over the world as wine regions span continents and cultures. Here are six of the most popular wine regions in the world to consider for you next vacation. Italy  If there’s one place that comes to mind for wine-loving travelers when planning a trip, it’s Italy, famous for wine-stocked grocery stores, quality grapes, and wineries galore in regions like Tuscany, Piedmont, Sicily, and Veneto. Wines from Italy are often characterized by these regions,…

Google has introduced a new platform to its Google Flights airfare search engine called Flight Deals, an AI-powered tool allowing users to enter conversational text to find flights. Instead of entering dates, destinations and filters to find the best flight, users can now just describe where, when, and how they want to fly.  “Flight Deals is designed for flexible travelers whose number one goal is saving money on their next trip,” said Jade Kessler, Product Manager at Google Flights. The new tool is now available for travelers in the U.S., Canada and India. Despite the change, travelers can still utilize Google…

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has added new destinations to its list of World Heritage Sites, continuing it’s legacy of preserving unique and historically relevant places around the world. Recently added to the list is Minoan Palatial Centre in Crete, an island off the coast of Greece. This historical ruins site dates back to 1900 BC, according to Travel + Leisure. This destination includes six archaeological sites on the island that are representative of the Minoan civilization, a prehistoric Mediterranean culture. The sites now a part of UNESCO’s World Heritage list were the Minoan’s economic, religious,…

Thailand is enjoying some major buzz this year, and for good reason. Not only is this southeast Asian nation the setting for the third season of HBO’s White Lotus, but more importantly it celebrated a historic milestone in January 2025 by becoming the first nation in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. As the nation’s capital and largest city, Bangkok naturally benefits from the positive vibes of this significant moment in history. Locals and visitors alike are reveling in this latest proof of Thailand’s queer friendliness, as well as annual LGBTQ+ celebrations, including Bangkok Pride. Bangkok is indeed more appealing than…

The days of looking back at your global travels via passport stamps are coming to a close as countries move to digitize immigration processes at their borders. Travel + Leisure reports 29 countries in the European Union will swap their passport stamps for the region’s new Entry/Exist System (EES), which will keep track of travelers’ goings to and from these countries via a digital footprint. Though the new system’s landing date has been pushed back various times in recent years, it is now slated to go into effect on Oct. 12, less than two months away. From there, the system will…

It’s no secret the U.S. is becoming a less and less attractive destination for international travelers, with new hiked up visa fees, threatening policies on deportation and border security, and a general distaste for the countries policies and policy makers. Many states are facing the consequences of decreased interest in U.S. tourism, as international traveler numbers in New York, California, and beyond drop, threatening what is typically a bustling economy.  According to reports from CNN, foreign travelers are increasingly nervous about the U.S.’s foreign policies. One Italian man studying in the U.S. told the outlet that Donald Trump’s immigration policies…

The E.U. has announced yet another launch date for the long-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES) that will now act as the region’s digital border system monitoring non-EU Nationals. The new launch date is Oct. 12, 2025.  According to Euronews, the EES is a registration system for U.K., U.S., and other non-EU travelers. It will require these travelers to scan their passports and/or other travel documentation at self-service kiosks each time they cross EU borders. EU citizens and those with long-stay visas will not need to register.  Once travelers register with the system, it will record their name, biometric data, date of entry…