• I've visited over 90 countries, so I've heard (and asked) my fair share of tourist questions.
• There are eight awkward questions that I always found myself asking, no matter where I went.
• Now, I never plan a trip without looking up whether I can drink tap water or how I'll pay for goods.

There are few things more stressful than landing on the tarmac in a new country, realizing you're unprepared, and also feeling too embarrassed to ask for help.

I've seen fellow tourists struggle to ask the same questions again and again, like how to charge their phones or whether they can use public toilets.

As someone who's been to over 90 countries, I've also encountered many of these awkward situations firsthand — and learned a lot of answers the hard way.

Now, I make sure never to travel abroad without knowing the answers to these eight questions.

What are the public toilets like?

When I first started traveling, I quickly learned that there is no one right way to use the toilet.

Many Americans take the "porcelain throne" for granted, but in some parts of the world, it's common to squat over a hole in the ground.

I've also visited countries where it's customary to pay an attendant a nominal amount for a square or two of toilet paper. In some countries' restrooms, you won't find toilet paper at all — but instead, a bidet or bucket of water to wipe yourself clean.

To prepare for any and all bathroom situations, I try to bring a roll of toilet paper and plenty of hand sanitizer on every international trip.

Can I brush my teeth with tap water?

Many Americans, myself included, are used to turning on the tap and having fresh, clean water to drink and brush their teeth. However, this isn't the case everywhere.

My travel experiences have taught me that nothing will ruin a trip faster than gastrointestinal distress from unsafe drinking water. Now, before I travel, I always check the US Department of State website to see if I'll need to stick to bottled water.

If the country's tap water isn't safe to drink, I'll attach my toothbrush to a bottle with a rubber band. This helps me remember not to rinse my toothbrush under the tap — a mistake that's easy to make in the early morning.

Do I need to apply for a visa ahead of time?

If you have an American passport (like I do), you can visit some countries worldwide without being granted permission.

However, there are many exceptions. Countries like India, Cambodia, and China require Americans to apply for a visa before visiting; and as of this year, Americans and Canadians need an Electronic Travel Authorization to enter the UK.

To visit some countries, you'll have to go to a consulate and apply in person. For others, you can apply virtually.

If you don't have the right type of visa, you might not be allowed to board your plane — or you might even be turned away at the border.

As a frequent traveler, I always check whether I need a visa to travel as soon as I book a trip. Most countries' embassies will have this information on their websites.

How can I get cell service without paying a fortune?

When I'm traveling, I'm always terrified of being left without cellular service — but I also want to avoid pricy roaming fees and daily charges.

To save money, I usually use a service like Airalo or Holafly to purchase an eSIM card when I travel out of the country. That way, I can access a local carrier and control costs.

This method has worked for me all around the world. With an eSIM, I can still access my primary number's voicemail and text messages as long as I'm connected to WiFi.

How will I charge my devices?

Speaking of phones, you'll want to make sure you can actually charge your devices.

Outlets are different all around the world, and I've learned the hard way that even adapters labeled as "universal" usually aren't.

A quick online search will tell you which kind of adapter you need to stay powered up. Preparing ahead is important here — although airports usually sell adapters, they tend to be more expensive than ones you can order online.

Do I need to get any vaccines, or prepare for any potential illnesses?

I am up-to-date on all of the standard vaccines in the United States. However, several diseases that are largely under control in the US pose a significant threat abroad.

My years of travel have taught me to always check and see if I need any additional vaccines before a trip. In preparation for trips abroad, I've taken live typhoid pills and been vaccinated against yellow fever. For other trips, I've taken pills to prevent malaria.

At my doctor's recommendation, I've even packed antibiotics to bring to countries where they might not be readily available.

Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website to see which vaccines and medications are recommended for your destination. Once you know what you need, your local pharmacy may be able to order the recommended vaccines for you, or your primary care physician might be able to call in a prescription.

Will my credit cards work?

Many Americans are used to paying for just about anything they need with the swipe of a card — or even a phone if they use Apple Pay.

However, some countries are still largely cash-based societies. If that's the case where you are traveling, always come prepared with an ATM card — and make sure your bank account has enough cash.

Finally, keep your budget in mind. If you don't have a credit card specifically designed for travel, remember you may be hit with expensive foreign transaction fees for every purchase.

Are there any unusual laws I need to know about?

Through my travels, I've come across a lot of unexpected laws. For example, some countries in the Caribbean ban civilians from wearing camouflage. In France, you're not allowed to buy or even wear counterfeit clothing, including purses.

Moreover, some countries have restrictions on the type of medications you can bring in, even if they were legally prescribed in your home country.

It's important to me to respect local customs and stay on the right side of the law — so I always do a quick online search to see if there are any rules I need to know about before I travel.

• After working remotely from Bali for two months, Sonya Moore was craving peace and quiet.
• She traveled with a friend to the neighboring island of Sumba.
• The natural beauty, lack of traffic, and smaller number of tourists made for a great getaway.

In March, I decided to take advantage of my flexible schedule and spend two months in Bali, working remotely and exploring the island.

I had already visited Bali many times, and I'm a big fan. But over the years, as its fame has spread, it has become busier. Bali's iconic charm and unique energy are still there, but they now coexist with big crowds and heavy traffic.

During my time there, I relished much of what Bali has to offer: yoga, massages, sound baths, authentic spiritual traditions, gorgeous style, and delicious food. I found pockets away from the crowds in the less-developed regions of Bangli and Sidemen. But after a few weeks in Ubud and south Bali, I found myself craving peace and quiet — specifically, a break from the ever-present sound of motorbike engines.

Luckily, I had planned to wrap up my time in Indonesia with a weeklong side trip to the nearby island of Sumba with a friend.

Overpopulation was no longer a problem

Sumba is a 90-minute direct flight from Denpasar International Airport. It's about twice the size of Bali, has one-sixth of Bali's population, and a fraction of its tourists.

It's also known for limited WiFi and cell service across large swaths of its undeveloped territory. There's no signage on the main roads indicating the island's scenic spots, making it hard for visitors to find them without a local guide. We hired a guide my friend found through Facebook, and we're glad we did.

Sumba's natural beauty lived up to our expectations. The rock-framed sandy coves, the turquoise lagoon, the landscapes of velvety green hills, and the waterfalls left my friend and me in awe. We were charmed by goats lounging by the side of the road and by horses meandering across expanses of golden savannah.

And most of the time, we had the sights all to ourselves. Sometimes, groups of local kids would come over to talk to us. The roads were free of traffic.

Along with the absence of tourists and traffic came the absence of extensive food and massage options, which we had grown accustomed to in Bali. I never found wine or cocktails anywhere in Sumba, though I imagine they're available at the handful of 5-star hotels on the island.

Most people in Sumba didn't speak much English, including our guide, so we needed translation apps to communicate most of the time. When there was no cell service, we had to resort to hand gestures.

And punctuality? We found out that it's not a thing in Sumba. Our driver tended to show up 15 to 20 minutes after our agreed departure time, then order himself a coffee before we left, then stop to pick up his breakfast at a roadside shop or get gas. He was an excellent drone videographer and photographer, though, which helped make up for his relaxed sense of time.

A true mental reset

Our four-day guided Sumba road trip covered a lot of ground.

After the road trip, we spent three nights at a boutique hotel on a deserted stretch of white sand beach in East Sumba, about an hour from the airport, and it was there that we found total relaxation.

Shaded by tall cemara trees, the temperature was perfect both day and night. We were lulled to sleep every night by the sound of gentle ocean waves lapping the shore.

Our hotel, Cemara Beachfront Suite, was $80 per night and came with great service. The staff brought us tea with little desserts every afternoon and were always ready to provide any extras we asked for to make our stay more enjoyable. Except wine. Next time, I'd bring a bottle or two in my suitcase, along with a good book.

The attentive care of the staff and the idyllic setting allowed us to completely unwind and fully enjoy just being there. We could have happily stayed much longer.

Sumba's wild beauty and serene relaxation provided the perfect complement to Bali.

• I booked a Luxury Mystery Break package through Air New Zealand — it's like a surprise vacation.
• The flight was the worst part of my experience, but I loved my resort stay and had great meals.
• My trip was wonderful, but when I crunched the numbers, it didn't seem like such a great value.

As a self-proclaimed bougie backpacker, I love traveling on a budget — but I'm not afraid to splurge on unique experiences.

So, when I discovered Air New Zealand's Mystery Breaks, I was instantly intrigued.

The packages include round-trip flights, one checked bag, accommodations, breakfast, and airport transfers. The catch? Your destination is kept a secret until two days before departure.

Air New Zealand offers several tiers, but I went with a last-minute Luxury Mystery Break. This top-tier package includes all of the aforementioned amenities, plus daily dinners, an Avis rental car, and five-star accommodations.

Here's how it went.

I received my Mystery Break itinerary a few days before my travel date.

I booked my trip less than a week before the departure date, but a Mystery Break representative told me guests are encouraged to reserve these packages three to six months in advance. In some cases, this can help keep the package's cost low.

Prices for Luxury Mystery Breaks vary and start at NZ$1,699 (about $1,025) a person for a two-night midweek package. I paid NZ$3,162, but was given a media rate for a 50% discount, bringing my total to NZ$1,581.

Either way, I got my itinerary four days before my travel date instead of the usual two. This may have been due to the media arrangement, but I was grateful to receive my flight times, rental car type, and resort information earlier.

I'd be flying into Christchurch, and my final destination was the Fable Terrace Downs Resort in Canterbury high country, about an hour's drive from the city center.

My journey had a frustrating start.

I got to Wellington International Airport at 8:30 a.m., ready to board my 9:30 a.m. flight to Christchurch.

At 9:10 a.m., an announcement informed us the flight had been canceled due to engineering issues. I was automatically rebooked for a 6 p.m. departure, but I didn't want to spend the first day of my Mystery Break stuck in an airport.

After several failed attempts to get on an earlier flight and a lot of back-and-forth with airline staff, I was moved to a 1:45 p.m. flight, which still didn't take off until 3:30 p.m. due to weather concerns.

For the inconvenience, I received a NZ$10 refreshment voucher.

Airport staff weren't much help — but I could've done more, too.

Despite booking my trip through Air New Zealand, the airline representatives I spoke to in person seemed unfamiliar with the Mystery Break program. I also wasn't given priority rebooking or guidance that might have helped streamline the process.

Delays can happen with any flight, but this was a disheartening start to what was supposed to be a luxury experience.

After my trip, I realized my 11-page Mystery Break itinerary had a number for a 24-hour help desk for "serious" problems.

