Learn emergency phrases in the local language While you may have already mastered basic words like “hello,” “goodbye,” and “thank you,” learning terms and phrases that could help you communicate with locals in the event of an emergency is also essential. “Whether you need directions to the nearest hospital, or need help calling the police, knowing some key phrases will expedite your ability to get yourself help,” says Kiersten Rich, aka The Blonde

Worth it: Castaway Cay cabanasOkay, this may be the most expensive charge offered by Disney Cruise Line, but we think it’s worth it—and so do most cruisers, because these are the first thing to sell out onboard. That said, the cabanas include butler service, protect you from the crowding of the family beach, and make it possible to stay on the beach all day long without packing up and returning to the ship mid-day.Ca-ching: $590 per dayⓘ Worth it: CocktailsWhile soft drinks are inclu

Protect your presentsIf you’re heading home for the holidays, odds are your suitcases will be stuffed with presents, even if you haven’t bought them just yet. (Can’t figure out what to buy? Here are 100 Christmas gift ideas for people who are impossible to shop for.) But without taking the proper steps to protect them, you could be left with a pile of broken presents—or no presents at all—upon arrival. Follow these tips to ensure your gifts remain intact during your holiday air travel. Check tha

Covered Bridges of Blount County, AlabamaLovers of old-fashioned covered bridges can find a trove of these historic spans on the back roads of Alabama, where 10 19th- and early 20th-century examples are still in daily use. Each wooden bridge is unique in style and size, and the oldest predate the Civil War.A good place to start a tour is Oneonta, the county seat of Blount County and Alabama’s Covered Bridge Capital. From Oneonta you can easily drive to three scenic bridge sites. Easley Bri

Vacations, although relaxing and fun, can also turn into a nightmare when plans go awry. That’s what British Airways passengers recently learned after the global airliner experienced a massive technological meltdown—and delayed all of its flights. (Yikes!)The British Airways cancelation lasted for days, threatening to derail the plans of many travelers on a busy holiday weekend. Stranded passengers gathered by the hundreds at departure gates and baggage drops. Use this easy trick to predict if y

Where people traveled in 2017Every year, MasterCard puts together a Global Destination Cities Index in which more than 130 cities are ranked to determine the most visited cities around the world. We’ve broken down the top ten destinations and teamed up with Booking.com to provide you the top reasons to visit each city, the average price of hotels, the cheapest times to visit, and more. Hong KongThe most Googled question about Hong Kong is whether or not it is in China. While officially it

America’s love affair with travelTravel is one of America’s favorite pastimes, whether it’s a hunger to catch America’s most scenic train rides, America’s most haunted hotels, or desire to head abroad and take advantage of travel deals on these major international destinations. But the nature of the trip changes as the age of the traveler gets younger, according to a new survey by the AARP, believe it or not.Although AARP’s work tends to focus on adults over t

Catch the glow of amazing fireworksYou don’t need to pay the $100 park ticket to experience some Disney magic. Every evening, a dazzling fireworks show takes place in the Magic Kingdom and a parade of glittering boats floats across the waters around Disney’s Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian resorts. You don’t have to enter the Magic Kingdom or pay a cent to watch the show. In fact, you can only spot the Electrical Water Pageant from the beaches outside the three re

Amanyangyun, Shanghai This luxury hotel situated outside of Shanghai is the result of an ambitious conservation initiative that spanned nearly 15 years and 500 miles. Tucked away in a relocated camphor forest, the traditional village resort injects present-day comforts into scrupulously restored, 400-year-old Ming- and Qing-dynasty dwellings. The Amanyangyun, opening in January, features sun-drenched interiors, earthy hues, and locally sourced materials that echo the tranquil woodland setting. F

Why you’ll want to goFood festivals offer a true taste of a destination’s diversity, showcasing the culinary magic of local chefs, star mixologists, and wine and beer experts. Through a variety of events, such as farm-to-table dinners, exclusive tastings, cooking demos, and other presentations, these gastronomic celebrations are fun, educational, and delicious experiences.To get started, these are the most popular food festivals to visit in 2018: Hawaiian Food and Wine FestivalOctobe

