Behold: Our latest batch of travel tips, spanning a range of topics and locales. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, professional wisdom or a recommendation to elevate your upcoming getaway to the next level, read on to get your gears turning.
"Nightlife" might mean something different for everyone; make the most of your trip with your kind of nightlife.
UP ALL NIGHT FOR FUN
Whether you’ve always been something of a night owl or it’s just jet lag you’re accounting for, here are some ideas of where and how to make the most of being a nocturnal tourist.
The Northern Lights in Hamnoy, Norway, are a surreal sight
Northern Lights
On paper, everyone has a passing understanding and appreciation for the aurora borealis: Solar wind from the sun collides with the Earth’s upper atmosphere, sure sure, it’s lights at night. Seeing it in person though? It’s 100% a bucket-list moment. The ethereal light show might be the closest you can get to experiencing the awe of space while standing here on Earth. And perhaps no locale is better for viewing the northern lights than Norway’s coastline; watching the light dance over mountain peaks and reflect off the frigid ocean is a dreamlike scene.
The nightclubs of Ibiza are truly one-of-a-kind.
Ibiza Nightlife
Forget your bedtime, forget your age; they’re just numbers. The nightlife of Ibiza is all anyone will ask about when you mention you visited. It’s primal. It’s borderline divine. It’s the sort of experience that stays with you for life. You’re not without options: Pacha is perhaps the prestigious, go-to choice for dancing the night away, but consider Amnesia solely for its second dance floor; sunrise baptizes you and your fellow dancehall congregants through the glass roof with a slo-mo celestial light show. You’ll never look at sunrise the same way again.
The Louvre is already a sight to behold; consider the added element of walking its halls at night.
European Night of Museums
This one is less a specific place than a trend; at various museums across Europe, you’ll typically find one night regularly designated as the “open late” option. The choices for nighttime learning run the gamut of locales and times: The British Museum stays open until 8:30 p.m. every Friday, London’s National Portrait Gallery is open until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, the Louvre is open until 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays, Center Pompidou is open till 9 p.m. on Mondays, and so on and so on. Additionally, there is an annual event known as the European Night of Museums — every third Saturday of May, some 1,200 museums in 120 cities across Europe unite to keep their doors open late into the night, allowing for a truly engaging alternative to bars or clubs. To make the most of your late nights, speak with a travel agent to home in on what’s open when and really worth seeing.
All all across the world, rolling vineyards are a sight to behold.
TOP HIDDEN-GEM TERROIRS
Look beyond the typical haunts like Napa Valley or Bordeaux, France — the whole wide world is chock full of wine regions for the discerning palate.
Virginia, United States
Texas Hill Country is such an open secret that some would argue it’s eclipsed “secret” status. The new best hidden gem in North America? Virginia. The state is the birthplace of American wine and has over 300 wineries by last count — the rolling hills of Northern Virginia, the verdant Shenandoah Valley and the historic estate of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello are just some of the many memorable spots to sip and savor the fruits of the land. Pair your vineyard visit with a Civil War battlefield tour, a founding father’s mansion or a jaunt into the nation’s capital to really up the memorability.
Even before you've had a glass, there's an otherworldly charm to Shenandoah Valley.
Western Cape, South Africa
South Africa’s vineyards were first seeded by the Dutch East India company in the mid-1600s; fast forward to today and the recipe still works. The warm climate and ancient granite soils combine to create bold wines with high aromatic intensity, allowing you to enjoy glasses of cabernet sauvignon or viognier as stunning as the mountains lining the horizon.
Like the terroir, the views of South Africa are totally unique.
Mendoza, Argentina
Unfurling from the foot of the Andes mountain range is Mendoza — the heart of Argentina’s wine production. It’s the perfect storm of wine-growing conditions: The Andes shield the region from the Pacific’s humid winds, and the Atlantic frankly isn’t in the picture. Add in the altitude, the heterogeneity of the soil and the reliable runoff of snowmelt and you get truly remarkable crops, year after year. Roughly 76% of the country’s vineyards can be found here, allowing for a mind-boggling number of possibilities when it comes time to vineyard-crawl.
If tasting the wine doesn't give you goosebumps in Mendoza, Argentina, then seeing the Andes mountain range might.
Mosel, Germany
It’s not just beer that the Germany excels at — they can also produce some stellar bottles of wine, thanks primarily to the Mosel region. Ridiculously steep vineyards in the hills clustered around the Mosel River translate to a mecca of white wine production, with riesling (a light-bodied, high-acid vino) being the predominant planting. This variety can run the gamut from dry to downright dessert-sweet, so you’ll want to sample a few to get an idea of the spectrum.
