Our partner Scott's Cheap Flights knows a lot about travel: they have been providing stellar deals since 2009. So, they have as much at stake with Covid-19 as anyone. "This post highlights some of their research on what to expect when it comes to vaccines, in particular. Last week I wrote to you about what…
Mindfulness
Our partner OMIO has developed a new Open Travel Index, a handy way to determine if and when you can travel point-ot-point. You can stay updated on the latest travel regulations for your destination based on your current location including border status, quarantine restrictions and testing requirements, as well as find out what safety measures…
Many spiritual teachers have emphasised the notion of being fully present ‘in the now’. Proponents of meditative practices of various sorts tout meditation as a way of immersing oneself fully in the present moment, and not attending to the past or future. The spiritual teachers (including prominent authors) and proponents of meditation typically point to…
Cienfuegos means one hundred fires. And that will surely be the number of flames that light your heart and your soul when you visit this most exquisite city in Cuba. Cienfuegos was founded in 1819, when French colonists settled in around the most spectacular and natural bay in Cuba. Bringing their elegant, classical architecture, wide,…
In March 2020, Europeans started gathering on balconies and by windows to cheer, applaud and show gratitude to their healthcare workers providing life-saving services during the pandemic. The regular cheering and clapping became a symbol of hope: human solidarity triumphing over fear and enforced isolation. Contrast that scene with another. Following the remission of her…
I have a confession. As a physicist and psychiatrist, I find it difficult to engage with conversations about consciousness. My biggest gripe is that the philosophers and cognitive scientists who tend to pose the questions often assume that the mind is a thing, whose existence can be identified by the attributes it has or the…
It goes without saying that 2020 has been a rough year. Covid-19, unsettled cities and countries, the environment showing its anger. With hope on the horizon from the Covid-19 vaccines, perhaps now we can think ahead to finding our way out of the gloom. Anticipating that, many travel companies are thinking outside the box to…
Wildlife travel provides crucial funding for conservation and wildlife protection programs, even if your departure date is uncertain. As COVID-19 brought tourism to a screeching halt, conservation programs to protect some of the globe’s most delicate ecosystems began to face a funding crisis. From the open plains of the Maasai Mara in Kenya to the…
Want to take a vacation next year? Prepare to roll up your sleeve. Yesterday, the top executive at Australia’s largest airline said proof of getting the Covid-19 vaccination will be “a necessity” for boarding international flights in the future. “I think that's going to be a common thing talking to my colleagues in other airlines around the…
Step into synaesthesia’s visual soundscape, built with the music of John Coltrane. The Israeli animator and artist Michal Levy is among the roughly 3 per cent of people who experience synaesthesia – a neurological condition in which people have a recurring sensory overlap, such as ‘tasting’ words or envisioning letters and numbers each with their…
Costa Rica’s reputation as an eco-friendly travel destination has been further cemented with its Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) standard for lodging and tour operators achieving the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s GSTC-Recognized Standard status.
“As global leaders in sustainability, we are honored to receive the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s recognition for the Certification of…
Ted Florence is ready for his family trip to Botswana. He has looked up his hotel on Google Maps and downloaded a digital map of the country to his phone. He has also packed a large paper map. “I travel all over the world,” says Florence, the president of the international board of the International…
There is an old trick of which I used to be a master: half waking up, then snoozing my alarm and pushing myself back down into sleep for another five, 10, 50 minutes. Suddenly, though, it has become a lot harder. I now need to sink back into the Land of Nod fast enough to…
The seven “Leave No Trace” (LNT) principles were formed by the Leave No Trace organization as a set of guidelines meant to educate campers and protect the environment. One of the tenets of outdoor recreation—camping, specifically—is the idea of enjoying the natural world while minimizing impact as much as possible. For future generations to be able to…
When you're traveling, if you like what you see and want to remain abroad for a little longer than a couple of weeks, you typically only have a few months. Failure to leave when you’re supposed to could result in deportation or an indefinite ban from the country. However, there are a few ways around…
Yoga has such a calming effect, doesn't it? When you can't get to your studio, you can still get the benefits of yoga at home by following along to these videos. Whether you have 10 minutes or 30, stretching and strengthening your muscles will make your body and mind feel grounded and relaxed. Read more…
It had been a packed afternoon of exploring the charming city of Tamba Sasayama, where the vibrant energy of young businesses ran hot through the city. But it was also a relentlessly cold and rainy day. so I was already fantasizing about hot baths and steaming hot pots when we arrived at the 100-year-old traditional Japanese house.…
Behind the unprecedented disruption of routine life by the recent Coronavirus could lie one of the most profound transformations of our lives: closer connections, greater happiness, and a healthier relationship to work. Despite the anxiety, fear, and illness that is likely to touch each of our lives, there may be a silver lining once we’re…
With their lofty towers, glittering ballrooms, geometric gardens and all that gilded finery, no one does castles better than France. From the Dordogne’s renaissance piles flanked by dusty olive groves and pretty hilltop villages to the turret-studded landscape of the Loire Valley, French châteaux are a brilliant display of the country’s rich architectural and cultural…
Brian Chesky is no stranger to big lifts. The 38-year-old former bodybuilder and Airbnb CEO has, in the space of 11 years, hauled his property rental dream from a single air mattress to a multi-billion dollar startup success story. But as hosts rage and debt piles up, the huge weight of the coronavirus pandemic might…