Although I wish I'd tried calling, instructions advise speaking directly with the "supplier" first, which I did. I don't know if reaching out to the desk would've made a difference, but I'm glad I know now that this resource exists.

When reached for comment, representative for Air New Zealand chief commercial officer Jeremy O'Brien told BI, in part, "From family fun to luxurious retreats, our Mystery Break is a curated, surprise experience with logistical planning and travel support all included in the package. There's also a 24/7 Mystery Break helpdesk designed specifically to support travellers if their flights are disrupted, or they have questions during their trip."

Picking up my rental car was a much smoother experience.

My flight took about an hour, and after we landed, I went to pick up my rental car. The check-in process was quick and easy.

The Mystery Break package included basic insurance, but I upgraded my coverage and paid an additional NZ$100.

I was especially grateful for the freedom a rental car gave me, given that my resort was over an hour's drive from any major cities.

I was blown away by my resort's grounds and surrounding scenery.

Fable Terrace Downs Resort looked stunning as I pulled up.

A staff member at the front desk walked me through everything included in my package: a two-night stay, daily three-course dinners and continental breakfasts, a welcome drink, NZ$200 resort credit, a dedicated parking spot, and late checkout.

Staff had also arranged a dinner reservation for me at the on-site restaurant for that evening.

My accommodations seemed fit for a queen.

Based on my Mystery Break itinerary, I was expecting a deluxe one-bedroom suite.

When I arrived, I realized I'd been upgraded to a superior two-bedroom villa with sweeping views of the snowcapped mountains.

The villa felt huge for just one person.

My villa featured a spacious living room with a flatscreen TV and sound system, a full kitchen stocked with snacks and refreshments for purchase, a dining area, in-room laundry, and two bedrooms with en suite bathrooms.

A highlight was definitely the balcony, which overlooked the golf course and mountain range.

The two bathrooms also felt luxurious.

The bathrooms had luxurious touches, like heated towel racks, comfy slippers, and plush robes.

One of them also had a large spa bathtub complete with jets.

I headed to a restaurant on the property for dinner.

After a long travel day, I headed to The Clubhouse, the property's restaurant and golf hub, for the first of my two included three-course dinners.

I started with mushroom soup, which was rich in umami flavor and served with crisp yet fluffy garlic bread. This dish alone made up for the day's struggles, and I used the bread to mop up every last drop of soup.

My main course was slow-braised beef cheek pasta, a hearty portion that filled me up before I could finish it.

My meal ended with a sweet treat.

For dessert, I gave in to the temptation of a vanilla crème brûlée topped with cocoa dust, cherry compote, and a fresh strawberry.

It was the perfect end to an incredible meal.

The resort offered various activities for an additional fee.

Mystery Break packages are designed to provide the foundation for a trip — flights, accommodations, and transportation — which gives each traveler freedom to plan how they spend their time.

So, before I arrived, I looked into activities in the surrounding Canterbury high country and ones available on Fable Terrace Downs property.

The resort has an 18-hole championship golf course, tennis courts, walking tracks, and facilities for clay shooting, knife throwing, and archery.

I'd hoped to reserve an archery session, but there was no availability during my stay. Instead, I booked a hot air balloon ride (NZ$355.50) and a treatment at a nearby spa (NZ$95) on my own dime to round out my trip.

I woke up at 5 a.m. for my hot air balloon ride.

The next morning, I drove 30 minutes to the Ballooning Canterbury base yard, where I met our pilot, driver, and six other participants.

The views of the mountains and patchworked countryside from the balloon were spectacular, especially in the early morning light.

I had just enough time to get back to the resort for breakfast.

My ballooning experience wrapped up earlier than expected, so I had time to return to the resort for the complimentary breakfast service before it ended at 10:30 a.m.

The meals were served in a beautiful dining area with mountain views.

I enjoyed my food with a gorgeous view.

I selected items from a gorgeous continental breakfast buffet, including a chocolate croissant, chia-seed pudding with passion fruit, and peaches and pears with whipped cream and mixed-berry compote.

For an additional fee (covered by my resort credit), I also ordered bacon and poached eggs on toast.

The rest of my day was set aside for a road trip to the nearby Arthur's Pass.

Canterbury is known for its stunning alpine setting and hiking trails, which are a dream come true for outdoor enthusiasts.

Since I already had a rental car, I drove nearby to explore scenic spots like Lake Lyndon, Castle Hill, and the Otira Viaduct Lookout.

I'm grateful I got to see so many incredible places at my own pace.

I wound down from a long day with a bath and a glass of bubbly.

After three weeks of travel, staying in hostels with shared bathrooms, this bath felt incredibly indulgent, especially with the jets on.

My body definitely needed a soak after spending the day walking and hiking in the chilly high country.

My second three-course dinner on the property wasn't quite as good as the first.

I loved the mushroom soup so much that I ordered it again, but the rest of the meal didn't quite live up to my first.

For my main course, I chose the special ribeye steak with bone marrow served with potato gratin, finely chopped vegetables, and a roast-garlic jus.

The steak seemed slightly overcooked and dry, and the flavors weren't as impactful as the pasta from the night before.

I ended my meal with dessert and wine.

I rounded out my meal with the dark-chocolate fondant my server recommended.

It arrived in a hot ramekin topped with berry coulis and a side of rum-raisin ice cream. The cake was fully cooked through, but I would've preferred it as a molten lava-style dessert.

Aside from the soup, my favorite part of the meal was a glass of buttery chardonnay from Gisborne. Restaurant staff also brought me a delicious glass of dessert wine — a thoughtful touch.

I checked out early to squeeze in the spa treatment I'd booked.

The treatment I booked was at Ōpuke Thermal Pools and Spa, about a 25-minute drive from the resort. I had the first appointment of the day at 10 a.m.

The spa area was beautiful, and my dry-floatation treatment involved being swaddled in a waterproof blanket and being rocked in a warm tub. I felt like I was floating for a relaxing 45 minutes.

I wish I could've done more on my last day.

My return flight was at 2:30 p.m..

This isn't necessarily early, but it didn't leave me much time to explore on the tail end of my trip.

If I'd had more flexibility, I would've left later and made time for another spa treatment or visited the award-winning Rangiora Bakery, which isn't too far from Christchurch Airport.

Ultimately, I was ready to say the Luxury Mystery Break was worth the splurge — until I crunched the numbers.

All in all, my trip included a round-trip flight, two nights in a villa at Fable Terrace Downs Resort, an Avis rental car, plus food and drinks.

If I'd booked all of these things independently, I estimated I would've paid about NZ$1,891. My trip package cost NZ$3,162, which feels like a pretty substantial markup.

Receiving the 50% media rate of NZ$1,581 made this a decent deal, but I wouldn't say the same if I'd paid full price.

To be fair, my two-night midweek package was likely a bit marked up because it was more last-minute. It's also hard to speak on the value of other packages since I've only experienced my own.

But even if I were to book this further in advance, I can't see myself doing this again. Although the surprise element of this package was intriguing, I could've hired a travel agent to craft a similar itinerary for a fraction of the cost.

Plus, if I'd made the reservations myself, I could've had more flexibility and chosen the later flight I had wanted.

Despite a few hiccups, this experience was magical — but the price didn't reflect its true value. Next time, I'll plan my own luxury escape.

• I'm a digital nomad and met my partner in Argentina two years ago.
• We talked daily for the next eight months, and I decided to return to Argentina in 2024.
• We fell in love and are building a life together in an unconventional way, but it works for us.

When I started traveling full-time almost four years ago, I promised myself I'd go on dates, but I also knew that a long-term relationship was out of the question.

As a digital nomad and freelance writer, I get the unique opportunity to travel all over the world and write about my experiences. It's truly a dream job, but sacrifices and tradeoffs must always be made — like relationships.

How could I develop a meaningful connection if I only spend one or two months in a city at a time? Even if I did find someone I wanted to pursue a future with, I knew I was unwilling to change my lifestyle. Full-time travel is a dream that I can't give up.

All of that changed when I met my partner.

I found love unexpectedly in Argentina

I spent the first few months of 2023 in Argentina, one of my favorite countries in the world.

In February, I received a message on Grindr, which is notoriously known as a gay hookup app with a low success rate for relationships. Still, I hoped for something more, and I figured if I was on the app, there must also be a couple of other people like me out there.

Over the next few days, I started chatting with this person, who introduced himself as Lauti. He asked me out on a date, but unfortunately, I was leaving Buenos Aires to go to a different city in Argentina the following morning. I told him I'd be back in six weeks, and we decided to meet then.

The day after I flew back to Buenos Aires, we went on our first date, and something clicked. For the next three weeks, we embarked on a whirlwind romance and were virtually inseparable.

Then, I packed up and flew to Mexico, and even though we liked each other, I knew nothing could realistically come from it. We decided to take things one day at a time and not put a label on anything — just see what happened while I was traveling.

Our relationship blossomed as I continued to travel

As the days went on, the texting and phone calls continued. After Mexico, I flew to Europe for the summer, and even with five or six hour time differences, we found ourselves prioritizing each other and making space for video call dates, life updates, and deeper conversations. Despite the distance, things got more serious month after month, and I realized I was essentially in a long-distance relationship.

So, I planned my return to Argentina for January 2024 — eight months after I left. We finally put a label on what we both felt, and a few weeks later, he told me he loved me for the first time. We faced yet another goodbye in April when I left for Peru. Luckily, this period of long-distance was short since he came to visit a month later for his birthday in May.

Then, we went seven months without seeing each other while I was off exploring Europe, Asia, and Australia. He came to Colombia in December 2024 for our first holiday season together, which was every bit as magical as we hoped it would be. I returned to Argentina at the end of January this year, and we've lived together for the past four months.

Luckily, our time apart seems to be getting shorter each year. I'll leave Argentina in a few weeks, and we will be apart for just three months.

Navigating an unconventional relationship

Each long-distance period has its challenges. During the first stint, we were still getting to know each other, which made communication tricky. The second time, we were much better at communicating, but it was more challenging in its own way. I often don't know where I'll live in a few months' time, so it's impossible to know when we will be together again.

Even so, we're embracing the challenges of a long-distance relationship. How do we prioritize seeing each other? How do we balance two different cultures? How can we accomplish our own goals while still growing together? These questions don't have simple answers, and they are constantly evolving.

Some aspects of our relationship progressed quickly, while others have been harder to nurture due to my lifestyle. However, this has become our normal, making us appreciate our time together so much more. In our time apart, we still prioritize each other, but also spend time planning our future and growing individually.

