AFAR Search

Scenery of Shiretoko in Hokkaido, Shari-cho, Midsummer

Outdoor Adventure

In a Lesser-Known Part of Japan, Outdoor Adventure Awaits

Explore bubbling volcanoes, primeval forests, and fantastical wildlife in the far east of Hokkaido.

March 22, 2024 01:25 PM

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Sarika Bansal

Man standing up to knees in natural quicksand river. He is wearing a bathing suit and the mud is all around.

Travel Tips + Etiquette

Quicksand Is a Real Thing. Here’s What You Need to Know.

When a Maine beachgoer recently got trapped in quicksand, the internet panicked. It’s real? Yes, it is. Here’s what you need to know about the storied phenomenon.

June 18, 2024 08:57 AM

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Nathalie Alonso

Hotels

6 Incredible Underwater Hotels Around the World

Sleeping with the fishes takes on a whole new meaning at these villas and suites under the sea.

January 31, 2024 01:38 PM

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Lyndsey Matthews

Hotel News + Openings

These Hotels Around the Globe Were Just Given Michelin’s Elite Three-Keys Distinction

Anonymous inspectors awarded 143 hotels the highest Michelin honor of three keys: 23 located in France, 16 in the U.S., and 14 in the U.K.

October 10, 2025 04:50 PM

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Rachel Chang

Collage of 8 photos, most showing hotels

Hotels We Love

The 40 Best New Hotels of 2026

Afar’s picks for the 40 best new and renovated hotels around the world.

June 10, 2026 10:00 AM

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Jennifer Flowers

Terraced pools with milky blue waters surrounded by chalky white stone

UNESCO World Heritage

12 Extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Sites Where Nature Meets Culture

Cave art or beaches? Mountains or temples? Ancient ruins or volcanoes? You can enjoy both culture and nature at these remarkable sites.

June 9, 2025 05:16 AM

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Pat Tompkins

A traveler plants a tree with a guide in Costa Rica

Travel for Good

Op-Ed: Why the Travel Industry Must Step Up Its Climate Efforts

Intrepid Travel’s cofounder Darrell Wade believes that when it comes to sustainability, tourism needs to become more regenerative.

January 17, 2024 09:14 AM

Hotels We Love

These Are the Best New Hotels of 2024

AFAR’s picks for the 31 best new hotels in the world.

April 4, 2024 09:00 AM

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Jennifer Flowers

Tickets to Japan’s Upcoming Studio Ghibli Theme Park Go on Sale This August

Slated to open November 1, Ghibli Park will be located just outside of Nagoya.

May 17, 2022 03:12 PM

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Lyndsey Matthews

History + Culture

Colosseum’s Underground Passages Reopen to Public

Tourists are now able to go underground and wander the area considered the ancient arena’s “backstage.”

June 29, 2021 04:08 PM

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Associated Press (AP)

Outdoor Adventure

Gorgeous Beaches, Small Towns, and Waterfalls: This Is One of the Most Beautiful Islands in the U.S.

These are the 10 best ways to take advantage of Hawai‘i’s most outdoorsy island.

May 7, 2025 02:37 PM

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Rachel Ng

Travel for Good

Voluntourism 101: How to Find a Reputable Wildlife Sanctuary in Africa

Want to make a positive impact on your next trip to Botswana or South Africa? Read on and learn how to vet voluntourism programs—and how to spot the fakes.

January 25, 2018 09:34 AM

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Adam Welz

National Parks

Plastic Water Bottles Will Soon Be Off-Limits at U.S. National Parks

The goal is to replace single-use plastics with compostable, biodegradable, or 100 percent recycled materials by 2032.

June 9, 2022 06:20 PM

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Matthew Daly

Epic Trips

On a Cruise to the Remote Arctic, Where Polar Bears Roam (for Now)

What an expedition cruise in the rugged yet fragile High Arctic can teach travelers about the planet.

October 10, 2022 01:44 PM

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Bailey Berg

Three people snowshowing towards snow-covered mountains, beneath a blue sky

Family Travel

10 Unexpected Family Travel Destinations Across the U.S. to Visit This Year

Ring in the nation’s 250th birthday with train rides, hikes, and museums, from Wyoming to Florida and beyond.

February 19, 2026 01:02 PM

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Tim Chester

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