AFAR Search

How To Enjoy Costa Rica’s Beaches and Wildlife Without the Crowds

In this Central American paradise, you can see tapirs and sloths, surf the Caribbean or Pacific, and dance to calypso music—all without joining the tourist masses.

August 4, 2025 02:58 PM

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Mona Gable

COVID + Travel

Some European Christmas Markets Close Due to COVID, but Some Remain Open

After a year when most were canceled, some of Europe’s festive markets are back on again for the 2021 holiday season. Not all have been spared, though, as pandemic problems linger.

November 22, 2021 08:14 PM

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Billie Cohen

Outdoor Adventure

9 Exclusive Experiences to Try in Greece

Discover another side of the country when you sail to its islands by private yacht, ski Arachova, ride a helicopter, and more.

Sponsored by Visit Greece

Books

3 Book Festivals Around the Country to Dog-Ear This Spring

Bookworms unite! From Santa Fe to L.A., here are three events you can attend to celebrate the glory of the written word.

April 22, 2022 01:24 PM

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Mae Hamilton

Malibu Sunset Suite at Regent Santa Monica Beach

Hotels We Love

From Wellness Getaways to Design-Led Urban Retreats, These Are California’s 20 Top Hotels

These are the top luxury hotels to book in the Golden State, where experiences range from world-class culinary destinations and beachfront retreats to storied city hideaways.

August 25, 2025 07:13 PM

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Kathryn Romeyn

History + Culture

What’s in a Name? Why Turkey Is Now Türkiye

Türkiye is the latest country to attempt a rebrand. What motivated the move?

January 11, 2022 01:46 PM

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Jeri Clausing

Longreads

The Vacation Situation

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the American vacation has once again been thrown into harsh relief.

July 9, 2020 04:12 PM

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Katherine LaGrave

woman in infinity pool looks out to pine trees and Canadian Rocky Mountains at the Basin Glacial Waters spa in Banff National Park

Health + Wellness

A Hot Springs Haven in the Canadian Rockies Unveils Two New Spas, One Inside a National Park

Two new luxury spas with thermal baths heat up the wellness scene in the Canadian Rockies.

November 24, 2025 10:45 AM

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Debbie Olsen

Visovac Monastery sits on a small island surrounded by turquoise blue water and forested hills in the background

Air Travel News

The Exciting New International Flight Routes for 2026 Worth Planning a Trip Around

New and revived transatlantic and transpacific routes will give fliers more choices for international travel this year.

February 13, 2026 01:38 PM

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Barbara Peterson

Where to Travel Next

Istanbul Is Brimming With Exciting New Restaurants, Hotels, and Museums

Tempting dishes, inventive cocktails, and several art exhibits await travelers.

August 28, 2024 05:15 PM

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Anya von Bremzen

A lone traveler gazes out over the breathtaking Quilotoa Crater Lake in Ecuador. The vibrant turquoise waters of the lake contrast against the rugged, mountainous landscape, creating a serene.

Hiking + Cycling

This 200-Mile Trek Passes 7 Volcanoes, Hot Springs, and a Legendary Lost Treasure

The Avenue of the Volcanoes in Ecuador takes hikers from ancient village to ancient village.

December 18, 2025 10:07 AM

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Colleen Kelly

Small Ship Cruises

These Epic Shore Excursions Will Change the Way You Think About Cruising

Visiting reindeer herders and eagle hunters in Mongolia. Getting exclusive access to the Louvre after hours. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Yes, you can do this all by cruise ship.

January 13, 2020 04:40 PM

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Gene Sloan

River among green hills in the Côa Valley Archaeological Park

Art + Culture

The Most Photogenic Places in Portugal That Only Locals Know About, According to a Photographer

Picture ruins in a forest, an island volcano lake, and an astronomy site older than Stonehenge.

September 26, 2025 05:27 PM

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Anna Mazurek

AFAR Advisor

A Short Guide to Dining in Vienna

Thanks to Michael Gigl, region manager for North America and Australia, at the Austrian Tourist Office, for sharing some of his favorite restaurants in Vienna.

August 15, 2019 04:40 PM

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Annie Fitzsimmons

History + Culture

Portugal’s Exquisite Historic Lodgings Offer a Window to the Past

The castles, palaces, and monastaries scattered across the Portuguese countryside are more than just relics of a time gone by.

June 8, 2018 07:15 PM

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Michelle da Silva Richmond

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