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🌴✈️ We asked CNN's Travel team for their vacation ideas. Here's what they shared |
From CNN Travel editor Barry Neild: The start of summer is always so exciting: the skies are blue, the sun is warm, the trees are in full leaf — it feels like anything is possible. But thanks to the post-Covid travel surge, there's the reality of congested airports, crowded beaches and $450 a night for a foldout bed in a musty Airbnb near the exit ramp. Of course, it doesn't have to be like that. While we've been reporting on dream vacations that were booked solid back in February, we're also keeping an eye out for places to go with fewer crowds and better bargains. |
A crowded beach in Bournemouth, England, in June 2022. (Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images) |
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Take the road less traveled |
An aerial view of Marathon Key, Florida, including the Seven Mile Bridge and the Overseas Highway. (Kemter/iStockphoto/Getty Images) |
International airfare is making a US summer road trip look better and better. Average regular gas prices are more than a dollar cheaper than they were this time last year. If you're in the Southeast: Marathon in Florida's Middle Keys is a great alternative or add-on to a trip to Key West. The drive, about 115 miles from Miami, takes you over the Overseas Highway with glorious open-water views. Once there, you can walk or bike along the recently refurbished old Seven Mile bridge, "Old Seven," to Pigeon Key for a tour of the tiny island. If you're out West: Utah boasts five spectacular national parks. The most popular of the five, Zion, can get especially crowded at peak times; it welcomed 4.7 million visitors in 2022. But Capitol Reef and Canyonlands only saw a fraction of that traffic in 2022 — 1.2 million and 779,000 visitors, respectively. And they all offer almost otherworldly red rock landscapes. - from Marnie Hunter |
A Scottish isle that shines in summer |
The Scottish island of Arran (Allan Napier/Shutterstock) |
The southerly Scottish island of Arran gets my vote for your 2023 summer travel bucket list. Arran's not far from Scotland's main airport hubs in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and as long as the weather and the 55-minute ferry play ball, it's small enough for a day trip. Summer is when Arran shines. Last year, the island was unexpectedly bathed in sunlight for the duration of my visit, lending the sandy beaches a surprising but welcome Mediterranean-island feel. Drinks with a view: We embraced this vibe via a trip to Arran Botanical Drinks, a beachside cocktail bar serving up fun beverages against jaw-dropping views. Hiking and swimming: Another highlight was hiking Glen Rosa, a circular loop that rewards you with beautiful views of Goatfell mountain and a series of jaw-dropping plunge pools, perfect for a freezing-cold-yet-unforgettable swim. If the weather is chilly: Spending a day holed away in historic Brodick Castle is a good alternative. - from Francesca Street |
Why Southeast Asia should be on your summer travel list |
A view from the Nam Hai, a Four Seasons resort near Hoi An and Da Nang, Vietnam. (Four Seasons) |
When the warm weather hits, jetting off to the tropical climates of Southeast Asia isn't atop most people's summer travel plans. And that's a shame. The Northern Hemisphere's summer is when several of the region's most popular destinations, including Thailand and Vietnam, enter into the cleverly named "green season." That's marketing speak for "it's the rainy season, so the foliage is lush." But thankfully, rarely does it rain 24/7 during this time of year, and temps are cooler. Summer's best-kept secret: Crowds are light and it's a great time to score some incredible bargains on the region's many stunning luxury resorts and hotels. Luxury resort built from train cars: For railway fanatics coming to Thailand, there's the new InterContinental Khao Yai that's made up of more than 65 suites and villas, including a series of Thai train carriages converted into luxury accommodations. About a 2.5-hour drive from Bangkok, outside Khao Yai National Park, rooms start from $240 a night during the low season. Beach escape: Da Nang sits on Vietnam's central coast and is a popular departure point for a number of UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the charming old merchant town of Hoi An, south of the city. The road to get there is dotted with hotels, including the Radisson Hotel Danang on My Khe Beach. It has 182 rooms and suites that feature views over the city, peninsula and sea. Rates are from $111 per night. - from Karla Cripps |
Consider a bicycling adventure |
CNN's Barry Neild took this photo while bikepacking on the King Alfred's Way in England. (Barry Neild/CNN) |
I'm a cycling fanatic, so my dream vacation is literally anywhere on two wheels, even if that means blasting through the Abu Dhabi desert in hairdryer-hot winds. Where to start: A round-the-world ride is a little too epic for me — even on a tandem — but cycling cities would be a great place to start. Bring your own "hotel": I'm also a fan of the new bikepacking trend of strapping a tent to your bike and heading off into the countryside for a few days. I've completed a couple of trails in the UK, including the King Alfred's Way and Cantii Way, both using ancient tracks through historic landscapes. Next stop: This year, I'm hoping to load up my gravel bike and try the Rebellion Way, a 232-mile ride through the bucolic bridleways and back lanes of eastern England. Bliss, unless it rains. - from Barry Neild |
Long days and beautiful views in Norway |
Norway's Juvet Landscape Hotel is nestled in a massive nature reserve. (CNN) |
Scandinavia knows best how to make the most of the precious bright days in the northern hemisphere. I grew up in northern climes, and the lead-up to midsummer is my favorite time of the year, when sunshine stretches long into the evening and the golden hour of sunlight hits at 10 p.m. or later. Dream spot: Top of my wish list right now is a $600-a-night "landscape" room at Norway's Juvet Landscape Hotel, as seen in "Succession" season 4, episode 5, where Lukas Matsson held court at the luxurious GoJo corporate retreat. A room with a view: Here, cocooned in the green embrace of the Valldal valley in the country's northwest, guests wake to floor-to-ceiling views of forest, river and mountains before being wowed by the architectural splendor of the hotel itself. Hike, kayak, sauna: I'd breakfast early on local produce at the long communal dining tables before setting out for a hike or kayaking along the fjords. Come evening, with many light hours still ahead, I'd head to the steam, room, the hot tub and the sauna with river views. - from Maureen O'Hare |
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💳 CNN insider rec of the week |
Brought to you by CNN Underscored Not only is this travel crossbody bag lightweight and easy to haul around all day, but it comes with a range of anti-theft features that make it ideal for travelers. Plus, with a price of less than $40, it's a no-brainer for every trip from traversing a new city to carrying through the airport and onto the beach. |
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- Edited and produced by Kyle Almond, Tricia Escobedo and Kimberly Richardson |
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