One of the best parts of going on vacation is taking photos and cherishing memories. But usually, those memorable photos are taken of anything but the hotel. Well, with the number of times that these 11 hotels have been posted on Instagram, they’re a must-see for any vacation. According to Forbes, these are Instagram’s most photographed hotels. Marina Bay Sands Singapore—SingaporePicture yourself 57 floors up overlooking the glistening Singapore skyline from the world’s largest

Taste tapas at Plaza Santa AnaTo find authentic Spanish tapas in the heart of the old city, head to this charming cobblestone plaza. The open-air square is filled with chairs and tables that correspond to the bars and tapas spots that line the perimeter, including the refined Ana La Santa. All the small plate eateries here serve solid versions of traditional tastes such as jamon Iberico (the delicious cured Spanish ham), tortilla (an egg and potato pie), croquetas (fritters), and patatas bravas

Avocado Grill–West Palm Beach, FloridaLocated on the sun-kissed streets of downtown West Palm Beach, Avocado Grill is a small restaurant that leaves quite the lasting impression. Their menu consists of farm-to-table foods like avocado vinaigrette, ginger guacamole, grilled avocado wedges, tuna avocado spring rolls, and more. For brunch, you can enjoy avocado and crab toast. And dessert? How about Nutella avocado mousse? You better bet there’s an avocado margarita to sip on too! (Plus, they

Holy Land travelJews celebrate the New Year on Rosh Hashanah, which took place in September so if your goal is to forget about NYE, Jerusalem is the place to go (among many other places in Israel). December/January isn’t peak season so prices are mild, and there’s been a huge spike in the opening of luxe as well as more affordable boutique hotels. The most-buzzed-about hotel is the Mamila, which offers seriously stunning rooms, views, an amazing breakfast, and spa/fitness center alon

1 / 10Don’t bundle upSure, it’s cold outside, but it shouldn’t be freezing in your car, according to Jason Harper on behalf Chevrolet. Take off those thick gloves, he advises, because they mute the feedback from the steering wheel and make controls more difficult to work, and ditch wearing your bulky coat on a long ride since it restricts arm movements and impedes response time.And those huge snow boots? “They’re a problem,” adds Harper. “It’s hard

Hermitage Bay, AntiguaThis gorgeous little all-inclusive resort has a spectacular strand of white sand beach and gorgeous villas built up into the side of a hill, with outdoor showers and mosquito-netted beds. (Some at the peak even have private plunge pools.) The island was largely unscathed—a surprise since the eye of Hurricane Irma appeared at one point to be headed straight there. The property itself sustained minimal damage (such as downed foliage) during the severe storm season and opened

How do you start?If you’ve seen the movie, The Holiday, you have a bit of insight of how home swapping works—with the exception that it probably won’t happen after two minutes of instant messaging or within 24 hours of the exchange. Home swapping is just as it sounds: You swap homes (and sometimes cars) with another person at no cost. But you don’t want to hand your keys over to just anyone. A little homework is involved, including choosing the website you will choose to use fo

Allowed: breast milkMany parents don’t know that you can bring formula, breast milk, and juice in quantities greater than the 3.4 oz restricted amount when flying with a baby. Here are seven other mistakes new parents make when traveling with Junior. “The breast milk needs to be a “reasonable” amount, and you must inform the TSA officer you are carrying it. These liquids are likely to undergo x-ray,” says Trish McDermott, VP of Community & Communications of Babi

LaosLocated in Southeast Asia, Laos is an underrated country with a ton to offer. The Mekong River runs through this mountainous terrain, there is an abundance of French colonial architecture, stunning Buddhist monasteries, tropical jungles, and the nicest locals. The best part is it’s not super touristy, so you won’t be subject to jacked up prices or overwhelming crowds. The result is total immersion in the authentic, Laotian, day-to-day life. For local meals and street eats, you ca

Ticket Tips1. “When to fly and buy” reports from hopper.com will tell you what price is a good deal for any given route. And Google Flights’ “tracked prices” feature will e-mail you when the price of a selected itinerary has gone up or down. Also, read up on these secrets booking companies don’t want you to know.2. “Data from the past two years suggest the best time to book a domestic flight for the 2017 holiday season will be between three and seven weeks out,” says Randi Wolfson, head of