I had an idea of what a relationship was supposed to be, and I thought that a nomadic lifestyle would be antithetical to that ideal. I've realized there isn't a perfect relationship, and I can accomplish two things simultaneously: a loving relationship and an unwavering desire to see every corner of the world. I don't have to sacrifice one to achieve the other, but I must be intentional with my time.

• Some Americans are traveling to Europe this summer despite their concerns about the economy.
• Travelers are budgeting, but many aren't giving up bucket-list trips abroad, a Deloitte survey found.
• Euro summer is a priority, especially for millennials and Gen Z, a travel content creator said.

The American dream may be struggling, but for many, the Euro summer dream is alive and well.

Jimin Shim, a millennial copywriter who lives in Denver, has plenty of concerns about the economy, from stock market volatility that she feels has been brought on by the current administration to a tough job market.

Still, she's vacationing in Portugal later this month, and treating her mom to the trip too.

"Traveling is very important to me. I try to do at least one international trip a year and then maybe a couple of domestic trips," she told Business Insider. "And because I know that that is a priority for me, it's something that I budget for and am saving up for all year round."

While there's been some softening in leisure travel demand this year, data and surveys suggest Shim is one of many Americans who are weighing their international travel plans against their worries about the economy and saying, "book it."

The extent to which Americans are pulling back on international trips this summer is not fully clear. An analysis from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, found summer bookings from the US to Europe were down nearly 10% from January to May compared to last year. Meanwhile, a summer travel survey from Deloitte, released in May, found more Americans were traveling internationally this summer compared to 2024, with most headed to Europe. And a recent data analysis by Allianz Partners, a travel insurance and assistance company, found summer travel from the US to Europe would increase by 10% in 2025.

The economy isn't the only reason Americans might rethink travel to Europe this summer. The weakening US dollar doesn't go as far as it used to, and some Americans are worried about their safety or not feeling welcomed abroad due to the current administration's approach to foreign policy.

Americans are also waiting longer to book their trips, which could complicate the picture.

Still, it's clear that many Americans are traveling abroad despite the downturn in consumer sentiment.

"I think you're seeing a hesitancy," Amir Eylon, president and CEO of Longwoods International, a market research consultancy that specializes in the travel tourism industry, told BI. "I still believe a majority of American travelers who were planning to go abroad are still going to go abroad."

The enduring appeal of Euro summer

Eylon said that while there are indications of a slowdown, it does not look like a "game-changing" shift. His firm's monthly consumer sentiment survey of 1,000 travelers found the number of American travelers who said they were very likely to take an international trip in the next 12 months declined from 25% in January to 19% in May.

He noted travelers seemed to be in a "wait and see" mode this spring, echoing what other industry experts have said and previously told BI — that travelers are booking closer to travel dates, in part as they search for good deals.

Eylon said it is possible there will be an overall decline in Americans visiting Europe this year, but it's too soon to tell the full picture. He thinks those canceling or ditching trip plans will be in the minority.

"American travelers view it as a need more than a want," he said of travel, adding that many see it as a "right."

Meredith Pierce, a travel content creator based in Atlanta, said that's exactly how she and many other millennials and Gen Zers view travel, including to Europe. Pierce posts a lot of popular "Euro summer" content and sees it as a persistent and lasting travel trend, even when folks have financial concerns.

"Everyone loves the idea of sipping an Aperol spritz and looking at the Mediterranean," Pierce said, "especially if maybe you are stressed in your day-to-day life because of politics or the economy or budgets, or anything like that. A bit of escapism I think comes into play there as well."

The hesitancy fueled by economic uncertainty could also make it a bit more affordable to travel to Europe this summer. Eylon noted the slowdown in leisure travel led to some declines in airfare prices, which may have pushed some hesitant Americans to take the plunge.

When economic concerns, largely fueled by Trump's tariff policy, intensified in March and April, some airlines suspended their forecasts for the year, and flight prices declined.

Rather than get spooked by the economic uncertainty, Pierce believes plenty of people pounced. Her "Euro summer" content from last year started going viral, and she was getting flooded with DMs and questions from people who found a cheap flight to Europe and were suddenly planning their trips.

Pierce said some budget-conscious travelers are opting for more affordable and under-the-radar destinations in Europe, such as Albania or Poland, which feature similarly picturesque scenes but at a lower cost than Italy or Paris.

More frugal spending once they get to their destination

Deloitte's summer travel survey noted that many American travelers already had their big summer trips partially or even fully booked by April, when concerns around tariffs and the economy intensified. The survey also found that while consumers' sense of financial well-being was down year-over-year in April, slightly more Americans planned to take leisure vacations this summer compared to 2024.

Deloitte found travelers looking to save were cutting back on in-destination spending as well as opting for more affordable lodging and flight classes.

The survey also found that while some are being more frugal, many Americans are prioritizing bucket list trips and international travel, or trips that are otherwise special in some way.

Deloitte found 42% of air travelers were flying internationally on their longest summer trip, compared to 38% in 2024. Those traveling internationally were also more likely to increase their travel budget compared to last year.

Shim, the copywriter from Denver, also has a special reason for making her Portugal trip work this year, despite her financial concerns. Her family has been going through a tough time after her grandfather's death last year. This vacation is a way to spend quality time with and treat her mom, who has never been to Europe, and take the first trip that's just the two of them.

"I also think that sometimes in these times of uncertainty and tumultuousness and a lot of tension and division, traveling and spending quality time with family who loves you is a great way to just take care of your mental and emotional health too," she said, "which I think is also very important to do."

Do you have a story to share about your summer travel plans? Contact this reporter at [email protected].

The sun was shining, the sea was glistening, and the woman in front of me looked every bit the boss of this little slice of paradise in Thailand.

Dressed in breezy beachwear — a matching set with bold prints in yellow, pink, and orange — she stepped out of the hotel's front office and greeted me with a bright smile.

"Sunglasses are a must," she told me with a laugh, as she led me down the long entryway lined with lush greenery, the tropical sun blazing overhead.

Pauline Cabessa runs Cielo Samui, a boutique hotel on Koh Samui's Bo Phut beach.

For more than a decade, Cabessa and her husband escaped their home base in Saint Tropez every winter to holiday in Samui.

They were frequent guests of the hotel — then named Eden Beach Bungalows — where they struck up a friendship with the French owner. One day, during a casual conversation, he let slip that he was looking to sell the property.

Almost immediately, Cabessa and her husband, Francois Vargas, found themselves imagining what it would be like to take over the place.

The idea stuck, even after their vacation ended. "As we were on the plane, going back to work, we kept thinking, 'Oh, we need to find a way to make it,'" she said.

In 2017, they packed up their lives in France, said goodbye to their loved ones, and moved across the world to run the hotel — never mind the fact that neither of them had ever managed one before.

"I felt like it was time in life for a challenge," Cabessa, now 43, said. "Being an employee, doing the same thing all your life — if you don't do things that are a little bit crazy, then afterward it might be a little bit too late."

Renovating the hotel

As much as she loved Asia, Cabessa never thought she'd put down roots in Samui.

But her job managing a restaurant in Saint Tropez had started to feel hollow. It was as if the essence of hospitality was being replaced by a culture of showing off, she said.

"I was really losing the authentic connection I shared with people, and time with my family as well, because I was working a lot," she said. "Well, it was thanks to that that I am here now. With the money I earned there, I was able to take on this project."

She preferred to keep financial details private but said she and her husband co-own the hotel with another couple — longtime friends who came onboard as business partners. While their business partners are primarily investors and live in the US, she and her husband run the day-to-day operations of the hotel in Samui.

The opportunity to take over the hotel came at the right time, since she and Vargas were also thinking about expanding their family. Saint Tropez no longer felt like a place where they wanted to raise their kids.

"I wanted my daughter to learn more English and be in contact with people from different places. I wanted a second child as well," she said, adding that her son was born on Samui.

Her husband needed little convincing — he had been vacationing in Samui since 1997, long before the couple had even gotten together.

Although the idea of leaving his previous life behind to start anew in a foreign country felt daunting, Vargas told me he wasn't too worried.

"Moving to Samui was an opportunity to create our own dream," Vargas, 48, said. "I love what we do, the island, the security we can offer our kids, and the people."

For the first two years, Cabessa ran the hotel as it was, while Vargas, a chef, oversaw the in-house restaurant.

But when business ground to a halt due to the pandemic, she decided it was time to renovate.

"That was not part of our original plan at all," she said.

Cabessa redesigned the hotel herself. Like many modern women, she drew inspiration from her Pinterest board.

With textured limewashed walls, stone floors, and an earthy-neutral palette, it's hard not to notice the strong Mediterranean design influences that Cabessa infused into the space.

She also added a yoga studio and a spa to the compound.

The renovation took nine months to complete and was "quite stressful," she said.

To stay afloat during the pandemic and retain their original staff, they opened a restaurant in the nearby tourist district of Fisherman's Village.

"Everybody moved back here when we reopened," she said.

These days, nightly rates for a regular suite begin at 8,500 Thai baht, or $260, with the largest option — a three-bedroom villa that accommodates up to eight guests — going for 26,000 baht.

Running the biz

Running a hotel is no walk in the park.

"People tell me, 'Your life is cool.' OK, there are coconut trees, there is the sun, I get it. But that doesn't mean that there are no challenges," Cabessa said.

With 45 staff members under her wing, she also finds herself smoothing things over with the occasional picky guest.

"I've got reviews from some people complaining about the noise of the waves when they live in the rooms near the beach," she said. "Sometimes people even tell me that the sand on the beach is too hard to walk on."

While Cabessa is always on-site and ready to fix any problems, some things are simply out of her hands. At the end of the day, Samui is an island. "I cannot control nature," she said.

Thankfully, her background working in Saint Tropez prepared her for high-pressure situations.

"We were doing around 600 people per lunch per day back then," she said. No matter how challenging things get in Samui, she says it's hard to find guests with higher expectations than those in France.

It's easy to see Cabessa's dedication in action: She pauses to greet each staff member by name — and in Thai — and never misses a chance to speak with passing guests, even as she's showing me around.

Most of her guests come from Europe, Australia, or around Asia, including Singapore and Hong Kong. In recent months, she's also seen more American tourists.

An Australian couple in their 40s told me it was their first time in Samui, and they chose to stay here because the place seemed tranquil and the beach was, in their words, "right there."

All room types at the hotel include breakfast. Guests can also enjoy complimentary activities daily, like Pilates, yoga, and Muay Thai classes. Padel and kayaking are also available.

The idea is to create a place where guests can happily spend their entire stay without needing to step outside, Cabessa said.

Adapting to life on Samui

Cabessa says adapting to life on the island was a breeze.

