Travelogue

Everyone has their summer vacation spot—the beach bungalow on the Outer Banks or the Jersey Shore, or the lake house in Michigan or Idaho where the whole family gathers every year. It's wonderful, it's nostalgic, it...gets old. What if you could convince the crew to visit, say, Isla Holbox in Mexico this Fourth of July, where there aren't any crowds or chain restaurants, the weather is in the mid-80s, and the hot new Punta Caliza resort just opened? Or maybe you plan that trip to Switzerland you always wanted to take because the Swiss franc is no longer stronger than the U.S. dollar, and resorts in St. Moritz are more affordable now than in the winter? Those are just two spots that are prime vacation destinations this summer—and there are ten more we recommend in this week's Travelogue podcast.

Planning a safari can be overwhelming. So on this week's Travelogue podcast, some of our more seasoned safari-goers chat with a first-timer to talk the malaria threat (the farther south, the lower the risk), where and when to bring your kids, and how to book a camp where your plunge pools might double as elephant drinking holes. We also share some of our more, let's say, adrenaline-raising safari tales; you'll have to listen to find out at which camp an editor was joined by predatory leopards and hyenas on her walk back to her tent, and argue over which creature is the savanna's deadliest (a few colorful anecdotes are attached to that one, too). To check out our complete guide to safari head to: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/the-complete-guide-to-safari

We called in some experts to school us on National Parks 101: What's the difference between a monument and park? How many are there of each? How long have we had them? Are any of our beloved parks under threat? What does it take to maintain a national park, and can we all help?

As of today—April 20, natch—recreational marijuana is legal in 9 states plus the District of Columbia. That gives everyone who *doesn't* live in those states a whole new reason to travel. And it’s birthing a new wing of the travel industry, too—one that’s spread roots through everything from food to hotels to souvenir shops. On this week’s podcast we take a long, deep hit of this nascent phenomenon. No doubt weed, now that it’s legit, will be big. But how will Big Weed change travel?

Humans have chased higher understanding around the globe since before recorded history. We may not always recognize them, but those journeys continue today. On the heels of our recently released exploration of Sacred Travel (https://www.cntraveler.com/story/sacred-travel), we're talking about spiritual journeys, including those from our own experiences. What separates a “spiritual” trip from any other kind? How do we find something greater than ourselves—intentionally or not—when we get away from home? And who, at the end of the day, will transport and house us on those journeys?

We sit down with Jessica Nabongo, on a mission to be the first black woman to visit every country in the world.

Pet deaths on a plane are rare, statistically speaking, but any one loss is very real to a pet owner. And when a major airline like United seems to screw up repeatedly, we need to put them on notice. In this week's Travelogue podcast, we cover what you need to know about flying with an animal, be it a cat in a carrier in the cabin, a Great Dane in cargo, or an emotional support pig...well, anywhere.

On the latest episode of the Travelogue podcast, we dive into all the ways you can be polite and impolite when traveling abroad, covering everything from hugging people in Britain upon meeting them (don't) to passing food with chopsticks in Japan (seriously, don't). Along the way, we talk about how English-speaking countries may be united in language but differ significantly in their etiquette, and how knowing how to tip in a country is just as important as knowing whether or not to tip at all. What do you do when you want a cappuccino in Italy and it's after 11 a.m.? How do you go about things if you really want a fork in Korea? Listen up.

This week, we're sharing the first episode of the new season of Women Who Travel, Condé Nast Traveler's second podcast. Hosts Lale Arikoglu and Meredith Carey chat with Alysia Kezerian and Julia Buckley about their experiences traveling with disabilities. Along the way, we learn how far we've come in terms of accessible travel, but also see how much work there is still to do.

Everyone has heard of Tokyo: its grander-than-grand fish market; its imperial palace; its extravagant street fashions. Being there is a fever dream that you don't want to wake up from. With this in mind, we decided to do a deep dive into the Japanese capital, which was voted the world's best city in this year's Readers' Choice Awards and is featured in our brand-new collection of City Guides on the redesigned cntraveler.com—you know, ICYMI.

We've been talking a lot on Travelogue about where you should be going, but how are you supposed to get there? This week, we're replaying our 2017 episode about frequent flier miles so you can fly for less (if you play your cards right).

We take you inside our March 2018 issue and break down what to do in northern, central, and southern Italy.

You can't cover a whole city in three days (but you can try). With that in mind, we dive into the anatomy of the perfect long weekend in this week's Travelogue podcast—sharing real stats (fact: more people are taking more long weekends) and lessons learned from our own trips.

Olympics or no Olympics, you should get there. Get your own winter games on in PyeongChang or explore one of the most exciting and varied cities in Asia: Seoul. Fair warning: If you're anything like us, you won't be able to get through the podcast without Googling your flight options. And we're emphatically not responsible for any impulse trips to Asia that might result.

As airlines change the way they play the game—like adding basic economy seats and unbundling fares—travelers need a new set of hacks to feel a little more in control. Let's start with TSA PreCheck. Do you have it? Why not? No, seriously, tell us why: We debate its merits, along with Global Entry, Mobile Passport, and something called Clear, all of which can help you get through airport security or customs without having to wait in interminable lines. Plus, have you heard that some airlines now allow for automatic check-in? Or that they'll do biometric screenings—like, scan your eyes or face—to let you on the plane?