The Best Time to Visit -

Savonlinna in November: Castle Visits and Lake Saimaa’s Light Cruises

October 27, 2026 by Ben

Illuminated stone towers of Olavinlinna Castle reflected in the water at Savonlinna

Savonlinna has a specific reason to visit Lake Saimaa in November 2026: the town’s light weekend on 13–15 November, with evening cruises on the Saturday and Sunday. Combine one sailing with a daytime visit to Olavinlinna Castle for a short break focused on the town and its waterfront. This is a different trip from the Lake Saimaa autumn-colour road trip, planned around September’s ruska. In November, the light installations provide the occasion. The castle’s winter timetable and the limited cruise dates shape the weekend. Which November dates should you choose? Visit Savonlinna lists Savonlinna loistaa and Valon sillat for 13–15 … Read more

How to get around Dubai: Metro, taxis and car hire

October 26, 2026 by Ben

How to get around Dubai: Metro, taxis and car hire Dubai rewards a mixed approach to transport. The Metro connects several major visitor districts, taxis cover the gaps, and a hire car gives you more control over journeys beyond the rail network. Within individual neighbourhoods, walking can be part of the pleasure. The useful question is which combination fits your hotel, the places you want to visit and the time you have. Take the Metro for the main cross-city journeys The Red Line serves Dubai International Airport’s Terminals 1 and 3, making it a practical starting point if your accommodation … Read more

Nafplio in Late Autumn: Three Historic Sites, Shorter Opening Hours

October 23, 2026 by Ben

Nafplio rooftops and harbour seen through a stone opening at Palamidi Fortress

Nafplio makes a useful base for a short driving break in the north-eastern Peloponnese: Mycenae, Epidaurus and the fortress of Palamidi offer three very different encounters with Greek history. In late autumn, the opening hours matter more than the distance between them. From November, two of the sites close at 3.30pm. The town itself gives you somewhere to return after the gates shut. Its old quarter has stone-paved streets, Venetian and neoclassical buildings, and a waterfront looking towards the small offshore fortress of Bourtzi. You can keep one base rather than turn every archaeological visit into a change of hotel. … Read more

Nogales Travel Advice: The September Alert Has Been Lifted

October 16, 2026 by Ben

Buildings of Nogales, Sonora, spread across dry hills under a blue sky

The temporary US security alert for Nogales, in Mexico’s Sonora state, ended on 11 September 2026. Reports about the restrictions announced six days earlier therefore no longer describe that alert’s status. The US government resumed regular activities, but its notice also reminded travellers that Sonora remained a Level 3 destination: reconsider travel. For an October visit, that distinction matters. The end of a temporary alert does not amount to an all-clear for a border trip. The standing advice still affects a Nogales itinerary As of 15 October, the US State Department continues to advise reconsidering travel to Sonora because of … Read more

Seville in October: Milder Days, Earlier Alcázar Closing

October 9, 2026 by Ben

Torre del Oro beside the Guadalquivir river in Seville, with boats along the bank

October gives Seville a different balance for a city break: milder historical temperatures for exploring outdoors, a greater chance of rain than in high summer, and shorter visiting hours at the Real Alcázar. You can spend more of the day on neighbourhood walks, but a palace visit still needs a firm place in the schedule. The useful trade-off is between weather and opening hours. An afternoon left free for the Alcázar in September may be too late once its winter timetable starts on 1 October. What October weather actually means AEMET’s 1981–2010 climate normals for Sevilla Airport put October’s average … Read more

Driving from Canada to the US for a Weekend: What to Check

October 2, 2026 by Ben

Two closed passports with car keys and sunglasses on a table

Before booking a weekend in the United States, check that everyone in the car has the right entry documents, that your insurance covers the trip and that you know what you will need on the way home. A short drive still crosses an international border. Start with the passengers, then the car, before committing to non-refundable accommodation. Check citizenship, not just where you live For Canadian citizens, a passport valid throughout the stay is a straightforward choice. Other approved documents can be accepted at the land border. An ordinary driving licence is not a substitute. Check each child’s documents separately; … Read more

Støtt, Norway: How to Reach the Island and Plan an Overnight Stay

September 24, 2026 by Ben

Støtt is a small island group off the northern Helgeland coast. You can reach it by passenger boat from Bodø or Ørnes, then explore much of the island on foot. The difficult part is not getting around once you arrive; it is fitting the outward and return sailings around the visit you want. Check both boats before committing to a room or a day trip. The old trading post gives Støtt a natural base. It once sheltered fishermen waiting for conditions to improve before the crossing towards Lofoten. Today its historic buildings house accommodation and a restaurant. Beaches and short … Read more

Working in Tourism Abroad: How to Choose the Right Destination and Season

September 23, 2026 by Ben

The opportunity to work in tourism during the season is marketed as an adventure, but it is a season and a little arithmetic. It’s more expensive to choose the wrong month than the wrong country. The point of this article is to determine how to align the season with the destination, which means the contract is designed to bring savings, not debt. Chasing the Payroll: Where Seasonal Tourism Money Actually Lands Tourism is still one of the biggest employers on the planet. By 2025, WTTC projects that the sector will employ 366m people, or 10.9% of global jobs, and that … Read more

Bosque de las Nuwas: How to Visit Peru’s Awajún Women’s Forest

September 21, 2026 by Ben

At Bosque de las Nuwas, Awajún women guide visitors through the forest they care for in Shampuyacu, in northern Peru’s San Martín region. The visit combines plant knowledge, food and cultural activities in the Alto Mayo area. If you are staying around Rioja, allow a day for it and arrange permission at least 24 hours ahead. Turning up at the entrance is no substitute for a confirmed reservation. What makes this forest worth visiting? The women’s work extends well beyond receiving travellers. Conservation International has documented their recovery of traditional plant and cassava varieties, along with the development of herbal … Read more

Driving Death Valley in Extreme Heat: What to Do If Your Car Gets Stuck

September 21, 2026 by Ben

Road through the arid landscape of Artists Palette Drive in Death Valley

If your car becomes stuck or breaks down in Death Valley, the safest response is usually to stay with it rather than start walking. The vehicle gives you shade, carries your emergency water and is far easier for rescuers to see. In much of the park, mobile coverage is limited or nonexistent and help may be hours away. That advice matters even more in extreme heat. On 17 August 2026, two French visitors became stranded when their vehicle got stuck in mud on West Side Road, near Queen of Sheba Mine Road. The temperature reached 116°F (about 47°C). They began … Read more