Her kids, now 11 and 5, go to an international school. Her mother, who is retired, even moved to Samui from Lyon three years ago. She now lives just down the street from Cabessa.

"This is a safe country. You can let your kids play in a mall or on the beach, and you are not worried about that," Cabessa said. "I also love the culture of showing respect for your elders."

Working in hospitality, she also appreciates the friendliness of the Thai people.

"People are always smiling, and this is such a relief. Because if you live in Paris and you take the subway, nobody's smiling," she said.

The island has changed significantly since the first time she visited.

It's much easier to find international products or fresh produce now. And if something isn't available locally, she can order it from Bangkok, and it'll arrive within 24 hours.

Cabessa says she'll "never, ever" move back to France. And even if she doesn't live in Samui, Thailand will always be home.

"I'll never quit this country," she said.

Do you have a story to share about moving to a new country to run a hotel or resort business? Contact this reporter at [email protected].

• Lester V. Ledesma is a photographer and has been traveling across Southeast Asia for almost 30 years.
• He says places like Bali have struggled with overtourism, while Myanmar has faced political turmoil.
• But there are three cities — Siem Reap, Ipoh, and Hanoi — that he feels have improved over the years.

I've spent nearly 30 years traveling around Southeast Asia, long enough to witness just how much the region has transformed.

Over the years, I've watched destinations rise and fall. Some began as exotic tourism gems, but now struggle with overtourism — Bali is a good example of this.

Other cities, like Bangkok, remain perennial tourist magnets, managing to thrive thanks to careful resource management. Then there are the places that showed great promise when they opened to the world — I'm looking at you, Myanmar — only to become no-go zones due to political turmoil.

Nonetheless, there are a few special spots in Southeast Asia that I often revisit. Like well-made coconut wine, these three seem to get better as the years go by.

1. Siem Reap, Cambodia

When I first visited Siem Reap in 2003, it was something of a cowboy town, with more bicycles than cars. "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," starring Angelina Jolie, had been released a few years earlier, with scenes filmed at Angkor Wat, but the city still wasn't a common feature on the average bucket list.

Back then, its main landmark was Psar Chas — the old market — and the soon-to-be-renamed Pub Street was still just a jumble of guesthouses and restaurants that serviced mostly budget travelers.

Marijuana-laced "happy pizza" was a common item on menus, and there were even places that delivered straight to your room.

Two decades later, the hippie backpacker vibe has been greatly diminished, replaced by a more cosmopolitan collection of chic boutique hotels standing beside wine bars, hipster cafés, and restaurants boasting cuisine from all over the world.

These days, Siem Reap is basking in the glow of a post-COVID era facelift that widened the main roads and beautified the city's parks. To the east, the recently built Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport — which opened in October 2023 — has replaced the smaller landing strip that stood close to the city.

Despite more tourists, Angkor's UNESCO World Heritage sites are also managed better with an online booking app that lets you buy entrance passes without having to join the long lines. There's also more effective crowd control, especially in popular spots like Angkor Wat and the Bayon.

Clearly marked walkways and "no entry" signs help keep visitors from getting lost. Angkor may no longer offer the "lost jungle ruin" experience of decades past, but stricter regulations help ensure the preservation.

2. Ipoh, Malaysia

I remember when Lonely Planet's "Southeast Asia on a Shoestring" edition described Ipoh — a city in Malaysia about 120 miles north of Kuala Lumpur — as "so seedy you're unlikely to linger." Decades ago, I walked through the old quarter of this city and found little more than crumbling shophouses set alongside grand-but-aging colonial-era buildings.

Still reeling from the collapse of its industry in the '80s, this once-affluent tin mining community didn't seem to be doing too well. In fact, it had a hint of seediness that kept me from lingering too long.

Thankfully, much has improved since then. Renewed interest in local heritage sparked an urban revival that restored the city's venerable old structures. Colorful street murals added a quirky charm, making Ipoh an essential stopover for travelers in Malaysia on the Malacca-Kuala Lumpur-Penang route.

Nowadays, the city's rediscovered nostalgia is everywhere on display, from stylish B&Bs like the Sekeping Kong Heng — built on top of a still-operating vintage coffeeshop — to the ever-busy Concubine Lane where antique shophouses play host to numerous craft and souvenir stores.

And one of Malaysia's oldest bars — the 94-year-old Sinhalese Bar — still keeps its after-work crowd despite being surrounded by newfangled, IG-friendly espresso bars and watering holes. Ipoh's growing tourism industry has so far remained manageable, and I'm thankful that this picturesque heritage city has kept its soul.

3. Hanoi, Vietnam

When I first visited in 2007, I struggled to like Hanoi. At that point, it had not yet become a mainstream tourist destination.

Sure, it had interesting neighborhoods and a vibrant street scene, but I found locals in Vietnam's capital to be cold and indifferent toward outsiders. At times, it felt like everyone — taxi drivers, market vendors, even public toilet attendants — was just waiting to make a quick buck off me.

Maybe my not-so-great first impression had something to do with Vietnam's tough postwar years, when the country had to fend for itself.

But fast-forward 18 years, and the city feels completely different.

Hanoi has not lost any of its timeless character, and its ancient corner temples and ornate French colonial-era mansions still proudly display their patina.

Motorbikes continue to zoom recklessly, and conical hat-wearing vendors still roam the streets with their merchandise on their shoulders. But today's Hanoi seems to have put on a friendlier face.

Since my first visit, the city has upgraded its infrastructure and services to a more international standard. A new metro now provides a direct connection to the countryside, while price-regulated taxis and regular buses now transport travelers from the airport.

Young Hanoians come across to me as more welcoming, offering more smiles and fewer scowls. In fact, during recent trips, I've had random folks help me navigate fish-out-of-water situations. Like when a local customer scolded a noodle vendor who was trying to rip me off. There was also a friendly couple at a dessert stall who proudly taught me how to order ca phe in Vietnamese.

Friendly interactions like these — a quick translation, a helpful tip, or even a friendly chat — now color my view of the storied and beautiful city.

• I've traveled to over 20 countries, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, is one city that stole my heart.
• From pristine beaches to a busy downtown scene, there's so much to do in this lively Mexican city.
• I also love the mix of fine-dining and street-food options.

I've traveled to over 20 countries, but Mexico continues to be one of my favorite destinations to visit.

One Mexican city in particular has stolen my heart: Puerto Vallarta. Located on the country's west coast, Puerto Vallarta is more than just a classic resort town. It offers a unique blend of pristine beaches, a bustling downtown scene, and plenty of outdoor adventure.

I've visited Puerto Vallarta four times in the past two years — with friends, family, and for bachelorette parties — and every trip has offered something a little different.

Whether you're looking for nature, nightlife, relaxation, or mouthwatering dishes, there truly is something for every type of traveler. Here's why I love visiting this lively Mexican city.

The city offers a great mix of fine-dining and street-food options

One of the best parts of traveling is indulging in the local delicacies, and Puerto Vallarta has no shortage of incredible meals.

Those who want a fun and classic street-food-style experience should head to Pancho's Takos.

The restaurant's al pastor tacos are so good that you'll likely have to wait in a line that stretches around the block. Fortunately, it's located in the heart of downtown, so you can see street performers and people-watch while waiting.

Travelers looking for something a little more luxe will love the stretch of restaurants located along Playa Los Muertos (the main tourist beach).

I especially enjoy El Dorado, which has fresh-tasting seafood, craft cocktails, and attentive service. The best part is the option to dine with your toes in the sand.

I recommend going for dinner at sunset for a romantic and memorable dining experience — just be sure to make reservations ahead of time, as tables go fast.

I love going dancing in Zona Romántica

Puerto Vallarta's nightlife offers an inclusive and spirited ambiance, and is ideal for a late night on the town with friends.

The Zona Romántica, or Romantic Zone, is home to lots of bars and nightclubs. It's also a hub for the LGBTQ+ communities and reminds me of the Mexican version of West Hollywood.

Once the sun goes down, crowds spill (or dance) out of bass-pumping bars on every corner.

If a party is what you're looking for, you won't have to try very hard to find it in the Zona Romántica.

Puerto Vallarta has a wide variety of outdoor activities

Outdoorsy folks will love the plethora of scenic hiking trails, water sports, and natural wonders in or near Puerto Vallarta.

I recommend checking out the Palo Maria Waterfall trail, a moderate 1.4-mile trail that leads to a small waterfall and swimming hole. I loved jumping in the water to cool off from the heat and snap photos.

If whale watching sounds like something up your alley, make sure to visit between December and March, when humpback whales migrate to Puerto Vallarta's Banderas Bay to breed and give birth. It's an awe-inspiring sight to witness.

During one of my trips to the city, I even got to look under the sea's surface with a snorkeling tour to Los Arcos National Marine Park. You can get there by boat or kayak — I opted for a kayaking tour through the Garza Blanca Resort.

• I visited Seattle for the first time in May 2025 after years of dreaming about it.
• The city in the Pacific Northwest surprised me as a New Yorker.
• I found a strange tourist attraction, a free banana stand, and a tech neighborhood full of nature.

When my train arrived at Seattle's King Street Station on a sunny morning, I didn't expect the one-mile walk to my downtown hotel to feel like a hike.

I didn't think I'd find a chewing-gum-speckled wall in an alley later that afternoon. And when I felt my stomach growl while strolling the bustling streets the next day, the last thing I thought I'd see was a free snack cart.

It was my first time in the Washington city, one I've wanted to visit since I was a kid. As I developed a taste for travel in college, I found myself taking road trips from California up the coast to Portland, Oregon, to see more of the Pacific Northwest.

Still, Seattle was always too far north to include in my itinerary. In fact, I'd never had a chance to visit the state of Washington — until recently.

During a weeklong trip from my home in NYC to the west coast of North America in May 2025, I spent three days in Seattle. As a first-time visitor, I found the city to be full of surprises.

I traveled to Seattle from Vancouver, and I was surprised to find that a train ticket was less than half the price of airfare.

I've spent about 100 hours on Amtrak trains from the Northeast to the Southwest. In my experience, traveling by train in the US is typically more expensive than flying, though it depends on the route.

So when I was booking my travel from Vancouver, British Columbia, in Canada to Seattle, I was shocked that a coach train ticket cost $50 compared to the $150 basic economy airfare on the same day.

I certainly paid more in hours — the train ride took four compared to the roughly 1-hour flight. Still, I was excited to travel slowly and watch landscapes transform from one country to another.

I was also shocked at how much more comfortable it was to travel in economy compared to planes.

