Travel Intel

Updates From Hurricanes Irma and Maria

As Florida and the Caribbean recover from the one-two punch of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, we want to keep our members up to date on the status of our many hotel partners. The list below represents the latest reports we have received, but information is subject to change. If you have questions about a specific property, please get in touch.

We will keep updating this post as news continues to come in. 

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Staff
Top Picks

9 Art Shows Not to Miss This Fall

Fall: The time of year when we remember that “culture” can mean more than swatting bugs at an outdoor concert or sitting through yet another superhero reboot (although: Wonder Woman? Not bad!). Yes, autumn means art, and our calendars are already filling up with exhibitions, gallery shows and opportunities to glimpse rarely seen masterpieces. Here are a few of the highlights we’re looking forward to in six cultural capitals (and our recommendations of where to stay for each). 

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Staff
Top Picks

The Best Places to See The Northern Lights

Were the Northern Lights jealous of the solar eclipse? After all the hoopla generated by this summer’s celestial syzygy, the aurora borealis made a rare appearance in the contiguous United States earlier this month, showing its stuff in places like New York’s Catskill Mountains, rural Illinois, even as far south as Arkansas. The cause was an abnormally large solar flare, which may not happen again for many years. 

Missed it? Fear not—we’ve selected the best places to see the lights around the world (although, as with all natural wonders, aurora sightings are never guaranteed). 

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Sarah Marcantonio
Top Picks

The Best Places to Go in Europe in Fall

Here’s a little secret: The best time of year to travel to Europe is...right now! September (and even early October) still has beautiful weather, but crowds are fewer and prices generally lower. And now that the tourists have gone home from the major destinations, the locals come back out to enjoy festivals, harvests and cultural events. Here are six places to consider a trip this fall:

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Sarah Marcantonio
Hotel Decider

Where to Stay in the Riviera Maya

One of our top recommendation for a quick dose of Vitamin D is always the Riviera Maya: An easy hour or so’s drive from Cancún, which has nonstop flights from just about every major airport, its string of resorts has something to suit every type of traveler. Here’s our rundown of the best options.

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Sarah Marcantonio
Travel Intel

Why Nantucket's the Place to Go in the Fall

When the air gets crisp and the leaves start to turn, point your bow towards Nantucket. Why visit the Little Grey Lady in the fall? The weather on the island during September and October is on the pleasant side of perfect—and because school’s started and the crowds have gone home, the beach is close to being all yours.

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Jes Ware
Top Picks

Fall Foliage Trips That Won't Bore You

Pumpkin-spice lattes. College football. Fall foliage trips—ahh autumn's overrated glories. But hold on there. Before you start grumbling about backed-up Berkshire lanes and overpriced, doily and crumbly scone-stuffed Vermont B&B’s, we've got news: There are plenty of other places to see the kaleidoscopic colors of fall—and those places just happen to have activities beyond peeping at leaves. Here are a few of our favorite autumn alternatives.

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Sarah Marcantonio
Travel Intel

Why You Should Make Your Holiday Plans Now

September 1 is a day every travel agent has circled on their calendars. That’s because it’s the day deposits are usually due for holiday bookings—and the day that many people change their minds and cancel their plans. That means a whole lot of space opens up tomorrow. This year, why not give yourself an early Christmas gift and book your holiday vacation far in advance. It saves you an enormous amount of money and grief—and you can actually get what you want.

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Jes Ware
Skylark Travels

Just Back From Jerusalem

Jerusalem is an essential destination for the faithful or anyone fascinated by history—ancient or recent. But, as Skylark’s editorial director Peter J. Frank discovered on a recent visit, its appeal is modern and multifaceted. Here are his recommendations—beyond the Western Wall.

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Peter J. Frank