2. Best for unique wildlife experiences: Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania “I am reminded regularly that Australian fauna is some of the most unusual and fabulous in the world,” says Irwin, whose conservation initiatives include endangered species breeding programmes at Australia Zoo and Wildlife Warriors, a non-profit begun by her parents to involve … Read more
According to a 2024 survey, 37% of those surveyed who used AI to help plan their travels reported that it could not provide enough information, while around 33% said their AI-generated recommendations included false information. These issues stem from how AI generates its answers. According to Rayid Ghani, a distinguished professor in machine learning at Carnegie … Read more
Overcrowded and overheated, Spain’s Camino is losing some of its shine
Niigata, Japan’s snowy coastal prefecture, is famed for its premium sake and centuries-old brewing traditions. Here, travellers can pour their own samples at the station, ride a retro sake train and meet pioneers shaping the drink’s future. The concourse of Echigo Yuzawa Station is a dizzying crisscross of shops and commuters but a glowing display … Read more
Travellers will find Scandinavian landscapes and culture – with Baltic prices
3. Best unexpected outdoor experience in the heart of the city: the Englischer Garten It would seem unlikely to associate Munich, which is more than 500km from the ocean, with water sports. Yet, the city’s Englischer Garten (English Garden) allows visitors to try their hand at a seemingly unlikely pursuit: surfing. The sprawling, 3.75sq-km English … Read more
Forget the solo beach paperback: travellers are now joining structured reading retreats that mix books, place and community. At I’Brindellone, a trattoria in Florence, Â a dozen men and women sit around a long table, wine glasses in hand, deep in discussion about a novel: Still Life, a novel by Sarah Winman. On the walls hang … Read more
The easiest access is from Kangerlussuaq, a small town in western Greenland. In 1999, to test their cars in the harshest winter conditions, Volkswagen built a 35km long dirt road leading from the town to the very edge of the ice sheet. Now, however, the ice has retreated so much you need to walk around … Read more
The biggest adjustment for him was not being able to drink the tap water, and says many older houses have small pipes so you can’t flush toilet paper. He also notes that the perception and value of time is expressed differently here. “Mañana doesn’t necessarily mean ‘tomorrow’. It could mean anytime between the morning and … Read more
In Ballincurrig, East Cork, a 2km stretch of road becomes a stadium each October. For 40 years, locals and international players have competed in Ireland’s little-known sport of road bowling, where 28oz (794g) iron balls skim bends, potholes and dips in pursuit of glory. In East Cork, far off Ireland’s tourist trail, a crowd has … Read more