The small town of Zipolite lies on Mexico’s southwestern Pacific coast in the state of Oaxaca. A far cry from the concrete jungle of Cancun, the jungle surrounding Zipolite is real. Devoid of high-rise hotels and huge resorts, the beach is lined with cabanas and palapas and a scattering of lodgings unobtrusively tucked away in the jungle. Zipolite is a laidback, open-minded place and Mexico’s only clothing-optional beach. It’s a magnet for hippies, LGBTQ+ travelers, …
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Imagine an overseas trip without spending a single Euro, Pound, Yuan, Yen, or Peso – at least not in the literal sense.
I recently returned from a 3+ week trip to Stockholm and several Baltic nations, including Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, along with a quick stop in Poland. The entire time, not a single coin or bill passed from my hands to a restaurant or store owner.
OK, fair disclosure — I did spend one …
The worst thing one can do at Niagara Falls is to simply stop and look at the falls.
Niagara Falls might be an iconic North American destination, but there is so much to do here than stand and watch. The best way to experience Niagara Falls is to explore the scenery, to become part of it, to meet nature head-on. If you don’t get wet here, you haven’t gotten your time or money’s worth out …
Dear Travel IQ: Do you have some good ways to save on my hotel bills that doesn’t involve camping out or a hostel?
Signed: Cheap, cheap, really, really cheap
Dear Cheap: Goodness, let’s not put cost above value. Cost is what you pay for something, but value is what you get in return. Think about the hotel’s amenities, location, cleanliness, and reputation. All of that matters and should be taken into account …
If you know better, you avoid London’s Victoria and Albert Museum like the plague when it rains, especially if that rain happens to be falling on a Sunday afternoon when most of the world finds itself at the start of Spring Break. You especially avoid the V&A if a new exhibit has just opened up, all the more so if it’s an exhibit that’s going to be popular with artist-types and design students who are …
There’s something about snow that inspires us to escape with that special someone to a peaceful and quiet hideaway from the crowds and hustle and bustle of life. Thankfully, there are places with elegant mountain cabins, tranquil rivers, and sleigh rides through frozen landscapes.
Estes Park, Colorado
Nestled on the edge of the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, sits the charming town of Estes Park. You can choose accommodation from log cabins, bed and …
It’s Saturday night in Montreal, and I’m determined not to slink back home until at least 10 pm. Montreal prides itself on being the fun and festive heart of Canada, and I want to take advantage. This city-on-an-island is having none of that, and celebrates about 110 festivals every year. So it’s a mathematical mystery how I’ve managed to arrive when there isn’t a single festival in sight. I’m too early for the world’s largest …
It’s been almost 60 years since The Sound of Music was released (1965). Everyone remembers Julie Andrews singing “The Hills Are Alive,” but not many know where the Alps behind her are. They are in Austria, along with the rest of the locations used for the movie. It was the home of the real von Trapp Family, and it’s possible to relive one of the world’s favorite family films during a tour in that European …
Traveling off-season is an experience everyone should try at least once. From all appearances, climate change seems to agree. It appears the “best time” to visit may be shifting. Traveling outside of peak months can save you money and provide a unique travel experience. But while traveling off-season almost surely means the trip will ultimately cost much less, there are reasons other than the price to travel outside of peak months that will help to
Oddly enough the overriding sensation I got looking at the earth was, my god that little thing is so fragile out there.” ~ Michael Collins, Apollo 17 Astronaut
Just for a moment, stare at the picture of the earth on this page. You and I are neighbors. I can see your house from here.
We think of the earth as incredibly large and very small, as the most solid entity we can imagine and, …
Scholars, archeologists, writers, and even theologians have debated, dug, and mused over the Once and Future King for centuries, but the mystery that shrouds the boundary between man and myth in our modern times remains thicker than ever.
Luckily, if you know where to look, there are places today that still bear Arthur’s name, places that – well over a thousand years later – still echo with connections to the story of a great man …
If you travel past Kingston and head northeast to Port Antonio, you see the real Jamaica. Once a hangout for the rich and famous, Port Antonio was ravaged by a series of hurricanes from 1988 through 2005. One after another, these storms pounded the Portland Parish, wrecking much of the tourism trade. But for those who want to see a side of Jamaica that most never see, Port Antonio is not to be missed. The …
Dear Travel IQ: I love to watch shows like Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, and I enjoy eating new foods when I travel. I’ve always been afraid to try street food, however. It’s tempting, but I’m worried about sanitation and catching some type of bug that will ruin my trip. How can I safely join Andrew and the others who seem to eat from the street vendors’ carts with impunity?
Signed: Hungry in Chiang …
For winter sports enthusiasts, as well as summer vacationers, St. Moritz is a world-class destination. Besides its beauty and recreational offerings, St. Moritz has crafted a unique personality that makes it a perfect location for those seeking outdoor activities, cultural experiences, and nature. St. Moritz and its jet-setting patronage has practically defined luxury winter sports and adventure for generations.
St. Moritz’s history as a playground for the rich and famous dates back to the mid-19th …