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A collection of colorful hanging lanterns at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul

Longreads

Souvenirs Are a Sham. So Why Do We Keep Buying Them?

Why do we feel the need to collect mementos—including the good, the bad, and the ugly—out on the road?

August 21, 2024 09:12 AM

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Michelle Baran

Art + Culture

Appreciating the Artistry of Turkish Carpets

A trip through Istanbul offers a close look at this ancient art—and plenty of shopping opportunities.

Sponsored by The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card from Chase

A hill villa at the Maxx Royal Bodrum in Türkiye with a private infinity-edged pool facing the sea.

Stay Here Next

Inside Türkiye’s Most Glamorous New Resort

The luxurious new Maxx Royal Bodrum offers world-class design, gourmet dining, and a secluded Aegean location ideal for both relaxation and high-energy nightlife.

October 11, 2024 12:33 PM

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Anya von Bremzen

Ski expertise isn't needed to appreciate Japan in the snow.

Where to Go in Winter

6 Cold-Weather Travel Destinations You Should Visit During the Winter

Snowbirds, allow me a minute to change your mind?

October 5, 2022 11:52 PM

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Chloe Arrojado

In the Magazine

Hike Turkey’s Carian Trail, Ponder the History of Western Civilization

Turkey’s 528-mile Carian Trail is part of a growing network of ruin-laced treks running throughout the country.

December 1, 2021 02:31 PM

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Jenna Scatena

Located near the border with Syria, Gaziantep boasts a reputation as one of the region's great foodie cities.

Summer 2022

Syrian Refugees Are Transforming an Ancient Turkish City’s Food Culture

Writer Anya von Bremzen explores the fluid nature of food, identity, and community in Gaziantep, a Turkish city renowned for its cuisine—and reshaped by the Syrian war.

September 27, 2022 01:22 PM

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Anya von Bremzen

COVID + Travel

Turkey’s Unequal Treatment of Tourists and Locals Sparks Outcry

International tourists are exempt from lockdown restrictions that order most Turks to stay home on weeknights and weekends.

May 17, 2021 03:16 PM

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Zeynep Bilginsoy

Clockwise from top left: Drinks and food at Six Senses Zighy Bay in Oman (1st and 3rd); Alesund, Norway; Abu Dhabi, UAE, The Aquarium near Margaret River in Western Australia; street scene in Istanbul, Turkiye; Antwerp, Belgium; Koks Restaurant in Greenland

Where to Travel Next

We Took Hundreds of Trips This Year and These Are the Places We Would Go Back to in a Heartbeat

Afar’s team roamed wide in 2024. These were our favorite spots from a year of exploring.

December 13, 2024 01:33 PM

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Tim Chester

Lanyards decorated with sunflowers, the globally-recognized symbol for non-visible disabilities, will be provided to guests who may need more help during their travels.

One of the world’s largest airlines will supply sunflower lanyards for travelers with an unseen disability.

August 26, 2022 02:55 PM

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Bailey Berg

A bed up against a window with an American Airline airplane within view through the window at 'Wait ‘n’ Rest' in Miami Airport

Air Travel News

Miami Just Became the First U.S. Airport to Open These Design-Forward, Hourly Nap Rooms

An inviting bed within the terminal sure beats an uncomfortable snooze atop a row of gate chairs.

March 16, 2026 05:22 PM

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Chris Dong

History + Culture

This Istanbul Shop Is the Last to Make a Turkish Breakfast Staple the Traditional Way

Kaymak, a rich buttery cream, is often eaten at breakfast time. But Istanbul is down to just one dairy shop that produces it traditionally, with their own fresh water buffalo milk.

February 28, 2019 01:48 PM

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Melanie Haiken

Chase Sapphire airport lounge with blue seating and a curved mezzanine at LaGuardia Airport

Air Travel News

The Best Priority Pass Lounges in the World, Ranked

Within the world’s largest independent airport lounge program, these are the Priority Pass lounges that reign supreme.

September 23, 2024 03:36 PM

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Paul Rubio

A suite onboard the Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express, a Belmond Train, with a sofa and small dining table with food and champagne on it in the foreground and a double bed in the background and walls decked out with ornate wood details

Trains

What It’s Like to Travel on Europe’s Most Glamorous Train

On a Venice Simplon-Orient-Express rail journey from Italy to France, guests experience slow, intentional travel in all its glory on classic Art Deco train cars.

May 8, 2026 12:45 PM

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Erica Firpo

Aerial shot of Azamara ship in Croatian port

Cruise News

This New 155-Night Cruise Visits All 7 Wonders of the World

Chichen Itza, the Christ the Redeemer statue, the Taj Mahal, Machu Picchu, the Colosseum, the Great Wall, and Petra are among the stops.

October 6, 2023 10:34 AM

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Bailey Berg

Sailing ships line the port in Nice, France

Cruise

You Should (Really) Book a Mediterranean Cruise This Winter—Here’s Why

Fewer crowds, milder temperatures, and more affordable fares—there are ample reasons to cruise the Mediterranean Sea in winter.

December 21, 2023 01:26 PM

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Michelle Baran

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