I'd traveled in first and business class on Amtrak trains before, but this was my first trip in coach since I was a kid. So I wasn't sure how it would compare to my countless experiences flying in basic economy.

Since the ticket was less than half the price, I didn't expect the train seat to be so much cozier than the stiff, flimsy plane seats I'm used to. I even avoided the neck and back pain I usually get when flying.

On the train, the seats felt wider with more legroom than on a typical economy flight.

Walking a mile in Seattle feels more strenuous than it does in New York.

I stepped off the Amtrak train in Seattle around noon. It was my first time stretching my legs since I'd boarded in Vancouver four hours earlier. With an indie-rock soundtrack in my earbuds and the sun shining above me, I was excited to lug my suitcase on foot to my hotel one mile away.

But I quickly learned that a mile in Seattle doesn't feel like a mile in New York. The route was almost entirely uphill. When I stopped to catch my breath at an intersection, I noticed the street to my right climbed up even taller for as far as I could see.

In my city, I walk a lot, but most of the roads are relatively flat. So I wasn't expecting to feel so exhausted after just one mile.

I was excited to visit the iconic Pike Place Market but surprised to learn that it hasn't always been a car-free space.

Situated next to the coast in Downtown Seattle, Pike Place Market is an iconic outdoor market with over 200 stores and restaurants. I've been hearing about it for decades, so I spent my first afternoon in Seattle perusing the nine-acre shopping hub.

On a sunny Thursday afternoon, the market was crowded with locals and tourists alike. I shuffled my way through what felt like a line to get a peek at the fresh seafood. When I needed a break from the mob, I found refuge inside a used bookstore.

Every so often, a delivery truck would drive through, dividing the crowd into two tightly packed globs, but most cars weren't allowed to drive through Pike Place Market. This made sense to me, since each passing vehicle halted the pedestrian flow.

But I was surprised to learn that the open-air market's cobblestone streets are normally open to all cars — the city is testing a ban on cars aside from vendors, delivery drivers, and those with disabilities, the Seattle Times reported in April. The temporary ban began on April 23 and will continue until the end of summer.

I was lucky enough to inadvertently schedule my trip during the ban. I couldn't imagine what it would be like if cars could freely move through the already crowded market.

I stumbled upon the popular tourist attraction, The Gum Wall, in Seattle.

While wandering the narrow alleyways around Pike Place Market, I was slowed down by groups of tourists stopping to take selfies in front of a vibrant brick wall. The wall was spackled with an array of hues from peach to periwinkle.

At first, I thought the specks of color were dried-up chunks of paint. But when I saw a pedestrian pull a gooey wad out of their mouth and stick it on the brick wall, I realized the wall was a gum canvas.

I was shocked and a little grossed out upon my realization, but when I focused on how the wall actually looked rather than the germ-infested materials, I thought it was a playful work of art.

Before you ask, no, I didn't add my own contribution to the Seattle gum wall.

I was surprised to find a three-story target downtown.

I lost my charging port somewhere between Vancouver and Seattle, so I headed to a Target near my downtown hotel. Back home in NYC, the Targets I frequent are small and offer little more than a drug store.

So, I was shocked to learn that this location was a 96,000-square-foot, three-story establishment. While still smaller than Targets you'll find outside of cities, according to the Seattle Times, the store had a wide variety of groceries, toiletries, and tech products.

There were so many aisles of home goods that I thought I could decorate my entire apartment with its offerings.

I wasn't expecting the tech neighborhood to be so full of nature.

Seattle has long been known as a tech hub where software engineers move in droves to work at big companies like Amazon and Google.

Locals told me I could find the booming scene in the South Lake Union neighborhood, home of the original Amazon headquarters. The company's presence in more than 30 office buildings led to the neighborhood's nickname, "Amazonia."

Before visiting, I expected to find nothing but business-centric streets lined with glass skyscrapers in a tech-fueled neighborhood. So I was surprised by the large presence of nature in South Lake Union.

The neighborhood borders Lake Union, where I explored a waterfront park filled with runners, bicyclists, picnickers, and geese. Locals said the park is dead on the weekends, but tech workers frequent it during the week. Nearby, the Google building had a whole forest of trees on the rooftop.

I'd never seen a free banana stand before.

The pop of color caught my eye while strolling through "Amazonia. In an outdoor space between Amazon buildings in South Lake Union, the bright yellow trailer is hard to miss.

I got a closer look and saw boxes full of bananas beneath the awning, and a sign that read, "Take one — not just for Amazonians but for anyone in the community."

I didn't expect to find a free snack stand in the middle of a city. Amazon previously told Business Insider that founder Jeff Bezos came up with the idea to provide a complimentary healthy snack with no wrapper. The stand first opened in 2015.

I wasn't expecting to see an active volcano so close to a major city.

From a hotel's rooftop deck, a local pointed to a mountain in the distance and told me it was an active volcano.

I could hardly see the volcano through the haze, but they told me Mount Rainier, which last erupted in 1894, was more visible on clear days.

I was shocked to learn that this city, home to nearly 800,000 people, is so close to what could be a natural disaster. According to the Seattle Office of Emergency Management, the city is a safe distance away from a potential blast's flow, but water and power resources could be affected.

My trip to Seattle was everything I hoped it would be and more.

Seattle's mix of natural and urban lifestyles reminded me of my previous trips to Pacific Northwestern cities, which comforted me.

But I was surprised by Seattle's unique attributes, from Pike Place Market to the oddly alluring gum wall.

And since it was so different from NYC, I definitely plan to return to Seattle to get another break from the Big Apple.

• I was not sleeping well, overweight, overeating, and generally not physically or mentally well.
• I told my family I needed time away. I chose a wellness retreat for a week in the mountains.
• The retreat cost $6,900 and was worth every penny. I'm still seeing the benefits months later.

A $6,900 wellness retreat for a week in the mountains of British Columbia sounded indulgent, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something had to give.

I was burned out, foggy-headed, overweight, and feeling a little unmoored.

I'd recently had surgery, and while my doctor had given me the green light to return to all activities, including exercise, I was completely unmotivated to work out.

My sleep was also off, and my eating habits needed an overhaul. I generally eat healthily, but I'd slumped into a bad habit of overeating.

Adding to that, I'm a mom to two high-energy teen boys and had reached a point where I felt maxed out in the parenting department. I didn't hide it, though.

I was honest with my family and told them I needed a reset, that I wasn't feeling my best physically or mentally, and that this retreat was something I was doing for my health. They were supportive.

It's been over two months since the retreat, and I'm completely transformed. I don't have immediate plans to return, but the benefits were so amazing that I would consider going back. It was worth every penny.

Why this retreat was worth it for me

While the $6,900 price tag for Mountain Trek Health Reset Retreat is considerable, it covered everything: guided hikes, yoga, spa treatments, educational talks, and meals.

I learned about the retreat from a friend. It's caffeine- and alcohol-free, with limited sugar/carbs, and focuses on lots of activity, including hiking several hours each day.

I looked at other places, but what really sold me on Mountain Trek was the combination of physical activity, healthy eating, and expert-led classes on topics like sleep.

As a middle-aged mom, this sounded like exactly what I needed.

The retreat taught me how to improve my mental health back home

I have to say, there was something nice about not having to take care of my family and instead having someone take care of me.

I didn't have to plan meals or schedules each day, so the decision fatigue I was feeling at home was gone, and my mind could be more present.

Of course, when I returned home, decision-making turned back on, but I found a way to better manage it.

I now meal-plan on Sundays, which has significantly improved my mental health, and my mind is calmer during the week.

I also learned the phrase micro-dosing happiness. It's about creating happy moments throughout the day.

I never thought of happiness as a practice, but the more I sought out and focused on those small microdosing moments, the better it made me feel.

The biggest surprise of the whole retreat

The hiking is what attracted me to the program, initially, and turned out to be the biggest surprise of the whole retreat.

Hiking is my happy place: I've hiked the Inca Trail in Peru and trekked through Patagonia in Chile.

So, when we were told they divided hiking groups into four categories (1-4, fastest to slowest), I figured I'd fall into group 2, given my recent surgery and weight gain.

It was a huge wake-up call (and a hit to my ego) to find out I had to fall behind to group 4, the slowest. Turns out, group 4 was fabulous.

Because we hiked slower, I was able to take in the beautiful flowers, frogs, deer, and other wildlife while the women and I bonded over our various life struggles.

I grew to accept — and appreciate — the slower pace. And the connections I made with those women, as well as the rest of the people at the retreat (there were 13 of us, three men and ten women; Mountain Trek limits it to 16 total), were one of the best parts of that week.

My week in the mountains was the perfect reset I needed

Back home, I'm still seeing the benefits.

I've rediscovered my motivation to move and am committed to the gym five days a week, walking with a friend three to four times a week, and sitting less overall.

I break up my day with movement breaks, even if it's just going up and down the stairs for five minutes.

I also finally curbed my overeating habit. The retreat offered six small meals a day without second servings. I was hungry the first couple of days, but my body adapted after that, and I've kept my portion sizes smaller at home, too.

The new routine makes me feel more energized and less stressed. It's largely thanks to the retreat and admitting to myself that I needed a break, and being brave enough to take it.

I met several people on the retreat who were regulars, and I could see myself going back. I missed my husband and kids, but to spend a full week really working on myself — emotionally, physically, mentally — was a gift.

• I've visited Italy's Amalfi Coast 3 times. It's beautiful, but I don't like the crowds and prices
• I prefer other Italian destinations like Cefalù, a small city in Sicily with great food and beaches.
• Sicily's Aeolian Islands and Matera, Basilicata, are also worth visiting.

Italy's Amalfi Coast is one of the country's most popular destinations, but after visiting three times, I think I'll skip it on my next trip.

The Amalfi Coast is known for its striking cliffside landscapes and seaside villages, but the famous region has several downsides. It gets crowded, local traffic can be horrendous, and prices are far from cheap.

I'm always looking for alternatives to popular tourist attractions, and after traveling extensively throughout southern Italy, I found a few places I liked better than the Amalfi Coast.

Next time I head to Southern Italy, I'd go to these three destinations instead.

Cefalù, Sicily

Of all of Italy's 20 regions, Sicily is my favorite.

On my first visit nearly a decade ago, the region's volcanic landscapes, unbeatable street-food scene, and welcoming locals won me over.

I've since been back three more times, and I can never seem to get enough. You can't go wrong with a trip anywhere on the island, whether visiting dynamic Palermo or the ever-so-popular Taormina.

Yet Cefalù, a small city on Sicily's northern coast, is my top pick.

The city's historic center is undeniably charming. Narrow pedestrian streets lead to Cefalù's centuries-old cathedral that's towered over by a massive cliff.