This view in Trittenheim, Germany, and a glass of riesling; can you even ask for anything more?
Getting lost in a book is one thing — losing yourself in a city steeped in books is a whole other type of joy.
BIG BOOK-CENTRIC CITIES
It’s not just BookTok; reading is back in vogue. Here are three pilgrimages a bibliophile can take to get lost in the rhythm of a book-centric city.
Trinity College's Old Library is a sight to behold.
Dublin, Ireland
Scores of acclaimed authors have called the vibey streets of Dublin home throughout the ages; James Joyce! Bram Stoker! Samuel Beckett! Oscar Wilde! W.B. Yeats! These are just the obligatory classic names. There’s a thriving contemporary scene to dig into at any of the local bookstores. Trinity College provides a good dose of dark academia (especially the Old Library), while the James Joyce Centre schools you on one of the city’s most notable alumni. Guided walking tours or the literary pub crawl are both prime ways of seeing the stories that live and breathe here, but frankly, it’s something you can feel in the air. Dublin has always been for the romantics.
Few bookstores are as opulent as El Ateneo Grand Splendid Bookstore.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires sports more bookstores per person than any other city in the world, a downright staggering fact. The reasons are myriad and intricate — a free public university system, sky-high rates of literacy and small publishing houses championing authors all combine to create a culture where every public space is littered with someone nose-deep in a good read, and bookstores serving as critical hubs of the social and cultural scene. Never mind trying to name the famous authors who have hailed from here; there are far too many to list (and besides, isn’t that half the fun of finding your next good read?). One absolute can’t-miss? The Ateneo Grand Splendid Bookstore, set inside the opulent skeleton of a classical theater dating back to 1919. Between these scores of bookstores and the aforementioned wine region of Mendoza, consider a travel agent to help you explore all of Argentina’s cultural delights.
The Boston Public Library is a shining example of how a library serves its book-loving community.
Boston, Massachusetts
I know what you’re thinking after the previous two: Boston?? The home of Dunkin’ Donuts and Matt Damon? But look past the veneer of tawdry in popular culture; the history of letters runs deep in “The Athens of America.” Scores of illustrious writers have called its hallowed streets home, like Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Lousia May Alcott and Ben Franklin (to name a few). A literary tour sees you treading through their old stomping grounds, as well as swinging through America’s first Literary Cultural District — itself home to unique bookstores, inspired sculptures and the birthplace of Curious George.
Take your packing to the next level with a few tips.
PACK LIKE A PRO
Packing is a precise, peculiar art; it falls somewhere between origami and event planning. With each and every day offering a new cornucopia of possibilities, the challenge is knowing what to bring and what to leave behind. Here’s how to pack light, smart and still feel like you have everything you need.
The Basics
Start with the things you can’t replace once you’re at sea:
- Passport, boarding passes and travel insurance
- Medications, vitamins and a small first-aid kit
- Wallet, credit cards and some local currency
- Phone, charger and portable battery
Capsule Your Wardrobe
Pack versatile pieces in complementary colors so you can mix, match and wear more than once. For a cruise, that might mean:
- Light tops, linen shirts and a smattering of T-shirts
- Shorts, sundresses or flowy pants
- One or two proper “evening chic” outfits
- Your favorite sweater for cooler evenings
- A swimsuit or two, plus a cover-up
- Comfortable clothing and footwear for active excursions like hiking, sailing or biking
Small Things That Make a Big Difference
It’s the little things that can have the biggest impact when it comes to making travel a breeze:
- Magnetic hooks to hang items and keep your room tidy
- Foldable tote bag for excursions or extra storage
- Dry bag for water-based excursions
- Waterproof phone case
- Reusable mug or water bottle
- Small packets of laundry detergent
- Travel-sized wrinkle-release spray
- Electrolyte packets for warm-weather destinations
- Seasickness patches or tablets
- Adapters and headphones
Pro-Tips
A few helpful hints to take your travel to the next level via packing:
- If you’re going somewhere warm with a beach or pool, pack your swimsuit in your carry-on. That way, you can cannonball ASAP, no matter what.
- Roll instead of fold — it saves space and fights wrinkles. Packing cubes can also help you keep your items organized.
- No one is keeping track of whether you repeat an outfit!
- Make sure to leave room in your luggage so that you have space to bring your treasured souvenirs home with you.
Trust Your Next Trip to a Travel Agent
An ideal way to visit any of the above is by booking with a travel agent. Not only will you have plenty of time to experience all the sights listed above, but you’ll also enjoy plenty of luxe perks, amenities and discounts along the way. Our agents know all the leading names in travel well, so we can help you choose, plan and book your vacation to perfection.
