The Worst Decisions You Can Make on a Cruise
If you’re making any of these poor decisions, you’re cheating yourself of the best version of your cruise vacation. If you know what you’re doing, cruising can be an enriching form of travel. But plenty of people swear off the big ships because of some terrible experience that ruined their first time out. To prevent yourself from becoming yet another cruise hater, take note of these rookie mistakes—and don’t make them. Smarter Travel
5 Things Sweden Does Better Than America
It seems like every week brings a new story about how great life is in Sweden, like six-hour workdays and generous parental-leave policies. On top of that, the country is also responsible for edgy design, organic beauty products, and engrossing paperback thrillers. These are some of the things Swedes just do better. #1 is Fika: Every day around 11 a.m., work in offices all over Sweden come to a halt as locals partake in the custom of fika, a late-morning coffee paired with sweet treats like cinnamon rolls and cardamom buns. Even the busiest worker will stop and take a break. Condé Nast Traveler via Huffington Post
In Peru, a Still-Hidden Alternative to Machu Picchu
I was standing in a cloud forest in northern Peru, 10,000 feet above sea level. Quiet cloaked the more than 400 cylindrical homes and ceremonial buildings that make up the most important settlement of the Chachapoyas, or “Cloud Warrior” culture. Farther out were limestone walls up to 65 feet high. Tropical greenery sprang through cracks in the stone, while red bromeliads clung to moss-covered trees. In every direction was a backdrop of patchwork farmland clinging to the sides of mountains, above the Utcubamba River Valley. The New York Times
10 Best Proper Irish Pubs in Dublin
When people come to Dublin, there’s usually one thing on their minds – a drink. But while it might no longer be true that it’s impossible to cross the city without passing a pub, Dublin has more than its fair share of excellent bars. Avoid the tourist traps of Temple Bar and settle in for a pint in one of these proper old Dublin pubs. The striking striped facade of The Long Hall, for example, helps it to stand out on George’s Street, but don’t be deceived by the size of the shop front. The Independent
How Travelers Can Help Hurricane-Damaged Islands
After the back-to-back Category 5 storms ripped through the region, anyone hoping to help was directed to give financially and leave the hands-on efforts to professionals. Now, six months after the storms, while fund-raising remains active, travelers are increasingly being invited to volunteer while on vacation. Following the storms, the Friends of Virgin Islands National Park, a nonprofit based on St. John that maintains trails in the park, needed skilled sawyers to clear roads and trails. Now, it is seeking everyday volunteers. Those who can spend a week or more will be given a cot in a shared tent in a volunteer camp. The New York Times
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