Cefalù's long, sandy beach and adjacent boardwalk made for an ideal summer getaway. Trying local cuisine is a must, too, from savory arancini rice balls to decadent granita — my Sicilian dessert of choice.

Plus, compared to navigating the often chaotic traffic along the Amalfi Coast, getting to and from Cefalù is a breeze. The city lies directly on a train line, and it only takes an hour to reach Cefalù from Palermo.

Aeolian Islands, Sicily

If you're near Sicily, I also suggest visiting Aeolian Islands, a volcanic island chain located off the region's northern coast.

The Aeolian Islands consist of seven main islands, which are home to about 15,000 people. They offer a coastal getaway with far fewer crowds than the Amalfi Coast.

Each island is unique. Some, like Vulcano, offer visitors the chance to bathe in volcanic mud baths. Others, like Panarea, feature eye-catching white buildings with vibrant blue doors.

My personal favorite is Stromboli, where you can watch a volcano erupt while sailing into or away from the island.

I'd say the best way to experience the area is with a boat tour. You can find day trips to the Aeolian Islands from the city of Milazzo in northern Sicily.

Matera, Basilicata

My last alternative to the Amalfi Coast is not on the coast at all, but in the rural southern region of Basilicata, located in the "arch" of Italy's "boot."

Nestled in the stunning Gravina Canyon is the ancient city of Matera. It's considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

Matera certainly receives its fair share of tourists, but far fewer than cities like Sorrento and Positano on the Amalfi Coast.

Visiting Matera is like stepping into another era. Early inhabitants carved dwellings and churches into the canyon's limestone cliffs — I've never seen anything else like it in all of Italy.

The medieval historic center offers spectacular views, romantic restaurants built into caves, and bustling piazzas. Plus, getting to the city can be an adventure within itself.

It's not on a high-speed rail line, and the closest airport is about 40 miles away in Bari, the capital of the nearby region of Puglia. Many travelers take a local train from Bari to Matera, which takes about 90 minutes.

Visiting Matera was the highlight of my most recent trip to Italy, and I can't wait to go back.

• My baby has been on eight flights and isn't even a year old yet.
• Our first flight was short, which helped us learn how to make future, longer flights a success.
• Now I know a travel stroller is essential for maneuvering in the airport and worth the investment.

As a person who travels quite a bit, I'll admit I was nervous about traveling with my first child. What if they cried? What if we disturbed nearby passengers? What if there was a diaper blowout? There was a lot to be anxious about.

Our first fight was just 90 minutes, but we survived it. Now, my baby is has already been on eight flights — domestic and international — and they aren't even a year old yet. Our goal has been to keep our baby safe and comfortable, while making sure the flight is peaceful and enjoyable for ourselves and the people around us. My family has accomplished this by following these simple strategies.

We started with a short flight

While this may not always be possible, it helped my family quite a bit that our first flight with a baby was a shorter one, just 90 minutes long. This allowed us to get our bearings, while introducing our baby to flying. Plus, it helped us to see if there was anything we might need to adjust for future, longer flights.

We always wear a baby carrier

If there's one item I wouldn't get on a flight without, it would be my baby carrier. There are many styles, but for flights, I prefer a wrap-style carrier for it's comfort and compactness.

I appreciate the hands-free experience through the airport, and, more importantly, they make it more comfortable to hold your baby throughout the flight if they are flying as a lap infant.

My own bag is super organized

Luggage organizing pouches are my best friend on a flight. I have several in my own carryon bag so I can keep snacks, headphones, sanitizing wipes, and more neat and organized. When everything is in its own bag I don't have to dig around searching for it when I need it, which can be a lifesaver.

On our last flight, my baby was asleep on my chest, but I desperately wanted my Kindle, headphones, and a snack. It was easy for me to snag them from my bag without waking the baby.

A travel stroller is essential

On our first trip, we didn't have a travel stroller. I didn't want to spend extra money on more gear and I thought we would be fine without it. That was a big mistake. Now we have an affordable model that is easy to use. It isn't as bulky as our usual stroller, but it's perfect for maneuvering through the terminal and provides an extra place to stash essentials while at the airport.

We check, and double check, our diaper bag

I always make sure we're set up for success with extra outfits that are warm and comfortable just in case we run into any delays or something gets dirty while we're traveling. A travel diaper changing mat is a must-have item that allows us to change our child no matter where we are. On our international flight, our baby had a diaper that desperately needed changing, but we were stuck in our seats. Thanks to our travel mat, we were able to get the baby back into a clean diaper right away. And, as all parents know, extra wipes and diapers are never a bad idea.

We don't skimp on toys

Of course, packing comfort items, books, and fun toys is a great way to redirect restlessness on a flight. I try to keep to items that are small, mess-free, and not too noisy and always add in a few new items that my child hasn't seen before.

We take advantage of early boarding

As soon as we get to the gate, one of us makes a beeline for the gate agent. We double check that our seats are all together and ask for any necessary accommodations. Many airlines let those traveling with young children board early, and we always take advantage of this. It's a lot easier to get down the narrow plane aisle with all of our stuff and a baby if other passengers aren't in the way.

We try to plan around naps and feeding time

Though this isn't always possible, we try to line up flights so they happen when our baby is ready for a nap. Recently, we selected a flight time not based on our typical preference, but based around our baby's sleep schedule, and it really paid off. Ideally, I'll be able to feed the baby during takeoff, which keeps them comfortable and happy and then they will settle into a nice slumber for the flight. We've used this strategy for a few flights, and it's been successful every time.

We do our best to stay calm

It may be easier said than done, but staying in a good headspace is what has helped me and my husband the most during these flights. We've both still had stressful moments, and that's when we try to help one another to take a step back and regroup. Our child picks up on our feelings and moods, so if we're anxious, they might be, too. Taking deep breaths, not rushing, staying calm has helped make the eight flights we've already been on a success and we can't wait to take more.

• More Americans are searching for property in Scotland, especially the capital Edinburgh.
• Rightmove reported a 19% rise in US inquiries about homes in the UK this year.
• Trump's tariffs and economic uncertainty may be behind the rising US interest in British property.

More Americans appear to be dreaming of Scotland — not just as visitors but as prospective homeowners, according to a UK property portal.

Rightmove revealed a 19% increase in enquiries from the US about buying property in the UK since the start of 2025 compared to the same period — the highest pace since 2017.

Some 28% of US enquiries have been about Scotland — an area closely associated with President Donald Trump. That's slightly more than the proportion asking about homes in London (26%).

Rightmove did not reveal the number of queries it had received and noted that only a small percentage of all UK enquiries came from the US.

Colleen Babcock of Rightmove said that Trump's tariffs had led to "more economic uncertainty globally, and we're starting to see some of the effects of this on the UK property market — whether it's because the UK is seen as a more stable investment opportunity, or whether some buyers are considering a permanent move across the Atlantic."

Trump has long emphasized his Scottish roots. His mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born in a village called Tong, near Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.

In 2006, he Trump strengthened his Scottish connection by purchasing a championship golf resort in Aberdeenshire, later opening the Trump International Gold Links. He then acquired another course in Turnberry.

Edinburgh's castle, great food, and Arthurs Walk, which were featured in the Netflix drama "One Day" have helped raise the profile of the Scottish capital.

Rising interest in Edinburgh could also reflect its lower property prices than central London, Rightmove said.

Glasgow as well as other Scottish regions including Argyll and Bute, and Fife are among those of interest to potential US buyers along with the Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea areas in London.

Glynn Gibb, regional director at real estate agent John D Wood & Co, said, "We're seeing a number of politically motivated relocations —Americans seeking greater stability abroad. There's a noticeable trend of high-net-worth individuals looking to move capital into what they see as a safe and stable market."

Gibb added: "We expect activity to build in the coming months … as more buyers make lifestyle and financial decisions shaped by the political climate in the US."

• Norwegian Cruise Line has been leading the solo cruise travel boom.
• Its new ship, Norwegian Aqua, has 93 single-person cabins with access to a shared lounge.
• The cruise line added 1,000 of these increasingly popular staterooms to its fleet in 2024.

Norwegian's latest ship, Norwegian Aqua, is floating bait for cruising families. It also wants to attract the opposite demographic: solo travelers.

In recent years, Norwegian has emerged as the leader of the solo cruise boom, adding about 1,000 single-person cabins to its fleet in 2024.

For the company, it's a great money-making opportunity: 10% of cruisers from US ports go alone, with millennials and Gen Zers most likely to cruise solo, according to the trade group Cruise Lines International Association.

For solo cruisers, it's a great money-saving opportunity: Many cruise lines charge independent travelers a "single supplement" fee to compensate for lost revenue on double occupancy cabins. In some cases, this additional expense can double the cost to sail.

That is, unless they stay in one of Norwegian's solo staterooms.

Norwegian Aqua launched in March with 93 single-person cabins.

The new 4,482-guest vessel is spending the summer operating weeklong Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida. These "studio" accommodations are already sold out for a third of these voyages, with the least expensive remaining options starting at about $1,880 — about $560 cheaper than a traditional inside cabin with the single supplement fee.

That's almost $270 per day for a windowless 94-square-foot cabin.

Of the 93 options, 73 are what Norwegian affectionally call "studios."

It's a fitting name for a tiny cabin, but don't let its 94-square-footage footprint fool you. It still has all the necessities of a cruise stateroom, including a twin bed sandwiched between a wall-mounted TV and a storage unit.

You'll only have to walk a few steps to the bathroom.

The bathroom is similarly tight with surprisingly ample shelving.

Bring your conditioner — the cabin only provides body wash and shampoo.

There's no additional seating, save for the backless desk stool. However, it does come with access to a shared living room.

Solo cruisers can mingle with other lone wolves at the Studio Lounge, accessible only to those staying in single-person cabins.

The multi-section space has plenty of lounge seating, from chaises to shared couches. It also serves a small breakfast buffet, in addition to coffee and snacks throughout the day.

Not all who are alone at sea have to be lonely.

• This post originally appeared in the BI Today newsletter.
• You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here.

Happy Saturday! With colon cancer rising for those under 50, we asked one gastrointestinal surgeon what three changes he's made to lower his risk. Here's what he said.

On the agenda:

• Elite athletes curb water intake after 4 p.m. A top nutritionist explains why you should consider it too.
• Confused by Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet's romance? Experts say that's good PR.
• If you want to look, feel, and smell good in 2025, COS might be the brand for you.
• Retirees' plans for golden-age travel are in doubt due to rising prices.

But first: Forget snakes. Let's talk about seats on a plane.

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Business Insider's app here.

