#travel-peak

#travel-peak

In 2025, travel didn't just return to pre-pandemic levels, it surpassed them, highlighting the growing strain on the world's most visited destinations.

"It's not exactly a dream vacation to come and be harassed by mosquitoes," says Hervé Bossin, director of the medical entomology laboratory at Tahiti's Institut Louis Malardé.

In summer 1936, the French government passed a law that mandated paid holiday, a move that kickstarted the exodus of northerners to the Med every August, and it became a true emblem of the French vacances.

Bryce Canyon National Park is home to the world's largest concentration of hoodoos, making hiking here feel like you're on another planet. I recommend hiking around the rim to take in the vastness of the spires.

Traveling with friends after retirement promotes adventure and healthier aging. The journey started with feelings of regret, but evolved into a fulfilling exploration of life.

Ever since we first got wind of Emerald Fennell taking on this Emily Brontë classic, we've found ourselves thinking of visiting Yorkshire time and time again. The English county, with its vast misty moors, rolling hills and cutesy villages, is ripe for romantic trips and cosy, fireside staycations. Start planning your next escape with our guide to the best hotels in Yorkshire.

From walking gently through Kotor's ancient streets to building a soulful, high-end life abroad, this guide blends mindful travel with smart expat strategy.

We're spoiled for choice when it comes to reasons to travel in 2026. Whether you plan to take a trip inspired by a favored period drama; want the best views of the solar eclipse on August 12; or hope to be the first to embark on a luxury train journey across Saudi Arabia, here are 26 things to be excited about as you plan this year's travels.

Astypalaia has the same pretty, white-washed houses you see on the famous Greek islands, but it's far less busy. The main town is beautiful, with buildings leading up a hill to an old castle. We rented a small apartment and spent our days on quiet pebble beaches that we had almost to ourselves. It's a genuinely peaceful place where you can properly switch off from the noise of modern life. Roy A Corsican beach that never gets busy Plage de Peru. Photograph: Jon Ingall/Alamy

"Stopovers allow people to turn what used to feel like 'dead time' into a destination in its own right," says Whitney Haldeman, founder of the luxury group travel company, Atlas Adventures. "Done well, a stopover can end up being the unexpected highlight of the entire trip." Sometimes, booking an extended layover can even save you money. "I often recommend booking a round-trip transatlantic flight into London," she says.