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Every Thursday on Unpacked by Afar, we tackle a new tricky topic in travel. Because the travel world is complicated. We’re here to help you unpack it.
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Episodes
On this episode of Where to Go, Aislyn Greene speaks about Menton with Jenn Rice to uncover the lemon groves, three‑star dining, and seaside charm that make this Riviera town a top pick for 2026.
On this episode of Where to Go, Aislyn Greene talks about Birmingham with native Jenny Adams, uncovering the restaurants, parks, and history that make this three‑hour escape from Nashville a must‑visit.
On this episode of Where to Go, Aislyn Greene and Yulia Denisyuk talk about Rabat’s festivals, food, and history, plus practical tips for planning a visit.
On this episode of Where to Go, Aislyn Greene speaks with Matt Kirouac about Albuquerque’s neighborhoods, Route 66 lore, and local favorites, and tips for visitors who want to stay longer.
On this episode of Where to Go, Aislyn Greene talks with Katherine LaGrave about navigating Sweden’s Stockholm Archipelago: ferry logistics, sauna rituals, island bakeries, and how to plan a restorative multi‑island hiking itinerary.
On this episode of Where to Go, Aislyn Greene talks to Mark Johanson about Arequipa—the White City’s luminous sillar architecture, its fiery picantería food culture, and the deep canyons and new safari‑style camps reshaping southern Peru travel.
On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene explores Eleuthera with travel writer Terry Ward and discovers a Bahamas island full of surprises—far from the crowds of Nassau.
On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene travels to Charleston to explore the city’s world-class venues—from America’s first dedicated theater to a stunning apricot-colored concert hall—and meets the people bringing opera, dance, jazz, and theater to life in the Lowcountry.
On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene walks Charleston’s legendary King Street and discovers how family businesses and local makers are keeping the city’s retail heritage alive—one handcrafted treasure at a time.
On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene travels to Charleston and discovers how a 150-year-old dinner party, presidential soup, and 30 ways to make shrimp and grits tell the story of America’s most flavorful city.
As part of our inaugural Unpacked Live event, host Aislyn Greene learns how chef Christina Lonewolf Martinez blends family stories, Indigenous foraging, and fine‑dining technique to re-imagine regional food.
As part of our inaugural Unpacked Live event, host Aislyn Greene talks with Hoopa Valley tribal member and river guide John Acuna about the healing power of rivers, the historic Klamath dam removals, and his organization’s work reconnecting Indigenous youth to their waterways.
On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene travels to Charleston and discovers how the city’s soul lives in its tidal creeks, not just in its historic streets.
On this Unpacked: Five Questions episode, Ryan Knighton reflects on traveling Peru as a blind writer: the Amazon’s orchestral nights, high canopy rope bridges, tactile Incan counting systems, and how group travel rewired his sense of place.
On this Unpacked: Five Questions episode, writer Chris Colin describes traveling Botswana by bike with his family — from close-up animal moments and a surprising encounter with an antlion to salt-pan nights and a near-miss with a massive cobra—and explains how slowing down and local guides transform a safari into an unforgettable, family-friendly journey.
On this Unpacked, Five Questions, Emma John visits Door County, Wisconsin, and uncovers friendly communities, surprising wineries, Cedarburg’s antique shops, and Washington Island’s old‑time music tradition.
These towering fiberglass figures were America’s supersize salesmen in the 1960s. On this episode of Unpacked, America 250 learn earn how they went from coast-to-coast marketing phenomenon to beloved roadside relics.
On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene ventures beyond London’s tourist crowds with travel journalist Lottie Gross to uncover England’s rebellious cities, underground adventures, and the authentic local culture most travelers never see.
On this Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene learns how to experience the real Iceland beyond the Golden Circle with travel writer Ali Wunderman, who shares insider tips from over a decade of exploration.
On this Unpacked, Five Questions, writer Harrison Hill tours all five NYC boroughs to visit the city’s oldest family businesses—and discovers what “New Yorkness” really means.
On this Unpacked Mini, writer Peggy Orenstein—Afar’s slow-travel expert—visits Busan, Korea’s bustling coastal city.
On this Unpacked, America 250, we tune into go-go, the official music of Washington D.C.
On this Unpacked Mini, writer Lisa Abend investigates Sicily’s viral one-euro houses—and shares what really happens after you buy.
On this Unpacked Mini, we go behind the scenes to discover how a routine trip to Guangzhou, China, transformed three generations of one writer’s family.
On this Unpacked Mini, we uncover the surprising (and delicious) trends shaping what we eat at sea.
On this Unpacked Mini, we peek into the colorful, immersive, and luxurious innovations coming soon to a cruise ship near you.
On this episode of Unpacked, we dive into why staying at Hotel the Mitsui feels like an intimate journey through time.
On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene travels to our nation’s capital and discovers the difference between Washington and D.C.
On this episode of Unpacked, we set sail with two of the industry’s greenest cruise lines to see how sustainable cruising is shaping the future of travel.
The best hotels offer more than a place to stay. On this episode of Unpacked, we reveal how our favorite new hotels help guests unlock a destination.