This week's dispatch

Better seat, better trip

So you've survived your trip planning group chat, and you're ready to book your travel for that much-needed summer vacation. I mean, c'mon, you deserve it.

But where exactly do you sit on the plane to ensure your trip gets off to the best start? If you don't choose wisely, you could throw off your entire getaway.

Contributing writer Kelly Magyarics flies at least once a week (whew!) and has mastered the art of picking the right seat to maximize her comfort.

When traveling in economy, Magyarics says she prefers sitting "in the aisle seat in the roomy exit row." This seat typically offers more legroom for passengers, but just remember that you'd be required to help in case of an emergency.

"I'm also known to select seats in the bulkhead row that's directly behind a wall, curtain, or screen because they often come with extra legroom," Magyarics writes.

While it does mean giving up any storage space in front of you, Magyarics suggests boarding the plane early to ensure you get room in an overhead compartment. Those flight features might require an extra fee, but it could be worth it.

If you're not willing to spend extra, BI's travel reporter Monica Humphries prefers the back of the plane for long-haul flights because she's found it's her "best chance of getting accessible overhead storage."

"Another perk of the back of the plane is galley access. For long-haul flights, I stretch my legs every few hours," she writes. "It helps my body adjust to cramped quarters and keeps me from feeling claustrophobic."

Hack your hydration

Staying hydrated is key to your mental and physical performance. Matt Jones, a sports nutritionist who works with elite athletes, shared five tips for optimizing daily water intake.

For instance, timing is important. It's helpful to consume 80% of your daily water intake before 4 p.m. so your body has enough time to process it before bedtime. Coffee, fruit, and tea can also help keep you hydrated.

See his recommendations.

The mystery of Kylie and Timothée

Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet have reportedly been going strong for two years, but some fans still feel like the couple makes an odd pairing. However, any confusion is actually proof of a PR job well done.

Two PR experts explained how their strong individual brands are making some fans confused and the "perfection" of the relationship's slow rollout.

A tale of two very different celebrities.

High-quality basics at a lower cost

COS, a London-based fashion label, is having a major moment. Simple, elegant, and comfortable, its clothing appeals to people who want the quiet luxury look without the price tag.

The brand, owned by H&M, is finding a foothold among US consumers who aspire to the old-money aesthetic.

Plus, it recently expanded into perfume.

Should I stay or should I go?

Skyrocketing prices. Market chaos. An uncertain future for Social Security. These are some of the factors eating away at older Americans' dreams of traveling the world in their golden years.

Several retirees told BI that instead of globetrotting, they're cutting corners and getting creative to afford trips. Some wonder whether it's now or never when it comes to their travel dreams.

A retirement travel dream, deferred.

What we're watching this weekend

• "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives": The Mormon MomTok influencers are back on Hulu for a second season filled with more friendship and relationship drama.
• "Murderbot": Alexander Skarsgård stars as a rogue robot in a new Apple TV+ sci-fi series that blends comedy and thrills.
• "Novocaine":In this R-rated action movie on Prime Video, "The Boys" actor Jack Quaid plays a regular guy who can't feel pain.

See the full list

What to shop

• Inclusive swimwear with a perfect fit: We tried out Andie Swim and were genuinely impressed by their inclusive sizing and thoughtful designs. Finding the perfect swimsuit is as easy as taking the brand's fit quiz — learn more in our review.
• About the viral "Crocs" bag: After using the Bogg Bag ourselves, it's clear why so many parents swear by it. It's spacious, waterproof, and a breeze to clean — ideal for carrying everything from beach toys to snacks without the stress.
• Dress pants can be comfortable, too: We used extensive testing and research to find the best men's dress pants for all styles and budgets. From comfy stretch options to sharp yet affordable picks, there's something for every guy and every occasion.

More of this week's top reads:

• "MAGA red" and hidden linings: A designer reveals the secrets of Karoline Leavitt's White House fashion.
• See inside the pope's official residence, an expansive apartment with nearly a dozen rooms.
• I got fired while in cancer treatment. I thought it was a death sentence, but it led me to my dream job.
• Ryan Coogler's deal to own "Sinners" is a gamble that could still pay off big time.
• A doctor who owns a longevity clinic shared his simple five-step morning routine.
• The best bang-for-your-buck skincare products to buy before tariffs hit, according to dermatologists.
• Why Norwegian's latest giant cruise ship is my new favorite.
• I tried Anthony Bourdain's favorite egg sandwich, which cost $2 from a Japanese convenience store.
• The best and worst celebrity outfits at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival so far.

The BI Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York City. Grace Lett, editor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York. Elizabeth Casolo, fellow, in Chicago.

• Airbnb has an ambitious new plan to help you book anything.
• It's using celebrities like Patrick Mahomes to promote its new "Experiences."
• Those "Experiences" aren't quite like the ones you'll actually book — but its new "Services" seem useful.

Airbnb is trying to expand beyond just vacation rentals — and it's enlisted some celebrities like Megan Thee Stallion and Patrick Mahomes to get some buzz going for its new offerings.

I have some questions.

It seems like these big names are only here to tout the new "Experiences" — things like throwing the pigskin with Mahomes or hanging out with Megan for the day. These all cost nothing, but go to only a handful of contest winners.

The celebs are obviously only going to be around for this promo period. After that, are people going to turn to Airbnb for a day tour of Philadelphia or a cooking class in Honolulu? Maybe. I have my doubts.

Meanwhile, another one of Airbnb's launches — called "Services" (think private chefs and photographers) — could make a lot of sense for people on vacation who need to find a trusted … well, service person.

There's also something big in all of this for Airbnb: your data. More on that later.

For now, let's look at a couple of these "Airbnb Originals" that are part of its new Experiences.

Spend a Sunday Funday with Patrick Mahomes

Toss a football and have a barbecue lunch with the Chiefs quarterback at a rental cabin near Kansas City.

Only four people (and their plus-one ) will get to do this.

Become an Otaku Hottie with Megan Thee Stallion

This is the most exciting option (to me), but also one of the more confusing ones. Twelve winners will get to make ramen with the rapper, dress up in a costume, and play Xbox with her.

The description of the actual run of events looks like this:

There are a handful of other slightly less famous celebrity experiences that do charge. Brooklyn Peltz Beckham (son of David and Victoria, son-in-law of billionaire businessman Nelson Peltz) offers a cooking demonstration for $150 per guest. Pro wrestlers Nikki and Brie Garcia offer a chance to sit in on their podcast taping for $195. Chance the Rapper is having a listening party for $110.

A rep for Airbnb told Business Insider that pricing was up to the celebrity and that another A-list celebrity would soon be doing a paid event, with the fees going to charity.

How to actually win these free experiences

There's a disconnect here between these star-studded promotional things and the new Experiences Airbnb is trying to promote. These are largely contests to win a free prize, not an experience or service you pay for.

It's not unlike a classic radio station contest where the 25th caller gets to meet Paul Stanley, or the 1990s MTV contests where suburban teens can win the chance for a big band to perform in their backyard.

The actual product Airbnb is launching is more practical and down-to-earth: high-quality tours and food experiences from vetted providers.

Even charging a nominal amount makes these celebrity experiences very different. Airbnb subsidizes the event, likely cutting the celebrity a big check to participate. This is a different business model from the regular tour guides, who make their money from customers.

A prompt to fill out your user bio with more information

Well, there is something that makes sense about all of this. I figured it out when I started the process to sign up for Megan Thee Stallion's event on the Airbnb app.

It's about getting your sweet, sweet data.

As part of my application process, I was asked to continue to fill out my user bio — adding things like my favorite song from high school, my hobbies, where I went to school, and my pet's name (as a tech journalist, I must warn you here not to put information in a public bio that is commonly used for password reminder questions).

Tens of thousands of people want to hang out with Patrick Mahomes and Megan Thee Stallion. Only a handful will get to, but many will fill out their expanded bios, giving Airbnb lots of information on prospective users.

These expanded bios are part of Airbnb's new ambitious rebrand: to be a place not just for vacation rentals, but for people to hire other people for anything. And part of that is building out is convincing customers to make personalized bios, so that the vendors can better see who they're dealing with and vice versa.

I think the new feature called Services actually seems like a great idea — things like a hair stylist or makeup artist to come to your home or Airbnb rental for a big event are the kind of things people only want once in a while. And it will certainly open up tons of opportunities for chefs, trainers, stylists, etc., to get themselves in front of more clients.

But the Experiences? I'm not sure what this will all look like in a year after the celebrity buzz has died down.

• Last year, Sarah Khan, 33, and her husband moved out and became digital nomads.
• So far, they've worked from Bali, Rome, Tuscany, Bangkok, Phuket, and Alicante.
• Bali has been her favorite place to work.

The Mediterranean sparkles to my left as I type from a foldable desk on the terrace of a cozy home in a quiet coastal town in Spain. Rolling green hills stretch to my right, framing the space that will be home for the next three months, until we pack up and move again.

It's been 12 months since my husband and I embarked on a nomadic life. We sold everything, ended our four-year apartment lease in Singapore, and boarded a one-way flight to Bali. Since then, we've worked from Bali, Rome, Tuscany, Bangkok, Phuket, and now the coast of Alicante in Spain.

Friends and fellow travelers often ask, "Where's your favorite place to work?" I'm sometimes hesitant to answer because it's so subjective. Choosing a base as a nomad involves a different set of criteria than picking a vacation spot. For me, factors like community, longer-stay visas, reliable WiFi, easy access to nature, and a vibrant wellness scene are at the top of the checklist.

Still, if I had to choose, the place that stands out— and one I'd happily return to — is Bali.

I felt at home

Bali was my first port of call as a digital nomad, and I spent a happy four months working and living there.

Despite internet discourse about how "overrun" parts of the island have become, it remains my favourite place to work remotely to this day. Perhaps I'm biased — with my Indonesian roots and years of vacationing there, I feel instantly at home.

My husband and I chose Berawa as our base, a laidback neighbourhood just outside the buzz of Canggu. Located on Bali's southern coast, Canggu has transformed from a sleepy surf village into the island's hippest enclave, packed with trendy cafés and black sand beaches that draw yogis and surfers in equal measure.

This was my first time staying in Berawa, and it turned out to be the ideal spot for an extended stay. You get proximity to the action of Canggu without actually living in the thick of it. My two-bedroom villa, tucked down a quiet lane off a main road, placed me less than 10 minutes from central Canggu.

Bali's cost of living has crept up in recent years, but it still offered value for our longer stay. Our villa rent was $1,800 a month, which included a pool, fast WiFi, and weekly cleaning — less than half of what I'd paid for my apartment in Singapore.

