When you hear someone is planning a trip to the South of France, chances are good you're imagining one of two things: the turquoise waters along the French Riviera or the lavender fields of Provence. These are both lovely images and lovely places, absolutely ideal to serve as travel...

Even if you've never been to Italy to see the real Venice, chances are good most long term travelers have run across another city in another country calling itself the "Venice of" something. Of course, some of these so-called Venice facsimiles bear more resemblance to the Italian original than...

Think about going on vacation to go diving or snorkeling and chances are you're imagining tropical locations -- or at least places that are known for having warm weather nearly year-round. Yes, places like the Caribbean and South Pacific have great opportunities for diving, but they aren't the only places...

For decades, Myanmar has isolated itself from western eyes. The junta-controlled country began to open to tourism in 1996, but its use of forced labor and the imprisonment of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi led to international economic sanctions and an unofficial tourism boycott.

Now though, things...

Cruises are extremely popular with vacationers for many reasons -- not least being the all-inclusive aspect. It's easier to stick to your budget, after all, if you're paying for just about everything up front. Cruises have come a long way in recent years, too, in terms of the places you...

When we dream of paradise, we often dream of a beach and, more specifically, a Caribbean beach. The sugar white sands, perfect hammock-ready palm trees, and sparkling blue water combine brilliantly: This is the stuff of travel dreams. Unfortunately, those travel dreams often don't match reality, thanks to big hotel...

Street art, once thought of as synonymous with vandalism and disregarded, is now an art force to be reckoned with. As the art form has grown in stature, it's also grown up in terms of medium -- street art isn't about "tagging" walls with spray paint these days, as artists...

For travel lovers, it's the ultimate dream. A round the world trip. Taking off, leaving your job, your house, your car, and your family and friends behind and hitting the open road. No worries about seeing everything you want to see when you only have a week to do it....

Conjure up an image when you hear "the South of France" and it's likely to include high-end boutique hotels, cafes and exquisite beaches where the rich and famous come out to play. Those things exist in the southern part of France, sure, but that's not all of what you'll find...

No matter how many improvements are made to transportation methods, there's something undeniably appealing about old-school train travel. One of rail travel's most appealing aspects is that it's almost universal -- nearly anywhere you go in the world, there's some kind of train service. You could go chugging through the...

If going on vacation is about letting your hair down, then there are few combinations more ideal for that than the words "beach" and "party." Beach parties aren't uncommon around the world, from the infamous raves of Ibiza to beaches with a samba backbeat in Rio, but not every beach...

Although just about any destination can be romantic if you're with the person you love, there's no denying that some places exude romance more than others. From tropical beaches to mountain getaways, one thing many of these places have in common is that there are hotels with cozy rooms that...

Weekend getaways are the unsung heroes of vacationers everywhere, giving us brief glimpses of the world outside our offices. After you've exhausted all the destinations close to home, however, it's time to broaden your horizons. And especially when the weather in much of the United States is downright dreary, heading...

Any traveling parent will tell you that one of the best perks of a hotel when you've got kids in tow is a hotel pool -- but most of us never outgrow the glee of finding out our hotel has a great pool, especially if it comes with amenities we...

When severe winter weather is making headline news in multiple parts of the world, it's easy to overlook the fact that only half the planet is dealing with snow and ice. In the Southern Hemisphere, it's summer - and in South America, there is enough sun and warm weather to...

If you've just gone through a break-up, reading about romantic getaways can be tough at any time of year -- but there's nothing quite like the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day to make the newly-single feel like they're the only ones not currently in a relationship. Not everyone thinks...

With great wine-producing regions typically comes the fabulous combination of amazing cuisine, stunning scenery and a selection of luxurious boutique hotels. This combination is a boon for traveling oenophiles, since it means you can enjoy the fruit of the vine to your heart's content without worrying that you're missing out...

Even if you're not a big drinker, sampling a unique local beverage can be a fun way to spice up your travels and learn something about the culture at the same time. Often, these drinks are made with local ingredients you may not find elsewhere, giving your taste buds a...

Europe is one of the most popular places on earth in which to vacation, for a multitude of reasons - not least is the sheer number of world-famous attractions you can see. In fact, the list of truly amazing sights in Europe is such that Europeans travel throughout the region...

Even the most enlightened people have stereotypes, especially about things we're unfamiliar with. It may not always be fair, but our prejudices color our perceptions. When you hear terrible things about a particular country, culture or group of people, it can be difficult to not let that influence your opinion...