The Best Time to Visit -

The Philippines of Apocalypse Now: On the Trail of Coppola’s ‘Vietnam’

November 1, 2025 by Ben

Restaurant boats on the Loboc River, Bohol, Philippines

As Apocalypse Now sees its new 4K Ultra HD release on 19th November, it’s often forgotten that the film’s Vietnam was never the real Vietnam. Coppola shot everything in the Philippines, in locations that still exist today. The making of Apocalypse Now in the Philippines is as much a part of cinema legend as the film itself. In March 1976, Francis Ford Coppola landed on the island of Luzon with his crew, convinced filming would wrap up in six weeks. He would leave 238 days later, having endured a devastating typhoon, Martin Sheen’s heart attack, and a $17 million budget … Read more

Greek Islands May Soon Charge Entry Fees to Combat Tourist Crowds

October 31, 2025 by Ben

A happy mother and daughter on family holidays overlook the town of Mykonos island during a summer sunset, Cyclades, Greece

What if this was actually the solution? Faced with overwhelming visitor numbers on Greek islands during peak season, rather than each destination implementing its own measures and fees to tackle overtourism in its own way, wouldn’t it be simpler to have a nationally-defined tax applied to the islands most affected by the phenomenon? At least those located in the Aegean Sea. 34 Islands Potentially Affected This is a request recently made to the Athens government by the main Aegean islands: the implementation of an entry fee for tourists arriving at their shores. This would apply whether visitors arrive by cruise … Read more

Smart Glasses That Instantly Translate Languages Are Almost Here – And They Could Transform Travel Forever

October 30, 2025 by Ben

Vision and sunglasses poster colorful lines on black background

Some may remember those famous Google Glass from about a decade ago – the smart glasses based on augmented reality. Not exactly a runaway success at the time, but they may have paved the way for new glasses designed as powerful translation tools that could soon hit the consumer market. First and Foremost: An Instant Language Translation Tool It all started with Google Glass. A project born in 2011, but its consumer version was discontinued four years later, pivoting instead to models designed for specific professional sectors such as healthcare or logistics. The concept was highly innovative for its time … Read more

Iceland Just Made a Bold Move That Could Double Your Travel Costs

October 29, 2025 by Ben

Majestic landscape of Godafoss waterfall flowing with colorful sunset sky and male tourist standing at the cliff on Skjalfandafljot river in summer at Northern Iceland

It’s becoming a familiar story across destinations worldwide. Whether to combat overtourism, regulate visitor flows, or simply generate funds for preservation and maintenance of popular sites, taxes and entry fees are rising just about everywhere. Iceland could be next in line. A Potentially Substantial Increase With over 2 million tourists annually, tiny Iceland—home to just 384,000 residents—appears to be reaching its limits. At least when it comes to its main attractions like the capital Reykjavik, the Gullfoss and Godafoss waterfalls, the Blue Lagoon renowned for its geothermal waters, Geysir and its geyser, Lake Myvatn, and other sites that draw the … Read more

This Caribbean Island Chain Just Became the Region’s Fastest-Growing Destination (And You’ve Probably Never Heard of It)

October 28, 2025 by Ben

Bright and colorful image of Bequia. Palm trees at the water, blue sky and white clouds, boats in the harbor of Port Elisabeth. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

When most people think of the Caribbean, their minds immediately go to Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, or perhaps the well-trodden beaches of popular resort destinations. But there’s an archipelago in this part of the world that’s quietly becoming one of the region’s hottest tourist spots—and chances are, you haven’t given it much thought. That destination? Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Where Exactly is Saint Vincent and the Grenadines? Nestled between Saint Lucia to the north and Grenada to the south, Saint Vincent sits in the Lesser Antilles chain of islands. This island nation of barely 100,000 inhabitants consists of … Read more

Val d’Isère Crowned World’s Best Ski Resort: Here’s What Makes It Worth the Hype

October 27, 2025 by Ben

Famous and luxury place of Val d'Isere at sunset, Tarentaise, Alps, France

Condé Nast Traveller readers have spoken. In the 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards unveiled this fall, the Savoyard resort crushed the competition with a score of 99.17%, surpassing the most renowned alpine destinations on the continent. This victory confirms France’s dominance over Europe’s premier ski slopes. The podium features three legendary resorts: Val d’Isère at the top, closely followed by Switzerland and Austria with Gstaad and Kitzbühel tied at 98.89%. This ranking places four French resorts in the global top 10. Les Trois Vallées takes fourth place, Châtel fifth, while Avoriaz rounds out this French sweep in eighth position. France establishes … Read more

Kyoto to Charge $65 Per Night at Luxury Hotels—Here’s Why the Ancient Capital Is Taking Drastic Action

October 26, 2025 by Ben

Old town Kyoto during sakura season in Japan at sunset

The former imperial capital is making a bold move. Starting in March 2026, travelers staying at Kyoto’s most luxurious properties will pay approximately $65 (10,000 yen) in tourism tax per person, per night. This tenfold increase from current rates makes it the highest tourist tax in Japan. Kyoto is attempting to regain control over visitor numbers that have spiraled beyond capacity. Last year, nearly 37 million international visitors arrived in Japan, shattering the 2019 record. The city of 2,000 temples finds itself at ground zero of this tourism explosion. A Tiered System Based on Accommodation Tier The new tax structure … Read more

The Netherlands’ Most Iconic Village Is About to Start Charging Admission — Here’s What You Need to Know

October 25, 2025 by Ben

Dutch spring landscape. Blooming colorful tulips flowerbed against river and windmills. Zaanse Schans village in the Netherlands.

For most people around the world, the Netherlands conjures up images of sprawling tulip fields, historic windmills with their blades turning gently in the breeze along canal banks, and perhaps those famous cheeses and wooden clogs known far beyond the country’s borders. Sure, it’s a bit clichéd — maybe even a lot — but whether we like it or not, these are things that have long been associated with the country’s image. So much so, in fact, that there’s a small village called Zaanse Schans that exists to showcase this very scene, and admission is now going to cost you. … Read more

Why Guadeloupe Attracts 20% More Visitors Than Martinique—Despite Being Sister Islands

October 24, 2025 by Ben

Pain du Sucre Rock, Terre-de-Haut, Iles des Saintes, Les Saintes, Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles, Caribbean.

Both French Caribbean islands show similar tourism figures, but Guadeloupe maintains roughly a 20% lead over neighboring Martinique. Structural and situational differences favor the Butterfly Island. From social tensions to living costs and geography, several factors explain these differing perceptions. Recent statistics reveal a narrowing gap. In 2024, Martinique attracted about one million visitors, while Guadeloupe welcomed 1.2 million. Both destinations fluctuate year to year, with close performance levels. Martinique’s 2024-2025 high season brought nearly 989,000 travelers between December and April—slightly down from 2023 but better than initial fears following autumn’s social unrest. Guadeloupe is progressing despite 2024’s difficulties, with … Read more

Versailles Palace to Charge Non-European Visitors More Starting January 2026

October 23, 2025 by Ben

Versailles, France - 04 April 2025: Monument to king Louis XIV and Royal chapel of Versailles palace

In tourism as elsewhere, keeping up with important news isn’t always easy—you might miss something that could actually matter to you. That’s why we regularly revisit recent developments to bring them back into focus. Higher Prices Coming in January 2026 for Non-European Visitors While differentiated pricing based on nationality isn’t exactly groundbreaking in the tourism world, it’s actually fairly uncommon in France. Usually, when nationality-based pricing exists, it works the opposite way—offering free or reduced admission to young people and students from the European Union. But starting next January, access to one of France’s most visited sites—drawing 8 to 9 … Read more