A remote worker's dream setup

Bali was an easy place to get started on my nomad life. The island is exceptionally well-equipped for long stays: the WiFi is generally reliable, there are plenty of supermarkets and pharmacies available for daily necessities, and ride-hailing apps are affordable and convenient.

After a year on the road, I've come to appreciate how rare this combination is.

The island also boasts one of the best remote work ecosystems I've experienced, from coworking spaces like Outpost and BWork to laptop-friendly cafés. I rotated through a few favourites: the workspace upstairs at Woods, Zin Cafe, and Lighthouse, a coworking café with beautiful rice field views and its own on-site podcast and video studio.

It's also easy to stay active and healthy in Bali. Gyms, yoga studios, and affordable massages are aplenty, especially around Berawa. And food options are great: from warungs serving fragrant local dishes to health-forward cafés and world-class restaurants.

When work felt overwhelming and I needed a break, I could hop on a scooter and be at the beach in minutes. There were also many options for weekend escapes: We managed trips to the pristine Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan islands, a day trip to serene Sidemen, and explored the east coast's slower-paced beach towns like Amed and Candidasa.

These experiences revealed a quieter, more soulful side of Bali — one I'd missed on past short trips.

The downsides

Of course, no place is perfect. Traffic in Canggu can be chaotic, and the island's infrastructure is still catching up with its tourism growth. There's also a digital nomad community that, at times, can feel like a bubble and disconnected from authentic local life.

But once you find your rhythm and favourite nooks, it's easy to tune out the noise and settle into Bali's slower, softer pace.

I made it a point to skip the touristy spots, stay just outside the main areas, and design my life and routine around the kind of experience I wanted.

A year into nomadic living, I've felt uprooted, disoriented, and occasionally exhausted. But in Bali, I found a version of myself I liked: Focused, centered, and rested.

• I spent three nights in a Haven penthouse on Norwegian Cruise Line's latest ship.
• The Haven is Norwegian's ultra-luxury "ship within a ship" concept.
• My cabin felt like a high-end boutique hotel room with a butler and L'Occitane products.

A butler. Bedside lamps each costing hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. A giant balcony with sweeping views of the ocean.

No, this isn't a yacht. This is, maybe surprisingly, a new 4,482-guest cruise ship — Norwegian Aqua.

However, there's a catch: Not all its cabins have these frills. They're exclusively available in the Haven, Aqua's ultra-luxury "ship within a ship" concept.

Only 123 of the vessel's 1,387 staterooms are in this class, sectioned off behind keycard-locked glass doors. And privacy on a floating city doesn't come cheap.

The Haven is sold out for many of Norwegian Aqua's weeklong summer 2025 Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida.

The most affordable option left, a balcony cabin, starts at about $5,020 per person — steep compared to the standard inside cabins, which go for about $1,310 per person on the same voyage.

Haven cabins include a butler, concierge service, a private lounge, restaurant, bar, and pool deck.

More money means more space.

I spent three complimentary nights in a "Haven Penthouse with Balcony" during Norwegian Aqua's test sailing in April.

The cabin category spans up to 418 square feet with an up to 134-square-foot balcony.

The ship's usual interior accommodations are no larger than 263 square feet, while non-Haven balcony options are, at most, 358 square feet with a 69 square-foot balcony.

I've been on my fair share of luxury cruises, but even my Silversea and Regent Seven Seas Grandeur cabins were smaller than this.

And more space means more amenities.

The cabin comes with a Nespresso machine, a stocked mini-fridge, three types of complimentary bottled water (one sparkling, two stilled), and nightly sweet treats delivered to your dining table.

The drawers are soft-close, the lights are dimmable, and the curtains can be controlled with a bedside button.

Good luck finding all of these amenities in a non-Haven accommodation.

Enjoy your morning espresso on the balcony.

It's so large, the outdoor furniture only occupies three-fifths of the space.

Head inside if you'd rather lounge in the air conditioning. There are plenty of seating options there.

The room can accommodate up to three people. Yet, there's enough space for double that.

Use the dining table if you've ordered room service. There's also a bench behind it, although its hidden drawers make it better for storage.

Or stretch your legs on the built-in sofa beside the entertainment console. Both are elevated, leaving enough space to tuck your bags underneath.

No need to will yourself out of bed to turn off the lights.

Just roll to your side to find the control panels. With a few presses, you can turn off the overhead lights, dim the bedside lamps, and switch on the nightlights.

When it's time to wake up, use these controllers to raise the blackout and sheer curtains.

More importantly, the bedside panel has enough outlets to charge your phone, laptop, smartwatch, and smart ring.

Or, keep all your tech plugged in at the desk.

It's also where you can phone your butler for packing help or the concierge to make a spa reservation.

If you prefer to sit for your morning skincare routine, use the built-in light-up vanity mirror. The toilet is the only seating in the bathroom (I don't judge multitaskers). But at least it's quarantined behind closed doors, which any couple will tell you is an underrated bathroom feature.

A spacious bathroom for a spacious penthouse.

The shower is both roomy (with seating) and flexible (with two shower head options — a waterfall and handheld).

Some cruise cabins only offer two-in-one body wash and shampoo. Here, they're kept separate, in addition to conditioner and lotion — all from L'Occitane En Provence.

One hand soap is for peasants (people in the regular cabins). Haven guests get both liquid and bar suds.

No need to worry about storage.

The apartment-sized closet has hangers and large drawers. The motion-sensing lights make navigating it easy, especially when looking for your plush post-shower bathrobe.

Little details — like the lighting options, modern design, and name-brand toiletries — make the stateroom feel more like a boutique hotel.

The decor is minimal, relying on color-accented walls to spruce the room. It looks more like a studio out of an interior design brochure than a cruise cabin.

Ultimately, is a Pinterest-friendly room necessary for a fun vacation? No. Did I need two hand soaps and three bottled water varieties? Absolutely not.

But if you and your partner are paying more than $10,000 for a seven-day summer vacation in the "penthouse," I suppose it's fair to expect an unnecessary surplus of unnecessary amenities. Vacuuming up these luxurious resources will make you feel like royalty — a nice price to pay for the price you paid.

Plus, if you don't like your room, there's always the private lounge nearby.

• Lester V. Ledesma, 50, started backpacking across Southeast Asia in the '90s and never stopped.
• He says that back then, travelers were able to let curiosity, not the internet, lead the way.
• These days, he says smartphones and social media make it harder to connect with locals and discover places on your own.

I began traveling across Southeast Asia in the late '90s. After college, with just a backpack, a camera, and a sense of adventure, I set out to explore the Philippines — my country of birth.

That early journey sparked my career as a travel writer and photographer and led me to move to Singapore a few years later, where the rest of the region was just a flight away from Changi Airport.

Since then, I've collected travel stories that range from simple to sublime and downright strange.

In my 20s, during my first trip to Cambodia, I spent a hilarious evening of "cultural exchange" with a group of tuk-tuk drivers — we taught each other the harshest cuss words that our native languages had to offer.

A decade later, during the Thingyan Festival — Myanmar's New Year celebration — I found myself on a trishaw as it rode through a gauntlet of cheering, cross-dressing revelers who drenched me with water hoses and planted playful, hairy kisses on my cheeks.

The following year in Bali, I stood in the middle of a perang api — a ritual fire war between groups of villagers who hurled glowing hunks of coal at each other.

None of those adventures had been inspired by a TikTok, and I hadn't been led there using GPS on my phone.

Back then, backpacking involved hands-on research — often lugging around a thick copy of "Lonely Planet." I had to make landline phone calls or write emails at internet cafés to reserve rooms. Flights were more expensive, so I often got around by commuting overland (or sea, as the case may be).

I was on the road so much that I would often arrive at a destination without any plans or bookings.

These days, backpacking's a breeze with everything online — Google Maps shows us where to go, and sites like Expedia and Booking.com let us plan every detail beforehand. It's all super convenient — maybe too convenient.

As a salty old road warrior, I'd say we've lost something in this hyper-connected, instant-gratification era. Backpacking in Southeast Asia just isn't what it used to be. Here's what we're missing.

The gains of serendipity

Getting lost to find oneself was part of why backpacking was so much fun. But with navigation apps now available on everyone's phone, does anyone still ever really get lost?

Transformative travel is no longer the norm these days, replaced by must-see, must-eat, and must-do lists that bombard our social media feeds. Indeed, looking at long lines of people waiting to take the exact same photo at so-called selfie spots, you'd think the whole point of traveling is to feed the all-important 'Gram.

For all their game-changing functionality, Google Maps and Street View have diminished the joys of discovery on even the simplest neighborhood walks.

My journeys back then felt raw and unfiltered. Since the world was still largely offline, we old-school backpackers let our curiosity (and our printed maps) show us the way.

Connecting with the locals

There are plenty of crowd-sourced and influencer-approved travel tips on your phone, and they often guarantee the same experience as everyone else.

Of course, some would say that's a modern blessing — especially if you have FOMO — but there's nothing like a touch of kindness from a friendly local to make an experience unique.

Over the years, I've shared impromptu meals, received generous rides, witnessed proud displays of skill, and even been welcomed into intimate occasions. It was all because I dared to reach out and engage with the locals.

The cold efficiency of online booking, navigation, and even ride-hailing apps has lessened the opportunities to make meaningful connections. I remember when all it took me was a smile and a curious question to break the ice.

Getting away from it all

In this day and age, we can still travel solo, but constant connectivity means that we are never alone. Not too long ago, backpacking was all about immersion in a place, and oftentimes, it was easy to just fall off the grid.

Nowadays, travelers are more likely to update their Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok accounts in real time than keep a handwritten journal.

There are also those amusing vloggers who walk around while talking to their streaming, selfie stick-mounted phones. Despite some travelers being physically far from everyone and everything we know, our cellphones are always pinging with text messages, emails, and social media updates.

Being part of a community

Once upon a time, independent travel was a shared experience among a loose community of fellow backpackers. We'd cross paths on the road, and then later meet up in traveler hubs like Bangkok's Khao San Road or Saigon's Pham Ngu Lao Street. Here we would swap travel stories over cheap beer, and trade dog-eared guidebooks at secondhand bookshops.

Occasionally, we'd leave messages for newfound friends at guesthouse bulletin boards, before pushing onward to the next destination. Formerly a source of so much camaraderie, this IRL culture has largely dissolved into the realm of social media.

These days, we might find our travel friends online, but the things that drove our journeys back then — a sense of adventure, a willingness to connect, and curiosity about different cultures — are values today's generation of net-savvy, card-carrying travelers seem to be missing out on.