San Francisco has no shortage of trendy new restaurants, but there are some classic spots well worth seeking out too -- just don't call them tourist traps. You'll find locals here, dining out on iconic dishes that have been satiating San Franciscans for ages.

Original Joe's
The...

The recession and rising unemployment may be grabbing the headlines in Portugal but, for visitors, there is much to lift the spirits. A wave of recent openings around the country present a great set of reasons to visit Portugal now. We've handpicked the cream of the crop: from...

The beauty benefits of booze -- particularly antioxidant-rich wine and skin-regenerating beer--are nothing new in Europe, where for decades, vinotherapy and hops-themed destination spas have been enticing guests with barrel baths and malty massages. (Some of the most famous ones include Les Sources de Caudalie in Bordeaux, France, and Chodovar...

Bali is the ultimate paradise. Conjuring screensaver images of beaches, centuries-old temples, pampering villas, and even healers, the Hindu-driven island nation within the country of Indonesia has rich culture and centuries-old rituals still practiced today. Temples are ubiquitous, as are moss-covered stone shrines. The Balinese people are some of the...

When I first started traveling on my own, I thought New York to Los Angeles was a "long" flight. These days I regularly travel routes that rank in the top ten when it comes to the world's longest flights. I'm not talking the six hours it takes to get from...

Springtime means many travelers are once again dreaming of Europe. If you're eager to say "yes" -- or perhaps, oui, si, or ja -- to a European escape this spring, but you've already been to top cities like Rome, Paris, London, and Barcelona, here are six smaller cities...

When Virgin Atlantic flight attendants walk through an airport--in a V-formation, of course--people stop in their tracks. Everyone wants to be them, with that perfect shade of red lipstick and sleek hair no matter the altitude. Since the art of flying in 2013 has lost more than a tad of...

Italian cuisine might just be the world's favorite; adored from Tokyo to Chile. The Italians themselves are so attached to their national dishes that you'll be hard-pressed to find an Italian who visits a foreign country and doesn't long for a "fix" within hours. But unfortunately for that homesick, hungry...

The layover, traditionally a dreaded word among travelers, has become considerably less painful as of late - at least, in certain airports. Indeed, the savviest aviation hubs nowadays have evolved far beyond bland-at-best food, cramped seating areas, and outdated design with such offerings as sleeping pods and showers, reclining chaises,...

While the world's best-loved islands--places like Maui, Jamaica, Bermuda, and Capri--easily roll off the tongue, the names of some lesser-known isles can leave all but geography fanatics stumped. Sure, there are thousands of tiny specks dotting our seas and oceans, so no one can be expected to know...

In the dead of winter, we can't help but dream of the desert. It's only natural, right? Drawn to dry weather, bright skies, and the warm shade of palm trees, we took a quick snow-scape to Palm Springs--one of our favorite weekend destinations--to check in at five of

Visiting fashionable and eternally beautiful Rome tops many a traveler's wishlist. But what if you've got kids? Alas, soaking up ancient Roman ruins is usually far from a child's list of priorities. Check out our cheat sheet to making your trip to Rome memorable for everyone in your...

We are always dreaming of the next, up-and-coming cities in Europe to tackle--Cardiff and Dresden, say -- but when was the last time you (re)visited a classic like Florence? Perhaps it was years ago on a post-college trip, or maybe it was part of a weeklong Rome-Venice-Florence getaway. But in...

If you're determined to take a trip this year but don't want to break the bank, we've rounded up (and road tested) seven top-value destinations for 2013.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Has the Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvelous City) ever seemed quite so marvelous? Rio's natural landscape, with its beaches,...

The more time you spend in Italy, the more you'll notice that Italians love telling you what to do... whether you ask them for advice or not. Try this wine. Try it again. Pass that semi truck -- you can do it! Wear different shoes. Change your hair; you're not...

Singapore is often thought of as the cleanest, safest, and, some would say, most sterile country in Southeast Asia. While it's true that Singapore is graffiti-free and remarkably efficient, a vibrant street food culture pulses through the city, reflecting the island's diverse cultural makeup. Flavors from China, India, Malaysia, and...

Affectionately referred to as Puerto Rico's little sister, Vieques is what locals liken to the days of "pre-industrial Puerto Rico." At 55 square miles, the island is twice as large as Manhattan in area, but with only 9,500 inhabitants. That leaves a lot of land -- verdant, rolling...

They say a restaurant opens in New York City every 11 seconds. Just kidding, it is more like one per week. And if so, diners are privileged with unlimited options and diverse dishes on any given night. Some restaurants, of course, rise above the rest, with memorable interiors, buzzy chefs,...

Ah, classic cruise vacations. Beautiful ports of call; buffet tables covered with cakes, pastries, and pies; and the festive "drink of the day" served on the pool deck. That was then. These days, there's so much more to cruising.

Case in point: one of the best ways to get up...

When everything goes according to plan, flying is an incredibly quick and convenient way to travel. Alas, things don't always work so well. The recent storms in and around New York City demonstrated just how much airlines can alter their operations in case of weather events, with more than