Island Escapes · 8 min
The Maldives: The Overwater Dream, Honestly Assessed
Overwater villas, house reefs, and turquoise lagoons — plus the real costs and how to choose the right island for your Maldives trip.
The library
Maui guides
Independent, in-depth guides to planning a Maui trip — organized so you can read in the order a trip actually comes together.
Island Escapes
Island Escapes · 8 min
Bali: Temples, Rice Terraces, and the Affordable Exotic
Why Bali remains a great-value exotic island — Ubud's jungle and temples, the Bukit's cliffs and surf, and how to dodge the crowds.
Island Escapes · 7 min
Bora Bora: The South Pacific at Its Most Extravagant
French Polynesia's headline island — a turquoise lagoon, overwater suites, and Mount Otemanu. What to expect, when to go, and how it compares to the Maldives.
Island Escapes · 8 min
Santorini: Caldera Sunsets and How to Beat the Crowds
The Mediterranean's most photographed island — blue domes, cliffside villages, and volcanic beaches. When to go, where to stay, and how to avoid the cruise crush.
Island Escapes · 7 min
The Amalfi Coast: Cliffside Italy at Its Most Romantic
Positano, Ravello, and a coast road carved into the cliffs. How to do the Amalfi Coast — where to base, getting around by boat, and when to go.
Island Escapes · 6 min
Maui: The Accessible Exotic
Volcanic sunrises, the Road to Hāna, and world-class snorkeling — an exotic island escape that needs no passport for North American travelers.
Ancient Wonders
Ancient Wonders · 8 min
Kyoto: The Old Soul of Japan
Temples, geisha districts, and bamboo groves — how to experience Kyoto beyond the crowds, plus when to come for cherry blossoms and autumn color.
Ancient Wonders · 7 min
Petra: The Rose-Red City Carved Into the Rock
Jordan's ancient wonder — the Siq, the Treasury, and the Monastery. How much time you need, when to go, and pairing Petra with Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea.
Ancient Wonders · 8 min
Machu Picchu: The Lost City in the Clouds
Peru's Inca citadel — how to get there by trek or train, the permits you must book ahead, when to go, and how to acclimatize to the altitude.
Ancient Wonders · 7 min
Marrakech: Souks, Riads, and the Gateway to the Sahara
Morocco's red city — navigating the medina, staying in a riad, and using Marrakech as a base for the Atlas Mountains and Sahara dunes.
Ancient Wonders · 7 min
Cappadocia: Cave Hotels and a Sky Full of Balloons
Türkiye's surreal landscape of fairy chimneys, cave churches, and dawn hot-air balloons. When to go, where to stay, and how to catch the famous sunrise.
Wild Places
Wild Places · 8 min
The Serengeti: The Greatest Wildlife Show on Earth
Tanzania's iconic safari — the Great Migration, the big cats, and how to time and plan a Serengeti trip without wasting the once-in-a-lifetime cost.
Wild Places · 8 min
The Galápagos: Where the Animals Have No Fear of You
Ecuador's living laboratory — cruise vs. land-based, when to go, and how the strict rules keep the Galápagos extraordinary.
Wild Places · 8 min
Patagonia: Granite Spires at the End of the World
Chile and Argentina's wild south — Torres del Paine, the glaciers, and Fitz Roy. When to go, how to trek the W, and what to expect from the wind.
Wild Places · 8 min
Iceland: Fire, Ice, and the Northern Lights
Waterfalls, volcanoes, glaciers, and geothermal spas on one ring road. Summer's midnight sun vs. winter's auroras — and how to plan each.
Wild Places · 7 min
Queenstown: New Zealand's Adventure Capital
A lakeside base for Milford Sound, Middle-earth landscapes, and every adrenaline sport going. When to go for summer hiking or winter skiing.
