The Best Time to Visit - Page 11 of 30 -

The Aral Sea: A Vanishing Wonder You Can No Longer Visit

October 12, 2025October 12, 2025 by Ben

Rusty abandoned ships at the Ship cemetery at the former Aral sea coast in Moynaq (Mo ynoq or Muynak), Uzbekistan

There are places and sites we’d love to visit but simply cannot. Either they’ve disappeared due to human folly or nature’s whims, or more commonly, access is no longer feasible because they’re now located in war zones or regions where tourism is strongly discouraged. This doesn’t necessarily mean they’re completely closed off or that things will remain irreversible forever, but still. Today, we’re heading to a place that’s disappearing before our eyes and can no longer be visited—at least not in the form it existed just a few years ago. That place is the Aral Sea. Where is the Aral … Read more

France’s Final Medieval Fortress: The Last Castle Built Before the Age of Artillery

October 11, 2025 by Ben

Saint-Front-sur-Lémance, France - 07/24/2017 : medieval castle of Bonaguil built in the 13th century in the Lot-et-Garonne department

France is dotted with hundreds of castles—some in ruins, others remarkably well-preserved. They’re part of the nation’s heritage that never fails to captivate visitors, often awakening our inner child. But among all these historic fortresses, which one was actually the last to be built? Medieval Castles: A Late Blooming Phenomenon First, it’s worth clarifying that while we associate castles with the Middle Ages, they actually only appeared toward the end of this period. Historians date the medieval era from the fall of the Roman Empire (around the 5th century) to Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas in 1492—roughly a thousand … Read more

The Only Way to See Peru’s Giant Desert Drawings is From a Plane – Here’s What You Need to Know

October 10, 2025 by Ben

Tree geoglyph, Nazca mysterious lines and geoglyphs aerial view, landmark in Peru

Peru’s Nazca Desert draws 300,000 visitors annually to witness monumental geoglyphs that remain invisible from ground level. This peculiarity transforms an arid plateau in southern Peru into a playground for Cessnas and wild theories. The figures span 174 square miles between the towns of Nazca and Palpa, 250 miles south of Lima. UNESCO classified the site in 1994, but protection remains challenging against urban development and occasional looters. The Nazca people carved these lines between 500 BC and 500 AD, never able to admire their work in its entirety. An irony that still fuels debate. Flight Tours: The Only Way … Read more

Europe’s New Digital Border System: What International Travelers Need to Know Before October 12

October 9, 2025 by Ben

EU Flag and shadows of People concept picture

The European Union is rolling out a major change to how it manages border crossings, and if you’re planning a European vacation, you’ll want to know about it. While EU citizens and long-term visa holders won’t be affected, anyone visiting Europe for stays under three months will encounter a new system. Called the EES (Entry/Exit System), it’s finally launching on October 12 after several delays. Here’s what you need to know. The End of Passport Stamps Until now, border control officers across Europe have manually stamped passports of non-EU travelers. That’s about to become a thing of the past. The … Read more

The ideal destination for swimming at the end of October, less than 3 hours by plane from European capitals

October 8, 2025 by Ben

Late October in most European capitals means 10-15°C and frequent rain. The idea of swimming in warm-enough water while it’s still possible becomes obsessive. Problem: most European seas are already cold. Spain shows 18°C, Greece 20°C, Malta barely 19°C. To find genuinely swimmable water without flying for five hours, one option remains: Tunisia. Under 3 hours flight from most European capitals, with sea temperatures between 22 and 24°C and reasonable prices. Tunisia: Europe’s last warm swimming spot in late October In October, when most Mediterranean destinations shut down, Tunisia holds steady. Water hovers between 23 and 24°C in Djerba, 21 … Read more

Corsica’s Bold Move: Subsidizing 250,000 Tourist Seats to Combat Overtourism

October 7, 2025 by Ben

Landscape with Calanques de Piana, Corsica island, France

It’s not every day that a destination pays to bring in more tourists—especially when fighting overtourism. Yet that’s exactly what Corsica is doing. The Corsican authorities have announced plans to subsidize 250,000 airline seats annually to the Mediterranean island, but there’s a catch: they’re only doing it during the off-season. The goal? Spread visitor numbers throughout the year rather than cramming everyone into the peak summer months, while filling the genuinely quiet periods when hotels and restaurants struggle. 12 Flight Routes Targeted This innovative scheme, which could set a precedent across Europe, will launch in the coming months. Corsican authorities … Read more

5 Essential Tips to Survive Long-Haul Flights

October 6, 2025 by Ben

Swimming in the ocean, lake or river, forest walks, mountain hikes, bike rides, but also long car journeys or flights – vacations are ultimately a combination of activities and situations we’re not necessarily used to. And these might require some advice, often simple and even common sense, to ensure everything goes smoothly each time. Today, let’s focus on something relevant for those who have or will have a long flight ahead – transatlantic or even longer. Five tips to physically prepare yourself for such journeys. Creating your own environment 1- Adjust your sleep schedule: long-haul flights mean, unless you’re flying … Read more

Could a “Golden Passport” Be Your Ticket to Living Abroad?

October 5, 2025 by Ben

A elegant family on a city break vacation enjoys the panoramic view over the skyline of Dubai, UAE

…assuming, of course, you have the financial means. Long established and widely practiced, the “golden passport” system allows people to relocate abroad relatively easily, bypassing many of the usual hurdles that others face when making such a move. Here’s what you need to know… What exactly is a “Golden Passport”? A “golden passport” refers to a special program that allows you to reside in—and even relatively easily obtain citizenship of—a country through investment alone. Often you can retain your original nationality too, if you wish. There’s also a similar option called a “Golden Visa,” which grants long-term residence permits, with … Read more

US Government Shutdown: What American Travelers Need to Know Right Now

October 4, 2025 by Ben

A bison stands in front of Mount Moran, north of Jackson Hole Wyoming

Sure, it’s not the first time this has happened, but still. It matters because what Americans call a “shutdown” – beyond its implications for the country and its citizens – can also affect tourists visiting or planning to visit the US. And since October 1st, the United States has once again entered a shutdown period. What exactly is a shutdown? A shutdown, in its political and economic definition as used in the USA, refers to the immediate closure of government services and the furloughing without pay of all non-essential federal employees – tens of thousands of people critical to the … Read more

India and Bhutan Are Building a Railway Connection—Here’s What It Means for Travelers

October 3, 2025 by Ben

"Bumthang, Bhutan aA June 27, 2012: Three young Buddhist monks peer out from a monastery window at a local festival in the Bumthang Valley of Bhutan."

Sure, this news won’t revolutionize the travel world or even the transportation industry, but the fact remains that by the end of the decade, you’ll be able to take a train between India and Bhutan. A project that’s been in the works for over twenty years… Two Cross-Border Lines in the Pipeline Two railway lines—with potentially more to follow—will connect Kokrajhar (India) to Gelephu (Bhutan) and Banarhat (India) to Samtse (Bhutan). These aren’t exactly household names, but these towns sit on opposite sides of the border between the two countries, in the Assam and Bengal regions on the Indian side, … Read more