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The balcony view from Nido, the rooftop restaurant at the Loren at Lady Bird Lake.

Hotels

This Lakefront Boutique Hotel Gives Guests Easy Access to Austin Highlights

Here’s why we love the Loren at Lady Bird Lake. Plus: Five exciting destinations within easy walking distance.

November 25, 2022 08:30 AM

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Mae Hamilton

Islands

The Best Smaller Islands to Visit in the BVIs

These remote British Virgin Islands are ripe for discovery, including a protected national park and a former pirate hideout.

June 3, 2021 10:45 AM

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Staff

Festivals + Events

In Carlsbad, California, Flowers Are on the Menu

Flower spotting in Carlsbad goes beyond ranunculus at the Flower Fields. In spring, petals are incorporated into entrées, spa treatments, and cocktails.

April 12, 2022 07:00 PM

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Bailey Berg

<ol start="1"><li>Monsanto, Portugal - April 2018: unique rock house in the village</li></ol>

Outdoor Adventure

12 Charming Small Towns in Portugal That Look Straight Out of a Storybook

From the mountains to the shores of the Atlantic, these Portuguese villages are worthy of every detour.

November 27, 2024 01:17 PM

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Joana Taborda

Outdoor Adventure

La Belle Étoile: Why You Should Go Stargazing in France This Year

The pandemic saw a rise in Dark Sky Reserves opening across Europe. But no nation has done more to protect the nighttime stars than France.

October 21, 2022 07:08 PM

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Adam H. Graham

Bars + Nightlife

A Night Out in Rio Begins (and Ends) at This Bar

To truly experience this bustling Brazilian city, you need to stop at one place: the pé-sujo.

June 2, 2016 07:45 PM

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Chaney Kwak

Viking Star vessel with New York City skyline in the background

Cruise News

Do You Need to Be Vaccinated to Cruise? It Depends on the Ship and Destination

While most cruise lines have scrapped COVID vaccine and testing requirements, some companies and international cruise ports still have vaccination and testing rules in place.

April 19, 2023 07:10 PM

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Fran Golden

Visitors stand at the top of a mountain overlooking stunning fjords, islands, and a quaint village in the Lofoten archipelago. Couple hiking the Reinebringen mountain Lofoten Norway

Hiking + Cycling

21 Beautiful Hikes Around the World You Should Do in Your Lifetime

Some of these hikes are well known, some underrated. All are Afar tested and approved, bringing you closer to the Earth.

May 19, 2026 05:23 PM

Cities We Love

9 Unmistakable Ways Kansas City Culture Defines the New Midwest

Kansas City’s renowned music scene, independent restaurants, and innovative urban planning make it the vibrant “Heart of America” and an exhilarating travel destination.

Sponsored by Visit Kansas City

6 Lantern Festivals That’ll Brighten Your Life

Art + Culture

8 Truly Brilliant Global Lantern Festivals Worth Traveling for—from Chiang Mai to Nagasaki

These luminous events, from Chiang Mai to O‘ahu, are rooted in ancient cultural traditions.

October 20, 2025 06:13 PM

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Bailey Berg

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

Outdoor Adventure

The 12 Best Places to Visit in Colorado, in Every Season

The state’s spectacular mountains, cities, parks, and preserves await—whatever the season.

September 23, 2023 08:05 AM

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Kelly Bastone

Clockwise from top left: Kenya, Newfoundland, Santa Ynez, La Paz, Barcelona, South Korea, La Paz, Transylvania

Where to Travel Next

We Took Hundreds of Trips in 2025, and These Are the Places We Would Go Back to in a Heartbeat

Afar’s team roamed wide in 2025. These were our favorite spots from a year of exploring.

December 19, 2025 01:11 PM

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Nicholas DeRenzo

a room at the Four Seasons Napa Valley with the bed, a fireplace and windows looking out to the mountains

Health + Wellness

Why Do We Sleep Better at Hotels?

There’s something about a hotel room that can lull travelers into the best sleep of their lives. We try to find out what it is.

January 15, 2024 08:00 AM

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Victoria M. Walker

Style + Design

Take a Tour of the Weird, Stunning Architecture of Brasília

In Brazil’s capital, modernist buildings act as time capsules that show what we once thought the future would look like.

August 1, 2016 12:45 PM

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Mimi Zeiger

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