Destination Guide

Guides and stories about destination guide from Best.

Tokyo city skyline with traditional temple and modern skyscrapers

Why August Is Actually One of the Best Times to Visit Japan

Almost everyone who travels to Japan does so in spring, for cherry blossoms, or in fall, for the foliage. Summer gets a reputation for brutal heat and packed crowds and is largely written off as the wrong time to go. That reputation is mostly wrong. July and August are one of the cheapest times to visit Japan, with hotel rates dropping 20-40% from spring and fall peaks. And if you know how to handle the heat, the experience is different from any other season in ways that are genuinely worth it.

Apr 27, 2026 · 5 min read

Aerial view of Prague Castle and red-roofed historic buildings

Destination Guide

Eastern Europe Is Having Its Best Year Ever. Here’s Where to Start.

Seven of the top ten trending travel destinations in the world right now are in Eastern Europe. Prague search interest is up 180% year-over-year. Sofia is up 136%. Krakow up 106%. Budapest up 86%. This isn't a new story. Eastern Europe has been "about to have its moment" for years. But 2026 is different. The combination of falling airfares, new direct routes from North America, and genuine word-of-mouth from travelers who skipped Paris and London and came back raving about Riga has pushed the r

Apr 27, 2026 · 5 min read

Vienna city skyline with cathedral spires and historic rooftops on a summer day

Destination Guide

Vienna in Summer: What the City Looks Like When You Skip the Tourist Routes

Vienna in summer, beyond the obvious routes. Which neighborhoods make sense, what hotels actually cost, and where locals spend their afternoons.

Apr 26, 2026 · 5 min read

Medellín city skyline viewed from El Poblado neighborhood in Colombia

Destination Guide

72 Hours in Medellín: Where to Stay, Eat, and What Not to Miss

Three days in Medellín, the city that turned outdoor escalators into art districts. Where to stay, what to do in Comuna 13, and the day trip to Guatapé.

Apr 26, 2026 · 5 min read

Cliffs of Madeira island with Atlantic Ocean waves crashing against volcanic rock

Destination Guide

Madeira Is Having a Moment. Here's What to Know Before You Go.

Flight searches to Madeira jumped 38% year over year for 2026 according to Skyscanner trend data. Hotel rates in Funchal are up 12%. The island locals nicknamed the "Island of Eternal Spring" has been sitting there for centuries, but the rest of Europe seems to have noticed it all at the same time. We've been tracking why. Some of it is the climate (more on that below). Some of it is the cost (still cheaper than the Algarve in peak season). Some of it is slow-creep fatigue with overcrowded Medi

Apr 25, 2026 · 6 min read

Family group enjoying outdoor travel together with children and grandparents

Travel Trends

Why Multigenerational Travel Is the Biggest Trend of 2026

Multigenerational bookings are up 20% for summer 2026. Here's why families are traveling together more than ever, and which destinations and hotels actually work.

Apr 24, 2026 · 4 min read

Turquoise Caribbean Sea waters and white sandy beach at a Cancun resort

Destination Guide

Cancun Is Still the Top Pick. Here's How to Book It Smart in 2026.

Cancun is the #1 international summer destination for 2026. Here's what the Hotel Zone actually costs, what's changed in pricing, and how to find value.

Apr 24, 2026 · 4 min read

Wide sandy Atlantic Ocean beach at Myrtle Beach with blue sky and gentle waves

Destination Guide

Myrtle Beach in Summer 2026

Myrtle Beach topped Tripadvisor's domestic summer travel rankings. Here's what hotels cost in 2026 and how to plan the trip without overpaying.

Apr 24, 2026 · 4 min read

View of Valencia, Spain with Mediterranean architecture and orange trees

Destination Guide

Valencia Is What Barcelona Was Ten Years Ago

Valencia has Barcelona's beach, better food, and half the tourists. A 2026 guide to where to stay, what to eat, and what to skip.

Apr 23, 2026 · 7 min read

Aerial view of Tbilisi with the Narikala fortress, old town, and Mtkvari River cutting through the Georgian capital

Destination Guide

Georgia (the Country) Is Europe's Most Underrated Destination in 2026

There are maybe a dozen countries left in the world that reward you more than you expected before you got there. Georgia is one of them. Not the US state. The country at the eastern edge of the Black Sea, wedged between Russia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan, home to four million people, eight thousand years of continuous winemaking, and alpine mountains that rival Switzerland at a fifth of the cost. A weeklong trip here runs under 1,200 dollars including flights from most European hubs. Hotels in cent

Apr 22, 2026 · 7 min read

Relaxing beach scene in Vlore Albania with sunbeds and straw parasols overlooking the calm Adriatic sea

Destination Guide

Albania's Riviera Is the Best-Value Beach in Europe Right Now

Beach hotels on the Albanian Riviera average €25-40 per night. The Amalfi Coast runs 5-10x that for the same dates. Here's what you actually get for the money.

Apr 21, 2026 · 5 min read

Aerial view of Tokyo skyline with iconic landmarks and urban sprawl

Destination Guide

Japan in 2026: What the Weak Yen Actually Means for Your Hotel Budget

Hotels in Tokyo that ran $140 a night twelve months ago are sitting at $95-110 right now. Here's what the weak yen actually means for your trip budget.

Apr 21, 2026 · 4 min read